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Full text of "Magnalia Christi Americana : or, The ecclesiastical history of New-England, from its first planting in the year 1620. unto the year of Our Lord, 1698. In seven books ..."

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John  c^irams 
|0ibrar$>, 


IN  THE  CUSTODY  OF  THE 

BOSTON     PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 


//£.  3 


ffitij; 


1        i 


Magnalia   Chrifli  Americana  : 


OR,    THE 


Ccdeitaftital  l^tfto^ 


O  F 


EW-ENGLAND 


FROM 

Its   Firft  Planting;    in  the  Year   1620.  unto  the  Year 

of  our  LORD,   1698. 


I.  Antiquities :  In  Seven  Chapters.     With  an  Appendix. 

II.  Containing  the  Lives  of  the  Governours,  and  Names  of  the  Magifrrates 
or   Nevp-E/.'i'Lwd  :  In  Thirteen  Chapters.    With  an  Appendix. 

III.  The  Lives  of  Sixty  Famous  Divines,  by  whofe  Miniftry  the  Churches  of 
New-England  have  been  Planted  and  Continued. 

IV.  An  Account  of  the  Univerfity  of  Cambridge  in  New-EngUnd  5  in  Two 
Parts.  The  Firft  contains  the  Laws,  the  Benefa&ors,  and  Viciffitudes  of 
Harvard  College  ^  with  Remarks  upon  it.  The  Second  Part  contains  the  Lives 
of  fome  Eminent  Perfons  Educated  in  it. 

V.  Afts  and  Monuments  of  the  Faith  and  Order  in  the  Churches  of  New-Eng- 
land, paifed  in  their  Synods  -?  with  Historical  Remarks  upon  thofe  Venerable 
AflemblirS}  and  a  great  Variety  of  Church-Cafes  occurring,  and  refolved  by 
the  Synods  of  thofe  Churches :  In  Four  Parts. 

VI.  A  Faithful  Record  of  many  Illuftrious,  Wonderful  Providences,  both 
of  M.rcies  and  Judgments,  on  divers  Perfons  in  New-England:  In  Eight 
Chapters. 

VII.  The  Wars  of  the  Lord.  Being  an  Hiftory  of  the  Manifold  Affii&ions  and 
Difturbances  of  the  Churches  in  New-England,  from  their  Various  Adverfa- 
ries,  and  the  Wonderful  Methods  and  Mercies  of  God  in  their  Deliverance  : 
In  Six  Chapters :  To  which  is  fubjoined,  An  Appendix  of  Remarkable 
Occurrences  which  New-England  had  in  the  Wars  with  the  Indian  Salvages, 
from  the  Year  1688,  to  the  Year  1698. 


By  the  Reverend  and  Learned  COTTO  N  M  AT  HE  R,    M.  A, 
And  Pafcorof  the  North  Church  in  Brfton,  New-England. 


LONDON: 

Printed  for  Thomas  Parkhurfl,    at  the  Bible  and 
Crowns  in  Cheapfide.     MDCCII. 


ANTIQUITIES. 


HDlje  tfiT&  Hoofe  Jiuit** 

OF     THE 


New-Englifh  Hiftory. 


REPORTING, 

The  D  e  s  i  g  n  w  here-o#,  )  r  The  ieveral"  Colonies 
The  Manner  where-/??,  W  -of  New-England 
And  the  People  whzre-by,  St      were  Planted. 

WITH 

A  NARRATIVE  of  many  Memorable  Paffages, 

Relating  to  the 

Settlement  of  theie  Plantations  ; 

A     N     D 

An  Ecclefiaftical  MAP  of  the  Country. 


By  the  Endeavour  of 

COTTON    dM  A  T  H  E  R. 

■»..     I     IF-       .-v*m     —  ■  "■ ■■■^. • —  —         —      ■■■.-  ■■    -■—      -—  ■      -■—  —  ■-■■  I  II  J    ■— ..-■■-■      -^  '  ■■       !■■■■■  I    I 

T ant  ft 'Molts  erat,pro  C  HRISTO  condereGentem. 


LONDON, 

Printed  for  Thomas  Tarkhursl,  at  the  Bible  and  Three 

Crowns  in  Cheap/ide near  Mercers  Chappel,  1702. 


"t»V,A.  Jt&liV 


A    N 

ATTESTATION 

T  O    T  H  I  S 

Church  -Hiftory 

O    F 

NEW-ENGLAND- 


IT  hath  been  defervedly  efteemed,  one  of  the  great  and  wonderful  Works  of  God 
in  this  Laft  Age,  that  the  Lord  ftirred  up  the  Spirits  of  fo  many  Thoufands"  ot  his 
Servants,  to  leave  the  P  leaf  ant  L and  of  England,  the  Land  of  their  Nativity,  and 
to  tranfport  themfelves,  and  Families,  over  thcOcean  Sea,  into  a  Defert  Land,   in  Ame- 
rica, at  theDiftance  of  a  Thou fand  Leagues  from  their  own  Country  ^   and  this,  meerly 
on  the  Account  of  Pure  andVndefded  Religion,  not  knowing  how  they  fliould  have  their 
Daily  Bread,  but  trufting  in  God  for  That,  in  the  way  of  feeking  firft  the  Kjngdom  of  God, 
and  the  Right  eoufnefs  thereof:    And  that  the  Lord  was  pleafed  to  grant  fuch  a  gracious 
Prepuce  of  his  with  them,  and  fuch  a  Bhffinz  upon  their  Undertakings,  that  within  a 
few  Years  a  Wilderness  was  fubdued  before  them,  and  fo  many  Colonies  Planted,  Towns 
Krefted,  and  Chinches  Settled,  wherein  the  true  and  living  God  in  Chrift  jefus,  is  wor- 
fliipped,  and  ferved,  in  a  place  where  time  out  of  mind,  had  been  nothing  before,  but. 
Heathenifm,  Idolatry,  and  Devil-worjhip -,  and  that  the  Lord  has  added  fo  many  of  the 
BleHings  of  Heaven  and  Earth  for  the  Comfortable  Sublicence  of  his  People  in  thefe  Ends 
of  the  Earth.     Surely  of  this  Work,  and  of  this  Time,   it  fhall  be  Laid,   What  hath  God 
wrought  ?  And,  This  is  the  Lord's  doings,  it  is  marvellous  in  our  Eyes  !    Even  fo  (0  Lord) 
didst  thou  lead  thy  People,  to  make  thy  [elf  a  glorious  Name  !    Now,  One  Generation  paffeth 
arvay,   and  another  cometh.     The  First  Generation  of  our  \ Others,  that  began  this  Planta- 
tion of  New-England,  mod  of  them  in  their  middle  Age,  and  many  of  them  in  their  de- 
dining  Tears,  who,  after  they  had  ferved  the  Will  of  God,  inlaying  the  Foundation  (as  W2  ' 
hope)  of  many  Generations,  and  given  an  Example  of  true  Reformed  Religion  in  the  Faith 
and  CWerofthe  Gojpe!,  according  to  their  beft  Light  from  the  Words  of  God,  they  a;-.  ' 
I  ithered  unto  their  Fathers.     There  hath  been  another  Generation   fucceeding  the 

either  of  fuch  as  come  over  with  their  Parents  very  Young,  or  were  born  in  tfo 
Country,  and  thefe  have  had  the  managing  of  the  Publick  Affairs  for  many  Years,  Iv 
are  apparently  paffing  away,  as  their  Fathers  before  them.     There  is  alfo  a  Third  Gen- 
tton,  who  are  grown  up,  and  begin  to  ftand  thick  upon  the  Stage  of  Action,  at  t' 
Day,  and  thefe  were  all  born  in  the  Country,  and  may  call  New-England  their  Na 
Land.  Now,  in  refpect  of  what  the  Lord  hath  done  for  thefe  Generations,fucceeding  <• 
another,  we  have  aboundant  caufe  of  Thankfgiving  to  the  Lord  our  God,  who  hath       . 
Increafed  andBleffed  this  People,  that  from  a  Day  of  [mall  things,  he  has  brought 
be,  what  we  now  are.     We  may  fct  up  an  Eh  EN EZ ER,  and  fay,   Hitherto    I    ■' 
Lord  hath  helped  ns.     Yet  in  refpecl  of  cur  Prefent  State,  we  have  need  earneftly  u 
as  we  are  directed,  Let  thy  Work  fan  her  appear  unto  thy  Servants,   tnd  let  thy  Beat 

A    3  , 


An  Atteftation  to  this  Church- Hi/tory,  &c. 


upon  us,  and  thy  Glory  upon  oar  Children  ;  Eflabliffj  thou  the  Works  of  thefe  our  hands  ;  yea, 
the  Works  of  our  hands,  Eflablijjj  thou  them. 

For,  if  we  look  on  the  Dark  fide,  the  Humane  fide  of  this  Work,  there  is  much  of 
Humane  Weaknefs  and  Imperfection,  hath  appeared  in  all  that  hath  been  done  by  Man, 
as  was  acknowledged  by  our  Fathers  before  us.  Neither  was  New-England  ever  without 
lbme  fatherly  Chafiifements  from  God  ;  (hewing  that  He  is  not  Fond  of  the  Formalities  of 
any  People  upon  Earth,  but  expects  the  Realities  of  Practical  Godlinefs,  according  to  our 
Profeflion  and  Engagement  unto  him.  Much  more  may  we,  the  Children  of  fuch  Fa- 
thers, lament  our  Gradual  Degeneracy  from  that  Life  and  Power  of  Godlinefs  that  was  in 
them,  and  the  many  Provoking  Evils  that  are  amongfi  us ;  which  have  moved  our  God 
feverely  to  witnefs  again  ft  us,  more  than  in  our  first  Times,  by  his  leffer  Judgments  going 
before,  and  his  Greater  Judgments  following  after  ;  He  fhot  off  his  Warning-pieces  first, 
but  his  Murthering-pieces  have  come  after  them,  in  fo  much  as  in  thefe  Calamitous 
Times,  the  Changes  of  Wars  of  Europe  have  had  fuch  a  malignant  Influence  upon  U  S 
in  America,  that  we  are  at  this  Day  Greatly  diminiffjed  and  brought  low,  through  Opprefjion, 
Affliction,  and  Sorrow. 

And  yet  if  we  look  on  the  Light  fide,  the  Divine  fide  of  this  Work,  we  may  yet  fee, 
that  the  Glory  of  God  which  was  with  our  Fathers,  is  not  wholly  departed  from  us  their 
Children ;  there  are  as  yet  many  Signs  of  his  Gracious  Prefeece  with  us,  both  in  the  way 
of  his  Providences,  and  in  the  ufe  of  his  Ordinances,  as  alio  in  and  with  the  Hearts  and 
Souls  of  a  considerable  number  of  his  People  in  New-England,  that  we  may  yet  fay  as 
they  did,  Thy  Name  is  Upon  us,  and  thou  art  in  the  midst  of  us,  therefore,  Lord,  Leavens 
not!  As  Solomon  prayed,  fo  may  we,  The  Lord  our  God  be  with  us,  as  he  was  with  our 
Fathers  j  Let  him  not  leave  nor  forfake  us ;  but  incline  our  Harts  to  keep  his  Commandments. 
And  then,  That  he  would  maintain  his  own,  and  his  Peoples  Caufe,  at  all  times,  as  the  mat- 
ter may  require. 

For  the  Lord  our  God  hath  in  his  infinite  Wifdom,  Grace  and  Holinefs,  contrived 
md  eftablifhcd  Ms  Covenant,  foashe  will  be  the  God  of  his  People,  and  of  their  Seed 
Witth  them,  and  after  them,  in  their  Generations;  and  in  the  Ministerial  Difpenfation  of 
the  Covenant  of  Grace,  in,  with,  and  to  his  vifible  Church,   He  hath  promifed  Covenant- 
Mercies  on  the  Condition  of  Covenant-  Duties.     If  my  People,  who  are  called  by  my  Name, 
fhall  humble  themf elves,  and  pray,  and  feek  my  Face,  and  turn  from  their  wicked  ways,  then 
I  hear  their  Prayers,  forgive  their  Sins,  and  heal  their  Land  ;  and  mine  Eyes,  and  mine 
r-If  art,  fjjall  be  upon  them  perpetually  for  Good!  That  fo  the  Faithfulnefs  of  God  may  ap- 
pear in  all  Generations  for  ever,   that  if  there  be  any  Breach  between  the  Lord  and  his 
People,  it  fhall  appear  plainly  to  lye  on  his  Peoples  part.     And  therefore  he  has  taken 
care,  that  his  own  Dealings  with  his  People  in  the  Courfe  of  his  Providence,   and  their 
Dealings  with  him  in  the  Ways  oiObedience  or  Difobedience,  fhould  be  Recorded,   and  fo 
tranfmitted  for  the  Ufe  and  Benefit  of  After-times,  from  Generation  to  Generation ;  as, 
Exodus  17.  14.)  The  Lord  [aid  unto  Motes,  write  this  for  a  Memorial  in  a  Books   and, 
(fieut.  31.  19.)  Write  )e  this  Song  for  you,  that  it  may  be  a  Witnefs  for  me  again  ft  the  Chil- 
oj  'Ifrael;  and  {Pfal.  102.  \%.)This  and  that  fhall  be  written  for  the  Generation  to  come, 
%nd  the  People  that  fhall  be  created  fhall  praife  the  Lord.     Upon  this  Ground  it  was  faid  fin 
°faL  :  j  .  1 .)  We  have  heard  with  our  Ears,  0  God,  and  our  Fathers  have  toldVs,  what  Work 
:  i:>t  their  Days  in  times  of  Old,  how  thou  c  a/test  out  the  Heathen,  and  planted  ft  them  ;. 
3  likewife  in  Pfal.  78. v.  5  to  the  8th.)  Upon  the  fame  account  it  may  be  faid,  (Pfal. 
at.y  /  will  make  thy  Name  to  be  remembrt  a  io  all  Generations  :    And  this  is  one  Reafon 
hy  the  Lord  commanded  fo  great  a  part  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  to  be  written  in  an  Hi- 
al  way,  that  the  wonderful  Works  of  God  towards  his  Church  and  People,  and  their 
;s  towards  him  again,  might  be  known  unto  all  Generations:  And  alter  the  Script ure- 
far  as  the  Lord  in  his  Holy  Wifdom  hath  kzn  meet,  He  hath  ftirred  up  fome  or 
to  write  the  Jits  and  Monuments  of  the  Church  of  God  in  all  Ages  *,  efpecially  fince 
t:on  of  Religion  from  Antichriltian  Darkoefs,  was  vigoroufly  and  in  a  great 
fsfully  endeavoured  in  the  foregoing  Century,  by  fuch  Learned  and  Pious 
;  Lord  inclined  and  inabled  thereunto. 

ore  furely,  it  hath  been  a  Duty  incumbent  upon  the  People  of  God,  in  this 
gland,  that  there  fhould  be  extant,  a  true  Hifiory  of  the  Wonderful  Works 

of 


An  Atteftation  to  this  Church- Hi ftory,  &c. 

of  God  in  the  late  Plantation  of  this  part  of  America ;  which  was  indeed  planted,  not  on 
the  account  of  any  Worldly  Inttreft,  but  on  a  Defign  of  Enjoying  and  Advancing  the 
true  Reformed  Religion,  in  a  Practical  way:  And  alio  of  the  Good  Hand  of  God  upon  it 
from  the  beginning  unto  this  Day,  in  granting  fuch  a  meafure  of  Good  Succefs,  fo  far  as 
we  have  attained  :  Such  a  Work  as  this  hath  been  much  Defired,  and  long  Expected, 
both  at  home  and  abroad,  and  too  long  Delayed  by  Vs,  and  fometimes  it  hathfeemed  a 
hopelefs  thing  ever  to  be  attained,  till  God  railed  up  the  Spirit  of  this  Learned  and  Pious 
Perfon,  one  of  the  Sons  of  the  Colledge,  and  one  of  the  Miniftersofthe  Third  Generation, 
to  undertake  this  Work.  His  Learning  and  Godlinefs,  and  Miniflerial  Abilities,  were  fo 
Confpicuous,  that  at  the  Age  of  Seventeen  Tears,  he  was  called  to  be  a  publick  Preacher 
in  Bofton,  the  Metropolis  of  the  whole  Englifh  America--,  and  within  a  while  after  that, 
he  was  ordained  Pa/tor  of  the  fame  Church,  whereof  his  own  Father  was  the  Teacher, 
and  this  at  the  unanimous  Defire  of  the  People,  and  with  the  Approbation  of  the  Magi- 
(hates,  rs  and  Churches,  in  the  Vicinity  of  Bofton      And  after  he  had,  for  divers 

Year'-,  approved  himfelfin  an  exemplary  way,  and  obliged  his  Native  Country,  by 
publishing  many  ufeful  Treatifes,  fuitable  to  the  Prejent  State  of  Religion  amongft  us, 
he  fet  himfelfto  write  the  Churck-Hiftory  of  New-England,  not  at  all  omitting  his  Mini- 
sterial Employments  i  atid  inthemidft  of  many  Difficulties,  Tears  and  Temptations, 
having  made  a  diligent  Search,  Collecting  of  proper  Materials,  and  Selecting  the  choiceft 
Memorials,  he  hath,  in  the  IlTue,  within  a  few  Months,  contrived,  compofed,  and  metho- 
dized the  lame  into  this  Form  and  Frame  which  we  here  fee:  So  that  it  deferves  the 
nameof,  THE  C  HVRCH-H1STORT  OF  NEW-ENGLAND. 

But  as  I  behold  this  Exemplary  Son  of  A     ■ .  ',  while  thus  Toung  andTender,  at 

fuch  a  rate  Building  the  Temple  of  God,  and  in  a  few  Months  difpatching  fuch  a  piece  of 
Temple-  r,  this  is ;  a  Work  fo  notably  adjufted  and  adorned,  it  brings  to  mind  the 

Epigram  upon  young  Borellus  : 

Cum  Juveni  t  ant  am  dedit  Experientia  Lucem, 
Tale  ut  promat  opus,  quam  Dabit  ilia  Seni  ? 

As  for  my  [elf,  having  been,  by  the  Mercy  of  God,  now  above  Sixty  eight  Tears  in 
New-England,  and  ferved  the  Lord  and  his  People  in  my  weak  Meafure,  Sixty  Tears  in 
the  Miniftry  of  the  Gofpel,  I  may  now  fay  in  my  Old  Age,  J  have  feen  all  that  the  Lord 
hath  done  for  his  People  in  New-England,  and  have  known  the  Beginning  and  Progrefs  of 
thefe  Churches  unto  this  Day  ;  and  having  read  over  much  of  this  Hiftory,  I  cannot  but 
in  the  Love  and  Fear  of  God,  bear  witnefsto  the  Truth  of  it  ,  viz.  That  this  prefent 
Church-Hiftory  of  New  -England,  Compiled  by  Mr. Cot  ton  Mather,  for  the  Subftance,  1  nd 
and  Scope  of  it,  is,  as  far  as  I  have  been  acquainted  therewithall,  according  to  Truth. 

The  manifold  Advantage,  and  Vfefulnefs  of  this  prefent  titftory,  will  appear,  if  we  con- 
fidcr  the  Great  and  Good  Ends  unto  which  it  may  be  ferviceable ;  As, 

Firfl,  That  a  plain  Scriptural  Duty   of  Recording  the  Works  of  God  unto  After-times 
may  not  any  longer  be  omitted,  but  performed  in  the  beft  manner  we  can. 

Secondly,  That  by  the  Manifestation  of  the  Truth  of  things,  as  they  have  been  and  are 
amongft  us,  the  Mifreprefintations  of  New-England  may  be  removed  and  prevented  ;  for, 
Rectum  eflfui  &  obhiqui  index. 

Thirdly,  That  the  True  Original  and  Defign  of  this  Plantation  may  not  be  loft,  no' 
buried  in  Oblivion,  but  known  and  remembred  forever,  {Pfal.  111.4.  He  hath  ma 
his  wonderful  Works  to  be  remembred.     Pfal.  105.  5.   Remember  ye  the  marvellous  We  . 
which  he  bath  done.~] 

Fourthly,  That  God  may  have  the  Glory  of  the  Great  and  Good  Works  which  he  h 
done  for  his  People  in  thefe  Ends  of  the  Earth,  [As  in  Ifaiah  63.7.    I  will  mention  1 
loving  Kjndnefs  of  the  Lord,   and  the  Praifes  of  the  Lord,  according  to  all  the  Great  Goodn*  , 
and  Mercy  he  has  beft  owed  on  us.~\ 

.  Fifthly,  That  the  Names  of  fuch  Eminent  Perfons  as  the  Lord  made  ufe  of,  as  lnfl 
ments  in  his  hand,  for  the  beginning  and  carrying  on  of  this  Work,  may  be  embalm1'  i, 
and  preferved,for  the  Knowledge  and  Imitation  of  Pofterity;  for  the  Memory  of  tin 
is  Blejfed. 

S 


An  Attejiation  to  this  Church-Hijtory,  &c. 


Sixthly,  That  the  prefent  Generation  may  remember  the  Way  wherein  the  Lord  hath 
led  his  People  in  this  Wildernefs,  for  fo  many  Years  paft  unto  this  Day  ;  [according  to 
that  in  Deut.  8.  i.  Tboujha.lt  remember  all  the  way  wherein  the  Lord  hath  led  thee  in  the  WiU 
dernefs  this  Forty  Tears,  to  humble  thee,  and  to  prove  thee,  and  to  know  what  was  in  thy  Heart 
whether  thou  wouldefl  keep  his  Commandments  or  no.~\  All  confidering  Perfons  cannot  but 
obferve,  that  our  Wildemefs-concMuon  hath  been  full  of  humbling,  trying,  diftreffina  Provi- 
dences. We  have  had  our  Majfahs  and  Meribahs  5  and  few  of  our  Churches  but  have 
had  fome  remarkable  hours  of  Temptation  patting  over  them,  and  God's  End  in  all  has 
been  to  prove  us,  whether,  according  to  our  Profefjion,  and  his  Expectation,  we  would 
keep  his  Commandments,  or  not. 

Seventhly,  That  the  Generations  to  come  in  New-England,  may  know  the  God  of  their 
fathers,  and  may  ferve [him  with  a  perfect  Heart  and  willing  Mind  5  as  efpecially  the  fir JZ 
Generation  did  before  them  ;  and  that  they  may  fet  their  hope  in  God,  and  not  forget  hie 
Works,  but  keep  his  Commandments.  (Pfal,  78.  7.) 

Eighthly,  And  whereas  it  may  be  truly  faid,  (as  Jer.  23.  21.)  That  when  this  People 
began  to  follow  the  Lord  into  this  Wildernefs,  they  were,  Hvlinejs  to  the  Lord,  and  he  planted 
them  as  a  noble  Vine  ;  Yet  if  in  procefs  of  time,  when  they  are  greatly  increafed  and  mul- 
tiplied, they  fhould  fo  far  Degenerate,  as  to  forget  the  Religious  Defign  of  their  Fathers, 
andforfake  the.  Holy  Ways  of  God,  (ask  was  faid  of  them  in  Hofea^.j.  As  they 


were 


increafed,  fo  they  finned  against  the  Lord)  and  fo  that  many  t  vils  and  Troubles  will  befall 
them  j  Then  this  Book  may  be  for  a  Witnefs  againfi  them  ;  and  yet  thro'  the  Mercy  of 
God,  mav  be  alio  a  means  to  Reclaim  them,  and  eaufe  them  to  Return  again  unto  the 
Lord,  and  his  Holy  Ways,  that  He  may  Return  again  in  Mercy  unto  them ;  even  unto 
the  many  Thoufands  of  New-England. 

Ninthly,  That  the  Little  Daughter  of  New-England  in  America,  may  bow  down  her 
:  to  her  Mother  England,  in  Europe,  prefenting  this  Memorial  unto  her  j  affuringher, 
thattho1  by  fome  of  her  Angry  Brethren,  fhe  was  forced  to  make  a  Local  Seceffion,  yet 
hot  a.  Separation,  but  hath  always  retained  a  Dutiful  RefpecT:  to  the  Church  of  God  in 
England ;  and  giving  fome  account  to  her,    how  gracioufly  the  Lord  has  dealt  with 
her  felf  in  a  Remote  Wilder nefs,  and  what  fhe  has  been  doing  all  this  while  ;  giving  her 
thanks  for  all  the  Supplies  fhe  has  received  from  her  ;  and  hecaufe  fhe  is  yet  in  her  Mino- 
rity, flie  craves  her  larther  Bleffing  and  Favour  as  the  Cafe  may  require  ;   being  glad,  if 
what  is  now  prefented  to  her,  may  be  of  any  ufe,  to  help  forward  the  "Union  and  Agree- ^ 
nt  of  her  Brethren,  which  would  be  fome  Satisfaction  to  her  for  her  undefired  Local 
lance  from  her  Dear  England;  and  Finally,  promifing  all  that  Reverence  and  Obe- 
dience whic  h  is  due  to  her  Good  Mother,  by  Virtue  of  the  Fifth  Commandment.     And 

%ajlly,  i  hat  this  prefent  Hifiory  may  itand  as  a  Monument,  in  relation  to  future  times, 
of  a  fuller  and  better  Reformation  of  the  Church  of  God,  than  it  hath  yet  appeared  in  the 
World.     For  by  this  Effay  it  may  be  fecn,  that  a  farther  Practical  Reformation  than  that 
which  began  at  the  firft  coming  out  of  the  Darknefs  of  Popery,  was  aimed  at,  and  en- 
deavoured by  a  great  Number  of/-  -"oluntary  Exiles,  that  came  into  a  Wildernefs  for  that 
very  end,  that  hence  they  might  be  free  from  humane  Additions  and  Inventions  in  the 
Worfhip  of  God,  and  might  practice  the  pofitive  part  of  Divine  Inftituvions,  according 
•0  the  Word  of  God.     How  far  we  have  attained  this  Defign,  may  be  judged  by  this 
Book.     But  we  befeech  our  Brethren,  of  our  own  and  of  other  Nations,  to  believe  that 
we  are  far  from  thinking  that  we  have  attained  a  perfect  Reformation.    Oh,  No  I  Our 
Fachers  did  in  their  time  acknowledge,  there  were  many  Defects  and  Imperfections  in 
air  Way,  and  yet  we  believe  they  did  as  m  "ch  as  could  be  expected  from  Learned  and 
Men  in  their  Cireurnfiances ;  and  we,  their  Succeffors,  are  far  fhort  of  them  in 
my  refpeete,  meeting  with  many  Difficulties  which  they  did  not ;  and  mourning  under 
bukes  from lOur  God  which  they  had  not,  and  with  trembling  Hearts  obferving 
.  . ...  Declinings  that  are  amongft  us  from  the  Holy  Ways  of  God  ;  we  are  forced 
at,  and  fay,  Lord,  what  will  become  of  thtfe  Churches  in  time  1  And  what  wilt  thou 
reat  Name  ?  And  yet  in  the  Multitude  of  our  Thoughts  and  Fears,  the  Confo- 
drefrefb  our  Souls,  that  all  thofe  that  in  Simplicity  and  Godly  Sincerity  do  ferve 
die!  id  his  feople  in  their  Generation  (tho  they  fhould  mifs  it  in  fome  things,) 

r  their  own  Souls,  they  are  accepted  of  the  Lord,  and  their  Reward  is 

with 


An  Attejlatiim  to  this  Church^Hijiory,  &c. 


with  him  i  and  in  the  approaching  Days  of  a  better  Reformation,  the  fincere,  tho'  weak 
Endeavours  of  the  Servants  of  God,  that  went  before  them,  will  be  alfo  accepted  of 
the  Saints  in  thofe  times  of  greater  Light  and  Holinefs,  that  are  to  come;  and  when  the 
Lord  fhall  make  Jefufalem  (or,  the  true  Church  of  God,  and  the  true  Chriftian  Religion) 
a  Praife  in  the  Earth,  and  the  Joy  of  many  Generations,  then  the  Mi flakes  of  thefe  times 
will  be  rectified;  and  that  which  is  of  God  in  any  of  his  Churches,  now  in  any  Part  of 
the  World,  will  be  owned  and  improved  unto  an  higher  Legiee  of  Practical  Godlinefs, 
that  fhall  continue  for  many  Generations  fucceeding  one  another,  which  hitherto  hath 
been  fo  rare  a  thing  to  be  found  in  the  World. 

I  fhall  now  draw  to  a  Conclusion,    with  an  Obfervation  which   hath  vifited  my 
Thoughts :  That  the  Lord  hath  blefled  the  Family  of  the  M  AT  HERS,  among!*  us, 
with  a  fingular  Bleffing,  in  that  no  lefs  than  Ten  of  them,  have  been  accepted  of  him, 
to  fervc  the  Lord  and  his  People  in  the  Miniftry  of  the  Gofpel  of  JefusChrift ;  of  whom, 
as  the  Apoftle  faid  in  another  cafe,  tho'  fome  are  fallen  afleep,  yet  the greate ft  part  remain 
unto  this  Day ;  I  do  not  know  the  like  in  our  New-England,  and  perhaps  it  will  he  found 
rare  to  parallel  the  fame  in  other  Countries.     Truly  I   have  thought,   it  hath  been  a 
Reward  of  Grace,  with  refpeft  unto  the  Faiihfulaefs  they   have  exprciTcd,  in  afferting, 
clearing,  maintaining,  and  putting  on  for  the  Practice  of  that  great  Principle,  of  the  Pro- 
pagation of  Religion  in  thefe  Churches,  viz.   The  Covenant-State  and  Church-member foip  of 
the  Children  lorn  in  thefe  Churches,   together  with  the  Scripture  Duties  appertaining  there- 
unto, and  that  by  vertue  of  God's  Covenant  of  Grace,  eftablifhed  by  God  with  his 
People,  and  their  Seed  with  them,  and  after  them  in  their  Generations.     And  this  has 
been  done  efpec.ally  by  Mr.  Richard  Mather  the  Father,  and  by  Mv.  lncreafe  Mather  his 
Son,  and  by  Mr.  Cotton  Mather  his  Son,  the  Author  of  this  prefent  Work. 

I  fhall  give  the  Reader  the  Satisfa&ion  to  enumerate  tins  happy  Decemvir  ate. 

i.  Richard  Mather,  Teacher  of  the  Church  in  Dorchefier. 

2.  Samuel  Mather:  He  was  the  firft  Fellow  of  Harvard-Colledge  in  Cambridge  in  New- 
England,  and  the  firft  Preacher  at  North-  Bofton,  where  his  Brother  and  his  Nephew  are 
now  his  Succeflbrs.  He  was  afterwards  one  of  the  Chaplains  in  Magdalen-Colledge'itx 
Oxford ;  after  that,  a  Senior  Fellow  of  Trinity-Colledge  in  Dublin^  and  Pifcftor  of  a  Church 
in  that  City,  where  he  died. 

3.  Nathanael  Mather  \  which  fucceeded  his  Brother  Samuel  as  Paftor  of  that  Church 
in  Dublin,  and  is  now  Paftor  of  a  Church  in  London. 

4.  Eleazar  Mather  ;  He  was  Paftor  of  the  Church  at  Northampton  in  New-England, 
and  much  efteemed  in  thofe  parts  of  the  Country  :  He  died  when  he  was  but  Thirty 
two  years  old. 

5.  lncreafe  Mather  ;  who  is  known  in  both  Englands.  Thefe  four  were  the  Sons  of 
Richard  Mather. 

6.  Cotton  Mather,  the  Author  of  this  Hiftory. 

7.  Nathanael  Mather.  He  died  at  the  Nineteenth  Year  of  his  Age }  was  a  Mafter  of 
Arts  ;  began  to  preach  in  private.  His  Piety  and  Learning  was  beyond  his  Years. 
The  Hiftory  of  his  Life  and  Death  was  written  by  his  Brother,  and  there  have  been 
Thne  Editions  of  it  printed  at  London.  He  dyed  here  at  Salem,  and  over  his  Grave  there 
is  written,  THE  ASHES  OF  AN  HARD  STVDENT,  A  GOOD  SCHO- 
LAR, AND  A  GREAT  CHRISTIAN. 

8.  Samuel  Mather;  he  is  now  a  publick  Preacher.  Thefe  three  laft  mentioned,  are 
the  Sons  Ot  lncreafe  Mather. 

9.  Samuel  Mather ,  the  Son  of  Timothy,  and  Grandfon  of  Richard  Mather }  He  is 
the  Paftor  of  a  Church  in  Windfor;  a  Pious  and  a  Prudent  Man  ;  who  has  been  an 
happy  Inftrument  of  uniting  the  Church  and  Town,  amongft  whom  there  had  been 
great  Divifions. 

10.  Warham  Mather,  the  Son  of  Eleazar  Mather,  and  by  his  Mctker  Grandfon 
to  the  Reverend  Mr.  Warham,  late  Paftor  of  the  Church  in  Wir,dfor  :  He  is  now 
alfoapubiick  Preacher.  Behold,  an  happy  Family,  the  Glad  fight  whereof,  may  well 
infpire  even  an  Old  Age  paft  Eighty,  with  Poetry  enough  to  add  this, 

Epigramma 


An  Atteftation  to  this  Church- Hiftory,  &c. 


Epigramma  in  MATH  EROS. 

0  Nimium  Diktfe  Deo,  Venerande  MATHERE, 
Gaudens  tot  JValos  Cbrifli  numerate  Minifiros  ! 
Det  Deus  ut  tales  injurgant  ufque  Matheri, 
Et  Nati,  Nat  or  urn,  &  qui  Nafcentur  ab  illis. 
Has  inter  ft  (Has  fulgens,  Cottone  Mathere, 
Pat  rum  tu  jequens  vefligia  femper  ad  orans, 
Vbojp/jows  all  a! lis  ! 

Now  the  Lord  our  God,  the  Faithful  God,  that  keepeth  Covenant  and  Mercy  to  a  thou- 
[and Generations,  with  his  People;  let  him  incline  the  Heart  of  this  People  of  New- 
England,  to  keep  Covenant  and  Duty  towards  their  God,  to  walk  in  h is  Ways,  and 
keep  his  Commandments,  that  he  may  bring  upon  them  the  Blefling  of  Abraham,  the 
Mercy  and  Truth  unto  'Jacob,  the  fure  Mercies  of  David,  the  Grace  and  .Peace  that 
Cometh  from  God  the  Father,  and  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  •,  and  that  the  Grace  of  our 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift  may  be  in  and  with  thefe  Churches,  from  one  Generation  to  another, 
until  the  Second  Coming  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jefus  Chrift !  Vnto  him  be  Glory  and 
Dominion,  for  Ever  and  Ever.     Amen. 


Salem,  the  25th  of  the  ^fohtl  H^ZWlOtl, 

Firft  Month  1697.  J  «°   J 


A 


A  Prefatory  Poem, 

On  that  Excellent  Book,  Entituled, 

<jMagnalia  Chrijii  ^Americana : 

Written  by  the  Reverend 
Mr.  COTTON  MATHER,  Paftor  of  a  Church  at  Bofton,  New-England. 

To  the  Candid  Reader. 

S  Truck  with  huge  Love,  of  what  to  be  pofleft, 
I  much  defpond,  good  Reader,  in  theqaeft  5 
Yet  help  me,  if  at  length  it  may  be  faid, 
W  ho  fir  ft  the  Chambers  of  the  South  difplay'd  ? 
Inform  me,  Whence  the  Tawny  People  came  ? 
Who  was  their  Father,  Japhet,  Shem,  ox  Cham  ? 
And  how  they  ftraddled  to  xti  Antipodes, 
To  look  another  World  beyond  the  Seas  ? 
And  when,  and  why,  and  where  they  la  ft  broke  ground, 
What  Risks  they  ran,  where  they  full  Authoring  found? 
Tell  me  their  Patriarchs,  Prophets,  Priefts  and  Kings, 
Religion,  Manners,  Monumental  things : 
What  Charters  hid  they?  What  Immunities  ? 
What  Altars,  Temples,  Cities,  Colonies, 
Did  they  erecl:  ?  Who  were  their  publick  Spirits  ? 
W7here  may  we  find  the  Records  of  their  Merits? 
What  Inftances,  what  glorious  Difplayes 
Of  Heav'ns  high  Hand,  commenced  in  their  dayes  ? 
Thefe  things  in  Black  Oblivion  covered  o'er, 
(As  they'd  ne  er  been)  lye,  with  a  thoufand  more. 
A  vexing  Thought,  that  makes  me  fcarce  forbear 
To  ftamp,  and  wring  my  Hands,  and  pluck  my  Hair, 
To  think,  what  BlefTed  Ignorance  hath  done, 
What  fine  Threads  Learnings  Enemies  have  fpun, 
How  well  Books,  Schools,  and  Colledge  may  be  fpar\l, 
So  Men  with  Beafls  may  fitly  be  compar'd  ! 
Yea,  how  Tradition  leaves  us  in  the  lurch, 
And  who,  nor  ftay  at  home,  nor  go  to  Church : 
The  Light*within-Enthufia(ls,  who  let  fly 
Againft  our  Pen  and  Ink  Divinity  ; 
W  ho  boldly  do  pretend  (but  who'll  believe  it  ?) 
If  Genefis  were  loft,  they  could  retrieve  it ; 
Yea,  all  the  Sacred  Writ ;  Pray  let  them  try 
On  the  Nerv  World,  their  Gift  of  Prophecy. 
For  all  them,  the  New  Worlds  Antiquities, 
Smother'd  in  everlafting  Silence  lies  3 
And  its  Fir  ft  Sachims  mention'd  are  no  more, 
Than  they  that  Agamemnon  liv'd  before. 
The  poor  Americans  are  under  blame, 
Like  them  of  old,  that  from  Tel-meUh  came, 

B  Cenjetiurd 


Conjectetr'dorKX,  to  be  of  IfraePs  Seed, 

But  no  Record  appeared  to  prove  the  Deed : 

And  like  Habajalh  Sons,  that  were  put  by 

The  Priefthod,  Holy  things  to  come  not  nigh, 

For  having  loft  their  Genealogy. 

Who  can  paft  things  to  memory  command, 

Till  one  with  Aaron  s  Breaft-plate  upfhallftand  ? 

Mifchiefs  Remedilefs  fuch  Sloth  enfue  ■■, 

God  and  their  Parents  lofe  their  Honour  due, 

And  Childrens  Children  fuffer  on  that  Score, 

Like  Raftards  call  forlorn  at  any  Door} 

And  they  and  others  put  to  feek  their  Father, 

For  want  of  fuch  a  Scribe  as  COTTON  MA  THE  R ; 

Whole  Piety,  whofe  Pains,  aad  pcerlefs  Pen, 

Revives  A 'erv- England's  nigh-loft  Origin. 

Heads  of  our  1  nbes,  whofe  Corps  are  under  ground. 
Their  Names  and  Fames  in  Cfjronides  renown'd, 
BegemnVd  on  Golden  Ouches  he  hath  fet, 
Paft  !: '  nvy's  Teeth,  and  Times  corroding  Fret: 
Of  Death  and  Malice,  he' has  brufh'd  off  the  Duft, 
And  made  a  Refurreciion  of  the  "J aft  : 
And  clcar'd  the  Lands  Religion  of  the  Glofs, 
And  Copper-Cuts  of  Alexander  Rofs. 
He  hath  related  Academic  things, 
And  paid  their  Fir  ft- Fruits  to  the  King  of  Kings ; 
And  done  his  Alma  Mater  that  juft  Favour, 
To  fhew  Sal  Gentium  hath  not  loft  its  Savour. 
He  writes  like  an  Hiftorian,  and  Divine, 
Of  Churches,  Synods,  Faith,  and  Difcipline. 
llluflrious  Providences  are  difplay'd, 
Mercies  and  Judgments  are  in  colours  laid 5 
Salvations  wonderful  by  Sea  and  Land, 
Themfelves  are  Saved  by  his  Pious  Hand. 
The  Churches  Wars,  and  various  Enemies, 
Wild  Salvages,  and  wilder  Sectaries, 
Are  notify'd  for  them  that  after  rife. 

This  \vell-inftru8ed  Scribe  brings  New  and  Old, 
And  from  his  Mines  digs  richer  things  than  Gold  ; 
Yet  freely  gives,  as  Fountains  do  their  Streams, 
Nor  more  than  they,  Himfelf,  by  giving,  drains. 
He's  all  Defgn,  and  by  his  Craftier  Wiles 
Locks  faft  his  Reader,  and  the  Time  beguiles : 
Whilft  Wit  and  Learning  move  themfelves  aright, 
Thro'  ev'ry  line,  and  Colour  in  our  fight, 
So  interweaving  Profit  with  Delight  ; 
And  curioufly  inlaying  both  together, 
That  he  muft  needs  find  Both,  who  looks  for  either. 

His  Preaching,Writing,  and  his Paftoral Care, 
Are  very  much,  to  fall  to  one  Man's  (hare. 
This  added  to  the  reft,  is  admirable, 
And  proves  the  Author  Indefatigable. 
Play  ishisToyl,  and  Work  his  Recreation, 
And  his  Inventions  next  to  Infpiration. 
His  Pen  was  taken  from  fome  Bird  of  Light, 
Addicted  to  a  fwift  and  lofty  Flight. 
Dearly  it  loves  Art,  Air,  andEloquence, 
And  hates  Confinement,  fave  to  Truth  and  Senfe. 

ABow 


.  Allow  what's  known '-,  they  who  write  Hiftorics, 
Write  many  things  they  fee  with  others  Eyes  ; 
'Tis  fair,  where  nought  is  feign'd,  nor  undigefted, 
Nor  ought,  but  what  is  credibly  atoefted. 
The  Risk  is  his  •■>  and  feeing  others  do, 
Why  may  not  I  fpeak  mine  Opinion  too  ? 

The  Stuff  \s  true,  the  Trimming  neat  and  fpruce, 
The  Workman's  good,  the  Work  of  publick  ufe  3 
Moft  pioufly  defiga'd,  a  publick  Store, 
And  well  defervesthc  publick  Thanks,  and  more. 

Nicholas  N'oyes,  Teacher  of  the  Church  at  Salem. 
Reverendo  Domino, 

D.  COTTONO   <JMJDER0, 

Libri  Utiliflimi,  cui  Titulus,  Magnolia  Chrifti  Americana, 

Authori  Doftiffimo,  ac  Dile&iflimo, 
Dwo  Ogdoaftica,  &:  bis  duo  Anagrammata,  dat  Idem,  N.  Nojes. 

Cottonus  Maderus. 

.         .    C  Eft  duo  Sanctorum. 
°  '  \Notus  es  Doclorum. 

Nomina  Sanclorum,  quos  Scribis,  tiara  duorum 
Nomine  Cerno  Tuo  ;   Virtutes  Lector  eafdent 
Candidas  inveniet  Tecum,  Charitate  refertas. 
Doclrino  Eximius  Dotfos,  Pietatepiofque 
Tu  bene  defcribis,   defcribere  nefcit  at  alter. 
Do&orum  es  Natus,  Domino  Spirante  Renatus  ■> 
De  bene  qu<rfitts  gaudeto  Tertius  H<eres; 
Nomenprxfagit,  nee  non  Anagrammata,  votes* 

Cottonus  Maderus. 

\ 

.        ,     CVniJas  demortuos. 
°  *  )jSendtas  Dociorum. 

Unftas  demort'os,  decoratur  Laude  Senatus 
Doftorum,  Merita,  ftprsfens  preterit a  <etas, 
Huic  exempla  patent,  &  poftera  Progenitores 
Non  ignor  obit,  patriif que  fuperbiet  Attis  ; 
More,  Fide,  cultu,  quoque  patrijfare  (ladebit  '-, 
Gratum  opus  eU  Domino,  Patrix  nee  inutile  no(tr<t ; 
Orbifrutfificxt.    Per  Fertilitatif  Honorem, 
Scribendo  Vitas  edienas,  propria  firipta  eft* 


B  2  Ccleberrimi 


Celeberriaii 

COTTONI   dMJTHERI, 

Celebratio ■» 

Qui  Heroum  Vitas,   in  fui-ipfius  &  illorum  Metnoriam 
fempiternam,  revocavit. 

Quod  Patrios  Manes  revocafti  a  Sedibus  alt  is, 
Syhefires  MuJ£  grates,  Mathere,  rependunt. 
H<ic  nova  Progenies?  i>eterum  fub  imagine,  cceh 
Arte  Tua  Terr  am  vifitans,  aemijfa,  falutat. 
Grata  Deo  Pietas  ••>  Grates  per  J olv  imu  s  omnes  : 
Semper  Hotios,  Nomenc^ueTuum,  Mathere,  manebnM. 

Is  the  Blefs'd  MAT  HE  R   Necromancer  turn**?, 
To  raife  his  Countries  Father's  Afhes  Urn'd? 
Elijha-s  Duft,  Life  to  the  Dead  imparts ; 
This  Prophet,  by  his  more  Familiar  Arts, 
"Onfe&ls  our  Heroes  Tombs,  and  gives  them  Air  \ 
They  Rife,  they  Walk,  they  Talk,  Look  wondTiaus  Fair ; 
Eacn  of  them  in  an  Orb  of  Light  doth  fhine, 
In  Liveries  of 'Glory  molt  Divine. 

When  ancient  Names  I  in  thy  Pages  met, 
Like  Gems  on  Aaron's  coftly  Breaft>plate  fet ; 
Methinks  Heaven's  open,  while  Great  Saints  defcend, 
To  wreathe  the  Brows,  by  which  their  Acts  woe  penn'd. 


B.  Thompfon. 


To 


To  the  Reverend 

Mr.   COTTON  ^MATHER, 

O   N     H   I   S 

Hif  ory  of  New- En 

TN  this  Hard  Age,  when  Men  fuch  Slacknefs  fbow, 
I  To  pay  Loves  Debts,  and  what  to  Truth  we  owe, 
You  to  ftep  forth,  and  fuch  Example  (hew, 
In  paying  what's  to  God  and  Country  due, 
Deferves  our  Thanks :  Mine  I  do  freely  give  : 
'Tis  fit  that  with  the  RaifedOnes  you  Live. 

Great  your  Attempt.    No  doubt  fome  Sacred  Spy, 
That  Leiger  in  your  Sacred  Cell  did  ly, 
Nurs'd  your  firit  Thoughts,  with  gentle  Beams  of  Light, 
And  taught  your  Hand  !  lungs  part  to  bring  to  fight : 
Thus  led  by  fecret  fweetefi:  Influence, 
You  make  Returns  to  God's  good  Providence : 
Recording  how  that  mighty  Hand  was  nigh, 
To  Trace  out  Paths  not  known  to  mortal  Eye, 
To  thofe  brave  Men,  that  to  this  Land  came  o'er, 
And  plac'd  them  fafe  on  the  Atlantic!:  Shore  : 
•And  how  the  fame  Hand  did  them  after  fave, 
And  fay,  Return,  oft  on  the  Brink  o'th'  Grave  =, 
And  gave  them  room  to  fpread,  and  blefs'd  their  Root, 
Whence,  hung  with  Fruit,  now  many  Branches  (hoot. 

Such  were  thefe  Heroes,  and  their  Labours  fuch, 
In  their  Juft  Praife,  Sir,  who  can  fay  too  much  ? 
Let  the  Remoter!  parts  of  Earth  behold, 
New-England's  Crowns  excelling  Spkmfb  Gold. 
Here  be  Rare  LeiTons  fet  for  us  to  Read, 
That  Off-fprings  are  of  fuch  a  Goodly  Breed. 
The  Dead  Ones  here,  fo  much  Alive  are  made, 
We  think  them  fpeaking  from  Blefs'd  Eden's  Shade  ; 
Hark!  How  they  check  the  Madnefs  of  this  Age, 
The  Growth  of  Pride,  fierce  Luft,  and  worldly  Rage. 
They  tell,  we  (hall  to  CUm-banks,  come  again, 
If  Heaven  ftill  doth  Scourge  us  all  in  vain. 

But,  Sir,  upon  your  Merits  heap'd  will  be, 
The  UleQings  of  all  thofe  that  here  fhall  fee 
Vertue  Embalm'd  ;  This  Hand  feems  to  put  on 
The  Latvrel  on  your  Brow,  fo  juftly  won. 


Timothy  Woodbridge,  Minifter  of  Hartford. 


Ad 


Ad  Politum  Literature,  atque  Sacrarum  Literaturum  Antiftitem, 

Angliaetjuc  Americans  Antiquarium  Callentiffimum, 

Rivcrendurn  Bominum, 

D.  COTTONUM  MJTHERUM, 

Apud  Boftonenfes  V.  D.  M. 
Epigramma. 

Cottonus  Mather  us. 

Aoagr, 

Tu  tantum  Celjors  es, 

Epigramma. 

tj>Je7  -vales  Tantum,  Tu,  mimemorm&e  MAT  HE2liii» 
Fmis  fro  Chri/fo  Miles,  cs  ipfe  cohors. 

A  Pindaric . 

Art  thou  Heavens  Trumfet  ?  fure  by  the  Archangel  blown ; 

Tombs  Crack,  Dead  Start,  Saints  Rife,  are  feen  and  known,, 
And  Shine  in  Conftellation ; 

From  ancient  Flames  here's  a  New  Pheenix  flown, 
To  fhew  the  World,  when  Chrift  Returns,  hell  not  Return  alone. 

J.  Danforth,  V.  D-  II.  DoreeJIrl 


To  the  Learned  and  Reverend 

Mr.  COTTON  CMJTHEM, 
On  his  Excellent  Magnalia, 

SIR, 

MY  Mufe  will  now  by  Cliymiftry  draw  forth 
The  Spirit  of  your  Names  Immortal  worth. 

Cottonius  ^jMatherm, 

Anagr. 

Tuos  Tecum  ornafti. 

While  thus  the  Dead  in  thy  rare  Pages  Rife, 
Thine,  with  thy  felf,  thon  doit  Immortalize. 
To  view  the  Odds,  thy  Learned  Lives  invite, 
'Twixt  Eleutherian  and  Edomite. 
But  all  fucceding  Ages  Hull  defpair, 
A  Fitting  Monument  for  thee  to  Rear. 
Thy  own  Rich  Pen  (Peace,  filly  Momus,  Peace!) 
Hath  given  them  a  La  fling  Writ  ofEafe. 

Grindal  Raw/ox,  Paftor  of  Mmfon. 

In 


In  Jefu  Chrifti 

dMAGNALIA  AMERICAN  J, 

Digefta  in  Septem  Libros, 
Per  Magnum ,  Do&iffimumque  Virum, 

D.  Cotton  urn  Matherum, 

J.  Chrifti  Servum,  Ecclefeque  Americano  Boftonienfis 
Miniftrum  Pium  &  Difertiflimum. 


SUnt  Mir  id  a  Dei,  funt  &  Magnalia  Chrifti, 
Qua  patet  Or  bis.     Erant  ultra  Garamantas,   &■  Indos 
Maxuma,  quss  paucis  licuit  cognofcere.    Sed,  quse 
Cernis  in  America.,  procul  unus-quifque  videbit. 

Vivis,  ubi  fertur  nullum  vixiffe.     Videfque 
Mille  homines,  res  multas,  incunabula  mh-a. 
Strabo  file,  qui  Magna  refers.    Vefyutius  autem 
Primis  fcire  Novum  potuit  conatibus  Orbem. 
Et  dum  Magna  docet  te  Grotius,  Unde  repletos 
Ecce  per  Americam,  volucrefque,  hominefque,  Deofque. 
Deumque  libet,  tibi  fcire  licet  Nova  vifcera  rerum. 

Nullus  erat,  nifi  brutus  homo  :  Sine  lege,  Deoque. 
Numa  dat  Antiquis,  Solonque  &  Jura  Lycurgus. 
Hie  nihil,  8c  nullae  (modo  fie  fibi  vivere)  Leges, 
jam  decretavide,  &  Regum  diplomats,  curque, 
Ne  libi  vivat  homo,  noftrorum  vivere  Regi  eft. 
Die  rot  habendo  Deos,  legifque  videndo  perkoSj 
Centenofque  viros,  celebres  virtute,  Statumque 
Quern  Novus  Or  bis  habet ;  Quantum  mutatm  ab  illo  es ! 

Res  bona.    Nee  fat  erit,  &  Rege  k  Lege  beatum, 
PolTe  vehi  fuper  Aftra.     Deum  tibi  nofcere,  fas  eft. 
Nil  Lex,  nil  Solon,  nil  8r  fine  Numine  Numa. 

Sit  Dens,  ignotofque  Deos  fuge.    Multa  Poets 
De  Jove  finxerunt,  Neptuno  &  Marte,  Diifque 
Innumerabilibus.    Magnique  Manitto  pependit 
Non  converfa  Deo  Gens  Americana,  Manitto, 
Quern  velut  Artijicem  colit,  &  ceu  Numen  adorat. 

E  tenebris  Lux  eft.   In  abyflb  cernere  Caelum  eft, 
Jgnotumopz  Deum,  notum  INDIS,  Biblia  Sancla 
lndica,  Templa,  Preces,  Pfalmos,  multofque  Mini/lros. 
VtCbriftum  difcant,  Indorum  Idiomats  Numen 
lititur,  &  fefe  patefecit  ubique  locorum. 

Plura  canam.     Veterem  Scbola  fit  difperfa  per  Orbem, 
Et  tot  Atbenxis  fcatet  Anglus,  Belga,  Polonus, 
Germanus,  Gallufque.     Sat  eft  Academia  noflra. 
Extra  Orbem  Novus  Orbis  habet,  quod  habetur  in  Orb?. 

Dat 


Tat  CantabrigU  Domus  Harvardina  Cathedram 
Cuilibet,  &  cur  non  daret  fadis,  Profelytifque  ? 
Trans  Mare  non  opus  eft  ad  Pallada  currere.    Pallas 
Hie  habitat,  confertque  Gradus ;  modo  Pallada  difcas, 
Defiftafque  gradum.    Quantum  Sapientia  confert ! 
Forte  novas,  plurefque  artes  Novns  Orbis  haberet, 

Qyotquot  in  America  licet  Admiranda  fuperfint, 
Singula  non  narro.    Nee  opus  tibi  fingula  narrem. 
Multa  fidem  fuperant,  multorum  Exempla  docebunt,    • 
Plura  quot  Orbis  habet  Novas  Admiranda,  quot  artes, 
Et  quot  in  America  degunt  ubicunque  Coioni. 

Deque  Vemficiis  quid  erit  tibi  nofcere  ?  1  ufus 
Sperne  Uiabolioos.    Sunt  hie  Magndia  Chrifii. 
Ne  timeas  Umbram.    Corpus  fine  corpore  fpe&rum  eft. 

Pax  rara  in  terris.    iEtas  quafi  ferrea.     Helium 
cceptra  gerens,  gladiofque  ferox  ubicunque  Noverca  eft. 
\  efhuit  omnia,  deftruit  oppida,  deftruit  artes. 
Mars  nulli  cedit.    Nihil  exitialius  armis. 
7  eftis  adell.    Europa  docet  lacrymabile  Bellum^ 
Hifpani,  Belgs,  Germani,  &  quotquotin  Orbe 
Sunt  Veteri,  Rigidifq--,  plagis  vexantur&  armis. 

Quas  SeBas  vetus  Urbis  habet,  quae  dogmata  Carriis? 
Primum  Roma  locum  tenet,  E/itbufiafta  fecundum, 
Arminius  tandem,  Menno  8c  Spi/iofa  fequuntur. 
Qyifque  incredihiles  putciii  dignofcere  Seftas  ? 
Non  tot  cernuntur  fidei  difcrimina,  nee  tot 
Hsereticos  novus  Orbis  habet,  quod  &  Enthea  res  eft, 

Tu  dilefte  Deo>  cujus  Boftonia  gaudet 
Noftra  Minifterio,  feu  cui  tot  fcribere  Libros, 
Non  opus,  aut  labor  eft,  &  qui  Magndia.  Chrijli 
Americana,  refers,  fcriptura  plurima.    Nonne 
Dignus  es,  agnofcare  inter  Magnalin  Chrijli  ? 

Vive  Liber,  totiqueOrbi  Miracula  monftres, 
Qux  funt  extra  Orbem.    Cottone,  in  fecula  vive  , 
Et  dum  Mundus  erit,  vivat  tua  Fama  per  QrbmM 


D*££^So&  Henricus  Selijns, 

1697. 

Ecclefine  NeO'EborAcenfis  Mimfier  Belgicus, 


A 


A  General 


INTRODUCTION 


'Fpa    S'l   "fraTO,     <f   &/S    lvTd/^A[AiVuy   ejfihtia.(   iy-KcL. 

Dicam  hoc  propter  utilitatem  eorum  qui  LeEluri  fa/ft  hoc  opus.     Theodorit. 


§  i.'W  WRlTEtheli'WmoftheCHRI- 
ST1AN  RELIGION,  flying 
M,  from  die  Depravations  of  Europe,  to 
the  xtontrwan  Strand  :  And,  aflifted  by  the  Holy 
Author  of  that  Religion,  1  do,  with  all  Confci- 
ence  or  7hif/j,required  therein  byHim,who  is  the 
Truth  it  felt,  Report  the  Wonderful  Difplays  of 
His  Infinite  Power,  Wifdom,  Goodnefs,  and 
Faichfulnefs,  wherewith  His  Divine  Providence 
hath  Irradiated  an  Indian  Wtldirnefs. 

I  Relate  the  Confidtrable  Matters,  that  pro- 
duced and  attended  tne  Firft  Settlement  of 
COLONIES,  which  have  been  Renowned 
for  the  Degree  ofREFORM  ATIOM,  Pro- 
fefTed  and  Attained  by  Evangelical  Churches , 
erected  in  thofe  Ends  of  the  Earth  :  And  a  Field 
being  thus  prepared,  1  proceed  unto  a  Relation 
of  the  Confiderable  Matters  which  have  been 
afteJ  thereupon. 

I  (nit  introduce  the  Aclors,  that  have,  in  a 
inuie  e\cmplary  manner  ferved  thofe  Colonies  ; 
and  «i*e  Remarkable  Occurrences,  in  the  exem- 
plary LIVES  of  many  Magistrates,  and  of 
more  Miniflers,  who  lb  Lived,  as  to  leave  unto 
Polterity,  Examples  worthy  of  Everl.tjling  Re- 
membranes. 

1  add  hereunto,  the  Notables  of  the  only  Pro- 
tefl  tut  "Jr.iverftty,  that  ever  Jhone  in  that  He- 
mifpliere  or  the  New  World;  with  particular 
Instances  of  Crioli.ins,  in  our  Biography,  pro- 
voking the  whole  World,  with  vertuous  Objects 
of  Emulation. 

I  introduce  then,  the  Anions  of  a  more  Emi- 
nent Importance,  that  have  fignalized  thoieCo- 
lonits  ;  Whether  the  EjlMi/hments,  directed  by 
their  Synods;  with  a  Rich  Variety  of  Synodical 
and  Ecslefiaftical  Dsteiminations  5  or,  the  Di- 
fturbances,  with  which  they  have  been  from  all 
lints  ot  Temptations  and  Enemies  Tempeftuated  •, 
and  th<_  Methods  by  which  they  have  ftill  wea- 
thered cat  each  Horrible  Tempefl. 

And  into  the  midlt  of  thefe  Atlions,  I  inter- 
pofe  an  entire  Book,  wherein  there  is,  with  all 
poflible  Veracity,  a  CoUetlion  made,  of  Me- 
morable Occurrences  ,  and  amazing  Judgments 
and  Mercies,  befalling  many  particular  Per  funs 
among  tuc  People  of  A\w -England. 


Let  my  Readers  expect  all  that  I  have  pro- 
mired  them,  in  this  Bill  of  Fair;  and  it  may  be 
they  will  find  themfelves  entertained  with  yec 
many  other  Paffagcs,  above  and  beyond  their 
Expectation,  defer ving  likewife  a  room  in  Ht- 
fiory.  In  all  which,  there  will  be  nothing,  but 
the  Author's  too  mean  way  of  preparing  fo 
great  Entertainments,  to  Reproach  the  Invi- 
tation. 

§.  2.    The  Reader  will  doubtlefs  defire  to 
know,  what  it  was  that 

tot  Solvere  cafus 

Jnfignes  Fietate  Viros,  tot  adire  Labores, 
Impulerit. 

And  our  Hiftory  (hall,  on  many  fit  Occafions 
whLh  will  be  therein  offered,  endeavour,  with 
all  Hiftorical  Fidelity  and  Simplicity,  and  with 
as  little  Offence  as  may  be,  to  iatisfie  him.  The 
Sum  of  the  Matter  is,  That  rrom  the  very  Be- 
ginning of  the  REFORMATION  in  the 
Englifb  Nation,  there  hath  always  been  a  Gene- 
ration of  Godly  Men,  defirous  to  ptirfue  the  Re- 
formation of  Religion,  according  to  the  Word  of  Cod 
and  the  Example  of  the  befl  Reformed  Churches  • 
and  anfwering  the  Character  ot  Good  Men,  given 
by  lojephus,   in  his  Paraphrafe  on  the  words  of 

Samuel  tO  Saul,  yM^iy  rtAAo  »p*y6»«fi<M  >eaha<  up 
hanSy  yopi(]orrss  »  \  rt  lv  mifoufi  ii  QiZ x€*sa<£*o7©-. 
They  think  they  do  nothing  Right  in  the  Service  of 
Cod,  but  what  they  do  according  to  the  Command 
oj  God.  And  there  hath  been  another  Genera- 
tion of  Men,  who  have  ftill  employed  the 
Power  which  they  have  generally  ftill  had  in  their 
Hands,  not  only  to  ftop  the  Progi  efs  of  the 
Delncd  Reformation,  but  alfo,  with  Innumer- 
able Vexations,  to  Perfecute  thofe  that  moft 
Heartily  wilhed  well  unto  it.  There  were  many 
of  the  Reformers,  who  joyned  with  the  Reverend 
JOHN  FOX,  in  the  Complaints  which  he 
then  entred  in  his  Martyrology,  about  the  Baits 
of  Popery  yet  left  in  the  Church;  and  in  his 
Wifhes,  God  take  them  away,  or  eafe  us  from  them 
for  God  knows,  they  be  the  Caufe  of  much  Blindnefs 
and  Strife  among  ft  Men !  They  Zealoufly  decreed 
c  the 


A  General  Introduction. 


the  Policy  of  complying  always  with  the  Igno- 
■  mce  and  Vanity  of  the  People ;  and  cried  out 
earneftly  for  Purer  Adminifrrations  in  the  Honfe 
of  God,  and  more  Conformity  to  the  Law  of 
Chrift,  and  Primitive  Chrifttanity  :  While  others 
would  not  hear  of  going  any  further  than  the 
Firjl  Effay  of  Reformation.  'T  is  very  certain, 
that  the  Firfi  Reformers  never  intended,  that 
what  They  did,  fhould  be  the  Alfolute  Boundary 
of  Reformation,  fo  that  it  fhould  be  a  Sin  to  pro- 
ceed any  further ;  as,  by  their  own  going 
yond  Wicklift,  and  Changing  and  Crowing  in  their 
own  Models  alio,  and  the  Confefuons  of  c.v<;;2- 
raer,  with  the  Str/pr  «  Anglwana  of  Bucer,  and  a 
thoufand  other  things,  was  abundantly  demon- 
fixated.  But  after  a  Fruitlefs  Expectation,  where- 
in r.he  trueft  Friends  of  the  Reformation  long 
waited,  for  to  have  that  which  Heylin  himfelt 
owns  to  have  been  the  Detign  of  the  Firjl  Re- 
formers, followed  as  it  fhould  have  been,  a  Party 
very  unju-ftly  arrogating  to  themfelves,  the  Ve- 
nerable Name  of,  The  Church  of  England,  bv 
Numberlefs  Oppreffions,  grievoufly  Smote  thofe 
their  Fellow- Servants.  Then  'twas  that,  as  our 
Great  0  WE  N  hath  expreifed  it,  A  Htitudes  of 
Pious,  Peaceable  Prot  eft  ants,  were  driven,  by  their 
■■itics,  to  leave  their  Native  Country,  and  feek 
a  Refuge  for  their  Lives  and  Liberties,  with  Free 
dom^for  the  Worfhip  of  God,  in  a  WUdtrnefs,  in  the 
Ends  of  the  Earth. 

§.  3.  It  is  the  Hiftory  of  thefe  PROTE- 
STANTS, that  is  here  attempted :  PRO- 
TESTANTS 'that  highly  honoured  and 
affected  The  Church  o/ENGI.AND,  and  hum- 
bly Petition  to  be  a  Part  of  it  :  But  by  the 
Alifbke  of  a  few  powerful  Brethren,  driven  to 
feek  a  place  for  the  Exercife  of  the  Proh 
Religion,  according  to  the  Light  ot  their  C,m- 
fciences,  in  the  Defarts  of  America.  And  in  this 
Attempt  1  have  propofed,  not  only  to  preferve 
and  fecure  thejntereft  of  Religion  ja  the  Churches 
of  that  little  Country  N  E  if  -  £  NG  L  A  N  D, 
fo  far  as  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  may  pleafc  to 
Blefs  it  for  that  End,  but  alio  to  offer  unto  the 
Churches  of  the  Reformatio;:,  abroad  in  the 
World,  fome  (mall  Memorials,  that  may  be  fer- 
viceablc  unto  the  Defignsof  Reformation,  where- 
to, I  believe,  they  are  quickly  to  be  awakened. 
1  am  far  from  any  fuch  Boa  ft,  concerning  thefe 
Churches,  That  they  have  Need  of  Nothing,  I 
wifh  their  Worh  were  more  perfe.0,  before  God. 
Indeed,  that  .-  ich  Aufiin  called  The  Perfection 
of  Chrijl;:r,i\  is  like  to  be,  until  the  Term  for 
Intijchrtflin*  Apofiafie  :;c  expired,  The  Per- 
b  -elm  too;  Vt  .'yvfc.mtfenunca'.am 
tis.  Nicvcithc!c!\  !  ;  •  ■;  fwade  my  felf, 
that  fo  far  <m>  thy  h  im  attained,  they  have  given 
■  Examples  of  the  Methods  and  Meafures, 
wheiein.m  Eitangtticd  Reformation  is  to  be  pro- 
fecuted,  and  0*  th/s  Qua^jieatio;;;  xcqi\\[]tQ  in  the 
'  1  lmetus  that  are  to  pi  f  «  :  ic,  and  of  the 
Difficulties,  which  miv  be  ui<  ft  likely  toobftruci 
:;d  the  mo!t  likely  DiretHom  and  Remedies 
.    hofc  Ohftruftions.  It  ova]  l  e,  'tis  not  pr  fli- 


ble  for  me  to  do  a  greater  Service  unto  the 
Churches  on  the  Beft  Ifiand  of  the  llniverfe,than 
to  give  a  diftinct  Relation  of  thofe  Great  Exam- 
ples which  have  been  occurring  among  Churches 
of  Exiles,  that  were  driven  cut  of  that  ffland 
into  an  horrible  Wildernefs,  meerly  for  their  be* 
ing  Well-vvillers  unto  the  Reformation.  When 
that  Bleffed  Martyr  Conftantine  was  carried,  with 
other  Martyrs,  in  a  Dung- Cart,  onto  the  place 
of  Execution,  he  pleafantly  Paid,  Hell,  yet  we 
are  a  precious  Odour  to  Cod  in  Chrift.  Tho'  the 
i  med  Churches  in  the  Ann  rican  Regions,  have, 
by  very  Injurious  Reprefentations  of  their  Bre- 
thren (all  which  they  deli  re  to  Forget  and  For- 
give !)  been  many  times  thrown  into  a  Dung- 
Cart  ;  yet,  as  they  have  been  a  precious  Odour  to 
God  in  Chrift,  fo,  I  hope,  they  will  be  a  precious 
Odour  unto  H'us  People  ;  and  not  only  Precioast 
but  Vfeful  alfo,  when  the  Hi/lory  of  them  (hall 
come  to  be  confidered.  A  Reformation:  of  the 
Church  is  coming  on,  and  I  cannot  but  there- 
upon fay,  with  the  dying  Cyrus  to  his  Children 
in  Xenophon,  'e*  r$v  ir%vyiys.m\ykvtiv  fj-cwdcims,  du]n 
yd?  ctfirjt  hS'&<nuth!i&.  Learn  from  the  things  that 
hive  been  done  already,  for  this  is  the  beft  way  of 
Learning.  The  Reader  hath  here  an  Account 
of  The  Things  thai  have  bet  n  done  already,  Bernard 
upon  that  Claufein  the  Canticks,  [0  thou  fatrcjl 
among  Women]  has  this  ingenious  Glofs,  Pul- 
chram,  non  omnimode  quidem,  ft  d  pulchram  inter 
mulieres  earn  docet,  videlicet  cum  Dijlintlione,  qua- 
tenus  ex  hoc  amplius  reprimatur  ,  &  fciat  quid 
de/it  ffbi.  Thus  I  do  not  fay,  That  the  Churches 
of  New-  England  are  the  moft  Regular  that  can 
be^  yet  I  do  lay,  and  am  fure,  That  they  arc 
very  like  unto  thofe  that  were  in  the  Firfi  Ages 
of  Cluiftianity.  And  if  I  affeit,  That  in  the 
Reformation  of  the  Church,the  State  of  it  in  thole 
firfi  Ages,  is  to  be  not  a  little  confidered,  the 
Great  Peter  Ramus,  among  others,  has  embol- 
dened me.  For  when  the  Cardinal  of  Lorrain, 
the  Maecenas  of  that  Great  Man,  was  offended 
at  him,  for  turning  Protectant,,  he  replied,  Met- 
opes Mas,  quibus  me  ditafii,  has  etiamin  reternum 
recordabor,  quod  Beneficio,  Foejfiaca  Refponfioms 
tu*  didici,  de  Quindecim  a  Chriflo  faculbs,  frinuon 
vcre  effe  aurcum,  Reliqua,  quo  longius  abfcedt 
effe  nequiora,  atque  deteriora :  Turn  igitur  cumj 
optio,  Aureum  frevdum  delegi.  In  fliort,  The  Firfi 
Age  was  the  Golden  Age ;  To  return  unto  That^ 
will  make  a  Man  a  Proteftant,  and  I  may  add,  a 
Puritan.  'Tis  poffiblc,  That  our  Lord  jefus 
Chrift  carried  fome  Thoufandsof  Reformers  into 
the  Retirements  of  an  American  Defart,  on  pur- 
pofe,  that,  with  an  opportunity  granted  unto 
many  cf  his  Faithful  Servants,  to  enjoy  the  pre- 
cious Liberty  of  their  Mini  fry,  tho'  in  the  mid  fe 
of  many  Temptations  all  their  slays,  He  might 
there,  To  them  firft,  and  then  By  them,  gives 
Specimen  of  many  Good  Things,  which  Fie  would 
have  His  Churches  elfewheie  afpire  and  arife 
unto  :  And  This  being  done,  He  knows  not  whe- 
ther there  be  not  A'l  cone,  that  New  England 
was  planted  for-,  and  whether  the  Plantation 
may  not,    foon   afrer  this,    Come  to  Nothing. 

Upon 


A  General  Introduction. 


Upon  that  ExpreQIon  in  the  Sacred  Scripture,- 
Caft  the  unprofitable  Servant  into  Outer  Darknefs, 
it  hath  been  imagined  by  fome,  That  the  Pept- 
ones Extern  of  America,  are  the  Teuebrx  Exteri 
ores,  which  the  Unprofitable  are  there  condemned 
Onto.  No  doubt,  the  Authors  of  thofe  Ecclefi- 
altical  Impofitions  and  Severities,  which  drove 
the  Englifh  Chriftians  into  the  Dark  Regions  of 
America,  efteemed  thofe  Chrifiians  to  be  a  very 
unprofitable  iort  of  Creatures.  But  behold,  ye  i 
European  Churches,  There  are  Golden  Candle/licks  \ 
tmove  than  twice  Seven  times  Seven!~]  in  the  | 
mid  ft  of  this  Outer  Darknejs ;  Unto  the  upright 
Children  of  Abraham,  here  hath  arifen  Light  in 
P  ufs.  And  let  us  humbly  fpeak  it,  it  fhall 
be  Profitable  for  you  to  confider  the  Light,  which 
from  the  midft  of  this  Outer  Darknefs,  is  now  to 
be  Darted  over  unto  the  other  fide  of  the  Atlan- 
tick  Ocean.  But  we  muft  therewithal  ask  your 
Prayers,  that  thefe  Golden  Candle/licks  may  not 
quickly  be  Removed  out  of  their  place  ! 

§.  4.  But  whether  New  England  may  Live  any 
where  elfe  or  no,  ic  muft  Live  in  our  Hi/lory ! 

HISTORY,  in  general,  hath  had  fo  many 
and  mighty  Commendations  from  the  Pens  of 
thofe  Numberlefs  Authors,  who,  from  Herodotus 
to  Howtl,  have  been  the  profelfed  Writers  of  it, 
that  x  tenth  part  of  them  Tranfcribed^  would  be 
a  Furniture  tor  a  Polyanthea  in  Folio.  We,  that 
have  neither  liberty,  nor  occafion,  to  quote  thofe 
Commendations  of  Hifiory ,  will  content  our 
felves  with  the  Opinion  of  one  who  was  not 
much  of  a  profefd  Hifiorian,  expreffed  in  that 
paffage,  whereto  all  Mankind  fubferibe,  Hifioria 
eft  Tefivs  temporum,  Nuntia  vetuflat'vs,  Luxveri- 
tat'vs,  vita  memorise,  magifira  vit.t.  But  of  all 
Hifiory  it  muft  be  confeffed,  that  the  Palm  is  to 
be  given  unto  Church  Hifiory  ;  wherein  the  Dig- 
nity, the  Suavity,  and  xhzVtility  of  the  Subjecl  is 
tranfeendent.  1  obferve,that  for  the  Defcription 
of  the  whole  World  in  the  Book  of  Genefis,  that 
Firfl-born  of  all  Hifiorians,  the  great  Mofes,  im- 
plies but  one  or  two  Chapters,  whereas  he  im- 
plies, it  may  be  feven  times  as  many  Chapters, 
in  defcribing  that  one  little  Pavilion,  The  Taber- 
nacle \nd  when  I  am  thinking,  what  may  be 
the  I ■'..  tfon  of  this  Difference,  methinks  it  inti- 
mates unto  us,  That  the  Church  wherein  the  Ser- 
vice of  God  is  performed,  is  much  more  Precious 
than  the  World,  which  was  indeed  created  for 
the  Sake  and  life  of  the  Church.  'Tis  very  cer- 
tain, that  the  greateft  Entertainments  muft 
needs  occur  in  the  Hiftory  of  the  People,  whom 
the  Son  of  God  hath  Redeemed  and  Purified  unto 
hirilfelf,  as  a  Peculiar  People,  and  whom  the  Spirit 
of  God,  by  Supernatural  Operations  upon  their 
Minds,  does  caufe  to  live  like  Strangers  \\\thvs 
World,  conforming  themfelves  unto  the  Truths 
and  Rules  of  his  Holy  Word,  in  Expectation  of  a 
Kingdom,  whereto  they  fhall  be  in  another  and  a 
better  World  advanced.  Such  a  People  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  hath  procured  and  preferved  in  all 
Ages  vifible ;  and  the  Difpenfations  of  his  jvom- 
Jbnus  Providence  towards  this  People  (for,  O 


Lord,  thou  do'fl  lift  them  np,  and  ca(t  them  down .') 
their  Calamities,their  Deliverances,  the  Difpofi- 
tions  which  they  have  ftill  discovered,  and  the 
confiderable  Per  funs  and  Ailions  found  among 
them,  cannot  but  afford  Matters  of  Admiration 
and  Admonition,   above  what  any  other  Story 
can  pretend  unto  :  'Tis  nothing  but  Atheifm  in 
the  Hearts  of  Men,   that  can  perfwade  them 
otherwife.  Let  any  Perfon  of  good  Senfe  perufe 
the  Hiftory  of  Herodotus,   which,  like  a  River 
taking  Rife,  where  the  Sacred  Records  of  the  Old 
Teftamerit  leave  off,  runs  along  fmoothly  and 
fweetly,  with  Relations  that  fometimes  perhaps 
want  an  Apology,  down  until  the  Grecians  drive 
the  Pcrfians  betore  them.     Let  him  then  perufe 
Thucydides,   who  from  Ailing  betook  himfelf  to 
Writings   and   carries  the  ancient  State  of  the 
Grecians,  down  to  the  twenty  firft  Year  of  the 
Feloponncfian  Wars  in  a  manner,  which  Cafaubon 
judges  to  be  Aiirandum  potius  quam  imitandum. 
Let  him  next  Revolve  Xensphon ,   that  Bee  of 
Athens,    who    continues   a    Narrative  of  the 
Greek  Affairs,  from  the  Peloponnefian  Wars,  to  the 
Battle  of  Mantinea,  and  gives  us  a  Cyrus  into  the 
bargain,  at  filch  a  rate,  that  Lipftus  reckons  the 
Character  oizSuavi,    Fidus  &   Circumfpedus 
Scriptor,  to  belong  unto  him.     Let  him   from 
hence  proceed  unto  Dwdorus  Siculus,  who,befides 
a  rich  Treafure  of  Egyptian,  Afiyrian.  Lybian  and 
Grecian,  and  other  Antiquities,  in  a  Phrafe,which 
according    to  Pbotius's    Judgment ,     is    <><>{«,* 
[j-tthtra,  "jrffTKs-ii,  of  all  mofi  becoming  an  Hifiorian 
carries  on  the  Thread  begun  by  his  Predeceffors| 
until  the  End  of  the  Hundred  and  nineteenth 
Olympiad;  and  where  he  is  defective,  let  it  be 
fupplied  from  Arianus,  from  Juftin,  and  from 
Curtius,  who  in  the  relifh  of  Colerus  is,  Quovvi 
me'de  dulcior.  Let  him  hereupon  confult  Polybius 
and  acquaint  himfelf  with  the  Birth  and  Growth 
of  the  Roman  Empire,  as  far  as  'tis  defcribed,  in 
Five  of  the  Forty  Books  compofed  by  an  Author 
who  with  a  Learned  Profcffor  of  Hifiory  is,  Prti- 
dens  Scriptor,  ft  quvs  alius.  Let  him  now  run  over 
the  Table  of  the  Roman  Affairs,  compendioufly 
given  by  Lucius  Floras,  and  then  let  him  confider 
the  Tranfactions  of  above  three  hundred  Years 
reported  by  Dionyftus  Halicarnajfjus,  who,  if  the 
Cenfure  of  Bodin  may  be  taken,  Gr^cos  omnes  & 
Latinos  fuperafje  videatur.     Let  him  from  hence 
pafs  to  Livy,  of  whom  the  famous  Critick  fays 
Hoc  folum  ingenium  (de  Hifionch  Loquor)  populus 
Romanus  par  lmperio  fuo  habuit,  and  fuppiy  thofe 
of  his  Decads  that  are  loft,  from  the  beft  Frag- 
ments of  Antiquity,  in  others  (and  efpecially 
Dion  and  Saluft)  that  lead  us  on  ftill  further  in 
our  way.     Let  him  then  proceed  unto  the  Wri- 
ters of  the  Cefarean  times,  and  firft  revolve  Sue- 
tonius, then  Tacitus,  then  Herodian,  then  a  whole 
Army  more  of  Hifiorians,  which  now  crowd  into 
our  Library,  and  unto  all  the  reft,  let  him  no£ 
fail  of  adding  the  Incomparable  Plutarch,  whofe 
Books  they  fay,  Theodori  Gaza  preferred  above 
any  in  the  World,  next  unto  the  Infpired  Ora- 
cles of  the  Bible :  But  if  the  Number  be  ftill  too 
little  to  fatisfie  an  Hijlorkal  Appetite,  let  him  add 
C  2  Tolyhifict 


A  General  Introduction. 


Polyhiftor  unto  the  number,  and  all  the  Chronicles 
of  the  following  Ages.  After  all,  he  mult  fen- 
fibly  acknowledge,  that  the  two  fhort  Books  of 
Eccleftaftical  Hiftory,  written  by  the  Evangelifl 
Luke,  hath  given  us  more  glorious  Entertainments, 
than  all  thefe  voluminous  Hiftorians  if  they 
were  put  all  together.  The  Achievements  of 
one  Paul  particularly,  which  that  Evangelift 
hath  Emblaz.on'd,  have  more  True  Glory  in  them, 
than  all  the  Afts  of  thofe  Execrable  Plunderers 
and  Murderers,  and  irrefiftible  Banditti  of  the 
World,  which  have  been  dignified  with  the 
Name  of  Conquerors.  Tacitus  counted  Ingentia 
bella,  Expugnationes  urbium,  fufos  captofquc  Reges, 
the  Ravages  of  War,  and  the  glorious  Violences, 
whereof  great  Warriors  make  a  wretched  Often- 
tarion,  to  be  the  Noble  ft  Matte*  fox  an  Hiftorian. 
But  there  is  a  Nobler,  1  humbly  conceive,  in  the 
planting  and  forming  cf  Evangelical  Churches, 
and  the  Temptations*  the  Corruptions,  the  Affiiclt- 
ons,  which  affauk  them ,  and  their  Salvations 
from  thofe  Aflaults,  and  the  Exemplary  Lives  of 
thofe  that  Heaven  employs  to  be  Patterns  of 
Holinefs  and  Vfefulncfs  noon  Earth  :  And  unto 
filch  it  is,  that  1  now  invite  my  Readers ;  Things, 
in  comparifon  whereof,  the  Subjects  of  many 
other  Hiftories,  are  of  as  little  weight,  as  the 
Queftions  about  Z,  the  laft  Letter  of  our  Alpha- 
bet, and  whether  H  is  to  be  pronounced  with  an 
Afpiration,  where  about  whole  Volumes  have 
been  written,  and  of  no  more  Account,  than 
the  Compofure  of  Didymus.  But  for  the  manner 
of  my  treating  this  Matter,  I  muffc  now  give 
fome  account  unto  him. 

§.  ^  Reader !  I  have  done  the  part  of  an  Im- 
partial Hiftorian,  albeit  not  without  all  occafjon 
perhaps,  for  the  Rule  which  a  worthy  Writer, 
in  his  Hijiorica,  gives  to  every  Reader,  Hijiorki 
Legantur  cum  Moderatione  &  venia,  &  cogitctur 
fieri  nen  pofjc  itt  in  omnibus  circumftantiis  fmt 
Lymei.  Polybius  complains  of  thofe  Hijlorians, 
who  always  made  either  the  Carthagenians  brave, 
and  the  Romans  bafe,  or  e  contra,  in  all  their 
A&ions,  as  their  Affection  for  their  own  Party 
led  them.  I  have  eadeavoured,  with  all  good 
Conscience,  to  decline  this  writing  meerly  for  a 
Party,  or  doing  like  the  Dealer  in  Hiftory, 
whom  Lucian  derides,  for  always  calling  the 
Captain  of  his  own  Party  an  schittes,  but  of  the 
adverfe  Party  a  Therfites :  Nor  have  I  added 
unto  the  juft  Provocations  for  the  Complaint 
made  by  the  Baron  Mauricr,  That  the  greatejl 
part  of  Hiftories  are  but  fo  many  Panegyricks  com- 
jofed  by  Jntcrcfted  Hinds,  which  elevate  Iniquity 
to  the  Heavens,  like  Paterculus,  and  like  Machi- 
avel,  who  propofe  Tiberius  Cefar,  and  Cefar  fior- 
gia,  as  Examples  fit  for  Imitation,  whereas  True 
Hiftory  would  have  Exhibited  them  as  Horrid 
Monfters.  as  very  Devils.  'Tis  tiue,  I  am  not  of 
the  Opinion,  that  one  cannot  merit  the  Name 
of  an  Impartial  Hiftorian,  except  he  write  bare 
Matters  of  I- ail,  without  all  Reflettion  ;  for  I  can 
tell  where  to  find  this  given  as  the  Definition  cf 
Hiftory,  Hiftoria  eft  rerum  geftarum,   cum  laud* 


nut  vituperatime,  Narratio:  And  if  I  am  not 
altogether  a  Tacitus,  when  Vertues  or  Vices  oc- 
cur to  be  Matters  of  Reflection,  as  well  as  of  Re- 
lation, 1  will,  for  my  Vindication,  appeal  to  Ta- 
citus himfelf,  whom  Lip/ins  calls  one  of  the  Pru- 
denteft  (tho*  Tertullian,  long  before,  counts  him 
the  Lyingeft)  of  them  who  have  Inriched  the 
World  with  Hiftory  .•  He  lays,  Pr-'cipuum  nnmus 
Annalium  reor,  ne  virtutes  fileantur ,  utque  pravis 
Diclis,Faclifque  ex  pofteritate  &  Infamiametus  fit. 
I  have  not  Commended  any  Perfon,  but  when  I 
have  really  judg'd,  not  only  Tiwt  he  Dtferved  it, 
but  alfo  that  it  would  be  a  Benefit  unto  Pofte- 
rity  to  know,  Wherein  he  deferved  it:  And  my 
Judgment  of  Dcfert,  hath  not  been  Biaffed,  by 
Perfons  being  of  my  own  particular  Judgment 
in  matters  of  Difputation,  among  the  Churches  of 
God.  I  have  been  a^,  willing  to  wear  the  Name 
of  Simplicius  Verimts,  throughout  my  whole  un- 
dertaking, as  he  that,  before  me,  hath  affumed 
it :  Nor  am  I  like  Pope  Zacbary^  impatient  fo 
much  as  to  hear  of  any  Antipodes.  The  Spirit 
of  a  Schluffelbcrgius,  who  falls  foul  with  Fury  and 
Reproach  on  all  who  differ  from  him ;  The  Spiric 
of  an  Heylin,  who  feems  to  count  no  Obloquy 
too  hard  for  a  Reformer ;  and  the  Spirit  of  thofe 
(Folio-writers  there  are,  fome  of  them,  in  the  En- 
glifh  Nation  !)  whom  a  Noble  Hiftorian  Stigma- 
tizes, as,  Thofe  Hot-headed,  Pajfionate  Bigots,  from 
whom,  'tis  enough,  if  you  be  of  a  Keligion  contrary 
unto  theirs,  to  be  defamed,  condemned  and  purfued 
with  a  thoufand  Calumnies.  I  thank  Heaven  I 
Hate  it  with  all  my  Heart.  But  how  can  the 
Lives  of  the  Commendable  be  written  without 
Commending  them  ?  Or,  is  that  Law  of  Hiftory 
given  in  one  of  the  eminenteft  pieces  of  Anti- 
quity we  now  have  in  our  hands,  wholly  anti- 
quated, Maxime  proprium  efl  Hiftoria,  Lav.dem 
rerum  egregie  geftarum  pcrfequi  F  Nor  have  I,  on 
the  other  fide,  forbore  to  mention  manv  Cenfit- 
rable  things,  even  in  the  Belt  of  my  Friends, 
when  the  things,  in  my  opinion,  were  not  Good ; 
or  fo  bore  away  for  Placentia,  in  the  courfe  of 
our  Story,  as  to  pafs  by  Verona  •  but  been  mind- 
ful of  the  Direction  which  Polybius  gives  to  the 
Hiftorian,  It  becomes  him  that  writes  an  thftory, 
fometimes  to  extol  Enemies  in  his  Praifes,  when  their 
praife-  worthy  Ailions  befpeak  it,  and  at  the  fame 
time  to  reprove  the  bed  Friends,  when  their  Deeds 
appear  worthy  of  a  reproof;  in- as  much  as  Hiftory  is 
good  for  nothing,  if  Truth  (which  is  the  very  Eye  of 
the  Animal)  be  not  in  it.  1  ndeed  I  have  thought  it 
my  duty  upon  all  accounts,  (and  it  it  have  pro- 
ceeded unto  the  degree  of  a  Fault,  there  is,  it 
may  be,  fomething  in  my  Temper  and  Nature,that 
has  betray'd  me  therein)  to  be  more  fparing  and 
ealie,  in  thus  mentioning  of  Cenfurable  things, 
than  in  my  other  Liberty  ;  A  writer  of  Cburcb- 
Hiftory,  fhould,  1  know,  belike  the  builder  of  the 
Temple,  one  of  the  Tribe  of  Naphthali ;  and  for 
this  1  will  alfo  plead  my  Polybius  in  myExcufe; 
It  is  not  the  Work  of  an  Hiftorian,  to  commemorate 
the  Vices  and  ViUanies  of  Men,  fo  much  as  their 
juft,  their  fair,  their  honcft  Atlions :  And  the  Rea- 
ders of  Hiftory  get  more  good  by  the  Ob]eSs  of  their 

Emulation, 


A  General  Introduction. 


Emulation,  than  of  their  Indignation.     Nor  do  I 
deny,  that  tho'  1  cannot  approve  the  Conduct  bf 
fofephus,  (whom  Jerom  not  unjuftly  nor  ineptly 
calls,  The  Greek  Liny)  when  he  left  out  of  his  An- 
tiquities, the  Story  of  the  Golden  Calf,  and  I  don't 
wonder  to  find  Chamier,  and  Rivet,   and  others,  | 
taxing  him  for  his  Partiality  towards  his  Coun- 
try-men •,  yet  1  have  left  nnmentioned  fome  Cen- 
furable  Occurrences  in  the  Story  of  our  Colonies,  as 
things  no  tefiVnufeful  than  Improper  to  be  raifed 
out  of  the  Grave,  wherein  Oblivion  hath  now 
buried  them ;  left  I  fhould  have  incurred  the  Paf- 
quil  beftowed  upon  Pope  Vrban,  who  employing 
a  Committee  to  Rip  up  the  Old  Errors  of  his  Pre- 
deceflbrs,  one  clap'd  a  pair  of  Spurs  upon  the 
heels  of  the  Statue  of  St.  Peter  ■  and  a  Label 
from  the  Statue  of  St.  Paul  oppol'ite  thereunto, 
upon  the  Bridge,  ask'd  him,  Whither  he  was  bound  ? 
St.  Peter  anfwered,  /  apprehend  form  Danger  in 
flaying  here ;  I  fear  they'll  call  me  in  Queftion  for 
denying  my  Mafter.      And  St.  Paul  replied,  Nay, 
then  1  had  be  ft  be  gone  too,  for  they'll  quejlion  me 
alfo,  for  Per  feinting  the  Chriflians  before  my  Con 
vcrfiun.     Briefly,  My  Pen  mall  Reproach  none, 
that  can  give  a  Good    Word  unco  any  Good 
Man  that  is  not  of  their  own  Faction,  and  fhall 
Fall  out  with   none,  but  thofe  that   can   Agree 
with  no  body  elfe,   except  thole  of  their  own 
Schifm.  If  I  draw  any  fort  of  Men  with  Charcoaf 
it  fhall  be,  becaufe  1  remember  a  notable  paffage 
of  the  Beft  Queen  that  ever  was  in  the  World, 
our  late  Queen  Mary.     Monfieur  Juvien,  that  he 
might  Juftifie  the  Reformation  in  Scotland,  made 
a  very  black  Reprefentation  of  their  old  Queen 
Alary ;   for  which,  a  certain  Sycophant  would 
1  ive  incenfed  our  Queen  Mary  againffc  that  Reve- 
rend Perfon,  faying,  Is  it  not  a  Shame  that  this 
Man,   without  any  Confideration  for  your  Royal  Per- 
fon, /he     '  !  ire  to  throw  fucb  Infamous  Calumnies 
■upon  a  Que;:,  from  whom  your   Roy  il  Highncfs  is 
defcended?    But  that  Excellent  Princefs  replied, 
No,   not  at  all ;    Is  it   not  enough  that  by  fulfome 
Praifes  great  Per  Jons  be  lulled  afleep  all  their  Lives ; 
But  mufl  Flattery  accompany   them  to  their  very 
Graves  ?    How  fhould  they  fear  the  Judgment  of 
Vofterity,  if  I  ljiorians  be  not  allowed  to  fpeak  the 
Truth  after  their  Death?    But  whether  1  do  my 
ielf  Commend,  or  whether  I  give  my  Reader  an 
opportunity  to  Cmfure,    I  am  careful  above  all 
things  to  do  it  with  Truth  ■,  and  as  I  haveconfi- 
dered  the  words  of  Flato,  Dtum  indigne  &gra- 
viter  ferrc,  cum  quis  et  fimilem  hoc  eft,  virtute  pra- 
ftantem,  vimperet,   aut  laudei  contrarium  :   So  I 
have  had  the  Ninth  Commandment  of  a  greater 
Law-giver  than  Plato,  to  preferve  my  care  of 
Truth  from  fir  ft  to  lail.     If  any  Miftake  have 
been  any  where  committed,    it  will  be  found 
meerly  Circumftantial,  and  wholly  Involuntary, 
and  let  it  be  rcmembred,  that  tho'  no  Hiflorian 
ever  merited  better  than  the  Incomparable  Thua- 
nus,  yet  learned   Men  have  faid  ot  his  Work, 
what  they  never  fhall  truly  fay  of  ours,  that  it 
contains  multafalfifjima  &  indigna.    1  find  Eraf- 
ntut  bimfelf  miftaking  One  Man  for  Two,  when 
writing  of  the  Ancients.     And  even  our  own 


Englifti  Writers  too  are  often  miftaken,  and  in 
Matters  of  a  very  late  Importance,  as  Baker,  and 
Heylin,  and  Fuller,  (profeffed  Hiftorians)  tell  us, 
that  Richard  Sutton,  a  fingle  Man,  founded  the 
Charter- Honfe  i  whereas  his  Name  was  Thomas, 
and  he  was  a  married  Man.     I  think  I  can  Recite 
fuch  Miilakes,  it  may  be  Sans  Number  occurring 
in  the  rnoft  credible  Writers;  yet  I  hope  I  fhall 
commit  none  fuch.    But  altho'  1  thus  challenge,  as 
my  due,  the  Character  of  an  Impartial,  I  doubt  I 
may  not  challenge  That  of  an  Elegant  Hiflorian. 
I  cannot  fay,   whether  the  Style,  wherein  this 
Church- Hi flory  is  written,  will  pleafe  the  Modern 
Critichs:    But  if  1  feem  to  have  ufed  a^araT" 
cwTci'i  ypapk,  a  Simple,  Submifs,  Humble  Style, 
'tis  the  fame  that  Euft bius  affirms  to  have  been 
ufed  by  Hegefippw,  who,  as  far  as  weundcrftand 
was  the  firit  Author  (after  Luke')  that  evercom- 
pofed  an   entire  Body  of  Fcclcfiaftical  Hiftorv, 
which  he  divided  into  Five  Books,  and  Entitled 
v'woy.v'ifj.ATo.  $j  ix.K*.HG tax mav  ^(A^tav.  W hereas  others 
it  may  be,  will  reckon  the  Sfy/eEmbellifhed  with 
too  much  of  Ornament,  by  the  multiplied  Refe- 
rences to  other  and  former  Concerns,   clofely 
coucfi'd,  tor  the  Obfervation  of  the  Attentive,  in 
almoft  every  Paragraph  ;   but  I   mult  confefs, 
that  I  am  of  his  mind  who  faid,  Sicuti  fdl  nwdice 
cibis  afperfus  Condit,&  gratiam  faporis  addit,  itafi 
pa-alum  Antiquitatis  admifcueris,Ofatiofit  venuftior. 
And  1  have  feldom  feen  that  Way  of  Writing 
faulted,  but  by  thofe,  who,  for  a  certain  odd 
Reafon,  fometimes  find  fault,  That  the  Grapes  are 
not  ripe.     Thefe  Embellifhmcnts  (of  which  yet  I 
only -'Teniam  pro  laude  peto)  are  not  the  puerile 
Spoils  oiPolyanthea\  ,  but  I  mould  have  afferted 
them  to  be  as  choice  Flowers  as  rnoft  that  occur 
in  Ancient  or  Modern  Writings,  almoft  una- 


voidably putting  themfelves  into  the  Authors 
Hand,  while  about  his  Work,  if  thofe  words  of 
Ambrofe  had  not  a  little  frighted  me,  as  well  as 
they  did  Batonius,    Vnumquemque  Fallunt  fua 
fcripta  I  obfervc  that  Learned  Men  have  been  fo 
terrified  by  the  Reproaches  of  Pedantry,  which 
little  Smatterers  at  Reading  and  Learning  have, 
by  their  Quoting  Humours  brought  upon  them- 
felves, that,  for  to  avoid  all  Approaches  towards 
that  which  thofe  Feeble  Creatures  have  gone  to 
imitate,  the  belt  way  of  Writing  has  been  rnoft 
hijurioufly  deferred.  But  what  fhall  we  fay  ?  The 
Beft  way  of  Writing,  under  Heaven,  fhall  be  the 
Worft,  when  Erafmus  his  Monofy liable  Tyrant 
will  have  it  fo  !    And  if  I  fhould  have  refignM 
my  felf  wholly  to  the  Judgment  of  otbers,Wbat 
way  of  Writing  to  have  taken,  the  Story  of  the 
two  Statues  made  by  Policletus  tells  me,  what 
may  have  been  the  I  flue:    He  contrived  one  of 
them  according  to  the  Rules  that  beft  pleafed 
himfelf,  and  the  other  according  to  the  Fancy 
of  every  one  that  look'd  upon  his  Work  :   The 
former  was  afterwards  Applauded  by  all,  and 
the  latter  Derided  by  thofe  very  Perfons  who 
had  given  their  Directions  for  it.     As  for  fuch 
Vnaccuracies  as  the  Critical  may  difcover,  Opere 
in  longo,  1  appeal  to  the  Courteous,  for  a  favour- 
able Conftruction  of  them ;  and  certainly  they 

will 


A  General  Introduction. 


will  be  favourably  Judged  of,  when  there  is  con- 
sidered the  Variety  of  my  other  Employments , 
which  have  kept  me  in  continual  Hurries,  I  had 
alraofr  faid,like  thofe  of  the  Ninth  Sphere,  for  the 
few  Months  in  which  this  Work  has  been  Di- 
gefiwg.  It  was  a  thing  well  thought,  by  the  wife 
Def!giKrs  of  Chelfey- Cotledge,  wherein  able  Hiflo- 
rians  were  one  fort  of  Perlons  to  be  maintained  ; 
Tha'  the  Romanics  do  in  one  Point  condemn 
the  !  roteftants  •,  for  among  the  Romanifts,they 
do'    :  burden  their  Profeffors  with  any  Parochial 
Ix-'imbrance..' ;   but  among  the   Protejlants,   the 
v.   y  fame  Individual  Man  mnft  Preacb,Catecbiz.e, 
Adminifter  the  Sacraments,  Vifit  the  Aflii&ed, 
;    A  manage  all  the  parts  of  Church-Difcipline  • 
;  id  if  any  Pools  lor  the  Service  of  Religion,  be 
written, ' Perfons  thus  extreamly  incumbred  mull 
be  the  Writers.  Now,of  all  the  Churches  under 
Heaven,  there  ate  none  that  expect  lb  much  Va- 
riety of  Service  from  their  Pallors,  as  thofe  of 
New.*  England  \  and  of  all  the  Churches  in  New- 
England,  there  are  none  that  require  moi  e,  than 
thote  in  Boflon,  the  Metro  pel  is  of  the  Englilh 
Arrcrica;    wheieof  one  is,    by   the  Lord  Jefus 
Chriit,commitced  unto  the  Care  of  the  unworthy 
Hand,by  which  this  liiflory  is  compiled.  Reader, 
Give  me  leave  humbly  to  mention,  with  him  in 
Tally,  Antcquam  de  Re,  Pauca  de  h\e\   Conftant 
Sermons,  ufually  more  than  once,  and  perhaps 
three  or  four  times,  in  a  Week,  and  all  the  other 
Duties  of  a  Pafloral  Watcbfulnefs,    a  very  large 
Flock  has  all  this  while  demanded  of  me ;  wherein, 
if  I  had  been  furnifhed  with  as  many  Heads  as  a 
Typbeus,  as  many  Eyes  as  an  Argos,  and  as  many 
Elands  as  a  Briareus,  I  might  have  had  Work 
enough  to  have  employed  them  all ;  nor  hath  my 
Station  left  me  free  from  Obligations  to  fpend 
very  much  time  in  the  Evangelical  Service  of 
others  aifo.     It  would  have  been  a  great  Sin  in 
me,  to  have  Omitted,  or  Abated,  my  Juft  Cares, 
to  fulfil  my  Miniftry  in  thtfe  things,  and  in  a  man- 
ner Give  my  [elf  wholly  to  them.     All  the  time  I 
had  for  my  Church-  tliflory    hath  heen  per- 
haps only,  cr  chiefly,  that,  which  I  might  have 
taken  elfe  for  lefs  profitable  Recreations;  and  it 
hath  all  been  done  by  Snatches.    My  Reader  will 
not  find  me  the  Pcrfon  intended  in  his  Littany, 
when  he  fays,  Libera  me  ah  homine  imius  Ncgotis 
Nor  have  1  fpent  Tlnrty  Tears  in  fhaping  this  my 
Miflory,  as  Diodorus  Siculus  did  for  his,    f_and 
yet  both  Bodinus  and  Sigonius  complain  of  the 
2?*A/*aV  attending  it.]     But  I  wilh  1  could  have 
enjoy'd  entirely  for  this  Work,one  quarter  of  the 
little  mors  than  Tiro  Tears  which  have  roll'd 
away  fince  1  began  it ;   whereas  I  have  been 
forced  fometimes  wholly  to  throw  by  the  Work 
whole  Months  together,  and  then  refume  it,  but 
by  a  ftolen  hour  or  two  in  a  day,  not  without 
fome  hazard  of  incurring  the  Title  which  Coryat 
put  upon  his  Hiftory  of  his  Travels,  Cruditks 
hastily  gobbled  up  in  five  Months.    Protogcnes  being 
feven  Years  in  drawing  a  Picture,  Apelles  upon 
the  fight  of  it,  faid,  The  Grace  of  the  Work  mas 
much  allay'd  by  the  length  of  the  Time.    Whatever 
eWe  the:  e  may  have  been  to  take  off  the  Grace  ofl 


the  Work,  now  in  the  Readers  hands,(whereoftb8 
Pittures  of  Great  and  Good  Men  make  aconft- 
derable  part)  I  am  fure  there  hath  not  b.-en  the 
length  of  the  Time  to  do  it.  Our  Englifh  Martyro- 
loger,  counted  it  a  fufficient  Apology,  for  what 
Meannefs  might  be  found  in  the  firlt  Edition  o* 
his  Ads  and  Monuments,  that  it  was  hafiily  rafhei 
up  in  about  fourteen  Months-    And  I  may  Apolo- 
gize for  this  Collection  of  our  ACts  and  Monu- 
ments, that  I  ihould  have  been  glad,  in  the  little 
more  than  Two  Tears  which  have  ran  out,  ftnee  i 
enter'dupon  it,  ill  could  have  had  one  half  o! 
About  fourteen  A-onths  to  have  entirely   devoted 
thereunto.  But  befides  thzTime,  which  the  Daih 
Services   of  my  own  firlt,  and  then   many  oth'e" 
Churches,  have  necefiarily  call'd  for,   1  have  lof: 
abundance  of  precious  Time,  thro'  the  feeble  and 
broken  State  of  my  Health,  which  hath  unfitted 
me  lor  Hard  Study,  I  csn  do  nothing  to  purpoft 
at  Lucubrations.  And  yet,  in  this  Tune  alfo  of  the 
two  or  three  Years  laft  pall,  1  have  not  been  ex- 
cufed  from  the  further  Diverfion  of  Publffiiig 
(tho'  not  fo  many  as  they  fay  Mercurita  Tnfrrx- 
gifnts  did,  yet)  more  than  aScor'  cf  other  £<»kst 
upon  a  copious  Variety  of  other  Subjects, be:. ... ..' 

the  composing  of  fevcral  more,  that  are  not  yet 
publifhed.   Nor  is  this  neither  all  the  Task  that  I 
have  in  this  while  bad  lying  upon  me  ;  for  (tfetf 
1  am  very  fenfible  of  what  Jerom  faid,  NmhaH 
jit,  quod  occupato  Ammo  fit ;    and  of  Quintili&tfs 
Remark,   Am  fimul  in  multa  intendere  Animas 
totum  poteft-f)  when  I  applied  my  mind  unto  tfe 
wayofferving  the  Lord  JESUS   CHRIST 
in  my  Generation,    I  fet  upon  another  and  a 
greater,  which  has  had,  1  fuppofe,  more  of  aw 
Thought  and  Hope  than  this,  and  wherein  there 
hath  paffed  me,  for  the  moftpart,  Nulla  dies  fine 
linea.     I  coniidered,  That  all  fort  of  [.earning 
might  be  made  glorioufly  Subfervient  unto  the 
Illuflration  of  the  Sacnd  Scripture  ;   and  that  so 
proftfjed  Commentaries  had  hitherto  given  a  thoa- 
fandth  part  of  fo  much  Illuflration  unto  it,  as 
might  be  given.    I  confidered,that  Multitudes  of 
particular  Texts,  had,  efpxially  of  later  Years, 
been  more  notably  Jllujlrated  in   the  Scattered 
Pooks  of  Learned  Men,  than  in  any  of  the  Ordi- 
nary Commentators.    And  I  confider'd,  That  the 
Treafurcs  of  Illuflration  for  the  Bible,  difperfeil  in 
many  hundred  Volumes,   might  be  fetch'd  all 
together  by  a  Labour  that  would  refolve  to  Con- 
quer all  things  ■,   and  that  all  the  Improvamnts 
which  the  Later-ages  have  made  in  the  Scier,test 
might  be  alfo,    with  an  inexprelhble  Pleafire, 
call'd  in,  to  Chrift  the  Illuflration  of  the  Holy 
Oracles,  at  a  Rate  that  hath  not  been  attempted 
in  the  vulgar  Annotations  •    and  that  a  common 
degree  of  Senfe,v/oM  help  a  Perfon,  who  fhould 
converfe  much  with  thefe  things,  to  attempt 
fometimes  alfo  an  Illuflration  of  his  own,  which 
might  expect  fome  Attention.  Certainly,  it  will 
not  be  ungrateful  unto  good  Men,  to  have  in- 
numerable Antiquities,  Jewifh,  Chaldee,  Arabian, 
Grecian  and  Roman,  brought  home  unto  us,  with 
a  Sweet  Light  Reflected  from  them  on  the  Word> 
which  is  our  Light .-  Or,  To  have  all  the  Typical 

Men 


A  General  Introduction. 


Men  and  things  in  our  Book  ofMyfleries,  accom- 
modated with  their  Antitypes:    Or,  To  have 


WITH   M  E.     My  Reader  fees,  why  I  com- 
mit the  Fault  of  a  -zrsp/aoTi*,  which  appears  in 


many  Hundreds  of  References  to  our  dearefldthe  mention  of  thefe  Minute- parages ;  'tis  to 


LordMrffub,  difcovered  in  the  Writings  which 
Teftifie  of  Him,  oft ncr  than  the  moft  of  Man- 
kind have  hitherto  imagined  :  Or,  To  have  the 
iiiftbries  of  all  Ages,  coming  in  with  punctual 


excufe  whatever  other  Fault  of  Inaccuracy,  or 
Inadvertency,  may  be  difcovered  in  an  Hiftory, 
which  hath  been  a  fort  of  Rapfody  made  up 
(like  the  Paper  whereon  'tis  written  !)  with 


and  furprifingFw/pWmejjfj  of  the  Div-inePropbeciet,  many  little  Rags,  tovn  from  an  Employment, 
as  far  as  they  have  been  hitherto  fulfilled;  and  :  multifarious  enough   to  overwhelm  one  of  my 
not  meer  ConjeStires,  but  even  Mathematical  and   fmall  Capacities. 
Inconteftable  Dem  ns,  given  of  Expofititms 


offered  upon  the  Pro  <<\!bat  yet  remain  to 
be  accomplifhed :  Or,  To  have  in  One  Heap, 
Thovfands  of  thote  Remark  ..  Difco  eries  af  the 
deep  things  of  the  Spirit  of  (  od,  whei  eof  one  or  two, 
or  a  few,  fometimes,  ha\  e  been,with  good  Succcfs 
accounted  Matei  i;  '   ■  a  Perfon 

into  Autborifm;  01  I  '  the  delicious  Curio* 
fitses  of  Grotius,  ai  I  and  Light- 

foot,  and  Scldeu,  and  Spencer  '  ly  felefted 

and  corrected)  and  many  more    ii  tnts  in  Know- 
ledge, all  fet  upon '.■ne  Table,  rsteiius, 
That  at  Florence  there  is  a  rich  Table,  worth  a 
thoufanJ  Crowns. m  r!e  of  Pre<               tes  neatly 
inlaid  ;  a  Table  thai    -.  i    fifteen  Years  in  making, 
with  no  lefs  than  thin  upon 
it;  even  fuch  a  Tabl              i       afford  fa  rich 
Entertainments,   as  one  ttut   fhould  have   the 
Soui-feafting  Thoughts  ef  thole  Learned   Men 
together  fet  upon  it.     Only  'tis  pitty,  that  in- 
ftead  of  one  poor  fceb            titan,  over.vbelm'd 
with  a  thoufand  Other  Cares,  and   capable  of 
touching  this  Work  no  other  wife  than  in  a  Di- 
greffion,  there  be  no:  more  than  Thirty  Men 
daily  employ'd  about  it.   Foi\when  the  excellent 
Mr.  Fool  had  finifhed  his  Laborious  and  Immor- 
tal Task,  it  was  noted  by  ibme  considerable  Per- 
fons,   That  wanting  slffiftance  lo  Colktl  for  him 
many  mifcellaneous  Criticifms,  occaftonally  fcattered 
in  other  Authors,  be  left  many  better- Things  behind 
hi  m  than  he  found.     At  more  /than  all  this,  our 
Ejfay  is  levell'd,   if  it  be  not  anticipated  with 
that  Epitaph,     agnis  tamen  excidit  mfis.  Defin- 
ing accordingly,  to  give  the  Church  of  God  fuch 
difplays  of  his   hie  fled  Word,  as  may   be  more 
Entertaining  fortheRai  icy  and  Novelty  of  them, 
than  any  that  have  hitherto  been  leen  together 
,    [-xfo'ition-,   and  yet  fuch  as  may  be  ac- 

Cable  unto  the  moft   Judicious,  for  the  De- 
I'nuh  of  them,  and  unto  the  moft 

■  <■■   ix,    for  the  re:',  ird  bad 
a;  F 

ieaciv  n  bilge  m  mber  c{  Golden  Keys  to  tip&a 
the/  ndirts  of  Heawern,  and  feme  thonfands  of 
clurr;  iag  and  cut  ions  and  Sngnlar  Votes,  by  the 
New  Help  wtoereofytle  I!  'nrd  of  CH  R  1  S  T  may 


for  theiigirdhad  unto  the  Analogy 
Fut'j  in  aill,  1  hjvc  now,  in  a  few  Months,  got 


If  the  Cod  of  my  Lt/e,  will 
Cm,'    vet  Sinful,  and 
,    Fofeited  Life!]  as  many 


run  and  be  glorified 
pleafe  to  fparc  my 
Slothful,  and  there 

years  longer  as  "the  Bartm  Fig-tree  bad  in  the 

Parable,  I  may  m  ito  the  Church  of  God, 

an  humble  Tender  of  r  HI  B  L  I  A   A  M  E  R  I- 

CAN  A,  aVoli  h  !i'd  with  better  things 

than  all  the  Plate  <  ,  YET  NOT  I, 

BUT    THE   (  ii    OF    CHRIST 


Magna  dabit,  qui  magna  poteft  ;  tnibi  p.xrva  potenti, 
Parvaque  pofecnti,  p  itva  dedijfefat  eft. 

§.6.Butfhull  I  prognoftieate  thy Fate,now  that, 

Parve  ( fed  invidco)    ne  me,  Liber,  ibis  in  Vrbem. 

Luther,  who  was  himfelf  owner  of  fuch  an  Heart, 
advifed  every  Hiftorian  to  get  the   Heart  of  a 
Lion  ;  and  the  more  1  eonlider  of  the  Provoca- 
tion, which  this  our  Church  Hiftory  muft  needs 
give  to  that  Roaring  Lion,  who  has,  through  all 
Ages  hitherto,    been   tearing  the    Church   to 
pieces,  the  more  occafion  1  fee  to  wifh  my  felf  a 
Caur  de  Lion.  But  had  not  my  Heart  been  Trebly 
Oak'd  and  Brafs'd  for  fuch  Encounters  as  this 
our  Hiftory  may  meet  withal,    I  would  have 
worn  the  Silk-worms  Motto,  Operitw  dum  Ope- 
ratur,  and  have  chofen  to  have  written  Anonym' 
oufly ;    or,    as  Claudius  Salnafws  calls  himfelf 
Halo  Mejfalinus,  as  Ludovtcus  Molimus  calls  him- 
felf Ludiormus   Colvinus,    as   Carolus  Scribanius 
calls  himfelf  Clarus  Bonarfcius,  (and  no  lefs  Men 
than  Peter  du  Moulin,  and  Dr.  Henry  More,   ftile 
themfelves,  the  one  Hippolytus  Fronto,  the  other 
Francifcus   Paleopolitanus.)     Thus   I  would  have 
tried,   whether  I  could  not  have  Anagramma- 
tized  my  Name  into  fome  Concealment  ;  or  I 
would  have  referr'd  ir  to  be  found  in  the  fecon  i 
Chapter  of  the  feconcl  Syntagm  of  Selden  de  Diis 
Syris.  Whereas  now  I  freely  confefs,'tisCO  T- 
TON  MATHER  that  has  written  all  thefe 
things; 

Me^me,  adfum  qui  fcripfi  ;  in  me  convert  ite  Fet  rum. 

I  hope  'tis  aright  Wotk  that  I  have  done-,  but 
we  are  not  yet  arrived  unto  the  Day,  wherein 
God  will  bring  every  Work  into  Judgment  (the  Day 
of  the  Kingdom  that  was  promifed  unto  David) 
and  a  Son  of  David  hath  as  Truly  as  Wifely 
told  us,  that  until  the  arrival  of  that  Happy 
Day,  this  is  one  of  the  Vanities  attending  Hu- 
mane Affairs  5  For  a  right  Work  a  Man  /hall  be 
envied  of  his  Neighbour.  It  will  not  be  fo  much 
a  Surprife  unto  me,  if  I  fhould  live  to  fee  our 
Church-  Hiftory  vexed  with  /hie-mad-ver/jonsoi 
Calumnious  Writers,  as  it  would  have  been 
unto  Virgil,  to  read  his  Bucolichs  reproached  by 
the  Antibucolica  of  a  Namclefs  Scribbler,  and  his 
•Alneids  traveftied  by  the  i/Fneidomaftir  of  Car- 
bilius  -.  Or  Hercnnius  taking  pains  to  make  a  Col- 
lection of  the  Faults,  and  Fauftinm  of  the  Thefts, 
in  his  incomparable  Compofures  :  Yea.  77/»y,and 

Seneca 


A  General  Introduction. 


Seneca  themfelves,  and  our  Jerom,  reproaching 
him,  as  a  Man  of  no  Judgment,  nor  Skill  in  Sci- 
ences ;  while  Padianus  affirms  of  him,  that  he 
was  himfelf,  Vfque  adeo  invidi*  Expert,  ut  [i  quid 
erudite  diftum  infpiceret  alterius,  non  minus  gau- 
deret  ac  ft  fuum  efftt.     How  Ihould  a  Book,  no 
better  laboured  than  this  of  ours,  efcape  Zoilian 
Outrages,  when  in  all  Ages,  the  molt  exquifite 
Works  have  been  as  much  vilified,   as  Plato's  by 
Scaliger,  and  Ariflotle\  by  Lattantius  ?    In  the 
time  of  our  K.  Edward  VI.  there  was  an  Order 
to  bring  in  all  the  Teeth  of  Sr.  Apolloma,  which 
the  People  of  his  one  Kingdom  carried  about 
them  for  the  Cure  ot  the  Tooth  acb ;   and  they 
were  fo  many,    that  they  almoft  fill'd  a  Tun. 
Truly  Envy  hath  3s  many  Teeth  as  Madam  Apol- 
lonia  would  have  had,  if  all  thole  pretended  Re- 
liques  had  been  really  hers.     And  mult  all  thefe 
Teeth  be  faltned  on  thee,  0  ■>  y  Book  ?  It  may  be 
fo!  And  yet  the  Book,  when  ground  between 
thefe  Teeth,  will  prove  like  Ignatius  in  the  Teeth 
of  the  furious  Tygers,  The  whiter  Mancbet  for  the 
Churches  of  Cod.    The  greateft  and  fierceft  R.3ge 
of  En^y,    is  that  which  1  expect  from  thofe 
IDUM^ANS,  whofe  Religion  is  all  Cere- 
mony, and  whofe  Charity  is  more  for  them  who 
deny  the  molt  Efleiuial  things  in  the  Articles 
and  Homilies  of  the  Church  of  England,  than 
for  the  moft  Confcientious  Men  in  the  World, 
who  manifeft  their  being  fo,  by  their  Diflent  in 
fome  little  Ceremony  ;  Or  thofe  Perfons  whofe 
Hearts  are  notably  exprefled  in  thofe  words 
ufed  by  one  of  them  C'tis  Horvel  in  his  Familiar 
Letters,  Vol.  i.  Seft.6.  Lett.  32.3  /  rather  pit ty, 
than  hate,  Turk  or  Infidel,  for  they  are  of  the  fame 
Metal,  and  hear  the  fame  Stamp,  as  I  do,  tbo1  the 
Infcriptions  difftr ;  If  I  hate  any,  'tis  thofe  Schifma- 
ticks  that  puzzle  the  fveet  Peace  of  our  Church  ;  fo 
that  I  could  be  content  to  fee  an  An ah  apt if  go  to  Hell 
on  a  Broxomfs  Back.     The  Writer  whom  1  laft 
quoted,  hath  given- us  a  Story  of  a  young  Man 
in  High-Hoibourn,  who  being  after  his  death  Dif- 
fered.,  there  was  a  Serpenc  with  divers  tails, 
found  in  the  left  Ventricle  of  his  Heart.  I  make 
no  queftion,    that  our  Church- Hiftory  will  find 
fome  Reader  difpofed  like  that  Writer,  with  an 
Heart  as  full  of  Serpent  and  Venom  as  ever  it 
can  hold  :  Nor  indeed  will  they  be  able  to  hold, 
but  the  Tongues  and  Pens  of  thofe  angry  Folks, 
will  fcourge  me  as  with  Scorpions,  and  caufe  me 
to  feel  (  if  1  will  feel  )  as  many  Lafhes  as  Corne- 
lius Agrippa  expected  from  their  Brethren,  for 
the  Book  in  which  he  expofed  their  Vanities. 
A  Scholar  of  the  gieat  JUELS,   made  once 
about  fourfcore  Verfes,  for  which  the  Cenfor  of 
Corpus  Chrifi  t  Colledgc  in  the  beginning  of  Queen 
Maries  Reign,    publickly  and  cruelly  fcourged 
hrm,  with  one  Lalh  for  every  Verfe.     Now  in 
thofe  Verfes,    the  young  Man's   Prayers  to  the 
Loid  JESUS  CHRIST,  have  this  for  part 
of  the  anfwer  given  to  them. 

Kefpondet  Tominus,  fpe&ans  de  fedibus  altis, 
Ne  dubites  rede  credere^   parve  pucr. 

Olim  fum  paffas  mortem,  nunc  occupo  dextram 
Fatris,  nunc  fummi  funt  mea  re£lu  f«li. 


Sed  tu,  crede  mibi,  vires  Scriptura  refumet, 
Tolleturque  fuo  tempore  miffa  nequam. 

In  Englilh. 

The  Lord  beholding  from  his  Throne,  reply'd, 
Doubt  not,  O  Toutb)  firmly  in  me  confide  •• 
I  dy'd  long  fince,  now  lit  at  the  Right  Hand 
Of  my  blefs'd  Father,  and  the  World  command. 
Believe  me,  Scripture  fhall  regain  her  fway, 
And  wicked  Mafs  in  due  time  fade  away. 

Reader,  I  alfo  expect  nothing   but  Scourges 
from  that  Generation,  to  whom  the  Mafs'book  is 
dearer  than  the  Bible .    But  I  have  now  likewife 
confefTed  another  Expectation,  that  fhall  be  my 
Confolation  under  all.  They  tell  us,Thaton  the 
higheft  of  the  Capfian  Mountains  in  Spain,  there 
is  a  Lake,  whereinto  if  you  throw  a  Stone,  there 
prefently  afcends  a  Smoke,  which  forms  a  denfe 
Cloud,  from  whence  ifTues  a  Tempelt  of  Raia, 
Hail,and  horrid  Thunder-daps,  for  a  good  quar- 
ter of  an  hour.    Our  Church- Hiftcry  will  be  like 
a  Stone  C3ft  into  that  Lake,  for  the  furious Tem- 
peft  which  it  will  raife  among  fome,whofe  Eccle- 
lialtical  Dignities  have  let  them,  as  on  the  top  of 
Spanifli  Mountains.  TheCatholick  Spirit  of  Com- 
munion wheiewith  'tis  written,  and  the  Liberty 
which  I  have  taken,  to  tax  the  Schifmatical  Im- 
pofitions  and  Perfecutions  of  a  Party,  who  have 
always  been  as  real  Enemies  to  the  Englilh  Na- 
tion, as  to  the  Chriftian  and  Proteftant  Interest, 
will  certainly  bring  upon  the  whole  Compofare, 
the  quick  Cenfures  of  that  Party,  at  the  firft  caft 
of  their  look  upon  it.     In  the  Duke  of  Alvds 
Council  of  twelve  Judges,  there  was  one  Heffels  a 
Elemming,  who  flept  always  at  the  Trial  of  Cri- 
minals, and  when  they  wak'd  him  to  deliver  his 
Opinion,  he  rub'd  his  Eyes,  and  cry'd,  between 
fleeping  and  waking,^ pattlulum !  ad Patibulum] 
To  the  Gallows  with  'em  !    f_And,  bytheway, 
this  Blade  was  himfelf,  at  the  laft,  condemned 
unto  the  Gallows,  without  an  Hearing/]     As 
quick  Cenfures  muft  tbis  our  Labour  expect  from 
thofe  who  will  not  beftow  waking  thoughts  upon 
the  Reprefentations  of  Chriftianity  here  made 
unto  the  World  ■,  but  have  a  Sentence  of  Death 
always  to  pafs,  or  at  leaft,   Wifh,    upon  thofe 
Generous  Principles,  without  which,  'tis  impoffi- 
ble  to  maintain  the  Reformation :  And  I  confefs, 
I  am  very  well  content,  that  this  our  Labour 
takes  the  Fate  of  thofe  Principles :  Nor  do  1  dif- 
feut  from  the  words  of  the  Excellent  Vyhitaker 
upon  Luther,  Foelsx  ille,  quern  Dominus  eo  Honore 
dignatus  eft,   ut  Homines  nequijfunos  fuos  haberet 
inimicos.     But  if  the  old  Epigrammatift,  when 
he  faw  Guilty  Folks  raving  Mad  at  his  Lines, 
could  fay> 

Hoc  volo  j  nunc  nobis  carmina  noftra  placent  : 

Ceitainly  anHiftorian  fhould  not  bedifpleafed 
at  it,  if  the  Enemies  of  Truth  difcover  their 
Madnefs  at  the  true  and  free  Communications  of 
his  Hiftory  ,  and  therefore  the  more  Stones  they 

throw 


A  General  Introduction. 


throw  at  this  Book,  there  will  not  only  be  the 
more  Proofs,  that  ic  is  a  Tree  which  hath  good 
Fruits  growing  upon  \i\  but  I  will  build  my  fclf 
a  Monument  with  them,  whereon  (hall  be  in- 
fcribed,  that  Claufe  in  the  Epitaph  of  the  Mar- 
tyr  Stephen : 

Except  Lapides,  cut  petra  Chri(lus  erat  .- 

Albeit  perhaps  the   Epitaph,  which  the  old 
Monks  beftow'd  upon   W'lckliff,    will  be  rather 
endeavout'd  for  me,  (If  J  am  thought  worth  one'.) 
by  the  Men,  who  wil),  with  all  poffible  Monkery, 
ftrive  to  faveoff  the  approaching  Reformation 
Bat  fincc  anUndert  iking  or  this  Nature,muft 
thus  encounter  fo  much  Envy,  fiom  thofe  who 
are  under  the  Power  of  the  Spirit  that  works  in 
the  Children   of  Vnierfwadeablenefs,    methinks  1 
might  perfwade  my  ielf,  that  it  will  find  ano- 
ther fort  of  Entertainment   from  thofe  Good 
Men  who  have  a  better  Spirit  in  them :  For,  as 
the  Apoftle  James  haMi  iwted,(fo  with  MonOeur 
Claude  I  read   it)  The  Spirit  that  vs  in  us,  lufteth 
againfl  Envy  ;  and  yet  even  in  us  alfo,  there  will 
be  the  t'ltfh,  among  whofe  Works,  one  is  fury, 
which  will   be  Lufling  againft  the  Spirit.     All 
Good  Men  will  not  be  latisfied  with  every  thing 
that  is  here  fet  before  them.     In  my  own  Coun- 
try, befides  a  confiderable  number  ot  loofe  and 
vaio  Inhabitants  rifen  up,  to  whom  the  Congre- 
gational Church-Difcipline,  which  cannot  Live 
well,  where  the  Power  of  Godlinefs  dyes,  is 
become  diftaftful  for  the  Purity  of  it ;  there  is 
alfo  a  number  of  eminently  Godiy  Perfons,  who 
are  for  a  Larger  way,  and  unto  theie  my  Church- 
Hiftory  will  give  diftaft,  by  the  things  which 
it  miy  happen  to  utter,in  favour  of  that  Church- 
Difcipline  on  fome  few  oci  aiions  ;  and  the  Dif- 
coveries  which   1   may  happen  to  make  of  my 
Apprehenfions,  that  Scripture,  and  Reafon,  and 
Antiquity  is  fot  ic  ;    and  chat  it  is  not  far  from 
a  glorious  Refurredtion.  Bat  that,as  the  Famous 
Mr.  Baxter,    after  Thirty  or  Forty  Years  hard 
Study,  about  the  true  [nftituted  Church-Difci 
pline,  at  la  ft,  not  only  own'd,  but  alfo  invin- 
cibly prov'dj  That  it  is  The  Congregational  ;  fo, 
The  further    that  the  Unprejudiced  Studies  of 
Learned  Men  proceed  in  this  Matter,  the  more 
generally    the    Congregational    Church-Difcipline 
will  be  pronounceu  for.      On  the  other   tide, 
There  are  fome  among  us,  who  very  ftrictly 
profefs  the  Congregationd  Church-Difcipline,  but 
at  the  fame  time  they  have  an  unhappy  Narrow- 
nefsof  Soul,  by  which  ihey  confine  their  value 
and  Kindnefs  too  much  unto  their  own  Party  •, 
and  onto  thofe  my  Church  Hiftory  will  be  offen- 
five,  becaufe  my  Regard  unto  our  own  declared 
Principles,  does  not  hinder  me  from  giving  the 
Right  hand  of  Fellow  (hip  unto  the  valuable  Ser 
vants  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chi  ift,  who  find  not  our 
Church-Difcipline  as  yet  agreeable  unto  their 
prefent  Underftandings  and  Illuminations.    If  it 
be  thus  in  my  own  Country,  ic  cannot  be  other- 
wife  in  That  wheieio  1  fend  this  account  of  my 
own.     Briefly,  as  it  hath  beenfaid,  That  if  all 


Epifcopal  Men  were  like  Archbifhopl^e?',  and 
all  Presbyterians  like  Stephen  Aiarflial,  and  all  In- 
dependents like  Jeretntah  Burroughs,  the  Wounds 
of  the  Church  would  foon  be  healed  ;  my  Effay 
to  carry  that  Spirit  through  this  whole  Church- 
Hiftory,  will  befpeak  Wounds  for  it,  from  thofe 
that  are  of  another  Spirit.  And  there  will  alfo 
be  in  every  Country  thofe  Good  Men,  who  yet 
have  not  had  the  Grace  of  Chrift  fo  far  prevail- 
ing in  them,  as  utterly  to  diveft  them  of  that 
piece  of  111  Nature  which  the  Comedian  refents, 
In  bomine  Imperito,  quo  nil  quicquam  Injuftius  quia 
mfi  quod  ipfe  facit,  nil  re{fe  fa&um  putat. 

However,  All  th.efe  things,  and  an  hundred 
more  fuch  things  which  1  think  of,   sre  very 
fmali  Difcouragements  for  fuch  a  Service  as  I 
have  here  endeavoured.  I  forefee  a  Recompence, 
which  will  abundantly  fwallow  up  all  Difcomage- 
ments !  It  may  be  Stratn  the  Philofopher  counted 
himfclf  well  recompenfed  for  his  Labours,  when 
Ptolomy  beftow'd  fouifcorc  Talents  on  him.     It 
may  be  Anhimelus  the  t'oet  counted  him  ielf  well 
recompenfed,  when  Hiero  fent  him  a  thoufand 
Bufhels  of  Wh»at  for  one  little  Epigram  :    And 
Saleius  the  Poet  might  count  himfelf  well  recom- 
penfed, when  Vefpaftan  fent  him  twelve  thou- 
sand and  five  hundred  Philippicks  ;    and  Oppian 
the  Poet  might  count  himfelf  well  recompenfed, 
when  Caracalla  fent  him  a  piece  of  Geld  for 
every  Line  that  he  had  inferibed  unto  him.    As  I 
live  in  a  Country  where  fuch  Recompences  never 
were  in  fafhion-,  it  hath  no  Preferments  forme, 
and  I  fhall  count  that  I  am  well  Rewarded  in'  it, 
if  I  can  efcape  without  being  heavily  Reproached, 
Cenfured  and  Condemned, for  what  I  have  done : 
So  I  thank  the  Lord,  I  fbould  exceedingly  Scorn 
ail  fuch  mean  Confiderations,  I  feek  not  out  for 
Benefactors,    to  whom  tbefe  Labours  may  be 
Dedicated  .•  There  is  ONE  to  whom  all  is  due ! 
From   Him   I    (hall   have  a  Recompence  :    And 
what  Recompence  ?  The  Recompence,  whereof 
I  do,  with  inexpreffibie  Joy,  allure  my  felf,  is 
this,    That  thefe  my  poor   Labours  will  certainly 
ferve  the  Churches  and  Inter  efts  of  the  Lord 
Chrift.     And  I  think  I  may  fay,  That  1  ask  to 
live  no  longer,  than  I  count  a  Sei  -  the 

Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  and  his  Churches,  to  be  it 
felf  a  glorious  Recompence  for  the  doing  of  it. 
When  David  was  contriving  to  boild  the  Houfe 
of  God,  there  was  that  order  given  from  Hea- 
ven concerning  him,  Co  tell  D  Servant. 
The  adding  of  that  mo:e  than  Royal  Title  unto 
the  Name  of  David,  was  a  fufneient  F.eeompence 
for  all  his  Contrivance  about,  the  Houfe  of  God. 
In  our  whole  Church- Hifloy  ,  we  have  been  at 
work  for  the  Houfe  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
r_Even  that  Man  who  is  the  Lord  God,  and 
whofe  Fo»-w  feems  on  that  occafion  reprcfented 
unto  His  David~]  And  herein  'tis  Recompence 
enough,  that  I  have  been  a  Servant  unto  that 
heavenly  Lord.  The  greateft  Honour,  and  the 
fweeceft  Fleafure,  out  of  Heaven,  is  to  Serve 
our  Uluftrious  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST,  who 
hath  loved  us,  and  given  himfelf  for  us ;  and  unto 
whom  it  is  infinitely  reafonable  that  we  fhould 
D  give 


A  General  IntroduBim. 


give  mr  (elves,  and  all  that  we  have  and  Are . 
And  h  may  be  the  Angels  in  Heaven  too,  afpire 
not  after  an  higher  Felicity. 

Vstto  thee^  therefore,  O  thou  Son  of  God,  and 
King  &f  Heaven,  and  Lard  of  all  things,  whom  all 
the  Glorious  Angels  of  Light,  unfpeakably  love  to 
Gtorifie^  I  humbly  offer  up  a  poor  Hijlory  of 
Churehes,  which  own  thee  alone  for  their  Head,  and 
Prince,  and  Law-giver ;  Churches  which  thou  haft 
^wrdsas'd  with  thy  awn  Blood,  and  with  wonderful 


Difpenfations  of  thy  Providence  hitherto  proteihi 
and  prefcrved ;  and  of  a  People  which  thou  didfe 
Form  for  thy  ftlf,  to /hew  Jorth  thy  Praifes.  J  blejs 
thy  great  Name^  for  thy  inclining  of  me  to,  and 
carrying  of  me  through,  the  Work  of  this  Hijlory  - 
/  pray  thee  tofprinkle  the  Book,  of  this  Hijlory  witUe 
thy  Blood,  and  make  it  acceptable  and  profitabk 
unto  thy  Churches,  and  ferve  thy  Truths  and  Ways 
among  thy  People,  by  that  which  thou  haft  hen  pre- 
pared ;  for  *tis  THOU  that  haft  prepared  it  fat 
them.     Amen. 


Said  (mm?  Nil.    Quisftm?  NuUus.     SedGwUCHRlSTL 

Qmi  fum^  quod  Vivo,  quodque  Lab<?roy  f&cit. 


The 


The    CONTENTS. 


General  Introduction ,   giving  an  Account  of  the 
whole  enfuing  Work. 

The  Firft  Book,  Entituled,  A  N  T  I  QU I T  I  £  S. 

It  reports  the  Defign  where-tw,  the  Manner  where-/»,  and 
the  People  where-ty,  the  feveral  Colonies  of  New- 
England  were  planted.  And  fo  it  prepares  a  Field  for 
confuterable  things  to  be  afted  thereupon. 

The  Introduction. 

Chap.  I.  Vesifti  tandem  t  Or,  Dilcoveries  of  Amend, 
tendirg  to,  and  ending,  in,  Dilcoveries  of  New- England. 

Cbap.IL  trmordh.  Or,  The  Voyage  to  New-EngUnd, 
which  produced  the  firft  Settlement  of  Sew-Piy  mouth; 
with  an  Account  of  many  Remarkable  and  Memorable 
Providences,  relating  tu  that  Voyage. 

Chap.  III.  Conamur  Temtet  GrondU.  Or,  A  Brief  Account 
OttheDificulties,tUe  Deliverances, andi  other  Occurrences, 
through  which  the  Plantation  of  New- Plymouth,  arrived 
unto  the  Confiftencv  of  a  Colony. 

Chap.  IV.  Paulo  Major  a !  Or,The  Ejfays  and  Cattfes,  which 
produced  the  Second,  but  largeft,  Colony  of  Nero-En- 
gland; and  the  Manner  wherein  the  Firft  Church  of  this 
New  Colony  was  gathered; 

Chap.  V.  Peregrini  Deo  Curie.  Or,  The  Progrels  of  the 
New  Colony ;  with  fome  Account  of  the  Perfons,  the 
Methods ,and  the  Troubles,  by  which  it  came  to  Something. 

Chap.  VI.  Qui  trans  mare  Currunt.  Or,  The  Addition  of 
feveral  other  Colonies  to  the  former  ;  with  fome  Confi- 
derables,  in  the  Condition  of  thefe  later  Colonies. 

Chap.  VII.  Hccatompolu.  Or,  A  Held  tvhicb  the  Lord  hath 
Bleffed.  An  Ecdeiiaftical  M  A  P  of  New- England. 
With  Remarks  upon  it. 

Appendix. 

The  Boftonian  Ehene^er.  Or,  Some  Hiftorical  Remarks  on 
the  State  of  Bofion,  the  Chief  Town  ot  Nets-England, 
and  of  the  Englifh  America. 

The  Second  Book,  Entituled, 

E  C  C  L  E  S  I  A  R  U  M    C  L  Y  P  E  I. 

It  contains  the  Lives  of  the  Governours,  and  the  Names  of 
the  Magijhites ,  that  ha\  e  been  Shields  unto  the 
Churches  of  New-England. 

The  Introduction. 
Chap.  T.   Galeacius  Sscundus.    The  Life  of  William  Brad- 
ford, Efq-,  Governour  of  Plymouth  Colony. 
Chap.  II.  SuccelTors. 

Chap.  III.  Patres  Confcripti.    Or,  Affiftents. 
Chap.  IV.    Nehemias  Amerinnm.    The  Life  of  John  Win- 

tbop  Efq;  Governour  of  the  Mxjjachufet  Colony. 
Chap.  V.  Succeflbrs.    Among  whom,  larger  Accounts  are 

given  of  Governour  Dudley,  and  Governour  Bradfneet. 
Chap.  VI.  Wj]  ^m  '•  e«  Viri  Animati.    Or,  Affiftents. 

With  Remarks. 
Chap.  VIL   Puilicolx  Chrifli.inus.     Or,  The  Life  of  Ed- 

■ward  Hopkins  Efq;   the  firft  Governour  of  Connecticut 

Colony. 
Chap. VIII.  Succefibrs. 
Chap.  IX.    HumiHtas  Honor atl.     The  Life  of  Theophilus 

Eaton  Efq;  Governour  of  New-Haven  Colony. 
Chap.  X.    Succeffors. 
Chap.  XI.    Hermes  Chriflijnus.     The  Life  of  fohn  Win- 

throp  Efq;  the  firft  Governour  of  Connecticut  and  New- 

Haven,  united. 
Chap.  12.  Affiftents. 

Appendix. 
Pietas  in  Pa-riam.     Or,  The  Life  of  his  Excellency,    Sir 

i^'iL'iam  l-htps,   late  Governour  of  New-England.     An 

Hiftory  filled  with  great  Variety  of  Memorable  Matters. 


The  Third  Book,  Entituled,  P  O  L  V  B I U  S. 

It  contains  the  Lives  of  many  Divines,  by  whole  Evange- 
lical MinWtry,  the  Churches  of  New-England  have  been 
illuminated. 

The  Introduction. 

A  General  Hiftory,  De  Virts  Iliuftribus,  dividing  into 
three  Claffes  the  Minifters  who  came  out  of  Old  England^ 
for  the  Service  of  New. 

The  Firft  Part,  Entituled,  Johannes  in  Eremo. 

The  Introduction. 

Chap. I.  Cottonus  Redivivus.Or.The  Life  of  Mr.  John  Cottots. 

Chap.  II.  Nononus  Honoratus.    Or,  The  Life  of  Mr.  John 

No/ton. 
Chap. I II.  Memoria  iFilfoniana,  Or,  The  Life  of  Mi.John 

Wiljon. 
Chap.  IV.  Puritanijmus  Nov- Anglic  anus.    Or,  The  Life  di 
Mr.  John  Davenport. 

Appendix. 
The  Light  of  the  If'eflern  Churches.     Or,  The  Life  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Hooker. 

The  Second  Part,  Entituled, 

Sepher  Jereim,  i.  e.  Liber  DeumJimemium.     Or,  Dead 
Abels  yet  fpeaking,  and  fpoken  of. 


The  Introduction. 
Chap.  I.  Janus  Nov-Anglicanus.     Or,   The  Life  of  Mr. 

Francis  Higginfon. 
!  Chap.II.  Cygnea  Camio.  Or,Tlie  Death  of  Mr.         Avery. 
Chap.  III.  Natus  ad  Exemplar.  Or,  The  Life  of  Mr.  Jena- 

than  Burr. 
Chap.  IV.  The  Life  of  Mr.  George  Philips. 
Chap.  V.   Paftor  Evangelicus.   Or,  The  Life  of  Mr.  Thomas 

Shepard. 
Chap.VI.  Prudentius.   Or,  The  Life  of  Mr-Peter  Prudden. 
Chap.VII.  Melanilhon.  Or, The  Life  ofMr.AdamBldckjnan. 
Chap.  VIII.  The  Life  of  Mr.  Abraham  Pierfon. 
Chap.  IX.  The  Life  of  Mr-  Richard  Denton. 
Chap.  X.  The  Life  of  Mr.  Peter  Bultly. 
Chap.  XI.  The  Life  of  Mr.  Ralph  Partridge. 
Chap.  XII.  Pfaltes,     Or,  The  Life  of  Mr.  Henry  Dunfter, 
Chap.  XIII.  The  Life  of  Mr.  E^liel  Rogers. 
Chap.  XIV.  Eulogius.  Or,The  Lire  of  Mx.Nathanael  Rogers. 

Appendix. 
An  Extraft  from  the  Diary  of  the  famous  old  Mr.  John 

Rogers  of  Dedham. 
Chap.  XV.  Bibltander  Nov-Anglicanus.     Or,  The  Life  of 

Mr.  Samuel  Newman. 
Chap.  XVI.  Doilor  Iriefragabilis.  Or,  The  Life  of  Mr.Sa- 

tnuel  Stone. 
Chap.  XVII.  The  Life  of  Mr.  WiUiamThompfon, 
Chap.  XVIII.   The  Life  of  Mr.  John  Warham. 
Chap.  XIX.   The  Life  of  Mr.  Henry  Flint. 
Chap.XX.  Fulgentius.  Or.The  Life  of  Mr.Ricbard  Mather. 
Chap.  XXI.  The  Life  of  Mr.  Zachariah  Symmes. 
Chap.  XXII.  The  Life  of  Mr.  John  Aliin. 
Chap.  XXIII.    Cadmus  Americana.    Or,  The  Life  of  Mr. 

Charles  Chauncey. 
Chap.  XXIV.    Lucas.    Or,  The  Life  of  Mr.  Joint  Fisk. 
Chap.  XXV.    Scholaflicus.     Or,    The  Life  of  Mr.  Thomas 

Parhjr.  With  an  Appendix  containing  Memoirs  of  Mr. 

James  Noyes. 
Chap.  XXVI.  The  Life  of  Mr.  Thomas  Tktcher. 
Chap.  XXVII.  The  Life  of  Mr.  Peter  Hoban. 
Chap.  XXVIII.  A  Man  of  God,tnd  an  Honourable  Man.  Or, 

The  Life  of  Mr.  Samuel  Whiting. 

Chap.  XXIX.  S.  Aflerius.  Or,The  Life  of  Mr.  John  Sherman. 

Chap.  XXX;  Eufcbius.  Or,The  Life  of  Mr.  Thomas  Cobitt. 

Chap.  XXXL  Moiefias.  Or,  The  Life  of  Mr.  JohnWted. 

Mantijfa. 

The  Epitaph  of  Dr.  John  Owen. 


I 


Th 


The    CONTENTS. 


The  Third  Part,  Entituled, 
'OmivAif*  J my»}j.aTa.,  five,  Utiles  Narmiones. 

It  contains,  the  Life  of  the  Renowned  John  Elm-,  with 
an  Account,  concerning  the  Succefs  of  the  Gofpel  among 
the  Indians.  A  very  entertaining  piece  of  C  bunt- htflory. 

The  Fourth  Part,  Entituled,  Remains. 

The  Introduction. 

Chap.  I.  Remains of  the  frilClaJfu.  Or, Shorter  Accounts 
of  fome  ufeful  Divines. 

Chap.  II.  The  Life  of  Mr.  Thomas  Alien. 

Chap.  III.  The  Life  of  Mr.  John  Kjowlet 

Chap,  IV.  Elipfs  Cones.  Or,  The  Life  of  Mr.  ffenry 
Whitfield. 

Chap.  V.  Remains  of  the  Stcond  Chffis.  And  more  largely, 
The  Life  of  Mr.  John  Woodbridge. 

Chap,  VI.  Remains  of  the  Third  (  lajfis.  With  more  pun- 
ctual Accounts  of  Mr.  John  Oxenbridge,  Mr.  Thomas 
V,  alley,  and  Mr.  Samuel  L  ee. 

Chap.  VII.  A  good  Man  making  a  good  End.  Or,  The  Life 
and  Death  of  Mr.  John  Baity. 

The  Fourth  Book,   Entituled,   SAL   GENTIUM. 
It  contains,  an  Account  of  the  New-Englijl  Vniverfity, 

The  Introduction. 
I.   The  I'tfiw, the  Benefactors,  and  the  Vicijjitudes,  o£ 

£/aryard-Colledge.     And  a  Catalogue  of  its  Graduates  5 

with  Remarks  upon  it. 
Part  II.  The  Lives  of  feme  eminent  Perfons  therein  edu- 
cated. 
Chap.  I,  Tides  in  Vita.    Or,  Memorables  concerning  Mr. 

John  Brock. 
Chap.  II.  FruSuofus.    Or,  The  Life  of  Mr.  Samuel  Mather. 
Chap.  III.  The  Life  of  Mr.  Samuel  Danforth. 
Chap.  IV.  Ecclefajhs.  Or,The  Life  of  Mr. .Jonathan  Mitckl. 
Chap.  V.   Drufius  Nov-Anplicinus.   Or,  The  Life  of  Mr. 

Vrian  Oakes. 
Chap.  VI.  The  Life  of  Mr.  Thomas  Shepari. 
Chap.  VII.    St.  Stephens,  Reliques.    Or,  Memoirs  of  Mr. 

Jofiua  Moodey. 
Chap.  VIII.  Gemini.  Or,  The  Life  of  the  Collhs's. 
Chap.  IX.  The  Life  of  M.T.  Thomas  Shepard. 
Chap.  X.  Early  Piety  Exemplified ;  in  the  Life  and  Death 

of  Mr.  Nathaniel  Mather. 

The  Fifth  Book,  Entituled, 
A  C  T  S  and  MONUMENTS. 

It  contains,  the  Faith  and  Order  in  the  Churches  of  New- 
England,  agreed  by  their  Synods :  With  Hiftorical  Re- 
marks upon  all  thofe  Venerable  Affemblies.  And  a  great 
Variety  of  other  Church-Cafes,  occurring  and  refolved 
in  thofe  American  Churches. 

The  Firft  Part. 
The  Faith  profefled  by  the  Churches  of  New-England. 
With  Remarks. 

.The  Second  Part. 

The  Difcipline  pracWed  in  the  Churches  of  New-England. 

With  Hiftorical  Remarks. 
And  a  rich  Collection  of  Church-Cafes  happily  decided. 

Appendix. 
The  Heads  of  Agreement,  affented  toby  the  United  Mini- 
fters,  formerly  called,  Presbyterian  and  Congregational. 
The  Third  Part. 
The  Principles  owned,and  Endeavours  ufed,by  theChurches 
of  New-England,  concerning  the  Church-State  of  their 
Pofleriiy.     With  Remarks. 

The  Fourth  Part.    ; 
7  he  Reforming  Synod  of  New-England •    with  fubfequent 
Effays  of  Reformation  in  the  Churches. 


The  Sixth  Cook,  Entituled, 

T  H  A  U  M  A  T  U  R.  G  U  S.  ve|,     N^  HDT   13D 

i.  e.   Liber  Memorabilium. 

It  contains  many  Illuftrious  Difcoveries  and  Demonffra- 
tiom  of  the  Divine  Providence,  in  Remarkable  Mt- 
and  Judgments  on  many  particular  1  erfons  among  the 
People  of  New-England. 

The  Introduaion.  With  Propofals  made,  about  Recording 
Illuftrious  Discoveries  cf  the  Divine  Providence. 

Chap.  I.  Chnfius  fuper  Aquas.  Relating  Remarkable  Se* 
Deliverances. 

Chap.  II.  hofxa.  Relating  Remarkable  Salvations  expe- 
rienced  by  others  betides  the  Sra-faring. 

Chap.  III.  Ceraunius.  Relating  Remarkables  done  b? 
Thunder.  W ith  a  Bronxolrgia  Sacra,  remarkably  pro- 
duced. 

Chap.  IV.  The  Returning  Prodigal.  Relating  Remarkabir 
Converlions. 

Chap.V.  hifioria  Nemefeos.  Relating  Remarkable  Judg- 
ments of  God,  on  feveral  forts  of  Offenders,  in  feveral 
Scores  of  Inftances. 

An  Appendix,  containing,  an  Hiftory  of  Criminals,  exe- 
cuted for  Capital  Crimes ;   with  their  Lying  Speeches. 

Chap.  VI.  The  Triumphs  of  Grace.  Or,  A  Narrative  of 
the  Succefs  which  the  Gofpel  hath  had  among  the  Indians 
of  New- England. 

An  Appendix,  Relating  things  gieatly  Remarkable.fetch'd 
from  one  little  Ifland  of  Chriftianiz'd  Indians. 

Chap.  VII.  Ibaumatographia  Pneumattca.  Relating,  Tib 
Wonders  of  the  invifible  rid.  in  Preternatural  Occur- 
rences. It  contains  fourteen  aftomlhing,  but  wella:- 
teftedHiftories. 

The  Seventh  Book,  Entituled, 

ECCLESIARUM    PR/ELIA:    Or,  A  Book.ef 

the  Wars  of  the  Lord. 

It  contains,  the  Affliftive  Difturbances  which  the  Churches 
of  New  England  have  fuffered,  from  their  various  Ad- 
verfaries ;  and  the  wonderful  Methods  and  Mercies, 
whereby  the  Churches  have  been  delivered. 

The  Introduction. 

Chap-  I.  Milk  Nocendi  Arte's.  Or,  Tome  General  Heads 
of  Temptation,  with  which  tiie  Churches  of  Xew-En~ 
gland  have  been  Exercifed. 

Chap.  II.  Little  Boxes.    OV,  The  Sp  U  Septra- 

tion  in  one  remarkable  Zelot,  vex;  uthes  ot 

New-England,  and  the  Spirit  of  Giddy  V.imjli£tati}  - 
ther.    And  feme  Lefler  Controverfies  a?  i:;ng  upci 
dry  Occafions, 

Chap.  III.  hydra decapitata.  Or,  Thefirf. 
England,  quelling  a  Storm  of  Antinomian  Opinions: 
and  many  remarkable  Events  relating  thereunto. 

Chap.  IV.  Ignes  Fatui.  Or,  The  Moleftations  given  to  tlie 
Churches  of  New-England,  by  that  Odd  Sect  of  1-eople 
called  Quakers.  And  fome  uncomfortable  Occurrents, 
relating  to  a  Seel  of  other,  and  Better  People. 

Chap.V.  Wolves  in  Sbeeps  Cloathing.  Or,  An  Kiftoryo: 
feveral  Impoflors,  pretending  to  beMinifters,  detected 
in  the  Churches  of  New-England.  With  a  Faithful  Ad- 
vice to  all  the  Churches,  emitted  by  fome  of  the  Paftors, 
on  that  occalion* 

Chap.  VI.  Arma  Virofque  Cano.  Or,  The  Troubles  which 
the  Churches  of  New-England  have  undergone,  in  the 
WARS  which  the  People  of  that  Country  have  had 
with  the  Indian  Salvages. 

VII.  Appendix. 

Decennium  LuUiiofum.  Or,  An  Hiftory  of  Remarkable 
Occurrences,  in  the  WAR  which  New-England  had 
with  Indian  Salvages,  from  the  Year  168S,  to  the 
Year  1698. 


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Book  I. 


The  Firft  BOOK. 


ANTIQUITIES: 


O  R, 


A  FIELD  prepaid  for  Confiderdble  Things  to  he  Afted 

thereupon. 


The  I N  T  R  O  D  U  C  T I O  N. 


n    »    « 


IT  was  not  long  ago,  as  about  the  middle  of 
the  former  Century,  that  under  the  Influ- 
ences of  that  admirable  Hero  and  Martyr, 
of  the  Proteftant  Religion,  Gafper  Coligni, 
the  great  Admiral  of  France,  a  Noble  and 
Learned  Knight  called  Villagagnon,  began  to 
attempt  the  Settlement  of  fome  Colonies  in  A- 
M  E  R  I  C  A,  (as  it  was  declared)  for  the 
Propagation  of  that  Religion.  He  Sailed  with 
feveral  Ships  of  no  fmall  Burthen,  till  he  ar- 
riv'd  at  Brafile  ;   where  he  thought  there  were 

nowfhown  him  Quiet  Seats,  for  the  retreat  of  a  rican  Strand.  It  is  the  mofi  Incomparable  De 
People  harrafs'd  already  with  deadly  Ferfecu- 1  Thou,  the  Honourable  President  of  the  Parlia- 
iions    and  threat ned  with  yet  more  Calamities,   ment   at   Paris,  an  Hiftorian    whom  Cafaubon 

Pronounces,  A  Singular  Gift  of  Heaven,  to  the 
laft  Age,  for  an  Example  of  Piety  and  Probity, 
that  is  our  Author,  (befides  others)  for  this 
Hifiory. 

'Tis  now  time  for  me  to  tell  my  Reader,  that 
in  our  Age  there  has  been  another  Elf  ay,  made 

~  OTE- 
A- 


in  this  of  ours,  Ne  me  Crifpini  fcrinia  lecli, 
compitafle  putes :  And  as  for  the  People  that 
/laid  behind,  no  other  can  be  'Learned,  but  that 
they  are  entirely  loft,  either  in  Paganifm  or 
Diiafter :  In  this,  more  unhappy  Jure,  than  that 
Hundred  Thoufand  of  their  Brethren  who  were' 
foon  after  Butcher  d  at  Home,  in  that  horrible 
Malfacre,  which  then  had  not,  but  fince  hath, 
known  a  Parallel.  So  has  there  been  utterly 
loft  in  a  little  time,  A  Country  intended  for  a 
Receptacle  of  Proteftant  Churches  on  the  A>ne- 


fhence  he  wrote  Home  Letters  unto  that  glori- 
ous Patron  of  the  Reform'd  Churches,  to  in- 
form him,  That  he  had  now  a  fair  Prcfpefi  of 
feeing  thofe  Churches  eretted,  multiply  d  and 
fhelterd  in  the  Southern  Regions  of  the  New 
World  ;  and  requefted  him,  That  Geneva  might 

fupply  "them  with  Pallors  for  the  planting  of  I  not  by    French,    but   by  Englifli   P  R 
fuch  Churches  in  thefe  New  Plantations.     ThelST  AN  T  S,  to  fill  a  certain  Country 


fuch  - 

Bleffed  C.lvin,   with  his   Collegnes,  thereupon 
Cent   of  their   Number  Two   Worthy  Perjons, 
namely  Richerius  and  Qjradrigarras,  to  ajfift  this 
Undertaking ;  and  unto  theje  were  joined  feveral 
more,  efpecially  Lerius,  and,  who  became  a  Lea 
der  to  the  reft,  Corquillerius,  an  eminent  Man, 
for  the  Cauje  of  Chrifiiamty,  then  refiding  at 
Geneva.     EmbarKd  in  three  Ships,  mil  fitted, 
they  came  to  the  American  Country,     whither 
they  had  been  invited;  and  they  foon  Jet  up  an 
Evangelical  Church  Order,  in  thofe  Corners  of 
the  Earth  where  God  in  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  had 
never  before  been  called  upon.     But  it  was  not 
long   before  fome   unhappy  Controverfies  arcfe 
among  them,  which  drove  their  Principal  Mi- 
nitters   into  Europe  again,  befides  thofe  Three 
ilaat  were  Murthered  by  their  Apoftate  Gover- 
nour   whofe  M^'tyi'dom  Lerius  procured  Crifpin 


in 


merica  with  Reform'd  Churches ;    nothing  in 
Doctrine,  little  in   Difcipline,  different  from 
that  of  Geneva.     Mankind  will  pardon  me,  a 
Native  of  that  Country,  if  I mitten  with  a  fu{i 
Fear  of  wcroaching  and  ill-bodied  Degeneracies, 
f  fhall  u/e  my  Modefl  Endeavours  to  prevent 
the  Lofs  of  a  Country,  fo  fignalizd  for  the  Pro- 
felTion  of  the  purefl  Religion,  and  for  the  Pro* 
tection  of  God  upon  it,  in  that  Holy  Profeffion. 
I  fhall  count  my  Country  loft,  in  the  Lofs  of  the 
Primitive  Principles,    and  the   Primitive  Pra- 
ctices, upon  which  it  was  at  firft  Eftallifhcd : 
But  certainly   one  good  way  to  Jave  that  Lois, 
wou'd  be  to  dofomething  that  the  Memory  of  the 
great  Things  done  for  us  by  our  God  may  not 
be  loft,  and  that  the  Story  of  the  Circumftances 
attending  the  Foundation  and  Formation  of  this 
Country,  and  of  its  Prefcrvation  hitherto,  may 
to~Commemn  atc  *n  bis  Hi  dory,  but  I  now  omit   be  impartially  handed  unto  Pqfterity.     THIS 

B  is 


Magnalia  Chrijli  Americana  : 


Book  L 


is  the  Undertaking  whereto  1  now  Addrefs  my  l  ceptable  and  Profitable  unto  thy  Churches,  and 
/elf;   and  now,   Grant   me  thy  Gracious  A  ffi-   Serviceable  unto  the  Inteteits  of  thy  Gofpel ;  fo 


fbnces,  O  my  God  •,  that  in  this  my  Underta- 
king I  may  be  kept  from  every  falfe  way  :  But 
that  fincerely  aiming  at  thy  Glory  in  my  Un- 
dertaking, I  may  find  my   Labours  made  Ac 


let  my  God  think  upon  me  for  Good  ;  and 
(pare  me  according  to  the  greatnefs  of  thy  Mer- 
cy in  the  Bleffed  Jefu^  Amen. 


CHAP.     I. 

Venifti  tandem  ?  Or  Difcoveries  of  AM  ERIC  A,  tending  to,  and  ending  in,  Difcoveries 

ofN  EW- ENGLAND. 

« 

§.  i.  T  T  is  the  Opinion  of  fome,  though  'tis  two  Hundred  Years   ago,    nor   the    Clue  that 
1  but    an    Opinion,     and    but    of   fome  might  lead  unto  it,  namely,  the  Loadjhne,  (hould' 


Learned  Men,  That  when  the  Sacred  Oracles 
of  Heaven  alTure  us,  The  Things  under  the 
frarth  are  fome  of  thofe,  whofe  Knees  are 
to  bow  in  the  Name  of  J  ejus,  by  thofe  Things 
are  meant  the  lnhabita:  ts  ot  America,  wh« 
;n  e  Antipodes  to  thole  of  the  o;her  Hemijphere.  I 
would  not  Quote  any  Words  of  Laitantius, 
tho'  there  arc  J 'owe  to  Countenance  this  In- 
terpretation, becaufe  of  their  being  fo  Ungeo- 
graphical :  Nor  would  I  go  to  ftrengthen  the 
Interpretation  by  reciting  the  Words  of  the 
Indians  to  the  firft  White  Invaders  of  their 
Territories,  We  hear  you  are  come  from  under 
the  World  to  take  our  World  from  us.  But 
granting  the  uncertainty  of  fuch  an  Expofition, 
I  {hall  yet  give  the  Church  of  God  a  certain 
Account  ot  thofe  Things,  which  in  America 
have  been  Believing  and  Adoring  the  glorious 
Name  of  Jefus-,  and  of  that  Country  in  Ameri- 
ca, where  thofe  Things  have  been  attended  with 
Circumftances  moft  remarkable.  I  can  conten- 
tedly allow  that  America  (which  as  the  Learn- 
ed Nicolas  fuller  Obferves,  might  more  juftly 
be  called  Columbina)  was  altogether  unknown 
to  the  Penmen  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  in 
the  Ages  when  the  Scriptures  were  Penned.  I 
can  allow,  that  thofe  Parts  of  the  Earth,  which 
do  not  include  America,  are  in  the  infpired 
Writings  of  Luke,  and  of  Paul,  ftiled,  All  the 
World.  I  can  allow,  that  the  Opinion  of  Torni- 
ellus,  and  of  Pagius,  about  the  Apoftles  Preach- 
ing the  Gofpel  in  America,  has  been  fufficient- 
ly  refuted  by  Bafnagius.  But  I  am  out  of  the 
reach  of  Pope  Zacharys  Excommunication.  I 
can  affert  rhe  Exiftence  of  the  American  Anti- 
podes :   And  1  can  Report   unto  the  European  j 


be  known,  till  a  Neapolitan  Humbled  upon  it 
about  an  Hundred  Years  before ■,  yet  the  over- 
ruling Providence  of  the  great  God  is  to  be 
acknowledged,  as  well  in  the  Concealing  of  A- 
merica  for  fo  long  a  time,  as  in  the  Dif cover*- 
ing  of  it,  when  the  fulnefs  of  Time  was  come 
for  the  Difcovery  :  For  we  may  count  America 
to  have  been  concealed,  while  Mankind  in  the 
other  Hemijphere  had  loft  all  Acquaintance 
with  it,  if  we  may  conclude  it  had  any  from 
the  Words  of  Diodorus  Siculus,  That  Phcene- 
cians  were  by  great  Storms  driven  ort  the  Coaft 
of  Africa,  far  Wejfward,  l-ri  7ro^xd;  »^a,(,  for 
many  Days  together,  and  at  laft  fell  in  with  an 
Ifland  of  prodigious  Magnitude;  or  from  the 
Words  of  Plato,  that  beyond  the  Pillars  of  Her- 
cules there  was  an  Ifland  in  the  Atlantick  O- 
cean,  «//*  *<£  v»f  ^  A<ria,i  ^«£ft>t>,  larger  than  A- 
frica  and  Afia/w/  together  -..  Nor  f hould  it  pafs 
without  Remark,  that  Three  moft  memorable 
things  which  have  born  a  very  great  Afpeft  upon 
Humane  Affairs,  did  near  the  fame  time,  namely 
at  the  Conclufion  of the  fifteenth,  and  the  begin- 
ning of  the  Sixteenth  Century,  arife  unto  tha 
World  :  The  Firft  was  the  Rejurretlion  of  Lite- 
rature ■,  the  Second  was  the  opening  of  Ame- 
rica ;  the  Third  was  the  Reformation  of  Reli- 
gion. But,  as  probably,  rhe  Devil  feducing  the 
firft  Inhabitants  of  America  into  it,  therein  aim- 
ed at  the  having  of  them  and  their  Polterity 
out  of  the  found  of  the  Silver  Trumpets  of  the 
Co/pel,  then  to  be  heard  through  the  Reman 
Empire  ;  if  the  Devil  had  any  Expectation, 
that  by  the  Peopling  of  America,  lie  fhould 
utterly  deprive  any  Europeans  of  the  Two  Be- 
nefits, Literature  and  Religion,   which  dawned 


Churches  great  Occurrences  among  thefe  Ame-  |  upon  the  miferable  World,   one  juit  before,  to 

'  ther  juft  after,  the  firft  famed  Navigation  hi- 
ther, 'tis  to  be  hop'd  he  will  be  diiappointed 
of  that  Expecf  ation.  The  Church  of  God  mult 
no  longer  be  wrapp'd  up  in  Strabo's  Cloak: 
Geography  muft  now  find  work  for  a  Chriftia- 
no-graphy  in  Regions,  far  enough  beyond  the 
Bounds  wherein  the  Church  of  God  had  thro' 
all  former  Ages  been  drcumfcribc;!.  Renown'd 
Churches  of  Chrift  mult  be  gathered  where  the 
Ancients  once  Derided  them  that  look'd  for  a- 
ny  Inhabitants.    The    Mylfery   of  our  Lord's 


rtcans.  Yet  1  will  Report  every  one  of  them 
with  fuch  a  Chriftian  and  exacf  Veracity,  that 
no  Man  fhall  have  caufe  to  ufe  about  any  one 
of  them,  the  Words  which  the  great  Auflin  (as 
great  as  he  was)  ufed  about  the  Exiftence  of 
Antipodes  ;  it  is  a  Fable,  and,  nulla  ratione 
credendum. 

§.  2.  If  the  Wicked  One  in  whom  the  whole 
World  lyeth,  were  he,  who  like  a  Dragon,  keep- 
ing a  Guard  upon  the  fpacious  and  mighty 
Orchards  of  America^  could  have  fuch  a  Pafci- 


nation  upon  the  Thoughts  of  Mankind,  that  Garments,  made  Pour  Parts,  by  the  Soldiers  that 
neither  this  Ballancing  half  of  the  Globe  fnould  caft  Lots  for  them,  is  to  be  accomplifhed  in 
be  confidered  in  Europe  till  a  little  more  than  the  good  Sence  put  upon  it  by  An/un,  who  if 


Book  I.        Or,  The  Hifiory  of  New*-  England. 


he  had  known  America  could  not  have  given 
a  better  §>uadripartita  veftis  Domini  feju, 
quadripartitam  Jiguravit  ejus  Ecclefiam,  toto 
fcilicet,  qui  quatuor  partibus  conjht,  terraram 
orbe  diffujam. 

^.  3.  Whatever  Truth  may    be  in  that  Af 
fertion  of  one  who  writes ;  If  we  m./y  credit  ti- 
ny   Records  befides   the  Scriptures,    !  know  it 
might    be  /aid  and   proved    well,    that    this 
New  World  was   kno:vn,    and  partly    Inhabited 
by  Britains,  or  by  Saxons  from  England,  Three 
or   Four  hundred  Tears    before   the  Spaniards 
coming  thither  ;    which  AiTertion    is    Demon- 
ftrated    trom     the     Difcourfes    between    the 
Mexicans  and  the  Spaniards  at  their  firft  Ar- 
rival 5   and  the  Popish   Reiiqucs,    as    well   as 
Briti/h  Terms  and  Words,  which  the  Spani- 
ards then  found  among  the  Mexicans,  as  well 
as  from  undoubted   PafTages,  not  only  in  other 
Authors,  but  even  in  the  Britifl)  Annals  alio  : 
Neveithelels,  Mankind  generally  agree  to  give 
unto  Chriflopher  Columbus,  a  Gcnoejc,  the  Ho- 
nour of  being  the  Firft  European  that  open- '  Ocean.     And  now 
ed  a  way   into  thefe  Parts  ot  fhq   World.    It!  with   mv    (elf 


ry  VII.   entering   upon  their  generous   Under- 
takings in  the  fear   1497.  made  further   Dif- 
coveries    of  America,    than  either  Columbus  of 
Vejputius;  in  regard  of  which   notable  Enter- 
prizes,    the  younger  of  them    h'ad   very   greaf 
Honours  by  the  Grown   pot  upo.i   him,  till  at 
length  he  died  in  a  good  Old  Age,    in  which 
Old  Age  King  Edward  VI.  hjd  allowed  him 
an  Honourable  Peniion.    .Yea.  finee  the  Cabots*, 
em  ploy 'J  by  the    King    ot    England,    made  a" 
Dilcovery  of  this  Continent  in  the  Year  1497. 
and   it   was  the  Year    1498.   before   Columbus 
di (covered  any    parr    of  the   Comment  ■,    and 
Vejputtus  came  a  confiderable  time   alter  both 
ot  them  ;  I  know  not  why  the  Spaniard  fhould 
go  unrivall'd  in  the  claim  of  this  New  World, 
which  from  the  firji  finding  ot  ir  is  pretended 
unto.     Thefe  Dilcoveries  of  the  Cabots   were 
the  Foundation  of  all    rhe  Adventures,    with 
which  the  Englijh  Nation  have  lince  followed 
the  Sun,   and  ferved  themfelves    into   an  Ac- 
quaintance on  the  hither  iide  ot  the   Atlanltck 
1   I  ha  11  drown  my   Reader 
in   a    tedious  Digrtition,    if  I 


was  in  the  Year  1492.  that  this  famous  Man,  |  enumerate  all  the  Attempts  made  by  a  Wil 
acted  by  a  moft  vehement  and  wonderful  ////- j  loughby,  a  Frobrijher,  a  Gilbert,  and  befides 
pulfe,  was  carried  into   the  Northern  Regicni  ]  many    others,    an   Incomparable  Rawleigh,    to 


of  this  vaft  Hemifphere,  which  might  more 
juftly  therefore  have  receiv'd  its  Name  from 
Him,    than  from   Americus  Vejputius   a    Ylo- 


lettle  Englifl)  Colonies  in  the  Defarts  of  the 
Wefterri  India.  It  will  be  enough  if  I  enter- 
tain him  with  the  Hiftory  of  rhat  Englifl?  Set- 


rentine,  who   in  the  Year   1497.  made  a  fur-   rlemenr,  which  may,  upon  a  Thoufand  accounts, 
ther  Detection  of  the  more  Southern  Regions   pretend  unto  more  of  True  Englifh   than   all 


in  tins  Continent.  So  a  World,  which  ihas 
been  one  great  Article  among  the  Res  deperdttjt 
of  Pancirollus,  is  now  found  out,  and  the  Af- 
fairs of  the  whole  World  have  been  affected 
by  the  finding  of  it.  So  the  Church  of  our 
Lora  Jefus  Chrift,  well  compared  unto  a  Ship* 
is  now  viQorioufly  failing  round  the  Globe  af- 


the  reft,  and  which  alone  therefore  has   been 
called  Neve-England, 

§.  5.  After  a  difcouraging  Series  of  Difafters 
attending  the  Endeavours  of  the  Englifh  ro 
fwarm  into  Florida,  and  the  reft  of  the  Conti- 
nent unto  the  Northward  of  it,  called  Virgi- 
nia, becaufe  the  firft  White  Born  in  thofe  Re- 


ter  Sir  Francis  Drake's  renowned  Ship,  called,   gions  was  a  Daughter,  then  Born  to  one  Ana- 


The  ViZory,  which  could  boaft, 


Prima  ego  velivolis  ambivi  curfibus  orbem. 

And  yet  the  Story  about  Columbus  him  fell 
muft  be  corrected  trom  the  Information  of  De 
la  Vega,  That  one  Sanchez,  a  Native  of '  Helva 
in  Spain,  did  before  him  find  out  thefe  Regi- 


\nias  Dare,  in  the  Year  1585.  The  Courage 
of  one  Bartholomew  Gofnold,  and  one  Captain 
Bartholomew  Gilbert,  and  feveral  other  Gentle- 
men*  ferved  them  to  make  yet  more  ElTays  upon 
the  like  Defighs.  This  Captain  Gofnold  in  a 
fmall  Bark,  on  May  n.  1602.  Made  Land 
on  this  Coaft  in  the  Latitude  of  Forty-Three  -, 
where,  tho'  he  liked  the  Welcome  he  had  from 


ons.  He  tells  us  That  Sanchez  ufing  to  Trade  j  the  Salvages  that  came  aboard  him,  yet  he 
in  a  fmall  Veftel  to  the  Canaries,  was  driven  difliked  the  Weather,  lb  that  he  thought  it  ne- 
by  a  furious  and  tedious  Tempeft  over  unto  |  ceflary  to  ftand  more  Southward  into  the  Sea. 
thefe  Weftern  Countries  ;  and  at  his  return  he'.  Next  Morning  he  found  himfelf  Embayed 
gave  to  Colon,  or  Columbus,  an  account  of  what  I  within  a  mighty  Head  of  Land  :,  which  Pro- 
he  had  feen,  but  foon  after  died  of  a  Dileale  'montory^  in  remembrance  of  the  Cod-Fifh  in 
he  had  got  on  his  dangerous  Voyage.  Howe  j  great  quantity  by  him  taken  there,  he  called 
ver,  I  lhall  expect    my   Reader  ere  long  to\Capc-Cod,  a  Name  which  I  fuppofe  it  will  ne 


grant,  that  ibme  things  done  fince  by  Almigh- 
ty God  for  the  Englijh  in  thefe  Regions,  have 
exceeded  all  that  has  been  hitherto  done  for 
any  other  Nation  :  If  this  New  World  were 
not  found  out  firft  by  the  Englijh  ■  yet  in  thofe 
regards  that  are  of  all  the  great  eft,  it  teems 
to  be  found  out  more  for  them  than  any  o- 
ther. 

§.  4.  But  indeed  the  two  Cabots,  Father  and 
Son,  under  the  Comraiffion  of  out  King  Hen- 


ver  lofe,  till  Shoals  of  Cod-bi/h  be  feen  fwi na- 
ming upon  the  top  of  its  higheft  Hills.  On 
this  Cape,  and  on  the  Iitar.ds  to  the  Southward 
of  it,  he  found  fuch  a  comtbrrable  £n- 
rertainment  from  the  Summer-Fruits  of  the 
Earth,  as  well  as  from  the  Wild  Creatures  then1 
ranging  the  Woods,  and  from  the  wilder  Peo- 
ple now  furprized  into  Courrefie,  that  he  car- 
ried back  to  England  a  Report  of  the  Coun- 
try, better  than  what  the  Spies  once  gav?of  t'titi 
1  8  2  Land 


Aiagnalia  Chrifii  Americana  : 


Book  I. 


Land  flowing  zoith  Milk  and  Honey.  Not 
only  did  the  Merchants  of  Briflol  now 
raife  a  confiderable  Stock  to  Profecute  thefe 
Difcoveries,  but  many  other  Perfons  of  fe- 
veral  Ranks  Embarked  in  fuch  Undertakings; 
and  many  Sallies  into  America  were  made ; 
the  exafcter  Narrative  whereof  I  had  rather 
my  Reader  ihould  pur  chafe  at  the  expence  of 
confulting  Purchas's  Pilgrims,  than  endure  a- 
ny  flop  in  our  haftening  Voyage  unto  the  JMlfO- 

$  of  a  Jl3etu--Cttfflifl)  3fraeU 

§.  6.  Perhaps  my  Reader  would  gladly  be 
informed  how  America  came  to  hi  fir  ft  Peopled '; 
and  if  Homius's  Difcourfes,  De  origine  Gen- 
tium Amencanarum,  do  not  fatisfie  him,  I 
hope  fhortiy  the  moft  Ingenious  Dr.  Woodward, 
in  his  Natural  Hificry  of  the  Earth,  will  do 
it.  In  the  mean  time,  to  ftay  thy  Stomach, 
Reader,  accept  the  Account  which  a  very 
fenfible  Ruffian,  who  had  been  an  Officer  of 
Prime  "Note  in  Siberia,  gave  unto  Father 
Avril.  Said  he,  'There  is  beyond  the  Obi  a 
'  great  River  called  Kawoina,  at  the  Mouth 
f  whereof,  difcharging  it  fell  into  the  frozen 
'  Sea,  there  ftands  a  fpacious  Ifland  very  well 
'  Peopled,  and  no  lefs  confiderable  for  Hunt- 
ing an  Animal,  whofe  Teeth  are  in  great 
'  efteem.  The  Inhabitants  go  frequently  upon  the 
c  fide  of  the  frozen  Sea  to  Hunt  this  Monfter  ; 
*  and  becaufe  it  requires  great  Labour  with  Affi- 
1  duity,  they  carry  their  Families  ufually  along 
'with  them.  Now  it  many  times  happens, 
'  that  being  lurprized  with  a  Thaw,  they  are 
c  carried  away,  I  know  not  whither,  upon 
c  huge  peices  of  Ice  that  break  off  one  from 
'  another.  For  my  part,  I  am  perfwaded  that 
'  feveral  of  thofe  Hunters  have  been  carried 
'  upon  thefe  floating  pieces  of  Ice  to  the  moft 
'  Northern  Parts  of  America,  which  is  not 
'  far  irom  that  Part  of  Afia  that  jutts  out  in- 
1  to  the  Sea  of  Tartary.  And  that  which  con- 
c  firms  me  in  this  Opinion,  is  this,  That  the 
c  Americans  who  Inhabit  that  Country,  which 
c  advances  tartheft  towards  that  Sea,  have  the 
c  lame  Phyfiegnomy  as  thole  Iflanders.  Thus 
the  Vayvode  of  Smotensko.  But  all  the  con- 
cern of  this  our  Hiftory,  is  to  tell  how  Englifli 
People  firft  came  into  America  ;  and  what 
Englifl)  People  firft  came  into  that  Part  of 
America,  where  this  Hiftory  is  compofed. 
Wherefore,  inftead  of  reciting  the  many  Ad- 
ventures of  the  Englifh,  to  vilit  thefe  Parts  of 
the  World,  I  fhall  but  repeat  the  Words  of 
one  Captain  Weymouth,  an  Hiflorian,  as  well 
as  an  Undertaker  of  thofe  Adventures  ;  who 
Reports,  That  one  main  End  of  all  thefe  Un- 
dertakings, wot  to  plant  the  Gofpel  in  thefe 
dark  Regions  of  America.  How  well  the  moft  of 
the  Englijh  Plantations  have  anfwered  this  main 
End,  it  mainly  becomes  them  to  conlider :  How- 
ever, I  am  now  to  tell  Mankind,  that  as  for 
One  of  thefe  Englift  Plantations,  this  was 
not  only  a  main  End,  but  the  fole  End  upon 
which  it  was  erecfed.  If  they  that  are  feli- 
citous about  the  Interefts  of  the  Gofpel,  would 
know  what  and  where  that  Plantation  is  :   be 


it  noted,  That  all  the  vaft  Country  from  Flo- 
rida to  Nova-Francia,  was  at  firft  called  Vir- 
ginia ;  but  this  Virginia  was  diflinguifhed  in- 
to North  Virginia  and  South  Virginia,  till  that 
Famous  Traveller  Captain  John  Smith,  in  the 
Year  1614.  prefenting  unto  the  Court  of 
England  a  Draught  of  North  Virginia,  got  it 
called  by  the  Name  of  NEW-ENGLAND; 
which  Name  has  been  ever  fince  allowed  unto 
my  Country,  as  unto  the  moft  Refembling 
Daughter,  to  the  chief  Lady  of  the  European 
World.  Thus  the  Difcoveries  of  the  Country 
proceeded  lb  far,  that  K.  James  I.  did  by  his 
Letters  Patents  under  the  Great  Seal  of  Eng- 
land, in  the  iSth  Year  of  his  Reign,  give  and 
grant  unto  a  certain  Honourable  Council  Efta- 
blilhed  at  Plymouth,  in  the  County  of  De- 
von, for  the  Planting,  R-ding,  and  Ordering, 
and  Governing  of  New-Enghnd  in  America, 
and  to  their  Succeflbrs  and  Atiigns,  all  that  Part 
of  America,  lying  and  being  in  Breadth,  from 
Forty  Degrees  of  Northerly  Latitude,  from  the 
Equinoctial  Line,  to  the  Forty-Eighth  Degree 
of  the  fa  id  Northerly  Latitude  Indufively  ; 
and  the  Length  of,  and  within  all  the  Breadth 
aforelaid,  throughout  all  the  firm  Lands  from 
Sea  to  Sea.  This  at  laft  is  th .-  Spot  of  Earth, 
which  the  God  of  Heaven  Spied  out  for  the 
Seat  of  fuch  Evangelical,  and  Ecclefiaftical,  and 
very  remarkable  Tranfacfions,  as  require  to 
be  made  an  11)1(10$  h  here  'twas  that  our 
Bleffed  Jtfttg  intended  a  Refting-place,  muft 
I  fay  ?  Or  only  an  Hiding-place  for  thofe  Re- 
formed CHURCHES,  which  have  given 
him  a  little  Accomplifhment  of  his  Eternal 
Father's  Promife  unto  him ;  to  be,  we  hope, 
yet  further  accomplilhed,  of  having  the  utmofi 
Parts  of  the  Earth  for  his  Pofeffion  ? 

§.  7.  The  Learned  Jofeph  Mede  conjectures 
that  the  American  Hcmifphcre  will  efcape  the 
Conflagration  of  the  Earth,  which  we  expect 
at  the  defcent  of  our  Lord  JESUSCHR1ST 
from  Heaven  :  And  that  the  People'  here  will 
not  have  a  lhare  in  the  Blelfednefs  which 
the  Renovated  World  fhall  enjoy,  during  the 
Thoufand  Tears  of  Holy  Reft  promifed  unto 
the  Church  of  God  :  And  that  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  thefe  Regions,  who  were  Originally 
Scytheans,  and  therein  a  notable  fulfilment  of 
the  Prophecy,  about  the  Enlargement  of  Ja- 
phet,  will  be  the  Gog  and  Magog  whom  the 
Devil  will  feduce  to  Invade  the  New-Jcrufa- 
lem,  with  an  Envious  Hope  to  gain  the  An- 
gelical Circumftances  of  the  People  there. 
All  this  is  but  Conjecture  ;  and  it  may  be 
'twill  appear  unto  fome  as  little  probable,  as 
that  of  the  later  Pierre  Poiret  in  his  LVeco- 
nomy  Divine,  that  by  Gog  and  Magog  are 
meant  the  Devils  and  the  Damned,  which  he 
thinks  will  be  let  loofe  at  the  end  of  the 
Thoufand  Tears,  to  make  a  furious,  but  a 
fruitlefs  Attempt  on  the  glorified  Saints  of  the 
New-Jerufalcm.  However,  I  am  going  to  give 
unto  the  Chriftian  Reader  an  Hiftory  of  fome 
feeble  Attempts  made  in  the  American  Hemif- 
phere  to  anticipate  the  State  of  the  New-Je- 

rufalem. 


Book 


Or,  The  Hiftoryof  New-England. 


rufalem,   as  far  as  the   unavoidable  Vanity  of 
Humane  Affairs,  and  Influence  of  Satan  upon 
them  would  allow  of  it  ■  and  of  many  worthy 
Perfons,  whofe  Pofterity,  if  they  make  a  Sgua 
dron  in  the  Fleets  of  Gog  and  Magog,  will  be 


Apofiates  deferving  a  Room,  and  a  Doom 
with  the  Legions  of"  the  Grand  Apojlate,  chat 
will  deceive  the  Nations  to  that  Myjlerious 
Enterprize. 


CHAP.     II. 


Primordia :  Or,  The  Voyage  to  NEW -ENGLAND,  which  produced  the  Tirfl  Set- 
tlement 0/ NEW-PLYMOUTH:,  with  an  Account  of  many  Remarkable  and  Me- 
morable Providences  relating  to  tkat  Voyage. 


|.  j.     A    Number  of  devout  and  ferions  CZvz'- 
jTjl  fiians  in  the  Englijh  Natidn,  find- 
ing   the    Reformation   of  the   Church    in    that 
Nation,  according  to  the  WORD  OF  GOD, 
and  the  Defign  of  many  among  the  Firjl  Re- 
formers, to  labour  under  a  fort  of  hopelefs  Re- 
tardation ,     they   did,     Anno    1602.    in    the 
North  0?  England,  enter  into  a  COVENANT, 
wherein  expreffing  themfelves  defirous,  not  on- 
ly to  attend  the  Worfhip  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
with  a  freedom  from  humane  Inventions  and 
Additions,  but  alfo  to  enjoy  all  the  Evangelical 
Inftitutions  of  that  Worfhip,  they  did  like  thofe 
Macedonians,  that  are  therefore  by  the  Apoftle 
Paul  commended,  give  them/elves  up,  firft  unto 
God,  and  then  to  one  another.    Thefe  Pious  Peo-: 
pie  finding  that   their  Brethren  and  Neigh-, 
bours  in  the  Church  of  England,  as  then  effa-\ 
blijhed  by  Law,  took  offence  at  thefe  their  En- 
deavours after  a  Scriptural  Reformation  ■  and  be- 
ing loth   to   live  in  the  continual   Vexations, 
which  they  felt  a'rifing  from  their  Non-Confor- 
mity to  things  which  their  Confidences  accoun- 
ted Superjtitious    and     Unwarrantable ,    they 
peaceably  and  willingly  embraced  a  Banifbment 
into  the  Netherlands-,  whete  they  fettled  at  the 
City  of  Leyden,  about  Seven  or  Eight  Years  af- 
ter their  Firft  Combination.     And  now  in  that 
City  this  People  fojoutned,  an  Holy  CHURCH 
of  the  Bleffed  JESUS,  for  feveral  Years  under 
the  Paftoral  Care  of  Mr.  John  Robin/on,  who  had 
for  his  Help  in  the  Government  of  the  Chutch, 
a  moft  W  ife,   Grave,  good  Man,  Mr.  William 
Brcwfter,  the  ruling  Elder.    Indeed  Mr.  John 
Robinfon   had   been   in  his  younger  time,    (as 
very  good  Fruit  hath  fometimes  been,    before 
Age  hath  Ripened  itj  Sowred  with  the  Princi- 
ples of  the  moft  Rigid  Separation,  in  the  main- 
taining wheteof  he  compofed  and  publilhed  feme 
little  Treatifes,  and  in  the  Management  of  the 
'Controverfie  made  no  Scruple  to  call  the  incom- 
parable Dr.  Ames  himfelf,  Dr.  Amifs,  for  op- 
poling  fuch  a  Degree  of  Separation.    But  this 
worthy  Man  fuffered  h'unfelf  at  length  to  be  fo 
far  convinced  by  his  Learned  Amagonift,  that. 
with  a  moft  Ingenious  Retractation,  he  afterwards 
writ  a  little  Book  to  prove  the  Lawfulnefs  of 
one  thing,  which  his  miftaken  Zeal  had  for- 
merly impugned  feveral  Years,  even  till  1625. 
and  about  the  Fiftieth  Year  of  his  own  Age, 
continued  he  a  Blefiing  unto  the  whole  Church 
of  God,  and  at  laft,  when  he  dy'd,  he  left  be 
hind  him   in  his  immortal  Writings,    a 


very  much  embalm'd  among  the  People  that  are 
beft  able  to  judge  of  Merit;  and  even  among 
fuch,  as  about  the  Matters  of  Cburch-Difcipline, 
were  not  of  his  Perfwafion.  Of  fuch  an  emi- 
nent Character  was  he,  while  he  lived,  that 
when  Arminianifm  fo  much  prevailed,  as  it 
then  did  in  the  low  Countries,  thofe  famous  Di- 
vines, Polyander,  and  Feftus  Hommius,  employ- 
ed this  our  Learned  Robinfon  to  difpute  pub- 
lickly  in  the  Univerfity  of  Leyden  againft  Epif- 
copius,  and  the  other  Champions  of  that  Grand 
Choak-weed  of  true  Chriftianity  :  And  when  he 
Died,  not  only  the  Univerfity,  and  Minifters 
of  the  City,  accompanied  him  to  his  Grave, 
with  all  their  accuftomed  Solemnities,  but  feme 
of  the  Chief  among  them  with  fbtrowful  Re- 
fentments  and  Exprelfions  affirmed,  That  all  the 
Churches  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  had  fuft din- 
ed a  great  Lofs  by  the  Death  of  thu  worthy 
Man. 

§.  2.  The  Englifl?  Church  had  not  been  very 
long  at  Leyden    before  they  found  themfelves 
encountred  with  many  Inconveniencies.     They 
felt' that  they  were  neither  for  Health  nor  Purfe, 
nor  Language  well   accommodated  ;    but  the 
concern  which  they  moft  of  all  had,    was  for 
their    Pofterity.      They    faw,    that    whatever 
Banks  the  Dutch  had  againft  the  Inroads  of  the 
Sea,  they  had  not  fufficient  Ones  againft  a  Flood 
of  manifold  Profanenefs.    They  could  not  with 
Ten  Tears  Endeavour  bring  their  Neighbours, 
particularly  to  any  fuitable  Obfervation  of  the 
LORD'S  DAY;  without  which  they  knew, 
that  all  pradical  Religion  muft  wither  Milerably. 
They   beheld  fbme  of  their  Children,   by   the 
Temptations  of  the  Place,  which  were  efpeci- 
ally  given  in  the  licentious  Ways  of  many  Young 
People,   drawn  into  dangerous  Extravagancies. 
Moreover,   they  were  very  loth  to  lofe  their 
Intereft  in  the  Englifh  Nation ;  but  were  defi- 
rous rather  to  enlarge  their  King's  Dominions. 
They  found  themfelves  alio  under  a  very  ftrong 
difpofition  of  Zeal,  to  attempt  the  Eftablifh- 
ment  of  Congregational   CflUrCuCjS  Jh  'the 
remote  Parts  of  the  World  •  w,here  they  hoped 
they  fhould  be  reached  by   the  Royal  Influence 
of  their  Prince,  in  whofe  Allegiance  they  chofe 
to  live  and  die;  atthe  fame  time  like  wife  hoping 
that  the  EcclefiafUcks,  who  had  thus  driven  them 
out  of  the  Kingdom  into  a  Neia  World,  for  no- 
thing in  the  World  but  their  Non-Conformity  to 
certain  Rates,  by  the  Impofers   confelfed  lndif- 
NameVferent,  would  be  afhamed  ever  to  perfecuce  them 

with 


6 


Magmlia  Chrifli  Americana 


Book  I. 


with  any  further  Moleftations,  at  the  diftance  i 
of  a  Thoufand  Leagues.    Thefe  Reafons  were  j 
deeply  confideted   by  the  Church ;    and  after ' 
many  Deliberations^  accompanied  with  the  moft 
fblemn  Humiliations  and  Supplications  before 
the  God  of  Heaven,  they  took  up  a  Refolution, 
under  the  conduct  or"  Heaven,  to  REMOVE 
into  A  M  ERIC  A  -,  the  opened  Regions  where- 
of   had  now  filled  all  Europe   with  Reports. 
It  was  refolved,  that  part  of  the  Church  fhould 
go  before  their  Brethren,  to  prepare  a  place  for 
the  Reft  ^     and   whereas    the  Minor    part  of 
younger  and  ftronger  Men  were  to  go  firft,  the 
Pajior  was  to  ftay  with  the  Major,    till  they 
ihould  fee  caufe  to  follow.     Nor  was  there  any 
occafion  for  thisRefolve,  in  any  wearinefs  which 
the  States  of  Holland  had  of  their  Company, 
as  was  bafely  wbpfpered  by  their  Adverfaries ; 
therein  like  thole  who  of  old  ailign'd  the  fame 
caufe  tor  the  Departure  of  the  Ifraelites  out  of 
Egypt  :  For  the  Magistrates  of  Lcyden  in  their 


Court,  reproving  the  Walloons,  gave  this  Tefti- 
mony  for  our  Englifh  ,  Theje  Englilh  have  lived 
now  Ten  Tears  among  us,  and  yet  we  never  had 
any  Accufation  ogainl)  any  one  of  them-,  zehere- 
ai your  Qiiarr els  are  continual. 

§.  3.  Thefe  good   People  were  now  fatisffd, 
they   had   as  plain  a  command   of  Heaven  to 
attempt  a  Removal,  as  ever  their  Father  Abra- 
ham had  for  his  leaving  the  Caldean  Territories ; 
and  it  was  nothing  but  fuch  a  Satisfatlion  that 
could  have  carried  rhem  thro'  fuch,   otherwife 
infuperable   Difficulties,   as  they   met  withal. 
But  in  this  Removal  the  Terminus  ad  §luem 
was  not  yet  refolved  upon.     The  Country  of 
Guiana  flattered  them  with  the  Promifes  of  a 
perpetual  Springs   and  a  Thoufand  other  com- 
fortable Entertainments.    But  the  probable  dif- 
agreement  of  fo  Torrid  a  Climate  unto  Eng- 
lifh Eeiies;  and  the  more  dangerous  Vicinity  of 
the  Spaniards  to  that  Climate ;  were  Conside- 
rations which  made  them  fear  that  Country 
would  be  too  Hot  for  them.    They  rather  pro- 
pounded fome  Country  bordering  upon  Virgi- 
nia; and  unto  this  purpofe,  they  fent  over  A- 
gents  into  England,  who  fo  far  treated  not  on- 
ly with  the  Virginia  Company,  but  with  feveral 
great   Perfons  about  the  Court;    unto  whom 
they  trade  Evident  their  Agreement  with  the 
French  reformed  Churches  in  all  things  what- 
foever,  except  in  a  few  /mall  accidental Points ; 
that  at  laft,  after  many  tedious  Delays,  and  af- 
ter the  lofsof  many  friends  and  Hopes  in  thofe 
delays,  they  obtained  a  Patent  for  a  quiet  Set- 
tlement in  thofe   Territories-,    and  the   Arch- 
bifhop  of  Canterbury  himfelf  gave  them  fome 
Expectations  that  they  ihould  never  be  difturbed 
in  that   Exerciie  of  Religion,    at  which  they 
aimed  in  their  Settlement ;   yea,  when  Sir  Ro- 
bert  Nanton,  then  Principal  Secretary  of  State 
unto  King  James,   moved  his  Majefty  to  give 
way,  that  fuch  a  People  might  enjoy  their  Li- 
berty of  Confcience  under  his  gracious  Protelli- 
on  in  America,  where  they  would  endeavour  the 
Advancement  of  hi*  Majeftfs  Dominions,  and 
the  Enlargement  of  the  Interefts  of  the  Go/pel, 


the  King  fa  id,  it  w<zs  a  good  and  honeji  Motion. 
All  this  notwithstanding,  they  never  made  ufe 
of  that  Patent :  But  being  inform 'd  of  IV E  W- 
E  NG  L  A  AD,  thither  they  diverted  their  De- 
fign,  thereto  induced"by  fundry  Realons-,  but 
particularly  by  this,  that  the  Coaft  being  ex- 
treamly  well  circumlfanced  for  Fifhing,  they 
might  therein  have  fome  immediate  Affiftance 
againft  the  hardfhips  of  their  Firft  Encounters. 
Their  Agents  then  again  fent  over  to  England, 
concluded  Articles  between  them  and  fuch  Ad- 
ventures, as  would  be  concerned  with  rhem  in 
their  prefent  Undertakings.  Articles,  that 
were  indeed  fufficiently  hard  for  thofe  poor 
Men,  that  were  now  to  tranfplant  themf  Ives 
into  an  horrid  Wilder nefs.  The  Diverfwnoi  their 
Enterprize  from  the  Firft  State  and  Way  of  it, 
caus'd  an  unhappy  Divifion  among  thofe  that 
fhould  have  Encourag'd  it;  and  many  of  them 
hereupon  fell  off.  But  the  Removers  having 
already  fold  their  Eftates,  to  put  the  Money 
into  a  Common  Stock,  for  the  welfare  of  the 
Whole  •,  and  their  Stock  as  well  as  their  Time, 
fpending  fo  faft  as  to  threaten  them  with  an 
Army  of  Straits,  if  they  delayed  any  longer ; 
they  nimbly  di (patent  the  beft  Agreements  they 
could,  and  came  away  furnifhed  with  a  Re- 
folution  for  a  large  Tract  of  Land  in  the  South- 
Well  Parts  of  New-England. 

§.  4.  All  things  now  being  in  fome  Keadinefs, 
and  a  couple  of  Ships,  one  called.,  TJjc  Speed- 
well, t'other,  The  May- flower,  being  hired  for 
their  Tranfporration,  they  folemnly  let  apart  a 
Day  for  Fafting  and  Prayer  ;  wherein  their  Pallor 
preached  unto  them  upon  Ezra  8.  21.  I  pro- 
claimed a  Faft  there,  at  the  River  Ahava,  that 
we  might  afflill  our  felves  before  our  God,  to 
feek  of  him  a  right  way  for  us,  and  for  our 
little  ones,  and  for  all  our  fubjiance. 

After  the  fervent  Supplications  of  this  Day, 
accompanied  by  their  affectionate  Friends,  they 
took  their  leave  of  the  pleafant  City,   where 
they  had  been  Pilgrims  and  Strangers  now  for 
Eleven   Years.      Delft-Haven  was   the  Town, 
where  they  went  on  Board  one  of  their  Ships, 
and  there  they  had  fuch  a  mournful  parting  from 
their  Brethren,  as  even  drowned  the  Dutch  Spe- 
ctators themfelves,   then  ftanding  on  the  Shore, 
in  Tears.    Their  excellent  Paflor,  on  his  Knees, 
by  the  Sea-fide,    poured  out  their  mutual  Peti- 
tions unto  God ;  and  having  wept  in  one  another's 
Arms,  as  long  as  the  Wind  and  the  Tide  would 
permit  them,    they  bad  Adieu.     So  failing  to 
Southampton  in  England,   they  there  found  the 
other  of  their  Ships  come  from  London,   with 
the  reft  of  their  Friends  that  were  to  be  the 
Companions  of  the   Voyage.      Let  my  Reader 
place  the  Chronology  of  this  Bufinefs  on  July 
2.    1620.    And  know,    that  the  faithful  Paftor 
of  this  People  immediately  fent  after  rhem  a 
Pajioral  Letter  ■  a  Letter  filled  with  Holy  Coun- 
fels  unto  them,  to  fettle  their  Peace  with  God  in 
their  own  Consciences,  by  an  exact  Repentance 
of  all  Sin  whatfoever,  that  fb  they  might  more 
eafily  bear  all  the  Difficulties  that  were  now 
before  them  5    and  then   to  maintain  a  good 

Peace 


Book  I.        Or,  The  Hifiory  of  New-England, 


7 


Peace  with  one  another,  and  beware  of  giving 
or  taking  Offences;  and  avoid  all  Difcoveries  ot 
a  Touchy  Humour  ;  but  ufe  much  Brotherly  For- 
bearance, Cwhereby  the  way  he  had  this  re- 
markable Obfervation,  In  my  own  experience  few 
or  none  have  been  found  that  fooner  give  Offence, 
than  thofe  that  eafily  take  it ;  neither  have  they 
ever  proved  found  and  profitable  Members  of  So- 
cieties, who  have  nourifhed  this  Touchy  Humour  {] 
as  alfo  to  take  heed  of" a  private  Spirit,  and  all 
retirednefs  of  Mind  in  each  Man,  for  his  own 
proper  Advantage  ;  and  likewife  to  be  careful, 
that  the  Houfe  of  God,  which  they  were,  might 
not  be  lhaken  with  unneceflTary  Novelties  or 
Oppofttions :  Which  LETTER  afterwards 
produced  moft  happy  Fruits  among  them. 

§.  5.  On  Auguft  5th,  1620.  they  fet  Sail 
from  Southampton ;  but  if  it  fhall,  as  I  believe 
it  will,  afrlift  my  Reader  to  be  told  what  Heart- 
breaking Difafters  befel  them,  in  the  very  be- 
ginning of  their  Undertaking,  let  him  glorifiej 
God,  who  carried  them  fo  well  through  their 
greater  Affliction. 

They   were   by  bad  Weather  twice    beaten 
back,   before  they  came  to  the  Land's  End: 
But  it  vvas  judged,  that  the  Badnefs  of  the  Wea- 
ther did  not  retard  them  fomuch  as  the  deceit 
otzMafter,  who  grown  Sick  of  the  Voyage, 
made  fuch  Pretences  about  the  Leakinefs  of  his 
VetTel,  that  thev  were  forced  at  laft  wholly  to 
difmiSs  that  lefTer  Ship  from  the  Service.     Be- 
ing now  all  flowed  into  one  Ship,  on  the  Sixth  of 
September  they  put  to  Sea;  but  they  met  with 
fuch  terrible  Storms,  that  the  principal  Perfons 
on  Board  had  ferious  Deliberations  upon  return- 
ing Home  again  ;  however,  after  long  beating 
upon  the  Atlantick  Ocean,  they  fell  in  with  the 
Land  at  Cape-Cod^  about  the  Ninth  of  Novem- 
ber following,  where  going  on  Shore  they  fell 
upon  their  Knees,  with  many  and  hearty  Praifes 
unto  God,  who  had  been  their  Ajfurance,  when 
they  were  afar  off  upon  the  Sea,  and  was  to  be 
further  fo,    now  that  they  were  come  to  the 
Ends  of  the  Earth. 

Bur  why  at  this  Cape  ? 
Port  which  they  intended  ; 
Land  for  which  they  had 
was  indeed  a  moft  wonderful  Providence  of 
God,  over  a  Pious  and  a  Praying  Petple,  in  this 
Dif appointment  !  The  moft  crooked  Way  that 
ever  was  gone,  even  that  of  IfraePs  Peregrina- 
tion thro  the  Wildernefs,  may  be  called  a  right 
Way,  fuch  was  the  way  of  this  little  Ifrael,  now 
going  into  a  Wildernefs. 

§.  6.  Their  defign  was  to  have  fat  down  fome- 
where  abaut  Hudfon's  River  -,  but  fome  of  their 
Neighbours  in  Holland  having  a  Mind  them- 
felves  to  fettle  a  Plantation  there,  fecretly  and 
finfully  contracted  with  the  Matter  of  the  Ship, 
employed  for  the  Tranfportation  of  thefe  our 
Englifh  Exiles^  by  a  more  Northerly  Courfe, 
to  put  a  Trick  upon  them.  Twas  in  the  pur- 
fuance  of  this  Plot,  that  not  only  the  Goods, 
but  alfo  the  Lives  of  all  on  Board  were  now 
hazarded ,  by  the  Ships  falling  among  the 
Shoals  of  Cape-Cod:    Where  they  were  lb  en- 


Here  was  not  the 
this  was  not  the 
provided.     There 


tangled  among  dangerous  Breakers,    thus  late 
in  the  Year,  that  the  Company  got  at  lalt  into, 
the  Cape-Harbour,  Broke  off  their  Intentions  of 
going  any  further.     And  yet  behold  the  watch- 
ful  Providence  of  God  over  them  that    feeli 
him!  This Falje-deaiing  proved  a  Safe-dealing 
tor  the  good  People  againffc  whom  it  was  ufed 
Had  they  been  carried  according  to  their  defire 
unto  Hudfons  River,  the  Indians  in  thofe  Parr.-: 
were  at  this  time  fo  Many,  and  fo  Mighty,  and 
fo  Sturdy,  that  in  probability  all  this  little  fee- 
ble Number  of  Chriftians  had  been  Maffacred 
by  thefe  bloody  Salvages,  as  not  long  after  tbmc 
others  were:    Whereas  the  good  Hand  of  God 
now  brought  them  to  a  Country  wonderfully 
prepared  for  their  Entertainment,  by  a  fweep- 
ing  Mortality  that   had  lately  been  among  the 
Natives.     We  have  heard  with  our  Ears,  0  God, 
our  fathers  have  told  us,    what  work  thou  did  ft 
in  their  Days,  in  the  rimes  of  Old;    how  thou 
draveft   out  the  Heathen  with  thy  Hand,    and 
plantcdft  them  ;  how  thou  did  ft  afjlitl  the  Peo- 
ple, and  cafr  them  out !  The  Indians  in  thefe 
Parts  had  newly,  even  about  a  Year  or  Two  be- 
fore, been  vifitcd  with  fuch  a  prodigious  Pefti- 
lence ;  as  carried  away  not  a  Tenth,  but  Nine 
Parts    of  Ten,    (yea,    'tis  faid,    Nineteen  of 
Twenty)  among  them  :  So  that  the  Woods  were 
almoft  cleared  of  thofe  pernicious  Creatures,  to 
make  Room  for  a  better  Growth.   It  is  Remark- 
able, that  a  Frenchman  who  not  long  before 
thefe  Tranfa&ions,   had  by  a  Shipwreck  been 
made  a  Captive    among    the  Indians  of  this 
Country,  did,  as  the  Survivers  reported,   juft 
before  he  dy'd  in  their  Hands,  tell  thofe  Tawny 
Pagans,   that  God  being  angry  with  them  for 
their  Wickednefs,    would  not  only  deftroy  them 
all,  but  alfo  People  the  place  with  another  Na- 
tion, which  would  not  live  after  their  Brutiflj 
Manners.     Thofe  Infidels  then  Blafphemoufly 
reply'd,  God  could  not  kill  them-,  which  Blafphe- 
mous  miftake  was  confuted  by  an  horrible  and 
unufual  Plague,  whereby  they  were  confumed 
in  fuchvaft  Multitudes,  that  our  firft  Planters 
found  the  Land  almoft  covered  with  their  un- 
buried  Carcafes;  and  they  that  were  left  alive, 
were  fmitten  into  awful  and  humble  Regards  of 
the  Englifh,    by  the  Terrors   which  the  Re 
membrance  of  the  Frenchman's  Prophefie  had 
Imprinted  on  them. 

§.  7.  Inexpretfible  the  Hardfhips  to  which 
this  chofen  Generation  was  now  expofed  !  Out 
Saviour  once  diretkd  his  Difciples  to  depre- 
cate a  flight  in  the  Winter  •,  but  thefe  Difciples 
of  our  Lord  were  now  arrived  at  a  very  Cold 
Country,  in  the  beginning  of  a  Rough  and  Bleak 
Winter ;  the  Sun  was  withdrawn  into  Sagitta- 
rius, whence  he  fhot  the  penetrating  Arrows  of 
Cold  •  feathered  with  nothing  but  Snow,  and 
pointed  with  Hail ;  and  the  Days  left  them  to 
behold  the  Froft-b'itten  and  Weather-beaten  face 
of  the  Earth,  were  grown  friorter  than  the 
Nights,  wherein  they. had  yet  more  trouble  to 
get  fhelter  from  the  increaling  Injuries  of  the 
Frofl  and  Weather.  It  was  a  relief  to  thofe  Pri- 
mitive Believers,  who  were  caft  on  Shore  at 
• 


8  Magmlia  Chrifti  Americana  : 


Book  L 


Malta,  That  the  Barbarous  People  fhotod  them 
no  little  Kind n eft,  becaufe  of  the  prefent  Rain, 
andbecaufe  of  the  Cold.     But  thefe  Believers  in 
our  Primitive  Times,   were  more  afraid  of  the 
Barbarous  People  among  whom  they  were  now 
calf,   than  they   were   of  the  Rain,  or  Cold ; 
Thefe  Barbarians  were  at  the  firft  fo  far  from 
accommodating  them   with  Bundles  of  Sticks 
to  Warm  them,  that  they  let  Fly  other  forts  of 
Sticks  (that  is  to  fay,  Arrows)  to  Wound  them : 
And  the  very  Looks  and  Shouts  of  thofe  Grim 
Salvages,   had    not  much  lefs  of  Terrour  in 
them,  than   if  they  had  been  fo  many  Devils.. 
It  is  not  long  fince  1  compared  this  remove  of  our 
Fathers,  to  that  of  Abraham,  whereas  I  mull  now 
add,  that  if  our  Father  Abraham,    called  out  of 
Ur,  had  been  directed  unto  the  Defarts  of  Ara 
bia,  inftead  of  the  Land  flowing  with  Milk  and 
Honey,  the  Trial  of  his  Faith  had  been  greater 
than  it  was;  but  fuch  was  the  Trial  of  the 
Faith  in  thefe  holy  Men,   who  followed  the 
Call  of  God  into  Defarts  full  of  difmal  Cir- 
cumftances.     All  this   they  chearfully  under- 
went, in  hope,  that  they  Ihould  fettle  the  Wor- 
Jhip  and  Order  of  the  Gofpel,  and  the  Kingdom 
of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  in  thefe  Regions,  and 
that  thus  enlarging  the  Dominion,  they  fhould 
thereby  fo  Merit  the  ProteUion  of  the  Crown  of 
England,    as  to  be  never  abandoned  unto  any 
further  Perfections,  from  any  Party  of  their 
Fellow  Subjects,  for  their  Confciencious  Regards 
unto  the  Reformation.    Their  Propofal  was, 
Exiguam  fedemSacris,  Littufque  rogamus, 
Innocuum,  &  cuntlis  undamq;  aurama;  Patent  em. 

^.  8.  Finding  at  their  Arrival,  that  what  o- 
ther  Powers  they  had,  Were  made  ufelefs  by 
the  undefined  PTace  of  their  Arrival  •,  they  did, 
as  the  Light  of  Nature  it  felf  diretled  them, 
immediately  in  the  Harbour,  lign  an  Infirument, 
as  a  Foundation  of  their  future  and  needful 
Government ;  wherein  Declaring  themfelves  the 
Loyal  Subjects  of  the  Crown  of  England,  they 
did  combine  into  a  Body  Politick,  and  fblemnly 
engage  Submifiicn  and  Obedience  to  the  Laws, 
Ordinances,  Ads.  Confutations  and  Officers, 
that  from  time  to  time  thould  be  thought  moft 
convenient  for  the  general  Good  of  the  Colony. 
This  was  done  on  Nov.  nth,  1620.  and  they 
chofe  one  Mr.  John  Carver,  a  Pious  and  Pru- 
dent Man,  their  Governour. 

Hereupon  they  fent  Athore  to  look  a  con- 
venient Seat  for  their  intended  Habitation : 
j*nd  while  the  Carpenter  was  fitting  of  their 
Shdllop.Sixteen  Men  tender'd  themfelves,  to  go, 
by  Land,  on  the  Difcovery.  Accordingly  on 
Nov.  16th,  1620.  they  made  a  dangerous  Ad- 
venture •,  following  five  Indians,  whom  they 
fpied  Flying  before  them,  into  the  Woods  for 
many  Miles  ;  from  whence,  after  two  or  three 
Days  Ramble,  they  returned  with  fome  Ears  of 
Indian  'GwvJ^affiich  were  an  Efhcol  for  their 
Company  •,  But  with  a  poor  and  fmall  Encourage- 
ment, as  unto  any  Scituation.  When  the  Shal- 
lop was  fitted ,  about  thirty  more  went  in  it 
upon  a  further  Difcovery  ;  who  profpeted  little 
more,  than  only  to  find  a  little  Indian  Corn,  and 


bring  to  the  Company  fome  Occafions  of  doubt- 
ful Debate,  whether  they  fhould  here  fix  their 
Stakes.  Yet  thefe  Expeditions  on  Difcovery 
had  this  one  Remarkable  Smile  of  Heaven  upon 
them  ;  that  being  made  before  the  Snow  covered 
the  Ground,  they  met  with  fome  Indian  Corn-, 
for  which,  'twas  their  purpofe  honeftly  to  pay  the 
Natives  on  demand  ;  and  this  Corn  ferved  them 
for  Seed  in  the  Spring  following,  which  elfe 
they  had  not  been  feafbnably  furnifhed  withal. 
So  that  it  proved,  in  Effeft,  their  Deliverance 
from  the  Terrible  Famine. 

§.  9.  The  Month  of  November  being  fpent 
in  many  Supplications  to  Almighty  God,  and 
Conjultations  one  with  another,  about  the  Di- 
rection of  their  Courfe;  at  laft,  on  Dec.  6. 
1620.  they  manned  the  Shallop  with  about 
eighteen  or  twenty  Hands,  and  went  out  upon  a 
third  Difcovery.  So  bitterly  Cold  was  the  Sea- 
ion,  that  the  Spray  of  the  Sea  lighting  on  their 
Cloaths,  glazed  them  with  an  immediate  Conge- 
lation; ye?  they  kept Cruifing  about  the  Bay  of 
Cape-Cod,  and  that  Night  they  got  fate  down 
the  Bottom  of  the  Bay.  There  they  Landed, 
and  there  they  tarried  that  Night ;  and  unfuc- 
cefsfully  Ranging  about  all  the  next  Day,  at 
Night  they  made  a  little  Barricado  of  Boughs 
and  Logs,  wherein  the  moft  weary  flept.  The 
next  Morning  after  Prayers,  they  l'uddenly  were 
furrounded  with  a  Crue  of  Indians,  who  let 
Fly  a  Show'r  of  Arrows  among  them ;  whereat 
our  diftrefTed  handful  ofEnglifl)  happily  reco- 
vering their  Arms,  which  they  had  laid  by  from 
the  Moifture  of  the  Weather,  they  vigoroufly 
difcharged  their  Muskets  upon  the  Salvages, 
who  aftonifhed  at  the  ftrange  EfTetts  of  fuch 
Dead-doing  Things,  as  Powder  and  Shot,  fled  a- 
pace  into  the  Woods  •,  but  not  one  of  ours  was 
wounded  by  the  Indian  Arrows  that  flew  like 
Hail  about  their  Ears,  and  pierced  through  fun  - 
dry  of  their  Coats  .•  For  which  they  returned 
their  folemn  Thanks  unto  God  their  Saviour  ; 
and  they  call'd  the  place  by  the  Name  of,  The 
Firft  Encounter.  From  hence  they  coafted  a- 
long.  till  an  horrible  Storm  arofe,  which  tore 
their  Veffcl  at  fuch  a  rate,  and  threw  them  into 
the  midlt  of  fuch  dangerous  Breakers,  it  was 
reckoned  little  fhort  of  Miracle  that  they  ef- 
caped  alive.  In  the  End  they  got  under  the  Lee 
of  a  fmall  If/and,  where  going  Afhore,  they 
kindled  Fires  for  their  fuccour  againft  the 
Wet  and  Odd  •,  it  was  the  Morning  before  they 
found  it  was  an  Ifland,  whereupon  they  rendred 
their  Praifes  to  him,  that  hitherto  had  helped 
them-,  and  the  Day  following,  which  was,  The 
LoriTsDay,  the  difficulties  now  upon  them, 
did  not  hinder  them  from  fpending  it  in  the 
devout  and  pious  Fxercifes  of  a  Sacred  Reft. 
On  the  next  Day  they  founded  the  Harbour, 
and  found  it  fit  for  Shipping;  they  vifited  the 
Alain  Land  alio,  and  found  it  accommodated 
with  pleafant  Fields  and  Brooks ;  whereof  they 
carried  an  encouraging  Report  untotheirFriends 
on  Board.  So  they  refolved  that  they  would 
here  pitch  their  Tents ;  and  Sailing  up  to  the 
Town  of  Plymouth  [as  with  an  hopeful  Pro- 

lepfis, 


Book  I.         0ry  The  Htfiory  of  New-England. 


lepfis,  my  Reader  (hall  now  call  it ;  for  other- 
wife,  by  the  Indians  'twas  called,  Patuxet ;] 
on  the  Twenty-fifth  Day  of  December  they 
began  to  ereft  the  Firfi  Houfe  that  ever  was  in 
rhat  memorable  Town  ;  an  Houfe  for  the  gene- 
ral Enterrainment  of  their  Perfons  and  Eftates  : 
And  yet  it  was  not  long  before  an  unhappy  Ac- 
cident burnt  unto  the  Ground  their  Houfe, 
wherein  fome  of  their  principal  Perfons  then 
lay  Sick ;  who  were  forced  nimbly  to  Fly  out 


have  foon  annihilated  this  Poor  Handful  of 
Men,  thus  far  already  diminifhed.  They  faw 
no  Indians  all  the  Winter  long,  but  fuch  as  at 
the  firft  Sight  always  ran  away ;  yea,  they 
quickly  found,  that  God  had  fo  turned  the 
Hearts  of  thefe  Babarians,  as  more  to  fear,  than 
to  Hate  his  People  thus  calt  among  them.  This 
bleffed  People  was  as  a  lit  tic  tiock  of  Kids\ 
while  there  were  many  Nations  of  Indians  left, 
ftill  as  Kennels  of  V/olves  in  every  Corner  of 


of  the  fired  Houfe,  or  elfe  they  had  been  blown  I  the  Country.     And  yet  the  little  Nock  fuftered 


up  with  the  Powder  then  Lodged  there.  After 
this,  they  loon  went  upon  the  Building  of  more 
little  Cottages  -,  and  upon  the  fettling  of  good 
Laws,  for  the  better  Governing  of  fuch  as  were  to 
Inhabit  thole  Cottages.  They  then  refolved,  that 
until  they  could  be  further  ltrengthned  in  their 
Settlement,  by  the  Authority  of  England,  they 


no  damage  by  thofe  Rapid  Wolves !  We  may 
and  fhould  fay,  This  is  the  Lord's  Doing,  'tir 
marvellous  in  our  Eyes. 

But  among  the  many  Caufes  to  be  ailigned 
for  it,  one  was  This.  It  was  afterwards  by 
Them  confeffed,  that  upon  the  Arrival  of  the 
Englifh  in  thefe  Parts,   the  Indians    employ 'd 


would  be  governed  by  R#/W\r  chofen  from  among  'their  Sorcerers,  whom  they  call  Pcwaws,    like 


themfelves,  who  were  to  proceed  according  to 
.the  Laws  of  England,  as  near  as  they  could,  in 
the  Adminiftration  of  their  Government ;  and 
fuch  other  By-Laws,  as  by  Common  Confent 
fhould  be  judged  necefTary  for  the  Circumftan- 
ces  of  the  Plantation. 

§.  10.  If  the  Reader  would  know,    how  thefe 
good  People  fared  the  reft  of  the  Melancholy 
Winter;    let   him  know,  That  befides  the  Ex- 
ercifes  of  Religion,    with  other  Work  enough, 
there  was  the  care  of  the  Sick  to  take  up  no  lit- 
tle part  of  their  Time.     'Twas  a  moft  heavy 
Trial  of  their  Patience,  whereto  they  were  cal- 
led the  fit  ft  Winter  of  this  their  Pilgrimage, 
and  enough  to  convince  them,  and  remind  them, 
that  they  were  but  Pilgrims.     The  Hardfhips 
which  they  encountred,  were  attended  with, 
and  productive  of  deadly  Sicknejfes  •,  which  in 
two  or  three  Months  carried  off  more  than  Half 
their  Company.    They  were  but  meanly  provi 
dedagainft  thefe  unhappy  Sicknejfes  •  but  there 
died  fometimes  Two,  fbmetimes  Three  in  a  Day  -, 
till  fcarce  Fifty  of  them  were  left  alive ;   and  of 
thole  Fifty,  fbmetimes  there  were  fcarce  Five 
well  at  a  time    to  look  after  the  Sick.    Yet 
their  profound  Submilfion  to  the  Will  of  Gcd, 
their  Chriftian  Readinefs  to  help  one  another, 
accompanied  with  a  joyful  Aflurance  of  another 
and  better  World,  carried  them  chearfully  thro' 
the  Sorrows  of  this  Mortality:   Nor  was  there 
heard  among  them  a  continual  Murmur  againft 
thofe  who  had  by  unreafonable  Impojitions  dri- 
ven them  into  all  thefe  Diftreffes.     And  there 
was  this  Remarkable  Providence  further  in  the 
Circumftances  of  this  Mortality,  that  if  a  Dif- 
eaje  had  not  more  eafily  fetcht  lb  many  of  this 
Number  away  to  Heaven,  a  Famine  would  pro- 
bably have  deftroy'd  them  all,  before  their  ex- 
pected Supplies  from  Englandviere  Arrived.  But 
what  a  wonder  was  it  that  all  the  Bloody  Sal- 
vages far  and  near  did  not  cut  off  this  little  Rem- 
nant !  If  he  that  once  muzzled  the  Lions  ready 
to  devour  the  Man  of  Defires,  had  not  Admira- 
bly, I  had  almoft  faid,  Miraculoufly  reftrained 


Balaam,  to  Curfe  them,  and  let  loofe  their  De- 
mons upon  them,  to  Shipwreck  them,  to  Di- 
ftracf  them,  to  Poifon  them,  or  any  way  to 
Ruin  them.  All  the  noted  Powam  in  the  Coun- 
try fpent  three  Diys  together  in  Diabolical 
Conjurations,  to  obtain  the  Affiftances  of  the 
Devils  againft  the  Settlement  of  thefe  our  Eng- 
lift);  but  the  Devils  at  length  acknowledged  un- 
to them,  that  they  could  not  hinder  thofe  People 
from  their  becoming  the  Owners  and  Maflers  of 
the  Country;  whereupon  the  Indians  refolved 
upon  a  good  Correfpondence  with  our  New- 
Comers  :  and  God  convinced  them,  that  there 
was  no  Enchantment  or  Divination  againft  fuch 
a  People. 

§.  11.  The  doleful  Winter  broke  up  fooner 
than  was  ufual.    But  our  crippled  PLnters  were 
not  more  comforted  with  the  early  advance  of 
the  Spring,  than  they  were  furpriz'd  with  the 
appearance    of  two  Indians,   who   in    broken 
Englifh   bade   them,    Welcome  Englifhmen!    It 
feems  that  one  of 7thele  Indians  had  been  in  the 
Eaftern  Parts  of  New-England,  acquainted  with 
fome  of  the  Englifh  VelTels  that  had  been  for- 
merly Fifhing  there ;   but   the  other  of  the  In- 
dians, and  he  from  whom   they  had  moft  of 
Service,  was   a   Perfon   provided  by   the  very 
lingular   Providence  of  God  for  that  Service. 
A  moft  wicked  Ship-mafter  being  on  this  Coaft  a 
few  Years  before,  had  wickedly  Spirited  away 
more  than  Twenty  Indians  -,  whom  having  enti- 
ced them  aboard,  he  prefently  flowed  them  under 
Hatches,  and  carried  them  away  to  the  Streights, 
where  he  fold  as  many  of  them  as  he  could  for 
Slaves.     This  avaritious  and  pernicious  Felony 
laid  the  Foundation  of  grievous  Annoyances  to 
all  the  Englifh  Endeavours  of  Settlements,  espe- 
cially in  the  Northern  Parts  of  the  Land  for 
feveral  Years  enfuing.    The  Indians  would  ne- 
ver forget  ox  forgive  this  Injury  ;  but  when  the 
Englijh  afterwards  came  upon  this  Coaft,   in 
their  Fifiing-Voyages,  they  were  ftill  affaulted  in 
an  Hoflile  manner,  to  the  Killing  ard  Wound- 
ing of  many  poor  Men  by  the  angry  Natives,  in 


them,  Thefe  had  been  all  devoured!  Bur  this  i  revenge  of  the  wrong  that  had  been  done  them-, 
People  of  God  were  come  into  a  Wildcrnefs  |  and  fome  intended  Plantations  here  were  here- 
to Worjbip  Him  ;  and  fo  He  kept  their  Ene-  j  by  utterly  nipt  in  the  Bud.  But  our  good  God 
nries  fron?  fuch  Attempts,   as  would  othefwife  |  {q  order'd  it,  that  one  of  the  ftoln  Indians,  cal- 

G  '  tei 


IO 


Magndia  Chrijli  Americana 


Book  I. 


led  Squanto,  had  efcaped  out  of  Spain  into 
England;  where  lie  lived  with  one  Mr.  Slany, 
from  whom  he  had  found  a  way  to  return  into 
his  own  Country,  being  brought  back  by  one 
Mr.  Dcrmer,  about  half  a  Year  before  our  ho- 
neft  Plymotheans  were  cafr.  upon  this  Continent. 
This  Indian  (with  the  other)  having  received 
much  Kindnefs  from  the  Englifh,  who  he  faw 
generally  condemned  the  Man  that  firft  betrayed 
him,  now  made  unto  the  Englifh  a  return  of 
that  Kindnefs :  And  being  by  his  Acquaintance 
with  the  Englifh  Language,  fitted  for  a  Con- 
vention with  them,  he  very  kindly  informed 
them  what  was  the  prcfent  Condition  of  the 
other  Indians  5  inftructed  them  in  the  way  of 
ordering  their  Corn  ;  and  acquainted  them  with 
many  other  things,  which  it  was  necefTary  for 
them  to  underftand.  But  Squanto  did  for  them 
a  yet  greater  benefit  than  all  this  :  For  he 
brought  Mafjttfoit,  the  chief  Saebitn,  or  Prince 
of  the  Indians  within  many  Miles,  with  fbme 
Scores  of  his  Attenders,  to  make  our  People  a 
kind  Vifit ;  the  IfTue  of  which  Vifit  was,  that 


the  King  of  England  ;  into  which  Peace  and 
Subjetlion  many  other  Sacbims  quickly  after 
came,  in  the  moft  voluntary  manner  that  could 
be  exprelTed.  It  ieems  this  unlucky  Squanto 
having  told  his  Countrymen  how  ealie  it  was 
for  fo  great  a  Monarch  as  K.  ]ames  to  deftroy 
them  all,  if  they  (hould  hurt  any  of  his  People, 
he  went  on  to  terrifie  them  with  a  ridiculous 
Rhodomantado,  which  they  Believed,  that  this 
People  kept  the  Plague  in  a  Cellar  (where  they 
kept  their  Powder)  and  could  at  their  pleafure 
let  it  loofe  to  make  inch  Havock  among  them, 
as  the  Diftemper  had  already  made  among 
them  a  few  Years  before.  Thus  was  the  Tongue 
of  a  Dog  made  ufeful  to  a  feeble  and  iickly  Laza- 
rus !  Moreover,  our,  Eng/ifl)  Guns,  efpeciafly 
the  great  ones,  made  a  formidable  Report  a- 
mong  thefe  Ignorant  Indian? ;  and  the  hopes  of 
enjoying  fbme  Defence  by  the  Englijh,  againfi: 
the  Potent  Nation  of \Narraganfel -Indians,  now 
at  War  with  thefe,  mad  :  them  yet  more  to 
Court  our  Friendship.  Tl  i  vt  ry  ftrange  Dif- 
pofition  of  things,  was  ex  i  amly  advantageous 
Maffafoit  not  only  eutred  into  a  firm  Agreement  j  to  our  diftrelfed  Planters:  And  who  fees  not 
of  Peace  with  the  Eng/ijl.h  but  alio  they  decla-  ]  herein  the  fpecial  Providence  of  the  God  who 
red  and  fubmitted  themielves  ro   be  Subjects  of*  l  difpofetb  all? 


CHAP.     III. 

Conatnur  Tenues  Grandia  :  Or,  A  Brief  Account  of  the  Difficulties,  the  Deliverances,  and 
other  Occurrences,  thro'  which  the  Plantation  of  New-Plymouth  arrived,  unto  the  Con* 
fifiency  of  a  Colony. 

only  three  Days  together-,  no,  for  two  or  three 
Months  together,  they  had  no  kind  of  Corn  a* 
mong  them  :  Such  was  the  fcarcity,  accompa- 
nied with  the  difproportion  of  the  Inhabitants 
to  the  Provifions.    However,    Peter  Martjr's 
Conclufion    may   be  ours,  With  their  Mi f cries 
this  People  opened  a  way  to  tbvfe  new  Lands, 
and  afterwards  other  Men  came  to  Inhabit  them 
zvitb  cafe,   in   refpeH   oj  the  Calamities  which 
thefe  Men  have  fufjered.     They  were  indeed 
very  often   upon  the  very  point  of    Starving  ; 
but  in  their  fxttemity  the  God  of  Heaven  al- 
ways furnifhed  them  with  ibmefudden  Reliefs  •, 
either  by  cauiing  fome  Veffcls  of  Strangers  oc- 
cafionally  to  look  in  upon  them,  or  by  putting 
them  into  a  way  to  catch  Fifh  in  fome  convenient 
Quantitie^or  by  fome  other  furprizing  Accidents ; 
for    which    they  render'd    unto    Heaven    the 
Solemn  Thanks  of  their  Souls.     They  kept  in 
fuch  good  Working  cafe,  that  befides  their  Pro- 
grefs  in  Building,   and  Planting,    and    Fijhing, 
they  formed  a  fort  of  a  Fort,  wherein  they  kept 
a  Nightly  Watch  for  their  fecurity  againft  any 
Treachery  of  the  Indians  ;  being  thereto  awakened 
by  an  horrible  M  aflat re,  which  the  Indians  lately 
made  upon  feveral  Hundreds  of  the  Englifh  in 
Virginia. 

§.  2.  In  one  of  the  firft  Summers  after  their 
fitting  down  at  Plymouth,  a  terrible  Drought 
threatned  the  Ruin  of  all  their  Summers  Huf- 
bandry.  From  about  the  middle  of  May  to  the 
middle  of  July,  an  extream  hot  Sun  beat  upon 

their 


§.  I.  QEtting  afide  the  juft  and  great  Grief  of 
O  our  new  Planters  for   the   immature 
Death  of  their  Excellent  Governour,  fucceeded 
by  the  Worthy    Mr.   Bradford,  early   in  the 
Spring  after  their  firft  Arrival,  they  fpent  their 
Summer  fbmewhat  comfortably,  Trading  with 
the  Indians  to  the  Northward  of  their  Planta- 
tation  ;  in  which  Trade  they  were  nor  a  little 
affifted    by    Squanto,   who    within    a   Year  or 
two  Dy'd  among  the  Engliff) ;    but  before  his 
Death,  defired  them  to  Pray  for  him,  That  be 
might  go  to  the  Englilhman's  God  in  Heaven. 
And  befides  the  afliftance  of  Squanto,  they  had 
alfo  the  help  of  another  Indian,  called  Hobbamok, 
who  continued  faithful  unto  the  Englifh  Inte- 
rests as   long  as  he  liv'd -,   tho'  he  fometimesl 
went  in  Danger  of  his  Life  among  his  Coun- 
trymen for  that  Fidelity.    So  they  jogg'd  on  till 
the   Day  Twelvemonth  after  their  firft  Arrival  j 
when   there    now   arrived  unto  them  a  good 
Number  more  of  their  old  Friends  from  Hol- 
land, for  the  flrengtbenmg  of  their  new  Plan- 
tation :    But  inafmuch  as  they  brought  not  a 
fuffkient  ftock  of  Provifions  with  them,  they 
rather  weakened  it,  than  (Lengthened  it. 

If  Peter  Martyr  could  magnifie  the  Spani- 
ards, of  whom  he  reports,  They  led  a  mifera- 
ble  Life  for  three  days  together  with  parch- 
ed Grain  of  Maize  only,  and  that  not  untofa- 
tiety  ;  what  {ball  1  fay  of  our  EngUfhmen,  who 
would  have  thought  a  little  parched  Indian 
Corn  a  mighty  Feafl  ?  But  they  wanted  it,  not 


Book  I.  Or,  The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


li 


then  Fields,  without  any  Rain,  Co  that  all  their  l  meddle  with  him.  Thus  was  the  beginning  of  the 
Corn  began  to  Wither  and  Languilh,  and  feme    Plot  put  by  :  But  the  whole  Plot  came  another 


of  it  was  irrecoverably  parched  up.  In  this 
Diltrefs  they  fee  apart  a  Day  for  Rafting  and 
Prayer,  to  deprecate  the  Calamity  that  might 
bring  them  to  Fafting  thro'  Famine  \  in  the 
Morning  of  which  Day  there  was  no  fign  of  a- 
ny  Rain  \  but  before  the  Evening  the  Sky  was 
overcalt  with  Clouds,  which  went  not  away 
without  fuch  eafie,  gentle,  and  yet  plentiful 
Showers,  as  reviv'd  a  great  part  of  their  decay'd 
Corn,  for  a  comfortable  Harvelt.  The  Indians 
themfelves  took  norice  of  this  Anfwer  given 
from  Heaven  to  the  Supplications  of  this  De- 
vout People  •,  and  one  of  them  laid,  Now  I  fee 
that  the  Englilhman'r  God  is  a  good  God;  for 
he  hath  heard  you ,  and  you  Rain^  and  that 

without  fuch  Tempefi  and  Thunder  as  we  ufe 
to  have  with  cur  Rain  ;  ^bich  after  our  Powaw- 
mgjor  it,  breaks  doto/tibe Corn ;  whereas  your 
Ccrn  Jlands  whole  and  good  fill ;  furely,your 
God  is  a  good  God.  The  Harveji  which  God 
thus  gave  to  this  pious  People,  caufed  them  to 
fet  apart  another  Day  for  Solemn  Thankfgiv- 
ing  to  the  glorious  Hearer  of  Prayers  ! 

§.  3.  There  was  another  molt  wonderful  Pre- 
Jcrvation,  vouchfaf,d  by   God   unto  this  little 


Knot  of  Chriftians. 
chant  of  good  No 


One  Mr.  IVefton,  a  Mer- 
inrerefted  at  firft   in  the 


way  to  be  atifcovered   r.nd  prevented.     Majja 
foit,  the  Southern  Sachim,  tailing  Sick,  the  Go- 
vernour  of  Plymouth  defired  a   couple  of  Gen- 
tlemen, whereof  one  was  that  good  Man,  Mr, 
Winflow,  to  viiit   this   poor    Sachim:    Whom, 
after  their  lung  Journey,   they  found  lying  at 
the  point  of  Death  with  a  Que  of  Hellilh  Po- 
ivaws,   ufing  their  ineffectual  Spells  and  Howls 
about  him  to  Recovet  him.     Upon  the  taking 
of  fome  Engltfh  Phyfick,  he  prefently  revived  ; 
and  thus  regaining  his  loft  Health,  the  Fees  he 
Paid  his  Engltft  Doclor  were,  A  Confejfion  of 
the  Plot  among  fever al  Nations  of  the  Indians, 
to  deflroy  the  Englilh.    He  faid,  that  they  had 
in    vain    follicited    him     to   enter    into    that 
bloody  Combination ;  but  his  Advice  was,  that  the 
Governour  of  Plymouth  (hould  immediately  take 
off  the  principal  Alters  in  this  Bufiriefs,  where- 
upon the  relt  being  terrify "d,  would  foon  defifL 
There   was  a  Concurrence   of  many  rhings  to 
confirm  the  Truth  of  this  Information  \  where- 
fore Captain  Standifl)  took  Eight  refolute  Men 
with  him  to  the  IVeJhnian  Plantation  ;  where 
pretending  to  Trade   with  the  Indians,  divers 
of  the  Confpirators  began   to  Treat  him  in  3 
manner    very  Infolent.     The  Captain,  and  his 
little  Army  of  Eight  Men,  (Reader,  allow  them 


Plymouth  Defign,  afterwards  deferted  it ;  and  in  I  for  their  Courage  to  be  called  fo)  with  a  prodi 
the  Year  1622,  fent  over  two  Ships  with  aboutl  gious  Refolution,  prefently  killed  iome  of  the 
Sixty  Men,  to  begin  a  Plantation  in  the  Maf- 1  Chief  among  thefe  Indians,  while  the  reft,  after 


Jachufet-Bay.     Theft  Beginners  being  well  re 
frelhed  at  Plymouth,  travelled  more  Northward 
unto  a  place  known  fince  by  the  Name  oflVey- 
mouth  ;   where  thefe  Weftonians ,    who  were 
Church  of  England  men,  did  not  approve  them- 
felves like  the  Plymotheans,  a  pious,   honeft, 
induftrious  People ;  but  followed  fuch  bad  Cour- 
fes,  as  had  like  to  have  brought  a  Ruin  upon 
their  Neighbours,  as  well  as  themfelves.     Ha- 
ving by  their  Idlcnefs  brought  themfelves  to  Pe- 
nury, they  ftole  Corn  from  the  Indians,  and  ma- 
ny  other  ways  provoked  them ;  although  the 
Governour  of  Plymouth  Writ   them  his  very 
fharp  difapprobarion  of  their  Proceedings.    To 
fatisfie  the  exafperated  Salvages,  divers  of  the 
Thieves  were  St  ccAt  and  Urhipt,  and  one  of  them 
at  laft  put  to  Death  by  this  miferable  Compa- 
ny ;  which  did  no  other  Service  than  to  afford 
an  occafion  for  a  Fable  to  the  Roguifh  Hudi- 
bras,  for  all  Accommodation  was  now  too  late. 
The  Indians  far  and  near  entred  into  ^Con/pi- 
racy to  cut  off  thefe  abufive  Englifh  \  and  leaft 
the  Inhabitants  of  Plymouth  fhould  revenge  that 
Excifion  of  their  Countrymen,  they  refolv'd  up- 
on the  Murther  of  them  alfo.    In  purfuance  of 
this  Plot,  Captain  Standijh^  the  Commander  of 
the  Militia  of  Plymouth,  Lodging  on  a  Night, 
with  Two  or  Three  Men  in  an  Indian  Houfe, 
the  Indians  propofed  that  they  might  begin  the 
Execution  of  their  Malice  by  the  Affaffination 
of  the  Captain,  as  loon  as  ever  he  fhould  be 
fallen  afleep.  However,  the  watchful  Providence 
of  God  lb  ordered  it,   that  the  Captain  could 
not  Sleep  all  that  Night ;  and  lb  they  durft  not 


a  fhort  Combate,  ran  before  him  as  fait  as  their 
Legs  could  carry  them-,    neverthelefs,  in  the 
midft  of  the  Skirmifhes,  an  Indian  Youth  ran 
to  the  Englifh,  defiring  to  be  with  them  ;  and 
declaring  that  the  Indians  waited  but  for  their 
finithing  Two  Canoo's,  to    have  furprized  the 
Ship  in  the  Harbour,  and  have  Maffacred  all 
the   People  ;  which   had  been  finilhed,  if  the 
Captain  had   not  arrived  among  them  juft  in 
the  nick  of  Time  when  he  did  :  And  an  Indian 
Spy  detained   at  Plymouth,  when   he  law  the 
Captain  return  from  this  Expedition,  with  the 
Head  0?  a  famous  Indian  in  his  Hand,  then  with 
a  tain  and  frighted  Countenance,  acknowledged 
the  whole  Mifchief  intended  by  the  Indians  a- 
gainlt  the  Englifl).     Releafing  this  Fellow,  they 
fent  him  to    the  Sachim   of  the  Maffachufets, 
with  Advice  of  what  he  muft  look  for,  in  Cafe 
he  committed  any  Hoftility  upon  the  Subjects 
of  the  King  of  England  •    whereof  there  was 
this  Eftecf ,  that  not  only   that  Sachim   hereby 
terrified,  moft  humbly   begg'd  for  Peace,  and 
pleaded  his  Ignorance  of  his  Mens  Intentions; 
but  the  reft  of  the  Indians,  under  the  fame  Ter- 
ror,  withdrew  themfelves  to  Live  in  the  un- 
healthful  Swamps,  which  provd  Mortal  to  ma- 
ny of  them.    One  of  the  Weflonians  was  en- 
deavouring  to  carry    unto  Plymouth  a  Report 
of  the  Straits  and  Fears  which  were  come  up- 
on them,  and  this  Man  lofing  his  Way,  faved 
his  Life;   taking  a  wrong  Track,  he  efcaped 
the  Hands  of  the  Two  Indians,   who  went  on 
hunting  after  him ;   however  e're  he  reached 
Plymouth,  care  had  been  already  taken  for  thefe 
C  2  wretched 


12 


Magnalia  Chrifli  Americana  : 


Book  I. 


wretched  Wejionians  by  the  earlier  and  fuller 
Communications  ol  Maffafoit.  So  was  the 
Peau.  >■  ''/y  mouth  preferved,  and  fo  the  Wejio- 
riian  Plantation  broke  up,  went  off,  and  cam.- 
to  nothing:  Altho'  'twas  much  wilhed  by  the 
Holy  Rebinfon,  that  iome  of  the  poor  Heathen 
had  been  convened  before  any  of  them  had 
bcui  Slaughtered. 

§.  4.    A  certain  Gentleman  Df  nothing  in 
the  following  Story  contradict  that  Name']  was 
employed  in  obtaining  Irom  the  Grand  Coun- 
cil  of  Plymouth  and  England,  a  Patent  in  the 
Name  or  thefe  Planters  for  a  convenient  quan- 
tity  of  the  Country,   where  the  Providence  of 
God   had   now   dilpofed    them.       This   Man 
fpe.iking  one  Word  for  them,    ipake  two  for 
himfelj  :  And  furrcptitioufly  procured  the  Patent 
in  his  own  Name,  referving   for  himlelf  and 
his  Heirs  an  huge  Tra£t  of  the  Land ;  and 
intending  the  Plymotheans  to  hold  the  reft  as 
Tenants  under  him.  Hereupon  he  took  on  Board 
many  Pajfengers  with  their  Goods ;  but  having 
Sailed    no  further  than  the  Downs,    the  Ship 
fprang  a   Leak ;    and    beiides    this    DilTafter, 
which    alone  was   enough   to  have  ftopt    the 
Voyage,  one  Strand  of  their  Cable  was  acciden- 
tally cut  5  by  which  means  it  broke  in  a  ftrefs 
of  Wind;    and   they  were   in   extream  danger 
of  being  wrack'd  up:m  the  Sands.     Having  with 
much    .' a  recruited  chei)   Lqfs,  and  encreafed 
the  Numbei  oi  their  Pajfen^-rs,  they  put  out 
again  to  Sea;  but  after  they  had  got  half  Way, 
one  a  the  faddelt  3rd  longeft  Storms  that  had 
been  known  hnce  ib    f\iys  of  the  Apoftle  Paul, 
drove  them  heme  t<,  England again,  with  a  VelTel 
well  nigh  rom  to  pieces,  tho'  the  Lives  of  the 
IVole,   which  were  above  an  Hundred,  merci- 
fully preferved.     This  Man,  by  ill  his  tumbling 
backward  and  forward,  was  by  this  rime  grown 
fo  Sick  of  his  Patent,   that  he  vomited  it  up  ; 
he 'aligned  it  over  to  the  Company,  but  they 
afterwards  obtained  another,  under  the  Umbrage 
whereof  they   could  now  more  effectually  car- 
ry on  the  Affairs  of  their  New   Colony.    The 
Pafleugers  went   over    afterwards  in   another 
Veflel :  and  quickly  after  that  another  Veilel  of 
Paffengers  alio     m  ed  in  the  Country  :  Namely, 
in   the   Year    ^023.     Among  thefe   PaiTengers 
w  re  divers  Worthy   and   Ufeful   Men,    who 
were  come  to  jeek  the  We 'fare   of  this    lit- 
tle lfrael ;  tho  ar  their  coming  they  were  as 
ditferfiy  affected,    is  the  Kcbuilders  of  the  Tem- 
ple at  Jerufalem      Some  were  grieved  when 
they  faw  how  bad  the  Circumftances  of  their 

were,  and  others  were  glad  that  they 

were  no  worje. 

§.  5.  The  Immature  Death  of  Mr.  Robin- 
Jon  in  Holland,  wich  many  enfuing  Difafters, 
hindred  a  great  part  of  the  Englifh  Congregati- 
on at  Ley den ,  from  coming  over  to  the  Rem- 
nant here  feparated  from  their  Brethren. 
Hence  it  was,  that  altho'  this  Remnant  of  that 
Church  were  bleffed  with  an  Elder  fo  apt  to 
Teach,  that  he  attended  all  the  other  Works 
of  a  Minifer  ;  yet  they   had  not  a  Pajhr  to 


Year  1629.  when  one  Mr'.^Ralpb  Smith  under- 
took the  Paltoral  Charge   of  this  Holy  block. 
But  long   before   that,    namely,   in   the   Year 
1624.  the  Adventurers  in  England.,  with  whom 
this  Company  held  a  Correjpondeuce,  did  lend 
over  unto  them  a  Minifter,  who  did  them  no 
manner  of  good  •,  but  by  his  Treacherous  and 
Mifchievous  Tiicks   at   laft   utterly   deftroyed 
that   Correjpondence.      The   firft    Neat-Cattel, 
namely,  Three  Heifers  and   a  Bull,  that  ever 
were  brought  into  this  Land,  now  coming  with 
him,  did  the  Land  certainly  better  Service  than 
was  ever  done  by  him,  who  fufnciently  forgot 
that  Scriptural  Emblem  of  a  Minifter,  The  Ox 
Treading  out  the  Corn.    This  Minifter  at  his 
lirft  arrival  did  carets  them  with  luch  exii...!:i 
Showers  of  Afle&ion  and  Humility,  that  they 
were  very  much  taken  with  him;  nevcnhelels, 
within  a  little  while,    he  ufed  moft  malignant 
tndeavours  to  make  Pactions  among  them,  and 
confound   all   their    Civil  and  Sacred   Order. 
At  lalt  there  fell  into  the  Hands  of  the  Go- 
vernour  his  Letters  home  to  England,    fiiled 
with  wicked  and  lying  Peculations  againft  the 
People  ;  of  which  things  being  ihametully  Con- 
vicfed,   the  Authority  Sentenced  him  to  be  ex- 
pell'd  the  Plantation,  only   they  allowed  him 
to  ftay  Six  Montbs,vt\th  fecrct  Refcrvations  and 
Expectations  to  releafe  him  from  that  Sentence, 
if  he  approved   himfelf  found  in  the   Repen- 
tance which  he   now   expreiled.     Repentance, 
1  fay  ;  for  he  did  now  publickly  in  the  Church 
confeis  with  Tears,  that  the   Cenfure  of  the 
Church  war  lefs  than  he  dejerved  •,  he  acknow- 
ledged, That  he  had  flanderoufy  abused  the  good 
People,    and  that  God   might  juftly  lay   Inno- 
cent Blood  to  his   Charge  ;  for   he  knew   not 
what  hurt  might  have  come  thro1  his   Writings  ; 
for   the    Interception    whereof   he  now  blejfed 
God ;  and  that  it  had  been  his  manner  to  pick 
up  all  the   Evil  that   wo*  ever  fpoken  againji 
the  People  ;  but  he  fhut  his  Ears  and  Eyes  a- 
gamft   all  the  Good ;    and  that  if  God  Jhould 
make  him  a  Vagabond  in  the  Earth,    he  were 
jull  in  doing  fo  ;  and  that  thofc  Three  things^ 
Pride,  Vain-glory,  and  Self-love,  had  been  the 
Caujes  of  his  Mifcarriages.    Thefe  things  he 
uttered  fo  Pathetically,  that  they  again  permit- 
ted  him  to  Preach  among  them  ;    and  fome 
were  fb   periwaded  of  his   Repentance,   that 
they  profefs'd  they  would  fall  down  on  their 
Knees,  that  the  Cenfure  pafs'd  on  him  fhould 
be  remitted.     But,  Oh  the  deceitful  Heart  of 
Man .'  After  Two  Months  time,   he  fb  notori- 
ously renewed  th«  Mifcarriages  which  he  had 
thus  bewailed,   that  his  own   Wife,    through 
her  Affliction  of  Mind  at  his  Hypocrifie,  could 
not  forbear  declaring  her  Fears,  that  God  would 
bring  fbme  heavy  Judgment  upon  their  Fami- 
ly, not  only  for  thefe,  but  fbme  former  Wick- 
ednefles   by  him  committed,    efpecially  as  to 
fearful  Breaches  of  the  Seventh  Commandment^ 
which  he  had  with  an  Oath  denied,  tho'  they 
were  afterwards  evinced.     Wherefore  upon  the 
whole,  being  banifhed  from  hence,  becaufe  his 


difpence  the  Sacraments  among  them,  till  the  Refidence  here  was  utterly  Inconfiftent  with  the 

Life 


Book  I.        Or,  The  Hiftory  ^New-England. 


T  "■ 


Life  of  this  lnfin1$flantdtion  ;  he  went  into 
Virginia,  where  he  fhortly  after  ended  his  own 
Life.  Quickly  after  thefe  Difficulties,  the 
Company  of  Adventurers  tor  the  fupport  of  this 
Plantation,  became  rather  Adverfaries  to  it  ; 
or  at  leaft,  a,  Be  you  warmed  and  filled;  a  few 
good  Words  were  all  the  help  they  afforded 
ir  •  they  broke  to  pieces,  but  the  God  of  Hea- 
ven itill   fupported  it. 

§.  6.  After  thefe  many  Difficulties  were  thus 
a  little  futmounted,    the    Inhabitants   of  this 
Colony  Profecuted  their  Affairs  at  fo  vigorous 
and   fuccefsful  a  rate,  that  they  not  only  fell 
into  a  comfortable  way,  both  of  Planting   and 
of  Trading  ;    but .  alio  in    a  few  Years   there 
was  a  notable  number  of  Towns  to  be  feen  fet- 
tled among  them,  and  very  confiderable  Churches 
walking,  to  tar  as    they  had  attained,    in  the 
faith  and  Order  of  the  Gofpel.  Their  Churches, 
riourifhed    to  coniiderably,    that  in   the  Year 
1642.  there  were  above  a  dozen  Minilters,  and 
fome   of  thofe   Minilters   were  Stars   of  the 
firft  Magnitude,  fhining  in  their  feveral  Orbs 
among  them.     And  as  they   proceeded   in  the 
Evangelical  Service  and  Worihip  of  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift,  fo  they  proffered  in  their  Secu- 
lar Concernments.    When   they  firft  began  to 
divide  their  Lands,  they  wifely  contrived  the 
Divition  lb,    that  they  might  keep  clofe   to- 
gether for  their  mutual  Defence  ;    and   then 
their  Condition  was  very  like  that  of  the   Ro- 
mans in  the  time  of  Romulus,  when  every  Man 
contented  himfelf  with   Two  Acres  of  Land ; 
and  as  P/iny  tells  us,  //  was  thought   a  great 
Reward  for  one   to  receive  a  Tint   of  Corn 
from   the  People  of  Rome,  which  Corn  they  al- 
fo  pounded  in  Mortars.     But  fince  then  their 
Condition  is  marvelloufly  altered  and  amended  : 
Great  farms  are  now  feen  among  the  Effe&s 
of  this  good    Peoples  Planting  ;  and  in  their 
fifhing,    from   the  catching  of  Cod,  and  other 
Filh  of  lefs  Dimenfions,    they  are  fince  paiTsd 
on  to  the   catching  of  Whales,  whofe  Oil  isj 
become  a  Staple-Commodity   of  the  Country  : 
Whales,  I  fay,  which  living  and  moving  Iflands, 
do  now    find    a  way    to    this  Coaft,  where, 
notwithstanding  the  defptrate  hazards  run  by 
the  Whale-Caichers  in  their  thin  Whale-Boats, 
often  torn  to  pieces  by  the  ftroaks  of  thofe  en- 
raged Monfters  ;    yet  it  has  been  rarely  known 
that    any    of  them    have    mifcarried.      And 
within  a  few  Days  of  my  Writing  this  Para- 
graph, a  Cow  and  a  Calf  were  caught  at  Tar- 
mouth  in  this  Colony  ;   the  Cow  was  Fifty  Five 
Foot  long,   the  Bone  was  Nine  or   Ten  Foot 
wide-,  a  Cart  upon  Wheels  might  have  gone 
in  at  the  Mouth  of  it ;   the  Calf  was  Twen- 
ty Foot  long,  for  unto  fuch  vaft  Calves,    the 
Sea-Monfiers  draw  forth  their  Breajis.     But 
Co  does  the  good  God  here   give   his   People 
to  fuck  the  abundance  of  the  Seas  ! 

§.  7.  If  my  Reader  would  have  the  Reli- 
gion of  thefe  Planters  more  exactly  defcribed 
unto  him  ;  after  I  have  told  him  that  many 
Hundreds  of  Holy  Souls,  having  been  ripened 
for  Heaven  under  the  Ordinances  of  God  in 


I  this  Colony ;  and  having  left  an  Example   of 
■  wonderful  Prayerfulnefs,  Watch fulne is,  Thank- 
I  fuinefs,    LUefulnefs,     exacf  Confciencioufnefs, 
Piety,    Charity,  Weanednefs  from    the  things 
of  this    World,    and    Atrettion  to  the  things 
that  are  above,  are  now  at  reft  with  the  Blef- 
fed  Jefus,  whofe  Names,  tho'  not   Recorded  in 
this  Book,  are  yet  entred  in  the  Book  of  Life ; 
and  I  hope  there  are  ftill  many   Hundreds  of 
their  Children,  even  of  the  Third  and  Fourth 
Generation,    refolving  to  jollow   them  as   they 
followed  Chrift.     I  muft  refer    him  to   an  ac- 
count given  thereof  by  the  Right    Worfhipful 
EdwardW inflow,  Efq-,  who  was  for  forne  time 
the  Governour  of  the    Colony.     He  gives    us 
to  underftand,  that   they    are   entirely  of  the 
fame  Faith    with   the  Reformed  Churches  in 
Europe,  only  in  their  Church-Govermrn  >it  they 
are    Endeavourous  after   a    Reformation   more 
thorough  than  what  is  in  many  of  them  •     yet 
without  any  uncharitable  Separation  from  them. 
He  gives  Inttances  of  their  admitting  to  Com- 
munion among  them  the  Communicants  of  the 
french,  the  Dutch,  the  Scotch  Churches,  meer- 
ly  by  Virtue  of  their  being  lb  ;  and  fays,  We 
ever  placed    a    large   difference  between  thofe 
that  grounded  their   Praclice  on   the  Word  of 
God,  tho    differing  from  us  in  the   Expofition 
and  Underjlanding  of  it,  and  thofe  that  hated 
fuch  Reformers  and  Reformation,    and  went  on 
in  Antichriftian  Opposition  to  it,-  and  Perfecu- 
tion  of  it  :  After  which,  he  adds,    'Tis  true, 
we  profefs  and  dejire  to  pratTtce  a  Separation 
from  the  World,  and  the  Works  of  the  World  • 
and  as  the  Churches  of  Chriji    are    all  Saints 
by  Calling,  fo  we  defire  to  fee  the   Grace  of 
God  fhining  forth  (at   lea/1   feemingly,   leav- 
ing fecret  things  to  God)  in  all  we  admit  in- 
to Church-Fellowfhip  with  us,  and  to  keep  off 
fuch  as  openly   wallow   in  the  Mire   of  their 
Sins,   that    neither    the    Holy  things    of  God, 
nor  the  Communion  of  Saints,  may  be  leaven- 
ed or  polluted  thereby.     And  if  any  joining  to 
us  formerly,  either  when  we   lived  at  Leyden 
in  Holland,  or  fince  we  came  to  New  England, 
have  with  the  Manifeftation  of  their  faith,  and 
Profejjion   of   Holinefs,   held  forth  therewith 
Separation  from   the  Church    of  England  ;    / 
have  divers  times,  both  in  the  one  place,  and 
in  the  other,  heard  either   Mr.  Rob  in  ton  our 
Paf\or,or  Mr.  Brewfter  our  Elder,  flop  them  forth- 
with, /hewing  them  that  we  required  no  fuch 
thing  at   their  Hands  ;    but  only  to  hold  forth 
Faith  in  Chrift  Jefus,   Holinefs  in  the  Fear 
of  God,  and  Submijjion  to  every  Ordinance  and 
Appointment   of  God.    Thus  he.     It   is  true 
there   have  been  fome  Varieties   among  this 
People,  but  ftill  I  fuppole  the  Body  of  them 
do  with   Integrity   eipoufe  and  maintain   the 
Principles  upon  which  they  were  firft  Eftablifh- 
ed  :  However,  I  muft  without  fear  of  offend- 
ing exprefs  my  fear,  that  the  Leaven  of  that 
rigid  Thing,  they  call  Brownifm,  has  prevailed 
fometimes  a  little  of  the  furrheft  in  the  Ad- 
mini  f  rations  of  this  Pious  People.     Yea,  there 
was   an    Hour   of   Temptation,    wherein  the 

fondnefs 


4 


Magnolia  Chrifli  Americana  : 


Book  I. 


fondnefs  of  the   People   for  the   Prophecyings  J 
of  the  Brethren,  as  they  called  thofe  Exercifes  ; 
that  is  to  fay,  the  Preachments  of  thofe  whom 
they   calfd  Gifted  Brethren,    produced   thofe 
ptfqopragerrjQnts  unto  their  Mimfters,  that  al- 
moft  all    the  Mi/lifters  left  the  Colony  ;    ap- 
prehending   themlclves   driven    away    by  the 
Infuppoi table    Neglect    and    Contempt,    with 
which  the  People  on  this  occaiion  treated  them. 
And  this  dark  Hour  of  Eclipfe,  upon  the  Light 
of  the  Gofpel,    in  the  Churches  of  the  Colony, 
continued  until  their  Humiliation  and  Reformati- 
on before  the  Great  Shepherd  of  the  Sheep,  who 
hath  (ince  then  blelfed  them  with  a  Succejfton 
of  as  Worthy  Munliers  as  mod  in  the  Land. 
Moreover,   there  has    been   among  them   one 
Church,  that  have   Zueftioned  and  Omitted  the 
life  of  Infant-  Baptifm ;  neverthelefs,  there  be- 
ing many  good    Men  among  thofe  that  have 
been  of  this  Perfwalion,    I  do  not  know  that 
they  have   been   Perfccuted  with   any   harder 
Means,    than  thofe  of  kind  Conferences  to  re- 
claim them.     There  have  been  alfo  fbme  un- 
happy Salaries,  namely,  Speakers  and  Seekers, 
and  other  fuch  Energumens,  [pardon  me,  Rea- 
der, that  1  have  thought  them  io]  which  have 
given  nggly  Diliurbances  to  thefe  Good-Spirited 
Men  in    their  Temple-Work  ;    but   they  have 
not  prevailed  unto  the  Subveriion  of  the  t'irji 
Intsrefi. 

Some  little  Controverfus  likewife  have  now 
and  then  arifen  among  them  in  the  Admini- 
ftration  of  their  Difcipline  ■,  but  Synods  then 
regularly  called,  have  ufually  and  prefently  put 
into  Joint  all  that  was  apprehended  out.  Their 
chief  Hazard  and  Symptom  of  Degeneracy,  is  in 
the  Verification  of  that  Old  Obfervation,  Reli- 
gio  peperit  Divitias,  &  Filia  devoravit  Matrem : 
Religion  brought  forth  Profperity,  and  the 
Daughter  deltroy'd  the  Mother.  The  one  would 
expect,  that  as  they  grew  in  their  Ejhites, 
they  would  grow  in  the  Payment  of  their 
^it-rents  unto  the  God  who  gives  them 
Power  to  get  Wealth,  by  more  liberally  fupporting 
his  Alimfters  and  Ordinances  among  them^  the 
molt  likely  way  to  lave  them  from  the  moft 
miferable  Apoflacy  •,  the  neglecf  whereof  In 
fome  former  Years,  began  for  a  while  to  be 
punifhed  with  a  fore  Famine  of  the  Word  ■ 
neverthelefs,  there  is  danger  left  the  En- 
chantments of  this  World  make  them  to  forget 
their  Errand  into  the  Wilder nefs  :  And  fome 
woful  Villages  in  the  Skirts  of  the  Colony,  be- 
ginning to  live  without  the  Means  of  Grace  a- 
mong  them,  are  ftill  more  Ominous  Intimati- 
ons of  the  danger.  May  the  God  of  New-Eng- 
land preferve  them  from  fo  great  a  Death  ! 

§.  3.  Going  now  to  take  my  leave  of  this 
little  Colony,  that  I  may  Converfe  for  a  while 
with  her  Tounger  Sifters,  which  yet  have  out- 
ftript  her  in  growth  exceedingly,  and  fo  will 
now  draw  all  the  Streams  of  her  Affairs  into 
their  Channels,  \  ihall  repeat  the  Counfel 
which  their  Faithful  Robin/on  gave  the  firft 
Planters  of  the  Colony,  at  their  parting  from 
him  in  Holland.  Said  he,  [to  this  purpofe.] 


'  Brethren,  We  are  now^ickiy  to  part  from 
'  one  another  ;  and  whether  I  may  ever  live  to 
c  fee  your  Faces  on  Earth  any  more,  the  God 
'  of  Heaven  only  knows  'But  whether  rhe 
'  Lord  have  appointed  that  or  no,  I  charge 
'  you  before  God,  and  before  his  Bleifed  An- 
"■gels,  rhat  you  J  allow  me  no  further  than  you 
'  have  leen  me/d/Aiic  the  Lord  Jcjus  Chnjl. 

'  If  God  reveal  any  thing  to  you  by  any  c- 
'  ther  Inftrument  of  hts,  be  as  ready  to  receive 
1  it,  as  ever  you  were  to  receive  any  Truth  by 
'  my  Minitiry  ■  tor  1  am  verily  perl  waded,  i 
'  am  very  confident  tf .  |  hath  mere  Truth 
J  yet  to   bceak    torch  of  his  Holy  Word. 

'  For  my  parr,  1  cannot  fufficiemly  bewail  the 
'  Condition  of  the  Reformed  Churches,  who 
'  are  come  ro  a  Period  in  K  iligion  ■  and  will 
'go  at  prelent  no  further  than  She  'instruments 
'  of  their  frit  Reformation.  TM  Lutherans 
'can't  be  drawn  to  go  bey  .  wh  t  Luther 
'faw:  Whatever  part  of  his  Will  our  good 
'  God  has  imparted  amd  revealed  unto  Calvin 
'  they  will  rather  Die  than  Embrace  it.  And 
' the Calvhrifi^  you  fee,  Hick  fail  where  they 
'  were  left  by  that  great  Man  of  God,  who  yet 
^Jaw  not  all  things. 

'This  is  a  Miicry  much  to  be  lamented- 
'  for  tho'  they  were  Blenaitig  and  Shining  Lights 
'  in  their  Times,  yet  they  penetrated  not  into 
the  whole  Counfel  of  God  •  but  were  they 
'now  living,  rhey  would  be  as  willing  to  em- 
'  brace  further  Light,  as  that  which  they  firfi 
'  received.  I  befeech  you  to  remember  it  •  it 
£  is  an  Article  of  your  Church-Covenant,  That 
'  you  wiil  be  ready  to  receive  whatever  'Truth 
iJha/i  be  made  known  unto  you  from  the  Writ- 
1  ten  Word  of  God.  Remmber  that,  and  every 
|  other  Article  of  your  molt  Sacred  Covenant. 
'  But  I  muft  herewithal  exiiort  you  to  take 
'  heed  what  you  receive  as  Truth;  examine  it, 
'  confider  it,  compare  it  with  the  other  Scrip- 
'  tures  of  Truth,  before  you  do  receive  it.  For 
'  it  is  not  poifible  the  Chrijliau  World  fhould 
'come  16  lately  out  of  fuch  thick  Antichrifti- 
'  an  Dqrknefs,  and  that  Perfection  of  Know- 
'  ledge  fhould  break  forth  at  once.  I  muft  al- 
'  fo  ad  vile  you  to  abandon,  avoid  and  fhake  off 
'  the  Name  of  Browmft  :  Ic  is  a  meer  Nick- 
i  Name,  and  a  Brand  for  the  making  of  Reli- 
gion, and  the  Profeffors  of  Religion,  odious 
'  unto  the  Chrifuan  World.  Unto  this  End,  I 
'  fhould  be  extreamly  glad,  if  fome  Godly  Mi- 
'  nifter  would  go  with  you,  or  come  to  you, 
'  before  you  can  have  any  Company.  For 
'  there  will  be  no  d inference  between  the  Vn- 
c  conformable  Minifters  of  England  and  you, 
'  when  you  come  to  the  practice  of  Evangeli- 
'  cal  Ordinances  out  of  the  Kingdom.  And  I 
'  would  with  you  by  all  Means  to  clofe  with 
'  the  Godly  People  of  England  ;  ftudy  Union 
'  with  them  in  all  things,  wherein  you  can 
'  have  it  without  Sin,  rather  than  in-the  leaft 
'  meafure  to  affect  a  Divifwn  or  Separation 
'  from  them.  Neither  would  I  have  you  loth 
'  to  take  another  Pa  (lor  befides  my  felf ;   in  as 

'  much- 


Book  I.  Or,  The  Hiftory  ^New-England. 


5 


'  much  as  a  Flock  that  hath  Two  Shepherds 
1  is  not  thereby  endangered,  but  fecured. 

So  adding  fome  other  things  of  great  Con- 
fluence,   he   concluded    moflt    affectionately, 


commending  his  departing  flock  unto  the 
Grace  of  God,  which  now  I  alfo  do  the  Off 
fpring  of  that  Holy  block. 


CHAP.     IV. 


Paulo  Majora  !  Or,  The  Efiays  and  Caufes  which  produced  the  Second,  but  largeji  Colo- 
ny ^NEW-ENGLANDj  and  the  manner  wherein  the  Firft  Church  of  this' 
New-Colony  was  gathered. 


k,  i .  t  T  7"  O  R  D  S  full  of  Emphafis,  are  thofe 
VV  which  my  Reader  may  find  Writ- 
ten by  a  Learned  and  Pious  Minifter  of  the 
Church  of  England ;  and  I  hope  I  may  with- 
out offence  tender  to  the  Reader  the  Words 
oi'fucb  an  Author. 

'Some  among  us  (writes  he)  are  angry  with 
'  Calvin  for  calling  Humane  Rites,  Tolerabiles 

<  Ineptia* ;  they  will  not  at  the  great  Day  be 
^  fitch  unto  the  rigorous  Impofers,  who  made 
1  them  the  Terms  of  Communion.    How  will 

<  you  at  that  Day  lift  up  your  Faces  before 
'  your  Matter  and  your  Judge,  when  he  fhall 
'demand  of  you,  what  is  become  of  thofe  his 
«  Lambs  which  you  drove  into  the  Wildernefs 
'  by  needlefs  Impofitions  ? 

The  Story  of  the  Flocks  thus  driven  into 
the  Wildernefs  has  begun  to  be  related  :  And 
we  would  relate  it  without  all  Intemperate 
Expreffions  of  our  anger  againft  our  Drivers, 
before  whom  the  People  muft  needs  go,  as 
they  did  :  It  becomes  not  an  Hiftorian,  and  it 
lefs  becomes  a  Chnfiian,  to  be  Pajfwnate.^  Ne- 
verthelefs,  Poetry  may  dare  to  do  fomething  at 
the  Defcription  of  that  which  drove  thofe 
Drivers-,  and  with  a  few  Lines  fetch'd  from 
the  moft  famous  Epic  Poem  of  Dr.  Blackmore, 
we  will  defcribe  the  Fury. 

-A  Fury  crawl 'd  from  out  her  Cell, 

The  Bloodieft  Minifter  of  Death  and  Hell. 
A  monjirous  Shape,  a  foul  and  hideous  Sight, 
Which  did  all  Hell  with  her  dire  Looks  affright. 
Huge  full -gorged  Snakes  on  her  lean  Shoulders 

hung, 
And  Death'*  dark  Courts  with  their  loud  hijjing 

rung. 
tier  Teeth  and  Claws  were  Iron,  and  her  Breath 
Like  Subterranean  Damps,  gave  prefent  Death. 
Flames  worfe  than  Hell's,  jhot  from  her  Bloody 

Eyes 
And  Fire !  and  Sword  !   Eternally  Jhe  cries. 
No  certain  Shape,  no  Feature  regular, 
No  Limbs  didintl  in  th'  odious  Fiend  appear. 
Her  Squalid,  Bloated.  Belly  did  arife, 
SvjoU'n  with  black  Gore  to  a  prodigious  Size : 
D if} ended  vaftly  by  a  mighty  Flood 
Of  flaughterd  Saints,    and  conftant    MartyrV 

Blood. 
A  Monfter  fo  deform  d,  fo  fierce  as  this, 
It  fclf  a  Hell,  nere  Jaw  the  dark  Abyfs! 
Horrow  till  now,  the  ugglieji  Shape  efteem'd, 
So  much  out-done,  an  harmlefs  Figure  feemd. 


Envy,  andUate,  and  Malice  blu/Vd  to  fee 
Them/elves  Eclips'd  by  fuch  Deformity. 
Her  Feav'rilh  Heat  drinks  down  a  Sea  of  Blood, 
Not  of  the  Impious,  /;///  the  Juft  and  Good  : 
'Gainff  whom  Jhe  bums    with    unextinguifhd 
Rage, 

Nor  can  th' Exhaufhd  World  her  Wrath  af- 
fwage. 

It  was  PERSECUTION;  a  Fury 
which  we  confider  not  as  poffefiing  the  Church 
of  England,  but  as  inlpiring  a  Party  which 
have  unjuftly  Challenged  the  Name  of  the 
Church  of  England,  and  which,  whenever  the 
Church  of  England  fhall  any  more  encourage 
her  Fall,  will  become  like  that  of  the  Houfc 
which  our  Saviour  faw  Built  upon  the  Sand. 

§.  2.  There  were  more  than  a  few  attempts 
of  the   Engltfh,   to   People  and  Improve  the 
Parts  of  New-England,    which    were  to    the 
Northward  of  New-Plymouth ;  but  the  Defigns 
of  thofe  Attempts  being  aim'd  no  higher  than 
the  Advancement  of  fome  Worldly  Interelis    a 
conftant  Series   of  Difafters  has   confounded 
them,  until  there  was  a  Plantation  erefted  up- 
on   the   nobler   Defigns   of  Chriflianity  •  and 
that  Plantation,  tho'  it  has  had   more  A'dver- 
faries  than  perhaps  any  one  upon  Earth;  yet 
having  obtained    help  from  God,  it  continues 
to  this  Day.    There  have  been  very  fine  Set- 
tlements in  the  North-Eafi  Regions  ;    but  what 
is  become  of  them  ?  I  have .  heard  that  one 
of  our  Minifters  once  Preaching  to  a  Congre- 
gation there,  urged  them  to  approve  themfelves 
a  Religious  People   from   this   Confideration, 
That  otherwife  they  would  contradill  the  mam 
end  of  Planting  this  Wildernefs  ■,   whereupon 
a  well-known  Perfon,    then   in  the  Affembly, 
cry'd   out,  Sir,  Tou  are  mifiaken,  you   think 
you  are  Preaching  to  the  People    at  the  Bay  ; 
!  our    main    End    was    to    catch   Fifh.     Truly 
'twere  to  have   been  wifhed,    that  fomething 
more   excellent   had  been    the  main  End  of 
the  Settlements  in  that  brave  Country,   which 
we  have,  even  long  fince  the  arrival  of  that 
more  Pious  Colony  at  the  Bay,  now  feen  dread- 
fully unfettled,  no  lefs  than  twice  at  leaft,  by 
the   Sword  of  the  Heathen,    after  they  had  * 
been  repleniihed  with  many  Hundreds  of  Peo- 
ple, who  had  thriven  to  many   Thoufands  of 
Pounds  ;  and  had  all  the  force  of  the  Bay  too, 
to  affift  them  in  the  maintaining  of  their  Set- 
tlements.    But  the   fame  or  the  like  inaufpi- 

dous 


3 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana  : 


Book  J. 


other  Perfons  of  Quality  about   London  ;    as, 
namtly,   Sir  Richard  Saljonfiall,  [faac  Johnfon, 
Samuel   Adderly,  John  Ven,  Matthew  Cradock, 
George  Harwood,  Increafe  NoweL  Richard  Perry, 
Richard  Bellingham,  Natbanael  Wright,  Samuel 
Vaffal,Theophilus  Eaton,  Thomas  Goff,  Thma-s 
Adams,  John  Brown,   Samuel  Brown,   Thomas 
Hutchings,    William  Yajjal.    William  Pinchon, 
and  George  Foxcraft.     Thefe  Perfons  being  af- 
fcciated   unto   the  former,   and   having  bought 
ef  them  all  their  Intereft  in  New-England  afore- 
faid,  now  confuhed  about  fettling  a  Plantation 
in  that  Country,  whither  fuch  as  were  then 
called  Non-Conjomnfls,  might  with  the  Grace 
and  Leave  of  the  King  make  a  peaceable  Se- 
cejfion,  and  enjoy  the  Liberty  and  the  Exercife 
of  their  own   Perfwafions,    about  the  Worfhip 
of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift.   Whereupon  Petition- 
ing the  King   to  confirm  what  they  had  thus 
purchafed    with  a   New   Patent,    he   granted 
them  one,  bearing  Date  from  the  Year   1628. 
which  give   them    a    Right    unto    the    Soil, 
holding  their  Titles  of  Lands,    as  of  the  Man- 
nor  ot  Eaft  Greenwich  in  Kent,    and  in  com- 


ci  >*  rhings  attended  many  other  Endeavours, 

to  nnke   Plantations  upon  fuch  a  Main  End  in 

feveral  other  Parts  of  our  Country,  before  the 

Arrival  of  thoie   by  whom  the   Majfacbufet 

Colony  was  at  lift  formed  upon  more  glorious 

Aims  •  All  proving  like  the  Habitations  of  the 

fooli  (h    curfed  before  they  bad  taken  root.     Of 

"all  which  CataWrophe's,    I    fuppofe  none  was 
more    fudden   than    that  of  Monfieur   Finch, 
vviicm  in  a  Ship  from  France,  trucking  with 
the    Malfachufet  Natives  ;  thofe    Bloody  Sal- 
vages,   coming  on   Board    without   any    other 
Artm.  but  Knives  concealed  under  Haps,  im- 
mediately Burchered  with   all  his  Men,    and 
fet  the  Ship  on  Fire.     Yea,  fo  many  Fatalities 
attended  the  Adventurers  in  their  EtTays,  that 
they  began  to  fufpett,  that  the  Indian  Sorcerers 
had    laid    the   place   under  fome  Fafcination  ; 
and   that  the   Englifh  could  not  profper  upon 
fuch      nchanted   Ground,   fo  that   they    were 
aim  it  afraid  of  Adventuring  any  more. 

§    ?..  Several   Perfons  in  the  Weft  of  Eng 
land,   h  1  ing  by  Fiihing-Voyages  to  Cape  Ann, 
the  No;r'nern  Promontory  of  the   Majfachufet- 

Bay,  obtained  forne  Acquaintance  with  thofe  j  mon  Socage.  By  this  Carter  they  were  em- 
Parts  ■.  the  News  of  the  good  Progrefs  made  '  powered  yearly  to  EleQ  their  own  Governour, 
in  the  New  Plantation  of  Plymouth,  infpired  j  Deputy-Governour  and  Magilfrares  ;  as  alfo 
the  rcn  wned  Mr.  White,  Minifter  ofDorcbefter,  to  make  fuch  Laws  they  fhoul  I  think  fuitable 
t  >  prolecute  me  Settlement  of  fuch  another  I  for  the  Plantation  :  But  as  an  acknowledgment 
\     ntation  here  for  the  Propagation  of  Religion.  I  of  their  dependance  upon  England,  they  might 


This  good  Man  engaged  feveral  Gentlemen  a 
bour  the  Yeai   1624.  in  this  Noble  Defign  •,  and 
they    employed    a    moft  Religious,    Prudent, 
Wonhv  G    itleman,  one  Mr.  Roger  Conant,   in 
the  G  vernrnen    of  the  Place,   and   of  their 
Affairs  upon  -he  Place;   but  thro'  many  Dif 
couragemeuts    the  Defign  for  a  while  almoft 
fell   into  the  Ground      That  great  Man  greatly 
grieved  hereat,   wrote  over  to  this  Mr.  Roger 
Con  '•'/    that  if  he  and  three  Honeft  Men  more 
would  vet  ftay  upon  the  Spot,  he  would  pro 
cj;c  a  fatent  fer  them,  and  fend  them   over 
Friends,  Goods.,  Provifions,  and  what  was  ne- 
ceflary  to  alfift  their  Undertakings.  Mr.  Conant, 
then  faking  out  a  Scituation  more  Commodi- 
ous  for  a    Town,  gave   his  Three  diiheartned 
C    opinions  to  underlfand,  that  he  did  believe 
would  make  this  Land  a  Receptacle  for 
his  People  ,  and  that  if  they  fhould  leave  him, 
yet  he  would  not  ftir ;  for  he  was  confident  he 
fhould  not  long  want  Company  ;  which  Confi- 
dence of  hiscaufed  them  to  abandon  the  thoughts 
of  leaving  him.     Well,  it  was  not  long  before 
the  Council  ot  Plymouth  in  England,  had   by 
a  Deed  bearing  Date,  March  19.    1627.  Sold 
unto  lome  Knights  and  Gentlemen  about  Dor- 
cbe  ter,  viz.  Sir  Henry  Rofwel,  Sit  John  Young, 
1     mJA  Soutbcott,  John  Humphrey,  John   En 
dicot,    and   Simon  Whetcomb,    and  their  Heirs 
and  MTtgns,and  their  Alfociates  for  ever,  that  Part 
.-■t  New-England  which  lyes  between  a  great 
River  cali'd   Mcrimack,    and  a  certain  other 
R  vet  there  cali'd  Charles  River,    in  the  bot 
1  .  ,1  ot  the  Majfacbufet-Bay.    But  fhortly  after 
this4  Mr.  White  brought  the  aforefaid  Honoura- 
ble Perioris  into  an  Acquaintance  with  feveral 


not  make  any  Laws  Repugnant  unto  thofe  of 
the  Kingdom ;  and  the  Filth  part  of  all  the 
Oar  of  Gold  or  Silver  found  in  the  Territory, 
belong'd  unto  the  Crown.  So,  foon  after 
Mr.  Cradock  being  by  the  Company  chofen  Go- 
vernour, they  fent  over  Mr.  Endicott  in  the 
Year  1628.  to  carry  on  the  Plantation,  which 
the  Dorcbeftcr-Agents  had  lookt  out  for  them, 
which  was  ar  a  Place  called  Nahumkeick.  Of 
which  place  I  have  fomewhere  met  with  an 
odd  Obfervation,  that  the  Name  of  it  was 
rather  Hebrew  than  Indian  ;  for  CD^ni  Na- 
hum,  fignifies  Comfort,  and  fn  Keik,  figni- 
fies  an  Haven  ;  and  our  Englifj  not  only  found 
it  an  Haven  of  Comfort,  but  happened  alfo  to 
put  an  Hebrew  Name  upon  it ;  for  they  cali'd 
it  Salem,  for  the  Peace  which  they  had  and 
hoped  in  it  ;  and  fo  it  is  called  unto  this 
Day. 

§.  4.  An  Entrance    being  thus   made   upon 
the  Defign  of  Planting  a  Country   of  Englifb 
and  Reformed  Churches  ;  they  that  were  con- 
cerned for   the  Plantation,  made  their  Appli- 
cation to  Two  Non-Conformifts  Minifiers,  that 
they  would  go  over  to  ferve  the  Caufe  of  God 
and   of  Religion    in  the   beginning   of  thofe 
Churches.    The   one  of  thefe   was   Mr.  Hig- 
ginfon,    a  Minifter  in  Leiceferfhire,  filenced 
tor  his  Non-Conformity  ;    the  other  was  Mr, 
Skclton,  a  Minifter  of  Lincolnffnre,    fullering 
alfo  for  his  Non-Conformity  :    Both  of  which 
were  Men   eminent  for   Learning  and  Virtue, 
and  who  thus  driven  out  of  their  Native  Coun- 
try,  fought   their  Graves    on  the    American- 
Strand,  whereon  the  Epitaph  might  be  inferi- 
bed  that  was  on  Scipio's,  Ingrata  Patria,   ne 

mortui 


Book  I.         Or,  The  tiiftory  of  New-England. 


*7 


Mortal  quidem  habebk  Ojfa.  Thefe  Minifters 
came  over  to  Salem.,  in  the  Summer  of  the 
Year  1629.  and  with  thefe  there  came  over 
a  confiderable  number  of  Excellent  Chriftians, 
who  no  fooner  arrived,  but  they  fet  themfelves 
.ibout  the  Church- Work,  which  was  their 
Errand  hither. 

'Tis  true,  there  were  two  other  Clergy-Men, 
who  came  over  about  the  fame  time  ;    never- 
thelefs,  there  has  been  very  little  Account  given 
of  their  Circumlfances ;    except  what  a  certain 
little  Narrative-Writer  has  offered  us,  by  fay- 
ing, There  were  Tivo  that  began  to  hew  Stones 
in  the  Mountains,  for  the  Building  of  the  Tem- 
ple here  ;  but  when  they f aw  all  forts  of  Stones 
would  not  Jit  in  the  Building,    the  one  betook 
himjelj  to  the  Seas  again,  and  the  other  to  Till 
the  Land\  for  which  caufe,    burying  all  fur- 
ther mention  of  them  among  the  Rubbifh,  in 
the  foundation  of  the  Colony,   we  will  proceed 
with  our  Story  ;  which  is  now  to  tell  us,  That 
the  PaiTage  of  thefe  our  Pilgrims  was  attended 
with  many  Smiles  of  Heaven  upon  them.  They 
were  bleffed  with  a  Company  of  honeft  Sea- 
men ;  with  whom  the  Minifters  and  PalTengers 
conftantly   fcrved  God ,    Morning  and    Even- 
ing ;  Reading,    Expounding   and    Applying  the 
Word  of  God,    finging  of  His  Praife,    and 
fee  king    of  His  Peace;    to   which    Exercifes 
they  added  on  the  Lord's  Day  two  Sermons, 
and  a  Catechifmg  :    And  fbmetimes  they  fet  a- 
part  an  whole  Day  for  Fafting  and  Prayer,  to 
obtain  from  Heaven  a  good  fucceft  in  their  Voy- 
age, efpecially  when  the  Weather  was  much 
againft  them,  whereto  they  had  very.  Remarka- 
ble Anfwers  ;  but  the  Seamen  faid,  That  they 
believed  thefe  were  the  Firft  Sea-Fa  ft  s  that  ever 
were  kept  in  the  World.     At  length,  Per  varios 
Cajris,  per  Tot  Difcrimina  Rerum,  they  Landed 
at  the  Haven  of  Reft  provided  for  them. 

§.  5.  The  perfecuted  Servants  of  God,  under 
the  Englijh  Hierarchy,  had  been  in  a  Sea  of  Ice 
mir.g'ed with  fire-,  tho'  the  Fire  fcalded  them, 
yet  fuch  Cake?  of  Ice  were  over  their  Heads, 
that  there  was  no  getting  out :  But  the  Ice  was 
now  broken,  by  the  American  Offers  of  a  Re- 
treat for  the  pure  Worfhippers  of  the  Lord  in- 
to a  Wildernefs. 

The  Report  of  theCftStttt  granted  unto  the 
Governour  and  Company  of  the  Maffachufet- 
Bay,  and  the  Entertainment  and  Encouragement, 
which  Planters  began  to  find  in  that  Bay,  came 
with  a,  — Patriot, age,  defere  Sedes,  and  caufed 
many  very  defer ving  Perfbns  to  tranfplant  them- 
felves  and  their   Families  into  New-England. 
Gentlemen  of  Ancient  and  Worfhipful  Families, 
and   Minifters  of  the  Gofpel,     then  of  great 
Fame  at  Home,    and  Merchants,  Husbandmen, 
Artificers,  to  the  Number  of  fome  Thoufands, 
did  for  Twelve  Years  together  carry  on  this  Tranf- 
plantation.     It  was  indeed  a  Banifhment,  rather 
than  a  Removal,  which  was  undergone  by  this 
glorious  Generation,  and  you  may  be  fure  fuffi- 
ciently  AffiiUive  to  Men  of  Eftate,  Breeding 
and  Converfation.    As  the  Hazard  which  they 
ran  in  this  Undertaking  was  of  fuch  Extraordt- 


narinefs,  that  nothing  left  than  a  ftrange  and 
ftrong   Impreffion   from    Heaven    could    have 
thereunto  moved  the  Hearts  of  fuch  as  were  in 
it ;  fo  the  Expence  with  which  they  carried  on 
the  Undertaking  was  truly  Extraordinary.    By 
Computation,   the  Paffage  of  the  Pcrfns  that 
peopled  New-England,  colt  at  lea  ft  Ninety  Five 
Thoufand  Pound :  The  Tranfportation  of  their 
firft  fmall  Stock  of  Cat t el  great  and  lmall,  coft 
no  lefs  than  Twelve  Thoufand  Poun.l,   betides 
the  Price  of  the  Cattel  themfelves  :    The  Pro- 
vifions  laid  in  for  Subfiftence,  till  Tillage  might 
produce    more ,    coft   Forty    Five    Thoufand 
Pounds-,  the  Materials  for  their  firft  Cottages 
coft  Eighteen  Thoufand  Pounds ;  their  Arms, 
Ammunition  and  Great  Artillery,  coft  Twenty 
Two  Thoufand  Pounds  •,  befides  which  Hundred 
and  Ninety  Two  Thoufand  Pounds,  the  Adven- 
turers laid  out  in  England,  what  was  not   In- 
confiderable.    About   an  Hundred  and  Ninety 
Eight  Ships  were  employed  in  palling  the  Pe- 
rils of  the  Seas,  ip  the  Accomplilhment  of  this 
Renowned  Settlement ;    whereof,  by  the  way> 
but  one  mifcarried  in  thoie  Perils. 

Briefly,  The  God  of  Heaven  ferved  as  it 
were,  a  Summons  upon  the  Spirits  of  His  Peo- 
ple in  the  Englifh  Nation  ;  ftirring  up  the  Spi- 
rits of  Thoufands  which  never  law  the  Faces 
of  each  other,  with  a  moft  Unanimous  Inclina- 
tion to  leave  all  the  Pleafant  Accommodations 
of  their  Native  Country,  and  go  over  a  Terri- 
ble Ocean,  into  a  more  Terrible  Defart,  for  the 
pure  Enjoyment  of  all  hx  Ordinances.  It  is 
now  Reafonable  that  before  we  pafsany  further, 
theReafons  of  this  Undertaking  fhould  be  more 
exactly  made  known  unto  Pojierity,  efpecially 
unto  the  Pofterity  of  thofe  that  were  the  Under- 
takers, left  they  come  at  length  to  Forget  and 
Neglect  the  true  Interejl  of  New-England* 
Wherefore  I  fhall  now  Tranfcnbe  fome  of  them 
from  a  Manufcript,  wherein  they  were  then 
tendred  unto  Confideration. 


General  Confiderations  for   the  Plantation  of 
New-England. 

'  Firft,  It  will  be  a  Service  unto  the  Church 
'  of  great  Confequence,  to  carry  ihe  Gofpel  into 
'  thofe  Parts  of  the  World,  and  Raife  a  Bulwark 
'  againft  the  Kingdom  of  Antichrift,  which  the 
'  Jcfuites  labour  to  Rear  up  in  all  Parts  of  the 
f  World. 

'■Secondly,  Ail  other  Churches  of  Europe  have 
'  been  brought  under  Defolations ;  and  it  may  be 
'  feared  that  the  like  Judgments  are  coming  up- 
'  on  Us  ■,  and  who  knows  but  God  hath  provided 
'  this  place  to  be  a  Refuge  for  many,  whom  he 
'  means  to  fave  out  of  the  General  DejlruRion. 

'  Thirdly,  The  Land  gtows  weary  of  her  In- 
'  habitants,  iniomuch  that  Man,  which  is  the 
'  moft  precious  of  all  Creatures,  is  here  more 
'  vile  and  bafe  than  the  Earth  he  treads  upon  : 
{  Children,  Neighbours  and  Friends,  efpecially 
c  the  Poor,  are  counted  the  greateft  Burdens, 
*  which  if  things  were  right,  would  be  the 
{ chief  eft  Earthly  BUffings. 

D  tfmriblfo 


8 


Magnolia  Chrifli  Americana  : 


Book  I. 


'  Fourthly,  We  are  grown  to  that  Intempe- 
c  ranee  in  all  Excefs  of  Riot,  as  nomeanEftate 
'  almoft  will  fuftice  a  Man  to  keep  Sail  with 
'his  Equals,  and  he  that  fails  in  it,  mult  live 
'  in  Scorn  and  Contempt :  Hence  it  comes  to 
'  pafs,  that  all  Arts  and  Trades  are  carried  in 
'  that  Deceitful  Manner ,  and  Unrighteous 
'  Courfe,  as  it  is  almoft  Impoitible  for  a  good 
'  upright  Man  to  maintain  his  conftant  Charge, 
'  and  live  comfortably  in  them. 

'  Fifthly,  The  Schools  of  Learning  and  Reli- 
'  gion  are  fo  corrupted,  as  (belides  the  unfup- 
'  portable  Charge  of  Education,)  moft  Children, 
'even  the  Bert,  Wkticft,and  of  the  Fairelt  Hopes, 
'are  perverted,  corrupred,and  utterly  overthrown, 
'by  the  multitude  of  evil  Examples  and  Licenti- 
'  ous  Behaviours  in  theft  Seminaries. 

'  Sixthly,  The  whole  Earth  is  the  Lord's 
'  Garden,  and  he  hath  given  it  to  the  Sons  of 
'  Adam,  to  be  Tilled  and  Improved  by  them  : 
'  Why  then  ihould  we  Hand  Starving  here  for 
'  Places  of  Habitation,  and  in  the  mean  time 
'  furier  whole  Countries,  as  profitable  for  theufe 
'of  Man,  to  lye  wulte  without  any  Improvc- 
'  ment  ? 

'  Seventhly,  What  can  be  a  better  or  nobler 
'  Work,  and  more  worthy  of  a  Chrijh'an,  than 
'  to  erect  and  fupport  a  reformed  particular 
'  Church  in  its  Infancy,  and  unite  our  Forces 
'  with  luch  a  Company  of  Faithful  People,  as 

*  by  a  timely  Aiiiftance  may  grow  Stronger  and 
'  Profper ;  but  for  want  of  it,  may  be  put  to 
'  great  Hazards,  if  not  be  wholly  Ruined. 

'  Eighthly,  If  any  fuch  as  are  known  to  be 
'Godly,  and  live  in  Wealth  and  Prosperity 
'  here,  fhall  foriake  all  this  to  join  with  this 
'  Reformed  Church,  and  with  it  run  the  Hazard 
'of  an  hard  and  mean  Condition,  it  will  be  an 

*  Example  of  great  life,  both  for  the  removing 
c  of  Scandal,  and  to  give  more  Life  unto  the 
t  Faith  of  God's  People  in  their  Prayers  for  the 
c  Plantation,  and  alio  to  encourage  others  to  join 
'  the  more  willingly  in  it. 

§.  6.  Mr.  tiigginfon,  and  Mr.  Skelton,  and 
other  good  People   that  arrived  at  Salem,    in 
the  Year    1629.    refolved,    like  their   Father 
Abraham,  to  begin  their  Plantation  with  calling 
on  the  Name  oj  the  Lord.    The  great  Mr.  Hil- 
derfbam  had  adviled  our  firft  Planters  to  agree 
fully  upon  their  Form  of  Church  Government, 
before  their  coming   into  K en.-England;   but 
they  had  indeed  agreed  little  further  than  in 
this  general  Principle,  That  the  Reformation  of 
the  Church  was  to  be  endeavoured  according  to 
the  written  Word  of  God.  Accordingly  ours,  now 
arrived  at  Salem,  confulted  with  their  Brethren 
at  Plymouth,  what  Steps  to  take  for  the  more 
«xafct  Acquainting  of  themfelves  with,  and  Con- 
forming themfelves  to,  that  writtenWord:  And 
the  Plymotheans,    to  their  great   Satisfaction, 
laid  before  them  what  Warrant,   they  judged, 
that  they  had  in  the  Laws  of  our  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift,  for  every  Particular  in  their  Church  Order. 
Whereupon    having    the  Concurrence    and 
Countenance  of  their  -Deputy  Governour,  the 
Worlhipful  John  Endicot,  Efq;    and  the  ap- 


proving Prefence  of  MelYengers  from  the  Church 
of  Plymouth,  they  fet  apart  the  Sixth  Dav  of 
Augujt,  after  their  Arrival,  for  Faffing  and  Pray- 
er,Kox  the  fettling  of  a  Church-State  among  them, 
and  for  their  making  a  Confeffion  of  their  Fai;h, 
and  entering  into  an  Holy  Covenant,  whereby 
that  Church-State  was  formed. 

Mr.  tiigginfon  then  became  the  Teacher,  and 
Mr.  Skelton  the  Paftor,  oftheChurch  thus  con- 
ftituted  at  Salem  ;  and  they  lived  very  peaceably 
in  Salem  togethet,  till  the  Death  of  Mr.  tiig- 
ginfon, which  was  about  a  Twelvemonth  af- 
ter, and  then  of  Mr.  Skelton^  who  did  not  long 
furvive  him.  Now  the  Covenant  whereto  thele 
Chriflians  engaged  themfelves,  which  wss  about 
Seven  Years  after  folemnly  renewed  among 
them,  I  fhall  here  lay  before  all  the  Churches 
of  God,  as  it  was  then  exprefild  and  inforced. 

We  Covenant  with  our  Lord,  and  one  with 
another;  and  we  do  Bind  our  f elves  in  the  pre- 
fence of  God,  to  walk  together  in  all  his  Ways, 
according  as  he  is  pleafed  to  reveal  him/elf  unto 
us  in  his  bleffed  Word  of  Truth  ;  and  do  expli- 
cit ely,  in  the  Name  and  Fear  of  God,  prof efs  and 
protefi  to  walk  as  folloioetf\  thro"  the  Power  and 
Grace  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrifi: 

We  Avouch  the  Lord  to  be  our  Gcd,  and  our 
fehes  to  be  his  People,  in  the  truth  andfimplici- 
ty  of  cur  Spirits. 

We  Give  our  f elves  to  the  Lord  Jejus  Chrifli 
and  the  Word  of  his  Grace  for  the  Teaching, 
Ruling  and  SanUifying  of  us  in  Matters  of 
Worfhip  and  Converfation,  rejolving  to  cleave 
unto  him  alone  for  Life  and  Glory,  and  to  re- 
jell  all  contrary  Ways,  Ctcno/ts3  and  Confuta- 
tions of  Men  in  his  Worffip. 

We  Promije  to  walk  with  our  Brethren,  with 
all  Watchfulnejs  and  Tendcrnejs,  avoiding  Je- 
loufies  and  Suj'picions,  Back-hitings,  Cent- 
rings, Provokings,  fecrct  Rifings  of  Spirit  a- 
gainft  them  ;  but  in  all  Offences  to  follow  the 
Rule  of  our  Lord  Jefus,  and  to  bear  and  for- 
bear, give  and  forgive,  as  he  hath  taught  us. 

In  Publick  or  Private,  zve  will  willingly  Do 
nothing  to  the  Offence  of  the  Church  \  but  will  be 
willing  to  take  Advice  for  our  f elves  and  ours, 
as  occafion  fhall  be  prejentcd. 

We  will  not  in  the  Congregation  be  forward 
either  to  fjjow  our  own  Gifts  and  Parts  in  Speak- 
ing or  Scrupling,  or  there  difcover  the  Weak- 
nefs  or  Failings  of  our  Brethren ;  but  attend  an 
orderly  Call  thereunto,  knowing  how  much  the 
Lord  may  be  difhonoured,  and  his  Gofpcl,  and 
the  Profejfton  of  it,  flighted  by  our  Dificmpers 
andWeakneffes  in  Publick. 

We  Bind  our  f elves  to  ffudy  the  Advancement 
of  the  Go/pel  in  all  Truth  and  Peace ;  both  in 
Regard  of  thofe  that  are  within  or  without ;  no 
way  flighting  our  Sifier  Churches,  but  uftng 
their  Counfel,  a*  need  fhall  be ;  not  laying  a 
Stumbling-block  before  any,  no,  not  the  Indians^ 
whofe  good  we  defire  to  promote ;  and  fo  to  con- 
verfe,as  we  may  avoid  the  very  appearance  of  Evil. 

We  do  hereby  promije  to  carry  our  J elves  in  all 
lawful  Obedience  to  thofe  that  are  over  m,  in 
Church  or  Commonwealth ,  knowing  how  well-plea- 

Jtttg 


Book  I.  0r3  The  Hiftory  ^New-Endand. 


fing  it  will  be  to  the  Lord.,  that  they  fhould  have  1 
Encouragement  in  their  F 'laces,  by  our  not  grie- 
ving their  Spirits  thro'  our  Irregularities. 

We  Refolve  to  approve  our  f elves  to  the  Lord 
in  our  particular  Callings ;  ftunning  Idlenefs, 
as  the  Bane  of  any  State-,  nor  will  we  deal  hard- 
ly or  opprefjingly  with- any,  wherein  we  are  the 
Lord's  Stewards. 

Promifing  alfo  unto  our  beft  Ability  to  Teach 
our  Children  and  Servants  the  Knowledge  of 
God,  and  of  His  Will,  that  they  may  ferve  Him 
alfo  ;  and  all  this  not  by  any  ftrength  of  our  own, 
but  by  the  Lord  Chrift ;  whofe  Blood  we  defire 
may  jprinkle  this  our  Covenant  made  in  His 
Name. 

By  this  Infirument  was  the  Covenant  of 
Grace  Explained,  Received,  and  Recognized, 
by  the  Firft  Church  in  this  Colony,  and  applied 
unto  the  Evangelical  Defigns  of  a  Church-Eftate 
before  the  Lord:  This  Instrument  they  after- 
wards often  read  over,  and  renewed  the  Conjent 
of  their  Souls  unto  every  Article  in  it ;  efpeci- 
ally  when  their  Days  of  Humiliation  invited 
them  to  lay  hold  on  particular  Opportunities 
for  doing  fo. 

So  you  have  feen  the  Nativity  of  the  Firft 
Church  in  the  Maffachufet-Colony. 

§.7.  As  for  the  Circumftances  of  Admijfion 
into  this  Church,  they  left  it  very  much  unto 
the  Difcretion  and  Faithfulnefs  of  their  Elders, 
together  with  the  Condition  of  the  Perfons  to 
be  admitted.  Some  were  admitted  by  expreffing 
their  Confent  unto  their  Confeffion  and.  Covenant ; 
fome  were  admitted  after  their  firft  Anfwering 
to  Queflions  about  Religion,  propounded  unto 
them  ;  fome  were  admitted,    when  they  had 
prefented  in  Writing  fuch  things,  as  might  give 
SatisfaUion  unto  the  People  of  God  concerning 
them ;  and  fome  that  were  admitted,  Orally  ad- 
dreifed  the  People  of  God  in  fuch  Terms3   as 
they  thought  proper   to  ask  their  Communion 
with  ;  which  Diverfity  was  perhaps  more  Beau- 
tiful, than  would  have  been  a  more  Punctilious 
Uniformity:  But  none  were  admitted  without 
regard  unto  a  Blamelefs  and  Holy   Converfg- 
tion.    They  did  all  agree  with  their  Brethren  of 
Plymouth  in  this  Point,  That  the  Children  of 
the  Faithful  were  Church- Members,  with  their 
Parents  ;   and  that  their  Baptifm  was  a  Seal 
of  their  being  fo ;  only  before  their  admifiion 
to  Fellowfhip  in  a  Particular  Church,    it  was 
judged  Neceffary,  that  being  free  from  Scandal, 
they  fhould  be  examined  by  the  Elders  of  «the 
Church,  upon  whofe  Approbation  of  their  Fit- 
nefs,  they  fhould  Publickly  and  Perlbnally  own 
the  Covenant ;  fo  they  were  to  be  received  unto 
the  Table  of  the  Lord :    And  accordingly  the 
Eldeft  Son  of  Mr.  Higginfon,  being  about  Fif- 


teen Years  of  Age,  and  laudably  Anfwering  all 
the  Characters  expe£ted  in  a  Communicant,  was 
then  fo  Received. 

§.  8.  It  is  to  be  Remembred,  that  fome  of 
the  PaiTengers,  who  came  over  with  rhofe  of  our 
firft  Salemites,  obferving  that  the  Minifters  did 
not  ufe  the  Book  of  Common-Prayer  in  their  Ad 
miniftrations ;  that  they  Adminiftred  the  Bap 
tifm  and  the  Supper  of  the  Lord,    without  any 
unfcripturalC^m^/Vr  •  that  they  refolved  up- 
on ufmg  Difcipline  in  the  Congregation  againft 
Scandalous  Offenders,   according  to  the  Word 
of  God;  _  and  that  fome  Scandalous  Perfons  had 
been  denied  AdmiJJion  into  the  Communion  of 
theChutch;   they    began    ( Erankford-Y^xon) 
to  raife  a  deal  of  Trouble  hereupon.     Herodiand 
Malitia,    nafcentem  pcrjequi  Religionem !   Of 
thefe  there  were  efpeciallv  Two  Brothers ;   the 
one  a  Lawyer,  the  other   a  Merchant,    both 
Men  of  Parts,  Eftate  and  Figure  in  the  Place. 
Thefe  gather'd  a  Company  together,  feparate 
from  the    publick  AlTembly ;   and    there    the 
Common-Prayer-Worfhip    was  after   a   fort  up- 
held among  fuch  as  would  refort  unto  them. 
The  Governour   perceiving  a   Difturbance   to 
arife  among  the  People  on  this  Occafion,  fent 
for  the  Brothers  ;    who  accufed   the  Minifters, 
as  departing  from  the  Orders  of  the  Church  of 
England  ;    adding,  That  they  were  Separatifts, 
and  would  be fhortly  Anabaptifts;  but  for  them- 
felves,  They  would  hold  unto  the  Orders  of  the 
Ciwrch  of  England.    The  Anfwerofths  Mini- 
ifters  to  thefe  Accufations,  was,  That  they  were 
neither  Separatifts  nor  Anabaptifts  -,   that  they 
did  not  feparate  from  the  Church  ^/"England,  nor 
from   the  Ordinances  of  God  there,    but  'only 
from  the  Corruptions  and   Diforders   of  that 
Church:  That  they  came  away from  the  Common- 
Prayer  and  Ceremonies,  and  had  fuffered  much 
for  their  Non-conformity  in  their  Native  Land; 
and  therefore  being  in  a  place  where  they  might 
have    their  Liberty,    they    neither    could  nor 
would  ufe  them  ,   inafmuch  as  they  judged  the 
Impofitwn.  of  thefe  things  to  be  a  ftnful  Viola- 
tion of  the  Worfhip  of  God.    The  Governour, 
the  Council,  the  People,  generally  approved  of 
the  Anfwer  thus  given  by  the  Minifters  ;   but 
thefe  Perfons  returned  into  England  with  very 
furious   Threatnings  againft  the  Church  thus 
Eftablifhed  ,  however  the  threat ned  Folks  have 
lived  fo  long,  that  the  Church  has  out-lived  the 
grand  CUmaSerical  Year  of  Humane  Age ;    it 
now  Flourifhing  more  than  Sixty-three  Years 
after  its  firft  Gathering  under  the  PaftoralCare 
of  a  moft  Reverend  and' Ancient  Perfon,    even 
Mr.  John  Higginfon,  the  Son  of  that  excellent 
Man   who  laid  the  Foundations  of  that  So- 
ciety. 


D 


CHAP, 


io 


Magnalta  Chrijii  Americana  : 


Book  I. 


CHAP.     V, 


Peregrini  Deo  Curs  :  Or,  The  Progrefs  of  the  New-Colony  ;  with  fome  Account  of th 
Perfons,  the  Me.  hods,,  and  the  Troubles,  by  which  it  came  to  Something. 


ve 


§.  i.  '"T~v  H  E  G  over  now  and  Company  of  the 
jL     Mafachufct-Bay  then  in  London,  did 
in  the  Year  1629.  after  exact  and  mature  De- 
bates, Conclude,  that   it  was  moft  Convenient 
for  the  Government,  with   the  Charter   of  the 
Plantation,  to  be  transferred  into  the  Plantation 
it  felf ;  and  an  Order  of  Court  being  drawn  up 
for  that  End,   there  was  then   Cholen  a  New 
Governour,     and    a    New    Deputy-Governour, 
that  were  willing  to  remove  themfelves  with 
their   Families  thither  on   the   firlt  Occafion. 
The  Governour  was   John    Wintbrop,    Efq;   a 
Gentleman  of  that   Wifdom  and   Virtue,  and 
thofe  manifold    Accompliihmer.ts,    that  After- 
Generations  muft  reckon  him  no  lefs  a  Gloryy 
than  he  was  a  Patriot  of  the  Country.     The 
Deputy-Governour    was  Thonuu  Dudley,    Efq; 
a  Gentleman,    whofe   Natural    and    Acquired 
Abilities,  joined  with  his  excellent  Morcti  Qua- 
lities,   Entitled  him  to  all  the  great  Refpecfs 
with  which  his  Country  on  all  Opportunities 
treated  him.     Several  moft  Worthy   AJfijhnts 
were  a:   the  fame  time  chofen   to   be  in  this 
Transportation  ;    moreover,  feveral  other  Gen- 
tlemen of  prime  Note,  and  feveral  famous  Mi- 
■mfiers  of  the  Gofpel,  now  likewife  embarked 
themfelves  with  theft  Honourable  Adventurers  : 
Who  Equipped  a  Fleet,  confiding  of  Ten  or 
Eleven   Ships,  whereof  the  Admiral  was,    The 
Arabella  (fo  called  in  Honour^of  the   Right 
Hon  urable  the  Lady  Arabella  Johnfon,  at  this 
time  on  Board)  a  Ship  of  Three  Hundred  and 
Fifty  Tuns-,  and  in  fome  of  the  laid  Ships  there 
were  Two  Hundred  Paffengers  ;  all  of  which  Ar- 
rived before  the  middle  ot  July\    in  the   Year 
167,0.    iafe  in  the  Harbours  of  New-England. 
There  was  a  time  when  the  Britiil)   Sea  was 
by  Clements,    and  the   other   Ancietrs,  called, 
'messy®*  i)rif&r@-j  The  ttnpajfable'Qcea/i.  What 
then  was  to  be  thought  of  the  vaft  AYlantick  Sea. 
on  the  Weftward  of  Britain  ?  But  this  Ocean 
mull  now  be  faffed  I    An  Heart  of  Stone  muft 
have  diffolved  into  Tears  at  the   AifecTionate 
Farcwel,  which  the  Governour  and  other  Emi- 
nent Perfons  took  of  their  Friends;  at  a  Feajf 
which  the  Governour  made  for  them,  a  little 
before  their    going  off;    however  they    were 
acted  by  Principles  that  could  carry  them  thro' 
Tears  zn&Occans  ■  yea,  thro'  Oceans  oi' Tears  : 
Principles  that  enabled  them   to  leave,  Dufcfd 
Limind,  alq-,  amabilem  Larcm,  quern  iff  paren 
turn  memoria,  atq-,  ipfius  (to  ufe  Stupim  words) 
Infamix    Rudiment  a   Confirmant.      Some    very 
late  Geographers  do  aflure  us,  that  the  Breadth 
of  the  Atlantick  Sea  is  commonly  over-reckoned 
by  Six,  by  Eight,  by  Ten  Degrees.     Bur  Jet  that 
Sea  be  as  narrow  as  they  pleafe,  I  can  allure  the 
Reader  the  palling  of  it  was  no   little  Trial 
unto  thofe  worthy  People    that  were  now  to 
pafs  it. 


§.  2.  But  the  moft  notable  Circumftance  in 
their  Farcwel,  was  their  Compofing  and  Pub- 
lishing of  what  they  called,  The  humble  requeji 
of  His  Mafe flics  Loyal  Subjecls,  the  Governour 
and  Company  lately  gone  for  New-England, 
to  the  reft  of  their  Brethren  in  and  of  the 
Church  of  England  ;  for  the  obtaining  of  their 
Prayers,  and  the  removal  of  Sufpicions  and 
MiJconfiruSions  of  their  Intentions.  In  this 
Addreis  of  theirs,  notwithftanding  the  trouble 
they  had  undergone  for  defiring  to  fee  the  Church 
of  England  Reformed  of  feveral  things,  which 
they  thought  its  Deformities,  yet  they  now  cal- 
led the  Church  of  England  their  Dear  Mother  -y 
acknowledging  that  fuch  Hope  and  Part  as  they 
h ad  obtained  in  the  Common  Salvation  they  had 
fucked  from  her  Breafls  \  therewithal  entreating 
their  many  Reverend  Fathers  and  Brethren  to  re- 
commend them  unto  the  Mercies  of  God,  in 
their  conftant  Prayers,  as  a  Church  now  fpring- 
ing  out  of  their  own  Bowels.  Ton  are  not  Igno- 
rant f  foid  they  J  that  the  Spirit  of  God  fttrred 
up  the  Apoflle  Paul,  to  ?nake  a  continual  ?nenti- 
on  of  the  Church  at  Philippi,  which  was  a  Co- 
lony from  Rome  -,  let  the  fajhe  Spirit,  we  be- 
feech  you,  put  you  in  Mind,  that  are  the  Lord's 
Remembrancers,  to  pray  for  t/s  without  ceafing, 
who  are  the  weak  Colony from  your  J elves.  And 
after  fuch  Prayers,  they  Concluded,  What  Good- 
nefs  you  fhall  extend  unto  us,  in  this  or  any  0- 
ther  Chrijiian  Kindnefs,  zoe  your  Brethren  in 
Chriji  fhall  Labour  to  Repay,  in  what  Duty  we 
are  or  fhall  be  able  to  perform  ;  promifmg  fo 
far  as  Godjhall  enable  its,  to  give  him  nerefl  on 
your  Behalf s  ;  wiflimg  cur  Heads  and  Hearts  may 
be  Fountains  of  Tears  for  your  everlafling 
Welfare,  when  Txtfbalt  be  in  our  Poor  Cottages 
in  the  Wiliernefs,  overfnaduwed  with  the  Spirit 
of  Supplication,  thro  the  manifold  Neccffities 
and  Tribulations,  which  may  no;  altogether  un- 
cxpetlcdly,  nor  we  hope  unprofitably,  bcfal 
us. 

§.  3,  Reader,  If  ever  the Charity  of  a  Right 
Chriftian,  and  Enlarged  Soul,  were  exemplarily 
feen  in  its  proper  Expanfions,  twas  in  the  Ad- 
drefs  which  thou  haft  now  been  Reading : 
But  if  it  now  puzzel  the  Reader  to  Reconcile 
thefe  Pafiages  with  the  Principles  declared,  the 
Practices  followed,  and  the  Pnfecu/ions  under- 
gone, by  theie  American  Reformers,  let  him 
know,  that  there  was  more  trrtrrforle  Dijtimlion, 
whereof  rKe'fe  excellent  Perfons  were  not  Igno- 
rant. Firft,  They  were  able  to  Diftinguifh  be- 
tween the  Church  of  England,  as  it  contained 
the  whole  Body  of  the  Faithful ,  fcattered 
throughout  the  Kingdoms,  tho'  of  different 
Perfwafions  about  fome  Rites  and  Modes  in  Re- 
ligion ;  many  Thoufands  of  whom  our  Nor- 
Angles  knew  could  comply  with  many  things, 
to  which  our  Confidences  otherwise  enlightned 

and 


Book  I.         0ry  The  Hiftory  0^  New-England. 


21 


and  perfwaded  could  not  yeild  fuch  a  Compli- 
ance :  And  the  Church  of  England,  as  it  was 
confined  unto  a  certain  Conftitution  by  Canons, 
which  pronounced  Ipfo  Fatlo,  Excommunicate 
all  thoie  who  fhould  affirm  that  the  Worfhip 
contained  in  the  Book  or  Common  Grayer,  and 
Admimfrations  of  Sacraments,  is  unlawful,  or 
that  any  of  the  Thirty  Nine  Articles  are  Er- 
roneous, or  that  any  of  the  Ceremonies  com- 
manded by  the  Authority  of  the  Church  might 
not  be  Approved,  Ufed  and  Subfcribed ;  and 
which  will  have  to  be  Accurfei  all  thofe,  who 
maintain  that  there  are  in  the  Realm  any  other 
Meetings,  Affemblies  or  Congregations  of  the 
King's  Born  Subjects,  than  fuch  as  by  the  Laws 
of  the  Land  are  allowed,  which  may  rightly 
Challenge  to  themfelves  the  Name  of  True  and 
Lawful  Churches :  And  by  which,  all  thofe 
that  refute  to  Kneel  at  the  Reception  of  the 
Sacrament,  and  to  be  prefent  at  Publick  Pray- 
ers, according  to  the  Orders  of  the  Church, 
about  which  there  are  prefcribed  many  Forma- 
lities of  Refponfes,  with  Bowing  at  the  Name  of 
3&fU&  ate  to  be  denied  the  Communion  ;  and 
all  who  dare  not  fubmit  their  Children  to  be 
Baptized  by  the  Undertaking  of  God-Fathers, 
and  receive  the  Crojs  as  a  dedicating  Badge  of 
Chriflianity,  mud  not  have  Baptifm  for  their 
Children:  Befides  an  Et Cetera  of  how  many 
more  bnpofitions  !  Again-,  they  were  able  to 
diftinguilh  between  the  Church  of  England,  as 
it  kept  the  true  DoUrine  of  the  Protejfant 
Religion,  with  a  Difpofition  to  purfue  the  Re- 
formation begun  in  the  former  Century,  among 
whom  we  may  Reckon  fuch  Men,  as  the  fa- 


laid  afide.    If  any  of  thofe  envious  Brcthrcr. 
do  now  call  thefe  Diffenters,  as  not  very  long 
fince  a  great  Prelate  in  a  Setmon  did,  The  Ba- 
Jiards  of  the  Church  oj  England,  I  will  not  make 
the  Return  which  was  made  upon  it  by  a  Per- 
fon  of  Quality  then  preient  ;  but  inftead  there- 
of humbly,  Demand,    who  are  the  Truer  Sons 
to  the  Chutch  of  England;  they  that  hold  all 
the  Fundamentals  of  Chriflianity    embraced  by 
that  Church,  only    Queltioning  and  Forbearing 
a  few  Bifciplinary  Points,  which  are  confclTed 
Indifferent   by  the  greateft  Zealots  for  them  -, 
or  they  that  have  made  Britain  more  unhabi- 
table than  the  Torrid  Zone  ?  For  the  poor  Non- 
Conformijis,   by  their  hot  preffing   of  thofe  //;- 
difli'rencies,  as  if  they  had  been  the  only  Ne- 
cejfaries,  in  the  mean  time  utterly  fubvetting 
trie  Faith  in  the  important  Points  of  Predejli- 
nation,   Free-will,    Juflificalion,    Perfeverance, 
and  fome  other  things,  which  that  Church  re- 
quires all  her  Children  to  give  their  Affcnt  and 
Confent  unto?  If  the  Former-,  then^  fay  I,  the 
Firlf,  Planters  of  New  England  were  Truer  Sons 
to  the  Church  of  England,  than  that  part  of  the 
Church,    which,   then   by   their  mifemploying 
their  heavy    Church-keys,    banifhed  them  into 
this  Plantation.     And  indeed,   the  more  Genu- 
ine among  the   moft  Conformable  Sons  of  the 
Church,  did  then  accotdingly  vvilh  all  Profpe- 
rity  to   their    New-Englifl)  Brethren  -,    in    the 
Number  of  whom  I  would  particularly  Reckon 
that  faithful  Man,  Mr.  Edward  Symons,  Mini- 
fter  of  Rayn   in  Ejjex  •   who  iri  a  Difcourfe 
printed  Anno  1637,  does  tnus  Exprefs  himfelf, 
Many   now  promife   to  them) elves  nothing  but 

mous  AJfembly oj 'Divines atWefminfter^whozlllfuccejfJive    Happinefs  at  New-England;    which 

but  Eight  ox.  Nine,  and  the  Scots,  had  before  then  ' 

lived  in  Conformity ;   and  the  Church  of  England, 

as  limiting  that  Name  unto  a  certain  Fattion, 


for  a  time,  thro'  God's  Mercy,  they  may  enjoy ; 

and  I  pray  God,  they  may  a  long  time,  but  in  this 

,   World  there   is  no  Happinefs  perpetual.     Nor 

who  together  with  a  Difcipline  very  much  Vn  \  would  I  on  this  Occafion  leave  unquoted  fome 

notable   Words    of  the  Learned,   Witty,    and 

Famous  Dr.  Fuller,  in  his  Comment  on  Ruth, 

Page  16.  Concerning  our  Brethren  tvhichoflate 

left  this  Kingdom,     to  advance  a  Plantation  in 

New-England,    /  think  the  Counfel  beji,    that 

King  Joalh  prefcribed  unto  Amaziah,   Tarry  at 

Home  :  let  as  for   thefe  that  are  already  gone, 

far  be  it  from  us  to   conceive  them  to  be  fuch, 

to  whom  we  may  not  fay,  God  fpeed  :  But  let  us 

Pity  them,  and  Pray  for  them.     I  conclude  of  the 

two  Englands,   what    our  Saviour  faith  of  the 

two  Wines,  No  Man  having  talted  of  the  Old, 

prefently  defireth  the  New  ;  for  he  faith,  The 

Old  is  better. 

§.  4.  Being  happily  arrived  at  New-Eng-. 
land,  our  new  Planters  found  the  difficulties  of 
a  rough  and  hard  Wildernefs  prefently  affaulting 
them  :  Of  which  the  worft  was  the  Sicklinefs 
which  many  of  them  had  contracted  by  their 
other  difficulties.  Of  thole  who  foon  dy'd  af- 
ter their  firft  Arrival,  not  the  leaft  confiderable 
was  the  Lady  Arabella,  who  left  an  Earthly  Pa- 
radice  in  the  Family  of  an  Earldom,  to  Encoun- 
ter the  Sorrows  of  a  Wildernefs,  for  the  Enter- 


fcriptural,  vigoroufly  profecuted  the  Tripartite 
Plot  of  Ar mini anifm  and  Conciliation  with  Rome, 
in  the  Church,  and   unbounded  Prerogative  in 
the  State  ;  who  fet  themfelves^to  Cripple  as  faff 
as  they  could  the  more  Learned,  Godly,  Painful 
Minifters  of  the  Land,  and  Silence  and  Ruin 
fuch  as  could  not  Read  a  Book  for  Sports  on  the 
Lord's  Days-,    or  did  but  ufe  a  Prayer  of  their 
own  Conceiving,   before  or  after  Sermon  •   or 
did  but  Preach  in  an  Afternoon,  as  well  as  in 
a  Morning,  or  on  a  Leilure,  or  on  a  Market, 
or  in  aniwife  difcountenance  Old  Superftitions, 
or  New  Extravagancies  ;  and  who  at  laft  threw 
the  Nation  into  the  lamentable  Confufions  of  a 
Civil  War.    By  the  Light  of  this  Dijiin&ion, 
we  mayeafily  petceive  what  Church  of  England 
it  was,    that   our  New- England  Exiles  called, 
Their  Mother  ;  though  their  Mother  had  been 
fo  hard)  to  them,  as  to  turn  them  out  of  Doots, 
yet  they  highly  honoured  Her  -,  believing  that 
it  was  not  16  much  their  Mother,  but  fome  of 
their  angry  Brethren-,  abufing  the  Name  of  their 
Mother,  who  fo  harihly  treated  them ;  and  all 
the  harm  they  wilhed  her,  was  to  fee  her  put 
off  thofe  III  Trimmings,  which  at  her  firft  coming 
©ut  of  the  Popifh  Babylon,  fhe  had  nor  fo  fully 


tainments  of  a  pure  Worfhip  in  the  Houfe  of 
God  -,  and   then  immediately  left  that  Wilder - 

ntfi 


22 


Magnolia  Cbrifli  Americana  : 


Book  I. 


nefs  for  the  Heavenly  Paradife,  whereto  the 
Companionate  Jefus,  ol  whom  Ihe  was  a  Fol- 
lower, called  her.  We  have  Read  concerning  a 
Noble  Woman  of  Bohemia,  who  forfook  her 
Friends,  her  Plate,  her  Houfe  and  All  ■,  and  be- 
caufe  the  Gates  of  the  City  were  Guarded,  crept 
through  the  Common-Sewer,  that  ihe  might 
enjoy  the  Inflitutions  of  our  Lord  at  another 
Place  where  they  might  be  had.  The  Spirit 
which  afted  that  Noble  Woman,  we  may  fup- 
pofe  carried  this  Bleffed  Lady  thus  to  and  thro' 
the  Hardfhips  of  an  American  Defart.  But  as 
for  her  Virtuous  Husband,  Ifaac  John/on,  Efq-, 

-He  tty'd 


by  the  Lord  Deputy  of  belaud  fenr  hither,  al- 
tho* he  did  not  know  the  Neceffyies  of  the 
Country,  to  which  he  fent  her ;  and  if  he  had 
known  them,  would  have  been  thought  as  un- 
likely as  any  Man  living  to  have  helpt  them  : 
In  thefe  Extremities,  'twas  marvellous  to  lee 
how  Helpful  thefe  good  People  were  to  one  a- 
nother,  following  the  Example  of  their  moft 
liberal  Governour  Winthrop,  who  made  an  e- 
qual  Diftribution  of  what  he  had  in  his  own 
Stores  among  the  Poor,  taking  no  thought  for 
to  Morrow !  And  how  Content  they  were  ; 
when  an  Honeft  Man,  as  I  have  heard,  invi- 
ting his  Friends  to  a  Diih  of  Gams,  at  the  Ta- 
ble gave  Thanks  to  Heaven,  who  had  given 
them  to  fuck  the  abundance  of  the  Seas,  and  oj 
the  Treafures  hid  in  the  Sands  I 

Another  thing  that  gave  them  no  little  Ex- 
ercife,  was  the  fear  of  the  Indians,  by  whom  they 
were  fometimes  Alarm  d.  But  this  Fear  was 
wonderfully  prevented,  not  only  by  Inteftme 
Wars  happening  then  to  fall  out  among  thole 
Barbarians,  but  chiefly  by  the  Small-Fox,  which 
prov'd  a  great  Plague  unto  them,  and  particu- 
larly to  one  of  the  Princes  in  the  Majjacbufet- 
Bay,  who  yet  feemed  hopefully  to  be  Chnfti- 
aniz'd  before  he  Dy'd.  This  Diftemper  get- 
ting in,  I  know  not  how,  among  them,  fwept 
them  away  with  a  moft  prodigious  Defolation, 
infbmuch  that  altho'  the  Englifh  gave  them  all 
the  affiftances  of  Humanity  in  their  Calamities, 
yet  there  was,  it  may  be,  not  One  in  Ten  a- 
mong  them  left  alive,  of  thole  few  that  liv'd  ; 
many  alfo  fled  from  the  Infection,  leaving  the 
Country  a  meer  Golgotha  of  unburied  Carca- 
fes  ;  and  as  for  the  reft,  the  Englijl?  treated 
them  with  all  the  Civility  imaginable;  among 
the  Inltances  of  which  Civility,  let  this  be 
reckoned  for  One,  that  notwith {landing  the  Pa- 
tent which  they  had  for  the  Country,  they  fair- 
ly purchafed  of  the  Natives  the  feveral  Trails 
of  Land  which  they  afterwards  pojfejfed. 

§.  6.  The  People  in  the  Fleet  that  arriv'd  at 
New-England,  in  the  Year  1630,  left  the  Fleet 
almoft,  as  the  Family  of  AW;  did  the  Ark,  ha- 
ving a  whole  World  before  them  to  be  peo- 
pled. Salem  was  already  fupplied  with  a  com- 
petent Number  of  Inhabitants  ;  and  therefore 
the  Governour,  with  moft  of  the  Gentlemen 
that  Accompanied  him  in  his  Voyage,  took 
their  firft  Opportunity  to  profecute  further  Set- 
tlements about  the  bottom  of  the  Maffacbufet- 
Bay  :  But  where-ever  they  fat  down,  they  weje 
fo  mindful  of  their  Errand  into  the  Wilder- 
nefs,  that  ftill  one  of  their  Fir  ft  Works  was  to 
gather  a  Church  into  the  Covenant  and  Order 
of  the  Golpel.  Firlt,  There  was  a  Church  thus 
gathered  at  Charles-Town,  on  the  North  fide  of 
Charles's  River  ^  where  keeping  a  Solemn  Faft 
on  Augufl  27.  1630,  to  Implore  the  ConducF 
and  Bleffing  of  Heaven  on  their  Ecdefiaftical 
Proceedings,  they  chofe  Mr.  Wiljon,  a  moft 
Holy  and  Zealous  Man,  formerly   a  Mini'fter 


To  Live  without  her,  lik'd  it  not,  and  Dy'd. 

His  Mourning  for  the  Death  of  his  Honourable 
Confort  was  too  bitter  to  be  extended  a  Tear  -, 
about  a  Month  after  her  Death,  his  enfued,  un- 
to the  extream  lofs  of  the  whole  Plantation. 
But  at  the  End  of  this  per  fed  and  upright  Man, 
there  was  not  only  Peace,  but  Joy  ;  and  his  Joy 
particularly  exprelTed  it  felf,  That  God  had  kept 
his  Eyes  open  fo  long  as  to  fee  One  Church  of 
the  Lord  J  ejus  Cbrift  gathered  in  thefe  Ends 
oj  the  Earth,  before  his  own  going  away  to  Heaven. 
The  Mortality  thus  threatning  of  this  New  Planta- 
tion, To  enlivened  the  Devotions  of  this  good  Peo- 
ple, that  they  let  themfelves  by  Fafting  and  Prayer 
to  obtain  from  God  the  removal  of  it ;  and 
their  Brethren  at  Plymouth  alfo  attended  the 
like  Duties  on  their  Behalf:  The  IfTue  whereof 
was,  that  in  a  little  time  they  not  only  had 
Health  reftored,  but  they  likewife  enjoyed  the 
fpecial  Direction  and  Affiftance  of  God  in  the 
further  Profecution  of  their  Undertakings. 

§.  5.  But  there  were  Two  terrible  Diftreffes 
more,  befides  that  of  Sicknefs,  whereto  this  Peo- 
ple were  expofed  in  the  beginning  of  their  Set- 
tlement :  Tho'  a  moft  feafonable  and  almoft 
unexpected  Mercy  from  Heaven  ftill  relcued 
them  out  of  thofe  Diftreffes.  One  thing  that 
fometimes  extreamly  exercifed  them,  was  a 
Scarcity  ofProvifwns  ;  in  which  'twas  wonder- 
ful to  lee  their  Dependance  upon  God,  and  God  s 
Mindfulnefs  of  them.  When  the  parching 
Droughts  of  the  Summer  divers  times  threat- 
ned  them  with  an  utter  and  a  total  Confump- 
tion  to  the  Fruits  of  the  Earth,  it  was  their 
manner,  with  Heart-melting,  and  I  may  fay, 
Heaven-melting  Devotions,  to  Faft  and  Pray  be- 
fore God ;  and  on  the  very  Days,  when  they 
poured  out  the  Water  of  their  Tears  before 
him,  he  would  fhower  down  the  Water  of  his 
Rain  upon  their  Fields ;  while  they  were  yet 
/peaking,  he  would  hear  them ;  infbmuch  that 
the  Salvages  themfelves  would  on  that  Occafi- 
on  admire  the  Engliftman s  God  !  But  the  Eng- 
lifhmen  themfelves  would  Celebrate  their  Days 
of  Thank/giving  to  him.  When  their  Stock 
was  likewife  wafted  fo  far,  which  divers  times 
it  was,  that  they  were  come  to  the  loft  Meal 

in  the  Barrel,  juft  then,  unlook'd  for,  arrived  I  of  Sudbury,  in  the  County  of  Suffolk,  to  be  their 
feveral  Ships  from  other  Parts  of  the  World  Teacher ;  and  altho'  he  now  fubmitted  unto  an 
loaden  with  Supplies ,  among  which,  One  was  j  Ordination,  with  an  Impofitwn  effuch  Hands 

as 


Book  I.         Or,  The  Hiflory  0/~  New-England. 


3 


as  were  by  the  Church  invited  fo  to  pronounce 
the  Benediction  of  Heaven  upon  him  ;  yet  it 
was  done  with  a  Proteflation  by  ail,  that  it 
fhould  be  only  as  a  fign  of  his  Eletlion  to  the 
Charge  of  his  New  Flock,  without  any  Intention 
that  he  ihould  thereby  Renounce  the  Miniftry 
he  had  received  in  England.  After  the  gather- 
ing of  the  Church  at  Charles-Town,  there  quick- 
ly followed  another  at  the  Town  of  Dor- 
chefter. 

And  after  Dorchefier  there  followed  another 
at  the  Town  of  Bofton,  which  IlTued  out  of 
Charles-Town  ;  one  Mr.  James  took  the  Care  of 
the  Church  at  Charles-Town,  and  Mr.  Wilfon 
went  over  to  Bofton,  where  they  that  formerly 
belonged  unto  Charles-Town,  withllniverfal  Ap- 
prcbatiori  became  a  diftintl  Church  of  them- 
selves. To  Bo/ion  foon  fucceeded  a  Church  at  j 
Roxbury  •  to  Roxbury,  one  at  Lyn •  to  Ly/7, 
one  at  Watertoxan  ;  fb  that  in  one  or  two  Years 
time  there  were  to  beieen  Seven  Churches  in  this 
Neighbourhood,  all  of  them  attending  to  what 
the  Spirit  in  the  Scripture  /aid  unto  them  ; 
all  of  them  Golden  Candeljlicks,il\\iftLT2XZ<i  with 
a  very  feniible  Prefence  of  our  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift  amoug  them. 

§.  7.  It  was  for  a  matter  of  Twelve  Tears 
together,  that  Perfons  of  all  Ranks,  well  af- 
fefted  unto  Churcly-Reformation,  kept  fome- 
times  Dropping,  and  fbmetimes  Flocking  into 
New-England,  thoJ  fbme  that  were  coming  into 
New-England  were  not  fuffered  fo  to  do.  The 
Perfecutors  of  thofe  Puritans,  as  they  were 
called,  who  were  now  Retiring  into  that  Cold 
Country  from  the  Heat  of  their  Perfecution, 
did  all  that  was  poffible  to  hinder  as  many  as 
was  poffible  from  enjoying  of  that  Retirement 


PafTage  of  People  that  were  now  fleering 
of  this  Weftern  Courfe ;  and  there  was  a  fort  of 
Uproar  made  among  no  fmall  part  of  the  Na- 
tion, that  this  People  fhould  not  be  let  go. 
Among  thole  bound  for  New-England,  that 
were  16  ftopt,  there  were  efpecially  Three  Fa- 
mous Perfons,  whom  I  fuppofe  their  Adverfa- 
ries  would  not  have  fb  ftudioufly  detained  at 
Home,    if  they    had  forefeen  Events  ;    thofe 


and  of  this  take  one  Inftance  inftead  of  many: 
Before  the  woful  Wars  which  broke  forth  in 
the  Three  Kingdoms,  there  were  divers  Gentle- 
men in  Scotland,  who  being  uneaiie  under  rhe 
Ecclefiajiieal  Burdens  of  the  Times,  wrote  unto 
New-England  their  Enquities,  Whether  they 
might  be  there  fuffered  freely  to  Ex'ercife  their 
Presbyterian  Churcl-Govcr/:j,:c,',t  ?  And  it  was 
freely  anfwered,  That  they  might.  Hereupon 
they  fent  over  an  Agent,  who  pitched  upon  i 
TraQ  of  Land  near  the  Mouth  of  Merimack 
River,  whither  they  intended  then  to  Tranf 
plant  therafeives :  But  alrho'  they  had  fo  far 
proceeded  in  their  Voyage,  as  to  be  Half 
Seas  thorough ;  the  manifold  CrclTes  they  met 
withal,  made  them  give  over  their  intentions  • 
and  the  Providence  of  God  lb  ordered  it,  that 
fome  of  thole  very  Gentlemen  were  afterwards 
the  Revivers  of  that  well-known  Solemn 
League  and  Covenant,  which  had  lb  great  an 
Influence  upon  the  following  Circumltances  of 
the  Nations.  However,  the  number  ofi  thofe 
who  did  actually  arrive  at  New-England  be- 
fore the  Year  1640.  have  been  computed  about 
Four  Thou/and  ;  fince  which  time  far  more 
have  gone  out  of  the  Country  thin  have  come 
to  it ;  and  yet  the  God  of  Heaven  fo  fmiled  up- 
on the  Plantation,  while  under  an  eafie  and 
equal  Government,  the  Defigns  of  Chtiftianity 
in  well-formed  Churches  have  been  carried  on, 
that  no  Hiftory  can  parallel  it.  That  faying 
of  Eutropins  about  Rome,  which  hath  been 
fbmetimes  applied  unto  the  Church,  is  capa- 
ble of  fome  Application  to  rhis  little  part  of 
the  Church  :  Nee  Minor  ab  Exordio,  nee 
major  Incrementis  ulla.  Never  was  any  Plan- 
tation brought  unto  fuch  a  Confiderablenels,  in 


There  were  many  Countermands  given  to  the  a  fpace   of  time  fo  Inconfidetable  !    An  Howl- 


ing Wilder  nefs  in  a  few  Years  became  a 
Plea/ant  Land,  accommodated  with  the  Ne- 
cejfaries,  yea,  and  the  Conveniencies  of  Hu- 
mane Life  ,  the  Go/pel  has  carried  with  it  a 
fulnefs  of  all  other  Bleffings ;  and  (albeit, 
that  Mankind  generally,  as  far  as  we  have  a- 
ny  Means  of  enquiry,  have  increafed,  in  one 
and  the  fame  given  Proportion,  and  fo  no 
more  than  doubled  themfelves  in  about  Three- 


were  Oliver  Cromwel,  and  Mr.  Hambden,  and   Hundred  and  Sixty  Years,^  in  all  the  paft  Ages 

Sir  Arthur  Hafelrig  :  Neverthelefs,  this  is  not 

the  only   Inltance  of  Perfecting  Church-mens 

not  having  the  Spirit  of  Prophecy.    But  many 

others  were  diverted  from  an  intended  Voyage 

hither  by  the  pure  Providence  of  God,  which 

had  provided  other  Improvements  for  them  ; 


of  the  World,  fince  the  fixing  of  the  prelent 
Period  of  Humane  Life  J  the  Four-Thouiand 
Firjl  Planters,  in  lefs  than  Fifty  Years,  not- 
withftanding  all  Tranfportations  and  Mortali- 
ties, increafed  into,  they  fay,  more  than  an 
hundred  Thoufand. 


CHAP.     VI. 

--—  Qui  Tranfmare  Currant. —    Or,  The  Addition  of  fever  d  other  Colonies  to  the  for- 
mer 3   with  fome  other  Conjiderables  in  the  Condition  of  thefe  later  Colonies. 

§.   i.TT  was  not   long    before    the  Mafia*  \  J harming    into    Plantations   extended    further 

L  chufet   Colony  was  become  like  an  into  the  Country.     The  Colony  might  fetch  its 

Hive,  overftock'd  with   Bees  ;    and  many  of  own  Defer  i  prion  from  the  Difpenfations  of  the 

the-  new  Inhabitants    entertained  thoughts   of ,  Great  God.  unto  his  Ancient  Ifrael,  and   fay, 


24 


Magnalia  Ghrifli  Americana  : 


Book  L 


0  God  oj  Hojls,  Thou  haft  brought  a  Vine  out 
of  England ;  Thou  bafl  cafi  out  the  Heathen  and 
planted  it  ;  Thou  preparcdji  room  before  it, 
and  didft  caufe  it  to  lake  Jeep  root,  and  it 
filled  the  Land;  the  Wills  were  covered  with 
the  flialow  of  it,  and  the  Boughs  thereof  were 


vages  in  their  Neighbourhood,  known  by  the 
Name  of  Pcquots,  had  like  to  have  nipt  the 
Hantation  in  the  Bud  by  a  cruel  War,  within 
a  Year  or  two  after  their  Settlement,  the 
marvellous  Providence  of'  God  immediately  ex- 
tinguilhed  that   War,  by  profpering  the  Nets- 


like  the  goodly  Cedars  ;  (he  fint  out  her  Boughs  [Englifh  Arms,  unto  the  utter  fubduing  of'  the' 
unto  the  Sea.  But  ftill  there  was  one  ftroak  iQuarrelfome  Nation,  and  affrightning  of  all  the 
wanting  for  the  compleat  Accommodations  of  other  Natives. 

the  Defcription  ;  to  wit,  She  fent  forth  her  \  §.  3.  It  was  with  the  Countenance  and  Af- 
Brancbcs  unto  the  River  ;  and  this  therefore  is  fiftance  of  their  Brethren  in  the  Majfachufei- 
to  be  next  attended.     The  Fame  of  Connecticut  i  Buy,    that  the  Firft  Planters  of  Connecticut  made 


River,  a  Long,  Froth,  Rich  River  (as  indeed 
the  Name  Connecticut  is  Indian  ibr  a  long  Ri- 
ver) had  made  a  little  Niltas  of  it,  in  the  Ex- 
pectations of  the  good  People  about  the  Mcf- 


their  EiTays  thus  to  Difcover  and  Cultivate  the 
remoter  Parts  of  this  mighty  Wildernefs;  and 
accordingly  feveral  Gentlemen  went  fumUhed 
with  fome  kind  of  Commijfion  from  the  Govern- 


(achufet-Bay :  Whereupon  many  of  the  Planters  ment  of  the  Maffackufet-Bay,  for  to  maintain 
belonging  efpecially  to  the  Towns  of  Cambridge,  1  ibme  kind  of  Government  among  the  Inhabi- 
Dorchrfter,  Watertown  and  Roxbury,  took  up ;  tints,  till  there  could  be  a  more  orderly  Set- 
Refolutibns  to  Travel  an  Hundred  Miles  Weft-  dement.  But  the  Inhabitants  quickly  perceiv- 
toard  from  thofe  Towns,  for  a  further  Settle-]  ina;  themfelves  to  be  without  the  Line  of  the 
ment  upon  this  Famous  River.  When  the  MaJJ'achufet-Charter,  entred  into  a  Combi nation, 
Learned  Eernandius  had  been  in  the  Indies,  lie;  among  themfelves,  whereby  with  mutual  Con- 
did  in  his  Preface  to  his  Commentaries  after-  lent  they  became  a  Body-Politick,  and  framed 
wards  publilhed,  give  this  Account  of  it  ; !  a  Body \,of  necelTary  Laws  and  Orders,  to  the 
Deojic  volente,  prodii  in  remotijfimos  uff,  ln-\  Execution  whereof  they  chofe  all  neceiliry  Of- 
clos.   tarn  nr>i  avidus  luca  15  glonx,_  ut  earn  fleers,  very  much,  tho' not  altogether  after  the 

form  of  the  Colony  from  whence  they  IfTued. 
So  they  jogg'd  on  for  many  Years ;  and  where- 
as before  the  Year  1644.  tnat  Worthy  Gentle- 
man, George  Fenwick,  Efq;  did  on  the  behulf  of 
feveral  Perfons  of  Quality  begin  a  Plantation 
about  the  Mouth  of  the  River,  which  was  cal- 
led Say-Brook,  in  Remembrance  of  thofe  Right 
Honourable  Perfons,  the  Lord  Say,  and  the  Lord 
Brook,  who  laid  a  Claim  to  the  Land  therea- 
bouts, by   Virtue  of  a  Patent  granted  by  the 
Earl  of  Warwick  ;  the  Inhabitants  of  Connecti- 
cut that  Year  purchafed  of  Mr.  Fenwick  this 
Tra£l  of  Land.    But  the  Confufions  then  Em- 
baraifing  the  Affairs  of  the  Englifh  Nation,  hin- 
dered our  ConneUicotians  from  feeking  of  any 
further    Settlement,     until   the   Reftoration  of 
K.  Charles  II.  when  they  made  their  Applica- 
tion to  the  King  for  a  Charter;  by  the  Agen- 
cy of  their  Honourable  Governour,   John  Win- 
tbrop\  Efq;  the  moft  accomplilhed  Son  of  that 
Excellent  Perfon,  who  had  been  fo  Contidera- 
ble  in  the  Foundations  of  the  Majjacbufet-Qo- 
lony.     This  Renowned  Virtuofo  had  juitiy  been 
the  Darling  of  New-England,  if  they  had  only 
confidered  his  Eminent  Qualities,  as  he  was  a 
Cbrijltan,  a  Gentleman,and  a  Pbilofopher,  well 
worthy  to  be,  as  he  was,  a  Member  of  the 
Royal-Society  ;  but  it  mult  needs  further  endear 
his  Memory  to  his  Country,  that  God  made 
him  the  Inftrument  of  obtaining  for  them,    as 
he   did  from  rhe  King  of  England,  as  amply 
priviledged  a  Charter  as  was  ever  enjoy 'd  per- 
haps by   any  People  under  the  Cope  of  Hea- 
ven.    Under  the  Protection  and  Encouragement 
of  this  Charter  they  Mourifhed   many   Years  5 
and  many  Towns  being  fucceffively  created  a- 
mong  them,  their  Churches  had  Reji,  and  walked 
in  the  Fear  of  God,  and  in  the  Comfort  of  the 
Holy  Spirit. 

$.  4.  The 


vere  dixerim,  ultro  elegerim  mei  iff  us  adhuc 
viventii  verijfimam  Sepulturam.  Reader,  come 
with  me  now  to  behold  fome  Worthy,  and 
Learned,  and  Genteel  Perfons  going  to  be 
Buried  Alive  on  the  Banks  of  Connecticut, 
having  be  en  firft  Slain  bj  the  Ecdefiaftical  Im- 
p    lions  and  Perlecuttons  of  Europe. 

s.  2.  i    was  in  the  Year  1635.   that   this 
D  fign    was   firft    formed  ;    and    the  Difpofi 

1  .    Celebrated  Mr.  Thomas  Hooker, 

■  'eople  now  in  Cambridge,  to  engage  in 
i  )efign.  was  that  which  gave  moft  Life  un- 
-  if.  They  then  ",'  ut  their  Agents  to  view  the 
Country,  vno  r  turned  with  fo  Advantageous  a 
Report,  :'  1  ae  next  Year  there  was  a  great 
Remoi  '         People  thither :  On  this  Re- 

move  tl  f  that  w  .it  from  Cambridge  became 
a  Church  n  Spot  of  Ground  now  called 
Hartford;  they  that  went  from  Dorchefier  be 
c.:-T!,  a  ;'"  h  ziWindfor  ,  they  that  went  from 
H  iertow  at  tloymitWetbersJield;  and  they 
that  tet'c  Roxbury  were  Jn-Cburched  higher  up 
the  River  at  Springfield,  a  place  which  wasat- 
t.  vards  found  within  the  Line  of  the  Majfa- 
chufet-Chaxtei.  Indeed  the  firft  Winter  after 
their  going  thither  proved  an  bard  one  •  and 
the  grievous  Difappointments  which  befel  them, 
tii/  the  unfeafonable  Freezing  of  the  River, 
whereby  their  VeflTel  of  Provifwns  was  detained 
at  the  Mouth  of  the  River,  Threefcore  Miles 
below  'hem,  caufed  them  to  Encounter  with 
verv  Difaftrous  Difficulties.  Divers  of  them 
Were  hereby  obliged  in  the  Depth  of  Win- 
twr  to  Travel  back  into  the  Bay  ;  and  fome 
of  them  were  frozen  to  Death  in  the  Jour- 
ney. 

However,  fuch  was  their  Courage,  that  they 
Profecuted  their  Plantation-Work  with  fpeedy 
and  bleffed  Success ;  and  when  Bloody  Sal- 


Book  I.         Or,  Tbe  Hijiory  0/"  New-England. 


5 


§.  4.  The  Church-Order  obferved  in  the]  Being  Londjners,  or  Merchants,  and  Men 
Churches  of  Connecticut,  has  been  the  fame  j  of  Traffick  and  Bufinels,  their  Defign  was  in  a 
that  is  obferved  by  their  Sifters  in  the  Maffa-  \  manner  wholly  to  apply  themfelves  umoTrade  : 
cbufet-Bay ;  and  in  this  Order  they  lived  ex-  j  but  the  Delign  failing.,  they  lound  their  great 
ceeding  peaceably  all  the  Eleven  Years  that  |  Eftates  to  link  fo  fait,  that  they  muft  quickly 
Mr.  Hooker  lived  among  them.  Neverthelels Ida  fometbing.  Whereupon  in  the  Year  1646. 
there  arole  at  length  lome  unhappy  Contefts  in  \  gathering  together  almoft  ail  the  Strength 
one  Town  of  the  Colony,  which  grew  into  which  was  left  -em,  they  Built  one  Ship  more, 
an  Alienation  that  could  not  be  cured  without!  which  they  fraighted  lor  England  with  tie 
iiich  a  Parting,  and  "yet,  indeed,  hardly  fo  belt  part  of  their  Tradable  Eltates  j  and  ("un- 
kind a  Parting,  as  that  whereto  once  Abraham 


and  hot  were  driven.  However,  thefe  Little 
Idle,  Angry  Controverfies,  proved  Occafions  or 
Enlargements  to  the  Church  of  God  ;  for  iiich 
ot  the  Inhabitants  as  chofe  a  Cottage  in  a  Wil- 
Jernefs,  belore  the  moft  beautiful  and  furnilh- 


dry  of  their  Eminent  Perfons  Embarked  them- 
felves in  her  for  the  Voyage.  But,  alas,  the 
Ship  was  never  after  heard  of!  She  foundred 
in  the  Sea  ;  and  in  her  were  loft,  not  only  the 
Hopes  of  their  future  Trade,  but  alio  the  Lives 
of   feveral  Excellent  Perfons,  as  well  as  divers 


ed  Edifice,  overheated  with  the  tire  of  Gon-   Manufcripts  of  fbme  great  Men   in  the  Conn- 


tendon,  removed  peaceably  higher  up  the  Ri 
ver,   where  a  whole  County  of  Holy  Churches 
has  been  added  unto  the  number  of  our  Con- 
gregations. 

^•.  7.  But  there  was  one  thing  that  made  this 
Colony  to  become   very  confiderable  ;   which 
thing   remains   now    to    be    confidered.      The 
well-known  Mr.  Davenport,    and    Mr.  Eaton, 
and  feveral  Eminent  Perfons  that  came   over 
to   the   Maffachufci-Bay,    among    fbme  of  the 
Firlt  Planters,  were  ftrongly  urged,    that  they 
would  have  fettled  in  this  Bay  -,   but  hearing 
of  another  Bay  to  the  South-Weft  of  Connecti- 
cut, which  might  be  more  capable  to  entertain 
thole  that  were  to  follow  them,    they  defired 
that  their  Friends  at  Connecticut  would  purchafe 
of  the  Native  Proprietors    for  them,    all  the 
Land  that  lay  between  themfelves  and  Hudfon's 
River,   which   was  in  part  effected.     Accord- 
ingly removing  thither  in  the  Year  1637.  they 
feated  themfelves  in    a    pleafant   Bay,   where 
they  fpread  themfelves  along  the   Sea-CoaJJs  ; 
and  one  might  have  been  fuddenly,    as  it  were- 
furprized  with  the  fight  of  fuch  notable  Towns, 
as  firft  New-Haven ;  then  Guilford  ;  then  Mil- 
ford  ;    then   Stamford  ;    and   then   Brainford 
where  our  Lord  Jefus  Chnft  is  Worlhipped 
in  Churches  of  an  Evangelical  Conftitution  ;  and 
from  thence,  if  the  tnquirer  make  a  Salley 
over  to  Long  Ifland,  he  might  there  alfo  have 
feen  rhe  Churches  of  our  Lord  beginning  to 
take  root  in  the  Eaftern  Parts  of  that   Ifland. 
All  this  while  this  Fourth  Colony   wanted  the 
legal   Bafis  of  a  Charter  to  build  upon  ;    but 
they   did  by  mutual  Agreement  form    rhem 
felves   into  a    Body-Politick,    as  like   as    they 
judg'd   fit  unto  the  other  Colonies    in   their 
Neighbourhood  :    and  as  for  their  Church-Or- 
der,  it  was  generally.  Secundum  Vfum  Majfd- 
chufettenfem. 

§.  6.  Behold,  a  Fourth  Colony  of  Nck- 
Englifh  Chriftians,  in  a  manner  ftoln  into  the 
World,  and  a  Colony,  indeed,  cancellated  with 
many  Stars  of  the  Firft  Magnitude.  The  Co- 
lony was  under  the  ConducF  of  as  Holy,  and 
as  Prudent,  and  as  Genteel  Perfons  as  moft 
that  ever  vifited  thefe  Nooks  of  America  ■,  and 
yet  thefe  too  were  Try'd  with  very  humbling 
Circumftances. 


try,  lent  over  for  the  Service  of  the  Church, 
which  were  now  buried  in  the  Ocean,  The 
fuller  Story  of  that  grievous  Mutter,  let  the 
Reader  with  a  juft  AftoniIhmentacce.pt  from 
the  Pen  of  the  Reverend  Perlbn,  who  is,  now 
the  Pallor  of  New-Haven.  I  wrote  unto  him, 
for  it,  and  was  thus  Anfvvered. 

Reverend  and  Dear  Sir, 

IN  Compliance  with  your  Defires,  I  now 
give  you  the  Relation  of  that  Apparitioh 
'of  a  Ship  in  the  Air,  which  I  have  received 
'  from  the  moft  Credible,  Judicious  and  Curi- 
'  ous  Surviving  Obfervers  of  it. 

'In  the  Year  1647.  befides  much  other  La- 
c  ding,  a  far  more  Rich  Treafure  of  PalTengers, 
'  (Five  or  Six  of  which  were  Perfons  of  chief 

•  Note  and  Worth  in  New-Haven)  put  them- 
felves on  Board  a  New  Ship,  built  at  Rhode- 

•  Ifland,    of  about   150  Tuns  ;  but  fo    walty, 
•that  the  Mafter,  (Lambert on)  often  faid  fhe 

•  would  prove  their  Grave.     In  the  Month  of 

•  January,  cutting  their  way  thro'  much  Ice,  on 

•  which  they  were  accompanied  with  the  Re 
c  verend    Mr.  Davenport,    befides  many  other 
:  Friends,  with  many  Fears,  as  well  as  Prayers 
'and  Tears,  they   let  Sail.     Mr.  Davenprt  in 
;  Prayer  with  an  obfervable  Empbafis  tiled  thefe 

■  Words,   Lord,  if  it  be   thy  pleajure  to  bury 

•  thefe  our   Friends  in  tbe  bottom  of  the  Sea, 

■  they    are     thine  ;  fave  them  !    The  Spring 
'  following  no  Tidings  of  thefe  Friends  arrived 
-with  the  Ships  from  England:  NiwHavetrs 
'  Heart  began  to  fail  her  :  This  put  the  Godly 
'  People   on  much   Prayer,    both  Publick  and 
'  Private,  That  the  Lord  would  (if  it   wai  his 
'  Plea  fur  e)    let  them    hear    zchat   he    bad,  done 
'  with    their  dear   Friends,   and  prepare    them 
'  with  a  Juitable  Submijjion  to  his  Holy  Will. 
'  In  June  next  enfui'ng,   a  great  Lh under -liorm 
'arote  out  of  the    North-Welt;   alter  which, 
'  (the  Hemifphere  being   (crenel  about  an  Hour 
s  before  Sun-fet  a  S  H  1  P  of  like  Dimenfions 
'  with   the   afbrefaid,    with    her  Canvas    and 
'  Colours  abroad  frho'tbe  Wind   Northernlyj 
'  appeared    in   the   Air  coming  up  from  our 
'  Harbour's  Mouth,  which  lyes  Southward  from 
'  the  Town,     feemingly  with  her   Sails   filled 
'  under  a  frefh  Gale,  holding  her  Courfe  North , 

E  '  Sri  i 


i6 


Magnalia  Cbrifti  Americana 


Book  I. 


1  and  continuing  under  Obfervation,  Sailing) 
c  againft  the  Wind  for  the  fpace  of  half  an 
'  Hour.  Many  were  drawn  to  behold  this  great 
'  Work  of  God  ;  yea,  the  very  Children  cry'd 
'out,  There's  a  Brave  Ship!  At  length,  croud- 
'  ing  up  as  far  as  there  is  ufually  Water  fuffici- 
'  ent  for  fuch  a  Veffel,  and  lb  near  Ibme  of 
'the  Spectators,  as  that  they  imagined  a  Man 
'  might  hurl  a  Stone  on  Board  her,  her  Main- 
itop  feem'd  to  be  blown  off,  but  left  hanging 
'  in  the  Shrouds  ;  then  her  MiJJe-n-top  ;  then  all 
'  her  Majiing  feemed  blown  away  by  the  Board: 
'  Quickly  after  the  Hulk  brought  unto  a  Ca 
'  reen,  (he  overfer,  and  lb  vanithed  into  a 
'  fmoaky  Cloud,  which  in  Ibme  time  dillipared, 
'  leaving,  as  everywhere  elfe,  a  clear  Air.  The 
'  admiring  Spectators  could  diftingnilh  the  fe- 
'  veral  Colours  of  each  Parr,  the  Principal  Rig 
'  ing,  and  fuch  Proportions,  as  caufed  not  on- 
'  ly  the  generality  of  Perfbns  to  fay,  This  toM 
'  the  Mould  oj  then-  Ship,  and  thus  mat  her 
'  TragickEnd  :  But  Mr.  Davenport  alfo. in  pub 
'lick  declared  to  rhis  F.ffcct  That  God  had 
'  condescended,  for  the  quieting  oj  their  aj- 
c  flitted  Spirits,  this  Extraordinary  Ac-count  oj 
'  his  Soveraign  Difpofal  oj  thofe  for  whomfo  many 
'  fervent  Prayers  were  made  continually.  Thus 
I  am,  Sir, 

Your  Humble  Servant, 

James  Pierpont. 

Reader,  There  being  yet  living  fo  many  Cre- 
dible Gentlemen,  that  were  Eye-Wftnefles  of 
this  Wonderful  Thing,  I  venture  to  Publiih  it 
for  a  thing  as  undoubted,  as  'tis  wonderful. 

But  let  us  now  proceed  wirh  our  Story. 
Our  Colony  of  Neio  Haven  apprehended  them- 
felves  Difadvantageoully  feared  for  the  Affairs 
of  Husbandry ;  and  therefore  upon  thefe  Difafters 
they  made  many  Attempts  of  removing  into 
fome  other  Parts  of  ihe  World.  One  while 
they  were  invited  uiito  Delaware  Bay,  another 
while  they  were  invited  unto  Jamaica  ;  they 
had  offers  made  them  from  Inland  alfo,  after 
the  Wars  there  were  over  •,  and  they  entred  in- 
to Ibme  Treaties  about  the  City  of  Galloway, 
which  they  were  to  have  had  as  a  fmall  Pro 
vinee  to  themfelves.  But  the  God  of  Heaven 
ftill  ftrangely  difappointed  all  thefe  Attempts  ; 
and  whereas  they  were  concerned  how  their 
Pojierity  ihould  be  able  to-live,  if  they  muft 
make  Husbandry  their  main  fhift  for  their  Liv- 
ings that  Pojierity  of  theirs  by  the  good  Pro- 
vidence of  God,  inltead  of  coming  to  Beggary 
•and  Mifery,  have  thriven  wonderfully  :  The 
Colony  is  improved  with  many  Wealthy  Huf- 
bandmen,  and  is  become  no  fmall  part  of  the 
belt  Granary  lor  all  Note  England.  And  the 
iame  good  Providence  has  all  along  fo  pre- 
ferved  them  from  annoyance  by  the  Indians, 
that  altho'  at  their  ftrft  fetting  down  there 
were  few  Towns  but  what  wifely  perfwaded  a 
Body  of  Indians  to  dwell  neat  them  ;  whereby 
fuch   Kindnelfcs    pafied   between    them,    that 


they  always  dwelt  peaceably  together  ;  necer- 
thelefs  there  are  tew  of  thole  Towns,  but 
what  have  feen  their  Body  of  Indians  utter- 
ly Extirpated  by  nothing  but  Mortality  wait- 
ing them. 

§.  7.  But  what  is  now  become  of  Neto- 
HavenColony  I  1  mull  Anfwer,  It  k  not :  And  yet 
it  has  been  growing  ever  (ince  it  Hid  wat\  But 
when  Conneftt cut  -Colony  Petitioned  the  Refto- 
red  King  for  a  CfjilttEtj  they  piocund  Keaf- 
Haven  Colony  to  be  annexed  unto  them  in  the 
fame  Charter  ;  and  this,  not  without  having  in  It 
the  private  Concurrence  of  (bme  Leading  Men 
in  the  Colony  ;  tho'  the  Minds  of  others  were 
fo  uneafie  about  the  Coalition,  that  It  cell  ibme 
time  after  the  Arrival  of  the  Charter  for  the 
Colony,  like  Jefbtab's  Daughter,  to  bewail  her 
Condition  before  it  could  be  quietly  complied 
withal.  Nevertheltfs  they  have  lived  evef' 
fince,  One  Colony,  very  happily  together,  and 
the  Go  J  of  Love  andPeace  has  rematkaMv  dwelt 
among  them  :  However,  thefe  Children  ol  God 
have  not  been  without  their  Cbajfifiments,  espe- 
cially in  the  Malignant  fevers  and  Agues,  which 
have  often  proved  very  Mortal  in  moil  or  all  of 
their  Plantations. 

§.  8.  While  the  South-Wejl  Parts  of  Kern- 
England  were  thus  filled  with  New  Colonies, 
the  North  fa  ft  Parts  of  the  Country  were  not 
forgotten.  There  were  ample  Regions  beyond 
the  Line  of  the  Majfachufet-Pateut,  where 
new  Settlements  were  attempted,  not  only  by 
fuch  as  deligned  a  fijbing-Ttade  at  Sea,  or  a 
Bever-Trddz  on  Shore  •,  nor  only  by  fome  that 
were  uneafie  under  the  Majjachujet -Government 
in  a  Day  of  Temptation,  which  came  upon 
the  Firft  Planters ;  but  alfo  by  fome  very  fe- 
rious  Chriftians,  who  propounded  the  Enlarge- 
ment and  Enjoyment  of  our  Lord's  Evangeli- 
cal Interefrs  in  thofe  Territories.  The  Effecf 
of  thefe  Excurfions  were,  That  feveral  well- 
conflituted  Churches  were  gathered  in  the 
Provnce  of  HaJi-HampPnre,  befidts  one  or  two 
in  the  Province  of  Mam,  whereto  were  added 
a  large  number  of  other  Congregations,  where- 
in weekly  Prayers  and  Sermens  were  made, 
altho'  the  Inhabitants  belonging  to  thole  Con- 
gregations, proceeded  not  lo  far  as  to  all  the 
Ordinances  of  a  more  com  pi  eat  Church  State 
among  them.  That  which  contributed  more 
than  a  little  to  the  growth  of  Chnjlianity  in 
thole  Parts  of  New  England,  was  the  Appli- 
cation, which  the  People  being  tired  with  ma- 
ny Quarrelfbme  Circumftances  about  their  Go- 
vernment made  unto  the  General  Court  of 
the  Majfacbufet-Buy,  to  be  taken  under  their 
Protecf  ion  ■,  which  Petition  of  theirs  being  an- 
fwered  by  that  General  Court,  furely  after  a 
more  Charitable  and  Accountable  manner,  than 
fuch  Authors  as  Ogilly  in  his  America  have  re- 
prelented  it,  [Vos  nt/g/s  Hijiortcis,  Leftores, 
Credite  vera  '  ]  there  followed  many  Suc- 
cefsful  Endeavours  to  fpread  the'  good 
Eftecfs  and  Orders  of  the  Go/pel  along  that 
Coaft. 

But 


Book  I.         Or,  The  Hifiory  of  Ncw^En^lmd. 


27 


But  thus   was  the  Settlement  of  Nezo-Eng- j  goings  of  our  Nation,  but  aifo  afforded  a  Sin- 
land  brought   about;    thefe  were  the  &£*>?- j  gulat  Profpeft  of  Churches  ere&ed  in  an  Ame- 
nings,  thefe  the  Foundations  ofthofe  Colonies,  ]  rican  Corner  of  the  World,  on  purpofe  to  ex- 
which  have  not  only  enlarged  the  Englijh  Em-  j  prefs  and  purfue  the  Proreftant  Rejormation. 
pire  in  feme  Regards  more  than  any  other  Out- 1 


CHAP.     VII. 

Hecatompolis  :  Or,  A  Field  which  the  Lord  hath  Bleffed. 
A  MAP  of  the  Country. 


IT  is  proper  that  I  fhould  now  give  the  Rea- 
der an  Ecclefitiftical  Map  of  the  Country, 
thus  Undertaken.  Know  then,  that  although 
for  now  more  than  Twenty  Years,  the  Blajiing 
Strokes  of  Heaven  upon  the  Secular  Affairs  of 
this  Country  have  been  fuch,  as  rather  to  Abate 
than  Enlarge  the  growth  of  it  •,  yet  there  are  to 
be  feen  in  it  at  this  prefent  Year  \6$6,  theie 
Colonies,  Counties,  and  Congregations. 

*H  The  Numbers  and  Places  of  the  Chrijiian  Con- 
gregations, now  Worjhipping  our  Lord  Jefus 
Chrifl,  in  the  fever  al  Colonies  ^New-Eng- 
land, and  the  Names  of  the  Minijiers  at  this 
time  employed  in  the  Service  of  thofe  Con- 
gregations. 


Szcanfy, 

Tanton,  Mr.  Samuel  Danforth,  H.  C 

Hereto  an  Ecclefiaftical  Reckoning  may  annex 
the  Ifiands  oi' 

Marthas  Vineyard,    Mr.  Ralph  Thache>\     Mr. 

Denham,  beiides  Indian  Churches  and  Pallors. 
Nantucket,  Indian  Paftors. 
Newport  in  Roielfland,    Mr.  Nathanael  Clap 

H.  C. 

II.  T  N  Maffachufet  Colony  are  Four  Counties, 
J.  andthefeveral  Congregations  in  them  are 
fofupplied. 

The  County  of 'Suffolk  Minifters. 
Notandam,  Where  the  Name  of  any  Minifter ' 

hath   H.  C.    added  unto   it  in  our  Cm-lBojlon,  Of  the  Old  Church,  Mr.  James  Allen, 


logue,  it  is  to  be  underftood  that  Harvard-Col- 
ledge  was  the  Mother,  in  whofe  Arms  that 
Minifter  was  Educated. 

I.  T  JV  Plymouth    Colony    there    are  Tf>ree 
A  Counties-,  and  the  fever  al  Congregations 
therein  are  thus  Accommodated. 

Plymouth  County  Minifters. 

Bridgewater,  Mr.  James  Keith. 
Duxbury,  Mr.  Ichabod  Wifwul,  H.  C. 
Marfhfield,  Mr.  Edward  Thompjon,  H.  C. 
Middlebury,  Mr. 

Plymouth,  Mr.  John  Cotton,  H.  C. 
Sc'ituate,  which  hath  two  Churches,  Mr.  Jere- 
miah Cujhing,  H.  C.  Mr.  Deodate  Lavojon. 

Bar njl  able  County  Minifters. 


Mr.  Benj.  Wadfwortb,  H.  C. 

Of  the  North  Church,  Mr.  Increafe  Mather, 
PrefidentoftheColledge,  and  his  Son  Cotton 
Mather,  H.  C. 

Of  the  South  Church,  Mr.  Samuel  Wilward, 
H.C 

Befides  thefe,  there  is  in  the  Town  a  fmall  Con- 
gregation that  Worlhip  God  with  the  Cere- 
monies of  ths  Church  of  England;  ferved 
generally  by  a  Change  of  Perfons,  occafio- 
nally  vifiting  thefe  Parts  of  the  World. 

And  another  fmall  Congregation  of  Antipedo- 
Baptifis,  wherein  Mr.  Emblin  is  the  fettled 
Minifter. 

And  a  French  Congregation  of  Proreftant  Refu- 
gees, under  the  Paftoral  Cares  of  Monfieur 
Daille. 

Braintree,  Mr.  Mofes  Fisk,  H.  C 
Dedham,  Mr.  Jofeph  Belcher,  H.  C. 
Dorche/ier,  Mr.  John  Danforth,  H.  C 
Hingham,  Mr.  John  Norton,  H.  C. 

'  Hull,  Mr.  Zechariah  Whitman,  H.  C 


Barnflable,  Mr.  Jonathan  Ruffel,  H.  C. 
Eaftham,  Mr.  Samuel  Treat,  H.  C. 

Falmouth,  Harwich,  Manamoyet,  Mr.  Nathanael !  Medfield,  Mr.  Jofeph  Baxter,  H.  C- 
Stone,  H.  C.  Mendon,  Mr.  Grindal  Ratofon,  H.  C. 

Rochejfer,  Mr.  Arnold.  Milton,  Mr.  Peter  Thacher,  H.  C. 

Sandzoich,  Mr.  Rowland  Cotton,  H.  C  |  Roxbury,  Mr.  Nehcmiah  Walter,  H.  G 

Weymouth,  Mr.  Samuel  Torrey,  H.  C. 

Woodflock,  Mr.  Jofiah  Dwight,  H.  C. 


Yarmouth,  Mr.  John  Cotton,  H.  C. 

Brijlol  County  Minifters. 


Briftol,  Mr.  John  Sparhawk,  H.  C. 

Dartmouth,  Perifhing  without  Vifion. 

Freetown, 

Little-Compton,  Mr.  Eliphelet  Adams,  H,  C. 


Wrentham,  Mr.  Samuel  Man,  H.  C. 

The  County  of  Middle/ex  Minifters- 

Billerica,  Mr.  Samuel  Whiteing,  H.  C. 
Cambridge,  Mr.  William  Brattle,  H.  C. 

E  2  Cbartes- 


28 


Magnalia  Chrijli  Americana  : 


Book  I. 


Charles-Town,  Mr.  Charles  Morton. 
Chelmsford,  Mr.  Thomas  Clark,  H.  C. 
Concord,  Mr.  fofepb  Eaflabrook,W  C. 
Dunflable,  Mr.  XW./.r  IFr/</.  H.  C. 
Groton,  Mr.  Gerfhom  Hobart^  H.  C. 
Lancafler,  Mr.  j,  /v/  Whiteing,  H.  C. 
Malborough,  Mr.  William  Brinfmead,  H.  C. 
Maiden,  Mr.  Michael  Wigelejwortb,W.  C 

Medford,  Mr.  S/Wi  Bradfirect,  H.  C. 

'Newtown,  Mr.  Nchemtah  Hobart,  H.  C. 

Oxford^ 

Reading,  Mr.  Jonathan  Pierpont,  H.  C- 

Skerborn,  Mr.  Daniel  Gookin,  H.  C. 

Stazo,  Mr. 

Sudbury,  Mr.  James  Sherman 

Water! own  Eaft,  Mr.  Henry  Gibs,  H.  C. 

Weft,  Mr.  Samuel  Angler.  II.  (,. 

Woburn,  Ml.'Jabez  Box,  H.  C. 

Worcefter, 

The  County  of  /  jf/l-.v  Minifters. 

Amesbury, 

Andover,    Mr.  Francis  Dean,   and  Mr.  Thonun 

Barnard,  H.  (2. 
Beverly )  Mr.  >Zw  2fo/^  H.  C 
Boxford, 

Bradford,  Mr.  Zcchariah  Symmes,  H.  C. 
Glocdh-r,  Mr.  7<?/;tf  Enter/on,  H.  C. 
Haver  il,  Mr.  Benjamin  Rolfe,  H.  C 
Ipfwich,  Mr.  William  Hubbard,   H.  C.   and  Mr. 

7?/vz  R^™,  H.  C. 
And  Village,  Mr.  /<**  RSft  H.  C. 
Ly/z,  Mr.  Jeremiah  Shepard,  H.  C 
Manchefier,  Mr.  J^«  Emerfon,  H.  C. 
Marblehead,  Mr.  'Samuel  Cheever,  H.  C. 
Newbury,  Eaft,  Mr.  Tappin,  H.  C. 
Weft,  Mr.  tow**/  £YA7w,  H  C. 
Rore/y,  Mr.  Edward  Fay  fan,  H.  C 
Sa/m,  Mr.  7^/;«  Higginfon,  and  Mr.  Nicholas 

Noyfe,  H.  C 
And  Village,  Mr.  Samuel  Paris,  H.  C. 
Salsbury,  Mr.  C<//f£  (jufhing,  H.  C 
Tops  field,  Mr.  jfo/e/A  Ca/*/?,  H.  C. 
Wenham,  Mr.  /o^f  &  Gm#,  H.  C. 

The  County  of  Hampjhire  Minifters. 

Deerfield,  Mr.  jMw  Williams,  H.  C. 

Endfield,  Mr. 

Hatfield,  Mr.  HW/m/b  Williams,  H.  C. 

Hadley,  Mr. 

Northampton,  Mr.  Solomon  Stoddard,  H.  C. 

Springfield,  Mr.  Daniel  Brewer,  H  C. 

Southfield,  Mr.  Benjamin  Ruggles,  H.  C. 

Wefifield,  Mr.  £</nw/v/  X*y/w,  H.  C. 

To  which,  if  we  add  the  Congregations  in  P//- 

cat  aqua- 
Dover,  Mr.  Jo&a  £/*£,'  H.  C. 
Exeter,  Mr.  .7^  C/<?/£,  H.  C. 
Hampton,  Mr.  j^fc;?  C?//^  H.  C. 


afile,Mt.  Samuel  Moodey,  H.  C. 
PortJ mouth,  Mr.  JV;/7.wrz  Moodey,  H.  C, 

And  in  the  Province  of  .!!,////. 

Hie  of  Shales, 

Kittery, 

Wells,  York,  Mr.  Hancock,  H.  C. 

III.  TjY   Connec~ticut-G>/Wy    //vvr    wr  ftw 
X,  Counties,  and  the  fevered  Congregations 
therein  are  illuminated  by  theje  Preachers  oj  the 
Go/pel. 

Hartford  County  Minifters. 

I  Farmington,  Mr.  Samuel  Hooker,  H.  C. 
Glajienbury,  Mr.  Timothy  Stevens,  H.  C. 
Hadham,  Mr.  Jeremiah  Hobart,jti.  C. 
Hartford  Old  Church,  Mr.  Timothy  Wocdbridge, 

H.  C. 
New  Church.  Mr.  Thomcu  :'..tcki/;°hai?!,  H.  C. 
Middletcvon ,  Mr.  Noadiah  Rujjel,  H.C. 
Simsbury,  Mr.  IW/y  Woodbridge,  H.  C. 
Waterbury,  Mr.  Jeremiah  Peck.  H.  C 
Wethers  field,  Mr.  S/<-u<?«  M/x,  H.  C 
Windfor,  Mr.  Samuel  Mather.,  H.  C 
And  Farme,  Mr.  Timothy  Edwards,  H.  C 
Windham,  Mr.  Samuel  Whitmg. 

New-London  County  Minifters. 

Killingworth,  Mr.  Abraham  Pier/on,  H.  C. 
Lebanon, 

Ltnne,  Mr.  ilfo/w  AT^/e,  H.  C, 
New-London,  Mr.  Gordon  Saltonflal,  H<  G 
Norwich,  Mr.  James  Pilch. 
Pefcdmjik,  Mr.  jfo/f-pfc  AW,  H.  C. 
Prefion,  Mr.  Samuel  Tread,  H.  C 
Saybrook,  Mr.  Thomcu  Buckingham. 
Stonington,  Mr.  James  Noyfe,  H.  C. 

New-Haven-County  Minifters. 


Brainford,  Mr.  Samuel  Ruffe!,  H.  C. 
Derby,  Mr.  Joftff  fames,  H.  C- 
Gailjord,  Mr.  Thomas  Ruggles^H.C. 
Milford,  Mr.  Samuel  Andrews,  H.C 
New  Haven,  Mr.  James  Pierpoint,  H.  C 
Wallingford,  Mr.  Samuel  Street,  H.  C. 

'  Fairfie Id-County  Minifters. 

Danbury,  Mr.  &■/&  Siw,  H.  C. 

Fairfield,  Mr.  jty?/>/;  ȣ&,  H.  C. 

Fairfield  Village,  Mr.  Charles  Chaunccy,W.  C. 

Greenwich,  Mr.  fofepb  Morgan. 

Norwalk,  Mr.  Steven  Buckingham,  H.  C. 

R>v,  Mr.  Bowers,  H.  C. 

Stamford,  Mr.  J<?/)/z  Davenport,  H.  C. 

Stratford,  Mr.  I/rael  Chauncey,  H.C 

Woodbury,  Mr.  Zaehariah  Walker,  H.  C 


x 


RE- 


Book  L  Or,  The  Hijiory  of  New-EnSknci. 


2  9 


REMARKS    upon    the  Catalogue   of\ 
Plantations. 

^  i.  'TpHere  arc  few. Towns  to  be  now  feen 
X  in  our  Lift,  bur  what  were  exifting 
in  this  Land  before  the  dreadful  Indian  War, 
which  befel  us  Twenty  Years  ago  ;  and  there 
are  few  Towns  broken  up  within  the  then  Maf- 
fachufet-Line  by  that  War,  but  what  have  re- 
vived out  of  their  Afbe's.  Neverthelefs  the  ma- 
ny Calamities,  which  have  ever  finc^.been  wa- 
fting of  the  Country,  have  lb  nipt  the  growth  of 
it,  that  its  Iatet  Progrefs  hath  held  no  Propor- 
tion with  what  was  from  the  Beginning ;  but 
yet  with  fuch  variety,  that  while  the  Trained 
Companies  of  fome  Towns  are  no  bigger  than 
they  were  Thirty  or  Forty  Years  ago,  others 
are  as  big  again. 

§.2.  The  Calamities  that  have  carried  oft 
the  Inhabitants  of  our  feveral  Towns  have  not 
been  all  of  one  fort  ;  nor  have  all  our  Towns 
had  an  equal  (hare  in  any  fort.  Pcftilential 
Sicknetfes  have  made  feartul  Havock  in  divers 
Places,  where  the  Sound  perhaps  have  not  been 
enough  to  tend  the  Sick  ;  while  others  have  not 
had  one  touch  from  that  Angel  of  Death.  And 
the  Sword  hath  cut  oft' Scores  in  fundry  Places, 
when  others,  it  may  be,  have  not  loft  a  Man 
by  that  Avenger. 

§.  3.  Tis  no  unufual,  though  no  univerjal 
Experiment  among  us.  that  while  an  excellent, 
laborious,  illuminating  Miniflry  has  been  con- 
tinued in  a  Town,  the  place  has  thriven  to  ad- 
miration i  but  ever  fince  that  Man's  time^  they 
have  gone  down  the  Wind  ia  all  their  Interefts. 
The  Goipel  has  evidently  been  the  making  ol 


our  Towns,  and  the  Bkflings  of  the  I  (pper> 
have  been  accompanied  wkh  the  Bleftings  of 
the  Nether-fprings.     Memorable  alio  i  the  Re- 
mark of  Shngsby  Bethel.    Eiq;  in  his  mi  ft  ft 
dicious  Book  of  1  '  Europe. 

not  the   cold/Climate  oj  New  England   fuppiied 
by  good  Laws  and  Dijcipline,  the  B  fs  of 

that  .Country  would  m 
to  it,   nor    have    advance.1 
and  forpiidablenefs  above  the  vher  Engliih  1 
tations,   exceeding  it  much  in  fertility, 
ther  Inviting  Qualities. 

§.  4.  Well  may  jRfUl  ^nrjlilHTj  lay  claim 
to  the  Name  it  wears,  and  to  a  Room  in  the 
tendered.  Afieclions  oi  its  Mother,  the  H 
Tfland !  For  as  there  are  few  of  o:;r  Towns 
but  what  have  their  Names-fakes  in  E;i*/jnJ, 
fo  the  Reaion  why  molt  of  our  Towns  are' 
called  what  they  are,  is  becaufe  the  hiet  of  the 
Firtt  Inhabitants  would  thus  bear  up  the  Names 
of  the  particular  Places  there  from  whence  they 
;came. 

§.  5.  I  have  heard  an  Aged  Saint  ne.ir  his 
Death  chearfully  thus  Expreis  himfelf;  l  Well, 
'  I  am  going  to  Heaven,  and  I  will  there  tell 
'  the  Faithful,  who  are  gone  long  fince  from 
c  New- England,  thither,  that  though  they  who 
c  gathered  our  Churches  are  all  Dead  and  gone, 
'  yet  the  Churches  are  ftill  Alive,  with  as  nu- 
v  metous  Flocks  of  Chriitians  as  ever  were  a- 
■  mong  them.  Concerning  the  moft  of  the 
Churches  in  our  Catalogue,  the  Report  thus  car- 
ried unto  Heaven,  I  rnuit  now  aifo  fend  through 
the  Earth;  but  if  wkh,  As  Numerous,  we  could 
in  every  Refpecl  fay,  As  Gracious,  what  Joy  un- 
to all  the  Saints,  both  in  Heaven  and  on  Eartlh 
might  be  from  thence  occafioned  I 


* 


Ik 


^o 


Book  f. 


The  BOSTONUN  EBENEZER. 


SOME 


onca 


e 


On  the  Stare  of     ? 


B 


TON, 


The  Chief  Toivn  of  Nerv-England,  and  of  the  Engli 

AMERIC  A. 


With  Some 


izeealile  jftet$o 


FOR 


Preferving  and   Promoting  the  Good  State  of  THATj  as 
well  as  any  other  Town  in  the  like  Circumftances. 


Humbly  Offered  by  a  Native  of  BOSTON. 


Ezek.  48.   }5-   The  Name  of  the  City  from  that  Day  Jhall  be,   T  H  E 

LORD    IS    THERE. 


Urbs  Metropolis,  tit  Jit  maxima  AuUoritAtis,  cotiflituatttr  pracipuum  pie  tat  is   Exempli 

&  Sacrarium.      Aphor.  Polir. 


unr 


The  Hiftory  of  BOSTON,  Related  and  Improved. 


At  Bofton  Letlure,  7.  d.  2.  m.  1698. 


REmarkable  and  Memorable  was  the 
Time,  when  an  Army  of  Terrible 
Deftroyers  was  coming  againft  one 
of  the  Chief  Towns  in  the  Land  of 
Urael.  God  refcued  the  Town  from  the  Irre- 
fiftible  Fury  and  Approach  of  thofe  Deftroyers, 
by  an  immediate  Hand  of  Heaven  upon  them. 


Upon  that  Miraculous  Refcueof  the  Town,  and 
of  the  whole  Country,  whofeFate  was  much  en- 
wrapped in  it,  there  follow'd  that  Aftion  of  the 
Prophet  SAMUEL,  which  is  this  Day  to  be, 
with  fome  Imitation,  Repeated  in  the  midft  of 
thee,  O  BOSTON,  Thou  helped  of  the 
Lordi 

1  SAM. 


Book  I.        0r3  The  Hiftory  ^New-England. 


3* 


ISAM.    VII.    12. 

Iben  SAMUEL  took,  a  Sto»et  and  fet  it  up, and  called  the  Name  of  it,  €bCnf?et, 

faying.  Hitherto  the  Lord  hath  Helped  us. 


TH  E  thankful  Servants  of  God  have  ufed 
fometimes  to  Erect  Monuments  of  Stone. 
as  durable  Tokens  of  their  Thankfulnefs  to 
God  for  Mercies  received  in  the  places  thus1 
diftinguifhed.  Jacob  did  fo  ;  Jojhua  did  fo  ; 
and  Samuel  did  lb  ;  but  they  fo  did  it,  as  to 
keep  clear  of  the  TranfgrefFion  forbidden  in 
Lev.  26.  1.  Te  Jhall  not  fet  up  an  Image  of 
Stone  in  your  Land^  for  to  Bow  down  unto 
it. 

The  Stone  Erected  by  Samuel,  with  the 
Name  of  Ebenezer,  which  is  as  much  as  to 
fey,  A  Stone  of  Help  ;  I  know  not  whether  a- 
ny  thing  might  be  Writ  upon  it,  but  I  am  fure 
there  is  one  thing  to  be  now  Read  upon  it,  1 
by  our  fclves,  in  the  Text  where  we  find  it : 
Namely,  thus  much, 

That  a  People  whom  the  Go  J  of  Heaven  hath 
remarkably  helped  in  their  Diflrejfes,  ought 
greatly  and  gratefully  to  acknowledge  what 
fpffp  of  Heaven  they  have  received. 

Now  'tis  not  my  Defign  to  lay  the  Scene 
of  my  Difcourfe  as  far  off  as  Bethcar,  the 
place  where  Samuel  fet  up  his  Ebenezer.  I 
am  immediately  to  transfer  it  into  the  Heart  of 
Bojhn,  a  place  where  the  Remarkable  Help  re- 
ceived from  Heaven  by  the  People,  does  loudly 
call  or  an  Ebenezer.  And  I  do  not  ask  you 
to  change  the  Name  of  the  Town  into  that  of 
5)Clp--©tCnC)  as  there  is  a  Town  in  England 
of  that  Name,  which  may  feem  the  Englifh 
of  dJOtCjet  ,  but  my  Sermon  fhall  be  this 
Day,  your  Ebenezer,  if  you  will  with  a  Fa* 
vourable  and  a  Profitable  Attention  Entertain 
it.  May  the  Lord  jefus  Chrift  accept  me,  and 
atfift  me  now  to  Glorife  him  in  the  Town 
where  I  drew  my  tirft  finful  Breath  ;  a  Town 
whereto  I  am  under  great  Obligations  for  the 
precious  Opportunities  to  glorifie  him,  which  I 
have  quietly  and  publickly  enjoy'd  therein  for 
near  Eighteen  Years  together.  0  my  Lsrd  God. 
remember  me,  I  pray  thee,  and  flrengthen  me 
this  once,  to  fpeak  from  thee  unto  thy  Peo- 
ple ! 

And  now,  Sirs,  That  I  may  let  up  an  E  B  E  Ar- 
£  Z  E  R  among  you,  there  are  thefe  things 
to  be  Inculcated. 

I.  Let  us  Thankfully,  and  Agreeably,  aud 
Particularly  acknowledge  what  J]5Clp  we  have 
Teceived  from  the  God  of  Heaven,  in  the  Years 
that  have  rouled  over  us.  While  the  Blefled 
Apoftle  Paul,  was,  as  it  fhould  leem,  yet 
fhort  of  being  Threefcore  Years  Old,  how  af- 
fectionately did  he  fet  up  an  Ebenezer,  with 
an  acknowledgment  in  Ails  26.  22.  Having  ob- 
tained help  of  God,  I  continue  to  this  Day ! 
Our  Town  is  now  Threefcore  and  Eight  Years 
Old  5  and  certainly  'tis  time  for  us,  with  all 
poflible  Affection,  to  fet  up  our  Ebenezer, 
faying,  Having   obtained  help  from  God,  the 


Town  is  continued   until    almojl   the    Age   of 
Man  is  pajfed  over  it !  The  Town  hath  indeed 
Three    Elder   Sifters    in  this  Colony,   but   it 
hath  wonderfully  outgrown  them  all  ;  and  her 
Mother,  Old  Bojlon,    in  England  alfo  ;    yea, 
within  a  few  Years  after  the  tirft  Settlement  it 
grew  to  be.    CI)C  ^ttrOpOlig   Of  tfjC  UJfjOle 
CngUflj  America.     Little  was  this  expected 
by  them  that  firft  fettled  the  Town,  when  for 
awhile  150ff0tt  was  proverbially  called,  JLoiT 
COtDtt,  for  the  mean  and  fad  Circumftances 
of  it.     But,  O  Bojlon,  it  is  becaufe  thou  halt 
obtained  help  from  God,   even  from  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift,  who  for  the  fake  of  his  Gofpel, 
Preached  and  once  prized  here,  undertook  thy 
Patronage.     When  the  World  and  the  Church 
of  God  had   feen  Twenty-Six  Generations,    a 
Pfalm  was  Compofed,   wherein  rhat  Note  oc- 
curs with  Twenty-Six  Repetitions  ;  His  Mercy 
endureth  for  ever.     Truly  there   has  not  one 
Year  paffed  over  this  Town,  Ab  XJrbe  Condita, 
upon  the  Story  whereof  we  might  not  make 
that  Note,  our  Ebenezer  ;  His  Mercy  endureth 
for  ever.    It  has  been  a  Town  of  great  Ex- 
periences.   There    have    been    feveral    Years 
wherein   the    Terrible  JfaUlittC   hath  terribly 
flared  the  Town  in  the  Face  :  We  have  been 
brought  fometimes  unto  the  laji  Meal  in  the 
Barrel  ■,  we  have  cry'd  out  wfth  the  Difciples, 
We  have  not   Loaves  enough  to  feed  a  Tenth 
Part  of  us  !   But  the  fear'd   Famine  has  al- 
ways been  kept  off";  always  we  have  had  Sea- 
fonable  and  Sufficient  Supplies   after    a    fur- 
prizing  manner  fent  in  unto  us :  Let  the  Three 
laji   Tears  in  this  thing  molt  eminently  Pro- 
claim the  Goodnefs  of  our  Heavenly  Shepherd 
and  Feeder.    This  has   been   the   help  of  out 
God  ;   Becaufe  his  Mercy  endureth  for  ever  1 
he  Angels  of  JDcatf)  have  often   Shot  the 
rrows  oj  3Dcat!)  into  the  midft  of  the  Town  ; 
the   Small-Pox    has  efpecially  jfOUt  Cl'ttttSf 
been  a   great   Plague  upon    us  :    How   often 
have  there  been  Bills  defiring  Prayers  for  more 
than  an  Hundred  Sick    on  one  Day  in  one 
of  our  Aflemblies  ?  In  one  Twelve-month,  about 
one  Thoufand  of  our   Neighbours  have  one 
way   or  other  been  carried  unto   their   long 
Home :    rtnd    yet   we  are    after    all,    rhany 
more  than  Seven  Thoufand  Souls  of  us  at  this 
Hour  living  on  the  Spot.     Why  is  not,  a,  Lord, 
have  Mercy  upon  us,  written  on  the  Doors  of 
our  abandon  d  Habitations  j    This  hath  been 
the  help  of  our  God,  becaufe  his  Mercy  endu- 
reth for  ever.     Never  was  any   Town   under 
the  Cope  of  Heaven  more  liable  to  be  laid  in 
3ftjC&    either   through    the    Carelefnefs,    or 
through  the  Wickednefs  of  them  that  Sleep  in 
it.    That  fuch  a  Combujlible  heap  of  Contigu- 
ous Houfes  yet  Hands,  it  may  be  called,  A  Stand- 
ing Miracle  j  it  is  not  becaufe  the   Watchman 

keeps 


G< 

11 


52 


Magnalia  Chrijii  Americana 


Book  I. 


keeps  the  City  :  Perhaps  there  may  be  too 
much  caufe  of  Reflection  in  that  thing,  and  of 
lnfpellion  too  ;  no.  It  is  from  thy  watchful  Prote- 
ction, 0  th  >u  keeper  of  Bolfon,  who  neither 
Slumbers  nor  Sleeps.  Ceil  ClltlCS  has  the 
Fire  made  notable  Ruins  among  us,  and  our 
good  Servant  been  almoft  our  Mafier :  But  the 
Ruins  have  moftly  and  quickly  been  Rebuilt. 
I  fuppofe,  that  many  more  than  a  Thou/and 
Houfes  are  to.  be  feen  on  this  little  piece  of 
Ground,  all  fill'd  with  the  undeferved  Favours 
of  God.  Whence  this  Prefervation  ?  This  hath 
been  the  help  of  out  God  ;  becaufe  hk  Mercy 
endureth  for  ever  I  But  i fever  this  Town  faw  a 
Tear  of  Salvations,  tranfeendently  fuch  was  the 
Lafl  ^tUt  unto  us.  A  Formidable  French 
Squadron  hath  not  Shot  one  Bomb  into  the  midft 
of  thee,  O  thou  Munition  of  Rnchs-,  our  Streets 
have  not  run  with  Blood  and  Gore,  and  horri- 
ble devouring  Flames  have  not  raged  upon  our 
Subflance  :  Th  fe  are  Ignorant^  and  Unthink- 
ing, and  Unthankful  Men,  who  do  not  own 
that  we  have  narrowly  efcaped  as  dreadful 
things,  as  Carthagcna,  or  Newfoundland,  have 
fuftered  I  am  fure  our  more  confiderate  Friends 
Beyond-Sea  were  very  Sufpicious,  and  well 
nigh  Defpainng,  that  Victorious  Enemies  had 
fwallowed  up  the  Town.  But  thy  Soul  is  efca- 
ped,  0  Bofton,  as  a  Bird  out  of  the  Snare  of 
the  Fowlers.  Or  if  you  will  be  Infenfible  of 
this,  ye  vain  Men,  yet  be  fenfible,  That  an 
Englifh  Squadron  hath  not  brought  among  us 
the  tremendous  Pefiilence,uadex  which  a  Neigh- 
bouring Plantation  hath  undergone  prodigi- 
ous Delblations.  Bojlon ,  'tis  a  marvellous 
thing  a  Plague  has  not  laid  thee  Defblate !  Our 
Deliverance  from  our  friends  has  been  as  full 
of  aftonilhing  Mercy,  as  our  Deliverance  from 
ouiFoes.  We  read  ofa  certain  City  in  [fa.  19. 
18.  called,  The  City  of  Dcfirucfion.  Why  fo  ? 
fome  fay,  Becaufe  delivered  from  Deftrutlion. 
if  that  be  fo,  then  half  thou  been  a  City  of 
Deftrutlion :  Or  I  will  rather  Fay,  A  City  of 
Salvation  :  And  this  by  the  help  of  God  ;  becaufe 
hk  Mercy  endureth  for  ever.  Shall  I  go  oriJ| 
I  will.  We  have  not  had  the  Bread  of  Advert 
fity  and  the  Water  of  Affliction,  like  many  '™ 
ther  places.  But  yet  all  this  while  Our  Eyes 
have  feen  our  Teachers.  Here  are  feveral  Gol- 
den Candle/ticks  in  the  Town.  Shining  and 
Burning  Lights  have  illuminated  them.  There 
are  gone  to  ihine  in  an  higher  Orb  Seven  Di- 
vines that  were  once  the  Stars  of  this  Town, 
in  the  Paftoral  Charge  of  it  ;  befides  many  0- 
thers,  that  for  fome  Years  gave  us  tranfient  In- 
fluences. Churche s  flourilhing  with  much  Love, 
and  Peace,  and  many  Comforts  of  the  Holy  Spi- 
rit, have  hitheito  been  our  greateft  Glory.  I 
wilh  that  fome  fad  Eclipfe  do  not  come  e're 
long  upon  this  Glory  !  The  Difpenfations  of  the 
Go/pel  were  never  enjoy 'd  by  any  Town  with 
more  Liberty  and  Purity  for  fo  long  a  while 
together.  Our  Opportunities  to  draw  near  unto 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  in  his  Ordinances,  cannot 
be  paralleled.  Bofton,  thou  haft  been  lifted  up  to 
Heaven  ■,  there  is  not  a  Town  upon  Earth,  which, 


on  fome  Accounts,  has  more  ro.anlwer  for.  Such, 
Q  luch  has  been  our  help  from  our  God,  be- 
caufe his  Mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

II.  Let  us  acknowledge  U)f)0fc  Help  it  is  that 
we  have  received,  and  not  Give  the  Glory  of 
our  God  unto  another.  Poorly  Helped  had  we 
been,  I  may  tell  you,  if  we  had  nunc  but  Hu- 
mane Help  all  this  while  to  depend  upon.  The 
Favours  of  our  Superiors  we  deny  not;  we  for- 
get not  the  lnltruments  of  our  Help.  Never- 
theless, this  little  outcaft  Zion.  (hall,  with  my 
Content,  Engrave  the  Name  of  no  MAN  up- 
on her  Ebenezer!  It  was  well  confefs'd  in 
Pfal.  108.  12.  Vain  is  the  help  of  Man  I  It  was 
well  counfell'd  in  Pfal.  146.  3.  Put  not  your 
truji  in  Princes,  nor  in  the  Son  of  man,  in 
whom  there  is  no  Help. 

Wherefore,  Firji,  Let  0oU  •  -.  Lordlfe- 
fttS  Cf#ff,  have  the  Glory  of  beftming  onus 
all  the  help  that  we  have  hid.  When  the  Spi- 
rit of  God  came  upon  a  Servant  of  his,  he  cried 
out  unto  David,  in  1  Cbrdn.  12.  iS.  Thy  God 
helpeth  thee.  This  is  the  voice  or  God  from 
Heaven  to  B^Un  this  Day,  Thy  God  hath  help- 
ed thee :  Thau  haft  by  thy  Sin  defiroyed  thy/elf, 
but  in  thy  God  hath  been  thy  hip.  A  Great 
Man  once  building  an  Edifice,  caufed  an  Infcrip- 
tion  of  this  Importance  to  be  written  on  the 
Gates  of  it,  Such  a  place  Planted  me,  fuch  a 
place  Watered  me,  and  CaTar  gave  the  Increafe. 
One  that  pafs'd  by  with  a  witty  Sacarfm, 
wrote  under  it,  Hie  Deus  nihil  fecit ;  i.  e.  God, 
itfeems,  did  nothing  for  tins  Man.  But  the  In- 
icription  upon  our  Ebenezer,  owning  what 
help  this  Town  hath  had,  (hall  fay,  Our  God 
hath  done  all  that  is  done  !  Say  then,  0  helped 
Qi50ffOI1,  fay  as  in  Pfal.  121.  2.  My  help  is 
from  the  Lord  which  made  Heaven  and  Earth. 
Say  as  in  Pjal.  94.  17.  Vnlefs  the  Lord  had 
been  my  help,  my  Soul  had  quickly  dwelt  in  fi- 
le nee.  And  boldly  fay,  lis  only  becaufe  the 
Lord  has  been  my  helper,  that  Earth  and  Hell  have 
never  done  all  that  they  would  unto  me. 

Let  our  1  ord  J  E  S  LI  S  C  H  R I S  T  be  prai- 
fed  as  our  BleiTcd  Helper :  That  Stone  which 
(the  FoolifJ)  Builders  have  refifed,  Oh  !  Set  up 
that  Stone ;  even  that  high  Rock  -,  fet  him  on 
high  in  our  Praifes,  and  lav,  That  That  is  our 
Ebenezer.  Tis  our  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST, 
who  in  his  Infinite  Companions  tor  the  Town 
hath  faid,  as  in  If  a.  63.  5.  I  looked,  and  there 
was  none  to  help ;  therefore  my  own  Arm  hath 
brought  Salvation  unto  it  It  is  foretold  con- 
cerning the  Idolatrous  Roman  Catholicks,  That 
together  with  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  they  (hall 
Worfhip  other  Mauzzim  ;  that  is  to  fay,  other 
Protectors.  Accordingly,  all  their  Towns  ordi- 
narily have  fingled  out  their  PracSors  among 
the  Saints  of  Heaven  •  fuch  a  Saint  is  Entita- 
led  unto  the  Patronage  of  fuch  a  Town  among 
them,  and  fuch  a  Saint  tor  another:  Old  050= 
ftOtt,  by  Name,  was  but  Saint  Q5Ota{p()30 
COftUt.  Whereas  Thou,  0  Bofton,  lhalt  have 
but  one  ProteUor  in  Heaven,  and  that  is  our 
Lord  JESUS  CHRIST.  Oh  !  Rejoice  in  him 
alone,    and  fay,  The  Lcrd  is   ?ny  Fortrefs  and 

my 


Book  I.        Or,  The  Hiftory  gf  New-England. 


31 


my  Deliverer!  There  was  a  Song  once  made  Bofton,  and  therefore  fay.  Therefore  it  is  that 
for  a  Town,  which  in  its  Dirtrefles  had  been  the  Town  is  not  made  a  Sacrifice  to  the  Venge- 
helped  wondroufly  •,  and  the  Firft  Claufe  in  that .  ance  of  God.  God  fern  help  to  the  Town  that 
Song  Cyou  have  it  in  If  a.  26.  1.]  may  befd;  was  the  very  Heart  and  Life  of  the  Land 
renewed,  We  have  a  ftrong  Toion  ;  Salvation  that  he  had  a  pity  tor :  But  why  fo?  He  laid 
Tor  TE'sUS  the  Lord,  whofe  Name  hath  j  in  If  a.  57.  35.  /  mil  defend  this  Town,  to 
Salvation  in  if\  mil  appoint  Walls  and  Bul-'favc  it  for  my  Servant  Ddxkl'sfake.  Has  this 
mrks.  Truly  what  help  we  have  had  we  will  j  Town  been  Defended  ?  k  has  been  for  the  fake 
Sing  Tw  our  JESVS  that  hath  appointed  of  the  Beloved  JESUS;  therefore  has  the 
them.     The  Old  Pagan  Towns  were  fometimes  Daughter  of  Bafim  (haken  her  Head,  at  you,  O 


mightily  Solicitous  to  conceal  the  Name  of  the 
particular  God  that  they  counted  their  Pro- 
teflor,  Ne  ab  hoftibus  Evocatus,  alio  commigra- 
ret.  But  I  fhall  be  far  from  doing  my  Town 
any  damage,  by  Publifhing  the  Name  of  its 
Protetfor  ;  no,  let  all  Mankind  know,  that  the 
Name  of  oar  ProteSor  is  JESUS  CHRIST: 
For  Among  the  Gods  there  is  none  like  unto 
thee,  0  LORD:  Kor  is  any  help  like  unto 
thine  i    And  there   is    no   Rock    like   to   our 

God. 

Yea,  when  we  afcribe  the  Name  of  Helper 
unto  our  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST,  ler  us  al- 
fo  acknowledge  that  the  Name  is  not  fufficient- 
ly  Expreffive,  Emphatical  and  Significant,  j 
Laffantii/s  of  old  blamed  the  Heathen  for! 
giving  the  higheft  of  their  Gods  no  higher  a 
Title  than  that  of  Jupiter,  or  'juvans  Pater, 
i.  e.  An  helping  Father  5  and  he  lays,  Non  in- 
telligit  Divtna  Beneficia,  qui  fe  a  Deo  tantum- 
tnodo  Juvari  putat  :  The  Kindnejfes  of  God 
are  not  underftood  by  that  Man,  who  makes  no 
"^more  than  an  Helper  of  him.  Such  indeed  is 
the  penury  of  our  Language,  that  we  cannot 
Coin  a  more  Expreffive  Name.  Neverthelefs, 
when  we  fay,  The  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST 
hath  been  our  Helper,  let  us  intend  more  than 
we  exprefs  •,  Lord,  thou  haft  been  AH  unto 
us. 

Secondly,   Let  the  Sacrifice  of  our    Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  moft  Explicitly  have  the  Glory  of 
Purchafing  for  us  all  our  Help.    What  was  it 
that  procured  an  Ebenezer  for  the  People  of 
God  J  We  read  in  2  Sam.  7.  9.  Samuel  took  a 
Sucking  Lamb,  and  offered  it  a  Burnt-Offering 
wholly  unto  the  Lord ;  and  Samuel  cried  unto 
the  Lord  for  Ifrael,  and  the  Lord  heard  hint 
Shall  I  tell  you  i  Our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift   is 
that  Lamb  of  God •  and  he  has  been  a  Lamb 
/lain  as  a  Sacrifice  ;  and  he  is  a  Sacrifice  plead- 
able not  only  lor  Perfons,   but  alio  for  Peoples 
that  belong  unto  him.    To  teach  us  this  Evan- 
gelical and  Comfortable  Myfiery,     there  was 
a  Sacrifice  for  the  whole  Congregation  prefcribed 
in  the  Mofaic  Pedagogy.    'Tis  notorious  that 
the  Sins  of  this  Town  have  been  many  Sins, 
and  mighty  Sins  ;   the  Cry  thereof  hath  gone 
up  to  Heacen.     If  the  Almighty  God  fhould 
irom  Heaven  Rain  down  upon  the  Town  an 
horrible  Tempeji  of  Thunderbolts,   as   he  did 
upon  the  Cities  which  he  overthrew  in  his  An- 
ger, end  repented  not,   it  would  be  no  more 
than  our  unrepented  Sins  deferve.    How  comes 
it  then  to    pafs   that  we  have  had  fo  much 
help  from  Heaven  after  all  i  Truly  the  Sacrifice 
«f  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  has  been  pleaded  for 


ye  Calamities  that  have  been  Impending  over 
her  Head.  O  helped  and  happy  Town  !.  Thou 
halt  had  thofe  Believers  in  the  mid  ft  of  thee 
that  have  pleaded  this  with  the  great  God  I 
Ah !  Lord,  Thou  haft  been  more  Honoured  by 
the  Sufferings  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  than 
thou  couidj}  be  Honoured  by  overwhelming  this 
Town  with  all  the  Plagues  of  thy  Juft  Indig- 
nation. If  thou  wilt  Spare,  and  teed,  and  Keen, 
and  Help  this  poor  Town,  the  Sufferings  of 
our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  jfhall  be  own'd  at  the 
Prize  of  all  our  help.  Tis  this  that  hath  pro- 
cured us  all  our  Help  .-  'Tis  this  that  mult 
have  all  our  Praife. 

Thirdly,  Let  the  Lord  be  in  a  fp  1  tnaifi- 
ner  Glorified  for  the  Miniltry  or  . 
3ngt{0,  in  that  help  that  has  been  Mi  'fired 
unto  us.  A  Jacob  lying  on  a  Stone,  hw  t 
Angels  of  God  helping  him.  We  are  letting 
up  an  Ebenezer  ;  but  when  we  lay  our  Heads 
and  our  Thoughts  upon  the  Stone,  let  us  then 
fee,  The  Angels  of  God  have  helped  us.  When 
Macedonia  was  to  have  fbme  help  from  God 
an  Angel,  whom  the  Apoftle  in  Ads  16.  9! 
law  Habited  like  a  Man  of  Macedonia,  was  a 
Mean  of  its  being  brought  unto  them.  There 
is  abundant  Caufe  to  think,  That  every  Town 
in  which  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  is  Wprfhip- 
ped,  hath  an  Angel  to  watch  over  it.  The  Pri- 
mitive Chriltians  were  perfwaded  from  the 
Scriptures  of  Truth  to  make  no  doubt  of  this, 
%jtoA  per  Civitates  diftributx  fur.t  Angelorum 
prsfetturx.  When  the  Capital  Town  of  ja- 
ded was  refcued  from  an  Invafion,  we  read  in 
2  Kings  19.  35.  The  Angel  of  the  Lord  WEN  F 
OUT,  and/mote  the  Camp  of  the  Aflyrians.  It 
ihould  feem  there  was  an  Angel  which  did 
Refide  in,  and  Prefide  over  the  Town,  who 
went  out  for  that  amazing  Exploit.  And  is  it 
not  likely,  that  the  Angel  of  the  Lord  WENT 
OUT  for  to  fmite  the  Elect  of  the  Aflyrians 
with  a  Sicknefs,  which  the  laft  Summer  hun- 
dred their  Invading  of  this  Town  ?  The  Angel 
of  BOSTON  was  concerned  for  it  i  Whv 
have  not  the  Deft royers  broke  in  upon  us,  to 
Prey  upon  us  with  fore  Deftruffion  ?  'Tis  be- 
caufe  we  have  had  a  Wall  of  Eire  about  us  ; 
that  is  to  lay,  a  Guard  of  Angels,  thofe 
Flames  of  Fire  have  been  as  a  Wall  unto  us. 
It  was  an  Angel  that  help'd  a  Daniel  when  the 
Lions  would  elfe  have  fwallowed  him  up. 
It  was  an  Angel  that  help'd  a  Lot  out  of  the 
Fires  that  were  coming  to  confume  his  Habi- 
tation. It  was  an  Angel  that  help'd  an  Eliot 
to  Meat  when  he  wanted  it.  They  were  An- 
gels that  help'd  the  whole  People  of  God  in 
F  the 


34 


Magnalia  Chrijii  Americana  : 


Book  I. 


the  Wildernefs  to  their  Daily  Bread ;  Their 
Manna  was  Angels  food :  And  is  it  nothing 
that  fuch  Angels  have  done  for  this  Town, 
think  you  ?  Oh  !  Think  not  fo.  Indeed  if"  we 
fhould  go  to  thank  the  Angels  for  doing  thefe 
things,  they  would  zealoufly  lay,  See  thou  do 
it  not !  But  if  we  thank  their  Lord  and  ours 
for  his  employing  them  to  do  thefe  things,  it 
will  exceedingly  gratitie  them.  Wherefore, 
Blcfs  ye  the  Lord,  ye  his  Angels  \  and  Blefs 
the  Lord,  O  my  Town,  ior  thofe  his  An- 
gels. 

III.  Let  the  help  which  we  have  hitherto 
had  from  our  God,  encourage  us  to  hope  in 
him  for  $00$  |)Clp  hereafter,  as  the  Matter 
may  require.  The  help  that  God  had  given 
to  his  People  of  Old  was  Commemorated,  as 
with  Monumental  Pillars,  conveying  down  the 
Remembrance  of  it  unto  their  Children.  And 
what  for  i  We  are  told  in  Pfal.  78.  7.  That 
they  might  fet  their  hepe  in  God,  and  not  for- 
get the  Works  of  God.  I  am  not  willing  to 
fay  how  much  this  Town  may  be  threatned, 
even  with  an  Utter  Extirpation.  But  this  I 
will  fay,  The  Motto  upon  all  our  Ebenezers, 

is,  rpcpf  in  <SoD  !   rpope  in  <55oU  !  The 

Ufe  ot  the  former  help  that  we  have  had 
from  God,  mould  be  an  hope  for  future  help 
from  him,  that  is  a  prefent  help  in  the  time 
of  Trouble.  As  in  the  Three  Firft  Verfes  of 
the  Eighty-fifth  Pfalm  Six  times  over  there 
occurrs,  1  hou  half,  Thou  hafl :  All  to  ufher  in 
this  •,  Therefore  thou  WILT  fill  do  fo. 
O  let  our  faith  proceed  in  that  way  of  Ar- 
guing in  2  Cor.  1.  10.  The  Lord  hath  de- 
livered, and  he  doth  deliver,  and  in  him  we 
truft  that  he  will  ft  ill  deliver.  We  are  to 
Day  Writing,  hitherto  the  Lord  hath  helped 
us  ■,  let  us  Write  under  it,  And  we  hope  the 
Lord  hajt  mere  help  for  us  in  the  time  of 
need !  It  may  be  fbme  are  purpofing  fudden- 
ly  and  haftily  to  leave  the  Town  through 
their  Fears  of  the  Straits  that  may  come 
upon  it.  But  I  would  not  have  you  be  too 
fudden  and  haity  in  your  Furpofes,  as  too 
many  have  been  unto  their  After-Sorrow. 
There  was  a  time  when  People  were  fo  Dif- 
couraged  about  a  Sulffience  in  the  Principal 
Town  of  the  Jews,  that  they  talk'd  of  pluck- 
ing up  Stakes  and  flying  away  ;  but  the 
Minifter  of  God  came  to  them,  Cand  fo  do  I 
to  you  this  Day  !  ~]  Saying,  in  Ifa.  30.  7. 
/  cried  concerning  this,  their  flrengtb  is  to 
ft  fill  !  Bcfion  was  no  fooner  come  to 
fbme  Confidence  Threefcote  Years  ago,  but 
the  People  found  ibemfelves  plunged  into  a 
fad  Kon-plus  what  way  to  take  for  a  Sub- 
fiftence.  God  then  immediately  put  them  in- 
to a  way,  and  \ntherto  the  Lord  hcut  helped 
us  !  The  Town  is  at  this  Day  full  of  Widoios 
and  Orphans,  and  a  multitude  of  them  are  very 
helplejs  Creatures.  1  am  aftonifh'd  how  they 
live  J  In  that  Church  whereof  I  am  the  Ser- 
vant, 1  have  counted  the  Widows  make  about 
a  Sixth  "Part  or  our  Communicants,  and  no 
doubt  in  the  v.- hole  .Town  the  proportion  dif- 


- 


fers  not  very  much.  Now  ftand  ft  ill,  my 
Friends,  and  behold  the  help  of  God  !  Were 
any  of  thefe  ever  ftarved  yet  J  No,  thefe 
Widows  are  every  one  in  fome  fort  provided  for. 
And  let  me  tell  you,  ye  Handmaids  of  the 
Lord,  you  fhall  be  ftill  provided  for  !  The 
Lord,  whofe  family  you  belong  unto,  will  con- 
veniently and  wonderfully  provide  for  you  ;  if 
you  fay,  and  Oh  I  Say  of  him,  Ike  Lord  is 
my  Helper,  I  will  not  fear  ! 

What  fhall  I  fay  ?  When  Mofes  was  ready 
to  faint  in  his  Prayers  for  his  People,  we 
read  in  Exod.  17,  12.  They  took  a  Stone,  and 
put  it  under  him.  Chriftians,  there  are  fbme 
of  you  who  abound  in  Prayers,  that  the 
help  of  God  may  be  granted  unto  the  Town  -, 
the  Town  is  much  upheld  by  thofe  Prayers 
of  yours.  Now  that  you  may  not  faint  in 
your  Prayers,  I  bring  you  a  Stone  :  The  Stone, 
'tis  our  Ebenezer  ;  or,  The  Relation  of  the 
help  that  hitherto  the  Lord  hath  given  us. 

IV.  Let  all  that  bear  ]9tli)ItCfc  Office  in  the 
Town  contribute  all  the  help  they  can,  that 
may  continue  the  help  of  God  unto  us.  Au- 
jfin  in  his  Confeffions  gives  thanks  to  God, 
that  when  he  was  an  helplefs  Infant,  he  had  a 
Kurfe  to  help  him,  and  one  that  was  both 
able  and  willing  to  help  him.  Infant-ZWrw?, 
thou  haft  thofe  whom  the  Bible  calls  Nur- 
fing-fathers.  Oh  be  not  froward,  as  thou  art 
in  thy  Treating  of  thy  Kurfes  -,  but  give 
thanks  to  God  for  them.  I  forget  my  felf ; 
'tis  with  the  fathers  themfelves^that  I  am  con- 
cerned. 

When  it  was  demanded  of  Demofthenes, 
what  it  was  that  fb  long  preferved  Athens 
in  a  fiourilhing  State,  he  made  this  Anfwer, 
The  Orators  are  Men  of  Learning  and  Wif- 
dom,  the  Magiftrates  do  Jujiice,  the  Citizens 
love  Quiet*  and  the  Laws  are  kept  among 
them  all.  May  Bofion  flouriih  in  fuch  happy 
Order ! 

And  firft,  You  may  allure  your  felves  that  the 

39imfter0  of    the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  among 

you  will  be  Joyful  to  approve  themfelves,  as 

the  Book  of  God  has  called  them,  The  Helpers 

of  your  Joy.    O  our  dear  flocks,  we  owe  you 

our  All;  all  our  Love,  all  our  Strength,  all  our 

Time  •  we  watch  for  you  as  thofe  that   mufi 

give  an  account :  And  1  am  very  much  mi  (taken 

if  we  are  not  willing  to  Die  for  you  too,  if  called 

unto  it.     If  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  fhould   fay 

to  us,  My  Servant,  if  you  11  Die  to  l^ight,  you 

fhall  have  this  Reward;  The  People  that  you 

Preach  to  fhall  be   all  Converted  unto   me  !    I 

think  we  (hould  with  Triumphing  Souls  reply, 

Ah  !   Lord,  Then  Vil  Die  Kith  ail  my  Heart. 

Sirs,  v;e  fhould  go  away  lie  joy  a  rig   with   fry 

unfpeakable  and  full  of  Glory.     I  am  latisfied, 

that  the  moft  Furious  and  Foul-mouth'd  Reviler 

that  God   may  give   any  of  us  to  be  Buffeted 

withal,  if  he  will  but  come  to  fbber  Thoughts, 

he  will  fay.  That  there  is  not  any  One  Man  in 

the  Town,  but  the  Minifters  with  that  Man 

as  well  as  they  do  their  own  Souls,  and  would 

gladly   ferve  that  Man  by  Day  or  by  Night, 

in 


Book  I.         Or,  the  Hiftory  of  New-England 


in  any  thing  that 
him.  Wherefore 
feech  you  leave  off, 

at  your  Ebenczers.  Inftead  of  that  pray  for 
us,  and  ft  rive  together  with  us  in  your  Pray- 
ers to  God  for  us.  Then  with  the  help  of 
Quid  we'll  promife  you,  we  will  fet  our  lelves 
to  obferve  what  Special  Truths  may  be  molt 
needful  to  be  Inculcated  upon  you,  and  we  will 
Inculcate  them.  We  will  let  our  felves  to  ob- 
ferve the  Temptations  that  befet  you,  the  Af- 
fiiUions  that  aflault  you,  and  the  Duties  that 
are  incumbent  on  you  ;  and  we  will  ac- 
commodate our  felves  unto  them.  We  will  fet 
our  lelves  to  obferve  what  Souls  among  you  do 
call  lor  our  more  particular  Addreffes,  and  we 
will  Addrefs  them  faithfully,  and  even  Travel 
in  Birth  for  them.  Nor  will  we  give  over 
Praying,  and  fafiing,  and  Crying  to  our  great 
LORD  for  you  until  we  Die.  Whatever  o- 
ther  helpers  the  Town  enjoys,  they  fhall  have 
that  Convenience  in  Ezra  5.  2.  With  them 
were  the  Prophets  of  God,  helping  them.  Well 
then,  let  the  reft  of  our  Worthy  Helpers  lend 
an  helping  Hand  for  the  promoting  of  thofe 
things  wherein  the  Weal  of  the  Town  is  wrap- 
ped up  !  When  the  Jews  thought  that  a  Defi- 
ling thing  was  breaking  in  among  them,  in 
Atts  21.  28.  They  cried  out,  Men  of  lfad,help. 
Truly  there  is  Caufe  to  make  that  Cry,  Men 
of  Bolton,  help  !  For  Ignorance,  and  Prophane- 
nefs,  and  Bad  Living,  and  the  worlt  things  in 
World,  are  breaking  in  upon  us. 

And  now  will  the  JUSTICES  of  the 
Town  fet  themfelves  to  confider,  how  they  may 
help  to  fupprefs  all  growing  Vices  among 
us  r 

Will  the  CONSTABLES  of  the  Town 
fet  themfelves  to  confider,  how  they  may  help 
to  prevent  all  Evil  Orders  among  tts  ? 

There  are  fome  who  have  the  Eye  of  the 
Town  fo  much  upon  them,  that  the  very  Name 
of  T  O  W  N  S-  M  E  N  is  that  by  which  they 
are  diftinguifhed.  Sirs,  Will  you  alfo  confider 
how  to  help  the  Affairs  of  the  Town,  Jo  as 
that  all  things  may  go  well  among  us  ? 

Moreover,  may  not  SCHOOL-MASTERS 
do  much  to  inftil  Principles  of  Religion  and 
Civility,  as  well  as  other  Points  of  good  Edu- 
cation into  the  Children  of  the  Town  f  Only  let 


Talents   in  the  place  where  God  hath  Stau- 

071 d    7716  ^ 

And  will  ^REPRESENTATIVES 
of  the  Town  beconlidered  among  the  reft,  as 
entrufted  with  fome  lingular  Advantages  for 
our  help !  The  Lord  give  you  Undemanding 
in  all  things. 

V.  God  help  the  Town  to  mamfeft  all  that 
PlCtp,  which  a  Town  fo  helped  of  him  is 
obliged  unto  !  When  the  People  of  God  had 
been  carried  by  his  help  through  their  Diffi- 
culties, they  let  up  atones  to  keep  in  mind 
how  he  had  helped  them  :  And  lbmething 
was  Written  on  the  Stones  :  But  what  was 
Written  !  See  Jofh.  8.  3  2.  fofhua  wrote  upon 
the  Stones  a  Copy  of  the  Law.  Truly  upon 
thofe  Ebenezers  which  we  let  up,  we  Ihould 
Write  the  Law  of  our  God,  and  Recognize  the 
Obligations  which  the  help  of  our  God  has  laid 
upon  us  to  keep  it. 

We  are  a  very  Unpardonable  Town,  if  af- 
ter all  the  help  which  our  God  has  given  us, 
we  do  not  ingenuoufly  enquire,  What  fhall  we 
render  to  the  Lord  jor  alt  ha  Benefits  .■?  Ren- 
der !  Oh  !  Let  us  our  lelves  thus  anfwer  the 
Enquiry ;  Lord,  we  will  render  all  Pojfible  and 
filial  Obedience  unto  thee,  becauje  hitherto  thou 
haft  helped  us  :  Only  do  thou  alfo  help  us  to 
render  that  Obedience  '.  Mark  what  I  fay  ■, 
if  there  be  fo  much  as  one  Prayerlejs  houfe 
in  fuch  a  Town  as  this,  'tis  Inexcufable  !  now 
Inexcufable  then  will  be  all  flagitious  Outra- 
ges ?  There  was  a  Town,  L'twas  the  Town  of 
Sodom !  ]  that  had  been  wonderfully  laved 
out  of  the  Hands  of  their  Enemies.  But  af- 
ter the  help  that  God  fent  unto  them,  the 
Town  went  on  to  Sin  againft  God  in  very 
prodigious  Inltances.  At  laft  a  provoked  God 
fent  a  fire  upon  the  Town  that  made  it  an 
Eternal  Defolation.  Ah,  Boflon,  beware,  be- 
ware, left  the  Sins  of  Sodom  get  footing  in 
thee  !  And  what  were  the  Sins  of  Sodom  ? 
We  find  in  Ezek.  16.  45?.  Behold,  this  was 
the  Iniquity  of  Sodom  ;  Pride,  fulnejs  of 
Bread,  and  Abundance  of  ldlenefs  was  in  her  ■, 
neither  did  fhe  jirengthen  the  hand  of  the 
Poor  and  the  Needy  -,    there  was  much  Op- 


the  Town  well  Encourage  its  well  deferving   preffion  there.    If  you  know  of  any  Scanda 


School-Majiers 

There  are  fome  other  Officers  ;  but  concern- 
ing all,  there  are  thefe  Two  things  to  be  de 
fired.  Firlt,  It  is  to  be  defired,  That  fuch 
Officers  as  are  Chcfen  among  us,  may  be  cho- 
fen  in  the  fear  oj  God.  May  none  but  Pious 
and  Prudent  Men,  and  fuch  as  Love  the  Town, 
be  chofen  to  ferve  it.  And,  Secondly,  It  is  to 
be  defired,  That  Officers  of  feveral  forts  would 


bus  Diforders  in  the  Town,  do  all  you  can 
to  fupprefs  them,  and  redrefs  them :  And  let  not 
thofe  that  fend  their  Sons  hither  from  0- 
ther  Parts  of  the  World,  for  to  be  improved 
in  Virtue,  have  caufe  to  complain,  That  af- 
ter they  came  to  Bofton  they  loft  what  little 
Virtue  was  before  Budding  m  them  :  That  in 
Bofton  they  grew  more  Debauched  and  more 
Malignant  than  ever  they  were  before  I    It 


often  come  together  for  Confutation.    Each  of  1  was  noted  concerning  the  fiamous  Town  of  Port- 
the  forts  by  themfelves^  may  they  often  come  |  Royal  m_  Jamaica,     which   you   know 


was 


thing  will  it  be  forPerfons  to  be  entrufted  with 


fet  upon 


violently   and  fcandaloufly 
going  to   fortune-Tellers  upon  all 
r  2  OccaGons  •• 


3' 


Magnolia  Chrifti  Americana : 


Book  L 


Occafions :   much  notice  was  taken  of  this  Im- 
piety generally  prevailing  among  the  People  : 
But   none   of  thofe  wretched   fortune  Tellers 
could  forefee,    or   foreftal  the  direful  Catajiro- 
phe.     I   have    heard  that    there  are    Fortune 
Tellers  in  this   Town  fometimes  confulted  by 
fome  of  the  finful  Inhabitants.      I   wifh   the 
Town    could    be    made    too    Hot    for    thefe 
Dangerous    Tranfgrefjors.       I    am    fure   the 
prefervation    of  the   Town   from    horrendous 
Earthquakes,    is  one  thing  that  befpeaks   our 
Ebenezers  ;  'tis  from  the  Merciful  help  of  our 
God  unto  us.    But  beware,  I  befeech  you,  of 
thofe  provoking  Evils  that  may  expofe  us  to  a 
Plague,  exceeding  all  that  are  in  the  Catalogue 
of  the  Twenty-eighth  of  Deuteronomy.    Let  me 
go  on  to  fay,  What,  fhall  there  be  any  Bawdy- 
Houfcs  in  fuch  a  Town  as  this !    It  may  be  the 
Neighbours,  that  could  Smoke  'em,  and  Rout 
'em,  if  they  would,  are  loth  to  Stir,  for  fear 
of  being  reputed  ///  Neighbours.    But  I  fay  un- 
to you,     that  you  are  ///  Neighbours  becaufe 
you  do  it  not :    All  the  Neighbours  are  like  to 
have  their    Children  and    Servants   Poifoned, 
and  their  Dwellings  laid  in  Afhes,  becaufe  you 
do  it  not.     And  Oh  I    That  the   D^nfeftlg* 
J])0Ufc5  in  tne  Town  might  once  come  under 
a    laudable   Regulation.      The   Town  has   an 
Enormous  Number  of  them ;  will  the  Haunters 
or  thofe  Houfes  hear  the  Counfels  of  Heaven > 
For  Tou  that  are  the  Town-Dwellers,    to  be  oft, 
or  long  in  your  Vifits  of  the  Ordinary,  'twill 
certainly  expofe  you  to  Mifchiefs  more  than 
ordinary.    I  have  feen  certain  Taverns,  where 
the  Pictures  of  horrible  Devourers  were  hang'd 
out  for  the  Signs ;  and,  thought  I,  'twere  well 
if  fuch  Signs  were  not  fometimes  too  too  Signi- 
ficant :  Alas,    Men  have  their  Eftates  devour- 
ed, their  Names  devoured,  they  Hours  devour- 
ed, and  their  very  Souls  devoured,  when  they 
are  fo  befotted,  that  they  are  not  in  their  Ele- 
ment, except  they  be  Tipling  at  fuch  Houfes. 
When  once  a  Man  is  bewitched  with  the  Ordi- 
nary ,  what  ufually  becomes  of  him  ?   He  is  a 
gone  Man-,   and  when  he  comes  to  Die,  he'll 
cry  out  as  many  have  done,   Ale-Houjes  are 
Hell-Houjes  !  Ale- Houfes  are  Hell- Houfes !  But 
let  the  Owners  of  thole  Houfes  alfo  now  hear 
our  Counfels.     Oh  !  Hearken  to  me,   that  God 
may  hearken  to  you  another  Day  !   It  is  an  Ho- 
nejl,  and  a  Lawful,  tho'  it  be  not  a  very  Defire- 
able  Employment,   that  you  have  undertaken : 
You  may  Glorifie  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  in  your 
Employment  if  you  will,  and  benefit  the  Town 
confiderably.    There  was  a    very  godly  Man 
that  was  an  Innkeeper,    and  a  great  Minifier 
of  God  could  fay  to  that  Man,   in  3  John  2. 
TJjy  Soul  profpereth.     O  let  it  not  be  faid  of 
you,  fince  you  are  fallen  into  this  Employment, 
Thy  Soul  toithereth  I  It  is  thus  with  too  many  : 
Efpecially',  when  they  that  get  a  Licenfe  per- 
haps 'to  Sell  Drink  out  of  Doors,    do  ftretch 
then-   Licenfe  to  Sell  within  Doors.     Thofe 
Private  Houfes,  when  once  a  Profeflbr  of  the 
Gofpel  comes  to  Steal  a.  Living  out  of  them,  it 
commonly  precipitates  them  into  abundance  of 


wretchednefs  and  confufion.  But  I  pray  God 
affift  you  that  keep  Ordinaries,  to  keep  the 
Commandments  of  God  in  them.  There  was  an 
Inn  at  Bethlehem  where  the  Lord  JESUS 
CHRIST  was  to  be  met  withal.  Can  Bofton 
boaft  of  many  fuch ;  Alas,  too  ordinarily  it 
may  be  faid,  'There  is  no  Room  for  him  in  the 
Inn!  My  Friends,  let  me  beg  it  of  you,  banifh 
the  unfruitful  works  of  Darknefs  from  your 
Houfes,  and  then  the  Sun  of  Right eoufnefs  will 
fhine  upon  them.  Don't  countenance  Drun- 
kennefs,  Revelling,  and  Mif-fpending  of  preci- 
ous Time  in  your  Houfes  :  Let  none  have  the 
Snares  of  Death  laid  for  them  in  your  Houfes. 
You'll  fay,  I  frail  Starve  then !  \  fay,  better 
Starve  than  Sin :  But  you  flmil  not.  It  is  the 
Word  of  the  Molt  High,  Truji  in  the  Lord,, 
and  do  Good,  and  verily  thou  fhalt  be  Fed.  And 
is  not  Peace  of  Confidence,  with  a  Little,  bet- 
ter than  thofe  Riches,  that  will  (hortly  melt  a- 
way,  and  then  run  like  Scalding  Metal  down 
the  very  Bowels  of  thy  Soul  ? 

What  lhall  I  fay  more?  There  is  one  Article 
of  Piety  more  to  be  Recommended  unto  us  all  • 
and  it  is  an  Article  which  all  Piety  does  ex- 
ceedingly turn  upon,  that  is,  CfjC  ^antttfica- 
ttOnOftfjelO^Dap*  Some  very  Judici- 
ous Perfons  have  oblerved,  that  as  they  fantti- 
fied  the  Lord's  Day,  liemifly  or  Carefully,  jufl 
fo  their  Affairs  ufually  prqfpered  all  the  enfu- 
ing  Week.  Sirs,  you  cannot  more  confult  the 
Profperity  of  the  Town,  in  all  its  Affairs,  than 
by  Endeavouring  that  the  Lord's  Day  may  be 
exemplarily  Sanllified.  When  People  about 
Jerusalem  took  too  much  Liberty  on  the  Sab- 
bath, the  Ruler  of  the  Town  Contended  with 
them,  and  faid,  Te  bring  wrath  upon  Ifrael,  by 
prophaning  the  Sabbath.  I  fear,  I  fear  there  are 
many  among  us,  to  whom  it  may  be  faid,  Te 
bring  wrath  upon  Bofton,  by  prophaning  the 
Sabbath.  And  what  Wrath?  Ah,  Lord,  prevent 
iti  But  there  is  an  awful  Sentence  in  Jer.  17. 
27."  If  ye  will  not  hearken  unto  me,  tofan&i- 
fie  the  Sabbath  Day,  then  will  I  kindle  a  fire 
on  the  Town,  and  it  /hall  Devour,  and  fhall 
not  be  Quenched. 

Finally,  Let  the  Piety  of  the  Town  mani- 
feft  it  felf  in  a  due  Regard  unto  the  3ittffttU» 
tiOt\$  of  him  whofe  help  has  hitherto  been  a 
Shield  unto  us.  Ltt  the  Ark  be  in  the  Town, 
and  God  will  Blefs  the  Town  !  I  believe  it 
may  be  found,  that  in  the  Mortal  Scourges  of 
Heaven,  which  this  Town  has  felt,  there  has 
been  a  difcerncible  DftinUioh  of  thofe  that  have 
come  up  to  attend  all  the  Ordinances  of  the 
Lord  Jsfus  Chrift,  in  the  Communion  of  his 
Churches.  Though  thefe  have  had,  as  'tis  fit 
they  fhould,  a  Share  in  the  Common  Death  s^ 
yet  the  Defraying  Angel  has  not  had  fo  great 
a  proportion  of  thefe  in  hisCommiffion,  as  he 
has  had  of  others.  Whether  this  be  fo,  or  no, 
to  uphold,  and  fupporr,  and  attend  the  Ordi- 
nances of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  in  Reforming 
Churches,  this  will  Entitle  the  Town  to  the  help 
of  Heaven  -,  for,  Upon  the  Glory  there  fhall  be 
a  defence  I  There  were  the  Victorious  Forces 

of 


Book  I.  Or,  The  Hijiory  of  New-England. 


37 


of  Alexander,  that  in  going  backward  and  for- 
ward, pafs'd  by  Jerujalem  without  Hurting 
ir.     Why  fo  ?  Said  the  Lord  in   Zech.  9.  8.   I 


being  asked  why  their  Town  fo  went,  as  if 
then  did,  unto  decay  ?  He  fetched  a  deep  ligh, 
and  faid,  Our  young  Men  are  too'Prodigal,  our 


mil  encamp  about  my  Houje,  becaufe  of  the  ArAold  Men  are  too  AffeSionate,  and  we  have  no 
my.  If  our  God  have  an  houje  here,  he'll  \Punijhment  for  thoje  that  Jpend  their  Tears  in 
Encamp  about  it, 


Nazianzen,  a  famous  Mi 
nifter  of  the  Gofpel,  taking  his  farewel  of 
Conjiantinople,  an  old  Man  that  had  fat  under 
his'Miniftry,  cried  out,  Oh  !  My  Father,  Don't 
you  dare  to  go  away,  you'll  carry  the  whole  Tri- 
nity with  you!  How  much  more  may  it  be  cri- 
ed out,  If  we  lofe  or  flight  the  Ordinances  of 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  we  forego  the  help  of 
all  the  Trinity  with  them  ! 

VI.   Extraordinary    Ctltlitp  and    CJjatftp, 
as  well  as  Piety,  well  becomes  a  Town  that 
hath  been  by  the  help  of  God  fo  Extraordina- 
rily fignalized.    A  Town  marvelloufly  helped 
by   God,   has  this  foretold   concerning  it,    in 
Ifa.  1.  26.  Afterward  thou  fhalt  be  called,  the 
City  of  Right eoufnefs,  the  faithful  City.    May 
the  Ebenezer s  of  this  Town  render  it  a  Town 
of  Equity,  and  a  Town  of  Charity !  Oh  !  There 
fhould   be  none  but  fair  Dealings  in  a  Town 
wherewith   Heaven    has    dealt  fo   favourably. 
Let  US  Deal  fairly    in  Bargains  ;    Deal  fairly 
in  Taxes  ■    Deal  fairly    in    paying  Refpeas 
to  fuch  as    have    been  Benefattors   unto    the 
Town.      'Tis    but   Equity,     that    they    who 
have  been    old  Standers   in   the   Town,  and 
both  with  Per/on  and  Eftate  ferved  the  Town 
unto  the  utmoft  for  many  Years  together,  fhould 
on  all  proper  Occafions  be  confidered.    For  Cha- 
rity, I  may  indeed  fpeak  it  without  Flattery, 
this  Town  has  not  many  Equals  on   the  Face 
of  the  Earth.     Our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift   from 
Heaven  wrote  unto  the  good  People  of  a  Town 
in  the  lefier  Afta,    [Rev.  2.   19.J   I  know  thy 
Works  and  Charity.     From  that   Bleffed  Lord 


Idlenefs.    Ah !    the  laft  itroak  of  ifhat   com- 
plaint   I   muft  here  figh  it  over  again.     Idle- 
nefs, alas !  Idlenefs  increafes  in  the  Town  ex- 
ceedingly :  Idlenefs,  of  which  there  never  came 
any  Goodnefs  ■,  Idlenefs,  which  is  a  reproach  to 
any  People.     We  work  hard  all  Summer,  and 
the  Drones  count  themfelves  wrongd   if  they 
have  knot  in  the  Winter  divided  among  them. 
The  Poor  that  can't  Work,  are  Objects  for  your 
Liberality.    But  the  Poor  that  can  Work  and 
won't,  the  belt  Liberality  to  them  is  to  make 
them.     I  befeech  you,  Sirs,  find  out  a  Method 
quickly,   that  the  Idle  Pcrjons  in  the    Town 
may  earn  their  Bread;  it  were  the  bed  piece 
of  Charity  that  could  be  fhown  unto  them,  and 
Equity  unto  us  all.     Our  Beggars  do  ihamelul- 
ly  grow  upon  us,  and  fuch  Beggars  too  as  our 
Lord   Jefus  Chrift   himfelf  hath  exprefly  for- 
bidden us  to    Countenance.    I   have  Read  a 
Printed   Sermon    which  was  Preached    before 
Both   Houfes  of  Parliament,    the  Lord  Mayor 
and  Aldermen  of  London,  and   the  A jfembly  of 
Divines ;    the  greateft  Audience   then   in  the 
World  :  And  in  that  Sermon  the  Preacher  had 
this  paflage ;  I  have  lived  in  a  Country  where  in 
Seven  Tears  I  never  faiv  a  Beggar,    nor  heard 
an  Oath,  nor  looked  upon  a  Drunkard.     Shall 
I  tell  you  where  that  Utopia  was  >  'Twas  NEW- 
ENGLAND !  But  they  that  go  from  hence 
muft  now  tell  another  Story. 

VII.  May  the  Cf)ffltffe$>,  and  efpeciall/  the 

3jUu"gmttlt0  that  have  come   upon  ihe  Town, 

!  direct  us  what  help  to  petition  from  the  God  of 

\our  Salvations.      The  Israelites  had  formerly 


I  may  venture  to  bring  that  Meffage  unto  the  |  feen  DifmalThings,  where  they  now  fet  up  iheiv 
good  People  of  this  Town  i  the  glorious  Lord  of  \  Ebenezer :  The  Philifl.nes  had  no  lefs  than 
Heaven  knows  thy  works,  0  Bofton,  and  all  thy  Twice  beaten  them  there,  and  there  taken  from 


Charity.    Thi9  is  a  poor  Town,  and  yet  it  may 
be  laid  of  the  Boflonians,  as  it  was  of  the  Ma- 
cedonians, their  deep  Poverty  hath  abounded  un- 
to the  Riches  of  their  Liberality.     O  ye  boun- 
tiful People  of  God,   all  your  daily  Bounties 
to  the  Needy,  all  your  Subscriptions  to  fond  the 
Bread  of  Life  abroad  unto    places  that  are 
perifhingin  Wickednefs,  all  your  Colletl ions  in 
your  Aflemblies  as  often  as  they  are  called  for ; 
all  theje  Alms  are  come  up  for  a  Memorial  be- 
fore God !  The  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  in  Heaven 
hath  beheld  your  helpfulnefs,  and  readinefs  to 
every   good  Work;    and  he  hath  required"    it 
with  his  helpful  Ebenezers.     It  was  faid,    in 
Ifa.  32.  8.  The  Liberal  devifeth  Liberal  things, 
and  by  Liberal  things  he  fhall  Jiand.    There  are 
fome  in   this  Town  that  are  always   devifing 
Liberal  things,  and  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  lets 
the  Town  Jiand  for  the  fake  of  thofe  !  Inftead 
of  exhorting   you  to   Augment    your   Charity, 
I  will  rather  utter  an   Exhortation,  or  at  leaft 
a  Supplication,   that  you   may  not  abufe  your 
Charity  by   mifapplying  of  it.    I  remember  I 
have  Read,  that  an  Inhabitant  of  the  City  Pi/a 


them  the  Ark  of  God.  Now  we  are  letting  up 
our  Ebenezer,  let  us  a  little  call  to  mind  ibme 
Di/mal  Things  that  we  have  feen  -,  the  Ebene- 
zer will  go  up  the  better  for  it. 

We  read  in  1  Sam.  6.  18.    concerning   the 
Great  Stone  of  Abel.     Some  fay,  That  Adam 
erecled  that  Stone,   as  a  Grave-Jione  for   his 
Abel,  and  wrote  that  Epitaph  upon  it,   Here 
wai  poured    out  the   Blood   of  the  Righteous 
ABEL.    I  know  nothing  of  This;  the  Names, 
I  know,  differ  in  the  Original ;  but  as  we  may 
ered  many  a  Stone  for  an  Ebenezer,   fo  we 
may   ereft  many    a   Great  Stone   of  ABEL, 
that  is  to  fay,  we  may  write  MOURNING  and 
SORROW,  upon  the  Condition  of  the  Town  in 
various  Examples.      Now  from  the  Stones  of 
Abel,   we  will  a  little  gather  what  we  fhould 
wifh  to  write  upon  the  Stones  of  our  Ebenezer. 
What   Changes    have  we  foen    in  point   of 
EEliffl'Olt  t  It  was  noted  by  Luther,  He  could 
never  fee  good  Order  in  the  Church    laft  more 
than  Fifteen  Tears  together  in  the  Purity  of  it. 
BlefTed  be  God,   Religion  hath  here  flouriihed 
in  the  Purity  of  it  for  more  than  Fifteen  Tears 

together. 


3§ 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana. 


Book  I. 


together.     But  certainly    the  -Power  of  Godli- 
nejs  is  now  grievoufly  decay'd  among  us.     As 
the  Prophet  of  old  Exclaimed  in    Joel  i.  2. 
Hear  this,  ye  old  Men,  and  give  Ear,  ye  Inha- 
bitants •,  has  this  been  in  your  Days  ?  Thus  may 
I  lay,  Hear  this,  ye  old  Men,  that  are  the  In- 
habitants of  the  "Town:    Can't- you  Remember 
that  in  your  Days,    a  Prayerful,    a  Watchful, 
a  Fruitful  Chriftian,  and  a  well  Governed  Fa- 
mily,   was  a  more  common  Sight,   than  it  is 
now  in  our  Days  ?  Can't  you  Remember  that 
in  your   Days    thofe   abominable  Things   did 
not  /how  their  Heads,  that  are  row  Bare-faced 
among  us  i  Here  then  is  a  Petition  to  be  made 
unto  our  God  ;    Lord,  help  us    to   Remember 
whence  we  are  j alien,  and  to   Repent,    and  to 
do  the  jirft  Works. 

.Again,  WhatChanges  have  we  feen  in  Point 
of  $j£0?talitp  ?  By  Mortality  almcft  all  the 
Old  Race  of  our  Firft  Planters  here  are  carried 
oft\  the  Old  Stock  is  in  a  manner  expired.  We 
fee  the  fulfilment  of  that  Word  in  Eccl.  i.  4. 
One  Generation paffelh  away,  and  another  Gene- 
ration cometh.  It  would  be  no  unprofitable 
thing  for  you  to  pafs  over  the  feveral  Streets, 
and  call  to  mind,  Who  lived  here  Jo  many  Tears 
ago?  Why?  In  that  place  lived  fuch  an 
one  •,  and  in  that  place  lived  fuch  an  one. 
But,  Where  are  they  Kow  ?  Oh !  They  are 
Gone  ;  they  are  Gone  into  that  Eternal  World, 
whither  we  muft  quickly  follow  them.  Here 
is  another  Petition  to  be  made  unto  our  God  ; 
Lord,  help  us  to  'Number  our  Days,  and  Apply 
our  Hearts  unto  Wifdom,  that  when  the  places 
that  now  know  us,  do  know  us  no  more,  we  may 
he  gone  into  the  City  of  God. 

Furthermore,  What  Changes  have  we  feen 
in  point  of  pofTeffiOllg  f  Iffome  that  are  now 
Rich,  were  once  Low  in  the  World,  'tis  poffi- 
ble,  more  that  were  once  Rich,  are  now  brought 
very  Low.  Ah.!  Bofton,  Thou  haft  feen  the 
Vanity  of  all  Worldly  Pojjcffions.  One  fatal 
Morning,  which  laid  Fourfcore  of  thy  Dwel- 
ling-houjes,  and  Seventy  of  thy  Ware-houjes, 
Heap,  not  Nineteen  Years 


in  a  Ruinous  Heap,  not  Nineteen  Years  ago, 

gave  thee  to  Read  it  in  Fiery  Characters.     And 

an  huge  Fleet  of  thy  VefTels,  which  they  would 

make  if  they  were  all  together,  that  have  mif- 

carried  in  the  late  War,  has  given  thee  to  Read  \be  will  cafi  you  off  for  ever. 

more  of  it.    Here  is   one  Petition  more  to  be 


made  unto  our  God  Lord,  help  us  to  enjure  a 
better  and  a  lading  Subftance  in  Heaven,  and 
the  good  part  that  cannot  be  taken  away. 

In  fine,  How  dreadfully  have  theToung  Peo- 
ple of  Bofton  perilhed   under  the  Judgments 
of  God  !    A  renowned  Writer  among  the  Pa- 
gans could  make  this  Remark  ;   There  was  a 
Town  fo  Irreligious  and  Atheiftical,  that  they 
did   not  pay    their    Firft-fruits    unto    God  : 
(which  the  Light  of  Nature  taught  the  Pagans 
to  do!)  and,  lays  he,   they  were  by  a  fudden 
Defolation  fo  ftrangely   deftroy'd,    that  there 
were  no  Remainders  either  of  the  Perjons,  or 
of  the  Houfes,  to  be  feen  any  more.    Ah,  my 
Joung  folks,  there  are  few  Firft-fruits   paid 
unto  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  among  you.    From 
hence  it  comes  to  pafs,   that  the  confuming 
Wrath  of  God  is  every  Day  upon  you.    New- 
England  has  been  like  a  lott'ring  Houje,   the 
very  foundations  of  it  have  been  fhaking  :  But 
the  Houfe  thus  over-fetting  by  the  Whirlwinds 
of  the  Wrath  of  God,    hath  been  like  Job's 
Houfe ;  1/  falls  upon  the  Young  Men,  and  they 
are  Dead !  The  Difafters  on  our  Joung  Folks 
have  been  fo  multiplied,   that  there  are  few 
Parents  among  us,    but    what  will  go  with 
Wounded    Hearts    down   unto  their   Graves: 
Their  daily  Moans  are.    Ah,  my  Son  cut  off  in 
his  Youth !  My  Son,  my  Son !  Behold  then  the 
help  that  we  are  to  ask  of  our  God ;  and  why 
do  we,    with  no  more  Days  of  Prayer  with 
lafting,  ask  it  >  Lord,  help  the  young  People  of 
Bofton  to  Remember  thee  in  the  Day?  of  their 
Youth,  andjanttifie  unto  the  Survivers  the  ter- 
rible things  that  have  come  upon  Jo  many  of  that 
Generation. 

And  now  as  Jofhua  having  realbned  with  his 
People,  a  little  before  he  Died,  in  Jofh.  24. 
26,  27.  Took  a  Great  STONE,  and  Jet  it  up, 
andjaid  unto  all  the  People,  Behold,  this  Stone 
Jhall  be  a  witnejs  unto  you,  left  ye  deny  your 
God.  Thus  we  have  been  this  Day  fetting  up 
a  STONE,  even  znEbenezer  among  you;  and 
I  conclude,  earneftly  teftifying  unto  you,  Be- 
hold this  Stone  fhall  be  a  witnejs  unto  you, 
that  the  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST  has  been  a 
good  Lord  unto  you  ;  and  if  you  Jeek  him,  he 
will  be  fill found oj you;  but  ifyouforjake  him, 


The  End  of  the  Firft  Book. 


Hcclefiarum     Clyfei. 


The  Second  BOOK 

O  F    T  H  E 

New  EnglifTi  Hiftory : 

CONTAINING    THE 

LIVES 


O  F     T  H  E 


GOV EPvN OURS,  and  the  Names  of  the  MA- 
GISTRATES, that  have  been  SHIELDS 
unto  the  CHURCHES  of  NEW-ENGLAND, 

(until  the  Year   1686.) 


Perpetuated  by  the  Ejjay  of  Cotton  Mather. 


Prifcaq-j  ne  Veterh  vanefcat  Gloria  Steffi, 
llvida  defendant,  qu£  Momtmenta  damur. 

§£ui  Ali is  prafant,  tatito  privatis  Hominibus  Meliores  ejje  Oportet, 
guanto  Honnribus  &  Liguitate  antecellunt.     Panorinitan. 


NotidiiKt  h£c,  qii£  nunc  tenet  S£culumy  Negligentia 
Dei  Verier  at.     Li  v.  I.  3. 

Opt'wms  quifq;  Nobilijjitmts.     Plato. 


I 


LONDON: 

Printed  for  Thomas  Parkburfi,   at  the  Bible  and  Three 
Crown?  in  Cheaffide.     1702. 


_i 


Book  II. 


INTRODUCTION 


5>"T"S  W  E  RE  to  be  wip'd  that  there 
I  might  never  be  any  Englifh  Tranfla- 
tion  of  that  Wicked  Pofition  in  Machiavel, 
Non  requiri  in  Principe  ver.ira  pietatem, 
fed  fufficere  illius  quandam  umbram,  6c 
fimulationem  Externam.  It  may  be  there 
never  was  any  Region  under  Heaven  happier 
than  poor  New-England  hath  been  in  Magi- 
ftrates,  whofe  True  Piety  was  worthy  to  be 
made  the  Example  of  After- Ages. 

Happy  haft  thou  been,   O  Land!   in 
Magistrates,  whofe  Difpojition  to  ferve  the 
Lord  Jefiis  Chrift,  unto  whom  they  jiill  con- 
fidered  themfelves  accountable,  anfwered  the 
good  Rule  of  Agapetus,  Quo  quis  in  Re- 
publica    Majorem    Dignitatis  gradum    a- 
deptus  eft,  eo  Deum  Colat  Submifiius :  Magi- 
ftrates,  whofe  Difpojition  to  ferve  the  People 
that  chafe  them  to   Rule  over   them.,  argued 
them  fenfible  of  that  great  Stroal^  in  Cicero, 
Nulla  Re  propius  Homines  ad  Deum  Acce- 
dunt,    quam   falute   Hominibus   danda  : 
Magiftrates,    aUed  in  their  Adminiflrations 
by  the  Spirit  of  a  Jofhua.     When  the  Wife 
Man    obferves  unto  us,   That  Oppreffions 
makes  a  Wife  Man  Mad,   it  may  be  worth 
confidering,    whether  the   Opprenbr  is  not 
intended  rather  than  the  Oppreffed  in  the 
Obfervation.     *Tis  very  certain  that  a  Dif- 
pofition  to  Opprefs  other  Men,   does  often 
make   thofe   that   are    otherwife   very   Wife 
Men,  to  forget  the  Rules  of  Reaion,  and 
commit    mojl    Unreafonable  Exorbitances. 
Rehoboam   in  fome  things  afted  wifely  ; 
but  this  Admonition  of  his  Infpired  Father 
could  not  refrain  him  from  afting  madly, 
when   the   spirit  of  Oppreffion    was   upon 
him.  The  Rulers  of  New-England  have  been 
Wife  Men,  whom  that  Spirit  of  Oppreffi- 
on betray  d  not  into  this  Madnefs. 

The  Father  of  Themiftocles  diffwading 
him  from  Government,  fhowd  him  the  Old 
Oars  which  the  Marriners  had  now  thrown 


away  upon  the  Sea-fhores  with  Neglect  and 
Contempt  •-,  and  faid,  That  People  would 
certainly  treat  their  Old  Rulers  with  the 
fame  Contempt.  But,  Reader,  let  us  now 
takp  up  our  Old  Oars  with  all  pojjible  Refpett, 
and  fee  whether  we  cant  fill  make  ufe  of 
them  to  Jerve  our  little  Vejfel.  Bat  this 
the  rather,  becaufe  we  may  with  an  eafie 
turn  change  the  Name  into  that  of  Pilots. 

The  Word  GOVERNMENT,^ 
perly  fignifies  the  Guidance  of  a  Ship : 
Tully  ufes  it  for  that  purpofe  :,  and  in 
Plutarch,  the  Art  of  Steering  a  Ship,  //, 
Ts^ni  KvfanTiKti.  New-England  is  a  little 
Ship,  which  hath  Weathered  many  a  Terri- 
ble Storm  5  and  it  is  but  reafonable  that 
they  who  have  fat  at  the  Helm  of  the  Ship, 
fiould  be  remembred  in  the  Hiftory  of  its 
Deliverances. 

Prudentius  calls  judges,  The  Great 
Lights  of  the  Sphere  5  Symmachus  calls 
Judge?,  The  better  part  of  Mankind. 
Reader,  Tbou  art  now  to  be  entertained 
with  the  Lives  of  Judges  which  have  de- 
ferved  that  CharaBer.  And  the  Lives  of 
thofe  who  have  been  called,  Speaking  Laws, 
will  excufe  our  Hifory  from  coming  under 
the  Obfervation  made  about  the  Worl\_  of 
Homer,  That  the  Word,  LAW,  is  never 
fo  much  as  once  occurring  in  them.  They 
are  not  written  like  the  Cyrus  0/Xenophon, 
likg  the  Alexander  of  Curtius,  like  Virgil'/ 
,/fc.neas,  and  like  Pliny'/  Trajan  :  But  the 
Reader  hath  in  every  one  of  than  a  Real 
and  a  Faithful  Hifory.  And  I  pleafe  my 
felf  with  hopes,  that  there  will  yet  be  found 
among  the  Sons  of  New-England,  thofe 
Young  Gentlemen  by  whom  the  Copies  given 
in  this  Hiftory  will  be  written  after  5  and 
that  faying  of  Old  Chaucer  be  remembred, 
To  do  the  Genteel  Deeds,  that  makes  the 
Gentleman. 


<w, 


Ecclejtarum 


Book  II. 


TLcclefiamm  Clypet. 


The  Second  BOOK 


OF     THE 


New   Englifli  Hiftory. 


CHAP.    I. 


Galtacius    Secundus.      The    LIFE    »/  WILLIAM    BRADFORD     Efo 
Governour    of  P  L  Y  M  O  UT  H    C  0  L  0  NT.  ^ 

Omnium  Somnos,  illius  vigil  ant  ia  defendit,  omnium  otinm  illiits  Labor,     cm  mum  Delitias 
illius  Induflria,  omnium  vacationem  illius  occupatio. 


h 


I 


T  has  been  a  Matter  of  fome  Obser- 
vation,   that   although   Torkfhire  "he 
one  of  the  largeft  Shires  in  England  , 
yet,  for  all  the  Fires  of  Martyrdom 
which  were  kindled  in  the  Days  of  Queen  Mary, 
it  afforded  no  more  Fuel  than  one  poor  Leaf; 
namely,  John  Leaf  an  Apprentice,  who  fufter- 
ed  for  the  Dottrine  of  the  Reformation  at  the 
fame  Time  and  Stake  with  the  Famous  John 
Bradford.    But  when  the  Reign  of  Queen  Eli- 
zabeth would    not  admit   the  Reformation  of 
Worfhip  to  proceed  unto  thofe  Degrees,  which 
were  propofed  and  purfued  by  no  fmall  number 
of  the  Faithrul  in  thofe  Days,    Torkfhire  was 
not  the  leaft  of  the  Shires  in  England  that  af- 
forded   Suffering    Witneffes    thereunto.     The 
Churches  there  gathered  were  quickly  molefled 
with  fuch    a   raging   Ferfecuticn,    that  if  the 
Spirit  ot  Separation  in  them  did  carry  them  un- 
to   a    further   Ext  ream   than   it   fhould   have 
done,  one  blameable  Caufe  thereof  will  be  found 
in  the  Extremity  of  that  Fcrfecuticn.     Their 
Troubles  made  that  Cold  Country  too  Hot  for 
them,  fo  that  chey  were  under  a  neceffity   to 
feek  a  Retreat  in  the  Lew  Countries  ;  and  yet 
the   watchrul   Malice  and  Fury  of  their  Ad- 
verfaries  rendred  it  almoft  impoiTible  for  them 
to  find  what  they  fought.     For  them   to   leave 
their  Native.  Soil,  their  Lands  and  their  Friends, 
and  go  into  a  Strange  Place.,  where  they   muft 
hear  Forreign  Language,    and  live  meanly  and 
hardly,  and  in  other  Imployments  than  that  of 
Husbandly,    wherein  they  had  been  Educated, 


thefe  muft  needs  have  been  fuch  Difcourage- 
ments    as  could  have  been  Conquered  by  none, 
fave  thofe  who  fought  firft  the    Kingdom    of 
God,  and  the  Right eoujhefs  thereof     But  that 
which  would  have  made  thefe  Dilcouragements 
the  more    Unconquerable    unto   an    ordinary 
Faith,  was  the  terrible  Zeal  of  their  Enemies 
to  Guard  all  Forts,   and  Search  all  Ships,  that 
none  of  them  (hould  be  carried  off    I  will  not 
relate  the  fad  things  of  this  kind,   then  feen 
and  felt  by   this   People   of  God  ;    but  only 
exemplifie  thofe  Trials  with  one  (hort  Story. 
Divers  of  this  People  having  Hired  a  Dutch- 
man then  lying  at  Hull,  to  carry  them  over  to 
Holland,   he  promifed  faithfully  to  take  them 
in  between  Grimfly  and  Hull ;  but  they  coming 
to  the  Place  a  Day  or  Two  too  foon,  the  ap- 
pearance   of  fuch   a   Multitude    alarmed   the 
Officers  of  the    Town    adjoining,    who  C3me 
with  a  great  Body  of  Soldiers  xo  feize  upon 
them.     Now  it  happened  that  one  Boat  full  of 
Men  had  been  carried  Aboard,   while  the  Wo- 
men were  yet  in  a  Bark  that  lay   Aground  in 
a  Creek  at  Low-Water.     The,  Dutchman  per- 
ceiving  the  Storm  that  was  thus  beginning  A- 
fhore,   fwore  by  the  Sacrament  that  he  would 
flay    no   longer    for    any    of  them  ;    and    fo 
taking  the  Advantage  of  a   Fair   Wind    then 
Blowing,    he    put    out    to    Sea   for    Zealand. 
Ths  Women    thus  left   near  Gnmfly-Common, 
bereaved   of  their  Husbands,    who  had   been 
hurried  from  them,  and  forfaken  of  their  Neigh- 
bours, of  whom  none  durft  in  this  Fright  ftay 

with 


Book  II.         Or,  The  Hiftory  <?/"  New-England. 


with  them,  were  a  very  rueful  Spectacle  j 
fome  crying  for  Fear,  fome  fhaking  for  Cold, 
all  dragg'd  by  Troops  of  Armed  and  Angry 
Men  from  one  Juttice  to  another,  till  not  know- 
ing what  to  do  with  them,  they  e'en  difmifs'd 
them  to  fhift  as  well  as  they  could  for  them- 
ielves.  But  by  their  lingular  AffliUions,  and 
by  their  Chriftian  Behaviours,  the  Caufe  for 
which  they  expofed  themfelves  did  gain  con- 
fiderably.  In  the  mean  time,  the  Men  at  Sea 
found  Reafon  to  be  glad  that  their  Families 
were  not  with  them,  for  they  were  furprized 
with  an  horrible  Tempeft,  which  held  them 
for  Fourteen  Days  together,  in  Seven  whereof 
they  faw  not  Sun,  Moon  or  Star,  but  were 
driven  upon  the  Coaft  of  Norway.  The  Mari- 
ners often  dei'paired  of  Life,  and  once  with 
doleful  fhrieks  gave  over  all,  as  thinking  the 
Veffel  was  Foundred  :  But  the  Veffel  rofe  a- 
gain,  and  when  the  Mariners  with  funk  Hearts 
often  cried  out,  We  Sink  !  We  Sink  !  The 
Paffengers  without  fuch  Diftraclion  of  Mind, 
even  while  the  Water  was  running  into  their 
Mouths  and  Ears,  would  chearfully  Shout, 
let,  Lord,  thou  canji  Jove  !  Yet  Lord,  thou 
canjlfave  !  And  the  Lord  accordingly  brought 
them  at  Iaft  fafe  unto  their  Dejired  Haven: 
And  not  long  after  helped  their  DiftreiTed  Re- 
lations thither  after  them,  where  indeed  they 
found  upon  almoft  all  Accounts  a  new  World, 
but  a  World  in  which  they  found  that  they 
muft  live  like  Strangers  and  Pilgrims. 

§.  2.  Among  thofe  Devout  People  was  our 
William  Bradford,  who  was  Born  Anno  1588.  in 
an  obfeure  Village  call'd  Anfierfield.  where 
the  People  were  as  unacquainted  with  the 
Bible,  as  the  Jews  do  feem  to  have  been  with 
part  of  it  in  the  Days  of  Jofiah  ;  a  mod  Ig- 
norant and  Licentious  People,  and  like  unto  their 
Trieji.  Here,  and  in  lbme  other  Places,  he 
had  a  Comfortable  Inheritance  left  him  of  his 
Honeft  Parents,  who  died  while  he  was  yet 
a  Child,  and  calf  him  on  the  Education,  tirft 
of  his  Grand  Parents,  and  then  of  his  Uncles, 
who  devoted  him,  like  his  Ancefiors,  unto  the 
Affairs  of  Husbandry.  Soon  and  long  Sicknefs 
kept  him,  as  he  would  afterwards  thankfully 
lay,  from  the  Vanities  of  Toutb,  and  made  him 
the  fitter  for  what  he  was  afterwards  to  un 
dergo.  When  he  was  about  a  Dozen  Years 
Old,  the  Reading  of  the  Scriptures  began  to 
caufe  great  Impreiiions  upon  him  ;  and  thofe 
Impretiions  were  much  affifted  and  improved, 
when  he  came  to  enjoy  Mr.  Richard  Clifton's 
Illuminating  Miniftry,  not  far  from  his  Abode; 
he  was  then  alfo  further  befriended,  by  being 
brought  into  the  Company  and  Fellowihip  ol 
fuch  as  were  then  called  Profeffors  •,  though 
the  Young  Man  that  brought  him  into  it,  did 
after  become  a  Prophane  and  Wicked  Apo- 
fiate.  Nor  could  the  Wrath  of  his  Uncles. 
nor  the  Scoff  of  his  Neighbours  now  turn'd 
upon  him,  as  one  of  the  Puritans,  divert  him 
from  his  Pious  Inclinations. 

§.  ?.  At  laft  beholding  how   fearfully    the 
Evangelical  and  Apoftolical  Church-Form,  where- 


j  into  the  Churches  of  the  Primitive  Times 
(were  caft  by  the  good  Spirit  of  God,  had  been 
•  Deformed  by  the  Apoflacy  of  the  Succeeding 
limes  ;  and  what  little  Progrels  the  Refor- 
mation had  yet  made  in  many  Parts  of 
Chriftendom  towards  its  Recovery,  he  let  him- 
felf  by  Reading,  by  Dii'courle,  by  Prayer,  to 
learn  whether  it  was  not  his  Duty  to  withdraw 
from  the  Communion  of  the  Parifjj-Ajfemblies, 
and  engage  with  fome  Society  of  the  Faithful, 
that  fhould  keep  dole  unto  the  Written  Word 
of  God,  as  the  Rule  of  their  Wrrfhip.  And 
after  many  Diftreffes  of  Mind  concerning  it, 
he  took  up  a  very  Deliberate  and  Underftand- 
ing  Refolution  of  doing  fo  ;  which  Refolution 
he  chearfully  Irolecuted,  although  the  pro- 
voked Rage  of  his  Friends  tried  3II  the  ways 
imaginable  to  reclaim  him  from  it,  unto  all 
whom  his  Anfwer  was.  Were  I  like  to  endanger 
my  Life,  or  confume  my  Ejhue  by  any  ungodly 
Courjes,  your  Counjels  to  me  were  very  feaf on- 
able  :  But  you  know  that  I  have  been  Diligent 
and  Provident  in  my  Calling,  and  not  only  de- 
Jiroz/s  to  augment  what  I  have,  but  alfo  to  en- 
joy it  in  your  Company ;  to  part  from  which 
will  be  a*  great  a  Crofs  ax  can  befal  me. 
Aeverthelefs,  to  keep  a  good  Confcicnce,  and 
walk  in  fuch  a  Way  a#  God  has  prefcribed  in 
his  Word,  is  a  thing  which  I  muft  prefer  before 
you  all,  and  above  Life  it  felf.  Wherefore, 
Jince  'tis  for  a  good  Caufe  that  I  am  like  to 
fuffer  the  Difafters  which  you  lay  before  me, 
you  have  no  Caufe  to  be  either  angry  with  ?nej 
or  forry  for  me  -,  yea,  I  am  not  only  willing 
to  part  with  every  thing  that  is  dear  to  me 
in  this  World  for  this  Caufe,  but  I  am  alfo 
thankful  that  God  has  given  me  an  Heart 
fo  to  do,  and  will  accept  me  fo  to  fuffer  for 
him.  Some  lamented  him,  fome  derided  him, 
all  difiwaded  him  :  Neverthelefs  the  more 
they  did  it,  the  more  fixed  he  was  in  his  Pur- 
poie  to  feek  the  Ordinances  of  the  Gofpel, 
where  they  fhould  be  difpenfed  with  moft  of 
the  Commanded  Purity  ;  and  the  fudden  Deaths 
of  the  chief  Relations  which  thus  lay  at  him, 
quickly  after  convinced  him  what  a  Folly  it 
had  been  to  have  quitted  his  Profejfion,  in 
Expectation  of  any  Satisfaction  from  them. 
So  to  Holland  he  attempted  a  removal. 

§.  4.  Having  with  a  great  Company  of  Chri- 
ftians  Hired  a  Ship  to  Tranfport  them  for 
Holland,  the  Mailer  petfidiouily  betrayed  them 
into  the  Hands  of  thofe  Perfecutors,  who 
Rifled  and  Ranfack'd  their  Goods,  and  clapp'd 
their  Perfons  into  Prifon  at  Bofton,  where  they 
lay  for  a  Month  together.  But  Mr.  Bradford 
being  a  Young  Man  of  about  Eighteen,  was 
difmiffed  fooner  than  the  reft,  ib  that  within  a 
while  he  had  Opportunity  with  fome  others  to 
get  over  to  Zealand,  through  Penis  both  by 
Land  and  Sea  not  inconfiderable  ;  where  he 
was  not  long  Afhore  e're  a  Viper  feized  on 
his  Hand,  that  is,  an  Officer,  who  carried  him 
unto  the  Magiftrates,  unto  whom  an  envious 
PafTenger  had  accufed  him  as  having  fled 
out  of  England.  When  the  Magiftrates  un- 
A  a    2  derftood" 


4 


Magnalia  Cbrifti  Americana  ; 


Book  II. 


derftood  the  True  Caufe  of  his  coming  thi- 
ther, they  were  well  fatisfied  with  him  ;  and 
lb  he  repaired  joyfully  unto  his  Brethren  at 
Amfterdam,  where  the  Difficulties  to  which  he 
afterwards  Hooped, in  Learning  and  Serving  of 
a  frenchman  at  the  Working  of  Silks,  were 
abundantly  Compenfated  by  the  Delight  where- 
with he  fat  under  the  Shadow  of  our  Lord  in 
his  purely  difpenfed  Ordinances.  At  the  end 
of  Two  Years,  he  did,  being  of  Age  to  do 
it,  convert  his  Eltate  in  England  into  Money  ; 


with  Paflime  and  Frolicks  ;  and  this  gentle  Re- 
proof put  a  final  flop  to  all  fuch  Difoideis  for 
the  future. 

^.  6.  For  Two  Years  together  after  the  be- 
ginning of  the  Colony,  whereof  he  was  now 
Governour,  the  poor  People  had  a  great  Expe- 
riment of  Man's  not  living  by  Bread  alone  ■ 
for  when  they  were  left  all  together  without: 
one  Morfel  of  Bread  for  many  Months  one  after 
another,  ftill  the  good  Providence  of  God 
relieved    them,  and   fupplied   them,    and   this 


but  Setting  tip  tor  himfelf,  he  found  fome  of  his   for  the  moft  part  out  of  the  Sea.  In  this  lowCon- 


Defigns  by  the  Providence  of  God  frowned 
upon,  which  he  judged  a  Correction  bellowed 
by  God  upon  him  for  certain  Decays  of  In- 
ternal Piety,  whereinro  he  had  fallen  ;  the 
Confumpinm  of  his  Eflate  he  thought  came  to 
prevent  a  Conjunction  in  his  Virtue.  But 
after  he  had  reiided  in  Holland  about  half  a 
Score  Years,  he  was  one  of  thofe  who  bore  a 
part  in  that  Hazardous  and  Generous  Enter- 
prize  of  removing  into  New-England,  with 
part  of  the  Engl'ifl)  Church  at  Leyden,  where 
at  their  fir  ft  Landing,  his  deareft  Confort  ac- 
cidentally falling  Overboard,  was  drowned  in 
the  Harbour ;  and  the  reft  of  his  Days  were 
fpent  in  the  Services,  and  the  Temptations,  of 
that  American  Wilier nefs. 

§.  5.  Here  was  Mr.  Bradford  in  the  Year 
1621.  Unanimoufly  chofen  the  Governour  of 
the  Plantation  :  The  Difficulties  whereof 
were  inch,  that  if  he  had  not  been  a  Perfon 
of  more  than  Ordinary  Piety,  Wifdom  and 
Courage,  he  muft  have  funk  under  them.  He 
had  w  ith  a  Laudable  Induftry  been  laying  up 
a  Treafure  of  Experiences,  and  he  had  now 
occafion  to  ufe  it :  Indeed  nothing  but  an  Ex- 
perienced Man  could  have  been  fuitable  to  the 
Neceffities  of  the  People.  The  Potent  Nati- 
ons of  the  Indians,  into  whofe  Country  they 
were  come,  would  have  cut  them  off,  if  the 
Bleffing  of  God  upon  his  Conduct  had  not 
quell'd  them  ;  and  if  his  Prudence,  Juftice 
and  Moderation  had  not  over-ruled  them,  they 
had  been  ruined  by  their  own  Diftempers.  One 
Specimen  of  his  Demeanour  is  to  this  Day 
particularly  fpoken  of  A  Company  of  Young 
Fellows  that  were  newly  arrived,  were  very 
unwilling  to  comply  with  the  Governour's 
Order  for  Working  abroad  on  the  Publick  Ac- 
count ;  and  therefore  on  Chriflmafs-Day,  when 
he  had  called  upon  them,  they  excufed  them- 
felves,  with  a  pretence  that  it  was  againft  their 
Confcience  to  Work  fuch  a  Day.  The  Go- 
vernour gave  them  no  Anfwer,  only  that  he 
would  fpare  them  till  they  were  better  in- 
formed ■,  but  by  and  by  he  found  them  all  at 
Play  in  the  Street,  f porting  themfelves  with 
various  Diverfions ;  whereupon  Commanding 
the  Inftruments  of  their  Games  to  be  taken 
from  them,  he  efilQually  gave  them  to  un- 
der ftand,  That  it  was  againft  his  Confcience 
that  they  flmild  play  whilft  others  were  at 
Work  ;  and  that  if  they  had  any  Devotion  to 
the    Day,  they  fhould  fbow  it  at  Home   in  the 


dition  of  Affairs,  there  was  no  little  Exercife 
for  the  Prudence  and  Patience  of  the  Governour, 
who  chearfully  bore  his  part  in  all  :  And  that 
Induftry  might  not  flag,  he  quickly  fee  him- 
felf to  fettle  Propriety  among  the  New- Plan- 
ters ;  forefeeing  that  while  the  whole  Country 
labour'd  upon  a  Common  Stock,  the  Husbandry 
and  Bufinejs  of  the  Plantation  could  not  fiourijh, 
as  Plato  and  others  long  fince  dream'd  that 
it  would,  if  a  Community  were  eftablifhed.  Cer- 
tainly, if  the  Spirit  which  dwelt  in  rhe  Old 
Puritans,  had  not  infpired  thefe  New-Planters, 
they  had  funk  under  the  Burden  of  thefe  Dif- 
ficulties ;  but  out  Bradford  had  a  double  Por- 
tion of  that  Spirit. 

§.  7.  The  Plantation  was  quickly  thrown  in- 
to a  Storm  that  almoft  overwhelmed  it,  by  the 
unhappy  Aftions  of  a  Minifter  fent  over  from 
England  by  the  Adventurers  concerned  for  the 
Plantation  ;  but  by  the  Bleffing  of  Heaven  on 
the  Conducf  of  the  Governour,  they  Weathered 
out  that  Storm.  Only  the  Adventurers  here- 
upon breaking  to  pieces,  threw  up  all  their 
Concernments  with  the  Infant  Colony ;  where- 
of they  gave  this  as  one  Reafbn,  That  the 
Planters  dijjembled  with  His  Alajefty,  and  their 
Erie/ids  in  their  Petition,  wherein  they  decla- 
red for  a  Church-Difcipline,  agreeing  with  the 
French  and  others  of  the  Reforming  Churches 
in  Europe.  Whereas  'twas  now  urged,  that 
they  had  admitted  into  their  Communion  a 
Perfon,  who  at  his  Admif lion  utterly  renounced 
the  Churches  of  England,  (which  Perfon  by 
the  way,  was  that  very  K'an  who  had  made 
the  Complaints  againft  them)  and  there- 
fore though  they  denied  the  Name  of  Browniffs, 
yet  they  were  the  Thing,  in  Anfwer  hereunto, 
the  very  Words  written  by  the  Governour  were 
thefe  ;  Whereas  you  Tax  us  with  dijfembling 
about  the  French  Difcipline,  you  do  us  wrong, 
for  we  both  hold  and  prallice  the  Difcipline  of 
the  French  and  other  Reformed  Churches  (as 
they  have  publi/hed  the  fame  in  the  Harmony 
of  Confeffions)  according  to  our  Means,  in 
Effect  and  Subjiance.  But  whereat  you  would 
tie  us  up  to  the  French  Difcipline  in  every 
Circun: fiance,  you  derogate  from  the  Liberty  we 
have  in  Chriji  Jefus.  The  Apofile  Paul  would 
have  none  to  follow  him  in  any  thing,  but 
wherein  he  follows  Chrift  ;  much  lefs  ought 
any  Chrifiian  or  Church  in  the  World  to  do  it. 
The  French  may  err,  we  may  err,  and  oilier 
Churches  may  err,  and  doubtlefs  de  in  many 
Exercijes  of  Religion,  and  not  in  the  Streets  1  Circumfiances.     That  Honour  therefore  belongs 

only 


Book  II.  Or,  The  Hiftory  ojf  New-England!. 


* 


only  to  the  Infallible  Word  of  God,  and  pure 
Tettament  of  Chrift,  to  be  propounded  and 
followed  as  the  only  Rule  and  Pattern  for  Di- 
rection herein  to  all  Churches  and  Chriflians. 
And  it  is  too  great  Arrogancy  for  any  Men  or 
Church  to  think.,  that  he  or  they  have fo  founded 
the  Word  of  God  unto  the  bottom,  as  precifely 
to  Jet  down  the  Churches  Difciplitic  without 
Efrof  in  Subftance  or  CircumjUnce,  that  no  o- 
thcr  without  blame  may  digrcfs  or  differ  in  any 
thing  from  the  fame.  And  it  is  not  difficult 
to  fhew  that  the  Reformed  Churches  differ  in 
many  Circumftances  among  them/elves.  By 
which  Words  it  appears  how  for  he  was  free 
from  that  Rigid  Spirit  of  Separation,  which 
broke  to  pieces  the  Separates  themfeives  in 
the  Low  Countries,  unto  the  great  Scandal  of 
the  Reforming  Churches.  He  was  indeed  a 
Perfon  of  a  well-temper  d  Spirit,  or  elfe  it  had 
been  fcarce  potftble  for  him  to  have  kept  the 
Affairs  of  Plymouth  in  fo  good  a  Temper  for 


Daughter  by  another,     whom  he  Married  iri 
this  Land. 

§.  9.  He  was  a  Perfon  for  Study  as  well  as 
Allion  ;  and  hence,  notwithffanding  the  Diffi- 
culties through  which  he  paiTed  in  his  Youth,  he 
attained  unto  a  notable  Skill  in  Languages  \  the 
hutch  Tongue  was  become  almoft  us  Vernacu- 
lar to  him  as  the  Englijh  •  the  trench  Tongue 
he  could  alfo  manage;  the  Latin  and  the  Greek 
he  had  Mattered-,  but  the  Hebrew  he  molt  of 
all  ftudied,  Becaufe,  he  laid,  he  would  fee  with 
his  own  Eyes  the  Ancient  Oracles  of  God 
in  their  Native  Beauty.  He  was  alfo  well 
skill'd  in  Hiftory,  in  Antiquity,  and  in  Philoso- 
phy ;  and  for  Theology  he  became  fo  verfed  in 
it,  that  he  was  an  Irrefragable  DiJ'putant  a- 
gainft  the  Errors,  efpecialiy  thofe  of  Anabap- 
tijm,  which  with  Trouble  he  law  riling  in 
his  Colony  -,  wherefore  he  wrote  fome  Signi- 
ficant things  for  the  Confutation  of  thofe  Er- 


rors.    But   the  Crown  of  all  was   his   Holy, 
Thirty  Seven    Years  together ;    in   every  one  j  Prayerful,   Watchful  and  Fruitful  Walk  with 
of  which  he  was  chofen  their  Governour,  ex-  God,  wherein  he  was  very  Exemplary, 
cept  the  Three  Tears,  wherein  Mr.  Winflow,  and       §.  ic.  At  length  he  fell   into  an  Indifpofi 
the   Two   Tears,  wherein  Mr.  Prince,  at  the  |  tion  of  Body,   which  rendred   him  unhealthy 
choice  of  the  People,  took  a  turn  with  him.  for  a   whole  Winter  ■,  and  as  the  Spring  ad- 

§.  8.  The  Leader  of  a  People  in  a  Wilder-  vanced,his  Health  yet  more  declined  ;  yet  he 
nejs  had  need  be  a  Mofes  ;  and  if  a  Mofes  felt  himlelf  not  what  he  counted  Suk,  till  one 
had  not  led    the   People  of  Plymouth  Colony,   Day-^  in  the^  Night  after  which,  the  God  of 


when  this  Worthy  Perfon  was  their  Governour, 
the  People  had  never  with  fo  much  Unanimity 
and  Importunity  ftiJi  called  him  to  lead  them. 
Among  many  Manxes  thereof,    let  this  one 
piece  of  Self-denial  be  told  for  a  Memorial  of 
bint,  toberefoever  this  Hiflory  fhall be  confide  red. 
The  Patent  of  the  Colony  was  taken  in  his 
Name,  running  in  thefe  Terms,  To  William 
Bradford,   bis   Heirs,    Affociates  and  Affigns : 
But  when  the  number  "of   the  Freemen  was 
much  Increafed,   and   many   New    Townfbips 
Elected,    the  General  Court  there  defired  of  1  them  all 
Mr.  Bradford,  that  he  would  make  a  Surren- 
der of  the  fame  into  their  Hands,   which  he 
willingly  and  preiently  alTented  unto,  and  con- 
firmed it  according  to  their  Defire  by  his  Hand 
and  Seal,  referving  no  more  for  himfelf  than 
was  his  Proportion,  with  others,  by  Agreement.  j  ra£fcerj  \a  an 
But  as  he  found  the  Providence  of  Heaven  ma 


Heaven  fb  fill'd  his  Mind  with  Ineffable  Con- 
folations,  that  he  feemed  little  ffiort  of  Paul., 
rapt  up  unto  the  Unutterable  Entertainments 
of  Pat'adije.  The  next  Morning  he  told  his 
Friends,  That  the  good  Spirit  of  God  had 
given  him  a.  Pledge  of  his  Happinefs  in  ano-. 
ther  Worlds  and  the  Firft-fruits  of  bis  Eter- 
nal Glory :  And  on  the  Day  following  he 
died,  May  9.  i6<;-j.  in  the  69th  Year  of  his 
Age.  Lamented  by  all  the  Colonies'  of  Neva- 
England,  as  a  Common  Blefiing  and  Father  to 


0  tnibi  ft  Similis  Comingat  Oaufula  Vit£ ! 

Plato's  brief  Deicription  of  a  Governour. 
is  all  that  I  will    now   leave    as   his   Cha- 


EPITAPH. 


ny  ways  Recompensing  his  many  A&s  of  Self- 
denial,  fo  he  gave  this  Teilimony  to  the  Faith- ; 
fulnefs  of  the  Divine  Promifes  ;  That  he  had  I  &»/«&  T^?»{  dybut    dyfyoirltri. 

forfaken   Friends,   Houfes  and  Lands  for   the , 

Jake  of  the  Go/pel,    and  the  Lord  gave  them  \MEN  are  but  FLOCKS:  BRADFORD 
him  again.     Here  he  profpered  in  his  Efiate-,  I     beheld  their  Need, 

and  befides  a  Worthy  Son  which  he  had  by  a    And  kvg   did  them  at  once  both   Rule  arid 
former  Wife,    he  had  alfo  Two  Sons  and  a  !     Feed. 


CHAP; 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana. 


Book  II. 


CHAP.     II. 
SUCCESSORS. 


Inter  Omnia  qu&  Rempublicam,  ejufq-^  fmlicitattm  confervant,  quid  utilius,  quid  pr<e- 
jlantius,  quant  Viros  ad  Magiflratus  gerendps  Eligere,  fumma  prudentia  &  Virtute 
preditos,  quiq-j  ad  Honor es  obtinendos,  non  An/bit  ione,  non  Largitionibus^  fed  Virtute 
&  Modejiia  fibi  parent  adytum  ! 


fj.  i.  >~T^  H  E  Merits  of  Mr.  Edward  Win/low, 
X  the  Son  of  Edward  Win/low,  Efq^ 
of  Draughtwich,  in  the  Country  of  Worcefler, 
obliged  the  Votes  of  the  Plymouthean  Colony 
(whereto  he  arrived  in  the  Year  1624.  after  his 
Prudent  and  Faithful  Difpatch  of  an  Agency 
in  England,  on  the  behalf  of  that  Infant  Colony ) 
to  chufe  him  for  many  Years  a  Magiftrate, 
and  for  Two  or  Three  their  Governour.  Tra- 
velling into  the  Lou-Co entries,  he  fell  into 
Acquaintance  with  the  Englijh  Church  at  Ley- 
den,  and  joining  himfelf  to  them,  he  Shipped 
himfelf  with  that  part  of  them  which  firft 
came  over  into  America  -,  from  which  time  he 
was  continually  engaged  in  fuch  extraordinary 
Actions,  as  the  affiftance  of  that  People  to  en- 
counter their  more  than  ordinary  Difficulties, 
called  for.  But  their  Publick  Affairs  then  re- 
quiring an  Agency  of  as  wife  a  Man  as  the 
Country  could  find  at  Whitehall  for  them,  he 
was  again  prevail'd  withal  in  the  Year  1635:. 
to  appear  for  them  at  the  Council-board ';  and 
his  appearance  there  proved  as  EffeSual,  as  it 
was  very  Seafonable,  not  only  for  the  Colony 
of  Plymouth,  but  for  the  Majfachufets  alfo,  on 
very  important  Accounts.  It  was  by  the 
Bleffing  of  God  upon  his  wary  and  proper  Ap- 
plications, that  the  Attempts  of  many  Adver- 
faries  to  overthrow  the  whole  Settlement  of 
New-England,  were  themfelves  wholly  over- 
thrown ■,  and  as  a  fmall  Acknowledgment  for 
his  great  Service  therein,  they  did,  upon  his 
return  again,  chufe  him  their  Governour.  But 
in  the  Year  1646.  the  place  of  Governour ^  be- 
ing reaffumed  by  Mr.  Bradford,  the  MaJJachu- 
/^/-Colony  Addreffed  themfelves  unto  Mr. 
Winjlow  to  take  another  Voyage  for  England, 
that  he  might  there  procure  their  Deliverance 
from  the  Defigns  of  many  Troublefome  Adver- 
faries  that  were  Petitioning  unto  the  Parliament 
againft  them  •,  and  this  Hercules  having  been 
from  his  very  early  Days  accuftomed  unto 
the  crufiing  of  that  fort  of  Serpents,  generoufly 
undertook  another  Agency,  wherein  how  many 
good  Services  he  did  for  New-England,  and 
with  what  Fidelity,  Difcretion,  Vigour  and  Suc- 
cefs  he  purfued  the  Interefts  of  that  Happy 
People,  it  would  make  a  large  Hiftory  to  re 
late,  an  Hiftory  that  may  not  now  be  expe&ed 
until  the  Rejurrcilion  of  the  Jujl.  After  this 
he  returned  no  more  unto  New-England ;  but 
being  in  great  Favour  with  the  greateft  Per- 
fons  then  in  the  Nation,  he  fell  into  thofe  Im- 
ployments  wherein  tne  whole  Nation  fared  the 
better  for  him.    At  length  he  was  imployed  as 


one  of  the  Grand  Commijjtoncrs  in  the  Expe- 
dition againft  Hifpaniola,  where  a  Difeafe 
(rendred  yet  more  uneafie  by  his  Diflatisfatti- 
on  at  the  ftrange  mifcarriage  of  rhat  Expedi- 
tion) arrefting  him,  he  died  between  Domingo 
and  Jamaica,  on  May  8.  165 7.  in  the  Sixty- 
firft  Year  of  his  Life,  and  had  his  Body  Ho- 
nourably committed  unto  the  Sea. 

§.  2.  Sometimes  during  the  Life,  but  always 
after  the  Death  of  Governour  Bradford,  even 
until  his  own,  Mr.  Thomas  Prince  was 
chofen  tSOutntOUt  of  Plymouth  He  was 
a  _  Gentleman  whofe  Natural  Pans  exceeded 
his  Acquired ;  but  the  want  and  worth  of  Ac- 
quired Parts  was  a  thing  lb  fenfible  unto 
him,  that  Plymouth  perhaps  never  had  a  great- 
er Mecxnai  of  Learning  in  it  :  It  was  he  that 
in  ipite  of  much  Contradi&ion,  procured 
Revenues  for  the  Support  of  Grammar-Schools 
in  that  Colony.  About  the  time  of  Governour 
Bradford's  Death,  Religion  it  felf  had  like  to 
have  died  in  that  Colony,  through  a  Liber- 
tine and  BrcwnijYick  Spirit  then  prevailing  a- 
mong  the  People,  and  a  ffranee  Difpofition  to 
Difcountenance  the  Gofpel-Alimjiry,  by  fetting 
up  the  Gifts  of  Private  Brethren  in  Opposi- 
tion thereunto.  The  good  People  being  in  ex- 
tream  Diftrefs  from  the  Profpcft  which  this 
matter  gave  to  them,  faw  no  way  fo  likely 
and  ready  to  fave  the  Churches  from  Ruin, 
as  by  the  Eleclion  of  Mr.  Prince  to  the  place' 
of  Governour  ;  and  this  Point  being  by  the 
Gracious  and  Marvellous  Providence  of  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift  gained  at  the  next  Election-, 
the  Adverfe  Party  from  that  very  time  funk 
into  Confufion.  He  had  Sojourned  for  a  while 
at  Eajlham,  where  a  Church  was  by  his  means 
gathered  ;  but  after  this  time  he  returned  unto 
his  former  Scituation  at  Plymouth^  where  he 
refided  until  he  died,  which  wis  March  29. 
1673.  wnen  he  was  about  Seventy-Three  Years 
of  Age  :  Among  the  many  Excellent  Qualities 
which  adorned  him  as  Governour  of  the  Co- 
lony, there  was  much  notice  taken  of  that  In- 
tegrity, wherewith  indeed  he  was  tnoft  exem- 
plarily  qualified  :,  Whence  it  was  that  as  he 
ever  would  refufe  any  thing  that  lookd  like 
a  Bribe  ;  fo  if  any  Peribn  having  a  Cafe  to 
be  heard  at  Court,  had  fenc  a  Prefent  unto 
his  Family  in  his  abfence,  he  would  prefently 
fend  back  the  value  thereof  in  Money  unto 
the  Peribn.  But  had  he  been  only  a  private 
Chnftian,  there  would  yet  have  been  feen  up- 
on him  thofe  Ornaments  of  Pray  erf ulnefs, 
and  Peaceablenefs,  and  profound  Resignation  to 

the 


Book  II.  Or,  The  Hiflory  <^  New-England. 


7 


the  Conduct  of  the  Word  of  God,  and  a  ftritf 
Walk  with  God,  which  might  juftly  have  been 
made  an  Example  to  a  whole  Colony. 

§.  3.  Reader,  If  thou  would'lt  have  feen  the 
true  Picture  of  Wifdom,  Courage  and  Genercfi- 
ty,  the  Succeffor  of:  Mr.  Thomas  Prince  in  the 
Government  of  Plymouth  would  have  repre 
fented  it.  It  was  the  truly  Honourable  Jofiah 
Winjlow,  Efq,  the  firft  Governour  that  was 
Born  in  New-England,  and  one  well  worthy  to 
be  an  Example  to  all  that  ihould  come  after 
him :  A  True  Englijh  Gentleman,  and  (that  I 
may  fay  all  at  oncej  the  True  Son  of  that 
Gentleman  whom  we  parted  withal  no  more 
than  Two  Paragraphs  ago.  His  Education 
and  his  Difpoiltion  was  that  of  a  Gentleman  ; 
and  his  many  Services  to  his  Country  in  the 
Yield,  as  well  as  on  the  Bench,  ought  never  to 
be  Buried  in  Oblivion.  All  that  Homer  defired 
in  a  Ruler,  was  in  the  Life  of  this  Gentle- 
man expreifed  unto  the  Life  ;  to  be,  Fortes  in 
Hoftes,  and,  Bonus  in  Gves.  Though  he  hath 
left  an  Offspring,  yet  I  muft  ask  for  One 
Daughter  to  be  remembred  above  the  reft.    As 


of  Old,  Epaminondas  being  upbraided  with 
want  of  Ilfue,  boafted  that  he  Ieir  behind  him 
cne_  Daughter,  namely,  the  Battel  of  'Leijtfra, 
which  would   render    him  Im  fo  our 

General  Winjlom  hath  kit  behind  him  his  Bat- 
tel at  the  Fort  of  the  Narraganfcis,  to  Im- 
mortalize him  :  There  did  he  with'  his  own 
Sword  make  and  frvape  a  Ten  to  Write  his 
Hiftory.  But  fo  large  a  Held  of  Merit  is  now 
before  me,  that  I  dare  not  give  my  felf  the 
liberty  to  Range  in  it  left  I  lofe  my  felf.  He 
died  on  Dec,    iS.    1680. 

Jam  Cinis  eft,  &  de  tarn  magus  reft  at  Achille, 
Nefcio  quid;  parvam  quod  non  bene  compleat 
Urnam. 

§.  4.  And  what  Succeffor  had  he  ?  Me- 
thinks  of  the  Two  laH  Words  in  the  won- 
derful Prediction  of  the  Succejfwn,  Oracled  un- 
to King  Henry  VII.  L  E  0,  NULL  US,  the 
Firft  would  have  well  fuited  the  Valiant 
Winjlow  of  Plymouth  ;  and  the  la  It  were  to 
have  been  wiih'd  for  him  that  followed. 


CHAP.     III. 
Patres  Confer  ipti ;  fir,  ASSISTENTS. 


THE  GOVERNOURS  of  New- 
England  have  ftill  had  Righteoufnefs 
the  Girdle  of  their  Loins,  and  Faithfulnefs 
the  Girdle  of  their  Reins,  that  is  to  fay, 
Righteous  and  faithful  Men  about  them,  in 
the  Affiftance  of  fuch  Magiftrates  as  were 
called  by  the  Votes  of  the  Freemen  unto  the  Ad- 
miniftration  of  the  Government,  ^according  to 
their  Charters)  and  made  the  judges  of  the 
Land.  Thefe  Perfons  have  been  fuch  Members 
of  the  Churches,  and  fuch  Patrons  to  the 
Churches,  and  generally  been  fuch  Examples  of 
Courage,  Wifdom,  Juftice,  Goodnefs  and  Re- 
ligion, that  it  is  fit  our  Church-Hijlory  fhould 
remember  them.  The  Bleffed  Apollonius,  who 
a  fet  Oration    Generoufly   and  Eloquently 


in 


Pleaded  the  Caufe  of  Chriftianity  before  the 
Roman  Senate,    was  not  only  a  Learned  Per- 
fon,   but  alfo  (if  Jerom  fay  right)  a  Senator 
of  Rome.    The  Senators  of  New-England  alfo 
have  pleaded  the   Caufe  of  Chriftianity,    not 
fo  much  by  Orations,  as  by  Prattifing  of  it, 
and  by  Suffering  for  it.     Nevertheless,  as  the 
Sicyonians    would    have   no    other    Epitaphs 
wiitten  on  the  Tombs  of  their  Kings,  but  on- 
ly  their    Names,    that  they    might   have    no 
Honour,  but  what  the    Remembrance   of  their 
Aftions  and  Merits  in  the  Minds  of  the  Peo- 
ple mould  procure  for  them ;  fb  I  Ihall  con- 
tent my  felf  with  only  reciting  the  Names  of 
thefe  Worthy  Perfons,   and   the   Times  when 
I  find   them   firft   chofen    unto   their    Magi- 
ftracy. 


MAGISTRATES  in  the  Colony  of 
New-Plymouth. 

TH  E  good  People,  foon  after  their  firft 
coming  over,  chofe  VixWilliam  Bradford  for 
their  Governour,  and  added  Five'  Ajfiftents, 
whofe  Names,  I  fuppofe,  will  be  found  in  the 
Catalogue  of  them,  whom  I  find  fitting  on 
the  Seat  of  Judgment  among  them,  in  the 
Year  1633. 

Edward  Winjlow,  Gov 
William  Bradford. 
Miles  Standijh. 
John  Howland, 
John  Alden. 
John  Dene. 
Stephen  Hopkins. 
William  Gilfon. 


Afterwards  at  feveral  times  were  added, 


Thomas,  Prince. 
William  Collier. 
Timothy  Hat  her  ly. 
John  Brown. 
John  Jenny. 
John  Ataood. 
Edmund  Freeman. 
William  Thomas. 
Thomas  Willet. 
Thomas  Southworth. 
James  Cudworth. 
Jofiah  Winjlow. 
William  Bradford.  F, 


1634; 

J634. 

1636. 

1636. 

1637. 

1638. 

1640, 

1642. 

1651. 

1652. 

1656. 

1657. 

Thomas 


8 


Or,  The  Hiflory  of  New-England.  Book  II. 


Thomas  Hinkley. 
James  Brown. 
John  Freeman. 
Nathanael  Bacon. 


1658. 
1665. 
1666. 
1667. 


Thus  far  we  find  in  a  Book  Entituledy  New* 
England's  Memorial,  which  was  Publifhed  by 
Mr.  'Nathanael  Morton,  the  Secretary   of  Ply- 


mouth Colony,    in  the   Year  1669.  Since   the11 
there  have  been  added  at  feveral  times, 


Conftant  Southworth. 
Daniel  Smith. 
Barnaba*  Lothrop. 
John  Thatcher. 
John  Walley, 


1 6  jo. 
1674. 
1681. 


CHAP.    IV. 

Nehemias   Americanus.     The   LIFE  of  J  O  H  N     WINTHROP,    Efc 
Governour  of  the  MASSACHUSET   COLONY. 

§Zuicunq^  Venti  erunt,  Ars  nojira  certe  non  aberit.     Cicer. 


§.  1.  T  ET  Greece  boaft  of  her  patient 
I  j  lycurgus,  the  Lawgiver,  by  whom 
Diligence,  Temperance,  fortitude  and  Wit  were 
made  the  Fafhions  of  a  therefore  Long-lafting 
and  Renowned  Commonwealth  :  Let  Rome  tell 
of  her  Devout  Numa,  the  Lawgiver*,  by  whom 
the  moft  Famous  Commonwealth  law  Peace 
Triumphing  over  extinguifhed  War,  and  cruel 
Plunders,  and  Murders  giving  place  to  the 
more  mollifying  Exercifes  of  his  Religion.  Our 
New-England  fhall  tell  and  boalt  of  her 
(I^itttljtOp,  a  Lawgiver,  as  patient  as^  Lycur- 
gus,  but  not  admitting  any  of  his  Criminal 
Diforders;  as  Devout  as  Numajovx  not  liable  to 
any  of  his  Heathenifh  Madneffes  ;  a  Governour 
in  whom  the  Excellencies  of  Chriflianity  made 
a  moft  improving  Addition  unto  the  Virtues, 
wherein  even  without  thofe  he  would  have 
made  a  Parallel  for  the  Great  Men  of  Greece, 
or  of  Rome,  which  the  Pen  of  a  Plutarch  has 
Eternized. 

§.  2.  A  ftock  of  Heroes  by  right  fhould  af- 
ford nothing  but  what  is  Heroical ;  and  nothing 
but  an  extream  Degeneracy  would  make  any 
thing  lefs  to  be  expeQed  from  a  Stock  of 
Winthrops.  Mr.  Adam  Winthrop,  the  Son  of 
a  Worthv  Gentleman  wearing  the  fame  Name, 
was  himfelf  a  Worthy,  a  Difcreet,  and  a 
Learned  Gentleman,  particularly  Eminent  for 
Skill  in  the  Law,  nor  without  Remark  for 
Love  to  the  Go/pel,  under  the  Reign  of  King 
Henry  VIII.  And  Brother  to  a  Memorable 
Favourer  of  the  Reformed  Religion  in  the  Days 
of  Queen  Mary,  into  whofe  Hands  the  Famous 
Martyr  Philpot  committed  his  Papers,  which 
afterwards  made  no  Inconfiderable  part  of  our 
Martyr-Books.  This  Mr.  Adam  Winthrop  had 
a  Son  of  the  fame  Name  alfo,  and  of  the 
fame  Endowments  and  Imployments  with  his 
Father;  and  this  Third  Adam  Winthrop  was 
the  Father  of  that  Renowned  John  Winthrop, 
who  was  the  Father  of  New-England,  and  the 
Founder  of  a  Colony,  which  upon  many  Ac- 
counts, like  him  that  Founded  it,  may  challenge 
the  Firfl  Place  among  the  Englifh  Glories 
of  America.  Our  31afjtt  Caitntfjl'Op  thus 
Born  at  the  Manfion-Houfe  of  his  Anceftcrs, 
at  Groton  in  Suffolk,  on  June  12.    15  87.  en- 


joyed afterwards  an  agreeable  Education.  But 
though  he  would  rather  have  Devoted  him- 
felf unto  the  Study  of  Mr.  John  Calvin,  than 
of  Sir  Edward  Cook  ;  neverthelefs,  the  Accom- 
plifhments  of  a  Lawyer,  were  thofe  where- 
with Heaven  madeJris  chief  Opportunities  to  be 
Serviceable. 

§.  3.  Being  made,   at  the    unufually    early 
Age  of  Eighteen,  a  Juftice  of  Peace,   his  Vir- 
tues began  to  fall  under  a  more  general   Ob- 
fervation  ;    and  he  not  only  fo  Bound  himfelf 
to  the  Behaviour  of  a  Chriftian,  as  to  become 
Exemplary  for  a  Conformity  to  the  Laws  of 
Christianity  in  his  own  Converfation,  but  alfo 
difcovered   a  more  than  ordinary  Meafure  of 
thofe   Qualities,    which    adorn   an    Officer   of 
Humane  Society.    His  Jujlice   was  Impartial, 
and  ufed   the  Ballance  to  weigh  not  the  Cajh 
but  the  Cafe  of  thofe  who  were  before  him  : 
Profopolatria,  he  reckoned  as  bad  as  Idololatria  : 
His  WiJdom  did  exquifitely  Temper  things  ac- 
cording to  the  Art  of  Governing,    which  is  a 
Bufinefs   of  more  Contrivance  than  the  Seven 
Arts  of  the   Schools  :  Oyer   ftill  went  before 
Terminer  in  all  his  Administrations  :    His  Cou- 
rage made  him   Dare  to  do  right,    and  fitted 
him    to  ftand   among   the  Lions,    that  have 
fometimes  been  the  Supporters  of  the  Throne  : 
All  which  Virtues  he  rendred  the  more  Illu- 
ftrious,  by  Emblazoning  them  with  the  Con- 
fiant Liberality   and  Hojpitality  of  a    Gentle- 
man.    This   made   him   the    Terror    of  the 
Wicked,  and  the   Delight   of  the  Sober,   the 
Envy  of  the  many,   but  the  Hope  of  thofe  who 
had  any  Hopeful  Defign  in  Hand  for  the  Com- 
mon Good  of  the  Nation,  and  the  Interefts  of 
Religion. 

§.  4.  Accordingly  when  the  Noble  Defign 
of  carrying  a  Colony  of  Chofen  People  into 
an  American  IVilderneis,  was  by  Jome  Eminent 
Perfons  undertaken,  This  Eminent  Perfon  was, 
by  the  Confent  of  all,  Chofen  for  the  Mofes, 
who  muft  be  the  Leader  of  ib  great  an  Un- 
dertaking :  And  indeed  nothing  but  a  Mofaic 
Spirit  could  have  carried  him  through  the 
Temptations,  to  which  either  his  Farewel  to 
his  own  Land,  or  his  Travel  in  a  Strange 
Land,  mult  needs  expofe  a  Gentleman  of 
*  his 


Book  II. 


Magnalia  Chrifli  Americana 


9 


bis  Education.  Wherefore  having  Sold  a  fair 
Eftate  of  Six  or  Seven  Hundred  a  Year,  he 
Tranfported  himfelfwith  the  EfTecls  of  it  into 
New-England  in  the  Year  1650.  where  hefpent 
it  upon  the  Service  of  a  famous  Plantation 
rounded  and  formed  for  the  Seat  of  the  raoft 
Reformed  Cbriftianity  :    And    continued  there. 


deed,  a  Governour,  who  had  moft  exactly  ftu- 
died  rhar  Book,  which  pretending  to  Teach  IV 
liticks,  did  only  contain  Three  Leaves,  and 
but  One  Word  in  each  of  thofe  Leave^,  w 
Word  was,  ^OOeratlOlt-  Hence,  though  he 
were  a  Zealous  Enemy  to  all  Vice,  yet  his  Pra- 
ctice  was  according  to  his  Judgment  thus  ex7 


conflicting  with  Temptations  of  all  forts,  as  ma-    preffed  ;  In  the  Infancy  of  Plantations,  Ju 
ny  Years  as  the  Nodes  of  the   Moon  take  to\  fhould  be  adminiflrcd  with  more  Lenity  than  in 


difpatch  a  Revolution.  Thofe  Perfons  were  ne 
ver  concerned  in  a  New-Plantation,  who  know 
not  that  the  unavoidable  Difficulties  of  fuch  a 
thing,  will  call  for  all  the  Prudence  and  Pa- 
tience of  a  Mortal  Man  to  Encounter  there- 
withal i  and  they  muft  be  very  infenfible  of 
the  Influence,  which  the  Juft  Wrath  of  Hea- 
ven has  permitted  the  Devils  to  have  upon  this 
World,  if  they  do  not  think  that  the  Difficul- 
ties of  a  New-Plantation,  devoted  unto  the  Evan- 
gelical WorJJnp  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrilt,  muft 
be  yet  more  than  Ordinary.  How  Prudently, 
how  Patiently,  and  with  how  much  Refigna- 
tion  to  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrilt,  our  brave  Win- 
throp  waded  through  theie  Difficulties,  let 
Pofterity  Confider  with  Admiration.  And  know, 
that  as  the  Pillure  of  this  their  Governour, 
was,  after  his  Death,  hung  up  with  Honour  in 
the  State-Houfe  of  his  Country,  \o  the  Wifdom. 
Courage,  and  Holy  Zeal  of  his  Life,  were  an 
Example  well-worthy  to  be  Copied  by  all  that 
lhall  fucceed  in  Government. 

§.  •;.  Were  he  now  to  be  confider 'd  only  as  a 
Chrijiian,    we  might  therein  propofe  him  as 
greatly  Imitable.    He  was   a  very   Religious 
Man  -,  and  as  he  ftri&ly  kept  his  Heart,  fo  he 
kept  his  Houfe,  under  the  Laws  of  Piety  •  there 
he  was  every  Day  conftant  in  Holy  Duties,  both 
Morning  and  Evening,  and  on  the  Lord's  Days, 
and  Leilures ;  though  he  wrote  not  after  the 
Preacher,  yet  fuch  was  his  Attention,  and  fuch 
his  Retention  in  Hearing,  that  he  repeated  unto 
his  Family  the  Sermons  which  he  had  heard  in 
the  Congregation.    But  it  is  chiefly  as  a  Gover- 
nour that  he  is  now   to  be  confider'd.     Being 
the  Governour  ©ver  the  confiderableft  Part  of 
New-England,   he  maintain'd  the  Figure  and 
Honour  of  his  Place  with  the  Spirit  of  a  true 
Gentleman-,  but  yet  with  fuch  obliging  Condefcen- 
tion  to  the  Circumftances  of  the  Colony,  that 
when  a  certain  troublefome  and  malicious  Ca- 
lumniator, well  known  in  thofe  Times,    prin- 
ted his  Libellous  Nick-Names  upon  the  chief 
Perfons  here,  the  worft  Nick-Name  he  could 
find  for  rhe  Governour,  wis  John  Temper- well; 
and  when  the  Calumnies  of  that  ill  Man  caufed 
the  Arch-Bifhop  to  Summon  one  Mr.  Cleaves 
before  the  King,  in  hopes  to  get  fome  Accufa- 
tion  from  him  againft  the  Country,  Mr.  Cleaves 
gave  fuch  an  Account  of  the  Governour's  lau- 
dable Carriage  in  all  Refpecfs,  and  the  ferious 
Devotion  wherewith   Prayers   were  both  pub- 
lickly  and  privately  made  for  His  Majefty,  that 
the  King  exprefTed  himfelf  moft  highly  Plea- 
fed  therewithal,    only  Sony  that  fo  Worthy  a 
Perfon  fhould  be  no  better  Accommodated  than 
with  the  Hardfhips  of  America.     He  was,  in- 


a  fettled  State ;  becaufe  People  are  more  apt 
then  to  Tranfgrefs ;  partly  out   of  Ignorance  of 
new  Laws  and  Orders,  partly  cut  of  Oppreffion 
of  Bufinejs,   and  other  Straits.     [ICHW  ®ltl- 
JJU,]  was  the  old  Rule  ;  and  ij  the  Strings  of  a 
new  Inftrument  be  wound  up  unto  their  height!?, 
they  will  quickly  crack.     But  when  fbme  Lead^ 
ing  and  Learned  Men  took  Offence  at  his  Con- 
duct in  this  Matter,  and  upon  a  Conference  g  ive 
it  in  as  their  Opinion,   That  a  ftriffer  1 
pline  was  to  be  ufedin  the  beginning  of  a  Plan 
tation,  than  after  its  being  with  more  Age  e- 
ftablifhed  and  confirmed,  the  Governour  being 
readier  to  fee  his  own  Errors  than  other  Mens, 
profeffed  his  Purpofe  to   endeavour  their  Satif 
facnon  with  lefs  of  Lenity  in  his  Adminiftra- 
tions.     At  that  Conference   there  were    drawn 
up  feveral  other    Articles  to   be  obferved  be- 
tween the  Governour  and  the  reft  of  the  Ma- 
giftrates,  which  were  of  this  Import  :  That  the 
Magiftrates,  as  far  as  might  be,  fhould  afore- 
hand  ripen  their  Confutations,  to  produce  that 
Unanimity  in  their  Publick  Votes,  which  might 
make  them  liker  to  the  Voice  of  God  ;  that  if 
Differences  fell  out  among  them  in  their  Pub- 
lick  Meetings,  they  fhould  fpeak  only  to  the 
Cafe,  without  any  Reflection,  with  all  due  Mo- 
defy,   and  but  by  way  of  Qiieftion  ;  or  Defire 
the  deferring  of  the  Caufe  to  further  time;  and 
after  Sentence  to  imitate  privately  no  Diflike ; 
that  they  fhould  be  more  Familiar,  Friendly  and 
Open  unto  each  other,  and  more  frequent  in  their 
Vifitations,   and  not  any  way   expofe  each  o- 
thet's  Infirmities,   but  feek  the  Honour  of  each 
other,  and  all  the  Court;  that  One  Magiftrate 
ihall  not  crofs  the  Proceedings  of  another,  with- 
out firft  advifing    with  him-,     and   that  they 
(hould  in  all  their  Appearances  abroad,  be  fo 
circumft3nced  as  to  prevent  all  Contempt  of 
Authority  ■,  and  that  they  fhould  Support  and 
Strengthen  all  Under  Officers.     All  of  which 
Articles  were  obferved  by  no  Man  more  than  by 
the  Governour  himfelf 

§.  6.  But  whilft  he  thus  did   as  our  A'nc- 
Englifh  Nehemiah,  the  part  of  a  Ruler  in  Ma- 
naging the  Publick  Affairs  of  our  American  Je- 
rusalem, when  there  were  Tobijabr  and  San- 
ballats  enough  to  vex   him,  and  give  him  the 
Experiment  of  Luther's  Obfervation,  Omnis  qui 
regit,  eft  tanquam  fignum,   in  quod  omnia   ja 
cula,  Satan    &  Mundus    dirigunt ;     he    made 
himfelf  ftill  an  exatter  Parallel  unto  that  Go- 
vernour of  Ifrael,  by  doing  the  part  of  a  Neigh- 
bour among  the  diftrefTed  People  of  the  New- 
Plantation.    To  teach  them  the  Frugality  ne- 
ceflarjr  for  thofe  times,  he  abridged  himfelf  of 
a  Thoufand  comfortable  things,  wh'ch  he  had 

B  b  & 


IO 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana  :  Book  II. 


allow'd  himfelf  elfewhere  :  His  Habit  was  not  of  fending  Supplies  unto  them.     And  there  was 


that  foft  Raiment,  which  would  have  been  d if1 
agreeable  to  a  Wilder  nefs -,  his  Table  was  not 
covered  with  the  Superflui i ies  that  would  have 


one  Paffage  of  his  Charity  that  was  perhaps  a 
little  unufual :  In  an  hard  and  long  Winter, 
when  Wood  was  very  icarce  at  Bflon,  a  Man 


invited  unto  Sjnfualities  :  Water  was  common-  gave  him  a  private  Information,  that  a  needy 
ly  his  own  Drink,  though  he  gave  Wine  to  o-  Perfbn  in  the  Neighbourhood   ftolrffW  fome- 
tbers.     But  at  the  lame  time  his  Liberality  un-  [times  from  his  Pile  ^  whereupon  the  Governour 
to  the  Needy  was  even  beyond  meafure  Gene-  jin  a  feeming  Anger  did  reply,    Does  be/a?  I'll 
rous  ;  and  therein  he  was  continually  caufing  \take  a  Courfe  with  him ;  go,  call  that  Man  to 
The  Bleffing   of  him   that  was  ready  to  Perifh  fie,  I'll  warrant  you  I'll  cure  him  of  Stealing  ! 
to  come  upon  him,  and  the  Heart  oj  the  Widow  When  the  Man  came,  the  Governour  confider- 
and  the  Orphan  to  jing  for  Joy  :  But  none  more  ing  that  if  he   had  Stoln,  it  was  more  out  of 
than  thofe  of  Deceas'd  Minijiers,  whom  he  a\-\Necejftty  than  Difpofuicn,  faid  unto  him,  Friend, 
ways  treated  with  a  very  lingular  Compaflion  ;  /' *V  afevereWinter,andI  doubt  you  arc  but  mean- 
among  the  Inftances  whereof  we  ftil!  enjoy  withKV  provided  for  Wood-,  wherefore  I  would  have 
us  the   Worthy   and   now   Aged  Son   of   that\youfupply  y.ourfelf  at  my  Wood-Pile  till  this  cold 
Reverend  Higginfon,  whofe  Death  left  his  Fa-!  Sea/on  be    over.     And  he  then    Merrily  ask- 
mily  in  a  wide  World  foon  after    his   arrival  ed   his  Friends,  Whether  he   had  not  effeflually 
here,   publtckly   acknowledging  the  Charitable  cured  this  Man  of  Stealing  his  Wood  ? 
Winthrop   for     his    toilet  -Father.     It  was    of       §   7.  One  would  have  imagined  that  fb  good 
tentimes  no  fin  ill  Trial  unto  his  Faith,  to  think,  a  Man  could  have  had  no  Enemies ;  if  we  had 
How  a  Table  for  the  I  v  pie  Jhould  be  furnifhed]  not  had  a  daily  and  woful  Experience  to  Con- 
whcn  they  fir  ft  came  into  the  Wilder  nejs  !  And  vince  us,  that  Gcodnefs  it  (elf  will  make  Ene- 
for  very  many   of  the   People,    his  own  good  mies.     It  is  a  wonderful  Speech  of  Plato,  (\a 
Works  were  needful,  and  accordingly  employ- |©ne  of  his  Books,  Tie  Vie  publico)   For  the  trial 
ed    for  the   anfwering  of  his   Faith.     Indeed,  \of*frue  Vertue,  ''tis  neceffafy  that  a  good   Man 


for  a  while  the  Governour  was  the  Jofepb,  un- 
to whom  the  whole  Body  of  the  People  repair- 
ed when  their  Corn  failed  them :  And  he  con- 
tinued Relieving  of  them  with  his  open-handed 
Bounties,  as  long  as  he  had  any  Stock  to  do 
it  with  -,  and  a  lively  Faith  to  fee  the  return 
of  the  Bread  after  many  Days,  and  not  Starve 
in  the  Days  that  were  to  pafs  till  that  return 
fhould  be  fieen,  carried  him  chearfully  through 
thofe  Expences.     Once   it  was  obfervable,  that 
oh  Feb.    %.   1630.  when  he   was  diftributing 
the  laft  Handful  of  the  Meal  in  the  Barrel  un- 
to a   Poor  Man  diftreiTed  by  the  Wolf  at  the 
Door,  at  that  Inftant  they  fpied  a  Ship  arrived 
at  the  Harbour's  Mouth   Laden  with  Provifi- 
ons  for  them  all.    Yea,  the  Governour  fome- 
times  made  his  own  private  Purfe  to  be  the 
Publick ;  not  by  fucking  into  it,  but  by  freez- 
ing out  of  it ;  for  when  the  Publick  Treafure 
had  nothing   in  it,  he  did  himfelf  defray  the 
Charges  of  the   Publick.     And  having  learned 
that  Leflon  of  our   Lord,  That  it  is  better  to 
Give,  than  to  Receive,  he  did,  at  the  General 
Court  when  he  was  a  Third  time  chofen  Gover- 
nour, made  a  Speech  unto  this  purpofe,   That 
be  had  received  Gratuities  from  divers  Towns, 
which  he  accepted  with  much  Comfort  and  Con- 
tent ;  and  he  had  likewife  received  Civilities 
from  particular  Perfons,   which  he  could  not  re- 
fufc  without  Incivility  in  himfelf :  Neverthe- 
less, he  took  them  with  a  trembling  Heart,  in 
regard  of  Gods  Word,    and   the   Confidence  of 
bis  own  Infirmities ;    and  therefore  he  defired 
them  that  they  would  not  hereafter  take   it  III 
if  he  refufedfuch  Prcfents  for  the  time  to  come. 
'Twas  his  Cuftom  alio  to  fend  fome  of  his  Fa- 
mily upon  Errands,  unto  the  Houfes  of  the  Poor 
about  their  Mealtime,  on  purpofe  to  fpy  whe- 
ther they  wanted;  and  if  it  were  found  that  they 
wanted,  he  would  make  that  the  Opportunity 


u»J\iv  aJIihov,  Jl'otctv  \~/ii  t  piy'isw  dJ\ty.ia<  •     Iho 
he  do  no  unjud  thing,  fhould  fuffer  the  Infamy 
of  the  great eft  Injuftice.    The  Governour  had 
by  his  unfpotted  Integrity,  procured  himfelf  a 
great  Repntation  among  the  People-,  and  then 
the  Crime  of  Popularity    was    laid  unto  his 
Charge  by  fuch,  who  were  willing  to  deliver 
him  from  the  Danger  of  having  all  Men  f peak 
well  of  him.     Yea,  there  were  Perfons  eminent 
both  for  Figure  and  for  Number,  unto  whom 
it  was  almoft  Effentidl  to  diflike  every  thing 
that  came  from  him;  and  yet  he  always  maintain- 
ed an  Amicable  Correfpondence  with  them  -.as  be- 
lieving that  they  aOed  according  to  their  Judg- 
ment and  Conlcience,  or  that  their  Eyes  were 
held  by  fome   Temptation  in  the  worft  of  all 
their  Oppofitions.    Indeed,  his  right  Works  were 
fo  many,  that  they  expofed  him  unto  the  Envy 
of  his  Neighbours^  and  of  fuch  Power  was  that 
Envy,  that  fometimes  he  could  not  ft and  before 
it;   but   it  was  by   not  J landing   tnat  he  molt 
effeftually  withftood  it  all.  Great  Attempts  were 
fometimes  made  among  the  Freemen,  to  get  him 
left  out  from  his  Place  in  the  Government  up- 
on little  Pretences,  left    by  the  too  frequent 
Choice  of  One  Man,   the  Government  fhould 
ceafe  to  be  by  Choice;  and   with  a  particular 
aim  at  him,  Sermons  were  Preached  at  the  An- 
niveriary   Court  of  Elettion,    to  diflwade    the 
Freemen  from  chufing  One  Man  Twice  together. 
This  was  the  Reward  of  his  extraordinary  Ser- 
vice able  nefs  I  But  when  thefe  Attempts  did fuc- 
ceed,  as  they  fometimes  did,  his  Profound  Hu- 
mility appeared  in  that  Equality  of  Mini,  where- 
with he  applied  himfelf  cheerfully  to  ferve  the 
Country    in  whatever  Station  their  Votes  had 
allotted  for  him.     And  one  Year  when  the  Votes 
came  to  be  Numbered,  there  were 'found  Six 
lefs  for  Mr.  Winthrop,  than  for  another  Gentle- 
man who  then  flood  in  Competition :  But  feveral 

other 


Book  II.  Or,  TbeHiftoryofNcw-JLnzlmd. 


1 1 


other  Perfons  regularly  Tend  ring  their  Vdtes  be- 
fore the  Election  was  publifhed,  were,  upon  a 
very  frivolous  Objection,  refufed  by  fome  of  the 
Khciftrates,  that  were  afraid  left  the  Eleflion 
(hould  atlaft  fall  upon  Mr.  Wtnthrop  ■  Which 
though  it  was.  well  perceived,  yet  fuch  was  the 
Self-denial  of  this  Patriot ,  that  he  would  not 
permit  any  Notice  to  be  taken  of  the  Injury. 
But  thefe 'TV/'tf/r  were  nothing  in  Companion 
of  thole  harfher  and  harder  Treats,  which  he 
fometimes  had  from  the  Frowardnefs  of  not  a 
few  in  the  Days  of  their  Paroxifms  ;  and  from 
the  Faction  of  feme  againft  him,  hot  much  un- 
like that  of  the  Piazzi  in  Florence  againft  the 
Family  of  the  Medices  i  All  of  which  heat 
hit  Conquered  by  Conforming  to  the  Famous 
Judges  Motto,  Prudens  qui  Patiens.  The  Ora- 
cles of  God  have  laid,  Envy  is  rottennejs  to 
the  Bones  ;  and  Gulielmus  Parifienfis  applies 
it  unto  Rulers,  who  areas  it. were  the  Bones  of 
the  Societies  which  they  belong  unto :  Envy, 
lays  he,  is  often  found  among  them,  and  it  is 
rottennejs  unto  them.  Our  Winthrop  Encoun- 
tred  this  Envy  from  others,  but  Conquered  it, 
by  being  free  from  it  himfelf. 

§.  8.  Were  it  not  for  the  fake  of  introducing 
the  Exemplary  Skill  of  this  Wife  Man,  at  giv 
mgfoft  Anficers,  one  would  not  chufe  to  Re- 
late thole  Inftances  of  Wrath,  which  he  had 
ibmetimes  to  Encounter  with  ;  bur  he  was  for 
his  Gentlenefs,  his  forbearance,  and  his  Longa- 
nimity, a  Pattern  fo  worthy  to  be  Written  after, 
that  fomething  muft  here  be  Written  of  it    He 
feemed  indeed  never  to  fpeak  any  other  Language 
than  that  of  Theodofu/s,  If  any  Alan  fpeak  evil  of 
the  Govemour,  if  it  be  thro  Light nefs,  'tis  to 
be  contemned ;  if  it  be  thro   Madnefs,  'tis  to  be 
pitied  ;  if  it  thro'  Injury,  'tis  to  be  remitted. 
Behold,  Reader,  the  Meekncfs  of  Wifdom  nota- 
bly exemplified !    There  was  a  time  when  he 
received   a  very  fharp   Lettet  from  a  Gentle- 
man, who  was  a  Member  of  the  Court,  but  he 
delivered  back  the  Letter  unto  the  MetTengers 
that  brought  it  with  fuch  a  Chriftian  Speech 
as  this,  J  am  not  willing  to  keep  fuch  a  matter 
of  Provocation  by  me !   Afterwards  the  fame 
Gentleman  was  compelled  by    the  fcarciry   of 
Provifions  to  fend  unto  him  that  he  would  Sell 
him  fome  of  his  Cattel  ;  whereupon  the  Go- 
vernour  prayed  him  to  accept  what  he  had  fent 
for  as  a   Token  of  his  Good   Will-,    but  rhe 
Gentleman  returned  him  this  Anfwer,  Sir,  your 
overcoming  of  your  felf  hath  overcome  me  ;  and 
afterwards  gave    Demonftration    of  it.     The 
trench  have  a  faying,  That  Un  Hone  ft  e  Hom- 
me, eft  un  Homme   mefle  I    A  good  Man   is  a 
mixt  Man  •,  and  there  hardly  ever  was  a  more 
lenfible  Mixture  of  thofe  Two  things,  Refoluti- 
on  and  Condefcentwn,  than  in   this  good  Man. 
There  was  a  time  when  the  Court  of '  EleUwn, 
being  for  fear  of  Tumult,  held  at  Cambridge, 
May  17.  1637.  The  Sectarian  part  of  the  Coun- 
try, who  had  the  Year  before  gotten  a  Gover- 
nor more  unto  their  Mind,  had  a  Project  now 
to  have  confounded  the  Election,  by  demand- 
ing that  the  Court  would  eonfider  a   Petition 


then  tendered  before  their  Proceeding  thereun- 
to. Mr.  Winihrcp  i'.uv  that  this  was  only  a 
Trick  to  throw  nil  into  Gorifufion,  by  putting; 
off  the  Choice  of  the  Govemour  and  Ajfftents 
until  theDfvy  (houid  be  over*  and  therefore  he 
did,  with  a  ftrenuous  Rcjohaton,  procure  a  dif- 
appointment  unto  that  mifchievous  and  jfiiiri 
Contrivance.  Neveuheleis,  Mr.  Wmtbrep'him- 
felf  being  by  the  Voice  of  the  Freemwi  in  this 
Exigence  chofln  the  G'SvWndur,  and  all  of  the 
other  Party  left  our,  that  ill-aifettVd  PUfty  dis- 
covered the  Dirt  and  Mir,-,  which  remained 
with  them,  after  the  Storm  was  over  ;  particu- 
larly the  Serjeant s,  whole  Office  'twas  to  attend 
the  Govemour,  laid  down  their  Huberts-,  but 
fuch  was  the  Condefcention  of  this  Govemour, 
as  to  take  no  prefent  Notice  of  this  Anger  and 
Contempt,  but  only  Order  fome  of  his  own  Ser- 
vants to  take  the  Halberts  :  And  when-  the 
Countty  manifefted  their  deep  Refentments  of 
rhe  Affront  thus  offered  him.  he  prayed  them  to 
overlook  it.  But  it  was  not  long  before  a  Com- 
penfation  was  made  for  thefe  things  by  the 
doubled  Rejpeffs  which  were  from  all  Parts  paid 
unto  him.  Again,  there  was  a  time  when  the 
Supprellion  of  an  Antinomian  and  FarrifliftiM 
Fa£tion,  which  extreamly  threatned  the  Ruin  of" 
the  Country,  was  generally  thought  much  ow- 
ing unto  this  Renowned  Man  ;  and  therefore 
when  the  Friends  of  that  Facfion  could  not 
wreak  their  Dilpleafure  on  him  with  any  Po- 
litick Vexations,  they  fet  themfelves  to  do  it 
by  Eccleffiical  ones.  Accordingly  when  a  Sen- 
tence of  Banifhment  was  palled  on  the  Ring- 
leaders of  thofe  Difturbances,  who 

— Maria  iff  Terras,  Ccelumq;  profundus. 
^uippe  ferant,    Rapidi,  fecum,    vertantcfa  per 
Auras  ; 

many  at  the  Church  of  Bofton,  who  were  then 
that  way  too  much  inclined,  moft  earneitly  ib- 
licited  the  Elders  of  that  Church,  whereof  the 
Govemour  was  a  Member,  to  call  him  forth  as 
an  Offender  for  patling  of  that   Sentence.     The 
Elders  were  unwilling  to  do  any  fuch  thing  ;  but 
the   Govemour    underftanding  the   Ferment  a- 
mong  the  People,  took  that  occafion  to  make  a 
Speech   in    the    Congregation    to  this   EfteSfc. 
'  Brethren,    Underftanding  that   fome  of  you 
'  have  deGred  that  I  fhould  Anfwer  for  an  Of- 
'•'fence  lately  taken  among  you  ;  had  I  been  cal- 
'  led  upon  fo  to  do,  I  would.  Fir/?,  Hive  ad- 
c  vifed  with  the  Minifters  of  ti.^-  Country,  whe- 
c  ther  the  Church  had  Power  to  call  in  Qaeftt- 
w  on  the  Civil  Court ;  and    I  would,  Secondly, 
'  Haveadvifed  with  the  reft  of  the  Court,  whe- 
'  ther  I  might  dilcover  their  Counieh  unto  the 
'  Church.    But  though  I  know  that  the  heverend 
'  Eldersof  this  Church,  and  fome  others,  do  very 
'  well  apprehend  that  xheChitrcb  cann  t  enquire 
'  into  the  Proceedings  of  the  Court ;   yet  for  the 
'  Satisfaction  of  the  weaker  who  do  not  appre- 
'  hend  it,   I  will  declare  my  Mind  concerning 
'  ir.     If  the  Church  have  any  fuch  Power,  they 
'  have  it  from  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift;  but  the 

B  b  2  Lord 


12 


Magnalia  Chrifli  Americana  :  Book  II. 


'  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  hath  declaimed  it,  not  only 
'by  Pratficc,  but  alfo  by  Precept,  which  we 
'have  in  his  Gofpe!,  Mat.  20.  25,  26.  It  is 
'  true  indeed,  that  Magifirates,  as  they  are 
'  Church-Members,  are  accountable  unto  the 
'  Church  for  their  Failings ;  but  that  is  when 
'  they  are  out  of  their  Calling.  When  Uzziah 
'  would  go  offer  Incenfe  in  the  Temple,  the 
'Officers  of  the  Church  called  him  to  an  ac- 
'  count,  and  withftood  him ;  but  when  A/a  put 
'  the  Prophet  in  Prifon,  the  Officers  of  the 
'  Church  did  not  call  him  to  an  account  for  that. 
1  If  the  Magiflrate  (hall  in  a  private  way 
'wrong  any  Man,  the  Church  may  call  him  to 
4  an  Account  for  it  ;  but  if  he  be  in  Purfuance  of 
'  a  Courfe  of  Jufiice,  though  the  thing  that  he 
'  does  be  unjujt,  yet  he  is  not  accountable  for  it 
'  before  the  Church.  As  for  my  felf  I  did  nothing 
'  in  the  Caufes  of  any  of  the  Brethren,  but  by 
'  the  Advice  of  the  Elders  of"  the  Church.  More- 
'over,  in  the  Oath  which  I  have  taken  there 
'  is  this  Claufe,  In  all  Cau/es  whercinyou  are  to 
'  give  your  Vote,  you  (hall  do  a#  in  your  Judg- 
'  ment  and  Confcience  you  _fl.mll  fee  to  be  Julf, 

*  and  for  the  publick  Good.  And  I  am  fatisfied, 
'  it  is  molt  for  the  Glory  of  God,  and  the  pub- 
'  lick  Good,  that  there  has  been  Rich  a  Sentence 
'  palTed  ;  yea,  thole  Brethren  are  fo  divided 
'  from  the  reji  of  the  Country  in  their  Opinions 

*  and  Practices,  that  it  cannot  Hand  with  the 
4  publick  Peace  for  them  to  continue  with  us ; 

*  Abraham  faw  that  Hagar  and  l/hmael  mull  be 
'fent  away.  By  fuch  a  Speech  he  marvel- 
loufly  convinced,  fatisfied  and  mollified  the 
uneafie  Brethren  of  the  Church;  Sic  cunilus 
Pelagi  cecidit  Fragor — .  And  after  a  little  pati- 
ent waiting,  the  differences  all  fb  wore  away, 
that  the  Church,  meerly  as  a  Token  of  Refpecl 
unto  the  Governour,  when  he  had  newly  met 
with  fome  Loffes  in  his  Eltate,  fent  him  a  Pre- 
fent  of  feveral  Hundreds  of  Pounds.  Once 
more  there  was  a  time,  when  fome  a£Kve  Spi- 
rits among  the  Deputies  of  the  Colony,  by  their 
endeavours  not  only  to  make  themfelves  a  Court 
of  Judicature,  but  alfo  to  take  away  the  Negative 
by  which  the  Magiftrates  might  check  their 
Votes,  had  like  by  over-driving  to  have  run  the 
whole  Government  into  lbmething  too  Demo- 
cratical.  And  if  there  were  a  Town  in  Spain 
undermined  by  Coneys,  another  Town  in  Thrace 
deftroyed  by  Moles,  a  Third  in  Greece  ranverfed 
by  Frogs,  a  Fourth  in  Germany  fubverted  by 
Rats-,  I  muft  on  this  Occafion  add,  that  there 
was  a  Country  in  America  like  to  be  confound- 
ed by  a  Swine.  A  certain  ft  ray  Sozo  being  found, 
was  claimed  by  Two  feveral  Perfons  with  a 
Claim  fo  equally  maintained  on  both  fides,  that 
after  Six  or  Seven  Years  Hunting  the  Bufi- 
nefs,  from  one  Court  unto  another,  it  was 
brought  at  laft  into  the  General  Court,  where 
the  final  Determination  was,  that  it  wan  im- 
pojTible  to  proceed  unto  any  Judgment  in  the 
Cafe.  However  in  the  debate  of  this  Matter, 
the  Negative  of  the  Uppcr-Hou/e  upon  the 
Lower  in  that  Court  was  brought  upon  the 
Stage  ■,  and  agitated  with  fo  hot  a  Zeal,  that  a 


little  more  and  all  had  been  in  the  Pi  re.  In 
thefe  Agitations  the  Governour  was  informed 
that  an  offence  had  been  taken  by  ibme  eminent 
Perfons,  at  certain  PalTages  in  aDifcourfeby 
him  written  thereabout  ■,  whereupon  with  his 
ufual  Conde/cendency,  when  he  next  came  into 
the  General  Court,  he  made  a  Speech  of  this 
Import.  '  I  underhand,  that  fome  have  taken 
'  Offence  at  fomething  that  I  have  lately  written  5 
'  which  Offence  I  defire  to  remove  now,  and  be- 
'  gin  this  Year  in  a  reconciled  State  with  you  all. 
'  As  for  the  Matter  of  my  Writing,  I  had  the 
c  Concurrence  of  my  Brethren  ;  it  is  a  Point  of 
'  Judgment  which  is  not  at  my  own  difpofing. 
'  I  have  examined  it  over  and  over  again,  by 
'  fuch  Light  as  God  has  given  me,  from  the 
'  Rules  of  Religion,  Rea/on  and  Cujiom  ;  and  I 
'  fee  no  caule  to  Retraft  any  thing  of  it ;  Where- 
'fore  I  muft  enjoy  my  Liberty  in  that,  as  you 
'  do  your  felves.  But  for  the  Manner,  this,  and 
c  all  that  was  blame-worthy  in  it,  was  wholly 
' my  own;  and  whatlbever  f  might  alledge  for 
'  my  own  Juftification  therein  before  Men,  I 
'  wave  it,  as  now  letting  my  felf  before  another 
'  Judgment-Scat.  However,  what  I  wrote  was 
'  upon  great  Provocation,  and  to  vindicate  my 
'  felf  and  others  from  great  Afperfion  -,  yet  that 
'  was  no  fufficlent  Warrant  for  me  to  allow  any 
'  Dijiemper  of  Spirit  in  my  felf;  and  I  doubt 
'  I  have  been  too  prodigal  of  my  Brethren's  Re- 
'  putation  ;  I  might  have  maintained  my  Caufe 
'  without  calling  any  Blemifh  upon  others, 
'  when  I  made  that  my  Conclufion,  And  now 
'  let  Religion  and  found  Rea/on  give  Judgment  in 
'  the  Cafe ;  it  look'd  as  if  I  arrogated  too  much 
'  unto  my  /elf  and  too  little  to  others.  And 
'  when  I  made  that  Profeffion,  That  I  would 
i  maintain  what  I  wrote  before  all  the  World, 
'  though  fuch  Words  might  model! ly  be  fpoken, 
'  yet  1  perceive  an  unbefeeming  Pride  of  my 
'  own  Heart  breathing  in  them.  For  thefe  Fail* 
'  ings  I  ask  Pardon  both  of  God  and  Man. 

Sic  ait,  tV  diUo  citius  Tumida  JEquora  placat, 
Colletiafq;  fugat  Nubes,  Solemq;  reducit. 

This  acknowledging  Di/pofition  in  the  Gover- 
nour, made  them  all  acknowledge,  that  he  was 
truly  a  Man  of  an  excellent  Spirit.  In  fine, 
the  Vi [lories  of  an  Alexander,  an  Hannibal,  or 
zCefar  over  other  Men,  were  not  fo  Glorious, 
as  the  Viflories  of  this  great  Man  over  him/elf 
which  alio  at  laft  prov'd  ViUcries  over  other 
Men. 

§.  9.  But  the  ftormieft  of  all  the  Trials  that 
ever  befel  this  Gentleman,  was  in  the  Year 
1645.  when  he  was  in  Title  no  more  than  De- 
puty-Governour  of  the  Colony.  If  the  famous 
Cato  were  Forty-four  times  call'd  into  Judg- 
ment, but  as  often  acquitted  ;  let  it  not  be  won- 
dred,  and  if  our  Famous  Winthrop  were  one 
time  lb.  There  hapning  certain  Seditious  and 
Mutinous  Practices  in  the  Town  of  Hingham, 
the  Deputy-Governour  as  legally  as  prudently 
interpofed  his  Authority  for  the  checking  of 
them :  Whereupon  there  followed  fuch  an  £  n- 

chantment 


Book  II.        Or,  The  Hijlory  of  New-England. 


*9 


cbantment  upon  the  minds  of  the  Deputies  in 
the  General  Court,  that  upon  a  fcandalous  Pe- 
tition of  the  Delinquents  unto  them,  wherein  a 
pretended  Invafion  made  upon  the  Liberties  ol 
the  People    was    complained    of  the   Depi/ty- 
Governour,  was  molt  Irregularly  eall'd    forth 
unto  an  Ignominous  Hearing  before  them  in  a 
valt  Alterably  •,  whereto  with  a  Sagacious  Humi- 
litude  he  confented,  although  he  lhew'd  them 
how    he  might  have  Refufed  it.     The  refult 
of  that  Hearing  was,  That  hotwithftanding  the 
touchy  Jealoufie  of  the  People  about  their  Li- 
berties lay  at  the  bottom  of  all  this  Proiecuri- 
on,  yet  Mr.  Winthrop  was  publickly  Acquitted, 
and  the  Offenders   were  feverally   Fined   and 
Cenfured.      But  Mr.  Wintbrop  then  renaming 
the  Place  of  Deputy-Governour  on  the  Bench,  j 
faw  caufe  to  fpeak  unto  the  Root  of  the  Matter  \ 
after  this  manner.    '  I  (hall  not  now  fpeak  any ! 
'  thing  about  the  pad  Proceedings  of  this  Court, 
'  or  the  Perfons   therein   concerned.     Only  I 
'  blefs  God  that  I  fee  an  IfTue  of  this  trouble- 
'  fome  Affair.    I  am  well  fatisfied  that  I  was 
'  publickly  Accufed,   and  that  1  am  now   pub- 
5  lickly  Acquitted.     But  though  I  am  juftified 
'  before  Men,  yet  it  may  be  the  Lord  hath  feen 

*  fo  much  amifs  in  my  Adminiftrations,  as  calls 
'  me  to  be  bumbled;  and  indeed  for  me  to  have 
c  been  thus  charged  by  Men,  is  it  felf  a  Matter 
'  of  Humiliation,  whereof  I  defire  to  make  a 
c  right  ufe  before  the  Lord.    If  Miriam's  Fa- 

*  ther  fpit  in  her  Face,  lhe  is  to  be  Afhamed. 

*  But  give  me  leave  before  you  go,  to  lay  fome- 
c  thing  that  may  re£tifie  the  Opinions  of  many 
'  People,  from  whence  the  Diftempers  have 
crifen  that  have  lately  prevailed  upon  the  Bo- 
'  dy  of  this  People.  The  Queftions  that  have 
1  troubled  the  Country  have  been  about  the  Au 

'  thority  of  the  Magiflracy,  and  the  Liberty  of 
'  the  People.  It  is  Ton  who  have  called  us  un- 
'  to  this  Office  •,  but  being  thus  called,  we  have 
'  our  Authority  from  God;  it  is  the  Ordinance 
1  of  God,  and  it  hath  the  Image  of  God  itamp- 
4  ed  upon  it  ;  and  the  contempt  of  it  has  been 
4  vindicated  by  God  with  terrible  Examples  of 
4  his  Vengeance.  I  intreat  you  toconfider,  That 
'  when  you  chufe  Magiftrates,  you  take  them 
1  from  among  your  felves,  Men  fubjeU  unto 
4  like  Paffions  with  your  Jelves.  If  you  fee  our 
'Infirmities,  reflect  on  your  own,  and  you  will 

*  not  be  fo  levere  Cenfurers  of  Ours.  We 
'  count  him  a  good  Servant  who  breaks  not  his 
4  Covenant  :  The  Covenant  between  Us  and  You, 
4  is  the  Oath  you  have  taken  of  us,  which  is  to 
4  this  Purpofe,  That  we  fhall  govern  you,  and 
4  judge  your  Caufes,  according  to  God's  Laws, 
4  and  our  own,  according  to  our  befi  Skill.  As 
c  for  our  Skill,  you  mult  run  the  hazard  of  it; 
'  and  if  there  be  an  Error,  not  in  the  Will,  but 
'  only  in  the  Skill,  it  becomes  you  to  bear  it. 
'Not  would  I  have  you  to  miltake  in  the 
'  Point  of  your  own  Liberty.    There  is  a  Li 

'  berty  of  corrupt  Nature,  which  is  affe£ted 
4  both  by  Men  and  Beafts,  to  do  what  they  lilt  5 

*  and  this  Liberty  is  inconfiftent  with  Authority, 
4  impatient  of  all  Reltraint  ■    by  this  Liberty, 


'  SumusOmnes  Deteriores  :  Tis  the  Grand  Ene- 
c  my  of  Truth  and  Peace,  and  all  the  Ordinan- 
c  ces  of  God  are  bent  againft  it.  But  there  is  a 
c  Civil,  a  Moral,  a  Federal  Liberty,  which  is 
c  the  proper  End  and  Object  of  Authority  •  it  is 
6  a  Liberty  for  that  only  which  is  ju/I  and  good; 
'  for  this  Liberty  you  are  to  ttand  with  the 
1  hazard  of  your  very  Lives;  and  whatsoever 
c  Croffes  it,  is  not  Authority,  but  a  Bifieittper 
4  thereof.  This  Liberty  is  maintained  in  a  way 
4  of  Subjellion  to  Authority  •  and  the  Ant  bo 
'  nty  fet  over  you,  will  in  all  Adminiftrations 
'  for  your  good  be  quietly  fubmitted  unto,  by 
'  all  but  fuch  as  have  a  Difpofition  to /hake  off 
'  the  Yoke,  and  lofe  their  true  Liberty,  by  their 
'  murmuring  at  the  Honour  and  Power  of  Au- 
'  thority. 

The  Spell  that  was  upon  the  Eyes  of  the  Peo- 
ple being  thus  difiblved,  their  diftorted  and  en- 
raged notions  of  things  all  vani'lhed  ;  and  the 
People  would  not  afterwards  entruft  the  Helm 
of  rhe  Weather-beaten  Bark  in  any  orher 
Hands,  but  Mr.  Wmthrop's,  until  he  Died. 

§.  10.  Indeed  fuch  was  the  Mixture  of  di- 
ftant  Qualities  in  him,  as  to  make  a  moft  admi- 
rable Temper;  and  his  having  a  certain  Great- 
ncfsofSoul,  which  rendered  him  Grave,  Gene- 
rous, Courageous,  Refolved,  Well-applied, 
and  every  way  a  Gentleman  in  his  Deameanour^ 
did  not  hinder  him  from  taking  fometimes  the 
old  Romans  way  to  avoid  Confufions,  namely, 
Ccdendo ;  or  from  difcouraging  fome  things 
which  are  agreeable  enough  to  moft  that  wear 
the  Name  of  Gentlemen.  Hereof  I  will  give 
no  Inftances,  but  only  oppofe  two  Paflages  of 
his  Life. 

In  the  Year  1632.  the  Governour.  with  his 
Paftor  Mr.  Wilfon,  and  fome  other  Gentkmea 
to  fettle  a  good  undefftanding  betwet..  the  Two' 
Colonies,  travelled  as  far  as  Plymouth  more 
than  Forty  Miles,  through  an  Howu^Wilder- 
nefs,  no  better  accommodated  in  thole  early 
Days,  than  the  Princes  that  in  Solomon's  time 
faw  Servants  on  Horfeback,  or  than  Genus  and 
Species  in  the  old  Epigram,  going  on  Foot.  The 
difficulty  of  the  Walk,  was  abundantly  compen- 
fated  by  the  Honourable,  firft  Reception,  and 
then  Difmiffion,  which  they  found  from  the 
Rulers  of  Plymouth  ;  and  by  the  good  Corre- 
fpondence  thus  eftablifhed  between  tfie  New 
Colonies,  who  were  like  the  floating  Bottels 
wearing  this  Motto,  Si  Collidimur,  Prangimur. 
But  there  were  at  this  time  in  Plymouth  two 
Minilters,  leavened  fo  far  with  the  Humours 
of  the  Rigid  Separation,  that  they  infilled  ve- 
hemently upon  the  Unlawfulnefs  of  calling  any 
unregenerate  Man  by  the  Name  0$  Good-man 
fuch  an  One,  until  by  their  indifcreet  urging 
of  this  Whimfey,  the  place  began  to  be  dif- 
quieted.  The  wifer  People  being  troubled  at 
thefe  Trifles,  they  took  the  opportunity  of 
Governour  Winthrofs  being  there,  to  have  rhe 
thing  publickly  propounded  in  the  Congrega- 
tion ■,  who  in  anfwer  thereunto,  diftinguiihed 
between  a  Theological  and  a  Moral  Goodnefs ; 
adding,  that  when  Juries  were  firft  uled  in  Exg- 

landy 


x4 


Magnalia  Chrifii  Americana  : 


Book  II. 


K  it  was  ufual  for  the  Crier,  after  the 
Names  of  Petfons  fit  for  that  Service  were 
called  over,  to  bid  them  all,  Attend,  Good  Men, 

'  True ;  whence  it  grew  to  be  a  Civil  Cufiom 
in  the  Englijh  Nation,  for  Neighbours  living 
by  one  another,  to  call  one  another  Good-man 
fuch  an  One  :  And  it  was  pity  now  to  make  a 
ftir  about  a  Civil  Cufiom,  fo  innocently  introdu- 
ced. And  that  Speech  of  Mr.  Winthrcp's  put 
a  Lifting  flop  to  the  Little,  Idle,  Whimfical 
Conceits,  then  beginning  to  grow  Obftreperous. 
Neverthelefs  there  was  one  Civil  Cuftom  ufed 
in  ^and  in  few  but)  the  Englijh  Nation,  which 
this  Gentleman  did  endeavour  to  abolifh  in  this 
Country.,  and  that  was,  The  ufage  of  Drinking 
to  one  another.  For  although  by  Drinking  to 
one  another,  no  more  is  meant  than  an  a£'t  of 
Courtefie,  when  one  going  to  Drink,  does  In 
vite  another  to  do  fo  too,  for  the  fame  Ends 
with  himielf ;  neverthdeis  the  Governour  fnot 
altogether  unlike  to  Cleomenes,  of  whom  'tis 
reported  by  Plutarcb,&  .oim  iA-lt  a-oTBf/oc  xfo«-5?=?=, 
Nolenti  poculum  nunqitam  frtebuit,  con'ideted 
the  Impertinency  and  \njigmficancy  of  this 
Ufage/as  to  any  c/ithbfe  Ends  that  are  ufu- 
aliy  pretended  for  it ;  and  that  indeed  it  ordi- 
narily ftrved  for  no  Ends  at  all,  but  only  -to 
provoke  Perfons  unto  unfeafoaabk,  and  per- 
il/ ps  mreafonible  Drinking,  and  at  laft  pro- 
duce that  abominable  tiealth-Drinking,  which 
the  Ymhers  of  old  fo  feverely  rebuked  in  the 
Pagans  and  which  the  Papijis  themfelves  do 
Condemn,  when  their  Cafuifts  pronounce  it, 
Peccatum  :i  or  tale,  provocare  ad  JEquales  Calices, 
iff  Nefa*  Re/ponder e.  Wherefore  in  his  own 
moft  H  rpitable  Houfe  he  left  it  off-,  not  out 
of  any  filly  or  ftingy  Fancy,  but  meerly  that 
by  his  Example  a  greater  Temperance,  with 
Liberty  ol  Drinking,  might  be  Recommended, 
and  fundry  Inconveniences  in  Drinking  avoided  ; 
and  his  Example  accordingly  began  to  be  much 
followed  by  the  fober  People  in  this  Country, 
as  it  now  alfo  begins  to  be  among  Peribns  of 
the  Higheji  Rank  in  the  Englijh  Nation  it  felf  -, 
until  an  Order  of  Court  came  to  be  made  againft 
that  Ceremony  in  Drinking,  and  then  the  old 
Wont  violently  returned,  with  a  Nitimur  in 
Vetitum. 

(j.  n.  Many  were  the  Afflitiions  of  this 
Righteous  Man !  He  loft  much  of  his  Eftate  in 
a  Ship,  and  in  an  Houfe,  quickly  after  his  com 
ing  to  New-England,  belides  'the  Prodigious 
Expence  of  it  in  the  Difficulties  of  his  firft 
coming  hither.  Afterwards  hisaffiduous  Applica- 
tion unto  the  Publick  Af[airs,(wheTe\nIpfeJexon 
habuit,  poflquam  Refpublica  eum  Gubcrnatorem 
habere  capil)  made  him  fo  much  to  neglect 
his  own  private  Interefts,  that  an  unjuft  Steivard 
ran  him  2500  /.  in  Debt  before  he  was  aware  ; 
for  the  Payment  whereof  he  was  forced,  many 
Years  before  his  Deceafe,  to  fell  the  moft  of 
what  he  had  left  unto  him  in  the  Country. 
Albeit,  by  the  obfervable  Bleffing  of  God  upon 
the  Poflerity  of  this  Liberal  Alan,  his  Children 
all  01  them  came  to  fair  Eftates,  and  lived  in 
good  Falhion  and  Credit.     Moreover,  he  fuc- 


cefiively  Buried  Three  Wives-.-,  the  Firft  of 
which  was  the  Daughter  and  Heirefs  of 
Mr.  Forth,  of  MuchvSiambrddgs  in  Ejfex,  by. 
whom  he  had  Wijdom  t&i'tb  an  inheritance;  and 
an  excellent  Son.  The  Second  was  the  Daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  William  Clapton,  of  London,  who 
Died  with  her  Child,  within  a  very  little  while. 
The  Third  was  the  Daughter  of  the  truly  Wor- 
fhipful  Sit  John  Tyndal,  who  made  it  her 
whole  Care  to  pleafe,  Firft  God,  and  then  her 
Husband;  and  by  whom  he  had  Four  Sons, 
which  Survived  and  Honoured  their  Father. 
And  unto  all  thefe,  the  Addition  cf  the  Di- 
ftempcrs,  ever  now  and  then  raifed  in  the  Coun- 
try, procured  unto  him  a  very  lingular  ihare 
of  Trouble  ■,  yea,  fo  hard  was  the  Meafure 
which  he  found  even  among  Pious  Men,  in  the 
Temptations  of  a  Wiidcrnefs,  that  when  the 
Thunder  and  Lightning  had  fmitten  a  Wind-mill, 
whereof  he  was  Owner,  fome  had  fuch  things 
in  their  Heads,  as  publickly  to  Reproach  this 
Charitablefi  of  Men,  as  if  the  Voice  of  the  Al- 
mighty had  rebuked,  I  know  not  what  Oppreffi- 
on,  which  they  judged  him  Guilty  of:  Which 
things  1  would  not  have  mentioned,  but  that 
the  Inftances  may  fbrtifie  the  Expectations  of  my 
befi  Readers  for  fuch  AffliSipns, 

§.  12.  He  that  had  been  tor  his  Attainments,  as 
they  faid  oftheblefled/lL/t-a/v/^anai/iay^rjajs 
An  old  Man,  while  a  young  One,  and  that  had 
in  his  young  Days  met  with  many  of thofe  /// 
Days,  whereof  he  could  fay,  he  had  little  Plea- 
fure  in  them ;  now  found  old  Age  in  its  Infirmi- 
ties advancing  Earlier  upon  him,  than  it  came 
upon  his  much  longer  lived  Progenitors.  While 
he  was  yet  Seven  Years  off  of"  that  which  we 
call  the  grand  Climafferical^  he  felt  the  Ap- 
proaches of  his  Dijfolution  ;  and  finding  he 
could  fay, 

Non  Habitus,    non  ipfe  Color   non  Greffus 

Euntps, 
Non  Species  Eadcm,  qu.e  fait  ante,  manet. 

he  then  wrote  this  account  of  himfelf,  Age  now 
comes  upon    me,    and   Infirmities   therewithal, 
which  makes  me  apprehend,  that  the  time  of  my 
departure  out  of  this  World  is  not  far  off.    How- 
ever our  times  are    all   in  the  Lord's    Hand, 
fo  at   we  need  not  trouble  our  Thoughts  hozo 
long    or  fhort   they  may  be,  but  how  we  may  be 
found  Faithful  when  we  are  called  for.     But  at 
laft   when   that  Tear  came,    he  took  a   Cold 
which  turned  into  a  leaver,  whereof  he  lay 
Sick  about  a  Month,  and   in  that  Sicknefs,    as 
it  hath  been   obferved,  that  there  was  allowed 
unto  the  Serpent  the  bruifing  of  the  Heel ;  and 
accordingly   at    the  Heel  or  the  Clofe  of  our 
Lives  the  old  Serpent  will  be  Nibbling  more 
than  ever  in  our  Lives  before  ;  and  when  the 
Devil  fees  that  we  (hall  fhortly  be,  where  the 
wicked  ceafe  from  troubling,  that  wicked  One  will 
trouble  us  more  than  e.er;  fo  this  eminent  Saint 
now  underwent  lharp  Confii&s  with  the  Temp- 
ter, whofe  Wrath  grew   Great,  as  the  Time  to 
exert  it  grew  Short-,  and  he  was  Buffetted  with 

the 


Book  II.        Or,  The  Hiftory  qf  New-Ensland. 


J5 


the  Difconfolate  Thoughts  of  Black  and  Sore 
Defcrtions,  wherein  he  could  ufe  that  lad  Re- 
prelentation  of  his  own  Condition. 

Nuper  Eram  Judex  ;  Jam  Judicor  ;  Ante  Tri- 
bunate 
Subjijlens  paveo,  Judicor  ipfe  modo. 

t 

But  it  was  not  long  before  thofe  Clouds  were 
Difpelled,  and  he  enjoyed  in  his  Holy  Soul  the 
Great  Confolations  of  God !  While  he  thus  lay 
Ripening  for  Heaven,  he  did  out  of  Obedience 
unto  the  Ordinance  of  our  Lord,  fend  for  the 
Elders  of  the  Church  to  Fray  with  him  ;  yea, 
they  and  the  whole  Church  Fafled  as  well  as 
Prayed  for  him ;  and  in  that  Fuji  the  venerable 
Cotton  Preached  on  PJal.  35.  13,  14.  When 
they  were  Sick,  I  humbled  my  felf  with  Fafi- 
i„g  ;  I  behaved  my  felf  as  though  he  had  been 
my  Friend  or  Brother ;  /  bowed  down  heavily, 
at  one  that  Mourned  for  his  Mother :  From 
whence  I  find  him  raifing  that  Obfervation,  The 
Sicknefs  of  one  that  is  to  us  as  a  Friend,  a 
Brother,  a  Mother,  is  a  juft  occafwn  of  deep 
humbling  our  Souls  with  Fafiing  and  Prayer; 
and  making  this  Application,  k  Upon  this  Occa- 
'  fion  we  are  now  to  attend  this  Duty  for  a 
*  Governour,  who  has  been  to  us  as  a  Iriend  in 
'  his  Counfel  for  all  things,  and  Help  for  our 
c  Bodies  by  Phyfick,  for  our  Eflates  by  Law, 
4  and  of  whom  there  was  no  fear  of  his  becom- 
c  ing  an  Enemy,  like  the  Friends  of  David  : 
'  A  Governour  who  has  been  unto  us  as  a  Bro- 
'  ther  •  not  ufurping  Authority  over  the  Church ; 
'  often  fpeaking  his  Advice,  and  often  contra- 


'  di£led,  even  by  Young  Men,  and  fome  o^ 
'low  degree-,  yet  not  replying,  but  offering  Sa- 
'  tisfa&ion  alio  when  any  luppofed  Offences 
'•have  arifen  ;  a  Governour  who  has  been  un- 
'to  us  as  a  Mother,  Parent-like  diftributing 
'  his  Goods  to  Brethren  and  Neighbours  at  his 
'  firft  coming  ;  and  gently  bearing  our  Infirmi- 
1  ties  without  taking  notice  of  them. 

Such  a  Governour  after  he  had  been  more 
than  Ten  feveral  times  by  the  People  choferi 
their  Governour,  was  Nciv-Hngland  now  to 
lofe  ;  who  having,  like  Jacob,  firft  left  his 
Council  and  Blejfing  with  his  Children  gather- 
ed about  his  Bed  fide  ;  and,  like  David,  ferved 
his  Generation  by  the  Will  of  God,  he  gave  up 
the  Ghoft,  and  fell  aflccp  on  March  26.  1649. 
Having,  like  the  dying  Emperour  Valentinian, 
this  above  all  his  other  Victories  for  his  Tri- 
umphs, his  overcoming  of  himfelf. 

The  Words  of  Jofephus  about  Nehemiah,  the 
Governour  of  Ifrael,  we  will  now  ufe  upon 
this  Governour  of  New-England,  as  his 

EPITAPH. 

'Avtij  iy'ivSTo  X?M?""<  ?M  yvtriv,   iy  Jlhatii, 

Ketl     'Tiei    T»V     0jl/C5-Jy«f     QlhOTlUOTO.1  @-  : 

Mcm««oi/  diuvtav  omtu   %&To,hfnclv  7<£  ray 
Ii$o<rohv[J.it>v  Ti'iyv' 

VIR  FUIT  INDOLE  BONUS,  AC  JUSTUS: 
ET  POPULARIUM  GLORIiE  AMANTISSI- 

MUS: 
QUIBUS  ETERNUM  RELIQUIT  MONU- 

MENTUM, 

Novanglorum  M  OE  N  I  A. 


CHAP.    V. 

S  V  C  C  E    S  S  0   R   S. 


§.  1.  S~\  N  E  -as  well    acquainted   with    the 

V_y  Matter,  as  Ifocrates,  informs  us,  That 

among   the   Judges   of  Areopagus  none  were 

admitted  vhiv  0/  x.*A<wf  yiyovoTi;,  X)  irahXw 
<tfi7nr  x)  <rv$(offCmv  iv  ra  $ia  ivAtJluypiroi^  un- 
lefs  they  were  Nobly  Born,  and  Eminently  Ex- 
emplary for  a  Virtuous  and  a  Sober  Life.  The 
Report  may  be  truly  made  concerning  the 
Judges  of  New-England,  tho'  they  were  not 
Nobly  Born,  yet  they  were  generally  Well 
Bom  ;  and  by  being  Eminently  Exemplary  for 
a  Virtuous  and  a  Sober  Life,  gave  Demon- 
ftrat'ion  that  they  were  New-born.  Some  Ac- 
count of  them  is  now  more  particularly  to  be 
Endeavoured. 

We  read  concerning  Saul,  [_  1  Sam.  15.  12.3 
He  fet  up  himfelf  a  place.  The  Hebrew 
Word,  "F  there  ufed,  fignifies  A  Monumen- 
tal Pillar.  It  is  accordingly  promifed  unto 
them  who  pleafe  God,  [Ifa.  56.  5.]  That  they 
fhall  have  a  Place  and  a  Name  in  the  Houje 
of  God  •,  that  is  to  fay,  a  Pillar  Erecled  for 
Fame  in  the  Church  of  God.  And  it  (hall  be 
fulfilled  in  what  fhall  now  be  done  for  our 


Governours  in  this  our  CI)urch-Hiflory.  E- 
ven  while  the  Maffachufettenftans  had  a  Win- 
throp  for  their  Governour,  they  could  not  re- 
ftrain  the  Channel  of  their  AffeUioris  from 
running  towards  another  Gentleman  in  their 
Elections  for  the  Year  1634.  particularly, 
when  they  chofe  unto  the  Place  of  Governour 
Thomas  Dudley,  Efq-,  one  whom  after  the 
Death  of  the  Gentleman  abovementioned,  they 
again  and  again  Voted  into  the  Chief  Place  of 
Government.  He  was  Born  at  the  Town  of 
Northampton,  in  the  Year  1574.  the  only  Son  of 
Captain  Roger  Dudley,  who  being  Slain  in  the 
Wars,  left  this  our  Thomas,  with  his  only  Sifter, 
for  the  Father  of  the  Orphans,  to  take  them  up. 
In  the  Family  of  the  Earl  of  Northampton  he 
had  opportunity  perfectly  to  learn  the  Points  of 
Good  Behaviour  ;  and  here  having  fitted  him- 
felf to  do  many  other  Benefits  unto  the  World, 
he  next  became  a  Clerk  unto  Judge  Nichols, 
who  being  his  Kinfman  by  the  Mother's  Side, 
therefore  took  the  more  fpecial  notice  of  him. 
From  his  Relation  to  this  Judge,  he  had  and 
ufed  an  Advantage  to  attain  fuch  a  Skill  in 

the 


i<5 


0r3  The  Hiflory  (^New-England.  Book  II. 


the  Law,  as  was  of  great  Advantage  to  him 
in  the  future  changes  of  his  Life  ;  and  the 
Judge  would  have  preferred  him  unto  the 
higher  Imploymenrs.  whereto  his  prompt  Wit 
not  a  little  recommended  him,  if  he  had  not 
been  by  Death  prevented.  But  before  he  could 
appear  to  do  much  at  the  Pen,  for  which  he 
was  very  well  Accompliihed,  he  was  called 
upon  to  do  fomething  at  the  Siwrd  ;  for  be 
ing  a  Young  Gentlemen  well-known  for  his 
Ingenuity,  Courage  and  Conduct,  when  there 
were  Soldiers  to  be  raifed  by  Order  from 
Queen  Elizabeth  for  the  French  Service,  in 
the  time  of  King  Henry  the  Fourth,  the 
Young  Sparks  about  Northampton  were  none 
of  them  willing  to  enter  into  the  Service,  until 
a  Commijfion  was  given  unto  our  Young  Dudley 
to  be  their  Captain  ;  and  then  prefently  there- 
were  Four/core  that  Lifted  under  him.  At  the 
Head  of  thefe  he  went  over  into  the  Low 
Countries,  which  was  then  an  Academy  of 
Arms,  as  well  as  Arts  •  and  thus  he  came  tc 
furniih  himfelf  with  Endowments  for  the 
Field,  as  well  as  for  the  Bench.  The  Poll 
affigned  unto  him  with  his  Company,  was 
after  at  the  Siege  of  Amiens,  before  which  the 
King  himfelf  was  now'  Encamped  •,  but  the  Pro- 
vidence of  God  fo  Ordered  it,  that  when 
both  Parties  were  drawn  forth  in  Order  to 
Battel,  a  Treaty  of  Peace  was  vigoroufly  fet  on 
Foot,  which  diverted  the  Battel  that  was  ex- 
pected. Captain  Dudley  hereupon  returned  in- 
to England,™!  fettling  himfelf  about  Northamp- 
ton, he  Married  a  Gentlewoman  whofe  Extract 
and  Eftate  were  Confiderable  ;  and  the  Scitu- 
ation  of  his  Habitation  after  this  helped  him 
to  enjoy  the  Miniftry  of  Mr.  Dod,  Mr.  Cleaver, 
Mr.  Winfion,  and  Mr.  Hilderfham,  all  of  them 
Excellent  and  Renowned  Men  ;  which  Puritan 
Miniftry  fo  feafoned  his  Heatt  with  a  Senfe  of, 
Religion,  that  he  was  a  Devout  and  Serious 
Chriftian,  and  a  Follower  of  the  Miniftersthat 
moft  effectually  Preached  Real  Chrijltanity  all 
the  reft  of  his  Days.  The  Spirit  of  Real  Chri- 
fiianity  in  him  now  alfo  difpofed  him  unto 
Sober  Non-Conformity ;  and  from  this  time,  al- 
though none  more  hated  the  Fanaticifms  and 
Enthuftafms  of  Wild  Opinionifts,  he  became  a 
Judicious  Dijfenter  from  the  Unfcriptural  Ce- 
remonies retained  in  the  Church  of  England. 
It  was  not  long  after  this  that  the  Lord  Say, 
the  Lord  Compton,  and  other  Perfons  of  Qua- 
lity, made  fuch  Obfervations  of  him,  as  to  coir- 
mend  him  unto  the  Service  of  the  Earl  of 
Lincoln,  who  was  then  a  Young  Man,  and 
newly  come  unto  the  Poffeffion  of  his  Earldom, 
and  of  what  belonged  thereunto.  The  Grand- 
father of  this  Noble  Perfon  had  left  his  Heirs 
under  vaft  Entanglements,  out  of  which  his 
Father  was  never  able  to  Extricate  himfelf- 
Fo  that  the  Difficulties  and  Incumbrances  were 
now  devolved  upon  this  Theophilm,  which 
caufed  him  to  apply  himfelf  ur.to  this  our 
Dudley  for  his  Affiftances,  who  proved  fo 
Able,  and  Careful,  and  Faithful  a  Steward 
unto  him,  that  within  a  little  while  the  Debts 


of  near  Twenty  Thoufand  Pounds,  whereinto  the 
Toung  Earl  found  himfelf  defperatcly  Ingul- 
phed,  were  happily  waded  through  ;  and  by 
his  Means  alfo  a  Match  was  procured  between 
the  Toung  Earl  and  the  Daughter  of  the  Lord 
Say,  who  proved  a  moft  Virtuous  Lady,  and 
a  great  Bleifing  to  the  whole  Family.  But  the  Earl 
finding  Mr.  Dudley  to  be  a  Perfon  of  more 
than  ordinary  Difcretion,  he  would  rarely,  if 
ever,  do  any  Matter  of  any  Moment  without 
his  Advice;  but  fome  into  whofe  Hands  there 
fell  fome  of  his  Manufcripts  after  his  leaving 
of  the  Earl's  Family,  found  a  PafTage  to  this 
purpofe.  The  Eftate  of  the  Earl  oj  Lincoln, 
/  found  fo,  andfo,  much  in  Debt,  which  I  have 
dtfeharged,  and  have  raifed  the  Rents  unto  fo 
many  Hundreds  Per  Annum  ;  God  will,  I  trujt, 
blefs  me  and  mine  in  fuch  a  manner.  I  can 
as  fometimes  Nehemiah  did,  appeal  unto  God* 
who  knows  the  Hearts  of  all  Men,  that  1  have 
with  Integrity  difcharged  the  Duty  of  my  Place 
before  him. 

I  had  prepared  and  intended  a  more  parti- 
cular Account  of  this  Gentleman  ■,  but  not 
having  any  opportunity  to  commit  it  unto  the 
Perufal  of  any  Defcended  from  him,  Tunto 
whom  I  am  told  it  will  be  unacceptable  for 
me  to  Publifh  any  thing  of  this  kind,  by  them 
not  Perujed)  I  have  laid  it  afide,  and  fum- 
med  all  up  in  this  more  General  Account. 

It  was  about  Nine  or  Ten  Years,  that  Mr. 
Dudley  continued  a  Steward  unto  the  Earl  of 
Lincoln  -,  but  then  growing  defirous  of  a  more 
private  Life,  he  retired  unto  Bofton,  where  the 
Acquaintance  and  Miniftry  of  Mr.  Cotton  be- 
came no  little  Satisfaction  unto  him.  Never- 
thelefs  the  Earl  of  Lincoln  found  that  he  could 
be  no  more  without  Mr.  Dudley,  than  Pharaoh 
without  his  Jqfeph,  and  prevailed  with  him  to 
refiime  his  former  Employment,  until  the  Storm 
of  Perfection  upon  the  Non-Confonmfis  caufed 
many  Men  of  great  Worth  to  Tranfport  them- 
felves  into  New-England.  Mr.  Dudley  was  not 
the  leaft  of  the  Worthy  Men  that  bore  a  part 
in  this  Tranfportation,  in  hopes  that  in  an  Ame- 
rican Wildernefs  they  might  peaceably  attend 
and  enjoy  the  pure  Worfhip  of  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift.^  When  the  firft  Undertakers  for  that 
Plantation  came  to  know  him,  they  foon  faw 
that  in  him,  that  caufed  them  to  chufe  him 
their  Deputy-Governcur,  in  which  Capacity  he 
arrived  unto  thefe  Coafts  in  the  Year  r6go. 
and  had  no  fmall  fhare  in  the  Diftreffes  of 
that  Young  Plantation,  whereof  an  account  by 
him  written  to  the  Countefs  of  Lincoln  has 
been  fince  Publifhed  unto  the  World.  Here 
his  Wifdom  in  managing  the  moft  weighty  and 
thorny  Affairs  was  often  fignalized  :  His  juftice 
was  a  perpetual  Terror  to  Evil  Doers :  His 
Courage  procured  his  being  the  firft  Major-Ge- 
neral of  the  Colony,  when  they  began  to  put 
themfelves  into  a  Military  Figure.  His  Ortho- 
dox Piety  had  no  little  Influence  into  the  De- 
liverance of  the  Country,  from  the  Contagion 
of  the  Famaliftical  Errors,  which  had  like  to 
have  overturned  all.    He  dwelt  firft  at  Cam. 

bridge ; 


Book  II.        Or,  The  Hifiory  ^New-England 


7 


bridge ;  but  upon  Mr.  Hookers  removal  to 
Hartford,  he  removed  to  Ipjwich  •,  neverthe- 
lefs,  upon  the  Importunity  and  Neceffity  of  the 
Government  for  his  coming  to  dwell  nearer 
the  Center  of  the  whole,  he  fixed  his  Habitati- 
on at  Roxbury,  Two  Miles  out  of  Bofton,  where 
he  was  always  at  Hand  upon  the  Publick  Exi- 
gencies. Here  he  died,  July  51.  1653.  in 
the  Seventy-Seventh  Year  of  his  Age  ■,  and 
there  were  found  after  his  Death,  in  his  Pocket, 
thefe  Lines  of  his  own  Comparing,  which 
may  ferve  to  make  up  what  may  be  wanting 
in  the  Character  already  given  him. 

Dim  Eyes,  Deaf  Ears,  Cold  Stomach,  Jhew 

My  Dijjolution  is  in  View. 

Eleven  times  Seven  near  livd  have  I, 

And  now  God  calls,  I  willing   Die. 

My  Shuttles  foot,   my  Race  is  run, 

My  Sun  is  Jet,   my  Day  is  done. 

My  Span  is  meafurd,  Tale  is  told, 

My  Flower  is  faded,  and  grown  old. 

My  Dream  is  va/tifh'd,  Shadow's  fled, 

My  Soul  with  Chrift,  my  Body  Dead. 

Farewel  Dear  Wife,  Cffildren  and  Friends, 

Hate  Herefie,  make  Blejfed  Ends. 

Bear  Poverty,  live  with  good  Men  ; 

So  (hall  we  live  with  Joy  agen. 

Let  Men  of  God  in  Courts  and  Churches  watch 

Cre  fuch  ai  do  a  Toleration  hatch, 

Left  that  HI  Egg  bring  forth  a  Cockatrice, 

To  poifon  all  with  Herefw  and  Vice. 

If  Men  be  left,  and  otherwife  Combine, 

%EpitaphV5  3i  Dp'ti  no  libertine* 

But  when  I  mention  the  Poetry  of  this  Gen- 
tleman as  one  of  his  Accomplilhments,  I  muft 
not  leave  unmenti  med  the  Fame  with  which 
the  Poems  of  one  defcend^d  from  him 
have  been  Celebrated  in  both  Englands.  if  the 
rare  Learning  of  a  Daughter,  was  not  the  leaft 
of  thofe  bright  things  that  adorn'd  no  lefs  a 
Judge  of  England  than  Sir  Thoma*  More  ;  it 
mult  now  be  faid,  that  a  Judge  of  New- 
England,  namely,  Thomas  Dudley,  Kfq^  had  a 
Daughter  (beiides  other  Children)  to  be  a 
Crown  unto  him.  Reader,  America  jultly  ad- 
mires the  Learned  Women  of  the  other  Hemif 
phere.  She  has  heard  of  thofe  that  were  Tu- 
tor effes  to  the  Old  Profefibrs  of  all  Philofophy : 
She  hath  heard  of  Hippatia,  who  formerly 
taught  the  Liberal  Arts ;  and  of  Sarocchia,  who 
more  lately  was  very  often  the  Moderatrix  in 
the  Difputations  of  the  Learned  Men  of  Rome  : 
She  has  been  told  of  the  Three  Corinmes,  which 
equall'd,  if  not  excellM,  the  moft  Celebrated 
Poets  of  their  Time  .  She  has  been  told  of  the 
Emprefs  Endocia,  who  Compofed  Poetical  Pa- 
raphrafes  .on  Divers  Parts  of  the  Bible ;  and  of 
Rqfuida,  who  wrote  the  Lives  of  Holy  Men ; 
and  of  Patnphilia,  who  wrote  other  Hiftories 
unto  the  Lite  :  The  Writings  of  the  moft  Re- 
nowned Anna  Maria  Schurnian,  have  come  0- 
ver  unto  her.  But  (he  now  prays,  that  into 
fuch  Catalogues  of  Authorejjcs,  as  Beverevicius, 
Hettinger,  and    Voetius,  have  given  unto  the 


World,  there  may  be  a  room  now  given  un- 
to Madam  3titt    'Bra&ffltet,  the  Daughter 

of  our  Governour  Dudley,  and  the  Confort  of 
our  Governour  Bradjireet,  whole  Poems,  di- 
vers times  Printed,  have  afforded  a  grateful  En- 
tertainment unto  the  Ingenious,  and  a  Monu- 
ment for  her  Memory  beyond  the  Sratelieft 
Marbles.  It  was  upon  thefe  Poems  that  an  in- 
genious Perfon  bellowed  this  Epigram  .- 

Now  I  believe  Tradition,  which  doth  cat 
The  Mules,  Virtues,  Graces,  Females  all. 
Only  they  are  not  Nine,  Eleven,  or  Three  ■ 
Our  Auth'refs  proves  them  but  an  Unity. 
Mankind,    take  up  Jome  Blufhes  on  the  f core  \ 
Monopolize  Perfection  hence  no  more. 
In  yoi/r   own    Arts    confejs  your  Jelves  out- 
done ; 
The  Moon  hath  totally  Eclips'd  the  Sun  : 
Not  with  her  Sable  Mantle  muffling  inm. 
But  her  bright   Silver-   makes    bis  Gold   look 

dim  : 
Juft  as  his  Beams  force  our   pale   Lamps    to 

wink, 
And  Earthly   Fires  within  their   Afbes  JhrinL 


What  elfe  might  be  faid  of  Mi-  Dudley,  the 
Reader  (hall  ConftruC  from  rht;  Enfuing 

E  P  I  T  A  P  H. 

Helluo  Librorum,  Leftzmn  theca 

Communis,  Sacra  '  ' 

Ad  Men/am  Comes,    hint  is,  Roftra  di- 

fertus, 

(Non  Cumulus  verbis,  pondi/s.  Acumen  erat,) 
Morum  acris  Cenfor.   validus  Dcfenfcr  amanfq; 

Et  Sana  &  Can*  Catholics  Jidei. 
Angli-novi  Columen,    Summum  Decus  atq-,  Se- 

natus  ; 

Thomas  Dudleius,  conditur  hoc  Tumulo.  E.  R„ 

§.  2.  In  the  Year  1635;.  at  the  Anniverfary 
Election,  the  Freemen  of  the  Colony  tefrified 
their  grateful  Efteem  of  Mr.  John  Haines,  a 
Worthy  Gentleman,  who  had  been  very  Ser- 
viceable to  the  Interefts  of  the  Colony,  by 
chufing  him  their  Governour.  Of  him  in  an 
Ancient  Manufcript  I  find  this  Teff.imor.y 
given  -,  To  him  is  New-England  many  ways  be- 
holden ;  had  he  dene  no  more  but  frilled  a 
Storm  of  Diffention,  which  broke  forth  in  the 
beginning  of  hisGovenment;  he  had  done  enough 
to  Endear  our  Hearts  unto  him,  and  to  account 
that  Day  happy  when  he  took  the  Reins  of  Go- 
vernment into  his  Hands.  But  this  Pious, 
Humble,  Well-bred  Gentleman,  removing  af- 
terwards into  Connelticut,  he  took  his  turn 
with  Mr.  Edward  Hopkins,  in  being  every  ci- 
ther Year  the  Governour  of  that  Colony.  And 
as  he  was  a  great  Friend  of  Peace  while  he 
lived,  fo  at  his  Death  he  entred  into  that  Peace 
which  attends  the  End  of  the  perfell  and  up- 
right Man,  leaving  behind  him  the  Character 
fometimes  given  of  a  Greater,  tho'  not  a  Better ^ 
C  c"  Maay 


Magnalia  Cbrifti  Americana 


Book  II. 


Man,  [Ve/'paf/a/!)  Bonk  Legibm  multa  eorrexit^i  Speeches  ;  alfo  his  Speech   and  Prayer  on  the 
fed  exei  vita  plus  effecit  apud  po-   Scaffold,   has  given   us  in  him   the  Picture  of 


pulum 

§.  7,.  Near  Twenty  Ships  from  Europe  vi- 
fited  ^few-England  in  the  Year  1635.  an(l  in 
one  of  them  was  Mr.  Henry  Vane,  (afterward 
Sir  henry  Vane)  an  Accomplished  Young  Gen- 
tleman, whofe  Father  was  much  againft,  his 
coming  I  England -5    but  the  King,  upon 

Information  of  his  Difpofition,  commanded 
him  to  allow  his  Son's  Voyage  hither,  with  a 
Confent  for  his  continuing  Three  Years  in  this 
Part  of  the  World.  Although  his  Bufinefs 
had  fome  Relation  to  the  Plantation  of  Con- 
netficut^  yet  in  the  Year  1636.  the  Maffachufet- 
Colony  chofe  him  their  Governour.  And  now, 
Reader,  I  am  as  much  a  Seeker  for  his  Cha- 
racter, as  many  hive  taken  him  to  be  a  Seeker 


nothing  lefs  than  an  Meroe.     He  feems  indeed 
by  that  Story  to  have  fuffered  Hardly  enough 
but  no  Man  can  deny  that  he  fuftered  Bravely'': 
the  Engliff  Nation  has  not  often  leen  more  of 
Roman,  (and  indeed  more  than  Roman)  Gallan- 
try,  out-facing  Death  in  the  moft  ;  Ter- 
rors of  it.     A  great  Royalift,  prefenr,    at  his 
Decollation,  fwore,   He    died  like   a  Prune  : 
He  could  fay,   J  blefs   the  Lord  I  am  fo  far 
jrom  being  affrighted  at  Death,  that  I  find  it 
rather  jhrink  jrom  me,    than  1  from  it !    He 
could  lay,   Ten  Thcufand  Deaths  r, .  her  than 
Defile   my  Confidence  ;   the   Chajiity  and  Puri- 
ty of  which  J                      d  all  this  World  ;     I 
would  not  for  Ten  Ihoufand  Worlds  part  with 
the   Peace  and  Satisfaction   It.             my  own 


in  Religion,  while  no  lefs  Perfons  than  Dr.  Man-  Heart.     When  mention  was  made  of  the  Dif- 
ton  have  not  been  to  fee k  for  the  Cenfiure  oflficult   Proceeding   againft  him,    all   his  reply 


A  flacked  Book,  with  which  they  have  noted 
the  My ftical  Divinity,  in  the  Book  of  this  Knight, 
Entituled,  The  Retired  Alans  Meditations. 
There  has  been  a  lfrange  variety  of  Tranflati- 
ons  bellowed  upon  the  Hebrew  Names  of  fome 
Animals  mentioned  in  the  Bible  :  Kippod,  for 
'  Inftance,  wnich  we  tranflate  a  Bittern  ;  R.  Salo- 
mon will  have  to  be  an  Owl,  but  Luther  will 
have  it  be  an  Eagle,  while  Paynin  will 
have  i:  be  an  Hcdg-hog,  but  R.  Kimchi  will 
have  it  a  Snail  ■,  fuch  a  Variety  of  Opinions 
and  Relentments  has  the  Name  of  this  Gentle- 
man fallen  under  ;  while  fome  have  counted 
him  an  Eminent  Christian,  and  others  have 
counted  him  almoft  an  Heretick  ;  fome  have 
counted  him  a  Renowned  Patriot,  and  others 
an  Infamous  Traitor.  If  Barak  fignifie  both  to 
Blefs  and  to  Curfie  5  and  Euao^s/?  be  of  the 
fame  Significancy  with  B^ao-wy.w,  jn  fuch 
Philology  as  that  of  Suidas  and  Hefychtus  ; 
the  tlfage  which  the  Memory  of  this  Gentle- 
man has  met  withal,  feems  to  have  been  Ac- 
commodated unto  that  Indifferency  of  Signifi- 
cation in  the  Terms  for  fuch  an  Ufage. 

On  the  one  fide,  I  find  an  Old  New-Engliff 
Manufcript  thus  reflecting,  His  Elefiion  will  re- 
main an  a  Blemift)  to  their  Judgments  who  did 
Eletf  him,  while  New-England  remains  a  Nati- 
on ;  for  he  coming  from  Old-England,  a  Toung 
Unexperienced  Gentleman,  (and  as  young  in 
Judgment  as  he  was  in  Tears)  by  the  Industry 
of  fome  that  could  do  much,  and  thought  by 
him  to  play  their  own  Game,  was  prefently  E- 
leffed  Governour  ;  and  before  he  was  fcarce 
warm  in  his  Seat,  began  to  Broach  New  Tenets  ; 
and  thefe  were  agitated  with  as  much  Violence, 
as  if  the  Welfare  of  New-England  tnuft  have 
been  Sacrificed  rather  than  thefe  not  take  place. 
But  the  Wifdom  of  the  State  put  a  Period  to  his 
Government  ■.  necejftty  caufed  them  to  undo  the 
Works  oj  their  own  Hands,  and  leave  us  a 
Caveat,  that  all  good  Men  are  not  jit  for  Go- 
vernment. But  on  the  other  fide,  the  Hiftori- 
an  who  has  Printed  The  Trial  of  Sir  Henry 
Vane,  Kkt<  at  the  KingV  Bench,  Weftminfter, 
June  2.  and  6.    1662.   with     other  occaftonal 


was,  Alas,  what  a  Do  do  they  keep  to  make  a 
poor  Creature  like  his  Saviour  !  On  the  Scaffold 
they  did,  by  the  Blaft  of  Trumpets  in  his  Face 
with  much  Incivility,  hinder  him  from  (peak- 
ing what  he  intended  ;  which  Incivility  he 
aforehand  fufpeiVing,  committed  a  true  Copy 
of  it  unto  a  Friend  before  his  going  thither ; 
the  laft  Words  whereof  were  thefe,  As  my  laji 
Words  I  leave  this  with  you,  That  as  the  Pre- 
fent  Storm  zve  now  lye  under,  and  the  chirk 
Clouds  that  yet  hang  over  the  Reformed  Churches 
of  Chrift,  (which  are  coming  thicker  and  thicker 
for  *  Seafon)  were  not  unjorcfeen  by  me  for 
many  Tears  pajl ;  (as  fome  Writings  oj  mine 
declare)  fo  the  coming  of  Chrift  in  thefe 
Clouds,  in  Order  to  a  fp.eedy  and  J'udden  re- 
vival of  his  Caufe,  and  fprcaduig  his  King- 
dom over  the  Face  oj  the  whole  Earth,  is  mojl 
clear  to  the  Eye  oj  my  Faith,  even  that  Faith 
in  which  I  Die.  His  Execution  was  June  14. 
1662.  about  the  Fiftieth  Year  of  his  Age. 

§.  4.  After  the  Death  of  Mr.  Dudley,  the 
Notice  and  Refpecf  of  the  Colony  fell  chiefly 
on  Mr.  John  Enlicot,  who  after  many  Services 
done  for  the  Colony,  even  before  it  was  yet  a 
Colony,  as  well  as  when  he  law  it  grown  into  a 
Populous  Nation,  under  his  Prudent  and  Equal 
Government,  expired  in  a  good  Old  Age,  and 
was  Honourably  Inten'd  at  Bofton,  March  23. 
1665. 

The  Gentleman  that  fucceeded  Mr.  Endicot, 
was  Mr.  Richard  Bellingham,  one  who  was 
bred  a  Lawyer,  and  one  who  lived  beyond 
Eighty,  well  efteemed  for  his  laudable  duali- 
ties ;  but  as  the  Thebans  made  the  Statues  of 
their  Magiftrates  without  Hands,  importing . 
that  they  mult  be  no  Takers  ;  in  this  fafhion 
muft  be  formed  the  Statue  for  this  Gentleman  •, 
for  among  all  his  Virtues,  he  was  noted  for 
none  more,  than  for  his  notable  and  perpetual 
hatred  of  a  Bribe,  which  gave  him,  with  his 
Country,    the   Reputation     of  Old    Claimed 

by  Pericles,  to  be,  C/AfcToA;;  ts  kaI  '/jv\ij.£tw 
Kgtiff<rur  Civitaiis  Amans,  iy  ad  peciinias  In- 
villus.     And  as  he   rv  any  from  any 

one  living  j  fo   he   neither  could  nor    would 

have 


Book  II.         0ry  The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 

have  given  any  to  Death  ;  but  in  the  latter 
end  of  the  Year  1672.  he  had  his  Soul  gather- 
ed not  with  Sinners,  whofe  Right  Hand  is  full 
of  Bribes,  but  with  fuch  as  walk  in  their  up- 
rightnefs. 

The  Gentleman  that  fucceeded  Mr.  Belling- 
ham,  was  Mr.  John  Leveret,  one  to  whom  the 
Affe&ions  of  the  Freemen  were  fignalized,  in 
his  quick  advances  through  the  leffer  Stages  of 
Office  and  Honour  unto  the  higheft  in  the 
Country  ;  and  one  whofe  Courage  had  been  as 


much  Recommended  by  Martial  A£tlons  a- 
broad  in  his  Younger  Years,  as  his  Wifdom 
and  Juflice  were  now  at  Home  in  his  Elder. 
The  Anniverjary  Elettion  conftantly  kept  him 
at  the  Helm  from  the  time  of  his  firft  Sitting 
there,  until  March  16.  1678.  when  Mortali- 
ty having  firft  put  him  on  fevere  Trials  of 
his  Fajjiye-Courage,  (much  more  difficult  than 
the  Attive)  in  pains  of  the  Stone,  releafed 
him. 


Pater  Patriae :  Or,  The  LIFE  of  SIMON    BRADSTR.EET,  Effi 

Extiitftus  anmbitur  idem. 


TH  E  Gentleman  that  fucceeded  Mr.  Leve- 
ret, was  Mr.  Simon  Bradftreet,   the  Son 
of  a  Minifter  in  Lincoln/hire,  who  was  always  a 
Non-Conformift   at   home,    as   well  as  when 
Preacher   at   Middleburgh    abroad.    Him  the 
New-Englanders  in  their  AddrefTes  full  of  pro- 
found Refpefts  unto  him,    have  with    good 
reafon  called,    The  venerable  Mordecai  oj  his 
Country.    He  was  born  at  Horbling,  March  1 603 . 
His  Father  (who  was  the  Son  of  a  Suffolk  Gen- 
tleman of  a  fine  Eftate)  was  one  of  the  Firft 
Fellows  in  lmmanuel-Colkige,  under  Dr.  Cha- 
derton,  and  one  afterwards  highly  efteemed  by 
Mr.  Cottoni  and  by  Dr.  Frefton.   Our  Bradftreet 
was  brought  up  at  the  Grammar- School,  until 
he  was  about  Fourteen  Years  Old  ;  and  then 
the  Death  of  his  Father  put  a  flop  for  the  pre- 
fent  unto  the  Deligns  of  his  further  Education. 
But  according  to  the  Faith  of  his  Dying  Father, 
that  he  fhould  be  well  provided  for,    he  was 
within  Two  or  Three  Years  after  this  taken 
into  the  Religious  Family  of  the  Earl  of  Lin- 
coln, (the  beft  Family  of  any  Nobleman   then 
in  England,)  where  he  fpent  about  Eight  Years 
under  the  Direction  of  Mr.  Thomaf  Dudley, 
fuftaining  fucceffively  divers  Offices.  Dr.  Frefton 
then  (who  had  been  my  Lord's  Tutor)  moved 
my  Lord,  that  Mr.  Bradftreet  might  have  their 
permiffion  to  come  unto  Immanuel  Colledge,  in 
the  Capacity  of  Governour  to  the  Lord  Rich, 
the  Son   of   the  Earl    of  Warwick  •,   which 
they  granting,    he  went  with  the  Do£tor  to 
Cambridge,  who  provided  a  Chamber  for  him, 
with  Advice  that  he  fhould  apply  himfelf  to 
Study  until  my  Lord's  Arrival.    But  he  after- 
wards in  a  Writing  of  his,  now  in  my  Hands, 
made  this  humble  Complaint ;  /  met  with  many 
Obftacles  to  my  Study  in  Cambridge  \  the  Earl 
of  Lincoln  had  a  Brother  there,  who  often  cal- 
led me  forth  upon  Faftimes.     Divers  Mafters 
of  Art,    tnd    other    Scholars    alfo,    conftantly 
met,  where  we  fpent  moft  part  of  the  Afternoons 
many   times  in   Dijcourje  to  little  purpofe  or 
profit ;  but  that  feemed  an  eafie  and  pie af ant 
Life'  then,   which   too   late  I   repented.    My 
Lord  Rich  not  coming  to  the  Univerfity,  Mr. 
Bradftreet  returned  after  a  Year  to  the  Earl  of 
Lincolns  ;   and  Mr.  Dudley  then  removing  to 


Bofton,  his  Place  of  Steward  unto  the  Earl 
was  conferred  on  Mr.  Bradftreet.  Afterwards 
he  with  much  ado  obtained  the  Earfs  leave 
to  Anfwer  the  Defires  of  the  Aged  and  Pious 
Counters  of  Warwick,  that  he  would  accept 
the  Stewardjhip  of  her  Noble  Family,  which 
as  the  former  he  difcharged  with  an  Exempla- 
ry Difcretion  and  Fidelity.  Here  he  Married 
the  Daughter  of  Mr.  Dudley,  by  whofe  per- 
fwafion  he  came  in  Company  with  him  to 
New-England,  where  he  fpent  all  the  reft  of 
his  Days,  Honourably  ferving  his  Generation. 
It  was  counted  a  lingular  Favour  of  Heaven 
unto  Richard  Chamond,  Efq^  one  of  England's 
Worthies,  that  he  was  a  Juftice  of  Peace  near 
Threefcore  Years  •,  but  of  Simon  Bradftreet.  Efq; 
one  of  New-England's  Worthies,  there  can  more 
than  this  be  faid  ;  for  he  was  chofen  a  Magi- 
ftrate  of  New- England  before  New-England  it 
felf  came  into  New-England  ■  even  in  their 
firft  great  Voyage  thither  Anno  1630.  and  fb 
He  continued  annually  chofen  ■,  fometimes  alio 
their  Secretary,  and  at  laft  their  Governour, 
until  the  Colony  had  a  fhare  in  the  general 
Shipwrack  of  Charters^  which  the  Reign  of 
•King  Charles  II.  brought  upon  the  whole 
Englifh  Nation.  Mr.  Jofeph  Dudley  was  placed, 
Anno  16 8  J.  as  Frefident  over  the  Territory  for 
a  few  Months,  when  the  Judgment  that  was 
entred  againft  the  Charter  gave  unto  the  late 
King  James  II.  an  opportunity  to  make  what 
Alterations  he  pleafed  upon  the  Order  of 
things,  under  which  the  Country  had  fo  long 
been  Flourifhing.  But  when  the  fhort  Frefi- 
dent (hip  of  that  New-Eng/iJh  and  well  Acccom- 
plifhed  Gentleman,  the  Son  of  Mr.  Thomas  Dud- 
ley abovementioned,  was  expired,  I  am  not  in 
a  Difpofition  here  to  relate  what  was  the  Con- 
dition of  the  Colony,  until  the  Revolution 
whereto  their  Condition  compell'd  them.  On- 
ly I  have  fometimes,  not  without  Amazement, 
thought  of  the  Reprefentation  which  a  Cele- 
brated Magician  made  unto  Catherine  de  Me- 
dick,  the  French  Queen,  whofe  Impious  Curi- 
ofity  led  her  to  defire  of  him  a  Magical  Exhi- 
bition of  all  the  Kings  that  had  hitherto 
Reigned  in  France,  and  yet  were  to  Reign. 
The  Shapes  of  all  the  Kings,  even  unto  the 
C  c  2-  Husband 


20 


Or,  The  Hiftory  <?/~  New-England.  Book  II. 


Husband  of  that  Queen  fucceflively  (howed 
therafelves,  in  the  Enchanted  Circle,  in  which 
that  Conjurer  had  made  his  Invocations,  and 
they  took  as  many  Turns  as  there  had  been 
Years  in  their  Government.  The  Kings  that 
were  to  come,  did  then  in  like  manner  fuc- 
ceflively come  upon  theStage,  namely,  FrancislL, 
Charles  IX.  Henry  III.  henry  IV.  which  being 
done,  then  Two  Cardinals,  Richlieu  and  Ma- 
zarine, in  Red  Hats,  became  vifible  in  the  Spe- 
ctacle :  But  after  thofe  Cardinals,  there  entred 

moYoz$,  QBtargj  %vw&  and  Lfoiwi,  to 

confummate  the  Entertainment.     If  the  People 
of  New-England  had  not  Imagined,  that  a  Num- 
ber of  as  .Rapacious  Animals    were    at    laft  i 
come   into  their  Government,   I  fuppofe  they 
would  not  have  made  fuch  a  Revolution  as  they  ' 
did,  on  April  18.  1689.  in  conformity  to  the 
Pattern  which    the  Englijh  Ration  was  then 
fetting  before  them.     Neverthelefs,  I  have  no- 
thing in  this  Paragraph  of  our  Hiftory  to  Re- 
port of  it,  but  that  Mr.  Bradjireet  was  at  this 
time .alive  -,   whofe  Paternal  Compaffions  for  a 
Country,  thus  remarkably  his  own,  would  not 
permit  him  to  decline  his  Return  unto  his  former 
Seat  in  the  Government,  upon  the  Unanimous 
Invitation  of  the  People  thereunto.     It  was  a 
Remark  then  generally  made  upon  him,   That 
though  he  were  then  well  towards  Ninety  Tears 
of  Age,  his  intellectual  force  was  hardly  abated, 
but  he  retained  a  Vigour  and  Wifdom  that  would 
have  recommended  a  younger  Man  to  the  Go- 
vernment of  a  greater  Colony.      And  the  won- 
derful Difficulties,  through  which  the  Colony 
under  his  dilcreet  ConduCt  waded,   until  the 
Arrival  of  his  Excellency,  Sir  William  Phips, 
with  a  Commiffion  for  the  Government,  and  a 
New  Charier  in  the  Year  1692.  gave  a  Remark- 
able Demonjiration  of  it.     Yea,  this  Honour- 
able Nejior  of  New-England,  in  the  Year  1696. 
was  yet  alive-,  and  as  Georgius  Leontinus,  who 
lived  until  he  was  an  Hundred  and  Eight  Years 
of  Age,  being  asked  by  what  means  he  attained 
unto  fuch  an  Age,  anfwered,  By  my  not  Living 

■ 


Voluptuoujly;  thus  this  excellent  Perfon  attain- 
ed his  good  old  Age,  in  part,  By  Living  very  Tem- 
perately.     And    the     New-Englanders    would 
have  counted  it  their  Satisfaction,  if  like  Ar- 
ganthonius,  who  had   been  Fourfcore  Years  the 
Governour  of  the  TarteJJians,  he  might  have 
lived  unto  the  Age  of  an  Hundred  and  Twenty - 
or,  even  unto  the  Age  of  Johannes  de  Tempori- 
bus,    who  was  Knighted  by    the   Emperour 
Charlemaign,  and  yet  was  Living  till  the  Em- 
perour Conrade,  and  faw,   they  fay,  no  fewer 
Years  than  Three  Hundred  Threefcore  and  One, 
Though,  TobeDiJJolvedandbewithChriJi^  was 
the   Satisfaction    which  this    our  Macrobius 
himfelf  was  with  a  weary  Soul  now  waiting 
and  longing  for;    and  Chrift  at  length  granted 
it  unto  him,    on  March  27,   1S97.      Then  it 
was,  that  one  of  the  oldeft  Servants  that  God 
and  the  King  had  upon  Earth,  drew  his  Loft, 
in  the  very  place  where  he  drew  his  Firji,  A- 
merican  Breath.     He  Died  at  Salem,  in  a  Trou- 
blefome  Time,  and  entred  into  everlafting  Peace. 
And  in  Imitation  of  what  the  Roman  Orator 
faid  upon  the  Death  of  Craffus,   I  will  venture 
to  fay,  Vuit  hoc,  luttuofumfuis,  Acer  bum  Pa- 
trix,  Grave  Bonk  Omnibus  :  Sed  ii  tamen  Rem- 
publicam  cafus  Secutifunt,  ut  mihi  non  Erepta 
Bradftreeto  Vita,  fed  donata  mors  effe  videatur. 
The  Epitaph  on  that  famous  Lawyer,    Simon 
Piftonus,  we  will  now  Employ  for  this  Emi- 
nently Prudent  and  Upright  Adminiftrator  of 
our  Laws. 

EPITAPH. 

SIMON   BRADSTREET. 

Quod  Mortalefuit,  Tellus  tenet ;  Inclyta  Pama 
Nominis  haud  ulloftat  violanda  Die. 

And  Add, 

ExtinUum  luget  quern  tot  a  Nov-Anglia  Patrem^ 
0  Quantum  Claudit  parvula  Terra  Virum  ! 


CHAP.    VI. 

^SU'tya  Id  eft,  Viri  Animati:  Or,  ASSISTANTS. 


TH  E  Freemen  of  New-England  had  a  great 
variety  of  Worthy  Men,  among  whom 
they  might  pick  and  chufe  a  Number  of  M  A- 
G  I  S  T  R  A  T  E  S  to  be  the  Affiftants  of  their 
GOVERNOUR S,  both  in  direfting  the 
General  Affairs  of  the  Land,  and  in  difpenfing 
of  Juftice  unto  the  People.  But  they  wifely 
made  few  Alterations  in  their  Annual  Eleffi- 
ons  -,  and  they  thereby  fhew'd  their  Satisfaction 
in  the  wife  and  good  ConduCt  of  thofe  whom 
they  had  Elected.  If  they  called  fome  few  of 
their  Magijirates  from  the  Plough  to  the  Bench, 
fo  the  Old  Romans  did  fome  of  their  DiRators  -, 
yea,  the  greateft  Kings  in  the  World  once  car- 
ried Plough-fhares  on  the  top  of  their  Scepters. 
However,  the  Inhabitants  of  New-England  ne- 


ver were  fo  unhappy  as  the  Inhabitants  of  Nor- 
cia,  a  Town  fcarce  Ten  Leagues  from  Rome ; 
where  they  do  at  this  Day  chufe  their  own 
Magijirates,  but  ufe  an  exaCt  Care,  That  no 
Man  who  is  able  to  Write,  or  to  Read,  /hall  be 
capable  of  any  fhare  in  the  Government.  The 
Magiftrates  of  NewEngland  have  been  of  a  bet- 
ter Education.  Indeed,  feveral  deferving  Per- 
fons,  who  were  joined  as  Affociates  and  Com- 
miffioners  unto  thefe,  for  the  more  effectual  Ex- 
ecution of  the  Laws  in  fome  Emergencies,  can- 
not be  brought  into  our  Catalogue ;  but  the 
Names  of  all  our  Magijirates,  with  the  Times 
when  I  find  their  firft  Advancement  unto  that 
ChaiaCter,  are  thefe, 

MA- 


Book  II. 


Magnolia  Chrijii  Americana 


21 


MAGISTRATES  of  the  Majfachufet-Colony. 


John  Winthrop,  Gov. 

Thomas  Dudley,  Deputy  Gov. 

Matthew  Cradock, 

Thomas  Goff, 

Sir  Richard  Saltonftal, 

I/aac  John/on, 

Samuel  Alder/ley, 

John  Venn, 

John  Humfrey, 

Simon  Wloercomb, 

lncreafe  Nowel, 

Richard  Perry, 

Nathanael  Wright, 

Samuel  Vajfal, 

Theophilm  Eaton, 

'Thomas  Adams, 

Thomas  Hutchins, 

George  Foxcrofr, 

William  Vajfal, 

William  Pinchon, 

John  Pocock, 

Chrifiopher  Cowl/on, 

William  Coddington, 

Simon  Bradftreet, 

Thomas  Sharp, 

Roger  Ludlow, 

Edward  Rojjiter, 

John  Endicot, 

John  Winthrop,  Jun. 

John  Haines, 

Richard  Billingham, 

Atterton  Hough, 

Richard  Hummer, 

Henry  Vane, 

Roger  Hartackenden^ 

Ifrael  Stoughton, 

Richard  Saltonflal, 

Thomas  Flint, 

Samuel  Symons, 

William  Hibbons, 

William  Tynge, 

Herbert  Pelham, 

Robert  Bridges, 

Francis  Willoughby, 

Thomas  Wiggan, 

Edward  Gibbons, 

John  Glover, 

Daniel  Gookin, 

Daniel  Denifon, 

Simon  Willard, 

Humphrey  Atherton, 

Richard  Ruffel, 

Thomas  Danfortb, 

William  Hawthorn, 

Eleazer  Lufher, 

John  Leveret, 

John  Pinchon, 

Edward  Tyng, 

William  Stoughton, 

Thomas  Clark, 

Jofeph  Dudley, 

Peter  Bulkley, 


Nathanael  Saltonftai, 
Humphrey  Davy, 
James  Ruffel, 
Samuel Nowel, 
Peter  Tilt  on,- 
John  Richards, 

1629  Yjohn  Hull, 

1629    Bartholomew  Gidney, 


1629 


1629 

1629 

1629 

1629 

1629 

1629 

1629 

1629 

1629 

1629 

1629 

1629 

1629 

1629 

1629 

1629 

1629 

J629 

1629 

i<529 

1630 

Id2X> 

163O 

I632 

1634 

I635 

1^35 

I635 

1636 

l63<5 

I637 

1637 

I643 

I643 

I643 

1643 

1645 

1647 

I65O 

165O 

165O 

l6j2 

l6?2 

I654 

16^4 

I654 

1659 

16S9 
1662 
1662 
i65j 
166? 
1668 
1671 
I673 
1676 
1677 


Thomas  Savage, 
William  Brown, 
Samuel  Appleton, 
Robert  Pike, 
Daniel  Eifher, 
John  Woodbridge, 
Eli  flu  Cook, 
William  John/on, 
John  Hawthorn, 
Eli/ha  Hutchinfon1 
Samuel  Sewal, 
JJaac  Addington, 
John  Smith, 


1*79 
1679 

1680 

1680 

1680 

1680 

1680 

1680 

1680 

*680 

I68f 

1682 

168? 

168? 

4684 

J  684 

1 684 

1684 

1584. 

1686 

Id8<5 


Major-Generals  of  the  Military  Forces  in  the 
Colony,  fuccefsfully  chofen* 

Thomas  Dudley. 
John  Endicot. 
Edward  Gibbons. 
Robert  Sedgwick. 
Humfry  Atherton. 
Daniel  Denifon. 
John  Leveret. 
Daniel  Gookin. 

Secretaries  of  the  Colony ;  fuccefsfully  cholen, 

William  Burgis. 
Simon  Bradftreet. 
Increafe  Nowel. 
Edward  Raw/on. 

That  thefe  Names  are  proper  and  worthy  to 
be  found  in  our  Church-Hi ftory,  will  be  ac- 
knowledged, when  it  is  confidered,  not  only 
that  they  were  the  Members  of  Congregational 
Churches,  and  by  the  Members  of  the  Churches 
chofen  to  be  the  Rulers  of  the  Commonwealth  . 
and  that  their  exemplary  Behaviour  in  their' 
Magiflracy  was  generally  fuch  as  to  adorn  the 
Dollrine  of  God  our  Saviour.,  and  according  to 
the  Old  JewifJ)  Wifhes,  prohibitum  eft  Homini% 
inftar  principis  Dominari  Juper  populum,  & 
cum  el  at  i  one  Spirit  us,  fed,  HKTT  fTOlD  cum 
manfuetudine  ac  Timore :  But  alio  that  their 
Love  to,  and  Zeal  for,  and  Cafe  of  thele 
Churches,  was  not  the  leaft  part  of  their  Cha- 
racter. 

The  Inftances  of  their  Concern  for  the  Wel- 
fare of  the  Clmrchcs  were  innumerable.  I  will 
fingle  out  but  one  from  the  reft,  becaufe  of 
lbme  Singular  Subfervieney  to  the  Defigns  of 
our  Church-Hijiory,  therein  to  be  propos'd.  Ill 
do  it  only  by  Tranlcribing  an  Inftrument,  pub- 
lifhed  Anno  166Q,  in  fuch  Terms  as  thefe. 


To 


11 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana  : 


Book  II. 


To  the  Elders  and  Minifters  of  every  Town 
within  the  Jurifdi&ion  of  the  Maflachu- 
fets  in  New-England,  the  Governour 
and  Council  fendeth  Greeting. 


Reverend  and  Beloved  in  the  Lord, 

WE  find  in  the  Examples  of  Holy  Scrip- 
'  ture  ,  that  Alagtfirates  have  not 
only  excited  and  commanded  all  the  People 
under  their  Government,  tofeek  the  Lord  God 
of  their  Fathers,  and  do  the  haw  and  Com- 
mandment, (2.  Chron.  14.  2, 5,4.  Ezra  7.  2j, 
26,  27.)  but  alio  Itirred  up  and  fent  forth 
the  Levites,  accompanied  with  other  Princi- 
pal Men,  to  Teach  the  good  Knowledge  of  the 
Lord  throughout  all  the  Cities,  (2.  Chron.  17. 
^>  !■>  8,  9-)  which  Endeavours  have  been 
Crowned  with  the  Blefling  of  God. 
c  Alfo  we  find  that  our  Brethren  of  the  Con- 
gregational Perfwafion  in  England,  have  made 
a  good  Profeflion  in  their  Book,  Entituled, 
AVeclaration  of  their  Faith  and  Order,  (Page 
59.  Sect.  1 4. J  where  they  fay,  That  althd 
Paftors  and  Teachers  ftand  ejpecially  related 
unto  their  particular  Churches,  yet  they  ought 
not  to  neglett  others  Living  within  their  Pa- 
rochial Bounds ■,  but  befides  their  conflant 
public  &  Preaching  to  them,  they  ought  to  en- 
quire after  their  profiting  by  the  Word,  In- 
flructing  them  in,  and  Pre/Jtng  upon  them, 
(whether  Toung  or  Old)  the  great  Doctrines 
of  the  Gofpel,  even  perfonally  and  particu- 
larly, Jo  far  as  their  Strength  and  Time  will 
permit. 

'  We  hope  that  fundry  of  you  need  not  a 
Spur  in  thefe  things,  but  are  confeiencioufly 
careful  to  do  your  Duty.  Yet,  forafmuch  as 
we  have  caufe  to  fear  that  there  is  too  much 


Neglect  in  many  places,  notwithftanding  the 
Laws  long  fince  provided  therein,  we  do 
therefore  think  it  our  Duty  to  emit  this 
Declaration  unto  you,  earneftly  Defiring,  and 
in  the  Bowels  of  our  Lord  Jefus,  requiring 
you  to  be  very  Diligent  and  Careful  to  Cate- 
chife  and  Inftruct  all  People  (efpecially  the 
Touth)  under  your  Charge,  in  the  found  Prin- 
ciples of  Chriftian  Religion ;  and  that  not 
only  in  Public k,  but  privately  from  Houfe  to 
Houfes  as  Bleffed  Paul  did  •,  (AS.  20.  20.)  or 
at  leaft,  Three,  Four,  or  more  Families  meet- 
ing together,  as  Time  and  ■  Strength  may  per- 
mit ;  taking  to  your  Affiftance  fuch  godly 
and  grave  Perfons  as  to  you  may  feem  moft  ex- 
pedient :  And  alfo  that  you  Labour  to  Inform 
your  lelves  fas  much  as  may  be  meet)  how 
your  Hearers  do  profit  by  the  Word  of  God, 
and  how  their  Conversions  do  agree  there- 
with ;  and  whether  the  Youth  are  Taught  to 
Read  the  Englifh  Tongue :  Taking  all  occafi- 
ons  to  apply  fuitable  Exhortations  particularly 
unto  them,  for  the  Rebuke  ofthofe  that  do 
evil,  and  the  Encouragement  of  them  that  do 
well. 

'  The  effectual  and  conftant  Profecution  here- 
of, we  hope  will  have  a  Tendency  to  promote 
the  Salvation  of  Souls  ;  to  fupprefs  the  Growth 
of  Sin  and  Profanenefs :  to  beget  more  Love 
and  Unity  among  the  People,  and  more  Re- 
verence and  Efteem  of  the  Miniftry :  And  it 
will  affuredly  be  to  the  enlargement  of  your 
Crown,  and  Recompence  in  Eternal  Glory. 

Given  at  Bofton,  the  10th  of  Match,  1668. 
by  the  Governour  and  Council,  and  by  them 
Ordered  to  be  Print ed>  and  fent  accordingly. 

Edward  Rawfon,  Secret. 


CHAP.    VII. 

Publicola  Chriftianus.     The  LIFE   o/EDWARD  HOPKINS,  Efa  Gover- 
nour ^/CONNECTICUT  -COLONY. 


Superiores  fint,  qui  fuperiores  effe  fciunt. 


§.1 


w 


HEN  the  Great  God  of  Heaven  had 
carried  his  Peculiar  People  into  a 
Wildernejs,  the  Theocracy,  wherein  he  became 
fas  he  was  for  that  Rcafon  ftiled )  Tloe  Lord  of 
Hofls,  unto  them  and  the  Pour  Squadrons  of 
their  ii>«zy,  was  moft  eminently  difplay'd  in  his 
Enacting  of  their  Laws,  his  Directing  of  their 
Wars,  and  his  Electing  and  Infpiring  of  their 
Judges.  In  fome  refemblance  hereunto,  when 
Four  Colonies  of  Chriftians  had  marched  like 
fo  many  'Hefts  under  the  Conduct  of  the  good 
Spirit  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  into  an  American 
Wildemefs,  there  were  feveral  Inftances  where- 
in that  Army  of  'Conjejjors  was  under  a  Theo- 
cracy :  For  their  Laws  were  ftill  Enacted,  and 
their  Wars  were  ftill  Directed  by  the  Voice  of 
God,  as  far  as  they  uhderftood  it,  fpeaking  from 


the  Oracle  of  the  Scriptures ;  and  though  their 
fudges  were  ftill  Eleffed  by  themfelves,  and 
not  lnfpired  with  fuch  extraordinary  Influences 
as  carried  them  of  Old,  yet  thefe  alfo  being 
Angularly  furnifhed  and  offered  by  the  fpecial 
Providence  of  God  unto  the  Government  of  his 
New-EngHJh  People,  were  fo  eminently  acted 
by  His  Graces,  and  His  Precepts,  in  the  Dif- 
charge  of  their  Government,  that  the  Bleffed 
People  were  ftill  fenfibly  Governed  by  the  Lord 
of  All.  Now  among  the  Firft  Judges  of  New- 
England,  was  CDfoacD  JpOpfeillg,  Efq;  in  whofe 
time  the  Colony  of  Connecticut  was  favoured 
with  Judges  as  at  the  firft  -,  and  put  under  the 
Power  ofthofe  with  whom  it  was  a  Maxim, 
Gratius  eft  pirtaris  Nomen.  quam  foteftatk. 

$.  2.  The 


Book  II.        0r3  The  Hiftory  <^  New-England. 


§.  2.  The  Defcent  and  Breeding  of  Mr.  (QH- 
tuatH  DopfcUtSf,  (who  was  Born,  I  think,  near 
Shrewsbury,  about  the  Year  1600.)  tirft  fitted 
him  for  the  Condition  of  a  Turky- Merchant, 
in  London-,  where  he  lived  feveral  Years  in 
good  Faihion  and  Efteem,  until  a  powerful  Par- 
ty in  the  Church  of  England,  then'  reiolving 
not  only  to  feparate  from  the  Communion  of 
all  the  Faithful  that  were  Avetfe  to  certain 
confeffedly  unfcriptural  and  uninflituted  Kites 
in  the  Worihip  of  God,  but  alio  to  Perfecute 
with  deftroying  Severities  thole  that  were  Non- 
Conformifts  thereunto,  compelled  a  confiderable 
Number  of  good  Men  to  feek  a  fhelter  among  the 
Salvages  of  America.  Among  thefe,  and  with 
his  Excellent  Father-in-Law,  Mr.  Theophilus 
Eaton,  he  came  to    '  d  ;  where  then 

removing  from  the  Majfachufet-Bay  unto  Hart- 
jord upon  Connefficut-Kiver,  he  became  a  Ruler 
and  Pillar  of  that  Colony,  during  the  time  of 
his  Abode  in  the  Country. 

§.  3.  In  his  Government  he  acquitted  himfelf  as 
the  Solomon  of  his  Colony,  to  whom  God  gave 
Wifdom  and '  Knowled ;,  e  night  go  out  and 

come  in  before  the  People  •  and  as  he  was  the 
Head,  fo  he  was  the  Heart  of  the  People,  for 
the  Refolution  to  do  WeH,  which  he  maintained 
among  them.  An  unjufl  Judge  is,  as  one  fays, 
A  cold  lire,  a  dark  bun,  a  dry  Sea,  an  ungood. 
God,  a  contradictio  in  Adjecto.  Far  from  luch 
was  our  Hopkins  -,  no,  he  was,  Aikaiw  Iij.1!.vx<>v, 
a  meer  piece  of  Living  Juftice.  And  as  he  had 
no  feparate  Interefts  of  his  own,  fo  he  purfued 
their  Interefts  with  luch  an  unfpotted  and  liic- 
cefsful  Fidelity,  that  they  might  call  him  as 
the  Tribe  of  Benjamin  did  their  Leader  in  the 
Wildernels,  Abidan.  that  is  to  fay,  Our  Father 
is  Judge.  Kew-England  faw  little  Daw/tings, 
and  Emblems,  and  Eamejis  of  the  Day,  That 
the  great nefs  of  the  Kingdom,  under  the  whole 
Heaven  Jhall  be  given  unto  the  People  of  the 
Saints  of  the  moji  high,  when  fuch  a  Saint  as 
our  3|)opkiH0  was  one  of  its  Governours.  And 
the  Felicity  which  a  Great  Man  has  Prognofti- 
cated  for  Europe,  That  God  mill  flir  up  fome 
happy  Governour  in  fome  Country  in  Chrijien- 
dom,  indued  with  Wifdom  and  Confederation, 
who  Jhall  difcern  the  true  Nature  of  Godlinefs 
and  Chrifiianity,  and  the  Neceffity  and  Excel- 
lency of  ferious  Religion,  and  jhall  place  his 
Honour  and  Felicity  in  pleafing  God,  and  doing 
Good,  and  attaining  Everlajiing  Happinefs, 
and  Jhall  fubjett  t  I  Uy  Rcfpecls  unto  thefe 

High  and  Glorious  Ends  :  This  was  now  Exem- 
plified in  America. 

§.  4.  Moft  Exemplary  was  his  Piety  and  his 
Charity ,  and  while  he  governed  others  by  the 
Laws  of  God,  he  did  himfelf  yeild  a  profound 
Subjection  unto  thofe  Laws.  He  was  exempla- 
rily  watchful  over  his  own  Behaviour,  and 
made  a  continual  C  -lion  of,  and  Pre- 

paration for  Death,  to  be  the.  Character  of  his 
Life.  It  was  his  manner  to  Rife  early,  even 
before  Day,  to  enjoy  the  Devotions  of  his  Ciofet  •, 


of  God  unto  his  Family,  and  then  Praying  with  r 
them  :  And  he  had  one  particular  way  to  caufe  ■ 
Attention  in  the  People  of  his  Family,  which 
was  to  ask  any  Perfon  that  feemed  Carelels  in 
the  midlt  of  his  Difcourle,  What  was  it  that  I 
Read  or  Spoke  laji  ?  Whereby  he  Habituated 
them  unto  fuch  an  Attention,  that  they  were 
Ifill  ufually  able  to  give  a  ready  Account.  But 
as  for  his  Prayers,  they  were  not  only  frequent, 
but  io  fervent  alio,  that  he  frequently  fell  a 
Bleeding  at  the  Nofe  through  the  Agony  of 
Spirit  with  which  he  labout'd  in  them.  And, 
efpecially  when  imploring  fuch  Spiritual  Blef- 
fings,  as,  That  God  would  grant  in  the  End  of 
our  Lives,  the  End  of  our  Hopes,  even  the 
Salvation  of  our  Souls,  he  would  be  fo  Trans- 
ported, that  the  Obferving  and  Judicious  Hear- 
ers would  fay  fometimes  upon  it,  Surely  this 
Alan  cant  be  long  out  of  Heaven.  Moreover, 
in  his  Neighbourhood  he  not  only  fet  himfelf 
to  Encourage  and  Countenance  real  Godlinefs^ 
but  alfo  would  himfelf  kindly  viiit  the  Aleet- 
ings  that  the  Religious  Neighbours  privately 
kept  for  the  Exerciies  of  it ;  and  where  the 
leaft  Occafion  for  Contention  was  offered,  he 
would,  with  a ;  prudent  and  fpcedy  Endeavour, 
Extinguilh  it.  But  the  Poor  he  fo  cqnfidered, 
that  befides  the  Daily  Reliefs  which  with  his 
own  Hands  he  difpenced  unto  them,  he  would 
put  confiderable  Sums  of  Money  into  the 
Hands  of  his  Friends,  to  be  by  them  employed 
as  they  faw  Opportunity  to  do  good  unto  all,  e- 
fpecially  the  Houfhold  of  Faith.  In  this 
thing  he  was  like  that  Noble  and  Worthy 
Englifh  General,  of  whom  'tis  noted,  He  never 
thought  he  had  any  thing  but  what  he  gave  it- 
way  ;  and  yet  after  all,  with  much  humility 
he  would  profefs,  as  one  of  the  molt  Liberal 
Men  that  ever  was  in  the  World  often  would, 
I  have  often  turned  over  my  Books  of  Accounts, 
but  I  could  never  find  the  Great  God  charged 
a  Debtor  there. 

§.  ?.  But  Suffering  as  well  as  Doing  belongs 
to  the  Compleat  Character  of  a  Chrifiian ;  and 
there  were  feveral  Trials  wherein  our  Lord 
called  this  Eminently  Patient  Servant  of  his  to 
Suffer  the  Will  of  God.  He  Confliaed  with 
Bodily  Infirmities,  but  efpecially  with  a  Waft- 
ing and  a  Bloody  Cough,  which  held  him  for 
Thirty  Years  together.  He  had  been  by  Per- 
fecutions  driven  to  crofs  an  Ocean,  to  which  he 
had  in  his  Nature  an  Antipathy  •  and  then  a 
Wiidernefs  lull  of  fuch  Croflcb  as  attend  the 
beginning  of  a  Plantation,  exerciied  him. 
'Neveithelels  there  was  one  Affliction  which 
continually  dropt  upon  him  above  all  the  reft, 
and  that  was  this,  He  Married  a  Daughter 
which  the  Second  Wife  of  Mr.  Eaton  had  by 
a  former  Husband  ;  one  that  from  a  Quid  had 
been  Obfervable  for  Defirable  Qualities.  But 
fome  time  after  (lie  was  Married  (he  tell  into 
a  Diftempered  Melancbolly,  which  at  laft  Iilu- 
ed  in  an  Incurable  Diflraclwn,  with  fuch  111- 
fhaped    Ideas    in    her    Brain,    as   ufe   to   be 


after   which  he  fpent  a   confiderable  time  in  I  formed  when  the  Animal  Spirits  are  fired  by 
Reading,  and  Opening,  and  Applying  the  Word]  Irregular  Particles,   fixed  with  Acid,  Biiious, 

Vene- 


24 


Magnolia  Chrifii  Americana  :  Book  II. 


Venemous  Ferments  in  the  Blood.  Very  Grie- 
vous was  this  Afflidion  unto  this  her  worthy 
Conforr,  who  was  by  temper  a  very  Affefti- 
oriate  Perfon:  And  who  now  left  no  part  of  a 
tender  Husband  undone,  to  Eafe,  and,  if  it  were 
poilible,  to  Cure  the  Lamenrable  Defolation  thus 
come  upon,  "The 'De fire  of  his  Eyes;  but  when 
the  Phyiician  gave  him  to  underftand,  that  no 
means  would  be  Likely  to  Reftore  her  Senfc,  but 
fuch  as  would  be  alio  likely  to  Hazard  her  Life, 
he  Replied  with  Tears,  I  had  rather  bear  my 
Crofs  unto  the  End  that  the  Lord  fhall  give  ! 
But  upon  this  Occafion  he  faid  unto  her  Sifter, 
who,  with  all  the  reft  related  unto  her,  were 
as  dear  unto  him  as  bis  own ;  /  have  often 
thought,  what  fhouldbe  the -meaning  of  the  Lord, 
in  chaftifing  of  me  with  Jo  [harp  a  Rod,  and  with 
Jo  long  a  Stroke  !  Whereto,  when  fhe  Reply'd, 
Sir,  nothing  Jingular  hat,  in  this  Cafe,  befallen 
you  ;  God  hath  afitiilicd  others  in  the  like  way ; 
and  we  mufi  be  content  with  our  Portion  :  He 
Anfwered,  Sifter,  This  is  among  the  Lord's  Ra- 
rities. For  my  part  I  cannot  tell  what  Sore  to 
lay  my  Hand  upon :  However,  in  General,  my 
Sovereign  Lord  is  Juft,  and  I  will'  jujiifie  him 
for  ever  :  But  in  Particular,  1  have  thought  the 
matter  might  lye  here  :  I  promifed  my 
felf  too  much  Content  in  this  Relation 
and  "Enjoyment  \  and  the  Lord  will  make  me  to 
know  that  this  World  jh  all  not  afford  it  me.  So 
he  wifely,  meekly,  fruitfully  bore  this  heavy 
Affiitlton  unto  his  Dying  Day  ;  having  been 
taught  by  the  Affli&ion  to  Die  Daily,  as  long  as 
he  Lived. 

§.  6.  About  Governour  Eaton,  his  Father-in- 
Law.  he  law  oaufe  to  fay  unto  a  SiJier-in-Law, 
whom  he  much  valued  •  /  have  often  wondred 
at  my  Father  and  your  Father ;  J  have  heard  him 
fay,  Ti'.a  be  never  had  a  Repenting,  or  a  Repi- 
ning Thought,  about  his  coming  to  New-Eng- 
land :  Surely,  in  this  Matter  he  hath  a  Grace 
far  out- (Inning  Mine.  But  he  is  our  Father  I  I 
cannot  fay,  a*  he  cany  I  have  had  hard  work 
with  my  own  Heart  about  it.  But  upon  the 
Death  of  his  Elder  Brother,  who  was  Warden  of 
the  Fleet,  it  was  neceflary  for  him  to  Return 
into  England,  that  he  might  look  after  the 
Eftate  which  then  fell  unto  him ;  and  accord- 
ingly, after  a  Tempeftuous  and  a  Terrible  Voy- 
age wherein  they  were  eminently  endangered 
by  Fire,  accidentally  enkindled  on  the  Ship,  as 
well  as  by  Water,  which  tore  it  fo  to  Pieces, 
that  it  was  Towed  in  by  another  Ship,  he  at 
length, 

"Per  Varios  Cafus  ;  per  tot  Difcrimina  Rerun?, 

arrived  there.  There  a  great  Notice  was  quick- 
ly taken  of  him  :  He  was  made  Warden  of  the 
Fleet,  Commiiiioner  of  the  Admiralty,  and  the 
Navy -Office,  a  Parliament-Man;  and  he  was 
placed  in  lome  oiher  confiderable  Stations  :  In 
all  which  he  more  than  anfwered  the  Expecta- 
tions of  thofe  who  took  him  to  be  a  Perfon 
Eminently  Qualified  for  Publick  Service.  By 
thefe  Employments,  his  defign  of  Returning  to 


New-England,  with  which  he  left  it,  was  di- 
verted fo  far,  that  be  fent  for  his  Family  ;  and 
about  the  time  that  he  looked  for  them, 
he  being  advantaged  by  his  great  Places  to  em- 
ploy certain  Frigots  for  their  fafety  on  the 
Coaft,  by  that  means  had  them  fafely  brought 
unto  him.  When  they  were  with  him  in  Lon- 
don, one  of  them  told  him  how  much  his 
Friends  in  New-England  Wilh'd  and  Pray'd  for 
his  Return  :  And  how  that  Paffage  had  been 
ufed  in  our  Publick  Supplications  for  that  Mer- 
cy, Lord,  If  we  may  win  him  in  Heaven,  we 
(hall yet  have  him  on  Earth  :  But  he  Reply'd, 
I  have  had  many  Thoughts  about  my  Return, 
and  my  AffetTions  have  been  bent  very  firongly 
that  way  ;  and  thd  I  have  now,  bleffed  be  Cod, 
received  my  Family  here,  yet  that  /hail  be  no 
hindrance  to  my  Return.  I  will  tell  you,  though 
I  am  little  worth,  yet  I  have  that  Love  which 
will  difpnfc  me  to  ferve  the  Lord,  and  that 
People  oj  his.  But  as  to  that  matter,  I  incline 
to  think  they  will  not  win  it  in  Heaven  ;  and 
I  know  not  -whether  the  Terrors  of  my  dreadful 
Voyage  hither  might  not  be  ordered  by  the  Di- 
vine Providence,  to  Stake  me  in  this  Land,  be' 
tng  in  my  Spirit  fufficiently  loth  to  run  the 
hazard  of  fuch  another.  1  mufi  alfo  fay  to 
you,  I  mourn  exceedingly,  and  1  fear,  I  fear, 
the  Sins  of  New-England  will  ere  long  be 
read  in  its  Punifhments.  The  Lord  has  planted 
that  Land  with  a  Noble  Vine  ;  and  Bleffed 
haft  thou  been,  O  Land,  in  thy  Rulers  !  But, 
alas  !  for  the  generality  they  have  not  confii- 
dered  how  they  were  to  Honour  the  Rules  of 
God,  in  Honouring  of  thofe  whom  God  made 
Rulers  over  them  ;  and  I  fear  they  will  come 
to  jn/art  by  having  them  Jet  over  them,  that 
it  will  be  an  hard  Work  to  Honour,  and  that 
will  hardly  be  capable  to  manage  their  Af- 
fairs. 

§.  7.  Accordingly  he  continued  in  England 
the  reft  of  his  Days,  in  feveral  places  of  Great 
Honour  and  Burden  faithfully  lerving  the  Na- 
tion; but  in  the  midft  of  his  Publick  Employ- 
ments moft  exacfj.y  maintaining  the  Zeal  and 
Watch  of  his  own  private  Walk  with  God.  His 
Mind  kept  continually  Mellowing  and  Ripening 
for  Heaven ;  and  one  Expreflion  of  his  Heaven- 
ly Mind,  among  many  others,  a  little  before  his 
End,  was,  How  often  have  I  pieafed my  felf  with 
thoughts  of  a  joyful  Meeting  with  my  Father 
Eaton  !  I  remember  with  what  pleajure  he  would 
come  down  the  Street,  that  he  might  meet  me 
when  I  came  from  Hartford  unto  New-Haven  : 
But  with  how  much  greater  Pleafure  fhall  we 
Jhortly  meet  one  another  in  Heaven !  But  as  an 
Heavenly  Mind  is  oftentimes  a  Prefacing 
Mind,  ib  he  would  fometimes  utter  this  Prejfage 
unto  fbme  that  were  Near  and  Dear  unto  him  % 
God  will  Jhortly  take  the  Protecf  or  away,  and 
Joon  after  that  you  will  fee  great  Changes 
overturning  the  prefent  Conftitution,  and  J  ore 
Troubles  come  upon  thofe  that  now  promife 
better  things  unto  themfelves.  However,  he 
did  not  Live    to  fee  the  Fulfilment  of  this 

PrediUicn. 

§>.  8.  For 


Book  II.         Or,  The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


25 


A.  8.  For  the  time  now  drew  near  that  this 
lfraelite  was  to  Die!  He  had  been  in  his  Life 
troubled  with  many  Fears  of  Death  5  and  after 
he  fell  Sick,  even  when  he  drew  very  near  h.is 
Death,  he  laid  with  Tears,  Oh !  Pray  for  me, 
for  lam  in  extream  Darknefs  !  But  at  length, 
on  a  Lord's  Day.  about  the  very  time  when  Mr. 
Caryl  was  publkkly  praying  for  him,  his  Dark- 
nefs all  vanilhed,    and    he   broke  forth   into 
thefe  Expretiions,  Oh  !  Lord,    thou  haft   kept 
the  be  ft  Wine  until  the  lajl  !  Oh!  Friends,  could 
you  believe  this  ?    I  flail  be  blcffed  for  ever,  I 
(hail  quickly   be   in  Eternal  Glory.     Kow  let 
the  whole  World  count  me  Vile,    and  call  me  an 
Hypocrite,  or  what  they  will,   I  matter  it  not ; 
I  Jhall  be  blejjed\  there   is  referved  for  me  a 
Crown  of  Glory.     Oh  !  Blejfed  be  God  for  Jefus 
Chriji  -'    I  have  heretofore  thought  it  an   hard 
thing  to  die,  but  now  I  find  that  it  is  not  fo. 
If  1  might  have  my  choice,  1  would  now  cbttfe 
to  die  ;  Oh  !  my  Lord,  I  pray  thee  fend  me  not 
back  again  into  this  Evil  World,  I  have  enough 
of  it  ;  no,   Lord,  now  take  me  to   Glory,  and 
the  Kingdom  that  is  prepared  for  me  !  Yea, 
the  ftanders  by  thought  it  not  poifible  for  them 
to  utter  exactly  after  him,  the  Heavenly  Words 
which  now  proceeded  from  him  ;    and   when 
one  of  them  laid,  Sir,  The  Lord  hath  enlarged 
your  Faith;  he  replied,  Friend,  this  is  SenJ'e  • 
the  Lord  hath  even  fatisfkd  my  Senjc  ;   I  am 
fenfibly  fatisfied  of  Everlafting  Glory!   Two 
or  Three  Days  he  now  fjpent  in  Prayers  and 
Praifes,  and  in  Inexpreffible  Joys :   In  which 
time,  when  fome  Eminent  Perfons  of  a  very 


Publick  Station  and  Imployment  came  to  Vifit 
him,  unto  them  he  laid,  Sirs,  Take  heed  of 
your  Hearts  while  you  are  in  your  Work  for 
God,  that  there  be  no  root  of  htternefs  within 
you.  It  may  be  pretended  your  Defires  are  to 
ferve  God,  but  if  there  are  in  you  jecret  Aims 
at  advancing  oj  your/elves,  and  your  own  E Rates 
and  Inter ejfs,  the  Lord  will  not  accept  your 
Services  as  pure  before  him. 

But  at  length  in  the  Month  of  March,  i6%-j. 
at  London  he  expired  ;  when  being  opened,  it 
was  found  that  his  Heart  had  been  unaccoun- 
tably, as  it  were,  Boiled  and  Wafted  in  Water, 
until  it  was  become  a  little  brittle  Skin,  which 
being  touch'd,  prefentiy  dropp'd  in  pieces.  He 
had  often  wilhed,  upon  fome  great  Accounts, 
that  he  might  live  till  the  beginning  cf  this 
Year  \  and  now  when  he  lay  a  dying,  he  faid, 
Lord  !  Thou  haft  fulfilled  my  Defires  according 
to  thy  Word,  that  thou  wilt  fulfil  the  Defires 
«f  them  that  fear  thee. 

Now  from  the  Tombltone  of  another  Eminent 
Perfon,  we  will  fetch  what  fhall  here  be  a 
proper 

EPITAPH. 

Part  of  E  D  tVA  R  D   HOPKINS,E{% 

But  Heaven,  not  brooking  that  the  Earth  fhould 

Jhare 
In  the  leaf.  Atom  of  a  Piece  Jo  rare, 
Intends  to  Sue  out,  by  a  New  Revile, 
His  Habeas  Corpus  at  the  Grand  Affize. 


CHAP.    VIII. 
S  V  C  C  E    S  S  0   R   S. 


|<  I.  A  Lternately,  for  the  moft  part  every 
J\  other  Year,  Mr.  Hains,  whom  we 
have  already  mentioned  elfewhere,  took  a  turn 
with  Mr.  Hopkins  in  the  Chief  place  of  Go- 
vernment. And  befides  thefe,  (Reader,  the 
Oracle  that  once  Predicted  Government  unto  a 
©,  would  now  and  here  Predial  it  unto  a  W.) 
there  were  Mr.  Willis,  Mr.  Wells,  and  Mr. 
Webfter,  all  of  whom  alfo  had  Opportunity  to 
exprefs  their  Liberal  and  Generous  Difpofiti- 
ons,  and  the  Governing  Virtues  of  Wifdom, 
Juftice  and  Courage,  by  the  Eleftion  of  the 
Freemen  in  the  Colony  before  its  being  United 
with  Kewhaven.  Had  the  Surviving  Relations 
of  thefe  Worthy  Men  fent  in  unto  me  a  Tenth 
Part  of  the  Confiderable  and  Imitable  Things 


which  occurr'd  in  their  Lives,  they  might 
have  made  more  of  a  Figure  in  this  our  Hi- 
ftory 5  whereas  I  muft  now  Sum  up  all,  with 
alluring  my  Reader,  that  it  is  the  want  of 
Knowledge  in  Me,  and  not  of  Defert  in  Them, 
that  has  confined  us  unto  this  Brevity. 

§.  2.  After  the  Union  of  ConncUicui  with 
Kewhaven,  there  were  in  Chief  Government 
Mr.  Leet,  whom  we  have  already  paid  our 
Dues  unto ;  and  Mr.  Treat,  who  is  yet  living, 
a  Pious  and  a  Valiant  Man,  and  (if  even  Aiino- 
fa  §>iicrcus  be  an  Honourable  thing ! )  worthy 
to  be  Honoured  for  An  Hoa?y  Head  found  in 
the  Way  of  Righteoufnefs  :  Befides,  Mr.  Win- 
throp,  of  whom  anon,  Reader,  expe&  a  Com- 
pleater  Hiftory. 


Vd 


€  H  A  P> 


i6 


Magnalia.  Chrijli  Americana 


Book  II. 


CHAP.    IX. 

Huuiilitas  Honorata.     The  L  IF  E  of  T  H  E  O  P  H I  L  U  S    EATON,  £&  Go- 
vernor of  NEW-HAVEN    COLO  NT. 


Jnflit?£  Citltor,    Rigidi  Servator  Honejti, 
In  Commune  Bonum. 


§.   I. 


T  has  been  enquired,  why  the  Evan- 
gelift  Luke  in  the  Firfl  Sacred  Hifto- 
vj  which  he  AddrelTed  unto  his  Fellow-Citizen, 
gave  him  the  Title  of  The  moji  Excellent  The- 
ophilus, but  in  the  next  he  ufed  no  higher  aiStile 
than  plain  Theophilus  ?  And  though  feveral  o- 
ther  Anfwers  might  be  given  to  that  Enquiry, 
'tis  enough  to  fay,  That  neither  the  Civility  of 
Luk£,  nor  Nobility  of  Theoplilus,  were  by  Age 
abated  -,  but  Luke  herein  considered  the  Difpo- 
fition  of  Theophilus,  as  well  as  his  own,  with 
whom  a  reduced  Age  had  rendet'd  all  Titles 
oj  Honour  more  Difagreeable  Superfluities. 
Indeed  nothing  would  have  been  more  unaccep- 
table to  the  Govetnour  of  our  Neva-Haven 
Colony,  all  the  time  of  his  being  fo,  than  to 
have  been  Advanced  and  Applauded  above  the 
rcit  oi'  Mankind  ;  yet  it  mull:  be  now  Publifhed 
unto  the  Knowledge  of  Mankind,  that  JVifa>- 
England  could  not  of  his  Quality  fhow  a  More 
Excellent  Per/on,  and  this  was  Theophilus 
Eaton,  Efq;  the  firft  G&vernour  of  that  Colony. 
Humility  is  a  Virtue  whereof  Amyr aldu s  ob- 
ferves,  There  is  not  Jo  much  cut  a  Shadow  oj 
Commendation  in  all  the  Pagan  Writers.  But 
the  Reader  is  now  concerned  with  Writings 
which  will  Commend  a  Perfon  for  Humility  ; 
and  therefore  our  EATON,  in  whom  the 
ihine  of  every  Virtue  was  particularly  fet  off 
with  a  more  than  ordinary  Degree  of  Humili- 
ty,  muft  now  be  propos'd  as  Commendable. 

§.  2.  'Tis  Reported,  that  the  Earth  taken 
from  the  Banks  of  Nilus,  will  very  Strangely 
Sympathize  with  the  place  from  whence  it  was 
taken,  and  grow  moift  or  dry  according  to  the 
Increafe  and  the  Decreale  of  the  River.  And  in 
fpite  of  that  Popifk  Lie  which  pretends  to  ob- 
ferVe  tile  contrary,  this  thing  has  been  fignal- 
ly  Moralizd  in  the  daily  Obfervation,  that  the 
Sorts  oj  Mimjfeff,  though  betaking  themfelves 
to  other  Imployments,  do  ordinarily  carry  about 
with  them  an  Holy  and  Happy  Savour  of 
their  AMnifterial  Education.  'Twas  remarkably 
Exemplified  in  our  Iheophilus  Eaton,  who  was 
Bom  at  Stony-Stratford  in  Oxfordfhire,  the 
Eldeft  Son  to  the  Faithful  and  Famous  Mim- 
fter  of  the  place.  But  the  Words  of  Old  ufed 
by  Philofiratus  concerning  the  Son  of  a  Great 
Man,  As  jor  his  Son  I  have  nothing  elje  to 
Jay,  but  that  he  wot  his  Son  ^  they  could 
not  be  ufed  concerning  our  Theophilus,  who 
having  received  a  good  Education  from  his 
Pious]  Parents,  did  live  many  Years  to  An- 
fwer  that  Education  in  his  own  Piety  and  XJJe- 
fulnejs. 

§.9.  His  Father  being  removed  unto  Coven- 


try, he  there  at  School  fell  into  the  Inti- 
mate Acquaintance  of  that  Worthy  John  Dw 
venport,  with  whom  the  Providence  of  God 
many  Years  after  united  him  in  the  great 
Undertaking  of  fettling  a  Colony  of  Chriftiart 
and  Reformed  Churches  on  the  American 
Strand.  Here  his  Ingenuity  and  Proficiency 
render'd  him  notable  ;  and  fo  vaft  was  his 
Memory,  that  although  he  wrote  not  at  the 
Church,  yet  when  lie  came  home,  he  would, 
at  his  Father's  Call,  repeat  unto  thofe  that  met 
in  his  Father's  Houfe,  the  Sermons  which  had 
been  public kly  Preached  by  others,  as  well  as 
hisown  Father,  with  fitch  exaefnefs,  as  afto- 
nilhed  all  the  Neighbourhood.  But  in  their 
after  Improvements,  the  Hands  of  Divine  Pro- 
vidence were  laid  aerty's  upon  the  Heads  of 
Theophilus  Eaton  and  John  Davenport  ■,  for 
Davenport,  whole  Father  was  the  Mayor  of 
Coventry,  became  a  Mmiflrr  ,  and  Eaton,  whofe 
Father  was  Mimfler  of  Coventry,  contrary  to 
his  Intentions,  became  a  Merchant.  His  Parents 
were  very  loth  to  have  complied  with  his 
Inclinations  ;  but  their  Compliance  therewith- 
al did  at  laft  appear  to  have  been  directed  by 
a  fpecial  Favour  of  Heaven  unto  the  Family, 
when  after  the  Death  of  his  Father,hs,  by  this 
means,  became  the  Jofepb,  by  whom  his  Mother 
was  maintained  until  Ine  died,  and  his  Orphan 
Brethren  and  Sifters  had  no  Small  part  of  their 
Subiiftence. 

§.  4.  During  the  time  of  his  hard  Appren- 
ticclhip  he  behaved  himjelj  wifely  ;  and  his 
Wifdom,  with  God's  Favour,  particularly  appear- 
ed in  his  cbafte  Ficape  pom  the  Snares  of  a 
Young  Woman  in  the  Houie  where  he  lived, 
who -would  fain  have  taken  him  in  the  Pits  by 
the  Wife  Alan  cautioned  againft,  and  who 
was  herlelf  fo  taken  only  with  his  molt  Come- 
ly Perfon.  that  She  dy"d  for  the  Love  of  him, 
when  (he  faw  him  gene  too  far  to  be  obtained  : 
Whereas,  by  the  like  Snares,  the  Apprentice  that 
next  fucceeded  him  was  undone  for  ever. 
But  being  a  Perfon  herewithul  moft  fignally 
Diligent  in  his  Bujinefs,  n  was  not  long  be- 
fore the  Maxim  of  the  Wife  Man  was  molt 
literally  accomplished  )n  his  coming  to  Stand 
before  Prino&s  ;  for  being  made  a  Freeman  of 
London,  he  applied  himfelf  unto  the  Eafl- 
Country  Trade,  and  was  publickly  chofen  the 
Deputy-Govanour  of  the  Company,  wherein 
he  lo  acquitted  himfelf  as  to  become  confide- 
rable.  And  afterwards  going  himfelf  into  the 
Eafi-Country,  he  not  only  became  fo  well  Ac- 
quainted with  the  Affairs  of  the  Baltick-Sea, 
but  alfo  became  fo  well  Improved  in  the  Ac- 
complishments 


Book  II.  Or,  The  Hiftory  of  New-England, 


complifhments  of  a  Man  of  Bufmejs,  that  the  [America.     Mr.  Eaton  had  already  affifted  the 
King  of  England  imploy  'd  him  as  an  Agent  un-  New    Majfacbufet'-Coiony\  as  being  one  of  the 


to   the  King  of  Denmark.    The   Concerns  of 


his  Agency  he   fo    difcreetly  managed,  that  as  moving  thither  himfelf  until  Mr.  Davenport, 


Patentees  for  it  \    but  had  no  purp'ofe  cf  re- 


he  much  obliged    and  engaged   the  Eaft-Land 
Company,  (who  in  Token  thereof  prefented  his 
Wife  with  a  Bafon  and  Ewer  double  gilt,  and 
curiouily  wrought  with  Cold,  and  weighing  a- 
bove  Sixty  Pound,)  fo  he  found  much  Accep- 
tance with  the  King  of  Denmark,  and  was  af- 
terwards ufed  by   that   Prince  to  do  him   no 
little  Services.     Neverthelefs  he  kept  his  Inte- 
grity amongft  the  Temptations  of  that  Court, 
whereat  he  was  now  a  Re  fide  nt ;  and  not  fel 
dom  had  he  moft   Eminent  Caufe  to  acknow- 
ledge the  Benignity  and  Interpofal  of  Heaven 
for  his  Prefervations ;   once   particularly,  when 
the  King  of  Denmark  was  beginning  the  King 
of  England's  Health,    while   Mr.  Eaton,  who 
dilliked    fuch    Health-Drinking,    was    in    his 
Pretence  ;    the   King  fell  down   in  a  fort  of 
a  Fit,  with  the  Cup  in  his  Hand,  whereat  all 
the  Nobles  and  Courtiers  wholly  applied  them- 
felves  to  convey  the  King  into  his  Chamber, 
and  there  was  no  notice   taken   who  was  to 
Pledge  his  Health  •,    whereby  Mr.  Eaton  was 
the  more  eafily  deliver'd  from  any  fhare  in  the 
Debauch. 

§.  5.    Having  arrived  unto  a   fair    Eftate, 
(which  he  was  firfl  willing  to  do,  he  Married 
a  moft   Virtuous  Gentlewoman,   to  whom  he 
had  firft  Efpoufed  himfelf  after  he  had  fpent 
Three  Years  in  an  Abfence  from  her  in   the 
Eafi-Countty.    But  this  deareft  and  greateft  of 
his  Temporal  Enjoyments  proved  but  a  Tempo- 
ral one;  for  living  no  longer  with  him  than 
to  render  him   the   Father  of  Two  Children, 
fhe  almoft   killed  him   with  her  own  Death  ; 
and  yet  ar  her  Death  (he  exprefTed  herfelf  won- 
drous willing  to  be  Diffolved,  and  to  be  with 
Cbrift,  from  whom  (fhe  laid)  I  would  not  be 
detained  one  Hour  for  all  the  Enjoyments  upon 
Earth    He  aftei wards  Married  a  Prudent  and 
Pious  Widow,  the  Daughter  of  the  Bilhop  of 
Cbefter ;  unto  the  Three  former  Children  of  which 
Widow,  he  became  a  moft  Exemplary,  Living 
and  Faithful  Father,  as  well  as  a  molt  Worthy 
Husband  unto  herfelf,  by  whom  he  afterwards 
haa  Five  Children,  Two  Sons  and  Three  Daugh -, 
ters.     But  the  Second  of  his  Children  by  his 
latter  Wife  dying  fome  while  before,  it  was 
not  long  before    his    Two    Children   by    his 
former  Wife  were   fmitten    with   the  Plague, 
whereof  the  Elder  died,  and  his  Houfe  there- 
upon (hut  up  with  a,  Lord  have  Mercy  !  How- 
ever the  Lord  had  this  Mercy  on  the  Family, 
to  let  the  Diftemper  fpread  no  further  ;  and  fo 
Mr.  Eaton   fpent   many  Years   a  Merchant  of 
great  Credit  and   Fafhion  in  the  City  of  Lon- 
don. 

§.  6.  At  length  Conformity  to  Ceremonies 
Humanely  Invented  and  Impofed  in  the  Wor- 
(hip  of  God,  was  urged  in  the  Church  of 
England  with  fo  much  Rigour,  that  Mr.  Da- 
venport was  thereby  driven  to  feek  a  Refuge 
from  the  Storm  in  the  Cold  and  Rude  Corners  of 


under  whole  Excellent  Minillry  he  lived,    was 
compelled  unto  a  ihare  in  this  Removal.  How- 
ever, being  fully  fatisfied  in  his  own  Confcience, 
that  Vnlawjul  things  were  now  violently  de- 
manded of  him,    he  was  willing  to  accompa- 
ny  his  Perfecuted  Pallor  in  the  Retreat  from 
Violence  now  Endeavoured,  and  many  Eminent 
Londoners  chearfully  engaged  with  him  in  this 
Undertaking.     Unto  New-England  this  Compa- 
ny of  good  Men  came  in  the  Year  1637.  where 
chufing  to  be  a  diftinft  Colony  by  themfelves, 
more  Accommodated  unto  the  Defigns  of  Mer- 
chandize than  of  Husbandry,  they  fought  and 
bought  a  large  Territory  in  the  Southern  Parts 
of  the  Country  for  their  Habitations.     In  the 
Frofecution  hereof,  the  chief  Care  was  devol- 
ved upon  Mr.  Eaton,  who  with  an  Unexempled 
Patience    took    many    tedious   and    hazardous 
Journies  through  a  Delblate  Wilderneis  full  of 
Barbarous  Indians,  until  upon  Mature  Delibe- 
ration he  pitched    upon  a    place  now   called 
New-Haven,    where  they  foon  formed  a  very 
regular  Town  •,  and  a  number  of  other  Towns 
along  the  Sea  fide  were  quickly  added  thereun- 
to.    But   by    the   Difficulties   attending   thefe 
Journies,  Mr.  Eaton  brought  himfelf  into  ail 
extream   Sicknefs  ;    from  which  he  recovered 
not  without  a  Fijiula  in  his  Breaft.  whereby  he 
underwent  much  Affliction.     When  the  Chirur- 
geon  came  to  Infpect  the  Sire,   he  told  him, 
Sir,  I  know  not  how  to  go  about  what  is  ndcef, 
fary  for  your  Cure  ;  but  Mr.  Eaton  anfwered 
him,  God  .calls  you  to  do,  and  me  to  fuffer  I 
And  God  accordingly  ftrengthened  him  to  bear 
miferable  Cuttings  and  Launcings  of  his  Flelh 
with  a  moil  Invincible  Patience.    The  Chirur- 
geon  indeed  made  fo  many  Wounds,  that  he  was 
not  able  to  Cure  what  he  had  made;  another,  and 
a  better,  Hand  was  neceffarily  imployed  for  it  \ 
but  in  the  mean  while  great  were  the  Trials 
with  which  the  God  of  Heaven  exercifed  the 
Faith  of  this  his  Holy  Servant. 

§.  7.  Mr.  Eaton  and  Mr.  Davenport  were 
the  Mofes  and  Aaron  of  the  Chriftian  Colony 
now  Erecfed  in  the  South-Weft  Parts  of  New- 
England  ;  and  Mr.  Eaton  being  yearly  and  ever 
chofen  their  Governour,  it  was  the  Admirati- 
on of  all  Spectators  to  behold  the  Difcretion, 
the  Gravity,  the  Equity  with  which  he  ftill 
all  their  Publick  Affairs.  He  carried 
his  very  Countenance  a  Majejly  which  can- 
not be  defcribed  ;  and  in  his  Dilpenfations  of 
Juftice  he  was  a  Mirrour  for  the  moft  Imitable 
Impartiality,  but  Ungainfayable  Authority  of 
his  Proceedings,  being  awfully  fenfible  of  the 
Obligations  which  the  Oath  of  a  Judge  lays  up- 
on  him.  lis  font  plus  tenus  de  raifon  de 
garder  Leur  Serment,  doubter  mort,  ou  au- 
cutie  forfeiture  :  And  hence  he,  who  would 
moft  patiently  bear  hard  things  offered  unto 
his  Per fon  in  private  Cafes,  yet  would  never 


managed 
in 


pafs  by   any 
D  d 


Publick  Affronts,    or 


Neglefite 
offered; 


2  8 


Magnalia  Cbrijli  Ameritchui  :  Book  II. 


offered  when  he  appeared  under  the  Chara&er 
of  a  Mugijh-cte.  But  he  ftill  was  the  Guide 
of  the  Wind,  the  Staff"  of  the  Lame,  the  Help- 
er of  the  Widow  and  the  Orphan,  and  all  the 
Diftrcfled  ;  none  that  had  a  Good  Caufe  was  a- 
fraid  of  coming  before  him  :  On  the  one  fide, 
In  his  Days  did  the  Righteous  flourijh  ;  on  the 
other  fide,  tic  wot  the  Terror  oj  Evil  Doers. 
As  in  his  Government  of  the  Commonwealth,  lb 
in  the  Government  of  his  family, .  he  was  Pru- 
dent, Serious,  Happy  to  a  Wonder  •,  and  3lbeit 
he  fometimes  had  a  large  family,  confifting  of 
no  lefs  than  thirty  Pcrfons,  yet  he  managed 
them  with  fuch  an  Even  Temper,  that  Ob- 
fervers  have  affirmed.  They  never  jaw  an  Houfe 
ordered  .with  more  Wifdom  !  He  kept  an  Ho- 
nourable and  Hofpitable  Table  -,  but  one  thing 


dally  tending  unto  the  Sariciification  of  the 
Day.  At  Noon  he  fang  a  Pfalm,  and  at 
Night  he  retired  an  Hour  into  his  Clofet;  ad- 
vihng  thofe  in  his  Houfe  to  improve  rhe  'fame 
time  for  the  good  of  their  own  Souls.  He 
then  called  his  Family  together  again,  and  in 
an  obliging  manner  conferred  with  them  about 
the  things  with  which  they  had  been  Enter- 
tained in  the  Houfe  of  God,  (hutting  up  all 
with  a  Prayer  fot  the  Bleffing  of  God  upon 
them  all.  For  Solemn  Days  of  Humiliation 
or  of  Thank/giving,  he  took  the  fame  Courfe' 
and  Endeavoured  ftill  t<3  make  thofe  that  be- 
longed unto  him,  underftand  the  meaning  of  the 
Services  before  them.  He  feldom  uied  any 
Recreations,  but  being  a  great  Reader,  all  the 
I  time  he  could  (pare  from  Company  and  Bufi- 


that  ftill  made  the  Entertainment  thereof  the  :  nefs,   he  commonly  fperit   in  his  Beloved  Stu- 
bettcr,  was  the  continual  Prefence  of  his  Aged\dy;  fo  that  he  merited  the  Name  which  was 


Mother,  by  feeding  of  whom  with  an  Exempla 
ry  Piety  till  Jbe  died,  he  enfured  his  own  Prc- 
jperity  as  long  as  he  lived.  His  Children  and 
Servants  he  would  mightily  Encourage  unto 
the  Study  of  the  Scriptures*  and  Countenance 
their  Addrcilis  unto  himfelf  with  any  of  their 
Enquiries  ;  but  when  he  difcerned  any  of 
them  fintully  negligent  about  the  Concerns  either 
of  their  General  or  Particular  Callings,  he 
would  admonilh  them  with  fuch  a  Penetra- 
ting Efficacy,  that  they  could  fcarce  forbear 
falling  down  at  his  Feet  with  Tears.  A  Word 
of  his  was  enough  to  fleer  them  ! 

§.  8.  So  Exemplary  was  he  for  a  Chriftian, 
that  one  who  had  been  a  Servant  unto  him, 
could  many  Years  after  fay,  Whatever  Difficul- 
ty in  my  daily  Walk  I  now  meet  withal,  ftill 
j'omcthing  that  I  cither  Jaw  or  heard  in  my 
Buffed  Majler  Eaton  j  Converfation^  helps  me 
through  it  all  •,  /  have  Reojon  to  blejs  God 
that  ever  I  knew  him  !  It  was  his  Cuftom 
when  he  fitft  rofe  in  a  Morning,  to  repair  un- 
to his  Study  ;  a  Study  well  Perfumed  with  the 
Meditations  and  Supplications  of  an  Holy 
Soul.  After  this,  calling  his  Family  together, 
he  would  then  read  a  Portion  of  the  Scripture 
among  them,  and  after  fome  Devout  and  Ufe- 
ful  Reflections  upon  it,  he  would  make  a  Pray- 
er not  long,  but  Extraordinary  Pertinent  and 
Reverent  ■  and  in  the  Evening  fome  of  the 
fame  Exercifes  were  again  artended.  On  the 
Saturday  Morning  he  would  ftill  take  notice 
of  the  Approaching  Sabbath  in  his  Prayer^  and 
ask  the  Grace  to  be  Remembring  of  It,  and 
Preparing  for  it  ;  and  when  the  Evening  arri- 
ved, he,  befides  this,  not  only  Repeated  a  Ser- 
mon, but  alio  Inftrutfcd  his  People,  with  put- 
ting of  ^ueftions  referring  to  the  Points  of 
Religion,  which  would  oblige  them  to  Study 
for  an  Anfwer  ■,  and  if  their  Anfwer  were  at 
any  time "  inefficient,  he  would  wifely  and 
gently  Enlighten  their  Underftandings  ;  all 
which  he  concluded  with  Singing  of  a  Pfalm. 
When  the  Lord's  Day  came,  he  called  his  Fa- 
mily together  at  the  time  for  the  Ring- 
ing of  the  Fitft  Bell,  and  repeated  a  Sermon, 
Wherettnto  he  added   a  Fervent  Prayer^  efpe- 


once  given  to  a  Learned  Ruler  of  rhe  Engftfh 
Nation,  the  Name  of  Bcauclerk :  in  Ccnver- 
fing  with  his  Friends,  he  was  Affable,  Cour- 
teous, and  generally  Plcajant,  but  Grave  per- 
petually ■  and  lb  Cautelous  and  Circumfpecf  in 
his  Difcourfcs,  and  fo  Modcft  in  his  Expreffi- 
ons,  that  it  became  a  Proverb  for  Inconteftabie 
Truth,  Governcur  Eaton  faid  it. 

But  after  all,  his  humility  appeared  in  his 
having  always  but  Low  Expectations,  looking 
for  little  Regard  and  Reward  from  any  Men 
after  he  had  merited  as  highly  as  was  poflihle 
by  his  Univer/al  Serviceablenefs. 

k;.  9.  His  Eldeft  Son  he  maintained  at  the 
Colledge  until  he  proceeded  Mafter  of  Arts  - 
and  h£  was  indeed  rhe  Son  of  his  Vows,  and  a 
Son  of  great  Hopes.  But  a  fevere  Catarrh 
diverted  this  Young  Gentleman  from  rhe  Work 
of  the  Miniftry  whereto  his  Father  had  once 
devoted  him  ■,  and  a  Malignant  Fever  then 
raging  in  thofe  Parts  of  the  Country,  carried 
oft  him  with  his  Wife  within  Two  or  Three 
Days  of  one  another.  This  was  counted  the 
fbreft  of  all  the  Trials  that  ever  befel  his  Fa- 
ther in  the  Days  of  the  Tears  of  his  Pilgri- 
mage ;  but  he  bore  it  with  a  Patience  and 
Compofure  of  Spirit  which  was  truly  admi- 
rable. His  dying  Son  look'd  earneftly  on  him, 
and  faid,  Sir,  What  fhall  we  do  I  Whereto, 
with  a  well-ordered  Countenance,  he  replied^ 
Look  up  to  God !  And  when  he  paffed  by 
his  Daughter  drowned  in  Tears  on  this  Occafi- 
on,  to  her  he  faid,  Remember  the  Sixth  Com- 
mandment, hurt  not  your  felf  with  Immode- 
rate Grief;  Remember  Job,  who  faid,  The 
Lord  hath  given,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken 
away,  BlelTed  be  the  Name  of  the  Lord  ! 
Tou  may  mark  what  a  Note  the  Spirit  cf 
God  put  upon  it ;  in  all  this  Job  finned  not,  nor 
charged  God  foolifhly  :  God  accounts  it  a 
charging  of  him  foolifhly,  when  we  don't  fub- 
mit  unto  his  Will  patiently.  Accordingly  he 
now  governed  himfelf  as  one  that  had  attained 
unto  the  Rule  of  Weeping  as  if  we  wept  not ; 
for  it  being  the  Lord's  Day,  he  repaired  unto 
the  Church  in  the  Afternoon,  as  he  had  been 
there  in  the  Forenoon,  though  he  was  never 

like 


Book  II.         Or,  The  Hi/iory  of  Ncw^uglmd. 


\9 


like  to  fee  his  Deareft  Son  alive  any  more  in 
this  World.  And  though  before  the  Firfl  Pray- 
er began,  a  MelTenger  came  to  prevent  Mr.  Daven- 
port's, praying  for  the  Sick  Peribn,  who  was  now 
Dead,  yet  his  Aftecfionate  Father  alter'd  not 
his  Courfe,  but  Wrote  after  the  Preacher  as 
formerly  \  and  when  he  came  Home  he  held  on 
his  former  Methods  of  Divine  Worfhip  in  his 
Family,  not  for  the  Excufe  of  Aaron,  omitting 
any  thing  in  the  Service  of  God.  In  like  fort, 
when  the  People  had  been  at  the  Solemn  In- 
terment of  this  his  Worthy  Son,  he  did  with 
a  very  Unpaflionate  AYpecF  and  Carriage  then 
lay,  Friends,  I  thank  you  all  for  your  Love 
and  Help,  and  for  this  Teflunony  of  Rrfpeil 
unto  me  'and  mine :  The  Lord  bath  g^vea,  and 
the  Lord  bath  taken  ;  bleffed  be  the  A  awe  cj 
the  Lord  I  Neverthelefs,  retiring  hereupon  in- 
to the  Chamber  where  his  Daughter  then  lay 
Sick,  fome  Tears  were  obferved  falling  jrom 
him  while  he  uttered  thefe  Wotds,  J  here  if 
a  difference  between  a  fullen  Silence  or  a  flu- 
pi  Senflejnefs  under  the  Hand  of  God,  and  a 
Child-like  Submiffion  thereunto. 

i§.  jo.  Thus  continually  he,  for  about  a  Score 
of  Years,  was  the  Glory  and  Pillar  of  Kew- 
Haven  Colony.  He  would  often  fay,  Some 
count  it  a  great  matter  to  Die  well,'  but  I  am 
fure  'tis  a  great  matter  to  Live  well.  All  our 
Care  fhould  be  while  we  have  our  Life  to  ufe 
it  well,  and  Jo  when  Death  puts  an  end  unto 
that,  it  will  put  an  end  unto  all  our  Cares. 
"But  having  Excellently  managed  his  Care  to1 
Live  well,  God  would  have  him  to  Die  well, 
without  any  room  or  time  then  given  to  take 
any  Care  at  all  ;  for  he  enjoyed  a  Death  Jud 


den  to  every  one  but  himfelf !  Having  Wor- 
lhipped  God  with  his  Family  after  his  ufual 
manner,  and  upon  fornp  Occafion  with  much 
Solemnity  charged  all  the  Family  to  carry  it 
well  imp  rhejr  Milfteis  who  was  now  confined 
by  Sickneis,  he  Supp'd,  and  then  took  a  turn 
q[  two  abroad  for  his  Meditations.  After  that 
he  came  in  to  bid  his  Wife  Good-night,  before 
he  left  her  with  her  Watchers  ;  which  when  he 
did,  the  laid,  Methinks  you  look  fad !  Where- 
to he  replyd,  The  Differences  rifen  in  the 
Church  of  Hartford  make  me  fo ;  f he  then  ad- 
ded, Let  us  een  go  back  to  our  Native' Coun- 
try again  ;  to  which  he  anfwered,  Tou  may, 
CaAd  fo  fhe  did]  but  l  flmll  Die  here.  This 
was  the  lait  Word  that  ever  fhe  heard  him 
fpeak  ■  for  now  retiring  unto  his  Lodging  in 
another  Chamber,  he  was  overheard  about 
midnight  fetching  a  Groan  ;  and  unto  one,  fent 
in  prefently  to  enquire  how  he  did,  he  an- 
fwered the  Enquiry  with  only  faying,  Very 
III !  And  without  faying  any  more,  he  fell  a- 
fleep  in  Jefus  :  In  the  Year  1657.  loofing  An- 
chor from  New-Haven  for  the  better. 


Gflendunt. 


—Scdcs,  ubi  Fata,  §>uietas 


Now  let  his  Gravcftone  wear  at  leaffc  the 
following 

EPITAPH. 

NEW-EN.GL  A.ND'x    Glory,  full   of 

Warmth  and  Light, 
Stole  away  (and  fa  id  nothing,)  in  the  Night. 


CHAP.     X. 

SUCCESSORS. 


-4.  1.  \T7  HEN  the  Day  arrived  in  the 
VV  Anniverjary  Courfe  for  the  Free- 
men of  the  Colony  to  ElecF  another  Gover- 
nour  in  the  place  of  the  Deceafed  Eaton,  Mr. 
Davenport  Preached  on  that  PafTage  of  the  Di- 
vine Oracle,  in  Jofh.  1.  I,  2.  ~Nevo  after  the 
Death  of  Mofes,  the  Servant  of  the  Lord,  it 
came  to  pafs  that  the  Lord  fpake  unto  Jofhua, 
■the  Son  of 'Nun,  Mofes  Minifter,  faying.  Now 
arife  thou  and  all  this  People.  The  Colony 
was  abundantly  fenfible  that  their  CiitOlt  had 
been  a  Man  of  a  Mofaic  Spirit;  and  that 
while  they  chofe  him,  as  they  did  every  Year 
of  his  Life  among  them  to  be  theit  Governour, 
■  they  could  not  chufe  a  better.  But  they  now 
confidered  that  Mfl".  Francis  Newman,  who  had 
been  for  many  Years  the  Secretary  of  the  Co- 
lony, was  there  a  Minifler  to  their  Mofes,  as 
he  had  been  otherwife  his  intimate  Friend, 
Neighbour,  Companion  and  Counfellor.  For 
this  Caufe  the  Unanimous  Choice  of  the  Free- 
men fell  upon  this  Gentleman  to  fucceed  in 
the  Government.  And  I  fhall  .  here  give 
a    furfkient    Hiftory    of    his    Government  •, 


which  through  Death  was  not  fuffered  to 
continue  above  Three  or  Four  Years,  by 
only  faying,  That  he  walk'd  exaUly  in  the 
Steps  of  his  Predeceffor. 

§.  2.  Upon  the  letting  of  Mr.  Francis  New- 
man, there  arole  Mr.  William  Leet,  of  whom 
let  not  the  Reader  be  difpleafed  at  this  brief 
Account.  This  Gentleman  was  by  his  Educati- 
on a  Lawyer,  and  by  his  Imployment  a  Regi- 
fter  in  the  Bi_fhop's  Court.  In  that  Station,  at 
Cambridge,  he  obferved  that  there  were  Sum- 
moned; before  the  Coutt  certain  Perfbns  to  an- 
fwer  for  the  Crime  of  going  to  hear  Sermons 
abroad,  when  there  were  none  to  be  heard  in 
their  own  Parifh  Churches  at  home  ;  and  that 
when  any  were  brought  before  them  for  For- 
nication or  Adultery,  the  Court  only  made 
themfelves  merry  with  their  Peccadillo's  ;  and 
that  thefe  latter  Tranfgreflbrs  were  as  favoura- 
bly dealt  withal,  as  ever  the  Wolf  was  when 
he  came  with  an  Auricular  ConfeJJton  of  his 
Murders  to  his  Brother  Fox  for  Abfolution  -, 
but  the^  former  found  as  hard  meafure  as  ever, 
the- poor  4/>,  that  had  only  taken  a  Straw  by 

miirake 


3° 


Magnolia  Cbrijii  Americana : 


Book  II. 


mifiake  out  of  a  Pilgrim's  Pad,  and  yet  upon  i  Generation    of    Men,      he   aflbciated   himfelf 


Confejfidn, -was  by  Chancellour  Fox  pronounced 
Unpardonable.      This    Obfervation     extreamly 
fcandalized  Mr.  Leety  who    always    thought, 
that  Hearing  a  good  Sermon  had  been  a  lefler 
Fault  than  Lying  with  one's  Neighbour's  Wife  : 
And   had   the   lame  Refentments   that    Auftin 
fometimes   had  of  the   Iniquity   which   made 
the  Tranjgrejfwn  of  a  Ceremony  more  feverely 
reprehended  than  a  Tranfgrejfion  of  the  Law  of 
God ;  but  it   made   an   Everlafting  Impreffion 
upon  his  Heart,  when  the  Judge  of  the  Court 
furioufly  demanded  of  one  then  to  be  cenfured, 
How  he  durfl  be  fo  bold  an  to  break  the   Laws 
of  the  Churchy  in  going  from   his  own  Parifb 
to  hear  Sermons  abroad  ?   And  the  Honeft  Man 
anfwered;  Sir,    How  fhould  I  get  Faith  elfe  ? 
For  the  Apoflle  faith,  Fait!:  comes  by  Hearing 
the  Word  F reached  ;  which  Faith   is   necejfary 
to  Salvation  ;    and  Hearing    the   Word  is    the 
Means  appointed  by  God  for  the  obtaining  and 
encreafwg  of  it :  And  thefe  Means  I  mufi  ufe, 
whatever  I  fiiffcr  for  it  in  this  World.     Thefe 
Words  of  that  Honelt  Man  were    Bleffed  by 
God  with  fuch  an  Effect  upon  the  Mind  of  Mr. 
Leei\  that  he  prelcntly    left  his   Offife   in  the 
Bifhop's  Court,   and   forfaking  rhat  Untoward 


with  fuch  as  would  go  Hear  the  Word,  that 
they  might  get  Faith  ;  and  in  Hearing  he  did 
happily  get  the  Like  precious  Faith.  On  this, 
and  for  this,  he  was  expoied  unto  the  Perfecu- 
tion,  which  caufed  him  to  retire  into  New- 
England  with  many  Worthy  Minilters  and  o- 
ther  Chriftians  in  the  Year  1639.  I"  that  Coun- 
try he  fettled  himfelf  under  the  Miniftry  of 
the  Excellent  Mr.  Whitfield  at  Gilford,  where 
being  alfo  chofen  a  Magijlrate,  and  then  Go- 
vernour  of  the  Colony ;  and  being  fo  at  the 
Juncture  of  time,  when  the  Royal  Charter  did 
join  Connecticut  and  New-Haven,  he  became 
next  unto  Governour  W'mthrop,  the  Veputy- 
Governour  of  the  whole  ;  and  after  the  Death 
of  Mr.  Winthrop,  even  until  his  own  Death., 
the  Annual  Eletlwn  for  about  a  Decad  of  Years 
together  ftill  made  him  Governour.  But  in 
his  whole  Governmenr  he  gave  continual  De- 
monftrations  of  an  Excellent  Spirit,  especially 
in  that  part  of  it  where  the  Reconciliation  and  the 
Coalition  of  the  Spirits  of  the  People  under  it 
was  to  be  accomplilhed.  P  r.  Robert  Treat  is 
the  Follower  of  his  Example,  as  well  as  the 
Succeffor  in  his  Government. 


CHAP.     XI. 

Hermes  Chriftianus.     The  LIFE   of  JOHN    WINTHROP,*£/fi 
now  of  CONNECTICUT   and  NEW-HAVEN  United. 


Qever~ 


Gefn 


•Et  KJos  aliquod  Nomenq\,  Decufqi 


W1HS.- 


§.  i.TF  the  Hiftorian  could  give  that  Cha- 
i  rafter  of  the  beft  Roman  Emperor, 
that  he  was  Bonus  a  Bono,  Pius  a  Pio,  the  Son 
of  a  Father  like  himfelf,  out  Hiftory  may 
affirm  concerning  a  very  good  Nevc-Englifh  Go- 
vernour alto,  that  he  was  the  Father  of  a  Son 
like  himfelf]  The  Proverb  of  the  Jew!  which 
doth  obferve,  That  Vinegar  is  the  Son  of  Wine; 
and  the  Proverb  of  the  Greeks,  which  doth  ob- 
ferve, That  the  Sons  of  Heroes  are  Trefpaffers, 
has  been  more  than  once  contradicted  in  the 
happy  Experience  of  the  New-Englanders  :  But 
none  of  the  lealt  remarkable  Contradictions 
given  to  it  has  been  in  the  Honourable  Family 

of  our  ©Hmt&ropjB. 

§.  2.  The  Eldelt  Son  of  ^Ofjlt  2Bitttl)t0p, 
Efq;  the  Governour  of  one  Colony,  was  Jofjlt 
C&lintfjCOp,  Efq;  the  Governour  of  another, 
in,  therefore  happy,  New-England,hoxn  Feb.  12. 
T605.  at  Groton  in  England.  His  Glad  Father 
beltowed  on  him  a  liberal  Education  at  the 
Univerlity,  rirft  of  Cambridge  in  England,  and 
then  of  Dublin  in  Ireland ;  and  becaufe  Tra- 
vel has  been  efteemed  no  little  Accomplifher 
of  a  Toung  Gentleman,  he  then  Accomplifhed 
himfelf  by  Travelling  into  France,  Holland, 
Flanders,  Italy,  Germany,  and  as  far  as  Turky 
'it  felf ;   in  which  places  he   fo  improved  his 


Opportunity  of  Converting  with  all  forts  of 
Learned  Men,  that  he  returned  home  equally  a 
Subject  of  much  Experience,  and  of  great  Ex- 
pectation. 

$;.  3.  The  Son  of  Scipio  Afncanus  proving 
a  degenerate  Pcrfon,  the  People  forced  him  to 
pluck  off  a  Signet-Ring,  which  he  wote  with 
his  Father's  Face  engraven  on  it.  But  the  Son 
of  our  Celebrated  Governour  Winthrop,  was  on 
the  other  fide  fo  like  unto  his  Excellent  Father 
fot  early  Wifdom  and  Virtue,  that  arriving  at 
New-England  with  his  Father's  Family,  Nov. 
4.  163  r.  he  was,  though  not  above  Twenty 
Three  Years  of  Age,  by  the  Unanimous  Choice 
of  the  People,  chofen  a  Magijlrate  of  the  Co- 
lony, whereof  his  Farher  was  the  Governour. 
For  this  Colony  he  afterwards  did  many  Ser- 
vices, yea,  and  he  did  rhem  Abroad  as  well  as 


the 
he 

where 


iear  1634. 

was  by  bad 

being  in- 

John  Clciworthy^ 


at  Home ;  very  particularly  in 
when  returning  for  England, 
Weather  forced  into  Ireland, 
vited  unto  the  Houfe  of  Sir 
he  met  with  many  Confiderable  Perfons,  by  con- 
ferring with  whom,  the  Affairs  of  New-Eng- 
land were  not  a  little  promoted  ;  but  it  w?s  a- 
nother  Colony  for  which  the  Providence  of  Hea- 
ven intended  him  to  be  fuch  another  Father,  as 
his  own  Honourable  Father  had  been  to  this. 

§.  4..  In 


Book  II.        Or,  The  Hiflory  ijfNeW-Enghmd. 


3* 


§.  4.  In  the  Year  1675.  Mr.  Wintbrop  re- 
turned unto  New-England,  with  Powers  iiom 
the  Lord  Say  and  the  Lord  Brook,  to  fettle  a 
Plantation  upon  the  Long  River  of  ConncUicut, 
and  a  Commiiiion  to  be  himfelf  the  Govcrnour 
of  that  Plantation.  But  inafmuch  as  many 
good  People  of  the  MajTachufet-Colony  had  juff. 
betore  this  taken  Pofieliion  of  Land  for  a  New- 
Colony  thereabouts,  this  Courteous  and  Peacea- 
ble Gentleman  gave  them  no  Moleftation  ;  but 
having  wiiely  Accommodated  the  Matte?  with 
them,  he  fent  a  convenient  number  of  Men, 
with  all  Nectlfaries,  to  Irect.  a  Fortification  at 
the  Mouth  of  the  River,  where  a  Town,  with  a 


A>  tiabites  in  uric  ubi  caput  urbh  eft 
Medicus  :  But  highly  reafonable  the  Sentence  of 
Atiflotle,  I  f6i  j :  .(jus  fuefit  Pbilofopbus,  ibi 
Ctvitds  cut  hvi\;  and  this  the  rather  for 
tVhat  is  truly  noted  by  Thucyciidcs,  Mdgiftra- 
tus  eft  CtvinttU  Medicos.  Such  an  one  was 
our  gftlHiiljrOpj  whole  Genius  and  Faculty 
(or  txptnmcnuil  Pbilofopby,  was  advanced  in 


Say-Brook  ,  by  which  happy  A£tion,  the  Plan- 


his  Travels  abroad,  by  his  Acquaintance  with 
many  Learned  Vtrtuofi.Om  Effecl  of  this  Difpofi- 
tion  in  him,  wa->his  being  furniihed  with  Noble 
Medicines,  which  he  moft  Charitably  and  G> 
neroufly  gave  away  upon  all  Occalions ;  info- 
much  that  w -here-ever  he  came,  ftili  the  Difeafed 
Fort,  is  now  diftinguilhcd  by  the  Name    of   flocked  about  him,  as  if  the  Healing  Angel  of 


Bctbejda    had    appeared  in  the  place ;   and  fo 


ten  further  up  the  River  had  no  fmall  Kind-  [  many  were  the  Cures  which  he  wrought,  and 
nets  done  unto  them;  and  the  Indians,  which  the  Lives  that  he  laved,  that  if  Scandcrbeg 
might  eile  have  been  more  Troublelbme,  were    might  bxift   of  his   having  fhin  in  his  Time 


kept  in  Awe. 

§.  5.  The  Self-denying  Gentleman,  who  had 
imployed  his  Commijfion  of  Govcrnour  fo  little 
ro  the  Disadvantage  of  the  Infant-Colony  at 
ConneQicut^  was  himfelfj  e're  long,  by  Election 
made  G&Uerncur  of  that  Colony.  And  upon 
the  jkeftfiraticn  of  King  Charles  11.  he  willing- 
ly undertook  another  Voyage  to  England,  on 
the  behalf  of  the  People  under  his  Govern 
ment,  whole  Affairs  he  managed  with  fuch  a 
Succefsfdl  Prudence,  that  he  obtained  a  Royal 
Charter  for  them,  which  Incorporated  the  Co- 
lony of  New-Haven  with  them,  and  Invelfed 
both  Colonies,  now  happily  United,  with  a  firm 
Giant  of  Priviledges,  beyond  thofe  of  the  Plan- 
tations which  had  been  fettled  before  them. 
i  have  been  informed,  that  while  he  was  en- 
gaged in  this  Negotiation,  being  admitted  unto 
a  private  Conference  with  the  King,  he  pre 


Two  Thoufarid  Men  with  his  own  Hands, 
this  Worthy  Perfon  might  have  made  a  far 
more  defiruble  Boaji  or  his  having  in  his  Time 
Healed  more  than  fo  many  Thoufands  ;  iri 
which  Beneficence  to  Mankind,  there  are  of  his 
Worthy  Children,  who  to  this  Day  do  follow 
his  Direction  and  Example.  But  it  was  not  un- 
to NeK-England  alone  that  the  Refpefrs  of 
this  Accompiilhed  Pbilofopber  were  confined. 
For,  whereas  in  purfuance  of  the  Methods  be- 
gun by  that  Immortally  Famous  Advancer  of 
Learning,  the  moft  Illuftrious  Lord  Chancellor" 
Bacon,  a  Select.  Company  of  Eminent  Perron's, 
ufing  to  meet  in  the  Lodgings  of  Dr.  Wilkin* 
of  Wadbam  Colledge  in  Oxford,  had  laid  the 
Foundation  of  a  Celebrated  Society,  which  bf 
the  Year  1663.  being  Incorporated  with  a  Royal 
Charter,  hath  fince  been  among  the  Glories  of 
England,  yea,  and  of  Mankind ;  and  their  De- 


fented  His  Majefty  with  a  Ring,  which  King    fign  was  to  make  Faithful  Records  of  all  the" 


Charles  I.  had  upon  fome  Occaiion  given  to  his 
Grandfather  •,  and  the  King  not  only   accepted 


Works  of  ]\aturc   or   of  Art,    which   might 
come   under   their    Obfervation,    and   Correct 


his  PreLnt.  but  alfo  declared,  that  he  accounted  what  had  been  lalfe,  Reftore  what  (hould  be' 
it  one  of  his  Ricbefl  Jewels :  which  indeed  i  True,  Prefcrve  what  fhould  be  Rare^  and  Ren- 
was  the  Opinion  that  New-England  had  of trie  1  der  the  Knowledge  of  the  World,  as  welt 
Hand  that  earned  it.     But  having  thus  laid  his  !  more  Perfect  as  more  Vfeful ;  and   by  multi 


Colony  under  Everlafting  Obligations  of  Gra 
ritude,  they  did,  after  his  return  to  New-Eng- 
land, exprefs  of  their  Gtatitude,  by  faying  to 
him  as  the  [fraelites  did  unto  Gideon,  Rule 
thou  ever  us,  for  thou  haft  delivered  us  ;  chil- 
ling him  for  their  Govcrnour  twice  Seven  Years 
together. 

§.  6.  When  the  Governour  of  Atbens  was  a 
Pbiloje,[i->er,  namely  Demetrius,  the  Common- 
wealth' fo  Mourithed,  that  no  lefs  than  Three 
Hundred  Brazen  Statues  were  afterward  by  the 
Thankful  People  Erected  unto  his  Memory. 
And  a  Bteffed  Land  was  New-England,  when 
there  was  over  part  of  it  a  Governour,  who 
trs$  not  only  a  Chriflian  and  a  Gentleman. 
hot  alfo  an  Eminent  Philofopber  ■,  for  indeed 
ffce  Government  of  the  Stale  is  then  molt  fuc- 
ceftfclfy  managed,  when  the  meafures  of  it 
ire.  by  a  Wife  Obferver,  taken  from  the  Goverii- 
oi  the  World  -,  and  very  unreafbnable  is 
f&   j  ®fjf>  Proverb, 


plied  Experiments  both  of  Light  and  Fruit, 
advance  the  Empire  of  Man  over  the  whole 
vifible  Creation  ;  it  was  the  Honour  of  Mr. 
Wintbrop  to  be  a  Member  of  this  Royal  Soci- 
ety. And  accordingly  among  the  Pbilofopbtcal 
Tr an  fall ions  Pufililhed  by  Mr.  Oldcnbutgb,  there 
are  fome  notable  Communications  from  this 
Inquiiitive  and  Intelligent  Perfon,  Whole  Irtfight 
into  many  Parts  of  the  Creation,  but  efpecially 
!  of  the  Mineral  Kingdom,  was  beyond  wli3t  had 
been  attained  by  the  moft  in  many  Parts  of  A- 
mcrica. 

§.  7.  If  one  would  therefore  defire  an  exa£t 
Picture  of  this  Worthy  Man,  the  Defcription 
which  the  moft  Sober  and  Solid  Writers  of  the 
Great  Philofopbick  Work  do  give  of  thofe  Per- 
ions,  who  alone  are  qualified  for  the  Smiles  of 
Heaven  upon  their  Enterprizes,  would  have 
exactly  fitted  him.  He  was  a  Studious,  Bum- 
ble. Patient,  Referved  and  Mori  if ed  Perfort, 
and'  ori6  iri  whom  the  Love"  of  God  was  Fer- 
vent, 


32 


Magnalia  Chrifli  Americana  : 


Book  II. 


vent,  the  Love  of  Man  fincere  :  And  he  had 
herewithal  a  certain  Extenfton  of  Soul,  which 
difpofed  him  to  a  Generous  Behaviour  towards 
thofe,  who  by  Learning,  Breeding  and  Virtue, 
deferve  Refpecf  s,  though  of  a  Perfwafion  and 
Profeifion  in  Religion  very  different  from  his 
own-  which  was  that  of  a  Reformed  Prote- 
ftani,  and  a  Neiv-Englijh  Puritan.  In  fum,  he 
was  not  more  an  AJcptift  in  thofe  Noble  and 
Secret  Media nes,  which  would  reach  the  Roots 
of  the  Diftempers  that  annoy  Humane  Bodies, 
and  procure  an  Vniverfa!  Reft  unto  the  Arcbtus 
on  all  Uccalions  of  Dilturbance,  than  he  was  in 
thofe  Chnftian  Qualities,  which  appear  upon 
the  Cure  of  the  Diftempers  in  the  Minds  of 
Men.,  by  the  Effectual  Grace  of  our  Lord  Je- 
fus  Chrift. 

§.  8.  In  the  Year  1643.  a^er  divers  MJ)'S 
made  in  fome  former  Years,  the  feveral  Colo- 
nies of  New-England  bcime  in  Faff,  as  well  as 
Name,  OfnttCTl  Colonies  And  an  Inftrument 
was  formed,  wherein  having  declared,  That 
we  all  came  into  thefc  parts  of  America  with 
the  fame  End  and  Ann,  namely,  to  advance  the 
Glory  oj  our  Lord  jefus  Chrift,  and  enjoy  the 
Liberties  of  the  Go/pel.  with  Purity  and  Peace, 
it  was  firmly  agreed  between  the  feveral  Jurif- 
di&ions,  that  there  thould  yearly  be  chofen 
Two  Commilfioners  out  of  each,  who  fhould 
meet  at  fit  "Places  appointed  for  that  purpofe, 
with  full  Powers  from  the  General  Courts  in 
each,  to  Concert  and  Conclude  Matters  of  Ge- 
neral Concernment  for  Peace  or  War  of  the 
feveral  Colonies  thus  Confederated.  In  purfu- 
ance  of  this  Laudable  Confederacy,  this  moft 
Meritorious  Gqvernour  of  Connecticut  Colony 
accepted  the  Trouble  of  appearing  as  a  Com- 
mijfioner  for  that  Colony,  with  the  reft  met  at 
Bofton,  in  the  Year  1676.  when  the  Calamities 
of  the  Indian-War  were  diftreffing  the  whole 
Country  :  But  here  falling  Sick  of  a  Fever,  he 
dy'd  on  April  5.  of  that  Year,  and  was  Ho- 
nourably Interred  in  the  fame  Tomb  with  his 
Honourable  Father. 

§.  9.  His  Father,  as  long  ago  as  the  Year 
1643.  had  feen  Caufe  to  Write  unto  him  an 
Excellent  Letter,  wherein  there  were  thefe  a- 
mong  other  Paffages. 

'  You  are  the  Chief  of  Two  Families ;  I  had 
<  by  your  Mother  Three  Sons  and  Three  Daugh- 
1  ters,  and  I  had  with  her  a  Large  Portion  of 
'  outward  Eftate.  Thefe  now  are  all  gone  ■, 
c  Mother  gone  ;  Brethren  and  Sifters  gone ;  you 
c  only  are  left  to  fee  the  Vanity  of  thefe  Tem- 
c  poral  things,  and  learn  Wifdom  thereby, 
*  whicji  may  be  of  more  ufe  to  you,  through 
c  the  Lord's  Blefling,  than  all  that  Inheritance 
c  which  might  have  befallen  you  :  And  for 
c  which  this  may  ftay  and  quiet  your  Heart, 
'  That  God  is  able  to  give  you  more  than  this ; 
1  and  that  it  being  fpent  in  the  furtherance  of 
'  his  Work,  which  hath  here  profpered  fo  well, 
'  through  his  Power  hitherto,  you  and  yours 
'  may  certainly  cxpeff  a  liberal  Portion  in  the 
'-  Prosperity  and  Blejfing  thereof  hereafter  ;  and 
the  father,  becaufe  it  was  not  forced  from  you 


by  a  Fathei's  Power,  but  ike!/  ufigncd  bv 
your  felt^  out  of  a  Living  and  Filial  Refpect 
unto  me,  and  your  own  readineis  unto  the 
Work  it  felf  From  whence,  as  I  do  often 
take  Occafion  to  Blefs  the  Lord  tor  you,  fb  do 
I  alio  Commend  you  and  yours  to  his  Fa- 
therly Blejfing,  for  a  plentiful  Reward  to  be 
rendred  unto  you.  And  doubt  nor,  my  Dear 
Son,  but  let  your  Faith  be  built  upon  his 
Promife  and  Faithfulnefs,  that  as  he  hath 
carried  you  hitherto  through  many  Perils,  and 
provided  liberally  for  you,  fr>  he  wiil  do 
for  the  time  to  come,  and  will  never  fail  you, 


nor  forfake  you. 


My  Sen,    the  Lord 


knows  how  Dear  thou  art  to  me,  and  that  my 
Care  has  been  more  for  thee  than  for  my  felf. 
But  /  know  thy  Profperity  depends  not  on  my 
Care,  nor  on  thine  own,  but  upon  the  Bleffing 
of  our  Heavenly  bather ;  neither  doth  it  on 
the  things  of  this  World,  but  on  the  Light  of 
God's  Countenance,  through  the  Merit  and  Me- 
diation of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift.  It  is  that 
only  which  can  give  us  Peace  of  Conjcience 
with  Contentation  •,  which  can  as  well  make 
our  Lives  Happy  and  Comiurrable  in  a  mean 
Eftate,  as  in  a  great  Abundance.  But  if  you 
weigh  things  aright,  and  flim  up  all  "the 
Turnings  of  Divine  Providence  together,  you 
(hall  find  great  Advantage.  —  The  Lord  hath 
brought  us  to  a  Good  Land  ;  a  Land,  where 
we  enjoy  outward  Peace  and  Liberty,  and  a- 
bove  all,  the  Blcffings  of  the  Gofpel,  without 
the  Burden  of  lmpofitions  in  Matters  of  Re- 
ligion. Many  Thou  finds  there  are  who  would 
give  Great  Eftatcs  to  enjoy  our  Condition. 
Labour  therefore,  my  good  Son,  to  increafe 
our  Thankfulnefs  to  God  for  all  his  Mercies 
to  thee,  especially  for  that  he  hath  revealed 
his  Everlafling  Good-will  to  thee  in  Jefus 
Chrift,  and  joined  thee  to  the  vifible  Body 
of  his  Church,  in  the  Fellowfhip  of  his  Peo- 
ple, and  hath  faved  thee  in  all  thy  Travails 
abroad,  from  being  Infecfed  with  the  Vices  of 
thefe  Countries  where  thou  haft  been,  (a  Mer- 
cy vouchfafed  but  unto  few  Young  Gentlemen 
Travellers.)  Let  him  have  the  Honour  of  it 
who  kept  thee,  he  it  was  who  gave  thee 
Favour  in  the  Eyes  of  all  with  whom  thou 
hadft  to  do,  both  by  Sea  and  Land ;  He  it 
was  who  faved  thee  in  all  Perils  ;  and  He 
it  is  who  hath  given  thee  a  Gift  in  Under- 
ftanding  and  Art  -,  and  he  it  is  who  hath  pro- 
vided thee  a  Bleffing  in  Marriage,  a  Comfor- 
table Help,  and  many  Sweet  Children  ;  and 
hath  hitherto  provided  liberally  for  you  all: 
And  therefore  I  would  have  you  to  Love  him 
again,  and  Serve  him,  and  Truji  him  for  the 
time  to  come.  Love  and  Prize  that  Word  of 
Truth,  which  only  makes  known  to  you  the 
Precious  and  Eternal  Thoughts  and  Councils 
of  the  Light  Inacccjfible.  Deny  your  own  Wif- 
dom, that  you  may  find  his;  and  efleem  it 
the  greateft  Honour  to  lye  under  the  Simpli- 
city of  the  Gofpel  of"  Chrift  Crucified,  without 
which  you  can  never  enter  into  the  Secrets  of 
hk  Tabernacle,    nor  enjoy  thofe  fwcet  things 

'  which 


Book  II.  Or,  The  Hiflory  of  New-England.  33 


c  which  Eye  hath  not  feen,  nor  Ear  heard,  nor 
'  can  the  Heart  of  Man  conceive  ;  but  God  hath 
'  granted  unto  iome  few  to  know  them  even 
*  in  this  Life.  Study  well,  my  Son,  the  faying 
'of  the  Apoftle,  Knowledge  puffeth  up.  It  is  a 
'good  Gift  of  God,  but  when  it  lifts  up  the 
'  Mind  above  the  Crofs  ofChrift,  it  is  the  Pride 
'of  Life,  and  the  High-way  to  Apoftacy,  where- 
'  in  many  Men  of  great  Learning  and  Hopes 
'  have  perifhed.  —  In  all  the  Exercife  of  your 
1  Gifts,  and  Improvement  of  your  Talents,  have 
'  an  Eye  to  your  Mafter's  End,  more  than  your 
1  own  ;  and  to  the  Day  of  your  Account,  that  you 
'  may  then  have  your  Quietus  eft,  even,  Well 
'•done,  Good  and Faithful Servant !  But  my  laft 
c  and  'chief  Requeft  to  you,  is,  that  you  be 
'  careful  to  have  your  Children  brought  up  in 
'  the  Knowledge  and  Fear  of  God,  and  in  the 
c  Faith  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift.  This  will 
'  <nve  you  ^e  beft  Comfort  of  them,  and  keep 
'them  fure  from  any  Want  or  Mif carriage : 
c  And  when  you  part  from  them,  it  will  be  no 
'  fmall  joy  to  your  Soul,  that  you  fhM  meet 
'  them  again  in  Heaven  f 


Doubtlefs.  the  Reader  confiders  the  Hiflori- 
cal  Paflages  in  this  ExtraSt  of  the  Letter  thus 
Recited.  Now,  but  by  making  this  Reflecf  ion 
upon  the  Reft,  that  as  the  Prophetical  Part  of 
it  was  notably  fulfilled  in  the  Pirate,  whereto 
the  good  Providence  of  God  Recovered  this 
Worthy  Gentleman  and  his  Family,  fo  the  Mo- 
nitory Part  of  it  was  moft  Exemplarily  atten- 
ded in  his  Holy  and  Ufeful  Conversation.  I 
(hall  therein  briefly  fum  up  the  Life  of  a  Per- 
fon  whom  we  fhall  call  a  Second  unto  none  of 
our  Worthies,  but  as  we  call  him  our  Second 
Winthrop. 

EPITAPHIUM. 

Abi  Viator ; 
Et  Luge  plures  Magiftratus  in  Uno  periiffe. 
Redi  Viator. 
Non  Periit,  fed  ad  Cceleftem  Societatem 
Regia  Magis  Regiam, 
Vere  Adeptus, 
Abiit  : 
WINTHROPUS,  Non  minor  magnii  Majoribus. 


CHAP.     XII. 

ASSISTENTS. 


MAGISTRATESof  Connellicut-Co- 
lony,  before  New-Haven  Colony  was 
actually  annexed  unto  it,  were/befides  the  two 
Alternately,  for  the  moft  Part,  Elected  Gover- 
HOPKINS,  and HAINS) 


nours, 


Roger  Ludlow, 
"]ohn  Steel, 
William  Phelps, 
William  Wefiwood, 
Andrew  Ward, 
Thomas  Wells, 
William  Swayn, 
Matthew  Mitchel, 
George  Hull, 
William  Whiting, 
John  Mafon, 
George  Willis, 
John  Webjier, 
William  Ludlow, 
William  Hopkins, 
Henry  Woolcot, 
George  Fenwick, 
Cofmore, 
John  Howel, 
John  Cullick, 
Henry  Clark, 
John  Winthrop, 
Thomas  Topping, 
John  Talcot, 
John  Ogden, 
Nathan  Gold, 
Matthew  Allyn, 
Richard  Treat, 


I6?6 

1636 

1636 

1636 

1636 

1637 

1637 

1637 

1637 

.1637 

1637 

1639 

1639 

164O 

1642 

1643 

1644 

1647 

1647 

1648 

165O 

1651 

1651 

1654 

1656 

1657 

1658 

1658 


Thomas  Baker, 

Mulford, 
Alexander  Knowles, 
John  Wells, 
Robert  Band, 

Rayner, 
John  Allyn, 
Daniel  Clark, 
Samuel  Sherman, 
John  Toung, 


i6j8 
1658 
1658 
1658 
1659 
166 1 
1662 
1662 
1662 
1664 


MAGISTATES  of  New-Haven  Colony, 
before  Conneclicut-Colony  could  accomplifh 
its  Coalition  therewith,  were,  (befides  the 
Governours  elfewhere  mentioned) 


Stephen  Goodyear, 
Thomas  Grigfen, 
Richard  Malbon, 
William  Leet, 
John  Des borough, 

Tapp, 
William  Fowler, 
Francis  Newman, 

AJiwood, 
Samuel  Eaton, 
Benjamin  Fen, 
Matthew  Gilbert, 
Jafper  Crane, 
Robert  Treat, 
William  Jones, 


1637 

16.37 

1637 

1637 

1637 

1637 

1637 

i6$i 

1653 

1654 

1654 

1658 

1658 

1(559 

1662 

MAGI- 


34 


Magnalta  Chrifli  Americana. 


Book  II. 


MAGISTRATES  after  the  Two  Colonies  I  Matthew  Gilbert 
were  content,  according  to  their  Charter,  to 
become  ONE,  were, 


John  Winthrop,  Gov. 
John  Mafon, 
Matthew  Allyn, 
Samuel  Willys, 
Nathan  Gold, 
John  Talcot, 
Henry  Woolcot, 
John  Allyn, 
Samuel  Sherman, 
James  Richards, 
William  Leet, 
William  Jones, 
Benjamin  Irn, 
Jajper  Crane, 
Daniel  Clark, 
Alexander  Bryans, 
James  Bifhop^ 
Anthony  Uowkins, 
Thomas  Wells, 
John  Nafh, 
Robert  Treat, 
Thomas  Topping, 


166$ 
1665 
166; 
1665 
1665 
1667 
1665 
1665 
1665 
166$ 
166$ 
1665 
1665 
1665 
1666 
1668 
1668 
1668 
1668 
1672 
1673 
1674 


Andrew  Leet, 
John  Wad/worth, 
Robert  Chapman, 
James  Fitch, 
Samuel  Mafon, 
Benjamin  Newberry, 
Samuel  Talcot, 
Giles  Hamlin, 


^  While  the  Colonies  were  Clutters  of  Rich 
Grapes,  which  had  a  Blejjwg  in  them.  Such 
Leaves  as  thefe  (which  is  in  the  Proverbs  of 
the  Jewifh  Nation,  a  Name  ior  Magiflrates) 
happily  defended  them  from  the  Storms  that 
moleft  the  World. 

Thofe  of  the  lealt  Character  among  them, 
yet  came  up  to  what  the  Roman  Common- 
wealth required  in  their  Magijhates. 

Populus  Romanus  delegit  Magijiratus,  quafi 
Rei publics  Villkos,  in  quilnts,  Ji  qua  praterea 
eft  Ars,  facile  patitur  ;  j:n  !vir,:is,virtute  eorum 
£?  lnnvcentia  Contentus  efi.  Cic.  Orat.  Pro 
Plan. 


THE  Author  of  the  following  Narrative,  is  a  Perfon  of 
fuch  well  known  Integrity,  Prudence  and  Veracity,  that 
there  is  not  any  caufe  to  Queftion  the  Truth  of  what  he  here 
Relates.  And  moreover,  this  Writing  of  his  is  adorned  with  a 
very  grateful  Variety  of  Learning,  and  doth  contain  fuch  lurpri- 
zing  workings  of  Providence,  as  do  well  defer ve  due  Notice  and 
Obfervation.  On  all  which  accounts,  it  is  with  juft  Confidence 
recommended  to  the  Publick  by 


April  27. 
1697. 


Nath.  Mather, 
John  Howe) 
Matth.  Mead. 


Pieta* 


Book  II. 


35 


Tietas   m    Tatnam : 


THE 

1.  j       JL       X-        JlIj 


OF     HIS 


EXCELLENCY 


'•■flrtti 

£■^7  Sir-  V"  N 


P 


■:) 


Knt. 


Late  Captain  General,  and  Governour  in  Chief  of  the  Province 

of  the  Majfachufet-Bay, 

N  E  W-E  NGLA  ND. 

Containing  the  Memorable  Changes  Undergone,  and  Aftions  Pei> 

formed  by  Him. 


Written  by  one  intimately  acquainted  with  Him. 


Difcite  Virtutem  ex  Hoc,  vertimqut  Laborem. 


To  his  Excellency  the  Earl  of  Bellomont,  Baron  of  Coloony  in  Ire- 
land, General  Governour  of  the  Province  of  Maflachufets  in  New- 
England,  and  the  Provinces  annexed. 


May  it  pleafe  your  Excellency, 

TH  E  Station  in  which  the  Hand  of 
the  God  of  Heaven  hath  difpofed 
His  Majefties  Heart  to  place  your 
Honour,  doth  fo  manifeftly  entitle  your 
Lord  (hip  to  this  enfuing  Narrative,  that 
its  being  thus  Prefented  to  your  Excellen- 
cies Hand,  is  thereby  both  Apologized  for 
and  Jollified.  I  believe,  had  the  Writer 
of  it,  when  he  Penned  it,  had  any  Know- 
ledge of  your  Excellency j  he  would  him- 
felf  have  done  it,  and  withal,  would  have 
amply  and  publickly  Congratulated  the 
People  of  NetP-EifgIa»di    on  account   of 


their  having  fuch  a  Governour,  and  yout 
Excellency,  on  account  of  your  being 
made  Governour  over  them.  For  though 
as  to  fome  other  thiugs  it  may  poffibly  be 
a  place  to  fome  Perfons  not  fo  defirable, 
yet  I  believe  this  Character  may  be  juftly 
given  of  them,  that  they  are  the  beft  Peo- 
ple under  Heaven  $  there  being  among 
them,  not  only  lefs  of  open  Profanenefs, 
and  lefs  of  Lewdnefs,  but  alfo  more  of 
the  ferious  Profeffion,  Pra&ice,  and  Power 
of  Chriftianity,  in  proportion  to  their  num- 
ber, than  is  among  any  other  People  upon 
the  Face  of  the  whole  Earth,  Not  but  I 
E  e  7  dotibt, 


3* 


The  Epiftle  Dedicatory. 


Book  II. 


doubt,  there  arc  many  bad  Peifons  among 
them,  and  too  m  my  diflempcr'd  Humours, 
perhaps  even  among  thofe  who  are  truly 
good.     It  would  be  a  wonder  if  it  mould 
be  otherwife;  for  it  hath  of  late  Years,  on 
various  accounts,  and  fome  very  fingular 
and  unufual  ones,    been  a  Day  of  fore 
Temptation  with  that  whole  People.     Ne- 
verthelefs,  as  I  lock  upon  is  as  a  Favour 
from  God  to  thofe  Plantations,  that  he  hath 
fet  your  Excellency  over  them,  fo  I  do  ac- 
count it  a  Favour  from  God  to  your  Ex- 
cellency,   that    he    hath   committed   and 
trufted  in  your  Hand  fo  great  a  part  of 
his  peculiar  Treafure  and  precious  Jewels, 
as  are  among  that  i\ople.     Befides,  that  on 
other  accounts  the  Lord  Jefus  hath  more  of 
a  vifible  Intereft  in  New-England,  than  in 
any  of  the  Outgoings  of  the  Englijl)  Nation 
in  America,      they    have  at   their  own 
Charge  not  only  let  up  Schools  of  lower 
Learning  up  and  down  the  Country  $    but 
have  alfo  erected  an  Univerfity,  which  hath 
been  the  happy  Nurfery  of  many  Ufeful, 
Learned,    and    excellently  Accompliihed 
Perfons.     And  moreover,  from  them  hath 
the  bluffed  Gofpel  been  Preached  to  the 
Poor,  Barbarous,  Savage  Heathen  there 5  and 
it  hath  taken  fuchRoot  among  them,  that 


there  were  lately  four  and  twenty  Afiem- 
bliesin  which  th.-  Name  of  the  Lord  Jefus 
was  conftantly  called  on,  and  celebrated 
in  their  own  Language.  In  thefe  things 
New-England  cutfhineth  all  the  Colonies 
of  the  Englijf)  in  daoie  goings  down  of  the 
Sun.  I  know  your  Excellency  will  Favour 
and  Countenance  their  Univerfity,  and 
alfo  the  Propagating  of  the  Gofpel  among 
the  Natives  5  for  the  Intereft  of  Ch rift  in 
that  Part  of  the  Earth  is  much  concerned 
in  them.  That  the  God  of  the  Spirits  of 
all  Flefh  would  abundantly  replenifh  your 
Excellency  with  a  iuitable  Spirit  for  the 
Service  to  which  he  lath  called  your  Lord- 
fhip,  that  he  would  give  your  Honour  a 
profperous  Voyage  thither,  and  when 
there,  make  your  Excellency  a  rich  BtefBng 
to  that  People,  and  them  a  rejoicing  to 
your  Excellency,  is  the  Prayer  of, 


April  27. 
1697. 


My  Lord, 
Yomr  Excellencies  moji 
Humble  Servant, 

Nath.  Mather. 


THE 


Book  II. 


V 


THE 


LIFE 

Of  His  EXCELLENCY 

Sir  WILLI  AIM  TBITS,  Knt. 


LATE 


GOVERNOUR 


O    F 


NE 
I 


J 


F  fuch  a  Renowned  Chymift,  as 
^uercetami-s,  with  a  whole  Tribe  of 
Labourers  in  the  Fire,  fince  that 
Learned  Man,  find  it  no  eafie  thing 
to  make  the  common  part  of  Mankind  believe, 
That  they  can  take  a  Plant  in  its  more  vigorous 
Confiftence,  and  after  a  due  Maceration,  fer- 
mentation and  Separation,  extract  the  Salt  oi 
that  Plant,  which,  as  it  were,  in  a  Chaos,  in- 
vifibly  referves  the  Form  of  the  whole,  with  its 
vital  Principle ;  and,  that  keeping  the  Salt  in  a 
Glafs  Hermetically  fealed,  they  can,  by  ap- 
plying a  Soft  Fire  to  the  Glaf 


"JJ5 


make  the  Ve- 


getable rife"  by  little  and  little  out  of  its  Aftes, 
to  liirprize  the  Spectators  with  a  notable  II- 
luftration  of  that  Refurrettion,  in  the  Faith 
whereof  the  Jews  returning  from  the  Graves  of 
their  Friends,  pluck  up  the  Grafs  from  the 
Earth,  ufing  thofe  Words  of  the  Scripture 
thereupon,T^«r  Bones  full 'jhurifh  like  an  herb : 
Tis  likely,  that  all  the  Obfervations  of  fuch 
Writers,  as  the  Incomparable  Borcllus,Vi\\l  find 
it  hard  enough  to  produce  our  Belief,  that  the 
EJJential  Salts  of  Animals  may  be  fo  Prepared 
and  Preferved,  that  an  Ingenious  Man  may 
have  the  whole  Ark  of  Koah  in  his  own  Stu- 
dy, and  raife  the  fine  Shape  of  an  Animal  out 
of  its  Allies  at  his  Pleafure  :  And,  that  by  rte 
like  Method  from  the  EJjential  Salts  of  Hu- 
mane Duft,  a  Philofopher  may,  without  any 
Criminal  'Necromancy,  call  up  the  Shape  of  a- 
ny  Dead  Anceftor  Irom  the  Duft  whereinto  his 
Body  has  been  Incinerared.  The  Refurreffion 
of  the  Dead,  will  be  as  Juft,  as  Great  an  Ar- 
ticle of  our  Creed,  although  the  Relations  of 


thefe  Learned  Men  fhould  pafs  for  Incredible 
Romances  :  But  yet  there  is  an  Anticipation  of 
that  Bleffed  Refurre&ion,  carrying  in  it  Ibme 
Refemblance  of  thefe  Curiofties,  which  is  per- 
formed, when  we  do  in  a  Book,  as  in  a  Glafs, 
referve  the  Hiftory  of  our  Departed  Friends  ; 
and  by  bringing  our  Warm  Ajfetiicns  unto  fuch 
an  Hiftory,  we  revive,  as  it  were,  out  of  their 
Afhes,  the  true  Shape  of  thofe  Friends,  and 
bring  to  a  frefh  View,  what  v/as  Memorable 
and  Imitable  in  them.  Now,  in  as  much  as  Mor- 
tality has  done  its  part  upon  a  Considerable 
Perfbn,  with  whom  I  had  the  Honour  to  be 
well  acquainted,  and  a  Perfon  as  Memorable  for 
the  Wonderful  Changes  which  befel  him,  as  I- 
mitable  for  his  Virtues  and  Atfions  under  thofe 
Changes-,  I  (hall  endeavour,  with  the Qymiftry 
of  an  Impartial  Hifiorian,  to  raife  my  Friend  fo 
far  out  of  his  Afhes,  as  to  (hew  him  again 
unto  the  World  ;  and  if  the  Charar:  of  He* 
roick  Virtue  be  for  a  Man  to  defet  e  11  of 
Mankind,  and  be  great  in  the  Purpafe  and  Suc- 
cefs  of  EJjays  to  do  fo,  I  may  venture  to  pro- 
mife  my  Reader  fuch  Example  of  Hcroick 
Virtue,  in  the  Story  whereto  I  invite  him,  that 
he  ihall  fay,  it  would  have  been  lktle  ihort  of 
a  Vice  in  me,  to  have  withheld  it  from  him. 
Nor  is  it  any  Partiality  for  the  Memory  of  my 
Deceafed  Friend,  or  any  ether  Smifter  Design 
whatfoever,  that  has  Invited  me  to  this  Under- 
taking ;  but  I  have  undertaken  this  Matter 
from  a  fincere  Deiire,  that  the  Ever  Glorious 
Lord  JESUS  CHRIST  may  have  the 
Glory  of  his  Power  and  Goodnefs,  and  of  his 
Providence,  in  what  he  did  for  fugh  a  Perfon, 

and 


3« 


Magnalia  Cbrifti  Americana  : 


Book  II. 


and  in  what  he  difpofed  and  affifted  that  Per- 
ibn  to  do  for  him.  Now,  May  he  ajfift  my  Wri- 
ting, even  he  that  prepared  the  Subjett,  where- 
of I  am  to  Write  ! 

§.  2.  So  objcure  was  the  Original  of  that 
Memorable  Perfbn,  whole  Aclwns  I  am  going 
to  relate,  thar  J  rnuft  in  a  way  of  Writing, 
like  that  of  PMarM  prepare  my  Reader  lor 
the  intended  Rdarion,  by  firft  fearching  the 
Archives  of  Antiquity  for  a  Parallel.  Now. 
becaufe  we  will  not  Parallel  him  with  Eumenes, 
who,  though  he  were  the  Son  of  a  Poor  Car- 
rier, became  a  Governour  of  Mighty  Provinces: 
nor  with  Marias,  whole  mean  Parentage  did 
not  hinder  his  becoming  a  Glorious  Defender 
of 'his  Country,  and  Seven  tines  the  Chief 
Magiftrate  of  the  Chiefeft  City  in  the  Uni- 
verie  :  Nor  with  Iphicrates,  who  became  a  Suc- 
cefsru!  and  Renowned  General  of  a  Great  Peo- 
ple, though  his  Father  were  a  Cobler:  Nor  with 
Bioclefian,  the  Son  of  a  poo :  Scrivener  :  Nor 
with  Bonofus,  the  Son  of.  a  poor  Schsol-Mafter, 
who  yet  came  to  fway  the  Scepter  of  the  Ro- 
man Empire :  Nor,  laltly,  will  1  compare  him 
to  the  more  late  Example  of  the  Celebrated 
M  \zarini,  who  though  no  Gentleman  by  his 
Extraction,  and  one  fo  forrily  Educated,  that 
he  might  have  wrote  Alan,  before  he  could 
write  at  all ;  yet  afcended  unto  that  Grandeur, 
frith?  Memory  of  many  yet  living,  as  to  Urn- 
pin,  die  moit  Imporrant  Affairs  of  Chriftcndom: 
We  will  decline  looking  any  further  in  that 
Hcmifphere  of  the  World,  and  make  the  Hue 
and  Cry  throughout  the  Regions  of  America,  the 
.New  World,  which  He,  that  is  becoming  the 
Subjecf  of  our  Hiftory,  by  his  Nativity,  be- 
long'd  unto.  And  in  America,  the  firft  that 
meets  me,  is  Francifco  Pizarro,  who,  though 
a  Spurious  Offspring,  expofed  when  a  Babe  in 
a  Church- Porch,  at  a  forry  Village  of  Navarre, 
and  afterwards  employ 'd  while  he  was  a  Boy, 
in  keeping  of  Cattel,  yet,  at  length,  ftealing 
into  America,  he  lb  thrived  upon  his  Adventures 
there,  that  upon  fome  Difcoveries,  which  with 
an  handful  of  Men  he  had  in  a  defperate  Ex- 
pedition made  of  Peru*  he  obtain'd  the  King 
oi  Spain's  Com  million  for  the  Conqueft  of  it, 
and  at  laft  fo  incredibly  enrich'd  himfelf  by 
the  Conqueft,  that  he  was  made  the  firft  Vice- 
Roy  of  Peru,  and  created  Marquefs  of  Ana- 
tilla. 

To  the  Latter  and  Higheft  Part  of  that  Sto- 
ry, if  any  thing  hindred  His  Excellency  Sir 
WILLIAM  PHIPS,  from  affording  of  a 
Parallel,  it  was  not  the  want  either  of  Dejign, 
or  of  Courage,  or  of  Condutl  in  himfelf,  but  it 
was  the  Fate  of  a  Premature  Mortality.  For 
my  Reader  now  being  fatisfied,  that  a  Perfons 
being  Ob/cure  in  his  Original,  is  not  always  a 
Juft  Prejudice  to  an  Expectation  of  Confidera- 
lie  Matters  from  him  ;  1  lhali  now  inform 
him,  that  'his  our  PHIPS  was  Born  Feb.  2. 
A.  horn.  1650.  at  a  defpicable  Plantation  on 
the  River  of  Kennebeck,  and  almoft  the  furtheft 
Village  of  the  Eaftern  Settlement  of  New-Eng- 
land..   And  as  the  father  of  that  Man,  which 


was  as  great  a  Bleiilng  as  England  had  in  the 
Age  of  that  Man,  was  a  Smith,  fo  a  Gun- 
Smith,  namely,  James  Pbips,  once  of  Bri/io/ 
had  the  Honour  of  being  the  Father  to  him' 
whom  we  ihall  prefently  fee,  made  by  the  God 
of  Heaven  as  great  a  Bleffing  t^kew-EnglantL] 
as  that  Country  could  have  had,  if  they  them- 
felyes  had  pleafed.  His  fruitful  Mother,  yet 
living,  had  no  lefs  than  Twenty-Six  Children, 
whereof  Twenty-One  were  Sons  •  but  Equiva- 
lent to  them  all  was  WlL  LI  AM,  one  of  the 
youngeft,  whom  his  Father  dying,  left  young 
with  his  Mother,  and  with  her  he  lived,  keep- 
ing of  Sheep  in  the  Wildernefs,  until  he  was 
Eighteen  Years  Old  ;  at  which  time  he  began 
to  feel  fome  further  Difpofitions  of  Mind 
from  that  Providence  of  God.  which  took  him 
from  the  Sheepfolds,  from  following  the  Eives 
great  with  Youngs  and  brought  him  to 
feed  his  People.  Reader,  enquire  no  further 
who  was  his  Father  }  Thou  lhalt  anon  fee, 
that  he  was,  as  the  Italians  exprefs  it,  A  Son 
to  his  own  Labours  I 

§.  3.  His  Friends  earneftly  folicired  him  to 
fettle  among  them  in  a  Plantation  of  the  Eafi  ■ 
but  he  had  an  Unaccountable  Intpulfe  upon  "his 
Mind,  perfwading  him,  as  he  would  privately 
hint  unto  fome  of  them,  That  he  was  Born  to 
greater  Matters.     To    come  at  thofe  greater 
Matters,  his  firft  Contrivance  was  to  bind  him- 
felf an   Apprentice  unto  a  Ship-Carpenter  for 
Four  Years  •,  in  which  time  he  became  a  Ma- 
tter of  the  Trade,   that  once  in  a  Veffel  of 
more  than  Forty  Thou/and  Tuns,  repaired  the 
Ruins  of  the  Earth  ;  Noah's,  I  mean ;  he  then 
betook   himfelf  an   Hundred  and  Fifty   Miles 
further  a  Field,  even  to  Bofton,  the  Chief  Town 
of  New-England  ;  which  being  a  Place  of  the 
moft  Bufinefs  and  Refort  in  thofe  Parrs  of  the 
World,  he  expecf  ed  there  more  Commodioufly 
to    purfue  the    Spes   Majorkih    &   Meliorum 
Hopes  which   had    infpir'd    him.     At  Bofton, 
where  it  was  that  he  now  le.irn'd,  firft  of  all, 
to  Read  and  Write,   he  followed  his  Trade  for 
about  a  Year ;  and  by  a  laudable  Deportment, 
fo  recommended  himfelf,    thar  he  Married   a 
Young  Gentlewoman  of  good   Repute,    who 
was  the  Widow  of  one  Mr.  John  Hull,  a  well- 
bred  Merchant,  but  the  Daughter  of  one  Cap- 
tain Roger  Spencer,  a  Perfon  of  good  Fafhion, 
who  having  fufter'd  much  damage  in  his  E- 
ftare,   by  fome    unkind    and    unjuft    Anions, 
which  he  bore  with   fuch    Patience,   that  for 
fear  of  thereby  injuring  the  Publick,  he  would 
not  feek  Satisfacf  ion,  Poflerity  might  afterward 
foe  the  Reward  of  his  Patience,    in  what  Pro- 
vidence   hath  now  done  for  one  of  his  own 
Poflerity.     Within  a  little  while  after  his  Mar- 
riage,    he    indented    with  ieveral  Perfons    in 
Bofton,  to  Build  them  a  Ship  at   Sheeps-coat 
River,  Two  or  Three   Leagues  Eaftward   of 
Kennebeck  •,  where  having  Lanched  the  Ship, 
he  alfo  provided  a  Lading  of  Lumber  to  bring 
with  him,  which  would  have  been  to  the  Ad- 
vantage of  all  Concern'd.    But  juft  as  the  Ship 
was  hardly  finifhed,  the  B.trbarous  Indians  on 

that 


Book  II.         Or,  The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


39 


that  River,  broke  forth  into  an  Open  and  Cruel 
War  upon  the  Englifh;  and  the  miferable  Peo- 
ple, furprizcd  by  fo  fudden  a  ltorm  of  Blood, 
had  no  Refuge  from  the  Infidels,  but  the  Ship 
now  finishing  in  the  Harbour.  Whereupon  he 
left  his  intended  Lading  behind  him,  and  in- 
ftead  thereof,  carried  with  him  his  old  Neigh- 
bours and  their  Families,  free  of  all  Charges,  to 
Bojton  ;  fo  the  Jirji  Ailion  that  he  did,  after 
he  was  his  own  Man,  was  to  fave  his  Father's 
Houfe,  with  the  reft  of  the  Neighbourhood,  from 
Ruin  •,  but  the  Difappointment  which  befel 
him  from  the  Lois  of  his  other  Lading,  plunged 
his  Affairs  into  greater  Embarafments  with  fuch 
as  had  employ 'd  him. 

§.  4.  But  he  was  hitherto  no  more  than  be- 
ginning to  make  Scaffolds  for  further  and  high- 
er Allions  !  He  would  frequently  rellrhe  Genue- 
woman  his  Wife,  That  be  lhouid  yet  be  Cap- 
tain of  a  King's  Ship ;  That  he  lhouid  come  to 
have  the  Command  of  better  Men  than  he  was 
now  accounted  himfelf ;  and,  That  he  fhonld 
be  Owner  of  a  Fair  Brick-Houfc  in  the  Gr, -en- 
Lane  of  Nortb-Boflon  ;  and,  That,  it  maybe, 
this  would  not  be  all  that  the  Providence  of 
God  would  bring  him  to.  She  entertained 
thefe  Paffages  with  a  lufficient  Incredulity ;  but 
he  had  fo  Jerious  and  ppfuive  an  Expectation 
of  them,  that  it  is  not  eafie  to  fay,  what  was  the 
Original  thereof  He  was  of  an  Enterprizing 
Genius,  and  naturally  difdained  Littlencfs  .-  But 
his  Difpofition  for  Bujinefs  was  of  the  Dutch 
Mould,  where,  with  a  little  fhew  of  Wit,  there 
is  as  much  Wifdom  demon  ft  rated,  as  can  be 
fhewn  by  any  Nation.  His  Talent  lay  not  in 
the  Airs  that  ferve  chiefly  for  the  pleafant  and 
fudden  Turns  of  Converfuion ;  but  he  might 
lay,  as  Themiftocles,  Though  he  could  not  play 
upon  a  Fiddle,  yet  he  knew  bow  to  make  a  In  tie 
City  become  a  Great  One.  He  would  prudently 
contrive  a  weighty  Undertaking,  and  then  pati 
ently  purfue  it  unto  the,End.  He  was  of  an  In 
clination,  cutting  rather  like  a  Hatchet,  than 
like  a  Razor ;  he  would  ptopofe  very  Confide- 
rable  Matters  to  himfelf,  and  then  fo  cut  through 
them,  that  no  Difficulties  could  put  by  the  Edge 
of  his  Refolutions.  Being  thus  of  the  True 
Temper,  for  doing  of  Great  Things,  he  betakes 
himfelf  to  the  Sea,  the  Right  Scene  for  fuch 
Things  •,  and  upon  Advice  of  a  Spanifh  Wreck 
about  the  Bahamas,  he  took  a  Voyage  thither  ; 
but  with  little  more  fuccefs,  than  what  juft 
forved  him  a  little  to  furnilh  him  for  a  Voyage 
to  hngland  ■,  whither  he  went  in  a  VelTeL  not 
much  unlike  that  which  the  Dutchmen  ftamped 
on  their  Firft  Coin,  with  thefe  Words  about  it, 
Incertum  quo  Fata  ferant.  Having  firft  inform 
ed  himfelf  that  there  was  another  Spaniflj 
Wreck,  wherein  was  loft  a  mighty  Treafure,  hi- 
therto undifcovered,  he  had  a  ftrong  Imprefli- 
on  upon  his  Mind  that  He  muff  be  the  Dif- 
coverer;  and  he  made  fuch  Representations  of 
his  Defign  *x.W}->ite-Hall,  that  by  the  Year  1683. 
he  became  the  Captain  of  a  King's  Ship,  arid 
arrived   at   New-England   Commander  of  the 


Algier-Rofe,    a  Frigot  of  Eighteen  Guns,    an 
Ninety- Five  Men. 

§.  7.  To  Relate  all  the  Dangers  through  whic 


he  paffed,  both  by  Sea  and  Land,  and  all  the 
Tirefome  Trials  or  his  Patience,  as  well  as  of 
his  Courage,  while  Year  alter  Yer.r  the  moft 
vexing  Accidents  imaginable  delay'd  the  Suc- 
cess of  his  Deiign,  it  would  even  Tite  the  pa- 
tience of  the  Reader:  For  very  great  was  the 
Experiment  that  Captain  Phips  made  of  the 
Italian  Obfervation,  He  that  canrfc  fuffer  both 
Good  and  Evil,  will  never  come  to  any  great 
Preferment.  Wherefore  I  fhall  fuperfede  all 
Journal  of  his  Voyages  to  and  fro,  with  reci- 
ting one  Inftance  of  his  Conduct ,  that  ihowd 
him  to  be  a  Person  of  no  contemptible  Capacitv. 
While  he  was  Captain  of  the  Algier-Rofe,  his 
Men  growing  weary  of  their  uni'uccefsiul  H>:~ 
terprize,  made  a  Mutiny,  wherein  they  ap- 
proach'd  him  on  the  Quarter-Deck,  with 
Drawn  Swords  in  their  Hands,  and  required 
him  to  join  with  them  in  Running  awiy'wiih 
the  Ship,  to  drive  a  Trade  of  Piracy  on  rue 
South  Seas.  Captain  Phips,  though  he  had  not 
fo  much  of  a  Weapon  as  an  Ox-Goad,  or  a 
jjK-bone  in  his  Hands,  yet  like  another  Sham*ar 
or  Sam/on,  with  a  moft  undaunted  Fortitude 
he  rulh'd  in  upon  them,  and  with  the  BWs 
of  his  bare  Hands,  FeWd  many  of  them,  and 
QiieU'd  all  the  Reft.  But  this  is  not  the  In- 
ftance which  I  intended  :  That  which  I  intend 
is,  That  fas  it  has  been  related  unto  me)  One 
Day  while  his  Frigot  lay  Careening,  at  2 
defolate  Spanijh  ifland,  by  the  fide  of  a  Rock, 
from  whence  they  had  laid  a  Bridge  to  the 
Shoar,  the  Men,  whereof  he  had  about  an 
Hundred,  went  all,  but  about  Eight  or  Ten,  to 
divert  themitlvcs,  as  they  pretended,  in  the 
Woods  :  Where  they  all  entred  into  an  Agree- 
ment, which  they  Sign'd  in  a  Ring,  That  about 
feven  a  Clock  that  Evening  they  would  feize 
the  Captain,  and  thofe  Eight  or  Ten,  which 
they  knt  v  to  be  True  unto  him,  and  leave  them 
to  periih  on  this  Ifland,  and  fo  be  gone  away 
unto  the  South  Sea  tofeek  their  Fortune.  Will 
the  Reader  now  imagine,  that  Caprain  Phips 
having  Advice  of  this  Plot  but  about  an  Hour 
and  half  before  it  was  to  be  put  in  Execution, 
yet  within  Two  Hours  brought  all  thefe  Rogues 
down  upon  their  Knees  to  beg  for  their  Lives  ; 
But  10  it  was  !  For  thefe  Knaves  confidering 
that  they  lhouid  want  a  Carpenter  with  them 
in  their  Villanous  Expedition,  fent  a  Meflenger 
to  fetch  unto  them  the  Carpenter,  who  was 
then  at  Work  upon  the  Vefiel  ;  and  unto  him 
they  fhew'd  their  Articles  ,  telling  him  what  he 
muft  look  for  if  he  did  not  fubferibe  among 
them.  The  Carpenter  being  an  honelt  Fellow, 
did  with  much  importunity  prevail  for  one  half 
hours  Time  to  confider  of  the  Matter  ;  and  re- 
turning to  Work  upon  the  Veffel,  with  a  Spy 
by  themfet  upon  him,  he  reigned  himfelf  taken 
with  a  Fit  of  the  Cholick,  for  the  Relief  where- 
of he  fuddenly  run  unjto  the  Captain  in  the  Great 
ICabbin  for  a  Dram  •,  where,  when  he  came,  his' 
•  bufiriefi- 


t 


4° 


Magnolia  Chrijli  Americana 


Book  II. 


buiinefs  was  only  in  brief,  to  tell  the  Captain 
of  the  horrible  Diftrds  which  he  was  fallen  in- 
to ;  but  the  Captain  bid  him  as  briefly  return  to 
the  Rogues  in  the  Woods,  and  Sign  their  Arti- 
cles, and  leave  him  to  provide  for  the  Reft. 
The  Carpenter  was  no  fooner  gone,  but  Captain 
Phips  calling  together  the  few  Friends  (it  may 
be  leven  or  eight)  that  were  left  him  aboard, 
whereof  the  Gunner  was  one,  demanded  of 
them,  whether  they  would  Hand  by  him  in  the 

Extremity,  which  he  informed  them  was  now 

come  upon  him  ;    whereto  they  reply'd,  They 

would Jiand  by  him,  if  he  could  fave  them  ;  and 

he  Anlwer'd,  By  the  help  of  God  he  did  not  fear 

it.     All  their  Provifions  had  been  carried  Athoar 

to  a  Tent,  made  for  that  purpoie  there;  about 

which  they  had  placed  feveral  Great  Guns  to 

defend  it,  in  cafe  of  any  AJfault  from  Spaniards,  I beft  Noble'Men  in  the  Kingdom  now  admitted 


Company,  with  a  Boat  full  of  Plate,  faved  out 
of  their  Sinking  Frigot :  Neverthelefs,  when 
he  had  fearched  very  narrowly  the  Spot, 
whereof  the  old  Spaniard  had  advifed  him,  he 
had  not  hitherto  exactly  lit  upon  it.  Such 
Thorns  did  vex  his  Affairs  while  he  was  in  the 
Rofe-Frigot ;  but  none  of  all  thefe  things  could 
retund  the  Edge  of  his  Expectations  to  find  the 
Wreck;  with  fuch  Expectations  he  return'd  then 
into  England,  that  he  might  there  better  furniCh 
himfelf  to  Profecute  a  New  Dijcovery-,  for 
though  he  judged  he  might,  by  proceeding  a 
little  further,  have  come  at  the  right  Spot,  yet 
he  found  his  prefent  Company  too  ill  a  Crew  to 
be  confided  in. 

§.  6.  So  proper  was  his  Behaviour,   that  the 


that  might  happen  to  come  that  way.     Where 
fore  Captain  Phips   immediately  ordered  thofej 
Guns  to  be  filently  Drawn  d  and  Turn'd;    and 
fo  pulling  up  the  Bridge,  he  charged  his  Great 
Guns  aboard,  and  brought  them  to  Bear  on  eve- 
ry iide  of  the  Tent.     By  this  Time  the  Army 
of  Rebels  comes  out  of  the  Woods  ;  but  as  they 
drew  near  to  the  Tent  of  Provifions,  they  faw 
fuch  a  change  of  Circumltances,  that  they  cried 
out,  We  are  Betray  d !  And  they  were  foon  con- 
firm 'd  in  it,  when  they  heard  the  Captain  with 
a  ftern  Fury  call  to  Jthem,  Stand  off,  ye  Wret- 
ches, at  your  Peril !  He  quicklv  faw  them  caft 
into    a   more  than  ordinary  Confufion,   when 
they  law  Him  ready  to  Fire  his  Great  Guns  up- 
on them,  if  they  offered  one  Step  further  than 
he  permitted  them  :  And  when  he  had  fignified 
unto  them  his  Refolve  to  abandon  them  unto  all 
the  Dcfolation  which  they   had    purpofed  for 
him,    he  cauled  the   Bridge  to    be>again  laid, 
and  his  Men  begun  to  take  the  Provifions  a- 
broad.     When  the  Wretches  beheld  what  was 
coming  upon  them,  they  fell  to  very  humble 
Entreaties;  and  at   laft  fell  down  upon  their! 
Knees,    protefting,    That    they  never  had   any 
thing  againji  him,  except  only  his  unwillingnefs 
to  go  away  with  the  King's  Ship  upon  the  South 
Sea  Defign:  But  upon  all  other  Accounts,  they 
would  chafe  rather  to  Live  and  Die  with  him, 
than   with   any  Man  in   the  World;    however, 
jince   they  Jaw .  how  much  he  WcU  dijjatisfied  at 
it,  they  would  infift  upon  it  no  more,  and  hum- 
bly begged  his  Pardon.     And  when  he  judg'd  that 
he  had   kept  them  on  their  Knees  long  enough, 
he  having  firft  iecur'd  their   Arms,   received 
them  aboard  ;  but  he  immediately  weighed  An- 
chor, and  arriving  at  Jamaica,  he  Tum'd  them 
off.     Now    with  a  fmall  Company  of  other 
Men    he   failed    from   thence   to    Uifpaniola. 
where  by  the  Policy  of  his  Addrefs,  he  filhed 
out  of  a  very  old  Spaniard^  (or  Port uguefe)  a 
little  Advice  about  the  true  Spot  where  lay  the 
Wreck  which  he  had  been  hitherto  feeking,  as 
unprofperouily,  as  the  Chymip  have  their  Au- 
njick  Stone  :  That  it  was  upon  a  Reef  of  Shoals, 
a  few  Leagues  to  the  Northward  of  Port  de  la 
Plata,  upon  Uifpaniola,  a  Port  lb  call 'd,  it  feems, 
from  the  Landing  of  fome  of  the  Shipwreck' d 


him  into   their  Converfation ;  but  yet  he  was 
oppofed  by  powerful  Enemies,  that  Clogg'd  his 
Affairs  with  fuch  Demurrages,  and  fuch  Dif- 
appointments,  as  would  have  wholly  Difcoura- 
ged  his  Deiigns,  if  his  Patience  had  not  been 
invincible.     He  who  can  wait,  hath  ivhat  he  de- 
ftreth.    This  his  Indefatigable  Patience,  with  a 
proportionable   Diligence,    at  length   overcame 
the  Difficulties  that  had  been   thrown  in  his 
way ;  and  prevailing  with  the  Duke  of  Albe- 
marle, and  fome  other  Perfons  of  Quality,  to  fit 
him  out,    he  fet  Sail  for  the   Fifl)ing-Groundy 
which  had  been  fo  well  baited  half  an   Hun- 
dred Years  before :   And  as  he  had  already  dif- 
covered  his  Capacity  for  Bufmefs  in  many  con- 
liderable  Actions,  he  now  added  unto  thofe  Dif- 
coveries,  by  not  only  providing  all,  but  alfo  by 
inventing  many  of  the  Inftruments  neceilary  to 
the  profecution  of  his  intended  Fijhery.     Cap- 
tain Phips  arriving  with  a  Ship  and  a  Tender 
at  Port  de  la  Plata,  made  a  flout  Canoo  of  a 
ltately  Cotton-Tree,  fo  large  as  to  carry  Eight  or 
Ten   Oars,  for  the  making  of  which  Periaga 
(as  they  call  it)  he  did,  with  the  fame  induftry 
that  he  did  every  thing  elfe,  employ  his  own 
Hand  and  Adfe,  and  endure  no  little  hardfhip, 
lying  abroad  in  the  Woods  many  Nights  toge- 
ther.   This  Periaga,  with  the  Tender,  being 
Anchored  at  a  place  Convenient,  the  Periaga 
kept  Busking  to   and  again,    but  could   only 
difcover  a   Reef  of  PJfing  Shoals  thereabouts, 
called,  The  Boilers,  which  Riling  to  be  within 
Two  or  Three  Foot  of  the  Surface  of  the  Sea, 
were  yet  fo  fteep,  that  a  Ship  ftriking  on  there, 
would  immediately  fink  down,  who  could  fay, 
how  many  Fathom  into  the  Ocean?    Here  they 
could  get  no  other  Pay  for  their  long  peeping 
among  the  Boilers,  but  only  fuch  as  caufed  them 
to  think  upon  returning  to  their  Captain  with 
the  bad  News  of  their   total   Difappointment. 
Neverthelefs,    as  they  were  upon  the  Return, 
one  of  the  Men  looking  over  the  fide  of  the 
Periaga,  into  the  calm  Water,  he  fpied  a  Sea 
Feather,  growing,  as  he  judged,  out  of  a  Rock  ; 
whereupon  they  bad   one  of  their  Indians  to 
Dive  and  fetch  this  feather,  that  they  might 
however  carry  home  fomething  with  them,  and 
make,  at  leaft,  as  fair  a  Triumph  as  Caligula's. 

The 


Book  II.  Or,  The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


41 


The  Diver  bringing   up  the  Feather,  brought  I  which   they  alfo    lit   upon;    and  indeed,    for 


therewithal  a  furprizing  Story,  That  he  per- 
ceived a  Number  or"  Great  Guns  in  the  Watry 
World  where  he  had  found  his  Feather  •,  the  Re- 
port of  which  Great  Guns  exceedingly  attonilh- 
ed  the  whole  Company  •,  and  at  once  turned 
their  Dejpondencies  for  their  ill  fuccefs  into 
Affuranccs,  that  they  had  now  lit  upon  the 
true  Spot  of  Ground  which  they  had  been  look- 
ing for ;  and  they  were  further  confirmed  in 
thefe  Ajjurances,  when  upon  further  Diving, 
the  Indian  fetcht  up  a  Sow,  as  they  ftil'd  it, 
or  a  Lump  of  Silver,  worth  perhaps  Two  or 
Three  Hundred  Pounds.  Upon  this  they  pru- 
dently Buofd  the  place,  that  they  might  readily 
find  it  again  ;  and  they  went  back  unto  their  Cap- 
tain whom  for  fiome  while  they  diftreffcd  with 
nothing  but  fuch  Bad  Neios,  as  they  formerly 
thought  they  mult  have  carried  him  :  Never- 
thelels,  they  fo  flipt  in  the  Sow  of  Silver  on 
one  fide  under  the  Table,  where  they  were  now 
fitting  with  the  Captain,  and  hearing  him  ex- 
preis  his  Refolutions  to  wait  ftill  patiently  upon 
the  Providence  of  God  under  thefe  Difappoint- 
ments,  that  when  he  fhould  look  on  one  fide. 
he  might  fee'  that  Odd  Thing  before  him.  At 
laft  he  J  aw  it-,  feeing  it,  he  ctied  out  with  forrr; 
Agony,  Why  ?  What  is  this  ?  Whence  comes 
this  I  And  then,  with  changed  Countenances, 
they  told  him  how,  and  where  they   got  it : 


a  more  Comprehenlive  Invoice,  I  nuift  but 
liimmarily  fay,  All  that  a  Spanilh  Fngot  ufes 
to  be  enricht  withal.  Thus  did  they  continue 
Pifhing  till  their  Proviiions  failing  them,  twas 
time  to  be  gone  ;  but  before  they  went,  Captain 
Phips  cauied  Adderly  and  his  Folk  to  lwear, 
That  they  would  none  of  them  Difccver  the 
Place  of  the  Wreck,  or  come  to  the  Place  any 
more  till  the  next  Year,  when  he  expected  a- 
gain  to  be  there  himfelf.  And  it  was  alfo  Re- 
markable, that  though  the  Sows  came  up  ftill 
fo  laft,  that  on  the  very  laft  Day  of  their  being 
there,  they  took  up  Twenty,  yet  it  was  afterwards 
found,  that  they  had  in  a  manner  wholly  clear- 
ed that  Room  of  the  Ship  where  thofe  Majfy 
things  were  Stowed. 

But  there  was  one  extraordinary  Diftrels 
which  Captain  Phips  now  found  himfelf  plung- 
ed into  :  For  his  Men  were  come  out  with  him 
upon  Seamens  Wages,  at  fo  much  per  Monh  ; 
and  when  they  faw  fuch  vaft  Litters  of  Silver 
Sows  and  Pigs,  as  they  call  them,  come  on 
Board  them  at  the  Captain's  Call,  they  knew 
not  how  to  bear  it,  that  they  (hould  hot  fh.ire 
all  among themfelves,  and  be  gone  to  lead  afhort 
Life  and  a  merry,  in  a  Climate  where  the  Ar- 
reit  of  thole  that  had  hired  them  fhould  not! 
reach  them.  In  this  terrible  Diflrefs  he  made 
his  Vows  unto  Almighty  God,  that  if  the  Loid 


Then,  fdid  he,  Thanks  be  to  God!  We  are  made ;  would  carry  him  late  home  to  England  with 
and  fo  away  they  went,  all  hands  to  Work  ;  what  he  had  now  given  him,  to  fuck  of  the  A- 
whereinthey  had  this  one  further  piece  of  Re-  \bundancc  of  the  Seas,  and  of  the  Treafures  hid 


markable  Profperity,  that  whereas  if  they  had 
firft  fallen  upon  that  part  of  the  Spanifh  Wreck, 
where  the  Pieces  of  Eight  had  been  flowed  in 
Bags  among  the  Ballaft,  they  had  feen  a  more 
laborious,  and  lefs enriching  time  of  it:  Now, 
moft  happily,  they  firft  fell  upon  that  Room  in 
the  Wreck  where  rhe  Bullion  had  been  ftored 
up ;  and  they  fo  prospered  in  this  Neio  Fifhery, 
tha't  in -a  little  while  they  had,  without  the  lofs 
of  any.'Man's  Life,   brought  up  Thirty   Two 
Tuns  of  Silver  •.  for  it  was  now  come  to  meafu- 
ring  of  Silver  by   Tuns.    Befides  which,  one 
Adderly  of  Providence,  who  had  formerly  been 
very  helpful  to  Captain  Phips  in  the  Search  of 
this  Wreck,  did  upon  former  Agreement  meet 
him  now  with  a  little  Veffel  here  ;    and   he, 
with  his  few  hands,  took  up  about  Six  Tuns  of 
Silver ;  whereof  neverthelefs  he  madefb  little 
ufs,  that  in  a  Year  or  Two  he  Died  at  Bermu- 
da*, and  as  I  have  heard,  he  ran  Diftraffed  fome 
while  before  he  Died.     Thus  did  there  once  a- 
gain  come  into  the  Light  of  the  Sun,  a  Trea- 
fure  which  had  been  half  an  Hundred  Years 
groaning  under  the  Waters  :   And  in  this  time 
"there  was  grown  upon  the  Plate  a  Cruft  like 
Li  me  ft  one,  to  the  thicknefs  of  feveral  Inches; 
which  Cruft   being  broken  open  by  Irons  con- 
trived for  that  purpofe,  they  knockt  out  whole 
Bulhels  of  rufty  Pieces  of  Eight  which  were 
grown  rhereinto.    Befides  that  incredible  Trea- 
fure  of  Plate  in  various  Forms,  thus  fetch'd  up, 
from  Seven  or  Eight  Fathom  under  Water,  there 
were  vaft  Riches  of  Gold,  and  Pearls,zr\d  Jewels, 


in  the  Sands,   he  would  for  ever  Devote  him- 
lelf  unto  the  Interefts  of  the  Lord  fef'm  Cbrift, 
and  of  his  People,  efpecially    in   the    Country 
which  he  did  himfelf  Originally  belong  unto. 
And  he  then  ufed  all  the  obliging  Arts  imagina- 
ble to  make  his  Men  true  unto  him,  efpecial- 
ly by  alfuring  them,  that  befides  their  Wages, 
they  Ihould  have  ample  Requitals  made  unto 
them  ;  which  if  the  reft  of  his  Employers  would 
not  agree  unto,  he  would  himfelf  dil'hihute  his 
own  fhare  among  them.     Relying   upon   the 
Word  of  One  whom  they  had  ever  found  wor- 
thy of  their  Love,  and  of  their  Trull,  they  de- 
clared themfelves  Content :  But  ftill  keeping  a 
moft  careful  Eye  upon  them,  he  haitrted  b  !ck 
for  England  with  as  much  Money  as  he  thought 
he  could  then  fafely  Traft  his  Veffel  withal, 
not  counting  it  fafe   to  fupply    himfelf  with 
neceflary  Provifions  at  any  nearer  Port,  and  fo 
return  unto  the  Wreck,   by  which  delays    he 
wifely  feared  left  all  might  be  loft,  more  ways 
than  one.     Though  he  alfo  left  fo  much  behind 
him,   that  many  from  divers  Parts  made  very 
confiderable  Voyages   of  Gleanings    after    his 
Harveft :  Which  came  to  pafs  by  certain  Ber- 
mudtans,  compelling  of  Adder  ly's  Boy,  whom 
they  fpirited  away  with  them,  to  tell  them  the 
exa£t  place  where  the  Wreck  was  to  be  found. 
Captain  Phips  now  coming  up  to  London  in  the. 
Year  1887.  with  near  Three  Hundred  Thoujand 
Pounds  Sterling  aboard  him,  did  acquit   him- 
felf with   fuch   an  Exemplary  Honefty,    that 
partly  by  his  fulfilling  his  Affurances  to  the 
F  f  Seamen, 


42 


Magnalia  Chrijii  Americana: 


Book  II. 


Seamen,  and  partly  by  his  exa£t  and  punctual 
Care  to  have  his  Employers  defrauded  of  no- 
thing that  might  confciencioufly  belong  unto 
them,  he  had  lefs  than  Sixteen  Thou/and 
Founds  left  unto  himfelf :  As  an  acknowledg- 
ment of  which  Honefty  in  him,  the  Duke  of 
Albemarle  made  unto  his  Wife,  whom  he  never 
law,  a  Pretent  of  a  Golden  Cup,  near  a  Thou- 
fand  Pound  in  value.  The  Character  of  an 
Honeji  Man  he  had  fo  merited  in  the  whole 
Courfe  of  his  Life,  and  efpecially  in  this  laft 
a£t  of  ic,  that  this,  in  Conjunction  with  his  o- 
ther  ferviceable  Quilities,  procured  him  the 
Favours  of  the  Greateft  Perfons  in  the  Nation ; 
and  be  that  had  been  Jo  diligent  in  his  Bufinefs, 
muft  now  ftand  before  Kings,  and  not  Jiand  be- 
fore mean  Men.  There  were  indeed  certain 
mean  Men,  if  bafe,  little,  dirty  Tricks,  will 
entitle  Men  to  Meannefs,  who  urged  the  King 
to  feize  his  whole  Cargo,  inftead  of  the 
Tenths,  upon  his  firft  Arrival ;  on  this  pretence, 
that  he  had  not  been  righdy  inform'd  of  the 
True  flate  of  the  Cafe,  when  he  Granted  the 
Patent,  under  the  Protection  whereof  thefe 
particular  Men  had  made  themfelves  Matters 
of  all  this  Mighty  Treafure  •,  but  the  King  re- 
plied, That  he  had  been  rightly  informed  by 
Captain  Phips  of  the  whole  Matter,  as  it  now 
proved  ;  and  that  it  was  the  Slanders  of  one  then 
prefent,  which  had,  unto  his  Dumnage,  hun- 
dred him  from  hearkning  to  the  Information : 
Wherefore  he  would  give  them,  he  faid,  no 
Ditt  jrbance  ;  they  might  keep  what  they  had 
got ,  but  Captain  Phips,  he  law,  was  a  Per- 
lon  of  that  Honefty,  Fidelity  and  Ability,  that 
he  fhould  not  want  his  Countenance.  Accord- 
ingly the  King,  in  Confidcration  of  the  Service 
done  by  him,  in  bringing  fuch  a  Treafure  into 
the  Nation,  conterr'd  upon  him  the  Hor.oar 
of  Knighthood ;  and  if  we  now  reckon  him,  A 
Knight  of  the  Golden  Fleece,  the  Stile  might 
pretend  unto  fome  Circumtlances  that  would 
juftifie  it.  Or  call  him,  if  you  pleafe,  The 
'Knight  of  Honefty  ■,  for  it  was  Honefty  with  In- 
duftry  that  railed  him ;  and  he  became  a 
Mighty  River,  without  the  running  in  of  Mud- 
dy Water  to  make  him  fo.  Reader,  now 
make  a  Paufe,  and  behold  One  Raifed  by 
God! 

$;.  7.  I  am  willing  to  Employ  the  Teftimo- 

nies  of  others,  as  much  as  may  be,  to  fupport 

the  Credit  of  my  Hittory :    And  therefore,  as 

I    have  hitherto   related  no  more  than   what 

there  are  others  Others  enough  to  avouch ;  thus  I 

fhall  chufe  the  Words  of  an  Ingenious  Perfon 

Printed   at  London  fome  Years  ago,  to  exprefs 

the  Sum  of  what  remains,  whole  Words  are 

thefe;    l  It  has  always  been  Sir  William  Fhips's 

'  Difpofuion  to  feek  the  Wealth  of  his  People 

'  with  as  great  Zeal    and  Unweariednefs,    as 

c  our  Publicans  me  to  feek  their  Lofs  and  Ruin. 

'  At  firft  it  feems  they  were  in  hopes  to  gain 

'  this  Gentleman  to  their  Party,  as  thinking  him 

'  Good  Natur'd,  and  ea'fie  to  be  flattered  out  of 

'  his   Underftanding  ;    an  I    the  more,   becaule 

urhey  had  ths:  advantage  of  fome,  no  very  good, 


'  Treatment  that  Sir  William  had  formerly  met 
'  with  from  the  People  and  Government  of 
'  New-England.  But  Sir  William  loon  Ihewed 
'  them,  that  what  they  expected  would  be  his 
'  Temptation  to  lead  them  into  their  little  Tricks, 
'  he  embraced  as  a  Glorious  Opportunity  to 
'  fhew  his  Generofity  and  Great nejs  of  Mind; 
'for,  in  Imitation  of  the  Greateft  Worthies  that 
'have  ever  been,  he  rather  chofe  to  join  in  the 
'  Defence  of  his  Country,  with  fome  Perfons 
c  who  formerly  were  none  of  his  Friends,  than 
'  become  the  Head  of.a  PaUion,  to  its  Ruin  and 
'  Defolation.  It  feems  this  Noble  Difpofiticn  of 
'  Sir  William,  joined  with  that  Capacity  and 
'  good  Succefs  wherewith  he  hath  been  atten- 
;  ded,  in  Railing  himfelf  by  fuch  an  Occafion, 
'  as  it  may  be,  all  things  confidered,  has  never  J, 
'  happened  to  any  before  him,  makes  thefe  Men 

'  apprehenfive  ; .And  it  muft  needs  heighten 

'  their  trouble  to  fee,  that  he  neither  hath,  nor 
'  doth  fpare  himfelf,  nor  any  thing  that  is  near 
'  and  dear  unto  him,  in  promoting  the  Good  of 
'  his  Native  Country. 

When  Sir  William  Phips  was  per  ardua  iff 
afpera,  thus  raifed  into  an  Higher  Orb,  it 
might  eafily  be  thought  that  he'could  not  be 
without  Charming  Temptations  to  take  the  way 
on  the  left  hand.  But  as  the  Grace  of  God  kept, 
him  inthemidft  of  none  of  the  ftri&eft  Compa- 
ny, unto  which  his  Affairs  daily  led  him,  from 
abandoning  himfelf  to  the  lewd  Vices  ofGaming^ 
Drinking,  Swearing  and  Whoring,  which  the 
Men  that  made  England  to  Sin,  debauch'd  To 
many  of  the  Gentry  into,  and  hedeferved  the  Sa- 
lutations of  the  Roman  Poet : 

Cum  Tu,  inter fcabiem  tantam^   iff  Contagia 

Lucri, 
Nil  parvum  fapiat,  iff  adhuc  Sublimia  cures  : 

Thus  he  was  worthy  to  pais  among  the  In- 
ftances  of  Heroick  Vertue  for  that  Humility  that 
ffill  Adorned  him  :  He  was  Raifed,  and  though 
he  prudently  accommodated  himfelf  to  the  Qua- 
lity whereto   he   was   now   Raijed,  yet  none 
could  perceive  him  to   be  Lifted  up     Or,  if 
this  were  not  Heroick,   yet  I  will  Relate   one 
Thing  more  of  him  that  muft  certainly  be  ac- 
counted fo.  He  had  in  his  own  Country  of  New- 
England    met  with    Provocations    that    were 
enough  to  have  Alienated  any  Man  Living,  that 
had  no  more  than  ilrfh  and  Bwod  in  him,  from 
the  Service  of  it  ;  and  fome  that  were  Enemies 
to  that  Country,  now  lay  hard  at  him  to  join 
with  them  in  their  Endeavours  to  Raviih  away 
their  Ancient   Liberties.     But  this  Gentleman 
had  itudied  another  way   to  Revenge  himfelf 
upon  his  Country,  and  that  was  to  lerve  it  in 
M  its  Interetts,  with  all  of  his,  even  with  his 
Eftate,   his  Time,  his  Care,   his  Priends,  and 
his  very  Life  !    The  old  Heathen  Virtue  of 
PIETAS  IN  PATRIAM,  or,  LOVE  TO  ONES 
COUNTRY,  he  turned  into  Chriftian  ;   and 
fo  notably  exemplified  it,  in  all  the  Reft  of  his 
Life,  that  it  will  be  an  EfTential  Thread  which 
is  to  be  now  interwoven  iDto  all  that  remains  of 

his 


Book  II.  Or,  The  Hiftory  of  NeW-Ensland. 


43 


his  Hiftory,  and  his  Character.  Accordingly 
though  he  had  the  Offers  of  a  very  Gainful  Place 
among  the  Commijfioners  of  the  Navy\  with 
many  other  Invitations  to  fettle  himielf'  in  Eng- 
land nothing  but  a  Return  to  'New-England 
would  content  him.  And  whereas  the  Charters 
of  New-England  being  taken  away,  there  was  a 
Governour  lmpofed  upon  the  Territories  with 


fays  of  the  Time,  when  Strangers  were  domi- 
neering over  SubjcBs  in  England,  Judiaa  commiU 
tebantur  Injitftis,  Leges  Exleg'tbm,  fax  Difcor- 
dantibus,  Juftaia  Injuriofts ;  and  Foxes  were 
made  the  Admin iftra tors  of  Juftice  to  the  foal- 
trey;  yet  fome  Abridgment  of  them  isnecciiu- 
ry  tor  the  better  underftanding  of  the  Matters 
vet  before  us.     Now  to  make  this  Abridgment 


as  Arbitrary  and  as  Treafonable  a  Commijjion,   Impartial,  I  (hall  only  have   Recourfe  unto  a 
perhaps,  as  ever  was  heard  of,  a  Commijfion,  by   little  Book,  Printed  at  London,  under  the  Title 

-   ot  The  Revolution  of  New-England  J  unified; 


which  the  Governour,  with  Three  or  Four 
more,  none  of  whom  were  chofen  by  the  Peo- 
ple, had  Power  to  make  whatL<m.'.r  they  would, 
and  Levy  Taxes,  according  to  their  own  Hu- 
mours, upon  the  People;  and  he  himielf  had 
'  Power  to  fend  the  belt  Men  in  the  Land  more 
than  Ten  Thoufand  Miles  out  of  it,  as  he  plea 
fed :  And  in  the  Execution  of  his  Power,  the 
Country  was  every  Day  fullering  Intolerable 
Invafions  upon  their  Proprieties,  yea,  and  the 
Lives  of  the  belt  Men  in  the  Territory  began'to 
be  praclifed  upon  :  Sir  William  Phipi  applied 
himfelfto  Confider  what  was  the  moft  fignifi- 
cant  Thing  that  could  be  done  by  him  for  that 


wherein  we  have  a  Narrative  of  the  Grievances 
under  the  Male  Adminiltrations  of  that  Govern- 
ment, written  and  figned  by  the  chief  Gentle  • 
men  of  the  Governour  s  Council  ■,  together  with 
the  Sworn  Teftimonies  of  many  good  Men,  to 
prove  the  feveral  Articles  of  'the  Declaration, 
which  the  New-Eng landers  pubiilhed  againft 
their  Oppreflbrs.  It  is  in  that  Eook  demon- 
ftrated. 

That  the  Governour  neglecting  the  greater 
Number  of  h is  Council,  did  Adhere  principally 
to  the  Advice  of  a  feiv  Strangers,  who  were 
Perfons  without  any  Intercft  in  the  Country, 


poor  People  in  their  prefent  Circumllances.  but  of  declared  Prejudice  againft  it,  and  had 
Indeed,  when  King  James  offered,  as  he  did.  j  plainly  laid  their  Defigns  uTmake  an  Unreafon- 
unto  Sir  William  Phips  an  Opportunity  to  Ask   able  Profit  of  the  poor  People  :  And  jour  ox  five 


what  he  pleafed  of  him,  Sir  William  Generoufly 
prayed  for  nothing  but  this,  That  New-Eng- 
land might  have  its  loft  Priviledges  Reftored. 
The  King  then  Replied,  Any  Thing  but  that ! 
Whereupon  he  fet  ffmfelf  to  Confider  what  was 
the  next  Thing  that  he  might  ask  for  the  Ser- 
vice, not  of  himfelf,  but  of  his  Country.  The 
Refult  of  his  Confideration  was,  That  by  Petiti- 
on to  the  King,  he  Obtained,  with  expence  ©f 
fome  Hundreds  of  Guinea's,  a  Pateni,  which  con- 
ftituted  him  The  High  Sheriff  of  that  Country-, 
hoping,  by  his  Deputies  in  that  Office,  to  fup- 
ply  the  Country  ftill  with  Confciencious  Juries, 
which  was  the  only  Method   that  the  New- 


Perfons  had  the  abfolute  Rule  over  a  Terri- 
tory, the  mojl  Confiderable  of  any  belonging  to 
the  Crown. 

That  when  Laws  were  propofed  in  the  Coun- 
cil, tho'  the  Major  part  at  any  time  Diffented 
from  them,  yet  if  the  Governour  were  pofitive, 
there  was  no  fair  Counting  rhe  Number  of  Coun- 
cellors  Confenting,  or  Diifenting,  but  the  Laws 
were  immediately  Engrojfed,  Publifhed  and  Exe- 
cuted. 

That  this  Junto  made  a  Law,  which  pro- 
hibited the  Inhabitants  of  any  Town  to  meet 
about  their  Town- Affairs  above  once  in  a  Year  • 
for  fearTyou  mult  Note,  of  their  having  any  op- 


Englaniers  had  left  them  to  fecure  any  thing  portunity  to  Complain  o^Grievances, 


that  was  Dear  unto  them.  Furnifhed  with  this 
Patent,  after  he  had,  in  Company  with  Sir  John 
Narborough,  made  a  Second  Vifit  unto  the 
Wreck,  (not  fo  advantageous  as  the  former  for  a 


That  they  made  another  Law,  requiring  all 
Matters  of  Vejjels,  even  Shallops  and  Wood- 
boats,  to  give  Security,  that  no  Man  fhould  be 
Transported  in  them,  except  his  Name  had  been 


Reafon  already  mentioned  j  in  his  way  he  Re-   fo  many  Days  potted  up :  Whereby  the  Pockets 
turned  unto  New-England,    in  the  Summer  of  of  a  few  Leeches  had  been  filled  with  Fees,  but 


the  Year  1688.  able,  after  Five  Years  Abfence 
to  Entertain  his  Lady  with  fome  Accomplifh- 
ment  of  his  Predictions ;  and  then  Built  him- 
felf a  Fair  Brick  Houfe  in  the  very  place  which 
we  foretold,  the  Reader  can  tell  how  many 
SelTions  ago.  But  the  Infamous  Government' 
then  Rampant  there,  found  a  way  wholly  to 
put  by  the  Execution  of  this  Patent;  yea,  he 
was  like  to  have  had  his  Perfon  Affaffinated  in 
the  Face  of  the  Sun,  before  his  own  Door, 
which  with  fome  further  Deligns  then  in  his 
Mind^  caufed  him  within  a  few  Weeks  to  take 
another  Voyage  for  England. 

§.  8.  It  would  require  a  long  Summers- Day 
to  Relate  the  Miferies  which  were  come,  and 
coming  in  upon  poor  New-England,  by  reafon  of 
the  Arbitrary  Government  then  impofed  on 
them  ;  a  Government  wherein,  as  old  Wendover 


the  whole  Trade  of  the  Country  deffroyed ,, 
and  all  Attempts  to  obtain  a  Redrefs  of  thefe 
Things  obftrucled  \  and  when  this  Aff  had  been 
ffrenuoufly  oppofed  in  Council  at  Bofton,  they 
carried  it  as  far  as  Ncw-Tork,  where  a  Crew  of 
them  .enacted  it. 

That  without  any  Affembly,  they  Levied  on 
the  People  a  Penny  in  the  Pound  of  all  their 
Ejiates,  and  Twenty-pence  per  Head,  as  Poll- 
money,  with  a  Penny  in  the  Pound  for  Goods 
Imported,  befides'a  Vaft  Excife  on  Wine,  Rum, 
and  other  Liquors. 

That  when  among  the  Inhabitants  of  Ipfwich, 
fome  of  the  Principal  Perfons  modefMy  gave 
Realbns  why  thfey  could  not  chute  a  Commijfi- 
oner  to  Tax  the  Town,  until  the  King  fhould 
firft  be  Petitioned  for  the  Liberty  of  an  Ajfembly, 
they  were  committed  unto  Goal  for  it,  as  an 
F  f  2  UigJi 


44 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana  : 


Book  II. 


High  Mij 'demeanour,  and  were  denied  an  Ha- 
beas? Corpm,  and  were  dragg'd  many  Miles  out 
of  their  own  County  to  anfwer  it  at  a  Court 
in  Bojhn-,  where  Jurors  were  pickt  for  the 
Turn',  that  were  not  Freeholders,  nay,  that  were 
meer  Sojourners ;  and  when  the  Prisoners  plea- 
ded the  Priviledges  of  Englijh-men,  That  they 
jhouli  not  be  Taxed  without  their  own  confent  ; 
they  were  told,  lhat  thofe  things  would  not  fol- 
low them  to  the  ends  of  the  Earth  :  As  it  had  been 
before  told  them  in  open  Council,  no  one  in  the 
Council  contradicting  it,  lou  have  no  more  Pri- 
viledges left  you,  but  this,  that  you  are  not 
bought  and  fold  for  Slaves  :  And  in  fine,  they 
were  all  Ywed  feverely,  and  laid  under  great 
Bonds  for  their  good  Behaviour;  befides  all 
which,  the  hungry  Officers  extorted  Fees  from 
them  that  amounted  unto  an  Hundred  and 
Threelcore  Pounds ;  whereas  in  England,  upon 
the  like  Profecution,  the  Fees  would  not  have 
been. Ten  Pounds  in  all.  After  which  fafhion 
the  Town/men  of  many  other  Places  were  alfo 
ferved. 

That  thefe  Men  giving  out,  That  the  Char- 
ters being  loir,  all  the  Title  that  the  People  had 
unto  their  Lands  was  loft  with  them  ;  they  be- 
gan to  compel  the  People  every  where  to  take 
Patents  for  their  Lands :  And  accordingly  Writs 
oflntruficn  were  iflued  out  againft  the  ch^ef 
Gentlemen  in  the  Territory,  by  the  Terror 
whereof,  many  were  actually  driven  to  Petition 
for  Patents,  that  they  might  quietly  enjoy  the 
Lands  that  had  been  Fifty  or  Sixty  Years  in 
their  Pofleffion;  but  for  thefe  Patents  there 
were  fuch  exorbitant  Prices  demanded,  that 
Fifty  Pounds  could  not  purchale  for  its  Owner 
an  Eftate  not  worth  Two  Hundred,  nor  could  all 
the  Money  and  Moveables  in  the  Territory  have 
defrayed  the  Charges  of  Patenting  the  Lands 
at  the  Hands  of  thefe  Crocodiles :  Befides  the 
confiderable  Quit-Rents  for  the  King.  Yea, 
the  Governour  caufed  the  Lands  of  particular 
Perfons  to  be  meafured  out,  and  given  to  his 
Creatures :  And  fome  of  his  Council  Petitioned 
for  the  Commons  belonging  to  feveral  Towns ; 
and  the  Agents  of  the  Towns  going  to  get  a 
voluntary  Subfcription  of  the  Inhabitants  to 
maintain  their  Title  at  Law,  they  have  been 
dragg'd  Forty  or  Fifty  Miles  to  anfwer  as  Cri- 
minals at  the  next  Aflizes;  the  Officers  in  the 
mean  time  extorting  Three  Pounds  per  Man 
for  fetching  them. 

lhat  if  thefe  Harpies,  at  any  time,  were  a 
little  out  of  Money,  they  found  ways  to  Impri- 
lon  the  be)}  Men  in  the  Country  ;  and  there  ap- 
peared not  the  leaft  Information  of  any  Crime 
■■exhibited  againft  them,  yet  they  were  put  unto 
Intollerable  Expences  by  thefe  Greedy  Oppreflbrs, 
and  the  Benefit  of  an  Habeat  Corpus  not  allowed 
unto  them. 

That  packt  and  pickt  Juries  were  common- 
ly made  ufe  of,  when  under  a  pretended  Form 
of  Law,  the  Trouble  of  fome  Honeft  and  Wor- 
thy Men  was  aimed  at  ■,  and  thefe  alfb  were 
hurried  out  of  their  own  Counties  to  be  tried, 


found  there.  The  Greateji  Rigour  being  ufed 
ftill  towards  the Jobereji  fort  of  People,  whilftin 
the  mean  time  the  moft  horrid  Enormities  in 
the  World,  committed  by  Others,  were  over- 
looks. 

lhat  the  publick  Miniftry  of  the  Gofpel,  and 
all  Schools  of  Learning,  were  difcountenanced 
unto  the  Utmoft. 

And  feveral  more  fuch  abominable  things,  too 
notorious  to  be  denied,  even  by  a  Randolphian 
Impudence  it  felf,  are  in  that  Book  proved  a- 
gainft  that  unhappy  Government.  Nor  did  that 
moft  Ancient  Sec  of  the  Phoenician  Shepherds^ 
who  ftrued  the  Government  of  Egypt  into  their 
Hands,  as  old  Manethon  tells  us,  by  their  Vil- 
lages, during  the  Reigns  of  thofe  Tyrants,  make 
i  Shepherd  more  of  an  Abomination  to  the  Egyp- 
tians in  all  after  Ages,  than  thefe  Wolves  under 
the  Name  of  Shepherds  have  made  the  Remem- 
brance of  their  French  Government  an  Abomi- 
nation to  all  Pofterity  among  the  New-Englan- 
ders  :  A  Government,  for  which,  now,  Reader, 
as  faft  as  thou  wilt,  get  ready  this  Epitaph  : 

Nulla  qusfita  Scelere  Potentia  diuturna. 


It  was  under  the  Refentments  of  thefe  Things 
that  Sir  William  Phips   returned   into   England 
in  the  Year  1688.  In  which  Iwice-Wonderful- 
Tear  fuch  a  Revolution   was  wonderfully  ac- 
complifried  upon  the  whole  Government  of  the 
Englifh  Nation,  that  Mew-England,  which  had 
been  a  Specimen  of  what   the  whole  Nation 
was  to  look  for,  might  juftly  hope  for  a  ifiare 
in  the  General  Deliverance.    Upon  this  Occa- 
fion  Sir  William  offered  his  beft  Affiftances  unto 
that  Eminent  Perfon,  who  a  little  before  this  Re- 
volution betook  himfelf  unto  White-Hall^  that 
he  might  there  lay  hold  on  all  Opportunities  to 
procure  fome  Relief  unto  the  Oppreffions  of 
that  afflicled  Country.     But  feeing  the  Neva- 
Englifo  Affairs  in  fb  able  an  Hand,   he  thought 
the  beft  Stage  of  Affion  for  him  would  now  be 
New-England  it  felf;   and  fowith  certain  In- 
ftru£tions  from  none  of  the  leaft  confiderable 
Perfons  at  White-Hall,  what  Service  to  do  for 
his  Country,  in  the  Spring  of  the  Year  1689. 
he  haftened  back  unto  it.      Before  he  left  Lon- 
don, a  Meffenger  from  the  Abdicated    King 
tendet'd  him  the  Government  of  New-England^ 
if  he  would  accept  it :  But  as  that  excellent  At- 
torney General,    Sir  William  Jones,    when  it 
was  propofed  that  the  Plantations  might  be  Go- 
verned without  AJJemblies,  told  the  King,  That 
he  could  no  more   Grant  a  Commiffion  to  levy 
Money  on  his  Subjefts  there,  without  their  con- 
fent by  an  Affembly,  than  they  could  Difcharge 
themfelves  from  their  Allegiance  to  the  Englifh 
Crown.    So  Sir  William  Phips  thought  it  his 
Duty  to  refufe  a  Government  without  an  Affem- 
bly, as  a  thing  that  was  Treafon  in  the  very 
Effence  of  it;  and  inftead  of  Petitioning  thefuc- 
ceeding  Princes,  that  his  Patent  for  High  Sheriff 
might  be  rendred  Effectual,   he  joined  in  Peti- 
tions, that  New-England  might  have  its  own  old 


when  Juries  for  the  Turn  were  not  like  to  be  I  Patent  fb  Reftored,  as  to  render  ineffe&ual  that„ 

and 


45 


Book  II.         Or,  The  Hiftory  ^New-England- 

and  all  other  Grants  that  might  cut  fhort  any  of  any  whom  the  Prince  might  fend  thither,  this 
its  Ancient  Priviledges.  But  when  SiiWii/iam  put  them  almoit  out  of"  Patience.  And  one 
arrived  at  New- England,  he  found  a  new  Face  thing  that  plunged  the  more  Confederate  Per- 
of  things ;  for  about  an  Hundred  Indians  in  the1  Tons  in  the  Territory  into  uneafie  thoughts,  was 
Eaftern  Parts  of  the  Country,  had  unaccounra-  the  Faulty  Atfion  of  fome  Soldiers,  who  upon 
bly  begun  a  War  upon  the  "&ngbfh  in  'July,  the  Common  Sufpicions ,  deferred  their 
1688.  and  though  the  Governour  then  in  the  j  Stations  in  the  Army,  and  caufed  their  Friends 
Wefiern  Parts  had  immediate  Advice  of  it, !  to  gather  together  here  and  there  in  little  Bodies, 
yet  he  not  only  delayed  and  neglected  all  that !  to  protecf  from  the  Demands  of  the  Gover- 
was  necellary  for  the  Publick  Defence,  but  alfojnour  their  poor  Children  and  Brethren,  whom 
when  he  at  la  ft  returned,  he  manifefted  a  moft  they  thought  bound  for  a  Bloody  Sacrifice: 
Furious  Difpleafure  againft  thoieof  the  Council,  And  there  were  alio  belonging  to  the  Rofe-Fri- 
and  all  others  that  had  forwarded  any  one  thing  \got  fome  that  buzz'd  furprizing  Stories  about 
for  the  fecurity  of  the  Inhabitants;  while  at  the \Bqfton,  of  many  Mifchiefs  to  be  thence  ex- 
fame  time  he  difpatched  fome  of  his  Creatures  pefted.  Wherefore,  fome  of  the  Principal 
upon  fecret  Errands  unto  Canada,  and  fet  at  Li- j  Gentlemen  in  J^ofio/i  confulting  what  was  to" be 


berty  lomeof  the  moft  Murderous  Indians  which 
the  Englifh  had  feized  upon. 

This  Conduct  of  the  Governour,  which  is  in 
a  Printed  Remonftrance  of  fome  of  the  beft 
Gentlemen  in  the  Council  complained  of,  did 
extreamly  diffatisfie  the  Suspicions  People :  Who 
were  doubtleis  more  extream  in  fome  of  their 
Sufpicions,   than  there  was   any  real  Occafwn 
for  :  But  the  Governour  at  length  raifed  an  Ar- 
my of  a  Tboufand  Englifj  to  Conquer  this  Hun- 
dred Indians.,  and  this  Army,  whereof  fome  of 
the  chief  Commanders  were  Papifls,  underwent 
the  Fatigues  of  a  long  and  a  cold  Winter,    in 
the  moft  Caucafmn  Regions  of  the  Territory, 
till,   without  the  killing  of  One  Indian,  there 
were  more  of  the  poor  People  killed,    than 
they  had  Enemies  there  alive  !   This  added  not 
a  little  to  the  Diflatisfaftion  of  the  People,  and 
it  would  much  more  have  done  fo,  if  they  had 
feen  what  the  World  had  not  yet  feen  of  the 
Suggeflions  made  by  the  Irifl)  Catbolicks  unto 
the  Late  King,   publifhed  in  the  Year   169 1. 
in  the  Account  of  the  State  of  the   Protejlants 
in  Ireland,  Licenfed  by   the  Earl  of  Notting- 
ham, whereof  one  Article  runs  in  thefe  Exprefs 
Terms,  That  if  any  of  the  Iriih  cannot  have 
their  hands  in  Specie,  but  Money  in  Lieu,  fome 
of  them  may  Tranfport  them/elves  into  America, 
pofjibly  near  New-England,  to  check  the  growing 
Independants  of  that  Country  :  Or  if  they  had 
feen  what  was  afterwards  feen  in  a  Letter  irom 
K.  fames  to  His  Hclinefs,    (as   they   ftile  his 
Foolifhnefs)  the  Pope  of  Rome  5   that  it  was  his 
full  Purpofe  to  have  fet  up  Roman~Catholick 
Religion  in  the  Englifh  Plantations  of  America: 
Tho'  after  all,   there  is  Caufe  to  think  that 
there  was  more  made  of  the  Sufpicions  then 
flying  like  Wild*Fire  about  the  Country,  than 
a  ftrong    Charity  would   have   Countenanced. 
When  the   People   were  under  thefe  Frights, 
they  had  got  by  the  Edges  a  little  Intimation 
of  the  then  Prince  of  Orange's  glorious  Under- 
taking to  deliver   England  from  the  Feared  E 
vils,  which  were  already  felt  by  Neva-England ; 
but  when   the   Perfcn    who    brought   over   a 
Copy   of  the   Prince's    Declaration     was  Im- 
prifoned    for   bringing    into    the    Country   a 
Treafonable  Paper,  and  the  Governour,  by  his 
Proclamation,  required  all  Perlons  to  ufe  their 
utmoji  Endeavours  to  hinder  the  Landing  of 


done  in  this  Extraordinary  Juncture,  They  all 
agreed  that  they  would,  if  it  were  poffible,  ex- 
nnguiih  all  Elfays  in  the  People  towards    an 
InfurreEuon,    in  daily    Hopes  of  Orders  from 
England  for  their  Safety  :  But  that  if  the  Coun- 
try People,  by  any  violent  Motions  puih'd  the 
Matter  on  fo  far,  as  to  make  a  Revolution  un- 
avoidable,   then   to    prevent   the  lhedding   of 
Blood  by  an  ungoverned   Mobile,  fome  of  the 
Gentlemen  prefent  ihould  appear  at  the  Head  of 
the  Aftion  with  a  Declaration  accordingly  pre- 
pared.     By   the   Eighteenth   of  April,   1689. 
Things  were  puihed  on  fo  far  by  the  People, 
that  certain  Perfons  firft  Seized  the  Captain  of 
the  Frigot,  and  the  Rumor  thereof  running  like 
Lightning  through  Bofton,  the  whole  Town  was 
immediately  in  Arms,  with  the  moft  Unanimouf 
Refolution  perhaps   that  ever  was   known  to 
have  Infpir'd  any  People.     They  then  feized 
thofe  Wretched  Men,  who  by  their  innumera- 
ble Extortions  and  Abufes    had  made  them- 
felves  the  Objects  of  Univerfal  Hatred;    not 
giving  over  till  the  Governour  himfelf  was  be- 
come their  Prifoner :   The  whole  AtTion  being 
managed  without  the  leaft  Bloodjhedov  Plunder^ 
and  with  as  much  Order  as  ever  attended  any 
Tumult,  it  may  be,  in  the  World.    Thus  did  the 
Ncw-Eitglanders  afTert  their  Title  to  the  Com- 
mon  Rights  of  Englifhmen  ■    and  except  the 
Plantations  are  willing  to  Degenerate  from  the 
Temper  of  True  Englifhmen,  or  except  the  Re- 
volution of  the  whole  Englifh  Nation  be  con- 
demned, their  Atlion  mult  fo  far  be  juftified; 
On  their  late  Opprejjbrs,  now  under  juft  Con- 
finement, they  took  no  other  Satisfaction,  but 
fent  them  over  unto  White-Hall  for  the  Juftice 
of  the  King  and  Parliament.     And  when  the 
Day  for  the  Anniverfary  Election,  by  their  va- 
cated Charter,  drew  near,  they  had  many  De- 
bates into  what  Form  they  fhQuld  caft  the  Go- 
vernment, which  was  till  then  Adminiftred  by 
a  Committee  for  the  Confcrvation  of  the  Peace^ 
eompofed  of  Gentlemen  whole  Hap  it  was  to 
appear  in  the  Head  of  the  late   Atlion  \   but 
their  Debates  IfTued  in  this  Conclulion  •   That 
the  Governour  and  Magi  fir  at  es,    which  were  in 
Power  before  the  late  Ufurpaticn,  fhould  Re- 
fume  their  Places,   and   apply   themfelves  unto 
the  Confervation  of  the  Peace,  and  put  forth 
what    AOs  of  Government    the    Emergencies 

might 


46 


Magnalia  Cbrifii  Americana : 


Book  II. 


might  make  needful  for  them,  and  thus  to 
wait  for  further  Directions  from  the  Authority 
of  England.  So  was  there  Accomplifhed  a 
Revolution  which  delivered  New-England  from 
grievous  Oppreffions,  and  which  was  molt 
graciouily  Accepted  by  the  King  and  Qiteen, 
when  it  was  Reported  unto  their  Majeities. 
But  there  were  new  Matters  for  Sir  William 
Phips,  in  a  little  while,  now  to  think  up- 
on. 

§.  o.  Behold  the  great  things  which  were 
done  by  the  Sovereign  God,  for  a  Perfon  once 
as  little  in  his  own  Fyes^  as  in  other  Mens. 
All  the  Returns  which  he  had  hitherto  made 
unto  the  Gcd  of  his  Mercies,  were  but  Preli- 
minaries- to  what  remain  to  be  related.  It 
has  been  the  Cuftom  in  the  Churches  of  New- 
England,  Hill  to  expect  from  fuch  Perfons  as 
they  admitted  unto  conftant  Communion  with 
them,  that  they  do  not  only  Publickly  and  So- 
lemnly Declare  their  Confcnt  unto  the  Covenant 
of  Grace,  and  particularly  to  thofe  Duties  of 
it,  wherein  a  Particular  Church-State  is  more 
immediately  concerned,  but  alfo  firft:  relate  un- 
to the  Pajlors,  and  by  them  unto  the  Brethren, 
the  Ipecial  Impreffions  which  the  Grace  of 
God  has  made  upon  their  Souls  in  bringing 
them  to  this  Cgnjent.  By  this  Cuftom  and  Cau- 
tion, though  they  cannot  keep  Hypocrites 
from  their  Sacred  Fellowfhip,  yet  they  go 
as  far  as  they  can,  to  render  and  preferve  them- 
felves  Churches  of  Saints,  and  they  do  further 
very  much  Edijie  one  another.  When  Sir  Wil- 
liam Phips  was  now  returned  unto  his  own 
Houje,  he  began  to  bethink  himfelf,  like  Da- 
vid, concerning  the  Houfe  of  the  God  who 
had  furrounded  him  with  fb  many  Favours  in 
his  own  ;  and  accordingly  he  applied  himfelf 
unto  the  North  Church  in  Bofion,  that  with  his 
open  Profcflion  of  his  Hearty  Subjection  to  the 
Go/pel  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  he  might 
have  the  Ordinances  and  the  Privilcdges  of  the 
Go/pel  added  unto  his  other  Enjoyments. 
One  thing  that  quickned  his  Relblution  to  do 
what  might  be  in  this  Matter  expected  from 
him,  was  a  PalTage  which  he  heard  from  a 
Minifter  Preaching  on  the  Title  of  the  Fifty- 
Firft  Pfalm  :  To  make  a  public k  and  an  open 
Profeffton  of  Repentance,  is  a  thing  not  mif- 
beeoming  the  great efl  Man  alive.  It  is  an  Ho- 
nour to  be  found  among  the  Repenting  People 
of  God,  though  they  be  in  Circumjlances  never 
fo  full  of Suffering.  A  Famous  Knight  going  with 
other  Chrifiians  to  be  Crowned  with  Martyr- 
dom, objerved,  That  his  Fellow-Sufferers  were 
in  Chains,  from  which  the  Sacrificers  had,  bc- 
cauje  cf  his  ^I'.l'.ty,  excus'd  him ;  whereupon 
he  demanded,  ihat  he  might  wear  Chains  a* 
well  as  they.  For,  /aid  he,  I  would  be  a 
Knight  of  that  Order  too ;  There  is  among  our 
f elves  a  Repenting  People  of  God,  who  by 
their  Confetitons  at  their  Admiffions  to  his  Ta- 
ble, do  (ignaiize  their  being  Jo  ;  and  thanks  be 
to.  God  that  vie  have  Jo  little  of  Suffering  in 
ogr  Ctrcumftances.  But  if  any  Man  count 
Jumfelf  grown  too  big  to  be  a  Knight   of  that 


Order,  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  himjelf  will  one 
Day  be  afhimed  of  that  Man  '.  Upon  this  Ex- 
citation, Sir  n  'iltiam  Phips  made  his  Addrefs 
unto  a  Congregational-Church,  and  he  had  there- 
in one  thing  to  propound  unto  himlelf,  which 
few  Perfons  of  his  Age,  fo  well  fatisfied  in 
Infant  Baptifm  as  he  was,  have  then  to  ask 
for.  Indeed,  in  the  Primitive  Times,  although 
the  Lawfulnejs  of  Infant-Baptifm,  or  the  Pre- 
cept and  Pattern  of  Scripture  for  it,  was 
never  fo  much  as  once  made  a  Queftion,  yet 
we  find  Baptifm  was  frequently  delayed  by  ' 
Perfons  upon  feveral  fuperltitious  and  unreafon- 
able  Accounts,  againft  which  we  have  fuch 
Fathers  as  Gregory  Nazianzen,  Gregory  Nyffen, 
Bafil,  Chryfijfom.  Ambroje,  and  others,  employ- 
ing a  variety  of  Argumenr.  But  Sir  William 
Phips  had  hitherto  delayed  his  Baptifm,  becaufe 
the  Years  of  his  Childhood  were  fpent  where 
there  was  no  fettled  Minifter,  and  therefore  he 
was  now  not  only  willing  to  attain  a  good  Sa^ 
tisfaction  of  his  own  Internal  and  Practical 
Chriftianity,  before  his  receiving  that  Mark 
thereof,  but  he  was  alfo  willing  to  receive  it 
among  thofe  Chrifiians  that  feemed  molt  fen- 
fible  of  the  Bonds  which  it  laid  them  un- 
der. Offering  himfelf  therefore,  firft  unto 
the  Baptifm,  and  then  unto  the  Supper  of 
the  Lord,  he  prefented  unto  the  Paftor  of  the 
Church,  with  his  own  Hand-Writing,  the  fol- 
lowing Inftrument ;  which  becaufe  of  the  Ex- 
emplary Devotion  therein  exprelfed,  and  the 
Remarkable  Hifiory  which  it  gives  of  feveral 
Occurrences  in  his  Life,  I  will  here  faithfully 
Tranfcribe  it,  without  adding  fo  much  as  one 
Word  unto  it. 

'  The  firft  of  God's  making  me  fenfible  of 
c  my  Sins,  was  in  the  Year  1674.  by  hearing 
c  your  Father  Preach  concerning,  The  Day  of 
'  Trouble  near.  It  pleafed  Almighty  God  to 
'  finite  me  with  a  deep  Sence  of  my  miferable 
'  Condition,  who  had  lived  until  then  in  the 
'  World,  and  had  done  nothing  for  God.  I  did 
'  then  begin  to  think  wifm  I  fcould  do  to  be 
cJdved .?  And  did  bewail  my  Touthful  Daysy 
'  which  I  had  fpent  in  vain  :  I  did  think  that 
'  I  &ould  begin  to  mind  the  things  of  God.  Be- 
'  ing  then  fome  time  under  your  Father's  Mi- 
-  niitry,  much  troubled  with  my  Burden,  but 
'  thinking  on  that  Scripture,  Come  unto  me, 
'  you  that  are  weary  and  heavy  Laden,  and  I 
1  will  give  you  Reft  ;  I  had  ibme  thoughts  of 
'  drawing  as  near  to  the  Communion  of  the 
c  Lord  Jefus  as  I  could ;  but  the  Ruins  which 
'  the  Indian  Wars  brought  on  my  Affairs,  and 
c  the  Entanglements  which  my  following  the 
•  Sea  laid  upon  me,  hindred  my  purfuing  the 
'  Welfare  of  my  own  Soul  as  I  ought  to  have 
'  done.  At  length  God  was  pleai'ed  to  fmile 
'  upon  my  Outward  Concerns.  The  various 
c  Providences,  both  Merciful  and  Afflictive, 
c  which  attended  me  in  my  Travels,  were  fancti- 
'  fied  unto  me,  to  make  me  Acknowledge  God 
i  in  all  my  Ways.  I  have  divers  Times  been 
c  in  danger  of  my  Life,  and  I  have  been  brought 
'  to  fee  that  I  owe  my  Life  to  him  that  has 

'  given 


Book  II.         Or,  The  Hi/lory  ^"New-England. 


47 


-  given  a  Life  ib  often  to  me  :  I  thank  God, 
he  hath  brought  me  to  fee  my  felf  altogc- 
'  ther  unhappy,  wirhout  an  lntercft  in  the  Lord 
'  Jefus  Chrift^  and  to  dofe  heartily  with  him, 
'  defiring  him  to  Execute  All  his  Offices  on  my 
'  Behalf.  I  have  now,  ior  fome  time,  been 
'  under  ferious  Refo/uiioas,  that  I  would  avoid 
'  whatever  1  ihould  know  to  be  Dilpleafing  un- 
'  to  Gcd,  and  that  I  would  Serve  him  all  the 
'  Days  of  my  Li/e.  J  believe  no  Man  will  Re- 
'  pent  the  Service  of  Juch  a  Majier.  I  find 
1  my  felf  unable  to  keep  fuch  Rejolutions,  but 
k  my  ferious   Prayers  are  to  the  Moft  High, 

*  that  he  would  enable  me.     God  hath  done  io 

*  much  for  me,  that  1  am  fenfible  I  owe  my 
'  felf  to  him  ;  To  htm  would  I  give  my  felj, 
'  and  all  that  he  has  given  to  me.  1  can't  ex- 
'  prefs  his  Mercies   to  me.    But  as  icon  as  e- 

*  ver  God  had  i'miled  upon  me  with  a  Turn 
'  of  my  Affairs,  I  had  laid  my  ielf  under  the 
'VOWS  of  the  Lord,  That  I  would  jet  my 
'  felf  to  ferve  his  People,  and  Churches  here, 
'  unto  the  utmeji  of  my  Capacity.  1  have  had 
'great  Offers  made  me  in  tngland  •  but  the 
'  Churches  of  Aew-England  were  thole  which 
'  my  Heart  was  moft  let  upon.  I  knew,  That 
'  if  God  had  a  People  any  wl.'ere,  it  was  here : 
'  And  I  Refolvcd  to  rije  and  fall  with  them  j 
'  neglecting  very  great  Advantages  for  my 
'  Worldly  Intereft,  that  I  might  come  and  en- 
'  joy  the  Ordinances  of  the  Lord  Jefus  here. 
'  it  has  been  my  Trouble,  that  fince  I  came 
'  Home  I  have  made  no  more  hafte  to  get  into 
4  the  Houfe  oj  God,  where  /  defire  to  be :  E- 
'  fpecially  having  heard  fo  much  about  the  E- 
'  vil  of  that  OmifTion.  I  can  do  little  for  God, 
'but  1  defire  to  wait  upon  him  in  his  Ordi- 
'  nances,  and  to  live  to  his  Honour  and  Glo- 
'ry.  My  being  Born  in  a  part  of  the  Coun- 
4  try,  where  1  had  not  in   my  Infancy  enjoyed 

*  the  Firfl  Sacrament  of  the  New-Tejlament, 
'  has  been  fomething  of  a  Stumbling*Biock  un- 
'  to  me.  But  though  1  have  had  Profers  of 
'  Baptifm  elfewhere  made  unto  me,  1  refol- 
'  ved  rather  to  defer  it,  until  I  might  enjoy  it 
'  in  the  Communion  of  thefe  Churches';  and 
'  I  have  had  awful  Impreffions  from  thofe 
'Words  of  the  Lord  Jefus  in  Matth.  8.  38. 
'  Whofoever  fhall  be  afhamed  of  me,  and  of  my 
'  Words,  of  him  a/fo  fhall  the  Son  of  Man  be 
4  aflmmed.  When  God  had  bleficd  me  with 
'  fomething  of  the  World,  I  had  no  Trouble  fo 
'  great  as  this,  Left  it  fhould  not  be  in  Mercy-, 
'  and  I  trembled  at  nothing  more  than  being 
'  put  off  with  a  Portion  here.  That  I  may 
'  make  lure  of  better  things,  I  now  offer  my 
'  felf  unto  the  Communion  of  this  Church  of 
'  the  Lord  JESUS. 

Accordingly  on  March  23.  16 90.  after  he 
had  in  the  Congregation  of  North-Bofion  given 
himfelf  up,  firji  unto  the  Lord,  and  then  unto 
his  People,  he  was  Baptized,  and  fo  received 
into  the  Communion  ot  the  Faithful  there. 

(j.  10.  Several  times,  about,   before  and  af- 
ter this  time,   did  1    hear   him  exprefs  him- king   at   Port-Royal,    May   11.   and   had    the 
felf  unto  this  purpole :    /  have  no  need  at  a// 1  Fort   quickly    Surrender'd  into  hi*  Hands  by 

i  the 


to  look  after  any  further  Advantages  for  my 
felf  in  this  World  \   I  may  ft  fill  ut  Home,  if 
I  will,   and  enjoy  my  Erfe  for  the  rcji  oj  my 
Life  -,  but  I  believe  that  I  fhould  offend  God 
in  my   doing  jo  :  For  1  am  now  in  the  Prime 
of  my  Age  and  Strength^  and,   1  thank  Gcd.    I 
can    undergo   Hardfhip  :    He   only  knows    how 
long  1  have  to  live  5   but  1  think   'tis  my  Duly 
to  venture  my  Life  in  doing  oj  good,  before  an 
ufelefs  Old  Age  comes  upon  me :  Wherefore  I 
will  now   expoj'e   my  felf,    while    I   am  able, 
and  at  far  a-)  1  am  able,  for  the  Service  of  my 
Country ;  I  was  Born  for  others,    a-r  well  at 
my  felf    1  fay,  many  a  time  have  I  heard  him 
io  exprefs  himfelf  :  And  agreeable  to  this  Ge- 
nerous Difpojilion  and  Rejolutton    was  all  the 
rtlt  of  his  Life.     About  this  time  New  Eng- 
land was  milerably  Briar 'd  in  the  Perplexities 
of  an  Indian  War;    and   the  Salvages,   in  the 
Eaji  part  of"  the  Country,  iffuing  out  from  their 
inacctiiible  Sivamps,    had   for  many    Months 
made  their  Cruel  Depredations  upon  the  poor 
Englifh  Planters,   and  furprized  many  of  the 
Plantations  on  the  Frontiers,   into  Ruin.     The 
New-Englanders  found,    that  while  they  coa- 
tinued  only  en  the  Vefenfive  part,   their  Peo- 
ple were  thinned,  and  their  Treajures  wafted  ^ 
without  any  hopes  of  feeing  a   Period  put  un- 
to the  Indian  Tragedies  -,   nor  could  an  Army 
greater  than  Xcrxes's  have  eafily  come  at  the 
ieemingly    contemptible   handful  of   Tawnies 
which  made  all  this  Difturbance  ;   or,  Tamer- 
lain,   the   greateft   Conqueror    that    ever   the 
World  faw,    have  made  it  a  Bufinefs   of  no 
Trouble  to  have  Conquered  them  :  They  found, 
that  they  were  like  to  make  no  Weapons  reach 
their  Enfwamped  Adverfaries,  except  Mr.  Mil- 
ton could  have  fhown  them  how 

To  have  pluckt  up  the  Hills  with  all  their  Load., 
Rocks,  Waters,  Woods,  and  by  their  fhaggy  tops, 
Up-lijting,  bore  them  in  their  Hands,  therewith 
The  Rebel  Hojl  tove  over-whelm  d 

So  it  was  thought  that  the  Englijlj  SubjecLs,  in 
thefe  Regions  of  America,  might  very  proper- 
ly take  this  occafion  to  make  an  attempt  upon 
the  French,  and  by  reducing  them  under  the 
Engiijh  Government,  put  an  Eternal  Period  at 
once  unto  all  their  Troubles  from  the  Frenchifi- 
ed Pagans.  This  was  a  Motion  urged  by  Sir 
William  Phips  unto  the  General  Court  of  the 
Majfachufet -Colony  -.  and  he  then  made  unto 
the  Court  a  brave  Offer  of  his  own  Perfon  and 
Eftate,  for  the  Service  of  rhe  Publick  in  their 
prefent  Extremity,  as  far  as  they  Ihould  fee 
Caule  to  make  ufe  thereof.  Whereupon  they 
made  a  Fir  ft  Ejfay  againft  the  French,  by  fend- 
ing a  Naval  Force,  with  about  Seven  Hundred 
Men,  under  the  Conduct  of  Sir  William  Phips, 
againft  L'Acady  and  Nova  Scotia-,  of  which 
Aclion  we  (hall  give  only  this  General  and 
Summary  Account  5  that  Sir  William  Phips  fet 
Sail  from  Nantafcot,  April  28.  1690.  Arri- 
May 


4§ 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana  : 


Book  II. 


the  trench  Enemy,  who  defpaired  of  holding 
out  againft  him.  He  then  took  PofTeffion  of 
that  Province  for  the  Englifh  Crown,  and  ha- 
ving Demolithed  the  Fort,  and  fent  away  the 
Garrilbn,  Adminiftred  unto  the  Planters  an  Oat b 
of  Allegiance  to  King  William  sad  Queen  Mary, 
he  left  what  Order  he  thought  convenient  for  the 
Government  of  the  Place,  until  further  Order 
fhould  be  taken  by  the  Governour  and  Council 
of  the  Ma  Ifachuf et-Co\ony,  unto  whom  he  re- 
turned May  30.  with  an  acceptable  Account  of 
his  Expedition,  and  accepted  a  Place  among 
the  M'tgift rates  of  that  Colony,  to  which  the 
Free-Men  had  cholen  him  at  their  Anniverfary 
EleUion  Two  Days  before. 

Thus  the  Country,  once  given  by  King  James 
the  Firft  unto  Sir  William  Alexander,  was  now 
by  another  Sir  V/ill'iam  recovered  out  of  the 
Hands  of  the  French,  who  had  afterwards  got 
the  Pdfdfion  of  k\  and  there  was  added  unto 
the  Englijh  Empire,  a  Territory,  whereof  no 
Man  can  Read  Monfieur  Denys's  Dejcription 
Geographique  iff  tiiftorique  des  Cojles  de  I'  Ame- 
rique  Scptentnonale,  but  he  muft  reckon  the 
Conqneft  of  a  Region  fo  Improvable,  for  Lum- 
ber, tor  Fifhing,  tor  Mines,  and  for  Furrs,  a 
very  confideraole  Service.  But  if  a  fmaller  Ser- 
vice has,  e  er  now,  ever  merited  a  Knighthood. 
Sir  W'llliam  was  willing  to  Repeat  his  Me- 
rits by  Actions  of  the  gteateft  Service  pof- 
fible  : 

Nil  Attum  credens,  fiquidfupereffet  agendum- 

§.  11.  The  Addition  of  this  French  Colony  to 
the  Englijh  Dominion.,  was  no  more  than  a 
little  ftep  towards  a.  greater  Affion,  which  was 
titft  in  the  Defign  of  Sir  William  Phips,  and 
which  was,  indeed,  ihegrcateft  Allien  that  ever 
the  New-Englanders  Attempted.  There  was  a 
time  when  the  Philiftines  had  made  fbme  In- 
roads and  Affaults  from  the  Northward,  upon 
the  Skirts  of  Go/hen,  where  the  Ifraelites  had  a 
Retidence,  before  their  coming  out  of  Egypt. 
The  Ifraelites,  and  efpecially  that  Aftive  Colo- 
ny of  the  Ephraimites,  were  willing  to  Revenge 
thefe  Injuries  upon  their  wicked  Neighbours  ; 
they  prefumed  themfelves  Powetful  and  Nume- 
rous enough  to  Encounter  the  Canaanites,  even 
in  their  own  Country  -,  and  they  formed  a  brisk 
Expedition,  but  came  off  unhappy  Lofers  in  it  •, 
the  Jewifl)  Ra  ''bins  tells  us,  they  loft  no  lefs  than 
Eight  Thou/and  Men.  The  Time  was  not  yet 
come  ■,  there  was  more  tiafte  than  good  Speed 
in  the  Attempt ;  they  were  not  enough  concern- 
ed tor  the  Counfel  and  Prefence  of  God  in  the 
Undertaking;  they  mainly  propounded  the 
Plunder  to  be  got  among  a  People,  whofe  Trade 
was  that  wherewith  Beafts  entiched  them ;  fo  the 
bafiriefs  mifcarried.  This  Hiftory  the  Pfalmift 
going  to  recite,  fays,  I  will  utter  dark  Sayings 
of  o'd.  Now  that  what  befel  Si:  William  Phips, 
with  his  whole  Country  of  New-England,  may 
not  be  almoft  forgotten  among  the  dark  Sayings 
of  old,  I  will  here  give  the  true  Report  of  a  ve- 
ry memorable  Matter. 


It  was  Canada  that  was  the  chief  Source  of 
New-England'%  Miferies.  There  was  the  main 
Strength  of  the  French  ;  there  the  Indians  were 
moftly  fupplied  with  Ammunition ;  thence  Iffu- 
ed  Parties  of  Men,  who  uniting  with  the  Salva- 
ges, barbaroufly  murdered  many  Innocent  New- 
Engenders,  without  any  Provocation  on  the 
New-Englifh  part,  except  this,  that  New-Eng- 
land  had  Proclaimed  King  William  and  Q.  Ma- 
ry, which  they  fa  id  were  Ufurpers ;  and  as 
Cato  could  make  no  Speech  in  the  Senate  with- 
out that  Conclufion,  Delenda  eft  Carthago  -  fo 
it  was  the  general  Conclufion  of  all  that  Argued 
lenfibly  about  the  fafety  of  that  Country,  Ca- 
nada muft  be  Reduced.  It  then  became  the  con- 
curring Refolution  of  all  New-England,  with 
Neva-York,  to  make  a  Vigorous  Attack  upon  Ca- 
nada at  once,  both  by  Sea  and  Land. 

And  a  Fleet  was  accordingly  fitted  out  from 
Bojion,  under  the  Command  of  Sir  William 
Phips,  to  fall  upon  ^teebeque,  the  chief  City  of 
Canada.  They  waited  until  Auguft  for  fome 
Stores  of  War  from  England,  whither  they  had 
fent  for  that  purpofe  early  in  the  Spring  ;  but 
none  at  la  ft  arriving,  and  the  Seafon  of  the  Year 
being  fo  far  fpent,  Sir  William  could  not,  with- 
out many  Difcouragements  upon  his  Mind,  pro- 
ceed in  a  Voyage,  for  which  he  found  himfelf 
to  poorly  provided.  However,  rhe  Ships  being 
taken  up,  and  rhe  Men  on  Board,  his  ufual 
Courage  would  not  permit  him  to  Defift  from 
the  Enterprize  ;  but  he  let  Sail  from  Hull  near 
Bofton,  Auguft  9.  1690.  with  a  Fleet  of  Thirty 
Two  Ships  and  Tenders ;  whereof  one,  called  the 
Six  Friends,  carrying  Forty  Four  great  Guns, 
and  Two  Hundred  Men,  was  Admiral.  Sir 
William  dividing  the  Fleet  into  feveral  Squa- 
drons, whereof  there  was  the  Six  Friends,  Cap- 
tain Gregory  Sugars  Commander,  with  Eleven 
more  of  the  Admiral's  Squadron,  cf  which  one 
was  alfo  a  Capital  Ship,  namely,  The  John  and 
Thomas,  Captain  Thomas  Carter  Commander; 
of  the  Vice- Admirals,  the  Swan,  Captain  Tho- 
mas Gilbert  Commander,  with  Nine  more ;  of 
the  Rear-Admirals,  the  America-Merchant, 
Captain  Jofeph  Eldridge  Commander,  with  Nine 
more  ,  and  above  Twenty  Hundred  Men  on 
Board  the  whole  Fleet :  He  fo  happily  managed 
his  Chr-rge,  that  they  every  one  of  them  Arri- 
ved fafe  at  Anchor  before  Quebeck,  although 
they  had  as  dangerous,  and  almoft  untrodden  a 
Path,  to  take  Un-Piloted,  for  the  whole  Voyage, 
as  ever  any  Voyage  was  undertaken  with.  Some 
fmall  French  Prizes  he  took  by  the  way,  and 
fet  up  Englifh  Colours  upon  the  Coaft,  here 
and  there,  as  he  went  along;  and  befote  the 
Month  of  Auguft  -was  out,  he  had  fpent  feve- 
ral Days  as  far  onward  of  his  Voyage,  as  be- 
tween the  Ifland  of  Antecofta,  and  the  Main. 
But  when  they  entred  the  mighty  River  of  Ca- 
nada, fuch  adverfe  Winds  encountred  the  Fleet, 
that  they  were  Three  Weeks  difpatching  the 
way,  which  might  otherwife  have  been  gone  in 
Three  Days,  and  it  was  the  Fifth  of  Oiiober, 
when  a  freth  Breeze  coming  up  at  Eaft,  carried 
them  along  by  rhe  North  Shore,  up  to  the  Ifle 

of 


Book  II.         0r3  The  Hiftory  ^New^Englatid. 


49 


of  Orleans ;  and  then  haling  Southerly,  they 
paffed  by  the  Eaji  end  of  that  Iiland,  with  the 
whole  Fleet  approaching  the  City  of  Quebeck. 
This  lofs  of  Time,  which  made  it  folate  before 
the  Fleet  could  get  into  the  Country,  where  a 
cold  and  fierce  Winter  was  already  very  far  ad- 
vanced, gave  no  very  good  Profpecl  of  Succefs  to 
the  Expedition  ;  but  that  which  gave  a  much 
voorfe,  was  a  moft  horrid  MiJ manage  me  ntr  which 
had,  the  mean  while,  happened  in  the  Weft. 
For  a  Thoufand  Pngltfh  from  New-Tor/;,  and 
Albany,  and  Conncclicut,  with  Fifteen  Hundred 
Indians,  were  to  have  gone  over-land  in  the 
Weft,  and  fallen  upon  Mount-Royal,  while  the 
Fleet  was  to  Vifit  §>uebeck  in  the  Eaft  \  and  no 
Expedition  could  have  been  better  laid  than  I  his. 
Which  was  thus  contrived.  But  thole  hng'lijh 
Companies  in  the  Weft,  marching  as  far  as  the 
great  Lake  that  was  to  be  pafled,  found  their 
Canoosnot  provided,  according  to  Expectation  ; 
and  the  Indians  alfo  were  {how  ?  God  knows, 
and  will  one  Day  Judge!  Diffuaded  from  Join- 
ing with  the  EngHfh;  and  the  Army  met  with 
fuch  Difcouragements,  that  they  returned. 

Had  this  Wefttrn  Army  done  but  lb  much  as 
continued  at  the  Lake,  the  Diverlion  thereby 
given  to  the  French  Quartered  at  Mou/wRoyal, 
would  have  rendered  the  Conqueft  of  Qliebeck 
eaBe  and  certain;  but  the  Governour  ofc  Canada 
being  Informed  of  the  Retreat  made 'by  the 
Wejlern-hxmy,  had  opportunity,  by  the  crofs 
Winds  that  kept  back  the  Fleet,  unhappily  to 
get  the  whole  Strength  of  all  the  Country  into 
the  City,  before  the  Fleet  could  come  up  unto 
it.  However,  none  of  thefe  Difficulties  hin- 
dred  Sir  William  Phips  from  fending' on  Shoar 
the  following  Summons,  on  Monday  the  Sixth 
of  OSober. 


Sir  William  Phips,  Knight,  General  and  Conh- 
mander  in  Chief,  in  and  over  Their'  Maie- 
fties  Forces  of  Neva-England,  by  Sea  and 
Land ; 

To  Count  Prontenac,  Lieutenant-Geneial  and 
Governour  for  the  Prencb  King  at  Canada-, 
or  in  his  Abfence,  to  his  Deputy,  or  Him, 
or  Them,  in  Chief  Command  at  ghtc- 
beck. 

TH  E  War  between  the  Two  Crowns  of  Eng 
land  and  France,  doth  not  only  fufjiacntly 
Warrant,  but  the  DdJruffion  made  by  the  French 
and  Indians,  under  your  Command  and  Encou- 
ragement, upon  the  P  erf  on  s  and  Elates  oj  Their 
Majeftics  Subjells  oj  New-England,  without 
Provocation  on  their  part,  hath. put  them  under 
the  Neeeffity  of  this  Expedition,  jor  their  own 
Security  and  Satisjatlion.  And  although  the 
Cruelties  and  Barbarities  ufed  againft  them, 
by  the  French  and  Indians,  might,  upon  the  pn- 
fent  Opportunity,  prompt  unto  a  fever  e  Revenge, 
yet  bang  defirous  to  avoid  all  Inhumane  and  V/i- 
cbriftian-like  Alliens,  and  to  prevent  f>edding  oj 
Blood  as  much  as  may  le  , 


Ltbe  aforrjaid  Sin  Wlllmn  Phi ps.    Knight, 
do  hereby,  in  the  Name,   and  in  the  Behalf  aj% 
Their  Moft  Excellent  Majcjiies,    Wiiliam  ami 
Mary,  King  and  .Queen  oj  England,  Scotland. 
France  and  Itcland,    Lhyenders.  of  the   Fkitb  , 
.and  by  Order  oj 'Thar  u<d  Ma'cjh'es   Govern- 
ment -oj\.  the  MuHichLia-el'/.'/T    in  New  Fin- 
land, Demand  aprejent  Surrender  of  your  torts 
and'  Caffies,  undemolijhed,  and  the  King's,  and 
other- Shores,  unimbezzelled,    -with   a  feafoftabli 
Delivery  of.  alt  Captives  ;  together  with  a  Sur- 
render oj  all  your  Perjons  andt/tites  to  my  Dtft 
pofa:  T'pon  the  doing  whereoj  you  may  expeel 
Mercy  jrom  me,  as   a   Chrilfian,  according  to 
what  (l)iill  be  found  for  Their  Majefties  Service, 
and  the  Subjects  Security.     Which  if  you  Rejufe 
forthwith,  to  do,  1  am  come  Provided,     and  am 
Refolded,  by  the  help  oj  God,  inichum  Itruji,  by 
Porce  of  Arms,  to  Revenge  all  Wrongs  and  Inju- 
ries offered,  and  bring  you  under  Subjellion  to 
the  Crown  ^/England  \  and  when  too  late,  make  I 
you  wif)  you  had  accepted  of  the  tavour  ten- 
dered. 

Tour  Anfwer  Pofitive  in  an  Hour,  returned 
by  your  own  Trumpet,    with  the  Return  si 
.mine,    is   Required,    upon   the   Peril  that 
will  enjue. 

The  Summons  being  Delivered  unto  Count 
Prontenac,  his  Anlwer  was  5 

- 

.  That  Sir  William  Phips,  and  thofe  with  him, 
were  Hereticks  and  Traitors  to  their  King,  and; 
haji  taken  up  with  that  Ulurper,  the  Prince  ofi 
Orange,  and  had  made  a  Revolution,,  which  if  it 
had  not  been  made,  New-England  and  the  French' 
had  been  all  One;  andthat  no  other  Anfwer  za.rf 
to  be  expe&ed  jrom  him,  but  what  fhould be  ft  om 
the  Mouth  of  his  Cannon. 

' 
General  Phips  now  faw  that  it  rnuft  eoft 
him  Try  Blows,  and  that  he  muft  Roar  his 
Perfwalions  out  of  the  Mouths  of  Great  Guns, 
to  make  himfelf  Mailer  of  a  City  which  had. 
certainly  Surrendefd  it  fell' unto  him,  if  he  had 
arrived  but  a  little  fooner,  and  Summon'd  it 
before  the  coming  down  of  Count  Prontenac 
with  all  his  Forces,  to  Command  the  oppreficd 
People  there,  who  would  have  been,  many  of 
them,  glader  of  coming  under  the  Engiifl)  Go- 
vernment. Wherefore  on  the  Seventh  01OQ0- 
ber,  the  Englift],  that  were  for  the  Land-Ser- 
vice, went  on  Board  their  leiler  VeiTels,  in  or- 
der to  Land  ;  among  which  there  was  a  Bark, 
wherein  was  Captain  Epbraim  Savage,  with- 
fixty  Men,  that  ran  a-grour.d  upon  the  North- 
Shoar,  near  two  Miles  from  Rebeck,  and  could 
not  get  off,  but  lay  in  the  lame  Ditireis  that 
Scava  did,  when  the  Britains  poured  in  their 
Numbers  upon  the  Bark,  wherein  he,  with  a- 
few  more  Soldiers  of  Cx jar's  Army,  were,  by 
the  difad vantage  of  the  Tide,  left  Adieu  r : 
The  French,  with  Indians,  that  faw  them  lye 
there,  came  near,  arid  Fired  thick  upon  them, 
and  were  bravely  Anlwered  ;  and  when  two  or 

G  g  thret 


_i_ 


5° 


Magnalia  Chrifii  Americana  : 


Book  II. 


Three  Hundred  of  the  Enemy,  at  laft  planted  a 
Fi -Id-Piece  againlt  the  Bar/:,  while  the  Wind 
blew  lo  hard,  that  no  help  could  he  fent   unto 
his  Men,  the  General  advanced  (6  far,  as  to  Le 
vel   Two  or  Three  great  Guns,    conveniently 
enough  to  make  the  AiTailants  Fly;    and  when 
the  Flood  came,    the  Bark   happily  got  oft", 
without  the  hurt  or  one  Man  aboard.     But  fo 
violent  was  the  Storm  of  Wind  all  this   Day, 
that  it  was  not  pollibie  foe  them  to    Land  until 
the  Eighth  of  October ;  when  the  Englifh  count- 
ing every  Hour  to  be  a  Week  until  they  were 
come  to  Battel,  vigoroully   got  Alhoar,  defign- 
ing   to  enter  the  Eaft-end  of  the  City.      The 
Smull-?ox  had  got  into  the  Fleet,  by  which  D't- 
ftemper  prevailing,     the'  number  of   Effective 
Men  which  now  went  Alhoar,  under  the  Com- 
mand of  Lieutenant  General   Walky,    did  not 
amount  unto  more  than  Fourteen  Hundred  -,  but 
Four  Companies  of  thefe  were  drawn  out  as 
b'orlorns,  whom,  on  every  fide,  the  Enemy  fired 
at ;  neverthelefs,    the   Englifh  Rulhing  w  ith  a 
lhout,  at  once  upon  them  caufed  them  to  Run 
as  faft  as  Legs  could  carry  them :  So  that  the 
whole  Fnghlh  Army,  expreiiing  as  much  Refo- 
lution  as  was  in  Cejar's  Army,  when  they  firft 
landed  on  Britain,    in  fpight  of  all  oppofition 
from  the  Inhabitants,  marched  on  until  it  was 
dark,  having  firft  killed  many  of  the  French, 
with  the  lots  of  but  Four  Men  of  their  own  ; 
and   frighted   about  Seven  or  Eight  Hundred 
more  of  the  French  from  an  Ambufcado,  where 
they  lay  ready  to  fall  upon  them.     But  fome 
thought,  that  by  flaying  in  the  Valley,  they  took 
the  way  never  to  get  over  the  Hill :  And  yet 
for  them  to  ftay  where  they  were,  till  the  fmaller 
Vefiels  came  up  the  River  before  them,   fo  far 
as  by  their  Guns  to  fecure  the  Paflage  of  the 
Army  in   their  getting  over,    was  what  the 
Council  of  War  had  ordered.     But  the  Vio- 
lence of  the  Weather,  with  the  General's  being 
fooner   plunged  into  the  heat  of  Action  than 
was  intended,  hindred  the  fmaller  Veffels  from 
attending  that  Order.       And  this  Evening    a 
French  Deferter  coming  to  them,  allured  them, 
that  Nine  Hundred  Men  were  on  their  March 
from  S&ebeck  to  meet  them,   already  paffed  a 
little  Rivulet  that  lay  at  the  end  of  the  City,  but 
feeing  them  Land  ib  fuddenly,  and  fo  valiantly 
run  down  thole  that  firft  Encounted  them,  they 
had    Retreated :     Neverthelefs,     That    Count 
Frontenac  was  come  down  to  2>uebeck  with  no 
fewer  than  Thirty  Hundred  Men  to  defend  the 
City,  hiving  left  but  Fifty  Souldiers  to  defend 
Mount  Real,  becaufe  they  had  underftood,  that 
the  EnglifJ)  Army  on  that  fide,  were  gone  back 
to  Albany.      Notwithftanding  this  dif-fpiriting 
Information,    the  common  Souldiers  did  with 
much  vehemency  Beg  and  Pray,  that  they  might 
be  led  on ;  profefling,  that  they  had  rather  lofe 
their  Lives  on  the  Spot,  than  fail  of  taking  the 
City ;  but  the  more  wary  Commanders  eonfi- 
dered  how  ralh  a  thing  it  would  be,  for  about 
Fourteen  Hundred  Raw  Men,  tired  with  a  long 
Voyage,   to  aflault  more  than  Twice  as  many 
Expert  Souldiers,  who  were  Gatli  in  fuo  fter- 


quilinio ,or  Cocks  Crowing  on  their  ovtn  Dunghil. 
They  were,  in  truth,  now  poctcri  into  the  grie- 
vous Caie  which  Livy  defcribes  whui  he  fays,  Ibi 
grave  eft  Bellum  gerere,  ubt  nun  vonjijiendi  aut 
procedendt  incus  ;  quoLitnque  aj'pexcns  Heft  ilia 
funt  omnia  ;  look  on  one  fide  or  t'oihcr,  all 
was  full  of  Hoflile  Difficulties.  Arid  indeed, 
whatever  Popular  Clamour  has  been  nude  a- 
gainft  any  of  the  Commanders,  it  is  apparent 
that  they  acled  confiderately,  in  making  a  Paufg 
upon  what  was  before  them  •,  and  they  did  a 
greater  kindnefs  to  their  Souldiers  than  they 
have  fince  been  thanked  for.  But  in  this  time, 
General  Phips  and  his  Men  of  War,  with  their 
Canvai  Wings,  flew  dofe  up  unto  the  Weft- 
end  of  the  City,  and  there  he  behaved  himfelf 
with  the  greateft  Bravery  imaginable ;  nor  did 
the  other  Men  of  War  forbear'  to  follow  his 
brave  Example  :  Who  never  dilcovered  himlelf 
more  in  his  Element,  than  when  (as  the  Poet 
exprelTeth  it,)' 

The  Slaughter  Breathing  Brafs  grew  hot,  and 

fioke 
In   Flames  of  Lightning,  and  in  Clouds  of 
Smoke  : 

He  ljy  within  Piftol-fJxt  of  the  Enemies  Can- 
non, and  beat  them  from  thence,  and  very  much 
batter'd  the  Town,  having  his  own  Ship  ihot 
through  in  almoft  an  Hundred  Places  with 
Four  and  Twenty  Pounders,  and  yet  but  one 
Man  was  killed,  and  only  Two  Mortally 
Wounded  Aboard  him,  in  this  hot  Engage- 
ment, which  continued  the  greateft  patt  of  that 
Night,  and  ieveral  Hours  of  the  Day  enfuing. 
But  wondring  that  he  fiw  no  Signal  of  any 
Effective  Action  Alhoar  at  the  Eaft-end  of  the 
City,  he  fent  that  he  might  know  the  Condi- 
tion of  the  Army  there;  and  received  Anfwer, 
That  feveral  of  the  Men  were  fo  frozen  in  their 
Hands  and  Feet,  as  to  be  difabled  from  Service, 
and  others  were  apace  falling  lick  ot  the  Small- 
Pox.  Whereupon  he  order  d  them  on  Board 
immediately  to  refreth  themfelves,  and  he  in- 
tended then  to  have  renew'd  his  Attack  upon 
the  City,  in  the  Method  ot  Landing  his  Men 
in  the  Face  of  it,  under  the  ihelter  of  his  great 
Guns;  having  to  that  purpofe  provided  alfo 
a  confiderable  number  of  well-fhaped  Wheel- 
Barrows,  each  of  them  carrying  Two  Petarra- 
ro's  apiece,  to  March  before  the  Men,  and  make 
the  Enemy  Fly,  with  as  much  Contempt  as 
overwhelmed  the  Philiftinq,  when  undone  by 
Foxes  with  Torches  in  thei?Tai!s ;  (remembred 
in  an  Anniverfary  Diverfion  every  April  among 
the  Ancient  Romans,  taught' by  the  Phcnicians.) 

While  the  Meafures  to  be  further  taken  were 
debating,  there  was  made  an  Exchange  of  Pri- 
foners,  the  Englifl)  having  taken  feveral  of  the 
French  in  divers  Aftions,  and  the  French  ha- 
ving in  their  Hands  divers  of  the  Englifh,  whom 
the  Indians  had  brought  Captives  unto  them. 
The  Army  now  on  Board  continued  ftill  Retb- 
lute  and  Courageous,  and  on  fire  for  the  Conqueft 
of  Rebeck  ;  or  if  they  had  miffed  of  doing  it  by 

Storm, 


.    ___  '  .,__  ■  •     •  ■••'-I 

Book  II.  Or,  The  Hiftory  <?f  New-England,  fi 


Storm,  they  knew  that  they  might,  by  pofTef- 
fing  themfelves  of  the  Ifle  of  Orleans,  in  a 
little  while  have  ftarved  them  out.  Incredible 
Damage  they  might  indeed  have  done  to  the 
Enemy  before  they  Embarked,  but  they  were 
willing  to  preferve  the  more  undefenfible  Parts 
of  the  Country  in  fuch  a  Condition,  as  might 
more  fenfibly  Encourage  the  Submiflion  of  the 
inhabitants  unto  the  Crown  of  England,  whole 
Protection  was  defired  by  lb  many  of  them. 
And  1UU  they  were  loth  to  play  for  any  lelTer 
Game  than  the  immediate  Surrender  of  £>iiebeck 
it  ielf.  But  e're  a  full  Council  of  War  could 
conclude  the  next  Steps  to  be  taken,  a  violent 
Storm  arofe  that  feparated  the  Fleet,  and  the 
Snow  and  the  Cold  became  fo  extream,  that 
they  could  not  continue  in  thofe  Quarters  any 
longer. 

Thus,  by  an  evident  Hand  of  Heaven,  fend- 
ing one  unavoidable  Difafter  after  another,  as 
well-lbrmed  an  Enterprize,  as  perhaps  was  e- 
ver  made  by  the  New-Englanders,  moll:  un- 
happily mifcarried  ;  and  General  Pkips  under 
went  a  very  mortifying  Difappointment  of  a 
Dciign,  which  his  Mind  was,  as  much  as  ever 
any,  let  upon.  He  arrived  Nov.  19.  at  Bo/ion, 
where,  although  he  found  himfelf,  as  well  as 
the  Publick,  thrown  into  very  uneafie  Cir- 
cumftances,  yet  he  had  this  to  Comfort  him, 
that  neither  his  Courage  nor  his  Conduct 
could  reafenably  have  been  Taxed  ;  nor  could 


'  his,  threw  him  over  the  Bridge  into  the  YVa- 
'  ter,  where  he  was  drowned.  And  the  Fourth, 
'  being  in  like  manner  molt  courreouih 
'Treated  at  the  Houfe  of  a  very  Godly  Man, 
\  the  Angel  before  Morning  did  unaccountably 
'  kill  his  only  Child.  The  Companion  of  the 
'  Journey  being  wonderfully  offended  at  rheie 
c  things,  would  have  left  his  Guardian  :  But 
'  the  Angel  then  thus  Addreflcd  him,  Under- 
'  jland  now  the  fecret  Judgments  of  God !  Jhe 
[  firji  Man  that  entertained  us,  dtd  mordinate- 
f  ly  afjitl  that  Cup  vob/cb  1  took  from  him  ; 
'  twos  for.  the  Advantage  of  his  Interiour 
'  that  I  took  it  away,  and  I  gave  it  unto  the 
'  impious  Man,  as  the  prefent  Reward  of  his 
c  good  Works,  which  is  all  the  Reward  that  be 
'  is  like  to  have.  As  for  our  Third  Hojl,  the 
1  Servant  which  I  few  had  formed  a  bloody 
•  Defign  to  have  fain  his  Mafic?;  but  nozv, 
'  you  fee,  I  have  faved  the  Life  of  the  Majier. 
'  and  prevented  jome  thing  oj  growth  unto  the 
'  Eternal  Punifhment  oj  the  Murderer.  As  for 
i  our  Fourth  Hoft,  before  his  Child  w.ti  Born 
'  unto  him,  he  was  a  very  liberal  and  bounti- 
c  ful  P  erf  on,  and  he  did  abundance  of  good  with 
'  his  Ejlate ;  but  when  he  faw  he  wo*  like  to 
'  leave  fuch  an  Heir,  he  grew  Covetous;  where- 
c  fore  the  Soul  of  the  Infant  is  Tranflated  into 
'  Paradife,  but  the  occafion  of  Sin  is,  you  fee •, 
'  mercifully  taken  away  from  the  Parent. 

Thus  General  Phips,  though  he  had  been 


it  be  faid  that  any  Man  could  have  done  more  'ufed  unto  Diving  in  his  time,  would  lay,  That 
than  he  did,  under  fo  many  Embaraffments  of  the  things  which  had  befallen  him  in  this  Ex- 
his  Bufinefs,  as  he  was  to  Fight  withal.  He  pedition,  were  too  deep  to  be  Dived  into  ! 
a'fo  relieved  the  uneafinefs  of  his  Mind,  by  §.12.  From  the  time  that  General  Pen  made 
coniidering,  that  his  Voyage  to  Canada,  diverted  his  Attempt  upon  Hifpaniola,  with  an  Army 
from  his  Country  an  Horrible  Tempeji  from  an  that,  like  the  New-Englifb  Forces  againft  Ca- 
Army    of  Bofs-Lopers,     which   had   prepar'd  nada,  mitcarried  after  an  Expectation  of  having 


themfelves,  as  'tis  affirmed,  that  Winter,  to  fall 
upon  the  New-Englifh  Colonies,  and  by  falling 
on  them,  would  probably  have  laid  no  little 
part  of  the  Country  delblate.  And  he  further 
coniidered,  that  in  this  Matter,  like  l/rael 
engaging  againft  Benjamin,  it  may  be,  we 
faw  yet  but  the  beginning  of  the  matter : 
And  that  the  way  to  Canada  now  being  learnt, 
the  Foundation  of  a  Victory  over  it  might  be 
laid  in  what  had  been  already  done.  Unto 
this  purpofe  likewife,  he  was  heard  fometimes 
applying  the  Remarkable  Story  reported  by 
Bradwardine. 

'  There  was  an  Hermit,  who  being  vexed 
s  with  Blafphemous  Injections  about  the  Juftice 
'  and  Wifdom  of  JJtoine  Providence,  an  Angel 
1  in  Humane  Shape  invited  him  to  Travel 
'with  him,  That  he  might  fee  the  hidden 
'"  Judgments  of  God.  Lodging  all  Night  at 
'  the  Houfe  of  a  Man  who  kindly  entehain'd 
1  them,  the  Angel  took  away  a  valuable  Cup 
'  from  their  Hoft,  at  their  going  away  in  the 
'  Morning,  and  bellowed  this  Cup  upon  a  very 
'  wicked  Man,  with  whom  they  lodged  the 
'Night  enfuing.  The  Third  Night  they  were 
'  molt  lovingly  Treated  at  the  Houfe  of  a  very 
'  Godly  Man,  from  whom,  when  they  went  in 


little  to  do  but  to  Pqfjcfs  and  Plunder  ;  even 
to  this  Day,  the  general  Dilafter  which  hath 
attended  almoft  every  Attempt  of  the  Euro- 
pean Colonies  in  America,  to  make  any  confi- 
derable  Encroachments  upon  their  Neighbours, 
is  a-  Matter  of  fome  clofe  Reflection.  But  of 
the  Difafter  which  now  befel  poor  New-Eng- 
land in  particular,  every  one  will  eafily  con- 
clude none  of  the  leaft  Confequences  to  have 
been  the  Extream  Debts  which  that  Country 
was  now  plunged  into  •,  there  being  Forty  jhou~ 
fand  Pounds,  more  or  lefs,  now  to  be  paid, 
and  not  a  Penny  in  the  Treafury  to  pay  it 
withal.  In  this  Extremity  they  prelently  found 
out  an  Expedient,  which  may  lerve  as  an  Ex- 
ample for  any  People  in  other  Parts  of  the 
World,  whofe  DittreiTes  may  call  for  a  fud- 
den  fupply  of  Money  to  carry  them  through 
any  Important  Expedition.  The  General  Af 
fembly  lirft  pafs'd  an  Ail  for  the  Levying  of 
fuch  a  Sum  of  Money  as  was  wanted,  within 
fuch  a  Term  of  time  as  was  judged  conveni- 
ent ;  and  this  AS  was  a  Fund,  on  which  the 
Credit  of  fuch  a  Sum  (hould  be  rendered  paf 
fable  among  the  People.  Hereupon  there  was 
appointed  an  able  and  faithful  Committee  of 
Gentlemen,  who  Printed,  from  Copper-Plates,  i. 


'the  Morning,  the  Angel  meeting  a  Servant  of  ljuft  Number  oi  Bills,  and  Florilhed,  Indented, 

G  g  i  and 


5 


Magna  It :a  Chrijii  Americana : 


Book  II. 


and  Contrived  them  in  fuch  a  manner,    as  to 
make  it  impoiiible  to  Counterfeit  any  of  them, 
without  a  fpeedy  Difcovery  of  the  Counterfeit  : 
Belides  which,    they   were  all  Signed  by    the 
Hands  of  T.hree  belonging  to  that  Committee. 
Thefe  Bills  being  or  leveral  Sams,     from  Tzvo 
Shillings,  to  "Tea  Pox/ids,  did  confers  the  Maf- 
fachufet -Colony  to  be  Endebted  unto  the  Perfon, 
in  whofe  Hands  they  were,   the  Sums  therein 
expreffed ;   and   Provifion  was  made,    that    if 
any  Particular  Bills  were  Irrecoverable  Loft,  or 
Torn,  or  Worn  by  the  Owners,   they  might  be 
Recruited  without  any  Damage  to  the  whole  in 
general.     The    Publick    Debts    to    the  Sai/ort 
and  Soldiers,   now  upon  the  point  of  Mutiny, 
(for,    Anna    Tcnenti,     Omnia  dat,   qui   Juftu 
negat  ! )    were  in  thefe  Bills   paid  immediate- 
ly :    But   that  further  Credit   might  be  given 
thereunto,  it  was  Ordered  that  they  ihould   be 
accepted   by  the    Treaiurer,    and   all    Officers 
that  were  Subordinate  unto  him,  in  all  Publick 
Payments,  at  Five  per  Cent,  more  than  the  Va- 
lue expreffed  in  them.     The  People  knowing 
that  the  lax- Aft  would,    in  the  fpace  of  Two 
Years  at  leaft,  fetch  into  the  Treafury  as  much 
as   all   the    Bills  of   Credit,    thence  emitted, 
would  amount  unto,  were  willing  to  befurnilhed 
with  Bills,    wherein  'twas  their  Advantage  to 
pay   their   'taxes,    rather    than  in   any   other 
Specie-,  and  fo  the  Sailors  and  Soldiers   put  off 
their   Bills,    inltead   of  Money,  to  thofe  with 
whom  they   had  any  Dealings,   and  they  Cir- 
culated through  all  the  Hands  in  the  Colony  pretty 
Comfortably.     Had   the  Government   been    fo 
fettled,  that  there  had  not  been  any  doubt  of 
any    Obltruction,  or  Diverfion  to  be  given  to 
the  Profecution   of  the  lax-Ail,   by   a  total 
Change   of  their    Affairs    then    depending    at 
Whitehall,    'tis  very  certain,  that  the  Bills  of 
Credit  had   been   better   than    fo  much  ready 
Silver  ;  yea,  the  Invention  had  been  of  more 
ufe  to  the  Nev-Evglanders,    than  if  all  their 
Copper  Mines  had  been  opened,  or  the  Moun- 
tains of  Peru    had  been   removed   into  thefe 
Parts    of  America.     The   Majfachufet  Bills  of 
Credit  had  been  like  the  Bank  Bills  of  Venice, 
where  though  there  were  nor,  perhaps,  a  Ducat 
of  Money  in  the  Bank,  yet  the  Bills  were  e- 
fteemed  tmre  than    Twenty   per  Cent,  better 
than  Money,  among  the  Body  of  the  People, 
in  all  their  Dealings.     But  many  People  being 
afraid,  that  the  Government  would  in   half  a 
Year  be  fo  overturned,    as  to  Convert  their  Bills 
of  Credit  altogether  into  Waft  Paper,  the  Cre- 
dit of  them  was  thereby  very  much  impaired  ; 
and  they,  who  firft  received  them,  could  make 
them  yield  little  more   than  fourteen  or  Six- 
teen Shillings    in  the  Pound  ;    from   whence 
there  arofe  thofe  Idle  Sufpicions  in  the  Heads 
of  many  more  Ignorant  and  Unthinking  Folks 
concerning  the  ufe  thereof  which,  to  the  In- 
credible  Detriment   of  the  Province,    are  not 
wholly    laid    afide  unto  this  Day.     However, 
this  Method  of  paying  the  Publick  Debts,  did 
no  lefs  than  fave  the  Publick  from  a  perfett 
Rain:  And  ere  nuny  Months  were  expired, 


the  Governour  and  Council  had  the  Pleafure  of 
feeing  the  Treafurcr  burn  before  their  Eyes 
many  a  Thoufand  Pounds  Worth  of  the  Bills 
which  had  paifed  about  until  they  were  again 
returned  unto  the  Treafury  ;  but  before  their 
being  returned,  had  happily  and  honeilly 
without  a  Farthing  of  Silver  Coin,  difcharged' 
the  Debts,  for  which  they  were  intended.  But 
that  which  helped  thefe  Bills  unto  much  of 
their  Credit,  was  the  Generous  Offer  of  many 
Worthy  Men  in  Bofion,  to  run  the  Rifque  of 
felling  their  Goods  reasonably  for  them  :  And 
of  thefe,  I  think  I  may  lay,  that  General 
Phips  was  in  fome  fort  the  Leader  5  who  at 
the  very  beginning,  meerly  to  Recommend 
the  Credit  of  the  Bills  unto  other  Pcrfons, 
chearfully  laid  down  a  confiderable  quantity  of 
ready  Money  for  an  equivalent  parcel  of  them. 
And  thus  in  a  little  time  the  Country  waded 
through  the  Terrible  Debts  which  it  was  fal- 
len into  :  In  this,  though  unhappy  enough,  yet 
not  fo  unhappy  as  in  the  Lojs  of  Men,  by 
which  the  Country  was  at  the  fame  time  con- 
fumed.  Tis  true,  there  was  very  little  Blood 
fpilt  in  the  Attack  made  upon  Rebeck  ;  and 
there  was  a  Great  Hand  of  Heaven  leen  in  it. 
The  Churches,  upon  the  Call  of  the  Govern- 
ment, not  only  obferved  a  General  taji  through 
the  Colony,  for  the  Welfare  of  the  Army 
lent  unto  ^uebeck,  but  alfo  kept  the  Wheel  of 
Prayer  in  a  Continual  Motion,  by  Repeated 
and  Succeffive  Agreements,  for  Days  of  Prayer 
with  Pajiing,  in  their  feveral  Vicinities.  On 
thefe  Days  the  Ferventeft  Prayers  were  fent  up 
to  thz  God  of  Armies,  for  the  Safety  and  Suc- 
cefs  of  the  New-Engli.fh  Army  gone  to  Canada ; 
and  though  I  never  underftood  that  any  of  the 
Faithful  did  in  their  Prayers  arife  to  any  affu- 
rance  that  the  Expedition  lfiould  prof  per  in 
all  refpeffs,  yet  they  fometimes  in  their  Devo- 
tions on  thefe  Occasions,  uttered  their  Perfwa- 
fion,  that  Almighty  God  had  heard  them  in  this 
thing,  that  the  Englifh  Army  fhould  not  fall  by 
the  Hands  of  the  French  Enemy.  Now  they 
were  marvelloufly  delivered  from  doing  Jo  -, 
though  the  Enemy  had  fuch  unexpected  Advan- 
tages over  them,  yea,  and  though  the  horrid 
Winter  was  come  on  fo  far,  that  it  is  a  Won- 
der the  Englijh  Fleet,  then  Riding  in  the  River 
of  Canada,  fared  any  better  than  the  Army 
which  a  while  fince  befieged  Poland,  wherein, 
of  Seventy  Thoufand  Invaders,  no  left  than 
Pony  Thoufand  fuddenly  perifhed  by  the  feveri- 
ty  of  the  Cold,  albeit  it  %re  but'  the  Month 
of  November  with  them.  Neverthelef;,  a  kind 
of  Camp-Fever,  as  well  as  the  Small-Pox,  got 
into  the  Fleet,  whereby  fome  Hundreds  came 
thort  of  Home.  And  befides  this  Calamity, 
it  was  alfo  to  be  lamented,  that  although  the 
molt,  of  the  Fleet  arrived  fafe  at  New-England, 
whereof  fome  Veffels  indeed  were  driven  off 
by  Crofs-Winds  as  far  as  the  Weft-Indies,  be- 
fore fuch  Arrival ;  yet  there  were  Three  or 
Four  Veffels  which  totally  mifcarried  :  One  was 
never  heard  of,  a  Second  was  Wreck'd,  but 
moft  of  the   Msn  were  faved  by  another  in 

Com- 


Book  II.  Or,  The  Hiftory  o/"New».Engtand. 


53 


Company  5  a  //.7/7/was  Wreck'd  16,  that  all  the 
Men  were  either  itarv'd,  or  drown'd,  orflain  by 
the  Indians,  except  one,  which  a  long  while 
after  was  by  means  of  the  French  rcftored : 
And  &  fourth  met  with  Accidents,  which,  it 
may  be,  my  Reader  will  by  and  by  pronounce 
not  unworthy  to  have  been  Related. 

A  Brigantine,  whereof  Captain  John  Rains- 
ford  was  Commander,  having  about  Threeicore 
Men  aboard,    was   in  a  very  ftormy   Night, 
03ob.  28.  1690.  ftranded  upon  the  defolate  and 
hideous  Ifland  of  Antecofia,    an  Ifland  in  the 
mouth  of  the  Mighty  River  of  Canada;    but 
through  the  lingular  Mercy  of  God  unto  them, 
the  Veffel  did  not,  immediately,  ftave  to  pieces, 
which  if  it  had  happened,  they  mult  have,  one 
way  or  another,  quickly  perifhed.  There  they  lay 
for   divers    Days,    under   abundance    of  bitter 
Weather,  trying  and  hoping   to   get  oft  their 
Veffel;   and  they  fblemnly  let  apart  one  Day 
for  Prayer  with  Fajiing,    to  obtain  the  Smiles 
of  Heaven  upon  them    in  the  midft  of  their 
Diftreffes ;   and   this  efpecially,    That  if  they 
mult  go  Alhoar,  they  might  not,  by  any  ftrefsof 
Srorm,  lole  the  Provifions  which  they  were  to 
carry  with  them.     They  were   at   laft  convin- 
ced, that  they  mult  continue  no  longer  on  Board, 
and  therefore,    by   the  Seventh  of  November, 
they  applied  themfelves,  all  Hands,  to  get  their 
Provifions  Alhoar    upon  the    difmal    Ifland 
where  they  had  nothing  but  a  lad  and  cold  Win 
ter  before  them  ;    which  being  accomplifhed, 
their  Veffel  cverfet  fo,  as  to  take  away   from 
them  all  expectation  of  getting  off  the  Ifland  in 
it.     Here  they  now  built  themfelves  Nine  fmall 
Chimney-lefs   things  that  they  called  Houfes  \ 
to  this   putpole  employing   fuch  Boards   and 
Planks  as  they  could  get  from  their  fhattered 
Veffel,  with  the  help  of  Trees,  whereof  that 
fqualid  Wildernefs  had  enough  to  ferve  them  ■. 
and  they  built  a  particular  Store-Houfe,  where- 
in they  carefully   Lodg'd  and  Lock'd  the  poor 
quantity   of  Provifions,   which  though   fcarce 
enough  to  ferve  a  very  abftemious  Company  for 
one  Month,  mutt  now  be  lb  ftinted,  as  to  hold 
out  Six  or  Seven  •  and  the  Allowance  agreed 
amonb  them  could  be  no  better  than  for  One 
Man,  Two  Biskets,  half  a  pound  of  Pork,  half 
a  pound  of  Flower,  one  Pint  and  a  quarter  of 
Peafe,   and  two  Salt  Fiftes  per  Week.      This 
little  Handful  of  Men  were  now  a  fort  of  Com- 
monwealth,  extraordinarily    and  miferably  fe- 
parated  from  all  the  reft  of  Mankind  ;  (but  I 
believe,  they  thougnt  little  enough  of  an  Uto- 
pia: Wherefore  they  confulted  and  concluded 
fuch  Lazes  among  themfelves,    as  they  judged 
neceffary  to  their  firbiiftence,  in  the  doleful  Con- 
dition  whereinto    the  Providence  of  God  had 
call  them :  now 


Pen  it  us  toto  divifos  Or  be. 

They  fet  up  Good  Orders,  as  well  as  they 
could,  among  themfelves  ;  and  befides  their  daily 
Devotions,  they  Obferved  the  Lord's  Days,  with 
more  folemn  Exercifes  of  Religion. 


But  it  was  not  long  before  they  began  to  feel 
the  more  mortal  effects  of  the  Sinsits  where 
into  they  had  been  Reduced  :  Their  Jhrrt  Gpnj 
mons,  their  Drink  of  Snow-Water,  their  Hard, 
and  Wet,  and  Smoaky  Lodgings,  and  their 
Grievous  Defpair  oj  Mind,  overwhelmed  fome 
of  them  at  luch  a  rate,  and  fo  ham- firing  d 
them,  that  fooner  than  be  at  the  pains  to  go 
abroad,  and  cut  their  one  Fuel,  they  would  lye 
after  a  Sottilh  manner  in  the  Cold  ;  thefe  things 
quickly  brought  Sickneffes  among  them.  The 
full  of  their  Number  who  Died  was  their  Do- 
lt or,  on  the  20th  of  December  •  and  then  they 
dropt  away,  one  after  another,  till  between 
Lhirty  and  Forty  of  the  Sixty  were  buried  by 
thtiir  difconfolate  Friends,  whereof  every  one 
look'd  ftill  to  be  the  next  that  ihould  lay  his 
Bones  in  that  Forfaken  Region.  Thefe  poor 
Men  did  therefore,  on  Monday  the  Twenty  Se- 
venth of  January,  keep  a  Sacred  Fafi  (as  they 
did,  in  fome  fort,  a  Civil  one,  every  Day,  all 
this  while)  to  befeech  of  Almighty  God,  that 
his  Anger  might  be  turned  irom  them,  that  he 
would  not  go  on  to  cut  them  off  in  his  Anger, 
that  the  Extremity  of  the  Seafon  might  be  mi- 
tigated, and  that  they  might  be  profpered  in 
fome  Effay  to  get  Relief  as  the  Spring  Ihould 
Advance  upon  them ;  and  they  took  Notice 
that  God  gave  them  a  Gracious  Anfwer  to  every 
one  of  thefe  Petitions. 

But  while  the  hand  of  God  was  killing  fo 
many  of  this  little  Nation  (and  yet  uncapable  to 
become  a  Nation,  lot  it  was,  Res  uw//y,T  talis, 
populus  virorum  I)  they  apprehended,  that  they 
mufc  have  been  under  a  moft  uncomfortable  Ne- 
celiity  to  kill  One  of  their  Company. 

Whatever  Penalties  they  Enacted  for  other 
Crimes,  there  was  One,  for  which,  like  that  of 
Pamcidc  among  the  Antients.  they  would  have 
promifed  themfelves,  that  there  fhould  not  have 
been  Occafion  for  any   Puniflments ;   and  that 
was,  the  Crime  of  Stealing  from  the  Common- 
Stock  of  their  Provifions.      Nevertheless  they 
found  their  Store-Houfe  divers  times     broken 
open,   and  their   Provifions   therefrom    Stolen 
by  divers  unnatural  Children  cf  the  Leviathan, 
while  it  was  not  pollible  for  them  to  preferve 
their  feeble  Store-Houfe  from  the  Stonc-Wall- 
breaking  Madneis  of  thefe  unrea finable  Crea 
tures.  This  Trade  of  Stealing,  if  it  had  not  been 
ftopp'd  by  fome  exemplary  Severity,  they  muft 
in  a  little  while,  by  Lot  or  Force,  have  come  to 
have  Canibally  devoured  one  another ;  for  there 
was  nothing  to  be  done,  either  at  Ftfhing,  or 
Fowling,  or  Hunting,  upon  that  Rueful  Ifland, 
in  the  depth  of  a  Frozen  Winter;  and  though 
they  fent  as  far  as  they  could  upon  jJifcovery, 
they  could  not  find  on  the  Ifland   any  Living 
thing  in  the  World,  befides  themfelves.  Where- 
fore, though  by  an  Ail  they  made  Stealing  to 
be  lb  Criminal,  thatfeveral  did  Run  the  Gant- 
let for  it,,  yet  they  were  not  far  from  being 
driven,  after  all,  to  make  one  Degree  and  In 
fiance   of  it   Capital.      There  was  a  wicked 
Irifhman  among  them,    who  had  fuch  a  Vo/ya- 
om  Devil  in  him,  that  ,after  .divers  Burglaries 

upon 


54  Magnalia  Chrijli  Americana : 


Book  II. 


upon  the  Store-Houfe,    committed  by  him,  at 
la  It  he  Stole,  and  Eat  with  fuch  a  Pamphagoits 
Fury,  as  to  Cram  himfelf  with  no  lefs  than 
Eighteen  Biskets  at  one  Stolen  Meal,and  he  was 
tain  to  have  his  Belly  Itrok'd  and  bath'd  before  the 
Fire,   left  he  lhould  otherwife  have  burft.   This 
Amazing,  and  indeed  Murderous  Villany  of  the 
Irifhman,  brought  them  all  to  their  Wits  Ends, 
how  to  defend  themfelvesfrom  the  Ruin  therein 
threatned   unto  them ;    and  whatever  Methods 
were  propofed,  it  was   feared  that  there  could 
be  no  ftop  given  to  his  Furacioits  Exorbitances 
any  way  but  One  ■  he  could  not  be  paft  Steal- 
ing,  unlefs  he  were  paft  Eating   too.     Some 
think  therefore  they  might  have  Sentenced  the 
Wretch  to  Die,  and  after  they  had  been  at  pains, 
upon  Chriftian  and  Spiritual  Accounts,  to  pre- 
pare him  for  it,  have  Executed  the  Sentence,  by 
Shooting  him  to  Death  :    Concluding  Matters 
come  to  that  pals,  that  if  they  had  not  Shot  him, 
he  mult  have  Starved  them  unavoidably.  Such  an 
A£tion,  if  it  were  done,  will  doubtlefs  meet 
with  no  harder  a  Cenfure,  than  that  of  the  Seven 
Englifomen,  who  being  in  a  Boat  carried  oft"  to 
Sea  from  St.-  Chriflopher%  with  but  one  Days 
Provifion  aboard   for  Seventeen,    Singled  out 
fome  of  their  Number  by  Lot,  and  Slew,  them, 
and  Eat  them  ■,  for  which,  when  they  were  af- 
terwards accufed  of  Murder,  the  Court,  in  con- 
federation of  the  inevitable  Necejfity,  acquitted 
them.    Truly  the  inevitable  Neceffity  of  Star- 
ving, without  fuch  an  A£tion,  fufficiently  grie- 
vous to  them  all,   will  very  much  plead  for 
what  was  done  (whatever  it  were !)  by  thefe 
poor   Antecofiians.     And  Starved  indeed  they 
muft  have  been,  for  all  this,  if  they  had  not 
Contrived  and  Performed  a  very  defperate  Ad- 
venture,   which  now  remains  to   be  Related. 
There  was  a  very  diminutive  kind  of  Boat  be- 
longing to  their  Brigantine,  which  they  reco- 
vered out  of  the  Wreck,  and  cutting  this  Boat 
in  Two,  they  made  a  fhift,  with  certain  odd 
Materials  preferved  among  them,  to  lengthen 
it  lb  far,  that  they  could  therein  form  a  little 
Cuddy,  where  Two  or  Three  Men  might  be 
flowed,  and  they  fet  up  a  little  Maft,  whereto 
they  fattened  a  little  Sail,  and  accommodated  it 
with  fome  other  little  Ctrcumjiances,  according 
to  their  prefent  poor  Capacity. 

On  the  Twenty  Fifth  of  March,  Five  of  the 
Company  Shipped  themfelves  upon  this  Doughty 
Fly-Boat,  intending,  if  it  were  poflible,  to  carry 
unto  Boflon  the  Tidings  of  their  woful  Plight 
upon  Antecofla,  and  by  help  from  their  Friends 
there,  to  return  with  feafonable  Succours  -for 
the  reft.  They  had  not  Sail'd  long  before  they 
were  Hemm'd  in  by  prodigious  Cakes  of  Ice, 
whereby  their  Boat  fometimes  was  horribly 
wounded,  and  it  was  a  Miracle  that  it  was  not 
Crulh'd  into  a  Thou/and  Pieces,  if  indeed  a 
Thou/and  Pieces  could  have  been  Splintred  out 
of  fo  minute  a  Cock-Boat.  They  kept  labour- 
ing, and  fearfully  Weather-beaten,  among  enor- 
mous Rands  of  Ice,  which  would  ever  now  and 
then  rub  formidably  upon  them,  and  were 
enough  to  have  broken  the  Ribs  of  the  ftrongeft 


Frigot  that  ever  cut  the  Seas;  and  yet  the  fig- 
nal  Hand  of  Heaven  lb  preferved  this  petty 
Boat,  that  by  the  Eleventh  of  April  they  had 
got  a  quarter  of  their  way,  and  came  to  an  An- 
chor under  Cape  St.  Lawrence,  having  feen 
Land  but  once  befbie,  and  that  about  feven 
Leagues  oft,  ever  fince  their  firft  fetting  out  -t 
and  yet  having  feen  the  open  and  Ocean  Sea  not 
fo  much  at  once  in  all  this  while,  for  the  Ice 
that  ftill  encompafled  them.  For  their  fupport 
in  this  Time,  the  little  Provifions  they  brought 
with  them  would  not  have  kept  them  alive  -, 
only  they  killed  Seale  upon  the  Ice,  and  they 
melted  the  upper  part  of  the  Ice  for  Drink  ;  but 
fierce,  wild,  ugly  Sea-Horfes,  would  often  fo 
approach  them  upon  the  Ice,  that  the  fear  of 
being  devoured  by  them  was  not  the  leaft  of 
their  Exercifes.  The  Day  following  they 
weighed  Anchor  betimes  in  the  Morning  but 
the  Norwejl  Winds  perlecuted  them,  with  the 
raifed  and  raging  Waves  of  the  Sea,  which  al- 
moft  continually  poured  into  them  ;  and  Mon- 
ftrous  Illands  of  Ice,  that  feemed  almoft  as  big 
as  Antecojla  it  felf,  would  ever  now  and  then 
come  athwart  them.  In  fuch  a  Sea  they  lived 
by  the  fpecial  aililtance  of  God,  until,  by  the 
Thirteenth  of  April,  they  got  into  an  Ifland  of 
Land,  where  they  made  a  Fire,  and  killed  fome 
Fowl,  and  fome  Seale,  and  found  fome  Goofe- 
Fggs,  and  fupplied  themfelves  with  what  Bil- 
lets of  Wood  were  necelfary  and  carriageable 
for  them  •,  and  there  they  flayed  until  the  Seven- 
teenth. Here  their  Boat  lying  near  a  Rock,  a 
great  Sea  hove  it  upon  the  Rock,  lb  that  it 
was  upon  the  very  point  of  overfetting,  which 
if  it  had,  fhe  had  been  utterly  difabled  for  any 
further  Service,  and  they  muft  have  called  that 
Harbour  by  the  Name,  which,  I  think,  one  a 
little  more  Northward  bears,  TfoCape  without 
Hope.  There  they  muft  have  ended  their  wea- 
ry Days!  But  here  the  good  Hand  cfGod  again 
interpofed  for  them;  they  got  her  off";  and 
though  they  loft  their  Compafs  in  this  Hurry, 
they  fufficiently  Repaired  another  defective  one 
that  they  had  aboard.  Sailing  from  thence, 
by  the  Twenty-iourth  of  April,  they  made 
Cape  Brittoon ;  when  a  thick  Fog  threw  them 
into  a  new  Perplexity,  until  they  were  lafely 
gotten  into  the  Bay  of  {(lands,  where  they  a- 
gain  wooded,  and  watred.  and  killed  a  few 
Fowl,  and  catchtd  fome  Filh,  and  began  to 
reckon  themfelves  as  good  as  half  way  home. 
They  reached  Cape  Sables  by  the  Third  of  Mayy 
but  by  the  Fifth  all  their  Provifion  was  again 
fpent,  and  they  were  out  of  fight  of  Land ;  nor 
had  they  any  profpeft  of  catching  any  thing 
that  lives  in  the  Atlantick  :  which  while  they 
were  lamenting  one  unto  another,  a  ftout  Hali- 
but  comes  up  to  the  top  of  the  Water,  by  their 
fide;  whereupon  they  threw  out  the  Fifhing- 
Line,  and  the  Filh  took  the  Hook  ;  but  he  pro- 
ved 16  heavy,  that  it  required  the  help  of  ft- 
veral  Hands  to  hale  him  in,  and  a  thankful 
Supper  they  made  on't.  By  the  Seventh  of 
May  feeing  no  Land,  but  having  once  more 
fpent  all  their  Provifion,  they  were  grown  al- 
moft 


Book  II.  Or,  The  Hiftory  cfNew-Englmd* 


moft  wholly  hopelefs  of  Deliverance,  but  then 
a  Filhing  Shallop  of  Cape  Ann  came  up  with 
them,  Fifteen  Leagues  to  the  Eaftward  of  that 
Cape!  And  yet  before  they  got  in,  they  had 
fo  Tempeltuous  a  Night,  that  they  much  feared 
perilhing  upon  the  Rocks  after  all :  But  God 
carried  them  into  Bojion  Harbour  the  Ninth  of 
May-,  unto  the  great  furprize  of  their  Friends 
that  were  in  Mourning  for  them  :  And  there 
furnithing  themlclves  with  a  VelTel  fit  for  their 
Undertaking,  they  took  a  Courfe  in  a  few 
Weeks  more  to  letch  home  their  Brethren  that 
they  left  behind  them  at  Antecojia. 

But  it  is  now  time  for  us  to  return  unto  Sir 
William ! 

§.  13.  All  this  while  CANADA  was  as 
much  written  upon  Sir  Williams  Heart,  as 
CA  LLIC  E,  they  laid  once,  was  upon  Queen 
Marys.  He  needed  not  one  to  have  been  his 
daily  Monitor  about  Canada  :  It  lay  down 
with  him,  it  role  up  with  him,  it  engtoffed  al- 
moft  all  his  thoughts ;  he  thought  the  fubdu- 
ing  of  Canada  to  be  the  greateft  Service  that' 
could  be  done  for  New-England,  or  for  the 
Crown  of  England,  in  America.  In  purfuance 
whereof,  after  he  had  been  but  a  few  Weeks 
at  Home,  he  took  another  Voyage  for  bngland, 
in  the  very  depth  of  Winter,  when  Sailing  was 
now  dangerous  \  conflicting  with  all  the  Diffi- 
culties or  a  tedious  and  a  terrible  Paffage,  in  a 
very  little  Vefi'el,  which  indeed  was  like  e- 
nough  to  have  perifhed,  if  it  had  not  been  for 
the  help  of  his  generous  Hand  aboard,  and 
his  Fortunes  in  the  bottom. 

Arriving- per  tot  Di/crimina,  at  Bri- 

Jiol,  he  haftned  up  to  London  ;  and  made  his 

Applications  to  their  Majefties,  and  the  Princi- 1  Liberty  and  Property  alter  fuch  a  manner,  ii 


'  Secondly,  The  Caufe  of  the  Englijh  in  New- 
'  England,  their  failing  in  the  late  Attempt  up- 
•  on  Canada,  was  their  waiting  for  a  Supply 
c  of  Ammunition  from  England  until  Auguji , 
'their  long  Paffage  up  that  River;  the  Cold 
'  Sea/on  coming  en,  and  the  Small-Pox  and  Fe 
1  vers  being  in  the  Army  and  Fleet,  lb  that  they 
'  could  not  ltay  Fourteen  Days  longer  5  in  which 
'  time  probably  they  might  have  taken  U$j/e- 
'  beck;  yet,  if  a  few  Frigots  be  fpeedily  lent, 
'  they  doubt  not  of  an  happy  Succefs  ;  tht 
'  Strength  of  the  French  being  fmall,  and  the 
'  Planters  defirous  to  be  under  the  Englijh  Go- 
'  vernmenr. 

'  Thirdly,  The  Jefuires  endeavour  to  feduce 
1  the  Maquas,  and  other  Indians  (as  is  by' 
'  them  affirmed)  fuggcthng  the  Greatnefs  of 
'  King  Lewis,  and  the  Inability  of  King  Willj- 
'  am,  to  do  any  thing  againft  the  French  in  thole 
'  Parts,  thereby  to  engage  them  in  their  Inte- 
'  ;efts  :  In  which,  if  they  lhould  fucceed,  not 
'  only  New-England,  but  all  our  American 
'  Plantations,  would  be  endangered  by  the  great 
'  increafe  of  Shipping,  for  the  French  (built  in 
'  Neu-tngland  at  ealie  rates)  to  the  Infinite 
'  Difhonour  and  Prejudice  of  the  Englijh  Ni- 
'  tion. 

But  now,  for  the  Succefs  of  thefe  Applicatf 
ons,  I  muft  entreat  the  Patience  of  my  Reader 
to  wait  until  we  have  gone  through  a  little 
more  of  our  Hiftory. 

§.  14.  The  Reverend  INCREASE 
M  AT HER  beholding  his  Country  of  ATew- 
England  in  a  very  Deplorable  Condition,  un- 
der a  Governour  that  acted  by  an  Illegal,  Atbi- 
wary,  Treafonable  Commifliori,   and   Invaded 


pal  Minifters  of  State,  for  affiftance  to  renew 
an  Expedition  againft  Canada,  concluding  his 
Representation  to  the  King  with  fuch  Words  as 
thefe : 

'If  Your  Majefly  fhall  gracioufly  pi  cafe  to 

*  Comttiiflion  and  Aflift  me,  I  am  ready  to 
1  venture  my  Life  again  in  your  Service. 
'  And  I  doubt  not,  but  by  the  Bleffing  of  God, 
<  Canada  may  be  added  unto  the  reft  of  your 
'  Dominions,  which  will  (all  Circumftances 
'confidered)  be  of  more  Advantage  to  the 
1  Crown  of  England,  than  all  the  Territories  in 

*  the  Weft-Indies  are. 

The  Reafons  here  fubjoined,  are  humbly  Offered 
unto  Tour  Majejiies  Confederation. 

c  Firft,  The  Succefs  of  this  Defign  will 
'  greatly  add  to  the  Glory  and  Intereft  of  the 
'  Eng/ifr  Crown  and  Nation  ;  by  the  Addition 
«  of  the  Bever-Trade,  and  Securing  the  Hudjbris 

*  Boy  Company,  fome  of  whofe  FaUories  have 
'  lately  fallen  into  the  Hands  of  the  Trench  • 
'and  increafe  of  English  Shipping  and  Seamen, 

*  by  gaining  the  Fifhery  of  Newfoundland ;  and 
<■  by  conlequence  diminifh  the  number  of  French 
'  Seamen,  and  cat  off  a  gteat  Revenue  from  the 

*  French  Crown'. 


that  no  Man  could  lay  any  thing  was  his  own, 
he  did,   with  the  Encouragement  of  the  Prin- 
cipal Gentlemen  in  the  Country,  but  not  with- 
out much  Trouble  and  Hazard  unto  his  own 
Perfon,  go  over  to  Whitehall   in    the  Summer 
of  the  Year  1688.  and  wait  upon  King  James, 
with  a  full  Reprefentation  of  their  Miferies. 
That  King  did  give  him   Liberty  of  Accefs 
unto  him,    whenever  he  defired  it,  and  with 
many    Good  Words  promifed   him    to   relieve 
the  Oppreffed   People  in  many  Injiances  that 
were  propofed ;  But  when  the  Revolution  hid 
brought  the  Prince  and   Princefs  of  Orange  to 
the  Throne,  Mr.  Mather  having  the  Honour  di- 
vers times   to  wait  upon  the  King,   he  ftill 
prayed    for    no   lefs  a    Favour   to    New-Eng- 
land, than  the  full  Reftoration  of  their  Char- 
ter-Privilcdges  :     And  Sir  William  Phips  ha£- 
|  pening  to  be  then  in  England,    very  generoufly 
joined  with  Mr.  Mather  in  fome  of  thofe  Ad- 
dreffes :  Whereto  His  Majefty's  Anfwers  were 
always  very  expreflive   of  his    Gracious  In- 
clinations.    Mr.  Mather,   herein    affifted    alfo 
by   the  Right  Worfhipful  Sir  Henry  Afhurft, 
a    moft    Hearty    Friend    of  all    fuch    good 
Men     as    thofe    that    once    filled    Neva-Eng- 
land, folicited  the  Leading  Men  of  both  Houfes 
in  the  Couvsnt  ion- Parliament,  until  a  Bill  for  the 

Rjestorin 


5<* 


Magnolia  Cbrifii  Americana : 


Book  II. 


Reftoring  of  the  Charters  belonging  to  'New- 
England,  was  fully  palled  by  the  Commons  of 
'England;  but  that  Parliament  being  Prorogu'd, 
and  then  DifToIvcd,  all  that  Sifyphnean  Labour 
came  to  nothing.  The  Di (appointments  which 
afterwards  moll  wonderfully  Halted  all  the 
hopes  of  the  Petitioned  Reftoration,  obliged 
Mr.  Mather,  not  without  the  Concurrence  of 
other  Agents,  now  alio  come  from  New-Eng- 
land, unto 'that  Method  of  Petitioning  the 
King  for  a  New  Charter,  that  ihould  contain 
more  thin  all  the  Priviltdges  of  the  Old  ;  and 
Sir  Willi  mi  Phips.  now  being  again  returned 
into  England,  Lent  his  utmoft  alfiftance  here- 
unto. 

The  King  taking  a  Voyage  for  Holland  be- 
fore this  Petition  was  anfweted  ;  Mr.  Mather, 
in  the  mean  while,  not  only  waited  upon  the 
greareft  part  of  the  Lords  of  His  Majefties  moft 
Honourable  Privy  Council,  offering  them  a  Pa- 
per of  Reafons  for  the  Confirmation  of  the 
Chatter-Priviledges  granted  unto  the  Maffachu- 
fet-Colony  ;  but  alio  having  the  Honour  to 
be  introdiic'd  unto  the  Queen,  he  alTured  Her 
Majefty,  That  there  were  none  in  the  World 
better  affected  unto  their  Majefties  Government 
than  the  People  of  New-England,  who  had  in- 
deed been  expofed  unto  gteat  Hardfhips  for 
their  being  fo ;  and  entreated,  that  fince  the 
King  had  referred  th&New-Engli/b  Affair  unto 
the  Two  Lord  Chief  Juftices,  with  the  Attor- 
ney and  Solicitor  General,  there  might  be 
granted  unto  us  what  they  thought  was  rea- 
fonable.  Whereto  the  Queen  replied,  Thar 
the  Requelt  was  reafonable ;  and  that  (he  had 
fpoken  divers  times  to  the  King  on  the  behalf 
of  New-England •  and  that  for  her  own  parr, 
(he  delired  that  the  People  there  might  not 
meerly  have  J  u  ft  ice,  but  Favour  done  to  them. 
When  the  King  was  returned,  Mr.  Mather. 
being  by  the  Duke  of  Devonffnre  brought  into 
the  King's  Prefence  on  April _28.  1691.  hum- 
bly pray'd  His  Majefties  Favour  to  New-Eng- 
land; urging,  That  if  their  Old  Charter-Privi- 
ledges might  be  reftored  unto  them,  his  Name 
would  be  great  in  thofe  Parts  of  the  World  as 
long  as  the  World  ihould  ftarrd  •,  adding, 

Sir, 

YO  V  R  Subiett s  there  have  been  willing  to 
venture  their  Lives,  that  they  may  en- 
large your  Dominions;  the  Expedition  to  Cana- 
da was  a  Great  and  Noble  Undertaking. 

May  ft  pleafc  your  Majejiy,  in  your  great 
Wifdom  aljo  to  conjidcr  the  Circumftances  oj 
that  People,- as- in  your  Wijdom  you  have  confi- 
dered  the  Grcunijhinces  oj  England,  and  of 
Scotland..  In  New-F.ngland  they  differ  from 
other  Plantations  ;  they  are  called  Congregati- 
onal and  Presbyterian.  So  that  fuch  a  Go- 
vernour  will  narjuit  with  the  People  of  New- 
England,  ai  may  be  very  proper  for  other 
Englilh  Plantations. 


'Two-  Days   after  this,  the  King,  upon  what 
was.  pro  poled  by  certain  Lords,   was  very  in- 


qulfitive,  whether  he/might,  without  breach  of 
Law,  let  a  Gcjvernour  n.  •-■  New-England-, 
whereto  the  Lord  Chief  Jurf1.!ce.  and  fome  0 
thers  of  the  Council,  anlkv.vl,  That  whate- 
ver might  be  the  Merit  oi  the  Caufe,  inaf- 
much  as  the  Charter  of  Nita-England  ftpbd 
vacated  by  a  Judgment  agairift  them,  it  was  in 
the  King's  Power  to  p!:t  them  under  what 
Form  of  Government  he  Ihonid  think  belt  lor  ' 
them. 

The  King  then  faid,  '  That  he  believed  it 
'  would  be  for  the  Advantage  of  the  People  in 
'  that  Colony,  to  be  under  a  Governour  appoin- 
c  ted  by  himfelf :  NevertfreleisfDeeanie  of  what 
Mr.  Mather  had  fpoken  to  him  J  '  He  would 
1  have  the  Agents  of  New-England  nominate  a 
c  Perfon  that  fhould  be  agreeable  unto  the  In- 
clinations of  the  People  there;  and  notwith- 
'  ftanding  this,  he  would  have  Charter-Privi- 
'  ledges  reftored  and  confirm^  unto  them. 

The  Day  following  the  King  began  another 
Voyage  to  Holland;  and  when  the  Attorney 
Genetal's  Draught  of  a  Charier,  according  to 
what  he  took  to  be  His  Mydlies  Mind,  as  ex- 
prefled  in  Council,  was  prefentedattheG#?«7- 
Board,  on  the  Eighth  of  Juney  fome  Objections 
then  made,  procured  an  Order  to  prepare  minutes 
for  another  Draught,  which  deprived  the 
New  Englanders  of  leveral  Ejfential  PrfaiFedges 
in  their  other  Charter.  Mr.  Mather  put  in  his 
Objections,  and  vehemently  protefted,  That  he 
would  fooner  part  with  his  Life,  than  content 
unto  thofe  Minutes,  or  any  thing  elle  that 
fhould  infringe  any  Liberty  or  Priviledge  of 
Right  belonging  unto  his  Country  :  but  he  was 
arifwered,  That  the  Agents  of  Nets-England 
were  nor  Plenipotentiaries  from  another  Sove- 
raign  State;  and  that  if  the?  would  not  fubm'u 
unto  the  King's  Pleafure  in  the  Settlement  of 
the  Country,  they  muft  take  what  would  fol- 
low. 

The  difTatis Factory  Minutes  were,  by  Mr. 
Mather's  Induftry,  fent  over  unto  the  King  in 
Plunders  ;  and  the  Minifters  of  State  then  with 
the  King  were  earneftly  applied  unto,  that  e- 
very  miftake  about  the  good  Settlement  of 
New-England  might  be  prevented ;  and  the 
Queen  her  felf,  with  her  own  Royal  Hand, 
wrote  unto  the  King,  that  the  Charter  of  AVre- 
England  might  either  pafs  as  it  was  drawn  by 
the  Attorney  General,  or  he  deferred  until  his 
own  Return.     , 

But  after  all,  His  Majefties  Principal  Secre- 
rary  of  State  received  'a  Signification  of  the 
King's  Pleafure,  that  the  Charter  of  New-Eng- 
land fhould  run  in  the  Main  Points  of  it  as 
it  was  now  granted  :  Only  there  were  fcveral 
Important  Articles  which  'Mr.  Mather  by  his 
unwearied  Solicitations  obtained  afterwards  to  be 
inlerted. 

There  were  fome  now  of  the  Opinion,  that 
inftead  of  fubmitting  to  this  New  Settlement, 
they  fhould.  in  hopes  of  getting  a  Reverfion 
of  the  Judgment  againft  the  Old  Charter,  de- 
clare .to  the  Minifters  of  Sate,  That  they  had 
rather  have  no  Charter  at  all,  than  fuch  an  on? 

as 


Book  II.         Or,  The  Hi/lory  ofNew-En^land. 


57 


as  was  now   propofed   unto  Acceptance.     But 
Mr.  Mather  adviiing  with  many  unprejudiced 
Perfons,  and  Men  of  the  greateft  Abilities  in 
the  Kingdom,  Noblemen,    Gentlemen,   Divines 
and  Lawyers,  they  all  agreed,  that  it  was  not 
onlv  a  lawful,  but  all  Circumltances  then  con- 
(idered,  a  Needful  thing,  and  a  part  of  Duty 
and  Wifdom  to  accept  what  was  now  offered, 
and  that  a  peremptory  retufal  would  not   only 
bring  an  Inconveniency,   but  a  Fatal,  and  per- 
haps, a  Final  Ruin  upon  the  Country  ;   where- 
of Mankind  would  lay  the  blame  upon  the  A- 
gents. 

It  was  argued,That  fuch  a  Submiffion  was  no 
Surrender  of  any  thing  ;  that  the  Judgment, 
not  in  the  Court  of  King's  Bench,  but  in  Chan- 
cery againft  the  Old  Charter,  (landing  on  Re- 
cord, the  patten  was  thereby  Annihilated  5 
that  all  attempts  to  have  the  Judgment  againlt 
the  Old  Charter  taken  oft",  would  be  altogether 
in  vain,  as  Men  and  Things  were  then  difpo- 
fed. 

It  was  further  argued,  That  the  Ancient 
Charter  of  New-England  was  in  the  Opinion 
of  the  Lawyers  very  Defettive,  as  to  feveral 
Powers,  which  yet  were  abiblutely  neceflary 
to  the  fubfiltence  of  the  Plantation  :  It  gave 
the  Government  there  no  more  Power  than  the 
Corporations  have  in  England  ;  Power  in  Ca- 
pital Cafes  was  not  therein  particularly  ex- 
prelTed. 

It  mentioned  not  an  lioufe  of  Deputies,  or 
an  Affembly  of  Reprefentatives  ;  the  Gover- 
nour and  Company  had^thereby  (they  faid)  no 
Power  to  impofe  Taxes  on  the  Inhabitants  that 
were  not  Freemen,  or  to  erecf  Courts  of  Admi- 
ralty. Without  fuch  Powers  the  Colony  could 
not  fubfift ;  and  yet  the  beft  Friends  that  New- 
England  had  of  Perfons  mod  Learned  in  the 
Law,  profelTed,  that  fuppofe  the  Judgment  a- 
gainft  the  Maffachufet -Charter  might  be  Re- 
verfed,  yet,  it  they  (hould  again  Exert  fuch 
Powers  as  they  did  before  the  0$uo  Warranto 
againft  their  Charter,  a  new  Writ  of  Scire 
Facia*  would  undoubtedly  be  ilTued  out  againft 
them. 

It  was  yet  further  argued,  That  if  an  Aft  of 
Parliament  (hould  have  Reverfed  the  Judgment 
againft  the  Maffachufet -Charter,  without  a 
Grant  of  fome  other  Advantages,  the  whole 
Territory  had  been,  on  many  Accounts,  very 
miferably  Incommoded  :  The  Province  of  Main, 
with  Hampfhire,  would  have  been  taken  from 
them ;  and  Plymouth  would  have  been  annex- 
ed unto  New-Tor k  ;  fo  that  this  Colony  would 
have  been  fqueezed  into  an  Atom,  and  not  on- 
ly have  been  render'd  Infignificant  in  its  Trade, 
but  by  having  its  Militia  alfo,  which  was  veiled 
in  the  King,  taken  away,  its  Infignificancies 
would  have  become  out  of  meal'ure  hum- 
bling ;  whereas  now,  inftead  of  feeing  any  Re 
lief  by  Afct  of  Parliament,  they  would  have 
been  put  under  a  Governour,  with  a  Commif- 
iion,  whereby  ill   Men,    and  the  King's  and 


Country's  Enemies  might  probably   have   crept 
into  Opportunities  to  have  done  Ten  Thouiand 
ill  things,  and  have  treated  the  beft  Men  in  the 
Land  after  a  very  uncomfortable  manner. 
^  It   was    LlUy    argued,  That   by  the  '  New 
Charter   very  great  Priviledges  were   granted 
unto    New- England  ;    and    in    form    iefpecfs 
greater  than  what  they  formerly  enjoyed.    The 
Colony  is  now    made  a    Province,    and   their 
General  Court,  has,  wiih  the  King's  Approba- 
tion, as  much  Power  in  New-England,  as  the 
King  and  Parliament  have  in  England.    They 
have  all  Englilh  Liberties,  and  can  be  touched 
by  no    Law,    by   no  Tax,  but   of  their   own 
making.     All  the  Liberties  of  their  Holy  Reli- 
gion are  for  ever  (enured,  and  their  Titles  to 
their  Lands,    once  for  want  of  lome  Forms  of 
Legal  Conveyance,  contefted,  are  now  confirmed- 
unto  them      If  an  ill  Governour   fhould  hap- 
pen to  be  impofed  on  them,  what  hurt  could  he 
do  to  them  !  None,  except    they    themlelves 
plea  fed  ;   ior  he  cannot  make  one  Counfellor, 
or  one  Judge,   or  one  Juftice,    or  one  Sheriff 
to  ferve  his  Turn  :   Di  fad  vantages  enough,   one 
would   think,     to    Dilcourage  any   ill  Gover- 
nour   from   defiring  to  be  Stationed  in  thoie 
uneafie  Regions.    The  People   have  a  Nega- 
tive upon  all  the  Executive  part  of  the  Civil 
Government,  as  well  as  the  Legiflative,  which 
is  a   valt    Priviledge,    enjoyed   by   no    other 
Plantation   in    America,    nor   by   Ireland,   no, 
nor  hitherto  by  England  it  fell;     Why  (hould 
all   of  this   good  be  refufed   or  defpifed,  be- 
caufe  of  fome  what  not  fo  good  attending  it  ? 
The  Deipiiers    of  fo  much    good,    will   cer- 
tainly  deferve  a    Cenfure,    not  unlike  that  of 
Caufabon,  upon  fome  who  did  not  value  what 
that   Learned    Man  counted    highly   valuable, 
Vix  illis  optari  quidquam   pejus   potefl,    quam 
ut  fatuitate  fua  fruantur  :    N4uch  good  may 
do  them  with  their  Madnefs  !  All  of  this  be- 
ing well  coniidered,   Sir  William  Phips,  who' 
had  made   fb  many  Addrefles   for  the  Refto- 
ration  of  the  Old'  Charter,    under  which  he 
had   feen  his  Country   many    Years  fiourifh- 
ing,  will  be  excufed   by   all  the  World  from 
any   thing  of  a   Fault,    in  a  moft  unexpected 
palTage  of  his  Life,    which  is  now  to  be  re- 
lated. 

Sir  Henry  Afhurfi,  and  Mr.  Mather,  well 
knowing  the  agreeable  Dilpofition  to  do  Good, 
and  the  King  and  his  Country  Service,  which 
was  in  Sir  William  Phips,  whom  they  now 
had  with  them,  all  this  while  Profecuting  his 
Defign  for  Canada,  they  did  unto  the  Council- 
Boatd  nominate  him  for  the  G  O  V  E  R  N  O  U  R 
of  Nets-England.  And  Mr.  Mather  being  by  the 
Eatl  of  Nottingham  introduced  unto  His  Ma. 
jefty,  faid, 


Sir, 

Do,    in  the  behalf  of  New-England,    moft 
humbly  thank   your   Majefty,    in   that  you 
have  been  pleafed,  by  a  Charter,  to  reftore  Englitti 
H  h  Liberties 


I 


5§ 


Magnalia  Chrifli  Americana : 


Book  II. 


Liberties  unto  them,  to  confirm  them  in  their 
Properties,  and  to  grant  than  fome  peculiar 
Priviledges.  I  doubt  not,  but  that  your  Sub- 
jects there  will  demean  thcmfelves  with  that  du- 
tiful Affection  and  Loyalty  to  your  Majefly,  a* 
that  you  will  fee  caufe  to  enlarge  your  Royal 
Favours  towards  them.  And  I  do  moft  humbly 
thank  your  Majejiy,  in  that  you  have  been 
pleafed  to  give  leave  unto  thofe  that  are  con- 
cerned for  New-England  to  nominate  their  Go- 
vernour. 

Sir  William  Phips  ha*  been  accordingly  no- 
minated by  us  at  the  Council-Board,  lie  hath 
done  a  good  Service  for  the  Crown,  by  en- 
larging your  Dominions,  and  reducing  of  Nova 
Scotia  to  your  Obedience.  I  know  that  he  will 
faithfully  ferve  your  Majefly  to  the  utmofl  of 
his  Capacity  -,  and  if  your  Majefty  fhall  think 
fit  to  confirm  him  in  that  place,  it  will  be  a 
further  Obligation  on  your  Subjects  there. 

The  Effecls  of  all  this  was,  that  Sir  William 
Phips  was  now  invefted  with  a  Commiifion  under 
the  King's  Broad-Seal  to  be  Captain  General, 
and  Governour  in  chief  over  the  Province  of 
the  Majfachufet-Bay  in  New-England :  Nor  do 
I  know  a  Perfon  in  the  World  that  could 
have  been  propofed  more  acceptable  to  the  Body 
of  the  People  throughout  New-England,  and 
on  that  fcore  more  likely  and  able  to  ferve  the 
King's  Interelts  among  the  People  there,  un- 
der the  Changes  in  fome  things  unacceptable, 
now  brought  upon  them.  He  had  been  a  Gide- 
on, who  had  more  than  once  ventured  his  Life 
to  fave  his  Country  from  their  Enemies  -,  and 
they  now,  with  univerfal  Satisfaction  Paid, 
Thou  fhalt  rule  over  us.  Accordingly,  having 
with  Mr.  Mather  killed  the  King's  Hand  on 
January  ?d,  169 1.  he  haftned  away  to  his  Go- 
vernment •,  and  arriving-  at  New-England  the 
Fourteenth  of  May  following,  attended  with 
the  Non-fucb-Fr/gaf,  both  of  them  were  wel- 
comed with  the  loud  Acclamations  of  the  long 
fhakeh  and  fhatter'd  Country,  whereto  they 
were  now  returned  with  a  Settlement  (b  full  of 
happy  Priviledges. 

§.  15.  When  Titus  Flaminius  had  freed  the 
poor  Grecians  from  the  Bondage  which  had 
long  oppreffed  them,  and  the  Herald  Proclaim- 
ed among  them  the  Articles  of  their  Freedom,they 
cried  out,  A  Saviour  !  A  Saviour  !  with 
fuch  loud  Acclamations,  that  the  very  Birds 
fell  down  from  Heaven  aftonifh'd  at  the  Cry. 
Truly,  when  Mr.  Mather  brought  with  him 
unto  the  poor  New-Engldnders,  not  only  a 
Charter,  which  though  in  divers  Points  want- 
ing what  both  he  and  they  had  wilhed  for, 
yet  for  ever  delivers  them  from  Oppreffions 
on  their  Chriftian  and  Englifh  Liberties,  or 
on  their  Ancient  Pofleffions,  wherein  ruining 
Writs  of  Intrufion.  had  begun  to  Invade  them 
all,  but  alfo  a  GOVERNOUR  who  might 
call  New-England  his  own  Country,  and  who 
was  above  moft  Men  in  it,  full  of  Affe&ion 
to  the  Interefts  of  hh  Country  -,    the  fenfible 


part  of  the  People  then  caufed  the  Sence  of 
the  Salvations  thus  brought  them  to  reach  as 
far  as  Heaven  it  felf  The  various  little  Hu- 
mours then  working  among  the  People,  did 
not  hinder  the  Great  and  General  Court  of  the 
Province  to  appoint  a  Day  of  Solemn 
THANKSGIVING  to  Almighty  God, 
for  Granting  (as  the  Printed  Order  expreffed  it) 
a  fiafe  Arrival  to  his  Excellency  our  Governour 
and  the  Reverend  Mr.  Increaie  Mather,  who 
have  indufrioufly  endeavoured  the  Service  of 
this  People,  and  have  brought  over  with  them 
a  Settlement  of  Government,  in  which  their 
Majefties  have  gracioujly  given  us  diftinguifb- 
i»g  'Marks  of  their  Royal  Favour  and  Good- 
nefs. 

And  as  the  obliged  People  thus  gave  Thanks 
unto  the  God  of  Heaven,  io  they  lent  an  Ad- 
drefs  of  Thanks  unto  Their  Majefties,  with  other 
Letters  of  Thanks  unto  fome  Chief  Miniffers  of 
State,  for  the  Favourable  Afpell  herein- caft  up- 
on the  Province. 

Nor  were  the  People  miftaken,  when  they 
promifed  thcmfelves  all  the  kindnefs  imagina- 
ble from  this  Governour,  and  expected,  Under 
hi  s  Jhadow  we  fhall  live  ea  fie  among  the  Heathen  : 
Why  might  they  not  look  tor  Halcyon-days, 
when  they  had  fuch  a  King's-Fifher  for  their 
Governour  ? 

Governour  Phips  had,  as  every  raifed  and 
ufeful  Perfon  muft  have,  his  Envious  Enemies  ■ 
but  the  paleft  Envy  of  them,  who  turned  their 
worft  Enmity  upon  him,  could  not  hinder  them 
from  confefling,  That  according  to  the  befi  of 
his  Apprehenfion,  he  ever  fought  the  good  of 
his  Country  :  His  Country  quickly  felt  this  on 
innumerable  Occafions;  and  they  bad  it  emi- 
nently demonft rated,  as  well  in  his  promoting 
and  approving  the  Council's  choice  of  good 
Judges,  Juflices  and  Sheriffs,  which  being  once 
eftablifhed,  no  Succeffor  could  remove  them 
as  in  his  urging  the  General  AJfembly  to  make 
themfelves  happy  by  preparing  a  Body  of  good 
Laws  as  faft  as  they  could,  which  being  paffed 
by  him  in  his  time,  could  not  be  nulled  by  any 
other  after  him. 

He  would  often  fpeak  to  the  Members  of 
the  general  AiTernbly  in  fuch  Terms  as  thefe, 
Gentlemen,  Ton  may  make  your  J  elves  as  cafie 
as  you  will  for  ever  ;  conftder  what  may  have 
any  tendency  to  your  welfare  -  and  you 
may  be  fure,  that  whatever  bills  you  offer  to 
me,  confiftent  with  the  Honour  and  Inter  eft  of 
the  Crown,  III  pafs  them  readily  ;  I  do  but  feek 
Opportunities  to  ferve  you  \  had  it  not  been 
for  the  fake  of  this  thing,  I  had  never  accep- 
ted the  Government  of  this  Province ;  and  when- 
ever you  have  fettled  fuch  a  Body  of  good  Laws, 
that  no  Perfon  coming  after  me  ?nay  make  you 
uneafie,  I  fhall  defire  not  one  Day  longer 
to  continue  in  the  Government.  According- 
ly he  ever  paffed  every  Act  for  the  welfare 
of  the  Province  propofed  unto  him  5  and  in- 
ftead  of  ever  putting  them  upon  Buying  his 
Aflent   unto   any    good   At\,     he  was   much 

forwarder 


Book  II.  Or:l  The  Hiftory  gf  New-Jinglarid. 


.y  '- 

forwarder  to  give  it,  than  they  were  to  ask  it: 
Nor  indeed,  had  the  Hunger  of  a  Salary  any 
fuch  Imprelfion  upon  him,  as  to  make  him  de- 
cline doing  all  pofftble  Service  for  the  Publick, 
while  he  was  not  fure  of  having  any  Proporti- 
onable or  Honourable  Acknowledgments. 

But  yet  he  minded  the  Preiervation  of  the 
King's  Rights  with  as  careful  and  faithful  a 
Zeal  as  became  a  good  Steward  for  the  Crown  : 
And,  indeed,  he  ftudied  nothing  more  than 
to  obferve  fuch  a  Temper  in  all  things,  as  to 
extinguifh  what  others  have  gone  to  diftinguilh  ; 
even  the  Pernicious  Notion  of  a  fepatate  In- 
tereft.  There  was  a  time  when  the  Roman 
Empire  was  infelted  with  a  valt  number  of  Go- 
vernors, who  were  Infamous  for  Infinite  A- 
varice  and  Villany  ;  and  referring  to  this  time, 
the  Apoltle  John  had  a  Vifion  of  People  killed 
with  the  Beafls  of  the  Earth. 

But  Sir  William  Phips  was  none  of  thofe  Go- 
vernours  ;  wonderfully  contrary  to  this  wret'ch- 
ednefs  was  the  Happinefs  of  New-England, 
when  they  had  Governour  Phips,  ufing  the  ten- 
dernefs  of  a  Father  towards  tlie  People  ;  ant! 
being  of  the  Opinion,  Ditare  magh  ejje  Regium 
quam  Ditefcere,  that  it  was  a  braver  thing  to 
enrich  the  People,  than  to  gtow  rich  himlilf 
A  father,  I  faid ;  and  what  if  I  had  laid  an 
Angel  too  ?  If  I  (hould  from  Clemens  Alex- 
andrinus,  from  Theodoret,  and  from  Jerom,  and 
and  others  among  the  Ancients,  as  well  as  from 
Calvin,  and  Bucan,  and  Peter  Martyr,  and 
Chemnit'ws,  and  Bullinger,  and  a  Thoufand 
more  among  the  Moderns,  bring  Authorities 
for  the  Aflertion,  That  each  Country  and  Pro- 
vince is  under  the  Jpecial  Care  of  Jonie  Angel, 
by  a  fmgular  Deputation  of  Heaven  ajjigncd 
thereunto,  I  could  back  them  with  a-  far 
greater  Authority  than  any  of  them  all.  The 
Scripture  it  felf  does  plainly  affert  it  :  And 
hence  the  molt  Learned  Grot  ins,  writing  of 
Commcnipealths,  has  a  Paffage  to  this  purpofe, 
His  Jin&ulis\  fuos  Attributos,  effe  Angelos,  ex 
Daniclt,  viagno  conjenfu,  t>J  Jud.ri  6"  Chrijiiani 
vetercs  colligebant. 

But  New-England  had  now,  betides  the  Guar- 
dian-Angel, who  more  invifibly  intended  its 
welfare,  a  Governour  that  became  wonderfully 
agreeable  thereunto,  by  his  whole  Imitation 
of  fuch  a  Guardian-Angel.  He  employed  his 
whole  Strength  to  guard  his  People  from  all 
Difafters,  which  threatned  them  either  by  Sea 
or  Land  ;  and  it  was  remark'd,  that  nothing  re- 
markably Difaftrous  did  befal  that  People 
ftom  the  time  of  his  Arrival  to  the  Govern- 
ment, until  there  arrived  an  Order  for  his 
leaving  it  :  (Except  one  thing  which  was  be- 
gun before  he  entred  upon  the  Government :) 
But  inftead  thereof,  the  Indians  were  notably 
defeated  in  the  AfTaults  which  they  now 
made  upon  the  Englijh,  and  feveral  French 
Ships  did  alio  very  advantageoufly  fall  into 
his  Hands  j  yea,  there  Was  by  his  means  a 
Peace  rcltored  unto  the  Province,  that  had  been 


19 


divers    Years    languifhing    under    the    Hettic 
Feaverofu  lingring  War. 

And  there  was  this  one  thing  more  that 
rendred  his.  Government  the  more  deferable  • 
that  whereas  'tis  impoiiible  for  a  rneer  Man 
to  govern  without  fbme  Error ;  whenever  this 
Governour  was  adviled  of  any  Error  in  any  of 
his  Adminillrations,  he  would  immediately  re' 
tract  it,  and  revoke  it  with  all  poilible  Inge- 
nuity ;  lb  that  if  any  occaiion  of  juft  Complaint 
arole,  it  was  ufually  his  endeavour  that  it  fhould 
not  long  be  complain'd  of." 


■0,  Erl/ces  minium,  fua  fi  Bona,  norant, 
A  ov-  A  ng  It. 


But  having  in  a  Par  cm  he  [is  newly  intima- 
ted, that  his  Excellency,  when  he  entred  on 
his  Government,  found  one  thing  that  was 
remarkably  Difaftrous  begun  upon  it  :  Of 
that  one  thing  we  will  now  give  fome  ac 
count. 

Reader,  prepare  to  be  entertained  with  as 
prodigious  Matters  as  can  be  put  into  any  Hi- 
lfory  !  And  let  him  that  writes  the  next  Thait- 
matographia  fneumatica,  allow  to  thefe  Prodi 
gies  the  chief  place  among  the  Wonders. 

§.  1 6.  About  the  time  of  our  BlefTed  Lord's 
coming  to  refide  on  Earth,  we  read  of  ib  ma- 
ny pqljejjcd  with  Devils,  that  it  is  commonly 
thought  the  Number  of  fuch  miferable  Encr- 
giemens  Was  then  encreafed  above  what  has 
been  ufual  in  other  Ages  j  and  the  Reafo/t  of 
that  Ihcreafe  has  been  made  a  Matter  of  fbme 
Enquiry.  Now  though  the  Devils  might 
herein  defign  by  Preternatural  Operations  to 
blalt  the  Miracles  of  our  Lord  Jefts  Chrift, 
which  point  they  gained  among  the  Blafphe- 
mous  Pbarifees  ;  and  the  Devils  might  herein 
alfo  defign  a  Villanous  Imitation  of  what  was 
coming  to  pafs  in  the  Incarnation  of  our  Lord 
Jefus  Quilt,  wherein  God  came  to  dwell  in 
FlefJ);  yet  I  am  not  without  lufpicion,  that 
there  may  be  fomething  further  in  the  Con- 
jecture of  the  Learned  Bartholinus  hereupon, 
who  fays,  It  was  Quod  jud.ci  prater  modum,  Ar~ 
t'ibus  Magias  dediti  Dxmoncm  Advocavcrint, 
the  "Jews,  by  the  frequent  ufe  oi' Magical  Tricks, 
called  in  the  Devils  among  them. 

It  is  vety  certain,  there  were  hardiy  any 
People  in  the  World  grown  more.  fond,  of 
Sorceries,  than  that  unhappy  People  :  The 
Talmuds  tell  us  of  the  little  'Parchments  with 
Words,  upon  them,  which  were  their  common 
Amulets,  and  of  the  Charms  which  they  rnut- 
ter'd  over  Wounds,  •  and  of  the  various  En- 
chantments which  they  ufed  againft  all  fotts 
of  Difafters  whatfoever.  It  is  affirmed  in  the 
Talmuds,  that  no  lefs  than  Twenty-four  Scholars 
in  one  School  were  killed  by  Witchcraft  ;  and 
that  no  lefs  than  Four/hpre  Perfons  were  Hanged 
fbT  Wirchraft  by  ofie  Judge  in  one  Day.  Th* 
H  H  2  Biofi 


I 


6o 


Magnalia  Chrijli  Americana  : 


Book  II. 


G/ofs  adds  upon  it,  That  the  Women  of  Ifrael 
had  generally  [alien  to  the  Praffice  of  Witch- 
crafts ;  and  therefore  it  was  required,  that 
there  ihould  be  Itill  chofen  into  the  Council 
one  skilful  in  the  Arts  of  Sorcerers,  and  able 
thereby  to  di (cover  who  might  be  guilty  of  thofe 
Black  Arts  among  fuch  as  were  accufed  before 
them. 

Now  the  Arrival  of  Sir  William  Phips  to  the 
Government  of  New-England,  was  at  a  time 
when  a  Goveinour  would  have  had  Occafion 
for  all  the  Skill  in  Sorcery,  that  was  ever  ne- 
ceffary  to  a  Jetvijl?  Qouncellor ;  a  time  when 
Scores  of  poor  People  had  newly  fallen  under 
a  prodigious  Poffejfwn  of  Devils,  which  it  was 
then  generally  thought  had  been  by  Witchcrafts 
introduced.  It  is  to  be  confefied  aud  bewailed, 
that  many  Inhabitants  of  New-England,  and 
Young  People  especially,  had  been  led  away  with 
little  Sorceries,  wherein  they  did  fecretly  thofe 
things  that  were  not  right  againft  the  Lord 
their  God  ;  they  would  often  cure  Hurts  with 
Spells,  and  prattife  deteftable  Conjurations  with 
Sieves,  and  Keys,  and  Peafe,  and  A'<i;7j,  and 
Horfe-Jhocs,  and  other  Implements,  to  learn  the 
things  for  which  they  had  a  forbidden  and  im- 
pious Curiofity.  Wrerched  Books  had  ffoln  in- 
to the  Land,  wherein  Fools  were  inftrutted 
how  to  become  able  Fortune-Tellers  :  Among 
which,  I  wonder  that  a  blacker  Brand  is  not  fet 
upon  that  Fortune- Telling  Wheel,  which  that 
Sham-Scribler,  that  goes  under  the  Letters  of 
R.  B.  has  promifed  in  his  Delights  for  the 
Ingenious,  as  an  honeft  and  pleafant  Recreati- 
on :  And  by  thefe  Books,  the  Minds  of  many 
had  been  fo  poifoned,  that  they  ftudied  this 
Finer  Witchcraft  •  until,  'tis  well,  if  fome  of 
them  were  not  betray 'd  into  what  is  GrofTer, 
and  more  Senfible  and  Capital.  Although  thefe 
Diabolical  Divinations  are  more  ordinarily 
committed  perhaps  all  over  the  whole  World, 
than  they  are  in  the  Country  of  New-England, 
yet,  that  being  a  Country  Devoted  unto  the 
Worfhip  and  Service  of  the  Lord  fESUS 
CHRIST  above  the  reft  of  the  World,  He 
fignalized  his  Vengeance  againft  thefe  Wicked- 
nefles,  with  fuch  extraordinary  Difpenfations 
as  have  not  been  often  icen  in  other  places. 

The  Devils  which  had  been  fo  play'd  with- 
al, and,  it  may  be,  by  fome  few  Criminals  more 
Explicitely  engaged  and  imployed,  now  broke 
in  upon  the  Country,  after  as  aftonilhing  a  man- 
ner as  was  ever  heard  of.  Some  Scores  of 
People,  firft  about  Salem,  the  Centre  and  Firft- 
Born  of  all  the  Towns  in  the  Colony,  and  af- 
terwards in  feveral  other  places,  were  Arretted 
with  many  Preternatural  Vexations  upon  their 
Bodies,  and  a  variety  of  cruel  Torments,  which 
were  evidently  infh£t ed  from  the  Damons,  of 
the  lnvifible  World.  The  People  that  were 
Infecled  and  Infeft ed  whh  fuch  Damons,  in  a 
few  Days  time  arrived  unto  fuch  a  Refining 
Alteration  upon  their  Eyes,  that  they  could  fee 
their  Tormentors  ■  they  faw  a  Devil  of  a  Little 
Stature,  and  of  a  Tawny  Colour,  attended  ftill 


with  Spetlres  that  appeared  in  more  Humane 
Circumftances. 

Thefe  Tormentors  tendred  unto  the  afflicted 
a  Book,  requiring  them  to  Sign  it,  or  to  Touch 
it  at  leaft,  in  token  of  their -eon  finting  to  be 
Lifted  in  the  Service  of  the  Devil;  which 
they  refufing  to  do,  the  SpeUres  under  the 
Command  of  that  Blackman,  as  they  called 
him,  would  apply  themfelves  to  Torture  them 
with  prodigious  Moleftations. 

The  afflicted  Wretches  were  horribly  Difiorted 
and  Convulfed  -,  they  were  Pinched  Black  and 
Blue  :  Pins  would  be  run  every  where  in  their 
Flefh ;  they  would  be  Scalded  until  they  had 
Blifters  raifed  on  them  •,  and  a  Thoufand  other 
things  before  Hundreds  of  Witnefies  were  done 
unto  them,  evidently  Preternatural :  For  if  it 
were  Preternatural  to  keep  a  rigid  Faft  for 
Nine,  yea,  for  Fifteen  Days  together  ;  or  if 
it  were  Preternatural  to  have  one's  Hands  tfd 
clofe  together  with  a  Rope  to  be  plainly  feen, 
and  then  by  unfeen  Hands  prefently  pull'd  up 
a  great  way  from  the  Earth  before  a  Croud  of 
People  ;  fuch  Preternatural  things  were  endu- 
red by  them. 

But  of  all  the  Preternatural  thirfgs  which 
befel  thefe  People,  there  were  none  more  un- 
accountable than  thofe,  wherein  the  preftigious 
Damons  would  ever  now  and  then  cover  the 
moft  Corporeal  things  in  the  World  with  a 
Fafcinating  Mi  ft  of  lnvifibility.  As  now;  a 
Perfon  was  cruelly  afTaulted  by  a  Speclre,  that, 
(he  faid,  run  at  her  with  a  Spindle,  though  no 
Body  elfe  in  the  room  could  fee  either  the 
Spcllre  or  the  Spindle  :  At  laft,  in  her  Agonies, 
giving  a  fnatch  at  the  Speclre,  fhe  pulled  the 
Spindle  away ;  and  it  was  no  iboner  got  into 
her  Hand,  but  the  other  Folks  then  prefent 
beheld  that  it  was  indeed  a  Real,  Proper,  Iron 
Spindle  ;  which  when  they  locked  up  very 
iafe,  it  was  neverthelefs  by  the  Damons  taken 
away  to  do  farther  Mifchief, 

Again,  a  perfon  was  haunted  by  a  moft  abu- 
five  Speclre,  which  came  to  her,  fhe  faid, 
with  a  Sheet  about  her,  though  fsen  to  none 
but  her  felf.  After  fhe  had  undergone  a  deal 
of  Teaze  f rqm  the  Annoyance  of  the  Speclre, 
fhe  gave-*a  violent  Snatch  at  the  Sheet  that 
was  upon  it ;  where-frpm  fhe  tore  a  Corner, 
which  in  her  Hand  immediately  was  beheld 
by  all  that  were  prefent,  a  palpable  Corner  of  a 
Sheet:  And  her  Father,  which  was  now  hold- 
ing of  her,  catch'd,  that  he  might  keep  what 
his  Daughter  had  fo  ftrangely  feized  ;  but  the 
Speclre  had  like  to  have  wrung  his  Hand  off, 
by  endeavouring  to  wreft  it  from  him  -.  How- 
ever he  ttill  held  it ;  and  feveral  times  this 
odd  Accident  was  renewed  in  the  Family. 
There  wanted  not  the  Oaths  of  good  credible 
People  to  thefe  particulars. 

Alfo,  it  is  well  known,  that  thefe  wicked 
Spetlres  did  proceed  fo  far  as  to  fteal  feveral 
Quantities  of  Money  from  divers  People,  part 
of  which  Individual  Money  was  dropt  fome- 
rimes  out  of  the  Air,  before  fufficient  Spetlators, 

into 


Book  II.  Or  3  The  Hiflory  of  New-England. 


6 


into  the  Hinds  of  the  Afflicted,  while  the  Spe- 
ll res  were  urging  them  to  fubferibe  their  Cove- 
nant with  Death.  Moreover,  Poifons  to  the 
Standers-by,  wholly  Invifibly,  were  fometimes 
forced  upon  the  Afflicted  ;  which  when  they 
have  with  much  Relu&ancy  fw  allowed,  they 
have  fvooln  prefently,  fo  that  the  common  Me- 
dicines for  Poifons  have  been  found  necefftry  to 
relieve  them:  Yea,  fometimes  the  Spell  res  in 
the  Jlruggles  have  lb  dropc  the  Poifons,  that 
the  Scanders-by  have  fmelt  them,  and  view "d 
them,  and  beheld  the  Pillows  of  the  miierable 
ftained  with  them. 

Yet  more,  the  miferable  have  complained 
bitterly  of  burning  Rags  run  into  their  lore  .ably 
diftended  Mouths  ;  and  though  no  Body  could 
lee  any  fuch  Clothes,  or  indeed  any  Fires  in  the 
Chambers,  yet  prefently  the  fcalds  were  leen 
plainly  by  every  Boiy  on  the  Mouths  of  the 
Complatners.  and  not  only  the  SmeN,  but  the 
Smoke  of the  Burning  fcnfibly  rm'd  the  Cham- 
bers. 

Once  more,  the  miferable  exclaim. :d  ex 
treamly  ot  Branding  Irons  heating  at  the  Fire 
on  the  Hearth  to  mark  them  ■,  now  though  the 
Sanders-by  could  fee  no  Irons,  yet  they  could 
fee  diftinctly  the  Print  ot  them  in  the  Ashes,  and 
fmellthem  too  as  they  were  carried  by  the  not- 
feen  Furies-,  unto  the  Poor  Creuures  for  whom 
they  were  intended  ;  and  thole  Poor  Creuures 
were  thereupon  fo  Stigmatize,!  with  them,  that 
they  will  bear  the  Mar'As  of  them  to  their  Dy- 
ing Day.  Nor  are  thefe  the  Tenth  Part  of  the 
Prodigies  that  fell  out  among  the  Inhabitants  of 
New-England. 

Flalhy  People  may  Burlefque  thefe  Things, 
bat  when  Hundreds  of  the  moft  fober  People 
in  a  Country,  where  they  have  as  much  Mother- 
Wit  certainly  as  the  reft  of  Mankind,  know 
them  to  be  True,  nothing  but  the  abfutd  and 
froward  Spirit  of  Saidueifm  can  Queftion  them 
I  have  not  yet  mentioned  fo  much  as  one  Thing  !  ways  abufing  of  the  poor  affliiled  People,  had 


accompliih  the  things  defired  of  them  :  To  fi- 
ti -fie  them  in  which  Perfwalion,   they   ha  1  not 
only  the  Affert  ion's  o{  'the  Holy  Script  we  •  AlTer- 
cions,     which   the  Wifdfc Advocates   cannot  e- 
vade  without  Shifts,    too  fool ith    tor.  any   Pru- 
dent, or  too  profane  for  any  Honefi  Mm  to  ufe; 
and  they  had  not  only    the  well-atteftefl    Rela- 
tions ofthegravelt  Authors  from  BiJ/n  to  Bovet, 
and  fr©rn  Binsfeldxo  Brom'ha.1  and   bixier-,  to 
deny  ail  which,  would   be  as  reafbnabl'e  as  to 
turn  the  Chronicles  of  all  Nations  into  Roman- 
ces of  Don  Qdixot  and  the  Seven  Champions-, 
bat  they   had  alfo  an  Ocular   Demonflvation  in 
one,  who  a  little  before  had  been  executed  for 
Witchcraft,  when  Jrfeph  Dudley,  Efq^  was  the 
Chief  Judge.     There  was  one  whole  Magical 
Images   wete  found,     and  who  confejfing   her 
Deeds,  fwhen  a  Jury  of  Doctors  returned  her 
Compos  Mentis)   aaually  thewed    the  whole 
Court,   by  whit  Ceremonies  ufed    unto  therri, 
Ihe  dire-Sted   her    Familiar    Spirits    how    and 
where  to  Cruciate  ihe  Objects  of  her  Malice  j 
and  the  Experiments  being  made  over  and  over 
again  before  the  whole  Court,   the   Effell  fol- 
lowed exa-Etly  in  the  Hurts  done  to  People  at 
a  diftance  ftom  h;r.     The  Exittence  of  fuch 
Witches  was    now  taken  for  granted  by  thole 
good  Men,  w  herein  fo  far  the  generality  of  rea- 
lisable Men  have  thought  they  ran  well  •    and 
they  loon  received  the  Confejjibns  of  fome  ac- 
cufed  Perfons  to  confirm  them  in  it  ^  but  then 
they  took  one  thing  more  for  granted,  wherein 
'tis  now  as  generally  thought  they  went  out  of 
the  Way.    The  Afni&ed  People  vehemently  ac- 
cufed  feveral  Perfons  in  feveral  Places,  that  the 
Speilres   which    afflifted    them,  did  exactly 
refemble  them ;   until  the  Importunity  of  the 
Accufations     did     provoke    the    Magiftrates 
to    examine    them.     When    many    of  the 
accufed  came     upon    their    Examination,     it 
was  found,  that  the  Dxmons  then  a  thoufand 


that  will  not  be  iuftified,  if  it  be  required  by 
the  Oaths  of  rhfore  confederate  Perfons  than  any 
that  can  ridicule  thefe  odd  Phenomena. 

But  the  worft  part  of  this  aftonilhing  Tragedy 
is  yet  behind  ;  wherein  Sir  William  Phips,  at 


with  a  marvellous  exactnefs  reprefented  them  ; 
yea,  it  was  found,  that  many  of 'the  accufed,  but 
calling  their  Eye  on  the  afflilled,  the  afflilledy 
though  their  Faces  were  never  fo  much  another 
way,  would  fall  down  and  lye  in  a  fort  of  a 


laft  being  dropt,  as  it  were  from  rhe  Machtn  of  Swoon,  Wherein  they  would  continue,  whatevei 


Heaven,  was  an  Inltrument  of eafing  the  Di 
ftreffes  of  the  Land,    now  fo   darkned  by  the 
Wrath  of  the  Lord  of  Ho'h.    There  were  very 
worthy  Men  ivpon  the  Spot  where  the  affault 
from  Hell  wj.5  firft  made,    who  apprehended 
themfelves  cadl'd  from  the  God  of  Heaven,  to 
lift  the  bufineds  unto  the  bottom  of  it ;    and  in- 
deed, the  coiitinual  Imprcfllons,  which  the  out- 
cries and  the  havocks  of  the  afflilled  People 
that  lived  nigh  unto   them   caufed    on   their 
Minds,  gave  no  little  Edge  to  this  Apprehenlion. 
The  Perfons  were  Men  eminent  for  Wijdom 
and  Virtue^  and  they  went  about  their  enquiry 
into  the  matter,  as  driven  unto   it  by   a  Confer- 
ence of  Duty  to  God  and  the  World.     They  did 
in  the  firlf  Place  take  it  for  granted,  that  there 
are  Witches,  or  wicked  Children  of  Men,  who 
upon   Covenanting  with,   and  Commiffioning  ot 
Evil  Spirits,  are  attended  by  their  Miniftry  to 


Hands  were  laid  upon  them,  until  the  Hinds 
of  the  accufed  came  to  touch  them ,  and 
then  they  would  revive  immediately:  And  it 
was  found,  that  various  kinds  of  natural  Anions, 
done  by  m  iny  of  the  accufed  in  or  to  their  own 
Bodies,  as  Leaning.  Bending,  Turning  Awry^ 
or  Squeezing  their  Hands,  or  rhe  like,  were  pre- 
fenriy attended  with  the  like  things  preternatu- 
rally  done  upon  the  Bodies  of  the  afflilled 
though  they  were  fo  far  afunder,  that  the  af- 
flilled could  not  at  all  obferve  the  accufed. 
It   wis  alfo  found,    that  the  Flelh  of  the 

Ami£fed  was  often  Bitten  at  fuch  a  rate, 
that  not  only  the  Print  of  Teeth  would  he  left 
on  their  Flrfl\  but  the  very  3/aver  of  Spittle 
too  :  And  there  would  appear juft  fuch  ifet  of 

Teeth  as  was  in  the  eccufed,  even  fuch  as 
might  be  clearly  diftiriguithed  from  other  Peo- 
ples.    And  utually  the  afflilled  went  through  a 

terrible 


62 


Magnolia  Chrifti  Americana  : 


Book  II. 


terrible  deal  of  Teaming  Difficulties  from  the 
tormenting  SpeUres,  and  muft  be  long  waited 
on,  before  they  could  get  a  Breathing  Space 
from  their  Torments  to  give  in  their  Teftimo- 
nies. 

Now  many  good  Men  took  up  an  Opinion, 
That  the  Provide ncc  of  God  would  not  permit 
an  Innocent  Verjon  to  come  under  fuch  a  Spef/ral 
Rcprefentation ;  and  that  a  concurrence  of  lo 
many  Circumflances  would  prove  an  accufeJ 
Peribn  to  be  in  a  Confederacy  with  the  Dxmons 
thus  afflicting  of  the  Neighbours  ;  they  judged, 
that  except  thefe  things  might  amount  unto  a 
Conviction,  it  would  fcarce  be  poifible  ever  to 
Convitf  aWitch;  and  they  had  fbme  Philofophi- 
cal  Schemes  of  Witchcraft,  and  of  the  Method 
and  Manner  wherein  Alagieal  Poifons  ope- 
rate, which  further  lupported  them  in  their  O- 
pinion. 

Sundry  of  the  accufed  Perfons  were  brought 
unto  their  Trial,  while  this  Opinion  was  yet 
prevailing  in  the  Minds  of  the  fudges  and  the 
furies,  and  perhaps  the  molt  of  the  People  in 
theCoumry,  then  moftly  Suffering ;  and  though 
againft  fbme  of  them  that  were  Tried  there 
came  info  much  ether  Evidence  or.  their  Dia- 
bolical Compufts  that  lbme  of  the  molt  Judi- 
cious, and  yet  Vehement  Oppofers  of  the  Noti- 
ons then  in  Vogue,  publickly  declared,  Had 
they  themj elves  been  on  the  Bench,  they  could 
not  have  Acquitted  them  \    neverthelefs,  divers 


"Without  any  private  Agreement  or  Collufion, 
when  fuccellively  brought  into  a  Room,  have 
all  afierted  the  lame  Apparitions  to  be  there 
before  them  :  Thefe  Murders  did  feem  to  call 
for  an  Enquiry. 

On  the  other  Part,  there  were  many  Perfons 
of  great  Judgment,  Piety  and  Experience,  who 
from  the  beginning  were  very  much  diflatisfied 
at  thefe  Proceedings ;  they  I  eared  left  the  Devil 
would  get  fb  far  into  the  Faith  of  the  People, 
that  for  the  fake  cf  many  Truths,  which  they 
might  find  him  telling  of  them,  they  would 
come  at  length  to  believe  all  his  Lies,  where- 
upon what  a  Defolaxion  of  Names,  yea,  and  of 
Lives  alfo,  would  enfue,  a  Man  might  without 
much  Witchcraft  be  able  to  Prognofticate ;  and 
they  feared,  left  in  fuch  an  extraordinary  De- 
fcent  of  Wicked  Spirits  from  their  High  Places 
upon  us,  there  might  fuch  Principles  be  taken 
up,  as,  when  put  into  Pradne,  would  unavoi- 
dably caufe  the-,  Righteous  to  perifh  with  the 
Wicked,  and  procure  rhe  Biood-lhed  of  Perfons 
like  the  Gibeonues^  whom  ibme  learned  Men 
fuppofe  to  be  under  a  fulfe  Pretence  of  Witch- 
craft, by  Saul  exterminated. 

However  uncommon  it  might  be  for  guilllefs 
Perfons  to  come  under  fuch  unaccountable  Cir- 
cumflances, as  were  on  fo  many  of  the  Accu- 
fed, they  held  Jomc  things  there  are,  which  if 
fuffered  to  be  Common,  would  fubvert  Govern- 
ment, and  Disband  and  Ruin  Humane  Society, 


were  Condemned,  againft  whom  the  chief  Evi-  \yet  God  fometimes  may  Juffcr  fuch   Things  to 


dence   was  founded  in   the  Spellful  Exhibiti- 
ons. 

And  it  happening,  that  fome  of  the  Accufed 
coming  to  confels  themfelves  Guilty,  their 
Shapes  were  no  more  feen  by  any  of  the  afflicted, 
though  the  Con  tell  ion  had  been  kept  never  fb 
Secret,  but  inftead  thereof  the  Accufed  them- 
felves  became  in  all  Vexations  jutt  like  the  Af- 
fldted  ;  this  yet  more  confirmed  many  in  the 
Opinion  that  had  been  taken  up. 

And  another  thing 
more  to  Aft  upon  it, 

were  frequently  entertained  with  Apparitions  of 
Ghojis  at  the  fame  time  that  the  Spettres  of 
the  fuppofed  Witches  troubled  them:  Which 
Ghojis  always  calf  the  Beholders  into  far  more 
Confternation  than  any  of  the  Spectres ;  and 
when  they  exhibited  themfelves,  they  cried 
out  of  being  Murdered  by  the  Witchcrafts,  ox 
other  Violences  of  the  Perfons  reprelented  in  the 
Spelhes.  Once  or  Twice  thefe  Apparitions 
were  feen  by  others  at  the  very  fame  time  that 
they  thevv'd  themfelves  ro  the  afflicted  -,  and  lel- 
dofri  were  they  feen  at  all,  but  when  ibmething 
unufual  and  fufpicious  had  attended  the  Death 
of  the  Party  thus  appearing. 

The  afflicted  People  many  times  had  never 
heard  any  thing  before  of'  the  Perfons  appearing 
in  Ghoft,  or  of  the  Perfons  accujed  by  the  Ap- 
paritions; and  yet  the  accufed  upon  Examina- 
tion have  confeffed  the  Murders  of  thofe  very 
Perfons,  though  thefe  accufed  alfo  knew  no- 
thing of "the  Apparitions  that  had  come  in  a- 
gainft  them ;   and  the  affliUed  Perfons  likewife, 


evene,  that  we  may  know  thereby  how  much  we  are 
beholden  to  him  for  that  rejiraint  which  he  lays 
upon  the  Infernal  Spirits,  who  would  elfe  reduce 
a  World  into  a  Chaos.  They  had  already 
known  of  one  at  the  Town  oiGroton  hideoufly 
agitated  by  Devils,  who  in  her  Fits  cried  out 
much  againft  a  very  Godly  Woman  in  the 
Town,  and  when  that  Woman  approached  unto 
her,  though  the  Eyes  of  the  Creature  were  ne- 
ver fo  fhut,  fhe  yet  manifefled  a  violent  Senfe 
that  quickned  them  yet  |  of  her  approach  :  But  when  the  Gracious  Wo- 
was,  that   the  Afflicted   man  thus   Impeached ,     had  prayed    earneftly 

with  and  for  this  Creature,  then  inftead  of 
crying  out  againft  her  any  more,  fhe  owned, 
that  fhe  had  in  all  been  deluded  by  the  Devil. 
They  now  law,  that  the  more  the  AffliUed  were 
Hearkned  unto,  the  more  the  number  cf  the 
Accufed  encreafed  ;  until  at  laft  many  fcores 
were  cried  out  upon,  and  among  them,  fbme, 
who  by  the  Unblameablenefs,  yea,  and  Service- 
ablenefs  of  their  whole  Converfation,  had  ob- 
tained the  Jult  Reputation  of  Good  People  a- 
mong  all  that  were  acquainted  with  rhem.  The 
Charafter  of  the  affliUed  likewife  added  unto 
the  common  Diltafte ;  for  though  fome  o&them 
too  were  Good  People,  yet  others  of  them,  and 
fuch  of  them  as  were  moft  Flippent  at  Accufing, 
had  a  far  other  Charafter. 

In  fine,  the  Country  was  in  a  dreadful  Fer- 
ment, and  wife  Men  forelaw  a  long  Train  of 
Diffnal  and  Bloody  Confequences.  Hereupon 
they  firft  advifed,  that  the  affliiled  might  be 
kept  afunder  in  the  clofeft  Privacy  •,  and  one 
particular  Petfort  (whom  I  have  caufe  to  know) 

in 


Book  II.  0r3  The  Hifiory  gf  NevT-England. 


3 


in  purfuance  of  this  Advice,  offered  himfelf 
fingly  to  provide  Accommodations  for  any  fix 
of  them,  that  fo  the  Succefs  of  more  than  or- 
dinary Prayer  with.  Rifting,  might,  with  Patience, 
be  experienced,  before  any  other  Courfes  were 
taken. 

And  Sir  William  Phips  arriving  to  his  Govern- 
ment, after  this  enf miring  horrible  Storm  was 
begun,  did  confult  the  neighbouring  Minifte  is 
of  the  Province,who  made  unto  his  Excellency  and 
the  Council  a  return,  ('drawn  up  at  their  defire 
by  Mr.  Mather  the  Younger,  as  I  have  been  in- 
fortri d)  wherein  they  declared. 

We  judge,  that  in  the  Profccution  of  thefe 
and  all fucb  Witchcrafts,  there  is  need  of  a  ve- 
ry Critical  and  Exquifite  Caution :  Left  by  too 
much  Credulity  for  things  received  only  upon 
the  Devil's  Authority,  there  be  a  Door  opened 
for  a  long  Train  of  inferable  Confequcnces, 
and  Satan  get  an  Advantage  over  us-,  for  we 
fhould  not  be  Ignorant  of  his  Devices. 

As  in  complaints  upon  Witchcrafts,  there  may 
be  Matters  of  Enquiry,  which  do  not  amount  un- 
to Matters  of  Preiumption  ;  and  there  may  be 
Matters  of  Prefumption,  which  yet  may  not  be 
reckoned  Matters  of  Conviction ;  Jo  'tis  neceffa- 
ry  that  all  Proceedings  thereabout  be  managed 
with  an  exceeding  Tendernefs  towards  thqfe 
that  may  be  complained  of;  especially  if  they 
have  been  Perfons  formerly  of  an  unblemiihed 
Reputation. 

When  the  firft  Enquiry  is  made  into  the  Cir- 
cum fiances  of  fuch  ax  may  lye  under  any  juft 
Sufpicion  of  Witchcrafts,  we  could  wifh  that 
there  may  be  admitted  as  little  as  is  pojfible 
of  fuch  Noife,  Company,  and  Opennefs,  as 
may  too  haftily  expfe  them  that  are  Examined  • 
and  that  there  may  nothing  be  ufed  as  a  Tefkfor 
the  'Trial  of  the  Sufpetled,  the  lawfulnefs 
whereof  may  be  doubted  among  the  People  of 
God  :  But  that  the  Directions  given  by  fuch 
judicious  Writers  as  Perkins  and.  Bernard,  be 
confulted  in  fuch  a  Cafe. 

Preemptions,  whereupon  Perfons  may  be 
committed,  and  much  more  Convictions,  where- 
upon Perfons  may  be  condemned  a*  guilty  of 
Witchcrafts,  ought  certainly  to  be  more  consi- 
derable, than  barely  the  accufed  Perfons  being 
reprefented  by  a  Spe&re  to  the  afflicted :  Inaf- 
much  as  it  is  an  undoubted  and  a  notorious 
Thing,  that  a  Daemon  may,  by  God's  Permijfion, 
appear  even  to  ill  Purpojes  in  the  fhape  of  an 
Innocent,  yea,  and  a  Virtuous  Man  :  Nor  can 
we  efteem  Alterations  made  in  the  Sufferers,  by 
a  look  or  touch  of  the  accufed,  to  be  an  infal- 
lible Evidence  of  Guilt ;  but  frequently  liable  to 
be  abufed  by  the  Devil's  Legerdemains. 

We  know  not  whether  fome  remarkable  Affronts 
given  to  the  Devils,  by  our  dif-believing  ofthofe 
Teftimonies  vohofe  whole  torce  and  Strength  is 
fro?n  them  alone,  may  not  put  a  Period  unto  the 
Progrefs  of  a  direful  Calamity  begun  upon  us, 
in  the  accufation  offo  many  Perfons,  whereof, 
we  hope,  fome  are  yet  clear  from  the  great 
Tranfgreffion  laid  unto  their  Charge- 


The  Minifters  of  the  Province  alfo  being 
Jealous  led  this  Ceunfel  fhould  not  be  duly 
followed,  requeued  the  Prefident  of  Harvara 'Col- 
ledge  to  Compofe  and  Publilh  (which  he  did) 
fome  Cafes  ofConfacnce  referring  to  thefe  Diffi- 
culties: In  which  Treatife  he  did,  with  De~ 
monltrations  of  incomparable  Reajon  and  Read- 
ing, evince  it,  that  Satan  may  appear  in  the 
Shape  of  an  Innocent  and  a  Virtuous  Perfon,  to 
afflicf  thofe  that  Puffer  by  the  Diabolical  Mo- 
lejiations  :  And  that  the  Ordeal  of  the  Sight, 
and  the  Touch,  is  not  a  Conviction  of  a  Covenant 
with  the  Devil,  but  liable  to  great  Exceptions 
againft  the  Lawfulnefs,  as  well  as  the  Evidence 
of  it :  And  that  either  a  Free  and  Fair 
Confclfiffn  of  the  Criminals,  or  the  Oarh  of  two 
Credible  Perfons  proving  fuch  Things  againft  • 
the  perfon  accufed,  as  none  but  fuch  as  have  a 
Familiarity  with  the  Devil  can  know,  or  do, 
is  neceiliry  to  the  Proof  of  the  Crime.    Thus, 

Cum  mifit  Natura   Fer.tr,    t>    Ahnftra  per 
Orbem, 

Mi  fit  &  Alciden  qui  Fera  Monftra  domet. 

,  The  Dutch  and  French  Minifters  in  the  Pro- 
vince of  New  York,  having  likewife  about  the 
fame  time  their  Judgment  asked  by  the  Chief 
fudge  of  that  Province,  who  was  then  a  Gen- 
tleman of  New-England,  they  gave  it  in  under 
their  Hands,  that  if  we  believe  no  Vcnefick 
Witchcraft,  we  muft  Renounce  the  Scripture  of 
God,  and  the  Confent  of  almoft  all  the  World  ; 
but  that  yet  the  Apparition  of  a  Perfon  afflicting 
another,  is  a  very  Infufficient  proof  of  a  Witch  -, 
nor  is  it  Inconfiftent  with  the  Holy  and  Righ- 
teous Government  of  God  over  Men,  to  permit 
the  Affliction  of  the  Neighbours,  by  Devils  in 
the  Shape  of  Good  Men ;  and  that  a  Good  Name, 
obtained  by  a  Good  Life,  fhould  not  be  Loft 
by  Meet  Spectral  Accufations. 

Now  upon  a  Deliberate  Review  of  thefe 
things,  his  Excellency  firft  Reprieved,  and 
then  Pardoned  many  of  them  that  had  been 
Condemned  •,  and  there  fell  out  feveral  ftrange 
things  that  caufed  the  Spirit  of  the  Country  to 
run  as  vehemently  upon  the  Acquitting  of  all 
the  accufed,  as  it  by  miftake  ran  at  firft  upon 
the  Conde mning  of  them.  Some  that  had  been 
zealoufly  of  the  Mind,  that  the  Devils  could 
not  in  the  Shapes  of  good  Men  afflict  other 
Men,  were  terribly  Confuted,  by  having  their 
own  Shapes,  and  the  Shapes  of  their  molt  inti- 
mate and'  valued  Friends,  thus  abufed.  And 
though  more  than  twice  Twenty  had  made 
fuch  voluntary,  and  harmonious,  and  uncontroul- 
able  Confeffions,  that  if  they  were  all  Sham, 
there  was  therein  me  greateft  Violation  made 
by  the  Efficacy  of  the  Invifible  World,  upon 
the  Rules  of  Underftanding  Humane  Affairs, 
that  was  ever  feen  fince  God  made  Man  upon 
the  Earth,  yet  they  did  fo  recede  from  their 
Confeffions,  that  it  was  very  clear,  fome  of 
them  had  been  hitherto,  in  a  fort  of  a  Prater- 
natural  Dream,  wherein  they  had  Paid  oflhem- 
felves.  they  knew  not  what  them/elves. 

Iri 


64 


Magnalia  Chrtjli  Americana  : 


Book  II. 


In  fine,  The  laft  Courts  that  fate  upon  this 
'Thorny  Buftnefs,  finding  that  it  was  impoffible 
to  Penetrate  into  the  whole  Meaning  of  the 
things  that  had  happened,  and  that  fo  many 
unfearchable  Cheats  were  interwoven  into  the 
Conclufion  of  a  Myfterious  Bulinels,  which  per- 
haps had  not  crept  thereinto  at  the  Beginning 
of  it,  they  cleared  the  accufed  as  faft  as  they 
Tried  them  ;  and  within  a  little  while  the  af- 
flicted were  moft  of,  them  delivered  out  or  their 
Troubles  alfo:  And  the  Land  had  Peace  reftored 
unto  it,  by  the  God  of  Peace,  treading  Satan 
under  hoot.  Erafmits,  among  other  Hiftorians, 
does  tell  us,  that  at  a  Town  in  Germany,  a 
Diemon  appearing  on  the  Top  of  a  Chimney, 
threatned  that  he  would  fet  the  Town  on  Fire, 
and  at  length  Mattering  fome  Alhes  abroad,  the 
whole  Town  was  prelently  and  horribly  Burnt 
unto  the  Ground. 

Sir  William  Phips  now  beheld  fuch  Dxmons 
hid  oufly  fcattering  Fire  about  the  Country, 
in  the  Exafperations  which  the  Minds  of  Men 
were  on  thcfe  things  riling  unto-,  and  therefore 
when  he  had  well  Canvafed  a  Caufe,  which 
perhaps  might  have  puzzled  the  Wilciom  ot  the 
wifeft  Men  on  Earth  to  have  managed,  without 
any  Error  in  their  Adminiftrations,  he  thought, 
if  it  would  be  any  Error  at  all,  it  would  cer- 
tainly be  the  fafeft  tor  him  to  put  a  ftop  unto 
all  future  Profecutions,  as  far  as  it  lay  in  him  to 
do  it. 

He  did  fo,  and  for  it  he  had  not  only  the 
Printed  Acknowledgments  of  the  New  Engen- 
ders, who  publickly  thanked  him.  As  one  of 
the  Tribe  of  Zebulun,  raifed  up  from  among 
them/elves,  and  Spirited  as  well  as  CommilTt- 
oned  to  be  the  Steers-man  of  a  Veffel  befogg'd  in 
the  Mare  Mortuum  of  Witchcraft,  who  now  jo 
happily  fleered  her  Courfe,  that  jhe  efcaped 
Shtpwrack,  and  vast*  fajely  again  Moored  under 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  \  and  cut  af under  the 
Circran  Knot  of  Enchantment,  more  difficult  to 
be  Diffolvcd  than  the  famous  Gordian  one  of 
Old.  ' 

But  the  QUEEN  alfo  did  him  the  Ho- 
nour to  write  unto  him  thofe  Gracious  Letters, 
wherein  her  Majefty  commended  his  Conduct  in 
thefe  Inexplicable  Matters.  And  I  did  right 
in  calling  thefe  Matters  Inexplicable.  For  if, 
after  the  Kingdom  of  Sweden  (in  the  Year 
1669,  and  1670.J  had  fome  Hundreds  of  their 
Children  by  Night  often  carried  away  by  Spe- 
ffres  to  an  Hellifh  Rendezvous,  where  the 
Monfters  that  fo  Spirited  them,  did  every  way 
Tempt  them  to  AiTociate  with  them;,  and  the 
Judges  of  the  Kingdom,  after  extraordinary  Sup- 
plications to  Heaven,  upon  a  Ariel:  Enquiry, 
were  fo  fatisfied  with  the  Confejfions  of  more 
than  Twenty  of  the  accufed,  agreeing  exa&ly 
unto  the  Depofitions  of  the  afflicted,  that  they 
put  feveral  Scores  oF  Witches  to  Death,  where- 
upon the  Con  fu  lions  came  unto  a  Period ;  yet 
after  all,  the  chiefeft  Perfons  in  the  Kingdom 
would  Queftion  whether  there  were  any  Witch- 
crafts at  all  in  the  whole  Affair ;  it  muft  not  be 
wondredat,  if  the  People  oF  New-England  are 


to  this  Hour  full  of  Doubts,  about  the  Steps 
which  were  taken,  while  a  War  from  the  In- 
vinftble  World  was  Terrifying  ot'  them  ^  and 
whether  they  did  not  kill  fome  of  their  own  fide 
in  the  Smoke  and  Noife  of  this  Dreadful  War. 
And  it  will  be  yet  lefs  wondred  at,  if  we  fconfi- 
der,  that  we  have  feen  the  whole  Englifh  Na- 
tion alarumed  with  a  Plot,  and  both  ticufes  of 
Parliament,  upon  good  Grounds,  Vrting  their 
Senfe  of  it,  and  many  Perfons  moft  juftly 
Hangd,  Drawn  and  guarter'd,  for  their  "ihare 
in  it :  When  yet  there  are  enough,  who  to  this 
Day  will  pretend,  that  they  cannot  comprehend 
how  much  of  it  is  to  be  accounted  Credible. 
However,  having  related  thefe  wonderful  Paffu- 
ges,  whereof,  it  the  Veracity  of  the  Relator  in 
any  one  Point  be  contcfted,  there  are  whole 
Clouds  of  Witneffes  to  vindicate  it,  I  will  take 
my  leave  of  trie  Matter  with  an  wholeforne 
Caution  of  Laffantius,  which,  it  may  be,  fome 
other  Parts  of  the  World  befides  New-England 
may  have  occafion  to  think  upon  ;  Efficiunt 
D.tmones,  ut  qu.t  non  funt,  fie  tamen,  quafi 
Jint,  confpicienda  Homimbus  exhibeunt. 

But  the  Devils  being  thus  vanquilhed,  we 
lhall  next  hear,  that  fome  of  his  moft  devoted 
and  refernbling  Children  are  lb  too. 

£.  17.  As  one  of  the  firft  Actions  done  by  Sir 
William,  after  he  came  to  the  Age  ot  Doing, 
was  to  lave  the  Lives  of  many  poor  People  from 
the  Rage  of  the  Diabolical  Indians  in  the 
Eafiern  Parts  of  the  Country,  to  now  he  was 
come  to  the  Government,  his  Mind  was  very 
vehemently  fet  upon  recovering  of  thofe  Parts 
from  the  Miferies,  which  a  New  and  a  Long 
War  of  the  Indians  had  brought  upon  them. 
His  Birth  and  Toutb  in  the  Edji,  had  rendred 
him  well  known  unto  the  Indians  there  ;  he 
had  Hunted  and  Filhed  many  a  weary  D.\y 
in  his  Childhood  with  them  -,  and  when  thole 
rude  Savages  had  got  the  Story  by  the  End,  that 
he  had  found  a  Ship  full  of  Money,  and  was 
now  become  all  one-a-King  !  They  were  mighti- 
ly attonifhed  at  it :  But  when  they  farther  un- 
derftood  that  he  was  become  rhe  Governour  of 
New-England,  it  added  a  further  Degree  of 
Confternation  to  their  Aftonilhment.  He  like- 
wife  was  better  acquainted  with  the  Scituation 
of  thofe  Regions  than  moft  other  Men  ;  and  he 
confider'd  what  vaft  Advantages  might  arife  to 
no  lefs  than  the  whole  Englifh  Nation,  from 
the  Lumber,  and  Eifhery,  and  Naval-fores^ 
which  thofe  Regions  might  foon  fupply  the 
whole  Nation  withal,  if  once  they  were  well 
fettled  with  good  Inhabitants. 

Wherefore  Governour  Phips  took  the  firft 
Opportunity  to  raife  an  Army,  with  which  he 
Travelled  in  Perfon,  under  rhe  Eaft  Country,  to 
find  out  and  cut  off  the  Barbarous  Enemy, 
which  had  continued  for  near  four  Years  toge- 
ther, making  horrible  Havock  on  the  Plantati- 
ons that  lay  all  along  the  Northern  Frontiers 
of  New-England :  And  having  purfued  thofe 
worfe  than  Scythian  Wolves,  till  they  could  be 
no  longer  followed,  he  did  with  a  very  laudable 
Skilly  and  unufual  Speed,  and  with  lefs  Cofi  unto 

the 


Book  II.         0ry  The  Hiftory  gf  New-England. 


^5 


the  Crown,  than  perhaps  ever  fuch  a  thing  was 
done  in  the  World,  erett  a  ftrong  Fort  at  Pem- 

maquid. 

This  Fort  he  contrived  fo  much  in  the  very 
Heart  of  the  Country  now  pofTeffed  by  the  E- 
nemy,  as  very  much  to  hinder  the  feveral  Na- 
tions of  the  Tawnies  from  C/anning  together  for 
the  Common  Difturbance  •,  and  his  Deiign  was; 
that  a  iufficient  Garrifon  being  here  pofted, 
they  might  from  thence,  upon  Advice,  ilTue 
forth  to  furprize  that  Ferocient  Enemy.  At 
the  lame  time  he  would  fain  have  gone  in  Per- 
lbn  up  the  Bay  of  Funda,  with  a  convenient 
Force,  to  have  fpoiled  the  Neft  of  Rebellious 
Frenchmen,  who  being  Rendezvouzed  at  St. 
John\  bad  a  yearly  Supply  of  Ammunition 
from  franco,  with  which  they  ftill  fupplied 
the  Indians,  unto  the  extream  Detriment  of 
the  Englifh  ,  but  his  Friends  for  a  long  time 
tvould  not  permit  him  to  expofe  himfelf  unto 
the  Inconveniencies  of  that  Expedition. 

However,  he  took  fuch  Merhods,  that  the 
Indi-AH  King's  of  the  Eaft,  within  a  little  while 
had  their  Stomachs  brought  down,  to  fue  and 
beg  for  a  Peace :  And  making  their  appearance 
at  the  New- Fort  in  Pemmaquid,  Aug.  11.  1693. 
they  did  there  Sign  an  lnftrument,  wherein, 
lamenting  the  Miferies  which  their  Adherence 
to  the  trench  Counfeh  had  brought  them  into, 
they  did  for  themfelves,  and  with  the  Confenr 
of  ail  the  Indians  from  the  River  of  Merri- 
mack, to  the  moft  Eafterly  Bounds  of"  all  the 
Province,  acknowledge  their  Hearty  Subje&ion 
and  Obedience  unto  the  Crown  of  England, 
and  Solemnly  Covenant,  Promile  and  Agree,  to 
and  with  Sir  William  Phips,  Captain  General 
and  Governour  in  Chief  over  the  Province,  and 
his  SuccefTors  in  that  place,  That  they  would 
for  ever  ceafe  all  Afts  of  Hoftility  towards  the 
Subjects  of  the  Crown  of  England,  'and  hold  a 
conltant  Friendihip  with  all  the  Englifh.  That 
they  would  utterly  abandon  the  French  Interefts, 
and  not  Succour  or  Conceal  any  Enemy  Indians^ 
from  Canada  or  elfewhere,  that  fhould  come  to 
any  of  their  Plantations  within  the  Englifh  Ter- 
ritories: That  all  Englifh  Captives,  which  they 
had  among  them,  Ihould  be  returned  with  all 
poffible  fpeed,  and  no  Ranfom  or  Payment  be 
given  for  any  of  them :  That  Their  Majefties 
Stibje&s  the  Englijh,  now  ihould  quietly  enter 
upon,  and  for  ever  improve  and  enjoy  all  and 
lingular  their  Rights  of  Lands,  and  former  Pof- 
ieffions,  within  the  Eaftern  Parts  of  the  Pro- 
vince, without  any  Claims  from  any  Indians 
or  being  ever  difturbed  therein  :  That  all  Trade 
and  Commerce,  which  hereafter  might  be  al- 
lowed between  the  Englijh  and  the  Indians, 
Ihould  be  under  a  Regulation  ftated  by  an  A£t 
of  the  General  Affembly,  or  as  limited  by  the 
Governour  of  the  Province,  with  the  Confent 
and  Advice  of  h.s  Council.  And  that  if  any 
Controverfie  hereafter  happen  between  any  of 
the  Englifh  and  the  Indians,  no  private  Revenge 
was  to  be  taken  by  the  Indians,  but  proper 
Applications  to  be  made  unto  His  Majefties 
Government,  for  the  due  remedy  thereof;  Sub- 


mitting themfelves  herewithal  to  be  Governed  by 
His  Majefties  Laws. 

And  for  the  Manifeftation  of  their  Sincerity 
in  the  Submijfion  thus  made,  the  Hypocritical 
Wretches  delivered  Hoftagcs  for  their  Fidelity ; 
and  then  fet  their  Marks  and  Seals,  no  lets  than 
Thirteen  Sagamores  of  them,  ('with  Names  of 
more  than  a  Perfian  length)  unto  this  lnftru- 
ment. 

The  firft  Rife  of  this  Indian  War  had  hither- 
to been  almoft  as  dark  as  that  of  the  River  A7- 
las  :  'Tis  true,  if  any  Wild  Englifh  did  rafhly 
begin  to  provoke  and  affront  the  Indians,  yet 
the  Indians  had  a  fairer  way  to  obtain  Juftice 
than  by  Bloodihed :  However,  upon  the  A'ev:- 
Englifh  Revolution,    the  Sure  of  the  War  be- 
came wholly  Xeio  :  The  Government  then  em- 
ployed all  poiiib'ie  ways  to  procure  a  good  Un- 
derltanding  with  the  Indians  ;  but  all  the  Eng/iU? 
Offers,  Kindneffes,  Courtefies  were  barbaroufly 
requited  by  them,  with  New  Acts  of  the  molt 
perfidious  Hoftility.     Notwlthftanding  all  this, 
there  were  ftill    fome    Nice  People  that  had 
their  Scruples  about  the  Juftice  of  the  War  ;  but 
upon  this  New  Submiilion  of  the  Indians,  if  e- 
ver  thofe  Rattle-Jnakes  (the  only  Rattle  fnakes, 
which,  they  fay,  were  ever  feen  to  the  North- 
ward of  Merimack-River)  ihould  ftir  again,  the 
moft  fcrupulous    Perfons  in  the  World   muft 
own,  That  it  mufl  be  the  mo(l  unexceptionable 
piece  of  'juftice  in  the  World  for  to  extinguijh 
them. 

Thus  did  the  God  of  Heaven  blefs  the  un- 
wearied Applications  of  Sir  William  Phips,  for 
the  reftoring  of  Peace  unto  Neic-England.  when 
the  Country  was  quite  out  of  Breath,  in  its  En- 
deavours for  its  own  Prefervation  from  the  con- 
tinual Outrages  of  an  inaccefiible  Enemy,  and 
by  the  Poverty  coming  info  like  an  armed  Man, 
from  the  unfuccefsfulnefs  of  their  former  Armies, 
that  it  could  not  imagine  how  to  take  one  ftep 
further  in  its  Wars.  The  moll  happy  Refpite 
of  Peace  beyond  Mcrimack-River  being  thus  pro- 
cured, the  Governour  immediately  fet  himfelf 
to  ufe  all  poilible  Methods,  that  it  might  be 
Peace, like  a  River,  nothing  fhort  of  Everlafting . 

He  therefore  prevailed  with  Two  or  Three 
Gentlemen  to  join  with  him,  in  fending  a  Sup- 
ply of  Nccrfjaries  for  Life  unto  the  Indians^ 
until  the  General  AiFembly  could  come  together 
to  fettle  the  Indian-Trade  for  the  Ad^ant-ge  of 
the  Publick,  that  the  Indians  might  not  '  y  Ne- 
ceffity  be  driven  again  to  become  a  French  P*o- 
priety  ;  audio'  by  this  Aclion,  as  the  Gentlemen 
themfelves  were  great  Lofers  in  their  Elites, 
thus  he  himfelf  declared  unto  the  Members  of  the 
General  Affembly,  that  he  would  upon  Oath 
give  an  Account  unto  them  of  all  his  own  Gains, 
and  count  himfelf  a  Gainer,  if  in  lieu  of  ail  they 
would  give  him  one  Beaver-Hat.  The  fame  Ge- 
nerality alfo  cauied  him  to  take  many  a  tedious 
Voyage,  accompanied  fometimes  with  his  Fidus 
Achates,  and  very  dear  Friend,  Kinfman  and 
Neighbour,  Colonel  John  Philips,  between  Bofion 
and  Pemmaquid ;  and  this  in  the  bitter  Weeks  of 
theAvw-E^/z/^jWhich  is  almoft  a  RuJJiavWinittJ 
It  He 


66 


Magnolia.  Christ  Americana : 


Book  IL 


He  was  a  fort  of  Confefifor  under  fuch  Tor- 1 
merits  of  Cold,  as  once  made  the  Martyrdom  of 
Muria,  and  others,  Commemorated  in  Orations 
of  the  Ancients  •  and  the  Snow  and  Ice  which 
Pliny  calls,  The  Punifiment  of  Mountains,  he 
chearfully  endured,  without  any  other  Profit 
unto  himfelf,  but  only  the  Pleafure  of  thereby 
eftablifhing  and  continuing  unto  the  Peeple  the 
Liberty  to  Sleep  quietly  in  their  warm  Nefils  at 
home,  while  he  was  thus  concerned  for  them 
abroad.  Non  rn'ihi  fed  Populo,  the  Motto  of 
the  Emperor  Hadrian,  was  Engraved  on  the 
Heart  of  Sir  William  :  NOT  FOR  MY  SELF, 
BUT  FOR  MY  PEOPLE :  Or  that  of  Maxi- 
min,  J^uo  major,  hoc  Laboriofwr,  the  more  Ho- 
nourable, the  more  Laborious. 

Indeed  the  Refilcfnefs  of  his  Travels  to  the 
Southern  as  well  as  the  Eafiern  Parts  of  the 
Country,  when  the  publick  Safety  call'd  for 
his  Prefence,  would  have  made  one  to  think 
on  the  Tranfation  which  the  King  of  Portugal, 
on  a  very  Extraordinary  Occafion,  gave  the 
Fourth  Verfe  in  the  Hundred  and  Twenty-hrft 
Pfalm.  He  will  not  Slumber,  nor  will  he  fuf- 
fer  to  Sleep  the  Keeper  0/Ifrael.  Nor  did 
he  only  try  to  Cicurate  the  Indians  of  the  Eafi, 
by  other  prudent  and  Proper  Treatments ;  but 
he  alfo  furnithed  himfelf  with  an  Indian 
Preacher  of  the  Gofpel,  whom  he  carried  unto 
the  Eajiward.  with  an  Intention  to  Teach  them 
the  Principles  of  the  Protefiant  Religion,  and 
Unteach  them  the  mixt  Paganry  and  Popery 
which  hitherto  Viaboliz'd  them.  To  Unteach 
them,  I  fay ;  for  they  had  been  Taught  by  the 
French  Priefts  this  among  other  things,  that  the 
Mother  of  our  Bleffed  Saviour  was  a  French 
Lady,  and  that  they  were  EngUflmen  by  whom 
our  Saviour  was  Murdered  ;  and  that  it  was 
therefore  a  Meritorious  thing  to  deftroy  the 
Englifh  Nation.  The  Name  of  the  Preacher 
whom  the  Governour  carried  with  him,  was 
Nahauton,  one  of  the  Natives  ;  and  becaufe  the 
paffing  of  fuch  Expreifions  from  the  Mouth  of 
a  poor  Indian,  may  upon  fome  Accounts  be  wor- 
thy of  Remembrance ;  let  it  be  Remembred,  that 
when  the  Governour  propounded  unto  him  fuch 
a  Mijfion  to  the  Eafiern  Indians,  he  replied,  I 
know  that  I  fihall  probably  Endanger  my  Life, 
by  going  to  Preach  the  Gofpel  among  the  Frenchi- 
fied'Indians ;  but  I  know  that  it  will  be  a  Ser- 
vice unto  the  Lord  fefus  Chrifi,  and  therefore 
I  will  venture   to  go. 

God  grant  that  his  Behaviour  may  be  in  all 
things,  at  all  times,  according  to  thefe  his  Ex- 
prcjfions !  While  thefe  things  were  doing, 
having  Intelligence  of  a  French  Man  of  War 
expected  at  St.  John's,  he  difpatched  away  the 
Non-fuch-Frigat  thither  to  intercept  him-,  ne 
verthelefs  by  the  grofs  Negligence,  and  perhaps 
Cowardice  of  the  Captain,  who  had  lately  come 
from  England  with  Orders  to  take  the  Com- 
mand of  her,  inftead  of  one  who  had  been  by 
Sir  William  a  while  before  put  in,  and  one  who 
had  fignalized  himfelf  by  doing  of  notable 
Service  for  the  King  and  Country  in  it,  the 
Frenchman    arrived  unladed,  and   went  away 


untouch'd:  The  Governour  was  extreamly  of- 
fended at  this  notorious  Deficiency ;  it  call:  him 
into  a  great  Impatience  to  fee  the  Kation  Co 
wretchedly  ferved  •,  and  he  would  himfelf  have 
gone  to  Saint  John's  with  a  Refolution  to  Spoil 
that  Harbour  of  Spoilers,  if  he  had  not  been 
taken  off,  by  being  fent  for  home  to  Whitehall 
in  the  very  midft  of  his  Undertakings. 

But  the  Treacherous  Indians  being  poifoned 
with  the  French  Enchantments,  and  furnifhed 
with  brave  New  Coats,  and  New  Arms,  and  all 
,  new  Incentives  to  War,  by  the  Man  ef  War 
newly  come  in ;  they  prefently  and  perfidioufly 
fell  upon  two  Englifh  Towns,  and  Butchered 
and  Captived  many  of  the  Inhabitants,  and 
made  a  New  War,  which  the  New-England- 
ers  know  not  whether  it  will  end  until  either 
Canada  become  an  Englifh  Province,  or  that 
State  arrive,  wherein  they  fhall  beat  Swords  in- 
to Plough-fhares,  and  Spears  into  Pruning-hooks. 
And  no  doubt,  the  taking  off  Sir  William  Phips 
was  no  fmall  Encouragement  unto  the  Indians 
in  this^Relapfe,  into  the  Villanies  and  Maffacres 
of  a  New  Invafwn  upon  the  Country. 

§.  1 3.  Reader,  'tis  time  for  us  to  view  a  lit- 
tle more  to  the  Life,  the  Pitture  of  the  Per- 
fon,  the  ASions  of  whofe  Life  we  have  hi- 
therto been  looking  upon.  Know  then,  that  for 
his  Exterior,  he  was  one  Tail,  beyond  the 
common  Set  of  Men,  and  Thick  as  well  as 
Tall,  and  Strong  as  well  as  Thick :  He  was, 
in  all  refpe&s,  exceedingly  Rebufi,  and  able  to 
Conquer  fuch  Difficulties  of  Diet  and  of  Travel, 
as  would  have  kill'd  moft  Men  alive :  Nor  did 
the  Fat,  whereinto  he  grew  very  much  in  his 
later  Years,  take  away  the  Vigour  of  his  Moti- 
ons. 

He  was  Well-fet,  and  he  was  therewithal  of 
a  very  Comely,  though  a  very  Manly  Counte- 
nance :  A  Countenance  where  any  true  skill  in 
Phyfiognomy  would  have  read  the  Characters 
of  a  Generous  Mind.  Wherefore  palling  to  his 
Interior,  the  very  firft  thing  which  there 
offered  ir  felf  unto  Obfervation,  was  a  moft  In- 
comparable Generofity. 

And  of  this,  befides  the  innumerable  Inftan- 
ces  which  he  gave  in  his  ufual  Hatred  of 
Dirty  or  Little  Tricks,  there  was  one  Inftarice 
for  which  I  muft  freely  fay,  I  never  Jaw  Three 
Men  in  this  World  that  Equaled  him  •>  this  was 
his  wonderfully  Forgiving  Spirit.  In  the  vaft 
Variety  of  Bufinefs,  through  which  he  Raced 
in  his  time,  he  met  with  many  and  mighty  In- 
juries -,  but  although  I  have  heard  all  that 
the  moft  venemous  Malice  could  ever  tiifs  at 
his  Memory,  I  never  did  hear  unto  this  Hour, 
that  he  did  ever  once  deliberately  Revenge  an 
Injury. 

Upon  certain  Affronts  he  has  made  fudden 
Returns  that  have  fhewed  Choler  enough,  and 
he  has  by  Blow,  as  well  as  by  Word,  chaftifed 
Incivilities  :  He  was,  indeed,  fufficiently  im- 
patient of  being  put  upon;  and  when'  Bafe 
Men,  furprizing  him  at  fome  Dif advantages 
(fbrelfefew  Men  durft  have  done  it)  have  fome- 
*  times 


Book  II.         0ry  The  Hi/lory  0/~  New-England. 


<v 


rimes  drawn  upon  him,  he  has,  without  the 
Wicked  Madncfs  of  a  Formal  Duel,  made  them 
feel  that  he  knew  how  to  Cor  red  Fools.  Ne- 
verthelefs,  he  ever  declined  a  Deliberate  Re- 
venge of  a  Wrong  done  unto  him ;  though  few 
Men  upon  Earth  have,  in  their  Vicijfitudes, 
been  furniihed  with  fuch  frequent  Opportunities 
oi  Revenge,  as  Heaven  brought  into  the  Hands 
of  this  Gentleman. 

Under  great  Provocations,  he  would  com- 
monly fay,  'Tis  no  Matter,  let  them  alone  ■ 
Jome  time  or  other  they'll  fee  their  W.eaknefs 
and  Raf}>ncj's1  and  have  occafion  for  me  to  do 
them  a  Kindnefs :  And  they  fhall  then  fee  I 
have  quite  fo> gotten  all  their  Bafencfs.  Ac- 
cordingly 'twas  remarkable  to  lee  ir,  tlr.t  few 
Men  ever  did  him  a  Mif chief,  but  thofe  Men 
afterwards  had  occafion  for  him  to  do  them  a 
Kindnefs;  and  he  did  the  Kindnefs  wirh  as 
forgetful  a  Bravery,  as  if  the  MiJ chief  had  ne- 
ver been  done  at  all.  The  Emperor  Theodo- 
fius  himfelf'  could  not  be  readier  to  Forgive, 
lb  worthily  did  heverifie  that  Obfervation. 

§Luo  quifque  eft  Major,  magk  eft  Placabilis 

Ira, 
Et  Faciles  Motus,  Mens  Genercfa  capt. 

In  thofe  Places  of  Power  whereto  the  Provi- 
dence of  God  by  feveral  Degrees  railed  him, 
Itltill  fell  out  fo,  that  before  his  Rife  thereunto 
he  underwent  fuch  things  as  he  counted  very 
hard  Abufes,  from  thofe  very  Perlbnsover  whom 
the  Divine  Providence  afterwards  gave  him  the" 
Afcendant. 

By  fuch  Trials,  the  Wifdom  of  Heaven  ft  111 
prepared  him,as  DavidbQibie  him,  for  fucccfjive 
Advancements  ;  and  as  he  behaved  himfelf  with 
a  marvellous  Long-fuffering,  when  he  was  Tried, 
by  fuch  Mortifications,  thus  when  he  came  to  be 
advanced,  he  convinced  all  Mankind,  that  he  had 
perfectly  Butitd  all  the  old  Offences  in  an  Eter- 
nal AmncfJy.  1  was  my  Self  an  Ear-wit nefs, 
that  one,  who  was  an  Eye-witnefs  of  his  Beha- 
viour under  fuch  Probations  of  his  Patience, 
did,  long  before  his  .  Arrival  to  that  Honour, 
fay  unto  him,  Sir,  Forgive  thofe  that  give  you 
thefe  Vexations,  and  know  that  llx  God  of  Hea- 
ven intends,  before  he  hat  dove  with  you,  to 
make  you  the  Govemour  of  New-England !  And 
when  he  did 'indeed  become  the  Govemour  of 


Horfe,  and  the  next  Perfon  in  Dignity  to  him- 
felf, did  firft  privately  Traduce  him,  as  one 
that  was  no  Soldier,  and  lefs  Politician  ;  and 
he  afterwards  did  both  by  Speeches  and  Letters 
prejudice  not  only  the  Army,  but  alio  the  Senate 
againft  him,  fo  that  Alinutius  was  now  by  an 
unprefidented  Commiilion  brought  into  an  / 
quality  with  Fabn/s. 

All  this  while  the  great  Fabim  did  not  throw 
up  his  Cares  for  the  Commonwealth,  but  with 
a  wondrous  Equality  of  Mind  endured  equally 
the  Malice  of  the  fudges,  and  the  Fury  of  the 
Commons-,  and  when  Minutius  a  while  after 
was  with  all  his  Forces  upon  the  Point  ofpe- 
riihing  by  the  viftorious  Arms  of  Hannibal^ 
this  very  k'abiM,  not  liftening  to  the  Dictates' 
ui'Revenge,  came  in  and  helped  him,  and  laved 
him;  and  16  by  a  rare  Virtue,  he  made  his 
word:  Adverfariest\\t  Captives  of  his  Generofity, 
One  of  the  Antients  upon  fuch  an  Hilton'; 
cried  out,  If  Heathens  can  do  thus  much  for  the 
Glory  of  their  'Name,  what  fhall  not  Chrifiians 
do  for  the  Glory  of  Heaven !  And  Sir  William 
Phips  did  fo  much  more  than  thus  much,  that 
befides  his  meriting  the  Glory  of  fuch  a  Name, 
as  PU1PP1US  MAXIMUS,  he  therein 
had  upon  him  the  Symptoms  of  a  Title  to  the 
Glory  of  Heaven,  in  the  Seal  of  his  own  Pardon 
from  God.  Nor  was  this  Generofity  in  His 
EXCELLENCY  the  Govemour  of  New-Eng- 
land, unaccompanied  with  many  other  Excel- 
lencies-, whereof  the  Piety  of  his  Carriage  to- 
wards God  is  worthy  to  be  firft  Mentioned. 

It  is  true,  He  was  very  Zealous  for  all  Men 
to  enjoy  fach  a  Liberty  of  Confcience,  as  he 
judged  a  Native  Right  of  Mankind :  And  he 
was  extreamly  Troubled  at  the  over-boiling 
Zeal  of  fome  good  Men,  who  formerly  took 
that  wrong  Way  of  reclaiming  Hereticks  by  Per- 
fection. For  this  Generofity,  it  may  be,  fome 
would  have  compared  him  unto  Gallio,  the  Go- 
vemour of  Achaia,w horn  our  Preachers,  perhaps 
with  Miftake  enough,  think  to  be  condemned 
in  the  Scripture,  lor  his  not  appearing  to  be  a 
fudge,  in  Mattets  which  indeed  fell  not  under 
his  Cognizance. 

And  I  lhall  be  content  that  he  be  compared 
unto  that  Gentleman ;  for  that  Gallio  was  the 
Brother  of  Seneca,  who  gives  this  Character  of 
him,  That  there  wan  no  Man  who  did  not  love 
him  too  little,    if  he  could  Love  him  any  more  ; 


New-England,  he  lhew'd  that  he  ftill  continued   and,  That  there  was  no  Mortal  fo  Dear  to  any, 
a  Govemour  of  himfelf,    in   his  Treating  all ;  as  he  was  to  all ;  and,  That  he  hated  all  Vices, 
that  had  formerly  been  in  ill  Terms  with  him,  \but  none  more  than  Flattery. 
wirh  as  much  Favour  and  Freedom,  as  if  there  i     Bur   while    the   Generofity  of   Sir  William 
had  never  happened  the  leaft  Exafperations :  caufed  him  to  defire  a  Liberty  of  Confcience, 


Though  any  Govemour  that  Kens  Hobbianifm, 
can  eafily  contrive  Ways  enough  to  wreak  a 
Spite,  where  he  owes  it. 

It  was  with  fome  Chriftian  Remark,  thaf  he 
read  the  Pagan-ftory  of  the  Renowned  Fabitts 
Maximus,  who  being  preferred  unto  the  high 
eft  Office  in  the  Commonwealth,  did,  through  a 
Zeal  for  his  Country,  overcome  the  gieateft 
Contempts  that  any  Perfon  of  Quality  could 
have  received.      Minutii/s  the  Mafter  of  the 


his  Piety  would  not  allow  a  Liberty  of  Pro- 
phanenefs,  either  to  himfelf  or  others.  He  did 
not  aftecl  any  mighty  fhow  of  Devotion  ;  and 
when  he  faw  any  that  were  evidently  caj-eful 
ro  make  a  fhow,  and  efpecially,  if  at  the  fame 
Time  they  were  notorioufly  Defective  in  the 
Duties  of  Common  Juftice  or  Goodnejs,  or  the 
Duties  of  the  Relations  wherein  God  had  fid- 
them,   he  had  an  extream  Averfion  for 


tioned 
them. 


Ii  2 


Never- 


68 


Magnalia  Chrifii  Americana : 


Book  II. 


Neverthelefs  he  did  (how  a  Confciencious 
Defire  to  obferve  the  Laws  of  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift  in  his  Convcrfation  ;  and  he  Confcien- 
cioufly  attended  upon  the  Exercifes  of  Devotion 
in  the  Seafons  thereof,  on  Lcilures,  as  well  as 
on  Lord's  Days,  and  in  the  Daily  Sacrifice,  the 
Morning  and  Evening  Service  of  his  own  Fa- 
mily ;  yea,  and  at  the  Private  Meetings  of  the 


Fortnight 


in    the 


Devout   People  kept  every 
Neighbourhood. 

Befides  all  this,  when  he  had  great  Works 
before  him,  he  would  invite  good  Men  to  cotne 
and  Faji  and  Pray  with  him  at  his  Houfe  tor 
the  Succefs  thereof  j  and  when  he  had  fuccecd- 
ed  in  what  he  had  undertaken,  he  would  pre- 
vail with  them  to  come  and  keep  a  Day  of 
Solemn  Than/giving  with  him.  His  Love  to 
Almighty  God,  was  indeed  manifefted  by  nothing 
more  than  his  Love  to  thole  that  had  the 
Image  of  God  upon  them  ;  he  heartily,  and 
with  real  Honour  for  them,  Loved  all  Godl) 
Men-,  and  in  fo  doing,  he  did  not  confine 
Godiincfs  to  this  or  that  Party,  but  whers-ever 
he  faw  the  Fear  of  God,  in  One  of  a  Congrega- 
tional, or  Presby.erian,  or  Antip.edobajmft,  or 
Episcopalian  Perfwafion,  he  did,  without  any 
Difference,  exprefs  towards  them  a  Reverent 
Affe&ion. 

But  he  made  no  Men  more  welcome  than 
thole  good  Men,  whofe  Office  'tis  to  promote 
and  preferve  Goodnefs  in  all  other  Men  ;  even 
the  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel  :  Efpecially  when 
they  were  fuch  as  faithfully  dilckarged  their 
Office  :  And  from  theie  at  any  time,  the  lealf 
Admonition  or  Intimation  of  any  good  thing  to 
be  done  by  him,  he  entertained  with  a  moft 
obliging  Alacrity.  His  Religion  in  truth,  was 
one  Principle  that  added  Virtue  unto  that  vaif 
Courage,  which  was  always  in  him  to  a  De- 
gree Heroical.  Thofe  terrible  Nations  which 
made  their  Defcents  from  the  Northern  on  the 
Southern  Parts  of  Europe,  in  thofe  Elder  Ages, 
when  fo  to  /warm  out  was  more  frequent  with 
them,  were  infpired  with  a  Valiant  Contempt 
of  Life,  by  the  Opinion  wherein  their  Famous 
Odin  inftruQed  them.  That  their  Death  zvcu 
but  an  Entrance  into  another  Life,  wherein  they 
who  died  in  Warlike  Altions,  were  bravely 
Fcalled  with  the  God  of  War  for  ever  :  'Tis  in 
expreflible  how  much  the  Courage  of  thofe 
fierce  Mortals  was  fortified  by  that  Opinion. 

But  when  Sir  William  Phips  was  asked  by 
fome  that  obferved  his  Valiant  Contempt  of 
Death,  what  it  was  that  made  him  fo  little  a- 
fraid  of  Dying,  he  gave  a  better  grounded  Ac- 
count of  it  than  thofe  Pagans  could  ;  his  An 
fwer  was,  /  do  humbly  believe,  that  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  fhed  his  Precious  Blood  for  me,  by 
his  Death  procuring  my  Peace  with  God :  And 
what  fhould  I  now  be  afraid  of  dying  for  ? 

But  this  leads  me  to  mention  the  Humble 
and  Modefi  Carriage  in  him  towards  other  Men, 
which  accompanied  this  his  Piety.  There  were 
certain  Pomps  belonging  unto  the  feveral  Places 
of  Honour,  through  which  he  pallid  ;  Pomps 
that  are  very  taking  to  Men  of  little  Souls  • 


But  although  he  rofe  from  fo  little,  yet  he 
difcovered  a  Marvellous  Contempt  of  thofe 
Airy  things,  and  as  far  as  he  handfbmely  could, 
he  declined,  being  Ceremonioufly,  or  any  other- 
wife  than  with  a  Dutch  Mode  fly  waited  upon. 
And  it  might  more  truly  be  {aid  ®f  him,  than 
it  was  of  Arijiides,  He  was  never  fee n  the 
Prouder  for  any  Honour  that  was  done  him  from 
bis  Countrymen. 

Hence,  albeit  I  have  read  that  Complaint, 
made  by  a  Worthy  Man,  I  have  often  obferved 
and  this  not  without  fome  bluflnng,  that  even 
good  People  have  had  a  kind  of  Shame  upon  them, 
to  acknowledge  their  low  beginning,  and  ufed 
all  Arts  to  hide  it.  I  could  never  obferve  the 
lealt  of  that  Fault  in  this  Worthy  Man  ;  but 
he  would  fpeak  of  his  own  low  beginning  with 
as  much  Freedom  and  Frequency,  is  it  he  had 
been  afraid  of  having  it  forgotten. 

It  was  counted  an  Humility  in  King  Agatho- 
clcs,  the  Son  of  a  Potter,  to  be  terved  therefore 
in  Earthen  Veffels,  as  ?  I  March  harh  informed 
us:  It  was  counted  an  Humility  in  Archhilhop 
Wil/igis,  the  Son  of  a  Wheelwright,  thetefore  to 
have  Wheels  hung  about  his  Bed-Chamber, 
with  this  lnfcription,  Recole  undo  Veneris  i.  e. 
Remember  thy  Original.  But  fuch  was  the  Hu- 
mility and  Lowlinrfs  of  this  Rifmg  Man  !  Not 
only  did  he  after  his  return  to  his  Country  in 
hisGreatnefs,  one  Day,  make  a  fplendid  Feait 
for  the  Ship-Carpenters  ofBojion,  among  whom 
he  was  willing  at  his  Table  to  Commemorate 
the  Mercy  of  God  unto  him,  who  had  once 
been  a  Ship-Carpenter  himfelfj  but  he  would  on 
all  Occafions  Permit,  yeaa  Study  to  have  his 
Meannejfes  remembred. 

Hence  upon  frequent  Occafions  of  Uncnflnefs 
in  his  Government,  he  would  chute  thus  to  ex- 
prefs himfelf,  Gentlemen,  were  it  nu  that  I 
am  to  do  Service  jor  the  Publick,  I  fbould  be 
much  eafier  in  returning  unto  my  broad  Ax  a- 
gain !  And  hence,  according  to  the  Affable 
Courtefie  which  he  ordinarily  ufed  unto  all 
forts  of  Perlbns,  fquite  contrary  to  the  Afperity 
which  the  old  Proverb  expects  in  the  Raifed) 
he  would  particularly,  when  Sailing  in  light  of 
Kennebeck,  with  Armies  under  his  Command 
call  the  Young  Soldiers  and  Sailors  upon  Deck' 
and  fpeak  to  them  after  this  Falhion  •  Tonne 
Men,  It  was  upon  that  Hill  that  I  kept  Shee% 
a  few  Tears  ago  •  and  fince  you  fee  that  Al- 
mighty God  has  brought  me  to  jomethin",  do 
[you  learn  to  Fear  God,  and  be  Hone  ft,  and 
mind  your  Bufinefs,  and  follow  no  bad  Courfes 
and  you  don't  know  what  you  may  come  to  '. 
A  Temper  not  altogether  unlike  what  the  ad- 
vanced Shepherd  had,  when  he  wrote  the  Twen- 
ty-third Plalm  ;  or  when  he  Imprinted  on  the 
Coin  of  his  Kingdom  the  Remembrance  of  his 
Old  Condition :  For  Chriftianus  Gcrfon,  a 
Chriftianized  Jew,  has  informed  us,  That  on 
the  one  fide  of  David's  Coin  were  to  be  icen 
his  old  Pouch  and  Crook,  the  luftrurnents  of 
Shepherdy  ■,  on  the  other  fide  were  cr.lhmped 
the  Towers  of  Zwn'. 


1b 


Book  II.         Or,  The  Hiftory  <^  New-England.  6<p 


In  fine,  our  Sir  William  was  a  Perfbn  of  lb 
fvveer  a  Temper,  that  they  who  were  moft  In- 
timately acquainted  with  him,  would  com- 
monly pronounce  him,  The  beft  Conditioned 
Gentleman  in  the  World !  And  by  the  continual 
Difcoveries  and  Expreflions  of  fuch  a  Temper, 
he  fo  gained  the  Hearts  ol  them  who  waited 
upon  him  in  any  of  his  Expeditions,  that  they 
would  commonly  profefs  themfelves  willing 
ft  ill,  to  have  gone  with  him  to  the  end  of  the 
World. 

But  if  all  other  People  found  him  fo  kind  a 
Neighbour,   we  may  eafily  infer  what  an  Huf- 
band  he  was  unto  his  Lady.    Leaving  unmen- 
tioned  that  Virtue  of  his  Chaftity,    which  the 
Prodigious  Depravation  brought   by  the  Late 
Reigns  upon  the  Manners  of  the  Nation,  has 
made  worthy  to  be  mentioned  as  a  Virtue  fome- 
what  Extraordinary  ;  I  (hall  rather  pafs  on  to 
lay,  That  the   Love,  even  to  Fondnefs,  with 
which  he  always  treated   her,  was   a   Matter 
not  only  of  Obfervation,  but  even  of  fuch    Ad- 
miration, that  every  one  faid,  The  Age  afforded 
not  <•>  kinder  Husband1. 
But  we  mult  now  return  to  our  Story. 
$.  19.  When  Perfons  do  by  Studies  full  of 
Curioftty,  feek  to  inform  themfelves  of  things 
about  which  the  God  of  Heaven  hath  forbidden 
our  Curious  Enquiries,  there  is  a  marvellous 
lmprejfwn,  which  the  Damons  do  often  make 
on  the  Minds  of  thofe  their  Votaries,  about  the 
future  or  Secret  Matters  unlawfully  enquired 
after,   and  at  laft  there   is    alfo  an  horrible 
Poffeffwn,  which  thole  Fat  idle  Damons  do  take 
of  them.    The  Snares  of  Hell,  hereby  laid  for 
miferable  Mortals,  have  been  fuch,  that  when 
I  read  the  Laws,  which  Angellius  affirms  to 
have  been  made,  even  in  Pagan  Rome,  againft 
the  Vaticinatores  ;  I  wonder  that  no  Englifh  No- 
bleman or  Gentleman  fignalizes  his  regard  unto 
Cjriftianity,  by  doing  what  even  a  Roman  Tully 
would  have   done,   in   promoting   An  A3  of 
Parliament   againft  that  Paganifh  Practice  of 
Judicial  Aflrology,   whereof,    if  fuch  Men  as 
Auflin  were  now  living,  they  would  afiert,  The 
Devil  firfl  found  it,  and  they  that  profefs   it 
are  Enemies  of  Truth  and  of  God. 

In  the  mean  time,  I  cannot  but  relate  a  won- 
derful Experience  of  Sir  William  Phips,  by  the 
Relation  whereof  fomething  of  an  Antidote 
may  be  given  againft  a  Poifon,  which  the  Di- 
abolical Figure-Flingers  and  Fortune-Tellers 
that  fwarm  all  the  World  over  may  infinuate 
into  the  Minds  of  Men.  Long  before  Mr.  Phips 
came  to  be  Sir  William,  while  he  fojourned  in 
in  London,  there  came  into  his  Lodging  an  Old 
Aflrologer,  living  in  the  Neighbourhood,  who 
making  fome  Obfervation  of  him,  though  he 
had  fmall  or  no  Converfation  with  him,  did 
(howbeit  by  him  wholly  undelired)  one  Day 
lend  him  a  Paper,  wherein  he  had,  with  Pre- 
tences of  a  Rule  in  Aflrology  for  each  Article, 
diftin&ly  noted  the  moft  material  Paffages  that 
were  to  bcfal  this  our  Phips  in  the  remaining 
part  of  his  Life  -,  it  was  particularly  AfTerted 
and  Inferted,  That  he  (hould  be  engaged  in  a 


Defign,  wherein  by  Reafbn  of  Enemies  at  Court, 
he  fliould  meet  with  much  delay  •  that  never- 
thelefs  in  the  Thirty-Seventh  Year  of  his  Life, 
he  ihould  find  a  mighty  Treafure ;  th3t  in   the 
Forty-Firfi  Year  of  his  Life,    his  King  (hould 
employ  him  in  as  great  a  Truft  beyond  Sea,  as 
a  Subjeft  could  eafily  have  :  That  foon  after 
this  he  fhould  undergo  an  hard  Storm  from  the 
Endeavours    of   his    Adverfaries   to    reproach 
him  and  ruin  him  ;  that  his  Adverfaries,  though 
they  fhould   go  very  near  gaining   the  Point, 
fhould  yet  mifs  of  doing  fo  ;  that  he  fhould 
hit  upon   a  vaftly    Richer   Matter  than    any 
that   he  had   hitherto  met   withal  •    that   he 
fhould  continue  Thirteen  Tears  in  his  Publick 
Station,   full  of  Atlion,  and  full  of  Hurry  ■,  and 
the  reft  of  his  Days  he  Ihould  fpend  in  the  Sa- 
tisfaction of  a  Peaceable  Retirement. 

_Mr.  Phips  received  this  undelired  Paper 
with  Trouble  and  with  Contempt,  and  threw 
it  by  among  certain  loofe  Papers  in  the  bottom 
of  a  Trunk,  where  his  Lady  fome  Years  after 
accidentally  ljt  upon  it.  His  Lady  with  Ad- 
miration law,  ftep  after  ftep,  very  much  of  it 
accomplifhed  ;  but  when  fhe  heard  from  Eng- 
land, that  Sir  William  was  corning  over  with  a 
Commiffion  to  be  Governour  of  Nczo- England, 
in  that  very  Year  of  his  Life,  which  the  Papet 
fpecified  -,  fhe  was  afraid  of  letting  it  lye  a- 
ny  longer  in  the  Houfe,  but  caft  it  into  the 
Fire. 

Now  the  thing  which  I  muft  invite  my 
Reader  to  remark,  is  this,  That  albeit  Almighty 
God  may  permit  the  Devils  to  Predift,  and 
perhaps  to  Perform  very  many  particular  things 
to  Men,  that  fhall  by  fuch  a  Prefumptuous  and 
Unwarrantable  Juggle  as  Aflrology  (fo  Dr.  Hall 
well  calls  it ! )  or  any  other  Divination,  confult 
rhem,  yet  the  Devil  which  foret el  many  True 
things,  do  commonly  foret  el  fome  that  are  Falfe, 
and  it  may  be,  propofe  by  the  things  that  are 
True  to  betray  Men  into  fome  fatal  Misbelief 
and  Mifcarriage  about  thofe  that  are  Falfe. 

Very  lingular  therefore  was  the  Wifdom  of 
Sir  William  Phips,  that  as  he  ever  Treated 
thefe  Prophefies  about  him  with  a  moft  Pious 
Negletl,  fo  when  he  had  feen  all  but  the  Two 
laft  of  them  very  punctually  fulfilled,  yea,  and 
feen  the  beginning  of  a  Fulfilment  unto  the 
laft  but  one  alfo,  yet  when  I  pleafantly  men- 
tioned them  unto  him,  on  purpofeto  Try  whe- 
ther there  were  any  occafion  for  me  humbly 
to  give  him  the  ferious  Advice,  necefTary  in 
fuch  a  Cafe  to  Anticipate  the  Devices  of  Satan, 
he  prevented  my  Advice,  by  faying  to  me, 
Sir,  I  do  believe  there  might  be  a  curfei  Snare 
of  Satan  in  thofe  Prophefies  :  I  believe  Satan 
might  have  leave  to  foretel  many  things,  all 
of  which  might  come  to  pafs  in  the  beginning, 
to  lay  me  aflcep  about  fueh  things  as  are  to 
follow,  efpe dally  about  the  main  Chance  of  all ; 
/  do  not  know  but  I  am  to  die  this  Tear :  For 
my  part,  by  the  help  of  the  Grace  of  God,  I 
fhall  endeavour  to  live  as  if  I  were  this  Tear 
to  die.  And  let  the  Reader  now  attend  the  E- 
vent ! 

V  So-  "Tfc 


Magnalia  Cbrifti  Americana : 


Book  II. 


'  §.  20.  Tis  a  Similitude  which  I  have  Learn- 
ed from  no  lefs  a  Perfornban  the  great  Bafd : 
That  as  the  Eye  fees  not  thofe  Obje£ts  which 
are  applied  clofe  unto  it,  and  even  lye  upon  it  ; 
but  when  the  Objefts  are  to  fom'e  diltance  re- 
moved, it  clearly  difcefns  them  :  $,  we  have 
little  fenfe  of  the  Good  which  we  have  in  our 
Enjoyments,  until  God,  by  the  removal  thereof, 
teach  us  better  to  prize  what  we  once  enjoyed. 
It  is  true,  the  Generality  of  fober  and  thinking 
People  among  the  Neva-  Englanders.d\d  as  highly 
value  the  Government  of  Sir  William  Fhips, 
whilft  he  lived,  as  they  do  his  Memory,  iincehis 
Death  ;  neverthelefs  it  mult  be  corjfejjed,  that 
the  Blelllng  whicli  the  Country  had  in  his  in- 
defatigable Zeal,  tolefvethe  Pubtick  in  all  it's 
Interests,  was  not  ib  valued  as  it  Ihould  have 
been. 

Jt  was  mention'd  long  fince  as  a  notorious 
Fault  in  Old  Egypt,  that  it  was  Loqiiax  b?  Inge- 
nioja  in  Contumeliam  Prxfefforum  Provincia  ■, 
Ji  quit  forte  vitavcrit  Culpam,  Contumcli-vn  non 
effugit :  And  New-England  h  is  been  at  the  belt 
always  too  faulty,  in  that  very  Character,  .i 
Province  very  Talkative-,  and  Ingenious  for  the 
vilifying  of  its  Publick  Servants. 

But  Sit  William  Phips,  who  might  in  a  'Calif 
of  the  Commonwealth  have  adminiihul  all 
things  with  as  General  an  Acceptance  as  any  that 
have  gone  before  him,  had  the  Difadvantage  of 
being  fet  at  Helm  in  a  time  as  full  (£S  tariff  as 
ever  that  Province  hadfeen;  and  the  People 
having  their  Spirits  put  into  a  Tumult  by  the 
difcompofing  and  diftempering  Variety  of  Di- 
faftets,'  which  had  long  been  rendring  the  time 
Calamitous,  it  was  natural  for  them,  as  tis  for 
all  Men  then,  to  be  complaining  ;  and  you  may 
be  fure,  the  Rulers  mull  in  fuch  Cafes  be  al 
ways  complained  of,  and  the  chief  Complaints 
muft  be  heaped  upon  thofe  that  are  Cdhimahdcn 
in  Chief.  Nor  has  a  certain  Proverb  in  Afia 
been  irj'jroper  in  America,  He  defcrves  no 
Mans  good  Word,  of  whom  every  Mm  fhaHJpeak 
well 

Sir  William  was  very  hardly  Handled  (or 
Tongue d  at  leaft)  in  the  Liberty  which  People 
took  to  make  molt  unbecoming  and  injurious 
Refieclions  upon  his  Conduct,  and  Clamour  a- 
gainft  him,  even  for  thofe  very  Aclions  which 
were  not  only  Kecejfary  to  be  done,  but  highly 
Beneficial  unto  themfelves;  and  though  he 
would  ordinarily  fmile  at  their  Frowardncfs, 
calling  tizffk  ountry  Pay,  yet  he  fometimes  re- 
lented it  with  fome  unealinefs  ;  he  feenfd  unto 
himfelf  fometimes  almoft  as  bad  as  Rolled  a- 
bout  in  Regu/us's  Barrel ;  and  had  occafion  to 
thir.k  on  the  Italian  Proverb  To  wait  for  one 
who  decs  not  come-,  to  lye  a  Bed  not  able  to  fie  cp  \ 
and  to  fi;;.l  )t  impoljible  to  plcaj'e  thofe  whom 
tee  ferve  ;  are  three  Gncjs  enough  to  kill  a 
Man. 

But  as  Frowardas  the  People  were,  under 
the  Ep'edemical  Vexations  of  the  Age,  yet  there 
were  very  few  that  would  acknowledge  unto  the 
very  Lift,  It  will  be  hardly  pojjible  for  us  to  fee 
another    Governour    that  /hall   more  intirefji 


hove  and  Serve  the  Country  :  Yea,  had  the 
Country  had  the  Choice  of  their  own  Governour 
'tis  judged  their  Votes,  more  than  Forty  toOne, 
would  have  ftill  fallen  upon  him  to  have  been 
the  Man  :  And  the  General  Affembly  therefore 
on  all  occafions  renewed  their  Petitions  unto  the 
King  for  his  Continuance. 

Neverthelefs,  there  was  a  little  Party  of 
Men,  who  thought  they  muft  not  flccp  till  they 
bad  caujed  him  to  fall :  And  they  fo  vigoroufly 
prolccuted  certain  Articles  before  the  Council- 
board  at  Whitehall  againft  him,  that  they  ima- 
gined they  had  gained  an  Order  of  His  Majeffy 
in  Council,  to  fufpend  him  immediately  from 
his  Government,  and  appoint  a  Committee  of 
Perfons  nominated  by  his  Enemies,  to  hear  all 
Depofitions  againft  him  -,  and  ib  a  Report  of 
i  the  whole  to  be  made  unto  the  Kin^  and  Coun- 

;  cii. 

But  His  Majefty  was  too  well  informed  of 
(Sir  William's  Integrity  to  permit  fuel',  a  fort  of 
Procedure  ;  and  therefore  he  fignitied  unto  His 
moll  Honourable  Council,  that  nothing  (hoald 
be  done  againft  Sir  William,  until  he  had  Op- 
portunity to  clear  himfelf;  and  thereupon  he 
fent  His  Royal  Commands  unto  Sir  William  to 
come  over.  To  give  any  retorting  Accounts  of 
,  the  Principal  Perfons  who  thus  adverfaried 
him,  would  be  a  Thing  fo  contrary  to  the  Spi- 
rit of  Sir  William  Fhips  himfelf,  who  at  his 
leaving  of  New-England  bravely  declared  that 
he  freely  forgave  them  all;  and  if  lie  had  return- 
ed thither- again,  would  never  have  taken  the 
leaf!  revenge  upon  them,  that  This  alone  would 
oblige  me,  if  I  had  no  other  Obligations  of 
Chriftianity  upon  me,  to  forbear  it  ;  and  it  may 
be,  for  fbme  of  them,  it  would  be  to  throw  Wa- 
ter upon  a  drowned  Mouje. 

Nor  need  I  to  produce  any  more  about  the 
Articles  which  thefe  Men  exhibited  againft 
him,  than  This  j  that  it  was  by  moft  Men  be- 
lieved, that  if  he  would  have  connived  at  Ibme 
Arbitrary  Opprejjions  too  much  ufed  by  fbme 
kind  of  Officers  on  the  King's  Subjects,  Few 
perhaps,  of  None  of  thofe  Articles  had  ever  been 
formed  ;  and  that  he  apprehended  himfelf  to 
be  provided  with  a  full  Defence  againft  them 
all. 

Nor  did  His  Excellency  fc-em  loth  to  have 
had  his  Cafe  Tried  under  the-  Brazen  Tree  of 
Gariac,  if  there  had  been  fuch  an  one,  as  that 
mentioned  by  the  Fabulous  Murtadi,  in  his 
Prodigies  of  Egypt,  a  Tree  which  had  Iron 
Branches  withfharp  Hooks  at  the  end  of  them, 
that  when  any  falfe  Accufer  approached,  as  the 
Fabel  fays,  immediately  flew  at  him,  and  ftuck 
in  him,  until  he  had  ceafed  Injuting  his  Adver- 
firy. 

Wherefore  in  Obedience  unto  the  King's 
Commands,  he  took  his  leave  of  Bofion  on  the 
feventeenth  of  November,  1694.  attended  with 
all  proper  Teftimonies  of  Relpeft  and  Honour 
from  the  Body  of  the  People,  which  he  had 
been  the  Head  unto ;  and  wirh  Addreffes  unto 
their  Majefties,  and  the  Chief  Mini  iters  of 
I  State  from  the  General  AfTembly,  humbly  im- 
ploring, 


Book  II.  0r3  The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


7* 


ploring,  that  they  might  not  be  deprived  of 
the  Happinefs  which  they  had  in  fuch  an 
Head. 

Arriving  at  Whitehall,  he  found  in  a  few 
Days,  that  notwithftanding  all  the  Impotent 
Rage  of  his  Adverfaries  particularly  vented  and 
printed  in  a  Yillanous  Libel,  as  well  as  almoft 
in  as  many  other  ways  as  there  are  Mouths,  at 
which  Fyal  fometimes  has  vomited  out  its  In- 
fernal Fires,  he  had  all  Humane  Affurance  of  his 
returning  in  a  very  few  Weeks  again  theGover- 
nour  of  New-England. 

Wherefore  there  were  efpecially  two  Defigns, 
full  of  Service  to  the  whole  Englifh  Nation, 
as  well  as  his  own  particular  Country  of  New- 
England,  which  he  applied  his  Thoughts  unto. 
F/V/?,  He  had  anew  Scene  of  A£lion opened  un- 
to him,  in  an  opportunity  to  fupply  the  Crown 
with  all  Naval  Stores  at  molt  eafie  Rates,  from 
thofe  Eaftem  Parts  of  the  Maffaclmfet  Province, 
which  through  the  Conquelt  that  he  had  made 
thereof,  came  to  be  Inferted  in  the  Majfachufet- 
Charter.  As  no  Man  was  more  capable  than  heio 
improve  this  Opportunity  unto  a  vaft  Advantage, 
fo  his  Inclination  to  it  was  according  to  his  Ca- 
pacity. 

And  he  longed  with  fome  Impatience  to  fee 
the  King  furnilhed  from  his  own  Dominions, 
with  fuch  floating  and  ftately  Caftles,  thofe 
Wooden-Walls  of  Great  Britain,  for  much  of 
which  he  has  hitherto  Traded  with  Foreign 
Kingdoms.  Next,  if  I  may  fay  next  unto  this, 
he  had  an  Eye  upon  Canada ;  all  attempts  for 
the  reducing  whereof  had  hitherto  proved  A- 
bortive. 

It  was  but  a  few  Months  ago  that  a  confide- 
rable  Fleet,  under  Sir  Franca  Wheeler,  which 
had  been  fent  into  the  Weft-Indies  to  fubdue 
Martcnico,  was  ordered  then  to  call  at  New- 
England,  that  being  recruited  there,  they  might 
make  a  further  Defcent  upon  Canada  ;  but  Hea- 
ven frowned  upon  that  Expedition,  efpecially 
by  a  terrible  Sicknefs,  the  moft  like  the  Plague 
of  any  thing  that  has  been  ever  feen  in  Ameri- 
ca, whereof  there  Died,  e'er  they  could  reach 
to  Bofton,  as  I  was  told  by  Sir  Francis  himfelf 
no  lels  than  Thirteen  Hundred  Sailers  out  of 
'Twenty  One,  and  nolefsthan  Eighteen  Hundred 
Soldiers  out  of  Twenty-four. 

It  was  now  therefore  his  defire  to  have  fatif- 
fied  the  King,  that  his  whole  Intereft  in  Ame- 
rica lay  at  Stake,  while  Canada  was  in  French 
Hands :  And  therewithal  to  have  laid  before  fe- 
veral  Noblemen  and  Gentlemen,  how  benefi- 
cial an  Undertaking  it  would  have  been  for 
them  to  have  purfued  the  Canadian-Bufmeis,  for 
which  the  New-Englanders  were  now  grown 
too  Feeble ;  their  Country  being  too  far  now, 
as  Bede  fays  England  once  was,  Omni  Milite  iff 
floridx  Juventutis  Alacritate  fpoliata. 

Betides  thefe  raw  Deligns  in  the  Thoughts  of 
Sir  William,  there  was  a  Third,  which  he  had 
Hopes  that  the  King  would  have  given  him 
leave  to  have  purfued,  after  he  had  continued 
fo  long  in  his  Government,  as  to  have  obtain- 
ed the  more  General  U  'elf are  which  he  defign- 


ed  in  the  former Jnftances.  I  do  not  mean  the 
making  of  New-England  the  Seat  of  a  Spanifl) 
Trade,  though  fd  vaftly  profitable  a  thing  was 
likely  to  have  been  brought  about,  by  his  being 
one  of  an  Honourable  Company  engaged  in  fuch 
a  Projeft. 

But  the  Spanifl)  Wreck,  where  Sir  William 
had  made  his  firft^W  Voyage,  was  not  the  Only, 
nor  the  Ricbejl  Wreck,  that  he  knew  to  be  lying 
under  the  Water.  He  knew  particularly,  that 
when  the  Ship  which  had  Governour  Boadilla 
Aboard,  was  caft  away,  there  was,  as  Peter 
Martyr  %s,  an  entire  Table  of  Gold  of  Three 
Thoufand  Three  hundred  and  Ten  Pound 
Weight. 

The  Duke  of  Albemarle'*,  Patent  for  all  fuch 
Wrecks  now  expiring,  Sir  William  thought  on 
the  Motto  which  is  upon  theGcld  Medal,  be- 
flowed  by  the  late  King,  with  his  Knighthood 
upon  him,  Semper  Tibi  pendeat  Hamus :  And 
fuppofing  himfelf  to  have  gained  fufficient  In- 
formation of  the  right  Way  to  fuch  a  Wrecks 
it  was  hispurpofe  upon  his  Difmiffion  from  his 
Government,  once  more  to  have  gone  unto  his 
old  Fiffnng-Trade,  upon  a  mighty  Shelf  of  Rocks 
and  Bank  of  Sands  that  lye  where  he  had  in- 
formed himfelf. 

But  as  the  Prophet  Haggai  and  Zecbariab^ 
in  their  PJalm  upon  the  Grants  made  unto  their 
People  by  the  Emperors  of  Perfia  have  that 
Reflection,  Man's  Breath  goeth  forth,  he  re- 
turns to  his  Earthy  in  that  very  Day  bis  thoughts 
perifl).  My  Reader  mult  now  fee  what  came  of 
all  thefe  coniiderable  Thoughts.  About  the  mid- 
dle of  February,  1694.  Sir  William  found  him- 
felf indifpofed  with  a  Cold,  which  obliged  him 
to  keep  his  Chamber-,  but  under  this  Indifpo- 
fition  he  received  the  Honour  of  a  Viiit  from  a 
very  Eminent  Perfon  at  Whitehall,  who  upon 
fufficient  Affurance,  bad  him  Get  well  as  j  aft 
as  he  could,  for  in  one  Months  time  be  fl)ould  be 
again  difpatched  away  to  his  Government  of 
New-Engfand. 

Neverthelefs  his  Diftemper  proved  a  fort  of 
Malignant  Feavcr,  whereof  many  about  this 
time  died  in  the  City-,  and  it  fuddenly  put  an 
End  at  once  unto  his  Days  and  Thoughts,  on  the 
Eighteeath  of  February ;  to  the  extream  fur- 
prize  of  his  Friends,  who  Honourably  interr'd 
him  in  the  Church  of  St.  Alary  Woolnotb,  and 
with  him,  how  much  of  New-England's  Hap- 
pinefs ! 

§.  21.  Although  he  has  now  no  more  a  Por- 
tion for  ever  in  any  Thing  that  is  done  under 
the  Sun,  yet  Juftice  requires  that  his  Memory 
be  not  forgotten.  I  have  not  all  this  while  faid 
tie  wcu  Faultlefs,  nor  am  1  unwilling  to  ufe  for 
him  the  Words  which  Mr.  Calamy  had  in  his 
Funeral  Sermon  for  the  Excellent  Earl  of  War- 
wick, It  v/ufi  be  confefj'ed,  left  I  fbould  prove  a 
Flatterer,  be  bad  his  Infirmities,  which  I  truft 
Jefus  Cbrift  bath  covered  with  tbe  Robe  of  his 
Right  eoufnejs  :  My  Prayer  to  God  is,  that  all  his 
Infirmities  may  be  Buried  in  tbe  Grave  of  Obli- 
vion, and  that  all  his  Virtues  and  Graces  may 
Supervive  ;  although  perhaps  they  were  no  In- 
firmities 


72 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana 


Book  II. 


firmities  in  that  Noble  Perfon,  which  Mr.  Cala- 
my  counted  lb. 

Neverthelefs  I  muft  alfo  fay,  That  if  the 
Anguifh  of  his  Publick  Fatigues  threw  Sir  Wil- 
liam into  any  faults  of  Pajfion  •  they  were  but 
Faults  of  Pajfion  foon  Recall'd :  And  Spots  be- 
ing fooneft  feen  in  Ermin,  there  was  ufualiy  the 
mofl  made  of  them  that  could  be,  by  thofe  that 
were  leaft  Free  themfelves. 

After  all,  I  do  not  know  that  I  have  been, 
by  any  perfonal  Obligations  or  Circumftances. 
charmed  into  any  Partiality  for  the  Memory  of 
this  Worthy  Man  •,  but  I  do  here,  from  a  real 
Satisfaction  of  Confcience  concerning  him,  de- 
clare to  all  the  World,  that  I  reckon  him  to 
have  been  really  a  very  Worthy  Man ;  that  few 
Men  in  the  World  rifing  from  fo  mean  an  Ori- 
ginal as  he,  would  have  acquitted  themfelves 
with  a  Thoufand  Part  of  his  Capacity  or  Integri- 
ty ;  that  he  left  unto  the  World  a  notable  Exam 
pie  of  a  Difpofition  to  do  Good,  and  encountred 
and  overcame  almoft  invincible  Temptations  iri 
doing  it. 

And  I  do  moft  folemnly  Profefs,  that  I  have 
moft  confeiencioufly  endeavoured  the  utmoft 
Sincerity  and  Veracity  of  a  Cbriftian,  as  well  as 
an  Hiftorian,  in  the  Hiftory  which  1  have  now 
given  of  him.  I  have  not  written  of  Sir  Wil- 
liam Pbips,  as  they  fay  Xenopbon  did  of  Cyrus 
Non  ad  Hijlori£  Fidem,  Jed  ad  Effigiem  veri 
imperii ;  what  Jhould  have  been,  rather  than 
what  really  wot.  If  the  Envy  of  his/^zo  Ene- 
mies be  not  now  %tiet ,  I  muft  freely  fay  it, 
That  for  many  Weeks  before  he  died,  there  was 
not  one  Man  among  his  perfonal  Enemies  whom 
be  would  not  readily  and  chearfully  have  done 
all  the  kind  Offices  of  a  Friend  unto  :  Where- 
fore though  the  Gentleman  in  England  that 
once  publifhed  a  Vindication  of  Sir  William 
Pbips  again!!  fome  of  his  Enemies,  chole  to  pur 
the  Name  of  Publicans  upon  them,  they  muft 
in  ibis  be  counted  worfe  than  the  Publicans  of 
whom  our  Saviour  fays,  They  Love  thofe  that 
Love  bim. 

And  I  will  fay  this  further,  That  when  cer 
tain  Perfons  had  found  theS&ull  of  a  Dead  Man. 
as  a  Greek  Writer  of  Epigrams  has  told  us, 
they  all  fell  a  WTeeping,  but  only  one  of  the 
Company,  who  Laughed  and  Flouted,  and 
through  an  nnheard-of  Cruelty,  threw  Stones 
at  it,  which  Stones  wonderfully  rebounded  back 
upon  ineFace  of  him  that  threw  them,  and  mi- 
fersbly  woranded  him  :  Thus  if  any  fhali  be 
ib  Urubriftian,  yea,  fo  Inhumane,  as  libelloufly 
to  throw  Stones  at  fo  deferved  a  Reputation  as 
this  Gent!  man  hasdkd  withal,  they  fhall  fee 
a  Jufl  Rebound  of  all  their  Calumnies. 

ButtheNameofSirH^/LL/ii/M  PHI  PS 
will  be  heard  Honourably  mentioned  in  the 
Trumpets  of  Immoral  Fame,  when  the  Names 
cfmany  that  Anapatbied  him  will  either  be 
Buried  in  Eternal  Oblivion,  without  any  Steer 
Vates  to  preferve  them ;  or  be  remembred,  but 
like  that  otjudai  in  the  Gofpel,  or  Pilate  in 
the  Creed,  with  Eternal  Infamy. 


The  old  Per fians  indeed,  according  to  the 
Report  of  Agatbias,  expofed  their  Dead  Friends 
to  be  Torn  in  Pieces  by  Wild  Beajh,  believing 
that  if  they  lay  long  unworried,  they  had  been 
unworthy  Perfons  \  but  all  attempts  of  furviving 
Malice  to  demonftrate  in  that  way  the  worth 
of  this  Dead  Gentleman,  give  me  leave  to  Rate 
off  with  Indignation. 

And  1  muft  with  a  like  Freedom  fay,  That 
great  was  the  Fault  of  New-England  no  more 
to  value  a  Perfbn,  whofe  Opportunities  to  ferve 
all  their  Inteteftf,  though  very  Eminent,  yet 
were  not  fo  Eminent  as  his  Inclinations.  If  this 
whole  Continent  carry  in  its  very  Name  of 
AMERICA,  an  unaccountable  Ingratitude 
unto  that  Brave  Man  who  firlt  led  any  num- 
bers of  Europeans  thither,  it  muft  not  be  won- 
dred  at,  if  now  and  then  a  particular  Country 
in  that  Continent  aftord  fome  tyltances  of  In- 
gratitude: But  I  muft  believe,  that  the  Ingrati- 
tude of  many,  both  to  God  and  Man,  for  fuch 
Benefits  as  that  Country  of  New-England  en- 
joy 'd  from  a  Governour  of  their  own,  by 
whom  they  enjoyed  great  quietnefs.  with' very 
worthy  Deeds  done  unto  that  Nation  by  his  Pro- 
vidence, was  that  which  haftned  the  Removal 
of  fuch  a  Benefactor  from  them. 

However,  as  the  Cyprians  buried  their  Friends 
in  Honey,  to  whom  they  gave  Gall  when  they 
were  Born  ;  thus  whatever  Gall  might  be  given 
to  this  Gentleman  while  he  lived,  I  hope  none 
will  be  fo  bafe,  as  to  put  any  thing  but  Honey 
into  their  Language  of  him  now  after  his  De- 
ceafe.  And  indeed,  fince  'tis  a  frequent  thing 
among  Men  to  wifh  for  the  Prefence  of  our 
Friends,  when  they  are  dead  and  gone,  whom, 
while  they  were  prefent  with  us,  we  undervalu- 
ed ;  there  is  no  way  tor  us  to  fetch  back  our 
Sir  William  Pbips,  and  make  him  yet  Living 
with  us,  but  by  fetting  up  a  Statue  for  him,  as 
'tis  done  in  thefe  Pages,  that  may  out-laft  an 
ord  i  n  a  ry  Monument . 

Such  was  the  Original  Defign  of  erecfing 
Statues,  and  if  in  Venice  there  were  at  once  no 
lefs  than  an  Hundred  and  Sixty-two  Marble, 
and  Twenty-three  Brazen  Statues,  erecfed  by 
the  Order,  and  ar  the  Expence  of  the  Publick, 
in  Honour  of  fo  many  Valiant  Soldiers,  who 
had  merited  well  of  that  Commonwealth,  I  am 
fure  New-England  has  had  thofe,  whofe  Merits 
call  for  as  good  an  acknowledgment;  and,  what- 
ever they  did  before,  it  will  be  well,  if  after 
Sir  William  Pbips,  they  find  many  as  meritori- 
ous as  he  to  be  fo  acknowledged. 

Now  I  cannot  my  felf  provide  a  better  Statue 
for  this  Memorable  Perfon,  than  the  Words  ut- 
tered on  the  occafion  of  his  Death  in  a  very  great 
Affembly,  by  a  Perfon  of  fo  Diftus'd  and  £m- 
balm'd  a  Reputation  in  the  Church  of  God, 
that  fuch  a  Character  from  him  were  enough 
to  Immortalize  the  Reputation  of  the  Perfbn 
upon  whom  he  fhould  bellow  it. 

The  Grecians  employ 'd  ftill  the  moft  Ho- 
nourable and  Confiderable  Perfons  they  had  a- 
mong.  them,  to  make  a  Funeral  Oration  in 
Commendation  of  Soldiers  that  had  loft  their 

Lives 


Book  II.  Or,  The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


73 


Lives  in  the  Service  of  the  Publick:  And  when 
Sir  William  Phips,  the  Captain  General  of  New- 
England,  who  had  often  ventured  his  Life  to 
ferve  the  Publick,  did  expire,  that  Rjverend 
Perfon,  who  was  the  Prefident  of  the  only  Uni- 
veihty  then  in  the  Englifl)  America,  Preached  a 
Scrrrion  on  that  PafTage  of  the  Sacred  Writ, 
Ifa.  57.  i.  Merciful  Men  arc  taken  away,  none 
ionfidering  that  the  Righteous  are  taken  away 
from  the  Evil  to  come  ;  and  in  it  gave  Sir  Wil- 
liam Phips  the  following  Teltimcny. 

'This  Province  is  Beheaded,  and  lyes  a 
'Bleeding.  ,  A  GOVERNOUR  is  taken  away, 
'  who  was  a  Merciful  Man-,  lome  think  too 
i Merciful:  And  if  to,  'tis  beft  Erring  on  that 
'Hand-  and  a  Righteous  Man  •  who,  when  he 
'had  great  Opportunities  of  gaining  by  Injitfiicel 
'  did  refufe  to  do  to. 

'He  was  a  known  Friend  unto  the  beft  Inte- 
'  relfs,  and  unto  the  Churches  of  God  :  Not  a- 
ifhamed  of  owning  them:  No,  how  often  have 
c  I  heard  him  expreUing  his  Defires  to  be  an  In- 
'  ftrument  of  Good  unto  them !  He  was  a  Zea- 
'lous  Lover  of  his  Country,  if  any  Man  in  the 
'  World  were  lb  :  He  expofed  him/elf  to  ferve  it ; 
'  he  ventured  his  Life  to  fave  it :  In  that,  a  true 

*  Nehemiah,  a  Governour  that  fought  the  wel- 
lfare  of  his  People. 

'He  was  one  who  did  notfeek  to  have  the 

*  Government  caft  upon  him  :   No,  but  inftead 

*  thereof  to  my   Knowledge  he   did  feveral 

*  times  Petition  the  King,  that  this  People  might 
'  always  enjoy  the  great  Priviledge  of  chufing 
'  their  own  Governour ;  and  I  have  heard  him 
c  exprefs  his  Defires,  that  it  might  be  fo,  to  fe- 
deral of  the  Chief  Minifters  of  State  in  the 
'  Court  of  England. 

'  He  is  now  Dead,  and  not  capable  of  being 
1  Flattered :  But  this  I  muft  teftifie  concerning 
« him.  That  though  by  the  Providence  of  God 


c  I  have  been  with  him  at  Home  and  Abroad, 
'  near  at  Home,  and  afar  off,  by  Land  and  by 
'  Sea,  J  never  Jaw  him  do  any  evil  Aliion,  or 
*■  beard  him f peak  any  thing  unbecoming  a  Chri- 
'ftiaa. 

'The  Circumftances  of  his  Death  fcem  tc 
'  intimate  the  Anger  of  God,  in  that  he  was  in 
'■the  Mid  ft  of  his  Days  removed  ;  and  1  know 
'  (though  Pew  did )  that  he  had  great  Purpbfei 
'  in  his  Hearr,  which  probably  would  have  ta- 
c  ken  Efte£c,  if  he  had  lived  a  few  Months  lon- 
'  ger,  to  the  great  Advantage  of  this  province  ; 
'  but  now  he  is  gone,  there  is  not  a  Man  Living 
'in  the  World  capacitated  for  thole  Under 
'  takings  ^  New-England  know:,  not  yet  what 
' they  have  Loft  ! 

The  Recitation  of  a  Teftimony  10  great.. 
whether  for  the  Authdr,  or  the  Matter  of  it, 
has  now  made  a  Statue  for  the  Governour  of 
New-England,  which 

Nee  poterit  Pcrrum,  nee  edax  abolerc  vetujlaj. 

And  there  now  remains  nothing  more  for  me 
to  do  about  it,  but  only  to  recite  herewithal  a 
well-known  Story  related  by  Suidaf,  That  an 
Envious  Man,  once  going  to  pull  down  a 
Statue  which  had  been  railed  unto  the  Memo- 
ry of  one  whom  he  maligned,  he  only  got  this 
by  it,  that  the  Statue  falling  down,  knock'd 
out  his  Brains. 

But  Poetry  as  well  as  Hiftory  muft  pay  it's 
Dues  unto  him.  If  Cicero's  Poem,  intituled.  Qua' 
drigx,  wherein  he  did  with  a  Poetical  Chariot 
extol  the  Exploits  of  Ccfar  in  Britain  to  the 
very  Skies,  were  now  Extant  in  the  World,  I 
would  have  Borrowed  fome  Flights  of  That  at 
leaft,  for  the  Subject  now  to  be  Adorned. 

But  inftead  thereof,  let  the  Reader  accept  the 
J  enfuing  Elegy. 


Kk 


UPON 


74 


Maenalia  Chri'U  Americana 

O 


<y 


Book  II. 


UPON     THE 


A  1 


O  F 


iltaill  ipijtM,  Knt. 


Late  Captain  General  and  Governour  in  Chief  of  the  Province 
of  the  Majfichufet-Bay  in  New-England^  who  Expired  in  London^ 
Feb.  1 8.    169*. 

And  to  Mortality  a  Sacrifice 

Falls  He,  whofe  Deeds  mujl  Him  Immortalize  ! 


REjoice  MeHTieurs ;     Netops    rejoice  ;  'tis 
true, 
Te  Philiftines,  none  will  rejoice  but  foil  : 
Loving  of  All  He  Dy'd ;  who  Love  him  not 
Now.  hive  the  Grace  of  Publicans  forgot. 
Our  Almanacks  joretold  a  great  Eclipfe, 
This  they  for  ef aw  not,  of  our  greater  PHI  PS. 
PHI  PS  our  great  Friend,  our  Wonder ;  and  our 

Glory,  < 

The  Terror  of  our  Foes,  the  World's  rare  Story. 
England  will  Boa  ft  him  too,  whofe  Noble  Mind 
Impel!  d  by  Angels,  did  thofe  TreafuresyW, 
Long  in  the  bottom  of  the  Ocean  laid, 
Which   her    Three  Hundred  Thoufand  Richer 

made, 
By  Silver  yet  neer  Canker 'd,  nor  defiPd 
By  Honour    nor  Bet  ray' d  when  Fonunef mi  I'd. 
Since  this  bright  Phoebus  vifitcd  our  Shoar, 
We  faw  no  Fogs  but   what  zvere  raisd before  : 
Thofe  vaniflid  too ;  harrafs'd  by  Bloody  Wars 
Our  Land  faw   Peace,    by  his    n/ofi  generous 

Cares. 
The  Wolvilh  P3gans  at  his  dreaded  Name, 
Tarrid,  fhrunk  before  him,    and  his  Dogs  be- 
came ! 
Fell  Moxus  and  fierce  Dockawando/j//, 
Char dd  at  the  leet  of  our  Brave  General. 

* 


Fly-blow  the  Dead,  Tale  Envy,  let  him  not 
(What  Uero  ever  did?)  efcape  a  Blot. 
All  is  Diftort  with  an  Inchanted  Eye, 
And  Heighth  will  make  what's  Right  ftill  Rand 

awry. 
He  was,  Oh  that  He  was !  His  Faults  we'll  tell, 
Such  Faults  as  thefe  we  knew,   and  lik'd  them 

well. 

Jult  to  an  Injury-,  denying  none 
Their  Dues  •,  but  Self-denying  oft  his  own. 

Good  to  a  Miracle  ;  refolvd  to  do 
Good  unto  All,  whether  they  would  or  no. 
To  make  Us  Good,  Great,  Wife,  and  all  Thing  r 

elfe, 
He  wanted  but  the  Gift  of  Miracles. 
On  him,   vain  Mob,    thy  Mif chiefs  ceafe  to 

throw  -, 
Bad,  but  alone  in  This,  the  Times  were  fo. 


Stout  to  a  Prodigy  ;  living  in  Tain 
To  fend  back  Quebeck-Bullets  once  again. 
Thunder,      his    Mufick,    fweeter    than 

Spheres, 
Chim'd  Roaring  Canons  in  his  Martial  Ears. 


the 


Frigats 


Book  II.         Or,  The  Hijiory  0^  New-England. 


75 


Frigats  of  armed  Men  could  not  with  ft  and, 
'Twm  try'd,   the  Force   of  his  one  Sword  lefs 

Hand  : 
H:md.  which  in  one,  all  of  Briareus  had, 
And  HerculcsV  twelve  Toils  but  PleaCures  made. 

Too  Humble ;  in  brave  Stature  not  fo  Tall, 
As  low  in  Carriage,  flooding  unto  all. 
Rais'd  in  Eflate,  in  figure  and  RenOwn, 
Not  Pride;  Higher,  and  yet  not  Prouder  grown. 
Of  Pardons  full;  ne'er  to  Revenge  at  all, 
Was  that  which  he  a*W</ Satisfaction  call. 

True  to  hk  Mate;  from  whom  though  often 
flown. 
A  Strangery  ct  to  every  hove  but  one. 
Write  him  not  Childnels,  uhoje  whole  People 

were 
Sons.  Orphans  now,  of  his  Paternal  Care. 

Novo  left  ungrateful  Brands  we  fhould  incur, 
Tour  Salary  well  pay  in  Tears,  GREAT  SIR  ! 

To  England  often  blown,  and  by  hk  Prince 
Often  jent  laden  with  preferments  thence. 
Preferr'd  each  Time  he  went,  when  all  wcu  done 
That  Earth  could  do,   heaven  fetch' d  him  to  a 

Crown. 


'Tis  He  :   With  Him  Interr'd  how  great  de- 
fans  ' 
Stand  Fearlefs  now.,  ye  Eaftcrn  Firrs  and  Pines. 
With  Naval  Stores  not  to  enrich  the  Nation, 
Stand,  for  the  UniverlM  Conflagration. 
Mines,  opening  unto  none  but  Him,  now  flay 
Cloje  under  Lock  and  Key,  till  the  Laji  Day  : 
In  thk,  like  to  the  Grand  Aurifick  Stone, 
By  any  but  Great  Souls  not  to  be  known. 
And  Thou  Rich  Table,  with  Bod  ilia /<?/?, 
In  the  Fa/r.Galeon,  on  our  Spanifh  Coafi. 
In  weight  Three  Thoufand  and  Three  hundred 

Pound, 
But  of  pure  Maffy  Gold,  lye  Thou,  not  found^ 
Safe,  fince  tics  laid  under  the  Earth  afleep, 
Who  learnt  where  Thou  dofi  under  Water  keep. 

But  Thou  Chief  Lofer, Poor  NEW-ENGLAND, 
[peak 
Thy  Dues  tofuch  as  did  thy  Welfare  feek, 
The  Governour  that  vow  d  to  Rile  and  Fall 
With  Thee,  Thy  Fate  fhows  in  His  Funeral. 
Write  now  His  Epitaph,  'twill  be  Thine  own, 
Letitbethk,  A  PUBLICK  SPIRIT'S  GONE. 
Or,  but  Name  PHIPS  •,  more  needs  not  be  ex- 

prefi- 
Both  Englands,  and  next  Ages,  tell  the  Refi. 


i*m^'-  ■   ■**■■; 


The  End  of  the  Second  BOOK. 


T  0  L  T  B  I  V  S. 


The  Third    BOOK 

O  F     T  H  E 

ew  Englifh  Hiftory : 

CONTAINING     THE 

LIVES 


OF       MANY 


Reverend,  Learned,  and  Holy  DIVINES, 

(arriving  fucb  from  Europe  to  America)  by  whofe 
Evangelical  Miniftry  the  Churches  of  NEfF- 
ENGLANV  have  been  Illuminated. 


By   Co  tton   Mather. 


Teflor,  —  Cbriftianum  de  Chrijliano  vera  proferre. 


Simeon  Metaphraft.  in  Vita  Chryfoftom. 


Eqnidem  eferor  ftndio  Patres  veftros,  qms  colui,  &  dilexi,  videndi. 

Cic.  de  Senec. 


L    0   N   T>    0    N  : 

Printed  for  7 homos  Tarkburft,  at  the  "Bible  and  Three 

Crowns,    in  Cheapfide.        1702. 


gook  III. 


* 


INTRODUCTION, 


WHat  was  it  that  obliged  Jerom  to  write 
bis  Book,  De  Viris  Illuftribus  >  // 
was  the  common  Reproach  of  old  caji 
upon  the  Chriftians,  That  they  were  all  poor, 
weak,  unlearned  Men.  The  fort  of  Men  fome- 
tunc  called  Puritans,  in  the  Englifh  Nation  have 
been  reproached  with  the  fame  CharaUer ;  'and  at 
a  malignant  Stapleton,  counted  the  Terms  of  an 
A  is,  and  a  Fool,  good  enough  to  treat  our  incom- 
parable Whitaker.  No  lefs  bafely  are  the  bejl  of 
Proteftants  often  tcrm'd  and  thought,  by  the  Men, 
who  know  no  Chriftianity  but  Ceremony.  There 
bath  been  too  much  of  that  Envy,  that  Sapientior 
lis  Socrate,  Doctior  Auguftino,  Calvenianus,  Si 
modd  dicare,  clam,  vel  propalam,  mox  Tartaris, 
Mofcis,  Afris,  Turcifque,  facvientibus,  jacebis 
execratior.  A  Wretchednefs  often feen  in  Engiifh ; 
,  \fhall  not  Englifh  it.  This  is  one  thing  that  has 
laid  me  under  Obligation,  here  to  write  a  Book, 
De  Viris  Illuftribus  :  In  the  whole  whereof,  I  will 
with  a  moft  Confcientious  and  Religious  Regard  of 
Truth,  Jove  our  Hiftory  from  any  flmre,  in  that 
old  Complaint  of  Melchior  Canus,  Dolenter  hoc 
dico,  raulto  a  Laertio  feverius  Vitas  Pbilofopho- 
rum  fcriptas  elfe,  quam  a  Chriftianis,  VitasChri- 
ftianorum  :  The  Lives  of  Philofophers  more  truly 
written,  than  the  Lives  <?/"  Chriftians. 

Reader,  Behold  thefe  Examples  ;  admire  and 
follow  what  thou  doft  behold  Exemplary  in  them. 
They  are  offered  unto  the  Publick,  with  the  Inten- 
tion fometimes  mentioned  by  Gregory  :  lit  qui 
Prxceptis  noh  accendimur,  faltem  Exemplis  inci- 
temur  ;  atque  ac  Appetitu  Recfitudinis  nil  fibi 
meus  noftra  difficile  jeftimet,  quod  perfe£te  pe- 
ragi  ab  aliis  videt :  That  Patterns  may  have  upon 
vs  the  force  which  Precepts  have  not. 

If  a  Man  were  Jo  abfurd,  as  to  form  his  Ideas 
of  the  Primitive  Chriftians,  from  the  monftrom 
Accufations  of  their  Adversaries,  he  would  foon 
perfwadc  himfelf,  that  their  God  was  the  Deus 
Chriftianorum  Ononychites,  whofe  Image  was  ere- 
tied  at  Rome.  And  if  a  Man  (houldhave  no  other 
Ideas  of  the  Puritan  Chriftians  in  our  Days,  than 
what  the  Tory-Pens  of  the  Sons  of  Bolfecus  have 
given  them,  we  would  think  that  it  wot  a  ju(i 
thing  to  banijh  them  into  the  cold  Swamps  of  the 
North  America.  But  when  Truth  Jball  have  li- 
berty to  fpeak,  it  will  be  known,  that  Chriftianity 
never  wot  more  expreffed  unto  the  Life,  than  in 
the  Lives  of  the  Perfons  that  have  been  thus  re- 
proached, among  the  Legions  of  the  Accufer  of  the 
Brethren.  It  f peaks  in  the  enfuing  Pages  !  Here, 
behold  them,  of  whom  the  World  was  not  wor- 
thy, wandring  in  Defarts  ! 


Arnobius  was  put  upon  an  Apology,  againji  our 
particular  Calumny,  among  the  reft,  That  at  the 
Meetings  of  the  Chriftians,  a  Dog  ty'd  unto  the 
Candleftick,  drew  away  the  Light,  whereupon 
they  proceeded  unto  the  moft  Adulterous  Confu- 
fions  in  the  World.  And  a  great  Man  in  his  Wri- 
tings does  affirm,  I  have  heard  this  very  thing, 
told  more  than  once,  with  no  fmall  Confidence 
concerning  the  Puritans: 

Reader,  thou  fhalt  now  fee,  what  fort  of  Men 
they  were  :  Zion  is  not  a  City  ot  Fools.  As 
Ignatius  in  his  famous  Epiftles  to  the  Trallians, 
mentioning  their  Pafior,  Polybius,  reports  him\ 
A  Man  of  fo  good  and  juft  a  Reputation,  that  the 
very  Atheifts  did  ftand  in  fear  of  him.  /  hope 
our  POLYBIUS,  will  afford  many  deferv'mg 
fucb  a  CharaUer. 

It  way  mentioned  at  the  Bufinefs  and  Bleffed- 
nefs  of  John  Baptift,  To  turn  the  Hearts  of  the 
Fathers  to  the  Children.  After  a  deal  of  more 
ado  about  the  Sence  of  the  parage  thus  tranflated, 
I  contented  my  f elf  with  another  Tran flat  ton,  To 
turn  the  Hearts  of  the  Fathers  WITH  the  Chil- 
dren ;  becaufe  I  find  the  Prepofition,  ion,  as  well 
at  the  Prefix  ^  in  Mai.  4.  6.  whence  the paffage 
is  taken  to  be  rendred  With,  rather  than  To. 
Tlie  Sence  therefore  I  took  to  be,  That  John  fhould 
convert  both  Old  and  Young.  But  further  Thought 
hath  offered  unto  me  a  further  Glofs  upon  it :  To 
turn  the  Hearts  of  the  Fathers  to  the  Children,  is 
to  turn  the  Children  by  putting  the  Hearts  of  the 
Fathers  into  them  ;  to  give  them  fucb  Hearts  at 
were  in  Abraham,  and  others  of  their  famous  and 
faithful  Fathers. 
1 

Reader,  The  Book  now  in  thy  Hands,  is  to  ma- 
nage the  Defign  of  a  John  Baptift,  and  convey  the 
Hearts  of  the  Fathers  unto  the  Children. 

Archilocus  being  defirous  to  give  prevailing  and 
effeEtual  Advice  unto  Lycambes,  by  an  elegant  Pro- 
fopopceia,  brought  in  his  dead  Father,  at  giving 
the  Advice  he  was  now  writing,  and  as  it,  were  put 
his  Pen  into  his  Father's  Hand.  Cicero  being  to 
read  a  Fctlure  of  Temperance  and  Modefty  unto 
Clodia,  raifed.up  her  Father  Appius  Caius  from 
the  Grave,  and  in  his  Name  delivered  his  Dire- 
ctions. And  now,  by  introducing  the  Fathers  of 
New-England,  without  the  leafi  Pillion,  or  Figure 
0/ Rhetorick,  jf  hope  the  plain  Hiftory  of  their 
Fives,  will  be  a  powerful  way  of  propounding  their 
Fatherly  Counfels  to  their  Pofierity.  A  Stroke 
with  the  Hand  of  a  dead  Man,  hat  before  now 
been  a  Remedy  for  a  Malady  not  eafily  remedied. 


A  a  a 


the 


The  Third  BOOK. 


T)e  Ifms  Ulujlribus* 


In    Four  PARTS. 


CONTAINING 


Xhe  L I V  E  S  of  near  Fifty  Divines, 


Confiderable  in  the 


€$mtyt8  o!  &tfctn$Um> 


Credunt  de  nobis  qua  non  probantur,  &  nolunt  inquifi,  ne  frobentw 
nontffe,  qu£  malunt  credidijffe.  Tert.  Apol. 


'  Avlng  entertained  my  Readers  with 
a  more  imperfecf  Catalogue,  '  Of 
'  many  Perfons  whofe  Memories 
'  deferve  to  be  embalmed  in  a 
6  Civil  Hijiory  -,  I  muft  fo  far  con- 
sider, that  it  is  an  Ecclejiaftical  Hijiory,  which  I 
have  undertaken,  as  to  haften  unto  a  fuller  and 
larger  Account  of  thofe  Perfons  who  have  been 
the  Mimfters  of  the  Gofpel,  that  fed  the  flocks 
in  the  Wildernefs  :  And  indeed,  New-England' 
having  been  in  Some  fort  an  Ecclejiaftical  Country 
above  any  in  this  World,  thofe  Men  that  have- 
here  appeared  mod  considerable  in  an  Ecclefmfti-^ 
cal  Capacity,  may  moft  reafonably  challenge  the: 
molt  Consideration  in  our  Hijiory. 

Take  then  a  Catalogue  of  New-England's  firft 
Minifters,  who  tho'  they  did  not  generally  affe£t 
the  Exercife  of  Church-Government,  as  confined 
unto  Gaffes,  yet  Shall  give  me  leave  to  ufe  the 
Name  of  Gaffes  in  my  marfhalliog  of  them, 


The  FirU  C  l  a  s  s  i  s. 

IT  Shall  be  of  fach  as  were  in  the  M5W Exer- 
cife of  their  Ministry,  when  the)'  lei:  Eng*. 
land,  and  were  the  Iriltruments  of  bringing  the 
Gofpel  into  this  Wildernefs,  and  of  fettling  Chur- 
ches here  according  to  the  Order  of  the  Go, 

aiJI^nnn^n:  Ox,  Our  Firft  Go;:!  Al;;;. 

s\.Thomas  AUt/:c.'\  Cwr 


I. 

3'.  Mr. 

4.  Mr. 

5.  Mr. 

6.  Mr. 

7.  Mr. 

8.  Mr. 

9.  Mr. 

10.  Mr. 

11.  Mr. 


Mr.  John  Allen  df'Bedh 

Avery  of  A ' 
AdjmBL:c':m.!r2  of  Strctfou. 
Richard  B'innwn  of  G 

Brucy  of  Br,:;,? ford. 
Edmund  Brown  of  Sudbury. 
Peter  Bulkely  of  Concord. 
Jonathan  Burr  of  Dorchefter, 
Charles  Chaimcey  of  Scituate. 
Thomat  Ccbbct  of  hyn. 

12.  M: 


•'■ 


Book  ILL        The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


12 

I?. 

14. 

i5- 

16. 

17- 

78. 
I  p. 

20. 

21. 

22. 
23. 
24. 
65. 

2  6. 

'-'7. 
28. 

29. 
30. 

3'- 

32. 

33- 

34- 
35- 
35. 

37- 
38. 

39- 
40. 
41. 
42. 
43. 
44« 
45- 
46. 

47° 
48. 

4P- 
50. 

52. 
53. 
54- 
55- 
56. 

57- 
58. 

59- 
60. 
61. 
62. 

*4. 

*5- 

66. 

67. 

6%. 

69. 

70. 

71. 
72. 

73- 
74- 
75- 


.  Mr.  John  Cotton  of  Bofion. 

Mr.  Timothy  Halt  on  oi  Hampton. 
,  Mr.  /<?/->«  Davenport  of  New-Haven. 
Mr.  Richard  Denton  of  Stamjord. 
Mr.  Henry  Dunllar  or  Cambridge. 
Mr.  Samuel  Eaton  of  Adv-Haven. 
Mr.  7tf/j#  £V//0Jf  of  Roxbury. 
Mr.  5^Z>/*  K'^  °f  Chelmsford. 
Mr.  //tv//;y  N////  of  Braintree. 
Mr.  Fordham  of Southampton. 

Mr.  Green  of  Reading. 

Mr.  7i?Zv:  Harvard  of  Charles-Town. 
Mr.  Francis  Higginfon  oi  Salem. 
Mr.  William  Hook  ofNew-Haven. 
Mr.  Thomas  Hooker  of  Hartford. 
Mr.  IViV;-  Hobart  of  Hingham. 
Mr.  Ephraim  Huet  of  Wind/or. 
Mr.  W////  of  the  i/fc  0/  -Mw. 

Mr.  James  of  Charles  Town. 

Mr.  jfow-f  of  Fairfield. 

Mr.  Knight  of  Topsfield. 

Mr.  Knowles  of  Water-Town. 

Mr.  Lever ick  of  Sandwich. 

Mr.  y#Zw  Lothrop  of  Barnflable. 
Mr.  Richard  Mather  of  Dorchejler. 
Mr.  Maud  of  Dover. 

Mr.  Muverick  of  Dorchejler. 

Mr.  j^tf  /H/yc  of  Bofion. 
Mr.  ,/(^/7  Millar  of  Tarmouth. 
Mr.  Moxcn  of  Springfield. 

Mr.  Samuel  Newman  of  Rehoboth. 
Mr.  Norris  of  Salem. 

Mr.  T^tf  Norton  of  Bofion. 
Mr.  JdMW  A7/?//"?  of  Newberry. 
Mr.  Thomas  Parker  of  Newberry. 
Mr.  R<///>/.>  Partridge  of  Duxbury. 
Mr.  P^<r,£  oi  Hingham. 

Mr.  if&g/j  Peters  of  &z/m. 
Mr.  Thomas  Peters  of  Say-brook. 
Mr.  George  Phillips  of  Watertown. 
Mr.  Philips  of  Dedham. 

Mr.  Abraham  Pier  [on  oi  Southampton, 
Mr.  P^/1  Prudden  of  Mil  ford. 
Mr.  Reyner  of  Plymouth. 

Mr.  Ezekiel  Rogers  oiRowly. 
Mr.  Nathanael  Rogers  of  lpfwich. 
Mr.  Saxton  of  Scituate. 

Mr.  Thomas  She  par  d  of  Cambridge. 
Mr.  Zachary  Symms  of  Charles-Town. 
Mr.  Skelton  oi  Salem. 

Mr.  ifo^  5«/>/;  of  Plymouth. 
Mr.  S#///fr  of  Wethersfeld. 

Mr.  Samuel  Stone  of  Hertford. 
Mx.  Nicholas  Street  of  Newhaven. 
Mr.  William  Thompfon  of  Braintree. 
Mr.  William  Wahham  of  Marblehead. 
Mr.  Nathanael  Ward  of  lpfwich,  and  his 

Son,  "Mt.  John  Ward  oi  Haverhil. 
Mr.  jfofrtf  Warham  oiWindfor. 
Mr.  M^A/  of  Roxbury. 

Mr.  Wheelright  oi  Salisbury. 

Mr.  /jVwj  Whitfield  of  Guilford. 
Mr.  Samuel  Whiteing  of  Ly/7. 
Mr.  Jbfr/z  Wilfon  of  Bofion. 
Mr.  Wither  el of Scituate, 


76.  Mr.  William  Worccfier  oi  Salisbury. 

77.  Mr. 


20///7*  of  Soul  hold. 


Behold,  one  5>w/z  more  than  J&uftf  Decads  of 
Perfons,  who  being  devoted  unto  the  Sacred  Mi- 
niftry of  our  Lord,  were  the  firft  that  enlightncd 
the  dark  Regions  pf  America  with  their  Miniftry ! 
Know  Reader,  that  it  was  by  a  particular  Divcr- 
fwn  given  by  the  Hand  of  Heaven,  unto  the/// 
tentions  of  that  Great  Man,  Dr.  William  Amcs,t 
that  we  don't  now  find  his  Name  among  the  firlt 
in  the  Catalogue  of  our  NewEng/ifl)  Worthies, 
One  of  the  moft  Eminent  and  Judicious  Perfons 
that  ever  lived  in  this  World,  was  Intentionally 
a  NewrEngland-Man,  tho'  not  Eventually,  when 
that  Profound,   that  Sublime,  that  Subtil,  that 
Irrefragable,  yea  that  Angelical  Do'ffor,  was  de- 
figning  to  tranfport  himfelf  into  New  England  -, 
but  he  was  hindred  by  that  Providence,  which 
afterwards  permitted  his  Widow,  his  Children, 
and  his  Library,  to  be  tranllated  hither.    And 
now,  0//r  Fathers,  where  are  they  ?     1  'hefe  Pi  0 
phets  have  they  lived  for  ever  ?  'Twas  the  Charge 
of  the  Almighty  to  other  Kings,  Touch  not  mme 
Anointed,  and  do  my  Prophets  no  harm  :  But  th; 
IG'zg  of  Terrors  pleading  an  Exemption  from  that 
Charge,  has  now  touched  every  one  of  thefe  Ho 
ly  Men  j  however,  all  the  W/»  it  has  done  unto 
them,  has  been  to  carry  them  from  this  prefent 
evil  World,  unto  the  Spirits  of  jufl  Men  made 
perfett.    1  may  now  write  upon  all  thefe  CVi 
Minifters  of  New-England,  the  Epitaph  which 
the  Apoftle  hath  left  upon  the  2>/>y?.r  of  the  0/i 
Tefiament,  Thefe  were  not  fuffered  to  continue, 
by  reafon  of  Death  -,  adding  the  Clau'fe  which  he 
hath  left  upon  the  Patriarchs  of  thatTeftament, 
17;<?/~?  <z//  rfz>i  z»  JRwV/;. 

Wherefore  we  pafs  on  to 

77>e  Second  ClASSiS. 

IT  fhall  be  of  Tw//?£  Scholars,  whofe  Education 
for  their  defigned  Miniftry,  not  being  fimfh- 
ed,  yet  came  over  from  England  with  their 
Friends,  and  had  their  Education  perfected  in 
this  Country,  before  the  G?//^  was  come  unto 
Maturity  enough  to  bellow  its  Laurels. 


Mr.  Samuel  Arnold  of  MarfiJield. 
Mr.  ^7<?Z>«  ZJ j/Zw/j  of  Stamford. 
Mr.  Edward  Bulkly  of  Concord. 
Mr.  Carter  of  Woburn. 

Mr.  Francis  Dean  of  Andover. 
Mr.  James  Fit  eh  oi  Norwich. 
Mr.  Hunford  of  Norwalk* 

8.  Mr.  J<?/:w  Higginfon  oi  Salem. 

9.  Mr.  Hough  of  Reading. 

10.  Mr.  James  of  Eajlhampton* 

11.  Mr.  Roger  Ne zvton  of  Milford. 

12.  lAx.  John  Sherman  oi  Watertown. 

13.  Mr.  Thomas  Thacher  of  Bofion. 

14.  Mr.  John  Woodbridge  of  Newberry. 


1. 
2. 

3- 
4- 
5- 
6. 

7- 


Ctf 


'r 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.        Book  Til. 


Of  thefe  two  Sevens,  almoft  All  are  gone, 
where  to  be  is,  By  far  the  Bejl  of  AH.  But  thefe 
were  not  come  to  an  Age  for  Service  to  the 
Church  of  God,  before  the  Wifdom,  and  Pru- 
dence of  the  New-Englanders,  did  remarkably 
fignifie  it  felf,  in  the  Founding  of  a  COLLEGE, 
from  whence  the  moft  of  their  Congregations 
were  afterwards  fupplied;  a  River,  the  Streams 
whereof  made  glad  the  City  of  God.  From  that 
Hour  Old-England  had  more  Miniffers  from 
New,  than  our  New-England  had  fince  then, 
from  Old  ;  neverthelefs  after  a  Celfation  of  Mi- 
nifters  coming  hither  from  Europe,  for  Twenty 
Years  together,  we  had  another  fet  of  them, 
Coming  over  to  help  us  :  Wherefore  take  yet  the 
Names  of  Two  Sevens  more. 

We  will  now  proceed  unto, 

cfbe  7  bird  C  L  A  s  S  i  s. 

IT  flnll  be  of  fuch  Minifters,  as  came  over 
to  New-England  after  the  Re  eftablifhment 
of  the  Epifcopal  Church-Government  in  England, 
and  the  Perfecution,  which  then  hurricano'd, 
fuch  as  were  Non  Conformifts  unto  that  Efta- 
blilhment. 


that 


i. 

2. 

3- 

4- 

5- 
6. 

7- 
S. 

0- 
io. 

IT* 

12. 

14. 


Mr.  James  Allen  of  Bojlon. 
Mr.  John  Baily  of  Watertown. 
Mr.  Thomas  Baily  of  Watertown. 
Mr.  Bamet  of  New-London. 

Mr.  James  Brown  of  Swanfey. 
Mr.  Thomas  Gilbert  of  Topsfield. 
Mr.  James  Keith  of  Bridgwater. 
Mr.  Samuel  Lee  ofBriftol. 
Mr.  Charles  Morton  of  Cbarleftown* 
Mr.  Charles  Nicholet  of  Salem. 
Mr.  John  O.xenbridge  ofBofton. 
Mr.  Thomas  Thornton  of  Yarmouth. 
Mr.  Thomas  Walley  of  Barn  fable. 
Mr.  William  Woodrop  oiLancafter. 


fers  conkffeATndifferent.  And  it  is  affirmed, 
by  a  modeff  Calculation,  this   Perfecution  t 
cured  the   Untimely  Death  of  Three  Thailand 
Non-Conformifts,  and  the  Ruine  of  Three/core 
Thoufdnd  Families,    within  Five    and   Twenty 
Years.     Many  retired   into  New-England,  that 
they  might  have  a  little  Reft  at  Aeon,  with  the 
Flocks  of  our  Lord  in  this  Wildernefs :  But  fet 
ting  afide  fbme  Eminent  Perfons  of  a  AVey  En- 
glifh  Original,  which  were  .driven  back  out  ol 
Europe  into  their  own  Country  again,  by  that 
Storm.    Thefe  few  were  the  moft  of  the  Mini 
fters,  that  fled  hither  iron:  it.     1  will  not  pre 
fume  to  give  the  Reafons,  why,  No  more ;  but 
obferving  a  Glorious   Providence  of  the   Lord 
Jefus  Chriff,    in  moving    the  Stars  to   fhine, 
where  they  were  moft  wanted,  I  will  conclude'; 
lamenting  the  Difafter  of  Kew  England,  in  the 
Interruption,  which  a  particular   Providence  of 
Heaven  gave  unto  the  Dcfigns  of  that  Incompa- 
rable Perfon  Dr.  John  Owen,  who  had  gone  fo 
far  as  to  fhip  himfelf^  with  Intents  to  have  ta- 
ken this  Country   in    his  way   to  his  Eternal 
Reft:  It  muft  have  been  our  lingular  Advantage 
and  Ornament,  if  we  had  thus  enjoyed  among 
us,  One  of  the  Great  elf  Men,  that  this  la  ft  Age 
produced. 


R 


E    M  A   R.  K  S. 


It  is  well  known,  that  quickly  after  the  Revi- 
val of  the  Englifh  Hierarchy,  thofe,  whofe  Con- 
fciences  did  not  allow  them  to  worfhtp  God,  in 
fome  Ways  and  Modes  then  by  Law  eftablifhed, 
were  purfued  with  a  Violence,  which,  doubtlefs 
many  thoufinds.  of  thofe  whom  the  Church  of 
England,  in  its  National  Conffttution  acknow- 
ledges for  her  Sons,  were  fo   far  from  Appro 
ving  or  Affifting,  that  they   Abhorred  it.    What 
Spirit  a&ed  the  Party  that  Raifed  this  Perfe- 
ction, one  may  guefs  from  a  Paflage,  which  I 
find  in  a  Book  of  Mr.  Giles  Finnius.    A  Lady 
affured  him.  that  flie  fignifying  unto  a  Parlia- 
ment-Man, her  Diflike  of  the  Aft  of  Uniformity, 
when  they  were  about  rt,  Ind  faying,  1  fee  you 
are  laying  a  Snare  in  the  Gate,  he  replied,  Ay, 
if  we  can  find  any  way  to  catch  the  Rogues,  we 
will  have  them !  It  is  well  known  that  near  Five 
and  Twenty  Hundred  faithful  Minifters  of  the 
Gofpel,  were  now   filenced  in  One  Black  Day, 
(becaufe  they  could  not  comply  with  fome  things, 
by  themfelves  counted  finful,  but  by  the  Impo- 


Efpec'/allj  upon  the  Firft   Clafs,  /;/  our  Cats-' 
logue  of  Minifters. 

I.     A  LL,  or  Moft,  of  the  Minifters  that  make 
^  JljL  up  our  Two  firft  Clafles,  came  over  from 
England  within  the  Two  firft  Luftres  of  Years, 
I  after  the  firft  Settlement  of  the  Country.    After 
the  Year  1640.  that  part  of  rhe  Church  of  En- 
gland, which  took  up  Arms  in  the  Old  Caufc  of 
the  Long  Parliament,  and  which  among  all  its 
Parliament-Men,    Commanders,     Lord-Lieute- 
nants, Major-Generals,  and  Sea-Captains,    had  ' 
fcarce  any  but  Conformifts  ;  I  fay,  That  part  of 
the  Church  of  England,  knowing  the  Puritans 
to  be  generally  inclinable  unto  thofe  Principles 
of  fuch  Writers  as   Bilfon  and  Hooker,  where- 
upon the  Parliament   then  afted  -,  and  feeing 
them  to  be  generally  of  the  trueft  Englift)  Spi- 
rit, for  the  Prefetvation  of  the  Englifh  Liberties 
and  Properties,  for  which  the  Parliament  then 
declared,  faltho'  there  were  fome  Non-Confor- 
mifis in  the  King's  Army  alfo  :)  it  was  found 
neceffary  to  have  the  Afliftance  of  that  consi- 
derable   People.      Whereupon  enfued   fuch  a 
Change  of  Times,  that  inftead  of  Old  England's 
driving  its  beft  People  into  New,  it  was  it  felf 
turned  into  New.     The  Body  of  the  Parliament 
and  its  Friends,  which  were  Conformifts  in  the 
beginning  of  that  miferable   War,  before  tht 
War  was  ended,    became  fuch   as  thofe  Old 
Non  Conformifts,    whofe  Union  with    them 
Political  Interefts  produced  an  Union  in  Relig- 
ous.     The  Romanizing  Laudians  mifcarricd   in 
their  Enterprize^  the   Anglicane   Church  could 
not  be  carried  over  to  the  Gallicane.    This  was 

not 


Book  III.       cIbe  Hi/lory  of  New-England. 


5 


not  the  firft  Inftance  of  a  Sbipwrack  befalling  a 
VelTel  bound  for  Rome  ;  nor  wilt  it  be  the  lait : 
A  Veflel  bound  iiich  a  Voyage,  muft  be  Ship- 
wrack\l,  tho'  St.  Paul  himielr  were  aboard. 

II.  The  Occafion  upon  which  thefe  Excellent 
Minifters  retired  into  an  Horrid  Wildernefs 
of  America,  and  encountred  the  difmal  Hard- 
ships of  fuch  a  Wildernefs,  was  the  Violent 
Perfecuiion,  wherewith  a  prevailing  Party  in 
the  Church  of  England  tmaffed  them.  In  their 
own  Land  they  were  hereby  deprived,  not  only 
of  their  Livings,  but  alfo  of  their  Liberty  to 
exerciie  their  Miniftry,  which  was  dearer  to  them 
than  their  Livings,  yea,  than  their  very  Lives: 
And  they  were  expofed  unto  extreme  Sufferings, 
becaufe  they  confeientiouily  dilfented  from  the 
life  of  fome  things  in  the  Worfhip  of  God, 
which  they  accounted  Sins.  But  I  leave  it  unto 
the  Confideration  of  Mankind,  whether  this  for- 
bidding  of  J  itch  Men  to  do  their  Duty,  were  no 
Ingredient  of  that  Iniquity,  which  immediately 
upon  the  Departure  of  thefe  Good  Men  brought 
upon  Great  Britain,  and  efpecially  upon  the 
Greatest  Authors  of  this  Perfecution,  A  Wrath 
unto  the  uitermoft,  in  the  enfuing  Defolations. 
All  that  I  fhall  add  up'on  it,  is,  That,  I  re- 
member, the  Prophet  fpeaking  of  what  had 
been  done  of  old,  by  the  Affyrians,  to  the  Land 
of  the  Cbaldxans,  ufes  an  Expreffion,  which  we 
tranflate,  in  I/a.  23.  12.  He  brought  it  unto  Ru- 
inc :  But  there  is  a  Punic  Word,  Mapatra, 
which  old  heft  us  (and  Servius)  affirm  to  fig- 
nify,  Cottages  ■,  according  to  Philargyrius,  it 
JHgnifies,  Cafat  in  Eremo  habit  aniium:  Now  that 
is  the  very  Word  here  ufed,  rV?SO  and  the  Con- 
dition of  Cottagers  in  a  Wildernefs,  is  meant, 
by  The  Ruine,  there  fpoken  of.  Truly,  fuch 
was  the  Ruine,  which  the  Ceremoniotts  Perfe- 
cutors  then  brought  upon  the  mod  Confcientious 
NonConformifts,  unto  their  Unfcriptural  Cere- 
monies. But  as  the  Kingdom  of  Darknefs  ufes 
to  be  always  at  length  overthrown  by  its  own 
Policy,  lb  will  be  at  lafl  found  no  advantage 
unto  that  Party  in  the  Church  of  England,  that 
the  Orders  and  Atlions  of  the  Churches  by  them 
thus  produced,  become  an  Hiffory. 

III.  Thele  fylinifters  of  the  Gofpel,  which 
were  (without  any  Odious  Comparifon)  as  Faith- 
ful, Painful,  Ufeful  Miniffers,  as  mod  in  the 
Nation,  being  thus  exiled  from  a  Sinful  Nation, 
there  were  not  known  to  be  left  fo  many  Non- 
Conformiff  Minifters,  as  there  were  Counties  in 
England :  And  yet  they  were  quickly  fo  mul- 
tiplied, that  a  Matter  of  Twenty  Tears  after, 
there  could  be  found  far  more  than  Twe-nty 
Hundred,  that  were  fo  grounded  in  their  Non- 
Conformity,  as  to  undergo  the  Lofs  of  all  things, 
rather  than  make  Sbipvorack  of  it.  When  An- 
tiochus  commanded  all  the  Books  of  Sacred  Scri- 
pture to  be  burnt,  they  were  not  only  preferred, 
but  prefently  after  they  appeared  out  of  their 
hidden  Places,  being  Tranllated  into  the  Greek 
Tongue,  and  carried  abroad  unto  many  other 
Patrons.  It  was  now  thought,  there  was  effe- 
ctual Care  taken,  to  deltroy  all  thofe  Men, 
that  made  thele  Books  the  only  Rule  of  their 


Devotions^  but  behold,  they  prefently  appeared 
in  greater  Numbers,  and  many  other  Nations 
began  tp  be  Illuminated  by  them. 

IV.  Mofi,  if  not  All,  of  the  Minifters,  who 
then  vifited  thefe  Regions,  were  either  attended 
or  followed,  with  a  Number  of  pious  People, 
who  had  lived  within  the  reach  of  their  Mini 
ftry  in  England.  Thefe,  who  were  now  alio 
become  generally  NonConformifts,  having  found 
the  powerful  lmpreffions  of  thofe  Good  Mens 
Miniifry  upon  their  Souls,  continued  their  fin- 
cere  Affections  unto  that  Miniitry,  and  were 
willing  to  accompany  it  unto  thofe'utmoft  Ends 
of  the  Earth.  Indeed,  the  Minilters  of  Meh- 
England  have  this  always  to  recommend  them 
unto  a  Good  Regard  with  the  Crown  of  Eng- 
land, that  the  molt  floutifbing  Plantation  in  alt 
the  American  Dominions  of  that  Crown,  \< 
more  owing  to  them,  than  to  any  fort  of  Men 
whatfoever. 

V.  Some  of  the  Miniffers,  and  many  of  the 
Gentlemen,  that  came  over  with  the  Miniffers* 
we^e  Perfons  of  confiderabie  Ellates;  who  there- 
with charitably  brought  over  many  poor  Fami- 
lies of  Godly  People,  that  were  not  of  them- 
ielves  able  to  bear  the  Charges  of  their  Tranf- 
portation  ;  and  they  were  generally  careful  al- 
fo to  bring  over  none  but  Godly  Servants  in 
their  own  families,  who,  afterwards  by  God's 
Blefling  on  their  Indufhy  have  arrived,  many 
of  them,  unto  fuch  plentiful  Eftates,  that  they 
have  had  Occafion  to  think  of  the  Advice,  which 
a  famous  Perfon,  gave  in  a  Publick  Sermon,  at 
their  firlf  coming  over  ;  Tou  (Taid  he)  that  are 
Servants,  mark  what  I  fay  -,  I  defire  and  exhort 
you  to  be  kind  a  while  hence,  unto  your  Maffer's 
Children.  It  won't  be  long  before,  you  that  came 
with  nothing  into  the  Country,  will  be  rich  Men, 
when  your  Mafters,  having  buried  their  Rich 
Effates  in  the  Country,  will  go  near  to  leave  their 
Families  in  a  mean  Condition ;  wherefore,  when 
it  Jhall  be  well  with  yout  I  charge  you  to  remem- 
ber them. 

VI.  The  Miniffers  and  Chriffians,  by  whom 
New-England  was  firfr  planted,  were  a  chqfen 
Company  of  Men ;  picked  out  of,  perhaps,  all 
the  Counties  in  England,  and  this  by  no  Human 
Contrivance,  but  by  a  llrange  Work  of  God  upon 
the  Spirits  of  Men  that  were,  no  ways,  ac- 
quainted with  one  another,  infpiring  them,  as 
one  Man,  to  Jecede  into  a  Wildernefs,  they 
knew  not  where,  and  fuffer  in  that  Wildernefs 
they  know  not  what.  If  was  a  reafonable  Ex- 
preffion once  ufed  by  that  eminent  Perfon,  the 
prefent  Lieutenant-Governour  of  Nezv-England 
in  a  very  great  Aflembly,  God  fifted  three  Na- 
tions, that  he  might  bring  choice  Grain  into  this 
Wildernefs. 

VII.  The  Deffgn  of  thefe  Refugees,  thus  car- 
ried into  the  Wildernefs,  was,  that  they  might 
there,  facrifice  unto  the  Lord  their  God:  It  was, 
that  they  might  maintain  the  Power  ofGodlinefs 
and  pracfife  the  Evangelical  Worfhip  of  Our 
Lord  Jefus  Chrifr,  in  all  the  Parts  of  it,  with- 
out any  Human  Innovations  and  Impofitions ; 
Defended  by  Quarters,    which    at  once  gav6 

therra 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.        Book  III. 


them  fo  far  the  Protection  of  their  King,  and 
the  Election  or  lb  many  of"  their  own  Subordi- 
nate Rulers  under  him,  as  might  fecure  them 
the  U/idijiurbed  Enjoyment  of  the  Church-Order 
ettablilhed  amonglf  them.  I  fhall  but  repeat 
the  Words  once  ufed  in  a.  Sermon  preached  un- 
to the  General  Count-  of  the  MaJfaobufetX2o[oay, 
at  one  of  their  Anniversary  Elections.  'The 
'  Queftion  was  often  put  unto  our  Predeceflors, 
'  What  went  ye  out  into  the  Wilder  nefs  to  fee  ? 
'  And  the  Anfwer  to  it,  is  not  only  too  Excel- 
'lent?,  bat  alfo  too  Notorious,  to  be  dhTembled. 
'  Let  all  Mankind  know,  that  we  came  into  the 
c  Wil'dernefs,  becaufe  we  would  worfhip  God 
'  without  that  Epifcopacy,  that  Common  Prayer, 
'  and    thofe    unwarrantable  Ceremonies,    with 

*  which  the  Land  of  our  Fore  Fathers  Sepulchres 
■  has  been  defiled  $  we  came  hither  becaufe  we 

•  would  have  our  Polterity  fettled  under  the 
c  pure  and  full  Difpcn fat  ions  of  theGofpel  •,  de- 
c  fended  by  Rulers,  that  JJjould  be  of  our  fclves. 

VIII.  None  of  the  lealr  Concerns,  that  lay 
upon  the  Spirits  of  thefe  Reformers,  was-  the 
Condition  of  their  Pofterity .-  For  which  cauic 
in  the  Firft  Constitution  of  their  Churches,  they 
did  more  generally  with  more  or  lefs  Expreffive- 
nefs  take  in  their  Children,  as  under  the  Church- 
watch  with  themfelves.  They  alfo  did  betimes 
endeavour  the  Erection  of  a  College,  for  the 
training  up  of  a  fuccefhve  Ministry  in  the  Coun- 
try-,  but  becaufe  it  was  likely  to,  be  fome 
while,  before  a  Considerable  Supply  could  be 
expected  from  the  College,  therefore  they  took 
notice  of  the  younger,  hopeful  Scholars,  who 
came  over  with  their  Friends  from  England,  and 
affifted  their  liberal  Education ;  whereby  being 
fitted  for  the  Service  of  the  Churches,  they  were 
in  an  orderly  manner  called  forth  to  that  Ser- 
vice. Of  thefe  we  have  given  you  a  Number ; 
whereof,  I  think,  all  but  One  or  Two  are  now 
gone  unto  their  Fathers- 

IX.  Of  ttefe  Miaiflers,  there  were  fome 
few,  fuppofe  Ten  or  a  Dozen,  that  after  di 
vers  Years,  returned  into  England,  where  they 
were  eminently  ferviceable  unto  their  Genera- 
tion ;  but,  by  far,  the  biggeft  part  of  them, 
continued  in  this  Country,  jerving  their  Gene- 
ration by  the  JVi  11  of  God.  Moreover,  I  find  near 
half  of  them  iignally  BlelTed  with  Sons. 
who  did  work  for  our  Lord  Jefus  Chriff,  in 
the  Miniffry  of  theGofpel,  yea  fome  of  them 
as  Mr.  Chancy,  Mr.  Elliot,  Mr.  Hohart,  Mr. 
Mather,  had  (tho'  not  like  R.  Joje,  a  wife 
Man  among  the  Jews,  of  whom  they  report, 
that  he  had  Eight  Sons,  who  were  alfo  celebra- 
ted for  wife  Men  among  them  -r  yet)  not  lefs 
than  Four  or  Five  Sons  a  piece  thus  employed  : 
And  though  Mr.  Parker,  living  always  afingle 
Man,  had  no  Children,  yet  he  was  instrumen- 
tal to  bring  up  no  lefs  than  Twelve  ufeful 
Ministers.  Among  the  Jews  they  that  have 
been  instructed  by  another,  are  called,  The  Sons 
of  their  Instructor.  We  read,  Thefe  are  the 
Generations  of  Aaron  and  Mofes  ;  when  we  find 
none  but  the  Sons  of  Aaron  in  the  enumerated 
Generations.    But  in  the  Talmud,  it  is  thus  ex- 


pounded, Hos  Aaron  genuit,  Mofes  verd  docuit, 
ideoq-,  ejus  Nomine  cenfentia .  (Thus  the  Sons 
of  Merob,  are  called  the  Sons  of  Michal,  as  the 
the  Talmud  judges,  becaufe  by  her  educated} 
And  on  this  account  no  lefs  than  Twelve,  were 
the  Sons  of  Mr.  Parker.  I  may  add,  that  fome 
of  our  Minifters,  having  theif  Sons  comfortably 
fettled,  at,  or  near,  the  Place  of  their  own 
Miniffry,  the  People  have  thereby  feen  a  com- 
fortable Succeffion  in  the  Affairs  of  Chriff  ianity  ; 
thus,  the  Writer  of  this  Hifiory,  hath,  he  knows 
not  how  often,  feen  it ;  that  his  Grandfather, 
baptized  the  Grand-Parent,  his  Father  baptized 
the  Parent,  and  He  himfelf  has  baptized  the 
Children  in  the  fame  Family. 

X.  In  the  Beginning  cf  the  Country,  the  Mi- 
nifiers  had  their  frequent  Meetings,  which  were 
molt   ufually   after  their  Publick    and  Weekly 
or  Monthly   Leclures,  wherein   they  confulted 
for  the  Welfare  of  their  Churches  -,   nor  had 
they  ordinarily  any  Difficulty  in  their  Churches, 
which  were  not   in  thefe  Meetings  offered  unto 
Consideration  ;  for  their  mutuaf  Direction  and 
Afhttance  :  And  thefe  Meet ings  are  maintained 
unto  this  Day.     The  private  Chnfians  alfo  had" 
their  private   Meetings,    wherein  they    would 
feek  the  Face,  and  ling  the  Pra'ife  of  God  •,  and 
Confer  upon   fome  Questions  of  Praiiical  Reli- 
gion,  for  their  mutual  Edification.      And  the 
Country  Hill  is  full  of  thofe  Little  Meetings  ; 
yet  they  have  now  moffly  left  off  one  Circum- 
ltance,    which  in   thofe  our    primitive  Times, 
was  much  maintained  •,  namely,    their  conclu- 
ding of  their  more  Sacred  Exercifes.  with  Sup- 
pers •,  whereof,  I  Sincerely  think,  I  cannot  give 
a  better  Account,  than  Tertulhan  gives  of  the 
Suppers  among  the  Faithful,  in  his  more  pri- 
mitive Times ;    Therein  their  Spiritual  Gains 
countervailed  their   Worldly  Cojis  ;   they  remem- 
brcd  the  Poor,  they  ever  began  with  Prayer ;  [and 
other  Devotions]  In  Eating  and  Drinking   they 
relieved  Hunger,  but  fhoi<?d  no  Excefs.     Jn  feed- 
ing at  Supper  they  rcmembred  they  were  to  pray 
in  the  Night.    In  their  Difcourfe  they  confidered 
that  God  heard  them  :  And  when  they  departed, 
their  Behaviour    wan  fo  Religious  and  modejf, 
that  one  would  have  thought,  we  had  rather  been 
at  a  Sermon,  than   at   a  Supper.     Our  Private 
Meetings  of  good   People  to  pray  and  praife 
God,  and  hear   Sermons,  either  preached  per- 
haps by  the  younger  Candidates  for  the  Miniltry, 
(who  here  ufe  to  form  themfelves,  at  their  En- 
trance into   their  Work,,)   or  elfe  repeated  by 
exact  Writers  of  Short-Hand  after  their  Pafiors ; 
and  fbmetimes  to  fpend  whole  Days  in  Fafling 
and  Prayer,  efpecially  when  any  of  the  Neigh- 
bourhood are  in  Affiiclion,  or  when  the  Com- 
munion of  the   Lord's  Table  is  approaching ; 
thofe  do  ffill  abound  among  us  ;  but  the  Meals 
that  made  Meatings  of  them,  are  generally  laid 
afide.     I  fuppofe,  'twas  with  fome  Eye  to  what 
he  had  feen  in  this  Country,  that  Mr.  Firmin 
h3S  given  this  Report  in  a  Book  Printed    i68k 
c  Piain  Mechanicks  have  I  known,  well  Cate- 
'  chifed,  and   Humble  Christians,   excellent  in 
'  Practical  .Piety  :  They  kept  their  Station,   did 

'  not 


Book  ili.        '■/  he  Hijtory  of  New-England. 


<  not  afpire  to  be  Preachers,  hut  for  Gifts  of 
'  Prayer,  few  Clergy-Men  mult  come  near  them. 
'  I  have  known  fome  of"  them,  when  they  did 
'•  keep  their  Falls,  (as  they  did  often  J  they  di- 
'  vided  the  Work  of  Prayer :  The  &ft  begun  with 
'  Confeffwn  ;  the  fecond  went  on  with  Petition 
'•  for  themfelves  ;  the  third  with  Petition  for 
■  Church  and  Kingdom  ;  the  fourth  with  Thank/ 

•  giving  :  Every  one  kept  his  own  part,  and  did 
'  nyt  meddle  with  another  part.  Such  excel- 
k  lent  Matter,  lb  compacted  without  Tautolo- 
'  gies  ;  each  of  them  for  a  good  time,  about  an 
'  Hour,  if  not  more,  apiece  -,  to  the  wondering 
'  of  thofe  which  joined  with  them.  Here  was 
'  no  reading  of  Liturgies  :  Thefe  were  old  Ja- 

•  cob's  Sons,  they  could  wreftle  and  prevail  with 

•  God. 

XI.  Bellies  the  Minifters  enumerated  in  the 
three  Claffes  of  our  Catalogue,  there  might  a 
fouith  Gtafs.he  offered,  under  the  Name  of  the 
Anomalies  of  New-England.  There  have  at  fe- 
veral  t/mes  arrived  in  this  Country,  more  than  a 
Score  of  Jvliniiters  from  other  parts  of  the  World ; 
who  proved  either  fo  erroneous  in  their  Princi 
pies,  or  i'o/candalous  in  their  Practices,  or  fo  dif 
agree itile  to  the  Church  Order,  tor  which  the 
Country  was  planted,  that  I  cannot  well  croud 
the  n  into  the  Company  of  our  Worthies  : 

Non  bene  conveniunt,  nee  in  una/ede  morantur. 

And,  indeed,  I  had  rather  my  Church  Hijtory 
fhouldipeak  nothing f\\:\x\  fpeak  not  well  of  them 
that  might  elfe  be  mentioned  in  it  :  Being  en- 
tirely of  Plutarch's  Mind,  That  it  is  better  it 
fhould  never  be  faid,  there  was  fuch  a  Man  as 
Plutarch  at  all,  than  to  have  it  faid,  that  he  was 
not  an  honefl;  and  a  worthy  Man.  I  confefs, 
there  were  fome  of  thole  Perfons,  whofe  Names 
deferve  to  live  in  our  Book  for  their  Piety,  al- 
tho*  their  particular  Opinions  were  fuch,  as  to  be 
differviceabie  unto  the  declared  and  fuppofed 
Interejis  of  our  Churches.  Of  thefe  there  were 
fome  Godly  Anabaptifts  -,  as  namely,  Mr.  Han- 
/erd  Knol/ys,  ('whom  one  of  his  Adverfaries  cal- 
led, Abjurd  Knozclejs)  of  Dover,  who  afterwards 
removing  back  to  London,  lately  died  there,  a 
good  Man,  in  a  good  old  Age.  And  Mr.  Miles  of 
Swan/ey,  who  afterwards  came  to  Bojton,  and  is 
now  gone'  to  his  Reft.  Both  of  thefe  have  a  re 
fpecttul  Character  in  the  Churches  of  this  Wil- 
dernefs.  There  were  alfo  fome  Godly  Episcopa- 
lians ;  among  whom  has  been  commonly  rec- 
koned Mr.  Blackjione  -,  who,  by  happening  to 
fleep  firft  in  an  Hovel,  upon  a  Point  of  Land 
there,  laid  claim  to  all  the  Ground,  whereupon 
there  now  ftands  the  Metropolis  of  the  whole 
Englifh  America,  until  the  Inhabitants  gave  him 
Satisfaction.  This  Man  was,  indeed,  of  a  par- 
ticular Humour,  and  he  would  never  join  himfelf 
to  any  of  our  Churches,  giving  this  Realbu  for 
it :  J  came  from  England,  becau/e  I  did  not  like 


the  Lord  Bifhops  •,  but  I  can't  join  with  you,  be- 
cauje  1  would  not  be  under  the  Lord- Brethren. 
There  were  fome  likewife  that  fell  into  grols 
M/carriages,  and  the  Hunter  of  Souls  having 
ltuck  the  Darts  of  fome  extreme  Diforder  into 
thofe  poor  Hearts,  the  whole  Flock  pufhed  them 
Out  of  their  Society.  Of  thefe,  tho'  there  were 
fome  fo  recovered,  that  they  became  true  Peni- 
tents -,  yet  inafmuch  as  the  Wounds  which  they 
received  by  their  Falls,  were  not  in  all  regards 
throughly  cured,  I  will  choofe  rather  to  forbear 
their  Names,  than  write  them  with  any  Blots 
upon  them.  For  the  fame  Caufe,  tho'  I  have 
his  Name  in  our  Catalogue,  yet  I  will  not  fay 
which  of  them  it  was,  that  for  a  while  became 
a  Seeker,  and  almoft  a  Quaker,  and  i'educed  a 
great  part  of  his  poor  People,  into  hlsbewi/dnng 
Errors  :  At  Lift  the  Grace  of  God  recovered  this 
Gentleman  out  of  his  Errors,  and  he  became  a 
very  good  and  found  Man,  after  his  Recovery  : 
But  alas,  it  was  a  perpetual  Sting  unto  his  peni- 
tent Soul,  that  he  could  not  now  reduce  his  wan- 
dring  Flock,  which  he  had  himfelf  fedticed  into 
the  molt  unhappy  Aberrations.  They  Wandred 
on  obftinately  (till  in  their  Errors  -,  and  being  ir- 
recoverable, he  was  forced  thereby  unto  a  Re- 
moval from  rhem,  taking  the  Charge  of  a  more 
Orthodox  Flock,  upon  Longljland. 

Nor  know  I  where  better  than  among  thefe 
Anomalies,  to  mention  one  Mr.  Lenthal,  whom 
I  find  a  Minifter  at  Weymouth,  about  the  Year 

He  had  been  one  of  good  Report  and  Repute 
in  England ;  whereas,  here,  he  not  only  had  im- 
bibed fome  Antinomian  Weaknefles,  from  whence 
he  was  by  Conference  with  Mr.  Cotton  foon  re- 
covered ■,  but  alfo  he  fet  himfelf  to  oppofe  the 
way  of  gathering  Churches.  Many  of  the  com- 
mon People  eagerly  fell  in  with  him,  to  fet  up 
a  Church  State,  wherein  all  the  Bapti/ed  might 
be  Communicants,  without  any  further  Trial  of 
them  ;  for  which  end  many  Hands  were  pro- 
cur'd  unto  an  Injtrument,  wherein  they  would 
have  declared  againft  the  New  England  Dehgn  of 
Church-Reformation ,  and  would  have  invited 
Mr.  Lenthal  to  be  their  Paltor,  in  oppofition 
thereunto. 

Mr.  Lenthal,  upon  the  Difcourfes  of  theMa- 
giftrates  and  Minifters  before  the  General  Court, 
who  quickly  check'd  thefe  Dilturbances,  by  fend- 
ing for  him,  as  quickly  was  convinced  of  his 
Error  and  Evil,  in  thus  difturbing  the  good  Order 
of  the  Country.  His  Convitlion  was  followed 
with  his  Confejfion  ;  and  in  open  Court,  he  gave 
under  his  Hand  a  laudable  Retratlation  :  Which 
Retratlation  he  was  ordered  alfo  to  utter  in  the 
Affembly  at  Weymouth,  and  fo  no  further  Cen/tre 
was  palled  upon  him. 

In  Four  Parts  we  will  now  putfue  the  Defigu 
before  us. 


B  b  b 


jo- 


8 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.       Ecok  ill 


JOHANNES  in  Eremo. 


MEMOIRS,  relating  to  the  LIVES, 

bf  the  Ever -MEMO  R  ABLE 

Mr.  John  Cotton,  ivhoDied  23.  D.  10. M.  1652. 
Mr.  John  No  rton,  whoDied^.D.  2  M    1663. 
Mr.  John  Wilson,   who  Died 7.  V    6.  M.   1 667. 
Mr.  John  Davenport,  wfo'Died \$.  D.  1.  M.  1670. 

ReveTend  and  Renowned  MINISTERS  of  the  GOSPEL,   All,  m 
the  more  Immediate  Service  of  One  Church,  in  Bofton. 

AND 

MlThomas  Hooker,  who  Died  7.2).  5.M  1647, 

Paftor  of  the  Church  at  Hartford,    NerP'England. 


Preferv'd    by    COTTON    MATHER, 


%\)t  fitft  f&att* 


Forte  nimis   Videor  Laudes  Cantare  M  E  0  RTJ  M  - 
Forte  nimis  cineres  Videor  celebrarc  repofios  ; 
Non  it  a  me  Facile m  Sine  Vero  Credit  e  !  ■ 


To  the    R    E    A    D    E    R. 


THat  lictle  pare  of  the  Earth  which  this 
Age  has  known  by  the  Name  of  New- 
England,  has  been  an  Objeft  of  very 
fignal,  both  Frowns  and  Favours  of 
Heaven-  Befides  thofe  Stars  of  the  fir  ft  Magni- 
tude, which  did  fometimes  7^/w,  andatlafty^/ 
in  this  Horizon,  there  have  been  feveral  Men  of 
Renown,  who  were  preparing  and  fully  refolved 
to  tranfport  themfelves  hither,  had  not  the  Lord 
ieen  us  unworthy  of  more  fuch  Mercies.  It  is 
Itill  frefh  in  the  Memory  of  many  yet  living, 
that  that  Great  Man,  Dr.  John  Owen,  had  given 
order  for  his  paiTage  in  a  Veffel  bound  for  Bofton  -, 
being  invited  to  fucceed  the  other  famous  Johns, 


who  had  been  burning  zx&Jbhmng  Lights  in  that 
which  was  the  firft  Candleftiek,  let  up  in  this 
populous  Town  5  but  a  fpecial  Providence  divert- 
ed him.  Long  before  that,  Dr.  Ames,  (  whofe 
Family,  and  whofe  Library  New-England  has 
had)  was  upon  the  Wing  for  this  American  De- 
fart  :  But  God  then  took  him  to  the  heavenly 
Canaan.  Whether  he  left  his  Fellow  upon  Earth 
I  know  not :  Such  Acutenefs  of  Judgment,  and 
affe&ionate  Zealt  as  he  excelled  in,  ieldom  does 
meet  together  in  the  fame  Perfbn.  I  have  often 
thought  of  Mr.  Paul  Bay ne,  hisFarewel  Words 
to  Dt.Amcs,  when  going  for  Holland;  Mr.  Bayne 
perceiving  him  to    be  a  Man  of  extraordinary 

Parts, 


Book  III.       The  Hijlory  of  New  -England.  9 

Parts,  Beware  (faid  he)  of  a  Strong  Head,  and  a  I  publifhed,  viz.  Mr.  Cotton,  whofe  Life  was  wri't- 
Cold  Heart.  It  is  rare  for  a  Scholafttcal  Wit,  to  |  ten  by  his  immediate  SuccefTorMr.  Norton  ;  and. 
be  joined  with  an  Heart  warm  in  Religion  :  Birr  |  my  Father  Mather,  whole  was  done  by  another 


in  him  it  was  fo.  He  has  fometimes  laid,  that 
he  could  be  willing  to  walk  twelve  Miles  on  his 
Feet,  on  condition  he  might  have  an  Opportunity 
to  preach  a  Sermon  :  And  he  feldom  did  preach 
a  Sermon  without  Tears.  When  he  lay  on  his 
Death-bed,  he  had  fuch  Talis  of  the  Firftfruits 
of  Glory,  as  that  a  Learned  Pbyfitian  ('who  was 
aCPapilt  )  wondring,  laid,  Nam  Protcftantes  fie 
folent  mori  :  Is  the  Latter  End  of  Pmteftants  like 
this  Man's  ?  But  altho'  fome  excellent  Perfons, 
have,  by  a  Divine  Hand  been  kept  from  coming 
into  thele  Ends  of  the  Earth,  yet  there  have  been 
others,  who  whilft  living  made  this  Land  (which 
before  their  Arrival  was  an  Hell  of  Darknefs)  to 
be  a  place  full  of  Light  and  Glory  5  amongft 
whom  the  Champions,  whofe  Lives  are  here  de- 
ferred, are  worthy  to  he  reckoned  as  thofe  that 
have  attained  to  the  Fir  ft  Three. 

There  are  many  who  have   (and  fome  to  good 
purpofe)  endeavoured  to  colled  the  memorable 
PafTages  that  have  occurred  in  the  Lives  of  emi- 
nent Men,  by  means  whereof  Pofterity  has  had 
the  knowledge  of  them.     Hi erom  of  old,   wrote 
IV  Viris  Vlitftribus  :  The  like  has  been  done  by 
Gennadi  us,  Epiphanius,    Ifidore,  Prochorus,  and 
other  ancient  Authors.     Of  later  Times,  SchopH- 
us,  his  Academia  Chrifti ;  Meurfius,  his  Athena 
Batavt ;  Verheiden,  his  Elogia  Theologorum,  Mel- 
chier  Adams,  Lives  of  Modern  Divines,   have 
preferved  the  Memories  of  fome  that  did  wor- 
thily, and  were  in  their  Day  famous.     There  are 
two  learned  Men  who  have  very  lately  engaged 
in  a  Service  of  this  nature,  viz.  Paulus  Freherus, 
who  has  publifhed  two  Volumes  in  Folio,  with 
the  Title  of,  The  at  rum  virorum  Eruditione  claro- 
rum,  ad  hac  ufque  Tempora.     He  proceeds  as  far 
as  the  Year  1 6bo.     The  other  is  Henningus  Wit- 
ten,  who  has  written,  Memorise  Theologorum  no- 
ftri  feculi.     It  is  a  trite  (yet  a  true)    Affertion, 
that  Historical  Studies  are  both  profitable  and 
pleafaht.     nnd  of  all  Hiftorical  Narratives,  thofe 
which  give  a  faithful  Account  of  the  Lives  of 
eminent  Saints,  muft  needs  be  the  moft  edifying. 
The  greateft  part  of  the  Sacred  Writings  are  Hi- 
forical;  and  a  confiderable  part  of  them  is  ta- 
ken up  in  relating  the  Actions,  Speeches,  exem- 
plary Lives,  and  Deaths,  of  fuch  as  had  been 
choice  Inftruments  in  the  Hand  of  the  Lord,  to 
promote  his  Glory  in  theWorld.     No  doubt  but 
that  the  Commemoration  of  the  remarkable  Pro 
vidences  of  God  towards  his  Servants,  will  be 
"  fome  part  of  their  Work  in  Heaven  for  ever,  that 
fo  he  may  have  Eternal  Praifes  for  the  Wonders 


Hand,  and  is  Republifhed  in  Mr.  Sam.  Clark's 
laft  Volume  ;  and  Mr.  Eliot,  whofe  was  done  by 
the  fame  Hand  which  did  thele,  and  has  been  fe- 
veral  times  Reprinted  in  London.  Here  the  Rea- 
der has  prefented  to  him  Five  of  them,  who  were 
amongft  the  chief  of  the  Fathers,  in  the  Churches 
of  New-England.  The  lame  Hand  has  done;  the 
like  Office  of  Love  and  Duty,  for  many  others 
who  were  the  Worthies  of  New  England,\\ox.  only 
in  the  Churches,  but  in  the  Civil  State,  whom 
the  Lord  Chrift  faw  meet  to  ufe  as  Inftruments, 
in  planting  the  Heavens,  and  laying  the  Founda- 
tion of  the  Earth,  in  this  New  World.  If  thefe 
find  a  candid  Acceptance,  tho/e  may  poffibly  fie 
the  Light  in  due  time. 

Whether  what  is  herewith  emitted  and  written 
by  my.  Son,  be  as  to  the  Manner  of  it,  well  per- 
formed, I  have  nothing  to  fay,  but  fhall  leave 
it  unto  others  to  judge,  as  they  fhall  fee  caufe  ; 
only  as  to  the  Matter  of  the  Hiftory,  I  am  afcer- 
tainedthat  things  are  truly  related.  For  altho' 
I  had  little  of  Perfonal  Acquaintance  with  Mr. 
Cotton,  being  a  Child  not  above  Thirteen  Years 
old  when  he  died.  I  fhall  never  forget  the  laft 
Sermon  which  he  preached  at  Cambridge,  and 
his  particular  Application  to  the  Scholars  there, 
amongft  whom  I  was  then  a  Student  newly^  ad- 
mitted •,  and  my  Relation  to  his  Family  fince, 
has  given  me  an  opportunity  to  know  many  ob- 
fervable  things  concerning  him.  Both  Boftons 
have  reafon  to  Honour  his  Memory  -,  and  New- 
EnglandBofton moft  of  all,which  oweth  its  Name 
and  Being  to  him,  more  than  to  any  one  Perfon 
in  the  World  :  He  might  fay  of  Bofton,  much 
what  as  Auguftus  faid  of  Rome,  Lateritiam  re- 
peri,  marmoream  re/iqui  :  He  found  it  little  bet- 
ter than  a  Wood  or  Wildernefs,  but  left  it  a  fa- 
mous Town  with  two  Churches  in  it.  I  remem- 
ber, Dr.  Lightfoot,  in  Honour  to  his  Patron,  Sir 
Roland  Cotton,  called  one  of  his  Sons,  Cotton  : 
It  doth  not  repent  me,  that  I  gave  my  EldettSon 
that  Name,  in  Honour  to  his  Grandfather  :  And 
the  Lord  grant  that  both  of  us  may  be  Followers 
of  him,  an  he  followed  Chrift. 

As  for  the  other  three  Worthies  who  have 
taught  the  Word  of  God  in  this  place,  they  had 
their  peculiar  Excellencies. 

Mr.  Wilfon  (like  John  the  Apoftle)  did  excel 
in  Love  ;  and  he  was  alfo  ltrong  in  Faith.  In  the 
time  of  the  Pequod  War,  he  did  not  only  hope, 
but  had  affurance,  that  God  would  make  the  En~ 


of  his  Grace  in  Chrift  towards  them.     It  muft  \glijh  Victorious.     He  declared,  That  he  was  as 
needs  therefore  be  in  it  felf,  a  thing  pleafing  to  certain  of  it,  as  if  he  had  with  his  Eves  feen  the 


God,  and  a  fpecial  A£f.  of  Obedience  to  the  Fifth 
Commandment,  to  endeavour  the  prefervation  of 
theNames,  and  Honour  of  them,  who  have  been 
Fathers  in  Ifrael.  On  which  account,  I  cannot 
but  rejoice  in  what  is  here  done.  Altho'  New- 
England  has  been  favoured  with  many  faithful 
and  eminent  Minifters  of  God,  there  are  only 
Three  of  them  all,  whofe  Lives  have  been  as  yet 


Victories  obtained  •,  which  came  to  pafs  accord- 
ing to  his  Faith.  I  well  remember,  that  1  heard 
him  once  fay,  that  when  one  of  his  Daughters 
was  lick,  and  given  up  as  dead,  paft  recovery, 
he  defired  Mr.  Cotton  to  pray  with  that  Child  5 
And  (faid  hej  whileft  Mr.  Cotton  wai  praying, 
I  w.tf  fure  that  Child  Jlmdd  not  then  die,  but  live. 
That  Daughter  did  live  to  be  the  Mother  of  many 
Bbb  2  Children  5 


IO 


The  Hijlory  <^ New-England,        Book  ill. 


Children  •,  two  of  which  are  now  ufeful  Mini- 
iters  of  Chrilt  :  And  (he  is  ftili  living,  a  pious 
Widow,  another  Anna,  jerving  God  day  and 
night.  When  Mr.  Norton  was  called  from  the 
Church  of  Iffwicb  to  Bofton,  Mr.  Nathanael  Ro- 
gers (thar  excellent  Man,  who  was  Son  to  the 
famous  MXvRpgers  of  Dedfcgw,  in  Effex,  and  Pa- 
llor of  the  Church  oiTpfwicb,  \nN.  E.)  oppofed 
Mr.  Norton's  removal  rrom  Iffwicb  :  Some  fay- 
ing, that  Mr.  Wilfon  would  by  his  Argument,  ot 
Rhetorick,  or  both,  get  Mr.  Norton  from  them 
at  laft  j  Mr.  Roger's  replied.  That  be  wan  afraid 
of  bis  FaitJfi  more  than  bis  Arguments.  Some- 
times he  was  tranfponed  with  a  Prophetical  Af- 
flatus, of  which  there  were  marvellous  Inftances. 
His  Converfation  was  both  pleaiant  and  profita- 
ble -,  in  that  he  could  relate  many  Memorable 
Providrmes,  which  he  himfelf  had  the  certain 
knowledge  of.  WhiHr  I  am  writing  this,  there 
comes  to  my  mind,  one  very  pleaiant,  and  yet 
very  feripus  Story,  which,  he  told  me,  and  I  do 
not  remember  that  ever  I  met  with  it  any  where 
but  from  him.  It  was  this  :  There  was  one  Mr 
Snape,  a  Puritan  Minilter,  who  was  by  the  Bi 
(hops  calf  into  Prilon,  for  his  Nonconformity  $ 
when  his  Money  was  (bent,  the  Jailor  was  un- 
kind to  him  :  But  one  Dav  as  Mr.  Snape  was  en 
his  Knees  at  Prayer,  the  Window  of  his  Cham- 
ber being  open,  he  perceived  fomething  was 
thrown  into  his  Chamber  5  but  refolved  he  would 
finifh  his  Work  with  God,  before  he  would  di- 
vert to  fee  wlnt  it  was.  When  he  arofe  from 
his  Knees,  he  luw  a  Pur/e  on  the  Chamber-floor, 
which  was.  full  of  Gold,  by  which  he  could  make 
his  Keeper  better  natured  than  he  had  been. 
Many  fuch  PalTages  could  that  good  Man  relate. 

Mr.  Norton  was  one  whofe  Memory,  I  muff 
acknowledge,  I  have  peculiar  caufe  to  love  and 
honour.  I  was  his  Pupil  fe\  eral  Years.  He  had 
a  very  Schalajlical  Genius,  in  the  Doctrine  of 
Grace  he  was  exceeding  clear  5  indeed  another 
Auftiu.  He  loved  and  admired  Dr.  Twifs  more 
than  any  Man  that  this  Age  has  produced.  He 
has  fometimes  (aid  to  me,  Dr.  Twifs  is  Omni  Ex- 
cept'wne  Major.  He  was  much  in  Prayer :  He 
would  very  often  lpend  whole  Days  in  Prayer, 
with  fafling  before  the  Lord  alone  in  his  Study. 
He  kept  a  ffricl:  daily  Watcb  over  his  own  Heart. 
He  was  an  hard  Student.  He  took  Notice  in  a 
private  Diary,  how  he  fpent  his  time  every  day  : 
If  he  found  himfelf  not  id  much  inclined  to  Df 
ligence  and  Study,  as  at  other  times,  he  would  re- 
flect, on  his  Heart  and  W7ays,  left  haply  fomeun- 
obferved  Sin  fhould  provoke  the  Lord  to  give  him 
up  to  a  flothful  liftlefs  Frame  of  Spirit.  In  his 
Diary,  he  would  fometimes  have  thefe  Words, 
Leve  defiderium  ad  fudendum  :  Forfan  ex  pecca- 
to  adnnjjo.  I  blefs  the  Lord  rhat  ever  I  knew  Mr. 
Norton,  and  that  I  knew  fo  much  of  him  as  I  did. 

As  for  Mr.  Davenport,  I  have  in  a  Preface  to 
his  Sermon  on  the  Canticles,  which  are  tranferi- 
bed  for  the  Prefs,  and  now  at  London,  given  what 
Account  I  could  then  obtain,  concerning  the  re- 
markable Palfages  of  his  Life.    I  fevcral  times 


defired  him  to  imitate  Junius,  and  feme  others, 
who  had  written  their  own  Lives.  Re  to  j  me. 
he  did  intend  it:  But  I  could  not  find  any  thing 
of  that  nature  among  his  ManufcriptSj  whe'i, 
many  Years  ago  I  had  anoccafion  to  leek  aftei 
He  was  a  Princely  P/ca  her.  I  hive  heard  iom 
fay,  who  knew  him  in  liisyou%gfr  Tearsi  that  be 
was  then  very  fervent  and  vehement,  as  to  the 
manner  of  his  Delivery  :  Bur  in  his,  later  'Limes, 
he  did  very  much  imitate  Mr.  Gtton,  whom  in 
in  the  Gravity  of  his  Countenance,  he  did  fome- 
what  referable.  Sic  die  manus,fic  ctaferebat. 

The  Reader  will  find  many  obfervable  Things 
in  what  is  here  related  concerning  Mr.  honker. 
Yet  great  pity  it  is,  that  no  more  can  be  collect- 
ed of  the  Memorab/es  relating  to  fo  good  and  fo 
great  a  Manas  he  was-,  then  whom  Connecticut 
never  did,  and  perhaps  never  will,  fee  a  greater 
Perfon.  Mr.  Cotton,  in  his  Preface  ro  Mr.  Nor,* 
ton's  Anfwer  to  ApoUomus,  lays  of  Mr.  Hooker \ 
Dominatur  in  Concionibus.  Dr.  yiwf.ru  led  to  fay, 
he  never  knew  bis  Equal :  There  was  a  great  In- 
timacy, between  them  two.  I  remember-,  my  Fa- 
ther told  me,  That  Mr.  Hooker  .was  the  Author 
of  that  targe  Preface  which  is  before  Dr.  Ames, 
his  Prejjb  Suit  again)}  Ceremonies.  He  would  fome- 
times lay.  That  next  to  converting  Grace,  he  biff* 
Jed  God  jor  his  Acquaintance  with  the  Principles 
and  Writings  of  that  Learned  Alan,  Mr.  Alexan- 
der Ruhardfen.  It  was  a  Black  Day  to  Nezo-Eng- 
land,  when  that  great  Light  was  removed. 

There  are  fbme  who  will  nor  be  pie. 1  fed,  that 
any  Notice  is  taken  of  the  hard  I\Laiure  which 
thefe  excellent  Men  had  from  rhofe  perfccuting 
Prelates, who  were  willing  to  have  the  World  rid 
of  them.  But  it  is  impofhble  to  write  the  Kiftoty 
of  New-England,  and  of  the  Lives  of  them  who 
were  the  chief  in  it,  and  yet  be  wholly  filent  in 
that  matter.  That  eminent  Perfon,  Dr.  'LUlot- 
fon  (the  late  Arch  Bimop  of  Canterbury)  did,  not 
above  four  Years  ago,  fometimes  exprefs  to  me, 
his  Refentments  of  the  Injury  which  had  been 
done  to  the  fitft  Planters  ot  New-Eng/and,3.nd  his 
great  diflike  of  Arch  Bifhop  Laud's  Spirit  towards 
them.  And  to  my  knowledge,  there  are  Bifhops 
at  this  Day,  of  the  £\me  ChxiiYnn  Temper  and 
Moderation  with  that  Great  and  Good  Mandare- 
ly  dead.  Had  the  Sees  in  England,  fourfcore  Years 
ago,  been  rilled  with  fuch  Arch  Bifhops,  and  Bi- 
fhops, as  thofe  which  King  William  (whom  God 
grant  long  to  Live  and  to  Reign)  has  preferred  to 
Epifcopal  Dignity,  there  had  never  been  a  New- 
England.  It  was  therefore  neceflary  that  it  fhould 
beotherwife  rhen,  than  ar  this  Day,  that  fo  the 
Gofpel  in  the  Power  and  Puriry  of  ir,mightcome 
into  thefe  dark  Corners  of  the  Earth,  and  that  here 
might  be  feen  a  Specimen  of  the  New  Heavens  and 
a  New  £"<2/7Z>,wherein  dwells  Right eoufnefs,  which 
fhall  e'er  long  be  feen  all  the  World  over,  and 
which,  according  to  bis  Promije  nee  look  for. 


Bojion,  New-England, 
May  16.  1695- 


Increase  Mather. 


T: 


Book  III.        The  Hiftory  of  New-England 


ii 


The   HSJTKOVVCTIO  N. 


* 


"W 


Hen  the  God  of  Heaven  had  car- 
ried a  Nation  into  a  Wildernefs, 
upon  the  Defigns  of  a  Glorious 
Reformation,  he  there  gave  them  a  fingular  Con- 
duel  of  his  Prefence  and  Spirit,  in  a  certain  Pil- 
lar, which  by  Day  appear'd  as  a  Cloud,  and  by 
Night  as  a  Fire  before  them  5  and  the  Report 
of  the  RefpecF  paid  by  the  Ifraelites  unto  this 
Pillar,  became  lb  noifed  among  the  Gentiles, 
that  the  Pagan  Poets  derided  them  on  this  Ac- 
count, 

Nil  prater  Nubes  &  czli  Lumen  adorant, 

[Whifh  is,  I  fuppofe,  the  true  Reading  of 
that  famous  Verfe  in  Juvenal :  And  I  thus  tran- 
ilate  it,] 


Only  the  Clouds  and  Fires 
worfhip  at  all  I  imes. 


of  Heavn  they  do. 


But  I  muft  now  obferve  unto  my  Reader,  that 
more  than  a  Score  of  Years,  after  the  beginning 
of  the  Age  which  is  now  expiring,  our  Lord  Je- 
fus Chrilt,  with  a  thoufand  Wonders  of  his  Pro- 
vidence, carried  into  an  American  Wildernefs,  a 
People  perfecuted  for  their  defire  to  fee,  and 
feek  a  Reformation  of  the  Church,  according  to 
the  Scripture  :  Of  which  matter  I  cannot  give  a 
briefer,  and  yet  fuller  Hiftory,  than  by  reciting1 
the  memorable  Words  of  that  Great  Man,  Dn 
John  Owen,  who  in  his  Golden  Book  of  Commu- 
nion with  God,    thus  expretfes  it  :  c  They  who 
4  hold  Communion  with  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
'  will   admit   nothing,   practice  nothing,  in  the 
'  Worfhip  of  God,  but  what  they  have  his  War- 
'  rant  for  -,  unlefs  it  comes  in  his  Name,  with 
'  a,  Thus faith  the  Lord  ] rcJ 'vs ;  they  will  not  hear 
'  an  Angel  from  Heaven  :  They  know,  the  Apo- 
'  files  themfelves  were  to  teach  the  Saints,  only 
c  what  he  commanded  them -.  And  you  know,  how 
0  many  in  this  very  Nation,  in  the  Days  not  lortg 
'  fince  palled,   yea  how  many  Thoufands,  left 
*  their  Native  Soy/,  and  went  into  a  vait  and 
c  howling  Wildernefs,  in  the  uttermoft  parts  of 
'  the  World,  to  keep  their  Souls  undefiled  and 
c  chart  unto  their  dear  Lord  Jefus,  as  to  this  of 
c  his  Worfhip  and  Inftitutions.     Nov/  tho'  the 
•Reformed  Church  thus  fled  into  the  Wildernefs, 
enjoy'd   not  the  miraculous  Pillar,    vouchfafed 
unto  the  Erratick  Church  of  lfrae/,  for  about 
forty  Years  together  ;    yet  for  that  Number  of 
Years,  we  enjoy'd  many  a  Perfon,  in  whom  the 
good  Spirit  of  God,  gave  a  Conduct  unto  us,  and 
mercifully  difpenfed  thofe  directing,  defending, 
fefrefhing  Influences ,    which  were  as  neceiTary 
for  us,  as  any  that  the  celebrated  Pillar  of  Cloud, 
and  Fire,  could  have  afforded.     The  great  and 
good  Shepherd  of  the  Church,  favoured  hisdiftref- 
fed  Flocks  in  the  Wildernefs,  with  many  Paftors, 
that  were  learned,  prudent,  and  holy,  beyond 


the  common  Rates.and  Men  after  his  own  Heart 
And  it  would  be  an  Ingratitude  many  ways  per- 
nicious, if  the  Churches  of '  Nrw  England  fhould 
nor,  like  thofe  of  the  Primitive  Times,  have 
their  Diptycbs,  wherein  the  Memory  of  thofe  Emi- 
nent Confeffors,  may  be  recorded  and  preferved. 

§  2.  Four  or  five  of  thole  eminent  Pcrfons  are 
now  to  have  their  Lives  defcribed  unto  us,  and 
offered  unto  the  Contemplation  and  Imitation, 
efpecially  of  the  Generation  which  are  now  rifine, 
up,  after  the  Death  of  Cotton,  and  of  the  Elders 
that  out -lived  him,  and  had  fern  all  the  Great 
Works   of  the    Lords,  ivhuh   he   did  jor  New- 
England.     I  faw  a  fearful  Degeneracy,  creeping, 
I  cannot  fay,  butrufhing  in  upon  tlicle  Churches; 
I  faw  to  multiply  continually  our  Dangers,  of 
our  lofing  no  fmall  Points   in  our  fir/}  Faith,  as 
well  as  our  firft  Love,  and  of  our  giving  up  Dhe 
Ejjentials  of  that  Chard*  Order,  which   was  the 
very    End  of  theft  Colonies  ;    I  law  a  vrftbfe 
thank  in  all  Orders  of  Men  among  us,  from  that 
Greatncfs,  and  that  Gdddtfefs,  which  was  in  the 
firfi  Grain,   that   our  God  brought  from  Three 
lifted  Kingdoms,  into  this  Land,  when  it  was  a 
Land  not  f own  ;  that  while  the  Papijis  in  Europe 
have  grown  better  of  late  Years,  by  the  Growth 
of  Janfenifm  among  them,  the  Protcflants  have 
prodigiouily  zcaxed  worfe,  for  a  Revolt  unto  Pe- 
lagianifm,  and  Socinianifm,  or  what  is  half  tiDay 
to  it,  has  not  been  more  furprifing  to  me,  than 
to  fee  that  in  America,  while  thofe  parts  which 
were  at  firft  Peopled  by  the  Refufe  of  the  Englijh 
Nation,  do  fenfibly  amend  in  the  Regards  of  So- 
briety and  Education,  thofe  Parts  which  were 
planted  with  a  more  noble  Vine,  do  fo  fait  give  a 
Profpecl  of  affording  only  the  degenerate  Plants 
of  a  ft  range  Vine.     What  mould  be  done  for  the 
ftop,  the  turn  of  this  Degeneracy  ?    It  is  report- 
ed of  the  Scythians,  who  were,  doubtlefs,  the 
Anceflors  of  the  Indians  firft  inhabiting  thefe  Re- 
gions, that  in  Battels,  when  they  came  to  ftand 
upon  ihzGravcs  ot  their  dead  Fatbers,ihey  would 
there  ftand  immovable,  'till  they  dy'd  upon  the 
fpot :    And,   thought  I,  why  may  not  fuch  a 
Method  now  effectually  engage  the  Englijh  in 
thefe  Regions,  to  Hand f aft  in  their  Faith  and  their 
Order,  and  in  the  Power  of  Godlinefs  ?    I'll  (hew 
them,the  Graves  of  their 'dead  Fathers-,  and  if  any 
of  them  do  retreat  unto  a  Contempt  or  NeglecF  of 
Learning,  or  unto  the  Errors  of  another  Gofpel,  or 
unto  the  Superstitions  of  WillWorflnp,  or  unto  a 
worldly,  zfe/fifh,  a  little  Converfation,  they  mall 
undergo  the  irrefiftible  Rebukes  of  their  Progeni- 
tors, here  fetch'd  from  the  dead,  for  their  Admo- 
nition ;  and  I'll  therewithal  adverrile  my  New- 
Englanders,  that  if  a  Grandchild  of  a  Mofes  be- 
come an  Idolater,  he  thall,   [as  the  Jews  remark 
upon  Judg.iS.^of]  be  deltroy'd,as  if  not  a  Mofes, 
but  a  Manajjeh.hfd  been  his  Father.  Befides,  F7/vs 
Vivitur  Exemplis  quant  Praceptls  ! 
§  3.  Good  Men  in  the  Church  of  England,  I 

hope, 


*2 


The  Hi/lory  0/ New-England.       Book  III. 


hope,  will  not  be  offended  at  it,  if  the  Unrea- 
finable  Impofitions,  and  Intolerable  Perfections, 
of  certain  Little-Soul'd  Ceremony-  Mongers  , 
which  drove  thefe  worthy  Men  out  of  their  Na- 
tive Country,  into  the  horrid  Thiokets  of  Ame- 
rica, be  in  their  Lives  complained  and  refented. 
For,  dtitinguilhing  between  a  Romanizing  Faffwn 
in  the  Church  of  England,  and  the  True  Prote- 
ftant  Reforming  Church  of  England,  (Things  as 
different  as  a  Jewel,  from  an  Heylin,  or  a  Grin 
dal,  from  a  Laud!)  the  Firft  Planters  of  New 
England,  at  their  fi.ift  coming  over,  did  in  a 
Publick  and  a  Printed  Addrefs,  call  the  Church 
of  England,  their  Dear  Mother,  defiring  their 
Friends  therein,  To  recommend  them  unto  the 
Mercies  of  God,  in  their  conjiant  Prayers,  as  a 
Church  novo  Springing  out  of  their  own  Bowels  : 
Nor  did  they  think,  that  it  was  their  Mother 
who  turned  them  out  of  Doors,  but  fome  ot 
their  angry  Brethren,  abufingthe  Name  of  their 
Mother,  who  fo  harfhly  treated  them.  As  for 
the  Romanizing  Faction  in  the  Church  ^/England, 
or,  that  Party,  who  refolving  (altogether  con 
trary  to  the  Defire  of  the  molt  Eminent  Perfons, 
by  whom  the  Common- Prayer  was  made  Englijh) 
that  the  Reformation  Should  never  proceed  one 
Jot  further  than  the  Firft  Effay  of  it,  in  the  for- 
mer Century,  did  mike  certain  Unfcriptural 
Canons,  whereby  all  that  could  not  approve, 
fubfctibe,  and  pra£life,  a  multitude  of,  (by  them- 
felves  confeffed  purely  Humane)  Inventions  in 
the  Worfhip  of  God,  were  accurfed,  and  Ipfo 
Fatlo  Excommunicate  -,  and  by  the  Ill-obtained 
Aid  of  Bitter  Laws  to  back  thefe  Canons,  did  by 
Fines  and  Goals  and  innumerable  Violences,  con- 
trary to  the  very  Magna  Charta  of  the  Nation, 
ruine  many  Thoufands  of  the  fobereft  People  in 
the  Kingdom ;  and  who  continually  made  as 
many  Shibboleths  as  they  could,  for  the  Disco- 
vering and  the  Extinguishing  of  all  real  Godlinefs, 
ind  never  gave  over  profecuting  their  Tripartite 
Plot,  of  Arminianifm,  and  a  Conciliation  with 
the  Patriarch  of  the  Weft,  and  Arbitrary  Go- 
vernment in  the  State,  until  at  laft  they  threw 
all  into  the  lamentable  Confufions  of  a  Civil 
War ;  the  Churchas  of  New-England  fay,  Come 
not  into  their  Secret,  0  my  Soul.  We  dare  not 
be  guilty  of  the  Schifm,  which  we  charge  upon 
that  Party  in  the  Church  of  England :  And  if  any 
FacFion  of  Men  will  require  the  Affent  and  Con- 
fent  of  other  Men,  to  a  vaft  Number  of  Difpu- 
table  and  Uninftituted  things,  and,  it  may  be, 
a  Mathematical  Falfkood,  among  the  firft  of  them, 
and  utterly  renounce  all  Chriflian  Communion 
with  all  that  Shall  not  give  that  Affent  and  Con- 
fent,  we  look  upon  thofe  to  be  Separatifls  ;  we 
dare  not  be  fo  Narrow-Spirited:  The  Churches 
of  New-England  profefs  to  make  only  the  Sub- 
ftantials  of  the  Chriflian  Religion  to  be  the  Terms 
of  our  Sacred  Fellowship  :  We  dare  make  no 
Difference  between  a  Presbyterian,  a  Congrega 
twnal,  an  Epifcopalian,  and  an  Antipadobaptift, 
where  their  Vifible  Piety,  makes  it  probable,  that 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  has  received  them.  And 
fuch  Reverend  Names,  as  Hall,  and  Kidder, 
moft  Worthy  Bifhops  now  adorning  the  Englijh 


Church,  as  well  as  the  Names  of  fuch  Reverend 
and  Excellent  Perfons  among  the  Diffenters,  as 
Bates,  Annefly,  How,  Mead,  and  A/fop,  ("with 
many  Others)  are,  on  that  Score,  together  Pre- 
cious unto  this  part  of  the  Chriflian  America. 
On  the  other  fide,  the  True  Proteflant  Reform- 
ing Church  of  England,  contains  the  whole  Body 
of  the  Faithful,  fcatterred  through  the  Englifh 
Dominions,  though  of  different  Periwafions 
about  fome  Rites  and  Modes,  3nd  lefler  Points 
of  Religion :  And  all  the  Friends  of  the  laft 
Reformation,  who,  whether  they  think  there 
needs  a  furt her  Progrefs  in  that  Work  or  no  ,yet 
are  willing  to  make  the  Word  of  God  the  Rale 
of  their  ferving  him,  do  come  under  this  Deno- 
mination. Thofe  Divines,  who,  with  Arch- 
Bifhop  UfJier  in  the  Head  of  them,  did  more 
than  Fifty  Years  ago,  give  in  a  Paper  touching 
the  Innovations  of  Doctrine  and  of  Discipline 
in  the  Church  of  England,  and  make  near  Forty 
Exceptions  againft  things  in  the  Liturgy,  were 
(fill  as  good  Members  of  that  Church,  as  they 
that  Hated  to  be  Reformed  -,  and  the  Aflembly 
of  Divines  at  Weftmmftcr,  which  made  the  Ca- 
techifms  now  ufed  among  us,  were  as  genuine 
Sons  of  the  Church  after  they  became  Aon  Con-, 
formifts,  as  while  they  lived  in  Conformity, 
which  every  one  of  them,  except  Eight  or  Nine, 
did  when  they  fitft  came  together.  One  who  is 
at  this  Day  a  Right  Reverend  Bifhop,  has  in  his 
Irenicum.  well  expreffed  the  Senfe  which  I  be- 
lieve, the  biggelt  Party  of  Chriftians  in  the 
Realm,  Three  to  One  have  of  thofe  ma  tters,which 
have  been,  The  Apples  of  Strije  among  us: 
4  That  Chrift,  who  came  to  take  away  the  In- 
'  fupportable  Yoke  of  the  Jewifh  Ceremonies, 
'  certainly  did  never  intend  to  gall  the  Necks 
'  of  the  Difciples  with  another  inftead  of  it; 
4  and  it  would  be  ftrange,  the  Church  would 
'  require  more  than  Chrift  himfelf  did,  and 
'  make  more  Terms  of  Communion,  than  our 
'  Saviour  did  of  Djfciple-fhip.  The  Grand  Com- 
4  mijjion  the  Apoftles  were  fent  out  with,  was 
4  only  to  Teach,  What  Chrift  had  commanded 
'  them  ;  not  the  leaft  Intimation  of  any  Power, 
4  given  them  to  impofe  or  require  any  thing, 
'  beyond  what  he  himfelf  had  fpoken  to  them, 
8  or  they  were  directed  to,  by  the  immediate 
'  Guidance  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  ~—  And, 
[Speaking  of  the  Reafon,  why  our  firft  Com- 
pilers of  the  Common-Prayer,  took  in  fo  much 
of  the  Popifh  Service']  '  Certainly,  thofe  Holy 
4  Men,  who  did  feek  by  any  means,  to  draw  in 
c  others,  at  fuch  a  diftance  from  their  Principles, 
'  as  the  Papifts  were,  did  never  intend,  by  what 
'  they  did  for  that  end,  to  exclude  any  truly 
'  tender  Confciences,  from  their  Communion  ; 
'  That  which  they  laid  as  a  Bait  for  them,  was 
'  never  intended  by  them  as  an  Hook  for  thofe 
'  of  our  own  Profeffion.  And  if  this  be  the 
True  Church  of  England,  give  me  leave  to  fay, 
The  Churches  of  New  England,  are  no  inconsi- 
derable part  of  /'/  •,  and  that  accordingly  we 
may  have  a  Room  in  it,  I  may  fafely  in  the 
Name  of  them  all,  offer,  fas  did  the  Renowned 
Author  of  our  Martyr-Books,  when  they  de- 
manded 


Book  III.        The  Hi/lory  of  New- England. 


13 


manded  Sabfcription   from   him,)   To  fubfcribe 
the  Neu  Teftament. 

Upon  the  whole  then,  if  any  be  difpleafed  at 
my  Report  of  the  Unjult  Impofitions  and  Perfe- 
cutions  which  drove  into  America,  as  Good 
Coriftians,  and  Proteftants,  as  any  that  were 
left  behind  them,  it  will  not  be  the  True  Church 
of  England;  for  why  fhould  Th.it  be  called, 
The  Church  of  England,  which  has  caufed  Thou- 
finds  of  as  real  and  thorough  Cbriftians,  as  any 
Upon  Earth,  to  fay,  It  is  no  better  to  dwell  in 
;  be  Wildernefs,  than  with  fuch  an  Contentious 
and  Angry  One  I  That  Church  of  England,  which 
alone  is  worthy  to  be  called  jo,  will  bewail, 
rjs  1  know  divers  Excellent  Peribns  now  in  the 
Epii'copal  Sees  hive  done,  the  injuries  offered 
unro  our  Fur  it  an  Fathers. 

kj  4.  Let  my  Reader,  thus  prepared,  now  en 
rertain  himfelf,  as  far  as  he  pleafes,  with  our 
Four  Johns,  to  whole  Lives,  I  have  upon  the 
Counfel  and  Command  of  an  Ever-Honoured 
Parent,  Append  iced  the  Life  of  a  Famous  Tho- 
rn <u  in  this  Publication  ■  Johns,  with  whom 
among  the  Five  or  Six  Hundred  Noted  Peribns 
of  that  Name,  celebrated  by  One  Hiftorian,  I 
find  not  many  that  were  worthy  to  be  compared  ; 
Johns,  fuller  of  Light  and  Grace  and  the  Goosi^ding 
Spirit,  than  all  thofe  Four  or  Five  and  Twenty  \S>ff  (i 
of  that  Name,  who  have  far  in  the  Chair  that 
pretends  to  Infallibility.  And,  if  he  pleafes,  let 
him  ice  that  Old  Little  Obfervarion  confirmed, 
Thar  as  the  Name  Henry  has  been  happy  in 
Kings,  Elizabeth  in  Queens,  Jit/ioW  in  Lawyers, 
William  in  Phyficians,  Francis  in  Scolars,  Ro- 
bert in  Souldiers  and  State-men,  fo  John  has 
been  happy  in  Divines.  Even  a  Divine  Jehoja- 
dah,  when'  he  comes  to  be  reckon'd  among  the 
Priefts  oi-the  Lord,  mutt  have  put  upon  him, 
the  Name  of  John  [1  Chron.  6.  9.]  But  let  him 
confider  thefe  Lives,  as  teBdered  unto  the  Pub- 
lick,  upon  an  Account  no  lefs  than  that  of  keep- 
ing Alive,  as  far  as  this  poor  Effay  may  conrri- 
'mte  thereunto,  the  Intetells  of  Dying  Religion 
.n  our  Churches.  I  remember  a  Learned  Man's 
Conjecture,  That  [in  1  Tim.  3.  15.]  it  is  Ti- 
mothy, and  not  The  Church,  which  is  called, 
The  Pillar  and  Ground  of  Faith  :  Such  Able,  Ho 
ly,  and  Faithful  Minilters  as  Timothy,  are  the 
Great  Proclai mers  and  Prefervers  of  Truth,  for 
the  Church  of  God  :  Such  were  thefe  Famous 
Johns  while  they  Lived,  and  now  they  are 
Dead,  I  have  done  my  Endeavour  that  they  may 
Hill  be  Such  unto  the  Churches,  unto  whom  I 
owe  my  All.  I'll  fay  but  this,  the  lait  Words 
of  the  molt  Renowned  Prebend  of  Canterbury, 
Dr.  Peter  du  Moulin,  who  died  a  very  Old 
Man,  about  Eleven  Years  ago,  were,  Since  Cat- 
vinifm  is  cried  dozen  [Actum  eft  de  Religione 
Chrifti  apud  Anglos]  Chriftianity  is  in  Danger 
to  be  loft  in  the  Englifh  Nation.  Alluding  to 
what  he  faid,  about  his  John  Calvin,  1  will 
take  leave  to  fay  with  refpecF  unto  our  John 
Cotton,  and  the  reft  that  here  accompany  him, 
Chriftianity  will  be  loft  among  us,  if  their  Faith 
and  Zeal,  mujl  all  be  buried  zvith  them :  Which, 
God  forbid  !  As  there  would  be  an  hazard,  that 
the  Early    and   Better  Times    of    New-Eng- 


land would  have  the  True  Story  thereof,  within 
a  while,  as  irrecoverably  loft,  as  the  Story  of 
the  World,  relating  to  thofe  Times,  which  Far 
ro  diftinguifhed  unto  Incognit,  and  Fabulous,  pre- 
ceding the  Hiftorical,  and  we  ihould  fhordy 
have  as  wretched  Narratives  of  the  frrft  Perfons 
and  Aflions  in  rhis  Land,  as  Juftin  gives  ot  the 
Jews,  when  he  makes  Alofes  the  Son  oi'  their 
Jofeph,  and  the  Sixth  of  their  Kings,  or  when 
he  makes  Them  Expell'd  from  Egypt,  becauie 
the  Gods  would  not  otherwife  allay  a  Plague 
that  raged  there,  or  fuch  as  are  given  by  Pliny, 
when  he  makes  Aloj'cs  a  Magician,  or  Strabo, 
that  makes  him  an  Egyptian  Prieft  ;  if  no  i'peedy 
Care  be  taken  ro  preierve  the  Memorab/es  of  out. 
Firft  Settlement  -,  fo  I  with,  the  Laudable  Prin- 
ciples and  PraHices  of  that  Firfl  Settlement,  may 
be  kept  from  utterly  being  loft  in  our  Apoltafies, 
by  the  Care  which  is  now  taken  thus  to  preferve 
what  was  Alemorable,  of  the  Men  that  have 
delivered  them  down  unto  us. 

§  5.  Finally  ;  When  the  Apoftles  had  let  be- 
fore Cbriftians  the  Saints,  which  were  a  Cloud 
ofWitneftes,  by  imitating  of  whofe  Exemplary 
Behaviour  we  might  kmer  into  Reft,  he  con- 
cludes with  a  Looking  unto  Jefus  -,  or,  accor- 
ding to  the  Emphafis  of  the  Original,  A  Looking 
torn  them)  unto  Jefus,  as  the  incompara- 
bly moft  perfect  of  all.  So,  Let  my  Reader  do, 
when  all  rhat  was  hint  able  in  the  Lives  of  thefe 
Worthy  Men,  has  had  his  Contemplation  and 
Admiration  ;  They  all  yet  had  their  Defecls, 
and  therefore,  Look  oft  unto  Jefus ;  Following 
Them  no  farther  than  they  Followed  Him.  It  is 
a  notable  Paffage,  [inLuk.  7.  28.]  which  we 
mif-tranflate  -,  The  Leaft  in  the  Kingdom  of  God, 
is  Greater  than  John.  In  the  Greek,  what  we 
tranflate,  The  Leaft,  is,  He  that  is  Left'er-,  that 
is,  He  that  is  lounger.  [Alinor  ftill  has  been  the 
fame  with  Junior.']  Our  Lord  means  Himfelf 
who  was  Leffer,  that  is,  lounger  than  John  hie 
Forerunner-,  but,  Greater  than  He!  Truly, 
whatever  was  Excellenr  in  thefe  our  Johns,  I 
would  pray,  that  the  Minds  of  all  that  fee  it, 
may  be  raifed  ftill  to  think,  Out-  Precious  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift,  is  greater  than  thefe  Johns :  All 
their  Excellencies  are  in  him  Tranfcendently,  In- 
finitely; as  they  were  from  Him  derived.  High 
Thoughts  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  provoked  by 
Reading  the  Defcriptions  of  thefe  his  Excellent 
Servants,  that  had  in  them  a  little  oi  Him,  and 
were  no  farther  Excellent  than  as  they  had  fo, 
will  make  me  aa  abundant  Recompence,  for  all 
the  Difficulties,  and  all  the  Temptations,  with 


which  my  Writing  is  attended.  And  as  it 
quickens  the  Joys  of  my  haftening  Death,  when- 
I  have  through  Grace,  a  Profpecf  of  being  then 
in  that  State  whereto  the  Spirits  of  thefe  Juft 
Men  made  PerfeH,  are  all  ol  them  Gathered,  fo 
I  would  have  This  now  to  out  do  all  thofe  Joys, 
To  be  with  Jefus  Chrift,  That  furely,  is  by  far 
the  beft  of  all. 

Monument  a  SepuLhralia  Juft  is  nonfaciunt,  nam 
Ditta  ecrum  Sunt  Memorise  Eorum. 

Sentent.  Judaic,  in  Berefcbit.  Rabba-. 

CHAP 


u 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.        Book  III. 


CHAP.      I. 
COTTONUS  RedivivHs :  Or,  The  L  I F  E  of  Mr.  JOHN  CO  TTON. 

hi  quo  Lumen   Rcligioms  &  Devotionis,  FumUs  generatus  ex  Limine  Scientia  non  extingmt,  ill; 
pcrfcffus  eft  :  Sed  $uk  eft  Hie,  ut  adoremus  eum  ?  Algazel,  in  Libro  Sta terse.  Refp.  Hie  eft  !*—  * 


§ 


vv 


ERE  I  Matter  of  the  Pen, 
wherewith  Palladms  em- 
balmed his  Cbryfoftom,  the 
Greek  Patriark,  or  Pofido- 
Kim  Eternized  his  Auftin,  the  Latin  Oracle,  a- 
mong  the  Ancients ;  Or,  were  I  owner  of  the 
Quill  wherewith  among  the  Moderns,  Beza  ce- 
lebrated his  Immortal  Calvin,  or  Fabius  Immor- 
talized  his  Venerable  Eeza  ;  the  Merits  of  John 
Cotton  would  oblige  me  to  employ  it,  in  the 
preferving  his  Famous  Memory.  If  Boflon  be 
the  chief  Seat  of  New  England,  it  was  Cotton 
that  was  the  Father  and  Glory  of  Boflon:  Upon 
which  account  it  becomes  a  piece  of  pure  Ju- 
fticc,  that  the  Life  of  him,  who  above  all  Men 
gave  Life  to  his"  Country,  fhould  bear  no  little 
Figure  in  its  intended  Hiitory  -,  and  indeed  if  any 
Peribn  in  this  Town  or  Land,  had  the  Bkjfedj 
nefs  which  the  Roman  Hiftorian  long  fince  pro- 
nounced yW.\  even,  To  do  things  worthy  to  be 
Writ,  and  to  Write  Things  worthy  to  be  Read,  it 
was  He-,  who  now  claims  a  Room  in  our  Pages. 
If  it  were  a  Comparifon  fometimes  made  of  the 
Reformers,  Pomcranus  was  a  Grammarian,  Ju- 
\\m  Joncu  was  an  Orator,  Melanilhon  was  a  Lo- 
gician, butL«//wwas  All:  Even  that  Propor- 
tion, it  may  without  Envy  be  acknowledged, 
that  Cotton  bore  to  the  reft  of  our  New  Englijh 
Divines ;  He  that,  whilft  he  was  Living  had 
this  Vertue  extraordinarily  Conlpicuous  in  him, 
That  it  was  his  delight  always,  to  acknowledge 
the  Gifts  of  God,  in  other  Men,  muft  now  he  is 
Dead,  have  other  Men  to  acknowledge  of  him 
what '.  Erafmus  does  of  Jerom,  In  hoc  uno  con- 
ju. •ilium  juit  &  Eximium,  quicquid  in  aliispartim 
admn  amur. 

§  2.  There  was  a  good  Heraldry  in  that 
Speech  of  the  Noble  Romanus,  It  is  not  the 
Blood  of  my  Progenitors,  but  ivy  Chriftian  Pro- 
fefjtdn  that  makes  me  Noble.  But  our  John  Cot 
ton,  befides  ih:  Advantage  of.  his  Chriftian  Pro 
fcjjion,  had  a  Dcfcsut  from  Honourable  Proge- 
nitors, to  render  him  doubly  Honourable.  His 
immediate  Progenitors  being  bv  lbme  lnjuftice. 
deprived  of  great  Revenius.  his  Father  Mr.  Roland 
Cation  had  the  Education  or  a  lawyer  bellowed 
foy  his  Friends  upon  him,  in  hapes  of  his  beinr-, 
the   befter  cr  i  d  thereby    to   recover  ri. 

Eft-ate,  wkereoi  his  Family  had  been  wronged  . 
and  forhe  Pro!  >f'a  Lmapto\  was  that  an 

his         I     iae  applied  himfelf  all  his 
But    oui         n  Cotton^  in  this  Happier 
than  huftin,  who!  -  '-fuller  to  make 

an  Orator  than  a         v  ion  ©f  him,    while  his 
was  makyjg   him  on  greater 
a  verv 


its,  A  Son  of  her 


nakuag    him 

;;.:njTe\"-s, 


had 


pious  Father  in  this  worthy  Lawyer,  as  wen  as 
a  pious  Mather,  to  Intereft  him  in  theOw- 
nant  ot  God.  That  worthy  Man  was  indeed 
very  lingular  in  two  molt  Imitable  Pratfices. 
One  was,  that  when  any  of  his  Neighbours  de- 
firous  to  fue  one  another,  adrefled  him  for 
Counfcl,  it  was  his  manner,  in  the  molt  perfwa- 
five  and  obliging  Terms  that  could  be,  to  en- 
deavour a  Reconciliation  between  both  Parties- 
preferring  the  Conjolatwns  of  a  Peace  maker,  be- 
fore all  the  Fees,  that  he  might  have  got  by 
blowing  up  of  Differences.  Another  was,  that 
every  Night  it  was  his  Cuftom  to  Examine  him- 
felf  with  Refleftions  on  the  Tranfaftions  of 
the  Day  paft  ;  wherein,  if  he  found  that  he  had 
not  either  Done  good  unto  others,  or  Got  good 
>into  his  own  Soul,  he  would  be  as  much  grieved 
ras  ever  the  Famous  Titus  was,  when  he  could 
complain  in  the  Evening,  Amici  Diem  Perdidi  f 
Of  fuch  Parents  was  Mr.  John  Cotton  born,  at 
the  Town  of  Derby,  on  the  Fourth  of  December -y 
in  the  Year  1585. 

§  3.  The  Religious  Parents  of  Mr.  Cotton, 
were  folicitous  to  have  him  indued  with  a 
Learned  as  well  as  a  Pious  Education  ;  and 
being  neither  fo  Rich,  that  the  Mater  Artis 
could  have  no  room  to  do  her  part,  nor  fo  Poor 
that  the  Res  Angufta  Domi,  fhould  clog  his 
Progrefs,  they  were  well  fitted  thereby,  to  be- 
ftow  fuch  an  Education  upon  him.  His  firft  In- 
ftru&ion  was  under  a  good  School  Matter,  one 
Vii.Johnfon,  in  the  Town  of  Derby :  Whereon 
the  Intellectual  Endowments  of  all  forts,  with 
which  the  God  of  our  Spirits  adorned  him,  fo 
difcovered  themfelves,  that  at  the  Age  of  Thir- 
teen,^ his  Proficiency  procured  him  Admiilion  in- 
to Trinity  College  in  Cambridge.  Indeed  the  Pro- 
verb, Soon  Ripe foon  R\tcn,  has  often  been  too 
haflily  applied  unto  Rathe  ripe  Wits,  in  young 
People ;  not  only  Occolampadius  and  Melanilhon, 
who  commenced  Batchelours  of  Arts,  at  Four- 
teen Years  of  Age,  and  Luther,  who  commen- 
ced Mafter  of  Arts  at  Twenty  -,  but  alfo  our 
Dr.  Juel  fent  unto  Oxford,  our  Dr.  UJher  fent 
anto  Dublin,  and  our  Mr.  Cotton  fent  unto  Cam- 
ridge,  all  at  the  Age  of  Thirteen,  do  put  in  a 
'hr  to  the  Univerfal  Application  of  thatPro- 
.erb.  While  Mr.  Cotton  was  at  the  llniverfity, 
lis  Diligent  Head,  with  Gods  Bleffngs,  made 
nim  a  Rich  Scholar-,  and  his  generous  Mind 
found  no  little  Nourifhment  by  that  Labour, 
which  like  the  Sage  Philofopher,  he  ibundjweet- 
cr  than  ldlenefs :  Infbmuch  that  his  being  Elect- 
ed Fellow  ot  Trinity  Colledge,  as  the  Reward  of 
his  quick  Proficiency,  was  diverted  by  nothing 
but   this     that   the  extraordinary  Charges  for 

theii 


Book  III.        i  he  Hijlory  of  New- 1  rig  land. 


*5 


their  Great  Hall  then  in  Building,  did  put  by 
their  Eletfion.  And  there  was  this  Remarkable 
in  the  Education  of  this  Chofcn  Vcffei,  at  the 
Univerfitv  :  That  while  he  continued  there,  his 
Father's  Practice  was,  by  the  fpccial  Providence 
of  God,  augmented  fo  much  beyond  what  it 
been  before,  as  was  enough  to  maintain  him 
there:  Upon  which  Obfervation  Mr.  Cotton  af- 
terwards would  fay,  'Twos  God  that  kept  me  at 
the  Univerfity !  Indeed  fome  have  faid,  That 
the  great  Notice  quickly  taken  of  the.Eminen- 
cy  in  the  Son,  was  one  Reafon,  why  his  Father 
not  only  came  to  be  complemented  on  all  fides, 
and  Omnes  Omnia  Bona  dicere,  ilf  laudare  For- 
tunas  ejus,  qui  I 'ilium  habere!  Tali  lngenio  pr£- 
ditum,  but  alfo  had  his  Clients  more  than  a  lit- 
tle multiplied. 

§  4.  Upon  the  Defires  of  Emanuel  Colledge, 
Mr.  Cotton  was  not  only  removed  unto  that  Col- 
ledge, but  alfo  preferred,  unto  a  Fellovcfhip  in  it ; 
in  order  whereunto,  he  did  according  to  the 
Critical  and  Laudable  Statutes  of  the  Houfe, 
go  through  a  very  fevere  Examen  of  his  Firnefs 
tor  fuch  a  Station  ;  wherein  'twas  particularly 
remarked,  that  the  Pofsr  trying  his  Hebrew 
Skill  by  the  Third  Chapter  ol  Ifaiah,  a  Chapter 
which,  containing  more  hard  Words  than  any 
one  Paragraph  of  the  Bible,  might  therefore 
have  puzled  a  very  good  Hebrician,  yet  he  made 
nothing  of  it.  He  was  afterwards  the  Head 
Leffurer,  the  Dean,  the  Catechifi,  in  that.  Fa 
mous  Colledge  ;  and  became  a  Tutor  to  many 
Scholars,  who  afterwards  proved  Famous  Per- 
fons,  and  had  caufe  to  blefs  God  for  the  Faith- 
ful, and  Ingenious  and  Laborious  Communica- 
tivenefs  of  this  their  Tutor.  Here,  all  his 
Academical  Exercifes,  whether  in  Difputations 
or  in  common  Places,  or  whatever  elfie  did  fo 
fmellof  the  Tamp,  that  the  Wit,  the  Strength, 
the  Gravity,  and  the  Fulnefs,  both  of  Reafon 
and  of  Reading  in  them,  caufed  him  to  be  much 
admired  by  the  Sparkling  Wits  of  the  Univer- 
fity.  But  One  thing  among  the  reft,  which 
caufed  a  great  Notice  to  be  taken  of  him, 
throughout  the  whole  Univerfity,  was  his  Fit 
neral  Oration  upon  Dr.  Some,  the  Mafter  of 
Peter  Houje,  wherein  he  approved  himfelf 
fuch  a  Mafter  of  PericUan,  or  Ciceronian  Ora- 
tory, that  the  Auditors  were  even  ready  to  have 
acclaimed,  Non  Vox  Homincm  Sonat !  And  that 
which  added  unto  the  Reputation,  thus  raifed 
for  him,  was  an  Univerfity  Sermon,  wherein 
aiming  more  to  preach  Self  than  Chrift,  he  ufed 
fuch  Florid  Strains,  as  extremely  recommended 
him  unto  the  moft,  who  relifhed  the  Wifdom  of 
Words  above  the  Words  of  Wifdom :  Though 
the  pompous  Eloquence  of  that  Sermon,  after- 
wards gave  fuch  a  Diftaft  unto  his  own  Re- 
newed Soul,  that  with  a  Sacred  Indignation 
he  threw  his  Notes  into  the  Fire. 

§  5.  Hitherto  we  have  Teen  the  Life  of  Mr. 
Cotton,  while  he  was  not  yet  Alive!  Though 
the  Reftraining  and  Preventing  Grace  of  God, 
had  kept  him  from  fuch  Out-breakings  of  Sin, 
as  Defile  the  Lives  of  molt  in  the  World,  yet 
like  the  Old  Man,  who  for  fuch  a  caufe  order- 


ed this  Epitaph  to  be  written  on  his  Grave, 
Here  lies  an  Old  Man,  who  lived  but  Seven 
Tears,  he  reckoned  himfelf  to  have  been  but  a 
Dead  Man,  as  being  Alienated  from  the  Fife  of 
God,  until  he  had  experienced  that  Regenera- 
tion, in  his  own  Soul,  which  was  thus  accom- 
pli flied.  The  Holy  Spirit  of  God  had  been  at 
work  upon  las  Toung  Heart,  by  the  Miniftry  of 
that  Reverend  and  Renowned  Preacher  ofRigh- 
teoufnefs,  Mr.  Perkins;  but  he  refifted  and 
fmothered  thofe  Convitlions,  through  a  vain 
Perfwafion,  that  if  he  became  a  Godly  Man, 
'twould  lpoil  him  for  being  a  Learned  One. 
Yea,  fuch  was  the  Secret  Enmity  and  Prejudice 
of  an  Unregenerate  Soul,  againft  Real  HolineJ's, 
and  fiich  the  Torment,  which  our  Lords  Wit- 
neffes  give  to  the  Confciences  of  the  Earthly- 
minded,  that  when  he  heard  the  Bell  toll  for 
the  Funeral  of  Mr.  Perkins,  his  Mind  fecretly 
rejoiced  in  his  Deliverance,  from  th3t  Power- 
ful Miniftry,  by  which  his  Confcience  h3d 
been  fo  oft  Beleagured :  The  Remembrance  of 
which  thing  afterwards,  did  break  his  Heart 
exceedingly !  But  he  was,  at  length,  more  efte- 
clually  awakened,  by  a  Sermon  of  Dr.  Sibs, 
wherein  was  difcomfed  the  Mifery  of  thofe, 
who  had  only  a  Negative  Righu-ottjnejs,  or  a 
Civil,  Sober,  Honeit  Blamclefnefs  before  Men. 
Mr.  Cotton  became  now  very  fenfible  of  his 
own  miferable  Condition  before  God  ;  and  the 
Arrows  of  thefe  Convictions,  did  ftick  fo  f  aft 
upon  him,  that  after  no  lefs  Three  Tears  Dif- 
confolate  Apprehenfions  under  them,  the  Grace 
of  God  made  him  a  throughly  Renewed  Chri- 
ftian,  and  filled  him  with  a  Sacred  Joy,  which 
accompanied  him  unto  the  Fulnefs  of'  Joy  for 
ever.  For  this  Cauie,  as  Perfons  truly  convert- 
ed unto  God  have  a  mighty  and  lalting  Affe- 
ction for  the  Inftruments  of  their  Converfion ; 
thus  Mr.  Cotton's  Veneration  for  Dr.  Sibs,  was 
after  this  very  particular  and  perpetual  -,  and  it 
caufed  him  to  have  the  PiSure  of  that  Great 
Man,  in  that  part  of  his  Houfe,  where  he  might 
ofteneft  look  upon  it.  But  fb  the  Toke  of  fore 
Temptations  and  Afflictions  and  long  fpiritual 
Trials,  fitted  him  to  be  an  eminently  ufeful 
Servant  of  God  in  his  Generationl 

§  6.  Some  time  after  this  Change  upon  the 
Soul  of  Mr.  Cotton,  it  came  unto  his  turn  again 
to  preach  at  St.  Maries-,  and  becaufe  he  was  to 
preach,  an  High  Expectation  was  raifed, 
through  the  whole  Univerfity,  that  they  fhould 
have  a  Sermon,  flouriftnng  indeed,  with  all 
the  Learning  of  the  whole  Univerfity.  Many 
Difficulties  had  Mr.  Cotton  in  his  own  Mind 
now,  what  Courfe  to  freer.  On  the  one  fide 
he  confidered,  That  if  he  fhould  preach  with 
a  Scriptural  and  Chriftian  Plainnefs,  he  fhould 
not  only  wound  his  own  Fame  exceedingly,  but 
alfo  tempt  Carnal  Men  to  revive  an  Old  Cavil, 
That  Religion  made  Scholars  turn  Dunces, 
whereby  the  Name  of  God  might  fuller  not  a 
little.  On  the  other  fide,  he  confidered,  That 
it  was  his  Duty  to  preach  with  fuch  a  Plain- 
\nefs,  as  became  the  Oracles  of  God,  which 
'are  intended  for  the  Conduct  of  Meu  in  the 
C  c  c  'Paths 


\6 


7 he  Hi/lory  of  New- England.       Book  ill. 


Paths  of  Life,  and  not  for  Theatrical  Oftenta 
tions  and  Entertainments,  and  the  Lord  needed 
not  any  Sin  of  ours  to  maintain  his  own  Glory. 
Hereupon  Mr.  Cotton  refolved,  that  he  would 
preach  a  plain  Sermon,  even  fuch  a  Sermon,  as 
in  his  own  Confcience  he  thought  would  be  moft 
pleafing  unto  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  ;  and  he  di- 
fcourfsd  practically  and  powerfully,  hut  very 
folidly  upon  the  plain  Doclrine  of  Repentance. 
The  vain  Wits  of  the  Univerfity,  difappointed 
thus,  with  a  more  excellent  Sermon,  that  fhot 
fome  troublefome  Admonitions  into  their  Con- 
iciences,  dilcovered  their  Vexation  at  this  Dif- 
appointment,  by  their  not  Humming,  as  accord- 
ing to  their  finful  and  abfurd  Cuftom,  they  had 
formerly  done  ;  and  the  Vice-Chancellor,  for 
the  verytfams  Reafon  alfo,  graced  him  nor,  as 
he  did  others  that  pleafed  him.  Neverrhelefs, 
the  Satisfaction  which  he  enjoyed  in  his  own 
faithful  Soul,  abundantly  compenfated  unto  him, 
the  lofs  of  any  Human  Favour  or  Honour  ;  nor 
did  he  go  without  many  Encouragements  from 
fome  Doctors,  then  having  a  better  Sence  of 
Religion  upon  them,  who  prayed  him  to  perfe- 
vere  in  the  good  way  of  Preaching,  which  he  had 
now  taken.  But  perhaps  the  greateft  Confola- 
tion  of  all,  was  a  notable  Effea:  of  the  Sermon 
then  preached  !  The  famous  Dr.  Prefton,  then 
a  Fellow  of  ^teen's  Colledgc  in  Cambridge,  and 
of  Great  Note  in  the  Univerfity,  came  to  hear 
Mr.  Cotton  with  the  fame  itching  Ears,  as  others 
were  then  led  withal.  For  fome  good  while 
after  the  beginning  of  the  Sermon,  his  fruftra- 
ted  Expectation  caufed  him  to  manifeft  his  Un- 
eafinefs  all  the  ways  that  were  then  poflible ; 
but  before  the  Sermon  was  ended,  like  one  of 
Peter's  Hearers,  he  found  himfelf  pierced  at  the 
Heart :  His  Heart  within  him  was  now  (truck 
with  fuch  Refentments  of  his  own  interior  flate 
before  the  God  of  Heaven,  that  he  could  have 
no  Peace  in  his  own  Soul,  till  with  a  wounded 
Soul,  he  had  repaired  unto  Mr.  Cotton  ;  from 
whom  he  received  thofe  further  Affiftances, 
wherein  he  became  a  Spiritual  Father,  unto  one 
of  the  greateft  Men  in  his  Age. 

§  7.  The  well  difpofed  People  of  Bofton  in 
Lincoln {hi 're,  after  this,  invited  Mr.  Cotton  to  be- 
come their  Minifter;  with  which  Invitation,  out 
of  a  fincere  and  ferious  defirc  to  ferve  our  Lord 
in  his  Gofpel,  after  the  folemneff  Addreffes  to 
Heaven  for  Guidance  in  fuch  a  folemn  Affair, 
he  complied.  At  this  time  the  Mayor  of  the 
Town,  with  a  more  corrupt  Party,  having  pro- 
cured another  Scholar  from  Cambridge,  more 
agreeable  to  them,  would  needs  have  him  to 
preach  before  Mr.  Cotton  :  But  the  Church- 
Warden  pretending  to  more  of  Influence  upon 
their  F.ccleiiaftical  Matters,  overruled  ir.  How- 
ever when  the  matter  came  to  a  Vote,  amongft 
thofe  to  whom  the  Right  of  Election  did  by 
Charter  belong,  there  was  an  Equi-Vote  for  Mr. 
Cotton,  and  that  other  Perfon  -,  only  the  Mayor, 
who  had  the  Calling  Vote,  by  a  ifrangeMiftake 
pricked  fcr  Mr.  Cotton.  When  the  Mayor  fiw 
his  Miftake,  a  new  Vote  was  urged  and  grant 
ed  j  wherein  it  again  proved  an  EquiVote-,  but 


the  Mayor  moft  unaccountably  miftook  again, 
as  he  did  before.  Extreamly  dilpleas'd  hereat^ 
he  preffed  for  zThird  Vote  -,  but  the  reft  would 
not  confent  unto  it  ;  andfo  the  Election  fell  up! 
on  Mr.  Cotton,  by  the  involuntary  Call  of  that 
very  Hand,  which  had  moft  oppofed'ir.  This 
Obftru&ion  to  the  Settlement  of  Mr.  Cotton  in 
Bofton,  being  thus  conquered,  another  follow'd  : 
Fur  the  B  if  hop  of  the  Diocefs,  having  under- 
ftood  that  Mr.  Cotton  was  infecfed  with  Purita- 
nifm,  fet  himfelf  immediately  to  difcourage  his 
being  there  •  only  he  could  object  nothing,  but, 
That  Mr.  Cotton  being  a  Toung  Man,  he  was 
not  Jo  fit  upon  that  Score,  to  be  over  fuch  a  nume- 
rous and  fuch  afaUious  People.  And  Mr.  Cot- 
/<?/?  having  learned  no  otherwife  to  value  himfelf, 
than  to  concur  with  the  Apprehenfions  of  the 
Bifliop  ■,  intended  therefore  to  return  unto  Cam- 
bridge :  But  fome  of  his  Friends,  againft  his  In- 
clination, knowing  the  true  way  of  doing  it,  foon 
charmed  die  Bifhop  into  a  declared  Opinion, 
that  Mr.  Cotton  was  an  Honeft,  and  a  Learned 
Man.  Thus  the  Admiflion  of  Mr.  Cotton  unto 
the  Exercife  of  his  Miniftry  in  Bofton,  was  ac- 
complished. 

(j  8.  Mr.  Cotton  found  the  more  peaceable  Re- 
ception among  the  People,through  his  own  want 
of  internal  Peace  ;  and  becaufe  his  continual 
Exercifes,  from  his  Internal  Temptations  and 
Afflictions,  made  all  People  fee,  that  inftead  of 
ferving  this  or  that  Party,  his  chief  care  was 
about  the  Salvation  of  his  own  Soul.  But  the 
Stirs,  which  had  been  made  in  the  Town,  by 
the  Arminian  Controverfies,  then  raging,  put 
him  upon  further  Exercifes ;  whereof  he  has 
himfelf  given  us  a  Narrative  in  the  enfuing 
Words  :  '  When  I  was  firft  called  to  Bofton  in 
'  Lincoln/hire,  fo  it  was,  that  Mr.  Baron,  Son 
c  of  Dr.  Baron,  (  the  Divinity  Reader  of  Cam- 
c  bridge)  firft  broached,  that  which  was  then 
'  called  Lutheranifm,  fince  Arminianifm_ ;  as 
'  being  indeed  himfelf,  Learned,  Acute,  Plau- 
'  fible  in  Difcourfe,  and  fit  to  infinuate  into  the 
'  Hearts  of  his  Neighbours.  And  tho'  he  were 
'  a  Phyfitidn  by  Proleffion  (and  of  good  Skill  in 
'  that  ArtJ  yet  he  fpent  the  greatelf  Strength 
'  of  his  Studies,  in  clearing  and  promoting  the 
c  Arminian  Tenents.  Whence  it  came  to  pals, 
'■  that  in  all  the  great  Feafts  of  the  Town,  the 
'  chiefeft  Difcourfe  at  the  Table,  did  ordinarily 
'  fall  upon  Arminian  Points,  to  the  great  Of- 
c  fence  of  Godly  Minifters,  both  in  Bofton,  and 
'  Neighbour-Towns.  I  coming  among  them,  a 
'  young  Man,  thought  it  a  part  both  of  Mode- 
'  fty  and  Prudence,  not  to  fpeak  much  to  the 
'  Points,  at  firft,  among  Strangers  and  Ancients: 
'  Until  afterwards,  after  hearing  of  many  PL 
['  fcourfes,  in  Publick  Meetings,  and  much  pri- 
'  vate  Difcourfe  with  the  Do&or,  I  had  learned 
'  at  length,  where  all  the  great  Strength  of  the 
'  Doclor  lay.  And  then  obferving  (  by  the 
'  Strength  of  Chrift)  how  to  avoid  fuch  Ex- 
'  preffions  as  gave  him  any  advantage  in  the 
'  Expreflions  of  others,  I  began  publickly  to 
'  preach,  and  in  private  Meetings  to  defend  the 
'  Doftrine  of  God's  Eternal  Elctliox,  before  al! 

Fere 


Book  III.        ci hejli/hry  of  &ew^gng]^^ 


'  fyrefioht  of  Good  ox  Evil,  in  the  Oeutare^ 
c  ancj  |]ie  Redemption  (ex  gratia)  only  at  rhe 
c  ff/^.  the  effectual  Vocation  of  a  Sinner,  P«- 
'  irnfiftibUem  Gratne  vim,  without  all  refpect. 
'  of  the  Preparations  of  Free  Will;  and  finally, 
i  the  Impoilibility  of  the  Fall  of  a  fincere  Belie- 
<■  ver  either  totally  or  finally  from  a  State  of 
6  Grace.  Hereupon,  when  the  Dottor  had  ob 
'  iefted  many  things,  and  heard  my  Anfwers  to 
'  thofe  Scruples,  which  he  was  wont  moil  plau- 
•  fibly  to  urge  5  prefently  after  our  Publick 
'  Fealts,  and  Neighbourly  Meetings,  were  filent 
'  from  all  further  Debates  about  Predefti nation, 
c  or  any  of  the  Points  which  depend  thereupon, 
'  and  all  Matters  of  Religion  were  carried  on 
'  calmly  and  peaceably. 

About  half  a  Year  after,  Mr.  Cotton  had  been 
at  Bofton,  thus  ulefully  employ'd,  he  vifited 
Cdinbridge,  that  he  might  then  and  there  proceed 
Batcbellor  of  Divinity  ■„  which  he  did  :  And  his 
Concio  ad  Clerum,  on  Mat.  5.  1 }.  Vos  eft  is  Sal 
Tcrrx,  was  highly  eiteemed  by  the  Judicious. 
Nor  was  he  lels  admired  for  his  very  lingular 
Acutenefs  in  Deputation,  when  he  anfvvered  the 
Divinity  All  in  the  Schools  5  wherein  he  had 
for  his  Opponent  a  molf  acute  Antagonist,  name- 
ly Dr.  Chappel,  who  was  afterwards  Provoif  of 
Trinity  Colledge  in  Dublin  ;  and  one  unhappily 
fuccelsful  in  promoting  the  New  Pelagianifm: 

§  52.  Settled  now  at  Bofton,  his  dear  Friend, 
holy  Mr.  Bayns,  recommended  unto  him  a  pious 
Gentlewoman,  one  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Horrocks,  the 
Sitter  of  Mr.  James  Horrocks,  a  famous  M  milter 
in  LancaJbire,tobecomt  hisConfort  in  a  Married 
Ejiate.  And  it  was  remarkable,  that  on  the 
very  Day  of  his  Wedding  to  that  eminently  Ver- 
tuous  Gentlewoman,  he  firft  received  that  Aflu 
ranee  of  God's  Love  unto  his  own.  Soul,  by  the 
Spirit  of  God,  effecFually  applying  his  Promifc 
of  Eternal  Grace  and  Life  unto  him,  which  hap- 
pily kept  with  him  all  the  reft  of 'his  Days  t  For 
which  caufe  he  would  afterwards  often  lay,  God 
made  that  Day,  a  Day  of  double  Marriage  to  me ! 
The  Wife,  which  by  ihe  Favour  of  God  he  had 
now  found,  was  a  very  great  help  unto  him,  in 
the  Service  of  God  •,  but  efpecially  upon  this, 
'among  many  other  Accounts,  that  the  People  of 
her  own  Sex,  obferving  her  more  than  ordinary 
Difcretion,  Gravity,  and  Holinefs,  would  ft  ill 
improve  the  Freedom  of  their  Addrefs  unto  her, 
to  acquaint  her  with  the  Exercifes  of  their  own 
Spirits ;  who  acquainting  her  Husband  with 
convenient  Intimations  thereof,'  occafioned  him 
in  his  Publick  Miniftry  more  particularly  and 
profitably,  to  difcourfe  thofe  things  that  were  of 
everlafting  Benefit. 

§  10.  After  he  had  been  three  Years  m  Bofton, 
his  careful  Studies  and  Prayers  brought  him  to 
apprehend  more  of  Evil  remaining  Unreformed 
in  the  Church  of  England,  than  he  had  hereto- 
fore confidered  ;  and  from  this  time  he  became 
a  Conscientious  A  on-Conformift,  unto  the  Unfcrt- 
ptural Ceremonies  and  Conftitutions,  yet  main- 
tained by  that  Church  ;  but  fuch  was  his  Intereft 
in  the  Hearts  of  the  People,  that  his  Noncon- 
formity inite.id  of  being  difturbed,   was  indeed 


. _JJ 

embraced  hy  the  greateftpartof  the  Town,  How- 
•ever,  at  la  ft,  Complaints  being  made  againft  him 
unto  xheSifhops  Courts,  he  was  for  a  while,  then 
put  under  rhe  Gircumttances  of  a  file  need  Mini- 
ftcr  ,  in  all  which  zvhile,  he  would  (till  give  his 
Prefence  at  the  Publick  Sermons,   tho'  never  at 
the  Common  Prayers  of  the  Conformable.    He  was 
now  oifered,not  only  the  Liberty  of  his  Miniftry, 
but  very  great  Preferment  in  italfo;  if  he  would 
but  Conform  to  the  Scrupled  Rites,  tho'  but  in 
one  Ail,  and  but  for  one  Time  :  Neverrhelefs 
his  tender  Soul,  afraid  of  being  thereby  polluted, 
could  not  in  the  lealt  comply  with  fifth  Tern 
ptations.  A  Storm  of  many  Troubles  upon  him, 
was  now  gathering  ■,  but  it  WJs  very  ftrangely 
diverted  !  For  thac  very  Man  who  had  occafion- 
ed this  Affliction  to  him,  now  became  heartily 
afflicFed  for  his  own  Sin  in  doing  of  it;  and  1 
ftedfaft,  conltant,  prudent  Friend,  pfefenting 
a  Pair  of  Gloves  to  a  Proflor  of  an  higher  Court, 
then  appeal'd  unto  that  Protlor  without  Mr. Chi- 
ton's knowledge,  fwore,  ///  Am mam. Domini, that: 
Mr.   Cotton  was  a  Conformable  Alan  :  Which 
things  ittued  in  Mr.  Cotton's  being  rettored  unto 
the  Exercife  of  his  Miniftiy. 

^11.  The  Storm  of  Perfectttion  being  thus 
blown  over,  Mr.  Cottafn  enjoyed  Reft  for  many 
Years.     In  which  time  He  raithluliy  employed 
his  great  Abilities,  not  in  gaining  Men  to  this 
or  that  Party  of  Chriftians,  but  in  acquainting 
them  with  the  more  efTential  and  fubftanfial 
Points  of  Chrifiianity.    In  the  fpace  of  Twenty 
Years  that  he  lived  at   Bofton,  on  the  Lord's 
Days  in  the  Afternoons,  he  thrice  went  over  the 
Body  of  Divinity  in  a  Catechifiicalzvay-,  and  gave 
the  Heads  of  his  Difcourfe  to  young  Scholars, 
and  others  in  the  Town,  that  they  might  anfwer 
to  his  Queftions  in  the  Congregation  -,  and  the 
Anfwers  he  opened  and  applied  unto  the  general 
Advantage  of  the  Hearers.    Whilft  he  was  in 
this  way  handling  the  Sixth  Commandment,  the 
Words  of  God  which  he  uttered  were  fo  quick 
and  powerful,  that  a  Woman  among  his  Hearers, 
who  had  been  married  fixteen  Years  to  a  Second 
Husband,  now  in  Horror  of  Continence,  openly 
confetTed  her  murdering  her  former  Husband, 
by  Poifbn,  tho'  thereby  the  expofed  her  felf  to 
the  Extremity  of  being  burned.     In  the  Fore- 
noons of  the  Lord's  Days,  he  preached  over  the 
firft  fix  Chapters  iri  the  Gofpel  0$  John,   the 
whole  Book  of  Eccleftafles  •,  the  Prophecy  of 
Zephaniah,   the  Prophecy  of  Zechariah,   and 
many  other  Scriptures.    When  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per was  adminiftred,  which  was  once  a  Month, 
he  handled  the  Eleventh  Chapter  in  the  Firft 
Epiftle  to  the  Corinthians,  and  the  Thirteenth 
Chapter  in  the  Second  Book  of  the  Chronicles  ■, 
and  fome  other  pertinent  Paragraphs  of  the  Bi- 
ble.  In  his  Leffures,  he  went  through  the  whoIe; 
Firft  and  Second  Epiftles  of  John  •,  the  whole 
Book  of  Solomon's  Song-  ;  the  Parables  of  our 
Saviour  to  the  Seventeenth  Chapter  of  Matthew. 
His  Houfe  alfo  was  full  of  young  Students  ; 
whereof  fome  were  fent  unto  him  out  of  Ger- 
many, fome  out  of  Holland,  but  moft  out  of 
Cambridge  :  For  Dr.  Prefton  would  Hill  advife 
Cc  c  2  his 


18 


fitted 


ton,  that  they  might  be 
vice-,  infomuch,  that  it  was 
Proverb,  That   Mr.  Cotton   voat 


for  Publick  Ser 

almoft  a 

Dr.  PreftonV 


grown 


Scjjotung  Vejjel:  And  of  thofe  that  iffued  from 


The  Hiftory  of  New-rngland       Book  ill. 

-.,  j — — __— —   — _ 

to  go  live  wjrh  Mr.Gtf-   were  appointed  to  rule  no  larger  a  Diocefs  than 

a  particular  Congregation  -,  and   that  the  Mini- 
Hers  of  the  Lord,  with  the  Keys  of  Ecclefiafti- 
cal  Government,  are  given  by  him  to  a  Congre- 
gational Church.     Ir  hence  came  to  pals,  that  our 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift  was  now  worshipped  in  Bo- 
(ion,  without  the  ufe  of  the  Liturgy,  or  of  thole 
Veftments,   which  are  by  Zanchy  called  Execfa- 
biles  Veftcs  s  yea,  the  Sign  of  the  Crcfs  was  laid 
afidemot  only  in  Bupti/m,  but  alfo  in  the  Mayor's 
Mace,  as  worthy  to  be  made  a  Kehufbtan,  be- 
ciufe  it  had  been  fo  much  abufed  unto  Idolatry. 
And  belides  all  this,  there  were  fome  Scores  of 
pious  People  in  the  Town,  who  more  exactly 
formed  themfelves  into  an  Evangelical  Church- 
State,  by  entring  into  Covenant  with  God,  and 
with  one  another,  To  follow  after  the  Lord,  in 
the  Purity  of  bJs  Worfkip.    However,   the  main 
Bent  and  Aim  of  Mr.  >.  \>t  ton's  Minhtry  was,  To 
preach  a  crucified '  Ch rift  ■,  and  the  Inhabitants  of 
Boflon  oblerved,  that  God  blelled  them  in  their 
Secular  Concernments,    remarkably  rhe  more, 
through  his  dwelling  among  them:  For  many 
Strangers,  and  fome  too,  that  were  Gentlemen 
of  good  Quality,  reforted  unto  Bofton,  and  fome 
removed  their  Habitations  thither,  on  his  Ac- 
count •,  whereby  the  Prof  peri  ty  of  the  place  was 
very  much  promored. 

(j  13.  As  his  Defert  of  it  was  very  high,  fo 
thzRefpeff  which  he  met  withal  was  far  from 
low.  The  bell:  or  his  Hearers  loved  him  greatly, 
and  the  worlt  of  them  feared  him,  as  knowing 
that  he  way  a  righteous  and  an  holy  Man.  Yea, 
fuch  was  the  Great nefs  of  his  Learning,  his 
Wifdom,  his  Holinefs,  that  Great  Men  took  no 
little  notice  of  him.     A  very  Honourable  Per- 


this  learned  family,  famous  andufeful  in  their 
Generation,  the  well-known  Dr.  'dill  was  not 
the  kail     Moreover,  he  kept  a  Daily  Lett  are 
in  his  Houfe,  which,  as  very  Reverend  Ear! 
YVitnefTes  have  exprelTed  it,  lie  performed  with 
much  Grace,  to  the  Edification  of  the  Hearers  : 
And  unto  this  Lecture  many  pious  People  in  the 
Town,   would  conltaiitly  reforr,  until  upon  a 
fufpicion  of  fome  Inconveniency,  which  might 
arife  from  the  growing  Numeroufnefs  of  his 
Audkorv,  he  left  it  off.     However,  belides  his 
Ordinary  Le&ure  every  Tb.:rjday,  he  preached 
thrice  more-,  every  Week,  on  the  Week  Days  ; 
namely  on  Wednesdays  and  Thurfdays,  early  in 
the  Morning,  and  on  Saturdays  at  Three  in  the 
Afternoon.    And  belides  rheie  immenfe  Labours, 
he  was  frequently   employ 'd  on  extraordinary 
Days,  kept  Pro  Temporis  &  Caufis,  whereon  he 
would,  fpend  fometimes  no  lefs  than  Six  Hours 
in  the  Word  and  Prayer.    Furthermore,  'twas  his 
Cuftom,  once  a  Year,  to  vifit  his  Native-Town 
of  Dt;rl%  where  he  was  a  notable  Exception  to 
1  he  General  Rule  of,  A  Prophet  without  Honour 
in  his  riv/i  Country  ;  and  by  his  vigilant  Cares, 
this  Town   was  for  many  Years  kept  fupplied 
with  able  and  faithful  Minilfers  of  the  Gofpel. 
Thus  was  this  good  Man  a  raoft  indefatigable 
Doer  oj  Good. 

§  1 2.  The  good  Spirit  of  God,  fo  plentifully 
and  powerfully  accompanied  the  Miniltry  of 
this  excellent  Man,  that  a  great  Reformation 
was  thereby  wrought  in  the  Town  of  Boflon. 
Profanencjs  was  extinguished,  Superflition  was 
abandoned,  Religion  was  embraced  and  praclifed 
among  the  Body  of  the  People  -,  yea,  the  Mayor, 
with  molt  of  the  Magiffrares,  were  now  called 
Puritans,  and  the  Satanic  J  Party  was  become 
infigniheant.  As  to  the  matter  of  Nonconfor- 
mity, Mr.  Cotton  was  come  to  forbear  the  Cere- 
monies enjoy  ned  in  the  Church  of  England  -,  for 
which  he  gave  this  Account.  '  The  Grounds 
1  were  two  :  Firji,  The  Significacy  and  Efficacy 
1  put  upon  'em,  in  rhe  Preface  to  the  Book  of 
1  Common-Prayer  :  That  they  were  neither  dumb 
'  nor  dark,  but  apt  to  flir  up  the  dull  Mind  of 
4  Man,  to  the  remembrance  of  his  Duty  to  God, 
c  by  fome  notable  and fpecialfigmfication,  where- 
'  by  he  may  be  edified ;  or  Words  to  the  like 
'  purpoie.  The  Second  was  the  Limitation  of 
'  Church- Power,  even  of  the  highelt  Apoltolical 
'  Commifiion,  to  the  Obfervation  of  the  Com 
4  mandii.cnts  of  Chnjl,  Mat.  28.  20.  Which 
'  made  it  appear  to  me  utterly  unlawful  for  any 
4  Church  Power  to  enjoyn  the  Obfervation  of  in- 
4  different  Ceremonies ,  which  Chrilt  had  not 
4  commanded:  And  all  the  Ceremonies  were  alike 
4  deltitute  of  the  Commandment  of  Chriir,  tho' 
'  they  had  been  indjfferent  otherwife  •,  which, 
'  indeed  others  have  julfly  pleaded  they  were 
L  nor.  Bat  this  was  not  all :  For  Mr.  Cotton 
was  alfo  come  to  believe,  That  Scripture  Bifiops 


fon  rode  thirty  Miles  to  lee  him  ;  and  after- 
wards prof'elTed,  That  he  bad  as  lieve  hear  Mr. 
Cotton 'j-  ordinary  Expofttion  in  his  Family,  at 
any  Mimflers  publick  Pr caching  that  he  knew  in 
England.  Whilft  he  continued  in  Boflon,  Dr. 
Preflon  would  contra nfly  come  once  a  Year  to 
vifit  him,  from  his  exceeding  Value  for  Mr.  Cot- 
ton's Friendffiip.  Arch-Bifliop  Williams  did  like- 
wife  greatly  elfeem  him  for  his  incomparable 
Parts  ;  and  when  he  was  Keeper  of  the  Great 
Seal,  he  recommended  Mr.  Cotton  to  the  Royal 
Favour.  Moreover,  the  Earl  of  Dorchefter  and 
of  Lindfey,  had  much  regard  unto  him  ;  which 
happened  partly  on  this  occafion  :  The  Earl's 
coming  into  Lincoln/hire,  about  the  Dreining  of 
tome  Fenny  Grounds.  Mr.  Cotton  was  rhen  in 
his  Courfe  of  Preaching  on  Gal.  2.  20.  Intend- 
ing to  preach  on  the  Duties  of  living  by  Faith 
in  Adverfity  -,  but  confidering  that  thefe  Noble- 
men were  not  much  acquainted  with  AjfUtlicns, 
he  altered  his  Intentions,  and  fo  ordered  it,  that 
when  they  came  to  Boflon,  he  dilcourfed  on  the 
Duties  of  living  by  Faith  in  Profperity  :  When 
the  Noble-men  were  ib  much  taken  with  what 
they  heard,  that  they  allured  him,  If  at  any  time 
he  lhould  want  a  Friend  at  Court,  they  would 
improve  all  their  Intereft  for  him.  And  when 
Mr.  Cotton  did  plainly,  but  wifely  admonifh 
them,  of  certain  Paflimes  on  the  Lord's  Day, 
whereby  they  give  fome  Scandal,   thev  took  ic 

moft 


Book  III.      The  Hijlory  of  New-England. 


19 


moft  kindly  from  him,  and  promifed  a  Reforma 
tion.  But  none  of  the  Rofes  caft  on  this  applau- 
ded ASo?,  /mothered that  humble,  that  loving, 
that  gracioss  Difpofition,  which  was  his  perpe- 
tual Ornament. 

§  14..  At  length,  doubtlefs  tochaftife  the  fel- 
dom  unchallifed  Evils  of  Divifions,  crept  in  a- 
mong  the  Chriftians  of  Bofton,  it  pleafed  the 
God  of  Heaven  to  deprive  them  of  Mr.  Cotton's 
Miniftry,  by  laying  a  Tertian  Ague  upon  him  for 
a  Year  together.     But  being  invited  unto  the 
Earl  of  Lincoln's,  in  purfuance  to  the  Advice  of 
his  Phyhcians,  that  he  fhould  change  the  Air,  he 
removed  thither  ;  and  thereupon  he  happily  re- 
covered.   Never  thelefs,  by  the  fame  Sicknefs  he 
then  loft  his  excellent  Wife  ;  who  having  lived 
with  him  Childlefs  for  Eighteen  Years, went  from 
him  now,  to  be  for  ever  with  the  Lord;  where- 
upon he  travelled  further  afield,  uritb London, 
and  fome  other  places,  whereby  the  recovery  ol 
his  loft  Health  was  further  perfected.     About  a 
Year  after  this,  he  pracf  ically  appeared  ift  op- 
pofition  to  Tertullianij'm,  by  proceeding  unto  a 
Second  Marriage  ;  wherein  one  Mrs.  Sarah  Story, 
a  vertuous  Widow,  very  dear  to  his  former  Wile, 
became  his  Confort  -,  and  by  her  he  had  both 
Sons  and  Daughters. 

§  1 5.  Altho'  our  Lord  had  hitherto  made  the 
Discretion  and  Vigilancy  of  Mr-Thomas  Leveret 
(  aiterwards  a   doubly  honoured  Elder  of  the 
Church,  in  another  Land)  the  happy  occafion 
of  diverting  many  Defigns  to  moleft  Mr.  Cotton 
for  his  Non-Conformity,  yet  when  the  Sins  of  the 
place  had  ripened  it,  for  fo  dark  a  Vengeance  of 
Heaven,  as  the  removing  of  this  eminent  Light, 
a  Storm  of  Perfecution  could  no  longer  be  avoid- 
ed.    A  debauch'd  fellow  in  the  Town,  who 
had  been   punilhed  by  the  Magiftrates  for  his 
Debaucheries,  contrived  and  refolved  a  Revenge 
upon  them,  for  their  Juftice  :  And  having  no 
more  effectual  way  to  vent  the  curfed  Malice  of 
his  Heart,  than  by  bringing  them  into  Trouble 
at  the  High  Commijfwn  Court,  up  he  goes  to  Lon- 
don, with  Informations  to  that  Court,  that  the 
Magiftrates  did  not  kneel  at  the  Sacrament,  nor 
obferve  fome  other  Ceremonies  by  Law  impofed. 
When  fome  that  belonged  unto  the  Court  figni- 
fied  unto  this  Informer,  that  he  muft  put  in  the 
Minifter's  Name  :  Nay,  ( faid  hej  the  Mmifter 
is  an  honeji  Man,  and  never  did  me  any  wrong  : 
But  it  being  further  preffed  upon  him,  that  all 
his  Complaints  would  be  infignificant,    if  the 
Minifter's  Name  were  not  in  them,  he  then  did 
put  it  in  :  And  Letters  Mijfive  were  difpatched 
incontinently,  to  Convent  Mr.  Cotton,  before 
the  infamous  High  Commijfion  Court.    But  before 
we  relate  what  became  of  Mr.  Cotton,  we  will 
enquire  what  became  of  his  Accufer.    The  Re- 


Wifp,  ujedby  the  Hand  of  God,  for  the  J'cowring 
of  his  People  :  But  mark  the  Words  now  fpoken 
by  a  rn.inifi.er  of  the  Lord  I  I  am  verily  perfvoa- 
ded,  the  Judgments  of  God,  will  overtake  the 
Man  that  has  done  this  thing  :  Either  he  will  die 
under  an  Hedge,  or  fomething  elfe,  more  than  the 
ordinary  Death  of  Men  {hall  befal  him.  Now 
behold,  how  this  Prediction  was  accompli! hed  : 
This  miferable  Man  quickly  after  this,  dy'd  of 
the  Plague,  under  an  Hedge,  in  Ycrkjlnre  ;  and 
it  was  a  long  time,  e'er  any  could  be  found, 
that  would  bury  him.  This  'tis  to  turn  Perjc- 
cutor. 

§id.  Mr.  Cotton  knowing  that  Letters  Mi f- 
five  were  out  againlt  him,  from  the  High  Com- 
mijfion Court,  and  knowing,  that  if  he  appeared 
there,  he  could   expect  no  other,  than  to    be 
choaked  with  fuch  a  perpetual '  Im-prifoitftienfa  as 
had  already  murdered  iuch  Men  as  Bates  and 
Udal,  he  concealed  himlelf  as  well  as  he  could, 
from  the  raging  Purjcvants.     Application  was 
made,  in  the  mean  time,  to  the1  Earl  of  Dorjer, 
for  the  Fulfilment  of  his  old  Engagement  unto 
Mr.  Cotton  ■,   and  the  Earl  did  indeed  intercede 
for  him.  until  the  Arch  Bifhop  of  Canterbury., 
who  would  often  wiih,    Oh  !  that  I  could  meet 
with  Cotton  !  iendred  all  his  Intercelhons  both 
ineffectual  and  unleaionaLle.      Hereupon  that 
Noble  Perfon  fent  word  unto  him,  That,  it  he 
had  been  guilty  of  Drunkennefs,  or  Vncieannejs, 
or  any  fuch  lefjer  Fault,  he  could  have  obtained 
his  Pardon  ;  but  inafmuch  as  he  had  been  g\i\[- 
ty  oi  Non-Conformity,  and  Puritanifm,ths  Crime 
was  unpardonable  ;  and  therefore,  faid  he,  Tcic 
muft  fly  for  your  Safety.     Doubtlefs,  itwasfrcm 
fuch  unhappy  Experiments,  that  Mr.  Cotton  af- 
terwards publifhed  this  Compl  lint  :  the  Eccle- 
fiaftical  Courts,  ore  like  the  Courts  oj  the  High- 
Pr  lefts  and Pharijces,  which  Solomon  by  a  Spirit 
of  Prophecy  flileth,  Dens  of  Lions,  and  Moun 
tains  of  Leopards.     And  thoje  who  have  to  do 
itith  them,  have  found  ihctn  Markets  oj  the  Sins 
of  the  Pcpple-jJx  Cages  of  V nolo  annej's. the  Forges 
of  Extortion,  the  Tabernacles  rf  Bribery,  and 
they  have  been  contrary  to  the  End  of  Civil  Go- 
vernment, which  is,    The  Punijhment  of  Evil- 
Doers  ,    and   the  Praife   of  them    which  do 
well. 

§  17.  Mr.  Cotton,  therefore,  now,  with  Sup- 
plications unto  the  God  of  Heaven  for  his  Dire- 
ction, joined  Confutations  of  good  Men  on 
Earth  ;  and  among  others,  he  did  with  fome  of 
his  Bofton  Friends,  vifit  old  Mr.  Dod,  unto 
whom  he  laid  open  the  difficult  Cale  now  be- 
fore him,  without  any  Intimation  of  his  own  In- 
clination ,  whereby  the  Advice  of  that  holy 
Man,  might  have  been  at  all  foreftalled.  Mr. 
Dod  upon  the  whole,  faid  thus  unto  him:  lam 


nowned    Mr.  John  Rogers  of  Dedham,  having  j  old  Peter,  and 'therefore  muft  ft  and  ft  ill,  and  bear 
been  on  his  Lecture  Day,  juff  before  his  going 
to  preach,  advifed,  that  Mr.  Cot  ton  was  brought 


into  this  trouble,  he  took  occafion  to  fpeak  of 
it  in  the  Sermon,  with  juft  Lamentations  tor  it  •, 
and  among  others,  he  ufed  Words  to  this  pur 
pofe  :  As  for  that  Man,  who  hath  can  fed  a  faith- 
ful Paftor,  to  be  driven  from  his  flock,  he  Is  a 


the  Brunt  ;  but  you  being  young  Peter,  may  go 

whether  you  will,  and  ought,  being  perjeculed  in 

City,   to  flee  unto  another.     And  when  the 


one 


Bofton  Friends,  urged,  That  they  would  fupport 
andproteft  Mr.  Cotton,  tho"  privately  -,  and  that 
if  he  fhould  leave  them,  very  many  oj  them  would 
I  be  expojed  unto  extremeTempt  aiwn  :  He  readily 

anfwered,. 


20 


The  Hiftory  of  New- England.      Book  III, 


artfwered,  That  the  removing  of  a  Minifter,  ivoj 
like  the  draining  of  a  Fifh-pond ;  the  good  Fif) 
Kill  follow 'the  Water,  but  Eels,  and  other  Bog- 
gage  Fiji},  will  flick  in  the  Mud.  Which  things 
when  Mr. Cot  ton  heard,  he  was  not  a  little  con- 
firmed in  his  Inclination  to  leave  the  Land.  Nor 
did  he  forget  the  Conceffion  of  Cyprian,  That  a 
feaibnable  Flight,  is  in  effect,  a  Confcjfion  of  our 
faith  :  For  it  is  a  Profejjion  that  our  faith  is 
dearer  unto  us,  than  all  the  Enjoyments  from 
which  we./?/.  But  that  which  is  further  me- 
morable in  this  matter,  is,  That  as  the  Great 
God  often  makes  his  Truth'  to  fpread  by  the 
Sufferings  of  them  that  profefs  the  Truth  -,  Four 
hundred  were  converted  by  the  Death  of  one 
perfecuted Cecilia  :  And  the  Scotch  Bilhop  would 
leave  off  burning  of  the  Faithful,  becaufe  the 
Smoke  of  Hamilton  intecfed  as  many  as  it  blew 
upon.  Thus  the  Silencing  and  Removing  of 
Mr.  Cotton,  which  was  to  him,  a  thing  little 
ihort  of  Martyrdom,  was  an  occafion  of  more 
thorough  Repentance  in  fundry  of  his  bereived 
People,  who  now  began  to  confider,  that  God 
by  taking  away  their  Miniiter,  was  punifhihg 
their  former  Unfruitful nefs  under  the  molt  fruit- 
ful Miniftry,  which  they  had  thus  long  enjoyed. 
And  there  was  yet  another  fuch  effect  of  the 
matter,  which  is  now  to  be  related. 

§  1 8.  To  avoid  them  that  thirfted  for  his  Ru- 
ine,  Mr.  Cotton  travelled  under  a  chang'd  Name 
and  Garb,  with  a  full  purpofe  of  going  over  for 
Holland;  but  when   he  came  near  the  place, 
where  he  would  have  fhipped  himfelf,  he  met 
with  a  Kinfman,  who  vehemently  and  effectu- 
ally perfwaded  him  to  divert  into  London.  Here 
the  Lord  had  a  Work  for  him  to  do,  which  he 
little  thought  of.    Some  Reverend  and  Renown- 
ed Miniflers  of  our  Lord  in  that  Great  City, 
who  yet  had  not  leen  fufficient  Reafon  toexpo'fe 
themfelves  unto  Perfecutions  for  the  fake  of 
Non-Conformity,  but  look'd  upon  the  impofed 
Ceremonies  as  indifferent  and  fufferable  Trifles, 
and  weigh'd  not  the  AfpecL  of  the  Second  Com- 
mandmett,  upon  all  the  Parts  and  Means  of  In- 
ftitutcd  Worfhip,  took  this  Opportunity  for  a 
Conference  with  Mr.  Cotton  ;  being  perfwaded, 
That  fince  he  was  no  Pajfionate,  but  a  very  Ju 
dicioi/s  Man,  they  mould  prevail  with  him  ra- 
ther to  conform,  than  to  leave  his  WorkztA  his 
Land.     Unto  the  Motion  of  a  Conference  Mr. 
Cotton  molt  readily  yielded  :  And  firff,  all  their 
Arguments  for  Conformity,  together  with  Mr. 
Byfiehrs,  Mr.  Whatelfs,  and  Mr.  Sprint's,  were 
produced  ;   all  of  which  Mr.  Cotton  anfwered, 
unto   their   wonderful  Satisfaction.     Tl)en  he 
gave  his  Arguments  for  his  Non-Conformity,  and 
the  Reafons  why  he  muff  rather  forgo  his  Mini- 
fry,  or  at  lea  ft  his  Country,  than  wound  his 
Confacr.ce  with   unlawful   Compliances  :  The 
Iffue  whereof  was,  that  inftead  of  bringing  Mr. 
Cotton  back  to  what  he  had  now  forfaken,  he 
brought   them   off  altogether  from  what  they 
had  hitherto  practifed  :  Every  one  of  thofe  emi 
nertt  Perfons,   Dr.  Goodwin,  Mr.  Nye,  and  Mr. 
Dn-onport,  now  became  all  that  he  was,   and 
■u  lafl  left  the  Kingdom  for  their  being  fo,  fiat 


Mr.  Cotton  being  now  at  London,  there  were 
three  places  which  offered  tb.emi.lves  to  fan. 
for  his  Retreat  ;  Holland,  BarbaJoes,  and  Nej§- 
England.  As  for  Holland,  the  Character  and 
Condition,  which  famous  Mr.  Hooker  had  re- 
ported thereof,  took  off  his  Intentions  of  rfnjo- 
ving  thither.  And  Barbad-cs  had  nor  near  JTuch 
encouraging  Ctrcu'rpftaaces,  upon  the  belt  Ac- 
counts, as  AV;j  En-.'a.':d  ■,  ^hereour  Lord  Jefiis 
Chrilt  had  a  more  than  ordinaiy  thing  to  be 
done  for  his  Glory,  in  kn  American  Wilderneis, 
and  fo  would  lend  py'pr  a  more  than  ordinary 
Man,  to  be  employed  in  the  doing  of  it.  Lhi- 
ther,  eyen  to  that  Religious  and  Reformed  Plan- 
tation, after  the  folemned  Applications  to  Hea- 
ven for  Direction,  this  great  Perfon  bent  his 
Refoluttons  :  And  Letters  procured  from  the 
Church  of  Boflon,  by  Mr.  Wuvtfrop,  the  Gover- 
nour  of  the  Colony,  had  their  Influence  on  the 
matter. 

t)  19.  The  God  that  had  carried  him  through 
the  hire  of  Perjccution,   was  now  gratiouily 
with  him  in  his  Paffage  through  the  Water  of 
the  Atlantic  Ocean,  and  he  enjoyed  a  comfor- 
table Voyage  over  the  great  and  wide  Sea.  There 
were  then  three  eminent  Minifters  of  God  in 
the  Ship  ;  namely,  Mr.  Cotton,  Mr.  Hooker,  and 
Mr.  Stone ;  which,glor.ious  Triumvirate  coming 
together,  made  the  poor  People  in  the  Wild  er- 
ne fs,  at  their  coming,  to  fay,  That  the  God  of 
Heaven  had  fupplied  them  ,  witli  vyhat  vypuld 
in  fome  fort  aniwer  their  three  great  Neceflities , 
Cotton  for  their  Cloathing,  Hooker  for  their  Fifk- 
mg,  and  Stone  for  their  Building  :  But  by  one 
or  other  of  thefe  three  Divines  in  the  Ship,  there 
was  a  Sermon  preached  every  Day,  all  the  while 
they  were  aboard,  yea  they  had  three  Sermons,or 
Expofitions,for  the  mod  part  every  Day  :  Of  Mr. 
Cotton  in  the  Morning,  Mr.  Hooker  in  the  After- 
noon, Mr.  Stone  after  Supper  in  the  Evening. 
And  after  they  had   been  a  Month  upon  the 
Seas,  Mr.  Cotton  received  a  Mercy,  which  God 
had  now  for  Twenty  Years  denied  unto  him,  in. 
the  Birth  of  his  Eldeft  Son,  whom  he  called 
Seaborn,  in  the  Remembrance  of  the  never-to-be- 
forgotten  Blellings,  which  he  thus  enjoyed  upon 
the  Seas.     But  at  the  end  of  Seven  IVeeks  they, 
arrived  at  New-England,  September  3.   in  the 
Year  1633.    Where  he  put  a-fhore  at  New- 
Boflon,  which  in  a  few  Years,  by  the  Smile  of 
God  ;  efpecially  upon  the  Holy  Wifdom,  Con- 
duct, and  Credit  of  our  Mr.  Cotton,  upon  fome 
Accounts  of  Growth,  came  to  exceed  Old  Boflon 
in  every  thing  that  renders  a  Town  confiderable. 
And  it  is  remarkable,  that  his  Arrival  at  New- 
England,  was  juft  after  the  People  there,  had: 
been  by  folemn  Faffing  and  Prayer  feeking  unto, 
God,  that  inafmuch  as  they  had  been  engaging. 
to  walk  with  him  in  his  Ordinances,  according 
to  his  Word,  he  would  mercifully  fend  over  to 
them,  fuch  as  might  be  Eyes  unto  them  in  the 
Wildernefs,  and  ftrengthen  them  in  difcerning 
and  following  of  that  Word. 

§  20.  There  were  divers  Churches  gathered  in 
the  Country,   before  the  Arrival  of  Mr.  Cotton  ; 
hut  upon  his   Arrival,    the  Points  of  Church- 
Order 


Book  IlTT    The  Hi/lory  of  New- England. 


21 


Order,   were  with  more  of  Exacfnefs  revived, 

and  received  in  them,  and  further  obferved  in 

fuch  as  vvere  gathered  after  them.     He  found 

the  whole  Country  in  a  perplexed  and  a  divided 

Eftate,  as  to  their  Civil  Conftitution,  but  at  the 

Publick  Defircs,  preaching  a  Sermon  on  thofe 

words,  Hag.z.^.  Be  ftrong,  0  Zerubbabel, faith 

the  Lord;  and  be  ftrong,  0  fojhua,  Sonofjofe- 

dech  the  High-Prieft  j  and  be  ftrong  all  ye  People 

of  the  Land,  faith  the  Lord,  and  work  :  For  lam 

mtb  you,  faith  the  Lord  of  Hofts.     The  good 

Spirit  of  God,  by  that  Sermon,  had  a  mighty 

Influence  upon  all  Ranks  of  Men,  in  the  Infant  - 

Plantation ;  who  from  this  time  carried  on  their 

Affairs,  with  a  new  Life,  Satisfaction,  and  U- 

nanimity.    It  was  then  requeued  of  Mr.  Cotton, 

That  he  would,  from  the  Laws  wherewith  God 

governed  his  ancient  People,  form  an  Abflratt 

of  fuch  as  were  of  a  Moral  and  a  Lafting  Equi- 
ty :  Which  he  performed  as  acceptably  as  judi- 

cioufly.    But  inafmuch  as  very  much  of  an  A- 

thenian  Democracy,  was  in  the  Mould  of  the  Go- 
vernment, by  the  Royal  Charter,  which  was  then 
acfed  upon,  Mr.  Cotton  effecfually  recommend- 
ed it  unto  them,  that  none  fhould  be  Eletlors, 
nor  Elecled  therein,  except  fuch  as  were  vifible 
Subjefts  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrilf,  perfonally 
confederated  in  our  Churches.  In  thefe,  and 
many  other  ways,  he  propounded  unto  them, 
an  Endeavour  after  a  Theocracy,  as  near  as  might 
be,  to  that  which  was  the  Glory  of  Ifrael,  the 
peculiar  People. 

But  the  Ecclefiaftical  Conftitution  of  the  Coun- 
try, was  that  on  which  he  employ'd  his  peculiar 
Cares  ;  and  he  was  one  of  thofe  Olive-Trees, 
which  afforded  a  lingular  Meafure  of  Oyl,  for 
the  Illumination  of  our  SanUuary. 

1)  2 1.  Tl)e  Churches  now  had  Reft,  and  were 
edified :  And  there  were  daily  added  unto  the 
Churches,  thofe  that  were  to  be  faved.  Now, 
the'  the  poor  People  were  fed  with  the  Bread 
of  Aav--rfity,  and  the  Waters  of  AJflillion,  yet 
the-  .ounted  themfelves  abundantly  compenfa- 
Ilj.  by  this,  that  their  Eyes  might  fee  fuch  Tea- 
chers, as  were  now  to  be  feen  among  them.  The 
faith  and  the  Order  in  the  Churches,  was  gene- 
rally glorious,  whatever  little  popular  Confufions, 
might  in  fome  few  places  eclipfe  the  Glory.  But 
the  warm  Sunfhine  will  produce  a  Swarm  of 
Infers  ■,  whilft  Matters  were  going  on  thus  pro- 
fperoufly,  the  Cunning  and  Malice  of  Satan,  to 
break  the  Prosperity  of  the  Churches,  brought 
in  a  Generation  of  Hypocrites,  who  crept  in  un 
awares,  turning  the  Grace  @f  our  God  into  La- 
fcivioufnefs.  A.  Company  of  Antinomian  and 
Familiflical  Seffdiies,  were  ft rangely  crouded  in 
among  our  more  Orthodox  Planters  •,  by  the 
Artifices  of  which  bufie  Opinionifts,  there  was 
a  dangerous  Blow  given, firft  unto  the  Faith,  and 
lb  unto  the  Peace  of  the  Churches.  In  the  Storm 
thus  raifed,  it  is  incredible  what  Obloquy  came 
to  be  calf  upon  Mr.  Cotton,  as  it  he  had  been 
the  Patron  of  thefe  Deftroyers  -,  merely  becaufe 
they  willing  to  have  a  great  Pcrfon  in  admira 

tion,  becaufe  of  advantage,  falfly  ufed  the  Name) '  fecret  a  Foment  or  of  the  Spirit  of  F*v;i'ijy>i,  if 
of  this  great  Perfon,    by  the  Credit  thereof  to  '  not  leavened  my   felf  that  way      Which  I 

'  difcein- 


dilTeminate  and  diiiemble  their  Errors  -,  and  be- 
caufe the  chief  of  them  in  their  private  Confe 
rences  with  him,  would  make  luch  fallacious 
Profejfion  of  GofpclTruths,  that  his  Chriltian 
and  abufed  Chanty,  would  not  permit  him  to 
be  fo  hafty  as  many  others  were,    in  Confining 
of  them.     However,  the  Report  given  of  Mr. 
Cotton  on  this  occafion,  by  one  Baily,   a  Scotch- 
man, in  a  moll  Icandalous  Pamphlet,  called,  A 
Dijfwafive,   written  to  calf  an  Odium   on  the 
Churches  of  New England^  vilifying/;;//?,  that 
was  one  of  their  molf  eminent  Servants,  are  rfiolt 
horrid  Injuries  :   for  there  being  upon  the  En- 
couragement of  the  Succefs  which  the  old  Ki- 
cene,  Conftantinopolitan,    Ephefine,    and  Choice- 
donian  Councils  had,  in  the  extinguishing  of  le- 
veral  fucceffive  Herefies,  a  Council  now  called  at 
Cambridge,  Mr.  Cotton,  after  fome  Debates  with 
the  Reverend  Atfembly,  upon  fome  controvert- 
ed Points  of  J 'unification,  molt  vigoroully  joined 
with  the  other  Minifters  of  the  Country,  in  te- 
stifying againft  the  hateful  Dotlrines,  whereby 
the  Churches  had  been  troubled.     Indeed  there 
did  happen  Paroxifms  in  this  Hour  of  Tempta- 
tion, between  Mr.  Cotton,  and  fome  other  zea- 
lous and  worthy  Perfons,  which  tho'  they  did 
not  amount  unto  the  /:^/?and  heigtith  of  thofe 
that  happened  between  Cbryfo/iom  and  Epipha- 
fiius,  or  between  Hierom  and  Ruffini/s,  yetthev 
inclined  him  to  meditate  a  Removal  into  another 
Colony.    But  a  certain  Icandalous  Writer,  ha- 
ving publickly  reproached  Mr.  Cotton,  With  his 
former  Inclination  to  Remove,  there  was  there- 
by provoked   his  publick  and  patient  Anfwer  -, 
which  being  a  fummery  Narrative  of  this  whole 
Bufinefs,  I  fhall  here  tranferibe  it. 

'  There  was  a  Generation  of  Familifts'-  in  our 
c  own,  and  other  Towns,  who  under  pretence 
'  of  holding  forth  what  I  had  taught,  touching 
'  Union  with  Chrift,  and  evidencing  that  Union, 
'  did  fecretly  vent  fundry  and  dangerous  Er- 
4  rors  and  Herefies,  denying  all  inherent  Righte- 
c  oufnefs,  and  all  evidencing  of  a  good  Eftate 
'  thereby  in  any  fort,  and  fome  of  them'alfo 
'  denying  the  Immortality  of  the  Soul,  and  the 
''  Refurre&ion  of  the  Body.  When  they  were 
'  queftioned  by  fome  Brethren  about  thofe 
'  things,  they  carried  it,  as  if  they  had  held 
c  forth  nothing,  but  what  they  had  received 
'  from  me  :  Whereof,  when  I  was  advifed  to 
c  clear  my  felf,  I  publickly  preached  againft 
'  thofe  Errors.  Then  faid  the  Brethren  to  the 
'  Erring  Party,  See  your  Teacher  declares  him- 
'  Jc'f  clearly  to  differ  from  you.  No  maiur  (fay 
'  the  other)  what  he  faith  in  publick,  we  under- 
c  ft  and  him  olherzvife,  and  we  Anew  what  he  faith 
'  to  us  in  private.  Yea,  and  I  my  felf  could 
'•  not  enfily  believe,  that  thofe  Erring  Brethren 
'  and' Sifters,  were  fo  corrupt  in  their  Judgments 
'  as  they  were  reported  -,  they  feeming  to  me 
'  forward  Chriifians,  and  utterly  denying  anv 
c  fuch  Tenents,  or  any  thing  elfe,  but  what  they 
'  received  firm  my  felf.  All  which  bred  in  fun- 
dry  of  the  Country,  a  Jealoufie  that  I  was  in 


22 


The  Hijlory  of  New-England.       Book  III, 


1  difceming,  it  wrought  in  me  Thoughts  (as  it 
4  did  in  many  other  fincerely  and  Godly  Bre- 
'  thren  of  our  Church)  not  of  a.Separation  from 
'  the  Churches,  but  of  a  Removal  to  Newbaven, 
'  as  being  better  known  to  the  Paftor,  and  fome 
'  others  there ,  than  to  fuch  as  were  at  that  time 
4  jealous  of  me  here.  The  true  Ground  where- 
'  of  was  an  Inward  Loathnefs  to  be  Troublefome 
4  unto  Godly  Minis,  and  a  Fear  of  the  Unpro- 
1  fitableneis  of  my  Mini  ft  ry  there,  where  my 
'  way  was  fufpefted  to  be  Doubtful  and  Dan- 
'  gerous.  I  chofe  therefore  rather  to  meditate 
4  a  Silent  Departure  in  Peace,  than  by  tarrying 
'  here,  to  make  way  for  the  breaking  forth  of 
'  'Temptations.  But  when,  at  the  Synod,  I  had 
'  difcovered  the  Corruption  of  the  Judgment 
?  of  the  Erring  Brethren,  and  faw  their  Frau- 
'  dulent  Pretence  of  holding  forth  no  other,  but 
'  what  they  received  from  me  ( when  as  indeed 
*  they  plead  for  Grofs  Errors  contrary  unto  my 
'  Judgment^  I  thereupon  did  bear  Witnefs  a- 
4  gainlt  them ;  and  when  in  a  private  Confe- 
4  rence  with  fome  Chief  Magift  rates  and.  Elders, 
4  I  perceived,  that  my  Removal  upon  fuch  Dif- 
'  ferences  was  unwelcome  to  them,  and  that 
'  fuch  Points  need  not  to  occafion  any  Diftance 
4  (neither  in  Place  nor  in  Heart)  amongft  Bre- 
'  thren,  I  then  refted  fatisfied  in  my  abode 
4  amongft  them,  and  fo  have  continued,  by  the 
4  Grace  of  Chrift  unto  this  Day. 

'Tis  true,  fuch  was  Mr.  Cotton's  Holy  Igenu- 
ity,  that  when  he  perceived  the  Advantage, 
which  Erroneous  and  Heretical  Perfons  in  his 
Church,  had  from  his  abufed  Charity,  taken 
to  fpread  their  Dangeious  Opinions,  before  he 
was  aware  of  them,  he  did  publickly  fometimes 
with  Tears  bewail  it,  That  the  Enemy  had /own 
fo  many  Tares  whilji  he  had  been  afleep.  Ne- 
verthelefs  'tis  as  true,  that  nothing  ever  could 
be  Bafer  than  the  Difingenuity  of  thofe  Pam- 
phletteers,  who  took  Advantage  hence,  to  catch 
thefe  Tears  in  their  Venemous  Ink-horns,  and 
employ  them  for  lb  many  Blots  upon  the  Me- 
mory of  a  Righteous  Alan,  worthy  to  be  had  in 
Everlafting  Remembrance. 

§  22.  When  the  Virulent  and  \7\o\mt  Edwards 
had  been  after  a  molt  Unchriftian  manner,  be 
fpattering  the  Excellent  Burroughs,  That  Revi- 
led Saint,  in  his  Anfwer,  had  that  PafTage  -, 
The  Extreme  Eager nefs  of  fome  to  afperfe  our 
Namesi  makes  us  to  think,  that  God  hath  made 
more  life  of  our  Names,  than  we  were  aware  of, 

We  fee  by  their  Anger  even  almoji  to  Mad 

nefs,  bent  that  zvay,  that  they  had  little  Hope, 
to  prevail  with  all  their  Argument  againji  the 
Caufe  we  profefs,  till  they  could  get  down  our 
EJieem  (fuch  as  it  wcu)  m  the  Hearts  of  the 
People But  our  Names  are  not  in  the  Pow- 
er of  their  Tongues  and  Pens  ;  they  are  in  the 
Hands  of  God,  who  will  preferve  them  fo  far, 
an  fie  hath  ufe  of  them;  and  further,  we  fhall 
have  no  ufe  of  them  our  felvcs.  That  Bitter 
Spirit  in  Baily,  muff  for  fuch  Caufes  expofe 
Name  of  the  Incomparable  Cot'ton,  unto  Irre 
parable  Injuries  :  For,  from  the  meer  Hear-  I 
fays  of  that  Uncharitable  Writer,  haftily  Pub-  j 


lifhed  unto  the  World,  the  Learned  and  Wor- 
thy. Dr.  Hoornbech,  not  much  lei's  againft  the 
Rules  of  Charity,  Printed  a  Short  Account  of 
Mr.  Cotton,  whereof  an  Ingenious  Author  trulv 
fays,  There  was  in  it,  Qtot  fere  Verba,  tot  Er- 
roresfamofijfimi  \  neque  tahtum  quot  Capita,  toi 
Carpcnda,  fed  quot  fere  Sententiarum  punQufa, 
tot'Difpungenda.  That  Scandalous  Account,  it 
is  pity  it  (hould  be  Read  in  Englifh,  and  grea- 
ter pity  that  ever  that  Reverend  Perfon  fhould 
make  it  be  Read  in  Latin-,  but  this  it  was  - 
Cottonus,  honore  Ordinis  EpifcopaUs,  in  Aliud 
Extremum  prolapfus,  Omnia  plebi  abjque  Vinculo 

Ecclefiarum  concedebat. Cottonus //?<?,  pri- 

mum  in  Anglia,  alterius  Longc  Scntcntutfuerat. 
unde,  ty  plurimorum  Error  urn  Her  eft 'unique  Re- 
us, Maximm Or  dims  iftius,vcl potius  ATAXIAS. 
promotor  extitit  ;  habuitque  fecum,  quemadmo- 
dum  Montanus  dim  Maximillam,  Suam  Hut- 
chinfonam,  de  quavari  iff  prodigiofa  mult  a  rcje- 
runt.     From   thefe  miferable  Hiflorians,  who 
would   Imagine  what  a  Slur  has  been  abroad 
call  upon  the  Name  of  as  Holy,  as  Learned  as 
Orthodox,  and  Eminent  a  Servant  of  our  Lord, 
in  his  Reformed  Churches,  as  was  known  in  his 
Age !  Among  the  reft,  it  is  particularly  obfer- 
vable  how  a  Laborious  and  Ingenious  Foreigner, 
in  his  Bibliotheca  Ang/orum   Theologica,   having' 
in  his  Index  mentioned  a  Book  of  this  our  Mr. 
Cotton's,  under   the  Style  of  Johannh  Cottoni, 
Via  Vita,    Liber  Utilijfimus,   prefently  adds, 
Alius    Johannes  Cottonm   mala    ~Not£   Homo : 
Whereas  'twas  only  by  the  Mifreprefentations 
of  contentious  and  unadvifed  Men,  that  John 
Cotton,  the  Experimental  Author  of  fuch  an 
ufeful  Book,  muft  be  branded  with  a  Note  of 
Infamy.    But  if  the  Reader  will  deal  juftly, 
he  muft  join  thefe  Grofs  Calumnies  upon  Cot- 
ton, with  the  Fables  of  Luthers  Devil,  Zuin- 
gliia's  Dreams,  Calvin's  Brands,  and  Junius's 
Cloven  Foot.    If  Hoornbeck  ever  faw  Cotton's 
mild,  but  full  Reply  to  Baily,   which  as  the 
Good  Spirited  Beverly  fays,  would  have  been 
efteemed  a  fufficient  Refutation  of  all  thefe 
wretched  Slanders,  Nifi  Fratrum  quorundam  au- 
res  erunt  ad  veritatem,  tanquam  Afpidum,   ob- 
turata,  'tis  impofftble  to  excufe  his  wrongful 
Dealings  with  a  Venerable  Minifter  of  our  Lord! 
Pray,  Sir,  charge  not  our  Cotton  with  an  Horror 
Ordinis   Epifcopalis  ;  until  you  have  chaftifed 
your  Friend  Honorius  Reggius,  that  is  Georgius 
Hornius,  for   telling  us,  as  Voetius  quotes  it  -, 
Mult  or  um  Animos  Subiit  Recordatio  illius,  quod 
Venerabilis  Beza,  non  fincProphetia  Spirit u,  olim 
iefcripfit  Knoxo,  Ecclefia  Scotica  Reform  at  ori : 
Sicut  Epifcopi  Papatum  pepercrunt,  ita  Oculis 
pcene  ipfis  jam   cernitui\  Pfuedo  Epifcopos,  pa- 
pains Reliquiae,  Epicureifmum  Terris  InveSu- 
ros.     Atque  hac  pramittere  Vifum,  ut  eo  mani- 
feftius  ejfet  Britanniam   diutius  Epifcopos   non 
potuijfe  ferre,  nifi   in  Papifmum  &  Atheifmum 
Labi  vellet.    Charge   not  our  Cotton  with  an 
Omnia  Plebi  abfque  Vinculo  Aliarum  Ecclefiarum 
concedebat  -,  until,  beh'des  the  whole  Scope  and 
Scheme  of  his  Ecclefiaftical  Writings,  which 
allow  no  more  ftill   unto  the  Fraternity,  than 

Parker, 


Book  III.      -'the  Hifiory  of  New- England. 


23 


Tarker   Ames,    Cartwrigbt ;    and  advance  no 
other  than  that  Ariftocrafie,  that  Beza,  Zancby, 
Wbitakcr,  Bucer,  and  Blondel  pleaded  for ;  you 
have  better  conftrued  his  Words  in  his  Golden 
Prelate   to  Norton's  Anfwer  unto  the  Sylloge 
■igitaftiortam,  Ncque  nos  Regimen  proprie  diffum 
alibi  quam  penes  Presby  teres  ftabiliendum  Cupi- 
mus :   Convenimus   ambo  in  Subjetlo  Regiminis 
Ecclefiaftici :  Convenimus  etiam  in  Regula  Regi- 
minis,  ut  Adminftrentur  Omnia  Juxta  Canonem 
Sacrarum  Script  arum  :  Convenimus  etiam  in  Fi 
ne  Regiminis,  ut  Omnia  Tranfigantur  ad  Edtfi- 
catiohem  Ecclefix,   non  ad  Pompam  aut  Luxum 
Secularem :  Synodes  nos,  una  Vobifcum,  cum  opus 
fuerit,  iff  Sujcipimus  iff  veneramur.     Qiiantil- 
lum  eft',  quod  Reftat,  quod   Diftat !  Alius  Regi- 
minis,  quos  vos  a  Synodis  peragi  Velletis,  eos  a 
Synod  is  porrigi  Eeclefm,  iff  ab  Ecclefiis,   ex  Sy- 
nodal'i    DIORTHOSEI    peragi  peter  emus. 
Charge  not  our  Cotton  with  an    ATAXIAS 
Promotor  Extitit,  until  you,  your  felf,   ToUor, 
have  revoked  your  own  two  Conceflions,  which 
are  all  the  Ataxics  that  ever  could,  with  fo 
much  as  the  leait  Pretence,  be  imputed   unto 
this  Renowned    Perfbn  ;    Ecclefia   particulars 
quxlibet  SubjeUum  eft  Adequation  iff  proprium 
plence  poteftatis  Ecclefiaftkte;  nee  Congrue  diet- 
tur  ejus  Synodo  Dependentia,  And,  Neque  enim 
Synodi  in  alias  Ecclcfias  poteftatem  babent  Impe- 
rantem,  qu.e   Superiorum  eft,  in  Inferiores  fibi 
Subditos  ;    Non-Communionis  Sententia  Potefta- 
tern  Summam  denotat.     As  for  the  Cottonus  Plu- 
rimorum  Errorum  Hxrefiumque  Reus,  were  Old 
Auftin  alive,  he  would  have  charged  no  lefs  a 
Crime  than  that  of  Sacriledge  upon  the  Man, 
that  thus  without  all  Colour,  fhould  Rob  the 
Church  of  a  Name  which  would  juftly  be  Dear 
unto  it  ■,  for  as  the  Greac  Caryl  hath  exprelTed 
it,  The  Name  of  Cotton  is  as  an  Ointment  pour- 
ed fortb.    But  for  the  Top  of  all  thefe  Calum- 
nies, Cottoni  Hutchinfona,  inftead  of  a  Refem- 
blance  to  Montani  Maximilla,  the  truer  Com- 
parifon  would  have  been,  Mulier  ifta,  qua  per 
Calumniam  notijjimam   Objiciebatur   Atbanafw  ; 
All  the  Favour  which  that  Prophetefs  of  Thya- 
tira   had    from   this   Angelical  Man,  was  the 
fame,  that  the  provoked  Paul  fhow'd  unto  the 
Pytbomfs.     In   fine,   The  Hiftories   which  the 
World  has  had  of  the  Nczv  Englift  Churches, 
under  the  Influence  of  Mr.  Cotton,  I  have  fome- 
times  thought  much  of  a  piece,  with  what  we 
have  in  the  Old  Hiftories  of  Lyfimacbus-,  That 
when  a  Leprous,  a  Scabby  fort  of  a  People  were 
driven  out  of  Egypt  into  the  Wilderneis,  there 
was  a  certain  Man  cali'd  Mofcs,  who  counfelled 
them  to  march  on  in  a  Body,  till  they  came  to 
fome  Good  Soyl.  This  Mofcs  commanded  them 
to  be  kind  unto  no  Man  -,  To  give  Bad  Advice 
rather  than  Good,  upon  all  Occafions  •,  and  to 
deftroy  as  many  Temples  as  they   could  find  •, 
So,  after  much  Travel  and  Trouble,  they  came 
to  a  Fruitful  Soyl,  where  they  did  all  the  Mif- 
chief  that   Mofes  had  recommended  and  built 
a  City,  which  was   at   firft  called    Hierofyla, 
from  the  fpoiling    of  the  Temples:  But  after- 
wards, to  fhun  the  Difgrace  of  the  Occafion, 


they  changed  it  into  hierofolyme,  and  bore  the 
Name  of  Hierofolymitans.  But  thus  muft  a 
Bad  Report,  as  well  as  a  Good  Report,  foilow 
fuch  a  Man  as  Mr.  Cotton,  whofe  only  Fault 
after  all,  was  thar,  with  which  that  memora- 
ble Ancient  Nazienzen  was  taxed  fometimes  ; 
namely,  the  Fault  of  Manfuetude. 

§  25.  Thele  Clouds  being  thus  happily  blown 
ever,  the  reft  of  his  Days  were  fpent  in  a  more 
fettled  Peace ;  and  Mr.  Cotton's  growing  and 
fpreading  Fame,  like  Jofeph's  Bough,  Ran  over 
the  Walt  of  the  Anlantic  Ocean,  unto  fuch  a 
Degree,  that  in  the  Year  1641.  Some  Great  Per- 
fons  in  England,  were  intending  to  have  fent 
over  a  Ship  on  purpofe  to  fetch  him  over,  lor 
the  fake  of  the  Service,  that  fuch  a  Man  as 
lie,  might  then  do  to  the  Church  of  God,  then 
Travelling^  in  the  Nation.  But  although  their 
Doubt  of  his  Willingnefs  to  Remove,  caufed 
them  to  forbear  that  Method  of  obtaining  him, 
yet  the  Principal  Members  in  both  Houfes  of 
Parliament  wrote  unto  him,  with  an  Importu- 
nity for  his  Return  into  England;  which  had 
prevailed  with  him,  if  the  Difinal  Showres  of 
Blood,  quickly  after  breaking  upon  the  Nation, 
had  not  made  fuch  AffiLSlive  Imprefiions  upon 
him,  as  to  prevent  his  purpofe.  He  continued 
therefore  in  Bofton  unto  his  Dying  Day  ;  count- 
ing it  a  great  Favour  of  Heaven  unto  him,  that 
he  was  delivered  from  tbc  Lfnjettlednefs  of  Ha- 
bitation, which  was  not  among  the  leaft  of  the 
Calamities  that  Exercifed  the  Apoftles  of  our 
Lord.  Nineteen  Tears  and  odd  Months  he  fpent 
in  this  Place,  doing  of  Good  publickly  and  pri- 
vately, unto  all  forts  of  Men,  as  it  became  a 
Good  Man  full  of  Faitb,  and  of  the  Holy  Gbaft. 
Here  in  an  Expofitory  way,  he  wenr  over  the 
Old Teftament  once,  and  a  Second  Time  as  far 
as  the  Thirtieth  Chapter  of  Ifaiah ;  and  the 
whole  Ne w  Teftament  once,  and  a  Second  time, 
as  far  as  the  Eleventh  Chapter  to  the  Hebrcc. , 
Upon  Lord's-Days  and  Leffure-Days,  he  Preach- 
ed thorow  the  Ails  of  the  Apoftles  ;  the  Pro 
phefies  of  Haggai  and  Zecbanab  -,  the  Books  of 
Ezra,  the  Revelation,  Ecclefiaft.es ,  Canticles, 
Second  and  Third  Epifiles  of  John,  the  Epiftle 
to  Titus,  both  Epiftles  to  Timothy  ;  the  Epiftle 
to  the  Romans  ;  with  innumerable  other  Scrip- 
rures  on  Incidental  Occafions.  Though  he  had 
alfo  the  molt  Remarkable  Faculty,  perhaps  of 
any  Man  living,  to  Meet  every  Remarkable  Oc- 
casion, with  pertinent  RefieStons,  whatever 
Text  he  were  upon,  without  ever  wandring 
out  of  fight  from  his  Text:  And  it  is  poftible 
there  might  fometimes  be  a  particular  Opera- 
tion of  Providence,  to  make  the  Works  and 
Words  of  God  meet  in  the  Miniftry  of  his  Holy 
Servant.  But  thus  did  he  Abound  in  the  Works 
of  the  Lord'. 

§  24.  At  length,  upon  Defire,  going  to  preach 
a  Sermon  at  Cambridge,  (which  he  did,  on  Jfa. 
54.  13.  Thy  Children  fball  be  all  taught  of  the 
Lord;  and  from  thence  gave  many  Excellent 
Councils  unto  the  Students  of  the  Colledgo 
there)  he  took  Wet  in  his  Pafiage  over  the 
Kerrv  ;  but  he  prefently  felt  the  EfftSt  of  it,  In* 
Ddd  the 


24. 


7  he  Hifiory  of  New-England.       Book  111. 


the  tailing 


of  his  Voice  in  Sermon-time-  which 
ever  until  now,  had  been  a  clear,  neat,  audible 
Voice,  and  eafily  heard  in  the  moll  Capacious 
Auditory.     Being  found  Jo  doing,  as  it  had  of- 
ten been  his  declared  Wifh,  That  be  wight  not 
out  live  bis  Work  !  (faying  upon  higher  Princi- 
ples than  once    Curius  Dentatus  did,  Malle  cjjc 
fe  MortUUm,  quam  Vivere  ;  that  he  had   rather 
Be  Dead,  than  Live    Dead:  And  with  Seneca, 
Ulthnum  malorum  eft  ex  vivcrum  Numero  exire, 
ante  quam  moriarh  :')  His  Illnefs  went  on  to  an 
Inflammation  in  his  Lungs  ;  from  whence  he 
grew  fomewhat  Aflbmatical  ;  but  there  was  a 
Complication  of  other  Scorbutic  Affefls,  which 
put  him  under  many  Symptoms  of  his  approach- 
ing End.     On  the  Eighteenth  of  November,  he 
took  in  Courfe  for  his  Text,  the  Four  laft  Ver- 
fes  of  the  Second   Epiftle  to  Timothy,  giving 
this  Reafon  for  his  infilling  on  fo  many  Verfes 
at  once,  Becaufe  elfe  ( he  laid )  I /ball  net  Live 
to  make  an  End  of  this  Epiftle  ;  but  he  chiefly 
infilled  on  thofe  Words,  Grace  be  with  you  all. 
Upon  the  Lord's  Day  following,  he  preached 
his  laft  Sermon  on  Joh.  1.  14.  About  that  Glo- 
ry of  the  Lord  Jefus  Cbrift,  from  the   Faith  to 
the  Sight  whereof  he  was  now  flattening.    Af- 
ter this   in  that  Study,  which   had  been  Per- 
fumed with  many  fuch  Days  before,  he  now 
fpent  a  Day  in  Secret  Humiliations  and  Suppli- 
cations, before  the  Lord  ;  feeking  the  Special 
Afliftances  of  the  Holy   Spirit,  for  the  Great 
Work  of  Dying,  that  was  now  before  him. 
What  Glorious  TranfaUions  might  one  have 
heard  patting  between  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
and  an  Excellent  Servant   of  his,  now  coming 
unto  him,   if  he  could  have  had  an  Hearing 
Place  behind  the  Hangings  of  the  Chamber,   in 
fuch  a  Day !  But  having  finittied  the  Duties  of 
the  Day,  he  took  his  Leave  of  his  Beloted  Stu- 
dy,  faying  to  his  Confort,  7  fhall  go  into  that 
Room  no  morel  And  he  had  all  along  Pre/ages  in 
his  Heart,  that  God  would  by  his  PrefentSick- 
nefs,  give  him  an  Entrance  into  the  Everlajimg 
Kingdom  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Cbrift.    Wherefore, 
Setting  his  Houfe  in  Order,  he  was  now  fo  far 
from  unwilling  to  Receive  the  Mercy  Stroke  of 
Death,  as  that  he  was  defirous  to  be  with  him, 
With  whom  to  be,  is  by  far  the  beft  of  all.     And 
athough  the  chief  Ground  of  his  Readinefs  to 
be  gone,  was  from  the  unutterably  Sweet  and 
Rich  Entertainments,    which  he  did  by  Fore- 
laft,  as  well  as  by  Promife,   know  that   the 
Lord  had  referved  in  the  Heavenly  Regions  for 
him,  yet  he  fa  id,  it  contributed  unto  this  Rea- 
dinefs in  him,  when  he  confider'd  the  Saints, 
whofe  Company  and  Communion  he  was  go- 
ing unto  ;  particularly  Perkins,  Ames,  Prefton, 
Hilderfiam,  Dod,  and  others,  which  had  been 
peculiarly  Dear  unto  himfelf  5  befides  the  Reft, 
in  that  General  AQembly. 

§  25.  While  he  thus  lay  fick,  the  Magiftrates, 
the  Minifters  of  the  Country,  and  Chriftians 
of  all  forts,  reforted  unto  him,  as  unto  a  Pub- 
lick  Father,  full  of  fad  Apprehenfioons,  at  the 
withdraw  of  fuch  a  Publick  Blejfing;  and  the 
Gracious  Words  that  proceeded  out  of  his  Mouth, 


while  he  had  Strength  to  utter  the  profitable 
Conceptions  of  his  Mind,  caufed  them    to  rec- 
kon thefe   their  Vifits  the  Gainfulefl  that  ever 
they  had  made.     Among  others,  the  then  Pre- 
fident  of  the  Colledge,   with  many  Tears,  de- 
fired  of  Mr.  Cotton  before  his  Departure,  to  be- 
llow his  Blefiing  on  him  •,  faying,  /  know  in  ay- 
Heart,  they  whom  you  blefs  Jhallbe  bleffed.  And 
not  long  before  his  Death,  he  fent  for  the  El- 
ders of  the  Chutch,  whereof  he  himfelf  was  al~ 
fo  an  Elder  -,  who  having,  according  to  the  A- 
poftolical  Direclion,   pray'd  over  him,  he  ex- 
horted them  to  Feed  the  Block  over  which  they 
were  Overfeers,  and  encreafe  their  Watch  againtt 
thofe   Declenfions  which   he  faw  the  Prcfcffors 
of  Religion  falling  into :  Adding,  1  have  now 
through  Grace,  been  more  than  Forty  Tears  a  Ser- 
vant unto  the  Lord  Jefus  Chriji,  and  have  ever 
found  him  a  good  Mafter.     When  his  Collegue 
Mr.  Wilfon,  took  his  Leave  of  him  with  a  Witt), 
that  God  would  lift  up  the  Light  of  his  Coun- 
tenance upon  him,    he  inllantly  replied,  God 
hath  done  it  already,  Brother  <  He  then  called 
for  his  Children,  with  whom  he  left  the  Gra- 
cious Covenant  of  God,  as  their  never  Failing 
Portion  :  And  now  defired,  that  he  might  be 
left  Private  the  rett  of  his  Minutes,  for  the 
more  Freedom   of  his  Applications  unto  the 
Lord.    So  lying  Spcechle/s  a  few   Hours,   he 
breathed  his  Bletted  Soul  into  the  Hands  of  his 
Heavenly  Lord  ;  on  the  Twenty  third  of  De- 
cember 1652.  entring  on  the  Sixty   Eighth  Year 
of  his  own  Age  :  And  on  the  Day,  yea  at  the 
Hour,  of  his  conftant  Weekly  Labours  in  the 
Lefture,  wherein  he  had  been  fo  long  fervice- 
able,  even  to  all  the  Churches  of  A 'ew-England. 
Upon  Tucfday  the  Twenty  Eighth  of  December, 
be  was  mod  Honourably  Interred,  with  a  moft 
numerous  Concourfe  of  People,  and  the  molt 
Grievous  and  Solemn   Funeral  that  was  ever 
known  perhaps  upon  the  American  Strand  -,  and 
the  Leftures  in  his  Church,   the  whole  Winter 
following,  performed    by     the    Neighbouring 
Minifters,   were  but  fo  many  Funeral  Sermons 
upon  the  Death  and  Worth  of  this  Extraordi- 
nary  Per/on:  Among  which,  the  Firft,  I  think, 
was  preached    by   Mr.  Richard  Mather,   who 
gave  unto  the  bereaved, Church  of  Boft on  this 
gteat  Character  of  their  Incomparable  Cotton, 
Let  us  pray,  that  God  would  rd'ife  tip  fome  Elea- 
zar  tofucceed  this  Aaron  :  But  you  can  hardly 
expetf,  that  fo  large  a  Portion  of  the  Spirit  of 
God  Jhould  dwell  in  any  one,  as   dwelt  in  this 
BleffedMan!  And  generally  in  the  other  Chur- 
ches through  the  Country,  the  Expiration   of 
this  General  Blejfing  to  them  all,   did  produce 
Funeral  Sermons  lull  of  Honour  and   Sorrow  ; 
even  as  many  Miles  above  an  Hundred,  as  New-, 
haven  was  diftant  from    the  Maflacbufet-Bay, 
when  the  Tidings  of  Mr.  Cotton's  Deceafe  ar- 
rived there,  Mr.  Davenport  with  many  Tears 
bewailed  it,  in  a  Publick  Difcourfe  on  that  in 
2  Sam.  1.  26.    1  am  difireffed  for  thee,    my  Bro- 


ther Jonathan,   very  pleafant  baft  thou  been  un- 
to me.     Yea,  they  /peak  oj  Mr.  Cotton  in  their 


Lamentations  to  this  Day  1 


§  26, 


Book  III       ^he  Hi/lory  of  New-England. 


25 


It  is  a  memorable  Saying  of  A/gaze/,  In  quo 
Lumen  Religion's  &  Devotion  is,  Fumus  genera- 
tus  ex  Luniinc  Scicntix  non  extinguit,  ille  per- 
Mm  eft:  Scd  qui s  eft  hie1,  ut  adcremus  eum? 
Reader  1  will  Ihow  thee  fuch  a  Man^  One  in 
whom  the  Light  of  Learning  accompanied  the 
Lire  of Goodnefs,  met  in  an  High  Degree:  But 
thou  WrAt  Adore  none  but  the  Lord  Jei'us  Chrift, 
who  made  him  fuch  a  Man. 

§  16.  How  vaft  a  Treafure  of  Learning  was 
laid  in  the  Grave,  which  was  opened  on  this 
Occafion,  can  fcarce  Credibly  and  Sufficiently  be 
related.  Mr.  Cotton  was,  indeed,  a  moft  17/?/'- 
verjal  Scholar,  and  a  Living  Syjiem  of  the  Li- 
beral Arts,  and  a  Walking  Library.  It  would 
be  endlefs  to  recite  all  his  particular  Accom- 
plishments, but  only  Three  Articles  of  Obfer- 
vation  mail  be  offered.  Firft,  For  his  Gram 
mar,  he  had  a  very  lingular  Skill  in  thofe  Three 
Languages,  the  Knowledge  whereof  was  the 
Infcription  on  the  Crcfs  of  our  Saviour,  pro- 
pofed  unto  the  Perpetual  Uje  of  his  Church. 
The  Hebrew  he  underftood  fo  exactly,  and  fo 
readily,  that  he  was  able  to  Difcourfe  in  it.  In 
the  Greek  he  was  a  Critick,  fo  Accurate  and 
fo  well  Veried,  that  he  need  not,  like  Auftin, 
to  have  ftudied  it  in  his  Reduced  Age.  Thus, 
if  many  of  the  Ancients  committed  grofs  Mi-, 
flakes  in  their  Interpretations  ot  the  Scriptures, 
through  their  want  of  Skill  in  the  Originals, 
Mr.  Cotton  was  better  qualified  for  an  Interpreter. 
He  both  wrote  and  fpoke  Latin  alfo  with  great 
Facility  ;  and  with  a  moft  Ciceronian  Elegancy, 
Exemplified  in  one  Published  Compofure.  Next, 
for  his  Logic,  he  was  compleatly  furnimed 
therewith  to  encounter  the  fubtilelt  Adverfary 
ot  the  Truth.  But  although  he  had  been  Edu- 
ca.ei  in  the  Peripatetick  way,  yet  like  the 
other  Puritans  of  thofe  times,  he  rather  a ffe£F , 
ed  the  Ramtan  Difcipline^  and  chofe  to  follow 
the  Methods  of  'hat  Excellent  Ramus,  who  like 
Juilm  of  old,  was  not  only  a  Philojopher,  hilt 
a  Cbriftian,  and  a  Martyr  alfo:,  rather  than  the 
more  Empty,  Trifling,  Altercative  Notions,  tb 
which  the  Works  of  the  Pagan  Ariftoile  deri- 
ved unto  us,  through  the  Mangling  Hands  of 
the  Apoftate  Porpbyrie,  have  diipofed  his  Dif 
ciples.  Laftly,  for  his  Theologie,  There  'twas 
that  he  had  h\s  GrenrA\  Extract- Jinarinefs,  and 
molt  of  all,  his  Textual  Divinity.  His  Abilities 
to  Epound  the  Scriptures,  cauf'ed  him  to  be  Ad 
mired  by  the  Ablelt  of  his  Hearers.  Although 
his  Incomparable  Modefty  would  not  permit 
him  to  fpeak  any  more  than  the  Lcaft  of  Him- 
/elf,  yet  unto  a  private  Friend  he  hath  laid, 
Tb.::  be  knew  not  of  any  Difficult  Place  in  all 
the  whole  Bible,  which  be  had  not  weighed,  fomc 
what  unto-  Satis f:':lion.  And  hence,  though  he 
ordinarily  bellowed  much  pains  upon  his  Pub'- 
lick  Sermons,  yet  he  hath  ibmetimes  Preached 
moil  Admirably,  without  any  Warning  at  all-, 
and  a  New  Note  upon  a  Te::t  before  him,  00 
curring  to  his  mind,  but  juft  as  he  was  going 
into  the  AiTemhly,  has  taken  up  his  Difcourfe 
for  that  Hour,  fo  Pertinently  and  Judicioufly, 
that  the  moft  Critical  of  his  Auditors,  imagined 


nothing  Extemporaneous.  Indeed  his  Library 
was  vaft,  and  vaft  was  his  Acquaintance  with 
it  -,  but  although  amongft  his  Readings,  he  had 
given  a  Special  Room  unto  the  Lathers,  and  un- 
to the  Schoolmen,  yet  at  laft,  he  preferr'd  one 
Calvin  above  them  all.  Pi  Erajmus,  when  of- 
fered a  Biflioprick  to  write  againft  Luther, 
could  anfwer,  There  was  more  Divinity  in  a 
Page  of  Luther,  than  in  all  Thomas  Aquinas-, 
'Tis  no  wonder  that  Salmaftm  could  fo  Vene- 
rate Calvin,  as  to  fay,  That  he  had  rather  be 
the  Author  of  that  One  Book,  The  Infiitution : 
written  by  Calvin,  than  have  written  all  thai 
IjdOs  ever  done  by  Grotius.  Even  fuch  a  Calvi- 
nift  was  our  Cotton  !  Said  he,  /  have  read  the 
Fathers  and  the  Schoolmen,  and  Calvin  too ;  but 
I  find,  That  be  that  has  Calvin  bas'em  all.  And 
being  asked,  why  in  his  Latter  Days  he  indulg- 
ed Notlumal Studies  more  than  formerly,  he 
pleafantly  replied,  Becaufe  I  love  to  fwecien  my 
mouth  with  a  piece  of  Calvin  before  I  go  to  fleep. 
§  27.  Indeed  in  his  Common  Preaching ,  he  did 
as  Bajfil  reports  of  Ephrem  Syrus,  Plunmum  di- 
ftare  a  Mundana  Sapient ia  \  and  though  he  were 
a  Great  Scholar,  yet  he  did  Confcientioufly  for- 
bear making  ro  the  Common  People  any  Often- 
tation  of  it.  He  h3d  the  Art  of  concealing  his 
Art;  and  thought  with  Sobniifr^  Non  minus  eft 
Virtus  Populariter  quam  Argute  Loqui,  and 
Mr.  Dod;  That  Latin  for  the  moft  part  was 
Flefh  in  a  Sermon.  Accordingly,  when  he  was 
Handling  the  Deepeft  Subjetfs,  a  Speech  of  that 
Import  was  frequent  with  him,  I  deftre  iv  fpeak 
fo,  as  to  be  underftood  by  the  meaneft  Capacity  ' 
And  he  would  fometimes  give  the  fame  Realbn 
for  it,-  which  the  Great  Auftin  gave,  If  I  Preach 
more  Scholaftically,  then  only  the  Learned,  end. 
not  the  Unlearned,  can  fo  under  ft  and  as  to  pro- 
jit  by  me  -,  but  if  I  Preach  plainly,  then  both 
Learned  and  Unlearned "will  undcrftaiid  me,  and 
fo  I  fthill  profit  all.  When  a  Golden  Key  of 
Oratory  would  not  fo  well  open  a  Myftery  of 
Chfiftianity,  he  made  no  ftick  ro  take  an  Iron 
One,  that  mould  be  lefs  Rhetorical.  You  fhould 
bear  few  Terms  of  Art,  few  Latinities,  no  Exo- 
tic or  Obfelete  Phrafes,  obfeuring  of  the  Truths, 
which  he  was  to  bring  tinto  the  People  of  God. 
Nevertheless  his  more  Judicious  and  Obferving 
Hearers,  could  by  his  rribft  Untrinid  Sermons 
perceive  that  he  was  a  man  of  more  than  Ordi- 
nary Abilities.  Hence  when  a  Dutchman  of 
Great  Learning,  heard  Mr.  Cotton  Preach  at  Bo- 
(ton,  in  England,  he  profeffed,  That  be  never 
in  bis  Life  Jaw  fuch  a  Conjunction  of  Learning 
and  Plamnefs,  as  there  was  in  the  Preaching  of 
this  worthy  Alan.  The  Glory  of  God,  and  not 
his  own  Glory,  was  that  at  which  he  aimed  in 
his  Labours  -,  for  which  caufe,  at  the  end  of 
his  Notes,  he  ftill  inferted  that  Claufe,  Tibi 
Domine :  Or,  For  thy  Glory,  0  God'.  For  his 
Delivery,  though  it  were  not  like  Farels,  Noify 
and  Thundring,  yet  it  had  in  it  a  very  awful 
Majefty,  fet  off  with  a  Natural  and  Becoming 
Motion  of  his  Right  Hand;  and  the  Lord  v;  - 
in  the  Still  Voice  at  fuch  a  Rate,  that  Mr.  If// 
Jon  would  fay,  Mr.  Cotton  Preaches  with  fuch 
D  d  d  ?.  Aitihoriti 


26 


The  Hijlory  of  New- England.     Bouk  III, 


Authority,  Demon  ft  rat  ion,  and  Life,  that  me- 
thinks,  when  he  preaches  out  of.  any  Prophet,  or 
Apoftle,  I  he j?-  not  him  ;  I  hear  that  very  Prophet 
and  Apoftle  ;  yea,  I  hear  the  Lord  J  ejus  Chrifi 
himfelf fpeaking  in  my  Heart.  And  the  Succefs 
which  God  gave  to  thefe  plain  Labours  of  his 
faithful,  humble,  diligent  Servant,  was  beyond 
what  moft  Minifters  in  the  Country  ever  did 
experience  :  There  have  been  few  that  have 
feen  fo  many  and  mighty  EifeQs,  given  to  the 
Travels  of  their  Souls. 

§  28.  He  was  even  from  his  Youth  to  his  Age, 
an  indefatigable  Student,  under  the  Confidence 
of  the  Apoftolical  Precept,  Be  not  flothful  in 
Bujinefs,  'but  fervent  in  Spirit  ferSw-g  the  Lord. 
He  was  carejul  to  redeem  his  Hours,  as  well  as 
his  Days  ;  and  might  lay  claim  to  that  Chara 
£ter  of  the  blelTed  Martyr,  Sparing  of  Sleep, 
more /paring  of  Words,  but  moft  J paring  of  Time. 
If  any  came  to  Vifit  him,  he  would  be  very  Ci- 
vil to 'em,  having  learn'd  it  as  his  Duty,  To  ufe 
all  Gentlenefs  towards  all  Men  :  And  yet  he 
would  often  fay  with  fome  regret,  after  the  de- 
parture of  a  Vifitant,  1  hadraihcr  have  given 
this  Man  an  handful  of  Money,  than  have  been 
kept  thus  long  out  of  my  Study  :  Reckoning  with 
Pliny,  the  Time  not  ipent  in  Study,  for  the  moft 
pan,  yaw/V  away.  For  which  caufe  he  went 
not  much  abroad  ■,  but  he  judged  ordinarily  that 
more  Benefit  was  obtain'd,  according  to  the  Ad- 
vice of  the  Wife  King,  by  converting  with  the 
Dead  [  in  Books  ],  than  with  the  Living  [in 
Talks  ;-]  And  that  needlefs  Vifits  do  commonly 
unframe  our  Spirits,  and  perhaps  difturb  our 
Comforts.  He  was  an  early  Rifer,  taking  the 
Morning  for  the  Mufes  ;  and  in  his  latter  Days 
forbearing  a  Supper,  he  turn'd  his  former  Sup 
ping  time,  into  a  Reading,  a  Thinking,a  Praying- 
time.  Twelve  Hours  in  a  Day  he  commonly 
ltudied,  and  would  call  that  a  Scholar's  Day  -, 
refolving  rather  to  wear  out  with  Ufing,  than 
with  Rutting.  In  truth,  had  he  not  been  of  an 
healthy  and  hearty  Conftitution,  and  had  he 
not  made  a  careful,  tho'  not  curious  Diet  lerve 
him,  inftead  of  an  Hippocrates,  his  continued 
Labour  muft  have  made  his  Life,  as  well  as  his 
Labour,  to  have  been  but  of  a  fhort  continuance. 
And,  indeed,  the  Work  which  lay  upon  him, 
could  not  have  been  performed,  without  a  La 
hour  more  than  ordinary.  For  befides  his  con- 
ftant  Preaching,  more  than  once  every  Week, 
many  Cafes  were  brought  unto  him  far  and 
near,  in  refolving  whereof,  as  he  took  much 
time,  fo  he  did  much  good,  being  a  moft  excel- 
lent Cafuift.  He  was  likewife  very  deeply  con- 
cerned in  peaceable  and  effectual  Difquilitions 
of  the  Controverfies  about  Church-Government, 
then  agitated  in  the  Chutch  of  God.  And  tho' 
he  chiefly  gavehimielf  to  Reading,and  Dottrine, 
and  Exhortation,  depending  much  on  the  Ruling 
Elders  to  inform  him,  concerning  the  State  of 
his  particular  Flock,  that  he  might  the  better 
order  himfelf  in  the  Word  and  Prayer,  yet  he 
found  his  Church-Work,  in  this  regard  alfo,  to 
call  for  no  little  Painfulnefs,  Watchfulnets,  and 
Faithfulnefs- 


§  29.  He  was  one  fo  clothed  with  Humility, 
that  according  to  the  Emphafis  of  the  Apoftoli- 
cal  Direction,  by  this  Livery  his  Relation  as  a 
Dijciple  to  the  lowly  Jcjus  ,  was  notably  difco- 
vered  ;  and  hence  he  was  patient  and  peaceable, 
even  to  a  Proverb.  He  had  a  more  than  com- 
mon Excellency  in  that  cool  Spirit,  which  the 
Oracles  of  Wifdom  defcribe,  as  the  excellent 
Spirit  in  the  Man  ofXJnderftanding  -,  and  there- 
fore Mr.Xorton  would  parallel  hi  n,  with  Mofes 
among  the  Patriarchs,  with  MclanShon  among 
the  Reformers.  He  was  rather  excefli ve  tha n  de- 
fective in  Self-denial,  and  had  the  Nimia  Humi- 
lity, which  Luther  fometimes  blamed  in  Stau- 
picius  :  Yea,  he  was  at  laft  himfelf  fenfible. 
that  feme  fell  very  deep  into  the  Sin  of  Corah, 
through  his  extreme  forbearance,  in  matters  re 
lating  to  his  own  juft  Rights  in  the  Church  of 
God.  He  has,  to  a  Judicious  Friend,  thus  ex- 
prefled  himfelf.  Angry  Men  have  an  advantage 
above  me  ;  the  People  dare  not  jet  thcmjelves  a- 
gainft  fuch  Men,  becaufe  they  know  it  wont  be 
bom  ;  but  fome  care  not  what  they  fay  or  do  about 
me,  becaufe  they  know  I  -wont  be  angry  with  them- 
again.  One  would  have  thought  the  Ingenuity 
of  fuch  a  Spirit  fhould  have  broke  the  Hearts 
of  Men,  that  had  indeed  the  Hearts  of  Men  in 
them  -,  yea,  that  the  hardeft  Hints  would  have 
been  broken,  as  is  ufual,  upon  fuch  a  foft  Bag 
of  Cotton  !  But  alas  !  he  found  it  otherwife,  e- 
ven  among  fome  who  pretended  unto  high  At- 
tainments in  Chriftianity.  Once  particularly, 
an  humorous  and  imperious  Brother,  following 
Mr.  Cot/on  home  to  hisHoufe,  after  his  Publick 
Labours,  inftead  of  the  grateful  RefpecFs  with 
which  thote  Holy  Labours  were  to  have  been 
encouraged,  rudely  told  him,  That  his  Miniftry 
was  become  generally,  either  dark,  or  flat: 
Whereto  this  meek  Man,  very  mildly  and 
gravely,  made  only  this  Anfwer  :  Both,  Brother, 
it  may  be,  both  :  Let  me  have  your  Prayers  that 
it  may  be  otherwife.  But  it  is  remarkable,  that 
the  [Mxn  lick  thus  of  wanton  Singularities, 
afterwards  died  of  thofe  damnable  Herefies,  for 
which  he  was  defervedly  Excommunicated.  A- 
nother  time,  when  Mr.  Cotton  had  modeftly  re- 
plied unto  one  that  would  much  Talk  and  Crack 
of  his  Infight  into  the  Revelations :  Brother,  I 
muft  confefs  my  J elf  to  want  Light  in  thofe  My- 
fteries.  The  Man  went  home,  and  fent  him  a 
Pound  of  Candles  :  Upon  which  A£t ion  this 
good  Man  beftowed  only  a  filent  Smile.  He 
would  not  fet  the  Beacon  of  his  Great  Soul  on 
fire,  at  the  landing  of  fuch  a  little  Cock-boat. 
He  learned  the  LelTon  of  Gregory,  It  is  better, 
many  times,  to  fly  from  an  Injury  by  Silence,  than 
to  overcome  it  by  Replying  :  And  be  ufed  that 
Practice  of  Grymei/s,  To  Revenge  Wrongs  by 
Chriftian  Taciturnity. 

I  think,  I  may  not  omit,  on  this  occafion,  to 
tranferibe  a  remarkable  paiTage,  which  that 
good  Man,  Mr.  Flavel,  reports,  in  a  Sermon  on 
Gifpel-Vnity.     His  Words  are  thefe  : 

1  A  Company  of  vain  wicked  Men,  having 
c  inflamed  their  Blood  in  a  Tavern  at  Befioi^ 
'  and  feeing  that  Reverend,   Meek,  and  Holy 

'  Mini- 


Book  III.      The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


27 


<  Minifter  of  Chrift,  Mr.  Cotton,  coming  along 
«  the  Street,  one  of*  them  tells  his  Companion, 
'  Til  go,  (faith  he)  and  put  a  Trick  upon  Old 

*  Cotton.    Down  he  goes,  and  crofting  his  way, 

*  whifpers  thefe  Words  into  his  Ear,  Cotton  ({M 
'  hej  thou  art  an  old  fool.  Mr.  Cotton  replied, 
'  I  confejs  I  amfo  :  The  Lord  make  both  me  and 

*  thee  wifer  than  we  arc,  even  wife  unto  Salva- 
'  thn.  He  relates  this  palTage  to  his  wicked 
f  Companions,  which  calt  a  great  Damp  upon 
'  their  Sports,  in  the  midft  of  a  Frolick. 

And  it  may  pafs  for  a  Branch  of  the  fame 
Temper  in  him,   that  he  extremely  hated  all 
Allot  rio-Epifcopacy  :  And  tho'  he  knew  as  pra- 
ctically as  moll  Men  in  the  World,  That  we 
have  a  Call  to  do  good,  as  often  as  we  have  Tower 
and  Occafwn  5  yet  he  was  How  of  apprehending 
any  Occaiion  at  all,  tho'  he  might  have  had  ne- 
ver fo  much  Power  to  meddle  for  Good,  any 
where,  but  within  the  Sphere  of  his  own  proper 
Calling.     As  he  underftood  that  Lamtius  bla- 
med Conftantihe,  for  interpofing  too  far  in  Ec- 
clefiafiical  Affairs,  thus  Mr.  Cotton,  on  the  other 
fide,  had  a  great  Averfion  from  engaging  in  any 
Civil  ones.     He  would  Religioully  decline  ta- 
king into  his  Cognifance  all  Civil Controverfies, 
or  Umpirages,  and  whatever  looked  heteroge 
neous  to  the  Calling  of  one,  whofe  whole  Bufi- 
nefs  'twas  to  feed  the  Flock  of  God.    Never 
thelefs,  in  the  Things  of  God,  of  Chrift,  of 
Confcience,  his  condefcending  Temper  did  not 
hinder  him  from  the  moft  immovable  Refolution. 
He  would  not  fo  follow  Peace  with  all  Men,  as 
to  abandon  or  prejudice,  one  Jot,   the  Interefts 
of  Holme fs. 

§  30.  His  Command  over  his  own  Spirit,  was 
particularly  obfervable  in  his  Government  of  his 
Family,  where  he  would  never  correct  any  thing 
in  a  Palfion  ;  but  firft,  with  much  deliberation 
fhew  what  Rule  in  the  Holy  Word  of  God,  had 
be^n  violated,  by  the  Fault  lately  committed. 
He  was  indeed  one  that  ruled  well  Ins  own  Houfe. 
He  therein  Morning  and  Evening  read  a  Cha- 
pter, with  a  little  Applicatory  Expofition,  be- 
fore and  after  which  he  made  a  Prayer  ^  but  he 
was  very  fhort  in  all,  accounting  as  Mr.  Dod, 
Mr.  Bains,  and  other  great  Saints  did  before 
him,  That  it  was  a  thing  inconvenient  many  ways 
to  be  tedious  in  Family  Duties.  He  alforead  con- 
stantly a  Portion  of  the  Scripture  alone,  and  he 
prayed  over  what  he  read  :  Pray'd  I  fay  -,  for 
he  was  very  much  in  Prayer,  a  very  Man  of 
Prayer  ;  he  would  rarely  fit  down  to  ltudy, 
without  a  Prayer  over  ir,  referring  to  the  Pre- 
fence  of  God  accompanying  what  he  did.  It 
was  the  Advice  of  the  Ancient,  Si  vis  effe  Sem- 


'twas  from  his  Reafon  and  Practice,  that  the 
Chriitians  of  New- England  have  generally  done 
fo  too.  When  that  Evening  arriv'd,  he  was 
ufually  larger  in  his  Expofition  in  his  Family, 
than  at  other  times  :  He  then  Catechifed  his 
Children  and  Servants,  and  prayed  with  them, 
and  fang  a  Pfalm  ;  from  thence  he  retired  unto 
Study  and  fecret  Prayer,  till  the  time  of  his  go- 
ing unto  his  Repofe.  The  next  Morning,  after 
his  ufual  Family  Worfhip,  he  betook  himfelf  to 
the  Devotions  of  his  Retirements,  and  fo  unto 
the  Publick.  From  thence  towards  Noon,  he 
repaired  again  to  the  like  Devotions,  not  per- 
mitting the  Interruption  of  any  other  Dinner, 
than  that  of  a  fmall  Repair  carried  up  unto  him 
Then  to  the  Publick,  once  more  :  From  whence 
returning,  his  firft  Work  was  Clofet  Prayer,  then 
Prayer  with  Repetitions  of  the  Sermons  in  the 
Family.  After  Supper  he  ftill  fang  a  Pfalm  ; 
which  he  would  conclude  with  uplifted  Eyes 
and  Hands,  uttering  this  Doxology,  — Bteffed.be 
God  in  Chrift  our  Saviour  !  Laft  of  all,  juft  be- 
fore his  going  to  Sleep,  he  would  once  again  go 
into  his  Prayerful  Study,  and  there  briefly  re- 
commended all  to  that  God,  whom  he  Jerved 
with  a  pure  Confcience. 

But  there  was  one  point  of  Sabbath- keeping, 
about  which  it  may  not  be  unuleful  forme  to 
transcribe  a  paflage,  which  I  find  him  writing 
to  Mr.  N.  Rogers,  in  the  Year  1630. 

c  Studying  for  a  Sermon  upon  the  Sabbath-  day, 
c  fo  far  as  it  might  be  any  wearifome  Labour 
'  to  Invention  or  Memory,  I  covet  (when  I  can) 
'  willingly  to  prevent  it  ;  and  would  rather  at- 
'  tend  unto  the  quickning  of  my  Heart  and  Af- 
'  feSions,  in  the  Meditation  of  what  I  am  to 
'  deliver.  My  Reafon  is,  much  Reading  and 
'  Invention,  and  Repetition  of  things,  to  com- 
c  mit  them  to  Memory,  is  a  wearinefs  to  the 
;  Flefh  and  Spirit  too  ;  whereas  the  Sabbath  day 
'■  doth  rather  invite  unto  an  holy  Reft.  Butyet 
;  if  God's  Providence  have  ftraitned  my  time  in 
c  the  Week-days  before,  by  concurrence  of  other 
'  Bufinefs,  not  to  be  avoided,  I  doubt  not,  but 
c  the  Lord,  who  allowed  the  Priefts  to  employ 
c  their  Labour,  in  killing  the  Sacrifices  on  the 
'  Sabbath-day,  will  allow  us  alfo  to  labour  in 
'  our  Callings  on  the  Sabbath,  to  prepare  our 
'  Sacrifice  for  the  People. 

Thefe  were  his  ordinary  Sabbaths  :  But  he  alfo 
kept  extraordinary  ones,  upon  the  juft  cceafions 
for  them.  He  was  in  Fafiing  often,  and  would 
often  keep  whole  Days  by  himfeif  wherein  he 
would  with  iblemn  Humiliations  and  Supplica- 
tions, implore  the  wanted  Mercies  of  Heaven  -, 
yea,  he  would  likewife  by  himfelf,  keep  whole 


per  cum  Deo,  Semper  Ora,  Semper  Lege  :  And   Days  of  Thanksgiving  unto  the  Lord:  Befides  the 


agreeably  hereunto,  Mr.  Cotton  might  fay  with 
David,  Lord,  I  am  (till  with  thee.  But  he  that 
was  with  God  all  the  Week,was  more  intimate- 
ly with  him  on  his  own  Day,  the  chief  Day  of 
the  Week,  which  he  obferved  moft  Coni'cienti- 
oufly.  The  Sabbath  he  began  the  Evening  be- 
fore :  For  which  keeping  of  the  Sabbath  from 


Evening  to  Evening, 


his  coming  to 


he  wrrote  Arguments  before 


New-  England 


And  I  fuppofe. 


w 


many  Days  of  this  kind,  which  he  celebrated  in 
Publick  Aifemblieswifh  the  People  of  God.Th//s 
did  this  Alan  of  God  continually. 

§  31.  Without  Liberality  and  Hofpiuility,  he 
had  been  really  as  undeferving  of  the  Character 
of  a  Minifler  of  the  Go/pel,  as  the  Sacrilegious 
Niggardlinefs  of  the  People,  does  often  endea- 
vour to  make  Minifters  uncapable  rA  anfwerin^ 
that  Character.     But  Mr.  Wetion  was  moft  bks 

eroplary 


28  The  Hiftory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 


emplary  for  this  Venue  :,  wherein  there  are  of 
his  Children,  that  have  alio  learned  of  him. 
The  Stranger  and  the  Needy  were  fiill  enter- 
tained at  his  Table,  Epi/copal'iter  iy  Benigne,  as 
was  the  Phrafe  inftrudively  ufed,  for  a  charita 


nance.  He  was  rather  low  than  tall,  and  rather 
fat  than  lean,  but  of  a  becoming  Mediocrity. 
In  his  younger  Years  his  Hair  was  brown,  but 
in  his  latter  Years  as  whire  as  the  Driven  Snow, 
In  his  Countenance  there  was  an  inexpreffible 


ble  Entertainment  ol"  old.     It  might  be  faid  of  fort  of  Majelty.,  which  commanded  Reverence 


him,  as  once  it  was  of  the  Generous  Corinthian, 
Semper  aliquis  in  Cottoni  Domo  :  He  was  ever 
fhewing  of  Kindnefs  to  Some-body  or  other. 
What  Pofidonius  relates  of  Aufiin,  and  what 
Peter  Martyr  affirms  of  Bucer,  was  very  true 
ol  our  Cotton  :  His  Houfe  wo*  like  an  lnn,for  the 
conftant  Entertainment  which  he  gave  upon  the 
Account  of  the  Go/pel  And  he  would  fay,  If 
a  Man  want  an  Heart  for  this  Charity,  it  is  not 
fit  fitch  a  Man  fhould  be  ordained  a  Minifier  : 
Confenting  therein  to  the  great  Canonift,  Ho- 
fpitalitai  ufquc  adeo  Epifcopis  eft  neceffana,  utfi 
ab  ea  inveniantur  alicni,  Jure  prohibentur  Ordi- 
nari.  While  he  lived  quietly  in  England,  he 
was  noted  for  his  bountiful  Difpofition,  efpeci- 
ally  to  Mitrifters  driven  into  England  by  the 
Storms  of  Periecution,  then  raging  in  Germany  : 
For  which  caufe  Libingus,  Saumer,  Tolnci\  and 


from  all  that  approached  him  :  This  Cotton  was 
indeed  the  Cato  of  his  Age,  for  his  Gravity;  but 
had  a  Glory  with  it  which  Cato  had  not.  I  can- 
not indeed,  fay,  what  they  Report  of  Hilary, 
that  Serpents  were  not  able  to  look  upon  him  • 
neverthelefs,  it  was  commonly  obferved,  that 
the  worfer  lbrt  of  Serpents,  would  from  the  Awe 
of  his  Prefence  keep  in  their  Poifons.  As  the 
Keeper  of  the  Inn,  where  he  did  ufe  to  lodge, 
when  he  came  to  Derby,  would  profanely  lay 
to  his  Companions,  That  he  wilhed  Mr.  Cotton 
were  gone  out  of  his  Houfe ;  for  he  was  not  able 
to  Swear,  while  that  Man  war  under  his  Roof. 
So  other  wicked  Perfons  could  not  fhew  their 
Wickednefs,  whilff  this  holy  and  righteous  Man 
was  in  the  Company.  But  the  exacfer  Picfure 
of  him,  is  to  be  taken  from  his  Printed  Works, 
whereof  there  are  many,  that  praife  him  in  the 


others  of  the  German  Sufferers,  in  their  Accounts  [Gates,  tho'  few  of  them  were  Printed  with  his 

own  Knowledge  or  Confent. 

We  will  mention  a  Catalogue  of  his  Works, 
becaufe  (as  it  was  faid  of 'Calvin's), 


of  him,  would  (tile  him,  Tauter  Doflijfimus,  Cla- 
riifwu/s,  Yidclijjimi/s,  plurimumquc  Honor  anius. 
It  was  remarkable,  that  he  never  omitted  invi- 
ting unto  his  Houie,  any  Minifter  travelling  to, 
or  through  the  Town,  but  only  that  one  Man, 
who  perfidioufly  betray'd  Mr.  Hilderfham,  with 
his  NonConformift  AfTociates,  into  the  Hands  of 
their  Enemies.  And  after  he  came  to  Neic- 
England,  he  changed  not  his  Mind  with  his 
Air  ;  but  with  a  Quantum  ex  ^iiantillo  !  conti- 
nued his  Beneficence  upon  all  occafions,  tho'  his 
Abilities  for  it  were  much  dimintfhed  -,  which 
brings  to  mind  a  moft  memorable  Story.  A  lit- 
tle Church,  whereof  the  worthy  Mr.  White  was 
Pallor,  being  by  the  ftrange  and  ftrong  Malice 
of  their  prevailing  Adverfaries,  forced  of  Bar- 
mudji  in  much  Mifery,  into  a  Defart  of  Ame- 
rica, the  Report  of  their  Diftreffes  came  to  their 
Fellow  Sufferers,tho' not  alike  Sufferers,  at  New1 
England.Mr.Cot ton  immediately  applied  himfelf 
to  obtain  a  Collection,  for  the  Relief  of  thofe 
diflrejfed  Saints ;  and  a  Collecfion  of  about  700  /. 
was  immediately  obtained,  whereof  Two  hun- 
dred was  gathered  in  that  one  Church  ofBofton, 
where  there  was  no  Man  who  did  exceed,  and 
but  one  Man  who  did  equal,  this  Devifer  of 
Liberal  Things,  in  that  Contribution.  But  be- 
hold the  wonderful  Providence  of  God  !  This 
Contribution  arrived  unto  the  poor  People  on  the 
very  Day,  after  they  had  been  brought  unto  a 
Perfonal  Divifion  of  the  little  Meal  then  left  in 
the  Barrel  -,  upon  the  fpending  whereof,  they 
eould  forelee  nothing  but  a  lingring  Death  ■, 
and  on  that  very  Day,  when  their  Paftor  had 
preach'd  unto  them  ,  upon  that  mod:  luirable- 
Text,  PJiil.  23.  1.  The  Lord  is  my  Shepherd,  I 
find  I ,  not  want. 

^>  32.  The  Reader  that  is  inquifitive  after  the 
Profopography  of  this  Great  Man,  may  be  in- 
formed, that  he  was  of  a  Clear,  Fair,  Sanguine 
Complexion,  and  like  David  oi  &  ruddy  Count  c- 


Chara  quibus  fuerat  Cottoni  Vita,  labor  urn 
Gratior  cjufdem  Vita  perennis  erit. 

The  Children  of  New-England  are  to  this  day 
moft  ufually  fed  with  his  excellent  Catechifm^ 
which  is  entituled,  Milk  for  Babes. 

His  well-known  Sermons  on  the  Firft  Epiftle 
of  John,  in  Folio,  have  had  their  Acceptance 
with  the  Church  of  God  5  tho'  being  preached 
in  his  Youth,  and  not  publifhed  by  himfelf, 
there  are  fome  things  therein,  which  he  would 
not  have  inferted. 

There  are  alfo  of  his  abroad,  Sermons  on  the 
Thirteenth  of  the  Revelations,  and  on  the  Vials, 
and  on  Rev.  20.  5,  6.  and  2  Sam.  7.  laft  in 
Quarto. 

As  alfo,  a  Savory  Treatife,  entituled,  The 
Way  of  Life.  The  Reverend  Prefacer  whereto 
faith,  Ever  fmce  I  had  any  knowledge  of  this  ju- 
dicious Author,  I  have  look'd  upon  him  at  one 
intruded  with  an  great^a  part  of  the  Churches 
Treafure,  as  any  other  whatjoever. 

Several  Volumes  of  his  Expofitions  upon  Ec- 
clefiafies  and  Canticles,  are  alfo  publilhed  in 
Otlavo. 

As  likewife,  A  Treatife  of  the  New  Covenant : 
Which  being  only  a  Poffhumom  Piece,  and  only 
Notes  written  after  him,  is  accordingly  to  be 
judged  of. 

And  there  have  feen  the  Light,  An  Anfvver 
to  Mr.  Ball,  about  Forms  of  Prayer.  A  Dif- 
courfe  about  the  Grounds  and  Ends  of  Infant- 
Baptifm.  A  Difourfe  about  Singing  of  Pf alms, 
proving  it  a  Gofpel-Ordinance.  An  Ahfiratlof 
Laws  in  Chrift  s  Kingdom,  for  Civil  Govern, 
menr.  A  Trea tife  about  the  "Bolinefs  of  CfiurSl 
Members  ,   proving  tint  vifi&Ie  Saints  are  the 

matter 


Book  Hi.       The  Hijhry  of  New-England 


29 


matter  of  a  Church.     Another  Difcourfe  upon 
Things  indifferent,  proving  that  no  Church  Go- 
vernors   have    Power   to    impofe   indifferent 
Things,  upon  the  Confciences  of  Men.     Add 
hereto,   The   Way  of  the   Churches  in  New,- 
England  :    And  that  Golden  Difcourfe  of  The 
Keys  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  :   In  a  written 
Copy  whereof,    yet  in  our  Hands,  there  were 
fome  things  which  were  never  Printed,  main- 
taining, that  in  the  Government  of  the  Church, 
Authority  is  peculiar  to  the  Elder's  only  ;  and 
anfwering  all  the  Browniflical  Arguments  to  the 
contrary.    But  whereas  there  may  occur  a  paf- 
fage  in  his  Book  of  The  Way  of  the  Churches, 
which  may  have  in  it  a  little  more  of  the  Mo- 
relffanlzvfci  Reader,  'twas  none  of  Mx.Cot  ton's ; 
Mr.  Cotton  was  troubled  when  he  law  fuch  a 
paffage,  in  an  imperfeft  Copy  of  his  Writings, 
expoled   unto  the  World,  under  his  Name,  a 
gainlt  his  Will  :  And  he  took  an  opportunity,  in 
the  mod  publick  manner,  to  declare  as  much 
unto  the  World. 

He  was  alio  fometimes  put  upon  writing  yet 
more  Polemically.  Indeed  there  was  one  occa- 
sion of  lb  writing,  which  he  declined  meddling 
withal  5  and  that  was  this  :  Mr.  Cotton  having 
in  his  younger  Years,  written  to  a  private  Friend 
fome  things,  tending  fat  his  defire)  to  clear  the 
Doftrine  of  Reprobates,  from  the  Exceptions  of 
the  Arminians  ;  and  this  Manufcript  falling  in- 
to Dr.  Twifs's  hand,  that  learned  Man  publifh'd 
it,  with  his  own  Confutation  of  certain  pailages 
in  it,  which  did  not  agree  fo  well  with  the  Do- 
ctor's own  Supralapfarian  Scheme.  Now  when! 
Mr.  Cotton  faw  himfelf  reviled  for  this  Caufe 
by  Baily,  as  being  Pelagian,  he  only  made  this 
meek  Reply  :  I  hope  God  will  give  me  Opportu- 
nity e'er  long  to  confider  of  this,  the  Doffor's  La 
hour  of  Love.  I  blefs  the  Lord,  who  has  taught 
me  to  be  willing  to  be  taught,  of  a  far  meaner 
Dijciple,  than  fuch  a  Doff  or,  whofe  Scholafiical 
Acute  nefs,  Pregnancy  of  Wit,  Solidity  of  Judg- 
ment, and  Dexterity  of  Argument,  all  Orthodox 
Divines  do  highly  honour,  and  whom  all  Armini- 
ans (///t/Jefuites  do  fall  down  before,  with  Silence. 
God  forbid  I  fhould  fhut  my  Eyes  againfl  any 
Light  brought  to  me  by  him.  Only  I  defire  I  may 
not  be  condemned  as  a  Pelagian,  or  Arminian, 
before  I  be  heard. 

Moreover,  Mr.  Cawdry  fell  hard  upon  him  ; 
to  whom  he  prepared  an  Anfwer,  which  was 
afterwards  Publifhed  ana*  Seconded  by  Dx.Owen. 
But  befides  thefe,  he  was  twice  compelled  unto 
fome  other  Eriftical Writings  :  Once  in  Anfwer 
to  Baily  ■,  another  time  in  Anfwer  to  Williams  : 
In  both  of  which,  like  Job,  he  turned  the  Books 
which  hk  Adverfaries  had  written  againfl  him, 
into  a  Crown.  I  believe,  never  any  meer  Man, 
under  fuch  open  and  horrid  Injuries,  as  thefe 
two  Reporters  heaped  upon  Mr.  Cotton,  did  An- 
fwer with  more  Chriflian  Patience:  HisAnfwers 
are  indeed  a  Pattern  for  all  Anfwerers  to  the 
World's  end.  But  it  was  particularly  remarka- 
ble, that  in  this  matter,  certain  Perfons,  who 
had  fallen  under  the  Cenfures  of  the  Civil  Au- 
thority in  the  Country,  fingled  out  Mr,  Cotton 


for  the  Object,  of  their  Difpleafure,  altho'  he 
had,  moft  of  all  Men,  declined   Interesting  him- 
felf in  the  A&ions  of  the  Magistrate,  and  had 
alfo  done  more  than  all  Men,  to  obtain  Healing 
and  Favour  for  thole   ungrateful  Delinquents. 
However,  the  venemous  Tongues  all  this  while, 
only  lick'd  a  Pile ,  which  made  themftlves  to 
bleed  ;  his  Fame,  like  the  File,  remained  invul- 
nerable •,  and  if  Mr.  Cotton  would  from  his  own 
profitable  Experience,  have  added  another  Book 
unto  this  Catalogue,  it  might  have  been  on  the 
Subject  handled   by  Plutarch,  De  Capienda  ex 
Hoftibus  Utilitate.     This  is  the  Elenchi/s  of  Mr. 
Cotton's  publifhed   Writings  ■    whereupon 
might  make  this  Conclufion. 


we 


Digna  Legi  Scribk,  Pack  C  Dignijfima  Scribi  • 
Script  a  probant  Dotlum,   1  e,  Tua,  Falta,  pro- 
bum. 

\  33.  The  things  which  have  been  related, 
caufe  us  to  account  Mr.  Cotton  an  extraordinary 
Perfon. 

Dives  era*  Donk,  ctiamque  Fidelis  in  Ufu, 

Literal 'i/s  Domino  mult  a  Talent  a  tuo. 
Mult  us  erarStudtis,  multufq-,  Laboribus,  uno 

Te,  For  a,  Tempi  a,  Domus,  TV,  cupiere  frui. 
Mult  a  Laboraba*  Scribcndo,  Mult  a  Docendo, 

Invigilans  Operi,  Notle  Dieque,  Dei. 
Mult  a  Laborabas  Scribcndo,  Mult  a  Ferendo, 

§>ii<e  nifi  Cottono,  vix  Subeunda  forent. 
Tu  non  unus  eras,  fed  Mult  2 ;  Mult  us  in  Uno, 

Multorum  Donis  prxditus  Unus  eras. 
Uno  Te  amiffb,  Multos  Amifimus  in  Te, 

Sedneque  per  Multos  Refit  uendus  erk. 

Thefe  were  fome  of  the  Lines,  which  the 
Renowned  Bulkly  juflly  wept  upon  his  Grave. 
Yea,  we  may,  on  as  many  Accounts  as  thefe 
Days  will  allow,  reckon  him  to  have  been  a 
Prophet  of  the  Lord  :  And  when  we  have  enter  - 
tain'd  our  felves  with  a  Memorable  Demonstra- 
tion of  it,  in  one  furprifing  and  fiupendious  Ar- 
ticle of  our  Church  Hijhry,  we  will  put  a  Period 
unto  this  part  oik. 

At  the  time  when  fome  unhappy  Perfons  were 
juft  going  from  hence  to  England,  with  certain 
Petitions,  which  had  a  tendency  to  dilfurb  the 
good  Order  of  Things  in  both  Church  and  State, 
then  fettling  among  us,  Mr. Cotton  in  the  ordi- 
nary Courle  of  his  Lectures  on  the  Canticles, 
preached  on  Cant.  2.15.  Take  us  the  Foxes,  the 
little  Foxes,  which  deftroy  the  Vines.  Having 
thence  oblerved,  That  when  God  has  delivered 
his  Church  from  the  Dangers  of  the  perfecuting 
Bear  and  Lyon,  then  there  were  Foxes  that  would 


f 


eex 


by  Policy  to  undermine  it  :  And,  That  all 
thofe  who  go  by  a  Fox  like  Policy  to  undermine  the 
Churches  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrifl,  fliallbe  taken 
and  overtaken  by  his  Judgments.  He  came  at 
length  to  his  Application,  where  with  a  more 
than  ordinary  Majefty  and  Fervency,  he  after 
this  manner  expreiTed  himfelf 

'  Firlf,  Let  fuch  as  live  in  this  Country  take 
'  heed,  how  they  go  about  in  any  indirect  Way 

'  or 


3o 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.       Book  III. 


or   Courfe  to  prejudice  the  Churches  of  the 
Lord  Jefus  Ghrift  in  the  Land,  or  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  Land.     If  you  Do,  The  Keeper 
of  Ifrael,  who  neither  /lumber cth  nor  fleepeth, 
will  not  take  it  well  at  your  Hands.    He  that 
brought  this  People  hither,  and  preferved  them 
from  the  Rage  of  Perfection,  and  made  this 
Wildernefs  an  Hiding-Place  for  them,  whillt 
he  was  Chaftiling  our  Nation,  with  the  other 
Nations  round  about  it,  and  has  manifefted 
his  Gracious  Prefence  in   the  mid  ft  of  thefe 
His  Golden  Candlcficks,  and  fecured  us  from 
the  Plots  of  the  late  Archbifhop,  and  his  Con- 
federates abroad,  and  from  the  Plots  of  the 
Ueathen  here  at  home ;  there  is  no  Queftion 
But   He  will  defend    us  from  the  Undermi- 
nings of  Falfe  Brethren,  and  iuch  as  are  join- 
ed with  them.     Wherefore  let   fuch  know, 
That    this  is,  in  many    refpeefs,  ImmanuePs 
Land,  and  they  (hall  not  profper  that  rife  up 
againft  it,  but   (hall    be  Taken  every   One  of 
them  in    the  Snares  they  lay  for  ir.     This  I 
(peak  as  a   Poor  Prophet  of  the  Lord,  accor- 
ding to  the  Word  of  His  Grace  now  before  us! 
Rut  in   the  Second    Place,  whereas  many  of 
our  Brethren   are  going  to  England,  Let  me 
direct  a  Word  unto  Them  alio.     I  defire  the 
Gracious  Prefence  of  our  God  may  go  with 
you,  and  his  Angels  guard  you,  not  onlyfrpm 
the  Dangers  of  the  Seas,  while  you  are  there. 
upon,  but  alfo  from  the  Errors  of  the  Times, 
when  you  arrive.     Nevertheless,  if  there  be 
any  among  you,  my  Brethren,  as  'tis  Reported 
there  are,  that  have  a  Petition  to  prefer  unto 
the  High  Court  of  Parliament,  that  may  con- 
duce to  the  Diffraction  and  Annoyance  of  the 
Peace  of  our  Churches,  and  the  vveakning  the 
Government  of  the  Land  where  we  Live,  Let 
Such  know,  the  Lord  will  never  fuffer  them 
to  profper  in  their  Subtil,  Malicious,  Defpe- 
rate  Undertakings  againft  his   People,  who 
are  as    tender  unto  him  as  the  Apple  of  his 
Eye.     But  if  there  be  any  fuch  among  You, 
who  are  to  Go,  I  do  exhort  you,  and  I  would 
advife  you  in  the  Fear  of  God,  that  when  the 
Terrors  of  the  Almighty  (hall  befet  the  Veffel 
wherein   you   are,    when  the   Heavens  (hall 
frown  upon  you,  and  the  Billows  of  the  Sea 
(hall   fwell  above  you,  and  the  Dangers  of 
Deal])  (hall  threaten  you,  as  I  am  verily  per- 
fwaded  they  will,  I  would  have  you   then  to 
Con ftder  your   Ways.      I    will    not  give  the 
Counf'el  that  was  taken  concerning  Joneis,  to 
caft  fuch*a  Perfbn  into  the  Sea  ;  God  forbid  ! 
But  I  counfel  fuch  to  come  then  unto  a  Refo- 
lution  in  themfelves  to  Be/if}  from  their  En. 
terpriles,  and  Caft  their  Petitions  into  the  Sea. 
It  may  be,  that  Hardnefs  of  Heart  and  Stout- 
nefs  of  Spirit  may  eaufe  you  to  perflit,  and 
yet  in  Mercy  to  fome  Gracious  Perfons  among 
you,  the  Lord  may  deliver  the  Ship  from  Ut- 
ter Deft riSion  for  tlieir  lake;.     But  the  Lord 
hath  further  Judgments  in  Store :  He  is  the 
God  of  the  Land,  as  well  as  of  the  Sea.     I 


fpeak 
the  I 


this 

rd! 


alto, 


u  an  tin, 


. 


Prophet 


Thefe  Things  were  then  uttered  by  a  Perfon 
that  was  as  little  of  an  Enthufiafi,  as  moft  Men 
in  the  World.     Now  attend  the  Event ! 

That  Ship,  after  many  StrelTes  of  Weather 
in  the  Harbour,  puts  out  to  Sea  •,  but  at  Sea  it 
had  the  Terriblelf  Paffagc,  perhaps,  that  ever 
was  heard  of  ;  The  Mariners  not  being  able  to 
take  any  Obfervation  of  either  Sun  or  Star,  for 
Seven  Hundred  Leagues  together.  Certain  well 
difpofed  Perfons  aboard,  now  calling  to  Mind 
the  Words  of  Mr.  Cotton,  thought  it  neceflary 
to  admonifh  the  Perfons,  who  were  carrying 
over  the  Malignant  Papers  againft  the  Country  -, 
and  fome  of  thole  Papers  were  by  them  there- 
upon given  to  the  Seamen,  who  immediately 
cut  them  in  pieces  and  threw  them  over  board. 
The  Storm  forthwith  abated  ;  however  there 
afterwards  came  up  New  Storms,  which  at  laft 
hurried  the  Ship  among  the  Rocks  of  Stilly- 
where  they  yet  received  a  Deliverance,  which 
moft  of  them  that  confidefdir,  pronounced  Mi- 
raculous. When  the  Rude  Cornifh  Men  law 
how  Miraculoufly  the  Veflcl  had  efcaped,  they 
faid,  Cud  itai  aGood  Man  tofavc  them  fol  But 
the- moft  Inftructed  Obliged  PafTcngers  kept  a 
Day  of  Solemn  Thankfgiving  to  God ;  in  which 
even  the  Profaneft  Perfons  on  Board,  under  the 
Impreflion  of  what  had  happened,  then  bore  a 
part.  However,  the  Corn-fields  in  New-Eng- 
land, (fill  (food  Undifturbed,  notwithftanding 
the  Various  Names  affixed  unto  the  Tailes  of 
Petitions  againft  their  Liberties.  For,  as  Mr. 
Cotton  elegantly  exprefled  it,  God  then  Rocque'd 
Three  Nations,  with  fluking  Difpenfations,  that 
he  might  procure  fome  Reft  unto  his  People  in 
this  Wildernefs  ! 

§  34.  This  was  Mr.  Cotton !  What  more  he 
was,  let  thefe  Lines,  taking  no  Licenfe  but 
from  the  Real  TruthJ  Delineate. 

Upon  the  Tomb  of  the  moft  Reverend  Air.  John 
Cotton,  late  Teacher  of  the  Church  of  Bofton 
in  New-England. 

HERE  lies  Magnanimsus  Humility  • 
Majefty,  Meeknefs;  Chriftian  Apathy 
On  foft  Affellwns;  Liberty  in  Thrall; 

A  Noble  Spirit,  Servant  unto  All ; 
Learnings  Great  Maftcrpiecc,  who  yet  would  fit 

As  a  Difciple,  at  his Scholars  Feet ; 
A  Simple  Serpent,  or  Serpentine  Dove, 

Made  up  of  Wifdom,  Innocence  and  Love : 
Neatnefs  Embroider'd  with  It  fe/f  alone, 

And  Civils  Canonised in  a  Gown; 
Embracing  Old  and  Young,  and  Low  and  High, 

Ethics  Imbodyed  in  Divinity-, 
Ambitious  to  be  Loweft,  and  to  Raife 

His  Brethrer.s  Honour  on  his  own  Decays ; 
(Thus  doth  the  Sun  retire  into  his  Bed, 
That  being  gone  the  Stars  may  (hew  their  head) 
Could  Wound  at  Argument  without  Divi/ion, 

Cut  to  the  Quick,  and  yet  make  no  Incfion  : 
Ready  to  Sacrifice  Domqf/n  k  Notions 

To  Churches  Peace,  and  Miniftets  Devotions.: 
Himfelf  indeed  fand Singular  in  Thai.1 

Whom  All  Admired  he  Admired  not: 

Liv'd 


Book  ill.      The  Hiftory  of  iNew- England. 


3* 


Liv'd  Like  an  Angela? a.  Mortal  Birth, 

Converse  in  Heaven  while  he  was  on  Earth 
Though  not,  as  Mofes,  Radiant  with  Light 

Whofe  Glory  Dazell'd  the  Beholders  Sight, 
Yet  lb  Divinely  Beautiri'd,  yould  Count 

He  had  been  Born  and  Bred  upon  the  Mount  : 
A  Living  Brejthingfi/'W?;  Tables  where 

Both  Covenants,  at  Large,  engraven  were  ; 
Go/pel  And  Law,  in's  Heart,  had  Each  its  Column ; 

His  Head  an  Index  to  the  Sacred  Volume ; 
His  very  Name  a  Title-Page  -,  and  next, 

His  Life  ^Commentary  on  the  Text. 
O,  What  a  Monument  of  Glorious  Worth, 
When,  in  a  New  Edition,  he  comes  forth, 
Without  Errata  s,  may  we  think  he'l  be 

In  Leaves  and  Covers  of  Eternity  ! 
A  Man  of  Might,  at  Heavenly  Eloquence, 

To  Fix  the  Ear,  and  Charm  the  Confcience ; 
As  if  Apollos  were  Reviv'd  in  Him, 

Or  lie  had  Learned  of  a  Seraphim  : 
Spake  Man/Tongues  in  One :  One  Voice  and  Senfe 
Wrought,  Joy  and  Sorrow,  Fear  and  Confidence  :■ 
RocksRmt  before  him,B//WReceiv'd  their  Sight; 
Souls  Levelled  to  the  Dunghill,  flood  Upright: 
Infernal  Furies,  Burlt  with  Rage  to  fee 
Their  Prifoners  Captivd  into  Liberty  : 
A  5"/^/-  that,  in  our  Eaftern  England,  Roft, 

Thence  hurry  'd  by  the  Blaft  of  Stupid  Foes, 
Whofe  Foggy  Dark'irfs,  and  Benummed  Senfes, 

Brookt  not  his  Daz  ling  Fervent  Influences  : 
Thus  did  he  move  on  Earth,  from  Eafl  to  Weft  ; 
There  he  went  down,  and  up  to  Heaven  for  Reft. 
Nor  from  himfelf,  whillt  Living,  doth  he  vary, 

His  Death  hath  made  him  an  Ubiquitary : 
Where  is  his  Sepulchre  is  Hard  to  fay, 

Who,  in  a  ThouJ and  Sepulchres ,  doth  lay 
(Their  Hearts,l  mean,whom  he  hath  Left  Behind, 

In  Them)  his  Sacred  Reliques,now,  Enfhrin'd. 
But  Let  his  Mourning  Flock  be  Comforted, 

Though  Mofes  be,  yet  Jojhua  is  not  Dead  : 
I  mean  Renowned  Norton  -,  worthy  he, 

Succeflbr  to  our  Mofes,  is  to  be. 
O  Happy  Ifrael  in  America, 
In  fuch  a  Mofes,  fuch  a  Jojbua. 

B.  Woodbridge. 


§.  3  5.  Three  Sons,  and  Three  Daughters,  was 
this  Renowned  Walker  with  God  BlelTed  withal. 

His  Eldeft  Son  did  fpend  and  end  his  Days  in 
the  Miniftry  of  the  Gofpel,  at  Hampton  :■  Being 
leftumed  a  thorough  Scholar,  and  an  able  Prea- 
cher ,  and  though  his  Name  were  Seaborn,  yet 
none  of  the  lately  Revived  Herefies  were  more 
Abominable  to  him,  than  .that  of  his  Name- 
fake,  Pelagius  [or,  Morgan]  of  whom  the  Wit- 
nefs  of  the  Ancient  Poet  is  true, 

Peftifero  Vomuit  coluber  Sermone  Britannus. 

H\s  Second  Sen  was  a  Minifter  of  the  Gofpel, 
at  Plymouth  ■,  and  one  by  whom,  not  only  the 
Englijh,  but  alfo  the  Indians  of  America,  had 
the  Glad  Tidings  of  Salvation,  in  their  own 
Language  carried  unto  them. 


Of  his  Two  Younger  Daughters,  the  firft  was 
Married  unto  a  Merchant  of  Good  Falhion, 
whofe  Name  was  Mr.  Egginton  ;  bur  fhe  did 
not  long  iurvive  the  Birth  of" her  firft  Child,  as 
that  Child  alfo  did  not  iurvive  many  Years  af- 
terithe  Death  of  her  Mother.  The  next  is  at  this 
time  Living,  the  Conibrt  of  one  well  known  in 
both  En  glands,  'namely,  Increafe  Mather,  the 
Pfefident  of  harvard  Colkdge,  and  the  Teacher 
of  a  Church  In  Boftoh. 

The  Ybangeft  oi  his  Sons,  called  Roland,  and 
rhe  Elded  of  his  Daughters,  called  Skrai,  both 
of  them  died  near  together :  of  x.heSma/7  Pox, 
which  was  raging  among  rhe  Inhabitants  of 
Bofton,  in  the  Winter  of  the  Yean 640.  The 
Death  of  thole  two  Lovely  Children,  required 
the  Faith  of  an  Abraham,  in  the  Heart  ot  their 
Gracious  Father  -,  who  indeed  moft  exemplarilv 
Exprejfed what  was  required.  On  this  Occafion, 
I  fir..!,  that  on  a  fpare  Leaf  of  his  Almanack, 
he  wrote  in  Greek  Letters  theft  Englijh  Verfes; 


In  S 


aram. 


Farewel,dear  Daughter Saf'q,  Now  Thoifrt  gone, 
(Whither  thou  much  defiredil)  to  thine  Home: 
Pray,  my  Dear  Father,  Let  me  iiova  go  Home  ! 
Were  the  laft  Words  thou  ipak'lt.  to  me  alone. 
Go  then,  fweet  Sara,  take  thy  Sabbeth  Reft, 
With  thy  Great  Lord,  and  all  in  Heaven  Bieif- 

In  Rolandnm. 

Our  Eldeft  Daughter,  and  our  Youngeft  Son, 
Within  Nine  Days,  both  have  their  full  Race  run, 
On  th'  Twentieth  of  th"  Eleventh,  Died  She, 
And  on  the  Twenty  Ninth  Day  Died  He. 
Both  in  theit  Lives  were  Lovely  and  United, 
And  in  their  Deaths  they  were  not  much  Divided. 
Chrift  gave  them  Both,  and  He  takes  both  again 
To  live  with  Him  ;  Bleft  be  His  Holy  Name. 

In  Utrumque, 

Suffer,  Saith  Chrift,  Jour  Little  Ones, 

To  Come  forth,  Me  unto, 
For  of  fuch  Ones  my  Kingdom  is, 

Of  Grace  and  Glory  too. 
We  do  not  only  Suffer  them, 

But  Offer  them  to  Thee, 
Now,  BleiTed  Lord,  Let  us  Believe, 

Accepted,  that  they  be  : 
That  Thou  haft  Took  them,  in  Thine  j»rms, 

And  on  them  Put  thine  Hafid, 
And  Bleffed  them  with  Sight  of  Thee, 

Wherein  our  Blejftngs  Stand. 

But  he  has  at  this  Day  Five  Grandfons,  all 
of  them  Employed  in  the  Publick  Service  of  the 
Gofpel  ;  whereof,  Let  the  Reader  count  him 
the  Meaneft,  that  is  the  Writer  of  this  Hiftory  • 
and  accept  further  one  Little  Piece  of  Hiftory, 
relating  hereunto. 

The  Gathering  of  the  Second  Church  in  Bo- 
fton, was  evidently  very  much  to  the  Difadvan- 
tage  of  Mr.  Cotton,  in  many  of  his  Interefls, 
E  e  -  But 


32 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.      Book  111. 


But  he  was  a  John,  who  reckoned  his  Joy  ful- 
filled in  This,  That  in  his  own  Decreafe  the  In- 
ters lb  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  would  Increafe-, 
and  therefore,  with  an  Exemplary  Self-Denial, 
diverting  himfelf  of  all  carnal  Refpe&s,  he  fet 
himfelf  to  encourage  the  Foundation  of  that 
Church,  out  of  RefpecF  unto  the  Service  and 
Worfhip  of  our  Common  Lord.  Now,  it  has 
pleafed  the  Lord  lb  to  order  it,  That  many 
Years  after  his  Deceafe,  that  Self  Denial  of  his 
Holy  Servant,  has  turned  unto  lbme  Account, 
in  the  Opportunities  which  That  very  Church 
has  given  unto  His  Children,  to  Glorify  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  in  the  Conduct  of  it : 
His  Son-in-Law  has  been  been  for  more  than 
Thrice  Ten  Years,  and  his  Grandfon  for  more 


than  Twice  Seven  Years,  the  Minifters  of  the 
Gofpel,  in  That  very  Church,  accommodated 
with  happy  Opportunities,  To  ferve  their  Ge- 
neration. 


Efitapbium. 

Johannes  Cottonus, 

Cttjus  Ultima.  Laits  eft, 
QttodfucrH  inter  Nov- Anglos  Primus. 


CHAP.     II. 

NOrVTONUS  Honor  aim,  the  LIFE  of  Mr.  J  0  HN   NO  R  TO  N. 


§  i. '~rA  HERE  was  a  Famous  John  whofs 
X  Atchievements  are  by  our  Lord  Em 
blazoned  in  thofe  Terms  ;He  was  a  Burning  and 
a  Shining  Light.  In  the  Tabernacle  of  Old,  e- 
re£ted  by  the  Order  and  for  the  Worfhip  of  God, 
there  were  thofe  Two  Things,  a  Candleftick 
and  an  Altar ;  in  the  One  a  Light  that  might 
never  go  out,  in  the  other  a  tire  that  might 
never  be  extinguifhed ;  and  yet  fuch  an  Affinity 
between  thefe,  that  there  was  a  Fire  in  the 
Light  of  the  one,  and  a  Light  in  the  Fire  of  the 
Other.  Such  a  Mixture  of  both  Faith  and  Love 
fhould  be  in  thofe  that  are  employed  about  the 
Service  of  the  Tabernacle:  And  though  the  Ta- 
bernacle erected  for  our  Lord  in  this  Wildernefs, 
had  many  fuch  Burning  and  Shining  Lights  j  yet 
among  the  Chief  of  them  is  to  be  reckoned,  that 
John  which  we  had  in  our  Bleffed  Norton. 

§  z'.  He  was  Born  the  Sixth  of  May,  1 606. 
at  Stafford  in  Hartford/hire  ;  defcended  of  Ho- 
nourable Anceftors.  In  his  early  Childhood  he 
difcovered  a  Ripenefs  of  Wit,  which  gave  juft 
Hopes  of  his  proving  Extraordinary:  And  under 
Mr.  Strange  in  the  School  of  Bunmngford,  he 
made  fuch  a  Proficiency,  that  he  could  betimes 
write  Good  Latin,  with  a  more  than  common 
Elegancy  and  Invention.  At  Fourteen  Years  of 
Age,  being  fent  unto  Peter  Houfe,  he  ftaid 
there,  till  alter  his  taking  of  his  Firji  Degree; 
where  a  Rontijh  EmifTary,  taking  a  curious  and 
exact  Qbfcrvation  of  his  Notable  Accomplifh- 
ments,  ufed  all  the  Methods  he  could  think  of, 
to  have  feduced  him  over  unto  the  Romifh  Irre- 
ligion  :  But  God  intending  him  to  be  a  Pillar 
In  his  own  Temple,  mercifully  prevented  his 
hearkening  unto  any  Temptations  to  become  a 
Support  unto  the  Tower  of  Babel. 

§  3.  In  his  Touth  he  was  accuftomed  unto 
fome  Touthful  Vanities;  efpecially  unto  Card- 
Playing  ;  an  Evil  which  he  did  rlrlt  Ponder  and 
Reform  upon  a  Serious  Admonition,  which  a 
Servant  of  his  Father's  gave  unto  him.    When 


he  came  to  confider  that  a  Lot  is  a  Solettm  Ap- 
peal unto  the  God  of  Heaven,  and  even  by  the 
rudeft  Gentiles  counted  a  Sacred  Thing,  he 
thought  that  Playing  with  it,  was  a  Breach  of 
the  Third  Commandment  in  the  Laws  of  our 
God ;  it  fhould  be  ufed,  he  thought,  rather 
Prayerfully  than  Sportfully.  He  confidered, 
that  the  Fapifts  themfelves  do  not  allow  thefe 
Games  in  Eccleftaftical  Perfons,  and  the  Fathers 
do  reprove  them  with  a  vehement  Zeal  in  ail 
forts  of  Perfons.  He  confidered,  that  when 
the  Roman  Empire  became  Chnftian,  fevere  E- 
diils  were  made  againft  thefe  Games,  and  that 
our  Proteffant  Reformers  have  branded  them 
with  an  Infamous  Character ;  wherefore  incli- 
ning now  to  follow  Whatsoever  things  are  of  a 
Good  Report,  he  would  no  longer  meddle  with 
Games  that  had  fo  much  of  a  Scandal  in  them. 

§  4.  An  Extreme  Difafter  befalling  his  Fa- 
ther's Eftate,  he  left  the  Univerfity  -,  and  be- 
came  at  once  Vfher   to  the  School,  and  Curate 
in  the  Church  at  Stafford:  Where  a  Leilure 
being  maintained  by  a  Combination  of  feveral 
Godly  and  Able  Miniifers,  he  on  that  Occafion 
fell  into  Acquaintance  with  feveral  of  them; 
efpecially  Mr.  Jeremiah  Dyke,  of  Epping,  by 
whofe  Miniffry  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  gave 
him  a  Difcovery  of  his   own  manifold  Sinful- 
nefs  and  Wretchedneis  in  an  Unregenerate  Suite, 
and  awakened  him  unto  fuch  a  Self-Examination, 
as  drove  him  to  a  Sorrow  little  fhort  ofDefpair ; 
but  after  fome  time,  the  fame  Holy  Spirit, 
enabled  him  to  receive  the  Chrift  and  Grace, 
tendered  in  the  Promifes  of  the  Gofpel,  with  an 
Unfpeakablc  Conflation.  Whereupon  he  thought 
himfelf  concerned  in  that  Advice  of  Heaven, 
IVlien  thou  art  Converted,  Strengthen  thy  Bre- 
thren ! 

§  5.  Having  before  this  been  well  ftudied 
in  the  Tongues  and  Arts,  he  was  the  better  fit- 
ted for  the  higher  Studies  of  Divinity;  whereto 
he  now  wholly  addicted  himfelf:  And  being  in 

his 


Book  III.       The  Hiflory  of  New-England. 


33 


his  own  happy  Experience  acquainted  with  Faith, 
and  Repentance,  and  He/inefs,  he  did  from  that 
Experience  now  make  Lively  Sermons  on  thole 
points  unto  his  Hearers.  He  foon  grew  Emi- 
nent in  his  Miniftry  ;  fetting  off  the  Truths  he 
deliver'd,  not  only  with  fuch  Ornaments  of  La- 
conic and  well  contriv'd  ExprefTion,as  made  him 
worthy  to  be  called,  The  Majier  of  Sentences, 
but  alio  with  fuch  Experimental  Pajfages  of  De- 
votion, as  made  him  admired  for  A  Preacher 
feeking  out  Acceptable  Words. 

§  6.  His  Accomplifhments  render'd   him  as 
capable  of  Preferments,  as  mod  in   his  Age  •, 
but   Preferments  were  then  fo   clogg'd   with 
Tioublefome  and  Scruplefome  Impofitions,  that 
Mr.  Norton,    as  well  as   other  Gonfcientious 
Young  Minilters,  his  Contemporaries,  declined 
medling  with  them.    His  Avcrfion,  and  indeed 
Annpatby  to  Arminianifm   Rafter  he  was,  as 
Bradwardin  fpeaks,  Gratis  Radio  ViCttatus,)  and 
his  Dillike  of  the  Ceremonies,  particularly  hin- 
dered him  from  a  Confiderable  Benefice,  where 
to  his  Unkle  might  have  helped  him.     Dr.  Sibs 
alfo,  the  Matter  of 'Katharine  Hall  in  Cambridge, 
taken  with  his  Abilities,  did  earneflly  follicits 
him,  to  have  accepted  of  a  Fellowfljip  in  that 
College^  but  his Confcience  being  now  fatisfied 
in  the  Unlawfulnefs  of  fome  things  then  requi- 
red in  Order  thereunto,  would  not  permit  him 
to  do  ir.    One  asked  once  a  great  Prelate  at 
Court,  how  it  came  to  pafs,  that  fuch  a  Prea- 
cher   fan   Ancient  Chaplain  therej    a  Wife, 
Grave,  Holy  Man,  did  not  Rife  ?  Meaning  by 
way  of  Preferment :  The  Prelate  anfwered  him, 
Truly,  let  me  tell  you,  That  I  verily  think,  he 
never  zvill  Rife  until  the  RefurreUion.     Truly, 
Let  me  now  tell    the  World,  That  fuch  were 
the  Principles  of  Mr.  Norton,  there  was   no 
likelihood  of  his  Rifing  in  this  World,  as  things 
then  went  in  the  World.  Wherefore  he  contented 
himfelf  with  a  more  Private  Life,    as  Chaplain 
in  two  Knights  Houfe  at  High  Laver  in  Effex, 
namely,  Sir  William  Mafham^S;  there  waiting, 
till  God  might  furniih  him  with  Uncxceptable 
Opportunities,  for  his  more  Publirk   Preaching 
of  the  Gofncl.    But  generally,  all  thofe  who 
had  any  Taft  of  his  Miniftry,  had  a  very  high 
Opinion  of  it;  nor  was  there  any  Man  intharpart 
of  the  Country  more  efleemed  than  he  was,for  all 
forts  of  Excellencies  ;  infomuch,  that  when  he 
came  away,  an  Ancient  Minifler  faid,  He  be- 
lieved there   war  not   more  Grace  and  Holincfs 
left   in  all  Elfex,  than  what  Air.  Norton  had 
carried  voiih  him. 

kj  7.  His  Natural  Temper  had  a  Tincture  of 
Choler  in  it ;  but  as  the  fowreft  and  harfheft 
Fruits  become  the  mofl  Pleafant,  when  tem- 
pered  with  a  due  Proportion  of  Sweet nefs  added 
thereunto,  lb  the  Grace  of  God  fwcetned  the 
Difpofition  of  this  good  Man,  into  a  molt  Affa- 
ble, Courteous,  and  Complaifant  Behaviour, 
which  render'd  him  exceeding  Amiable.  Indeed 
when  the  Apoftle  fpeaks  of  the  Spirit,  and  Soul 
and  Body,  being  Santlified,  fome  do  by  Spirit 
underftand  the  Natural  Te.iper,  or  Humour  ; 
and  accordingly  the  Spirit  of  this  §>uick  Man 


being  Santlified,  he  became  a  Man  of  an  Excel- 
lent Spirit. 

§  8.  Valt  was  the  Treafure  of  Learning  in 
this  Reverend  Man.  He  was  not  only  a  molt 
Accurate  Grammarian,  which  is  abundantly 
manifefted  by  his  Printed  Works  in  Divers 
Languages  ;  but  an  Univerfal  Scholar:  Never- 
thelefs,  'twas  as  a  School-man  that  he  fhow'd 
himfelf  the  molt  of  a  Scholar.  He  accounted 
that  the  Excellency  of  a  Scholar,  lay  more  in 
Difti  nil  nefs  of  Judgment,  than  in  Elegancy  of 
Language-,  and  therefore,  though  he  had  a  nea- 
ter Style  than  molt  other  Men,  yet  he  was  De- 
firous  to  furnifh  himfelf  ad  pagnam,  rather 
than  ad  Pompam.  Hence  having  intimately  ac- 
quainted himfelf  with  the  Subtilties  of  Schola- 
ftic  Divinity,  he  made  all  to  illuftrate  the  Do- 
llrine  of  Chrifi  and  of  Grace,  unto  which  he 
made  all  the  Spoils  of  the  Schools  glcrioufiy 
fubfervient.  He  was  a  molt  Eiegjnt  Preacher, 
and  the  True  Follower  of  Dr.  Sibs  ! 

§  p.  But  let  his  Excellencies  have  been  what 
they  will,  there  was  in  thole  Days  a  Set  of  Men, 
rtfolved  that  the  Church  ofGodlhould  lofe 
the  Benefit  of  all  thofe  Excellencies,  except  the 
Perfon  which  had  rhem,  could  comply  with 
cerrain  Uninltituted  Rites  in  the  Worfhip  of 
God  ;  which  our  Mr.  Norton  could  not ;  and  it 
was  that  which  made  him  ouis.  This  drove 
him  to  the  remote  Regions  of  America,  where 
he  hoped,  as  well  he  might,  that  there  would 
never  be  done  fo  unreasonable  a  Thing,  as  to 
obftruft  that  Evangelical  Worfhip  of  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrifi,  for  the  fake  whereof  thofe  Re- 
gions have  been  added  unto  the  Englifl)  Domi- 
nions. Wherefore  in  the  Year  1634.  having 
married  a  Gentlewoman  both  of  Good  Eltate, 
and  of  Good  Efteem,  he  took  (hipping  for  New- 
England,  accompanied  in  the  lame  Ship  with 
the  Famous  Mr.  Tbomax  Shepard. 

§io.In  theRoad  bezwixtHarwichand  Yarmouth, 
he  very  narrowly  efcaped  a  Terrible  Shipwrick-. 
For  by  the  Vehemency  of  a  Storm  all  their  An. 
chors  gave  way,  lb  that  they  were  driven  with  - 
in  a  Cable's  Length  of  the  Sands  ;  but  yet  the 
Anchor  of  their  Hope  in  God,  held  fad  unto 
the  lafi.  Mr.  Shepard  having  raken  the  Man- 
ners above  Decks,  Mr.  Norton  took  the  Pajfen- 
gers  between  Decks,  and  each  of  them  with 
their  Company,  applied  themlelves  unto  Fer- 
vent Prayer,  whereto  the  Almighty  God  gave 
a  prefent  Anfwer  in  their  wonderful  Deliver- 
ance. After  this  Tempelt,  which  diijppointed 
their  Voyage  to  New  England  for  that  Sea  for., 
Mr.  Norton  returned  unto  his  Friends  in  EjJ'ex  -, 
where  Mr.  Dyke  welcomed  him  ,  as  one 
come  from  the  dead  ;  profefiing  to  him,  That 
he  would  have  given  many  Pounds  for  fuch  a 
Try  a  I of his  Faith,  at  this  his  Friend  had  newly 
met  withal. 

§11.  The  next  Year  Mr.  Norton  renewed 
his  Voyage  to  New-England;  but  intervening 
Accidents  made  it  very  late  in  the  Year,  before 
he  could  begin  the  Voyage  :  And  fo,  coming 
upon  the  American  Coaft  in  the  Month  of  OCtv- 
\bert  they  encountred  with  another  very  terrible 
E  e  e  2  Storm, 


3+ 


Tbe  Hijhry  of  New-England.     Book  111, 


Storm,  which  lafted  Eight  and  forty  Hours  with 
great  extremity,  and  had  broken  the  Veffel  to 
pieces  ,  if  it  had  not  had  a  ftrengrh  more  than 
ordinary.  One  Wave  remarkably  waftied  fome 
of  the  Seamen  overboard  on  one  fide,  and  then 
threw  them  in  again  on  t'other  ;  and  fo  vehe- 
ment was  the  Storm,  that  they  were  forced  at 
length  to  undergird  the  Ship  with  the  G^/?,that 
they  might  keep  her  fides  together.  But  within 
ten  Days  after  this,  they  were  brought  fife  into 
Plymouth  Harbour. 

§  12.  There  had  been  fome  Overtures  between 

him  and  Mr.  Wmflow,  the  Agent  of  Plymouth,, 
now  on  hoard  with  him,  about  his  accepting  or 
a  Settlement  in  that  Plantation  ;  and  the  People 
of  Plymouth  now  courteously  and  earneftly  invi- 
ted him,  accordingly  to  continue  with  them. 
Neverthelefs,  the  State  of  Things  in  the  Mdf- 
facbufet  Colony,  was  more  agreeable  unto  him; 
and  the  Church  of  lpfwkh  made  their  fpeedy 
Applications  unto  him,  to  take  the  Paltoral 
Charge  of  them.  This  occafioned  his  Delibe- 
ration with  his  Friends  in  the  Bay,  whatCourfe 
to  fleer. 

§  13.  While  he  fbjourned  in  his  unfettled 
State  nBeflon,  he  came  into  Acquaintance  with 
the  Minifters  thereabouts,  who  entertained  him 
with  a  very  high  Opinion  of  him  ;  efpecially 
Mr.  Mather  of '  Dorchefter,  who  tho1  of  longer 
ftanding  than  he,  yet  coniulted  him  as  an  Ora- 
cle, in  Matters  of  greateit  Confequence  unto 
him  ;  and  found  him  fo  accomplished  and  expe 
rienced  a  Perlbn,  that  he  maintained  a  moft  va- 
luable Friendfhip  with  him  to  the  laff.  Yea, 
tho'  he  were  yet  a  young  Man,  and  fhort  of 
Thirty,  when  he  fir  ft  came  into  the  Country, 
yet  the  Magillrates  of  the  Colony  foon  became 
lb  fenlible  of  his  Abilities,  as  to  make  ufe  of 
him  in  fome  of  their  molt  arduous  Affairs.  And 
there  happened  feveral  Occafions  to  try  theScho- 
laftick  Emmencies,  whereto  he  was  arrived  ; 
one  of  which  was,  when  there  was  in  thefe  Parts 
a  French  Friar,  who  found  in  Mr.  Norton,  a 
Proteftant,  equal  to  his  own  School-men,  and 
well  acquainted  with  them  all.  Indeed  there 
was  in  him  the  Union  of  two  Excellencies,  which 
do  no:  always  meet.  It  was  the  Chancier  of 
liortenfws,  that  he  was  weak '  in  Writing,  and 
yet  able  to  Speak  :  It  was  the  Character  of  A- 
beric//s,  that  he  was  weak  in  Speech,  and  yet 
able  in  Writing:  But  our  Norton  was  in  both 
of  thefe  a  very  able  Perfon. 

§  14  It  was  the  Church  of  lpfiokh,  that  our 
Lord  gave  fo  rich  a  thing,  as  his  eminent  Ser- 
vant Norton  :  But  befides  the  conftant  Labours 
of  this  holy  and  fruitful  Man,  in  that  particu- 
lar Church,  he  there  did  feveral  great  Services 
of  a  more  extenfive  Influence  to  the  whole 
Church  of  Go  1 ;  whereof  one  was"  this  :  Guiliel 
mm  Apollonii,  at  the  Direction  of  the  Divines 
in  Zealand,  in  the  Year  1644.  fent  over  to  A  ew 
England  -i  Number  of  Queftions,  relating  to 
our  Way  of  Church  Government  ;  whereto  the 
Minifters  of  NewEnglpnil  unanimoufly  impofed 
upon  Mr.  Norton  the  Task  of  drawing  up  an 
Anfwer,  which  he  finifhed  in  the   Year    1645. 


And  it  was,  I  fuppofe,  the  hrft  Latin  Book  that 
ever  was  written  in  this  Country.  What  Satif 
facfion  it  gave,  may  be  gathered,  not  only  from 
the  Atteflations  of  Dr.  Goodwin,  Mr.  Nye,  Mr. 
Sympfon,  thereunto  ■,  but  alfo  from  the  ExpreT- 
hons  of  Dr.  Horhbeek,  who  frequently  magnifies 
the  Reafon,and  the  Candour  of  our  New  Engiijh 
Divine,  even  in  thofe  Points,  wherein  he  does 
himfelf  diffent  from  him.  Nor  is  it  amils  to 
add  the  words  in  Dr.  Fuller's  Church  Hilfory, 
hereupon  ;  which  are:  Of  all  the  Authors  I  have 
per u fed  concerning  thefe  Opinions,  none  to  ?new.u 
more  Informative  than  Air.  John  Norton,  one 
of  no  lefs  Learning  than  Mo'&efiy,  in  his  An- 
fwer to  Apollonius,  Paforin  the  Church  r/Mid- 
dleburgh. 

§•15.  ft  will  do  no  hurt  for  me  to  repeat  one 
PaiTage  on  this  Occafion,  which  to  me  feemed 
worthy  of  fome  Remark.  While  Mr.  Norton' 
was  deeply  engaged  in.  writing  his  Latin  Ac- 
count of  our  ChurchDilcipline,fon;e  of  his  more 
Accurate  and  Judicious  Hearers,  imagined  that 
his  Publick  Sermons  wanted  a  little  of  that  Ex- 
aefnefs,  which  did  ufe  to  attend  them  -,  whereof 
onefaid  fomething  to  that  Mr.  Whiting,  whom  I 
may  well  call  the  Angel  in  the  Church  of  Lyn. 
Mr.  Whiting  hereupon  in  a  very  refpectful  and 
obliging  manner,  ipoke  to  Mr.  Norton,  faying, 
Sir,  There  are  fome  of  your  Peopk,  who  think 
that  the  Services  wherein  you  are  engaged  for  all 
the  Churches,  do  fomething  take  off  the  Edge  of 
the  'Mini ft  ry,  wherewith  you  fhould  ferve  your 
own  particular  Church  :  1  would  intreat  you,  Sir\ 
to  confider  this  matter  j  for  our  great  eft  Work  is 
to  preach  the  Go/pel  unto  that  Flock,  whereof  we 
are  Ovcrfeers.  Our  great  and  good  Man  took 
the  excellent  Oyl  of  this  Intimation,  with  the 
Kindnefs  which  became  fuch  a  Man,  and  made 
it  ferviceable  unto  his  holy  Studies. 

§  16.  Another  confiderable  Service,  which 
then  called  for  the  Studies  of  this  excellent  Man, 
was  the  advifing,  modelling,  and  recommend- 
ing the  Platform  of  Cburch-Difcipline,  agretd  by 
a  Synod  at  Cambridge,  in  the  Year  1 647.  Into 
that  Platform  he  would  fain  have  had  inferred, 
certain  Propofitions  concerning  the  Watch,  which 
our  Churches  are  to  have  over  the  Children  bora 
in  them ;  which  Propofitions  were  certainly  the 
firjl  Principles  of  New-England  :  Only  the  fierce 
Oppofitions  of  one  eminent  Perlbn,  caufed  him 
that  was  of  a  peaceable  Temper,  to  forbear  ur- 
ging them  any  further  •,  by  which  means,  when 
-thofe  very  Propofitions  came  to  be  advanced  and 
embraced  in  another  Synod,  more  than  twice 
feven  Years  after,  many  People  did  ignorantly 
count  them  Novelties:  Moreover,  when  the 
Synod  fa^X  affembled,  it  was  a  thing  of  fome  un- 
happy Confequence,  that  the  Church  of  Boflok 
would  not  lend  any  Mejfengers  unto  it  :  But 
Mr.  Norton  preaching  the  next  Le£ture  there, 
wherein  he  handled  the  Nature  of  Councils,  and 
rhe  Power  of  Civil.  Magijirates  to  call  fuch  Af- 
femblies,  and  the  Duty  of  the  Churches  in  re- 
garding rheir  Advice,  the  Church  oiBofton  were 
therewithal  fo  fatisfied,  as  to  tell ifie  their  Com- 
munion with  the  reft  of  the  Churches,  by  fend- 


ing 


Book  III.     The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


35 


ing  three  Meffengers  to  accompany  their  Elders 
now  in  the  Synod.  And  when  the  Refult  of  the 
Synod  Game  to  try  its  Acceptance  in  the  Churches, 
he  did  his  parr,  efpecially  in  his  own,  with  a 
prudent  and  pious  Diligence  to  obtain  it  ^  which 
was  happily  accomplilhed. 

6  17.  There  was  yet  one  Comprehenfive  Ser- 
vice more,  which  this  Learned  Man  here  did  for 
the  Church  of  God  ;   and  that  was  this  :  A 
Gentleman  of  Keza-Englandhai  written  a  Book, 
entituled,  The  Meritorious  Price  of  Man's  Re- 
demption ■■  Wherein  he  pretends  to  prove,  That 
Cbriji  fuffered  nor  for  us  thofe  unutterable  Tor- 
ments of  God's  Wrath,  which  are  commonly  called 
Piell-Torments,  to  redeem  our  Souls  from  them  ; 
and  that  Chrifl  bore  not  our  Sins  by  God's  Impu- 
tation, and  therefore  alfo  did  not  bear  the  Curfe  of 
the  Law  for  them.     The  General  Court  of  the 
Colony,  concerned  that  the  Glorious  Truths  of 
the  Gofpel  might  be  refcued  from  the  Confufi- 
oris,  whereinto  the  Effiy  of  this  Gentleman  had 
thrown  them,  and  afraid  left  the  Church  of  God 
abroad  fhould  fufpecf  that  JVho-Eflg/Wallow'd 
of  fuch  exorbitant  Aberrations,  appointed  Mr. 
Norton  to  draw  up  an  Anfwer  to  that  Erroneous 
Treat  ife.    This  Work  he  performed  with  a  moft 
Elaborate  and  Judicious  Pen,   in  a  Book  after- 
wards publifhed  under  the  Title  of,  A  Difou/jion 
of  that  Great  Point  in  Divinity,  The  Sufferings 
of  Chrift  ;  And  the  ^iiejiions  about  his  Active 
and  Paffive   Right coufnefs,  and  the  Imputation 
thereof.     In  that   Book  the  true  Principles  of 
the  Gofpel  are  if  a  ted  with  fo  much  Demonft  ra- 
tion,   as   is  indeed   unanfwerable.  _  The  Great 
Affertion  therein  explained  and  maintained,  is, 
(according  to   the  exprefs  Words  of  the  Reve- 
rend Author),  '  That  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  as 
1  God-Man,  and  Mediator,  according  to  theWill 

*  of  the  Father,  and  his  own  voluntary  Con  fen  t, 
c  fully  obeyed  the  Law,  doing  the  Command  in 
c  a  way  of  Works,  and  fuifering  the  Ejfential 
'  Punifhment  of  the  Curfe,  in  a  way  of  obedient 

*  Satisfaction  unto  Divine  Juffice,  thereby  ex- 
\  aftly  fulfilling  the  firff  Covenant :  Which 
c  AcYive  and  Paffive  Obedience  of  his,  together 
c  with  his  Original  Righteou/hefs,  as  a  Surety, 
'  God,  of  his  rich  Grace,  actually  imputeth  un- 
'  to  Believers ;  whom,  upon  the  Receipt  there  - 
'  of,  by  the  Grace  of  faith,   he  declareth  and 

*  accepteth ,  as  pcrfellly  Righteous  ,  and  ac- 
1  knowledgeth  them  to  have  a  Right  unto  Eter- 
'  nal  Life.     . 

And  in  every  Claufe  of  this  Pofition,  the  Au- 
thor expreffed  not  his  own  Sence  alone,  tut  the 
Sence  of  all  the  Churches  in  the  Country  :  In 
Teftimony  whereof!,  there  was  publifhed  at  the 
End  of  the  Book,  an  Inftrument  figned  by  five 
confiderable  Names,  Cotton,  Wilfon,  Mather, 
Symmcs,  and  Tompfon,  who  in  the  Name  of  0- 
thers,  declare,  '  As  they  believe,  they  do  alfo 
'  Profefs]  Thit  the  Obedience  of  Chrift  to  the 
'  whole  Law,  which  is  the  Law  of  Righteouf- 
'  fiefs,  is  the  Matter  of  our  Jufificatwn  ;  and 
'  the  Imputation  of  our  Sins  to  Chrift  (and 
*  thereupon  his  Suffering  the  Senfe  of  the.  Wrath 
'  of  God  upon  him  for  our  Sin)  and  the  Imputa- 


tion of  his  Obedience  and  Sufferings  to  us,  are 
tins  formal  Caufe  of  our  Juftijication-^rA  that 
c  they  who  deny  this,  do  now  take  away  both 
c  pf  thefe,  both  Matter  and  Vet  m  of  our  Jufti- 
'  ft 'cation,  which  is  the  Life  of  our  Souls,  and 
c  of  our  Religion,  and  therefore  called  the  Jujii- 
'  fication  cf  Life. 

This  being  the  Primitive-  Do&rine  of 'Jollifi- 
cation, among  the  Churches  of  New.  England  ; 
rhe  things  that  were  judged  oppofite  hereunto, 
in  the  Renowned  Richard  Baxters  Aphorifms  of 
Juftification,  did  then  give  a  great  and  juft  Of- 
fence unto  the  Faithful  in  this  Country  :  Yea, 
they  look'd  upon  many  tilings  in  his  Writings, 
to  be;  as  Photius  has  ir,  upon  fome  things  in 
Clemens  Alexandrinus  -,  that  is  to  fay,  Things 
expreffed,  ix.'  vyZ;,  not  Jafely  and  .  ;  a! 

beit,  the  other  more  Practical  and  Savory  Books 
of  that  Holy  Man,  were  highly  valued  in  thefe 
American  Regions  ;  and  not  a  few  have  here 
bleffed  God  for  him,  and 'tor  his  Labours.  And 
as  in  thofe  Elder  Days  of  Nex-EnglanJ, .  the  E- 
fteem  which  our  Churches  had  tor  that  emi- 
nent Man,  did  not  hinder  them  from  rejecting 
that  New  Covenant  of  Works,  with  which  they 
thought  he  confounded  that  moft  important  Ar- 
ticle, upon  the  Notions  whereof  the  Church  ei- 
ther frauds  or  falls  ;  Thus  it  is  a  Grief  of  Mind 
unto  our  Churches  at  this  Day,  to  find  that 
grear  and  good  Man,  in  fome  of  his  Lift  Works, 
under  the  blinding  Heat  of  his  Indignation  a- 
gainft  fome  which  we  alfo  account  unjuftifiable, 
yea,  dangerous  Opinions  and  Expreffions  cf  Dr. 
Crifp,  reproaching  fome  of  the  moft  undoubted 
Points  in  our  common  Faith.  We  read  him  un- 
accountably enumerating  among  Errors,  which 
he  lays,  hav.e  corrupted  Cbnftianity,  and  Jnb- 
verted  the  Gofpel,  fuch  things  as  thefe  : 

c  They  feign,ThntGoi  made  a  Covenant  with 
c  Adam,  that  if  he  flood,  God  would  continue 
'  him,  and  his  Pofterity  ;  and  if  he  fell,  God 
'  would  take  ir,  as  if  all  his  Posterity,  then  per - 

'  fonally  finned  in  him.- feigning  God  to 

c  make  Adam,  not  only  the  Natural  Father  and 
'  Root  of  Mankind,  but  alfo  arbitrarily,  a  con- 
'  flit  ut  ed  Re  pre/enter  of  all  rhe  Perfons  that 
'  fhould  fpring  from  him.  Whence  they  infer, 
'  that  Chritt  was  by  God's  Impofition,  and  his 
'  own  Sponfion,  made  the  Legal  Representative 
'  Perfon  of  every  one  of  the  Elecf,  taken  fingu- 
'  larly  :  So  that  what  lie  did  for  them,  God 
'  reputeth  rhem  to  have  done  by  him.  Here- 
'  by  they  falily  make  the  Perfon  of  the  Me- 
■  diator,  to  be  the  Legal  Perfon  of  the  Sin- 
'  nef. 

'  They  forge  a  Law,  that  God  never  made, 
'  that  faith,  Thou  or  thy  Surety,  fh all  obey  per* 
'  feffly,  or  die. 

'  Tney  feign  God  to  have  made  an  Eternal 


Covenant  with  his  Son. 
'  They/£/\?/zChrilt  ro  have 


made  fuch  an  ex- 


change with  theElecf,  as  that  having  taken  all 
their  Sins,  he  hath  given  them  all  his  Righteouf- 
nefs  ;  not  only  the  Fruit  of  it,  but  the  Thing 
in  it  f elf 

1  They 


3* 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 


'  They  fay,That  by  the  Imputation  of  Chrift's 

*  Righteoufnefs,  Habitual  and  AElual.    We  are 
c  judged  perfectly  juji. 

'  They  talk  of  Juflification  in  meer  igno- 

c  rant  Confufion  :  They  fay,  That  to 

'  juftifie  is  not  to  make  righteous,  but  to  judge 

*  righteous. 

1  They  err  grofly,  faying,  That  by  [Faith  im- 
4  puted  for  Right eoufnefs~]  and  [our  being  jufti- 
'  fied  by  Faith']  is  not  meant,  the  AH,  or  Habit 
1  of  Faith,  but  the  Objett,  Chrift's  Righteoufnefs : 
c  Not  flicking  thereby  to  turn  fuch  Texts  into 
'  worfe  than  Nonfence.  [  All  thefe  are  Mr. 
Baxter's  Words,  in  his  Defence  of  Chrift , 
chap.  2] 

Thefe  Things,  which  our  Churches  with  A- 
mazement,  behold  Mr.  Baxter  thus  calling  R- 
ftions,  Falfhoods,  Forgeries,  Ignorant  Confujions, 
and  grofs  Errors,  were  defended  by  Mr.  Nor- 
ton,  as  the  Faith  once  delivered  unto  the  Saints : 
Nor  do  our  Churches  at  this  Day  confider  them, 
as  any  other,  than  glorious  Truths  of  the  Gofpel; 
which,  as  they  were  maintained  by  Mr.  Norton. 
So  two  Divines,  which  were  the  Scholars  of 
Mr.  Norton,  well  known  in  both  Englands,  Na- 
thanael,  and  lncreafe  Mather,  (Fratrum  dulce 
Par;)  and  a  third,  a  worthy  Minifter  of  the 
Gofpel,  Mr.  Samuel Willard,  now  living  in  the 
fame  Houfe  from  whence  Mr.  Norton  went, 
unto  that  not  made  with  Hands,  have  in  their 
Printed  Labours  moft  accurately  expreffed  them, 
and  confirmed  them.  Hence,  altho'  as  on  the 
one  fide,  I  have  this  pafTage  of  Mr.  Baxter's, 
in  a  Letter  from  him,  written  but  a  few  Months 
before  he  died,/ am  as  zealous  a  hover  of  the  New- 
England  Churches  as  any  m an, according  to  A^Nor 
ton'x,  and  the  Synods  Alodel :  So  on  the  other 
fide,  the  Memory  of  Mr.  Baxter  is  on  many 
accounts  zealoufly  loved  among  the  Churches  of 
New-England,  yet  efpoufing  the  Principles  for 
their  Eftablifhrnenr,  wherein  Mr.  Norton  had 
appeared  :  Neverthelefs,  inafmuch  as  Mr.  Bax- 
ter, juft  before  his  Entrance  into  his  Everlafting 
Reft,  requefted  of  my  Parent  then  in  London  : 
Sir,  If  you  know  of  any  Errors  in  any  of  my  Wri 
tings,  1  pray  you  to  confute  them  after  I  am  dead. 
I  thought  it  not  amifs,  to  regard  fo  far  the 
GofpelTruths  of  Juflification  at  this  day  labour- 
ing, as  to  take  occafion  from  the  mention  of 
Mr.  Norton's  Book,  to  fay,  That  in  that  one 
Book  of  his,  there  is  a  Confutation  of  Mr.  Bax- 
ter, who  feems  to  oppofe  thofe  things,  which 
the  Churches  of  New-England  judge  cannot  be 
denied  without  corrupting  of  Chriftianity,  and 
fubverting  of  the  Gofpel.  But  waving  any  fur- 
ther mention  of  the  Book,  I  cannot  leave  unmen- 
tioned  a  couple  of  Paffages  in  the  Preface  of  it, 
which  is  Dedicatory  to  the  General  Court  of  the 
MafJ'achufet  Colony.  One  is  this  :  /  appeal  to  any 
competently  judicious  and  fober-minded  Man,  if 
the  Denial  of  Rule  in  the  Presbytery,  of  a  Deci- 
five  Voice  in  the  Synod,  and  of  the  Power  of  the 
Magifirate  in  Matters  of  Religion,  do  not  in  ibfc 
Point  tranflate  the  Papal  Power  unto-  the  Bro- 
therhood of  every  Congregation.  Another  is  this  : 
Tou  have  been  among  the  firft  of  Magi  Urates, 


which  have  approved  and  pratlifed  the  Congre- 
gational Way  j  nofmall  Favour  from  God,  nor 
Honour  to  your  J "elves,  with  the  Generation  to 
come,  when  that  fhall  appear  to  be  the  Way  of 
Chrift. 

§  18.  But  we  lay  nothing  of  Norton,  if  we 
don't  fbeak  of  an  Orthodox  Evangelifi.  Being 
himfelf  fuch  an  one,  he  digefted  the  Subtleties 
of  the  Schoolmen  into  folid  and  wholefomu  Chri- 
ftianity,  which  he  publifhed  in  a  Treatiie  enti- 
tuled,  The  Orthodox  Evangelifi  :  Wherein  he 
handles  the  abftruie  Points  of  the  Exiftence  and 
Subfiftence,  and  Ejficience  of  God,  and  the  Per- 
fon  of  Chrift,  and  the  Methods  of  the  Spirit  in 
uniting  us  to  him  ;  and  the  Doclrine  of  Jufli- 
fication, with-  the  future  and  happy  State  of  the 
Saints  -,  all  in  fuch  a  manner,  that  Mr.  Cotton 
faw  caufe  to  fay  in  his  Preface  to  this  Treatiie, 
Cluficrs  of  ripe  Grapes  pajfing  under  the  Prefs, 
are  fit  to  be  tranf ported  unto  all  Nations  •  thus, 
fuch  Gifts  and  Labours  pajfing  under  the  Prejs, 
may  be  fitly  communicated  to  all  Churches.  The 
Pbyficians  do  f peak,  there  are  Pillule  fine  Qui- 
bus  effe  nolo  -Jo  the re  are  Libelli  line  quibus,yw«*? 
Books,Sine  quibus  effe  nolo ;  and  this  is  one  of 'cm. 
This  Book  he  dedicated  unto  his  own  Church,  in 
Ipfwich  ;  and  in  the  Clofe  of  his  Dedication,  I 
cannot  forget  this  emphatical  palfage,  Tou  are 
our  Glory  and  Joy  :  Forget  not  the  Emphafis  in 
the  Word,  Our  :  Minifter s,  compared  with  other 
Chrift  tans,  have  little  to  joy  in  in  this  World :  It 
is  not  with  the  Mtnijlers  of  the  prefent,  as  with 
the  Minifter s  of  late  Times  -,  nor  zvith  the  Exiles^ 
as  with  the  reft;  nor  with  your  Exiles,  as  with 
fome  others.  Let  this  Out,  or  if  you  pleafe  Your 
Condition,  for  therein  you  have  been  both  Parta- 
kers with  us,  and  Supporters  of  us-,  be  your  Pro- 
vocation. Thus  and  more  than  thusuleful,  was 
this  Bradwardin  of  New-England,  while  Ipfwich 
had  him. 

§ip.  When  Cotton,  that  Man  of  God,  layfick 
of  the  Sicknefs  whereof  he  died,  his  Church  de- 
fired  that  he  would  nominate  and  recommend  a 
fit  Perfon  tofucceedhim  ;  and  headvifed  thern 
to  apply  themfelves  unto  Mr.  Norton,  hoping 
that  the  Church  of  Ipfwich  being  accommodated 
with  fuch  another  eminent  Perlbn  asMr.  Rogers, 
would  out  of  refpe£t  unto  the  general  Good  of 
all  the  People  of  God  throughout  the  Land,  fo 
far  deny  themfelves,  as  to  difmifs  him  from 
themfelves.  That  ivhich  gave  Encouragement 
unto  this  Bufinefs,  was  not  a  Dream  of  Mr.  Cot- 
ton's, tho'  it  was  indeed  a  ftrange  thing,  that 
Mr.  Cotton  in  his  Illnefs,  being  follicitous  what 
Counfel  to  give  unto  his  Church,  he  dream'd, 
that  he  law  Mr.  Norton  riding  unto  Boflon,  to' 
fucceed  him,  upon  a  White  Horfe,  in  Circ'um 
Itances  that  were  exaffly  afterwards  accom- 
plifhed  :  And  when  Mr.  WilJ'on,  with  his  Flock, 
faw  the  thing  accomplifhed,  it  caufed  them  to 
look  upon  Mr.  Norton,  almoft  with  the  fame 
Eye,,  that  old  Narciffus,  with  the  Church  at 
Jerufalem,  did  upon  Alexander,  when  upon  the 
warning  of  a  Voice  from  Heaven,  to  take  him, 
whom  they  fhould  fo  find,  they  found  him  out 
of  the  City,  provided  for  them,     But  it  was  a 

Defign 


X 


Book  111.        I  he  Hijloxy  of  New-England. 


37 


Defign  which  Mr.  Norton  had  of  returning  for 
England:  A  Deiign  which  he  hid  ib laid  before 
his  People,  as  to  obtain  their  Grant,  that  ir' up- 
on Itaying  a  Twelve  Month  longer  among  them, 
there  did  occur  no  occafion  lor  him  to  alter  his 
purpofes,rhey  would  not  oppofe  his  going.  Now 
when  the  Agents  of  the  Church  at  Bofton,  made 
this  Motion  to  the  Church  of  Ipfwich,  there  was 
much  debate  about  it  ;    wherein  at  length  an 
honeft  Brother  made  this  Propofai  :  Brethren,  a 
Cafe  in  fome  things  like  to  this,  was  once  that 
way  determined  :  We  will  call  the  Damfel,  and 
enquire  at  her  Mouth  :   Wherefore  I  propoje, 
that  our  Teacher  himfelf  be  enquired  of,  whether 
he  be  inclined  to  go  ?   They  then  put  that  Que- 
ftion  to  Mr.  Norton  himfelf,  who  being  troubled 
at  the  Offer  of  the  Queftion  unto  him,  anfwer- 
ed,  That  if  they  judged  fuch  Reajons  as  caujed 
his  Removal  from  Europe  into  America,  now  calVd 
for  his  Removal  from  Ipfwich  to  Bofton,  hefhould 
refign  himfelf ;  but  he  could  not  be  AHive.  How- 
ever, at  length,  they  confented,  that  he  fhould 
for  the  prefent,  go  fojourn  at  Bofton,  to  try,  and 
fee  how  far  the  Will  of  God  about  this  matter, 
might  be  afterwards  difcovered  ;  but  after  Mr. 
Norton  was  gone,  many  of  the  People  fell  into 
a  very  unreafonable  Indifpofition  towards  Mr. 
Rogers,  as  if  he  had  not  been  Attive  enough,  al- 
tho'  he  had,  indeed,  been  as  A£live,  as  he  well 
could  be,  to  retain  his  Collegue  among  them. 
The  Melancholly  Temper  of  Mr.  Rogers  felt  fo 
deep  an  Impreflion  from  thofe  Paroxijms,  and 
Murmurings  of  the  People,  that  it  is  thought, 
his  End  was  thereby  haftned  ;  but  the  Church, 
upon  the  Death  of  Mr.  Rogers,  renewing  their 
Demands  of  Mr.  Norton's  Return,  a  Council  was 
upon  that  occafion  called  ;  which  Council  advifed 
Ipfwich  to  grant  Mr.  Norton  a  fair  DifmifTion 
unto  the  Service  of  Bofton,  and  in  Bofton,  of  all 
Ne tv  England.    However  divers  lefler  Councils, 
that  were  fucceffively  called  on  this  Occaiion, 
could  not  comfortably   procure  this  Difmiffjon, 
till  at  laft  the  Governour  and  Magiftrates  of  the 
Colony  called  a  Council  for  this  end ;  in  their 
Order  for  which,  they  intimate  their  Concern, 
left  while  the  two  Churches  were  contending, 
which  of  them  fhould  enjoy  Mr.  Norton,  they 
fhould  both  of  them,  and  the  whole  Country 
with  them,  lofe  that  Reverend  Perfon,  by  his 
profecuting  his  Inclination  to  remove  into  Eng- 
land.    Hereupon  fuch  a  Difmijfion  could-  not  be 
denied  ;   but  now  Bofton  joyfully  receiving  Mr. 
Norton,  Ipfwich  applied   themfelves  unto  Mr. 
Cobbet,  who  afterwards  continued  a  rich  Bleffing 
among  them.     And  Mr.  Norton  did  indeed,  the 
part  of  a  furviving  Brother  for  Mr.  Cotton,  in 
railing  up,  or  at  leaft  keeping  up  the  Name  of 
that  Great  Man,  by  publifhing  a  moft  elegant 
Account  of  his  Life,  part  whereof  was  after- 
wards tranferibed  by  Sam.  Clark,  into  his  Colle- 
ctions. 

§  20.  Mr.  Norton  being  now  tranfplanted  in- 
to that  Garden  which  our  Lord  had  in  Bofton, 
did  there  bring  forth  much  of  that  Fruit  where- 
by the  heavenly  father  was  glorified.  There  he 
preached,  he  wrote,  hepray'd.  ;md  maintained 


without  any  Prelatical  Epifcopacy,  a  Care  of  all 
the  Churches.  And  New-England  being  a  Coun- 
try whofe  Interefts  were  moft  remarkably  and 
generally  enwrapped  in  itsEcclefiaftical  Circum- 
Itances,  there  were  many  good  Offices,  which 
Mr.  A  or  ton  did  for  the  Peace  of  the  whole  Coun- 
try, by  his  wife  Counjels  upon  many  Occafions, 
given  to  its  Counfellors.  In  truth,  if  he  had  ne- 
ver done  any  thing,  but  that  one  thing  of  pre- 
venting by  his  wife  Interpofition,  the  Afts  of 
Hoftility,  which  were  like  to  pais  between  Our 
People,  and  the  Dutch  at  Manhatocs,  that  alone 
were  well  worth  his  coming  into  the  Station 
which  he  now  had  at  Bofton.  But  the  Service 
which  now  moft  fignalized  him,  was,  his  Agency 
it  White  Hall;  for  it  being  found  neceffary  to 
Addrefs  the  Reftored  King  ;  the  Worfhipful  Si- 
mon Bradjlreet,  Efq;  and  this  Reverend  Mr.  John 
Norton,  were  lent  over  as  Agents  from  the  Co- 
lony ,with  an  Addrefs  unto  His  Majefty  -,  where- 
in there  were ,  among  others ,  the  following 
Paffages. 

'  We  fupplicate  Your  Majefty  for  your  Gra- 
c  cious  Protection  of  us,  in  the  Continuance  both 
'  of  our  Civil,  and  of  our  Religious  Liberties  ; 
'  according  to  the  Grantees  known  End  of  Suing 
'  for  the  Patent,  conferr'd  upon  this  Plantation 
'  by  Your  Royal  Father.  Our  Liberty  to  Walk 
c  in  the  faith  of  the  Go/pel,  with  all  good  Conjci- 
'  ence,  according  to  the  Order  of  the  Go/pel,  was 
'  the  Caufe  of  our  tranfporting  our  felves,  with 
'  our  Wives,our  Little  Ones,  and  our  Subftance. 
'  from  that  pleafant  Land,  over  the  Atlantick 
'  Ocean,  into  the  Vaft  Wildernefs ;  choofing 
c  rather  the  pure  Scripture  Worfhip,  with  a 
c  good  Confcience,  in  this  remote  Wildernefs, 
'  than  the  Pleafures  of  England,  with  Submif- 
'  fion  to  the  Impofitions  of  the  then  fo  difpofed, 
'  and   fo  far  prevailing  Hierarchy,   which  we 

c  could  not  do  without  an  evil  Confcience 

'  We  are  not  Seditious  as  to  the  Interefts  of  C*- 
'  Jar,  nor  Schifmatical  as  to  the  Matters  of  Re- 
c  ligion.    We  diftinguifh   between  Churches, 

•  and  their  Impurities. We  could  not  live 

'  without  the  Publick  Worfhip  of  God,  nor  be 
'  permitted  the  Publick  Worfhip,  without  fuch 
'  a  Take  of  Subjcriptwn  and  Conformity,  as  we 
'  could  not  confent  unto  without  Sin.  That  we 
'  might,  therefore,  enjoy  Divine  Worfhip,  free 
'  from  Human  Mixtures,  without  Offence  to 
'  God,  Man,  and  our  own  Confciences,  we, 
'  with  Leave,  but  not  without  Tears,  departed 
c  from  our  Country,  Kindred,  and  Fathers  Hou- 
c  fes,  into  this  Patmos. — — 

It  was  in  February  1  <5<5*,  that  they  began 
their  Voyage,  and  it  was  in  September  follow- 
ing, that  they  returned  :  Mr.  Norton's  place 
being  the  mean  time  fupplied  by  the  Neigh- 
bouring Minifters,  taking  of  their  Turns.  And 
by  their  Hands  the  Country  received  the  King's 
Letters,  wherein  he  fignified,  That  the  Expref- 
fions  of  their  Loyalty  and  Affe&ion  to  Him, 
were  very  acceptable,  and  that  confirming  to 
them  their  Priviledges,  He  would  cherifh  them 
with  all  manner  of  Encouragement  and  Prote- 
ction. 

§  21. 


38 


§  21. 

of  our 


The  Hijlory  of  New-England.       Book  III. 

Such  has  been  the  Jealous  Difpofition  1  Lombard  muft  out  of  Date;  we  now  profefs 
New-Englandcrs  about    their  Dearly- 1  Norton,  the  Mailer  of 'the  Sentences  ; 


bought  Privileges,  and  fuch  alfo  has  been  the 
Various  Underftar.ding  of  the  People  about  the 
Extent  of  thofe  Privileges,  ■■  that  of  all  the 
Agents,  which  they  have  lent  over  unto  the 
Court  of  England,  for  now  Forty  Years  toge- 
ther, I  know  not  any  One,  who  did  Hot  at  his 
Return,  meet  with  fome  very  frow3rd  Enter- 
tainment among  his  Country-men  :  And  there 
may  be  the  Wifdom  of  the  Hoiy  and  Righteous 
God,  as  well  as  the  Malice  of  the  Evil  One, 
acknowledged,  in  the  Ordering  of  fuch  Tempta- 
tions. Of  thefe  Temptations,  a  conhderahle 
fhare  fell  to  Mr.  Norton  -,  concerning  whom 
there  were  many,  who  would  not  Hick  to  fay, 
that  he  had  laid  the  Foundation  of  Ruine  to  all 
our  Liberties  ;  and  his  melancholly  Mind  ima- 
gined, that  his  belt  friends  began  t-herefore  to 
look  awry  upon  him. 

§  22.  In  the  Spring  before  his  going  for  Eng- 
land, he  Preached  an '  Excellent   Sermon  unto 
the  Representatives  of  the  whole  Colony,  Af- 
fembled  at  the  Court  or  Ekiiion,  wherein   I 
take  particular  Notice  of  this   Paifage,  MSfes 
was  the  Me  eke  ft  Man  on  Earth,  yet  it  went   III 
■  ioith  Mofes,  'tit  J  aid,  for  their    Sokes.     How 
long  did  Mofes  live  at  Meribah  ?  Sure  1  am ;  it 
kilfd  him  in  a  Jhort  Time  ;  a  Alan  of  at  Good 
a  Temper  as   could  be  expeffed  jrom  a   meer 
Man  :  I  tell  you,  it  will  not  only  kill  the  'People, 
hut  it  will  quickly  kill  Mofes  too1.  And  in  the 
Spring  after  his  Return  from  England,  he  found 
his  own  Obfervation  in  himfelf  too  much  Ex- 
emplified.   It  was  commonly  judged,  That  the 
Smothered  Griefs  of  his  Mind,  upon  the  Un- 
kind Refentments,    which    he   thought  many 
People  had  of  his  Faithful  and   Sincere  En- 
deavours to   ferve  them,    did,    more  than  a 
little,  haften  his  End  •,  an  End,  wheteat  JOHN 
NORTON  went,  according  to  the  Anagram 
of  his  Name   INTO  HONNOR.     But  he  had 
the  Privilege  to  enter  into  Immortality,  with- 
out fuch  a  Formal  and  Feeling  Death,  as  the 
moll  of  Mortals  encounter  with  ;  for  though 
in  the  Forenoon  of  April  5.  316153.  it  was  his 
Dehgn  to  have  Preached  in  the  Afternoon,  he 
was  that  Afternoon  taken  with  a  fudden  Lypo 
thymic,  which  prefently  and  eafily  carried  him 
away  to   thofe  Glories,  wherein  the  Weary  are 
at  Rcji  ■,  but  it  was  a  Dark  Night,  which  the 
Inhabitants  of  Bojion  had    upon  the  Noife  of 
his  Death :   Every  Corner   of  the  Town   was 
filled  with  Lamentations,  which  left  a  Chara 
fter  upon  that  Night,  unto  this  Day,  not  for- 
gotten !  His   deareft  Neighbour,    Mr.  Richard 
Mather,  wept  over  him  at  his  Funeral,  which 
was  on.  the  next  Leilure  Day,  a  Sermon  moff 
agreeable  to  the  occafion  -,  And  the  Son  of  his 
Fellow-Traveller,    Mr.   Thomas  Shepard,   was 
one  of  the  many,  who  bellowed   their  Elegies 
upon  him  ;  ufing  this,  among  his  other  Strokes. 

The  5'choolmens  Doclors,  whomfoe're  they  calf 
Subtil,  Seraphic k,  or  Angelical: 
Dull  Souls !  Their  Tapers  buriit  exceeding  Dim ; 
They  might  to  School  again,  to  learn  of  him. 


Scot  us,  a  Dunce  to  him  ;  mould  we  compare 
Aquino*,  here,  none  to  be  named  are. 

Of  a  more  Heavenly  Strain,  his  Notions  were, 
More  pure,  Sublime,  Scholaft ical,  and  clear. 
More  like  th'  Apoftles  P<////and  John,  I  wiff, 
Was  this  our  Orthodox  Evangelijl. 

Which  Lines  accompanied  with  Mr.  Wilfori's 
Anagrammatifing  of  JOHANNES  NOR- 
TON US  into  Nonne  ii  Honoratus  ?  Will  give 
him  his  deferved  Character. 

§23.  He  that  ihall  Read  the  Tragical  Ro- 
mances, written  by  that  Brazen  fic'd  Lyar  Bol- 
/ecus,  concerning  the  Deaths  of  fuch  Men  as 
Calvin  and  Beza,  or  fuch  monftrous  Writings 
as  thofe  of  Tympius,  Cochleus,  Gcnebard,  and 
fome  others,  who  would  bear  the  World  in 
hand,  that  Luther  and  Qecolampadim  Learn'd 
the  Protcftant  Religion  of  the  Devil,  and  were 
at  laft  kill'd  by  him  -,  and  that  Bucer  had  his. 
Guts  pull'd  out  and  call  about  by  the  Devil  ; 
will  net  wonder  if  I  tell  him,  that  after  the 
Death  of  Mr.  Norton,  the  Quakers  published  a 
Libel  by  them  called,  .i  Reprefentation  to  King 
and  Parliament-,  wherein,  pretending  to  Re- 
port fome  Remarkable  Judgments  upon  their  Per- 
secutors, they  infert  this  PalTage,  '  John  Nor- 
'  ton  Chief  Prieft  in  Bojion,  by  the  immediate 
c  Power  of  the  Lord,  was  fmitten,  and  as  he 
c  was  finking  down  by  the  Fire  fide,  being  un- 
'  der  juft  Judgment,  he  confeffed  the  Hand  of 
'  the  Lord  was  upon   him,   and  fo  he  uicd. 

Which  they  mention,  as  a  Judgment  upon. 

a  Perfecutor.  Whereas,  the  Death  of  this 
Good  Man,  was  attended  with  no  Circumftan- 
ces,  but  what  unto  a  Good  Man  might  be  Eli- 
gible and  Comfortable,  and  circumfVanced  far 
other-wife  than  it  was  by  thofe  Revilers  Repre- 
fented.  But  it  was  neceffary  for  that  Enchanted 
People,  thus  to  revenge  themfelves  upon  one,, 
who  amongft  his  other  Services  to  the  Church 
of  God,  already  mentioned,  had,  at  the  defire 
of  the  General  Court,  written  a  Book,  Entituled, 
The  Heart  of  New  England  rent  at  the  Blafphe- 
niies  of  the  Prefent  Generation-,  Or,  a  Brief 
1  rati  ate  concerning  the  Dollrine  of  the  Quakers: 
Which  Dotlrine  was  in  this  Tractate  folidly 
confuted.  And  perhaps,  it  had  been  better  if 
this  had  been  all  the  c  onfutation  ;  which  I  add, 
becaufe  I  will  not,  I  cannot  make  my  felf  a 
Vindicator  of  all  the  Severities,  with  which 
the  Zeal  of  fome  Eminent  Men  hath  fometimes 
Enraged  and  Increafed,  rather  than  Reclaimed 
thofe  miferable  Hoeticks  :  But  wifh  that  the 
Quakers  may  be  ireared  as  Queen  Elisabeth  di- 
recled  the  Lord  Prelident  of  the  North  to  treat 
the  Papifts  ;  when  fhe  adviied  him  to  convince 
them  with  Argument,  rather  than  fupprefs  them 
with  Violence-,  to  that  purpofe  ufing  of  the 
Words  of  the  Prophets,  Nolo  Mortem  Pecca- 
toris. 

§  24.  Not  long  after  his  Death,  his  Friends 
publifhed  Three  Sermons  of  his,  which  for  the 

Circumstances 


Book  III.      The  Hijlory  of  New-Englatid. 


*    i     T 

39 


Circumftances  of  them  could  have  been  Entitu- 
led,  Tbefe  were  the  laji  Words  of  that  Servant 
of  the  Lord.  The  Firlt  of  the  Sermons,  was  the 
laji  Sermon,  which  he  preach'd  at  the  Court 
of  Eleliion  at  Bojlon.  It  is  on  Jer.  10.  17.  enti- 
tuled,  Sion  the  Out- call  healed  of  her  Wounds  : 
And  there  are  two  or  three  PalTages  in  it,  which 
I  cannot  but  recommend  unto  the  peculiar  Con- 
fideration  of  the  preient  Generation 

"  To  differ  from  our  Orthodox,  Pious,  and 
K  Learned  Brethren,  is  fuch  an  Affliction  to  a 
"  Chriftian  and  an  Ingenuous  Spirit,  as  nothing 
"  but  Love  to  the  Truth  could  arm  a  Man  of 
"  Peace  againft.  Our  Profefiion  being  in  a 
"  way  differing  from  thefe  and  thofe,  it  con- 
"  cerns  us,  that  our  walking  be  very  Cautelous, 
"  and  that  it  be  without  giving  any  Juft  Of- 
"  fence. 

Again,  In  matters  of  State  and  Church,  Let 
it  be  Jhovon  that  we  are  his  Difciples,  who  J aid. 
Give  unto  Cefar  the  things  that  are  Cefars,  and 
Give  unto  God  the  things  that  are  God's :  And 
in  Matters  of  Religion,  Let  it  be  known,  That 
we  are  for  Reformation  and  not  for  Separation. 

—  Once  more,  ■ I  may  fay  thus  much  (and 

pardon  my  Speech)  A  more  yielding  Miniftry 
unto  the  People  than  ours,  I  believe  is  not  in 
the  World.  J  befeech  you,  Let  not  Carfar  be 
killed  in  the  Senate,  after  he  hath  conquered  in 
the  Field.  Let  us  acknowledge  the  Order  of  the 
Elderfhip,  in  our  Churches,  in  their  Way ;  and 
the  Order  ^Councils  in  their  Way,  duely  backed 
and  encouraged  :  Without  which  Experience  will 
witnefs  that  thefe  Churches  cannot  long  conftjl. 

The  Second  of  the  Sermons,  was  the  laji  Ser- 
mon which  he  preached  on  the  Lord's  Day.  It 
is  on  Joh.  14.  3.  entituled,  The  Believers  Con- 
Jolation  in  the  Remembrance  of  his  Heavenly  Man- 
fion,  prepared  for  him  by  Chrijl. 
..,  The  Third  of  the  Sermons  was  the  laji  Ser- 
mon, which  he  Preach'd  on  his  Leffure.  It  is  on 
Heb.  8.  5.  entituled,  The  Evangelical  Worfhipper, 
fubje  fling  to  the  P  refer  ipt  ion  and  Sovereignty  of 
Scripture  Pattern. 

§  25.  The  Three  Sermons  thus  Publifhed  as 
the  laji,  or  the  Dropt  Mantle  of  this  Elias,  are 
accompanied  with  the  Tranllation  of  a  Letter, 
which  was  compofed  in  Latin  by  Mr.  Norton, 
and  fubferibed  by  more  than  Forty  of  the  Mi- 
nifters,  on  this  Occafion. .  The  Famous  John 
Dury  having  from  the  Year  1635.  been  moft 
indetutigably  labouring  for  a  Pacification,  be- 
tween the  Reformed  Churches  in  Europe,  com- 
municated his  Defign  to  the  Minifters  of  New- 
England,  requeuing  their  Concurrence  and  Coun- 
tenance unto  his  Generous  Undertaking.  In 
anfwer  to  Him,  this  Letter  was  written  -,  and 
there  are  one  or  two  Paffages,  which  I  chufe 
to  tranferibe  from  it,  becaufe  as  well  the  Spirit 
of  our  Norton,  as  the  Story  of  our  Country,  is 
therein  Indigitated. 

Redeunt  in  Memoriam,  iff  redeunt  quidem  non 
fine  Santfiori  Sympathia,  Beat£  illce  Animx,  Me- 
lancfhonis  iff  Parei  ntn  en  atiois,  hie 
inter  Reformatos,  il/e  inter  Evangelicos,  Vir 


Confummatifjimm.      Riorum   Alter   Haganoam 
iterfaciens,  ita  Ingemuit. 

Viximus  in  Synodk,  &  jam  moriemur  in  illis 

Alter  Vero,  Super  Eriflica  Euchariflica  Med'i 
tabundus,  in  hac  Verba  Erupit,  Defeffus  fum 
Difputando.  Nimirum,  illis  Judicibus,  Oran 
dum  potius  quam—  Difputandum  ;  Vivendum 
non  Litigandum.  lorfitan  iff  Confilia  Pads., 
Stimulanti  recent i  Ira  hattcnus,  minus  grata  fu- 
ere,  utriufque  partis  Theologi  Rixis  diuturnio- 
ribus  aliquando  fejji  iff  Subafli,  aquis  animh 
Sufcipere,  nou  molefle  ferunt :  Mare  pacificum 
Aquis  Meribanis,  Longo  Re  rum  ufu  Edotti,  an- 
te ferentes. 

'  We  may  here  call  to  Mind,  and  not  with- 
1  out  fome  Sacred  Sympathy,  thofe  Blelted 
'  Souls, ..  MelanUhon  and  Parens,  now  among 
c  the  Bleffed,  the  one  no  lefs  Famous  among 
'  the  Reformed,  than  the  other  among  the  Evdn- 
'  gelicks.  Of  thefe,  the  one  going  towards 
'  Haganoa,  with  Sighs  uttered  thefe  Words, 

In  Synods  hitherto  we  lived  have, 

And  novo  in  them,  return  unto  the  Grave. 

'  The  other  ferioufly  meditating  on  the  Con- 
6  troverfy  of  the  Eucharijl,  brake  forth  into  thefe 
'  Words;  I  am  weary  with  Difputing.  Thus,  if 
'  thefe  might  be  Judges,  we  ought  rather  to 
'  Pray  than  Difpute,  and  ftudy  how  to  Livet 
'  rather  than  Contend.  And  perhaps  the  Di 
'  vines  of  either  Part,  after  they  have  been 
'  wearied  and  broke  in  their  Spirits  with  daily  . 
'  and  continual  Contentions,  will  more  readily 
'  accept  of  the  Counfels  of  Peace,  which  hither- 
c  to  have  been  lefs  acceptable,  while  the  Senfe 
5  of  Anger  has  been  fpurring  of  them:  After 
'  they  have  been  taught  by  long  ufe,  they  may 
'  prefer  the  Waters  of  the  Pacific  Sea,  before 
c  thofe  of  Meribah. 

Graticut  agimus  Domino  Dureo,  cut  Jofephi 
Longe  terra  maiique  a  fratribus  DiJJiti,  memi- 
nifje  Cordi  fuit :  §>_ui  nos  Mifellos,  in  Cilicio, 
Cilicio  autem  ipfi  confidimus  Evangelico,  Mili- 
t antes,  tarn  Aufpicato  Nuncio  invifere  dignatut 
eft  :  §>ui  Novam  Angliam,  quafi  particulam  ali. 
quam  Fimbria  Vejlimenti  Aaronid,  unguento  pr<e~ 
diviti  delibutam,  in  Album  Syncretifmi,  Longe 
celeberrimi,  adferibere,  non  adfpernatur :  §>ui 
porro  Litteris  aiSyncretifmum  hortatoriis,  fub- 
inde  nobis  An/am  pr<ebuit  Teflimonium  hoc,  quale 
quale,  perhibendi  Communionis  nojlra  fraterna, 
cum  univerfa  Cohorte  Protelfantium,  fidem  Jefu 
Chrijli  profit entium.  Ingenue  enim  fatemur, 
tranquilla  tarn  quum  erant  Omnia,  nee  Signa  Mi' 
nantia  ftgnis  ad  hue  nobis  confpiciebdntur -,  quip- 
pequibus,  Epifcopis,  ilia  Tempejlate  Rer urn  Do- 
minis,  publico  Miniflerio  Defurtgi,  nedum  Sa- 
cris  frui,  fme  Subfcriptione  iff  Conformitate, 
(ut  loqui  folent)  utque  adeo  Humanarum  Adin- 
ventionum,  in  Divinis,  Commixtione,  non  Lice- 
ret,  iff  fatius  vifum  eft,  vel  in  Longinquas,  iff 
Incultas  Terrzirum-Orajf,  Cultus  purioris  Ergo 
concejfiffe,  quam  Oneri  Hierarchico,  cum  Rerum 
F  f  f  Omnium 


4-o 


The  Hiflory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 


Omnium  Afflucntia,  Confcientix  autem  Difpendw, 
fuccubuiffe.  At  patriam  fugiendo^  nos  Ecclefia- 
rumEvangelicarum  Communioni  A1 'uncium  mififfe ■, 
hoc  vera  cfi  quod  fide /iter  Hf  Santle  pernegamus. 

'■  We  give  thanks  to  Mr.  Dury%  into  whofe 
"Heart  it  came  to  remember,  Jofepb  feparatc 
'  from  bis  Brethren  at  lb  great  a  Diltance  both 
'  by  Sea  and  Land  :  And  who  hath  vouchfafed 
c  with  fo  comfortable  a  Meflage  to  vifit  us 
1  poor  People,  cloathed  in  Sackcloth,  for  our 
4  Warfare  ;  yet,  as  we  truit,  the  Sackcloth  ot 
c  the  Gofpel :  Who  hath  not  refuted  to  put 
c  New  England  as  part  of  the  Skirt  of  Aaron's 
c  Garment,  upon  which  hath  defcended  fome 
c  of  the  Precious  Oyl,  into  the  Catalogue  of 
'  the  fo  much  famed  Agreement .-  And  who 
'  hath  by  his  Letter  exhorting  to  fuch  Agree 
u  ment  given  us  an  Occafion  to  bring  in  this 
*  Teitimony,  fuch  as  it  is,  for  our  Brotherly 
1  Communion  with  the  whole  Company  of  Pro- 
'  tefiants  pro  tiffing  the  Faith  of  Chriit  Jefus. 
c  For  we  mult"  ingenuoully  confefs,  that  then, 
'  when  all  things  were  quiet,  and  no  threat- 
'  ning  Signs  of  War  appeared,  feeing  we  could 
c  not  he  permitted  by  the  Bijhcfs,  at  that  time 
c  prevailing  to  perform  the  Office  of  the  Mini- 
'  ltry  in  Publiek,  nor  yet  to  enjoy  the  Holy  Or- 
'  dinances,  without  Subfcription  and  Confor- 
'  rn'ity  (as  they  were  wont  to  fpeak)  nor  with- 
'  out  the  Mixture  of  Humane  Inventions  with 
'  Divine  Infiitutions,  we  chofe  rather  to  depart 
'■  into  the  remote  and  unknown  parts  of  the 
'  Earth,  for  the  fake  of  a  Purer  Worfhip,  than 

to  ly  down  under  the  Hierarchy  in  the  Abun 
'■  dance  of  all  things,  but  with  Prejudice  of 
;  Confcience.  But  that  in  flying  from  our 
;  Country,  we  fhould  renounce  Communion  with 
-  fuch  Churches,  as  profefs  the  Go/pel,  is  a 
'•  thing,,  which  we  confidently  and   iolemnly 

*  deny. • 

Qiiofcunque  apud  Cati/s,  per  Univerfum  Evan- 
gelicorum  chorum,  Fundamental  Doftrina:  & 
Effentialia  Ordinis,  Vigeunt,  quamvis  in  plcrif- 
que  Controverfia:  Theologicar,  Apicibus  nobif- 
cum  ju.xta  minus  Sentiant,  illos  tamen  ad  unum 
Omnes,  pro  Fratribus  agnofcimus,  iifque  cetera 
pacific/*,  £y  Ordinate  incedentibus,  a  F  x  I  a  s 
KOINP.NIA2  in  Domino  porrigere,  paratijfi- 
mos,  nos  ej}e  bijee  palam  jacimus. 

'  In  whatever  Affemblies  amongft  the  whole 
c  Company  of  thole  that  profefs  the  Gofpel, 
'  the  Fundamentals  of  Dottrine,  and  Effentia/s 
4  of  Order,  are  maintained,  though  in  many 
1  Niceties  of  Controverfal  Divinity,  they  are  at 

*  lefs  Agreement  with  us,  we  do  hereby  make 
'  it  manifefr,  that   we   do  acknowledge  them 

*  all,  and  every  one  for  Brethren,  and  that  we 
'-  fhall  be  ready  to  give  unto  them  the  Right 

*  Hand  of  Fellowfhip  in  the  Lord,  if  in  other 
:  Things  they  be  Peaceable,  and  walk  Or- 
4  derly. 

§  26.  This  was  our  Norton !  And  we  might 
have  given  yet  a  fuller  Account  of  him,  if  we 


could  have  feen  the  Diary,  which  he  kept  of 
his  Daily  Walk.  However  he  was  well  known 
to  be  a  Great  Example  of  Holinefs,  Watchful 
nefs,  and  Extraordinary  Wifdom  ;  and  though 
he  left  no  Children,  yet  he  has  a  Better  Name 
than  that  of  Sons  and  of  Daughters.  More- 
over, there  was  one  Considerable  part  of  Mi- 
nisterial Work,  wherein  he  not  only  went-ie- 
ybnd  moft  of  his  Age,  but  alfo  proved  a 
Leader  unto  many  Followers.  Though  the 
Minilfers  of  New-England  counted  it  Unlaw- 
ful for  them,  Ordinarily  to  perform  their  Mi- 
niflerial  Alls  of  Solemn  and  Publick  Prayer 
by  Reading  or  Ufing  any  Forms  of  Prayer 
by 


an 


compofed 
Reckoned 
Congregation 
Gift,  which 
to  Neglect; 
who    fhould 


other  Perfons   for  them  ■,  They 
Ability  to  exprcjs  the  Cafe  of  a 
in    Prayer,    to  be   a  Mini  fieri  al 
our    Lord  forbids  His  Minilfers 
They    fuppofed  that  a  Minifter, 
only    Read    Forms  of    Sermons 
compoled  tor  him,   would  as  Truly  Difcharge 
the  Duty    of   Preaching,   as  One  that  fhould 
only  Read  fuch  Forms   of  Prayers,    vvoifld  the 
;  Duty  of  Praying,  in  it:  They  could  not  find, 
that  any  Humane  Yorms  of  Prayers,  were  much 
ufed  in  any  part  of  the  Church,  until  about 
Four  Hundred  Years  alter  Chrilf,  nor  any  made 
lor  more    than  fome    Single  Province,    until 
Six  Hundred  Years;    nor  any    Impofed  until 
Eight  Hundred,  when  all  manner  of  Ill-formed 
Things  began  to   be  found   in  the  Temple  of 
God  :.  Neverthelefs  very  many  of  our  Greateft 
Minifters,  in  our  more  Early  rimes,  did  nor 
ufe  to  Expatiate  with  fuch  a  Significant  and 
Admirable  Variety  in  their  Prayers  before  their 
Sermons,   as  many  of  our  Later  Times  have 
attained  unto:   Nor  indeed  Then  did  They,  nor 
Still  do  We,  count  all  Forms  of  Prayer  Simply 
Unlawful.    But  the   more  General  Improve- 
ments and  Expreflions  of  The  Gift  of  Prayer 
in  our  Minifters,  have   Since  been  the  matter 
of  Obfervation  ;  and  particularly  Mr.  Norton, 
therein  was  truly  Admirable  f  It  even   Tranf- 
ported  the  Souls  of  his  Hearers  to  accompany 
hhn  in  his  Devotions,  wherein  his  Graces  would 
make  Wonderful  Salleys  into  the  vafl  Field  of 
Entertainments,     and   Acknowledgments,   with 
which  we  are  furnifhed  in  the  New-Covenant,  for 
our  Prayers.     I  have  heard  of  a  Godly   Man. 
in   tyfiCich,  who  after  Mr.  Norton's  going  to 
Bofion,  would  Ordinarily  Travel  on  foot  from 
Ipjwich    to  Bofion,    which    is   about    Thirty 
Miles,    for  nothing  but  the  Weekly  Declare. 
there  $    and  he    would  profefs,  That  it    wot 
worth  a  threat  Journey,    to  be  a    Partaker  in 
cue  of  Mr.  Norton's    Prayers.     This  Pattern 
of  Prayer  in  Mr.  Norton,  had  fome  Influence 
upon  ir,  that  fince  his  Time,  our  Pulpits  have 
been  fuller  than  ever  of  Experimental  Demon- 
firations,    that   the   Minilfers  of  the   Gofpel 
may  on   all  Occafions  prefent  their  Supplica- 
tions  before  God,   in  the  Difcharge  of  their 
Miniftry,    with  more  Pertinent,   more  Affeci- 
ing,  more  Expanded   Enlargements,    than  any 
Form  covld  Afford  unto   them.    New  England 
can   fhow,    even  Toung  Minilfers,  who  never 

did 


— — ■ r*    • 

Book  III.     Tie  Hi/lory  of  New-England. 


4i 


did  in  all  all  Things  Repeat  One  Prayer  twice 
over,  in  that  part  of  their  Miniftry  wherein 
we  'are  firft  of  AH,  to  make  Supplications, 
Prayers,  Inter  cejjions,  and  Thankfgwings  •,  and 
yet  fometimes,  for  much  more  than  an  hour 
together,  they  pour  out  their  Souls  unto  the 
Almighty  God  in  fuch  a  Fervent,  Copious,  and 
yet  Prober  Manner,  that  their  moft  Critical 
Auditors,  can  complain  of  Nothing  Difagree 
able,  but  profefs  themfelves  extreamly  Edi- 
fyed. 

But   our  Praying  Norton,    who  while  he 
was  among  us,  Pra/d  with  the  Tongue  of  An- 


gels,  is  now  gone  to  Praife  with  the  Angels 
for  ever. 


Epitapbium. 
Johannes  Nortonus, 

§>uh  fuerat,  Ultra  fi  quceras, 
Digitus  es  qui  Nefcias. 


CHAP.     III. 
Memoria.  W  ILSO  N  I  A,  the    L  I  F  E  of  Mr.  JO  HN  WILSON. 

§  l.nllCH  is  the  Natural  Tendency  in  Hu- 1  For  indeed  this  is  the  Leaji  Thing  that  we  have 
O  mane  Minds  to  Poetry,  That  as  'tis  ob-   to  Relate  of  that  Great  Saint  •,  and  according- 


ry-. 

ferved,  the  Roman  hijlorian,  in  the  very  firft 
Line  of  his  hiftory,  fell  upon  a  Verfe, 

Vrbem  Roman,  In  Principio  Reges  habuere; 

So  the  Roman  Orator^  though  a  very  Mean 
Poet,  yet  making  an  Oration  tyr  a  Good  One, 
could  not  let  his  Firft  Sentence  pafs  him,  with- 
out a  perfect  Hexameter^ 

In  Qua  me  non  Inficior  mediocriter  Effe. 

If  therefore,  I  were  not  of  all  Men  the  moft 
Unpoetical,  my  Reader  might  now  expeft  an 
Entertainment  altogether  in  Verfe;  for  I  am 
going  to  write  the  Life  of  that  NewEnglifh  Di- 


iing- 
ly,  it  is  under  a  more  confiderable  Character, 
that  I  muft  now  exhibit  him,  even  as  a  Father 
to  the  Infant  Colonies  of  New-England. 

§  2.  Mr.  John  Wilfon,  defcending  from  Emi- 
nent Anceftors.  was  born  at  Wind/or  in  the 
Wonderful  Tear  1588.  The  third  Son  of  Dr. 
William  Wilfon,  a  Prebend  of  St.  Pauls,  of  fo- 
chefler  and  of  Winfor,  and  Reftor  of r  Cliff : 
Having  for  his  Mother,  a  Neece  of  Dr.  Ed- 
mund Grindal,  the  moft  Worthily  Renowned 
Arch-Bifhop  of  Canterbury.  His  exa£t  Educa- 
tion under  his  Parents,  which  betimes  Tinged 
him  with  an  Averfation  to  Vice,  and  above  all, 
to  the  very  fhadow  of  a  Lye,  fitted  him  to  un- 
dergo the  further  Education,  which  he  received 


vine,  who  had  fo  nimble  a  Faculty  of  putting  j  in  Eaton  Colledge,  under  Udal  (and  Langley) 
his  Devout  Thoughts  into  Verfe,  that  he  Sig- 
nalized himfelf  by  the  Greateft  frequency,  per- 
haps, that  ever  Man  ufed,  of  fending  Poems  to 
allPerfons,  in  all  Places,  on  all  Occafions ;  and 
upon  this,  as  well  as  upon  Greater  Accounts, 
was  a  David  unto  the  Flocks  of  our  Lord  in  the 
Wilder  nefs  : 


Quicquid  tentabat  Dicere,  Verjus  erat  ; 

Wherein,  if  the  Curious  Reliftied  the  Piety 
fometimes  rather  than  the  Poetry,  the  Capacity 
of  the  Moft,  therein  to  be  accomodated,  muft 
be  confidered.    But  I  intend  no  further  Account 
of  this  matter,  than  what  is  given  by  his  Wor- 
thy Son,  (Reprinting  at  Bofton   in  the  Year 
1680.  the  Verfes  of  his  Father,  upon  the  Fa- 
mous Deliverances  of  the  Englifh  Nation  Print- 
ed at  London,  as  long  ago  as  the  Year   1626.) 
Whofe  Words  are,  What  Volumes  hath  he  Pen- 
ned, for  the  help  of   Others,   in  their  feveral 
Changes  of  Condition  ?  how  wo*  his  Heart  full 
oj  Good  Matter  ?   And  his  Verfes  paft,  like  to 
the  handkerchiefs  earned  from  Paul  to  uphold 
the  ttifconfolate,  anil  he. al  their  Wounded  Souls? 


whom  now  we  may  venture,  after  Poor  Tom 
Tujfer,  to  call,  The  fever  eft  of  Men.     Here  he 
was  moft  Remarkably  twice  delivered  from 
drowning  -,  but  at  his  Book,  he  made  fuch  Pro- 
ficiency, that  while  he  was  the  Leaft  Boy  in 
the  School,  he  was  made  a  Propojitor-,  and 
when  the  Duke  of  Biron,  Embaflador  from  the 
French  King  henry  IV.  to  Queen  Elizabeth,  vi- 
fited  the  School,  he  made  a  Latin  Oration,  for 
which  the  Duke  beftowed  Three  Angels  upon 
him.     After  four  Years  Continuance  at  Eaton, 
he  was  removed  unto  Cambridge,  between  the 
Fourteenth  and  Fifteenth  Year  of  his  Age ;  and 
admitted  into  Kings  Colledge  in  the  Year  1602. 
When  he  came  to  ftand  for  a  Fellow/hip  in  that 
Colledge,  his  Antipathy  to  fome  Horrid  Wicked- 
neflesjwhereto  a  Deteftable  Wretch  that  had  been 
acquainted  with  him,  would  have  betray'd  him, 
caufed  that  Malicious  Wretch  by  Devifed  and 
Accurfed  Slanders  to  ruin  fo  far  the  Reputation 
of  this  Chaft  Youth  with  the   other  Fellows, 
that  had  not  the  Provoft,    who  was  a  Serious 
and  a  Reverend  Perfon,  interpofed  for  him,  he 
had  utterly  loft  his  Priviiedge  -,  which  now  by 
the  Major  Vote  he  obtained.    But  this  Affliction 
F  t  f  2  put 


42 


^fhe  Hifiory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 


put  him  upon  many  Thoughts  and  Prayers  be- 
fore the  Lord. 

§  3.  He  had  hitherto  -teen  according  to  his 
good  Education,  very  civilly  and  foberly  difpo- 
ied  :  But  being  by  the  good  Hand  of  God,  led 
unto  the  Miniltry  of  fuch  holy  Men  as  Mr. 
Bains,  Dr.  Taylor,  Dr.  Chaderton,  he  was  by 
their  Sermons  enlightned  and  awakened,  unto 
more  fpl'rcitous  Enquiries  after,  The  one  thing 
yet  lacking  in  him.  The  ferious  Difpofitions  or 
his  Mind,  were  now  fuch,  that  befides  his  pur- 
fuance  after  the  Works  of  Repentance  in  him- 
lelt,  he  took  no  little  pains  to  purfue  it  in  o- 
thers  -,  efpecially  the  Malefactors  in  the  Prifons, 
which  he  vifited  with  a  devout,  fedulous,  and 
iuccefsful  Induftry.  Neverthelefs,  being  fore 
{tailed  with  Prejudices  againff  the  Puritans  of 
thofe  Times,  as  if  they  had  held,  he  knew  not 
well  what  odd  Things,  he  declined  their  Ac 
quaintjnce  5  altho'  his  good  Converfation  had 
made  him  to  be  accounted  one  of  them  himfelf. 
Until  going  to  a  Bookfellei's  Shop,  to  augment 
his  well  furnim'd  Library,  he  light  upon  that 
famous  Book  of  Mr.  Richard  Rogers,  called, 
The  Seven  Treatifes  :  Which  when  he  had  read, 
he  fo  aftefted,  not  only  the  Matter,  but  alfo  the 
Author  of  the  Book,  that  he  took  a  Journey 
unto  Wethersfield,  on  purpofe  to  hear  a  Sermon 
from  that  Boanerges.  When  he  had  heard  the 
Heavenly  Paflages  that  fell  from  the  Lips  of 
that  worthy  Man,  privately,  as  well  as  pub- 
lickly,  and  compared  therewithal  the  Writings 
of  Greenbampf  Dod,ind  of  lV/7f,efpecially,  The 
Pathway  to  Heaven,  written  by  the  Author  laft 
mentioned,  he  faw  that  they  who  were  Nick- 
named Puritans,  were  like  to  be  the  defirableft 
Companions,  for  one  that  intended  his  own 
everlalfing  Happinefs  ;  and  purfuant  unto  the 
Advice  which  he  had  from  Dr.  Ames,  he  af- 
fociated  himfelf  with  a  Pious  Company  in 
the  Univerfity  -,  who  kept  their  Meetings  in 
Mr.  Wilfon's  Chamber,  for  Prayer,  Faiting, 
Holy  Conference,  and  the  Exercifes  of  true  De- 
votion. 

§  4.  But  now  perceiving  many  good  Men  to 
fcruple  many  of  the  Rites  pra&ifed  and  impofed 
in  the  Church  of  England,  he  furnifhed  himfelf 
■with  all  the  Books  that  he  could  find  written  on 
the  Cafe  of  Conformity,  both  Pro  and  Con,  and 
pondered  with  a  molt  Confcientious  Delibera- 
tion, the  Arguments  on  both  fides  produced.  He 
was  hereby  fo  convinced  of  the  Evil  in  Confor- 
mity, that  at  length,  for  his  obfervable  OmifTi- 
on,  of  certain  Uninttituted  Ceremonies  in  the 
Worfhip  of  God,  the  Bifhop  of  Lincoln  then 
vifiting  the  Univerfity,  pronounced  upon  him 
the  Sentence  of  Qiiindenum  ;  that  is,  that  befides 
other  Mortifications,he  muff  within  fifteen  Days 
have  been  expelled,  if  he"  continued  in  his  Of- 
fence. His  Father  being  hereof  advifed,  with 
all  Paternal  Affe&ion,  wrote  unto  him  to  Con- 
form -,  and  at  the  fame  time  interceded  with  the 
Bifhop,  that  he  might  have  a  Quarter  of  a  Year 
allowed  him  ;  in  which  time,  if  he  could  not 
be  reduced  ,  he  fhould  then  leave  his  Fel- 
lowfhip  in   the  Colled ge.    Hereupon  he  fent 


him  unto  feveral  Doftors  of  Grear  Fame,  to  get 
his  Objections  refolved  ;  but  when  much  Di- 
fcourfe,  and  much  Writing,  had  paifed  between 
them,  lie  was  rather  the  more  confirmed  in  his 
Principles  about  Church-Reformation.  Where- 
fore his  Father,  then  diverting  him  from  the 
Defigns  of  the  Mmifiry,  difpofed  him  to  the 
Inns  of  Court  ■,  where  he  fell  into  Acquaintance 
with  fome  young  Gentlemen,  who  aflbciatcd 
with  him  in  conftant  Exercifes  of  Devotion  ■,  to 
which  Meetings  the  repeated  Sermons  of  Dr. 
Gouge  were  a  continual  Entertainment :  And 
here  it  was,  that  he  came  into  the  Advantage- 
ous Knowledge  of  the  Learned  Scultetus,  Chap- 
lain to  the  Prince  Palatine  of  the  Rhine,  then  ma- 
king fome  ftay  in  England. 

§  5.  When  he  had  continued  Three  Years  at 
the  Inns  of  Court,  his  Father  difcerning  his  Di- 
fpofition  to  be  a  Minijlcr  of  the  Go/pel,  permit- 
ted his  proceeding  Mafler  of  Arts,  in  the  Uni- 
verfity of  Cambridge  ;  but  advifed  him  to  ad 
drefs  another  Colledge,  than  that  where  he  had 
formerly  met  with  Difficulties.  Dr.  Cary,  who 
was  then  Vice  Chancellor ,  underltanding  his 
former  Circumlrances,  would  not  Admit  him 
without  Subfcription  ;  but  he  refufed  to  Sub- 
fcribe.  In  this  Diftrels  he  repaired  unto  his  Fa 
ther,  at  whofe  Houfe  there  happened  then  to 
be  prefent,  the  Countefs  of  Bedford's  chief  Gen- 
tleman, who  had  Bufinefs  with  the  Earl  of 
Northampton,  the  Chancellor  of  the  Univerfity. 
And  this  Noble  Perfon,  upon  the  Information 
which  that  Gentleman  gave  him  of  the  matter, 
prefently  wrote  a  Letter  to  the  Vice-Chancellor, 
on  the  behalf  of  our  young  Wilfon ;  whereupon 
he  received  his  Degree,  atjd  continued  a  while 
after  this,  in  £«ta/&tt7-Colledge  :  From  whence 
he  made  frequent  and  ufeful  Vifits  unto  his 
Friends  in  the  Counties  adjoining,  and  became 
further  fitted  for  his  intended  Service.  But  while 
he  was  pairing  under  thefe  Changes,  he  took  up 
a  Refolution  which  he  thus  expreffed  before  the 
Lord  :  That  if  the  Lord  would  grant  him  a  Li- 
berty of  Confidence,  with  Purity  of  Worfhip,  he 
would  be  content,  yea  thankful,  thd  it  were  at  the 
furthermofl  End  of  the  World.  A  rnoft  Prophe- 
tical Refolution  ! 

§  6.  At  length  preaching  his  firft  Sermon  at 
Newport,  he  Jet  his  Hand  unto  that  Plough,  front 
whence  he  never  afterwards  looked  back :  Not 
very  long  after  which,  his  Father  lying  on  his 
Deathbed,  he  kneeled,  in  his  Turn,  before  him, 
for  his  Bleffing,  and  brought  with  him  for  a  (hare 
in  that  Bleffing,  the  Vertuous  young  Gentlewo- 
man, the  Daughter  of  the  Lady  Mansfield,  (Wi- 
dow of  Sir  John  Mansfield,  Matter  of  the  Mino- 
ries)  and  the  Queen's  Surveyor)  whom  he  de- 
figned  afterwards  to  marry  :  Whereupon  the  old 
Gentleman  faid,  Ah,  John,  J  have  taken  much 
Care  about  thee,  fuch  time  as  thou  waft  in  the  U- 
niverfity,  becaufc  thou  wouldcfi  not  Conform  ;  / 
would  fain  have  brought  thee  to  fome  higher  Pre- 
ferment than  thou  haji  yet  attained  unto  :  I  fee 
thy  Conjcience  is  very  fcrupulous,  concerning 
fome  things  that  have  been  obferved  and  impojed 
in  the  Church  :  Ncverthelefs,  I  have  rejoiced  to 

fee 


Book  111.       7 be  Hi/lory  of  New-England. 


43 


fee  the  Grace  and  Year  of  God  in  thy  Heart  -,  and ; 
feeing  thou  haft  kept  a  good  Cortfcience  hitherto, 
and  walked  according  to  thy  Light,  jo  doftill -,  and 
go  by  the  Rides  of  God's  Holy  Word :  The  Lord 
blefs  thee,  and  her,  whom  thou  haft  chofen  to  be 
the  Companion  of  thy  Life  .'  Among  other  places 
where  he  now  preached,  Moreciake  was  one  ; 
where  his  Nrm Conformity  expofed  him  to  the 
Rage  of  Perfecution  •,  bur  by  the  Friendfhip  of 
the  Juflice,  namely  Sir  William  Bird,  a  Kinf 
man  of  his  Wile ,  and  by  a  Miitake  of  the 
Informers,  the  Rage  of  that  Storm  was  mo 
derated. 

§  7.  After  this  he  lived  as  a  Chaplain  fuecef- 
fively,  in  Honourable  and  Religious  Families  •, 
and  at  laft  was  invited  unto  the  Houfe  of  the 
molt  Pious  Lady  Scudamore.  Here  Mr.  Wilfon 
obferving  the  Difcourfe  of  the  Gentry  at  the 
Table,  on  the  Lord's  Day,  to  be  too  difagreea 
ble  unto  the  devout  Frame  to  be  maintained  on 
fuch  a  day,  at  length  he  zealoufly  flood  up  at 
the  Table,  with  Words  to  this  purpofe,  I  will 
make  bold  to  /peak  a  Word  or  two  :  This  is  the 
Lord's  Holy  Day,  and  we  have  been  hearing  his 
Word,  and  after  the  Word  preached,  every  one 
Jhould  think,  andfpeak  about  fucb  things  cm  have 
been  delivered  in  the  Name  of  God,  and  not  la- 
vijh  out  the  time  in  Difcourfe s  about  Hawks  and. 
Hounds.  Whereupon  a  Gentleman  then  prefent 
made  this  handfome  and  civil  Anfwer  :  Sir,  We 
deferve  all  of  us  to  be  thus  reproved  by  you  ;  this 
is  indeed  the  Sabbath-day,  and  we  jhould  furely 
have  better  Difcourfe  ;  I  hope  it  will  be  a  Warn- 
ing to  us.  Notwithltanding  this,  the  next  Lord's 
Day,  the  Gentry  at  the  Table  were  at  their  Old 
Notes  -,  which  caufed  Mr.  Wilfon  again  to  tell 
them,  That  the  Hawks  which  they  talk 'd  of  were 
the  Birds  that  picked  up  the  Seed  of  the  Word,  af- 
ter the  fowing  of  it ;  and  pray'd  them,  That  their 
Talk  might  be  of  fuch  things,  at  might  fanSijie 
the  Day,  andedifie  their  own  Souls  :  Which  cau- 
fed the  former  Gentleman  to  renew  his  former 
Thankfulnefs  for  the  Admonition.  But  Mr. 
Leigh,  the  Lady's  Husband,  was  very  angry  ; 
whereof  when  the  Lady  advifed  Mr.  Wilfon, 
wifhing  him  to  fay  fomething  that  might  fatif- 
fie  him,  he  replied,  Good  Madam,  I  know  not 
wherein  1  have  given  any  jujl  Offence ;  and  there- 
fore I  know  of  no  Satisfaction  that  I  owe  :  Tour 
Ladifhip  has  invited  me  to  preach  the  good  Word 
of  God  among  you  ;  and  fo  I  have  endeavoured 
according  to  my  Ability  :  Now  fuch  Difcourfe  a* 
this,  on  the  Lord's  Day,  is  profane  and  difordcr- 
ly  :  If  your  Husband  like  me  not,  I  will  be  gone. 
When  the  Lady  informed  her  Husband  how  pe 
remptory  Mr.  Wilfon  was  in  this  matter,  he 
mended  his  Countenance  and  Carriage  •,  and 
the  Effect  of  this  Reproof  was,  that  unfuitable 
Difcourfe,  on  the  Lord's  Day,  was  cured  among 
them. 

§  8.  Removing  from  this  Family,  after  he 
had  been  a  while  at  Henly,  he  continued  for 
three  Years  together,  preaching  at  four  places, 
by  turns,  which  lay  near  one  another,  on  the 
Edges  of  Suffolk,  namely  Bumfted,  Stoke,  Clare, 
and  Candijh.    Here  fome  of  Sudbury  happening 


to  hear  him,  they  invited  him  to  fucceed  the 
eminent  old  Mr.  Jenkins,  with  which  Invita- 
tion he  cheerfully  complied,  and  the  more  cheer- 
fully becaufeof  his  Opportunity  to  be  near  old 
Mr.  Richard  Rogers,  from  whom  afterwards 
when  dying,  he  received  a  Bleffing  among  his 
Children ;  yea,  to  encourage  his  Acceptance  of 
this  place,  the  very  Reader  of  the  Parifh  did 
fubfcribe,  with  many  Scores  of  others,  their 
Defires  of  it ;  and  yet  he  accepted  not  the  Pj 
ftoral  Charge  of  the  Place,  without  a  Solemn 
Day  of  Prayer  with  Faffing,  (wherein  the  Neigh- 
bouring Minifters  affiff ed)  at  his  Elefrion:  Great 
Notice  was  now  taken  of  the  Succefs,  which 
God  gave  unto  his  Labours,  in  this  famous 
Town  ■,  among  other  Inftances  whereof,  one  was 
this :  A  Tradefman  much  given  to  Stealing,  as 
well  as  other  profane  and  vicious  Practices,  one 
Day  feeing  People  flock  to  Mr.  Wilforfs  Lecture, 
thought  with  himfelf,  Why  fhould  I  tarry  at  home 
to  work,  when  fo  many  go  to  hear  a  Sermon  ? 
Wherefore,  for  the  fake  of  Company,  he  went 
unto  the  Leclure  too  •,  but  when  he  came,  he 
found  a  Sermon,  as  it  were,  particularly  dire- 
cted unto  himfelf,  on  Eph.  4.  28.  Let  him  that 
hath  ftole,  fteal  no  more  ;  and  fuch  was  the  Im- 
prefhon  thereof  upon  his  Heart,  that  from  this 
time  he  became  a  changed  and  pious  Man. 

§  p.  But  if  they  that  will  live  godiily  muftfuf 
fer  Perfection,  a  peculiar  (hare  of  it  mult  fall 
upon  them,  who  are  zealous  and  ufeful  Inftru- 
ments  to  make  others  live  fo.  Mr.  Wilfon  had 
a  fhare  of  this  Perfecution  •,  and  one  A— n,  was 
a  principal  Author  of  it.  This  A — n  had  for- 
merly been  an  Apprentice  in  London,  where  the 
Bifhops  detained  him  fome  Years,  under  an  hard 
Imprifonment,  becaufe  he  refufed  the  Oath  Ex 
Officio,  which  was  preffed  upon  him  to  tell,  Whe- 
ther he  had  never  heard  his  Majier  pray  againft 
the  Bifhop  ? 

The  Charity  of  well-difpofed  People  now  fup- 
ported  him,  till  he  got  abroad,  recommended  by 
his  hard  Sufferings,  unto  the  good  Affecf  ions  of 
the  Puritans,  at  whofe  Meetings  he  became  fo 
converfant,  and  thereupon  fuch  a  forward  and 
zealous  Profeffor,  that  at  length  he  took  upon 
him,  under  the  Confidence  of  fome  Latinity, 
whereof  he  was  Owner,  to  be  a  fort  of  Preacher 
among  them.  This  Man  would  Reverence  Mr. 
Wilfon  as  his  Father,  and  yet  upon  the  Provo- 
cation of  feeing  Mr.  Wilfon  more  highly  Valued 
and  Honoured  than  himfelf,  he  not  only  became 
a  Conformift  himfelf,  but  alfo,  as  Apoltates  ufe 
to  be,  a  malignant  and  violent  Perfecutor  of 
thofe  from  whom  he  had  Apoftatized.  By  his 
means  Mr.  Wilfon  was  put  into  trouble  in  the 
Bifhops  Courts ;  from  whence  his  Deliverance 
was  at  length  obtained  by  certain  powerful  Me- 
diators. And  once  by  his  Tricks,  the  moft  no- 
ted Purfivant  of  thofe  Times,  was  employed 
for  the  feizing  of  Mr.  Wilfon  -,  but  tho'  he  fei- 
zed  upon  many  Scores  of  the  People  coming 
from  the  Lecture,  he  difmilfed  the  reft,  becaule 
he  could  not  meet  with  Mr.  Wilfon  himfelf, 
who  by  a  fpecul  Providence,  went  out  of  his 

direa 


44 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.     Book  III, 


direct  Way,  to  vifit  a  worthy  Neighbour,  and 
fo  efcaped  this  mighty  Hunter. 

Afterwards  an  eminent  Lady,  happening  in- 
nocently to  make  fome  Comparifon  between  the 
preaching  of  Mr.  Wilfon,  and  one  Dr.  B.  of  B. 
the  angry  Doctor  presently  applied  himfelf  unto 
the  Bilhop  of  London,  who  lor  a  while  fufpen- 
ded  him.  And  when  that  Storm  was  over,  he 
with  feveral  other  worthy  Miniflers,  came  to  be 
wholly  fiienced  in  another,  that  was  raifed  upon 
Complaints  made  by  one  Mr.  Bird,  unto  the 
Bifliop  of  Norwich  againft  them.  Concerning 
this  ///  Bird,  there  happened  one  paffage  here- 
upon, which  had  in  it  fomething  extraordinary. 
Falling  very  fick,  he  had  the  help  of  a  famous 
and  skilful  Phyfician,  one  Dr.  Duke  of  Colche- 
Jler  -,  who  having  left  his  Patient,  in  his  Opi- 
nion, fafely  recovered,  gave  Mr.Wilfon  a  Vifit, 
with  an  Account  of  it.  Recovered!  fays  Mr. 
WilJ'n/i,  Tou  are  miflaken,  Mr.  Doctor  ;  he's  a 
dead  Man  !  The  Do&or  anfwered,  If  ever  I  re 
covered  a  fick  Man  in  my  Life,  that  Man  is  re- 
covered. But  Mr.  Wilfon  replied,  No,  Mr. 
Doclor,  fas  a  dead  Man,  hefhall  not  live :  Mark 
my  Words.!  The  Do£lor  imiled  -,  but  for  all  that, 
before  they  parted,  the  News  was  brought  them, 
that  the  Man  was  dead  indeed,  and  the  Lord 
known  by  the  Judgment  which  he  executed.  But 
at  laft  Mr.  Wilfon  obtained  from  the  truly  No- 
ble Earl  of  Warwick,  to  fign  a  Letter,  which  the 
Earl  bid  himfelf  to  draw  up,  unto  the  Bilhop, 
on  his  behalf;  by  the  Operation  of  which  Let- 
ter, his  Liberty,  for  the  Exercife  of  his  Mini- 
ftry,  was  again  procured.  This  Bifhop  was  the 
well-known  Dr.  Harfnet,  who  a  little  while 
after  this,  travelling  Northward,  upon  Defigns 
of  Mifchief  againft  the  Reforming  Paftors  and 
Chriftians  there,  certain  Miniftersof  the  South 
fet  apart  a  Day  for  folemn  Falling  and  Prayer, 
to  implore  the  Help  of  Heaven  againft  thofe 
Defigns ;  and  on  that  very  Day,  he  was  taken 
with  a  Sore  and  an  odd  Fit,  which  caufed  him 
to  flop  at  a  blind  Houfe  of  Entertainment  on  the 
Road,  where  he  fuddenly  died. 

J$  10.  At  laft,  being  persecuted  in  one  Country, 
he  mujlfiee  into  another.  The  Plantation  of  a 
New  Engiifh  Colony  was  begun  :  And  Mr.  Wil- 
fon, with  fome  of  his  Neighbours,  embarked 
themfelves  in  the  Fleet,  which  came  over  thi- 
ther in  the  Year  1630.  Where  he  applied  him- 
felf with  with  all  the  Vigor  imaginable,  to 
encourage  the  poor  People,  under  the  Difficul- 
ties of  their  New  Plantation.  This  good  People 
buried  near  Two  hundred  of  their  Number, 
within  a  Quarter  of  a  Year  after  their  firft 
Landing  •,  which  caufed  Mr.  Wilfon  particularly 
to  endeavour  their  Confolation,  by  preaching 
on  Jacob's  not  being  difheartned  by  the  Death 
of  his  neareft  Friends  in  the  way,  when  God 
had  called  him  to  remove.  And  how  remarka- 
bly, perhaps  I  might  fay,  excejfively  liberal  he 
was,  in  employing  his  Eftate  for  the  Relief  of 
the  Needy,  every  fuch  one  fo  beheld  him,  as  to 
reckon  him  the  Father  of  them  all :  Yea,  the 
poor  Indians  themfelves  alfo  tafted  of  his  Bounty. 
If  it  were  celebrated,  as  the  Glory  of  Bellar- 


mine,  that  he  would  fell  his  Goods,  to  convert 
them  into  Alms  for  the  Poor  ;  yea,  that  Quadam 
die  proprium  Atramentarium  Argenteolum,  ut 
ditaret  hopes,  inter  pignora  obligavit  :  Our  Mr. 
Wilfon,  tho'  a  greater  Difclaimer  of  Merit  than 
Bellarmine  was,  not  only  in  his  Writings,  but 
on  his  Death  bed  it  felf,  yet  came  not  behind 
Bellarmine  for  the  extenfion  of  his  Charity.  To 
give  Inftances  of  his,  even  over-doing  Liberality, 
would  be  to  do  it  Injuries  ;  for  indeed  they  were 
innumerable  :  He  afted  as  if  the  Primitive  A- 
greement  of  having  all  Things  in  common,  had 
been  of  all  Things ,  the  moft  agreeable  un- 
to him.  I  fhall  Sum  up  all,  in  the  Lines  of 
an  elegant  Elegy,  which  Mr.  Samuel  Bache,  an 
Ingenious  Merchant,  made  upon  him,  at' his 
Death  : 

When  as  the  Poor  want  Succour,  where  a  he 

Can  fay,  all  can  be /aid,  Extempore  ? 

Vie  with  the  Lightning,  and  melt  down  to  th' 

quick 
Their  Souls, and  make  themfelves  their  Pockets 

pick  ?  m 

Where's  fuch  a  Leader,  thus  hat  got  the  flight 
T'  teach  holy  Hands  to  War,  Fingers  to  right ; 
Their  Arrow  hit  ?  Bowels  to  Bowels  meant  it, 
God,  Chrift,  and  Saints,  accept,  but  Wilfon 

fent  it. 
Which  way  fo  e'er  the  Propofitions  move, 
The  Ergo  of  hts  Syllogifms  Love. 
So  bountiful  to  all:  But  if  the  Poor 
Was  Cbrifiian  too,  all's  Money  went,  andmore, 
His  Coat,  Rug,  Blanket,  Gloves  ;    he  thought 

their  due 
W as  all  his  Money,  Garments,  one  of  two. 

But  he  was  moft  fet  upon  the  Main  Bufinefs 
of  this  new  Plantation ;  which  was,  To  fettle 
and  enjoy  the  Ordinances  of  the  Gqfpel,  andWor- 
Jhip  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  according  to  his  own  In- 
ftitutions  :  And  accordingly,  he,  with  the  Go- 
vernour,  and  others  that  came  with  him  on  the 
fame  Account,  combined  into  a  Church-State, 
with  all  convenient  Expedition. 

§  11.  Mr.  Wilfon  s  Removal  to  New  England, 
was  rendred  the  more  difficult,  by  the  Indilpofi- 
tion  of  his  deareft  Confort  thereunto  -,  but  he 
hoping.,  that  according  to  a  Dream  which  he 
had  before  his  coming  hither,  That  he  f aw  here 
a  little  Temple  rifing  cut  of  the  Ground,  which 
by  Degrees  increafed  into  a  very  high  and  large 
Dimenfions,  the  Lord  had  a  Temple  to  build  in 
thefe  Regions  ;  refolved  never  to  be  difcoura- 
ged  from  his  Undertaking.  Wherefore  having 
firft  fent  over  an  encouraging  Account  of  the 
good  Order,  both  Civil  and  Sacred,  which  now 
began  to  be  eltablifhed  in  the  Plantation,  he  did 
himfelf  return  into  England,  that  he  might- fur- 
ther purfue  the  Effeft  thereof ;  and  accordingly 
he  made  it  his  Bufinefs,  where  ever  he  came,  to 
draw  as  many  good  Men  as  he  could,  into  this 
Country  with  him.  His  Wife  remained  unper- 
fwadable  ,  till  upon  Prayer  with  Faffing  before 
the  Almighty  Turner  of  Hearts,  he  received  an 
Anfwer,  in  her  becoming  willing  to  accompany 

him 


Book  III.       7 be  Hi/lory  of  New-England. 


45 


v 


him  over  an  Ocean  into  a  Wildernefs.  A  very 
forrowtul  Farting  they  now  had  from  their  old 
Friends  in  Sudbury,  but  a  fafe  and  quick  paffage 
over  the  Atlantic  -,  and  whereas  the  Church  of 
Bofton,  obferving  that  he  arrived  not  at  the 
time  expelled,  had  fet  apart  a  Day  of  Humilia- 
tion on  his  behalf,  his  joyful  Arrival  before  the 
Dav,caufed  them  to  turn  it  into  a  Day  ofThankf 
giving.  But  Mrs.  Wilfon  being  thus  perfwaded 
over,  into  the  Difficulties  of  an  American  De 
fart,  I  have  heard,  that  her  Kinfman,  old  Mr. 
Dod,  for  her  Confolation  under  thole  Difficul- 
ties, did  fend  her  a  Prefenr,  with  an  Advice, 
which  he  had  in  it,  fomething  of  Cunofity.  He 
fent  her,  at  the  fame  time,  a  Brafs  Counter,  a 
Silver  Crown,  and  a  Gold  Jacobus  -,  all  of  them 
feverally  wrapped  up  :  With  this  InftrucVion 
unto  the  Gentleman  who  carried  it  :  That  he 
fhould  firft  of  all  deliver  only  the  Counter,  and 
if  fhe  receivYl  it  with  any  fhew  of  Difcontent, 
he  fhould  then  take  no  further  Notice  of  her  -, 
but  if  (he  gratefully  refentei  that  fmall  Thing, 
for  the  fake  of  the  Hand  it  came  from,  he  fhould 
then  go  on  to  deliver  the  Silvered  lb  the  Gold : 
But  withal  atfure  her,  That  Juch  mould  be  the 
Dtfpenfations  of  God  unto  her,  and  the  other  good 
People  of  New-England  :  If  they  would  be  con- 
tent and  thankful  with  Juch  little  Things,  ,u 
God  at  fir  ft  be  flow  d  upon  them,  they  fhould,  in 
time,  have  Silver  andGold  enough.  Mrs.  Wilfon 
accordingly,  by  her  cheerful  Entertainment  of 
the  leaft  Remembrance  from  good  old  Mr.  Dod, 
gave  the  Gentleman  occafion  to  go  through  with 
his  whole  Prefent,  and  the  annexed  Advice  ; 
which  luth  in  a  good  Meafure  been  accom- 
plifhed. 

§  12.  It  was  not  long  before   Mr.  Wilfon 's 
Return  to  England  once  more,  was  obliged  by 
the  Death  of  his  Brother,  whofe  Will,  becaufe 
it  bequeathed  a  Legacy  of  a  Thoufand  Pounds 
unto  New-England,   gave  Satisfaction  unto  our 
Mr.  Wilfon,  tho'  it  was  otherwife  injurious  unto 
himfelf.     A  Tedious  and  Winter- Voyage  he  now 
had  ;  being  twice  forced   into  Ireland,  where 
firft  at  Galloway,  then  at  Kingjale,  afterwards  at 
Bandon- Bridge,  he  occafionally,    but  vigorouily 
and  fuccefslully  ferved  the  Kingdom  of  God.    At 
lilt  he  got  fate  among  his  old  friends  at  Sudbu- 
ry ■,  according  to  the  Prediction  which  he  had  let 
fall  in  his  former  Earewel  unto  them  ;  It  way  be 
John  Wilfon  may  come  and  fee  Sudbury  once  a- 
gain.     From  whence,   vifiting   Mr.  Naihanael 
Rogers,  at  AJfington,  where    he  arrived  before 
their  Morning  Prayers  ■,   Mr.  Rogers  asked  him 
to  fay  fomething  upon  the  Chapter  that  was 
read,  which  happened  then  to  be  the  firft  Cha 
fter  in  the  firft  Book  of  Chronicles  ;  and  from  a 
Paragraph  of  meer  proper  Naurs,  that  feemed 
altogether  barren  of  any   edifying  Matter,   he 
raifed  fo  many  fruitful  and  ufeful  Notes,  that  a 
pious  Peribn  then  prefenr,  amazed  therear,could 
have  no  reft,  without  going  over  into  America 
after  him.     Having  difpatched  his  Affairs  in 
England,  he  again  embarked  for  New  England, 
in  Company  with  four  Minifters,  and  near  two 
hundred  Palfengers,  whereof  fome  were  Perfons 


of  confiderable  Quality  :  But  they  had  all  been 
loft  by  a  large  Leak  fprang  in  the  Ship,  if 
God  had  not,  on  a  Day  of  Solemn  Fafting, 
and  Prayer,  kept  on  board  for  tnar  pulpoie, 
mercifully  dilcovered  this  dangerous  Leak  unto 
them. 

§15.  That  Phtsnix  of   his  Age,   Dr.  A 
would  lay.  That  if  he  might  have 
the   beft  Condition  that  he  could  propound  . 
himfelf  on  -this  fide  Heaven,  h  would  lk^   .'. 
might  be  the  Teacher  of  a  Congregate  nal  Chunb 
whereof  Mr.  Wilfon  jhquld  be  the  Fafiwr:     This 
Happinefs,  this  Priviledge,  now  had  Mr.  Cotton 
in  the  Church  of  Bojion.     But  Satan  envious  at 
the  Profperity  of  thatfkmrifhiug  Church,  railed 
a  Storm  of  Axlinomian,  and  Familiftical  Errors, 
which  had  like  to  have  thrown  all  into  in  ir- 
recoverable Confuiion,  if  the  good  God  had  not 
remarkably  blefTed  the  Endeavours  ot  a  Synod  -, 
and  Mr;  Jlilfon,   tor  a  while,  met  with  hard 
meafure  for  his  early  opposition  to  thofe  Errors, 
until  by  the  help  ot  that  Synod,  the  Sterna  was 
weathered  out.     At  the  beginning  of  that  Ai- 
fembly,  after  much  Dilcourfe  again!?  the  Un- 
fcriptural  Enlhufufms,    and   Revelations,    then 
by  fome  contended  for,  Mr.  Wilfon  propofed, 
Jou  that  are  again  ft  thefe  things,  and  that  arc  fo'j 
the  Spirit  and  the   Word  together,  holdup  your 
Hands  !  And  the  multitude  of  Hands  then  held 
up,  was  a  comfortable  and  encouraging  Intro- 


duction unto  the  other  Proceedings.  At  the 
Conclufion  of  that  Ajjembly,  a  Catalogue  of  the 
Errors  to  be  condemned,  was  produced  -,  where- 
of when  one  asked,  What  fhall  be  done  with 
them  ?  The  wonted  Zeal  of  Mr.  Wi'fon  made 
this  blunt  Anfwer,  Let  them  go  to  the  Devil  of 
Hell,  from  whence  they  came. 

In  the  midft  of  thefe  Temptations  alfo,  he 
was  by  a  Lot,  chofen  to  accompany  the  Forces, 
then  fent  forth  upon  an  Expedition  againft  the 
Pequod  Indians  ;  which  he  did  with  fo  much 
Eaith  and  Joy,  that  he  profeffed  himi'dt' <u  fully 
fatkfied,  that  God  would  give  the  Englifh  a  Vi- 
tlory  over  thoje  Enemies,  as  if  he  had  Jccnjhe 
Victory  already  obtained.  And  the  whole  Coun- 
try quickly  fhared  with  him  in  theConfolations 
of  that  remarkable  Victory. 

§  14.  In  the  Wildernefs  he  met  with  his  Dif- 
ficulties ;  for  beiides  the  lots  of  Houles,  divers 
times  by  Eire,  which  yet  he  bore  with  fuch  a 
cheerful  Submifiion,  that  once  one  that  met  him 
on  the  Road,  informing  of  him,  Sir,  I  have  J  ad 
News  for  you  ;  while  you  have  beer,  abroad,  your 
Houfe  h  burnt.  His  firft  Anfwer  was,  Blejfed 
be  God :  He  has  burnt  this  Houjo,  becaufe  he  in- 
tends to  give  me  a  better.  (Which  accordingly 
came  to  pafs.J 

He  was  alio  put  upon  complying  with  the-In- 
dinations  of  his  Eldoft  Son  to  Travel  -,  who  ac- 
cordingly travelled,  firft  into  Holland,  then  into 
Italy,  where  he  proceeded  a  Doffor  of  Ph- 
and  fo  returned  into  England,  excellently  un- 
adorned with  all  Che  Accomplithrnerts  oi  a  molt 
pious  and  ufeful  Gentleman.  -  But  this  worthy 
Perfon  died  about  the  Year  10^8.  And  this  b  1 
ftencd  the  Do  :th  of  his  C  '!'•-    Year 

came 


\ 


+6 


The  Hiftory  of  New-Fngland,     Book  III. 


came  about  ;  which  more  than  Doubled  the 
Grief  of  his  Father.  And  thefe  Afflictions 
were  yet  further  embittered  by  the  Death  of 
his  Eldeit  Daughter  Mrs.  Rogers,  in  Child-bed 
with  herfirlf  Child  ;  at  whole  Interment,  though 
he  could  not  but  exprefs  a  deal  of  Sorrow,  yet 
he  did  it  with  fo  much  Patience,  that  In  Token, 
he  laid,  of  his  Grounded  and  Joyfd  Hopes,  to 
meet  her  again  in  the  Morning  of  the  Refurre 
clion,  and  of  his  Willingnefs  to  refign  her  into 
the  Hands  of  him  who  would  make  all  Things 
work  together  for  good,  he  himfelf  took  the 
Spade,  and  threw  in  the  firft  Shovelful  of  Earth 
upon  her.  And  not  long  after,  he  buried  Three 
or  Four  of  his  Grandchildren  by  another  Daugh- 
ter Mrs.  Danfort h  fyet  living  with  her  Wor- 
thy Son  in  Law  Edward  Bromfield,  Efq;  in  Bo- 
fton)  whereof  one  Wing  by  the  Walls,  on  a 
Day  of  Publick  Thankfgiving,  this  Holy  Man 
then  preached  a  molt  Savoury  Sermon  on  Job 
i.  2i;  The  Lord  hath  given,  and  the  Lord  hath 
taken  away,  blefed  be  the  Name  of  the  Lord. 
The  next  Child,  although  fo  weakly  that  all 
defpaircd  of  its  Life,  his  Prophetical  Grand- 
father faid,  Call  him  John,  /  believe  in  God, 
he  jhall  live,  and  be  a  Prophet  loo,  and  do  God 
Service  in  his  Generation !  Which  is,  at  this 
Day,  fulfilled  in  Mr.  John  Danforth,  the  pre- 
lent  Paftor  to  the  Church  of  Dorchepr.  En- 
countring  with  fuch,  and  many  other  Exercifes 
his  Years  rolled  away,  till  he  had  lerved  New. 
England,  Three  Years  before  Mr.  Cotton's  com- 
ing over,  Twenty  Years  with  him  ;  Ten  Years 
with  Mr.  Norton,  and  Four  Years  after  him. 

§  15.  In  his  Younger  Time,  he  had  been 
ufed  unto  a  more  Methodical  way  of  Preaching, 
and  was  therefore  admired  above  many,  by  no 
lefs  Auditors  than  Dr.  Goodwin,  Mr.  Burroughs, 
and  Mr.  Bridge,  when  they  travelled  from 
Cambridge  into  Effex,  on  purpofe  to  obfervethe 
Minilters  in  that  County  ;  but  after  he  became 
a  Paflor,  joined  with  fuch  Illuminating  Teach- 
ers, he  gave  himfelf  a  Liberty  to  Preach  more 
after  the  Primitive  Manner;  without  any  di- 
itincF  Propofitions,  but  chiefly  in  Exhortations 
and  Admonitions,  and  good  wholefome  Councils, 
rending  to  excite  good  Motions  in  the  Minds 
of  his  Hearers  ;  (but  upon  the  fame  Texts  that 
were  Do&rinally  handled  by  his  Colleague  in- 
ftantiy  before:)  and  yet  fometimes  his  Pafto- 
ral  Difcourfes  had  fuch  a  Spirit  in  them,  that 
Mr.  She  par  d  would  fay,  Methinks  I  hear  an 
Apcfik^  zvhen  I  hear  this  Alan  !  Yea,  even  one 
of  his  Ex  Tempore  Sermons,  has  been  fince  his 
Death,  counted  worthy  to  be  publilhed  unto 
the  World.  The  Great  Lefture  of  Bo  fton,  be- 
ing difappointed  of  him,  that  Ihould  have 
Preached  it,  Mr.  Wilfon  Preached  that  Le&ure 
on  a  Text  occuring  in  the  Chapter  that  had  been 
read  that  Morning  in  his  Family,  Jer.  19.  8.— 
Neither  hearken  to  your  Dreams,  which  you 
caufe  to  be  Dreamed;  from  whence  he  gave  a 
Seafonable  Warning  unto  the  People  a gainft 
the  Dreams,  wherewith  fundry  forts  of  Opini- 
onilfs,  have  been  endeavouring  to  led uce  them. 
It  wss  the  laft  Bofton  Lecfure  that  ever  he 


Preached  (Nov.  16.  1655.)  and  one  who  writ 
after  him,  in  Short  hand,  about  a  Dozen 
Years  after  Publilhed  it.  But  his  laft  Sermon 
he  Preached  at  Roxbury  Left ure,  for  his  molt 
Worthy  Sonin-Law  Mr.  Danfort h\  and  after 
he  had  read  his  Text,  which  was  in  the  Begin- 
nings and  Conclufions  of  fundry  of  the  laft 
Pfa/ms,  with  a  Seraphical  Voice,  he  added,  If 
I  were  f ure  this  were  the  laft  Sermon  that  ever 
1 fbpuld  Preach,  and  thefe  'the  laft  Words  that 
ever  Ifhould  [peak,  yet  I  would,  ft  ill 'fay,  Halle- 
lujah, Hallelujah,  Praife  ye  the  Lord  ?  Thus 
he  ended  his  Min'iftry  on  Earth,  thus  he  began 
his  Poffejfwn  of  Heaven  with  Hallelujahs. 

§  16.  Indeed,  if  the  Pifture  of  rhisGW,  and 
therein  Great  Man,  were  to  be  exaftly  given, 
Great  Zeal,  with  Great  Love,  would  be  the 
two  Principal  Strokes,  that  joined  with  Ortho- 
doxy, Ihould  make  up  his  Pourtraiture.  He 
had  the  Zeal  of  a  Phineeis,  I  had  almoft  faid 
of  a  Seraphim,  in  telrifying  againft  every  thing 
that  he  thought  offenfive  unto  God.  The  Opi- 
niomfts,  which  attempted  at  any  time  to  de- 
bafe  the  Scripture,  or  confound  the  Order,  em- 
braced in  our  Churches,  underwent  the  molt 
pungent  Animadverlions  of  this  his  Devout 
Zeal;  whence,  when  a  certain  Aflembly  of 
People,  which  he  approved  not,  had  fet  up  in 
Bofton,  he  charged  all  his  Family,  that  they 
Ihould  never  dare,  fo  much  as  once  to  enter 
into  that  Aflembly  ;  1  charge  you,  faid  he,  That 
you  do  not  once  go  to  hear  them ;  for  whatsoever, 
they  may  pretend,  they  will  rob  you  of  Ordinan- 
ces, rob  you  of  your  Souls,  rob  you  of  your  God. 
But  though  he  were  thus,  like  John,  a  Son  of 
Thunder  againft  Saducers,  yet  he  was  like  that 
Blefled  and  Beloved  Apoltle  alfo,  all  made  up 
of  Love.  He  was  full  of  AffeUion,  and  ready- 
to  help  and  relieve  and  comfort  the  Diftreffed-^ 
his  Houfe  was  Renowned  for  Hofpitality,  and 
his  Purfe  was  continually  emptying  it  felt  into 
the  hands  of  the  Needy :  From  which  Difpofi- 
tion  of  Love  in  him,  there  once  happened  this 
Paffage  •,  when  he  was  beholding  a  great  Mu- 
tter of  Souldiers,  a  Gentleman  then  prefent 
faid  unto  him,  Sir,  V 11  tell  you  a  great  Thing  ; 
here's  a  mighty  Body  of  People,  and  there  is  not 
Seven  of  them  all,  but  what  loves  Mr.  Wilfon ; 
but  rhat  Gracious  Man  prefently  and  plealant. 
ly  replied,  Sir,  Vll  tell  you  as  good  a  Thing  as 
that,  here's  a  mighty  Body  of  People,  and  there 
is  not  fo  much  en  one  of  them  all,  but  Mr.  Wil- 
fon loves  him.  Thus  he  did,  by  his  own  Exam- 
ple, notably  Preach  that  Leflbn,  which  a  Gen- 
tleman found  in  the  Anagram  of  his  Name, 
Wifh  no  one  ill :  And  thus  did  he  continue,  to 
Do  every  one  good,  until  his  Death  gave  the. 
fame  Gentleman  Occafion  thus  to  Elegize  upon 
him : 

Now  may  Celeftial  Spirits  ling  yet  Higher, 
Since  one  more's  added  to  their  Sacred  Quire; 
Wilfon  the  Holy,  whofe  Good  Name  doth  frill,- 
In  Language  Sweet,  bid  us  [Wifh  no  111.'] 


§1! 


Book  III.       The  Hiftory  of  New-Fngland. 


Tr- 
ill 


§  17.  He  was  one,  that  confulting  not  only 
his  own  Edification,  but  the  Encouragement 
of  the  Miniftry,  and  of  Religion,  with  an  In- 
defatigable Diligence  vifited  the  Congregations 
of  the  Neighbouring  Towns,  at  their  Weekly 
teSures,  until  the  Weakneffes  of  Old  Age  ren- 
dered him  uncapable.  And  it  was  a  delightful 
thing  then  to  fee  upon  every  Recurring  Oppor- 
tunity, a  large  Company  of  Chriftians,  and 
even  Magiftrates  and  Minifiers  among  them, 
and  Mr.  Wilfon  in  the  Head  of  them,  vifiting 
the  Lcffures  in  all  the  Vicinage,  with  fuch  Hea- 
venly  Difcourfes  on  the  Road,  as  caufed  the 
Hearts  of  the  Difciples  to  burn  within  them  : 
And  indeed  it  was  remarked,  That  though  the 
Chriftians  then  fpent  lefs  Time  in  the  Shop,  or 
Field,than  they  do  now,  yet  they  did  in  both  prof 
per  more.  But  for  Mr.  Wilfon}.  am  faying,That 
a  Left ure  was  a  Treafure  unto  hirr^  he  Priz'd 
it,  he  fought  it,  until  Old  Age  at  length  brought 
with  it  a  Sicknefs,  which  a  long  while  confin'd 
him.  In  this  Illnefs  he  took  a  Solemn  Farewel 
of  the  Minifiers,  who  had  their  Weekly  Meet- 
ings at  his  Hofpitable  Houfe,  and  were  now 
come  together  from  all  parts,  at  the  Anniver- 
fary  Elettion  for  the  Government  of  the  Colony. 
They  asked  him  to  declare  folemnly,  what  he 
thought  might  be  the  Sins,  which  provoked  the 
Difpleafure  of  God  againft  the  Country. 
Whereto  his  Anfwer  was,  I  have  long  feared 
fever al  Sins  j  Whereof,  one,  he  faid,  was  Co- 
rahijm  -,  "That  is,  when  People  rife  up  as  Corah 
"  againft  their  Miniftersy  as  if  they  took  too 
V  much  upon  them,  when  indeed  they  do  but 
"  rule  for  Chrift,  and  according  to  Chrift  •,  yet 
"  it  is  nothing  for  a  Brother  to  ftand  up  and 
"  oppofe,  without  Scripture  or  Reafon,  the 
"  Word  of  an  Elder,  faying  [lamnot  fatisfied!] 
f  And  hence,  if  he  do  not  like  the  Adminiftra- 
"  tion  (be  it  Baptifm  or  the  like)  he  will  turn 
"  his  back  upon  God  and  his  Ordinances,  and 
"  go  away.  And  for  our  Neglecf:  of  Baptifing 
"  the  Children  of  the  Church,  thofe  that  fome 
"  call  Grand- children,  I  think  God  is  provoked 
B  by  it.  Another  Sin  (faid  he)  I  take  to  be 
w  the  making  light  of,  and  not  fubjefting  to 
"  the  Authority  of  Synods,  without  which  the 
<c  Churches  cannot  long  fubfift. 

§  18.  Afterwards,    having    folemnly     with 

Prayer,  and  Particularly  and  very  Prophetically 

Bleffed  his  Relations  and  Attendants,  he  now 

thus  comforted  himfelf,    I  /hall  e'er  long  be 

with   my  old  Friends,    Dr.  Prefion,    Dr.  Sibs, 

Dr.  Taylor,    Dr.  Gouge,  Dr.  Ames,  Mr.  Cotton, 

Mr.  Norton,  my  Inns  of  Court  Friends,  and  my 

Confort,  Children,  Grand- children  in  the  King 

dom  of  God.     And  when  fome  then  prefent 

magnified  God  for  making  him  a  Man  of  fuch 

Ufe,  and  lamented  themfelves  in  their    own 

Lofs  of  him,  he  replied,  Alas,  Alas-,  Ufe  no 

fuch  Words  concerning  me  -,  for  I  have  been  an 

Unprofitable  Servant,  not  worthy   to  be  called  a 

Servant  of  the  Lord :  But  I  muftfiy,  The  Lord 

be  merciful  to  me  a  Sinner,  and  I  muftfiy,  Let 

thy  tender  Metcies  cDtne   unto   me,  O  Lord, 

even  thy  Salvation   according  to  thy   Word. 


The  Evening  before  he  died,  his  Daughter  ask- 
ing him,  Sir,  Hov:  do  you  do?  He  held  up  his 
hand,  and  laid,  Vanifhing  Things!  Vanifhing 
Things'.  But  he  then  made  a  paoft  affectionate 
Prayer,  with  and  for  his  Friends  -,  and  lb  quiet- 
ly tell  Afleep  on  Auguft  7.  1 667.  in  the  Seventy 
Ninth  Year  of  his  Age.  Thus  expired  that  Re- 
verend Old  Man:  Of  whom,  when  he  left 
England,  an  Eminent  Peribnage,  laid,  New- 
England  fhall  flour ijh,  free  from  all  General 
Defo/ations,  as  long  as  that  good  Man  liveth  in 
it !  Which  was  comfortably  accomplifhed.  He 
was  Interred  with  more  than  ordinary  Solem- 
nity -,  and  his  Neighbour  Mr.  Richard  Mather 
of  Dorchefter,  thereat  lamented  the  Publick 
Lofs  in  his  Departure,  with  a  Sermon  upon 
Zech.  1.  5.  Tour  Fathers  where  are  they,  and 
the  Prophets,  do  they  live  for  ever  ? 

§  rp.  Being  a  Man  of  Prayer,  he  was  very 
much  a  Man  of  God ;  and  a  certain  Prophetical 
Afflatus,  which  often  direefs  the  Speeches  of 
fuch  Ment  did  fometimes  remarkably  appear  in 
the  Speeches  of  this  Holy  Man.  Inttances 
hereof  have  been  already  given.  A  few  more 
fhall  now  be  added. 

Beholding  a  Young  Man  extraordinarily  Du- 
tiful in  all  poflible  ways  of  being  ferviceable, 
unto  his  aged  Mother,  then  Weak  in  Body,  and 
Poor  in  Eftate,  he  declared  unto  fome  of  his 
Family  what  he  had  beheld  •,  adding  there- 
withal, I  charge  you  to  take  notice  of  what  I 
fay  ;  God  will  certainly  blefs  that  Toung  Man  $ 
John  Hull  (for  that  was  his  Name)  fhall  grow 
Rich,  and  live  to  do  God  good  Service  in  his 
Generation!  It  came  to  pafs  accordingly,  That 
this  Exemplary  Perfon  became  a  very  Rich,  as 
well  as  Emphatically  a  Good  Man,  and  after- 
wards died  a  Magiflrate  of  the  Colony. 

When  one  Mr.  Adams,  who  waited  on  him 
from  Hartford  unto  Weathers  field,  was  follow- 
ed with  the  News  of  his  Daughter's  being  fal- 
len fuddenly  and  doubtfully  fick,  Mr.  Wilfon 
looking  up  to  Heaven,  began  mightily  to  wre- 
file  with  God  for  the  Life  of  the  Young  Wo- 
man :  Lord  (Taid  he)  wilt  thou  now  lake  away 
thy  Servants  Child,  when  thou  fee fi  he  is  attend- 
ing  on  thy  Poor  unworthy  Servant  in  mofl  Chri- 
fiian  Kindnefs  •,  Oh !  do  it  not !  And  then  turn- 
ing himfelf  about  unto  Mr.  Adams,  Brother 
(faid  he  J  /  trufil  your  Daughter  fhall  live,  I  be- 
lieve in  God  fke  fhall  recover  of  this  Sicknefs  ! 
And  fo  it  marvelloufly  came  to  pafs,  and  fhe 
is  now  the  fruitful  Mother  of  feveral  defireable 
Children. 

A  Peauot  Indian,  in  a  Canoo,  was  efpied  by 
the  Englifh,  within  Gunfhot,  carrying  away 
an  Englifh  Maid,  with  a  Defign  to  Deftroy  her 
or  Abufe  her.  The  Souldiers  fearing  to  kill  the 
Maid  if  they  (hot  at  the  Indian, asked.  Mx.Wilfori'% 
Counfel,  who  forbad  them  to  fear,  and  allured 
them,  God  will  direS  the  Bullet !  They  fhot  ac- 
cordingly i  and  killed  the  Indian,  though  then 
moving  fwiftly  upon  the  Water,  and  faved  the 
Maidixee  from  all  harm  whatever, 

Upon  the  Death  of  the  firft  and  only  Child 

(being  an  InfantJ  of  his  Daughter  Mrs-  Dan- 

G  g  g  fortbt 


48 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 


forth,  he  made  a  Poem, 
Lines  among  the  reft, 


wherein  were  thefe 


What  if  they  part  with  their  beloved  one, 
Their  fir  ft  Begotten,  and  their  Only  Son  ? 
What's  this  to  that  which   Father  Abram 

Suffer'd, 
When  his  own  hands  his  Only  Darling  otter  d, 
In  whom  was  bound  up  all  his  Joy  in  this 
Life  prefent,  and  bis  hope  of  future  Biifs  ? 
And  what  if  God  their  Other  Children  Call, 
Second,  Third,  Fourth,  fuppofe  it  fhould  be 

AIL? 
What's  this  to  Holy  Job,  his  Trials  fad, 
Who  neither  thefe  nor  t'other  Comforts  had  ? 
His  Life  was  only  given  him  for  a  Prey, 
Yet  all  his  Troubles  were  to  Heaven  the  way; 
Yea  to  far  Greater  Bleflings  on  the  Earth, 
The  Lord  rewarding  all  his  Tears  with  Mirth. 


And  behold,  as  if  that  he  had  been  a  Vates, 
in  both  Senfes  of  it,  a  Poet  and  a  Prophet,  it 
pleas'd  God  afterwards  to  give  his  Daughter  a 
Seeond,  a  Third,  and  a  Fourth  Child,  and  then 
to  take  them  all  away  at  once,  even  in  one 
Fortnights  time;  but  afterwards,  happily  to 
make  up  the  Lois. 

Once  paffing  over  the  Ferry  unto  a  Letture, 
on  the  other  fide  of  the  Water,  he  took  no- 
tice of  a  Young  Man  in  the  Boat,  that  worded 
it  very  unhandfomely  unto  his  Aged  Father : 
Whereat  this  Faithful  Seer,  being  much  trou- 
bled, faid  unto  him,  Young  Man,  I  advife  you 
to  repent  of  your  Undutiful  Rebellious  Carriage 
towards  your  Father  -,  J  expeU  elfe  to  hear,  that 
God  Ihif  cut  you  off,  before  a  Twelve-month  come 
to  an  End !  And  before  this  time  expired,  it 
came  to  pafs,  that  this  unhappy  Youth  going 
to  the  Southward,  was  their  hack'd  in  pieces, 
by  the  Pequod  Indians. 

A  Company  of  People  in  this  Country,  were 
mighty  hot  upon  a  Project  of  removing  to  Pro- 
vidence, an  Ifland  in  the  Weft-Indies  -,  and  a  Ve- 
nerable Affembly  of  the  Chief  Magiftrates,  and 
Mimfters  in  the  Colony,  was  addreffedfor  their 
Council  about  this  undertaking ;  which  Affem- 
bly laid  before  the  Company  very  weighty  Rea- 
fons  to  diffwade  them  from  it.    A  Prime  Ring- 
leader in  that  Bufinefs,  was  one  Venner  a  Coo- 
per of  Salem,  the  Mad  Blade,  that  afterwards 
perifhed  in  a  Nonfenfical  Uproar,  which  he, 
with  a  Crew  of  Bedlamites,  pofTeffed  like  him- 
felf,  made   in  London.     This  Venner,  with 
fome  others,  now  flood  up  and  faid.  That  not- 
mthftanding  what  had  been  offered,  they  were 
clear  in  their  Call  to  remove  :  Whereupon,  Mr. 
Wilfon  (food  up  and  anfwered,  Ay,  do  you  come 
to  ask  Counfel  in  Jo  weighty  a  matter  as  this, 
and  to  have  Help  from  an  Ordinance  of  God  in  it  ? 
And  are  you  aforehand  refolved,  that  you  will  go 
on?  Well,  you  may  go,  if  you  will ;  but  you  (hall 
not  profper.    What  ?  Do  you  make  a  Alock  of 
God's  Ordinance  ?  And  it  came  to  pafs  according- 
ly ■,  the  Eiuerprize  was  not  long  after  dafhed  in 
pieces  -,  and   Venner's  precipitating    hnpulfes, 
afterwards  carried  him  to  a  miferable  End, 


A  Council  fitting  at  a  Town,  where  fome  Ec- 
clefiaftical  Differences  called  for  the  Affiftances 
of  the  Neighbours  to  compofe  them,  there  was 
one  Man  obferved  by  Mr.  Wilfon,  to  be  ex- 
treamly  perverfe,  and  moil  unreafonably  trou- 
blefome  and  mifchievous  to  the  Peace  of  the 
Church  there  •,  Whereupon  Mr.  Wilfon  told  the 
Council,  he  was  confident,  That  the  Jealoufy  of 
God  would fet  a  Mark  upon  that  Man,  and  that 
the  ordinary  Death  of  Men  fhould  not  bejal  him. 
It  happened  fhortly  after,  that  the  Man  was 
barbaroufly  Butchered  by  the  Salvages  ! 

While  Mr.  Wilfon  was  Minifter  of  Sudbury 
in  England,  there  was  a  noted  Peribn  who  had 
been  abfent  for  fome  while  among  the  Papilis. 
This  Man  returning  Home,  offered  himfelf  to 
the  Communion  ;  whereat  Mr.  Wilfon  in  the  open 
Affembly,  fpoke  unto  him  after  this  manner  ; 
"  Brother,  you  here  prefent  your  felf,  3S  if  you 
"  would  partake  in   the  Holy  Supper  of  the 
"  Lord.    You  cannot  be  ignorant  ol  what  you 
'•  have  done  in  withdrawing  your  lelf  from  our 
"  Communion,  and  how"  you  have  been  much 
"  converfant  for  a  confiderable  while,  with  the 
"  Papiffs,     whofe    Religion  is    Antichriftian. 
"  Therefore,  though  we  cannot  fo  abfolutely 
"  charge  you,  God  knows,  who  is  the  Searcher 
"  of  all  Hearts  ;  and  if  you  have  defiled  your 
"  felf  with  their  Worfhip  and  Way,  and  not 
"  repented  of  it,  by  offering  to  partake  at  this 
"  time  in  the  Holy  Supper  with  us,  you  will 
u  eat  and  drink  your  own  Damnation  ;  but  if 
"  you  are  clear,  and  have  nothing  wherewith 
"  to  charge  your  felf;  you  your  felf  know,  up- 
"  on  this  account  you  may  receive.    The  Man 
did  then  partake  at  the  Lord's  Table,  profefling 
his  Innocency.    But  as  if  the  Devil  had  entered 
into  him,  he  foon  went  and  hanged  himfelf. 

In  the  Circumftances  of  his  own  Children,  he 
faw  many  Effe&s  of  an  Extraordinary  Faith. 

His  Eldeft  Son,  Edmund,  while  Travelling 
into  the  Countries,  which  the  Bloody  Popifh 
Inquifition  has  made  a  Clime  too  Torrid  for  a 
Froteftant,  was  extreamly  expofed:  But  the 
Prayers  of  the  young  Gentleman's  continually 
diftreffed  Father,  for  him,  were  anfwered  with 
Signal  Prefervations.  When  he  was  under 
Examination  by  the  Inquifitors ,  a  Friend  of 
the  Chief  among  them,  fuddenly  arrived  •,  and 
the  Inquifitor  not  having  feen  this  Friend  for 
many  Years  before,  was  hereby  fo  diverted  and 
mollified,  that  he  carried  the  Young  Mr.  Wil- 
fon to  Dinner  with  him  -,  and,  though  he  had 
palled  hitherto  unknown  by  his  true  Name,  yet 
this  Inquifitor  could  now  call  him,  to  his  great 
Surprize,  by  the  Name  of  Mr.  Wilfon,  and  re- 
port unto  him  the  Chancier  of  his  Father,  and 
his  Fathers  Induftry  in  ferving  the  Hereticks 
of  New-England.  But  that  which  I  here  mod 
of  all  defign,  is  an  Account  of  a  thing  yet  more 
Memorable  and  Unaccountable.  For,  at  ano- 
ther Time,  his  Father  dream't  himfelf  tranfpor- 
ted  into  Italy,  where  he  faw  a  Beautiful  Per- 
fon  in  the  Son's  Chamber,  endeavouring  with  a 
Thoufand  Enchantments,  to  debauch  him; 
I  whereupon  the  Old  Gentleman  made,  and  was 

by 


Book  ill.       The  Hiftory  of  I\ew- England. 


45> 


by  his  Bed-fellow  overheard  making,  firft,  Pray- 
ers to  God  full  of  Agony,  and  then  Warnings 
unto  his  Tempted  Son,  to  beware  of  Defiling 
himfelfwith  the  Daughter  of  a  Strange  God. 
New,  fome  confiderable  while  after  this,  the 
Young  Gentleman  writes  to  his  Father,  that  on 
fuch  a  Night,  (which  was  upon  Enquiry  found 
the  very fame  Night  &  Gentlewoman  had  careffed 
him,  thus  and  lb  (juit  according  to  the  Vifwn,) 
and  that  his  Chaftity  had  been  Conquered,  if 
he  had  not  been  ftrongly  poiTelTed  with  a  Senfe 
of  his  Father's  Prayers  over  him,  and  Warnings 
unto  him,  lor  his  Efcape  from  the  Pits,  where- 
into  do  fall  the  Abhorred  of  the  Lord. 

His  other  Son,  John,  when  a  Child,  fell 
upon  his  Head  from  a  Loft  four  Stories  high, 
into  the  Street-,,  from  whence  he  was  taken  up 
for  Dead,  and  fo  battered  and  bruifed  and 
bloody  with  his  Fall,  that  it  tfruck  Horror  in- 
to the  Beholders  :  But  Mr.  Wilfon  had  a  won- 
derful Return  of  his  Prayers  in  the  Recovery  of 
the  Child,  both  unto  Life  and  unto  Senfe  ; 
infomuch,  that  he  continued  unto  Old  Age,  a 
Faithful,  Painful,  Ufeful  Minifler  of  the  Go- 
fpel;  and  but  lately  went  from  the  Service  of 
the  Church  in  Medfield,  unto  the  Glory  of  the 
Church  Triumphant. 

After  Mr.  Wilfon's  Arrival  at  New-England, 
his  Wife,  who  had  left  off  bearing  of  Children 
for  many  Years,  brought  him  another  Daugh- 
ter -,  which  Lamb  was  indeed  unto  him  as  a 
Daughter  •,  and  he  would  prefent  her  unto  other 
Minifters,  for  their  Blefling,  with  great  Affe- 
ftion,  faying,  This  is  my  New-England  Token  I 
But  this  Child  fell  fick  of  a  Malignant  Fever, 
wherein  fhe  was  gone  fo  far,  that  every  one 
defpaired  of  her  Life  -,  except  her  Father,  who 
called  in  feveral  Minifters,  with  other  Chri- 
ftians,  unto  a  Faft  on  that  Occafion  ;  and  hear- 
ing the  Prayers  of  Mr.  Cotton  for  her,  found 
his  Heart  fo  raifed,  that  he  confidently  decla- 
red, While  I  heard  Mr.  Cotton  at  Prayer,  I  was 
confident  the  Child  fhould  Live !  And  the  Child 
accordingly  did  Live  •,  yea,  fhe  is  to  this  Day 
alive,  a  very  Holy  Woman,  adorned  like  them  of 
Old  Time,  with  a  Spirit  of  Great  Price ! 

The  BleJJings  pronounced  by  Mr.  Wilfon,  upon 
many  Perfons  and  Affairs,  were  obferved  fo 
Prcphetical,and  dpecially  his  Death-bed  Bleflings 
upon  his  Children  and  Grand-children  werefo, 
that  the  mo(t  confiderable  Perfons  in  the  Coun- 
try thought  it  not  much  to  come  from  far,  and 
bring  their  Children  with  them,  for  the  Enjoy- 
ment of  his  Patriarchal  BenediUions.  For  which 
caufe,  Mr.  Thomas  Shepard,  in  an  Elegy  upon 
him,  at  his  Death  Pathetically  thus  expreffed  it  ■, 

Whofo  of  Abraham,  Mofes,  Samuel,  reads, 

Or  of  Elijah's  or  Elijba's  Deeds, 

Would  furely  fay,  Their  Spirit  and  Power  was 

his, 
And  think  there  were  a  Metempfychofts. 
As  Aged  John,  th'  Apolfle  us'd  to  Blefs 
The  People, which  theyjudg'd  their  Happinefs, 
So  did  we  count  it  worth  our  Pilgrimage 
Unto  him  for  his  Blejf.ng,  in  his  Age. 


Thefe  were  Extrordinary  Paffages ;  Many  of 
them,  are  things  which  Ordinary  Chriftians  may 
more  fifely  Ponder  and  Wonder,  than  Expell  in 
CW-Days  !  Though  fometimes  Great  Reformers, 
and  Great  Sufferers,  muft  be  fignalized  with 
them.  I  know  very  well  what  Livy  fays,  Da 
tur  hxc  Venia  Antiauitaik,  ut  mifcendo  Humana 
Divink,  Primordia  Urbium  Augufiiora  faciat  : 
But  I  have  been  far  from  impofing  the;  leal! 
Fable  upon  the  World  in  reporting  fuch  Extra- 
ordinary Paffages  of  Mr.  Wilfon,  or  any  other 
Great  Conjejfory  by  whom  the  Beginnings  of  this 
Country  were  made  Illuftrious ;  there  are  Wit 
nefTes  enough,  yet  living  of  them. 

§20.  There,  is  a  certain  little  Sport  of  Wit, 
in  Anagrammatizing  the  Names  of  Men  •,  which 
was  uled  as  long  ago  at  leaft  as  the  Days  of 
Old  Lycophron:  And  which  fometimes  has  af 
forded  Reflections  very  Monitory,  as  Alftedius 
by  his  juft  Admirers  changed  into  Sed'ulita*  -, 
or  very  Char  ail erifing,  as  Renal  us  Cartefim,  by 
his  Difciples  turn'd  into,  Tufcis  res  Nature-, 
or  very  Satyr  teal,  as  when  Satan  ruleih  me,  was 
found  in  the  Tranfpofed  Name  of  a  certain 
Aclive  Perfecutor:  And  when,  Lo,  a  Damned 
Crew,  was  found  in  the  Name  of  one  that  made 
a  Figure  among  the  Popiifi  Plotters  againft  the 
Nation.  Yea,  'tis  poffible,  that  they  who  affeft 
fuch  Grammatical  Curiofities,  will  be  willing 
to  plead  a  Prescription  of  much  higher  and  El- 
der Antiquity  for  them ;  even  the  Temurah,  or 
Mutation,  with  which  the  Jews  do  Criticife 
upon  the  Oracles  of  the  Old  Teftament.  There, 
they  fay,  you'll  find  the  Anagram  of  our  Firft 
Fathers  Name  Ha  adam,  to  exprefs  Adamah,  the 
Name  of  the  of  the  Earth,  whence  he  had  his 
Original.  An  Anagram  of  a  Good  Signification, 
they'll  fhow  you  [Gen.<5.8.]  and  of  a  Bad  one 
[Gen.  38.  7.]  in  thofe  Glorious  Oracles ;  and 
they  will  endeavour  to  perfwade  you,  that 
Maleachi  in  Exodut  in  Anagrammatically  ex- 
pounded Michael,  in  Daniel.  But  of  all  the 
Anagrammatizers  that  have  been  trying  their 
Fancies,  for  the  Two  Thoufand  Years  which 
have  run  out,  fince  the  Days  of  Lycophron, 
yea,  or  for  the  more  than  Five  Thoufand,  fince 
the  Days  of  our  Firft  Father,  I  believe  there  never 
was  Man,  that  made  fo  many  or  fo  nimbly,  as 
our  Mr.  Wilfon  -,  who,  together  with  his  Quick 
Turns,  upon  the  Names  of  his  Friends,  would 
ordinarily  Fetch,  and  rather  than  Lofe,  would 
even  Force  Devout  InftruSions  out  of  his  Ana- 
grams. As  once,  upon  hearing  my  Father  preach 
a  Sermon  about  The  Glories  of  our  Lord  Jefuf 
Chrifi,  Mr.  Wilfon  immediately  gave  him"  that 
Anagram  upon  his  Name,  Crefcentius  Matherut, 
Anagr.  En  !  Chriftus  Merces  tua :  So  there 
could  fcarcely  occurr  the  Name  of  any  Remar- 
kable Perfon,  at  leaft,  on  any  Remarkable  Oc- 
cafion unto  him,  without  an  Anagram  raifed 
thereupon ;  and  he  made  this  Poetical,  and 
Peculiar  Difpofition  of  his  Ingenuity,  a  Subjeft 
whereon  he  grafted  Thoughts  far  more  Solid 
and  Solemn  and  Ufeful,  than  the  Stock  it  felf. 
Wherefore  methoughts,  it  looked  like  a  Piece 
of  Injuftice,  that  his  own  Funeral  produced 
G  g  g  2  amnog 


So 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.       Book  III. 


( among  the  many  Poems  afterwards  Printed  ) 
no  more  Anagrams  upon  his  Name,  who  had 
fo  often  thus  handled  the  Names  of  others ;  and 
fome  thought  the  Mufes  look'd  very  much  dif- 
fatisfied,  when  they  faw  thefe  Lines  upon  his 
Hearfe. 

JOHN    WILSON. 

Anagr. 
John  Wilfon. 

Oh!  change  it  not ;  nofweeterName  or  Thing, 
Throughout  the  World,within  our  Ears  fhall 'ring* 

There  was  a  little  more  of  Humour,  in  die 
Fancy  of  Mr.  Ward,  the  well-known  Jimp/e  Cob- 
ler  of  Agawam,  as  that  witty  Writer  (tiled  him- 
felf, who  obferving  the  great  Hofpitality  of  Mr. 
Wilfon,  in  conjunction  with  his  Meta-grammati- 
fing  Temper,  laid,  That  the  Anagram  oj  JOHN 
WILSON  was,  I  PRAY,  COME  IN,  YOU 
ARE  HEARTILY  WELCOMF. 

To  make  up  this  want,  I  might  conclude  the 
Life  of  this  good  Man,  with  an  Anagram,  which 
he  left  on,  and  for  himfelf. 

Johannes  Wiljonus. 
Anagr. 
In  uno  Jcfu,  nos  Sa/vi. 

Vel 
Non  in  uno  Jefu  Salus  ? 

An  non  in  Jefu,  Credentum,  figitur,  uno, 
Tota  Salt*  ?  Hie  elt,  hie  Sita  Tota  Salus. 

§  21.  But  it  is  to  the  lafl  Place  in  our  Eliftory 
of  this  worthy  Man,  that  I  referve  that  part  of 
his  Character,   which  lay  in  his  Difpofition  to 
allot  unto  himfelf  the  laft  place  among  all  wor- 
thy Men  ;  for  his  low  Opinion  of  himfelf,  was 
the  top  of  all  his  other  Excellencies.     His  Hu- 
mility not  only  caufed  him  to  prefer  rhe  meaneft 
of  his  Brethren  above  himfelf,  but  alfo  to  com- 
ply with  the  meaneft  Opportunities  of  being 
ferviceable.    He  might  juftly  be  reckoned  the 
Names  fake  of  that  John,  the  Bifhop  of  Alexan- 
dria, who  was  called  not  only  Johannes  Elee- 
mofyndrius,  but  alfo  Humilis  Johannes.    Hence 
'twas,  that  when   his  Voice  in  his  Age  did  fo 
fail  him,  that  his  great  Congregation  could  be 
no  longer  edified   by  his  Publick  Labours,  he 
cheerfully  and  painfully  fet  himfelf  to  do  all 
the  good  that  he  could  by  his  Private  Vifits  -, 
and  fuch  alfo  as  he  could  not  reach  with  Ser- 
mons, he  often  found  with  Verfes  :  Hence 'twas 
that  when  that  Piea  was  ufed  with  the  Church 
of  Ipfwich,  to  refign  Mr.  Norton  unto  the  Church 
oiBoflon,  after  the  Death  of  Mr.  Cotton  ;  be 
caufe  it  was  faid,  Let  him  that  hath  two  Coats, 
give  to  him  that  hath  none :  And  a  Perfon  of 
Quality  replied,  Bo/lon  hath  one,  (meaning Mr. 
Wilfon .]  this  good  Man  anfwered,  Who  ?  Me ! 
I  am  nothing  !   Yea,  hence  'twas,  that  when 
Malefa&ors  had  been  openly  fcourged  upon  the 
]uft  Sentence  of  Authority,  be  would  prefently 


fend  for  them  to  his  Houfe,  and  having  ftffl 
exprelfed  his  Bounty  to  them,  he  would  then 
bellow  upon  them  fuch  gracious  Admonitions 
and  Exhortations,  as  made  them  to  become  in- 
ftead  of  defperate,  remarkably  penitent.  '  in- 
deed, I  know  not  whether  his  Humility  might 
not  have  fome  Excefs5  in  fome  Inftances  char- 
ged upon  it  •,  at  lealt  once,  when  he  had  pro- 
mi  fed  unto  a  Neighbouring  Minifter,  to  preach 
a  Sermon  for  him,  and  alter  his  Promiie  curie 
in  Seafon  to  that  Minifter,  faying,  Sir,  I  told 
you,  that  I  would  preach  for  you,  but  it  wa-i  rafh- 
ly  done  of  me ;  I  have  on  my  Knees  bcg£d  the 
Pardon  of  it,  from  the  Lord  ;  that  I  fhould  offer 
thus  to  deprive  his  People  of  your  Labours,  which 
are  Jo  much  better  than  any  of  mine  can  be  : 
Wherefore,  Sir,  I  now  come  Jeafonab/e  to  tell 
you,  That  I  Jhall  fail  you  !  And  accordingly, 
there  was-  no  perl'wading  of  him  to  the  con- 
trary. 

But  from  the  like  Humility  it  was,  that  a 
good  Kinfman  of  his,  who  deferves  to  live  in 
the  fame  Story,  as  he  now  lives  in  the  lame 
Heaven  with  him,  namely  Mr.  Edward Rawf on, 
the  Honoured  Secretary  of  the  Maffachufet  Co- 
lony, could  not  by  all  his  Intreaties  perfwade 
him  to  let  his  Pifture  be  drawn  -,  but  Hill  refu- 
fing  it,  he  would  reply,  What !  fuch  a  poor  vile 
Creature  an  I  am  !  Shall  my  Future  be  drawn  f 
I  fay,  Aro;  it  never  Jhall !  And  when  that  Gen- 
tleman introduced  the  Limner,  with  all  things 
ready,  vehemently  importuning  him  to  gratiris 
fo  far  the  Defires  of  his  Friends,  as  to  fit  a  while, 
for  the  taking  of  his  Effigies,  no  Importunity 
could  ever  obtain  it  from  him.  However,  being 
bound  in  Juilice  ro  employ  my  Hand,  for  the 
Memory  of  that  Perfon,  by  whofe  Hand  I  was 
my  felf  baptifed,  I  have  made  an  Effay  to  draw 
his  Picfure,  by  this  Account  of  his  Life;  where- 
in if  I  have  milTed  of  doing  to  the  Life,it  might 
be  made  up  with  feveral  exprefiive  PaiTages,  ■ 
which  I  find  in  Elegies  written  and  printed  upon 
his  Death  :  Whereof  rhere  were  many  Com  po- 
led, by  thofe  whofe  Opinion  was  well  figniried 
by  one  of  them  : 

Sure  Verfelefs  he  does  mean,  to's  Grave  to  go, 
And  well  delerves,that  now  no  Verfe  canjhovs. 

But  waving  the  reft,  let  the  following  Poem, 
never  before  Printed,  offer  fome  Odours  for  the 
Reader's  further  Entertainment. 

Some  Offers  to  Embalm  the  Memory  of  the  truly 
Reverend  and  Renowned  JOHN  WILSON  ; 
thefrji  Pajior  of  Bofton,  in  New-England  : 
Interr'd(and  agreat  part  of  his  Country's  Glory 
with  him)  Auguft  n.  1667.  Aged  79. 

Might  Aaron's  Rod  (fuch  funerals  mayn't 
he  dry) 
But  broach  the  Rock,  'twould  gufh  pure  Elegy, 
To  round  the  Wildernefs  with  purling  Lays, 
And  tell  the  World,  the  great  Saint  Wilfon's 
Praife, 

Here's 


Book  III.        the  Hifiory  of  New-England. 


5* 


Here's  ons(P  ear  Is  are  not  in  great  Clutters  found) 
Here's  one,  the  Skill  of  Tongues  and  Arts  had 

Crown'd  ; 
Here's  one  (by  frequent  Martyrdom  was  try'd) 
That  could  forego  Skill,  Pelf,  and  Life  befide, 
For  Chrilt  :    Both  England*  Darling,  whom  in 

Swarms 
They  preis'd   to  fee,   and  Hear,  and  felt  his 

Charms. 

'Tis  one  (when  will  it  rife  to  Number  two  ? 
The  World  at  once  can  but  one  Phivnix  mow:,) 
For  Truth  a  Paul,  Cephas  for  Zeal,  for  hove 
A  John,  infpir'd  by  the  Cceleftial  Dove. 
Abram's  true  Son  for  Faith  -,  and  in  his  Tent 
Angels  oft  had  their  Table  and  Content. 

So  humble,  that  alike  on's  Charity, 
Wrought  Extracl  Gent  ;  with  Extracl  Rudii. 
Pardon  this  Fault  -,  his  great  Excefs  lay  there, 
He'd  Trade  for  Heaven,  with  all  he  came  a  near  ; 
His  Meat,   Clothes,  Cafh,  he'd  ftill  tor  Ventures 

fend 
Confign'd,  Per  Brother  Lazarus,  his  Friend. 

Mighty  in  Prayer,  his  Hands  uplifted  reach'd 
Mercies  high  Throne,and  thence  ftrange  Bounties 

fetch'd, 
Once  and  again,  and  oft ;  So  felt  by  all, 
Who  weep  his  Death,  as  a  departing  Paul. 
All,  yea,  baptiz'd  with  Tears,  lo  Children  come, 
(Tbeir  Baptifm  he  maintain'd ! )  unto  his  Tomb. 

'Twixt  an  Apoftle,  and  Evangelift, 

Let  ftand  his  Order  in  the  heavenly  Lift. 

Had  we  the  Coftly  Alabafter  Box, 

What's  left,  we'd  fpend  on  this  New-Englilb 

Knox  ;  r  .-  >  1 

True  Knox,  fill'd  with  that  Great  Reformer's 

Grace, 
In  Truth's  juft  Caufe,  fearing  no  Mortal's  Face. 

Chrifl's  Word,  it  was  his  Life,  Chriji's  Church, 
his  Care  -,  \  y  j 

And  fo  great  with  him  his  leaft  Brethren  were, 
Not  Heat,nor  Cold,not  Rain,  or  Froft,  or  Snow,  j 
Could  hinder,  but  he'd  to  their  Sermons  go  : 
Aaron's  Bells  chim'd  from  far,he'd  run,  and  then 
His  ravifh'd  Sould  echo'd,  Amen,  Amen ! 


He  travers'd  oft  the  fierce  Atlantic  Sea, 
But  Patmos  of  Confr/Jbrs  'twas  for  Thee 
This  Voyage  lands  him  on  the  wifhed  Shore, 
From  whence  this  Father  will  return  no  more, 
To  fit  the  Moderator  of  thy  Sages. 
But  tell  his  Zeal  for  thee  to  After-Ages, 
His  Care  to  guide  his  Floc/:,avA  feed  his  Lambs, 
By  Words,  Works,  Prayers,  Pfalms,  Alms,  and 

Anagrams : 
Thofe  Anagrams,  in  which  he  made  no  Start 
Out  of  meer  Nothings,  by  Creating  Art, 
Whole  Words  of  Counfel  -,  did  to  Motes  unfold 
Names,  till  they  Leffons  gave  richer  than  Gold, 
And  every  Angle  fo  exactly  fay, 
It  fhouldout-fhine  the  brighteit  Solar  Ray. 

Sacred  his  Verfe,  writ  with  a  Cherub's  Quill  -, 
But  thole  wing'd  Chorifters  of  Z ion-Hill, 
Pleas'd  with  the  Notes,czll'd  him  a  part  to  bear.- 
With  them,  where  he  his  Anagram  did  hear,     I 
I  pray  come  in,  heartilyWclcome,  Sir.  3 


— 


Epitaphium. 


Thinking  what  Epitaph  I  fhould  offer  unto 
the  Grave  of  this  Worthy  Man,  I  call'd  unto 
Mind  the  fitteft  in  the  World,  which  was  dire- 
cted for  him,  immediately  upon  his  Death,  by 
an  Honourable  Perfon,  who  ftill  -continues  the 
fame  Lover,  as  well  as  Injiance,  of  Learning 
and  Vertue,  that  he  was,  when  he  then  advifed 
them  to  give  Mr.  Wilfon  this 


E  p 


I    T    A    P    H. 


And  now  abides  Faith,  Hope,  and  Charity, 
But  Charity  V  the  Great  eft  of  the  Three. 

To  which  this  might  be  added,   from 
another  Hand : 


i 


Aurea,qu<jc  (obflupeo  referens.!)  Primdva  Vetuftas 
Condidit  Arcano,  Saxula  Apoftolica, 
Officii*,  Domfijue  itidem  SanBijfimus  Heros, 
WILSONUS,  tacit  is  Protulit  Ex  Tenebris, 


1 

.   H  1  11 


CHAP.     IV. 


Vwitamfmm  Nov-Anglhanm.    The  L I F E  of  Mr.  J 0 HN  DAVENPORT. 

§  1.  A  Noted  Author  of  more  than  twice  fe- 
JLJL  ven  Treatifes,  and  Chaplain  to  two 
fucceffive  Queens  of  England,  was  that  Chrifto- 
pher  Davenport,whofe  afTumed  Name  was,  Fran- 
cifcus  a  SanUa  Clara.  And  in  Mr.  Rufhworth's 
Collection  of  Speeches,  made  in  the  Celebrated 
Parliament,  1 640.  I  find  Sir  Benjamin  Rudyard 
ufing  thefe  Words  :  '  SanUa  Clara,  hath  publifh- 
*  cd,That  if  a  Synod  were  held,  Non  intermixtis 


'  Puritanis,  fetting  Puritans  afide,  our  Articles 
'  and  their  Religion  would  foon  be  agreed.  They 
c  have  fo  brought  it  to  pafs,  that  under  the 
'  Name  of  Puritans,zll  our  Religion  is  branded. 
'  Whofoever  fquares  his  Actions  by  any  Rule, 
c  either  Divine  or  Humane,  he  is  a  Puritan  : 
'  Whofoever  would  be  governed  by  the  King's 
'  Laws,  he  is  a  Puritan.-  .Whether  this 

Account  of  Matters  beallow'd  or  no ;  there  was, 

tho" 


52 


The  Hiflory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 


thd'  not  a  Brother  (as  a  certain  Woodden  Hiftori- 
an,  in  his  Athene  Oxonienfes,  has  reported)  yet 
a  Kin/man  of  that  SanHa  Clara,  who  was  among 
die  mo  ft  eminent  Puritans  or"  thofe  Days  -,  and 
this  was  our  holy  and  famous  Mr.  John  Daven- 
port :  One  of  whom  I  may,  on  many  Accounts, 
ufe  the  Elogy,  with  which  the  Learned  ftill 
mention  Salmafius,  Vir  nunquam fatis  Laudatus, 
nee  Ten/ere  fine  Laudc  nominandus. 

§  2.  Mr.  John  Davenport  was  born  at  Coven- 
try, in  the  Year  1597.  of  worthy  Parents ;  a 
hither  who  was  Mayor  of  the  City,  and  a  pious 
Mother,  who  having  lived  juft  long  enough,  to 
devote  him,  as  Hannah  did  her  Samuel,  unto 
the  Service  of  the  Sanffuary,  left  him  under  the 
more  immediate  Care  of  Heaven  to  fit  him  for 
that  Service.    The  Grace  of  God  fan&ified  him 
with  good  Principles,  while  he  had  not  yet  feen 
two  Sevens  of  Years  in  an  evil  World;  and  by 
that  Age  he  had  alfo  made  fuch  Attainments  in 
.Learning,   as  to  be  admitted  into  Brafen-Nofe 
Colledge,   in  Oxford.     From  thence,  when  he 
was  but  Nineteen  Years  old,  he  was  called  unto 
publick  and  conftant  Preaching  in  the  City  of 
London,  as  an  Aififtant  unto  another  Divine  •, 
where  his  notable  Accomplifhments  for  a  Mini- 
Jier,  and  his  Couragious   Refidence  with,  and 
'Yifiting  of  his  Flock,  in  a  dreadful  Plague-time, 
caufed  much  Notice  to  be  quickly  taken  of  him. 
His  Degree  of  Majier  of  Arts,  he  took  not,  un- 
til, in  Courfe,   he  was  to  proceed  Batchellor 
of  Divinity  :  And  then  with  Univerfal  Appro- 
bation, he  received  both  of  thefe  Laurels  to- 
gether. 

(j  3.  This  pious  Man  was  both  an  hard  Stu- 
dent, and  a  great  Preacher.    His  Cuftom  was  to 
lit  up  very  late  at  his  Lucubrations  -,  whereby, 
tho'  he  found  no  fenfible  Damage  himfelf,  and 
never  felt  his  Heach  ach,  yet  his  Counfel  was, 
that  other  Students  would  not  follow  his  Exam- 
ple.   But  the  Effects  of  his  Indufiry  were  feen 
by  all  Men,  in  his  approving  himfelf  upon  all 
Oceafions,    an  univerfal  Scholar.     As  for  the 
Sermons  wherewith  he  fed  the  Church  of  God, 
he  wrote  them  for  the  moft  part,  more  largely 
than  the  moft  of  Minifters  ;  and  he  fpoke  them 
with  a  Gravity,  an  Energy,  an  Acceptablenefs, 
whereto  few  Minifters  ever  have  arrived  :  In- 
deed his  greateft  Enemies,   when  they  heard 
him,  would  acknowledge  him  to  be  among  the 
befi  of  Preachers.     The  ableft  Men  about  London 
were  his  neareji  Friends  -,  among  whom  he  held 
a  very  particular  Correfpondence  with  Dr.  Pre- 
Jion  :    He,  when  he  dy'd,  left  his  Notes  with 
Mr.  Davenport,   by  him  to  be  published  ;  and 
accordingly  with  Dr.  Sibbs,  you'll  find  Mr.  Da- 
venport ligning  fome  of  their  Dedications. 

§4.  About  the  Year  1626.  there  were feveral 
eminent  Perfons,  among  whom  were  two  DoUors 
of  Divinity,  with  two  other  Divines,  and  four 
Lawyers,  whereof  one  the  King's  Serjant  at 
Law,  and  four  Citizens,  whereof  one  the  Lord 
Mayor  of  London,  engaged  in  a  Defign  to  pro- 
cure a  Purchafe  of  Impropriations,  and  with  the 
Profits  thereoi  to  maintain  a  conftant,  able,  and 
painful  Miniitry,  in  thofe  parts  of  the  Kingdom, 


where  there  was  moft  want  of  fuch  a  Miniitry. 
The  Divines  concerned  in  this  Defign,  were  Dr. 
Gouge,  Dr.  Sibs,  Mr.  Offspring,  and  our  Mr.  Da- 
venport ■,  and  fuch  an  incredible  Progrels  was 
made  in  it,  that  it  is  judged,  all  the  Impropriati- 
on? in  England  would  have  been  honeftly  and 
eafily  recovered  unto  the  immediate  Service  of 
the  Preformed  Religion.     But  Bifhop  Laud  look- 
ing with  a  jealous  Eye  on  this  Undertaking, 
leatt  it  might  in  time  give  a  Secret  Growth  to 
Noh-Conformity,  he  obtained  a  Bill  to  be  exhi- 
bited in  the  Exchequer  Chamber,   by  the  King's 
Attorney-General,  againlt  the  Feoffees,  that  had 
the  Management  of  it.     Upon  this  occafion,  I 
find  this  Great  Man' writing  in  his  Great  Eible> 
the  enfuing  Paffages  : 

'  Feb.  11.  1632.  The  Bufinefs 'of  the  Feoffee  s 
being  to  be  heard  the  third  time  at  the  Exche- 
quer, I  prayed  earneftly,  That  God  would  af- 
fift  our  Couniellors,  in  opening  the  Cafe,  and 
be  pleafed  to  grant,  that  they  might  get  no 
advantage  againft  us,  to  punifh  us  as  Evil  Do- 
ers -,  promifing  to  obferve  what  Anfwer  he 
gave.  Which  feeing  he  hath  gracioully  done, 
and  delivered  me  from  the  thing  I  feared,  I 
record  to  thefe  Ends  : 


To  be  more  Induflrious  in  nay  Family. 
To  check  my  Unthankfulnefs. 
To  quicken  my  felf  to  Thankfulnefs. 
To  awaken  my  felf  to  more  Watchfulnefs 
for  the  time  to  come,  in  remembrance  of 
his  Mercy. 


'  Which  I  befeech  the  Lord  to  grant  -,  upon 
;  whofe  Faithfulnefs  in  his  Covenant,  1  caft  my 
'  felf,  to  be  made  Faithful  in  my  Covenapt. 

John  Davenport. 

The  Iflue  of  the  Bufinefs  was  this  :  The  Court 
condemn'd  their  Proceedings  as  dangerous  to  the 
Church  and  State  ;  pronouncing  the  Gifts,  Fe- 
offments, and  Contrivances,  made  to  the  Ufes  a- 
forefaid,  to  be  illegal,  and  fodiflblved  the  fame, 
confifcating  their  Money  unto  the  King's  Ufe. 
Yet  the  Criminal  Part  referred  unto,  was  never 
profecuted  in  the  Star -Chamber-,  becaufe  the  De- 
fign was  generally  approved,  and  multitudes  of 
difcreet  and  devout  Men,  extreamly  refented  the 
Ruine  of  it. 

§  j.  It  happened  that  foon  after  this,  the  fa- 
mous Mr.  John  Cotton  was  fallen  under  fuch  a 
Storm  of  Perfecution  for  his  Non-Conformity,  as 
made  it  neceffary  for  him  to  propofe  and  pur- 
pofe  a  Removal  out  of  the  Land  ;  Whereupon 
Mr.  Davenport,  with  feveral  other  great  and 
good  Men,  confidering  the  eminent  Learning, 
Prudence,  and  Holinefs  of  that  excellent  Perfon, 
could  be  at  no  reft,  until  they  had  by  a  folemn 
Conference  inform'd  themfelves  of  what  might 
move  him  to  fuch  a  Refolution.  The  Iflue  of 
the  Conference  was,  that  inftead  of  their  diflwa- 
ding  him  from  expofing  himfelf  to  fuch  Suffer- 


ings, as  were  now  before  him,  he 


convinced 
their, 


Book  lllT    The  Hijlory  of  New-England. 


53 


them  of  the  Truth  in  the  Gw/?.  for  which  he  fuf 
fered  ;  and  they  became  fatisfied  both  of  the 
Evil  in  fundry  Matters  of  Worjhip  and  Order, 
impofed  upon  them,  and  of  the  Duty  which  lay 
upon  them,  in  their  places  to  endeavour  theRe 
formation  of  things  in  the  Church,  according  to 
the  Word  of  God.     Mr.  Davenport's  Inclination 
to  Non  Conformity  from  this  time,  fell  under  the 
Notice  and  Anger  of  his  Diocefan  ;  who  pre- 
fently  determined  the  Marks  of  his  Vengeance 
for  him  :  Of  which  being  feafonably  and  futfi 
ciently  advertifed,   he  convened  the  principal 
Peribns  under  his  Paftoral  Charge  in  Coleman- 
fireet,  at  a  General  Vejiry,  defiling  them  on 
this  occafion  to  declare,  what  they  would  ad- 
vife  ,  for  acknowledging  the  Right  which  they 
had  in  him,  as  their  Faifor,  he  would  nor,  by 
any  danger,  be  driven  from  any  Service,  which 
they  fhould  expect  or  demand  at  his  Hands  ; 
but  he_  would  imitate  the  Example  of  Luther, 
who  upon  Letters  from  the  Church  of  Witten- 
berg, from  whence  he  had  withdrawn  for  his 
Security,  upon  the   Direction  of  the  Duke  of 
Saxony,  returned  unto  the  Couragious  Exercile 
of  his  Miniftry.     Upon  a  ferious  Deliberation, 
they  difcharged  IvsConfcientious  Obligation,    by 
agreeing  with  him,  that  it  would  be  belt  for 
him  to  refign  ;    but  altho'  he  now  hoped  for 
fomething  of  a  quiet  Life,  his  Hope  was  difap- 
pointed  5  for  he  was  continually  dogg'd  by  ra- 
ging bufie  Purfivants,  from  whom  he  had  no 
lafety  but  by  retiring  into  Holland. 

§  6.  Over  to  Holland  he  went,  in  the  latter 
end  of  the  Year  1633.  Where  the  Meffengers 
of  the  Church,  under  the  Charge  of  Mr.  Paget, 
met  him  in  his  way  to  Amfterdam,  inviting  him 
to  become  the  Co'llegue  of  their  Aged  Paftor. 
But  Mr.  Davenport  had  not  been  long  there,  be- 
fore his  Indifpofition  to  the  promifcuous  Bapti- 
fing  of  Children,  concerning  whom  there  was  no 
charitable  or  tolerableTeftxmony  of  their  belong- 
ing to  Cbrifiian  Parents,  was  by  Mr.  Paget  lb 
improved  againft  him,  as  to  procure  him  the 
Difpieafure  of  the  Dutch  Gaffes  in  the  Neigh- 
bourhood. The  Contention  on  this  Occahon 
proceeded  fo  far,  that  tho'  the  D/z/yZ>  Minifters 

had  under  their  Hands  declared We  defire 

nothing  more,  than  that  Mr.  Davenport,  whqfe 
eminent  Learning,  and  fmgular  Piety  k  much 
bpproved  and  commended  of  all  the  Englifh.  our 
Brethren,  may  be  lawfully  promoted  unto  the  Mi- 
nijiry  of  the  Englifh  Church  :  We  do  alfo  greatly 
approve  of  his  good  Zeal  andCarc,  of  his  having 
fame  precedent  private  Examination  of  the  Pa- 
rents, and  Sureties  of  Children  to  be  Baptifed  in 
the  Cbrifiian  Religion.  Yet  the  matter  could 
not  be  accommodated  -,  Mr.  Davenport  could 
not  be  allowed,  except  he  would  promife  to 
Baptize  the  Children  of  fuch  whofe  Parents  and 
Sureties  were,  upon  Examination,  found  never 
fo  much  Un  briftianifed3  Ignorant,  or  Scanda- 
lous. He  therefore  debited  from  his  Publick 
Miniftry  in  Amfierdam,  about  the  beginning  of 
the  Yeat  1635,'  contenting  himfelf  to  fet  up  a 
Catechetical  Exercije  in  the  Family,  where  he 
fojourned  on  the  Afternoon  of  the  Lord's  Days, 


an  Hour  after  the  Publick  Sermons  were  over. 
But  fome  confiderable  number  of  People,  .;; 
length,  reforting  to  this  Exercife,  a  Jealoufie 
was  pretended  by  his  Adverfary,  that  the  De- 
fign of  it  was  to  promote  i'ach  Sects,  as  in 
the  chief  Defign  of  it  was  to  prevent  ;  and  upon 
this  pretence  he  was  hindered,  even  from  this 
leifer  Opportunity  of  doing  Service  alio.  The 
fuller  Story  of  theie  uncomfortable  and  unrea- 
fonable  Brangles,  the  Reader  may  find  in  an  A- 
pologetical  Difcourfe  of  Mr.  Davenports,  pub- 
lished for  his  own  Vindication  -,  wherein  he  do's 
with  a  Learned  Pen,  handle  feveral  Points  much 
controverted  in  the  Reformed  Churches ,  and 
(hew  himfelf  a  Divine  well  ftudied  in  the  Con- 
troverfies  of  the  prefent,  and  the  former  Ages. 
But  the  Llpfhotof  all  was,  that  he  returned  back 
to  London  -,  where  he  told  his  Friends,  That  he 
thought  God  carried  him  over  into  Holland,  en 
purpofe  to  bear  Witnefs  againft  that  pro  lliicupus 
Baptifm,  which  atleaji  bordered  very  near  upon 
a  Profanation  of  the  Holy  Inflitution. 

§  7.  He  obferved,  that  when  a  Reformation 
of  the  Church  has  been  brought  about  in  any 
part  of  the  World,  it  has  rarely  been  afterwards 
carried  on  any  one  ltep  further,  than  thtfirft 
Reformers  did  fucceed  in  their  firjl  Endeavours 
he  obferved  that  as  eafily  might  the  Ark  have 
been  removed  from  the  Mountains  of  Ararat, 
where  it  firlt  grounded,  as  a  People  get  any 
Ground  in  Reformation,  after  and  beyond  the 
firfl  Remove  of  the  Reformers.  And  this  Obfer- 
vation  quickned  him  to  embark  in  a  Defign  of 
Reformation,  wherein  he  might  have  Opportu- 
nity to  drive  things  in  ths  firlt  Effay,  as  near  to 
the  Precept  and  Pattern  cf  Scripture,  as  they 
could  be  driven.  The  Plantation  of  New  Eng- 
land afforded  him  this  Opportunity,  with  the 
chief  Undertakers  whereof  he  had  many  Con- 
fultations,  before  he  had  ever  taken  up  any  pur- 
pofe of  going  himfelf  into  that  part  of  the 
World  ;  and  he  had,  indeed,  a  very  great  ltroke 
in  the  encouraging  and  enlivening  of  that  Noble , 
Undertaking.  He  was  one  of  thofe  by  whom 
the  Patent  for  the  Majfachufet  Colony  was  pro- 
cured •,  and  tho'  his  Name  were  not  among  the 
Patentees,  becaufe  he  himfelf  defired  it  might 
be  omitted,  left  his  Enemy,  the'Bifhop  of  Lon- 
don, then  of  the  King's  Privy  Council,  fhould 
upon  his  Account  appear  the  more  fiercely  a- 
againft  it  -,  yet  his  Purfe  was  in  it,  his  Tw^  was 
in  it,  and  he  contributed  unto  it  all  manner  of 
Affiltances  :  This  he  did  before  his  going  to 
Holland.  And  while  he  was  in  Holland,  he  re- 
ceived Letters  of  Mr.  Cotton,  from  the  Country 
whereto  he  had  thus  been  a  Father  -,  telling  him, 
That  the  Order  of  the  Churches,  and  the  Common- 
Wealth,  was  now  fo  fettled  in  New-England,  by 
common  Confent,  that  it  brought  into  hh  Mind 
the  New  Heaven,  and  the  Acw  Earth,  where- 
m  dwells  Right eoufnejs.  Wherefore,  foon  af- 
ter his  Return  for  London ,  he  fhipp'd  him- 
felf,  with  feveral  eminent  Chriftians,  and 
their  Families  ,  for  New  ■  England  -,  where, 
by  the  good   Hand    of    G  0  D   upon  them, 

they 


54 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.      Book  II J. 


they  arrived     in     the  Summer  of  the   Year, 
1637. 

§  8.  Mr.  Cotton  welcomed  Mr.  Davenport,  as 
Mo/es  did  Jetbro,  hoping  that  he  would  be  a* 
Eyes  unto  them  in  the  Wildernefs.  For  by  the  Cun- 
ning and  Malice  of  Satan,  all  things  in  this  New- 
Englifh  Hrildcmefs,weK  then  furprifedjmo  a  deal 
of  Confufion,  on  the  Occafion  of  the  Antmomian 
Opinions  then  fpread  abroad  ;  but  the  Learning 
and  Wifdom  of  this  worthy  Man  in  the  Synod 
then    affembled    at  Cambridge,    did  contribute 
more    than  a   little  to   difpel    the  Fafcindting 
Miffs  which  had    fuddenly  difordered  all  our 
Affairs.     Having  done  his   part  in  that  Bleffed 
Work,  (as  we  have  elfewhere  more  fully  rela- 
ted J  He,   with  his  Friends,  who  were  more  fit 
for  Zebu  Ion's  Ports,  than   for   ijfacbar's  Tents, 
choie  to  go  farther  Weftward  ;  where  they  be- 
gin a  Plantation  and  a  Colony,    fince  diftin- 
guifhed  by  the  Name  of  New  Haven-,   and  en- 
deavoured, according  to   his  Underlfanding,  a 
yet  ftrifter  Conformity  to  the  Word  oj  God,  in 
fettling  of  all  Matters,  both  Civil  and  Saered, 
than  he  had    yet  feen  exemplified  in  any  other 
Part  of  the  World.    There  the  Famous  Church 
of  New-Haven,  as  well  as  the  other  Neighbour- 
ing  Towns,  enjoyed   his  Minifiry,  his  Difci- 
pline,  his   Government,  and   his  Univerfal  Di- 
rection for  many  Years  together  -,  even  till  after 
the  Reftoration  of  King  Charles  II.  Conneilicut 
and  New  Haven,  were  by  One  Charter  incor- 
porated.    An  1  here,  with  what  Holinefs,  with 
what  Watcbfulnefs,  with  what  Ufefulnefs  he 
difcharged  his  Miniftry,  it  is  worthy  of  a  Re- 
membrance among  all  that  would  propofe  unto 
themfelves  a  worthy  Example.    Neverthelefs, 
all  that  I  fhall  here  preferve  of  it,  is  this  One 
Article.     A  young  Minifter,  once  receiving  of 
wife  and  good   Councils  from  this  good  and 
wife  and    great    Man  ,    he    reseived  this  a- 
mong  the   reft,  That  he  fhould  be  much  in  Eja- 
Culatory  Prayer  :  For  indeed,  Ejaculatory  Pray- 
ers, as  Arrows  in  the  Hand  of  a  Mighty  Man, 
fo   are    they,  Happy   is  the   Man  that  bos  bis 
§>iiiver  full  of  them  I  And  it  was  believed,  by 
fome  curious  Obfervers,  That  Mr.  Davenport 
himfelf,  was  well  ufed  unto  that  facred  Skill 
of,  Walking  with  God,  and,   Having  bis  Eyes 
ever  towards  the  Lord,  and,  Being  in  the  fear 
of  the  Lord  all  the  Day  long,  by  the  ufe  of  Eja- 
culatory Prayers,  on  the  Innumerable  Occafions, 
which  every  Turn  of  our  Lives  does  bring  for 
thofe  Devotions.     He  was  not  only  conftant  in 
more  Settled,  whether  Social  or  Secret  Prayers  -, 
but  alfo  in    the  midlf  of  all  befieging  Incum 
brances,  tying  the  Wifhes  of  his  Devout  Soul 
unto    the   Arrows  of  Ejbculatory   Prayers,    he 
would   fhoot   them    away   unto  the  Heavens, 
from  whence   he  fiill   expefted  all  his  Help. 
With  fuch  a  Glory }  with   fuch  a  Defence,  was 
New  Haven  Bleffed ! 

§  S>.  But  his  Influences  were  not  confined  un- 
to his  own  Colony  of  New-Haven  ;  they  were 
extended  as  far  as  his  general  and  generous 
Care  of  all  the  Churches,  could  carry  him.  And 
hence,  I  find  him  in  a  particular  manner,  ex- 


preffing  his  good  Affections  unto  the  Irenio  De- 
figns  and  Studies,  which  were  in  thole  Days 
managing  by  fome  great  Men,  for  the  reffo"- 
ing  of  Communion  among  the  divided  Churches 
of  the  Reformation.  Perhaps,  I  cannot  give  an 
exa&er  Chancier  of  this  eminent  Perfon's  Dif. 
pofition,  than  by  my  Tranfcribingand  myTran- 
flatingof  a  few  Paffages  in  a  Letter  to  the  Fa- 
mous Dury,  by  him  compofed,  and  by  the  reft 
of  the  Minifters  in  his  Colony  fubferibed. 

Flagrante  Schifmatis  incendio,  Ecclefias,  qua* 
oportebat  Artlijfimo  Pacts  &  Unitatis  Vinculo 
Colligari,  mi/era  in  fellas  Invifa  Deo  Lacerabat 
Erinuys  -,  Ufque  adeo  ut  qui  mutuam  contra  com- 
munes Hoftes  of  em  conferrent,  proh  dolor  !  Con- 
certationes  Midianiticas  invicem  agunt ;  Sicut 
Enim  Juvenes  quos  ad  Dimicandum  Abnerus 
Provocabat,  fe  mutuis  Yulneribus  Confecerunt  h 
Sic,  quorundam  Vitio,  qui  partes  potiut  agunt 
?nale  Difputantium,  quam  £<?/«■  Evangelizantium, 
Jurgia,  Lites,  Ammo  rum  Divortiar  Schijmata 
Of  Scandala,  in  Ecclefus  Evangchcis,  Suboriun- 
tur,  non  fine  gravi  lnfirmorum  Offendiculo,  nee 
fine  Summo  Bonorum  Omnium  M<erore,  ac  Jui- 
micorum  Evangelic^  Veritatis  Obletlamento.  — — 

'  While  the  Fire  of  Scbifm  has  been  raging, 
'  the  Hateful  Fury  has  miferably  torn  to  Pieces, 
'  the  Churches  that  fhould  have  been  held  to- 
'  gecher  in  the  ftri&eft  Bonds  of  Love  and  Uni- 
'  ty;  infomuch  that  they  who  fhould  have 
'  united,  for  mutual  Help  againft  the  common 
c  Enemy,  alas,  have  even  fallen  upon  one  ano- 
'  ther,  at  in  the  Day  of  Midian.  As  the  young 
c  Men,  upon  the  Provocation  of  Abner,  wound- 
'  ed  one  another  to  Death  ;  thus,  by  the  Fault 
'  of  fome,  who  do  the  part  rather  of  Bad 
-,  Wranglers,  than  of  Good  Preachers,  there  do 
'  arife  in  the  Reformed  Churches,  thofe  Broils 
'  and  Strifes,  and  Animofities,  and  Scbijms 
'  and  Scandals,  which  offend  the  Weak,  and 
'  afflict:  the  Good,  and  are  no  little  Satisfaction 
c  to  the  Enemies  oiGoj pel-Truth. 

Nunc  Vero,  P  oft  quam  Cuftos  Ifraelis,  Deus 
Pacis,  dedit  in  Corda  tot  Ecclefiarum  &  Magi- 
ft  rat  urn,  ut  Vulneribw  ijiis  Medici  nam '  facie  n- 
dam  effe,  Neceffarium  Judicarint,  En !  Bonorum 
omnium  Animi,  in  Spem  erefli,  Malorum  ifiorum 
Salutarem  Claufulum  Expeflant,  &  Votis  inti- 
mk,  Patron  Mifericordiarmn  Vobifcum  invocant, 
ut  Spirit us  fui  Gratia,  Secundum  Verbum  Suum, 
Confilia  &  alliones  Servorum  Suorum  dirigere, 
ad  SanQ't  Nomims  Sui  Gloriam  dig  netur.—-— 

'  But  now  that  the  Keeper  oflfrael,  the  God 
'  of  Peace,  hath  put  it  into  the  Hearts  of  ma- 
'  ny  Churches  and  Rulers,  to  apprehend  it  ne- 
'  celfary,  that  a  Cure  (hould  be  fought  for  thefe 
<  Wounds,  Behold!  The  Minds  of  all  Good 
'  Men,  do  with  a  raifed  Hope  expe£f  an  Happy 
'  Clofe  of  thefe  Mifchiefs  ;  and  with  molt 
'  hearty  Prayers,  do  befeech  the  Father  of  Mer- 
'  cies,  that  he  would,  by  the  Grace  of  his 
'  Spirit,  according  to  his  Word,  pleafe  to  di- 
'  reef  the  Counfels  and  Acf  ions  of  his  Servants, 
'  for  the  Glory  of  his  own  Holy  Name. 

Relle  qindemfecifti,  Reverende  Prater  Durare, 
quod  nos  etiaw  in  codem  Vobifcum  Cor  pore,  Sub 

eodetn 


Book  in.       -the  Hijlory  of  New-England. 


55 


eodem  Capite  /' '      -  Mytfflj  Cofiftitufos,  ad  NegoA 
tium  hoc,  in  Srfnfilorirm  Comaunione,  Promoven- 
dum,  j rater  nc  invi'tajfi. 

'  You  have  done  Right  Well,  Reverend  Bro 
1  ther,  in  due  you  have,  after  a  Brotherly  rflin- 
'  ner,  unto  the  Promoting  of  this  Affair,  in  the 
c  Communion  of  Saints  invited  us,  who  belong 
'  to  the  fame  Myiiical  Body,  with  your  felves, 
'  under  One  Head,  our  Lord  Jefus  Ghrilf 

Died  Vero  non  eft  Orthodoxis  impingcn.li, 
quafi  Optatiffmx  illi  Paci,  qua  inter  Sci/fa 
fcvangelicas  Ecclefias  quxritur,  Offendiculum 
pofuerint,  XIj  Remoram  qui  Neceffitate  Poftulante, 
ea  ut unt ur  Libert  ate  Refutandi  Errores,  quam 
Pax  non  debet  impedire :  adeoque  fuo  Exemplo 
futuram  pacem  prxmuniant,  a  Vitiis  in  Excefu 

pojitis.  Qiippe  quod  fincere  de  Err  or  ib  us 

Judicare,  iff  Errores  tamen  in  Fratribus  Infirmis 
Tolerare,  Utrumque  Judicamus  effe  Apoftolicx 
Doffrint  Conjonum.  Toleratio  Vero  Eratrum 
Infirmoruw,  non  debet  effe  abfque  Re.iargutione, 
Sed  tantum  abfque  Rejecfione. 

4  Neverthelefs,  'tis  not  to  be  made  an  Artl 
1  cle  of  Complaint  againft  the  Orthodox,  as  if 
'  they  would  hinder  or  delay  the  Peace  defired 
'  fo  much  among  the  Reformed  Churches,  be- 

*  caufe  they   do,  as  Neceifity   fhall  call  for  it, 

*  ufe  that  Liberty  of  Refuting  Errors,  which 

*  Peace  ought  to  be  no  Bar  unto ;  and  by  their 
'  Example,  would  refcue  the  future  Peace  from 
i  the  Extremes  wherewith  it  would  be  reudred 

1  Faulty. For  we  reckon  that  as  well  to 

'  Judge  what  things  ate  Errors,  as  to  bear  with 
'  fuch  Errors  in  Weaker  Brethren,  are  both  of 
'  them  agreeable  to  what  we  have  been  taught 
'  by  the  Apotlles.  The  Toleration  of  our  Erro- 
'  neous  Brethren,  fhoutd  not  be  without  Rcbu- 
1  king,  but  it  fhould  be  without  Reletting  of 
1  thole  Brethren. 

§  io.  It  is  a  Notable  Expreflion,  and  a  Won 
derful  Conceflion  of  that  great  Cardinal  Bella! 
mine,   the  laft  Goliah  of  the  Romijh  Philiftines 
Ecclefia  ex  Intent tone  Fideles  t 'ant urn  Colligit,  & 
fi  noffet  Impios  iff  incredulos,  eos  aut  nunquam 
admit teret,  aut  cafu  Admijfos  Excluder et :  '  The 

*  Church  (he  fays)  intentionally  gathers  only 
4  True  Believers,  and  if  fhe   knew  who  were 

*  Wicked  and  Faithlefs,  eithet  (he  would  not 
'  admit  them  at  all,  or  if  they  were  acciden- 
'  tally  admitted,  fhe  would  exclude  them.  Our 
Davenport  conceiving  it  a  Shame,  that  any 
Proteftant  fhould  proteft  for  lefs  Church  Purity, 
than  what  the  ConfelTions  of  a  Learned  Papift 
allow'd  e'er  he  was  aware,  to  be  contended  for, 
did  now  at  Newhaven,  make  Church  Purity 
to  be  one  of  his  greateft  Concernments  and  En- 
deavours. It  was  his  declared  Principle,  That 
mote  is  required  of  Men,  in  order  to  their  be 
ing  Members  of  an  Inftituted Church,  than  that 
they  profefs  the  Chriftian  Faith,  and  ask  the 
Vifible  Seals  of  the  Covenant  in  the  Fellowfhip 
or  the  Church  ;  all  which  may  be  done,  by 
Perfons  notorioufly  fcandalous  in  their  Lives, 
from  whom  the  Command  is,  Turn  away  :  Bur 
only  fuch  Perfons  may  be  received  as  Members 
of  a  particular  Church,  who  (according  to  Mat. 


i(5.  1 8,  \p.)  make  fuch  a  Publick  Profcirion  or 
their  With,,  as  the  Church  may  ,   in  charitable 
Difcretion  judge,  has  Blelfednefs  annexed  unto 
ir,  and  fuch  as  Flejh  and  Blood  hath  not  revealed. 
In  purfuance  of  this  Principle,  he  was,  like  biis 
deir  Friend,  rim  Great  Man,  Dr.  Thomas  Goof 
win,  perfwaded,  That  (as  he  fpeaks)  there  air 
many  Rules  in  the  Word,  ivbereby  it  is  meet  for 
us,  to  judge  who  are  Saints  ■.  by  which  Rules  thofe 
who  are  betrufted  to  receive  Men  unto  Orduian 
ces  in  Churches,  are  to  be  guided,  andfo  toff : 
rate  between  the  Precious  and  the  Unclean,  as  tie 
Priejls  of  old  were  enabled  and  commanded  by  Ce- 
-e  mo  mal  Differences,  which  God  then  made  lot) 
pifie  the  like  Difcrimi  nation  of  Perfons.      And 
therefore,  making  rhe  Marks  of  a  repenting  and 
a  believing  Soul,  given  in  the  Word  of  God,  '.he 
Rules  of  his  Tryals,  he  ufed  a  more  than  ordi- 
nary Ex.iftnefs  in  Trying,  thofe  that  were  Ad- 
mitted  unto  the  Communion  of  the  Church  : 
Indeed  fo  very  Thoroughly,  and  I  had  almolt  laid, 
feverely  ftricf-,  were  the  Terms  of  his  Commu- 
nion, and  fo  much,  I  had  well  nigh  laid,  over- 
much, were  rhe  Golden  Snuffers  of  the  Sanctua- 
ry employ'd  by  him  in  his  Exercife  of  Djfcipline 
towatds  thofe  that  were  Admitted,  that  he  did 
all  that  wrj  pofnbls*  to  render  the  Renowned 
Church  of  New  Haven,  like  the  New  ferufalem ; 
and  yer,  after  all,  the  Lord  gave  him  to  fee  that 
in  this  World,  it  was  impoffible  to  fee  a  Church 
State,  whereinto  there  enters  nothing  zvbich  de- 
files.   This  Great  Man,   hath  himfllf,  in  one 
of  his  own  Treatifes  obferved  it,  The  Officers 
and  Brethren  of  the  Church,  are  but  Men,  who 
judge  by  the  outward  appearance.     Therefore 
their  Judgment  is  fallible,  and  hath  been  decei- 
ved -,  as  we  fee  in  the  Judgment  of  the  Apoftles, 
and  the  Church  at  Jerufalem,  concerning  Ananias 
and  Sapphira  ;  and  in  that  of  Philip,  and  the 
Church  in  Samaria,  concerning  Simon  Magus. 
Their  Duty  is  to  proceed,  as  far  as  Men  may,  by 
Rule,  with  due  Moderation  and  Gentlenefs,  to  try 
them,  who  offer  themf elves  to  Fellowfhip,  whether 
■they  be  Believers  or  not  \  re'jufing  known  Hypo- 
crites ;  thtf  when  they  have  done  all  they  can, 
clofe  Hypocrites  will  creep  in.     And  now,  I  might 
entertain  my  Reader,  I  hope,  with  a  profitable, 
I  am  fure,  with  a  very  prodigious  Hiftory ;  I 
will  on  this  occafion,  relate  moft  horrible  things 
done  in  the  Land,  which  this  good  Man  faw,  to 
confirm  his  own  Obfervation  :  But  I  will  take  a 
fitter  Occafion  for  it. 

§n.  After  rhis,  the  remaining  Days  of  this 
eminent  Perfon,  were  worn  away  under  the  un- 
happy Temptations  of  a  Wildernefs.  It  fo  hap- 
pened, that  the  mod  part  of  the  firft  Church  in 
Bojlon,  the  Metropolis  of  the  Colony,  out  of 
Refpe£t  unto  his  vaft  Abilities,  had  applied 
themfelves  unto  him,  to  fucceed  thofe  famous 
Lights,  Cotton,  and  Norton,  and  Wilfon,  who 
having  from  that  Golden  Candle  flick,  illumina- 
ted the  whole  Country,  were  now  gone  tofhine 
in  an  higher  Orb.  His  Removal  from  New- 
Haven  was  clogg'd  with  many  temptatious  Dif- 
ficulties :  (For,  Miraculi  inftar,  vita  her,  fi 
longum,  fine  Offenfwne,  Percurrere  :  )  Bur  he 
H  h  h  broke 


^ 


The  Hlfiory  of  New-England.       Book  ill. 


broke  through  them  all,  in  Expectation  to  do 
what  he  judged  would  be  a  more  comprehenfive 
Service  unto  the  Churches  of  New-England,than 
could  have  been  done  by  him,  in  his  now  undi- 
ftinguifhed  Colony.  On  this  occafion,  if  I  fhould 
mention   that  lamentable  Obfervation  of  Old 
Epipbanws,  who' fays,   1  have  known  feme  Con- 
feffors,  who   delivered  up   their  Body,  and  their 
Spirit,  for  the  Lord,   and  perf eve  ring  in  Confef- 
Jton  and  Charity,  obtained  Great  Proof  of  the  Sin- 
cerity of  their  faith,  and  excelled  in  Piety,  Hit- 
inanity',  and  Religion,  and  vsere  continual  in  I'aji- 
ings,  and  in  a  word,  flourijhed  in  Vert ue  ;  and 
yet  thefe  very  Men  were  blcmifhed  with  fome  Vice, 
as  either  they  were  prone  to  reproach  Men,  or 
wbulcl  fwcar  profanely,  or  were  over  talkative, 
cr  were  prone  to  Anger,  or  got  Gold  and  Silver, 
or  were  defied  with  feme  fuch  filth  ;  which  ne- 
vertheless detralt  not  from  the  jit hi  Praifes  of 
their  Vertuc.     I  muit  add  upon  it,  that  Mr.D<z 
venport  was  a  Confeflbr  flourifhing  in  Vertue, 
upon  whom  they  that  upon  the  Score  of  his  Re- 
moval,were  moft  of  all  diffatisfied  at  him,would 
not  yet  charge  thole  unhappy  Blemif)es  :  And 
if  any  good  Men  in  the  Sifting  Timet,  did  count 
him  either  too  ftrait,  or  too  high,  in  fome  of  his 
Apprehenfions  :  Neverthelefs,  thefe  Things  alfo 
detract  not  from  the  juji  Praifes  of  his  Vertue. 

§  1 2.  So  rich  a  Treafure  of  the  beft  Gifts,  as 
was  in  our  Davenport,  was  well  worth  covet- 
ing by  the  considerable!!:  Church  in  the  Land. 
He  was  a  moft  incomparable  Preacher,  and  a 
Man  of  more  than  ordinary  Accomplishments  ; 
a  Prince  of  Preachers,  and  worthy  to  have  been 
a  Preacher  to  Princes  :  He  had  been  acquainted 
with  Great  Men,  and  Great  Things,   and  was 
Great  himfelf,  and  had  a  Great  Fame  abroad 
in  the'  World ;   yea,  now  he  was  grown  old, 
like  Mofes,  his  Force  ivai  not  abated.     And  the 
Character  which  I  remember  that  old  Pagan 
Hiftorian,  Diodorus  the  Sicilian,    gave  of  our 
Mofes,  every  Body  was  ready  to  give  of  our 
D.ibenport,  He  wets  a  Man  of  a  Great  Soul,  and 
very  powerful  in  his  Life.   But  his  Removal  did 
feem  too  much  to  verifie  an  Obfervation,  by  the 
famous   Dr.  Tuckney   thus  exprefled  :  //  is  ill 
transplanting  a  Tree  that  thrives  in  the  Soyl  : 
For  accepting  the  Call  of  Bof}  on-Church,  in  the 
Year  1667,  that  Church,  and  the  World,  muff 
enjoy  him  no  longer  than  till  the  Year  1670  : 
When  on  March  1 5.  Aged  Seventy  two  Years, 
he  was  by  an  Apoplexy  fetch'd  away  to  that 
Glorious  World,  where  theSpirits  of  Cotton  and 
Davenport,  are  together  in  Heaven,  as  their  Bo- 
dies are  now  in  one  Tomb  on  Earth. 

§13.  His  conftant  and  various  Employments 
otherwife,  would  not  permit  him  to  leave  ma- 
ny Printed  Effects  of  his  Judicious  Induftry,  be 
fides  thole  few  already  mentioned  :  Altho'  he 
were  fo  clofe  and  bent  a  Student,  that  the  rude 
Pagans  themfelves  took  much  Notice  of  it,  and 
the  Indian  S-ilvages  in  the  Neighbourhood , 
would  call  him,  So  Big  Study  Man.  Only  there 
is  in  the  Hands  of  the  Faithful,  a  Savory  Trea- 
tife  of  his,  entituled,  The  Saints  Anchor-hold; 
'  in  the  Preface  whereof,  a  Duumvirate  of  Re- 


nowned Men 


to  wit,  Mr.  Hook,  and  Mr.  Ca- 
ryl,  give  this  Atteftation  :  '  As  touching  the 
1  Author  of  this  Treatife,  in  whole  Heart  the 
'  Text  was  written  by  the  Finger  of  God,  be- 
'  fore    the  Difcourfe  was  Penned  by  his  own 
:  Hand  -,  his  Piety,   Learning,    Gravity,  Expe- 
;  rience,  Judgment,  do  not  more  commend  him 
'  to  all  that  know  him,  than  this  Work  of  his 
c  may  commend  it  felf  to  them  that  read  it. 
The  Chrifian  Faith  has  alfo  been  folidly  and 
learnedly  maintain'd  by  him,   in  a  Difcourfe 
long  fince  publifhed,  tor  the  Demonjhation  of 
our  bleffed  Jefus,  to  be  the  true  Mejfias.    Not 
would  I  forget  a  Sermon  of  his  on  2  Sam.  23.3. 
at  the  Anniverfary  Court  of  Election  at  Bojion, 
1669,  afterwards  publilhed.     And  among  the 
many  Epiltles  which  he  hath  prerix'd  unto  the 
Books  of  other  Authors,  I  know  not  whether  his 
excellent  Epiltle  before  Mr-ScuddeSs  Daily  Walk, 
may  nor,  for  the  worth  of  it,  be  reckon'd  it  felf  a 
Book,  as  the  Book  it  felf  was  the  Direftory  of  his 
own  Daily  Walk.  Moreover,  there  is  publilhed  a 
Treatife  of  his  under  thisTitle,TZv  Power  of  Con- 
gregational Churches  -,  in  the  Preface  whereof  Mr. 
Nathanael  Mather,  (at  this  time  the  worthy  and 
well-known  Paftor  of  fuch  a  Church  in  the  City 
of  London)  has  thefe  very  Significant  Exprclhons 
concerning  him  :    Certain  it  is,  the  Principles 
held  forth  in  this  Treati/e,  coji  the  Reverend  Au- 
thor, not  only  many  Sufferings,  bat  alfo  ?nany, 
very  many  fad  Searchings,  and  much  Reading  and 
Study,  on  Jet  purpofe,  accompanied  with  manifold 
Prayers  and  Cries  to  the  Father  of  Lights,  for 
Light  therein.     After  all  which t  he  teas  more 
confirmed  in  them,  and  attained  to  fuch  comfor- 
table Clearnefs  therein,  as  bore  him  up  with  much 
inward  Peace  and  Satisfaction,  under  all  his  Af- 
fliU'wns,  on  the  Account  of  his Perfwafon  in  thefe 
Points.     And  fo  perfwaded,  lived,  and  fo  died 
this  grave  and  ferious  Spirited  Man.     There  is 
likewife  publifhed,  A  Difcourfe  about  Civil  Go- 
vernment, in  a  New  Plantation,  whofe  Dcfign  is 
Religion  :  In  the  Title-Page  whereof,  the  Name 
of  Mr.  Cotton,  is,  by  a  Miftake,  put  for  that  of 
Mr.  Davenport.     And  there  was  lately  tranferi- 
bed  for  the  Prefs,  from  his  Notes,  a  latge  Vo- 
lume of  Accurate  and  Elaborate  Sermons,  on  the 
whole  Book  of  Canticles.    But  the  Death  of  the 
Gentleman  chiefly  concerned  in  the  intended  Im- 
preffion,proved  the  Death  oS the  ImpretTion  itfelf 
§  1 4.  To  conclude :  There  will  be  but  an  unjuft 
Account  given  of  the  things  preached  and  writ- 
ten by  this  Reverend  Man,  if  we  do  not  men- 
tion one  lingular  Favour  of  Heaven  unto  him. 
It  is  well  known,  that  in  the  earlieft  of  the  Pri- 
mitive Times,  the  Faithful  did  in  a  literal  Sence, 
believe  the  Second  Coming  of  the  Lord   Jefus 
Chrilt,and  the  Rifing  and  Reigning  of  the  Saints 
with  him,  a  thoufand  Years  before  the  reft  of  the 
Dead  live  again  :   A  Doctrine  ,  which  however 
fome  of  later  Years  have  counted  it  Heretical; 


yet,  in  the  Days  of  lrenxus,  was  quellion'd 
by  none  but  fuch  as  were  counted  Here(icks. 
Tis  evident  from  Juftin  Martyr,  that  this  Do- 
ctrine of  the  Chiliad,  was  in  his  Days  embraced, 
among  all  Orthodox  Chriftians  ;    nor  did  this 

King- 


Book  Hi.      The  Hiftory  of  New-England 


57 


Kingdom  of  our  Lord,  begin  to  be  doubted,  un- 
til the  Kingdom  of  Antichrift  began  to  advance 
into  a  confiderable  Figure  ;  and  then  it  fell 
chiefly  under  the  Reproaches  of  fuch  Men,  as 
were  fain  to  deny  the  Divine  Authority  of  the 
Book  of  Revelation,  and  of  the  Second  Epiftle 
of  Peter.  He  is  a  Stranger  to  Antiquity,  who 
Joes  not  find  and  own  the  Ancients  generally  of 
the  Perfwafion,  which  is  excellently  fumm'd  up 
in  thole  Words  of  Lattantius,  Veniet  fummi  & 
maximi  Dei  filim.  Verum  Me,  earn  deleverit 
injuftitiam,  Judiciumque  maximum  f-ecerit,  ac 
Juftos,  qui  a  Principio  fuerunt ,  ad  vitam  Re- 
ftauraverit,  Mille  Annis  inter  Homines  Verfa- 
bitur,  eofque  Juftijfimo  Imperio  reget.  Never- 
thelefs,  at  laft  Men  came,  not  only  to  lay  afide 
the  Modelfy  expreiTed,  by  one  of  the  firft  confi- 
derable Ant i  Millenaries,  namely  Jerom,  when 
he  faid,  §fu£  licet  non  fequariiur,  tamen  Condem- 
nare  non  pojfumus,  eo  quod  multi  Virorum  Eccle- 
Jiafkicorum  &  Mdrtyruhi,  ifta  dixerint  :  But  al- 
fo  with  Violence  to  perlecute  the  Millenary 
Truth  as  an  Heretical  Pravity.  So  the  Myliery 
of  our  Lord's  appearing  in  his  Kingdom,  lay  bu- 
ried in  Popifh  Darknel's,  till  the  Light  thereof 
had  a  frelfi  Dawn,  fince  the  Antichrift  entred 
into  the  laft  half  Time  of  the  Period  allotted  for 
him  j  and  now,  within  the  laft  few  Sevens  of 
Years,  as  things  grow  nearer  to .  Accomplifti 
ment,  Learned  and  Pious  Men,  in  great  Num- 
bers every  where,  come  to  receive,  explain,  and 
maintain  the  Old  Faith  about  it.  But  here  was 
the  fpecal  Favour  of  Heaven,  to  our  Davenport, 
that  fo  many  Years  ago,  when  in  both  Englands 
the  true  Notion  of  the  Chiliad,  was  hardly  ap- 
prehended by  as  many  Divines  of  Note,  as  there 
are  Mouths  ofNilus,  yet  this  worthy  Man  clearly 


fay?  into  it,  and  both  preach'd  and  wrote  thofe 
very  things,  about  the  Future  State,  the  Coming 
of  the  Lord,  the  Calling  of  the  Jews,  and  the 
Firft  and  Second  Refurretlion  of  the  Dead, 
which  do  now  of  late  Years  get  more  ground 
againft  the  oppofition  of  the  otherwife  minded, 
and  find  a  kinder  Entertainment .  among  them 
that  fearch  the, Scriptures:  And  whereof  he  af- 
terwards, when  he  was  an  Old  Man,  gave  the 
World  a  little  Taft,  in  a  Judicious  PreKice  before 
a  moft  Learned  and  Nervous  Treatife,  compoled 
by  one  that  was  then  a  Toung  Man ,  about  the 
Myftery  of  the  Salvation  of  Ijrael.  Even,  then, 
lb  long  ago  it  was,  that  he  aliened,  A  Perfonal, 
Vifible,  Powerful,  and  Glorious  Coming  of  the- 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift  unto  Judgment,  long  before  the 
End  of  the  World. 

But  thus  we  take  our  Leave  of  this  Renown- 
ed Man,  and  leave  him  refting  in  hope,  xofiand 
in  his  Lot,  at  that  End. 


Epitapbium. 
Johannes  Davenportus, 

In  Portum  Delatus. 
Vivus  Nov-Angli<e,  ac  Ecclefa  Qrnamentum, 

E    T 

Mortuus,  Utriufque  Trifte  Defiderium. 


APPENDIX. 

The  Light  of  the  Wefiern  Churches  :  Or,  The  L  I  F  E  of  Mr.  THOMAS 
HOOKER,  the  Renowned  Paftor  of  Hartford-Church,  and  Pillar  of 
Connecticut -Colony,  in  New-England. 


EfTay'd    by   C  0  T  T  0  N     MATHER. 


§lnod  fi  digna  Tua  minus  ejl  mea,  Vagina.  Lattde, 
At  volttiffe  fat  eji. 


To  the  CHURCHES  in  the  Colony  of  CONNECTICUT. 


ALthd"  the  Providence  of  Heaven,  whereby 
the  Bounds  of  People  are  fet,  hath  carried 
you  fo  far  Weftward,  that  fome  have  pleafantly, 
The  laft  Conflict  with  Antichrift,  muft  be  in 
your  Colony  :  2>/,  I  believe,  you  do  not  reckon 
yaur  [elves  removed  beyond  the  reach  of  Tempta- 


tion and  Corruption.  'TVs  a  Great  Work  that 
you  have  done,  for  cur  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  infor- 
ming a  Colony  of  Evangelical  Churches  for  him, 
where  Satan  alone  had  Reigned  without  Controul 
in  all  former  Ages  :  But  your  incomparable  Hoo- 
ker, who  ivat  one  of  the  great  eji  in  the  Founda- 
H  h  h  2  tion 


58 


The  Hiflory  of  New-England.    ,  Book  III. 


twn  of  that  Work,  was  in  his  Day,  well  aware, 
that  Satan  would  make  all  the  haft  he  could,  un- 
happily to  get  all  buried  in  the  Degeneracies  of 
Ignorance,  IVorldlincfis,  and  Profanity.  To  ad- 
vifie  you  of  your  Dangers,  and  uphold  the  Life  of 
Religion  among  you,  Iprefume  humbly  to  lay  be- 
fore you,  the  Life  of  that  excellent  Man,  who  for 
Learning,  Wifdom,  and  Religion,  was  a  Patern 
well  worthy  of  perpetual  Confide  rat  ion.  Having 
ferved  my  own  Province,  with  the  Jiiftory  oj  n  \ 
lefs  than  Four  famous  Johns,  all fetcf/d  from  One 


Church,  I  was  for  certain  J pedal  Cnifes,  unwil 
ling  to  have  it  complained,  as  once  it  was  of  the 
Difciplcs,  Thomas  was  not  with  them  :  Where- 
fore I  was  willing  to  make  this  Appendix  unto  that 
Hifiory,  confefjmg  that  thro  want  of  Information 
I  have  Under-done  in  this,  more  than  in  any  part 
of  the  Compofure  ;  yet  Jo  done,  that  I  hope  the 
'good  Hand  of  the  Lord,  whom  I  have  de/ignd 
therein  to  glorifie,  will  make  what  h  done'  to  be 
neither  unacceptable,  nor  unprofitable  utito  h/s 
People.  Cotton  Mather. 


Qv& %?  'Exxtoaw  Icrmijiocv.    The  LIFE  of  Mr.  THO  M  A  S   H00  K  E  R. 


§  i.  V"TT  7  Hen  Toxaris  met  with  his  Coun- 
%  /\/  try  man  Anacharfis ,  in  Athens, 
V  V  he  gave  him  this  Invitation,^;/*? 
along  with  me,  and  I  will  jhew  thee  at  once  all 
the  Wonders  of  Greece :  Whereupon  he  fhewed 
him  Solon,  as  the  Perlbn  in  whom  there  Center- 
ed all  the  Glories  of  that  City,  or  Country.  I 
fhall  now  invite  my  Reader  to  behold  at  once 
the  Wonders  oi'Kew  England,  and  it  is  one  Tho- 
mas Hooker  that  he  (hall  behold  them  :  Even 
in  that  Hooker,  whom  a  worthy  Writer  would 
needs  call,  Saint  Hooker,  for  the  fame  Reafion, 
(he  laid )  and  with  the  fame  Freedom  that  Lati- 
mer would  fpeak  of  Saint  Bilney,  in  his  Com- 
memorations. 'Tis  that  Hooker,  of  whom  I  may 
venture  to  lay,  that  the  famous  Romanifi,  who 
wrote  a  Book,  De  Tribus  Thomi-s  •,  or,  Of  Three 
Thomas's-,  meaning  T/.w/mj'  the  Apofile,  Thomas 
Becket,  and  Sir  Thomas  Morc^  did  not  a  Thou- 
iandth  part  fo  well  fort  his  Thomases,  as  a  Nezv- 
Eng/ander  might,  if  he  (hould  write  a  Book, 
De  Duobus  Thomis,  or.  Of  Two  Thomas's-;  and 
with  Thomas  the  Apofile,  joyn  our  Celebrious 
Thomas  Hooker  :  My  One  Thomas,  even  our  A- 
poltolical  Hooker ,  would  in  juft  Ballances, 
weigh  down  two  of  Stapleton's  Rebellious  Arch- 
Bilhops,  or  Bigotted  Lord  Chancellors.  'Tis 
he,  whom  1  may  call,  as  Ll<eoJoret  calfd  Ire- 
'  n£t/s,  The  Light  of  the  IVeftemChunhes. 

§  2.  This  our  Hooker  was  born  at  Alar  field, 
in  Leiceftcrjhire,  about  the  Year  1586,  of  Pa- 
rents that  were  neither  unable,  nor  unwilling 
to  bellow  upon  him  a  Liberal  Education  ;  where- 
to the  early  and  lively  Sparkles  of  Wit  ohferved 
in  him,  did  very  much  encourage  them.  His 
Natural  Temper  was  cheerful  and  courteous-" 
but  it  was  accompanied  with  luch  a  fenfible 
Grandeur  of  Mind,  as  caufed  his  Friends,  with- 
out the  help  of  Aftrology,  to  prognolticate  that 
he  was  born  to  be  co/ifiderab.'r.  The  influence 
which  he  had  upon  the  Reformation  of  fome 
growing  Abufes,  when  he  was  one  of  the  Pro 
cfors  in  the  Llniverfity,  was  a  thing  that  more 
■er.iiieiitly  fignalized  him,  when  his  more  pub- 
lick  Appearance  in  the  World  was  Eftraiag 
Which  1  s  attended  with  an  Advancement 
unto  a  kf'ilowfliip,  in  Emanuel  C.ollz&gz,  in  Cam- 
bridge \  the  Students  whereof  were  originally 
cbeiignei  for  the  Study  o£  Divinity. 
§  s".  With  what  Ability  and  Fidelity  he  ac- 


quitted himfelf  in  his  FeilowfJnp,  it  was  a  thing 
fenfible  unto  the  whole  llniverfity.     And  it  was 
while  he  was  in  this  Employment,  that  the  more 
effectual  Grace  of  God,    gave  him  the  Experi- 
ence of  a  true  Regeneration.    It  plealed  the  Spi- 
rit of  God  very  powerfully  to  break  into  the 
Soul  of  this  Perfon,  with  fuch  a  Senfe  of  his 
being  expofed  unto  the  juft  Wrath  of  Heaven, 
as  fill'd  him  with  moft  unufual  Degrees  of 
Horror  and  Anguifh,  which  broke  not  only  his 
Reft,  but  his  Heart  alfo,  and  caufed  him  to  cry 
out,  While  I  fiufier  thy    Terrors,  0  Lord,  J  am 
derailed!  While  he  long  had  a  Soul  haralTed 
with  fuch  DiftrelTes,  he  had  a  lingular  Help  in 
the  prudent  and  piteous  Carriage  of  Mr.  Afh, 
who  was  the,Sfzer,  that  then  waited  upon  him  \ 
and  attended  him  with  fuch  difcreet  and  proper 
Companions,  as  made  him  afterwards  torefpect 
him  highly  all  his  Days.     He  afterwards  gave 
this  Account  of  himfelf,  That  in  the  time  of  his 
Agonies,  he  could  Reafon  himfelf  to  the  Rule,  and 
conclude  that,  there  was  no  way  but  Sub  million  to 
God,  and  lying  at  the  Foot  of  his  Mercy  in  Chriji 
Jefus,  and  waiting  humbly  there,  till  he  Jhould 
pie  of e  to  per/wade  the  Soul  of  his  Favour  ":  Ne- 
verthelefs  when  he  came  to  apply  this  Rule  ur.to 
himfelf  in  his  own  Condition,  hisReafomng  would 
fail  htm,  he  was  able  to  do  nothing.     Haying  been 
a  conliderable  while  thus  troubled   with  fuch 
Imprellions  for  the  Spirit  of  Bondage,  as  Were  to 
fit  him  for  the  great  Services  and  Enjoyments, 
which  God  intended  him  ;    at  length  he  recei- 
ved the  Spirit  of 'Adopt ion   with  well-grounded 
Perfivafions  of  hislntereft  in  the  New  Covenant. 
It  became  his  manner,  at  his  lying  down  for 
Sleep,  in  the  Evening,  to  fingle  out  fbme  certain 
Promife  of  God,    which  he  would  repeat  and 
ponder,  and  keen  his  Heart  dole  unto  it,   until 
he  found   that  Satisfaction  of  Soul  wherewith 
he  could  fay,-/  will  lay  me  dox?  in  Peace,  and 
Sleep;  for  thou,    0  Lord,    make!}  me  dwell  in 
Afiurancc.     And  he  would  afterwards  Counfel 
others  to  take  the  fame  Courfe  j  telling  them, 
That   the   P/oyije   wai  ',  was  to 

GQffy  apenjfring  Sinner  over  unto  th.   L  rd  J  fins 
Chriji. 

§4.  Mr.  Hooker  being  now  well  got  through 
thsStoim  pT  Soul,  whiclrhad  helped  .nun  unto 
a    molt    I  1  .•  .  wjtn  the 

Truths  of  the  Gofpe!,  an  I  the  w  n  of  employ- 
ing, 


Book  III.       The  Hi/hry  of  New-England. 


59 


ing,  and  applying  thole  Truths,  he  was  willing 
to  ferve  the  Church  of  God  in  the  Miniltry, 
Whereto  he  was  devoted.  At  his  firft  leaving  of 
theUniverfity,he  fojourned  in  theHoufe  or  Mr. 
Drake,  a  Gentleman  of  great  Note,  not  far 
from  London  ;  whole  worthy  Confort  being  vi- 
fited  with  fuch  Dittreffes  of  Soul,  as  Mx.Hooker 
himfelf  had  palfed  through,  it  proved  an  on- 
fpeakable  advantage  unto  both  of  them,  that  he 
had  that  opportunity  of  being  ferviceable ;  for 
indeed  he  now  had  no  Supcriour,  and  fcarce  any 
Equal,  for  the  Skill  of  Treating  a  troubled  Soul. 
When  he  left  Mr.  Drake's  Family,  he  did  more 
publickly  and  frequently  preach  about  London  ; 
and  in  a  little  time  he  grew  famous  for  his  Mi- 
nifterial  Abilities,  but  efpecially  for  his  Notable 
Faculty  at  the  wife  and  fit  management  of 
wounded  Spirits.  However,  he  was  not  Ambi- 
tious to  exerciie  his  Ministry  among  the  Great 
Ones  of  the  World,  from  whom  the  molf  of 
Preferment  might  be  expe&ed  ;  but  in  this,  imi- 
tating the  Example  and  Character  of  our  bleffed 
Saviour,  of  whom  'tis  noted,  that  according 
to  the  Propheiie  of  Ifiiiab,  by  him,  The  Poor 
had  The  Go/pel  preached  unto  them  ;  he  chofe  to 
be  where  great  Numbers  of  the  Poor  might  re 
ceive  the  Go/pel  from  him. 

§  5.  About  this  time  it  was,  that  Mv.  Hooker 
grew  into  a  moft  intimate  Acquaintance  with 
Mr.  Rogers  of  Dedliam  -,  who  fo  highly  valued 
him  for  his  Multifarious  Abilities,  that  he  ufed 
and  gained  many  Endeavours  to  get  him  fettled 
at  Colchefter  h  whereto' Mr.  Hooker  did.  very 
much  incline,   becaule  of  its  being  fo  near  to. 

•  Dedham,  where  he  might  enjoy  the  Labours  and 
■  Leftures  of  Mr.  Rogers,  whom  he  would  fome- 

times  call,  The  Prince  of  all  the  Preachers  in 
■England.  But  the  Providence  of  God  gave  an 
Obftru£tion  to  that  Settlement ;  and,  indeed, 
it  was  an.  Obfervation  which  Mr.  Hooker  would 
fometimes  afterwards  ufe  unto  his  Friends,  That 
the  Providence  of  God  often  diverted  him  from 
-  Employment  in  fuch  Places  as  he  hhnfelf  defirecl ', 
and  ftill  diretledhim  to  fuch  Places,  as  he  hadnc 
thoughts  of.  Accordingly,  Chelmsford  in  Effex,  a 
Town  of  great  Concourle,  wanting  one  to  break 
the  Bread  of  Life  unto  them  ;  and  hearing  the 
Fame  of  Mr.  Hookers  powerful  Miniltry,  ad- 
drefied  him  to  become  their  Lecturer  :  And  he 
accepted  their  Offer  about  the  Year  1626.  beco- 
ming hot  only  their  Lecturjr,  but  alfo  on  the 
Lord's-  Days,  an  Afiiftant  unto  one  Mr.  Mitchel, 
the  Incumbent  of  the  place,  who  tho'  he  were  a 
Smaller,  yet  being  a  Godly  Perfon,  gladly  encou- 
raged Mt.Hoo'ker,  and  liv'd  with  him  in  a  moft 
comfortable  Amity. 

§  6.  Here  his  Lecture  wis  exceedingly  fre- 

•  •  quented,  and  proportionably  fucceeded  ;   and 

the  Light  of  his  Miniltry  ihone  through  the 

=  whole  County    of  Eljex.     There  was  a    rare 

mixture  of  Plcafure  and  Profit  in  his  preaching  $ 

and  his  Hearers  felt  thofe  penetrating  Imprdii 

•'cms  of  his  Miniftry  upon  their  Souls,  which  cau- 

fed  them  to  Reverence  him,  as  a  Teacher  ii>:t 

from  God.     He  had  a  molt  excellent  Faculty  at. 

Applications  of  his  Doctrine  -,  and  he  v 


therein  fo  touch  the  Confcijexces  of  his  Auditors, 
that  a  Judicious  Perlbn  would  fay  of  him.  He 
was  the  Be jf  at  an  Ufe  that  ever  he  heard.  Here- 
by there  was  a  great  Reformation  wrought,  not 
only  in  the  Town,  but  in  the  adjacent  Country, 
from  all  parts  whereof  they  came  to  hear  the 
Wifdom  of  the  Lord  jtfus  Chrifi,  in  his  GofpeL 
by  this  worthy  Man  difpenfed  ;  And  fome  of 
great  Quality  among  the  reft,  would  often  rel  i  c 
from  far  to  his  AlTembly  ;  particularly  the 
truly  Noble  Earl  of  Warwick^  whofe  Counte- 
nance of  Good  Miniiters,  procured  more  Pray- 
ers to  God  for  him,  than  moft  Noble  men  in 
England. 

When  he  firft  fet  up  his  Lecture,  there  was 
more  Profane nefs  than  Devotion  in  the  Town  , 
And  the  multitude  of  Inns  and  Shops  in  the 
Town,  produced  one  particular  Diforder,  of 
Peoples  filling  the  Streets  with  unfuitable  Beha- 
viours, after  the  Publick  Services  of  the  Lords 
Day  were  over.  But. by  the  Power  of  his 
Miniltry  in  Publick,  aud  by  the  Prudence  of 
his  Carriage  in  Private,  he  quickly  cleared 
the  Streets  of  this  Diforder,  and  the  Sabbath 
came  to  be  very  vilibly  fanctified  among  the 
People. 

§  7.  The  Joy  of  the  People  in  this  Light  was 
but  for  a. Sea/on.  The  Confcicntious  I\on  Con- 
formity of  Mr.  Hooker,  to  fome  Rites  of  the 
Church  of  England,  then  vigoroufly  prefled, 
efpecially  upon  fuch  able  and  ufcfui  Minifters, 
as  were  molt  likely  to  be  laid  "afide  by  their 
fcrupling  of  thofe  Rites,  made  it  neceffary  for 
him  to  lay  down  his.  Miniltry  \n  Cue!msf^rJ, 
when  he  had  been  about  tour  Years  there  em- 
ployed in  ir.  Hereupon,  at  the  Requeft  of  fe- 
veral  eminent  Perfons,  he  kept  a  School  in  his 
own  hired Houfe,  having  one  Mr.  John  Eliot  for 
his  Ufher,  at  little  Baddow,  not  tar  from  Coelmf 
ford;  where  he  managed  his  Charge  with  fuch 
Difcretion,  fuch  Authority,  and  Inch  Lificaev, 
that  able  to  do  more  with  a  Word,,  or  a  Look, 
than  moft  other  Men  could  have  done  by  a  feve- 
rer  Dilcipline,  he  did  very  great  Service  to  the 
Church  of  God,  in  the  Education  of  Rich.,  •  • 
afterwards  proved  themfelves  not  a  little  ler- 
viceable. I  have  irj  my  Hands,  a  Maniifcripr, 
written  by  the  Hands  oi  our  bleiTed  JL''^'*/',  where- 
in he  gives  a  very  great  Account  of  the  little 
Academy  then  maintained  in  the  Houfe  of  Mr. 
Hooker  ;  and.  among  other  things,  he  fays.  To 
il -is  place  I  was  calPJ,  tfir,:  .  ' 
of  God" s  Mercy  in  Cbj-ift  fefU  to  u:y  Nor  Soul : 
tor  here  the  Lord  [aid  unto  my  ...  '  4  Live  •, 
and  through  the  Grace  of  Chrift  ,  /  dp  uve 
Iflhill  live  for  ever  !  When  I  came  to  this  brief 
Jed  Family,  I  then  fazv,  and  never  before,  the 
Power  oj  Godlinefs,  in  its  Lively 
Efficacy. 

k  S.  While  he  continued  thus  in  the  Heart 
>A''hi)ex,   and  in  the  Hearts  of  the  People  there, 
malizeJ  his  Ulefulnefs  in  many  other  In - 
fiances. 

The  Godly  Minifters  round  a!  out  the  C 
try,   would  have  recomfe  unto  him,  to  be  di- 
.  .  '  :  in   ih;:  •     '  ;  and 

it 


6o 


The  Hiftory  of  New- England.     Book  III, 


it  was  by  his  means  that  thofe  Godly  Minifters 
held  their  Monthly  Meetings,   for  Tafting  and 
Prayer,  and  profitable  Conferences.     Twas  the 
Effecf  of  his  Confultaiiorts  alfo,  that  fuch  Godly 
Minifters  came  to  be  here  and  there  fettled  in 
feveral  pares  of  the  Country  ;  and  many  others 
came  to  be  better  eftablifh'd  in  fome  great  Points 
of  Chriftianky,  by  being  in  his  Neighbourhood 
and  Acquaintance.     He  W3S  indeed  a  General 
BLefling  to  the  Church  of  God  !  But  that  which 
hindred  his  taking  his  Degree  of  Batchellor  in 
Divinity,  muft  alio,  it  feems,  hinder  his  being  a 
Preacher  of  Divinity  ;  namely,  his  being  a  AW- 
Conformiji  unto  fome  things,  whereof  true  Di- 
vinity could  not    approve.     And   indeed  that 
which  made  the  Silencing  of  Mr.  Hooker  more 
unaccountable  was.  that  no  Ids  that  Seven  and 
lorty  Conlormable  Minifters  of  the  Neighbour- 
ing Towns,   underftanding  that  the  Bilhop  of 
London  pretended  Mr.  Hooker's  Miniftry  to  be 
injurious  or  oftenfive  to  them,  fubferibed  a  Pe- 
tition to  the  Bifhop  lor  his  Continuance  in  the 
Miniftry  at  Chelmsford;  in  which  Petition,  tho' 
he  was  of  a  Perfwafion  fo  different  from  them, 
yet  they  teftifie  in  fo  many  words,  'That  they  e- 
ftecm  and  know  the/aid  Mr.  Thomas  Hooker,  to 
be  for  Doctrine,  Orthodox  ;  for  Life  and  Conver- 
fation,  Hone  ft  -,  for  Dijpofition,  Peaceable,  and  in 
no  wife  Turbulent  or  Fa&ious.  And  yet  all  would 
not  avail :  Bonus  vir  Hookerus,  fed  idea  mains, 
quia  Puritanus. 

§  9.  The  Ground-work  of  his  Knowledge,and 
Study  of  the  Arts,  was  in  the  Tables  of  Mr.  A- 
lexander  Richard/on,  whom  he  clofely  followed, 
admiring  him  for  a  Man  of  tranfeendent  Abili- 
ty, and  a  moft  exalted  Piety  -,  and  would  fay  of 
him,  That  be  was  a  Mafter  of  fo  much  Under- 
ftanding, that  like  the  great  Army  of  Gideon,  he 
was  too  many  to  be  employed  in  doing  what  zvas  to 
be  done  for  the  Church  of  God.    This  moft  emi- 
nent Richard/on  leaving  the  Univerfity,  lived  a 
private  Life  in  Effcx,  whither  many  Students  in 
Cambridge  relorted  unto  him,   to  be  illuminated 
in  the  abflrufer  parts  of  Learning  •,  and  from 
him  it  was,  that  the  incomparable  Docfor  Ames 
imbibed  thofe  Principles  both  in  Philofophy,  and 
in  Divinity,  which   afterwards   not  only  gave 
clearer  Methods  and  Meafures  to  all  the  Liberal 
Arts,  but  alfo  fed  the  whole  Church  of  God 
with  the  choicett  Marrow.    Neverthelefs,  this 
excellent  Man,  as  he  lived,  fo  he  died  in  a  moft 
retited  Obfcurity  -,  but  fo  far  as  a  Metempfycho- 
fts  was  attainable,  the  Soul  of  him,  I  mean  the 
Notions,  the  Accomplifhments,  the  Difpofitions 
of  that  Great  Soul,  tranfmigrated  into  our  moft 
Richardjonian  Hooker. 

§  1  o.  As  his  Perfon  was  thus  adorned  with  a 
well  grounded  Learning,  fo  his  Preaching  was 
notably  let  off  wi  th  a  Livelinefs  extraordinary  : 
Infomoch  that  I  cannot  give  a  fuller,  and  yet 
briefer  Defcription  of  him,  than  that  which  I 
find  given  of  Bucbcltzer,  that  Pattern  of  Prea- 
chers, before  him ;  Vivida  in  eo  omnia  fuerunt, 
vivida  vox,  vividi  oculi,  vivida  mamts,  geflus 
omnes  vividi :  He  was  all  that  he  was,  and  he 
did  all  that  he  did,  Unto  the  Life !  He  not  on- 


ly had  that  which  Quintilian  calls,  A  Natural 
Moveable nefs  of  Soul,  •  whereby   the    diftin£l 
Images  of  things  would   come  fo  nimbly,  and 
yet  fo  fitly  into  his  Mind,  that  he  could  utter 
them  with  fuch  fluent  Expreifions,  as  the  old 
Orators   would  ufually  afcribe  unto  a  Jpecial 
Ajfiftancc  of  Heaven,  [Deum  tunc  Adfuijfe,  ve- 
teres  Oratores   aibant  J  and  counted   that  Wen 
did  therein  THEIOS  LEGEIN,  or  Speak  Di- 
vinely ;  but  the  Rife   of  this  Fluency  in  him, 
was  the   Divine  Relifl)  which  he  had  of  the 
things  to  be  fpoken,  the  Sacred  Panting  of  his 
holy  Soul  after  the   Glorious  Objecfs  of  the 
Invifible  World,  and  the  true  Zeal  of  Religion 
giving  Tire  to  his  Difcourfes.    Whence,  though 
the  Ready    and  Noijy  Performances  of  many 
Preachers,  when  they  are  as  Plato  fpeaks,  THE- 
ATROU   MESTOI,   or  Full  of  the  Theatre, 
Acting  to  the  Height  in  the  Publick  for  their 
Applaufe,  may  be  afcribed  unto  very  Mecha- 
nical Principles  ;  yet  the  Vigour  in  the  Miniftry 
of  our  Hooker,  being  raifed  by  a  Coal  from  the 
Altar  of  a  moft   real  Devotion,  touching  his 
Heart  5  it  would  be  a  wrong  unto  the  Good 
Spirit  of  our  God,  if  he  lhould  not  be  acknow- 
ledged the  Author  of  it.    That  Spirit  accor- 
dingly gave  a  wonderful  and  unufual  Succefsy 
unto  the  Miniftry  wherein  he  Breathed  fo  Re- 
markably.   Of  that  Succefs  there  were  many 
Inftances ;  but  one  particularly  I  find  mentioned 
in  Clark's  Examples,  to  this  purpofe.     A  pro- 
fane Perfon  defigning  therein  only  an  Ungodly 
Diverfion  and  Merriment,  faid  unto  his  Com- 
panions, Come,  Let  ih  go  hear  what   that  Baw- 
ling Hooker  will  fay  to  us  ;  and  thereupon  with 
an  Intention  to   make  Sport,  unto  Chelmsford 
Left ure  they  came.    The  Man  had  not  been 
long  in  the  Church,  before  the  Quick  and  Pow- 
erfulWord  of God,  in  the  Mouth  of  his  Faith- 
ful Hooker,  pierced  the  Soul  of  him ;  he  came 
out  with   an  awakened   and  a  diftrefled  Soul, 
and  by  the  further  Blefling  of  God  upon  Mr. 
Hookers  Miniftry,  he  arrived  unto  a  true  Con- 
verfwn ;  for  which  caufe  he  would  not  after- 
wards leave  that  Bleffed  Miniftry,  but  went  a 
Thou/and  Leagues  to  attend  it,  and  enjoy  it. 
Another  Memorable  thing  of  this  kind,  was 
this  ^  it  was  Mr .  Hooker's  manner  once  a  Year 
to  vifit  his  Native  County :  And  in  one  of  thofe 
Vifits,  he  had  an  Invitation  to  preach  in  the 
Great  Church  of  Leicefter.    One  of  the  Chief 
Burgefies  in  the  Town  much  oppofed  his  Preach- 
ing there ;  and  when  he  could  not  prevail  to 
hinder  it,  he  fet  certain  Tidlers  a  work  to  di- 
fturb  him  in  the  Church  porch,  or  Church-yard. 
But  fuch  was  the  Vivacity  of  Mr.  Hooker,  as  to 
proceed  in  what  he  was  about,  without  either 
the  damping  of  his  Mind,  or  the  drowning  of 
his  Voice  -,  whereupon   the  Man  himfelf  went 
unto   the   Church-door  to  over-hear  what  he 
faid.    It  pleafed  God  fo  to  accompany  fome 
Words  uttered   by   Mr.  Hooker,  as  thereby  to 
procure,  firft  the  Attention  and  then   the  Con- 
virion  of  that  wretched  Man  •,  who  then  came 
to   Mr.  Hooker   with  a  penitent  Confeffion  of 
his  Wicked  nefs,  and  became  indeed  fo  peniteDt 

a  Con- 


Book  Hi.      The  Hi/lory  of  New-England. 


<**> 


a  Convert,  as  to  be  at  length  a  fincere  Profeffor 
and  PraStfer  of  the  Godlinefs,  whereof  he  had 
been  a  Perjecutor. 

§11.  Tiie  Spiritual  Court  fitting  at  Chelms- 
ford, about  the  Year  1630.  had  not  only  filcn- 
ced  Mr.  Hooker,  but  alio  bound  him  over  in 
a  Bond  of  Fifty  Pound  to  appear  before  the 


Higb  CommiJJion,  which  he  could  not  now  at- 
tend, becaufe  of  an  Ague  then  upon  him.    One 
of  his  Hearers,  namely  Mr.NaJh,  a  very  honeit 
Yeoman,  that  rented  a  great  Farm  of  the  Earl 
of  Warwick    at  Much-Waltbam,  was  bound  in 
that  Sum  for  his  Appearance  ,  but  as  Paul  was 
advifed  by  his  Friends,  that  he  would  not  ven- 
ture into  the  Theatre  at  Ephcfus,  thus  Mr.  Hoo- 
ker's Friends  advifed  him  to  forfeit  his  Bonds, 
rather  than  to  throw  himfelf  any  further  into 
the  Hands  of  his  Enemies-     Wherefore,  when 
the  Day  for  his  Appearance  came,  his  honeft 
Surety  being  reimburied  by  feveral  good  People 
in  and  near  Chelmsford,  lent  in  the  forfeited 
Sum  into  the  Court ;  and  Mr.  Hooker  having, 
by  the  Earl  of  Warwick,  a  courteous  and   pri- 
vate Recefs  provided  for  his  Family  at  a  Place 
called  Old  Park,  for  which  I  find,  the  Thanks 
of  Dr.  Hill  afterwards  publickly  given  in  his 
Dedication  of  Mr.  tenner's  Treadle  about  Im- 
perii tency ;  he  went   over  to  Holland.    In  his 
Paflage   thither,  he   quickly  had  occafion   to 
difcover  himfelf,  when  they  were  in  Eminent 
Hazzard  of  Shipwrack  upon  a  Shelf  of  Sand, 
whereon  they  ran  in  the  Night ;  but  Mr.  Hooker, 
like  Paul,  with  a  Remarkable  Confidence,  af 
fured  them,  that  they  mould  be  all  preferved  ; 
and  they  had.  as  Rematkable  a  Deliverance.     I 
have  alio  heard,  that  when  he  fled  from  the 
PurlevantSj  to  take  his  Paffage   for  the  Low- 
Countries,  at  his  laft  parting  with  fome  of  his 
Friends,  one  of  them   faid,  Sir,  What  if  the 
Wind  Jhould  not  be  fair,  when  you  come  to  the 
Veffel-?  whereto  he  inffantly  replied,  Brother, 
Let  us  leave  that  with  him,  who  keeps  the  Wind 
in  the  hollow  of  bis  hand :  And  it  was  obierv'd, 
That  although   the  Wind  was  crofs,  until  be 
came  aboard,  yet    it  immediately   then    came 
about  fair  and  frefh,  and  he  was  no  fooner  un- 
der Sail,  but  the  Officer  arriv'd   at  the  Sea  fide 
happily  too  late  now  to  come  at  him  :  Whicli 
minds  me  of  what  befel  Dr.  Goodwin,  not  long 
after.     That  Great  Man   lay  Wind  bound  in 
hourly   Sufpicions- that  the  Perfevants  would 
flop  his  Voyage,  and  ieize   his    Perfon  before 
the  Wind  would  favour  his   getting  away  for 
Holland.     In  this  Diftrefs,  humbly  praying  to 
the  Lord  Jefus   Quilt,  for  a  more  propitious 
Wind,  he  yet  faid,  Lord,  If  thou  baft  at  this 
time,  any  poor  Servant  of  thine,  that  _wants  this 
Wind,  more  than  I  do  another,  I  do  not  ask  for 
the  Changing  of  it  ;  I  fubmit   unto  it.     And  im- 
mediately  the    Wind  came    about,    unto   the 
Right  Point ;  and  carried   him  clear  from  his 
Purfuers. 

§  12.  Arriving  iji  If  Hand,  he  was  invited 
unto  a  Settlement  with  old  Mr.  Paget  ;  but  the 
old  Man  being  fecretly  willing  that  Mr.  Hooker 
ftiould  not  accept  of  this  Invitation,  he  con- 


trived many  ways  to  lender,  him,  fufpeded  un 
to  the   Claijis,  on  a  Sufpiciui  thafche  jayipured 
the  Brownifts-,  unto  whom  he  had,   indeed,  an 
extream    Averfion.       The     Mifund.rihmdmgb- 
operated  fo  far,  as   to  occafion  Mr.  jwokers 
Removal  from  Amfterdam-,   notwirhftaniing  he 
had    fo  fully    expreffed    himfelf,  when  in  his 
anfwer  to  one  of  Mr.  Paget's  Quefiions,  he  de- 
clared  in   thefe  Words,  'To  feparae  J  ■an  the 
Faithful Afjemblies  and'Cfyercbes  in  England,  a* 
no  Churches,   is  an  Error  m  Judgment,  and.  Sin 
in  Prat/ice,  held  and  maintained  by  the  Biowmiis- 
and  therefore  to  communicate  with  them  in  their 
Opinion  or  Pratfice,  isjinjul  and  utterful  unlaw 
ful;  and  care  Jhould  be  taken  to  prevent  Offence, 
either  by  encouraging  them  in  their  way    or  by 
drawing  ethers  to  a  further  Approbation  of  th..t 
way  than  is  meet.     Going    from  Am(tcrda^\  he 
went  unto  Delft ;  where  he  was  moft  kindly 
received  by  Mr.  Forbs,  an  Aged  and  Holy  Scotch 
Minifter,  under  whole  Minilhy  many  Englijb 
Merchants  were  then  fettled.  The  Text  wheie- 
on  he  firft  Preached  at  his  coming  thither,  was 
Phil.  1.  25?.    To  you  it  is  given  not  only  to  Be- 
lieve, but  alfo  to  Suffer-,  and  after  that'Sermon, 
Mr.  iorbs  manifelted  a  tlrong  Defire  ro  enjoy 
the  Fellowfhip  of   Mr.  Hooker  in  the  Work  of 
the  Gofpel  -,  which  he  did  for  about  the  fpace 
of  two  Years  :.  In  all  which  time  they  lived  fo 
like  Brethren,  that  an  Obferver   might  fay  of 
them,  as  they   faid  of  Baft/  and  N'azianzen 
They  were  but  one  Soul  in   two  Bodies;  and  if 
they  had  been  for  any  little  while  afunder,  they 
ft  ill  met  with  fuch   Friendly   and  Joyful  Con- 
gratulations, as  tellihed  a  moft  affe'cVionare  Sa- 
tisfaction in  each  others  Company. 

§  13.  At  the  end  of  two  Years,  he  had  a 
Call  to  Rotterdam;  which  he  the  more  heartily 
and  readily  accepted,  becauie  it  renewed  his 
Acquaintance  with  his  Invaluable  Dr.  Ames, 
who  h3d  newly  left  his  Place  in  the  Frifian 
Univeriity.  With  him  he  fpent  the  Refidue 
of  his  Time  in  Holland,  and  affined  him  in 
compofing  fome  of  his  Difcourfes,  which  are, 
His  Yrejh  Suit  againft  the  Ceremonies  ;  For  fuch 
was  the  Regard  which  Dr.  Ames  had  for  him, 
that  notwithftanding  his  vail  Ability  and  Expe- 
rience, yet  when  it  came  to  .the  Narrow  of  any 
Queltion  about  the  Inftit  utedWorJhip  of  God,  he 
would  Hill  profefs  himfelf  conquered  by  Mr. 
Hooker's  Reafon  ;  declaring,  that  though  he  had 
been  acquainted  with  many  Scholars  of  divers  Na- 
tions, yet  he  never  met  with  Mr.  HookerV  E- 
qual,  either  for  Preaching  or  for  Difpuling, 
And  fuch  was  the  Regard,  which  on  the  other 
fide,  he  had  for  Dr.  Ames,  that  he  would  fay, 
If  a  Scholar  was  but  well  ftudied  in  Dr.  Ames 
h"is  Medulla  Tbeologi<e,.an&  Cafits  Confcientix, 
jfo  as  to  jnderftand  rhem  throughly,  thty  would 
piake  him  (Tuppofing  him  veiled  in  the  Scrip- 
tures,) a  Good  Divine,  tho'  he  had  no  more 
Books  in.  the' World.  But  having  tarried  in 
Holland  long  enough  to  fee  the  State  of  Reli- 
gion in  the  Churches  there,  he  became  fatjsfied, 
that  it  was  neither  Eligible  for  him  to  tarry  in 
that   Country,  not  convenient    for  bis  Friends 

to 


62 


The  Hiftory  of  New*- England.       Book  III, 


to  he  invited  thither  after  him.  I  have  at  this 
time  in  my  Hands,  his  Letter  from  Rotterdam 
to  Mr.  Cotton,  wherein  are  thefe  words  ;  '  The 
'  State  of  thefe  Provinces  to  my  weak  Eye, 
'  feems   wonderfully   ticklifh  and  miferabic. 

*  For  the  better  parr,  Heart  Religion,  they  con- 

*  tent  themfelves  with  very  Forms,  tho'  much 

*  blemifhed  •,  but  the  Power  of  Godlinefs,  for 

*  ought  I  can  fee  or  hear,  they  know  not ;  and 
'  if  it  were  throughly  preffed,  I  fear  leaft  it 
'  will  be  fiercely  oppoled.  My  Ague  yet  holds 
1  me ;  the  ways  of  God's  Providence,  wherein 
c  he  has  walked  towards  me,  in  this  long  time 
'  of  my  Sicknefs,  and  wherein  I  have  drawn 
'  forth   many    wearyifh  Hours,  under  his  Al 

*  mighty  Hand  (Bleffed  be  his  Name)  toge- 
1  ther  with  Purfuits  and  Banifhmenr,  which 
'•  have  waited  upon  me,  as  one  Wave  follows 
'  another,  have  driven  me  to  an  Amazement : 
'  His  Paths  being  too  fecret  and  paft  finding 

*  out  by  fuch  an  Ignorant,  Worthlefs  Worm  as 

*  my  felf.  I  have  looked  over  my  Heart  and 
4  Life,  according  to  my  meafure ;  aimed  and 
c  gueffed  as  well  as  I  could  .-  And  entreated  his 

*  Majeffy  to  make  known  his  Mind,  wherein 

*  I  miffed;  and  yet  methinks  I  cannot  fpell  out 

*  readily  the  purpofe  of  his  Proceedings^  which 
'  I  confefs  have  been  wonderful  in  Miferies, 
'  and  more  than  wonderful  in  Mercies  to  me 
'  and  mine.  Wherefore,  about  this  time,  un- 
derftanding  that  many  of  his  Friends  in  Effcx, 
were  upon  the  Wing,  for  a  Wildernefs  in  Ame- 
riai;  where  they  hoped  for  an  opportunity  to 
enjoy  and  praftife  the  Pure  Worjhip  of  the  Lord 
Jelus  Chriff,  in  Churches  gathered  according 
to  his  Direction,  he  readily  anfwered  their  In- 
vitation to  accompany  them  in  this  Underta- 
king. Dr.  A?nes  had  a  defign  to  follow  Mr. 
Hooker-,  but  he  died  ibon  after  Mr.  Hooker's 
Removal  from  Rotterdam.  However  his  Wi- 
dow and  Children  afterwards  came  to  New- 
England;  where  having  her  Houfe  burnt,  and 
being  reduced  unto  much  Poverty  and  Affli- 
Qion,  the  charitable  Heart  of  Mr.  Hooker  ('and 
others  that  joined  with  him,)  upon  Advice 
thereof,  comfortably  provided  for  them. 

(j  1 4.  Returning  into  England  in  order  to  a 
further  Voyage,  he  was  quickly  fcented  by  the 
Purfevants-,  who  at  length  got  fo  far  up  with 
him,  as  to  knock  at  the  Door  of  that  very 
Chamber,  where  he  was  now  difcourfing  with 
Mr.  Stone  ;  who  was  now  become  his  defigned 
Companion  and  Afliftent  for  the  New  Englijh 
Enterprize.  Mr.  Stone  was  at  that  Inltant 
fmoking  of  Tobacco  ;  for  which  Mr.  Hooker  had 
been  reproving  him,  as  being  then  ufed  by  few 
Perfons  of  Sobriety ;  being  alio  of  a  fudden 
and  pleafant  Wit,  he  Ifept  unto  the  Door,  with 
his  Pipe  in  his  mouth,  and  fuch  an  Air  of 
Speech  and  Look,  as  gave  him  fome  Credit 
with  the  Officer.  The  Officer  demanded,  Wl)e- 
ther  Air.  Hooker  were  not  there  ?  Mr.  Stone 
replied  with  a  braving  fort  of  Confidence,  Wl)at 
Hooker?  Do  you  mean  Hooker  that  Uv'd  once  at 
Chelmsford!  The  Officer  anfwered,  Tes,  He! 
Mr.  'Stone  immediately,  with  a  Diverfion  like 


that  which  once  helped  'Athtittafim,  made  this 
true  Anfwer,  If  it  be  he  you  look  for,  IJavdMn 
about  an  Hour  ago,  at  fuch  an  Houfe  in  tlie 
Town ;  you  had  be  ft  haft  en  thither  after  him. 
The  Officer  took  this  for  a  fufficient'Accou'nr. 
and  went  his  way  ;  but  Mr;  Hooker,  upon  this 
Intimation,  concealed  himfelf  more  cudullv 
and  fecurely,  till  he  went  on  Board,  at  the 
Downs,  in  the  Year  1633.  the  Ship  which 
brought  him,  and  Mr.  Cotton,  and  Mr.  Stone 
to  Revo-England  :  Where  none  but  Mr.  Stone 
was  owned  for  a  Preacher,  at  their  firlf  coming 
aboard;  the  other  two  delaying  to  take  their 
Turns  in  the  Publick  Worfhip  of  the  Ship, 
till  they  were  got  fo  far  into  the  Main  Ocean, 
that  they  might  with  Safety,  difcover  who  they 
were. 

§  15.  Amongft  Mr.  tenner's  Works,  I  find 
fome  imperfect  and  (nattered,  and  I  believe, 
Injurious  Notes  of  a  Farewel  Sermon  upon  Jer. 
14.  9.  We  are  called  by  thy  Name,  leave  as  Hot  : 
Which  Farewel  Sermon  was  indeed,Mr.  Hooker's, 
at  his  leaving  of  England.  There  are  in  thole 
Fragments  of  a(Sermon,  fome  very  Pathctual 
and  moft  Prophetical  Paffages,  where  fome  arc 
thefe. 

//  is  not  Gold  and  Prof  perky  which  makes 
God  to  be  cur  God;  there  is  more  Gold  in  the 
Weft-Indies,  than  there  is  in  all  Chriftendom  -, 
but  it  is  God's  Ordinances  in  the  Vert  tee  of  them, 
that  fhow  the  Prefence  of  God. 

Again,  Is  not  England  ripe?  Isftje  not  weary 
of  God?  Nay,  fheisfedfatforthejlaughter. 

Once  more,  England  hath  feen  her  beft  Days, 
and  now  evil  Days  are  befalling  us. 

And,  Thou  England,  which  haft  been  lifted 
up  to  Heaven  with  Means,  ftmll  be  dbafed  and 
brought  down  to  Hell  •  for  if  the  mighty  Works, 
which  have  been  done  in  thee,  had  been  done 
in  India  or  Turkey,  they  would  have  repented 
e'er  this. 

Thefe  Paffages  I  quote,  that  I  may  the  more 
effectually  defcribe  the  Apprehenfions  with 
which  this  worthy  Man  took  his  Farewel  of  his 
Native  Country. 

But  there  is  one  ftrange  Paffage  in  that  Ser- 
mon, that  I  know  not  what  well  to  think  of-, 
and  yet  it  is  to  be  thought  of.  I  remember,  Yis 
a  Paffage  in  the  Life  of  the  Reverend  Old 
Blackerby,  who  died  in  the  Year  1548.  '  That  he 
'  would  often  fay  it  was  very  probable,  the  Eng- 
•  lifh  Nation  would  be  forely  puniflled  by  the 
'  French:  And  that  he  he\ieved,Popery  would  come 
\  in,  but  it  would  not  laft,  nor  could  it  recover 
'  its  former  Strength.  -  The  notable  Fulfilment 
which  that  Paffage  hath  ken,  would  carry  one 
to  confider  the  unaccountable  Word?  which 
Our  Hooker  uttered  in  his  Farewel  Sermon.  Tis 
very  likely,  that  the  Scribe  has  all  along 
wronged  the  Sermon;  but  the  Words  now  re- 
ferr'd  unto,  are  of  this  Purporr,  That  it  had 
been  told  him  from  God,  That  God  will  defray 
England,  and  lay  it  waft;  and  that  the  People 
Jhould  be  put  unto  the  Sword,  and  the  Temples 

burnt 


Book  III.      The  Hi/lory  of  New- England. 


S3 


burnt,  and  many  Houfes  laid  in  Aflies.     Long 
after  this,  when  he  lived  at  Hartford,  in  New- 
England,  his  Friends  that  heard  that  Sermon, 
having  the  News  or  the  Mifcries  upon  England, 
by  the  Civil  Wars,  brought  unto  them,  enqui 
red  of  him,  Whether  this  were  not  the  time  of 
God's  defiroying  England, whereof  he  badfpoken? 
He  replied,  No;  this  is  not  the  time  ;  there  will 
be  a  time  of  refpite  after  thefe  Wars,  and  a  time 
wherein  God  will further  fry  England  ;  and  Eng 
land  will  further  fin  againji  him,  and  jhew  an 
Antipathy  againji  the  Government  of  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrilt  in  his  Church  ;  his  Royal  Power  in 
the  Governing  thereof  will  be  denied  and  reject 
ed.     There  will  therefore  a  time  come,  when  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chi  ift  will  plead  his  own,  and  his  cwn 
Caufe,  and  the  Caufe  of  them  who  have  fufjered 
for  their  fidelity  to  her  In  jit tut  ions  :  He  will 
plead  it  in  a  more  dreadful  way,  and  break  the 
Nation  of  England  in  pieces,  like  a  Potters  Vcf- 
fel.     Then  a  Man  fhall  be  precious  as  the  Gold 
of  Ophir  ;  but  a  fmall  Remnant   /hall  be  left  : 
And  afterward  God  will  raife  up  Churches  to 
himfe/f,  after  his  own  Heart,  in  has  own  time  and 
way.    God  knows,   what  there  may  be  in  this 
Prediction. 

§  1 6.  Mr.  Hooker  and  Mr.  Cotton  were,  for 
their  different Genius,the  Luther  and  Melantlhon 
of  New  England  ;  at  their  Arrival  unto  which 
Country,  Mr.  Cotton  fettled  with  the  Church  ot 
Bojion,  but  Mr.  Hooker  with  the  Church  ol 
New-Town,  having  Mr.  Stone  for  his  AfTiftant. 
Inexpreffible  now  was  the  Joy  of  Mr.  Hooker,  to 
find  himlelf  furrounded  with  his  Friends,'  who 
were  come  over  the  Year  before,  to  prepare  for 
his  Reception ;  with  open  Arms  he  embraced 
them,  and  uttered  thefe  words,  Now  I  live,  ij 
you  jiand  faji  in  the  Lord.  But  fuch  multitudes 
flocked  over  to  New-England  after  them,  that 
the  Plantation  of  Ne-w  Town  became  to  ftraight 
for  them  ;  and  it  was  Mr.  Hooker's  Advice,  that 
they  Should  not  incur  the  danger  of  a  Sttna,  or 
an  Efek,  where  they  might  have  a  Rehoboth. 
Accordingly  in  the  Month  of  June  16^6,'  they 
removed  an  Hundred  Miles  to  the  Weltwaid, 
with  a  purpofe  to  fettle  upon  the  delightful 
Banks  of  Connecticut  River  :  And  there  were  a 
bout  an  Hundred  Perfons  in  the  firlt  Company 
that  made  this  Removal  $  who  not  being  able 
to  walk  above  Ten  Miles  a  Day,  took  up  near  a 
Fortnight  in  the  Journey  •,  having  no  Pillows  to 
take  theit  Nightly  Rell  upon,  but  fuch  as  their 
Father  Jacob  found  in  the  way  to  Padan-Aram. 
Here  Mr.  Hooker  was  the  chief  Instrument  of 
beginning  another  Colony,  as  Mr.  Cotton,  whom 
he  left  behind  him,  was,  of  preferving  and  per- 
fecting that  Colony  where  he  left  him  ;  for,  in- 
deed each  of  them  were  the  Oracle  of  their  fe- 
veral  Colonies. 

§  17.  Tho'  Mr.  Hooker  had  thus  removed 
from  the  Maffacbufet-Bay,  yet  he  fometimes 
came  down  to  vifit  the  Churches  in  that  Bay  : 
But  when  ever  he  came,  he  was  received  with 
an  Affe£fion,  like  that  which  Paul  found  among 
the  Galatians ;  yea,  'tis  thought,  that  once  there 
ieemed  fome  Intimation  from  Heaven,  as  if  the 


good  People  had  overdone  in  that  Affection  : 
tor  on  May  26.  1639.  Mr.  Hooker  being  here 
to  preach  that  Lord's  Day  in  the  Afternoon,  his 
great  Fame  had  gathered  a  vaft  Multitude  ot 
Hearers  fiom  feveral  other  Congregations,  and 
among  the  reft,  the  Governour  himfelt,  to  be 
made  Partaker  of  his  Miniltry.  But  when  he 
came  to  preach,  he  found  himfelf  fo  unaccoun- 
tably at  a  lofs,  that  after  fome  (flattered  and 
broken  Attempts  to  proceed,  he  made  a  full 
Hop  ;  faying  to  the  AiTembly,  That  every  thing 
which  he  would  have  f poke n,  wm  taken  both  out 
of  his  Mouth,  and  out  of  bis  Mind  alfo ;  where- 
fore he  defired  them  to  fing  a  Plalm,  while  he 
withdrew  about  half  an  Hour  from  them  :  Re- 
turning then  to  the  Congregation,  he  preached 
a  molt  admirable  Sermon,  wherein  he  held  them 
for  two  Hours  together  in  an  extraordinary  Strain 
both  of  Pertinency  and  Vivacity. 

After  Sermon,  when  fome  of  his  Friends  were 
fpeakingof  the  Lords  thus  withdrawing  his  Af- 
liltance  from  him,  he  humbly  replied,  We  daily 
tonfefs,  tl>at  we  have  nothing,  and  can  do  nothing, 
without  Chrtji  ;  and  what  ij  Qjrijl  wilt  make  this 
manife/i  in  us,  and  on  Us,  before  our  Congrega- 
tions §  What  ■  remains,  but  that  we  be  humbly 
uj/itcnted  ?  And  what  manner  oj  Di/couragement 
k  there  in  all  of  this  ?  Thus  content  was  he  to 
be  nullified,  that  the  LORD  might  Le  mag- 
nified ! 

§  18.  Mr.  Hooker  that  had  been  born  to  ferve 
many,  and  was  of  fuch  a  Publick  Spirit,  that  I 
find  him  occafionally  celebrated  in  the  Life  of 
Mr.  Angier,  lately  publilhed  for  one,  who  would 
be  continually  inquifitive  how  it  fared  with  the 
Church  of  God,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  on 
purpofe  that  he  might  order  his  Prayers  ar.d 
Cares  accordingly  :  [Which,  by  the  way,  makes 
me  think  on  Mr.  Firm  ins  words  :  J  look  on  it, 
(faith  he)  as  an  All  of  a  grown  Chrijiian,  wbofe 
Interefi  in  Chrifi  is  well  cleared,  and  his  Heart 
walking  clofe  ivitb  God,  to  he  really  taken  up 
with  the  Publick  Intereji  of  Chnf.l  He  never 
took  his  Opportunity  to  ferve  hin.f-lf,  but  li- 
ved a  fort  of  Exile  all  his  Days,  except  the  lalt 
fourteen  Years  of.  ill  is  Life,  among  his  own  Spi- 
ritual Children  at  Hartford ;  however,  here  al- 
fo he  was  an  Exile.  Accordingly,  where  ever 
he  came,  he  lived  like  a  Stranger  in  the  World ! 
When  at  the  Lands  end,  he  took  his  laft  fight 
of  England,  he  faid,  Farewel. England  !  I  expcll 
now  no  more  to  fee  that  Pjeligious  Zeal^  and 
Power  of  Godlinefiy  which  I  have  feen  among 
Profejjors  in  that  Land  !  And  he  had  Sagacious 
and  Prophetical  Apprehenfipns  of  the  Declenfi- 
ons  which  would  .attend  Reforming  Churches, 
whemthey  came  to  enjoy -a; place  of  Liberty  .- 
He  faid,  That  Adverfty  bad  Jain  its  Thottjands, 
but  Profpertty  would  flay  its  Ten  Thoufands  I 
He  fear'd,  That. they  who  bad  feen  lively  Chnfii- 
ans  in  the  Eire  of  Perfections  -would  foon  become 
cold  in  the  ?nidfi  of  Univerfal  Peace,  except  fome 
few,  whom  God  by  fharp  Tfyjilfc  would  keep-  in 
a  Faithful,  Watchjul,  Humble,,qnd  Praying  Frame. 
But  under  thefe  Pre  apprehefjh,ons,  it  was  his 
own  endeavour  to  beware;  ©f  abating  his  own 
I  i  i  fiift 


H 


The  Hifiory  of  New-England.       Book  III. 


firft  Love !  And  of  fo  Watchful,  fo  Prayerful,  lb 
Fruitful  a  Spirit  was  Mr.  Hooker,  that  the  Spi 
rit  of  Prophecy  it  felf,  did  feem  to  grant  him 
fome  Angular  Afflations.  Indeed,  every  wife 
Man  is  a  Prophet  -,  but  one  fo  eminently  ac- 
quainted with  Scripture  and  Reafon,and  Church- 
Hiltory,  as  our  Hooker,  mult  needs  be  a  Seer, 
from  whom  lingular  Prognoftications  were  to  be 
expe&ed.  Accordingly,  there  were  many  things 
prognofticated  by  him,  wherein  the  Future  State 
of  New  England,  particularly  of  ConnecTicut  has 
been  fo  much  concerned,  that  its  pity  they 
fhould  be  forgotten.  But  I  will  in  this  Hiitory, 
record  only  two  of  his  Predictions.  One  was, 
'That  God  would  punifh  the  wanton  Spirit  of  the 
Profcffors  in  this  Country,  with  a  fad  want  of  A- 
ble  Men  in  all  Orders.  Another  was,  That  in 
certain  places  of  great  Light  here  fmned  againft, 
there  would  break  forth  fuch  horrible  Sins,  as 
-would  be  the  Amazement  of  the  World 

§  i p.  He  wjs  a  Mm  of  Prayer,  which  was 
indeed  a  ready  way  to  become  a  Man  of  God. 
He  would   fiy,  That   Prayer  was  the  principal 
part  of  a  Mini  fiefs  Work;  'twas  by  this,  that  he 
was  to  cany  on  the  reft.     Accordingly,  he  ftill 
devoted  one  Day  in  a  Month  to  private  Prayer, 
with  Falling,  before  the  Lord,  befides  the  Pub- 
lick  Fails,  which  often  occurred  unto  him.    He 
would  fay,  That  fuch  extraordinary  Favours,  as 
the  Life  of  Religion,  and  the  Power  of  Godlinefs, 
nut  ft  be  prefcrvedby  the  frequent  life  of  fuch. ex- 
traordinary Means,  as  Prayer  with  Faffing;  and 
that  if  Profcffors  grow  negligent  of  thefe  memii 
Iniquity  will  abound,  and  the  Love  of  many  wax 
cold.     NeverthelefS;  in  the  Duty  of  Prayer,   he 
affeciei  Strength  ra  titer  than  Length  •,  and  tho' 
he  had  not  foWnidi  variety  m  his  Publick  Pray- 
ing, as  in  his  Publick  Preaching,  yet  he  always 
had  a  ieaionableKefpctt  unto  prefent  Occa-fions. 
And  it  was  ohfcrvedj  that  his   Prayer  was  ufu- 
ally  like  Jacoblk  Ladder,  wherein  rhe  nearer  he 
came  to  an  End,  the  nearer -he  drew  towards 
Heaven^    and  he   grew   into   fuch  Rapturous 
Pleadings  with  God^  and  Praifings  of  God,  as 
majaYifome  to-1  Qiv,;>That  like  the  Mafter  of  the 
Feaft','  he   referved>the  befi[Mfyne  until  the  /aft. 
&or'was  the  wonderful  Succefs  of  his  Prayer, 
uportTpeeia I  Concerns,  unobferved  by  the  whole 
Colony  •,  who  reckoned  him  the  Mofcs,  which 
turned  azoay  -th'e}W*'ath  of  God  from  them,  and 
obtained  a  £%?  from  Heaven  upoh  their  Indian 
Amaie'kites,  by-  his  uplifted  Hand S;  in  thofe  re-! 
rriarkable  Deliverances  which  they  fometimes' 
experienced.     It  was  very  particularly  obferved, 
when  there  was  a  Battel  to  be  fought  between 
the  Narraganfe t,  'and  the  Menhegin  Indj-axs,  m 
the' Year  1^43.  -The.  Narragdnfet  Indians,  had 
cbmplotted  the  Ruine  of  the  Englift,  but  the 
^tf/^/tfwereConfederate  with  us5  and  3  War 
now  being  between  thofe  two  Nations,  much 
■Notice-  was  taken  of  the  prevailing  Importunity, 
wherewith  Mr.  Hooker  urged  for  the  Accom- 
plifhment  of  that-Great  Promife  unto  the  Peo 
pie  of  God,  I  will  b lefts  them  that  blefs  thee^ 
but   I   will  eurfs-him  that  curfes  thee.    Ana 
the  EfFe£t  of  it  was,   that  the  Narganfets  re- 


ceived a  wonderful  Overthrow  from  the  Mon- 
hegins,  though  the  former  did  Three  or  Four 
to  One  for  Number,  exceed  the  latter.  Such 
an  Ifracl  at  Prayer,  was  our  Hooker  !  And 
this  Praying  P  aft  or  was  Blcffed  -,  as,  indeed, 
fuch  Minilters  ufe  to  be,  with  a  Praying 
People  :  There  fell  upjn  his  pious  People,  a 
Double  Portion  of  the  Spirit,  which  they  beheld 
in  him. 

§  20.  That  Reverend  and  Excellent  Man, 
Mr.  Whitfield,  having  fpent  many  Years  in  iru- 
dying  of  Books,  did  at  length  take  two  or  three 
Years  to  lludy  Men  ;  and  in  puribance  of  this 
Defign,  having  acquainted  himfelf  with  the 
mod  confiderable  Divines  in  England,  at  laft 
he  fell  into  the  Acquaintance  of  Mr.  Hooker  ■, 
concerning  whom,  he  afterwards  give  this  Te- 
Uimony  :  '  That  he  had  not  thought  there  had 
'  been  fuch  a  Man  on  Earth  •,  a  Man  in  whom 
'  there  (hone  fo  many  Excellencies,  as  were  in 
'  this  incomparable  Hooker  ;  a  Alan  in  whom 
'  Learning  and  Wifdow,  were  jo  tempered  with 
'  Zeal,  hcJinefs,  andWaichf^lnejs.  And  the 
fame  Obferver  having  exacfly  Noted  Mr  hoo- 
ker, made  this  Remark,  and  gave  this  Report 
more  particularly  of  him,  That  he  had  the  beft 
Command  of  hh  own  Spirit,  which  he  ever  f am 
in  any  Alan '.what ever.  For  though  he  were  a 
Man  of  a  Cholerick  Difpofition ,  and  had  a 
mighty  Vigour  and  Fervour  of  Spirit,  which  as 
occafion  ferved,  was  wondrous  ufeful  unto  him, 
yet  he  had  ordinarily  a&  much  Government  of 
his  Choler,  as  a  Man  has  of  a  Mafliff  Dog  in 
a  Chain  ;  he  could  let  cut  hh  Dag,  and  pull  m 
his  Dog,  at  he  pleajed:  And  another  that  ob- 
fervedthe  Heroical  Spirit  and  Courage,  with 
which  this  Great  Man  fulfilled  his  Minifhry, 
gave  this  Account  of  him.  He  wot  n  Per/on  who 
vaBtfe  'doing  his  Alaftci's  J!  'crk,  would  put  a  King 
in  h/s  Pocket. 

Of  this  there  was  art  In  fiance,  when  the  Judges 
were  fn  their  Circuit,  prefent  at  Chedmsjord,  on 
a  Faff  kept. throughout  the  Nation,  Mr.  Hoo- 
ker then,  tin  the  pretence  of  the  Judges,  and 
before  a  valt  Congregation,  declared  freely  the 
Sins  of  England,  and 'the  Plagues  that  would 
come  for  fuch  Sins ,  and  in  his. Prayer  he  be- 
foughtthe  God  of  Heaven,  to  let  on  the  Heart 
of  the  King,  what  his  own  Mouth  had  fpokeh^ 
in  the  Second  Chapter  of  Alalachy,  and  the  Ele- 
venth and  Twelfth  Verfes,  [in  his.  Prayer  he  fo 
diftincFly  qUoted  it  !  ].  An  Abomination  is  cant- 
nutted,.  J-Mah  hath  married  the  Daughter  of- 'a 
flrange'God,  the  Lord  'will  cut  off  the  Alan  that 
doeth  this.  Though  the.  Judges  turned  unto  the 
place  thus  quoted,  yet  Mr.  Hooker  came  into  no 
trouble  -,  but  it  was  long  before  the  Kingdom 
did.   rhio-j! 

§  21.  He  was  indeed  of  a  very  condefcending 
Spirit,  not  only  towards  his  Brethren  in  the 
Miniltry,  but  alfo  towards  the  meaneft  of  any 
Chriftians  whatfoever.  He  was  very  willing  to 
Sacrifice  his  own  Apprehenfions  into  the  Con- 
vincing Reafon  of  another  Man';,  andivery  rea- 
dy to  acknowledge  any  Miftake,  or  Failing,  in 
himfelf.  Ill  give  one  Example:  There  hap- 
pened 


Book  III.     The  Htftory  of  .New-England 


65 


pened  a  damage  to  be  done  unto  a. Neighbour, 
immediately  whereupon,  Mr.  Hooker  meeting 
with  an  unlucky  Boy,  that  often  had  his  Name 
up,  for  the  doing  of  liich  Mifchiels,  he  fell  to 
chiding  of  that  Boy,  as  the  Doer  ot  this.  The 
Boy  denied  it,  and  Mr.  Hooker  Still  went  on  in 
an  angry  manner,  charging  of  him  ;  whereupon 
laid  the  Boy,  Sir,  I  fee  you  are  in  a  Pajjion,  Vll 
Jay  no  more  to  you  :  And  lb  ran  away.  Mr. 
Hooker,  upon  further  Enquiry,  not  rinding  that 
the  Boy  could  be  proved  Guilty,  lent  for  him  \ 
and  having  firlt  by  a  calm  Question,  given  the 
Boy  opportunity  to  renew  his  Denial  of  theFaft, 
he  laid  unto  him  :  Since  I  cannot  prove  the  con- 
trary, I  am  bound  to  believe  ;  and  I  do  believe 
what  you  fay  ;  And  then  added,  Indeed  I  w<u  in 
a  Pajjion,  when  If  pake  to  you  before  -,  it  wru  my 
Sin,  and  it  is  my  Shame,  and  J  am  truly  j or ry 
for  it  :  And  I  hope  in  God  Ifkallbe  more  watch- 
ful hereafter.  So  giving  the  Boy  ibme  good 
Counfel,  the  poor  Lad,  went  away  extreamly 
affe£ted  with  luch  a  Carriage  in  lb  good  a  Man  -, 
and  it  proved  an  occafion  of  good  unto  the  Soul 
of  the  Lad  all  his  Days.     . 

On  this  occafion  it  may  be  added,  That  Mr. 
Hooker  did  much  abound  in  Ads  of  Charity. 
It  was  no  rare  thing  for  him  to  give  fometimes 
Five  Pound,  fometimes  Ten  Pound  at  a  time, 
towards  the  Support  of  Widows  and  Orphans, 
elpecially  thofe  of  deceafed  Ministers. 

Thus  alfo,  when  the  People  at  Southampton, 
twenty  Leagues  from  Hartford,  wanted  Corn, 
Mr.  Hooker,  and  fome  few  that  joined  with 
them,  fent  them  freely  a  whole  Bark's  Load  of 
Corn,  of  many  Hundred  Bulhels,  to  relieve  them. 
Thus  he  had  thole  that  Chryfoftom  calls,  Zt/Mo?iV- 
l*xs  dvamfftiTK,  unanfwerable  Syllogifms,  to  de- 
monstrate Chrilt  ianity. 

§  22.  He  had  a  lingular   Ability,  at  giving 
Anfwers  to  Cafes  of  Confcience  -,  whereof  hap- 
py was  the  Experience   of   fome  Thoufands  : 
And  for  this  Work  he  ufually  fet  apart,  the 
Second  Day  of  the  Week  ;  wherein  he  admitted 
all  forts  of  Perfons  in  their  Difcourles  with  him, 
to  reap  the  Benefit  of  the  extraordinary  Experi- 
ence which  himfelf  had  found  of  Satan's  De- 
vices.   Once  particularly,  Mr.  Hooker  was  ad- 
dreffed  by  a  Student  in  Divinity,  who  entring 
upon  his  Miniltry,  was,  as  the  mod  ufeful  Mi- 
nisters, at  their  Entrance  thereupon,  ufe  to  be 
horridly  buffeted  with  Temptations,  which  were 
become  almoft  intolerable  :  Repairing  to  Mr. 
Hooker  in  the  DiftrefTes  and  Anguifhes  of  his 
Mind,  and  bemoaning  his  own  overwhelming 
Fears,  while  the  Lion  was  thus  roaring  at  him, 
Mr.  Hooker  anfwered,  7  can  compare  with  any 
Man  living  for  Fears  !  My  Advice  to  you  is,That 
you fe arch  out,  and  analife  the  humbling  Caufes 
of  them,  and  refer  them  to  their  proper  places  •, 
then  go  and  pour  them  out  before  the  Lord  -,  and 
they  Jhall  prove  more  profitable  to  you  than  any 
Books  you  can  read.     But  Mr.  Hooker  in  his  deal- 
ing with  troubled  Consciences,  obferved,  that 
there  were  a  fort  of  crafty  and  guileful  Souls, 
which  he  would  find  out  with  an  admirable 
Dexterity  -,  and  of  thele  he  would  fay,  as  Paul 


of  the  Cretians,  They  mufi  be  reproved  Jharply, 
that  they  may  be  found  in  the  faith  -,  fharp  Re- 
bukes make  found  Chriftians;  Indeed,  of  fome 
he  had  Compalfion,  making  a  Difference  ;  and 
others  he  javed  with  Pear,  pulling  them  out  of 
the  Fire.       ,  i 

§23.  Altho'  he  had  a  notable  Hand  at  the 
Difcuifing  and  Adjusting  of  Controverlal  Points, 
yet  he  would  hardly  ever  handle  any  Pok?nica! 
Divinity  in  the  Pulpit ;  but  the  very  Spirit  of 
his  Miniftry,  lay  in  the  Points  of  the  moft  Pra- 
ctical Religion,  and  the  Grand  Concerns  of  a 
Sinner's  Preparation  for,  Implantation  in,  and 
Salvation  bv,  the  Glorious  Lord  Jefus  Chrift. 
And  in  theie  Difcourfes  he  would  frequently  in- 
termix molt  affectionate  Warnings  of  tneDodcn- 
fions  which  would  quickly  betal  the  Churches  of 
Nav  England- 

His  Advice  to  young  Miniflers,  may  on  this 
occafion  be  fitly  mentioned.  It  was,  That  at 
their  Entrance  on  their  Ministry,  they  would 
witli  careful  Study  preach  over  the  whole  Body 
of  Divinity  methodically,  (even  in  the  Amefian 
Method)  which  would  acquaint  them  with  all 
the  more  intelligible  and  agreeable  Texts  of 
Scripture,  and  prepare  them  tor  a  further  Ac- 
quaintance with  the  more  difficult,  and  turnifh 
them  with  Abilities  to  preach  on  whole  Cha- 
pters, and  all  Occafional  Subjects,  which  by  the 
Providence  of  God,  they  might  be  directed  unto. 
Many  Volumes  of  the  Sermons  preached  by 
him  were  Since  Printed  -,  and  this  Account  is  to 
be  given  of  them. 

While  he  was  Fellow  of  Emanuel-CoWz&Qz, 
he  entettained  a   Special   Inclination    to  thofe 
Principles  of  Divinity,  which  concerned,  the 
Application  of  Redemption  •,  and  that  which  emi- 
nently  fitted  him  for  the  Handling  of  thofe 
Principles,  was,   That  he  had  been  from  his 
Youth  trained   up  in  the  Experience  of  thofe 
Humiliations  and  Conflations,  and  Sacred  Com- 
munions, which  belong  to  the  New  Creature  -% 
and  he   had  moSt  critically  compared  his  own 
Experience,  with  the  Accounts  which  the  quick 
and  powerful  Word  of  God,   gives  of  thofe  Glo- 
rious Things.    Accordingly  he   preached  firlt 
more  briefly  on  thefc  Points,   wliillt  he  was  a 
CatechiSt  in  Emanuel Colledge,  in  a  more  Scho- 
laftick  way  ;  which  was  molt  agreeable  to  his 
prefent  Station  ;  and  the  Notes  of  what  he  then 
delivered  were  fo  eSteemed,  that  many  Copies 
thereof  were  tranferibed  and  preferved.     After- 
wards he  preached  more  largely  on  thofe  Points, 
in  a  more  popular  way  at  Chelmsford,  the  Pro- 
duft  of  which  were  thofe  Books  of  Preparation 
forChrifl,  Contrition,  Humiliation,  Vocation,  Pi- 
nion with  Chriji,  and  Communion,  and  the  reft, 
which  go  under  his  Name  $   for  many  wrote 
after  him  in   Short-Hand  •,  and  fome  were  fo 
bold  as  to  publish  many  of  them,  without  his 
Confent  or  Knowledge  3  whereby  his  Notions 
came  to  be  deformedly  mifreprefented  in  multi- 
tudes of  paSfages  -,  among  which  I  will  Suppofe 
that  crude  paliage,  which  Mr.  Giles  Firmin,  in 
h\sReal  Chrijiian,  fo  well  confutes,  That  if  the 
Soul  be  rightly  humbled,  it  is  content  to  bear  the 
I  i  i  2  State 


66 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.       Book  III. 


State  of  Damnation.  But  when  he  came  to  New- 
England,  many  of  his  Church,  which  had  been 
his  old  Effex  Hearers,  defired  him  once  more  to 
go  over  the  Points  of  God's  Regenerating  Works 
upon  the  Soul  of  his  Elett ;  until,  at  laft,  their 
Defires  prevailed  with  him  to  Relume  that 
ple.ifmt  Subject  The  Subject  hereby  came  to 
have  a  Third  Concoction  in  the  Head  and  Heart 
of  one,  as  able  to  digeft  it,  as  molt  Men  living 
in  the  World  ,  and  it  was  his  defign  to  perfect 
with  his  own  Hand  his  Compofures  for  the 
Prefs,  and  thereby  vindicate  both  Author  and 
Matter,  from  the  Wrongs  done  to  both,  by 
Surreptitious  Editions  heretofore.  He  did  not 
live  to  finifh  what  he  intended  ;  yet  a  Worthy 
Minifter,  namely,  Mr.  John  Higginfon,  one 
richly  able  himfelf  to  have  been  an  Author  of 
a  not  unlike  Matter,  Tranfcribed  from  his  Ma- 
nujcripisy  near  two  Hundred  of  thefe  Excellent 
Sermons,  which  were  fent  over  into  England, 
that  ■  they  might  be  publifhed ;  but  by  what 
means  1  know  not,  fcarce  half  of  them  have 
E;en  the  Light  unto  this  Day.  However,  'tis 
poflible,  the  Valuablenefs  of  thofe  that  are  pub- 
lifhed, may  at  fome  time  or  other  awaken 
fome  Enquiries  after  the  unknown  Hands  where 
in  the  relt  are  as  yet  concealed. 

§  24.  But  this  was  not  all  the  Service  which 
the  Pen  of  Mr.  Hooker  did  for  the  Church  of 
God  !  It  was  his  Opinion,  That  there  were  Two 
great  Referves  of  Enquiry,  for  this  Age  of  the 
World  ■,  the  firft,  wherein  the  Spiritual  Rule 
of  our  Lords  Kingdom  does  confift,  and  after 
what  manner  it  is  Internally  Revealed,  Mana- 
ged and  Maintained  in  the  Souls  of  his  People? 
The  fecond,  after  what  Order  the  Government 
of  out  Lord's  Kingdom  is  to  be  Externally  ma- 
naged and  maintained  in  his  Churches  ?  Accor- 
dingly, having  done  his  part  for  delivering  the 
Former  Subject,   from  Pharifaical  Formality,  on 
the  one   Hand,  and  from   FamUijtical   Erithu- 
ftam  on  the  other,  he  was  by  the  follicitous 
Importunity  of  his  Friends,  prevailed  withal  to 
compofe  a  Treatife  on  the  other  Subject  alfo. 
Upon   this  Occafion,  he  wrote  his  Excellent 
Book,  which  is  Entituled,  A  Survey  of  Church 
Difipline  ;  wherein,   having  in  the  Name  of 
the  other  Minifters  in  the  Country,  as  well  as 
his  own,  profefled  his  Concurrence  with  Holy 
and  Learned  Mr.  Rutherford,  as  to  the  Number 
and  Nature  of  Church-Officers  5  the  Right  of 
People  to  call  their  own  Officers  •,  the  Unfit- 
nefs  of  Scandalous  Perfons  to  be  Members  of  a 
Vifible  Church  ;  the  Unwarrantablenefs  of  Se- 
paration from  Churches  for  certain  Defective 
Circumftances ;  the  Lawfulnefs,  yea,  Needful- 
nefs  of  a  Confociation  among  Churches  •,  and 
Calling  in  the  Help  of  fuch  Confociatiorts,  upon 
emerging  Difficulties  ■,    and  the  Power  of  fuch 
Conibciations  to  proceed    againft  a  Particular 
Church,  pertinacioufly  offending^  with  a  Sen- 
tence of  Non-Communion  :  He  then  proceeds 
to  confider,  a  Church  Congregational  compleatly 
confiituted  with  all  its  Officers,  having  full  Pow 
er  in  its  J  elf  to  exercife  all  Church  Difcipline, 
in  all  the  Certfures  thereof;  and   the  Intereff, 


which  the  Confent  of  the  People  is  to  have  in 
the  Exercife  of  this  Difcipline.  The  firft  fair 
and  full  Copy  of  this  Book  was  drowned  in 
its  Paflage  to  England,  with  many  Serious  and 
Eminent  Chriftians,  which  were  then  Buried 
by  Shipwrack  in  the  Ocean  :  For  which  caufe 
there  was  another  Copy  fent  afterwards,  which 
through  the  Pre-mature  Death  of  the  Author, 
was  not  fo  perfect  as  the  former  •,  but  it  was 
a  Reflection,,  which  Dr.  Goodwin  made  upon 
it,  The  Defiiny  which  hath  attended  this  Book, 
hath  vifited  my  Thoughti  with  an  Apprebenfion. 
of  Something  like  Omen  to  the  Caufe  it  J  elf : 
That  after  the  overwhelming  of  it  with  a  Flood 
of  Obloquies,  and  Difadvantages  and  Mifrepre- 
jent  tit  ions,  and  injurious  Opprejfions  caft  out  af- 
ter it,  it  might  in  the  lime,  which  God  alone! 
hath  put  in  his  own  Power,  be  again  emergent. 
He  adds,  /  have  looked  for  this  -,  1  hat  this  Truth 
and  all  that  flnudd  be  /aid  of  it,  was  Ordained, 
as  Chrift  of  whom  every  Truth  is  a  Ray,  to  be 
a-f  a  Seed  corn,  which  unlefs  it  fall  to  the  Ground 
and  die,  and  this  perhaps  together  with  fome  of 
the  Perfons  that  profefs  if,  it  brings  yet  forth 
much  Fruit.  However,  the  Ingenious  Mr.  Stone 
who  was  Collegue  to  Mr1.  Hooker,  accompanied 
this  Book,  with  a1  little  Epigram,  whereof  thefe 
were  the  concluding  Diificks. 

If  any  to  this  Platform  can  Reply 
With  better  Reafon,  Let  this  Volume  Die  -, 
But  better  Arguments,  if  none  can  give. 
Tlien  Thomas  Hooker's  Policy  Jhall  Live. 

§  25.  In  his  Adminiftration  of  Church  Difci- 
pline  there  were  feveral  things  as  Imitable,  as 
Obfervable.  As  he  was  an  hearty  Friend  unto  the 
Confociation  of  Churches  ■,  and  hence  all  the  time 
that  he  lived,  the  Pallors  of  the  Neighbouring 
Churches  held  their  frequent  Meetings  for  mu- 
tual Confutation  in   things  of  common  Con- 
cernment -,   fo,  in  his  own  particular  Church, 
he  was  very  careful  to  have  every  thing  done 
with  a  Chriftian  Moderation  and  Unanimity. 
Wherefore  he  would  have  nothing  publickly 
propounded  untoithe  Brethren  of  the  Church,but 
what  had  been  firft  privately  prepared  by  the  El- 
ders -,  arid   if  he  feared  the  happening  of  any 
Debate,  his  way  aforehand  was,  to  vifit  fome 
of  the  more  noted  and  leading  Brethren,  and 
hiving  engaged  them  to  fecond  what  he  fhould 
move  unto  the  Church,  he  rarely  milled  of  a 
full  Concurrence  :  To  which  purpofe  he  would 
lay,  The  Elders  mufl  have  a  Church  in  a  Church, 
if  they  would  preferve  the  Peace  of  the  Church  : 
And  he  would  fay,  The   debating  Matters  of 
Difference,  firft  before  the   whole  Body  of  the 
Church,  will  doubt lefs  break  any  Church  in  pie- 
ces, and  deliver  it  up  unto  loathjbme  Contempt. 
But  if  any  difficult  or  divided  Agitation  was 
raifed  in  the  Church,  about  any  matter  offered, 
he  would  ever  put  a  flop  to  that  publick  Agi- 
tation, by  delaying    the    Vote  until   another 
Meeting  -,  before  which  time,  he  would  ordi- 
narily  by  private  Conferences,  grin  over  fuch 
as  were  unfatisfied.    As  for  the  Admiilion  of 

Commu- 


Book  III.        The  Hi/lory  of  New-England. 


61 


Communicanrs  unto  the  Lord's  Table,  he  kept 
the  Examination  of  them  unto  the  Elders  of  the 
Church,  as  properly  belonging  unto  their  Work 
and  Charge  I  and  with  his  Elders  he  would  or- 
der them  to  make  before  the  whole  Church  a 
Proteflion  of  a  Repenting  Faith,  as  they  were 
able,  or  willing  to  do  it.  Some,  that  could 
unto  Edification  do  it,  he  put  upon  thus  rela- 
ting the  manner  of  their  Converfion  ro  God  ■ 
but  ufually  they  only  anfwered  unto  certain 
probatory  Queitions,  which  were  tendered 
them  ;  and  fo  after  their  Names  had  been  for 
a  tew  Weeks  before  fignified  unto  the  Congre- 
gation, to  learn  whether  any  Objection  or  Ex- 
ception could  be  made  againft  them,  of  any 
tiling  Scandalous  in  their  Conventions,'  now 
contenting  unto  the  Covenant,  they  were  ad- 
mitted into  the  Church  Communion.'  As  for 
F.cdefiaftical  Cenfures,  he  was  very  watchful 
to  prevent  all  Proceedures  unto  them,  as  far 
as  was  confident  with  the  Rules  of  our  Lord  ; 
for  which  caufe  (except  in  grofTer  Abp'mina- 
tionsj  when  Offences  happened,  he-  did  his 
utmolf,  that  the  Notice  thereof  might  be 
extended  no  further,  than  it  was  when  they 
firft  were  laid  before  him  ;  and  having  recon- 
ciled the  Offenders  with  fenfible  and  conve- 
nient Acknowledgments  of  their  Mifcarruges, 
he  would  let  the  Notice  thereof  be  confined 
unto  fuch  as  were  aforehand  therewith  ac- 
quainted ■,  and  hence  there  was  but  dhe  Pe-rfon 
admonifhed  in,  and  but  one  Perfon  excommu- 
nicated from  the  Church  of  Hartford,  in  all 
the  Fourteen  Years,  that  Mr.  Hooker  lived 
there.  He  was  much  troubled  at  the  too  fre- 
quent Cenfures  in  fome  other  Churches ;  and 
he  would  fay,  '  Church  Cenfures  are  things, 
c  wherewith  neither  we,  nor  our  Father's  have 
c  been  acquainted  in  the  practice  of  them  ;  and 
'  therefore  the  utmoft  CircumfpecYion  is  need- 
'  ful,  that  we  do  not  fpoil  the  Ordinances  of 
'  God,  by  our  Management  thereof.  In  this 
point  he  was  like  Beza,  who  defended  the  Or- 
dinance of  Excommunication  againft  Eraftus  -, 
and  yet,  he  with  his  Collegues,  were  fo  cau- 
telous  in  the  ufe  of  it,  that  in  eleven  Years, 
there  was  but  one  Excommunication  paffed  in 
all  Geneva. 

§  26.  He  would  fay,  That  he  fhould  Eft e em 
it  a  Favour  from  God,  if  he  might  live  no  longer 
than  he  Jhould  be  able  to  hold  up  lively  in  the 
Work  of  his  Place  ;  and  that  when  the  time  of 
his  Departure  fnould  come,  God  would  fborten 
the  time :  And  he  had  his  Defire.  Some  of  his 
moft  obfervant  Hearers  obferved  an  aftonifhing 
fort  of  a  Cloud  in  his  Congregation,  the  lalt 
Lord's  Day  of  his  publick  Miniftry,  when  he 
alfo  adminiftred  the  Lord's  Supper  among 
them  -,  and  a  moft  unaccountable  Heavinefsand 
Sleepinefs,  even  in  the  molt  Watchful  Chriftians 
of  the  Place,  not  unlike  the  Drowfinels  of  the 
Difciples,  when  our  Lord  was  going  to  die  ; 
for  which,  one  of  the  Elders  publickly  rebuked 
them.  When  thofe  Devout  People  afterwards 
perceived  that  this  was  the  laft  Sermom  and 
Sacrament  wherein  they  were  to  have  the  Pre 


fence  of  the  Pa(tor  with  them,  'tis  inexpreflibie 
how  much  they  bewailed  their  Unurtentivenefs 
unto  'his    Farewel  Difpenfstrons  ■,  and  fome  of 
them  could  enjoy  no  Peace  in  their  own  Souls, 
until  they  had  obtained  Leave  of  the  Elders  to 
confefs   before   the  whole  Congregation"  wvrn 
many    Tears,  that  Inadvertency.      But  as   for 
Mr..  Hooker  htm f elf ;   an   Epidemical   Sicknefs, 
which  had  proved   mortal  to  many,  thoughjat 
firft  fmall  or  no  Dinger  appeared  in  it,  arretted 
him.    In, the  time  oi'  his  Sicknels  he  did,' not 
hy  much  to  the  Standers  by  ■  but  being  asked, 
that  he  would  utter    his  Apprehenfions  about 
fome  important  things,  especially  about   the 
State   of  Aew-England,    he  anfwered,  i"  Jj^je 
loot  that   Work  now   to  do-,  I  have  already  de- 
clared the  Counfel of  the  Lord;  And  wheu.one 
that  ftood   weeping  by  the  Bed  fide  (aid  unto 
him,  Sir,  You  are  going  to  receive  the  Re;va/\l  of 
all  your  Labours,  he  replied,  Brother,  I  J,:, 
ing  to  receive  Mercy  !  At  laft  he  doted  his  o\yi\4 
Eye's  with  his  own  Hands,  and  gently  ikoa'k.ing' 
his  own  Forehead,  with  a  Smile  id  his   Coun- 
tenance, he  gave  a  little  Groan,  and  fo  expired 
his  bleffed  Soul  into  the  Arms   of  his  Feffbw 
Servants,  the  Holy  Angels,  on   July  7.  154.7. 
In  which  laft  Hours,  the  Glorious  Peace  of  Soul, 
which  he  had   enjoyed   without  any  Interrup- 
tion for  near  Thirty  Yeats  together,  fo  glori- 
oufly  accompanied  him,  that  a*  worthy  Specta- 
tor then  writing  to  Mr,  Cotton  a  Relation  {there- 
of, made  this  Reflettion,  "T/v//y  67/-,  the 'Sight 
of  his  Death,  will  make  me  have  more  pie af ant 
Thoughts  of  Death,  than  ever  I.  yet  had  in  my 
Ufe  ! 

t)  27.  Thus  lived  and  thus  died  one  of  the 
rtrji  Three.  He,  of  whom  the  great  Mr.  Cot- 
ton gave  this  Character,  that  he  did,  Agmen 
ducere  iff  dominari  in  Cencionibits,  gratia  Spi- 
ritm  Sanffi  &  virtute  plenis ;  and  that  he  was, 
Vir  Solertis  iff  Accerrimi  Judicii ;  and  at  Length 
uttered  his  Lamentations  in  a  Funeral  Elegy, 
whereof  fome  Lines  were  thefe. 

^Twa.i  ^Geneva'j  Worthies  /aid  with  Wonder, 
(Thofe  Worthies  Three  J  Farel  wan  wont  to 

Thunder, 
Viret  like  Rain  on  tender  Grafs  to  fhowr, 
But  Calvin,  lively  Oracles  to  pour. 

All  thefe  in  HookerV  Spirit  did  remain, 
A  Son  of  Thunder,  and  a  Shozv'r  of  Rain  ; 
A.  Pourer  forth  of  lively  Oracles, 
In  faving  Soul,  The  Summ  of  Miracles. 

This  was  He,  of  whom  his  Pupil  Mr.  Ajby 
gives  this  Teltimony  ;  For  his  great  Abilities 
and  glorious  Services,  both  in  this  and  in  the 
other  England,  he  deferves  a  Place  in  the  fir  ft 
Rank  of  them,  who/'e  Lives  are  of  late  recorded. 
And  this  was  He,  of  whom  his  Reverend  Con- 
temporary, Mr.  Ezekiel  Rogers,  tendered  this 
for  an  Epiraph ;  in  every  Line  whereof,  me- 
thinks  the  Writer  deferves  a  Reward  equal  to 
what  Virgil  had,  when  for  every  Line,  referring 
toMarcellui  in  the  end  of  his  Sixth  JEneid,  he 

perceived 


68 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.      Book  111, 


received  a  Sum,  not  much  lefs  than  Eighty 
Pounds  in  Money,  or  as  ample  a  Requital  as 
Cardinal  Rich/ieu  gave  to  a  Poet,  when  he,  he 
itow'd  upon  him  two  Thoufand  Sequins  ior  a 
witty  Conceit  in  one  Vcrfe  of  but  leven  Words, 
upon  his  Coat  of  Arms. 

America,  although  She  do  not  Boaft, 
Of  all  the  Gold  and  Silvfef  ffotn  that  Coaft, 
Lent  to  her  Sifter  Europe  s  Need  or  Pride  ; 
(tor  that  repaid  her,  with  much  Gain  be  fide, 
In  one  Rich  Pearl,  which  Heaven  did  thence 

afford, 
As  Pious  Herbert  gave  his  hone  ft  word\) 
Yet  thinks,  She  in  the  Catalogue  may  come 
With  Europe,  Alrick,  Afia,  for  one  Tomb. 

But  as  Amh-efc  could  fay  concerning  Thco- 
doftus,  Kon  lotus  recejfit ;  reiiquit  nobis  Libe- 
ros,  in  qui  bus  cum  deb  cm  us  agnofecre,  &  in 
quibus  cum  Ccmimi/s  $$  Tcv.emus  -,  thus  we  have 
to  this  Day  among  us,  our  Dead  Hooker  yet 
living  in  his  worthy  Son,  Mr.  Sapiuel  Hooker, 
an  Able,  Faithful,  llfeful  Minifter,  at  Far- 
mington,  in  the  Colony  of  ConncUicut. 


Epitaphium. 
Thomas   Hooker. 

Hen  !  Pietas  5  Heu  !  prifca  Fides. 


■ 


Or,  For  a  more  extended  Epitaph,  we  may 
take  the  Abtidgement  of  his  Life,  as  offered  in 
fome  Lines  of  Mr.  Elijah  Qorlet,  that  memora- 
ble old  School ' maflcr  in  Cambridge,  from  whofe 


Education  our  Colledge  and  Country  has  re- 
ceived, fo  many  of  its  Worthy  Men,  that  he  is 
r^mfelf  Worthy  to  have  his  Name  celebrated  in 
no  lefs  a  Paragraph  of 'our  Church  Hi 'ft ory,  than 
that  wherein  I  may  introduce  him,  endeavour- 
ing to  celebrate  the  Name  of  our  Great  Hooker 
unto  this  purpofe. 

5/  mea  cum  veftris,  valuiffent  vota,  .Nov-Angli 

Hookerus  Tardo  viferat  Aftra  Gradu. 
Te,  Reverende  Senex,  Sic  Te  dileximw  omnes% 

Ipfa  lnvifaforent  ut  tibi  Jura  poli. 
Morte  Tua  Infandum  Cogor  Rcnovare  do/orem, 

Quippc  Tua  videat  Terra  Nov-Anghfuam. 
Dignus  eras,  Ac\u\\xfimiiis,  Renovaffe  Juventam, 

Et  Fato  in  Terris  Candidwre  frui. 
Tu  Domus  Emanuel,  Soror  Auguftijfima,  Mater 

Miiie  Prophet  arum,  Tu  mihiTejhs  em. 
Te  Tcftem  apeilo,  quondam  Chelmsrordia,  Oiis 

,  Proxima  ■,  Te  prsco  Suftulit  illc  Turn. 
ATontu/it,hjcChakas,  Arcis  Phxbtque  Sacerdos, 

Nampopulo  Spernijic  fuafacra  videt. 
Vidit  C7  ex  Rofiris  Genti  pradicere  vat  em 

Bella,  quod  in  Chriftum  Tot  a  Rebellis  erat. 
§uem  Patria  exegit,ferus  Hoftis  Epifcopus;  Hoflk 

Hunc  minus,  in  Batavis,  vexat  amara  Febris. 
Poft  varies  cafus,  Qiiafiata  Nov-Anglia,  tandem 

Ramifcr'  inde  Tibi  Diva  Columba  venit. 
Hie  Tuos  Cstus  Omat,  pafcitque  Fideles, 

Laudibus  Innumcris  addit  &  Hie  Tuis. 
Dulcis  Amicus  erat,  Paftorque  Inftgnk,  £?'  Ait  us 

Dot  i  bus,  Eloquw,  Moribus,  Inge  mo. 
Proh  Pudorl  Ereptum  Te  vivi  vidimus,  6?  non 

Excejfura  Animd  Struximus  lnjidias  > 
Inftdias  precibus,  Lacrymifque  perennibus,  unds 

Semita  Geleftkjic  tibi  ciaufaforet. 
Sed  Fruftra  hac  meditor !  — 
Luftra  per  H  O  0  K  E  R  U  S  ter  quinque  Viator, 
erat :  jam 

Cxleflem  patriam  Poflidet  Hie  fuam. 


Seph 


ber 


Book  III.       7 be  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


19 


Sepher  Jemm,  i.e.  UberDeumTimentium: 

O   R, 

Dead  Ab  e  l's  yet  Speaking,  and  Spoken  of. 


In  the   HISTORY   of 


Mr. 

Mr. 
Mr. 
Mr. 
Mr. 
Mr. 


Frmcis  Higginfont 

John  Avery, 

Jonathan  Burr, 

George  Philips, 

Thomas  Shepard, 
Peter  Prudden,  and  feveral  o- 
rhers  of  New-Haven  Colony. 
Mr.   Peter  Bulfyy, 
Mr.   Ralph  P at t ridge, 
Mr.    Henry   Dunjier, 
Mr.    E^ekiel  Rogers, 
Mr.  J^athanael   Rogers, 
Mr,  Samuel  Newman, 
Mr.   Samuel  Stone, 
Mr.    William    Thompfon, 


Mr.   John   Warham, 
Mr.    Henry  Flint, 
Mr.   Richard  Mather, 
Mr.  Zetbariab  Symmes, 
Mr.  John  Allin, 
Mr.  Charles   Cbauncey, 
Mr  John  Fisl^, 
Mr.  Ihomas  Parlor, 
Mr.   James   Noyes, 
Mr.    Thomas    Thacher, 
Mr.   Peter   Hobart, 
Mr.  Samuel  Whitings 
Mr.  John  Sherman, 
Mt>.  Thomas   Cobbet, 
.Mr.  John    Ward. 


Eminent  Minifters  of  the  Gofpcl  in  the  Ghurches  of  New  .England. 


By     COTTON     MOTHER. 

'•_ — .-i — L^ — - 


■'        '■ 


W 


] 

wets 


£>cconD  #art. 


L J 


Solus  Honor  Merilo  qui  datttr,    Me  Jaffa 

Thus  Shine,  ye  Glories  of  your  Age,  while  we 
Walt  to  Fill  up  your  Martyrologfe. 

Bono  ejlote  Aninto,  ^DilcEli  Frates)  appropinquat  ,tempus  quandb.  erit  Nomirmtn  <ecjHe 

ac  Corporum  ftefiifrc&io.  Wilkinion.  Condon,  ad  Academic. 

■  ■  •- 1  •-  ■    ■" "  ..    ■  


rfrr- 


— — — 


__^ 





INTROD 

HE  N-'the  Incomparable  Hevelihs 
was  preparing  for  ffie  World,  his 
Nero,  and  Rare,  ■<ind  mofl  Accurate 
Selenography,  Mi  D'ef/gn  was,  to  advance  into 
the  heavens,  thc'Wdmes  of  the  moft'  Meritori- 
ous Aftrorioners,  by  Warning  from' them  the Je 
veral  diftinguifhable Flirts  of  the  Planet,  which 
was  to  be  dejcribeil  by  him  ;  Jo  that  in  the  Moon, 
there  would  now  have  been  feen,  an  Oceanus 
Coperniceus,  an  Oceanus  Tychonicus,  h  Mare 


UCTION. 

Reppderiamim,  a  Lacus  Galilati,  a  Palus  Mxft- 
lini,  an  Infula  Scheiveriaiia,  a  Peninfula  Gaf- 
fendi,  a  Mons  Merfenni,  a  Vallis  Bulltaldi,  a 
Sinus  Wendellni,  4  Promontorum  Crugerianum, 
a  Defertum  Linnemanni,  and  other  fuch  Deno- 
minations. Bin  upon  Second  Thoughts,  he  Jaw 
that  this  cmild  not  be  lone  without  Envy  and 
Offence ;  fir  jhere  were  certain  Places  more 
Eminent  than  other st  and  he  might  happen  to 
ajfign  them  unto  fuch  Perfors  as  were  lefs  Emi- 
nent, 


70  1 he  Hijlory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 

nenti/7  the  Opinions  of  Mankind  about  their  Me-lvour  to  preferve  the  Memory  of  thefe  worthy 
rits :   Wherefore  he  chofe  rather  Geographical^  Men. 


Denominations,  for  the  Macule  Lunares,  which 
were  now  to  be  diflinguifhed. 

Reader,  There  is  a  Number  of  Divines  now  be 
fore  us,  demanding  their  Places  in  our  Church- 
Hiftory  ;  their  Souls  are  in  the  Heavens  j  their 
Names  alfo  fhould  be  there.  I  was  thinking  to 
have  ranked  them  according  to  their  Alerits  •,  I 
would  have  affigned  their  Places,  according  to 
their  Eminencies  in  the  Church  of  God.  But 
finding  that  this  Attempt  would  have  been  too  in- 
vidious ;  /  will  have  them  to  take  their  Places,  as 
in  the  Hijhry  of  Lives  ujcs  to  be  done,  Secundum 
Annorum  Emortualium  Seriem,  according  to  the 
Years  wherein  they  died. 

What  I  zvrite,  Jhall  be  written  with  all  Chriftian 

Veracity,  and  Fidelity.     Heaven  forbid,  that  I 

fhould  indulge  my  Pen,  in  fuch  flourifhing  Platte 

ries,  as  fill  the  Lives  of  the  Lutheran  Divines, 

in  the  CollelTwns  that  Witten  hat  made  of  the 

Memorial  Theologorum  nofiri  iiculi  Clarilfimo 

rum,  renovatx.     Heaven  forbid,  thut  I  fhould  in 

any  one  In  fiance  deferve  to  be  thought  a  Writer  of 

fuch  Legends,  as  they  generally    {and  it  may  be 

fometimes   unrighteoufly  )  have  reproached  the 

Lives  of  the  Ancients,  zvritten  by  Simeon  Meta- 

phratfes  :  For  I  will  now  confefs  to  my  Reader, 

one  thing  that  has  encouraged  me,  in  my  Ended 

\ 


I  read  in  Prov.  10.  7.  The  Memory  of  the 
Jull  is  Hefted  5  or,  for  a  Blefling  ;  And  I  know 
the  common  Gloffes  upon  it.  But  I  have  met  with 
a  Note  of  Dr.  Jermyn'j-  thereupon,  which  I  will 
now  count  as  worthy  to  be  tranferibed,  as  I  have 
heretofore  counted  it  worthy  to  be  pondered. 

The  very  remembring  of  them  [Jaith  he~\  (hall 
bring  a  BlrJJing  to  fuch  as  do  remember  them. 
God  will  blefs  thofe  that  honour  the  Memory 
of  his  Servants  :  And  befides,  the  Memory  of 
them  will  make  them  imitated ,  which  is  a 
Blejfing  that  will  be  rewarded  with  Bleffed- 
nefs. 

I  will  add,  That  Examples  do  ft  range  ly  charm 
us  into  Imitatidn.  When  Holinels  is  prejfed  upon 
us,  we  are  prone  to  think,  that  it  is  a  Dottrine 
calculated  for  Angels  and  Spmts,zohofe  Dwelling 
is  not  with  Flefh.  But  when  we  read  the  Lives 
of  them  that  excelled  in  Holinefs,  tbo'  they  were 
Pcrfons  of  like  Paflions  with  our  f elves  t  the 
Convillion  is  wonderful  and  powerful.  Reader, 
Behold  loud  Calls  /t>  Holinefs,  from  thofe  lohofaid, 
not,  Ite  illuc  ;  but,  Venite  hue,  when  the  Calls 
were  uttered. 


■ 


CHAP.     I. 

Janus  Nov-  Anglic  anus.    TheLIFE  of  Mr.  FRANCIS   HIGGINSON, 

Semper  Honor,    Nomenque  Tuum,  LauJefque  Alanebunt. 


. 


§  1.  TTTlthout  Recourfe  to  any  fabulous, 
V V  whether  Egyptian  or  Grecian  Shams 
oR  Antiquity,  we  have  ocher  Intimations  enough, 
that  our  Father  Noah,  after  a  New  World  began 
to  be  Peopled  from  him,  did  remove  with  his 
Eldeft  Son  Japhet,  from  his  own,  and  his  old- 
Country  of  Ogyge,  or  Paleftine,  into  the  Coun- 
try which  is  now  called  Italy.  And  it  is  parti- 
cularly remarkable,  that  his  Great  Grandfon 
Dodanim,  removing  with  a  Colony  of  his  increa- 
sing Pbfreiiry,  into  Epirus,  he-  built  a  City, 
which  with  the  whole  Province,  was  called  by 
the  Name  of  Dodona  ;  where  he  built  a  Tern-, 
pie,  in  which  the  People  did  allemble  to  wor- 
ihip  God,  and  hear  the  Precepts  or/  the  Patri- 
arch preach'd  upon.  Rut  it  was  not  long  be- 
fore a  fearful  Degeneracy  overtaking , the  Pofte- 
rity  of  thefe  Planters,  they  foon  left  arid  loft  the 
Religion  of  their  Progenitors  ^  and  in  that  very 
place  where  Dodanm  had  his  Church,  there  fuc- 
ceededthe  Dodons.:/i  Oracles.  Now  among  the 
memorable  Names,  which  in  other  Monuments 
of  Antiquity,  befides  thofe  of  Tufcany,  expos'd 
by  Inghirqwii/s,  we  find  put  upon  ourilluftrious 
Fath.-r  Noah,  one  is  that  of  Janus,  which  at 
Hr ft  they   pronounced  Janes,  from  the  Hebreio 


word,  yB.  Jajin,  for  Wine,  which  was  the  true 
Original  of  it ;  and  fo  his  famous  Vineyard  was 
therein  commemorated.  For  which  caufe  Cato 
alfo  tells  us,  Janus  primus  invenit  Far  [ff  Vi- 
num,  iff  ob  id  dullus  fuit  Prifcus  Oenotrius  : 
And  Ant iochus  SyracuJ anus,  mentions  the  Oeno- 
tr'n,  which  Noah  carried  with  him.  Of  this 
Janus,  the  Thufcians  employed  a  Ship,  as  a 
Memorial  5  they  had  zShip  on  his  Coins,  doubt- 
lefs  with  an  Eye  to  the  At  k  of  Noah  ;  but  there 
was  alfo  on  the  Reverfe,  as  Ovid  relates,  Altera 
Forma  Biceps  ;  and  this  Double  Face  was  afcrib'd. 
unto  Janus,  heeaufeof  the  View  which  he  had 
of  the  Two  Worlds,  the  Old  and  the  New.  The 
Covenant  which;" God  eftabliflied  with  Noah, 
was  by  After-Ages  referfd  unto,  when  they 
feigned  Janus-  to  be  the"  Prefident  of  all  Cove- 
nant  and  Concord  -,  and  the  Figure  which  Noah 
made  among  Mankind  was  confeffed  by  them, 
when  they  gave  Janus  the  Sir-name  of  Pater, 
as  being  fo  to  all  the  Hero's,  who  obtained  a 
place  among  the  Gods.  Moreover,  the  Mythical 
Writers  tell  us,  that  in  the  Reign  of  this  Janus, 
all  the  Dwellings  of  Men  were  hedged  in  with 
Piety  and  Santlity;  in  which  Tradition  the  ex* 
emplary  Righteoufnefs  of  Noah  feems  to  have 

been 


Book  111.       The  Hi/lory  of  New-England. 


1i 


been  celebrated :  And  hence  in  their  old  Ritu- 
als, he  was  called  Cents,  Alanus,  which  is  as 
much  as  to  fay,  Santfi/s  &  Bonus.  But  with 
out  purfuingthefe  Curiofities  any  further,  1  will 
now  lay  before  my  Reader  the  Story  of  that 
worthy  Man  ;  who  when  'tis  confidered,  that  he 
crofted  the  Sea  with  a  Renowned  Colony,  and 
that  hiving  feen  an  Old  J'/orld  in  Europe,  where 
a  Flood  of  Iniquity  and  Calamity  carried  all  be- 
fore it,  he  alfo  law  a  Neu>  World  in  America  ; 
where  he  appears  the  tirft  in  a  Catalogue  of 
Hero's,  and  where  he  with  his  People  were  ad- 
mitted into  the  Covenant  of  God  •  whereupon  an 
Hedge  of  Piety  and  Sanftity  continued  about 
that  People  as  long  as  he  lived  ,  may  therefore 
be  called  the  Noah,  or  Janus  of  New-England. 
This  was  Mr.  brands  Higginfon. 

k  2.  If  in  the  Hiffory  of  the  Church  for  more 
than  Four  thoufand  Years,  conrained  in  theScri. 
ptures,  there  is  not  recorded  either  the  Birth  day 
of  any  one  Saint  whatever,  or  the  Birth  day  of 
him  that  is  the  Lord  of  all  Saints  ■,  I  hope  it 
will  be  accounted  no  DefecF.  in  our  Hiffory  of 
this  worthy  Man,  if  neither  the  Day,  nor  the 
Place  of  his  Birth  can  be  recovered.  We  will 
therefore  begin  the  Hiftory  of  his  Life,  where 
we  find  that  he  began  to  live. 

Mr.  Francis  Higginfon ,  after  he  had  been 
Educated  at  Emanuel- Colled ge,  that  Seminary 
of  Puritans  in  Cambridge,  until  he  was  Mafler 
of  Arts  :  And  after  that,  the  true  Emanuel,  our 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  had  by  the  Work  of  Regene- 
ration upon  his  Heart,  inftru&ed  him  in  the 
better  and  nobler  Arts,  of  living  unto  God  ;  he 
was  by  the  fpecial  Providence  of  Heaven,  made 
a  Servant  of  our  Emanuel,  in  the  Miniftry  of  the 
Gofpel,  at  one  of  the  Five  Parifh  Churches  in 
Leicefier.  The  main  Scope  of  his  Miniftry,  was 
now  to  promote,  firft,  a  thorough  Converfwn, 
and  then  a  godly  Converfation,  among  his  Peo 
pie  :  And  befides  his  being  as  the  famous  Preacher 
in  the  Wildernefs  was,  a  Voice,  and  preaching 
Lettures  of  Chriftianity  by  his  whole  Chriftian, 
?;nd  molt  Courteous  and  Obliging  Behaviour,  he 
ZWalfo  a  moft  charming  Voicc,whkh  rendred  him 
unto  his  Hearers,  in  all  his  Exercifes,  another 
Ezekiel :  For,  ho,  he  war  unto  them,  as  a  very 
lovely  Song  of  one  that  hath  a  plcafant  Voice,  and 
can  play  well  upon  an  Inftrument :  And  from  all 
parts  in  the  Neighbourhood  they  flocked  unto 
him.  Such  was  the  Divine  Prefence  with,  and 
Blefling  on  the  Miniftry  of  this  good  Man,  in 
this  place,  that  the  Influence  thereof  on  the 
whole  Town,  was  quickly  become  a  Matter  of 
Obfervation  :  Many  were  turned  from  Dar/cnefs 
to  Light,  and  from  Satan  to  God  ;  and  many 
Were  built  up  in  their  mofl  Holy  Faith ;  and  there 
was  a  notable  Revival  of  Religion  among  them. 
And  fuch  were  his  Endeavours  to  conform  unto 
the  Example  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  our 
Grand  Exemplar,  in  the  whole  Courfe  of  his 
Miniftry,  that  we  might  eafily  have  written  a 
Book  of  thofe  Conformities. 

§  3.  For  fome  Years  he  continued  in  his  Con- 
formity, to  the  Rites  then  required  and  pracYifed 


IT.—. 


in  the  Church  of  Enghnd ;  but  upon  his  Ac- 
quaintance with  Mr.  Arthur  Hilderfkam,  and 
Mr.  Thomas  Hooker,  he  let  himfelf  to  ftudy  the 
Con  trover  fies,  about  the  Evangelical  Church - 
DifciplLne,  then  agitated  in  the  Church  of  God ; 
And  then  the  more  he  ftudied  the  Scripture, 
which  is  the  foie  and  full  Rule  of  Church-Ad* 
miniftrations,  the  more  he  became  dilTatisfied 
with  the  Ceremonies,  which  had  crept  into  the 
Worfhip  of  the  Lord  Telus  Chrift,  not  only 
without  the  Allowance  of  the  Scripture,  but 
alfo  without  the  Countenance  of  the  earlieft 
Antiquity.  From  this  time  he  became  a  Cort- 
lcientious  Non  ConjormiH  >,  and  therefore  he  was 
deprived  of  his  Opportunity  to  exercife  his 
Miniftry,  in  his  Parifh  Church  :  Neverthelefs, 
his  Miniftry  was  generally  fo  defirable  unto  the 
People,  that  they  procured  for  him  the  Liberty 
ro  preach  a  conftant  Leclure,  on  one  part  of 
the  Lord's  Day  -,  and  on  the  other  parr,  as  an 
AfTiftant  unto  a  very  aged  Parfon,  that  wanted 
it.  He  was  now  miintained  by  the  voluntary 
Contribution  of  the  Inhabitants  ;  and  tho'  the 
reft  of  the  Minifters  there  continued  Conformifis, 
yet  they  all  freely  invited  him,  unto  the  ufe  of 
their  Pulpits,  as  long  as  they  could  avoid  any 
trouble  ro  themfelves  by  their  fo  doing  :  By 
which  means  he  preached  fuccelfively  in  Three 
of  the  Parifh-Churches,  after  that  he  had  been 
by  Non-Conformity  made  incapable.  He  preach- 
ed alfo  at  Belgrave,  a  Mile  out  of  the  Town  { 
but  under  God,  the  chief  Author  of  rhefe  more" 
eafie  Circumftances  unto  fuch  a  NonConformift, 
was  the  Generous  Goodnefs  and  Candour  of 
Dr.  Williams,  the  Bifhop  of  Lincoln,  to  whofe1 
Diocefs  Leicefier  belonged.  It  continued  until 
the  bray  between  that  Bifhop,  and  Laud  the  Bi- 
fhop of  London,  who  fet  himfelf  to  extirpare 
and  extinguifh  all  the  Non-Conformifis,  that 
were  Williams's  Favourites,  among  whom  one 
was  Mr.  Higginfon. 

§  4.  The  iignal  Blefling  of  God,  which  ac- 
companied the  Miniftry  of  Mr.  Higginfon,  irt 
Leicefier,  was  followed  with  two  very  contrary 
Conlequences.  On  the  one  fide,  a  great  multi- 
tude of  Chriftians,  then  call'd  Puritans,  did  not 
only  attend  the  Worfhip  of  God  more  publickly 
in  their  AJJemb/ies,  and  more  fecretly  in  their 
Families,  but  alfo  they  frequently  had  their  pri- 
vate Meetings,  for  Prayer  ( fometimes  with  Faff- 
ing) and  repearing  of  Sermons,  and  maintaining 
of  profitable  Conferences,  at  all  which  Mr.  Hig- 
ginfon himfelf  was  often  prefent  :  And  at  thele 
times,  if  any  of  their  Society  were  fcandalous 
in  their  Converfation,  they  were  perfonally  ad- 
momfhed,  and  means  were  ufed  with  them  to 
bring  them  unto  Repentance.  On  the  other  fide, 
there  was  a  profane  Party,  fill'd  with  Wolvilfl 
Rage  againft  the  Flock  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
and  efpecially  againft  this  good  Man,  who  was 
the  Pallor  of  rhe  Flock  :  Whofe  impartial  Zeal 
in  reproving  the  Common  Sins  of  the  Time  and 
Place,  did  more  then  a  little  add  unto  the  Ex- 
afperations  of  that  Party  ;  but  alfo  diver3  of 
them  turn'd  Per/eeutors  hereupon,  yet  many  re- 
markable Providences  laid  a  Reftraint  upon  then^ 

K  k  k  and 


72  The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 


and  the  Malignants  were  fmitten  with  a  Dread 
upon  their  Minds,  That  the  Judgments  of  God 
would  purfue  thofe,  that  (hould  go  to  harm  fuch 
a  follower  of  htm  that  it  good. 

§  5.   Even  the  Ef  if  copal  Party  of  the  Englifj 
Nation,   among  whofe  Thirty  Nine  Articles, 
one  is,  That  the  vifible  Church  is  a  Congregation 
of  Faithful  Men,   where  the  Word  of  Chrijl  is 
duly  preached,   and  the  Sacraments  be  rightly  ad 
mini/ired ;  have  concluded  it,  as  a  Godly  Difci- 
pline   in  the  Primitive  Church,  That  Notorious 
Sinners  were  put  to  open  Penance.     And  in  the 
Rubric  before  the  Communion,  have  ordered  Mi- 
miters  to  advertife  all  Notorious  Evil  Livers, 
and  fuch  as  have  wronged  their  Neighbours  by 
Word  or  Deed,  or  fuch  as  have  Malice  and  Ha- 
tred reigning  between  them,  That  they  Jhould 
not  prefume  to  come  to  the  Lord's  Table,  till  they 
have  openly  declared  themfelves  to  have  truly  re- 
pented.   Under  the  Encouragement  hereof,  Mr. 
Higginfon,  before  he  became  a  N on-Con formift, 
profejfed  this  Principle,  That  ignorant  and  fan- 
dalous  Perfons,  are  not  to  be  admitted  unto  the 
Lord's  Supper  :  And  as  far  as  he  could,  hepra- 
Uifed  what  he  profefled.    Wherefore  he  did 
Catechife  and  Examine  Perfons  about  their  Fit 
nefs  for  the  Communion  -,   and  if  any  Perlbns 
were  notoriouily  fcandalous,   he  not  only  told 
them  of  their  Sins  in  private,  but  alfo  in  Pub- 
//^declared,  that  they  were  not  to  be  admitted 
unto  the  Lord's  Supper,  until  the  Congregation 
had  fome  Teftimonies  of  their  ferious  Repen- 
tance. 

It  was  a  good  Courage  of  Old  Cyprian,  to 
declare  :  If  any  think  to  join  themfelves  unto  the 
Church,  not  by  their  Humiliation  and  SatUfaUi- 
on,  when  they  have  fcandalized  the  Brethren,  but 
by  their  Great  Words  and  Threats,  let  them  know, 
that  the  Church  of  God  will  oppofe  them,  and  the 
Tents  of  Chrijl  will  not  be  conquered  by  them. 
And  no  lefs  was  the  good  Metal  in  our  Higgin- 
fon. Accordingly  after  a  Sermon  on  thofe  Words 
of  our  Saviour,  Give  not  that  which  is  holy  unto 
Dogs,  unto  this  purpofe  applied,  going  to  ad- 
minifter  the  Lord's  Supper  unto  the  Communi- 
cants, now  come  into  the  Chancel,  he  efpied 
one  that  was  known  unto  them  all ,  to  be  a 
common  Drunkard  and  Swearer,  and  a  very  vi- 
cious Perfon  5  he  told  that  Man  before  them 
all,  That  he  was  not  willing  to  give  the  Lord's 
Supper  unto  him,  until  he  had  profejj'ed  his  Re 
pentance^   unto  the  SatisfaUion  of  the  Congrega- 
tion :  And  therefore  he  defired  the  Man  to  with 
draw  :  The  Sinner  withdrew,  but  went  out  full 
of  fuch  Paffion  and  Poifon  againft  Mr.  Higgin- 
fon, and  Horror  in  his  own  Confcience,  that  he 
fell  fick  upon  it  -,  and  while  he  lay  lick  he  was 
vifited,  as  well  by  good  People,   that  endea- 
voured his  Converfion,  as  by  bad  People  that 
had  been  his  old  Companions,  and  now  threat- 
ned  what  they  would  do  againft  Mr.  Higginfon. 
The  Wretch  continued  in  an  exorbitant  Frame 
for  a  few  Days,  and  at  laft  roared  out,  That  he 
was  damrfd,  and  that  be  was  a  Dog,  and  that  he 
voas  going  to  the  Dogs  for  ever.    So  he  cried ,  a  nd 
fo  he  died  :  And  this  was  known  to  all  People. 


§  6.  There  were  many  fuch  marvellous  Judg- 
ments of  God,  which  came  like  fire  from  Hea- 
ven, to  reftrain  and  revenge  the  Wrongs  which 
were  ofter'd  unto  this  faithful  Witnejs  of  our 
Lord  Jefus  Chriit.     Particularly,  there  was  a 
pious  Gentlewoman,  the  Wife  of  a  very  profane 
Gentleman,   dwelling  in  another  Pariih,  who 
would  frequently  go  to  attend  upon  Mr.  Hig- 
ginfon's  Miniltry,  both  in  the  puhlick  and  pri- 
vate Exercifes  of  our  Holy  Religion  ;  whereat 
her  Husband,  after  many  other   Expreffions  of 
his  deep  Difpleafure,  vowed,  That  he  would 
be  revenged  on  Higginfon  -,  and  accordingly  he 
refolved  upon  a  Journey  to  London,  there  to  ex- 
hibit a  Complaint  againft  this  good  Man,  at  the 
HighCommiffion  Court  :    But  when  he  had  got 
all  things  ready  for  his  Journey,  juft  as  he  was 
mounting  his  Horfe,  he  was  by  'an  immediate 
Hand  of  Heaven,   fmitten  with  an  intolerable 
Torment  of  Body,  and  Horror  of  Confcience, 
and  was  led  into  his  Houfe,  and  hid  upon  his 
Bed  -,  where  within  a  few  Hours,  Death  did  his 
Office  upon  him. 

§  7.  And  unto  the  remarkable  Appearances  of 
Heaven,  on  the  behalf  of  this  faithful  Man, 
may  be  enumerated  that  which  betel  a  famous 
Docfor  of  Divinity,  Prebend  of  a  Cathedral,  and 
Chaplain  to  His  Majeity,  who  then  lived  in 
Leicefter  :  This  Gentleman  preached  but  very 
feldom  •,   and  when  he  did  at  all,  it  was  after 
that  Fafhion,  which  has  been  fometimes  called 
Gentleman-Preaching  j  altera  Haunting  manner, 
and  with  fuch  a  vain  Oftentation  of  Learningt 
and  Affectation  of  Language,  as  ill  became  the 
Oracles  of  God  -,  the  People  generally  flocking 
more  to  the  more  edifying  Miniftry  of  Mr.  Hig- 
ginfon, than  to  thefe  Hatangues.    Our  Do&or 
fo  extreamly  refented  it,  that  both  publickly 
and  privately,  on  all  Opportunities,  he  expref- 
fed  his  Indignation  againft  Mr.  Higginfon,  and 
vow'd,  That  he  would  certainly  drive  him  out  of 
the  Town.    Now  it  fo  fell  out,  that  the  Sheriff 
appointed  this  Do£tor  to  preach  at  the  General 
Affizes  there,  and  gave  him  a  Quarter  of  a  Year  s 
time  to  provide  a  Sermon  for  that  occafion  :  But 
in  all  this  time,  he  could  not  provide  a  Sermon 
unto  his  own  Satisfaction  ;  infomuch,  that  a 
Fortnight  before  the  time  was  expired,  he  ex- 
preffed  unto  fome  of  his  Friends,  a  Defpair  of 
being  well  provided  :  Wherefore  his  Friends 
perfwaded  him  to  try  •,  telling  him,  That  if  it 
came  to  the  worft,  Mr-  Higginfon  might  be  pro- 
cured to  preach  in  his  room  •,  he  was  always 
ready.    The  Doclor  was  wonderfully  averfe  un- 
to this  laft  Propofal ;  and  therefore  Itudied  with 
all  his  might,  for  an  agreeable  Sermon  ;  but  he 
had  fuch  a  Blaft  from  Heaven  upon  his  poor 
Studies,  that  the  very  Night  before  the  Affizes 
began,  he  fent  his  Wife  to  the  devout  Lady 
Cave,  who  prevail'd  with  Mr.  Higginfon  to  fup- 
ply  his  place  the  Day  enfuing  -,  which  he  did, 
with  a  molt  fuitable,  profitable,  and  acceptable 
Sermon  ;  and  unto  the  great  Satisfaction  of  the 
Auditory.     When  the  Lady  Cave  had  let  it  be 
known,  how  this  thing,  which  was  much  won- 
dered at,  came  about,  the  common  Difcourle 

of 


Book  III.       The  Hiflory  of  New-England. 


13 


of  the  Town  upon  it,  fo  confounded  the  Do- 
ctor, that  he  left  the  Town,  vowing,  That  he 
would  never  come  into  it  again.  Thus  Mr.  Hig- 
ginfon  was  left  in  the  Town  !  But  I  pray,  Who 
was  driven  out  ? 

kj  8.  We  lately  Styled  Mr.  Higginfon  a  Faith- 
ful Man  :  And  innumerable  were  the  Inftances, 
wherein  he  fo  approved  himfelf,  particularly 
there  was  a  time  when  many  Courtiers,  Lords, 
and  Gentlemen  coming  in  a  Frolick  to  Leicejhr, 
which  was  counted  a  Puritanical  Town,  re- 
folved,  that  they  would  put  a  Trick  upon  it. 
Wherefore,  they  invited  the  Mayor  and  Alder- 
men,  whereof  divers  weie  efteemed  Puritans, 
unto'  a  Collation-,  and  overcame  them  to  drink  a 
number  of  Healths,  with  the  aceultomed  Ceremo- 
nies of  drinking  upon  their  Knees,  till  they  all 
became  (hamefully  and  extreamly  Drunk.  This 
Bufinefs  becoming  the  common  Difcourfe  of 
the  Town,  Mr.  Higginfon,  from  a  Text  chofen 
to  the  purpofe,  in  the  Audience  of  the  Mayor 
and  Aldermen  themfelves,  demonftrated  the 
Sinfulnefs  of  Health-drinking,  and  of  Drunken- 
nefs,  and  the  Aggravation  of  that  Sinfulnefs, 
when  it  is  found  in  Magiflrates,  whole  Duty 
'tis  to  punifii  it  in  other  Men:  Therewithal 
admonishing  them  to  Repent  ferioufly  of  the 
Scandal  which  they  had  given.  This  Faith- 
fulnefs  of  Mr.  Higginfon  was  varioufly  Re- 
lented: Some  of  the  People'  diiliked  it  very 
much,  and  fome  of  the  Aldermen  were  fo  di- 
lturbed  and  enraged  at  it,  that  they  Breathed 
out  Threatnings  till  they  were  out  of  Breath  : 
But  the  better  fort  of  the  People  generally  ap 
proved  it,  as  a  Conformity  to  that  Rule,  Them 
that  fin  before  all,  Rebuke  before  all,  that 
others  may  fear  •,  and  feveral  of  the  Aldermen 
confefled  their  Sin  with  a  very  penitent  and 
pertinent  Ingenuity.  The  Iffue  was,  that  Mr. 
Higginfon  was  brought  into  no  Trouble  •,  and 
the  God  of  Heaven  fo  difpofed  the  Hearts  of 
the  Mayor  and  Aldermen,  that  after  this,  upon 
the  Death  of  old  Mr.  Sachcverel,  they  chofe 


and  he  was  called,  while  a  Conformity,  fre- 
quently to  preach  Vifitation -Sermons,  Ajfzc- 
Sermons,  and  ftwKvv/-Sermons.:  And  as  well 
then,  as  afterwards,  he  was. often  engaged  in 
Fafts,  both  publick  and  private,  both  at  Home 
and  Abroad ;  and  many  repaired  unto  him  with 
Cafes  of  Confcience,  and  for  Help  about  their 
Interiour  State.  Befides  all  this,  he  was  very 
ferviceable  to  the  Education  ~6$  Scholars,  either 
going  to,  or  coming  from  the  Univerfity  ;  and 
iiich,  as  afterwards  proved  eminently  fervice- 
able to  the  Church  of  God :  Whereof  fome 
were  Dr.  Seaman,  Dr.  Brian,  Mr.  Richardfon, 
and  Mr.  Howe,  all  of  them  Lmcefterfbire  Men, 
who  would  often  fay,  how  much  they  owed 
unto  Mr.  Higginfon.  And  he  was  very  uleful 
in  forwarding  and  promoting  of  Contributions, 
for  the  Relief  of  the  Prot eft  ant-Exile's,  which 
came  over  from  the  Ruined  Bohemia,  and  the 
DiftreiTed  Palatinate,  in  thole  Times  3  and 
many  other  Pious  Defign.s.  But  when  (as  he 
that  writes  the  Life  of  Holy  Mr.  Bains  expfeffes 
\l)  the  Hour  and  Power  of  Darknefs  was  come 
from  Lambeth,  or  when  the  Bifhop  of  London, 
prevailed,  and  the  Bilhop  of  Lincoln  retired, 
the  Blades  of  the  Laudian  FaOaon  about  Lei- 
cefter  appeared,  Informed  and  Articl'd  againft 
Mr.  Higginfon,  fo  that  he  lived  in  continual 
Expectation  to  be  dragg'd  away  by  the  Purfe 
vants,  unto  the  HighCommiJJwn-Court,  where  a 
Sentence  of  Perpetual  Imprifonment  was  the 
beft  thing  that  could  be  looked  for. 

§  ro.  Now  behold  the  Interpofing  and  Sea- 
fonable  Providence  of  Heaven!  A  confiderable 
Number  of  Wealthy  and  Worthy  Merchants, 
obtaining  a  Charter  from  K.  Charles  I.  whereby 
they  were  Incorporated  by  the  Name  of,  The 
Governour  and  Company  of  the  Maffachufct-Bay 
in  'New-England  -,  and  intending  to  fend  over 
Ships  with  PafTengers  for  the  Beginning  of  a 
Plantation  there,  in  the  Beginning  of  the  Year 
1629.  And  refolving  to  fend  none  upon  their 
Account,  but  godly  and  honeft  Men,  profefling 
that  Religion,  which  they  declared  was  the 
End  of  this  Plantation :  Thefe  were  informed  of 


Mr.  Higginfon  to  be  their  Town-preacher,  unto  j 

which  place  there  was  annexed  a  large  Main- 1 

tenance,  to  be  paid  out  of  the  Town-Treafury.  the  Circumitances  whereto  Mr.  Higginfon  was 

In  anfwer  hereunto,  Mr.  Higginfon  thank'd  them 'now  Reduced-,  and  accordingly  they  difpatched 

for  their  good  Will;  but  he  told  them,  that  he!  a  couple  of  Meflengers  unto  him,  to  invite  him 

could  not  accept  of  it,  becaufe  there  were  fome;  unto  a  Voyage  into  New-England,  with  kind 

Degrees  of  Conformity  therein  required,  which  Promifesjto  fupport  him  in  the  Voyage.     Thefe 


he  could  not  now  comply  withal :  Nevertheless 
there  being  divers  Competitors  for  the  Place, 
about  whom  theVotes  oftheAldermen  were  much 
divided,  he  prevailed  with  them  to  give  their 
Votes  for  a  Learned  and  Godly  Conformift,  one 
Mr.  Angel;  who  thereby  came  to  be  fettled  in 
it.  There  were  alio  made  unto  him,  feveral 
Offers  of  fome  of  the  Greateft  and  Richeft  Li- 
vings in  the  Country  thereabouts-,  but  the  Con- 
fcientious  Difpofition  to  Non- Conformity,  now 
growing  upon  him,  hindred  his  Acceptance  of 
them. 

§  p.  While  Mr.  Higginfon  continued  in  Lei- 
cefter,  he  was  not  only  a  Good  Man  full  of 
Faith,  but  alfo  a' 'Good  Man  jull  of  Work.  He 
preached    conftantly  in  the  Parifh  Churches -, 


two  Meflengers  were  Ingenious  Men  ■  and  un- 
derftanding  that  Purfcvants  were  expected  eve- 
ry Hour,  to  fetch  Mr.  Higginfon  up  to  London, 
they  defigned  for  a  while  to  Acl  the  Parrs  of 
Purfevants :  Coming  therefore  to  his  Door, 
they  knock'd  roundly  and  loudly,  like  Fellows 
equipp'd  with  fome  Authority ;  and  faid,  Where 
ts  Air.  Higginfon?  We  muft  fpeak  with  Mr. 
Higginfon  !  Iufomuch  that  his  affrighted  Wife 
ran  up  to  him,  telling  him  that  the  Purfcvants 
were  come,  and  praying  him  to  ftep  afide  out 
of  their  way,  but  Mr.  Higginfon  laid,  No,  I 
will  go  down  and  fpeak  with  them ;  and  the  Will 
of  the  Lord  be  done  !  When  the  Mefiengers 
were  come  into  the  Hall,  they  held  out  their 
Papers  unto  him,  and  with  a  certain  Roughnsfi 
K  k  k-  2  '  an! 


74- 


Tbe  Hiftory  of  New-tngland.      Book  ill. 


and  Boldnefs   of  Addrefs   told  him,  Sir,  We 
come  from  London,  and  our  Bufinefs  is  to  fetch 
you  up  to  London,  as  you  may  fee  by  tkefe  Pa 
pen!  Which   they   then  put  into  his  Hands  ; 
whereat  the  People  in  the  Room  were  confirm 
ed  in   their  Opinion,  that  thefe   Blades  were 
Purfevants -,  and  Mrs.  Higginfon  her  fell'  Said, 
I  thought  fo:  And    fell  a  weeping.     But  when 
Mr.  Higginfon  had   lookt  upon  the  Papers,  he 
foon  perceived,  that  they  were  Letters  from  the 
Governour 2\\dCompany  inviting  him  zoNew  Eng 
land;  with  a  Copy  of  the  Charter,  and  Propo 
fidons  for  managing  their  defign  of  Eftablithing 
and  Propigatine   Reformed  Chriflianity  in  the 
New  Plantation:  Whereupon  he  bad  them  wel- 
come !  And   there  enfued  a  pleafant  Conversa- 
tion betwixt   him,  and   his  now    undifguifed 
Friends.     In  anfiver  to  this-  Invitation,  Mr.  Hig 
ginfon  having  firlt  confulted  Heaven  with  hum- 
ble and    fervent   Supplications,  lor  the  Divine 
Direction  about  fo  great  a  Turn  of  his  Life,  he 
advifed  then  with  feveral  Ministers  ;  efpecially 
with  his  dear  Friend  Mr.  Hilda  flam,  who  told 
him,  That  were  he  himfelf  a  younger  Man,  and 
under  his  Cafe  and  Call,  he  Jhould  think  he  bad 
a  plain   Invitation  of  Heaven  unto  the  Voyage  ■, 
And  fo  he  came  unto  a  Refolution  to  comply 
therewithal. 

§  1 1.  When  Mr.  Higginfon's  Refolution  came 
to  be  known,  it  made  fo  much  Noife  among 
the  Puritans,  that  many  of  them  receiving  Sa- 
tisfaction unto  the  many  Enquiries  which  they 
made  on  this  Occafion,  refolved,  that  they 
would  accompany  him.  And  now  it  was  not 
long  before  his  Farewel  Sermon  was  to  be 
preached  !  Before  he  knew  any  thing  about  an 
Offer  of  a  Voyage  to  New  England.  In  his 
Meditations  about  the  State  of  England,  he 
had  Strange  and  Strong  Apprehenfions  that  God 
would  Shortly  pumfhEngland  with  theCalamities 
of  a  War,an&  he  therefore  compofed  a  Sermon  up- 
on thole  Words  of  our  Saviour,  Luk.  21.  20,21. 
When  you  fee  Jcrufalem  com  faffed  with  Armies, 
then. flee  to  the  Mountains.  Now  after  he  was 
determined  for  New-England,  he  did,  in  a  vaSt 
Affembly,  preach  this  for  his  Farewel  Sermon  -, 
and  therein  having  mentioned  unto  them,  what 
he  took  to  be  the  Provoking  Sins  of  England  in 
General,  and  of  Leicefler  in  particular,  he 
plainly  told  them,  that  he  was  perfwaded, 
God  would  chaStife  England  with  a  War,  in 
the  Sufferings  whereof  Leicefler  would  have  a 
more  than  ordinary  fhare.  How  this  Prediction 
was  afterwards  accomplished,  is  known  to 
Mankind  ;  and  it  was  efpecially  known  to  Lei- 
cefler, which  being  Strongly  Fortified  and  Gar- 
rifon'd,  and  having  the  Wealth  of  all  the  Coun- 
try about,  brought  into  it,  was  Befieged,  and 
at  length  carried  by  Storm ;  and  the  Town  was 
horribly  plunder'd,  and  Eleven  Hundred  People 
were  flain  in  the  Streets. 

But  Mr.  Higginfon  having  ended  this  his 
Prophetical  Sermon,  he  gave  thanks  to  the  Ma- 
gistrates, and  the  other  Christians  of  the  Place, 
for  all  the  Liberty,  Countenance,  and  Encou- 
ragement, which  they  had  given  unto  his  Mi- 


nistry :  And  he  told  them  <af  his  intended  Re- 
moval to  New  England,  the  Principal  End  of 
which  Plantation,  he  then  declared,  was  the 
Propagation  of  Religion ;  and  of  the  Hopes 
which  he  had,  that  New-England  might  be  de- 
signed by  Heaven,  as  a  Refuge  and  Shelter  for 
the  Non-Ccnjormijls  againlt  the  Storms  that 
were  coming  upon  the  Nation,  and  a  Region, 
where  they  might  pracfife  the  Church  Ref or  ma- 
twn,  which  they  had  been  bearing  Witnefs  un- 
to. And  fo  he  concluded  with  a  moft  affectio- 
nate Prayer  for  the  King, '  the  Church,  the 
State,  and  peculiarly  for,  Leicefler,  the  Seat  of 
his  former  L 1  hours.  And  after  this  he  took  his 
Journey,  with  his  Family,  for  London-,  the 
Streets  as  he  paffed  along  being  filled  with 
People  of  all  Sorts,  who  bid  him  Farewel,  with 
loud  Prayers  and  Cries  for  his  Welfare. 

§  12.  When  he  came  ro  London,  he  found 
Three  Ships  ready  to  fail  for  New  England, 
with  Two  more,  that  were  in  a  Month's  Time, 
to  follow  after  them  :  Filled  with  Godly  and 
Honeft  Paffengers,  among  whom  there  were 
Two  other  Non- Conform/ft  Ministers.  They  fet 
fail  from  the  ISle  of  Wight,  about  the  firft  of 
May,  1629.  and  when  they  came  to  the  Land's 
End,  Mr.  Higginfon  calling  up  his  Children, 
and  other  Paffengers  unto  the  Stern  of  the  Ship, 
to  take  their  la  It  Sight  of  England.  He  laid, 
We  will  not  fay  at  the  Scparatijls  were  wont  to 
fay  at  their  leaving  of  England,  Farewel  Baby' 
Ion!  Farewel  Rome!  But  we  will  Jay,  Farewel 
Dear  England !  Farewel  the  Church  of  God  in 
England,  and  all  the  Christian  Friends  there ! 
We  do  not  go  to  New-England  as  Scparatijls 
from  the  Church  of  England  ;  though  we  cannot 
but  J epar ate  from  the  Corruptions  in  it :  But  ivff 
go  to  prallife  the  pofitroe  Part  of  Church  Refor- 
mation, and  propagate  the  Go/pel  in  America. 
And  to  he  concluded  with  a  fervent  Prayer  for 
the  King,  and  Church,  and  State,  in  England; 
and  for  the  Pretence  and  Bleffing  of  God  with 
themielves,  in  their  prefent  Undertaking  for 
New  England.  At  length  by  the  Good  Hand 
of  God  upon  them,  they  arrived,  after  a  com- 
fortable PaSTage,  unto  Salem  Harbour  on  the 
Twenty  fourth  of  June  enfuing. 

§  15.  Mr.  Higginfon  being  in  this  Voyage 
affociated  with  Mr.  Skelton,  a  Minister  of  the 
like  Principles  with  himfelf,  they  were  no  Soo- 
ner got  on  Shore,  but  they  like  wife  affociated 
in  purfuing  their  Principles  and  Intentions  of 
Religion,  which  were  the  end  of  their  coming 
hither.  Accordingly,  laying  before  the  chief 
of  the  People  their  Defires,  and  their  Defigns 
of  fettling  a  Reformed  Congregation  in  the  Place, 
after  a  frequent  Converle  about  the  Methods 
of  it,  they  came  unto  a  hearty  Concurrence, 
to  take  a  Day  in  the  following  Augufl  for  it. 
In  order  hereunto  Mr;  Higginfon  drew  up  a 
Co/if  effion  cf  Faith  with  a  Scriptural  Represen- 
tation of  the  Covenant  of  Grace  applied  unto 
their  prefent  purpofe,  whereof  Thirty  Copies 
were  taken  for  the  Thirty  Perfons,  which  were 
to  begin  the  Working  of  Gathering  the  Church. . 
The  Day  was  kept  as  a  Faji ;    wherein,  alter 

the 


Book  III.      The  Hiftory  tf  New-England. 


75 


the  Prayers  and  Sermons  of  the  Two  Minifters, 
thefe  Thirty  Terfons  did  folemnly  and  feverally 
profefs  their  Confent  unto  the   Confeflion  and 
Covenant  then  read  unto  them  ;  and  they  pro- 
ceed then  to  ehufe  Mr.  Skelton,  Mr.  Higginfon 
their  Teachers,  and  one  Mr.  Houghton,  for  a 
Ruling   Elder.     And  after   this,   many   others 
joined  unto   the  Church,  thus  gathered  ;  but 
none  were  admitted,  of  whole  good  Converfation 
in  Cbrift,  there  was   not  a  Satisfactory  Tefti- 
monv.     By  the  fame  Token,  that  at  this  Firft 
Church-Gathering,  there  fell  out  a  Remarkable 
Matter  which  is  now  to  be  Related.    At  a  time 
when  the  Church  was  to  be  gathered  at  Salem, 
there  was  about  30  Miles  to  the  Southward  of 
that  place,  a  Plantation  of  Rude,  Lewd,  Mad, 
Englijh  People,  who  did  propofe  to  themfelves 
.1  Gainful  Trade  with  the  Indians,  but  quickly 
came  to  nothing.     A  Young  Gentleman  belong- 
ing to  that   Plantation  being  at  Salem,  on  the 
Day    when  the  Church  was  gathered,  was  at 
what   he   faw  and   heard,  fo  deeply  afFe£ted, 
that  he   Hood    up  expreffing  with  much  Affe- 
ction, hisdefire  to  be  admitted  into  their  Num- 
ber, which  when  they  demurred  about,  he  de- 
fired  that  they   would  at  leaft  admit  him  to 
make  his  Profeflion  before  them.     When  they 
allow'd  this,  heexprelTed  himfelffo  agreeably, 
and    with   lb   much   Ingenuity^  and  Simplicity, 
that  they  were  extreamly  pleafed  with  it ;  and 
the  Minifters  told  him,  That  they  highly  ap- 
proved of  his  ProfcJJion,  but  inafmuch  as  he 
was  a  Stranger  to  them,  they  could  not  Re 
ceive  him  into  their  Communion,  until  they 
had  a  further  Acquaintance  with  his  Converfa- 
tion.    However,  iuch  was  the  Hold  which  the 
Grace  of  God  now  took  of  him,  that  he  became 
an  Eminent  Chriftian,  and  a  Worthy  and  Ufe 
ful  Perfon,  and  not  only  afterwards  joined  unto 
the  Church  of  Boflon,  but  alio  made  a  great  Fi- 
gure in    the  Commonwealth  of  New  England,  as 
the,  Major-General  of  all  the  Forces  in  the  Co- 
lony •,  it  was  Major-General  Gibbons. 

§  14.  The  Church  oi' Salem  now  being  fettled, 
they   enjoyed   many  Smiles  -of  Heaven  upon 
them  •,  and  yet  there  were   many  things,  that 
lookt   like  t'roivns  :  For,  they  were  exerciled 
with  many  Difficulties,  and  almoft  an  Hundred 
of  good  People  died  the  Firlt  Winter  of  their 
being  here-,  among  whom  was  Mr.  Houghton, 
an  Elder  of  the  Church.     Mr.  Higginfon  alio 
fell  into  an  He£tic-Fever,  which  much  difabled 
him  for  the  Work  of  his  Miniltry  ;  and  the  laji 
Sermon  under  the  Incurable  Growth  of  this  Ma- 
lady upon  him,  was  upon  the  Arrival  of  many 
Gentlemen,  and  fome  Hundreds  of  PaflTengers 
to  Keiv-England,  in  the  beginning  of  the  en- 
fuing  Summer.     He  then  preached  on.  thofe 
Words  of  our  Saviour,  Matth.  it.  7.    What 
went  yen  out  into  the  IVildernefs  to  fee  *  From 
whence,  he  minded    the  People  of  the  Dcfign, 
whereupon  this  Plantation  was  ere&ed,  name 
ly,  Religion  :    And  of  the  Streights,  Wants, 
and  various  Trials,  which  in  a  IVildernefs  they 
mult  look  to  meet  withal  ;  and  of  the   need 
which  there  was  for  them  to  evidence  the  Up- 


rightnrfs  of  their   Hearts,  in   the  end  of  their 
coming  hither.     After   this,  he  was  confined 
unto  his  Bed,  and  vifited  by  the  chief  Perfons 
of  the  New-Colony,  who  much  bemoaned  their 
Lofs  of  lb  ufeful  a  Perfon,  but  "comforted  him 
with  the  Gonfideration  of  his  Faithfulneis  to 
the  Lord  Jefus,  in   his  former  Sufferings  and 
Services,  and  the  Honour  which  the  Lord  had 
granted  him,  to  begin  a  Work  oi'Churcb-Rcforma- 
tion,  in  America.     He  replied,  /  have  been  but  an 
Unprofitable  Servant ;  and  all  my   own   Doings 
I  count  but   Lofs  and  Dung  :  All  my  Defirc  is 
to  win  Chrifi,  and  be  found  in  him,  not  having 
my  own  Right eoufnej 's !  And  he  feveral   times 
declared,  That  though  the  Lord  called  him  away, 
he  was  perf waded  God  would  raife  up  others,  to 
carry  on    the   Work  that  was   begun,  and  that 
there  would  yet  be  many  Churches  of  the  Lord 
Jefus  Cbrift  in  this  Wilder  nejs.     He  likewife 
added,  That  though  he  Jliould  leave  his  Defolate 
Wife  and  Eight  Children,  whereof  the  El  deft  but 
about  fourteen    Tears  old,  in   a  low  Condition, 
yet  he  left  them   with  his  God,  and  he  doubted 
not  but  the  faithful  God  would  gracioufly  pro- 
vide jor  them.     So,  in  the  midlt  of  many  Pray- 
ers, he  fell  afleep  ;  as  in  the  Month  oi'AuguJf, 


1630.  and  in  the  Forty  Third  Year  of  his  Age., 
and  his  Funeral  was  attended  with  all  poffible 
Solemnity. 

§  15.  Reader,  Prepare  to  behold  and  admire 
and  adore  the  Faithfulnefs  of  our  God,  in  pro- 
viding for  the  Children  of  them,  that  faithfully 
have  lerved  him.  He  moved  the  Hearts  of  ma- 
ny Charitable  Chriftians,  who  yet  were  fpend- 
ing  on  the  Stocks,  which  they  brought  out  of 
England  with  them,  to  provide  as  comfortably 
for  the  Widow  and  OfFfpring  of  this  deceafed 
Minifier,  as  if  he  had  left  them  fome  Thou- 
fands  of  Pounds.  And  his  two  Sons,  who  had 
been  brought  up  at  the  Grammar-School  in  Lci- 
cefter,  had  a  particular  Talt  of  this  Liberality, 
in  the  Provifion  which  was  thus  made  for  their 
having  fuch  a  Learned  Education,  as  might  fit 
them  for  the  Service  of  the  Church  in  the  Mi- 
niltry of  the  Gofpel. 

One  of  thefe,  brands  by  Name,  was  for  a 
Time  a  Schoolmafter  at  our  Cambridge  -,  but  ha- 
ving attained  as  much  Learning  as  A'ew  England 
could  rhen  afford,  he  wasdefirous  to  vifit  fome 
European  Univeifity  -,  and  being  recommended 
unto  Roterdam,  fome  Dutch  Merchants,  out  of 
refpett  unto  an  hopeful  Scholar  of  AVw  England, 
contributed  Fourfcore  Pounds  in  Money  to  aflift 
his  Juvenile  Studies  at  Lcyden.  Afterwards 
having  vifited  fome  other  Qniverfities  in  thofe 
Parts,  he  returned  into  England  -,  where  he  de- 
clined a  Settlement  in  fome  other,  which  he 
thought  more  Opinionative,  and  fo  more  Con- 
tentious and  Undeiireable  Places,  to  which  he 
was  invited,  and  fettled  at  Kerby  Steven  in  Weft- 
mor eland,  hoping  to  do  molt  good  among  the 
ignorant  People  there.  But  it  pleafed  the  God 
of  Heaven  to  permit  the  firft  out-breaking  of 
that  Prodigious  and  Comprehenfive  Herefy  ^/ea- 
kerifm  in  that  very  place  j  and  a  Multitude  of 
People  being  bewitched  thereinto,  it  was  a  grear, 

Affli&tdn 


16 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.       Book  Iii. 


Aniiclion  unto  this  worthy  Man;  but  k  occa- 
Eon'd  his  writing  the  firft  Book  that  ever  was 
written  againft  that  Sink  of  Blafphemies,  En- 
tituted,  The  lrreligion  of  Northern  ^takers. 
This  Learned  Peribn  was  the  Author  of  a  La- 
tin Ticatiic,  De  <juinq,  maximk  Luminibus  ; 
De  Luce  Incrcata  3  De  Luce  creata  ;  De  Lu 
mine  Nat ura,  Gratis  W  Gloria  ;  and  Having 
Illuminated  the  Hotife  of  God  in  that  part  ot 
it,  where  our  Lord  had  fet  him  to  JJjine,  he 
went  away  to  the  Light  of 'Glory,  in  the  Fifty 
Filth  Year  of  his  Age. 

The  other  named  John,  has  been  on  fome  Lau- 
dable Accounts  another  Or/gen  ;  for  the  Father 
oi'Ongen  would  kifs  the  uncovered  Breaft  of  that 
Excellent  Youth,  whilfl  he  lay  alleep,  as  being  the 
Temple  where  the  Spirit  of  God  was  refident, 
and  as  Origen,  after  the  untimely  Death  of  his 
Father,  had  his  poor  Mother  with  Six  other 
Children  to  look  after ;  whereupon  he  taught 
hill  a  Grammar-School,  and  then  betook  himlclf 
unto  the  Study  of  Divinity  •,  thus  this  other 
Higginfon  alter  a  pious  Childhood,  having  been 
a  School  Mafter  at  Hartford,  and  a  Minilter  at 
Say  brook,  and  afterwards  at  Guilford,  became 
at' length  in  the  Year  11559.  a  Pallor,  and  a  rich 
and  long  Blc/Jing,  fucceeding  his  Father  in  his 
Church  at  Salem.  This  Reverend  Perfon  has 
been  always  valued  for  his  ufeful  Preaching, 
and  his  holy  'Living  ;  and  befides  his  conftant 
Labours  in  the  Pulpit,  whereby  his  own  Flock 
has  been  edified  -,  the  whole  Country  has,  by 
the  Prefs,  enjoyed  fome  of  his  Compofures, 
and  by  his  Hand,  the  Compofures  of  fome 
others  alfo,  parting  the  Prefs,  have  been  accom- 
panied. Having  formerly  born  his  Teftimony 
to,  The  Cauje  of  God,  and  his  People  in  New- 
England,  in  a  Sermon  fo  entituled,  which  he 
preached  on  the  greateft  Anniverfary  Solemnity, 
which  occurfd  in  the  Land,  namely,  the  Anni- 
verfary  Elellwn ;  when  he  thought,  that  the 
Advances  of  Old  Age  upon  him  directed  him 
to  live  in  the  hourly  Expectation  of  Death,  he 
published  a  mod  Savoury  Book,  on  Our  Dy- 
ing Saviour's  Legacy  of  Peace  to  bis  Difciples 
in  a  Troublefome  World  ;  with  a  Difcourfe  on 
the  Duty  of  Chriftians,  to  be  Witneffes  unto 
Chrifl ;  unto  which  is  added,  fome  Help  to  Self- 
Examination. 

Neverthelefs,  this  true  Simeon  is  yet  Wait- 
ing for  the  Confolation  of  Ifrae/,  This  Good 
Old  Man  is  yet  alive  ;  (in  the  Year  1696.)  arri- 
ved unto  the  Eightieth  Year  of  his  Devout  Age, 


and  about  the  Sixtieth  Year  of  his  Publick 
Work,  and  he,  that  from  a  Child  knew  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  does  at  thofe  Years  wherein 
Men  ufc  to  be  Twice  Children,  continue  preach- 
ing them  with  fuch  a  manly,  pertinent,  judi- 
cious Vigour,  and  with  fo  little  Decay  of  his 
Intellectual  Abilities,  as  is  indeed  a  Matter  of 
Jult  Admiration.  But  there  was  a  famous  Di- 
vine in  Germany,  who  on  his  Death  bed  when 
fome  of  his  Friends  took  Occafion  to  commend 
his  pair  painful,  faithful,  and  fruitful  Mini- 
ftry,  cried  out  unto  them  \_Auferte  Ignem  adhuc 
enim  puleus  babeo!]  Oh  !  bring  not  the  Sparks 
aj  your  Praijcs  near  vie,  as  long  at  I  have  any 
Chaff  left  in  me  I  And  I  am  fenfible  that  I  fhall 
receive  the  like  Check  from  this  my  Reverend 
Father,  if  1  prefume  to  do  him  the  Juflice 
which  a  few  Months  hence  will  be  done  him' 
iia  all  the  Churches ;  nor  would  I  deferve  at 
his  Hands,  the  Blow  which  Conftant  me  gave  to 
him,  who  Imperatorem  aufus  eft,  in  Os  Beatum 
dicere. 

§  16.  At  the  fame  time,  that  Mr.  Francis 
Higginfon  was  perfecuted  for  his  Non-Confor- 
mity in  Lcicefter-fhire,  there  was  one  Mr.  Sa- 
muel Skelton,  who  underwent  the  like  Perfe- 
ction in  Lincolnfhirc  -,  and  by  means  hereof 
they  became  Fellow-Travellers  in  their  Voyage 
to  NewEngland,  and  Fallow-Labourers  in  their 
Service  here.  All  the  Remembrance  that  I  can 
recover  of  this  Worthy  Man  is,  that  he  furviv'd 
his  Colleague,  a  Good  and  Faithful  Servant  of  our 
Lord,  well  doing,  until  Aug.  2.  163^.  and  re- 
tired from  an  Evil  World,  then  to  partake 
with  him  in  the  Joy  of  their  Lord. 


Fpitaphium. 

Jacet  fub  hoc  Tutfiulo,  Mortuus, 

Franciscus  Higginsonus: 

Jacet 'd  &  fyfa  Virtus,  ft  mori  poffet. 

Abi  Viator. 
Et  fis  bujHs  Ordinis  Francifcacrjs. 


CHAP. 


Book7fr~~~T^  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


77 


CHAP.     II. 
The   DEATH  of  Mr.    JOHN  AVERY. 


TH  E  Divine  Oracles  have  told  us,  That  the 
judgments  of  God  are  a  Great  Deep  :  And 
indeed  it  is  in  the  Deep,  that  we  have  feen 
lbme  of"  thofe  Judgments  executed. 

It  has  been  Remarked,  that  there  mifcarried 
but  One  Vejfel  of  all  thofe  Great  Fleets  which 
brought  Paffengers  unto  New-England  upon  the 
Pious  and  Holy  Defigns  of  the  Firft  Settle- 
ment ;  which  Veffel  alfo  was  but  a  Pinnace  -, 
neverthelefs  richly  laden,  as  having  in  it  Mr. 
Avery. 

Mr.  Avery,  a  Worthy  Minifter,  coming  into 
New  England,  was  invited  unto  Marble  head; 
but  there  being  no  Church  there,  and  the  Fijlier- 
men  being  there  generally  too  remiis  to  form  a 
Church,  he  went  rather  to  Newberry,  intending 
there  to  fettle. 

Neverthelefs,  both  the  Magiff  rates  and  the 
Minifters  of  the  Country  urging  the  Common 
Good,  that  would  arife  from  his  being  at 
Marble-head,  he  embarked  in  a  Pinnace,  with 
Two  Families,  his  own  and  his  Coufin  Mr.  An- 
thony Thacher's,  which,  with  fome  others  then 
aboard,  made  in  all  Twenty  Three  Souls  -,  de- 
iigning  in  a  few  Hours  to  have  reached  the 
Port. 

But  on  Auguft  14.  1635.  in  the  Night,  there 
came  on  as  mighty  a  Storm  as  perhaps  was 
ever  known  in  thefe  Parts  of  the  Wotld  •,  a 
Storm  which  drove  the  Veffel  upon  a  Rock, 
and  fo  tore  it,  that  the  poor  People  fat  pre- 
fently  up  to  the  middle  in  Water,  expecting 
every  moment  the  Waves  of  Death  to  be  roll- 
ing over  them. 

The  VefTel  was  quickly  broken  all  to  pieces, 
and  almoft  the  whole  Company  drowned,  by 
being  fucceffively  wafted  off  the  Rock  -,  only 
Mr.  Thacher,  having  been  a  confiderable  while 
toffed  hither  and  thither,  by  the  Violent  Seas, 
was  at  laft  very  ffrangely  caff  alive  upon  the 
Shore;  where  much  wounded,  he  found  his 
Wife  a  Sharer  with  him  in  the  like  Delive- 
rance. 

While  thefe  diffreffed  Servants  of  God  were 
hanging  about  the  Rock,  and  Mr.  Thacher  had 
Mr.  Avery  by  the  Hand,  refolvifig  to  die  toge- 
ther, and  expe&i^g  by  the  Stroke  of  the  next 
Wave  to  die,  Mr.  Avery  lift  up  his  Eyes  to 
Heaven,  faying.  We  know  not  what  the  Pleafure 
of  God  is  -,  I  fear  we  have  been  too  unmindful  of 
former  Deliverances  :  Lord,  I  cannot  challenge 
a  Promife  of  ibe  Prcfervation  of  my  Life  ;  but 
thou  hafl  prom/fed  to  deliver  us  from  Sin  and 
Condemnation,  and  to  bring  us  fafe  to  Heaven, 
through  the  Allfufficient  SatisfaBion  of  Jefus 
Chriji  ;  this  therefore  I  do  challenge  of  thee. 
Which  he  had  no  fooner  fpoken,  but  he  was  by 
a  Wave  fweeping  him  off,  immediately  wafted 


away  to  Heaven  indeed  :  being  well  furnilhed 
with  thofe  unperifhable  Things  :  Whereto  re 
fers  the  Advice  of  the  famous  Duke  of  Ba- 
varia, Hujufmodi  comparand*  funt  opes,  qux  no- 
bifcum  poffunt  fimul  evatare  in  Naufragio. 

The  next  Ifland  was  therefore  called  Thacher \ 
Woe,  and  that  Rock  Avery's  Fall. 

Who  can  without  fhedding  Tears,  almcft  e- 
nough  to  make  a  fenfible  Addition  unto  the 
Lake  Leman,  call  to  mind  the  Fate  of  the  in- 
comparable liottinger,  upon  that  Lake,  in  the 
Year  1667  ?  That  incomparably  Learned  and 
Godly  Man,  being  by  the  States  General  of  the 
United  Provinces,  after  much  Importunity,  pre- 
vailed withal,  to  come  unto  Leyden,  the  Boat 
wherein  he  was,  with  his  Wife  and  three  Chil- 
dren, and  a  Kinfman,  and  another  Perfon  of 
Quality,  unhappily  overfet,  by  ffriking  on  an 
unfeen  Rock,  a  little  way  off  the  Shoar.  He, 
with  the  two  Gentlemen,  got  fafe  out  of  the 
Water  -,  but  feeing  his  Wife,  and  Three  Chil- 
dren, in  extream  Danger  of  Drowning,  they 
went  into  the  Water  again  to  fave  them,  and 
there  he,  with  one  of  the  Gentlemen,  fand  his 
three  Children)  were  drowned  themfelves.  But 
eight  Days  before  this  lamentable  Accident,  he 
found  this  Verfe  written  on  the  Dotfor's  Chair, 
at  his  afcending  it  for  the  Publick  Exercifes  •, 
whereof  the  Writer  could  never  be  found : 

Carmina  jam  Moriens,   Canit  Exequialia  Cy- 
gnus. 

Reader,  From  liottinger,  now  return  to  Ave- 
ry. Compare  the  manner  of  their  Death  5  and 
never  forget  the  memorable  Swan-Song,  which 
Avery  not  eight  Days,  but  fcarce  eight  Seconds 
of  a  Minute,  before  his  Expiration,  fang  in  the 
Ears  of  Heaven. 

What  was  applied  once  to  hottinger,  fhall 
now  be  borrowed  for  Avery,  as  an 


Epitaphiwn. 


Virtutem  quis  non  pofi  Te  fecletttr  eitndo, 
Virtutem  quandb  gloria,  tanta  manet. 

And  add, 


•Ttttnm  tenet  Anchora  porUwi, 


Nunc  Hilaris  Ventos  ridet,    TntnidafoHe 
proctllas. 

CHAP. 


78 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 


CHAP.     III. 

Nam  ad  Exemplar.    The  L  I  F  E  of  Mr.  JONATHAN   BVRR. 

Exeaplo  monfrante  Viam. 


§  i.  "\T7~Hen  the  Interefts  of  D^u/V  were  car  - 
VV  ried  into  a  Wilder -fiefs,  the  Refpe&s 
and  Regards  by  his  Jonathan,  had  thereunto 
were  fuch,  that  he  at  latt  uttered  this  Exclama- 
tion thereupon,  Thy  Love  to  me  xoat  wonderful ! 
The  Intereits  of  our  Jefus,  the  true  David,  be- 
ing lodged  very  much  in  an  American  Wilder- 
nels,  there  was  a  Jonathan,  whofe  hove  there- 
unto was  indeed  fo  wonderful,  that  it  carried 
him  through  the  many  Waters  of  the  Atlantic 
Ocean,  to  be  ferviceal.le  thereunto  -,  and  this  was 
Mr.  Jonathan  Burr. 

§  2.  He  was  horn  ar  Redgrave,  in  Suffolk,  a- 
bout  the  Year  1604  -,  defcended  of  Godly  Pa- 
rents, who  gratified  the  Inclinations  of  this  their 
Son,  with  a  Learned  Education.  But  altho' 
Literature  did  much  adorn  his  Childhood,  Re 
iigion  did  fo  much  more  ;  for  he  had  from  a 
Child  known  the  Holy  Scriptures,  which  made 
him  ivife  unto  Salvation.  It  is  noted,  that  the 
Rod  oi  Aaron  was  made  of  an  Almond-Tree  -,  of 
which  'twill  be  no  Piinyifm  to  obferve  (tho'P// 
ny  obferve  it),  that  it  flowers  the  firft  of  all 
Trees,  even  in  January,  in  the  more  Southern 
Countries,  and  bears  in  Mar ch  ;  which  has  been 
fometimes  employ'd  as  an  Intimation,  how 
quickly  thofe  that  are  defigned  for  the  Minillry, 
fhould  BlolJom  towards  Heaven,  and  be  young 
Jeremiahs,  and  Johns,  and  Timothies.  Thus  did 
our  Jonathan.  Even  in  his  very  Childhood,  fo 
Jiudious  he  was,  as  to  leave  his  Food  for  his 
Book,  but  withal  fo  pious,  that  he  could  neither 
Morning  nor  Evening  dare  to  go  without  Pray- 
ers to  God  for  his  Blefling.  And  as  it  was  his 
endeavour,  whilft  a  School-boy,  to  be  every  Day 
in  the  Fear  of  the  Lord,  fo  he  would  on  the 
Lord's  Day  diicover  a  lingular  Meafure  of  that 
Fear  ;  not  only  by  abfhiining  from  the  Liberties 
which  others  of  his  Age  then  ufe  to  take,  xopafs 
the  time  away,  but  alfo  by  devoting  the  time  to 
the  Exercifes  of  Devotion.  His  Father,  obfer 
ving  this  Difpofition  of  the  Child,  hoped,  as  well 
he  might,  that  whatever  was  expended  in  fit-' 
ting  him  for  Service,  would  be  well  repaid,  in 
the  Service  which  might  be  done  by  him  for  the 
Church  of  God  •,  and  therefore  after  due  Pre- 
parations for  ir,  he  fent  him  unto  the  Univer- 
sity. 

§  3.  After  he  had  fpent  three  or  four  Years 
in  Academical  Studies,  the  Death  of  his  Father 
fetch'd  him  fooner  than  he  would  have  gone, 
into  the  Country-,  where,  tho' he  kept  a  School, 
yet  he  purfued  theDefign  of  accomplifhing  him- 
felf  with  every  part  of  Learning,  that  when 
thofe  of  his  Years  were  to  take  their  Degrees  of 
Majlerfhip,  he  was  one  of  the  Moderators,  which 
place  he  difcharged  with  great  Acceptation.  But 


he  afterwards  would  fay,  That  the  awful  and 
humbling  Providence  of  God,  in  the  Death  of 
his  Father,  which  hindred  him  from  thofe  Em- 
ployments  and  Prelerments  in  the  Univerfty, 
for  which  he  had  a  particular  Fondnefs,  had  arl 
erfe£l  upon  him,  for  which  he  had  Reafon  to 
admire  the  Wifdom  or  Heaven  -,  inafmuch  as  it 
reduced  him  to  that  modelt,  gracious,  careful 
Frame,  which  made  him  the  filter  for  the  Work 
of  turning,  many  to  Righteoufnefs. 

§  4.  Having  for  a  while  attended  that  Work 
at  Hor ninger,  near  Bury  in  Suffolk,  he  after- 
wards undertook  the  Charge  of  Recking Jhal,  in 
the  fame  County,  wherein  he  did  molt  exem- 
plarily  exprefs  the  Spirit  of  a  Minifter  of  the 
New  Tefiament.  He  would  therein  be  fome- 
times ready  to  envy  the  more  eafie  Condition  of 
the  Husbandmen ;  but  in  Submiflion  and  Ohg. 
dience  unto  the  Call  of  God,  he  now  fet  his 
Hand  unto  the  Plough  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrilt  : 
And  therefore  in  the  Form  of  a  Solemn  Covenant 
he  obliged  himfelf  unto  the  moil  Con fcient ions 
Difcharge  of  his  Miniflerial  Duties  ;  in  which 
Difcharge  he  would  always  beg  of  God,  that 
whatever  Exhortation  he  gave  unto  others 
might  firft  be  fhaped  in  his  own  Experience  : 
And  yet  fometimes  he  would  complain  unto  his 
Friends  :  Alas,  I  preach  not  what  lam,  but  what 
1  ought  to  be. 

^  f.  This  gracious  Man,  was  indeed  a  very 
humble  Man,  and  his  Humility  carried  him  even 
into  a  Dejetlion  of  Spirit ;  efpecially  when  by 
Importunities  he  had  been  prevailed  upon  to 
preach  abroad.  Once  particularly,  there  was  a 
Perfon  of  Quality,  for  whofe  Converfion  many 
Prayers  had  been  put  up  to  God,  by  thofe  who 
hoped  that  God  might  have  much  Honour  from 
a  Man  of  Honour  brought  unto  himfelf.  Mr, 
Burr  preaching  at  a  place,  far  from  his  own 
Congregation,  had  a  molt  happy  Succels  in  the 
Converfion  of  this  Gentleman,  who  not  only 
acknowledged  this  Change,  with  much  Thank, 
fulnefs,  both^oGod,  and  the  Inftrument  \  but 
alfo  approved?  himfelf  a  changed  Man,  in  the 
whole  Frame  of  his  After-Converfation.  Ana  yet 
coming  home,  from  the  Preaching  of  that  Ser« 
mon,  Mr.  Burr  had  a  particular  Meafure  of 
his  lowly  and  model!  Reflections  thereupon  5 
adding,  /  Jhall  conclude,  it  is  of  God,  if  any 
Good  be  done  by  any  thing  preached  by  fuch  aft 
Unworthy  Inftrument. 

kj  6.  Hence  on  the  Lord^s  Day,  after  he  cams 
home  from  his  publick  Work,  it  was  his  man- 
ner prefently  to  Retire,  and  fpend  fome  time 
in  praying  to  God,  for  the  pardon  of  the  Sins, 
which  accompanied  him  in  his  Work,  and  in 
praifing  of  God,  for  enabling  him  to  go,  in 

any 


Book  Hi.      The  Hijlovy  of  New-England. 


19 


with  Petitions  for  the 


samiUr 


any  meafure,  through  it 
good  Succefs  of  his  Labours, 

He  then  would  come  down  to  his  E 
Worfhip,  wherein  he  fpent  fome  Hours  intrud- 
ing of  the  Family^  and  performing  of  other  Du- 
ties: And  when  his  Wife  defired  him  to  abate 
of  his  exceflive  Pains,  his  Anfwer  would  be,  "Its 
better  to  be  worn  out  with  Work,  than  to  be  eaten 
out  with  Ruft.  It  was  indeed  his  Joy,  to  be 
fpending  his  Life  unto  the  uttermoft  for  God, 
and  for  his  People  ;  yea,  he  would  fay,  tho'  he 
fhould  have  no  Temporal  Rewards.  Accordingly, 
when  any  that  had  been  benefited  by  his  Mini- 
ftry,  fent  him  any  Tokens  of  theii  Gratitude,  he 
would  ( like  Luther)  beg  of  God,  That  he  might 
not  have  his  Portion  infuch  things  :  And  he  de- 
fired  of  his  grateful  Friends,  That  if  they  had 
gotten  any  good  oj  him,  they  would  give  unto  God 
alone  the  Glory  of  it.  Moreover,  if  he  had  un- 
derstood, that  any  had  gained  in  the  Concern 
of  rheir  Souls,  by  his  Labours,  he  would  men- 
tion it,  in  fome  of  his  privater  Devotions,  with 
this  Expreflion,  Lord,  of  thine  own  have  I  given, 
take  then  the  Glory  unto  thy  f elf :  As  for  me,  let 
my  Portion  be  in  thy  J elf,  and  not  in  the  Things 
of  this  World.  But  when  he  was  debarred  of  his 
Liberty  to  preach,  he  was  even  like  a  Fiji)  out 
of  the  Water  -,  and  his  very  Body  languifhed 
through  a  Sympathy,  with  the  Refenrments  of 
his  Mind  ;  faying,  That  his  Preaching  wat  his 
Life  ;  and  if  he  were  laid  afide  from  that,  he 
fhould  quickly  be  dead. 

§7.  It  was  not  on  the  Lord's  Day  only,  but 
every  Day,   that  this  good  Man  was  ufually  , 
In  the  Fear  of  the  Lord  all  the  Day  long.     He 
might  fay  with  the  Pfalmift,  When  I  awake,  1 
am  fill  with  God  :    For  at  his  firft  awaking,  he 
would  biefs  God  for  the  Mercies  of  the  Night, 
and  then  pray,  That  he  might  Jo  number  his  Days, 
of  to  apply  his  Heart  to  Wifdom  :  And  if  he  a- 
waked  in  the  Night,  it  would  commonly .  be 
with  fome  Thankfgivings  unto  Heaven.    Rifing 
in  the  Morning,  he  would  repair  to  his  beloved 
Study,  where  he  began  the  Day  with  Secret 
Prayer  before  the  Lord  :   After  this  he  would 
read  a  Chapter  in  the  Old  Tefiament^  fpending 
fome  time  in  Serious  and  Solemn,  and  Heart- 
fearching  Meditations  thereupon  ;    He  would 
then  come  down  into  his  Family  ■,  where,  with 
his  Frayers,  he  would  then  Read  and  Expound^ 
and  apply  the  fame  Chapter  unto  his  own  Folks, 
and  fuch  of  the  Neighbours  as  would  come  in, 
to  enjoy  his  Meditations,  at  the  ufual  Seafon  of 
them.     Retiring  then  to  his  Study  again,   he 
would  continue  there,  till  called  urato  his  Din- 
ner -,  and  if  none  came  to  fpeak-with  him  after 
Dinner,  he  would,  after  fome  Diverfion  for  a 
while  with  his  Children,  return  to  his  Study, 
where  he  would  then  have  a  time  to  pray  with 
his  Wife :  But  if  at  any  time  he  were  invited 
unto  a  Dinner  abroad,  he  would  have  a  time 
for  that  Service  in  the  Forenoon,  before  his  go- 
ing out. 

As  the  Evening  drew  on,  after  the  like  man- 
ner, he  would  read  a  Chapter  in  the  New  TV- 


fleclions,  with  his  Prayer  upon  it.  And  before 
his  going  to  Bed,  he  ufually  walked  up  and 
down  the  Room,  for  half  an  Hour,  or  more, 
pondering  upon  fomething,  which  his  Wife  de- 
firing  to  know,  What  it  woj  ?  He  replied,  See- 
ing thou  art  fo  near  me,  if  it  may  do  thee  good, 
Pll  tell  thee:  Firft,  He  laid,  he  called  himfelf 
unto  an  Account,  How  he  had  fpent  the  Day  ? 
And  what  finful  Commiffwns,  or  Omijfwns,  he 
had  been  overtaken  with  -,  for  which,  he  then, 
begg'd  Pardon  of  God. .  Secondly,  He  reckoned 
up  the  particular  Mercies  he  had  received  in  the 
Day,  rendring  of  Praifes  to  Heaven  for  thofe 
Mercies.  Laftly,  He  made  his  Petitions  to  God, 
that  he  might  be  prepared  for  Judden  Death : 
Unto  which  ,  Third  Article  in  his  Thoughts, 
that  which  gave  more  fpecial  Uccafion  was,  the 
fudden  Death  of  his  Brother,  an  eminent  and  ex- 
cellent Cbriftian,  whom,  hefaid,  he  could  never 
forget. 

kj  8.  When  he  travelled  abroad,  he  though: 
long  to  be  at  home,  again,  through  his  Diflatif- 
facliion  at  his  not  having  elfewhere,  fb  conveni- 
ent Seafons  for  his  Communion  with  God.  And 
when  he  took  any  Journeys  with  his  Friends,  it 
was  his  manner  to  enquire,  What  Good  had  beer. 
done,  or  gained  therein  ?  And  what  good  Exam- 
ples had  been  fee  n  I  And  what  good  Infractions 
had  been  heard?  And  that  there  might  be  no 
lofs  of  time  in  the  Journeys,  he  would  be  full  of 
prof  table  Difcourje,  efpecially  by  way  of  Occa- 
fwnal  Reflecliont  upon  things  that  then  occurr'd 
unto  Observation.     What  he  was  in  a  Journey, 


the  fame  he  was  at  theTable  ;  even  like  the  Fire, 
(what  was  once  writ  of  Athenodorus)  'E&T-mv 
mv%  W  ■mfynelfitm.  So  that  they  who  would 
bear  no  part  in  a  gracious  Communication,  would 
be  dumb,  whereever  he  came^  and  fome  of  the 
rougheft  and  rudeft  Hearers,  would  have  Tears 
fetched  from  their  Eyes,  at  the  Soul  melting 
Exprefiions  that  palTed  from  his  Mouth.  More- 
over, at  a  Feafl  he  would  eat  more  fparingly 
than  at  another  time,  giving  us  his  Reafon  for 
his  Temperance,  the  Advice  of  the  Wife  Man  : 
Put  a  Knife  to  thy  Throat :  And  he  would  lay, 
Where  there  are  many  Varieties,  there  are  many 
Temptations. 

§  p.  It  was  his  wont,  before  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per, to  keep  a  Day  of  folemn  Fafting  and  Prayer 
alone,  with  his  Wife,  as  well  to  prepare  them- 
felves  for  that  Sacred  Ordinance  ;  as  to  obtain 
the  manifold  Bleflings  of  Heaven  upon  his  Fa- 
mily and  Neighbourhood.  Such  was  his  Piety 
And  as  for  his  Charity,  he  feldom  vifited  the 
Poor,  but  with  Spirituals,  he  communicated  al- 
io Temporals  unto  them  :  For  which,  when 
fome  oi  his  Friends  intimated,  that  he  might 
err,  in  referving  no  more  far  himfelf,  he  would 
anfwer,  I  often  think  of  thofe  Words,  He  that 
foweth  fparingly,  flhill  reap  fparingly.  It  was 
alfo  remarkable,  to  fee  how  much  his  own  Per- 
fonal  Joys,  and  Griefs,  were  fallowed  up  in 
the  Simpathy  which  he  had,  with  the  Condition 
of  the  whole  Church  abroad :  When  he  heard 
it  was  well  with  the  Church,    he  would  fay, 


fiament,  making  his  Family  Partakers  of  his  Re-  Bleffed  be  God,  that  it  goes  well  with  them,  what- 

L  1  I  ever 


8o 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.       Book  II  j. 


ever  becomes  of  me  !  But  if  /'//,  none  of  his  own 
private  Profperity  kept  him  from  feeling  it,  as 
a  true  Member  of  that  Myftical  Body.  Finally, 
All  the  Graces  which  thus  rendred  him  amiable 
to  thofe  that  were  about  him,  were  attended 
with  fifth  Mofaic  Meeknefs,  as  made  him  yet 
further  amiable  :  He  would  be  zealots*,  when 
he  faw  Difhonour  call  on  the  Name  of  God, 
but  patient  under  Injury  ofler'd  unto  himfelf. 
If  he  were  informed,  that  any  thought  meanly 
of  him,  he  would  not  be  moved  at  it,  but  fay, 
J  think  at  meanly  of  my/elf,  and  therefore  may 
we//  be  content,  that  others  think  meanly  of  me  : 
And  when  Evil  hath  been  charged  on  him,  he 
has  replied,  If  Men  fee  jo  much,  what  does  God 
fee  ?  Disgraceful  and  unworthy  Speeches  be- 
ffowed  upon  him,  he  would  call,  bis  Gains  3 
but  it  was  his  Trouble  to  find  himielf  applaud 
eJ.  His  Friends  might  indeed  have  faid  of  hitn, 
as  Luther  of  Melindhon,  Alibi  plane  videtur 
faltem  in  hoc  errarc,  quod  Chriflum  ipfe  fingat 
long  i  us  abeffe  a  Corde  fito,  qua m  Jit  r  ever  a,  eerie 
niiti/s  Null  its  in  hoc  eft  nofter  Jonathan. 

^  10.  This  bright  Star  mult  move  Weftward. 
He,  with  many  Fellow  Sufferers  for  the  Tejfi- 
mony  of  Jefus,  being  filenced  in  England;  and 
forefeeing  a  difmal  Storm  a  coming  upon  the 
Nation,  till  the  overpaying  whereof  he  faw 
many  Praying  Saints  directed  unto  America,  for 
Chambers  of  Safety  3  and  willing  to  forego  all 
Worldly  Advantages,  for  the  Enjoyment  of  Go 
fpel  Ordinances,  adminiftred  without  the  mix- 
tures of  Humane  Inventions  3  he  removed  into 
New  England,  having  his  three  Children  with 
him,  and  his  Wife  big  with  a  Fourth,  in  his  Re- 
move •,  where  arriving,  it  refrefhed  him  not  a 
little,  to  fee  the  efeaped  People  of  God,  wirh 
Harps  m  their  Hands,  there  ringing ''the  Song  oj 
Mofes.  He  came  into  -New  England,  at  a  time, 
when,  there  was  not  lb  much  want  of  Lights,  as 
of  Golden  Candlejlicks,  wherein  to  place  the 
Lights;  but  he  was  not  long  there,  before  he 
was  invited  by  the  Church  of  Dorchefter,  to  be" 
an  AlTilrant  unto  the  well-known  Mr.  Richard 
Mather. 

§  11.  The  Evil  One,  difturbed  at  the  Happi- 
nefs  of  Dorchefter,  very  ftrongly  endeavoured 
a  Mifunderjianding  -between  Mr.  Mather  and 
Mr.  Burr  ;  'and  the  Mifunde  rounding  did  pro- 
ceed  fo  far,  as  to  produce  a  Patoxifm. 

It  was  judged  by  fome  of  the  Brethren  in 
the  Church,  that  Mr.  Burr  had  expreffed  him- 
felf erroneoufly  in  certain  Points,  then  much 
agitated  throughout  the  Country  3  and  Mr. 
Mather,  upon  their  Defire,  examining  the  Pro1- 
pofirions  which  this  Good  Man  had  written, 
thought  he  could  not  altogether  clear  them, 
from  Exceptions.  Hereupon  grew  fuch  Aliena- 
tions, that  they  could  not  be  well  Re-united, j 
without  calling  in  the  Help  of  Neighbour- 
Churches  in  a  Council  -,  which  Council  directing 
both  Mr.  -Mather  and  Mr.  Burr,  to  acknow- 
ledge what  Mifunderflandings  were  then  difcO- 
vered  in  this  Bufinefs,  thofe  two  Good  Men  fet 
apart- a  Day  for  the  Reconciliation-,  and  witfi 
fuch  Fxemplary  Expreffions  of  Humility  and 


Ajfetfion,  Rectified  all  that  had  been  out  of 
Joint,  that  God  was  exceedingly  Glorified  and 
the  Peace  of  the  Church  effe&ually  reltored 
and  maintained. 

§12.  This  true  Barn ab at,  was  not  only  to 
give  the  Churches  of  New  England  a  Confola- 
tory  Vifit,  in  his  PalTage  unto  Glory,  that  he 
might  leave  them  an  Example  of  that  Love, 
Patience,  Holinefs,  and  Fraitfulne/s,  which 
would  make  them  an  Happy  People.  Tho' 
he  had  not  Perfecution  to  try  him  in  this  Wil- 
dernefs,  yet  he  was  not  without  his  Trials: 
For,  as  'tis  well  obferved  in  the  Difcourfe,  De 
Duplici  Marty  no,  which  goes  under  the  Name 
of  Cyprian ;  Si  deeft  Tyr  annus,  ft  Tort  or,  ft 
Spoliator,  ndn  deerit  concupifcentia,  Martyrii, 
Matcriam,  quotidianam  nook  exhibens.  The 
next  Year  alter  he  came  to  New  England,  he 
was  taken  Sick  of  the  Small-Pox ;  out  of  which 
he  neverthelels  recovered,  and  came  forth  as 
Gold  that  had  been  tryedin  the  tire.  He  then 
renewed  and  applied  the  Covenant  oj  Grace,  by 
the  fuitable  Recognitions  of  the  following  In- 
ftrument. 


'  T  Jonathan  Burr,  being  brought  in  the  Arms 
J.  l  of  Almighty  God  over  the  Vail  Ocean, 
'  with  my  Family  and  Friends,  and  Gracioufly 
'  provided  for  in  a  Wilderne(s5  and  being  left* 
'  fible  of  my  own  Vnpr  oft  able  nefs  and  Sclf- 
r  Jeeking  3  yet  of  Infinite  Mercy,  being  called 
c  unto  the  Tremendous  Work  of  feeding  Souls, 
r  and  being  of  late  with  my  Family  deliver 'd 
'  out  of  a  Great  Affliction  of  the  Small-Pox  3 
r  and  having  found  the  Fruit  of  that  Affliction  3 
h  God  Tempering,  Ordering,  Mitigating  the 
c  Evil  thereof,  fo  as  I  have  been  gracioully  and 
'  fpeedily  deliverM-  I  do  proraile  and  vow  to 
'  him,  that  h  irh  done  all  things  for  me  ;  Firfl, 
'  That  Twill  aim  only  at  his  Glory,  and  the. 
'  G*W  of  Souls,  and  not  myfelfdnd  Vain  Glo- 
'  ry  :  And  that,  Secondly,  I  will  walk  Humbly, 
c  with  loKcr  Thoughts  of  my  f elf  eonfidering 
'  what  a  poor  Creature  I  am  3  a  Puff  of  Breath, 
-Tuftained  only  by  the  Peioer  of  his  Grace  3 
'  And  therefore,  Tf)irdl}\  I  will  be  more  watch- 
'  ful  over  my  Hem,  rO  keep  it  in  a  due  Frame 
"%P  Holinefs  and  Obedience,  without  running 
-  outfo  far  to  the  Creature  3  for  I  have  feen, 
'  That  he  isanine  only  Help  in  time  of  need-, 
'  Fourthly,  That  I  will  put  more  weight  upon 
1  thitfirniPtOmife,  and \  fure  Truth,  That  God 
'  is  a  God  hearing  Prayer  :  Fifthly,  That  I  will 
'  fet  up  God,  more  in  my  Family,  more  in  my 
'  felft  W0>  Children  and  Servants  3  conver- 
'  fing  with  them  in  a  more  ferious  and  conftant 
'  manner-,  for  This,  God  aimed  at,  in  fending 
*  his  Hand  into  my  Family  at  this  time. 


Memento  Mori. 


In  Meipfo  Nihil;  in  Chrifto  Omne. 


Not 


Book  J II.      The  Hiftory  of  New~Englao& 


Nor  was  his  Heavenly  Converfation  after- 
wards difagreeable  to  thefe  Grateful  Refolu- 
tions  of  his  Devout  Soul.  By  the  lame  Token, 
that  the  famous  Mr.  Thomas  Hooker,  being  one 
of  his  Auditors,  when  he  preached  in  a  great  Au- 
dience at  Charlefiown,  had  this  Expreffion  about 
him.  Surely,  this  Man  wont  be  long  out  of  Hea- 
ven, for  he  preaches  an  if  he  were  there  already. 
And  the  moft  experienced  Chriftians  in  the 
Country,  found  ftill  in  his  Miniflry,  as  well  as 
in  his  whole  Behaviour,  the  Breathing  of  fuch 
a  Spirit,  as  was  very  greatly  to  their  Satisfa- 
ction. They  could  not  but  call  him,  as  Diony- 
fius  was  once  called,  xitTetvfo  n  IWfih  The  Bird 
of  Heaven.  Had  it  not  been  Old  Adam's  World, 
fo  Innocent,  fo  Excellent,  fo  Heavenly  a  Per- 
fon,  could  not  have  met  with  fuch  Exercifes 
as  he  and  others  like  him,  then  ibmetimes  did, 
even  from  their  Trueji  Brethren, 

§  13.  Having  juft  been  preaching  about  the 
Redemption  of  Time,  he  fell  into  a  Sicknefs  of 
Ten  Days  Continuance;  during   which  Time, 
he  expreffed  a  wonderful  Patience,  and  Sub 
miffion,  upon  all  Occafions.     His  Wife  perceiv- 
ing his  Willingnefs  to  die,  asked  him,  Whether 
he  were  defirous  to  leave  her  and  his  Children  ? 
Whereto  his  Anfwer  was,  Do  not  miflake  me, 
1  am  not  defirous  of  that ;  but  I  b/efs  God,  that 
now  my  Will  is  the  Lord's  Will :  If  he  will  have' 
me  to  live  yet  with  my  dear  Wife  and  Children, 
I  am  willing.    I  will  Jay  to  you  my  dear  Wife  and 
Children,  as  the  Apofikjays,  It  is  better  for  you, 
that  I  abide  with  you-,  but  it  is  better  for  me  to 
be  diffolved  and  to  be  with  Chrifi.     And  per- 
ceiving his   Wife's  Difconfolation,  he  asked 
her,  If/he  could  not  be  willing  to  part  with  him -, 
whereupon,  when  Hie  intimated  how  hard  it 
was,  he  exhorted- her --to  acquiefce  in  that  God, 
who  would    be    Better  than  Ten  Husbands : 
Adding,  Our  Parting  is   but  for  a  Time,  lam 
fure  we  /hall  one  Duty  meet  again:     Being  dif- 
couraged  by  finding  hirnfelf  unable  to  put  on 
his  Clothes,  one  of  his  Friends  told  him,  his. 
Work  wot  how  to  lie  fill:  At.  which  he  com 
plained,  /  lie  /lugging  a  Bed,  when  others  are 
at  work!   But   being,  minded   6i' 'God's  Will, 
That  it  fhould   be'  fo,  that  quieted 'him.    Ob- 
ferving  how   diligently  his  Wife  ,;terided  him, 
he  faid.  unto  her,  Don't  jpend  fo  much  Time 
with  me,  but  go  thy'  way  and  fpend^fome  time 
in  Prayer -,  thou  knoweji   not  what  "thou  mayft 
obtain  from  God-,  t fgaY'lefi  'thou'  look' too  much 
upon  this  AfflitTion.     A'Day  0^ two' before  his 
Death,  he  blefTed  his  Children')  and' the  Night 
before  he  died,  he  was  overheard  ibmetimes  to 
fay,  /  will  wait   until  my  Change  come ;  and 
Why  art  thou  fo  loath  to  die>  A  few  Hours  be 
fore  his  Death,  it  was  obferved,  that  he  had  a 
fore  Conflict  with   the  Angel  of  Death,  who 
was  now  fhooting  his  laft  Arrows  at  him  ;  and 
when  one  of  the  Standers  by  faid,  The  Sting  of 
Death  is  taken  away  -,  the  Lord  Jefits  Chrifi  hat 
overcome  Death  for  you -y  this  vs  one  of  Satan's 
laft  Affaults ;  his  Work  is  now  almoft  at  an  end  •, 
• 


though  he  be  a  fubtil  Enemy,  and  would  if  it 
were  pojflble,  deceive  the  very  Eleil;  he  pre- 
fently  laid  hold  on  that  latt  Expreffion,  //  it 
were  pojfible  -,  faid  he,  Bleffed  be  God  there  is  no 
Pojfibility !  After  this,  he  requelted  the  Com- 
pany might  withdraw,  that  lb  he  might  have 
an  Opportunity  to  pray  for  a  while  by  himfelf  5 
but  feeing  the  Company  loth  to  leave  the 
Room,  he  pray'd  in  Latin  as  long  as  he  had 
Strength  to  do  it.  When  he  was  to  Appearance 
juftexpiring,he  called  for  his  Wife  -,  and  ftedfaft- 
ly  fixing  his  Eyes  upon  her,  he  faid,  Cafl  thy 
Care  upon  God,  for  he  careth  fqr  thee.  About 
half  an  Hour  after  this,  when  Death  had  been  for 
fome  while  drawing  the  Cumins  about  him, 
his  laft  Words  were  thofe  unto  his  Wife.  Hold 
iafi,  Hold  Fafi !  So  he  finifhed  his  Pilgrimage, 
on  Aug.  9.  164 1. 

§  14.  Unto  that  Vertuous  Gentlewoman  his 
Wife,  he  expreifed  himfelf  with  great  Confi- 
dence, That  God  would  certainly  provide  well 
for  her  -,  and  that  Gentlewoman,  fhortly  after 
being  Honourably  and  Comfortably  married  un- 
to another  Gentleman  of  Good  Eftate.  namely, 
Richard  Dumiher,  Elq^  once  a  Magiftrate  of 
the  Colony,  lived  with  him  near  Forty  Years  j 
and  was  more  than  Forty  Years  after  alive  to 
teffify  her  Experience  of  the  Accompliffimenr, 
which  God  had  given  unto  that  Faith  of  her 
Dying  Husband  :  Who  at  his  Death  commend- 
ed his  Family  to  God,  in  Strains  not  unlike 
thofe  of  the  Dying  Wider  us  i, 

CHR I S  TEy  tibifoli  meapighord  Viva  relinquc, 
Quorum  pofi  Mortem  Tu  Pater  efio  meam, 

^ui  cunllis  Vittg  miferum  me  jugiter  Annis 
Pavifii,  Largam  dans  Mih'i  jcmper  opem  •, 

Tu  quoq-,  Pa  fee  meos  defende,  tuere,  doceq-, 
I  Et  tandem  ad  Cali  guadia  transfer,     Amen. 


— 


a.  ;     /» 


Epitaphium. 


Mortuus  hie  Jacet,  qui  in  Omnium  Cordibus 
Vivit. 

Omnts  Vlrtutesi  cjuie  Vivuht  pofi  Futterd, 
In  ZJtrius  BURRJ   Funere  invehernrit 
Scpidchrum, 

''''■'       ''•'.■  . '"  - 

To  make  up  his  Epitaph,  I  will  borrow  a 
Line  oi  two  from  the  Tomb-ftone  of  Volk- 
marus. 


Hie  Jacet  Exutis  nimium  citd  BURRIUS  Annti, 
Adjuga  Suggejius,  Magrte  MATHERE,  Tut 

Si  magis  Anno/am  licuiffet  condere  Vitam, 
Ac  Scriptis  Animum  notificare  Libris% 

Tot  Verbis  non  effet  opits  hoc  Scalpere  Saxum, 
Sufficerent  guatuor,  BURRIUS  hie  fitus  eft. 


til 


CHAP, 


82 


The  Hiflory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 


CHAP.    IV. 
The    LIFE   of  Mr.  GEORGE    PHILIPS. 

Vita  Miniftri  eft  Cenfura  tf  Cynofura. 


"0  T  only  the  Common  Sign-Pofts  of 
every  Town,  but  alfo  fome  famous 


Orders  of  Knighthood,  in  the  moft  famous  Na 
tions  of  Europe,  have  entertained  us  with  Tra- 
ditions of  a  certain  Champion,  by  the  Name  of 
St.  GEORGE  dignified  and  diftingutjhed.  Now 
whilft  many  do  with  Calvin,  reckon  this  No- 
table. St.  George,  with  his  Brother  St.  Kit, 
among  the  %arv&  and  tables  of  the  Romantic 
Monks ;  others  from  the  Honourable  mention 
of  him  in  fo  many  Liturgies,  do  think  there 
might  be  fuch  a  Man :  But  then,  he  muff  be 
no  other,  neither  better  nor  worfe,  in  the  moft 
probable  Opinion  of  Rainolds,  than  George  the 
Arnan  Biihop  of  Alexandria,  the  ftntagonift 
and  Adverfary  of  Athanafius;  of  this  Memora- 
ble Trooper,  the  Arnans  feigned  Miracles,  and 
with  certain  Difguifes,  impofed  the  Fame  of. 
him  upon  the  Orthodox.  But  the  Churches  of 
New-England  being,  wholly  unconcerned  with 
any  fuch  a  St.  George,  and  wiihing  that  they 
had  been  lefs  concerned  with  many  Quakers, 
whofe  chief  Apoftles  have  been  fo  many  of  them 
call'd  George's,  but  in  Effect  fo  many  Dragons, 
there  was  one  George  who  was  indeed  among 
the  firft  Saints  of  New- England!  And  that  Ex- 
cellent Man  of  our  Land  was  Mr.  George 
Philips. 

§  7.  He  was  born  at  Raymund,  in  the  County 
of  'Norfolk ;  defcended  of  Honeft  Parents,  who 
were  encouraged  by  his  great  Proficiency  at  the 
Gramma r-School,  to  fend   him  unto  the  Uni- 
verfity  •,  where  his  good  Invention,  ftrong  Me\ 
mory,  and  folid  Judgment,  with  the  Blefhng  of] 
God  upon  all,  attained  a  Degree  of  Learning; 
that  may   be  called  Eminent.      The  diligent 
Reading  of  the  Fathers,  while  he  was  yet  him- j 
felf  among  Young  Men,  was  one  of  the  things; 
that  gave  a  fpecial  Ornament  unto  that  Skill! 
in  Theology,   whereto  he   attained-,   but   that 
which  yet  further  fitted  him  to  become  a  Di- 
vine, was  his  being  made  Partaker  of  the  Di- 
vine Nature,  by  the  San£tification  of  all  his 


generation. 

^■3.  Devoting  him  felf  to  the  Work  of  the 
Miniftry,  his  Employment  befel  him  at  Box- 
ford  in  Effex ;  whereof  he  found  much  Accep- 
tance with  Good  Men  5  as  being  a  Man  Migh 
ty  in  the  Scriptures.  But  his  Acquaintance 
with  the  Writings  and  Perfons  of  fome  Old 
Non  Conform  i ft  s  had  inftilled  into  him  fuch 
Principles  about  Church  Government,  as  were 
like  to  make  him  unacceptable  unto  fome,  who 
then  drove  the  World  before  them.     Some  of 


Preaching  j  whereupon  fome  of  his  unfatisfied 
Hearers  repair'd  unto  Old  Mr.  Rogers  of  Ded- 
ham,  with  fome  Intimations  of  their  Difiatis- 
faftion.  But  Mr.  Rogers,  although  he  had  not 
much  ftudied  the  Controverfy,  yet  had  fo  high 
a  Refpett  for  Mr.  Philips,  that  he  faid,  He  be- 
lieved Mr.  Philips  would  preach  nothing  without 
fome  good  Evidence  for  it  from  the  Word  of  God, 
and  therefore  they  ffmtld  be  willing  to  regard 
whatever  Mr.  Philips  might,  from  that  Word, 
make  evident  unto  them.  And  as  for  Mr.  Phi- 
lips, the  more  he  was  put  upon  the  Study  and 
fearching  of  the  Truth,  in  the  Matter  contro- 
verted, the  more  he  was  confirmed  in  his  own 
Opinion  of  it. 

§4.  When  the  Spirit  of  Per f edition  did  at  length 
with  the  extreameft  Violence,  urge  a  Confor- 
mity to  Ways  and  Parts  of  Divine  Worfhip, 
confeientiouily  fcrupled  by  fuch  Perfons  as  our 
Mr.  Philips.  He,  with  many  more  of  his 
Neighbours,  entertained.  Thoughts  of  tranfport- 
ing  themfelves  and  their  Families  into  the  De- 
farts  of  America^  to .  prolecute  and  propagate 
the  Glorious  Defigns  of  the  Gofpel,  and  fpread 
the  Light  of  it  in  thofe  Goings  dawn  of  the  Sun, 
and  being  refolved  accordingly  to  accompany 
the  Excellent  Mr.  Wintbrop  in  that  Underta- 
king, he  with  many  other  Devout  Chriftians, 
embarqued  for.  New  England,  where  they  arri- 
ved in  the  Yeat  i6$o.  through  the  Good  Hand 
of  God  upon  them-  Here,  quickly  after  his 
Landing,,  he  loft  the  Dejire  of  his  Eyes,  in  the 
Death  of  his  Defirable-  Confort ,  who,  though 
an  only  Child,  had  cheerfully  left  her  Parents, 
to  ferve  the  Lord  Jefus^Ghrift,  with  her  Hus- 
band, in  a  Twible  Wiklemefs.  At  Salem  (he 
died,  entering,  into  the  Everiafting  Peace  ;  and 
was  veryTolemnly  interr?d^near  the  Right  Ho- 
nourable ,the\  Lady  Arabella ;  the  Sifter  of  the 
Earl  of  Lincoln,  who  alfo  took  New  England 
in  her  Way  to  Heaven. 

§  5.  Mr*  Philips,  with  feverai  Gentlemen, 
and  other  Chriftians  having  chofen  a  place  upon 


Abilities  for  the  Service  of  God,  in  a  True  Re--  Charles-Klvex^  for  a  Town ;  which  they  called 


Water-Town,  they :. refolved  that  they  would 
combinelnto  a  Church-Fellow/bip  there,  as  their 
firft  Work;  and  build  the  Houfe  of  God,  be- 
fore they  could  build  many  Houfes  for  them- 
felves ;  thus  they  fought,  firft,  the  Kingdom  of 
God  I  Andiindeed,  Mr.  Philips  being  better  ac- 
quainted with  the  True  Church- Difciplme,  than 
moft  of  the  Minifters  that  came  with  him  in- 
to the  Country,  their  Proceedings  about  the  ga- 
thering and  ordering  of  their  Church,  were  Me- 
thodical  enough,  though  not  made  in  all  things 


thefe  Ptinciples  he  had  intinaated  in  his  publick  |  a  Pattern  for  all  the  reft.    Upon  a  Day  fet 

apart 


Book  III.      The  Hi/lory  of  New-England. 


%i 


apart  for  folemn  Falling  and  Prayer,  the  very 
next  Month  after  they  came  afnore,  they  en- 
ured into  this  Holy  Covenant. 


July  30.   idjo. 

'  We  whofe  Names  are  hereto  fubferibed, 
ha  ;ig  through  God's  Mercy,  efcaped  out  of 
Pollutions  of  the  World,  and  been  taken  in- 
to the  Society  of  his  People,  with  all  Thank 
fulnefs  do  hereby  both  with  Heart  and  Hand 
acknowledge,  That  his  Gracious  Goodnefs, 
and  Fatherly  Care,  towards  us :  And  for  fur- 
ther and  more  full  Declaration  thereof,  to 
the  prefent  and  future  Ages,  have  undertaken 
ffor  the  promoting  of  his  Glory  and  the 
Churches  Good,  and  the  Honour  of  our  Blef 
fed  Jefus,  in  our  more  full  and  free  fubjecV 
ing  of  our  felves  and  ours,  under  his  Gra- 
cious Government,  in  the  Practice  of,  and 
Obedience  unto  all  his  Holy  Ordinances  and 
Orders,  which  he  hath  pleafed  to  prefcribe 
and  impofe  upon  us)  a  long  and  hazardous 
Voyage  from  Eafi  to  Weft,  Irom  Old  England 
in  Europe,  to  New-England  in  America -,  that 
we  may  walk  before  him,  and  ferve  him  with- 
out Fear  in  Holinefs  and  Righteoufnefs,  all 
the  Days  of  our  Lives  :  And  being  fafely  ar- 
rived here,  and  thus  far  onwards  peaceably 
preserved  by  his  fpecial  Providence,  that  we 
may  bring  forth  our  Intentions  into  Attions, 
and  perfe£l  our  Refolutions,  in  the  Beginnings 
of  fome  Juft  and  Meet  Executions  j  We  have 
feparated  the  Day  above  written  from  all 
other  Services,  and  Dedicated  it  wholly  to 
the  Lord  in  Divine  Employments,  for  a  Day 
of  Afflifting  our  Souls,  and  humbling  our 
felves  before  the  Lord,  to  feek  him,  and  at 
his  Hands,  a  Way  to  walk  in,  by  Fafting  and 
Prayer,  that  we  might  know  what  wot  Good 
in  his  Sight :  And  the  Lord  was  intreated 
of  us. 

'  For  in  the  End  of  that  Day,  after  the  fl- 
niihing  of  our  publick  Duties,  we  do  all,  be 
fore  we  depart,  folemnly  and  with  all  our 
Hearts,  personally,  Man  by  Man  for  our 
felves  and  ours  ('charging  them  before  Chrift 
and  his  Elecf  Angels,  even  them  that  are  not 
here  with  us  this  Day,  or  are  yet  unborn, 
That  they  keep  the  Promife  unblameably  and 
faithfully  unto  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Je- 
fus)  promife,  and  enter  into  afure  Covenant 
with  the  Lord  our  God,  and  before  him  with 
one  another,  by  Oath  and  ferious  Protcftation 
made,  to  Renounce  all  Idolatry  and  Supe/jli- 
tion,  WillWorJhip,  all  Humane  Traditions 
and  Inventions  whatfoever,  in  the  Worfhip 
of  God  ;  and  fbrfaking  all  Evil  Ways,  do 
give  out  felves  wholly  unto  the  Lord  Jefus, 
to  do  him  faithful  Service,  obferving  and 
keeping'  all  his  Statutes ,  Commands,  and 
Ordinances,  in  all  Matters  concerning  our 
Reformation-,  his  Worfhip,  Adminiftrations, 
Miniftry,  and  Government  -,  and  in  the  Car- 
*  riage  of  our  felves  among  our  felves,  and  one 


towards  another,  as  he  hath  prefcribed  in  his 
Holy  Word.  Further  fwearing  to  cleave  unto 
that  alone,  and  the  true  Senfe  and  meaning 
thereof  to  the  utmoft  of  out  Power,  as  unto 
the  moft  clear  Light  and  infallible  Rule,  and 
All-fufficientG/w/?,  in  all  things  that  concern 
us  in  this  our  Way.  In  Witnefs  of  all,  we 
do  ex  Ariuno,  and  in  the  pr,efence  of  God, 
hereto  fet  our  Names  or  Marks,  in  the  Day' 
and  Year  above  written. 


About  Forty  Men,  whereof  the  Firfi  was 
that  Excellent  Knight  Sir  Richard  Saltonflal, 
then  fubferibed  this  infirument,  in  Order  unto 
their  Coalefcence  into  a  Church-Eftate  ;  which 
I  have  rhe  more  particularly  Recited,  becaufe 
it  was  one  of  the  Firfl  Ecclefiaftical  Tranfaftions 
of  this  Nature  managed  in  the  Colony.  But  in 
after  time,  they  that  joined  unto  the  Church, 
fubferibed  a  Form  of  the  Covenant,  fomewhat 
altered,  with  a  Confejjion  of  Faith  annexed  un- 
to it. 

§  6.  A  Church  of  Believers  being  thus  ga- 
thered at  Watertown,  this  Reverend  Man  con- 
tinued for  divers  Years  among  them,  faithfully 
difcharging  the  Duties  of  his  Miniftry,  to  the 
Flock,  whereof  he  wa*  made  the  Overfeer ;  and 
as  a  Faithful  Steward  giving  to  every  one  their 
Meat  in  due  Sea/on.  Herein  he  demonftrated 
himfelf  to  be  a  Real  Divine:  But  not  in  any 
thing  more,  than  in  his  moft  intimate  Ac- 
quaintance' with  the  Divine  Oracles  of  the  Scri- 
pture:' Being  fully  oijerom's  PerfwaGon,  Ama 
Scientiam  Scripturarum,  &  Yitia  Carnis  non 
amabk.  He  had  fo  thoroughly  perufed  and 
pondered  them,  that  he  was  able  on  the  fud- 
den  to  turn  unto  any  Text,  without  the  Help 
of  Concordances  -,  and  they  were  fo  much  his 
Delight,  that  as  it  has  been;  by  fome  6,f  his 
Family  affirmed,  He  read  over  the  whole  Bible 
fix  times  every  Tear  :  Neverthelefs  he  did  ufe 
to  fay,  That  every  time  he  read  the  Bible,  he 
objerved  or  colletted  fometbing,  which  he  never 
did  before.  There  was  a  famous  Prince  of 
Tranfylvania,  who  found  the  time  to  read  over 
the  Bible  no  lefs  than  Twenty  Seven  Times. 
There  was  a  Famous  King  of  Arragon,  who 
read  over  the  Bible  fourteen  Times,  with  Ly- 
ra's Commentaries.  A  Religious  Perfon,  who 
was  a  clofe  Prifoner,  in  a  dark  Dungeon,  ha- 
ving a  Candle  brought  him,  for  the  few  Mi- 
nutes in  the  Day  when  his  poor  Meals  were  to 
be  eaten,  chofe  then  to  read  a  little  of  his  Bi- 
ble, and  eat  his  Necejfary  Food,  when  the  Can- 
dle was  gone.  Yea,  the  Emperour  Theodofius 
wrote  out  the  Neio-Tefiamcnt  with  his  own 
Hand ;  and  Bonaventure  did  as  much  by  the 
Old;  and  fome  have,  like  Zuingluts  and  Beza, 
lodg'd  vaft  Paragraphs  of  it  in  the  Memories, 
Among  fuch  Memorable  Students  in  the  Scri- 
ptures, our  Philips  deferves  to  have  fome  Re- 
membrance: Who  was  fully  of  the  Opinion 
expreffed  by  Luther,  If  the  Letters  of  Princes 
are  to  be  read  three  times  over,  furely  then 
God's  Letters  (as  Gregory  calls  the  Scriptures) 

are 


84 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 


are  to  be  read  Seven  times  Thrice,  yea,  Seventy 
times  Seven,  and  if  it  could  be  a  Thottfand  times 
over-,  and  he  might  fay  with  Ridley,  giving  an 
Account  how  much  of  the  Bible  he  had  learnt 
by  Heart,  Thox  in  time  a  great  Tart  of  the  Study 
departed  from  me,  yet  the  fweet  Smell  thereof 
I  truft  I  Jliall  carry  with  ?ne  to  Heaven.  In- 
deed being  well  skill'd  in  the  Original  Tongues, 
he  could  not  fee  further  into  the  Scriptures 
than  mod  other  Men  ;  And  thereby  being  made 
Wife  unto  Salvation,  he  alfo  became  a  Man  of 
God,  throughly  furnifhed  unto  all  good  Works. 

ij  7.  Hence  alfo,  he  became  an  able  D/fpu 
tant  ■,  and  ready  upon  all  Occafions,  to  main- 
tain what  he  delivered  from  the  Word  of  God  •, 
for  which  Caufe,  his  Hearers  counted  him, 
The  Irrefragable  Dcflor  :  Though  he  were  lb 
Humble  and  Modeft,  as  to  be  very  averfe  unto 
Difputation,  until  driven  thereto  by  extream 
Neceflity.  One  of  his  Hearers  alter  fome  Con- 
ference with  him  about  Infant-Baptifm,  and  fe- 
veral  Points  of  church  Difcipline,  obtain'd  a 
Copy  of  the  Arguments  in  Writing  for  his  fur- 
ther Satisfaction.  This  Copy  the  Man  fends 
over  to  England,  which  an  Anabaptilt  there 
publifhed  with  a  pretended  Confutation  ;  where- 
.by  the  Truth  loft  nothing,  .for  Mr.  Philips, 
hereupon  published  a  Judicious  Treatife,  Enti 
tuled,  A  Vindication  of  Infant-Baptifm,  where 
to  there  is  added  another,  Of  the  Church.  ■  This 
Book  was  honourably  received  and  mentioned, 
by  the  Eminent  Affembly  of  London-Jilinijlers  • 
and  a  Preface  full  of  Honour  was  thereto  pre- 
fixed by  the  famous  Mr.  Tl)omas  Shepard;  not- 
withftanding  the  Difference  between  him  and 
Mr.  Thilips,  upon  one  or  two  Points,  wherea- 
bouts thofe  two  Learned  Neighbours  managed 
a  Controverfy  with  fo  much  Reafon,  and  yet 
Candor  and  Kindnefs,  that  if  all  Theological 
Controverfies,  had  been  fo  handled,  we  need 
not  fo  much  wifh,  Liberari  ab  Implacabilibus 
Theologorum  Odiis. 


§  8.  About  fourteen  Years  continued  he  in 
his  Miniitry  at  Watertown  -,  in  which  time  his 
Minitiry  was  Bleffed,  tor  the  Convrrfon  of 
many  unto  God,  and  for  the  Edification  and 
Confirmation  of  many  that  were  converted.  He 
was,  indeed,  A  Good  Man,  and  full  of  Faith, 
andoj  tbe  Holy  Ghoji  :  And  for  that  Caufe  he 
was  not  only  in  publick  but  in  private  alibi 
very  full  of  Holy  Difcourje  on  all  Occafions  ; 
efpecially  on  the  Lord's  Day  at  Noon,  the  time' 
intervening  between  the  Two  Exercifes,  he 
would  fpend  in  conferring  with  fuch  or  his 
Good  People,  as  reforred  unto  his  Houfe,  at 
fuch  a  Rate,  as  marvelloufly  Miniflred  Grace 
unto  the  Hearers;  not  wanting  any  time  then, 
as  it  feems,  for  any  further  Preparations,  than 
what  he  had  ftill  aforehand  made,  for  the  pub- 
lick  Sermons  of  the  Afternoon. 

§  9.  He  laboured  under  many  Bodily  Infir- 
mities: But  was  efpecially  liable  unto  the 
Cl'olick;  the  Extremity  of  one  Fit  whereof, 
was  the  Wind  which  carried  him  afore  it,  into 
the  Haven  of  Eternal  Reft,  on  July  1.  in  the 
Year  1644.  much  Defired  and  Lamented  by  his 
Church  at  Watertown ;  who  teft iried  their.  Affe- 
ction to  their  Deceafed  Paftor,  by  a  fpecial 
Care  to  promote  and  perfe£t  the  Education  of 
his  Eldeit  Son,  whereof  all  the  Country,  but 
efpecially  the  Town  of  Rovoly,  have  fince  reap- 
ed the  Benefit. 


t 

1    ' 

L! 

! 

7 

■ 

Epitaph 


mm. 


Hie  Jacet  GEORGIUS  PHILIPPE 

Firlncomparabilh,   mfi  SAMUELEM  ge- 
nitififet. 


; 


i± ■- 





.1 


CHAP.     V. 


Paftor  Evangdicus.     The  LIFE  of  Mr.  THOMAS   S  HEP  A  R  D< 

J  . 


Nee  Mireris, 


Amm'am  tarn  Subito  in  Celum  avolaffe,  nam  Vicetti 
Alarum  fibi  fupplerunt  Preces  ju.t  &  fufpiria. 


§  i.TT  was  the  Gracious  and  Savoury  Speech 
JL  uttered  by  one  of  the  greateft  Perfona- 
ges  in  England,  and  perhaps  in  all  Europe,  unto 
a  Grave  Minilter  :  /  have  ( faid  he)  paffed 
through  many  Places  of  Honour  and  Trujl,  both 
in  Church  and  State,  more  than  any  of  my  Or 
der  in  England,  for  Seventy  Tears  before.  But 
were  I  affured  that  by  my  Preaching,  I  had  con- 
verted but  one  Soul  unto  God,  I  jhould  herein 
take  more  Comfort,  than  in  all  the  Honours  and 


Offices  that  have  ever  been  beftowed  upon  me. 
Let  my  Reader  now  go  with  me,  and  I  will 
fhow  him  one  of  the  Happiefl  Men,  that  ever 
we  faw-,  ^s  great  a  Converter  of  Souls,  as  has 
ordinarily  been  known  in  our  Days. 

§  2.  Amongft  thofe  Famous,  whereof  there 
were  Dive/fe,  Miniffers  of  New-England,  which 
were  Born  in.  or  near  the  Firft  Lultre  of  King 
James's  Reign,  one  of  the  leaft  Inconfiderable 
was  our  Mr.  Thomas  Shepard  ;  whofe  Father 

Mr. 


Book  III.       1  he  Htjlory  of  New-England. 


8s 


Mr.  William  Shepard,  called  him  Thomas,  be- 
caufe  his  Birth  was  Nov.  5.  Anno  1605.  as  near 
as  could  be  gueffed,  at  the  very  Hour,  when 
the  Blow -fhould  have  been  given  in  the  Exe- 
crable Gunpowder  Treafon;  a  Villany,  con- 
cerning which  he  faid,  This  Child  of  bis  would 
hardly  be  able  to  believe,  that  ever  fuch  a  Wick- 
ednefs  could  be  attempted  by  the  Sons  of  Men. 
His  Father  had  fix  Daughters  and  three  Sons, 
whereof  this  Thomas  born  in  Towcefter,  near 
Northampton,' was  the  youngeft ;  and  as  he 
lived  a  prudent,  fo  he  died  a  pious  Man, 
while  h\s youngeft  Son  was  but  a  Youth.  Our 
Thomas  had  in  his  Childhood,  labour'd  under 
the  Difcouragements,  firft  of  a  Bitter  Step- 
Mother,  and  then  of  a  Cruel  School- MaJIer, 
till  God  ftirred  up  the  Heart  of  his  Elder  Bro- 
ther, to  become  a  Father  unto  him  who,  tor 
the  Life  of  his  Portion,  brought  him  up. 

§  3.  Bending  his  Mind  now  to  Study,  he 
became  fit  for  the  Univerfity,  at  fifteen  Years 
of  Age  ;  where  he  was  placed  under  the  Tui- 
tion of  Mr.  Cockrel,  a  Korthamptonfhire  Man, 
Fellow  of  Immar.uelColledge. 

But  when  he   had  been  upwards    of  two 
Years  in  that  Colledge,  this  young  Man,  who 
had  been  heretofore  under  more  Ineffetfual  Ope- 
rations of  the  Divine  Word  upon  him,  was 
now  more  Effectuality  Called  unto  a  faving  Ac- 
quaintance with  him,  that  is  our  true  Immanuel. 
The  Miniltry  of  Mr.  Chadcrton  and  Mr.  Dickin- 
fon,  ffruck  his  Heart  with  powerful  ConviUions 
of  his  Miferies  in  his  Unregeneracy  ;  and  while 
he  fhook  off  thofe  ConviUions,  it  pleafed  God 
that  a  Devout  Scholar  walking  with  him,  fell 
into  Difcourfes  about  the  Miferies  of  an  Unre- 
generate  Man,  whereby   the  Arrows  of   God 
were  ffruck  deeper  into  him.     At  another  time, 
falling  into  a  pious  Company,  where   they  con- 
ferred about,  The  Wrath  of  God,  and  the  Ex- 
tremity and  Eternity  of  it,  this  added  unto  his 
Awakenings  ;  and  tho'  profane  Company  after- 
wards caufed   him  to  lofe  much  of  the  Senfe, 
which  he  had  of  thefe  things,  yet  when  Dr. 
Prefton  came  thither,  his  firft  Sermon  on  that 
[Be  Renewed  in  the  Spirit  of  you'?'  Mirtd~\  fo 
Renewed  the  former   ImprefTions,  which   had 
been   upon   him,  that  he  foon  approved  him- 
felf  a  Perfon  truly  Renewed  in  his  own  Spirit, 
and   converted  unto  God.      From   this   time, 
which  was  in  the  Year  i6i\.  he  fet  himfelf 
efpecially  on  the  Work  of  Daily  Meditation, 
which  he  attended  every  Evening  before  Sup- 
per ■,  Meditating   on,   The  Evil  of  Sin,    The 
Terror  of  God's  Wrath,  The  Day  of  Death  and 
Judgment,  The  Beauty  of  the  Lord  J  ejus  Chrift, 
and  The  Dcceitfulnefs  of  his  own  Heart,  until 
he  found  the   Transforming  Influence  of  thofe 
Things  upon  his  own    Soul ;  a  Courfe  which 
afterwards,  he  would  mightily  commend   unto 
others  that   confulted  him  •,  and  he  relied  not 
until  coming   to  fee,  that  in   the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrifi  alone,  there  was  laid  up  the   full  Sup- 
ply of  all  Spiritual  Wants,  he  found  the  Grace 
of  God  enabling  him  to  accept  of  that  precious 
Lord,  and  rejoice  in  that  Wifdom,  and  Righte 


oufnefs,  and  SanUification,  and  Redemption, 
which  He  is  made  unto  us  :  Whence  afterwards, 
drawing  up  a  Catalogue  of  the  Divine  Favours 
unto  him,  he  had  therein  thefe  Paflages  among 
the  reft,  which  are  from  thence  now  tranferibed. 
The  Lord  is  the  God  that  fent,  I  think,  the  beft 
Minifters  in  the  World  to  call  me  :  Dr.  Prefton 
and  Mr.  Goodwin.  The  Words  of  the  firft,  at 
the  firft  Sermon  he  made,  when  he  came  into  the 
Colledge,  as  Mafter  of  it  ;  and  divers  that  he 
preached  at  that  time,  did  open  my  Heart,  and 
convince  me  of  my  Unbelief:,  and  my  total  E»i- 
ptinefs  of  all,  and  Enmity  again  ft  all  Good.  And 
the  Lcrd  made  me  honour  him  highly,  and  love 
him  dearly,  though  many  Godly  Men  J  pake  a- 
gain  ft  him.  And  he  is  the  God  that  in  thefe 
Ordinances  convinced  me  of  my  Guilt  and  Filth 
of  Sin,  efpecially  Je/fjeekingi  and  Love  of  Ho- 
nour of  Men  in  all  1  did;  and  humbled  me  under 
both,  fo  as  to  make  me  fet  an  higher  price  upon 
Chrift,  and  Grace,  and  loath  my  f elf  the  more, 
andfo  I  was  cafe d  of  a  World  of  Dijcouragentent. 
He  alfo  fhow'd  me  the  Worth  of  Chrift,  and  made 
my  Soul  fatisfied  with  him,  and  cleave  to  him, 
becaufe  God  had  made  him  Righteoufncfs  ;  and 
hence  alfo  Revealed  his  Free  Jufiificatwn,  and 
gave  me  Support  and  Rep}  upon  and  in  his  Pro- 
mifes  made  to  them  that  Receive  him  As  Lord 
and  King ;  which  I  found  My  Heart  long  Unwil- 
ling to.  And  this  was  the  Grdund,  or  rat  her 
Occafion  of  many  horrid  Temptations  of  Atheifm, 
Judaifm,  F'amilifm,  Popery,  Defpair,  as  having 
finned  the  Unpardonable  Sin  ;  yet  the  Lord,  at 
la  ft,  made  me  yield  up  my  felf  to  his  Condemning 
Will,  as  good;  which  gave*  me  great  Peace  and 
Qitietnefs  of  Heart,  through  the  Blood  and  Pity 
of  Chrift.  1  have  met  with  all  Kinds  of  Tem- 
ptations, but  after  my  Convcifwn.  I  was  never 
tempted  to  Arminianifm,  my  own  Experience  fo 
fenfibly  confuting  the  Freedom  of  Will. 

§  4.  One  Dr.  Wiljon,  having  a  purpofe,  with 
a  molt  Noble  and  Pious  Charity,  to  maintain 
a  Lecture,  the  Minifters  of  Ejfcx,  in  one  of 
their  Monthly  Fafts,  propounded  unto  Mr. 
Shepard,  the  Service  of  this  Lecture  to  beat- 
tended  in  the  Great  Town  of  Coggefhal..  But 
the  People  of  Earl's  Coin,  on  that  very  Day, 
when  the  Minifters  were  together  in  Parting  at 
Prayer,  for  the  Direction  of  Heaven  in  this 
Matter,  fo  afFecfionarely  addreffed  them,  for 
the  Benefit  of  this  Lecture,  that  it  was  granted 
unto  Ttaw,  for  the  Three  Years  enfuing.  Mr. 
Shepard,  having  proceeded  Mafter  of  Arts  at 
Cambridge,  accepted  now  an  Invitation  to  Earls 
Coin ;  and  at  the  End  of  Three  Years  the  In- 
habitants were  fo  loath  to  let  him  go,  that  they 
gathered  among  themfelves  a  convenient  Sa- 
lary to  fupport  him  frill  amongft  them  :  Though 
his  Letlure  were  gone.  At  EdrlsColn  then  he 
tarried,  and  prevailed  for  the  Letfure  to  be 
fettled  the  next  Three  Years  in  Tmvcefter,  the 
Place  of  his  Nativity  •,  and  for  Mr.  Stone  to 
be  employed  in  the  Labour. of  tt  •,  which  was 
to  him  an  Extreame  Satisfaction. 

f)  5.  Altho'  Mr.  Shepard  were  but  a  young 
Man,  yet  there  was  that  Mafefty  and  Energy  in 

his 


u 


The  Hiftory  of  New- England.     Book  111. 


his  Preaching,  and  that  Holinejs  in  his  Life, 
which  was  not  ordinary.  And  God  made  him 
a  rich  Blefiing,  not  only  to  Coin,  but  unto  all 
the  Towns  round  about ;  wherein  there  were 
many  converted  unto  God,  and  fundry  were  fo 
arretted  unto  this  Initrument  of  their  Converfi- 
on ,  that  they  afterwards  went  a  thoufand 
Leagues  to  enjoy  his  Miniftry.  But  when  Dr. 
Laud  becomes  Bifhop  of  London,  Mr.  Shepard 
mult  no  longer  be  Preacher  at  Coin  :  He  was 
quickly  filenced,  for  none  but  that  Fault,  which 
was  then  known  by  the  Name  of  Puritanifm  : 
And  being  filenced,  he  withdrew  to  the  kind 
Family  of  the  Harlackinden\  where  applying 
himfelf  more  exaclly  to  the  Study  of  the  Cere- 
monies in  the  Worfhip  of  God  then  impofed,  the 
more  he  ftudied  them,  the  lefs  he  liked  them. 
Among  other  things  that  fignalized  him,  after 
his  Acquaintance  with  Mr.  Harlackinden,  1 
rind  one  memorable  paflage  reported'  by  Mr. 
Woodcock,  with  fufficient  Evidence,  in  Mv.Bax 
ter's  Book  about,  The  Worlds  of  Spirits.  In  the 
Chamber  of  a  Toumb  houfe,  where  two  of  Mr. 
Harlackinden's  Men  did  ufe  to  lie,  there  was 
always,  at  Two  a  Clock  in  the  Morning,  the 
Sound  of  a  Great  Bell  tolling.  Mr.  Harlackin- 
den  would  once  lie  there,  between  his  two  Ser- 
vants, to  fatisfie  himfelf  about  it.  At  the  ufual 
time  came  the  ufual  Sound,  which  threw  the 
Gentleman  into  no  little  Confternation.  But 
Mr.  Shepard,  with  fome  Chriftians,  having  fpent 
a  Night  in  Prayer  at  this  place,  the  Noife  never 
gave  any  difturbance  after. 

Once  and  again  after  this,  finding  the  Refo- 
lution  of  the  Bifhop  to  ruine  him,  if  he  did  not 
leave  the  Country,  he  feafonably  received  Let- 
ters of  Mr.  Ezekiel  Rogers,  Minifter  of  Rowly, 
in  1'orkfhire,  encouraging  him  to  vifit  thofe  parts, 
and  accept  Employment  in  the  Houfe  of  Sir  Ri- 
chard Darly,  of  Buttercrambe,  in  that  County. 
Driven  to  follow  this  Counfel,  his  Journey  pro- 
ved as  troublefome  in  all  the  Winter-Circum- 
fiances  of  it,  as  a  Traveller  could  have  wifhed 
for ;  and  after  he  had  fwam  for  his  Life,  by 
miffing  his  way  over  fome  overflown  Bridges, 
he  made  it  late  on  Saturday-night,  before  he 
came  to  Tork  ;  but  there  having  refrefhed  him- 
felf, he  went  on  to  Buttercrambe  that  Night, 
which  was  about  feven  Miles  further,  where 
wet,  and  cold,  and  late,  he  that  Night  ar- 
rived. 

§  6.  It  added  unto  his  Difcouragements,  when 
on  the  firft  Night  of  his  Arrival,  he  found  grofs 
Profanities  prevailing  both  in  the  Family,  and 
in  the  Neighbourhood  ;  but  God  quickly  made 
him  inftrumental  to  a  blefled  Change  in  both. 
The  profaneft  Perfons  thereabouts  were  foon 
touched  with  the  Efficacy  of  his  Miniftry,  and 
his  Conference ;  and  Prayer  with  Fafting,  as 
well  as  other  Exercifes  of  Devotion,  fucceeded 
in  the  room  of  their  former  Wildneffes.  Both 
Sir  Richard,  and  all  his  Sons,  as  well  as  many 
others  there,  had  caufe  toblefs  God,  that  ever 
they  law  the  Face  of  this  Holy  Man ;  And  as  a 
Teftimony  of  their  Affe&ion  for  him,  they  en- 
couraged his  Marriage  with  the  Knight's  near 


Kinfwoman, ,  who  upon  this  Account  alfo  en- 
larged her  Portion,  about  the  Year  1632.  But 
Bifhop  Neal  here,  would  not  allow  him  any 
Liberty  for  his  Miniftry,  without  a  Subscription, 
which  his  better  informed  Confcience  could  not 
make  -,  and  this  occafioned  his  Removal  upon 
a  Call,  unto  a  Town  of  Northumberland,  call'd 
Heddon-,  where  his  Labours  were  prof  pered  un- 
to the  Souls  of  many  People.  One  of  the  Hou- 
fes  which  he  then  hired,  was  haunted  with  a 
Devil,  as  was  commonly  conceived  upon  the 
departure  of  a  noted  Witch,  who  had  been  the 
former  Inhabitant ;  and  the  Houfe  was  troubled 
with  ftrange  Noifes,till  the  earneft  Prayers  of  this 
Man  of  God  procured  a  Deliverance  from  fo  ex- 
tream  a  Trouble.  But  thither  alfo  the  Zeal  of 
the  Bifhop  reached  him,and  forbad  his  preaching 
there  any  more  ;  no,  nor  durft  the  more  Inge- 
nuous Dr.  Morton,  the  Bifhop  of  Durham,  af- 
ford him  any  Countenance  or  Connivance,  inaf- 
much  as  the  Primate  of  England  had  look'd  with 
fo  hard  an  Eye  upon  him. 

§  7.  While  he  was  thus  deny'd  the  Liberty 
of  preaching  the  Truths  of  the  Gofpel,  as  much 
as  in  the  remoteft  Corners  of  the  Land,  the  Re- 
moval of  Mr.  Cotton,  Mr.  Hooker,  Mr.  Stone, 
and  Mr.  Weld  into  Neiv-England,  had  awaken'd 
many  pious  People,  all  England  over,  to  think 
of  the  like  Removal  ■,  and  feveralof  his'Friends 
already  gat  into  Nevo-England,^  as  well  as  others, 
that  were  now  going  thither,  invited  him  to  ac- 
company them  in  the  Condition  of  that  Planta- 
tion. Wherefore  he  confider'd  with  himfelf, 
that  he  could  not  propofe  to  himfelf  the  peace- 
able Exercife  of  his  Miniftiy  in  any  part  of  En~ 
gland  ;  that  his  moft  intimate  Friends  had  many 
ways  expreffed  their  Defires  of  his  going  with 
them  into  another  Country  -,  that  many  eminent 
Minifters,  and  excellent  Chriftians,  had  already 
tranfplanted  themfelves ;  that  he  could  not  with 
a  fafe  Confcience  comply  with  the  Ceremonies, 
and  Mixt  Communion  at  home  ;  that  it  was  his 
Duty  to  feek  the  Enjoyment  of  Divine  Ordinan- 
ces in  a  further  meafure,  than  was  there  attain- 
able ;  and  that  it  would  be  a  fad  thing  for  him, 
in  Cafe  of  Mortality,  to  leave  his  Wife  and  Son, 
in  the  midft  of  the  Northern  Barbarities ;  which 
Confiderations  now  difpofed  him  for  New-En- 
gland. So  having  preach'd  his  Farewel  Sermon 
at  Nevocaftle,  he  came  from  thence  in  a  Difguife 
to  lpfuoich ,  and  from  thence  to  Earls  Cold: 
Longing  to  be  in  a  Country,  where  he  might 
not  lofe  any  more  precious  time,  thro'  the  In- 
conveniences ofUnfettlemcnt. 

(j  8.  Mr.  Shepard,  and  Mr.  Norton  coming 
now  together  unto  Yarmouth,  to  take  Shipping 
for  New-England,  they  were  much  way-laid  by 
Purfevants,  employ'd  for  the  Trepanning  and 
Entrapping  of  them  ■,  and  thefe  Purfevants  had 
proceeded  fo  far,  as  by  a  Sum  of  Money  to  ob- 
tain a  Promife  from  a  Boy,  belonging  to  the 
Houfe,  where  they  fcented  Mr.  Shepard's  Quar- 
ters, that  he  would  open  the  Door  for  them,  to 
take  him  at  a  certain  Hour  of  the  Night.  But 
behold  the  watchful  Providence  of  God,  over 
his  faithful  Servants !  The  gracious  and  ferious 

Words 


Book  ill.      The  Hificry  of  New-England 


87 


Words  of  Mr.  Shepard,  in  the  Hearing  of  this 
unlucky  Boy,  ftruck  him  with  Horror  to  think, 
that  he  Ihould  be  fo  wicked,  as  to  betray  fuch 
an  Holy  Man.  Whereupon  the  convinced  Boy, 
did  with  Teirs  difcover  the  whole  Plot,  unto 
his  Godly  Miller,  who  forthwith  convey'd  Mr 
Shepard,  out  of  the  way,  and  confounded  the 
Setters  that  would  havecatched  him. 

§  p.  It  was  the  latter  end  of  the  Year  1634, 
when  Sailing  vaas  now  dangerous,  that  Mr.  She- 
pard (hipped  himfelf,  in  a  Ship  of  about  Four 
hundred  Tun  -,  commanded  by  a  very  able  Sea- 
man, but  under  a  perpetual  Entail  and  Series  of 
Difafters,  after  fome  Ujufiice  had  been  ufed 
about  her.    They  fet  Sail  .from  Harwich,  upon 
the  Edge  of  the  Winter  •,  bur  after  feveral  Deli- 
verances from  feveral  DiltrefTes,   within  a  few 
Hours  of  their  firft  fetting  out,  the  Winds  drove 
them  again  back  into  Tarmouth  Road  ;  where 
there  arofe  one  of  the  molt  fearful  Storms  that 
ever  was  known.     They  thought  they  had  loll 
all  their  Anchors,  and  with  their  Anchors  all 
their  Hopes  -,  and  tho'  Thoufands  from  Yarmouth 
Walls  did  pity  them,  yet  none  could  relieve 
them  :  However,  the  Companions  of  an  emi- 
nent Officer,  then  amongft  the  Spectators,  were 
a  little  diftinguifhed,  when  he  fcoffingly  faid  : 
As  for  a  poor  Collier  there  in  the  Road,  he  pitied 
him  very  much ;  but  of  for  the  Puritans  in  the 
other  Ship,  he  wcis  not  concerned,  their  Faith  mould 
fave  them.    In  this  Extremity,   Mr.  Shepard, 
with  all  the  Mariners  in  one  part  of  the  Ship, 
and  Mr.  Norton,  with  Two  hundred  Pajfengers 
in  the  other,  poured  out  their  molt  fervent 
Prayers  unto  Almighty  God  ;  whereupon  the 
Wind  immediately  fo  abated,   that  the  Ship 
Itay'd  j  and  they  found,  tho'  the  Upper  part  of 
the  VefTel  all  broken,  yet  their  laft  Anchor  un- 


broken, and  themfelves  delivered  from  fo  great  I  great  Occafion. 


Society  of  Mr.  Wilfon,  Mr.  Jones,  and  other 
ChriftianSj  which  more  figniricantly  made  good 
the  Name  of  the  Ship,  The  Defence.  In  their 
rirlt  Storm,  the  VefTel  fprang  a  Leak,  which  let 
in  the  Water  falter,  than  both  Pumps  were  able 
to  turn  it  out  •,  a  Leak  eighteen  Inches  long, 
and  an  Inch  wide  :  But  ic  was,  tho'  with  much 
difficulty  found  and  ltop'd,  jult  as  they  were  up- 
on diverting  into  Ireland  for  their  Safety  Being 
thus  again  delivered,  they  got  into  Novo  England, 
and  on  Oil.  3.  they  were  let  afhore  at  Bofton  ; 
from  whence,  within  a  Day  or  two,  his  Friends 
at  Cambridge  gladly  fetched  him. 

§  1 1.  Mr.  Hooker,  with  his  Congregation  at 
Cambridge,   now  removing  to  Hartford,  upon 
Conne&icut  River,  many  comfortable  Dwellings, 
and  confiderable  Demefnes,  were  hereby  feme 
what  prepared  for   Sale  to  the  good  People, 
which  Mr.  Shepard  brought  over  with  him,  who 
were  loth  to  lofe  any  more  of  their  ffiort  Lives. 
by  more  tedious  Removals.     Accordingly,  ta- 
king up  their  Station  at  Cambridge,  Mr.  Shenard, 
with  feveral  of  his  good  People,  did  on  the  firft 
of  the  enfuing  February,  in  a  vait  Ailembly, 
wherein  were  prefent  the  Mag  if 'rates  of  the  Co- 
lony, with  the  Mmifers  and  Mefengers  of  the 
Neighbouring  Churches,  keep  a  Day  of  Prayer ; 
in  the  Clofe  of  which  Day,  they  made  a  Con- 
fejfton  of  their  Faith,  with  a  Declaration  of  what 
Regenerating  Impreffions  the  Grace  of  God  had 
made  upon  them  -,   and  then  they  entred  into 
their  Covenant,  whereby  they  became  a  Church  ; 
to  which  Mr.Cottonjn  the  Name  of  the  re(t,gave 
the  Right  Hand  of  Fellowfhip.     However,   the 
Ordination  of  Mr.  Shepard,  unto  the  Paftoral 
Charge  0?  this  Church,  was  deferred,  until  ano- 
ther Day,   wherein  there  was  more  time  to  go 
thro'  the  other  Solemnities,   proper  to  fuch  a 


3 
1 1 

■ 


a  Death. 

§  10.  The  next  Day,   which  was  the  Lord's 
Day,  he  went  afhore  to  Tarmouth,  where  one  of 
his  firfl  Works,  was  to  bury  his  Firfl  born  Son  -, 
tho'  he  durlt  not  himfelf  be  prefent  at  the  Bu- 
rial, becaufe  his  Danger  from  the  horrid  Alan- 
catchers  afhore,  had  lefs  of  Mercy,   and  more 
of  Horror  in  it,  than  what  he  efcaped  from  the 
mercilefs  and  horrible  Waves  of  the  Sea.     Mr. 
Bridge  of  Norwich,  now  kindly  invited  him  thi- 
ther -,  whither,  when  he  came,  the  worthy  Ma- 
dam Corbet  freely  offered  him  a  great  Houfe  of 
hers,   then  Handing  empty   at.  Baftwick ;  and 
there  he  fpent  all  the  Winter,  in  the  Company, 
and  with  the  Afliftance  of  Mr.  Harlackinden,  a 
Friend  that  loved  him  at  all  times.     In  the  Spring 
he  went   up  to  London  ;  where  by  a  Removal 
from  the  Lodgings,  which  he  took  at  his  firft 
Arrival  there,  he  again  very  narrowly  efcaped 
thofe,  to  whom  fuch  a  Shepherd  was  an  Abomina- 
tion. 

The  Perils  wherein  he  was  continually,  from 
hk  own  Country-men,  compelled  him  once  more 
to  encounter  the  Perils  at  Sea  ;  fo  that  in  July 
following,  he  failed  from  Grave  fend,  in  a  Bot- 
tom too  decay'd  and  feeble  indeed,  for  fuch  a 
Voyage ;  but  yet  well  accommodated  with  the 


§  12.  Within  a  Yenr  after  the  gathering  of  the 
Church  at  Cambridge,  and  the  Ordaining  of  Mr. 
Shepard  in  that  Church  -,  the  Country  wjs  mi- 
ferably  diffracted  by  a  Storm  of  Antinomian  and 
Familiflical  Opinions  then  raifed.     The  Mother 
Opinion  of  all  the  reft  was,  Th.it  a  Chriflian 
fhould  not  fetch  any  Evidence  of  his  good  State 
before  God ,    from    the  fight  of  any    inherent 
Qualification  in  him  ;   or  from  any  Conditional 
Promife  made  unto  fuch  a  Qualification.     From 
the  Womb  of  this  fruitful Opinion,  and  from  the 
Countenance  hereby  given  to  immediate  and  un- 
warranted Revelations,  'tis  not  eafie  to  relate, 
how  many  Monfiers,  worfe  than  African,  arofe 
in  thefe  Regions  of  America  :  But  a  Synod  af- 
fembled  at  Cambridge,  whereof  Mr.  Shepard  was 
no  fmall  part,   moft  happily  crufh'd  them  all, 
The  Vigilancy  of  Mr.  Shepard  was  bleffed,  not 
only  for  the  Prefervation  of  his  own  Congrega- 
tion from  the  Rot  of  thefe  Opinions,   but  alfo 
for  the  Deliverance  of  all  the  Flocks,  which  our 
Lord  had  in  the  Wildernefs.     And  it  was  with 
a  refpeSt  unto  this  Vigilancy,  and  the  Enlight- 
ning  and  Powerful  Miniltry  of  Mr.  Shepard, 
that  when  the  Foundation  of  a  Col 'ledge  was  to 
be  laid,  Cambridge  rather  than  any  other  place, 
was  pitch'd  upon  to  be  the  Seat  of  that  happy 

M  m  m  Se- 


88 


7 be  Hifiory  of  New-England.       Book  ill. 


Seminary  :  Out  of  which  there  proceeded  many 
rotable  Preachers,  who  were  made  fuch,  very 
much  by  their  fitting  under  Mr.  Shepard's  Mi- 
niftry. 

§  13.  It  has  been  a  Queflion  of  feme  Curio- 
fity,  what  might  be  the  Diftemper  of  Hezekiah, 
whereof  he  recovered  fo  remarkably,  and  mi- 
raculoufly  ?  Now  when  I  confide:  the  Chatter- 
ing, whereto  the  lick  Prince  was  brought  by  his 
Difeale,  and  the  Cataplafm  which  he  ufed  of 
things  difcuffive  and  emollient,  I  incline,  with 
Bartholinm,  to  thjnk,  that  his  Diftemper  might 
be  a  Malignant  k&injie,   whereof  dually  the 
Sick  are  either  kill'd,  or  (like  Hezekiah)  cur'd 
on  the  Third  Day.     Such  a  Diftemper  arretted 
our  holy  Shepard,  when  in  the  Coutfe  of  Na- 
ture, and  in  the  Wifh  of  good  Men,  he  might 
have  yet  lived  with  us,  for  much  more  than  t'tj- 
tcen  Years  ;  yea,    twice  fifteen  more,  would 
icarce  have  carried  him  further  than  die  Common 
Agt  of  Man.     Returning  home  from  a  Council 
at  Rbwly,  he  fell  into  a   gtiinjie,  with  a  Sym- 
ptom 1  tic rl  Fever,  which  fuddenly  ftop'd  a  Sil- 
ver Trumpet,   from  whence- the  People  of  God 
had  often  heard  the  joyful  Sound.     Among  other 
Paffages  uttered  by  him,  when  he  lay  a  dying 
he  addrefled  thofe  that  were  about  him,  with 
thele  words  :  Oh  love  the  Lord  Jefi/s  very  dear 
ly ;  that  little  part  that  [have  in  hint,  is  no f mall 
Comfort  to  me  now.     He  died,  Auguft  25.  1649. 
when  he  was  Forty.  Three  Years,    and  Nine 
Months  old  •,   and   left  behind  him  of  Three 
Wives,   which  he  fucceflively    married,    Three 
Sons,  who  have  fince  been  the  Shepherds  of  three 
feveral  Churches  in  this  Country. 

§  14.  Tis  a  good  Saying,  Kon  Annis  fed 
Fact  is  vivunt  mart  ales.  Accordingly,  we  will 
overagiin  meafure  thejJwt  Lije  of  Mr.  She- 
paid,  by  the  great  Work  which  he  did  in  it  :  In 
all  of  which,  the  Motto  of  Weber  was  the  De- 
fign  of  our  Shepard,  Ant  or  i  Vit.t  Yivcndum 
Deo. 

Now  befides  the  other  frequent  and  conftant 
Labouts  of  his  Miniliry,  which  left  their  Im- 
preflions  on  the  Souls  of  Multitude,  where  ever 
he  came,  the  Prefs  has  preferved  fome  of  his 
Labours  for  the  furviving  Generarion  :  And  the 
publifhed  Compofures  of  this  Laborious  Perfon, 
are  of  two  forts  ;  namely,  the  mere  Dotlrinal, 
and  the  more  PraUical ;  tho'  indeed  he  was  of 
fuch  a  Spirit,  as  always  to  gain  the  Point,  of 
mixing  both  in  the  fame  Difcourfes. 

§  15.  Among  his  Compofures  of  the  more 
Dotlrinal  fort,  the  Bell  feems  to  be  born  by  his 
Elaborate  and  Judicious  Treadle,  entituled, 
Thejes  Sabbatics  ;  wherein  he  hath  handled  the 
Morality  of  the  Sabbath,  with  a  degree  of  Rea 
fon,  Reading,  and  Religion,  which  is  truly  ex- 
traordinary. It  was  his  Obfervation,  if  any 
State  would  reduce  the  People  under  it,  unto  all 
fort  of  Super/tit  ion  and  Impiety,  let  them  ercll  a 
Dancing  Sabbath  ;  and  ij  the  God  of  this  World 
would  have  all  Projejfors  enjoy  a  total  Immunity 
from  the  Law  oj  God,  and  all  manner  of  Licen- 
tioufnejs  wlovo'd  them  without  Check  of  Confci- 
ence,  let  him  then  make  an  Every  day  Sabbath. 


And  it  was  an  extreme  Grief  unto  his  devout 
Soul,  to  lee  the  extreme  Ignorance  and  Profane- 
nejs,  wherewirh  many  in  the  Englifh Nation  de- 
cried the  Sacred  Obfervation  of  the  Lord's  Day, 
as  a  Novelty  no  older  than  Perkins,  and  as  the 
Stratagem  of  a  few  old  Difcipirnatian  Puritans. 
Wherefore  as  the  moft  Comprehenfive  Service 
to  be  done  for  the   true  Power  of  Godhnefs, 
which  he  faw  would  rife  and  fall  with  the  Sab- 
bath, he  did  in  thefe  iearned  Thefes  maintain  the 
Morality,  and  advife  the  Santltjication  of  that 
Sacred  Reft.     Having  thus  manilcfted  his  Con- 
cern for  the  fourth  Commandment,  he  manife- 
fted  a  Concern  tor  the  Second  alio  ;  by  a  Di- 
fcoutfe,  wherein  befides  a  more  full  opening  of 
fundry   Particulars  concerning   Liturgies,   the 
Powet  of  the  Keys,  the  Matter  of  the  Yifible 
Church,  there  is  more  largely  handled  the  Con- 
troverlie  concerning  the  Catholick  Yifible  Church  ■, 
lending  to  clear  up  the  Old  Way  of  Chiilt,  in 
the  Churches  of 'New-England.     That  which  in- 
fpired  him,  with  Mr.  John  Allin  of  Dedham,  to 
write  this  Difcourfe,  was  efpecially  a  two-fold 
Confideiation,  expreffed  among  other  things,  in 
the  Fair  Porch  of  this  Book,  about  the  Temple 
of  God.     One  thing  that  moved  him,   was  his 
Defire  of  Reformation  ;  whereof  he  lavs,  We 
freely  cohfefs,  that  we  think  the  Reformation  of 
the  Church  doth  net  onlv  confijl  in  purging  out 
corrupt    W or  (hip,   and  jetting  up   the  true,  but 
alfo  in  purging  the  Churches  fromj'uch  Profane- 
nefs  and  Smjulnefs,  a*  is  fcandaloi/s  to  the  Go- 
fpel,  and  makes  the  Lord  weary  of  his  own  Ordi- 
nances. 

About  the  way  of  attaining  which  Reforma- 
tion, he  adds,  'Tis  true  -,  where  there  is  no 
Church  Relation,  but  a  People  are  ready  to  begin 
a  new  Confti  tilting  of Churches,  be  format ion  zs  to 
be  fought   in  the  Jirft  Confti  tut  ion  :  This  is  our 

Cafe But  where  corrupted  Churches  (fuch 

att  we  conceive  the  Congregation  of  England  ge- 
nerally to  be)  are  to  be  Reformed  -,  there  we  con- 
ceive, that  fuch  Congregations  fhould  be  called  by 
able  Mtmfters  unto  Repentance  for  former  Evils, 
and  confejjing  and  bewailing  their  Sins,  renew  a 
Solemn  Covenant  with  God,  to  reform  themjelves, 
and  to  fubmit  unto  the  Difcipline  oj  Chriji.  By 
which  means  fuch  at  re f ufe  fo  to  do,  exclude 
themjelves,  and  others,  by  the  Severity  of  Difci- 
pline fhould  be  purged  out,  if  falling  into  Sin  they 
remain  impenitent  in  the  fame. 

Another  thing  that  moved  him,  was  his  Re- 
gard   for   New-England  ,    whereof  his  Words 
there  muft  nevet  be  forgotten  ;  and  the  Reafon 
of  my  tranferibing  them,  is,  becaufe  the  Church 
Hiftory  oj   my  Country,  is  briefly  comprifed  in 
them,  faith  he,    '  The  Lord  knows  how   many 
'  Longings  and  Panting s  of  Heart,  have  been  in 
'  many  after  the  Lord  Jejus,  to  fee  his  Goings 
'  in  the  Sanctuary,  as  the  one  thing  their  Souls 
'  defired  and  reqttefled  of  him,  and   thac  they 
'-  might  dwell  in  his  Hoitfe  fr  ever  •  the  Fruit 
of  which  Prayers,  and  Delires,  this  Liberty  of 
New-England,   hath  been   taken  to   be,  and 
thankfully  received  of  God.     Yea,  how  many 
ferious   Confukatiorti  with  one  another,  and 

'  with 


Book  Hi.       cIhe  Hijtory  of ~  iSew-hngland.  85* 


'  with  the  faithful  Minifters,  and  other  eminent 
4  Servants  of  Chrift,  have  been  taken  about  this 
c  Work,  is  not  unknown  to  foftie  ;  and  furely 
1  all  the  Perfons,  whofe  Hearts  the  Lord  ltirred 
4  up  in  rhis  Bufinels,were  not  rafkjaeak-fpirited, 
1  inconfiderate  of  what  they  leftbebind^orofwbat 
'  ;'/  zo.u  to  go  into  a  Wildernefs.     But  it  we  were 
'  able  to  recount  the  lingular  Workings  of  Di- 
4  vine  Providence,    for   the  bringing   on  this 
4  Work,  to  what  it  is  come  unto,  it  would  ftop 
'  the  Mouths  of  all  -,  whatever  many  may  fay 
■  or  think,  we  believe  After  times  will  admire 
4  and  adore  the  Lord  herein,  when  all  his  Holy 
4  Ends,  and  the  Ways  he  has  ufed  to  bring  them 
1  about,  fia/l  appear.    Look  from  one  end  of 
1  the  Heaven  unto  another,  Whether  the  Lord 
1  hath  allayed   to  do  fuch  a  Work  as  this,   in 
1  any  Nation  !  To  carry  out  a  Yeople  of  his  own, 
'  from  fo  flourifhing  a  State,  to  a  Wildernefs  jo 
1  far  dift  ant,  for  fitch  Ends,  and  for  fitch  a  Work; 
4  yea,  and  in  j ~ew  Tears  hath  done  for  them,  tube 
1  bath  here  done,  for  bis  poor  defpifed  People. 
1  When  we   look   back  and  conhder,  what  a 
4  ftrange  Poife  of  Spirit,  he  hath  laid  upon  ma- 
4  ny  of  our  Hearts,  we  cannot  but  wonder  at 
4  our  felves,  that  lb  many,   and  fome  fo  weak 
4  and  tender,  with  fiich  Cbecrfulnefs  and  con- 
4  Itant  Refolutions,  againft  fo  many  Perfwafons 
4  of  Friends,  and  Dij  courage  me  nts  from  the  ill 
'  Report  of  this  Country,  the  Straits,   Wants, 
4  and  Trials  of  God's  People  in  it.  yet  fhould 
4  leave  our  Accommodations,    and  Comforts, 
4  forfake  our  deareft  Relations,  Parents,  Bre- 
4  thren,  Sillers,  Chriftian  Friends  and  Acquain- 
4  ces  -,  over  look  all  the  Dangers  and  Dirficul- 
4  ties  of  the  vafi  Seas,  the  Thoughts  whereof 
4  was  a  Terror  to  many  ;  and  all  this,  to  go  into 
4  a  Wildernefs,  where  we  could  forecaft  nothing 
4  hut  Care   and  Temptations,   only  in  hopes  of 
4  enjoying  Chrift  in  his  Ordinances,  in  the  Fel- 
4  low/hip  of  bis  People.     Was  this  from  a  ftupid 
4  Sencelefnejs,   or  defperate  Carelefnefs,  what 
c  became  of  us,  or  ours  ?  Or  want  of  Natural 
4  Affdlions  to  our  dear  Country,  or  nearelf  Re 
4  lations  ?    No  furely,    with  what  Bowels  of 
4  Companions  to  our  dear  Country  -,  with  what 
1  Heart  breaking  Affections  to  our  dear  Relati 
6  ons,  and  Chriftian  Friends,  many  of  us  at  leaft, 
4  came  away,  the  Lord  is  Witnefs.     What  fhall 
4  we  fay  of  the  lingular  Providence  of  God, 
4  bringing  fo  many  Ship-loads  of  his  People  thro' 
4  fo  many  Dangers,  as  upon  Eagles  Wings,  with 
4  fo  much  Safety  from  Year  to  Year  ?   The  Fa- 
4  tberly  Care  of  our  God,  in  Feeding  and  Cloath- 
4  trig  fo  many  in  a  Wildernefsgiving  fuch  Health 
4  julnefs,  and  great  Increale  of  Polferity  ?  What 
4  (hall  we  fay  of  the  Work  it  felf  of  the  King- 
4  domof  Chrift  ?     And  the  Form  of  a  Common- 
4  wealth  erected  in  a  W7ildernefs,  and  in  fo  few 
4  Years  brought  to  that  State,    that  fcarce  the 
4  like  can  be  feen  in  any  of  our  Englijl)  Colonies. 
4  in  the  richeft  places  of  this  America,  after 
4  many  more  Years  Handing  ?   That  the  Lord 
4  hath  carried  the  Spirits  of  fo  many  of  his 
4  People,  through  all  their  toilfome  Labours, 
s  Wants,  Difficulties,  LofTes,  with  fuch  a  Mea- 


'  lure  of  Cheerfulneis-and  Contentment.  But 
'  above  all,,  we  muff  acknowledge  the  lingular 
'  Pity  and  Mercies  of  our  God,  that  hath  dune 
'  all  this,  and  much  more,  tor  a  People  lb  un- 
'  worthy,  fo  ^niful,  that  by  J \it> ■»:. trings  of 
'  many,  Unfaiwfulnefs  in  Pr'omifes,  OppreJJion}, 
'  and  other  Evils,  which  are  found  among  Us, 
1  have  fo  difhonoured  his  Majefty,  expofed  his 
f  Work  here  to  much  Scandal  arid  Obloquy, 
'  for  which  we  have  caufe  for  ever  to  be  alha- 
'  med,  that  the  Lord  fhould  yet  own  us,  and 
'  rather  correct  us  in  Mercy,  than  caff  us  off'  in 
'  Difpleafure,  and  fcatter  us  in  this  Wildernefs ; 
c  wdiich  gives  us  caufe  to  fay,  Who  is  a  God 
e  like  our  God,  that  pardons  Iniquities,  and  paf- 
'  fes  by  the  Tranfgreffions  of  the  Remnant  of 
'  his  Heritage -,  even  becaufe  he  delight eth  in 
'  Mercy  l 

Having  almoft  written  the  Life  of  Mr.  She- 
pard  ;  yea,  and  of  many  other  his  fellow  Exiles, 
in  tranlcribing  this  PaiTage,  1  may  now  go  on 
to  add,  That  there  has  been  directed  now  unto 
the  whole  Englijh  World,  a  molt  excellent  Let- 
ter of  Mr.  Shepard,  about,  The  Church- Menlbcr- 
fl?ip  of  Children,   and  their  Right  to  Bapiifm. 
This  Letter,  like  that  of  the  glorious  Martyr 
Philpot,  written  at  the  like  Time,   for  the  like 
End,  recited  in  Foxe 's  Alls  and  Monuments,  was 
written  by  him,   not  three  Months   before  his 
going  to  that  Lord,  whofe  Charge  had  been, 
for  little  Children  to  be  confidered  as  belonging  to 
the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  :  And  it  was  written  to 
one  that  was  then  wavering  about  the  Point  of 
Infant-Baptifm,  but  hereby  recovered  and  efta- 
blifhed.     The  Son  of  this  Reverend  Perfon  pub- 
lifhed   this  Letter,  with  hopes,  that  it  might 
have  a  better  Effect:,  than  the  famous  Letter  of 
Elijah  had    upon  fehoram,   which   many  think 
written  before  his  Tranilation,  and  concealed 
until  a  fit  Seafon,  afterwards,  appeared,  for  the 
prefenting  of  it.     But  1  (hall  conclude  the  Ca- 
talogue of  his  Dolfrinal  Tra£ts,  with  the  mention 
of  another  Letter  ef  his,  Printed  at  London  in 
the  Year    1645,  under  the  Title  of,  New  En- 
gland's Lamentation  ,  for   Old   England's   Er- 
rors. 

§  16.  But  Compofures  of  a  more  PraSieal 
fort,  were  thole  to  the  writing  whereof  he  had 
a  more  lively  Dilpofition  of  Mind.  And  among 
thefe,  to  pafs  by  the  Sermon  of  his,  Printed 
under  the  Tide  of,  Wine  forGof pel  Wantons,  or 
Cautions  againft  Spiritual  Drunkennefs.  In  which 
Sermon,  about  as  long  as  fifty  Yeats  ago,  he  ut- 
tered his  Complaint  of  this  Tenour,  Do  not  zee 
fee  great  Vnfetlednefs  in  the  Covenant  of  God, 
walking  with  God  at  Peradventures,    and  Hanc- 
kerings  after  the  Whoredoms  of  the  World,  at  this 
Day  ?  And  Divifions  and  Diftratfions  ?  Nothing 
done  without  Divifwn  and  Contention  ?  Certainly 
fome  thing  is  am  if s  ?     And  to  pafs  by  a  Treadle 
of  his,  Printed  under  the  Title  of,   SubjeEiionto 
Chrift,  in  all  his  Ordinances  and  Appointments, 
the  beft    Means   to  prcferve  our  Liberty.     To 
which  Treatife  is  annexed  another,  Concerning 
bteffetlual Hearing  of  the  Word.     There  are  efpe- 
cially  three  of  his  Books,  which  have  been  more 
M  m  m  z  con- 


9o 


1 be  Hiflory  of  New-England.      Book  ill. 


confidered.     The  firft  and  leaft  of  thofe  Books, 
is  called,  The  Sincere  Convert :  Which  the  Au- 
thor would  commonly  call,  His  Ragged  Child  .- 
And  once,  even  after  its  fourth  Edition,  wrote 
unto  Mr.  Giles  Firmin,  thus  concerning  it  :  That 
which  is  cal/dj  The  Sincere  Convert  :  J  have 
not  the  Book  :  I  once  faw  it.     It  was  a  Colleflion 
offuch  Notes  in  a  dark  Town  in  England,  which 
one  procuring  of  me,  publijhed  them  without  my 
Will,  or  my  Privity.    Jfcarce  know  what  it  con 
tains,  nor  do  Hike  to  fee  it  ;  confidenng  the  ma 
ny  2?*aju«7*  Typographical  mcjl  abfurd ;  and  the 
Confelfion  of  him  that  publijhed  it,  That  it  comes 
out  much  altered  from  what  was  fir/}  written. 
The  many  Injudicious  Readers,  which  that  uie- 
ful  Book  has  found,  among  devout  and  ferious 
People,    and    the    wofui   Horrors  which  have 
thereby  been  railed  in  many  Godly  .Souls,  oblige 
me   to   add  the  Cenfure  of  Mr.  Giles  Firmm, 
whofe  Words  in  his  Real  Chrijhan  are  :  '  In 
c  ihort,  as  to  that  Book,  for  the  general  part  of 
c  it,  the  Book  is  very  lolid,  quick,  and  fearch 
'  ing,  it  cuts  very  lharply.     It  is  not  a  Book  for 
c  an  unfound  heart  to  delight  in  :   I  mean,  in 
'  thole   Places  Where  he  agrees,  both  with  the 
'  Scriptures,  and  with  other  able  Divines,  and 

*  of  tiide  makes  ufe  §  but  lor  the  other  pailages 
'  which  do  not  agree  Willi  either  (as  there  are 
'  fame  things  in  it)  1  will  let  them  go,  as  being 
1  none  of  Mr.  Shepard.%  and  not  trouble  my  fell' 
'  with 'em;  and with  no Cbriftian xhax'ystwtiet 
'  and  Jincere,  to  trouble  himfelf  with  them. 
'  This  I  put  in,  becaule  I  hear  that  Book  hath 
'  caus'd  much  Trouble  in  Gracious  Chriftians  : 
c  Had  it  been  to  Chriftians  in  Name  only,  un 

'  found  Believers,  Hypocrites,  I  fhould  not  have 
'  troubled  my  fell'  about  it,  for  I  know  it  is 
'  not  for  their  Tooth.  But  this  Book  was  fol- 
lowed with  a  fecond  and  larger,  called,  The 
Sound  Believer -,  which  in  a  morediftinel:,  cor- 
reef,  and  moll  judicious  Treatifeof  Evangelical 
Converfion,  diicovers  the  U'ork  of  the  Spirit  of 
the  Lord  jefi/s  d'ry.f  in  reconciling  of  a  Sinner 
unto  God.  And,  as  in  the  Preface  to  that  Book, 
he  gives  that  Realbn  for  his  writing  it,  '  I  con- 
'  Cider cd  my  zveak  Bo'dy,  and  my  fhort  Time  of 
1  fojourning  here,  and  that  1  fhall  not  fpeak 
c  long  to  Children,  Friends  or  God's  precious 
'  People  •,  /  dm  fire  not  to  many  in  England, 
'  to  whom  I  owe  ahiwft  my  whole  Jelf,  and  whom 
L  I  fhall  fee  in  this  World  no  more-,  I  have  been 
'  therefore  -willing  to  take  the  Seafon,  that  I 
'  might  leave  feme  part  of  God's  precious  Truth 

*  en  Record,  chat  it  might  fpeak  (Oh!  that  it 
'  might  be  to  the  Heart)  among  whom  I  can- 
'  not,  and  when  I  (hall  not  be :  So  the  next 
Book  of  his  occurring  to  our  Notice,  is  a 
Pofthumous  one.  And  that  is  a  Volume  in  Fo- 
lio, opening  and  applying  the  Parable  of  the 
Ten  Virgins-,  and  handling  the  Dangers  inci- 
dent unto  the  molt  Flourifhing  Churches  or 
Chriftians  5  which  Book  is  from  the  Authors 
Notes,  a  Tranfcript  of  Sermons  preached  at 
his  Lecture,  from  June  1696.  to  May  1640. 
Whereof  the  Venerable  Names  of  Greenhil, 
Cfi/amy,  Jackfon,  Afh,   Taylor,  have  fubferibed 


the  Teltimony,  That  though  a  Vein  of  ferious. 
/olid  and  hearty  Piety  run  through  ail  thii  A, 
ttior's  Works,  yet  he  hath  referved  the  bell 
Wine  till  the  /aft.  Thefe  were  the  Works  of 
that  Man,  whole  Death  in  tife  Lord  has  now- 
carried  him  to  a  Reft  from  his  his  Labours. 

§  17.  As  he  was  a  very  Studious  Perfon,  and 
a  very  Lively  Preacher ;  and  one  who  therefore 
took  great  Pains  in  his  Preparations,  for  his 
publick  Labours,  which  Preparations  he  would 
ufually  finifli  on  Saturday,  by  two  a  Clock  in 
the  Afternoon  -,  with  Refpect  whereunto  he 
once  ufed  thefe  Words,  God  will  curfe  that 
Man's  Labours,  that  lumbers  up  and  down  in 
the  World  all  the  Week,  and  then  upon  Saturday 
in  the  Afternoon  goes  to  his  Study-,  whenat  God 
knows,  that  Tirkp  were  little  enough  to  pray  m 
and  weep  in,  and  get  his  Heart  into  a  fit  Frame 
for  the  Duties  of  the  approaching  Sabbath.  So 
the  Character  of  his  daily  Converfation  was 
A  Trembling  Walk  with  God.  Now  to  rake 
true  Meafures  of  his  Converfation,  one  of  the 
belt  Glafes  that  can  be  ufed,  is  the  Dion, 
•.Therein  he  did  himfelf  keep  the  Remembran- 
ces of  many  Remarkables  that  palled  betwixt 
his  God^  and  himfelf;  who  were  indeed  Afujf- 
cient  Theatre  to  one  another.  It  would  give 
fome  Inequality  to  this  Pare  ofour  Church  Hiflo- 
ry, it  all  the  Holy  Memoirs  left  in  the  Private 
Writings  of  this  Walker  with  God,  fhould  here 
be  Tranfcribed  :  But  I  will  fingle  out  from 
rhence  a  few  PafTages,  which  might  be  more 
agreeably  and  profitably  expofed  unto  the 
World. 

§  18.  We  will  begin  with  what  his  Eminent 
Succeffbr  Mr.  Mitchel  entred  in  his  own  Diary, 
as  Reported  by  Mr.  Shepard  unto  himfelf  -, 
which  runs  in  thefe  Latin  Terms,  Olim  Canra- 
brigia:,  Ego  Horrore  iff  Tenebris  opplctus,  An 
ad  Menfam  Domini  accederem,  maxime  Dubi- 
tavi ;  Tandem  autem  accejji  utcunq-,.  Cum  vera 
Panis  &  Vinum  jam  effent  Communicanda,  mihi 
Exeundem  putavi ;  tanta  confufwne  jui  Oppref- 
fvs !  Sed  Devs  me  ibi  retinuit,  ac  tandem  hue 
me  adegit,  ut^  Licet,  ego  nihil  pojfim  in  accipi- 
endoChrifto;  ad  ilium  tamen  rejpicerem,  ut  Me 
me  prehenderet  iff  ad  me  veniret.  Statim,  tarn 
perfpicue,  fenfi  Chrifium  illucefcentem  Animo, 
quam  folem  Orienrem  J  entire  pojfum.  Hoc  tan. 
topere  me  evexit,  &  de  Vita  Fidei  hac  ufq-,  Eru- 
divit,  ut  non  pojfum  non  magni  pendere.  Mr. 
Mitchel  had  this  of  Mr,  Shepard,  Aug.  15. 
1646. 

§  19.  How  experimentally  acquainted  he 
himfelf  was  with  the  Praltice  and  Import  of 
the  Doclrine  wherein  he  chiefly  infilled,  in  his 
preaching  unto  others,  will  be  illullrated  from 
this  rnoft  Edifying-Record 'in  his  Diary. 

'  April  ic.  I  had  many  Thoughts  which' 
'  came  in,  to  prefs  me  to  give  up  my  felf  to 
'  Chrift  Jeji/s,  which  was  the  Dearcfi  Thing 
'  1  had :  And  I  faw,  that  if  when  I  gave  my 
'  felf  to  Chrift,  he  would  give  himfelf  tome 
f  again,  it  would  be  a  Wonderful  Change;  to 
,  have  the  Borto.mlefs  Fountain  of  all  Good, 

f  thus 


Book  Hi.       The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


9i 


thus  communicated  unto  me !  Thns,  Taw  or 
Three  Days,  I  was  exercifed  about  this -,  and 
at  laft,  ( which  was  the  Day  wherein  [  fell 
fick  on  the  Sabbath)  in  my  Study  I  was  put 
to  a  Double  Quell  ion ;  Firji,  Whether  Chrift 
would  take  me,  if  I  gave  my  felf  to  him  ? 
Then,  Whether  I  might  take  him  again  upon 
it  ?  And  fo  I  refolved  to  feek  an  Anfwer  to 
both,  from  God  in  Meditation.  So  on  the 
Saturday,  April  11.  I  gave  my  felf  to  the 
Lord  Jefus,  thus.  Firjt,  I  acknowledged  all 
1  was,  or  had,  was  bis  own  -,  as  David  (pake 
of  their  Offerings,  I  acknowledged  him  the 
Owner  of  all.  Secondly,  i  refigned  not  only 
my  Goods  and  Eft  ate,  but  my  Child,  Wife, 
Church  and  Se/f  unto  the  Lord  •,  out  of  Loue, 
as  being  the  bell  and  deareft  things,  which  I 
have.  Thirdly,  I  prized  it  as  the  Great  eft 
Mercy,  if  the  Lord  will  take  them  ;  and  fo 
I  defired  the  Lord  to  do  it.  Fourthly,  I  de- 
fired  him  to  take  all  for  a  Threefold  end  ;  to 
do  with  me  what  he  would  ;  to  love  me:,  to 
honour  himfelf  by  me,  and  all  mine,  fifthly, 
Becaufe  there  is  a  fecret  Refervation,  that  the 
Lord  (hall  do  all  for  the  Soul  that  giveth  up 
it  felf  to  the  Lord  ;  but  'tis  that  God  may 
pleafewv  Will  and  Love  me,  and  if  he  doth 
not,  then  the  Heart  dieth ;  hence  I  gave  up 
my  Will  alfo,  into  the  Lord's  Hands,  to  do 
with  it  what  he  pleafe.  Sixthly,  My  many 
Whorifh  Lufts  I  alfo  refigned,  but  that  he 
would  take  them  all  away.  And  Seventhly, 
That  he  would  keep  me  alio  from  all  Sin  and 
Evil.  Thus,  I  gave  my  felf  unto  the  Lord  ; 
but  then  I  queftioned,  Will  the  Lord  take  me? 
In  anfwer  whereto,  Firft,  I  faw  that  the 
Lord  defired  and  commanded  me  to  Give 
me  my  Heart.  Secondly,  I  faw,  that  this 
was  plcafing  to  him,  and  the  contrary  dif 
pleafing.  Thirdly,  1  faw,  that  it  was  fit  for 
him  to  take  me,  and  to  do  what  he  will 
with  me.  But  then  I  queftioned,  Will  the 
Lord  receive,  and  do  me  good  everlaftingly  ? 
becaufe  I  gave  up  my  Friends  and  the  whole 
Church  to  the  Lord  alfo,  as  I  did  my  felf ; 
and  will  the  Lord  take  all  them  ?  For  anfwer, 
Here  I  faw  the  Great  Privilege  of  it,  and  the 
Wifdom  of  God  in  committing  fome  Men's 
Souls  to  the  Care  of  One  Godly  Man  of  a 
Publick  Spirit ,  becaufe  he,  like  Mofes,  com- 
mends them,  gives  them,  returns  them  all  to 
the  Lord  again ;  and  fo  a  World  of  Good  is 
communicated  for  his  Sake.  The  Third  Que- 
ftion  was,  But  might  I  take  the  Lord  ?  And 
my  Anfwer  was,  if  the  Lord  did  apprehend 
and  take  me  to  himfelf,  then  1  might  take 
him,  for  1  had  no  other  to  lay  hold  on. 


§  20.  Of  what  Thoughts  and  what  Frames, 
he  fometimes  had  in  his  Preparations,  for  the 
Lord's  Table,  we  will  recite  but  one  Expreffive 
Meditation. 

'  July  io.  164.1.  On  the  Evening  of  this 
'  Day,  before  the  Sacrament,  I  law  it  my  Du- 
'  ty  to  fequefter  my  felf  from  all  other  things, 


for  the  Lord  the  next  Day And  now  I 

faw  my  BleflTednefs  did  not  lie  in  Receiving 
of  Good  and  Comjort  from  God,  but  in  hold- 
ing forth  the  Glory  of  God,  and  his  Virtues. 
For  'tis,  I  faw,  an  Amazing  Glorious  Object, 
To  fee  God  in  the  Creature  !  God  fpeak,  God 
act,  the  Deity  not  being  the  Creature,  and 
turned  into    it ;    but   rilling  of  it, 


through  it 


(Tuning 


,  to  be  covered  with  God  as  with 
a  Cloud,  or  as  a  Glafs  Lanthorn  to  have  his 
Beams  penetrate  through  it.  Nothing  is  good 
but  God,  and  I  am  no  further,  good  than  a*  1 
hold  forth  God.  The  Devil  overcame  Eve  to 
damn  her  felf,  by  telling  her,  that  (he  fhould 
be  like  God.  Oh  !  That  is  a  Glorious  Thing  ! 
And  ihould  not  I  be  Holy,   and  be  like  him  I 


Mor, 


■over,  I  found    my   Heart  draun 


more 

fweetly  to  clofe  with  God,  thus  as  my  £W, 
and  to  place  my  Happinels  therein.  Alfo,  I 
faw  it  was  my  Miieiy.  to  hold  forth  Sin  and 
Satan  and  Self  in  my  Courfe.  And  I  faw  one 
of  thefe  two  things,  mult  be  done.  Now  be- 
caufe my  Soul  wanted  Pleafwe,  1  purpofed 
then  to  hold  forth  God,  and  did  hope  it  fhould 

"  be  my  Plcafurc  fo  to  do,  as  it  would  be  my 

'  Pain  to  do  otherwise. 

§  21.  How  watchful  he  was  in  the  Difcharge 
of  his  Minijiry,  let  this  his  Meditation  in- 
timate. 

'  Auguft  15.  I    hw,  on  the   Sabbath,  Four 
Evils  which  attend  me  in  my  Minift  ry.    Firft, 
Either  the  Devil  treads  me  down  by  Difcou- 
rogement  and  Shame  -,  from  the  Senfe  of  the 
Meannefsof  what  1  have  provided  in  private 
Meditations,  and  unto  this  I  faw  alfo  an  An- 
fwer-, to  wit,  that  every   thing  fancFified  to 
do  Good,  Its  Glory  is  not   to   be  feen  in  it 
felf,  but  in  the  Lord's  fan&ifying  of  it :  Or, 
from  an  Apprehenfion  of  the  Unfavourineis 
of  Peoples  Spirits,  or    their  Unreadinefs  to 
hear  in  Hot  or  Cold  Times.     Secondly,  or  Care- 
lefnefs  poffeffes  me  -,  arifing,  becaufe  I  have 
done  well,  and  been  enlarged,  and  have  been 
refpecFed  formerly,  hence  it  is   no  fuch  mat- 
ter, though  I  be  not  always  alike  ;  Beftdes, 
I  have  a  Natural  Ditlnefs  and  Cloudinefs  of 
Spirit,  which  does  naturally  prevail.  Thirdly, 
Infirmities  and  Weaknefs,  as  want    of  Light, 
want  of  Life,  want  of  a  Spirit  of  Power  tc 
Deliver  what  I  am  affected  with  for  Chrift  ; 
and  hence  I  faw  many  Souls  not  let  forward 
nor  God  felt  in  my  Miniftry.    Fourthly,  Wane 
of  Succefs,    when  I  have  done    my  beft.     I 
faw  thefe,  and  that  I  was  to  be  humbled  for 
thefe.     I  faw  alio  many  other  Sins,  and  how 
the  Lord  might  be  angry.    And  this  Day,  in 
mufing  thus,  I  faw,  that   when  I  hw,  God 
angry,  I  thought  to  pacify  him  by  -abjlaining 
from  all  Sin,   for  the   time  to  come.     Bur 
then  I  remembred,  Firft,  that  my  Right-eouf- 
nefs  could   not  fatisfie,  and  that  this    was 
Refting  on  my  own  Right eoufnefs.    Secondly, 
I    faw  I  could   not  do  it.     Thirdly,  I  law 
Righteoufnefs  readv  made,  and   already  firft 

*  Ihed, 


j2 


The  "Hi/hry~^~Nc\x-'Enghnd.       Book  III. 


•  fhed,  fit  only  for  that  purpofe.  And  I  faw 
that  God's  a'fflicling  me  for  Sin,  was  not  that 
I  fhould  go  and  fatisfy  by  reforming,  but  only 

•  be  humbled  for,  and  feparated  from  Sin,  be- 
'  ing  reconciled  and  made  Righteous  by  Faith 
:  in  Cbrift,  which  I  law  a  little  of  that  Night. 
'  This  Day  alfo  I  found  my  Heart  untoward, 
'  fad  and  heavy,  by  muling  on  the  many  Evils 
1  to  come  ;  but  I  law,  if  I  carried  four  things 
'  in  my  Mind  always,  I  ihould  be  comforted 
1  Firjl,  That  in  my  felf,  I  am  a  dying  condem- 
'  ned  Wretch,  but  by  Chrift  reconciled  and 
'  alive.  Secondly,  In  my  felf  and  in  all  Crea- 
'  tures  finding.  Inefficiency,  and  no  Reft  but 
'  God  All  fufficient,  and  enough  to  me.  Third- 
'  ly,  Feeble  and  unable  to  do  any  thing  my 
'  felf ;  but  in  Chrilt  able  to  do  all  things. 
'  Fourthly,  Although  I  enjoyed  all  thefe  but  in 
'  part,  in  this  World,  yet  I  fhould  have  them 
'  all  pertecf ly  fhortly  in  Heaven  <  where  God 
'  will  (how  himfelf  fully  reconciled,  fufficient 
L  and  efficient,  and  abolifh  all  Sin,  and  live  in 
'  me  perfectly. 

§  22.  How  fenfible  he  was  of  the  Leaji 
Failings  in  himfelf,  and  how  defirous  to  mend 
thofe  Failings,  may  be  gathered  from  the  en- 
fuing  Brief  Meditations. 

1  Decemb.  i.  A  fundi  thing  troubled  me. 
c  Hence  I  faw  that  though  the  Lord  bad  made 
'  me  that  Night  attain  that  part  of  Humiliation, 
1  that  I  deferved  nothing  but  Mifery,  yet  I  fell 
4  fhort  in  this  other  part -,  namely,  xofuomit  unto 
4  God  in  any  Crofling  Providence,  or  Command - 
"•  ment  ;  but  I  had  a  Spirit  foon  touched  and  pre 
c  voked.  I  faw  alfo,  that  the  Lord  let  Sin  and 
'  Satan  prevail  there,  that  I  might  fee  my  Sin 
*  and  be  more  humbled  by  it,  and  fo  get 
'■  Strength  againft  it. 


Again-, 

'  Mar.  19.  I  faid,  a^  Pride  was  my  Sin,  fo 
''  Shame  fhould  be  my  Punifhment.  And  many 
*  Fears  I  had  of  Eli's  Punifhment,  for  not  re- 
'  proving  Sin,  when  I  faw  it,  and  that  fharp- 
c  ly  -,  and  here  I  eonfidered,  that  the  Lord 
s  may,  and  doth  fometimes  make  one  Good 
'  Man  a  Terrour  and  dreadful  Example  of 
'•  Outward  Miferies,  that  all  others  may  fear 
'  that  be  Godly,  left  his  Commands  fhould  be 
'  flighted ,  as  he  did  Eli. 


§  23.  Of  how  Humble  and  of  how  Publick 
a  Spirit  he  was,  we  will  inlorm  our  felves,  efpe- 
dally  from  Two  Meditations,  which  he  wrote 
on  fucfa  Days  of  Prayer^  as  he  was  uled  unto. 


The    Firjl  was  this. 

'  Nov.  3.  On  a  FaJI-Day  at  Night,  in  Pre. 
pararion  for  the  Duty,  the  Lord  made  me 
fenfible  of  thefe  Sins  in  the  Churches.  1.  Ig- 
norance oftbemfe/ves  -,  becaufe  of  fecret  Evils. 
1.  Of  God  ;  becaufe  molt  Men  were  full  of 
Dark  and  Doubtful  Confciences.  3.  Not  ca- 
ring for  Chrift,  dearly,  only.  4.  NeglecF  of 
Duties  •,  becaufe  of  our  Place  of  Security. 
5.  Standing  againft  all  Means,  becaufe  we 
grow  not  better.  6.  Earthlinefs;  becaufe  we 
long  not  to  be  with  Chrift.  And  I  faw  Sin, 
as  my  Greatelt  Evil,  becaufe  I  faw  my  felf 
was  not  better  than  God.  I  was  vile,  but  he 
was  Good  only,  whom  my  Sin  did  crofs^  and 
I  law  what  caufe  I  had  to  loath  my  felf,  and 
not  to  ieek  honour  unto  my  felf.  Will  any 
defire  his  Dunghill  to  be  commended  ?  Will 
he  grieve,  if  it  be  not  ?  If  he  judge  fo  indeed 
of  it.    So  my  Heart  began  to  fall  off  from 

it  -,  and  the  Lord  alfo  gave  me  fome  Glimpfe 
of  my  felf,  and  a  good  Day  and  time  it  was 
to  me. 

1  On  the  End  of  the  Fafl,  I  fir (l  went  unto 
God,  I  refted  upon  him  as  fufficient  -,  Second- 
ly, Waited  on  him  as  efficient  $  and  faid, 
Now,  Lord,  Do  for  thy  Churches  and  Help  in 
Mercy  !  In  the  Beginning  of  the  Day,  T  be- 
gan to  conftder,  Whether  all  the  Country  did 
not  fare  the  worfe  for  my  Sins  ?  I  faw  it  was 
fo,  and  this  was  an  humbling  Thought  to  me ; 
and  I  thought,  if  every  one  in  particular, 
thought  fo  and  was  humbled,  it  would  do 
well.  I  confider  alfo,  That  if  Repentance 
turn  away  Judgments,  then,  if  the  Quell  ion 
be,  Who  they  are  that  bring  Judgments  >  The 
Anfwer  would  be,  They  that  think  their  Sins 
fo  /"mall  a*  that  God  is  not  angry  with  them 
at  all. 


Once 


more. 


*  OHob.  10.  When  I  faw  the  Gifts  and  Ho- 
nour attending  them  in  another ,  I  began  to 
affect;  fuch  an  Excellency-,  and  I  faw  hereby 
that  ufually  in  my  Miniftry,  I  did  aftecF  an 
Excellency,  and  hence  fet  upon  the  Work : 
Whereas  the  Lord  hereupon  humbled  me  for 
this,  by  letting  me  fee  this  was,  A  Diabo- 
lical Pride  •,  and  fo  the  Lord  made  me  thank- 
ful for  feeing  it,  and  put  me  in  Mind  to 
watch  againft  it, 


The  Second  was  this. 


April  4.     Preparing  for  a  Fafl. 

'  May  not  I  be  the  Caufe  of  the  Church's 
Sorrows,  which  are  Renewed  upon  us  ?  For, 
What  have  the  Sheep  done  ? 
'  I.  My  Heart  has  been  long  lying  out  from 
the  Lord.  The  Lord  fir  hi  fent  a  Terrible 
Storm  at  Sea,  to  awaken  me  ;  and  the  Deli- 
verance from  it  was  fo  fweet,  that  I  could 
not  but  think  my  Life  after  that,  fhould  be 
only  Heavenly,  as  being  pull'd  from  an  ap- 
parent Death  to  live  a  New  Life.  Then,  im- 
mediately upon  this  my  Child  was  taken  away 
from  me  -,  my  Firfi-Born,  which  made  me  re- 
member, how  bitter  it  was  to  crolsthe  Lord's 

'  Love. 


Book  iH       The  Hijlory  of  Nevv-England7 


93 


■  Love.  Thirdly,  I  fet  my  Face  to  New-Eng- 
land, where  confidering  the  Liberties  of  God's 
Houfe,  I  refolved  and  thought  it  fit  to  be 
wholly  for  the  Lord,  in  all  manner  of  Holt- 
nefs,  at  Bed,  at  Board,  everywhere,  fourth- 
ly Then  the  Lord  took  my  Dear  Wife  from 
me,  and  this  made  me  refolve  to  delight  no 
more  in  Creatures,  but  in  the  Lotd,  and  to 
feck  him.  Fifthly,  The  Lord  then  threatned 
Blindncfs  to  my  Child  ;  and  this  made  God's 
Will  Afflicting  fweet  to  me,  but  much  more 
Commanding  and  Promifing  :  And  then  I  could 
do  his  Will,  and  leave  thofe  things  to  him- 
felf.  But  Oh!  How  is  my  Gold  become  dim) 
And  how  little  have  I  anfvvered  the  Lord ! 
Confidering  my  Ship  Refo/ut ions.  I  have 
wanted  Remembrance,  Heart  and  Strength  or 
Will  to  do  any  of  thefe  things.  And  there- 
fore, I  have  not  caufe  to  blame  the  Lord  -, 
for  he  has  perfwaded  my  Heart  to  this  5  hut 
my  own  Concupifcence  and  vile  Nature, 
which  Lord  !  that  I  might  mourn  for  !  That 
thou  mayft  Rejlore  Comforts  to  me  !  Apoftacy 
from  God  is  grievous,  tho'  it  be  in  a  little 
Degree-,  to  ferve  Satan  without  Promife!  To 
fbriake  the  Lord  againjt  Promife!  What  Evil 
have  I  found  in  the  Lord  ?  This  brings  more 
Difgrace  upon  the  Lord,  than  if  there  had 
never  been  any  coming  to  him. 
'  II.  The  People  committed  to  me  :  They  are 
not  pitied  lb  much  nor  prayed  for,  nor  vifitcd, 
as  ought  to  have  been  ;  nor  have  I  (hewed 
fo  much  hove  unto  them. 
'  III.  The  Family,  I  have  not  Edified  nor  In- 
ftru&ed,  nor  taken  all  Occalions  of  Speech 
with  them. 

*  IV.  The  Go/pel,  I  have  preached,  has  not 
been  feen  in  its  Glory ;  not  Believed,  not 
Affellwg. 


'  V.  Not  feeking  to  Chrilr  for  Supply  •,  fo 
that  all  hath  been  Dead.  Works,  and  bruit  of 
Pndey    walking  daily  without  C.hrifr,    and 
without  approving  my  felfunto  him.     And 
hence,  tho'  I  do  his  Work,   I,  don't  mind  him 
in  it-,  Hk  Command,  his  Prefence,   nor  yet 
endeavour  to  grow  fomewhat  everv  Day. 
'  My  not  lamenting  the  Falls  of  Profeffors, 
and  the  Condition  of  the  Country,  who  are 
not  indeed  the  Glory  of  God  in  the  World, 
nor  the  Holy  People.     Is  it  not  hence.,  that 
many  Pillars  in   the  Church  have  fallen,  as 
if  the  Lord   would  not  beturft  fuch  precious 
VeJJels  to  my  Care  >  And   hath  not   the  Sor- 
row   lain  upon    me?    And   hence   Univerfal 
'  Mortality  ?  When  Hezekiah\  Heart  was  lifted 
'  up,  then  Wrath  came  not  only  on  him,  but 
'  on  all  the  reft  : 

'  And  I  have  now  had  a  long  Sickncfs,  as  if 
'  the  Lord    would  delight  no  more  in  me  to 
'  ufe  me.     Oh!  My  God,  who  fhail  be  like  o 
'  thee   i ?2  pardoning    and  fubduing  mine    Ini. 
'  quities. 

Behold.  Reader,  the  Language  of  an  Holy 
Soul! 

But  I  will  now  take  my , Leave  of  Mr.  Shep- 
ard's  Memory,  with  one  Diftick,  in  the  Fune- 
ral Elegy,  which  Mr.  Peter  Bttlkly  made  on 
him :  A  Comprehenfive. 


EpItap 


H. 


Nortiinfc,  Offici'iq-*,  fuit  Concordia.  Dulcis  3 
Officio  Pallor  Nomine  Pajior  erat. 


CHAP.     VI. 

Prudentius.     The  L  I  F  E  of  Mr.   PE  TE  R    P  RV  D  DE  N,  arid  feveral   other 
Divines,  Famous  in  the  Colony  of  TSIeivhaveri. 


THAT  Greateft  of  Peace-Makers,  the  Son 
of  God,  has  allured  us,  Bleffed  are  the 
Peace-Makers,  for  thy  fhail  be  called  the  Chil- 
dren of  God.  I  am  fure  then,  'tis  a  Bleffed 
Child  of  God,  whofe  Name  is  now  before  us ; 
(Prudden  fhail  we  call  him  >  or,  Prudent,) 
who  belides  his  other  Excellent  Qualities,  was 
noted  for  a  Singular  Faculty  to  fweeten,  corn- 
pole  and  qualify  Exafperated  Spirits,  and  flop 
or  heal  all  Contentions.  Whence  'twas  that 
his  Town  of  Mi/ford  enjoyed  Peace  with  Truth 
all  his  Days,  notwithstanding  fome  Difpofi- 
tions  to  Vatiance,  which  afterwards  broke  forth 
among  them. 

God  had  marvellouily  Blefled  his  Minifhy 
in  England,  unto  many  about  Herefordfhire, 
and  near  Wales  -,   from  whence  when  he  came 


into  NewEnglartd,  there  came  therefore  many" 
confiderable  Perfons  with  him. 

At  their  Arrival  in  this  Country,  they  were 
fo  mindful  of  their  Bufinejs  here,  that  they 
gathered  Churches,  before  they  had  ere£led 
Houfes,  for  the  Churches  to  meet  in.  There 
were  then  Two  Famous  Churches  gathered  at 
New-haven  ;  gathered  in  Two  Days,  one  fol- 
lowing upon  t'other;  Mr.  Davenport's  and 
Mr.  Prudden's :  And  this  with  one  lingular 
Circumftances,  That  a  mighty  Barn  was  the 
Place,  wherein  the  Duties  of  that  Solemnity 
were  attended.  Oirr  Glorious  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift  himfelf  being  Bom  m  a  Stable,  and  laid 
in  one  of  thofe  Moveable  and  Four-fquar'd 
Little  Vefjels  wherein  they  brought  Meat  unto 
the  Cattel,  it  was  the  more  allowable,  that  2 

Church1 


94 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England,     Book  ill. 


Church,  which  is  the  Myftical  Body  of  that  Lord, 
thould  thus  be  born  in  a  Barn.  And  in  this 
Tranflation,  I  behold  our  Lord,  With  his  Fan 
in  his  Hand,  purging  his  Floor,  and  gathering  her 
Wheat  into  the  Garner. 

That  holy  Man,  Mr.  Philip  Henry,  being  re- 
proached by  his  Perfecutors,  that  his  Meeting- 
place  had  been  a  Bam,  pleafantly  anfwered, 
No  new  thing,  to  turn  a  Threjhing- floor  into 
a  Temple.  So  did  our  Chriftians  at  Ndw- 
haven. 

The  next  Year  Mr.  Prudden,  with  his  Church, 
removed  unto  Mi /ford ;  where  he  lived  many 
Years  an  Example  of  Piety,  Gravity,  and  boil- 
ing Zeal,  againft  the  growing  Evils  of  the 
Times. 

And  tho'  he  had  a  numerous  Family,  yet 
fuch  was  his  Difcretion,  that  without  much 
DijlraUion,  he  provided  comfortably  for  them, 
notwithftanding  the  difficult  Circumftances  , 
wherewith  an  Infant  Plantation  was  encum- 
bred. 

He  continued  an  able  and  faithful  Servant  of 
the  Churches,  until  about  the  Fifty  ftxth  Year 
or  his  own  Age,  and  the  Fifty  fixth  of  the  pre 
fent  Age  -  when  his  Death  was  felt  by  the  Co- 


lony, as  the  Fall  of  a  Pillar,  which  made  the 
whole  Fabrick  to  (hake. 


Like  that  of  Piccart,  now  1st  our  PruddenAk 
under  this 


E    P    I    T 


A    P    H. 


Dog/ante  non  tantumfuit  Auditoribus  Idem 
Exemplo  in  Vita  ;  jam  quoquc  morte  prait. 

But  our  Pen  having  flown  as  far  off  as  the 
Colony  of  New-haven,  it  may  not  return,  with- 
out fome  Remarks  and  Memoirs,  of  Three  other 
Worthy  Divines,  that  were  ibmetimes  famous 
in  that  Colony.  The  Reader  muft  excufe  my 
Ignorance  of  the  firft  Circumftances,  if  he  find 
them  to  be  Born  Men  in  our  Hiftory. 

Mr.  Blackman. 
Mr.  Pi  erf  on. 
Mr.  Denton. 


CHAP.     VII. 

The  L  I  F  E  of  Mr.  A  D  A  M    B'L  AC  KM  A  N. 


A 


Mong  thofe  Believers  who  firft  enjoyed 
the  Name  of  Chriftians,  there  were  feve- 
ral  famous  Teachers,  whereof  one  (AUs  13.  1.) 
had  the  Name  of  Niger.  And  in  the  Primitive 
Churches  of  New-England,  alfo,  there  was  a- 
rhong  our  famous  Teachers,  a  good  Man,  who 
Wore  the  fame  Sir  name,  this  was  omMx. Black- 
man,  concerning  whom,  none  but  a  Romanift 
would  have  ufed  that  Rule  : 

Hie  Niger  eft,  hunc  tu  Romane,  caveto. 

For  he  was  highly  efteemed  in  the  Protefiant 
Country,  where  he  fpent  the  latter  Days  of  his 
Lite. 

He  was  a  ufeful  Preacher  of  the  Gofpel,  firft 
in  Lciceftcrjhire,  then  in  Derbyjhire  :  But  com- 
ing to  New-England,  from  the  Storm  that  began 
to  look  black  upon  him,  he  was  attended  with 
a  defirable  Company  of  the  Faithful,  who  faid 
unto  him,  Entreat  us  not  to  leave  you,  or  to  re- 
turn irom  following  after  you  :  For  whither  you 
go,  we  will  go  •,  and  your  God  jhall  be  our 
God. 

New  England  having  received  this  Holy  Man, 
who  notwithftanding  his  Name,  was  for  his 
Holinefs,  A  Nazarite  purer  than  Snow,  whiter 
than  Milk.  It  was  firlt  at  Guilford,  and  after- 
wands  at  Stratford,  that  he  employ'd  his  Talents ; 
And  if  a  famous  Modern  Author  be  known  by 


the  Name  of  Adamus  Adamandt/s,  our  Adam 
Blackman,  was  by  the  AftecYions  of  his  People 
fo  likewife  called. 

It  was  his  Opinion,  that  as  for  our  Bodies, 
thus  for  our  Spirits  alfo,  Cibm  fimplex  efi  Opti- 
Wiis  :  And  accordingly  he  ftudied  plain  Preach- 
ing, which  was  entertained  by  his  People  with 
a  profitable  Hearing.  And  as  Luther  would  lay, 
He  is  the  ableft  Preacher,  §>ui  pueriliter,  Trivi- 
aliter,  Populariter,  fimp/icijj/me  docet  :  So  our 
Hooker,  for  the  fake  of  the  facred  and  folid 
Simp/icity,]n  the  Difcourfes  of  this  worthy  Man, 
would  fay,  If  I  might  have  my  Choice,  I  would 
choofe  to  live  and  die  under  Air.  Blackman'^ 
I  Minifiry. 

There  was  a  Great  Perfon  among  the  Refor- 
mers in  Germany,  who  had  almoft  the  fame 
Name  with  our  Blackman ;  that  was  Melantlhon, 
and  indeed  this  good  Perfon  was  a  Melantlhon, 
among  the  Reformers  of  Newhaven  -,  in  this 
happier  than  he,  that  his  Lot  was  caft  among  a 
pious  People,  who  did  not  adminifter  fo  frequent 
Occafions  as  the  Germans  did  for  the  Complaint, 
That  Old  Adam  was  too  hard  for  his  young  Name- 
fake. 


For  a  Clofe,  I  may  apply  to  him  the  ingeni- 
ous Epitaph  of  Beza  upon  Melantlhon. 

Cxi 


BoakTi  i        The  Bijlory  of  i\ew- England. 


95 


Cut  NKeus  toto  Regnabat  peclore  Candor ; 

TJmtm  cut  Cerium,  cur  a  labor  que  fit  it  : 
Num  Rogitus,  qitk  Jit  diefns  Rat/one  Me 
lan&hon  f 

Scilicet  Euxinum,  qua  Ratioiie  vocant. 


[For  this  is  a  well  known  Sea,  call'd  Euxinc. 
or  Harbor  ous,  becaufe  there  are  no  good  Harbors 
in  it.  ] 


CHAP.     VIII. 
The  L  I  F  E  of  Mr.  A  B  R  A  II  A  M    P  I  E  R  S  0  N. 


but 
called 


» 'TMs  reported  by  Pliny,  and  perhaps  'tis 
X  a  Plinyi/m,  that'  there  is  a  Fi(h  ca 
Lucerna,  whole  Tongue  doth  Ihine  like  a  Torch, 
if  it  be  a  Fable,  yet  let  the  Tongue  of  a  Mini- 
Her  be  the  Moral  of  that  Fable  :  Now  fuch  an 
illuminating  Tongue,  was  that  of  our  Pier/on. 

He  was  a  Torkjhire  Man,  and  coming  to  New- 
England,  he  became  a  Member  of  the  Church 
atBofion  ;  but  afterwards  thus  employed,  to- 
wards the  Year  1640.  The  Inhabitannts  of 
Lyn,  (fraitned  at  home,  looked  out  for  a  new 
Plantation  ;  fo  going  to  Long-IJland,  they  agreed 
both  with  the  Lord  Starling's  Agent,  and  with 
the  Indian  Proprietors,  for  a  Situation  at  the 
Weft -end  of  that  Ifland  :  Where  the  Dutch  gave 
them  fuch  difturbance,  that  they  deferted  their 
Place  for  another  at  the  Eaft-end  of  it.  Pro- 
ceeding in  their  Plantation,  by  the  Acceffion  of 
near  an  hundred  Families,  they  called  Mr.  Pier- 
/on  to  go  thither  with  them  ;  who  with  feven 
or  eight  more  of  their  Company,  regularly  in- 
corporated themfelves  into  a  Church  State  before 
their  going  :  the  whole  Companyalfo  entringat 
the  fame  time,  with  the  Advice  of  the  Govern 
ment  of  the  MaJJachu/et.Bay,  into  a  Civil  Com- 
bination, for  the  maintaining  Government  among 
themfelves.     Thus  was  there  fetled  a  Church  at 


Southampton,  under  the  Paftoral  Charge  of  this 
worthy  Man  ;  where  he  did  with  a  laudable 
Diligence  undergo  two  of  the  three  hard  Labors, 
Docentis  and  Regent  is,  to  make  it  become  (what 
Paradife  was  called),  An  Ifland  of  the  Inno- 
cent. 

It  was  afterward  found  neceflary  for  this 
Church  to  be  divided.  Upon  which  occafion 
Mr.  Pier/on  referring  his  Cafe  to  Council,  his 
Removal  was  directed  unto  Brain/ord,  over  upon 
the  Main,  and  Mr.  Fordham  came  to  ferve,  and 
to  feed  that  part  of  the  Flock,  which  was  left 
at  Southampton  -,  but  where-ever  he  came,  he 
Jhone. 

He  left  behind  him  the  Character  of  a  pious 
and  prudent  Man  -,  and  a  true  Child  of  Abra- 
ham, now  fafely  lodged  in  Sinu-Abraha. 


Fpitaphium. 


Terrfc  di/cej/zt,  fnfpirans  Gaudia  cdli, 
Pierfonus    Patriam  fcandit    ad  Ajlrd 
/nam. 


CHAP.     IX. 

The  L  I  F  E   of  Mr.  R  I  C  H  A  R  D    DENTON. 


THE  Apoftle  defcribing  the  falfe  Minijiers 
of  thofe  Primitive  Times,  he  calls  them, 
Clouds  without  Water,  carried  about  of  Winds. 
As  for  the  true  Minijiers  of  our  Primitive  Times, 
they  were  indeed  carried  about  of  Winds  -,  tho' 
not  the  Winds  of  ftrange  Doffrines ;  yet  the 
Winds  of  Hard  Sufferings ,  did  carry  them  as 
far  as  from  Europe  into  America  -,  the  Hurrica 
nos  of  Perfecution,whereon  doubtlefs  the  Prince 
oj  the  Power  oj  the  Air  had  his  Influence,  drove 
the  Heavenly  Clouds,  from  one  part  of  that  Hea- 
ven, the  Church,  unto  another.  But  they  were 
not  Clouds  without  Water,  where  they  came  ; 
they  came  with  Showers  of  Bleljing,  and  rained 
very  gracious  Impreflions  upon  the  Vineyard  of 
the  Lord. 


Among  thefe  Clouds  was  our  Pious  and  Learn 
ed  Mr.  Richard  Denton,  a  Torkjhire  Man,  who 
having  watered  Halifax  in  England,  with  his 
fruitful  Miniftry,  was  by  a  Tempeft  then  hur- 
ried into  New-England,  where  firft  at  Weathet  s- 
Jield,  and  then  at  Stamford,  his  DoUrine  dropt 
as  the  Rain,  his  Speech  diflilled  as  the  Dew,  at 
the  /mail  Rain  upon  the  tender  Herb,  and  as  the 
Show'rs  upon  the  Gra/s. 

Tho'  he  were  a  little  Man,  yet  he  had  a  great 
SouJ  h  his  well-accomplifhed  Mind,  in  his  lefler 
Body,  was  an  Iliad  in  a  Nut-Jljell. 

3  think  he  was  blind  of  one  Eye  ;  neverthelefs 

ho  was  not  the  leafl  among  the  Seers  of  our  Ij- 

N  n  n  rael; 


9* 


The  Hiftory  of  New- England.     Book  III. 


rael;  he  faw  a  very  confiderable  Proportion  of 
thofe  things  which  Eye  hath  not  fee n. 

He  was  far  from  Cloudy  in  his  Conceptions 
and  Principles  of  Divinity  ;  whereof  he  wrote  a 
Syflem,  encituled,  Soliloquia  Sacra  ;  foacurately, 
confidering  the  Fourfold  State  of  Man;  in  his, 
I.  Created  Purity.  II.  Contracted  Deformity. 
I'll.  Relfored  Beauty.  IV.  Cceleftial  Glory. 
That  Judicious  Perlbns,  who  have  feen  it,  very 
much  la'ment  the  Churches  being  fo  much  depri 
ved  of  it. 

At  length  he  got  into  Heaven  beyond  Clouds, 
and  fo  beyond  Storms  :,  waiting  the  Return  of 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,   in  the  Clouds  of  Heaven, 


when   he  will  have  his   Reward  among  the 

Saints. 


Epitaphium. 


Hie  Jacet,    &  fruit ur    Trattquilla  fede  Ri- 
chardus 

Dentonus,  cujus  Fama  perennts  crit. 
Incolajam  C£li  veltit  dflra  tfticantia  fidget, 

££iti  mult  is  Fidei  Litmina.  clara  dedit. 


CHAP.     X. 
f  he    L  I  F  E   of  Mr.  P  E  T  E  R    B  V  L  K  L  T. 

Ipfe  AfpcUus  Boni  viri  deleUat.    Sen. 

§  i.  TT  has  heen  a  Matter  of  fome  Reflexion,  I 
X  that  among  the  pretended  SuccefTors  of  j 
Saint  Peter,  there  never  was  any  Pope,  that 
would  pretend  unto  the  Name  of  Peter  ;  but  if 
any  of  them  had  been  Chriftened  by  that  Name 
at  the  font,  they  afterwards  changed  it,  when 
they  came  unto  the  Chair.  No  doubt,  as  Raphael 
Urbi/te,the  famousPainter,being  tax'd,for  making 
the  Face  in  the  Picture  of  Peter  too  Red,replied, 
He  did  it  on  purpofe,  that  he  might  reprefent 
the  Apoltle  Slutting  in  Heaven,  to  fee  what  Suc- 
cefTors he  had  on  Earth  :  So  thefe  infamous  A- 
poftates,  might  blufh  to  hear  themfelves  called 
Peter,  while  they  are  Confcious  unto  themfelves, 
of  their  being  Strangers  to  all  the  Vertues  of 
that  Great  Apolile.  But  the  Denomination  of 
Peter,  might  be  with  an  Everlafting  Agreeable- 
nefs  claimed  by  our  eminent  Bulkly,  who,  ac- 
cording to  the  Spirit  and  Counfel  of  Peter,  Fed 
the  Flock  of  God  among  r/s}  taking  the  Overfight 
thereof  not  by  Confiraint,  but  Willingly  ;  not 
for  fitly  Lucre,  but  of -a  willing  Mind. 

§  2.  He  was  dcicended  of  an  Honourable  Fa- 
mily, in  Bedfordshire  ;  where  for  many  fucceflive 
Generations,  the  Names  of  Edward  and  Peter, 
were  alternatively  worn  by  the  Heirs  of  the  Fa 
rnily.His  Father  w2$Edward Bulkly D  D.a faithful 
Mtnitter  of  the  Gofpel ;  the  lame  whom  we 
rind  making  a  Supplement  unto  the  laft  Volume 
of  our  Books  of  Martyrs.  He  was  born  at  Wood- 
hil,  (  or  Odrl )  k  Bcdford-fhire,  January  3 1  ft. 
1582. 

His  Education  was  anfwerable  unto  his  Ori- 
ginal ;  it  was  Learned,  it  was  Genteel,  and 
which  was  the  top  of  all,  it  was  very  Pious  ; 
At  length  it  made  him  a  Batchellor  of  Divinity, 
and  a  Fellow  of  Saint  jfa/w's  Colledge  in  Cam- 
bridge :  The  Colledge  wheteinto  he  had  been 
Admitted,  about  the  Sixteenth  Year  of  his  Age  -, 
and  it  was  while  he  was  but  a.  Junior  Batchellor 
that  he  was  chofen  a  Fellow. 


§  3.  When  he  came  ahfoad  into  the  World,  a 
good  Benefice  befel  him,  added  unto  the  Eitate 
of  a  Gentleman,  left  him  by  his  Father-,  whom 
he  fucceeded  in  his  Miniftry,  at  the  place  of  his 
Nativity  :  Which  one  would  imagine  Tempta- 
tions enough  to  keep  him  out  of  a  Wilder- 
nefs. 

Neverthelefs,  the  Concern  which  his  renewed 
Soul  had  for  the  pure  Worfhip  of  our  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift,  and  for  the  Planting  of  Evangelical 
Churches  to  exercife  that  Worfhip,  caufed  him 
to  leave  and  fell  all,  in  hopes  of  gaining  the 
Pearl  of  great  Price,  among  thofe  that  firft  Peo- 
pled New-England,  upon  thofe  Glorious  Ends. 
It  was  not  long  that  he  continued  in  Conformity 
to  the  Ceremonies  of  the  Church  of  England  -, 
but  the  good  Bilhop  of  Lincoln  connived  at  his 
Non-Conformity  fas  he  did  at  his  Fathers),  and 
he  lived  an  unmoletted  Non-Conformift,  until  he 
had  been  Three  Prentice-fhips'  of  Years  in  his 
Miniftry.  Towards  the  latter  end  of  this  time, 
his  Miniftry  had  a  notable  Succefs,  in  the  Con- 
verfion  of  many  unto  God  ■,  and  this  was  one 
occafion  of  a  latter  end  for  this  time.  When 
Sir  Nathanael  Brent  was  Arch-Bifhop  LWs 
General,  as  Arch-Bifhop  Laud  was  another's, 
Complaints  were  made  againft  Mr.  Bulkly ,  for 
his  Non-Conformity,  and  he  was  therefore  Si- 
lenced. 

§  4.  To  New-England  he  therefore  came,  in 
the  Year  1635;  and  there  having  been  for  a 
while,  at  Cambridge,  he  carried  a  good  Number 
of  Planters  with  him,  up  further  into  the  Woods, 
where  they  gathered  the  Twelfth  Church,  then 
formed  in  the  Colony,  and  call'd  the  Town  by 
the  Name  of  Concord. 

Here  he  buried  a  great  Eftate,  while  he  raifed, 
one  ftill,  for  almoft  every  Perfonwhom  he  em- 
ploy'd  in  the  Affairs  of  his  Husbandry.  He  had 
many,  and  godly  Servants,  whom  after  they  had 
lived  with  him  a  fit  Number  of  Years,  he  ftill 

dif- 


- 

Book  lih       7  he  Hi/lory  of  New -England. 


91 


difinifled  with  beftowing  Farms  upon  them,  and 
fo  took  others  aftei  the  like  manner,  to  fucceed 
them  in  their  Service,  and  bis  Kindnefs.  Thus 
he  citt  his  Bread  both  upon  thdWaters,  and  into 
the  Earth,  not  expe£ting  the  Return  of  this  his 
Charity  to  a  Religious  Plantation,  until  after 
many  Days. 

§  5  He  was  a  mod  excellent  Scholar,  a  very 
well-read  Per  fori,  and  one,  who  in  his  Advice  to 
young  Students,  gave  Demonilrations,  that  he 
knew  what  would  go  to  make  a  Scholar.  But 
it  being  edential  unto  a  Scholar,  to  iove  a  Scho- 
lar, lb  did  he  ;  and  in  Token  thereof,  endowed 
the  Library  of  7f<zm7/"<f-Colledge,  with  no  fmall 
part  of  his  owa 

And  he  was  therewithal  a  mod  exalted  Chri- 
jlii/i;  lull  of  thofe  Devotions,  which  accompa 
ny  a  Converfation  in  Heaven  ;  efpecially,  fo  an 
exaft  a  Sabbath-keeper,  that  if  at  any  time  he 
had  been  asked,  Whether  he  had  fir id. ly  kept  the 
Sabbath  ?  Ke  would  have  replied,  Chrifiianus 
fum,  intermitterenon  pojfum.  And  Confeientious 
even  to  a  degree  of  Scrupulofity.  That  Scrupu 
lofity  appeared  particularly  in  his  avoiding  all 
Novelties  of  Apparel,  and  the  Cutting  of  Hair 
foclofe,  that  of  all  the  famous  Name-fakes  he 
had  in  the  World,  he  could  have  leaf!  born  the 
Sir- name  of  tint  well-known  Author,  Petrus 
Crmitus. 

§  6.  It  was  obferved,  that  his  Neighbours 
hardly  ever  came  into  his  Company,  but  what- 
ever Bufmefs  he  had  been  talking  of,  he  would 
let  fall  fome  Holy,  Serious,  Divine,  and  life- 
ful  Sentences  upon  them,  e'er  they  parted  :  An 
Example  many  ways  worthy  to  be  imitated,  by 
every  one  that  is  called,  A  Minifier  of  the 
Grfpel. 

In  his  Miniftry  he  was  another  Fare/,  §>uo 
Nemo  tonuit  fortius  :  He  was  very  Laborious, 
and  becauie  he  was  through  fome  Infirmities  of 
Body,  not  fo  abletoVifu  his  Flock,  andinftruQ: 
them  from  Houfe  to  Houfe,  he  added  unto  his 
other  Publick  Labours  on  the  Lord's  Days,  that 
of  conftant  Catechiiing^  wherein,  after  all  the 
Unmarried  People  had  anfwered  all  the  People 
of  the  whole  Aflembly  were  edified,  by  his  Ex- 
politions  and  Applications. 

His  firft  Sermon  was  on  Rom.  i.  \6.  I  am  not 
ajhamed  of  the  Go/pel  of  Chrift.  At  Ode/  he 
preached  on  part  of  the  Prophecy  of  Ifaiah,  and 
part  of  Jonah,  and  a  great  part  of  the  Gofpel  ol 
Matthew,  and  of  Luke  ;  the  Epiftles  to  the  Phi 
Itppians,  and  of  Peter  and  of  Jude  ;  befides 
many  other  Scriptures.  At  Concord  he  preached 
over  the  Illuitrious  Truths,  about  the  Perfon, 
the  Natures,  the  Offices  otChriJl.  [What  would 
he  have  laid,  if  he  had  lived  unto  this  Evil 
Day,  when  'tis  counted  good  Advice  for  a  Mi- 
nilter  of  the  Gofpel,  Not  to  preach  much  on  the 
Perfon  of  Chrifl  ?  ]  The  greateft  part  of  the 
Book  of  Pfalms  -,  the  Converfion  of  Zacheus  -, 
Paul's  Commifiion,  in  A7.  26.  18.  His  Death 
found  him  handling  the  Commandments  -,  and 
John  1 6.  7,  8,  p.  He  expounded  Mr.  Perkins 
his  Six  Principles,  whereto  he  added  a  Seventh, 
and  Examined  the  young  People,  what  they 


underftood    and    remembred    of  his   Expofi. 
tion. 

Moreover,  by  a  fort  of  winning,  and  yet 
prudent  familiarity,  he  drew  Perfons  of  all  Ages 
in  his  Congregation  t©  come  and  fit  with  him, 
when  he  could  r\o\.  go  and  fit  with  them  ;  where- 
by he  had  opportunity  to  do  the  part  of  a  faith- 
ful Paftor,  in  confideiing  the  State  of  hh 
Flock.  J 

Such  was  his  pious  Conduit,  that  he  wasi 
had  in  much  Reverence  by  hisPeople^  and  when 
at  any  time,  he  was  either  hafiy  in  /'peaking  to 
fuch  as  were  about  him,  whereto  he  was  difpo- 
fed  by  his  Bodily  Pains,  oifevere  in  Preaching 
againlt  fome  things,  that  others  thought  were 
no  way  momentous,  whereto  the  great  Exaft,- 
nefs  of  his  Piety  inclined  him  -,  yet  thofe  little 
Stingineffes  took  not  away  the  Intereft  which 
he  had  in  their  Hearts  ;  they  knowing  him  to  be 
a  juft  Man,  and  an  holy,  obferved  him. 

And  the  Obfcrvance  which  his  own  People 
had  for  him,  was  alfo  paid  him  fiom  all  forts 
of  People  throughout  the  Land -,  but  efpecially 
from  the  Minifters  of  the  Country,  who  would 
Rill  addrefs  him  as  a  Father,  a  Prophet,  a  Coun- 
fellor,  on  all  Occafions. 

§  8.  Upon  his  importunate  prefling  a  piece  of 
Charity,  difagreeable  to  the  Will  of  the  Ruling 
Elder,  there  was  occafioned  an  unhappy  Difcord 
in  the  Church  of  Concord  -,  which  yet  was  at 
laft  healed,  by  their  calling  in  the  help  of  a 
Council,  and  the  Ruling  Elder's  Abdication.  Of 
the  Temptations  which  occurr'd  on  thefe  Occa- 
fions, Mr.  Bulkly  would  fay,  He  thereby  came, 
1 .  To  know  mere  of  God.  2.  To  know  more  of 
Himjelf.  3 .  To  know  more  of  Men.  Peace  be- 
ing thus  reftored,  the  fmall  things  in  the  begin- 
ning of  the  Church  there,  increafed  in  the  Hands 
of  their  faithful  Bulkly,  until  he  was  tranllated 
into  the  Regions,  which  afford  nothing  but  Con- 
cord and  Glory-,  leaving  his  well-fed  Flock  in  the 
Wildernefs,  unto  the  Paltoral  Care  of  his  worthy 
Son  Mr.  Edward  Bulkly.  1 

§9.  It  is  remarked,  That  a  Man's  Whole  Re- 
ligion is  according  to  his  Acquaintance  with  the 
AVro  Covenant.  If  then,  any  Perlon  would  know 
what  Mr.  Peter  Bulkly  was,  let  him  read  his  Ju- 
dicious and  Savory  Treatife  of  the  Gofpel  Cove- 
nant •,  which  has  palled  through  feveral  Editi- 
ons, with  much  Acceptance  among  the  People 
of  God.  Quickly  alter  his  firft  coming  into 
this  Country,  he  preached  many  Sermon's  on 
Zech.  9.  1 1.  The  Blood  of  thy  Covenant.  The 
Importunity  of  his  Congregation  prevailed  with 
him,  to  preach  this  Dothine  of  the  Covenant 
over  again  in  his  Lectures,  and  fit  it  for  the 
Prefs.  He  did  accordingly  ;  and  of  that  Book 
the  well-known  Mr.  Shepard  of  Cambridge,  has 
given  this  Teftimony.  The  Church  of  God  is 
bound  to  blefs  God,  for  the  holy,  judicious,  and 
learned  Labours,  of  this  aged,  experienced,  and 
precious  Servant  of  J  ejus  Chrifl,  who  hath  taken 
much  pains  to  difcover,  and  that  not  in  Words 
and  Allegories,  but  in  the  Demonfi ration  and  E- 
vidence  of  the  Spirit,  the  great  Myflery  of  God- 
linefs  wrapt  up  in  the  Covenant ;  and  hath  now 
N  n  n  2  fully 


S>8 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.       Book  III, 


fully  opened  many  knotty  S>tteftions  concerning 
Jhe  fame,  which  happily  have  not  been  brought  Jo 
full  to  Light  until  now  ;  which  cannot  but  be  of 
ftngular  and  fcafonable  ufe  to  prevent  Apoftafies, 
from,  the  Simplicity  of  t he  'Covenant  and  Gofpel 
ofCbnfl. 

k;  10.  Having  offered  this  particular  Account 


of  a  BooL 


:h  is  to  be  reckoned  among  the 


Fir  ft  born  of  New  England,  I  may  not  forbear1 
doing  my  Country  theStrvice  of  extracting  from 
it  one  Paragraph,  which  we  may  reckon  the 
dying  Charge  of  a  Mnjes  to  an  Ifrael  in  a  Wil 
dcrnefs. 


'  And  thou,  New-England,  which  art  exalted 
in  Piiviledgcs  of  the  Gofpel,  above  many  other 
People,  know  thou  the  Time  of  thy  Vijitation, 
and'eonfider  the  Great  Things  the  Lord  hath 
done  for  thee.  The  Gofpel  h  .ihfree  pafthge 
in  all  Places  where  thou  dwelleft  :  Oh!  that 
it  might  be  ^A.'7/Walfo  by  thee'  Thou  en 
ioyeft  truny  faithful  WirnelTes,  -which  have 
tefiiried  umvj  thefc,  the  Go/ pel  of  the  Grace  cj 
G  • !.  Tlv'i;  It  * :  i  flf]  my  bright  Stars  ftnning  in 
thv  Firmament,  to  p;ive  thee  the  Knowledge  of 
Salvati  <nfrom  on  high,  fdgaiite  thy  beet  in  the 
way  of  Peace,  Be  not  high  minded,  becaufe  of 
thy  PriviL' :;-■-■.  X.vijcar  becaufe  of  thy  dan- 
ger. The  more  thou  haft  committed  unto 
thee,  the  more  thou  muff  account  for.  No 
Peoples  Account  tall  be  heavier  than  thine,  if 
thou  do  not  walk  worthy  of  the  Means  of  thy 
Salvation.  The  Lord  looks  for  more  from 
thee,  than  from  other  People,  more  Zeal  for 
God,  more  Love  to  his  Truth,  more  Juftice 
and  Equity  in  thy  ways :  Thou  fhouldeft  be  a 
f pedal  People,  an  only  People,  none  like  thee 
in  all  the  Earth.  Oh  !  be  fo,  in  loving  the 
Gofpel,  and  the  Miniifers  of  it,  having  them 
mfingular  Love  for  their  Work* s  fake. 
'  Glorifie  thou  the  Word  of  the  Lord,  which 
has  glorirlcd  thee.  Take  heed,  lealf  for  neg 
left  of  either,  God  remove  thy  Gandlejcick  out 
of  the  mid  If  of  thee  ;  left  being  now,  tu  a 
City  upon  an  Hill,  which  many  Peek  unto,  thou 
be  left  like  a  Beacon  upon  the  top  of  a  Moun- 
tain, defohte  and  fbrfaken.  If  we  walk  un 
worthy  of  the  Gofpel  brought  unto  us,  the 
greater  our  Mercy  hath  been,  in  the  enjoying 
•of  it,  the  gteater  will  our  Judgment  be  for 
the  Contempt. 


§  1 1.  His  flrft  Wife  was  the  Daughter  of  Mr. 
Tbonidi  Allen,  of  Goldington  :  A  molt  vertuous 
Gentlewoman,  whofe  Nephew  was  the  Lord 
Mayor  of  London,  Sir  Thoma-r  Allen.  By  her 
he  had  nine  Sons,  and  two  Daughters.  After 
her  Death,  he  lived  eight  Years  a  Widdower, 
and  then  married  a  vertuous  Daughter  of  Sir 
Richard  Chitwood  ;  by  whom  he  had  three  Sons, 
and  one  Daughter. 

Age  at  length  creeping  on  him,  he  grew  much 
afraid  of  out-living  his  Work  ;  and  his  Fear  he 


thusexprefled,   in  a  fhort  Epigram,  compofed 
March  25.  1657.  ( 

Pigra  feneUutis  jam  venit  i  nut  His  xtaf, 

Nil  ali  ud  nunc  f urn  a  it  am' fere  pond  us  iners. 
Da  tamen,'Almc  Deus,  diem  vivam,  viverc  hiuai 

JEterniimfanili  Nomincs  ufque  'Tut. 
Ne  vivam  (moriar  potius  !)  nil  utile  Agendo  • 

Finiat  opt  0  magi  s,  mors  proper  at  a  Dies. 
Vel  doc  earn  in  San&o  Catu  tua  verba  fa/utis 

deleft  ive  ennam  Cantica  facra  Chore. 
Sett  vivam,  Moriarve,  tu/xJim,CbriJ1e,  quoduni 

Debit  a  Vila  men  eft,  debit  a  ?no)fque  tibi. 

He  was  /'//,  as  well  as  old,  when  he  writ  thefe 
Verfes-;  but  God  granted  him  his  Defire.  He 
recovered,  and  preached  near  two  Years  after 
this,  and  then  expired,  March  p.  165*,  jn  the 
Seventy  feventh  Year  of  his  Age. 

^  12.  The  Epigram  newly  mentioned,  invites 
me  to  remember,  that  he  had  a  competently 
good  Stroke  at  Latin  Poetry  -,  and  even  in  his 
Old  Age ,  affected  fometimts  to  improve  ft. 
'Many  of  his  Compofure  are  yet  in  our  Hand--. 
One  was  written  on  his  Birth  Day,  June  51  if 
165.. 

Ultimus  iftc  Dies  Menfes,mihi  primus  habetur- 
fjjto  cspi  lucem  cemcre  primus  erat. 

Septuaginta  duos  A  nnos  exinde  peregi. 
Atque  tot  Annorttm  eft  Ultimas  i/ie  Dies. 

Pr.eterito  Veteri  jam  nunc  novas  incipit  Annus 
0  at  i  nam  mi  hi  Jit  mens  nova,  vita  nova. 

Another  of  them  was  written  on  an  Earth- 
quake,  Oct.  2p.  1653. 

Ecce  Dei  nutu  Pellus  pavcfatla  tremifcit 

Terra  Tremens  ?nota  eft  J e  dibits  ip fa  fills 
Nut  ant  fulcra  Orbis,mundi  compagofoluta  ell  ■ 

Ex  vttltu  frati  contremit  Hie  Dei. 
Contremttit  tellus,  imis  concufa  Cavemis 

Ponderibus  quanquam  fit  gravis  illafuis. 
Evomit  ore  putres  magno  cum  murmure  venlos, 

Qitos  in  vifceribits  clauferat  ante  fuis. 
Ipfa  t  remit  Tellus  feeler  urn  gravitate  virorum, 

Sub  f ceteris  nojiri  ponder e  Terra  t remit. 
0  nos  quam  duri  I  Sunt  f err ea  peUora  nobis 

Non  etenim  gemhnus  cum  gemit  omnefolum. 
Qitis  te  non  met  nit,  met  nit  quern  Fabrica  mundi 

^itemque  timent  aeli,  terraque  tot  a  tremit. 
Mot  lb  us  d  T ant  is  nunc  tandem  terra  quiefcat, 

Sed  cefjent  potius  crimina  ncftra  pre  cor. 

The  reft  we  will  bury  with  him,  under  this 


E  P   I   T  A 


P   H. 


Obiit  jam  qui  jamduchtm  obierat  Bulklceus  5 
Nee  r&riam  tile  mutavit,  nee  pen e  vita/ft: 
Eh  roit,  quo  he  confueverat,  &  ubijam  erat. 


CHAP. 


-„.--■■-         ■  ■    .^.  ■■„■■■■_  ,....,....      .  ■  .^.  I  ■    ■  — ■■     ■     ■■        ,         ■■!!■!  ■!_ 

Book  III.       The  Hi/lory  of  New-England. 


99 


CHAP.     XL 
The    LIFE    of  Mr.  R  A  L  P  H    PARTRID  G  I 


WHen  David  was  driven  from  his  Friends 
into  the  Wildernefs,  he  made  this  Pa- 
thetical  Representation  of  his  Condition,  'Tina* 
'Oi  voben  one  doth  hunt  a  Partridge  in  the  Moun- 
tains. Among  the  many  worthy  Perfons  who 
Were  perfecuted  into  an  American  Wildernefs, 
for  theit  Fidelity  to  the  Ecclefnflic.il  Kingdom 
of  our  true  David,  there  was  one  that  bore  the 
Name,  as  well  as  the  State,  of  an  hunted  Par- 
tridge. What  befel  him,  was,  as  Bede  faith  of 
what  was  done  by  Fa'lix,  Juxta  nominis  fui  Sa- 
cfamdnium. 

This  was  Mr.  Ralph  Partridge,  who  for  no 
Fault  but  the  Delicacy  of  his  good  Spirit,  being 
diltrefs'd  by  the  Ecclefiafiical  Setters,  had  ho 
Defence,  neither  o\'  Beak,  nor  Claw,  but  a  Flight 
over  the  Ocean. 

The  Place  where  he  took  Covert,  was  the 
Colony  ot  Plymouth,  and  the  Town  of  D.ixbury 
in  that  polony. 

This  Partridge  had  not  only  thelnnocency  of 
the  Dove,  corilpicuous  in  his  blamelefs  and  pious 
Life,  which  made  him  very  acceptable  in  his 
Conversation  ;  but  alfb  the  Loftinels  of  an  Ea 
gle,  in  the  great  Soar  of  his  intellectual  Abilities. 
There  are  fome  Interpreters,  whounderflanding 
Church  Officers  by  the  living  Creatures,  in  the 
Fourth  Chapter  of  the  Apocalypfe,  will  have  the 
Teacher  to  be  intended  by  the  Eagle  there,  for 
his  quick  Infight  into  remote  and  hidden  things. 
The  Church  of  Duxbury  had  fuch  an  Eagle  in 
their  Partridge  ,  when  they  enjoy 'd  fuch  a 
Teacher. 

By  the   fame  Token,  when  the  Platform  oj 
Church-Difapline  was  to   be  compos'd,  the  Sy 
nod  at  Cambridge  appointed  three  Perfons  to  draw 


up  each  of  them,  A  Model  of  Church-Govern 
went,  according  to  the  Word  of  God,  unto  the 
end,  that  out  of  thofe,  the  Synod  might  form 
what  fhould  be  found  moll  agreeable  ^  which 
three  Perfons  were  Mr.  Cot  ion,  and  Mr.  Mather, 
and  Mr.  Partridge.  So  that  in  the  Opinion  of 
that  Reverend  Aflembly,  this  Perfon  did  not 
come  far  behind  the  firlt  three,  for  fome  of  his 
Accomplifhments. 

After  he  had  been  Forty  Tears  a  faithful  and 
painful  Preacher  of  the  Colpel,  rarely,  if  ever, 
in  all  that  while  interrupted  in  his  Work,  by 
any  Bodily  Sicknefs,  he  dy'd  in  a  good  Old  Age 
about  the  Year  1658. 

There  was  one  lingular  Inftance  of  a  weaned 
Spirit,  whereby  he  fignalized  himfelf  unto  the 
Churches  of  God-  That  was  this  :  There  was 
a  time,  when  molf  of  the  Minifters  in  the  Co- 
lony of  Plymouth,  left  the  Colony,  upon  the 
Discouragement  which  the  want  of  a  competent 
Maintenance  among  the  needy  and  froward  In- 
habitants, gave  unto  them.  Neverthelefs  Mj, 
Partridge  was,  notwithftanding  the  Paucity  and 
the  Poverty  of  his  Congregation,  fo  afraid  of 
being  any  thing  that  look'd  like  a  Bird  voandring 
from  his  Neft,  that  he  remained  with  his  poor 
People,  till  he  took  Wing  to  become  a  Bird  of 
Paradife,  along  with  the  winged  Seraphim  of 
Heaven. 


Epitapkium. 

Avolavit  !  ■ 


CHAP.     XII. 

Ffaltes.     The  L  I  F  E  of    Mr.    H  E  N  R  T    D  V  N  S  T  E  R. 


NOtwithffanding  the  Veneration  which  we 
pay  to  the  Names  and  Works  of  thofe  Re- 
verend Men,  whom  we  call  the  Fathers,  yet 
even  the  Roman  Catholicks  themfelves  confefs, 
that  thole  Fathers  were  not  infallible.  And/a- 
dius,  among  others,  in  his  Defence  ot  the  Coun- 
cil ot  Trent,  has  this  paffage,  There  can  be  no- 
thing devifed  more  fuperftitious,  than  to  count 
all  th'uigs  delivered  by  the  Fathers,  Divine  Ora 
cles.  And  indeed,  it  is  plain  enough,  that  thofe 
excellent  Men,  were  not  without  Errors  and 
Frailties,  of  which,  I  hope,  'twill  not  be  the 
part  of  a  Cham  to  take  fome  little  Notice.  Thus 
j'erom  had  his  Erroneous  Opinion  of  Peter's  be- 


ing unjuffly  reprehended  ;  and  was  fearfully 
afleep  in  the  other  matters,  wherein  he  oppofed 
Vigilantius.  Augufim  was  for  admitting  the 
Infants  of  Chriitians  unto  the  Lord's  Supper  : 
And  alas  !  How  much  of  Babylon  is  there  in  his 
bell  Book,  De  Civitate  Dei.  Hilary  deny'd  the 
Soul  Sorrows  oi'  our  Lord  in  his  Pallion,  if  you 
will  believe  the  Report  of  Bellarmine.  Clemens 
Alexandrines  affirm'd,  That  our  Lord  neither 
Eat  nor  Drank  from  the  Necefluies  of  Human 
Life ;  and  that  he  and  his  Apoflles  after  their 
Death,  preached  unto  the  Damned  in  Hell,  of 
whom  there  were  many  converted.  Origen 
taught  many  things  contrary  unto  the  trueiaith% 

and 


ICO 


The  Hifiory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 


and  frequently  confounded  the  Scriptures  with 
Falfe  Expositions.  Tertullian  fell  into  Man- 
tanifm,  and  forbad  zWfecond  Marriages.  How 
little  Agreement  was  there  between  Epipha- 
riius  and  CkryfoJlom,Iren£uszn&  Vitlor,  Corne- 
lius and  Cyprian  ?  And  indeed,  that  I  may  draw 
near  to  my  prefent  purpofe,  the  Erroneous  Opi- 
nion of  Rebaptifm  in  Cyprian,  is  well  known 
to  the  World. 

Wherefore  it  may  not  be  wondred  at,  if 
among  the  firii  Fathers  of  New-England,  there 
were  fome  things,  not  altogether  fo  agreeable 
to  the  Principles,  whereupon  the  Country  was 
in  the  main  Eftabiiflied.  But  among  thofe  of 
our  Fathers,  who  differ'd  fomewhat  from  his 
Brethren,  was  that  Learned  and  Worthy  Man 
Mr.  Henry  Dunfler. 

He  was  the  Prefident  of  our  Harvard  College  in 
Cambridge,  and  an  able  Man :  [As  we  may  give 
fome  Account,  when  the  Hiltory  of  that  Col- 
lege comes  to  be  offered.] 

But  wonderfully  falling  into  the  Errors  of 
Artttpkdobaptijm,  the  Overfeers  of  the  College 
became  follicitous,  that  the  Students  there 
might  not  be  unawares  enfnared  in  the  Errors 
of  thdr  Prefident.  Wherefore  they  laboured 
with  an  extreme  Agony,  either  to  refcue  the 
Good  Man  from  his  own  Miftake -,  or  to  Re 
lira  in  him  from  impofing  them  upon  The  Hope 
of  the  block  ,  of  both  which,  finding  themfelves 
to  Defpair,  they  did  as  quietly  as  they  could, 
procure  his  Removal,  and  provide  him  a  Sue- 
ceflbr,  in  Mr.  Charles  Chauncey. 

He  was  a  very  good  Hebrician,  and  for  that 
Caufe,  he  bore  a  great   Part  in  the  Metrical 


reffored  among  them,  unto  a  Share  in  that  Pu- 
rity. Tho'  they  bleffed  God  for  the  Religious 
Endeavours  of  them  who  tranflated  the  Pfalms 
into  the  Meet  re  ufually  annex'd  at  the  End  of 
the  Bible,  yet  they  beheld  in  the  Tranflation 
fo  many  Detraffions  from,  Additions  to,  and 
Variations  of,  not  only  the  Text,  but  the  very 
Senfe  of  the  Pfalmiff,  that  it  was  an  Offence 
unto  them.  Refolving  then  upon  a  New  Tran- 
flation, the  chief  Divines  in  the  Country,  took 
each  of  them  a  Portion  to  be  Tranflated  : 
Among  whom  were  Mr.  Welds  and  Mr.  Eliot 
of  Roxbury,  and  Mr.  Mather  of  Dorchejier. 
Thefe,  like  the  reft,  were  of  fo  different  a  Ge- 
nius for  their  Poetry,  that  Mr.  Shepard  of 
Cambridge,  on  the  Occafion  addreffed  them  to 
this  Purpofe. 

Ton  Roxb'ry  Poets,  keep  clear  of  the  Crime, 
Of  miffing  to  give  us  very  good  Rhime. 
And  you  of  Dorchefter,  your  Verfes  lengthen, 
But  with   the  Texts  own  Words,  you  will  them 
Jirengthen. 


Verfion  of  the  Pfalms,  now  ufed  in  our  Chur 
ches.  But  after  fome  fhort  Retirement  and 
Seceflion  from  all  Publick  Bufinefs  ,  at  Sci 
mate  in  the  Year  J  659.  he  went  thither,  where 
he  bears  his  part  in  Everlafting  and  Geleftial 
Hallelujahs.  It  was  juftly  counted  an  Inftance 
of  an  Excellent  Spirit,  in  Margaret  Meering  -, 
That  tho'  fhe  had  been  excommunicated  by  the 
Congregation  of  Proteftants,  whereof  Mr. 
Rough  was  Paftor,  and  fhe  feem'd  to  have  hard 
Meafure  alfo  in  her  Excommunication  -,  yet 
when  Mr.  Rough  was  imprifon'd  for  the  Truth, 
fhe  was  very  lerviceable  to  him,  and  at  length 
fuffer'd  Martyrdom  for  the  Truth  with  him. 
Something  that  was  not  altogether  unlike  this 
Excellent  Spirit  was  inftanced  by  our  Dunfler. 
For,  he  died  in  fuch  Harmony  of  AffeStion  with 
the  Good  Men,  who  had  been  the  Authors  of 
his  Removal  from  Cambridge,  that  he,  by  his 
Will,  ordered  his  Body  to  be  carried  unto  Cam- 
bridge for  its  Burial,  and  bequeathed  Legacies 
to  thofe  very  Perfons. 

Now  I  know  not  where,  better  than  here, 
to  infert  that  Article  of  our  Church-Hiflory, 
which  concerns  our  Metrical  Tranflation  of  the 
P  S  A  L  M  S  now  fung  in  our  Churches. 

About  the  Year  163 p.  the  New-Englijh  Re- 
formers, confidering  that  their  Churches  en- 
joy'd  the  other  Ordinances  of  Heaven  in  their 
Scriptural  Purity,  were  willing  that  the  Ordi- 
nance of  The  Singing  of  Pfalms,  as  fhould  be 


The  Pfalms  thus  turn'd  into  Meetre  were 
Printed  at  Cambridge,  in  the  Year  1640.  But 
afterwards,  it  was  thought,  that  a  little  more 
of  Art  was  to  be  employ'd  upon  them :  And 
for  that  Caufe,  they  were  committed  unto  Mr. 
Dunfler,  who  Reviled  and  Refined  this  Tran- 
flation^ and  (with  fome  Aftiftance  from  one 
Mr.  Richard  Lyon,  who  being  fent  over  by  Sir 
Henry  Mildmay,  as  an  Attendant  unto  his  Son, 
then  a  Student  in  Harvard  Coll  edge,  now  re- 
sided in  Mr.  Dunflers  Houfe :)  he  brought  it 
into  the  Condition  wherein  our  Churches'  ever 
fince  have  ufed  it. 

Now,  tho'  I  heartily  join  with  thofe  Gentle- 
men, who  wifh  that  the  Poetry  hereof  were 
mended  -,  yet  I  muff  confefs,  That  the  Pfalms 
have  never  yet  feen  a  Tranflation,  that  I  know 
of,  nearer  to  the  Hebrew  Original :  And  I  am 
willing  to  receive  the  Excufe  which  our  Tran- 
flators  themfelves  do  offer  us,  when  they  fay  ; 
If  the  Verfes  are  not  a/ways  fo  elegant,  as  fome 
defire  or  expefl,  let  them  confider,  That  God's 
Altar  needs  not  our  Polijhings;  we  have  re- 
fpeffed  rather  a  plain  Tranflation,  than  tofmooth 
our  Verfes  with  the  Sweet  nefs  of  any  Paraphrafe. 
We  have  attended  Confcience  rather  than  Ele- 
gance, Fidelity  rather  than  Ingenuity-,  that  fo 
we  mayfing  in  Zwn  the  Lords  Songs  ofPraife 
according  unto  his  own  Will,  until  he  bid  us  en 
ter  into  our  Maflers  foy,  tofing  Eternal  Halle- 
lujahs. 

Reader,  When  the  Reformation  in  France  be- 
gan, Clement  Marot,  and  Theodore  Beza,  turn'd 
the  Pfalms  into  French  Meetre  -,  and  Lewis 
Guadimel  let  Melodious  Tunes  unto  them. 
The  Singing  hereof  charm'd  the  Souls  of  Court 
and  Ciry,  Town  and  Country.  They  were 
fung  in  the  Lovre  it  felf,  as  well  as  in  the 
Proteffant  Churches :  Ladies,  Nobles,  Princes, 
yea,  King  Henry  himfelf  fang  them.  This  one' 
thing  mightily  contributed  unto  the  Downfal 

of 


Book  III.     The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


IOI 


of  Popery,  and  the  Progrefs  of  the  Gofpel. 
All  Ranks  of  Men  practis'd  it-,  a  Gentleman 
of  the  Reformed  Religion,  would  not  eat  a 
Meal  without  it.  The  Popifh  Clergy  raging 
hereat,  the  Cardinal  of  Lorrain  got  the  Pro- 
fane and  Obfcene  Odes  of  the  Pagan  Poets  to 
be  turn'd  into  French,  and  fang  at  the  Court : 
And  the  Divine  Pfilms  were  thus  banifhed  from 
that  Wicked  Court. 

Behold,  the  Reformation  purfued  in  the 
Churches  of  New  England,  by  the  P films  in  a 
New  Meetre :  "God  grant  the  Reformation  may 
never  be  loft,  while  the  Pfilms  are  fung  in  our 
Churches. 

But  in  this  Matter,  Mr.  Dunfler  is  to  be  ac- 
knowledged. And  if  unto  the  Chriftian,  while 
ringing  of  Pfilms   on  Earth,  Cbryfoftom  could 

well  fay,  M«t'  'hyy'ihuv   a/Wr,   (HT    'kyyihav  lipveif, 


Thou  art  in  a  Confort  with  Angels  I  How  much 
more  may  that  Now  be  faid  of  our  Dunfier} 

From  the  Epitaph  of  Henricus  Rentzi.is,  we 
will  now  furnifli  our  Henry  Dunfler  with  an 

Epitaph. 

Pr<eco,  Pater,  Servus  ^  Soma,   Fovi,  Cohdq^ 
Sacra,  Scholar//,   Chriflum  5  Voce,  Rigore., 
Fide. 
Famam,  Animate,  Corpus }  Difpergit,  Recreat, 
Abdit 3 
Virttis,  Chriflw,   Humtts  ;   Laude,  Salute, 
Si  me. 


CHAP.     XIII. 
The    LIFE   of  Mr.  EZEKIEL    ROGERS. 

Si  in   Dotto/e  Ecclefi£,  ad  ivvmKemv  -mw,    acceffcrit  nvten  Mv-tw,  &  Polita  Eruditio,  ad  Erudi- 
ditionem  Maui:  igpnvevmi},,  ac  Facundia  ;  nx  hie  Talis  Omnibus  Abfolutk  videbitur. 

Melc.  Adam,  in  Vita  Hatteri. 


§  i-TT  is  among  the  Greater  Prophets  of  If 
JL  rael,  that  we  find  an  Ezekiel;  who  had 
in  his  very  Name  The  Fortitude  of  God.  And 
it  is  not  among  the  /mailer  Prophets  of  New- 
England,  that  we  have  alfo  feen  an  Ezekiel  -, 
one  infpired  with  a  Divine  Fortitude,  for  the 
Work  of  a  Witnefs  prophefying  in  the  Sackcloth 
of  a  Wildernefs.  This  was  our  famous  Eze- 
kiel Rogers,  of  whom  we  have  more  to  fay, 
than  barely  that  he  was  born  in  the  Year  1 5^0. 
and  that  he  died  in  the  Year  i<56o. 

§  2.  His  Father  was  Mr.  Richard  Rogers  of 
W eathersjield  \n  England ,  the  well-known  Au- 
thor of  the  Book,  that  is  known  by  the  Name 
of  The  Seven  Treatifes.  Of  that  'Richard  we 
will  content  our  felves  with  one  pithy  Paflage, 
mentioned  by  his  Grandfon  Mr.  William  Jen- 
kyns,  in  his  Expofition  upon  Jude,  '  That 
'  Bleffed  Saint,  faith  he,  was  another  Enoch  in 
'  his  Age  ;  a  Man  whofe  walking  with  God  ap- 

*  peared  by  that  Incomparable  Dire&ory  of  a 

•  Chriftian  Life,  called  The  Seven  Treatifes, 
1  woven  out  of  Scripture,  and  his  own  experi- 
'  mental  Practice  -,   he    would  fometimes  fay, 

That  he  fhould  be  forty,  if  every  Day  were 
'  not  to  him  at  his  laft  Day.  It  is  his  Ezekiel 
Rogers,  whereof  we  are  now  to  give  an  Account. 
The  early  Sparklings  of  Wit,  Judgment  and 
Learning,  in  him,  gave  his  Father  no  little  Sa- 
tisfaction, and  Expectation  of  his  Proficiency  -, 
and  at  Thirteen  Years  of  Age  made  him  capa- 
ble of  Preferment  in  the  Univerjay  -,  where  he 
proceeded  Mafler  of  Arts  at  the  Age  ofTwen 


ty.  Removing  thence  to  be  Chaplain  in  a  Fa* 
mily,  famous  for  both  Religion  and  Civility-, 
namely  the  Family  of  Sir  Francis  Barrington  at 
Hatfield  Broad  Oak  in  Effex,  he  there  had  op- 
portunity not  only  to  do  Good,  by  his  profita- 
ble Preaching,  but  alfo  to  get  Good,  by  his 
Converfation  with  Perfons  of  Honour,  who 
continually  reforted  thither,  and  he  knew  and 
us'd  his  opportunity  to  the  utmoft. 

§  3.  Both  in  Praying  and  Preaching,  he  had 
a  very  notable  Faculty ;  'twas  accompanied 
with  Strains  of  Oratory,  which  made  his  Mi- 
niftry  very  acceptable.  Hence,  after  Five  or 
Six  Years  Refidence  in  this  Worfhipful  Family, 
Sir  Francis  beltowed  upon  him  the  Benefice  of 
Rowly  in  Torkfhire  -,  in  hopes,  that  his  more 
lively  Miniftry  might  be  particularly  fuccefs- 
ful  in  Awakening  thofe  drowfy  Corners  of  the 
Noi(th:  And  accordingly  the  Church  there, 
Handing  in  the  Center  of  many  Villages,  there 
was  now  a  great  Refort  unto  the  Service  there- 
in performed. 

§  4-  Neverthelefs  Mr.  Rogers  had  much  Un- 
eafinefs  in  his  Mind  about  his  own  Experience 
of  thofe  Truths  which  he  preached  unto  others  -, 
he  feared,  that  notwithftanding  his  pathetical 
Expreifions,  wherewith  his  Hearers  were  aftecL 
ed,  he  was  himfelf^  in  his  own  Soul,  a  Stran- 
ger to  that  Faith,  and  Repentance,  and  Conver- 
Jion,  which  he  preffed  upon  them.  This  Con- 
fideration  very  much  perplexed  him  -,  and  his 
Perplexity  was  the  greater,  becaufe  he  could 
not  hear  of  any  Experienced  Minifler  in  thofe 

Parts 


102 


7 he  Hijlory  of  New-England.      Book  ill. 


Parts  of  the  Kingdom,  to  whom  he  might  ut        §  7.  At  laft,  the  Severity   wherewith  Sub- 
ter  the  Trouble  that  was  upon  him.     At  laft, \fcription  was  then  urged,  put  a  Period  unto  the 


hoping  that  either  from  his  Brother  of  Wea- 
tbersfield,  or  his  Cofin  of  Dedham,  he  might 
receive  fome  Satisfaction,  he  took  a  Journey 
into  Elfex  on  purpole  to  be  by  them  refolved 
of"  his  Doubts.     His  Defign  was  to  have  came 


Twenty  Years  publick  Miniftry  of  our  tlfefui 
Rogers  although  the  Man,  who  fufpended  him, 
ftlew'd  him  lb  much  Refpect,  as  to  let  him  en- 
joy the  Profits  of  his  Living,  two  Years  after 
the  Sufpenfion,  and   let  him  alio  put   in  ano- 


at  his   famous  Kinfman  before   his  Lefture  be-  ther,  as  good  as  he   could  ger.     He  employed 


gan ;  but  miflang  of  ibat,  he  gat  into  the  Af 
iembly  before  the  Beginning  of  the  Sermon ; 
where  he  found  that  by  the  lingular  Providence 
of  God,  his  Doubts  were  as  punctually  and 
exactly  refolved,  as  if  the  excellent  Preacher 
had  been  acquainted  with  his  Doubts  before- 
hand. 

§  5.  Being  now  fatisfied  of  his  own  Effectual 
Vocation,  he  went  on  in  his  Miniftry  with  a 
very  fignal  Blefling  of  Heaven  upon  it,  unto 
the  Effetlual  Vocation  of  many  more:  His  ylii- 
niflry  was  much  frequented,  and  remarkably 
fuccefsjul.  In  the  Exercife  whereof,  he  once 
had  opportunity  to  preach  in  the  ftately  Min- 
fter  ol  York,  on  a  publick  Occafion,  which  he 
ferved  and  fuited  notably.  Dr.  Matthews  was 
then  the  Arch  Bifhop  of  Tork,  who  permitted 
the  ufe  of  thofe  Lellures,  which  Arch-Bifhop 
Grindal  had  erected  ;  whereby  the  Eight  of  the 
Gofpel  was  marvelloufly  diffufed  unto  many 
Places  that  fat  in  the  Region  and  the  Shadow  of 
Death.  All  the  pious  Minifters  in  fuch  a  Pre- 
cinct, had  a  Meeting  once  a  Month,  in  fome 
noted  Place,  when  and  where  feveral  of  them 
did  ufe  to  preach  one  after  another -,  beginning 
and  concluding  the  whole  Exercife  with  Pray- 
er. Mr.  Rogers  bore  his  part  in  thefe  LeQures, 
as  long  as  Dr.  Matthews  lived  ;  from  one  of 
which,  an  Accufer  of  the  Brethren,  went  once 


one  Mr  Bifhop  to  fupply  his  Place  in  the  Mi- 
niftry, from  which  a  Bifhop  had  confined  him$ 
nevertheless  this  good  Man  alio  was  quickly 
lilenced,  becaule  he  would  not  in  publick  read 
the  Cenfure  which  was  paffed  upon  Mr.  Ro- 
gers. 

§  8.  Many  prudent  Men  in  thofe  times,  fore- 
feeing  the  Storms  that  were  likely  in  a  few 
Years   to  break  upon  the  Engl  if])  Nation,  did 
propofe   Reno  England  lor  their  Hiding-place. 
And   of  thefe,  our  Mr.   Rogers  was  one,  who 
had  been  accompanied  by  Sir  William  Conftable 
and  Sir  Matthew  Boynton  alfo  in  his  Voyage 
hither,  if  lome   lingular   Providences  had  not 
hind  red  them.     Hither  did  the  Good  Hand  of 
God  bring   him,  with  many  of  his  Torkfhire 
Friends,  in  the  Year  1638.  Ships  having  been 
by  his  Difcretion  and  Influence  brought  from 
London  unto  Hull,  to   take  in  the  Paffengers. 
Arriving  at  New  England,  he  was  urged  very 
much  to  fettle  with  his  Torkfhire  Folks  at  New- 
Haven -,   but  in  Confideration  of  the   Depen- 
dance,  that  feveral  Perfons  of  Quality  had  on 
him  to  chufe  a  meet  Place  for  their  Entertain- 
ment in  this  Wildernefs,    when  they    ihould 
come  hither  after  him,  he  was  advifed  rather 
to  another  Place,  which  he  was  profered  very 
near  his  Reverend  Kinfman,    Mr.  Nathanael 
Rogers  of  Ipfwich.  '  The  Towns  0?  Ipfwich  and 


unto  the  Arch-Bifhop  with  this  Accufation,  That  \  Newberry  were  willing,    on  eafy   Terms,  to 
one  of  the  Minifters  had  made  his  Petition  in  I  part  with  much  of  their  Land,  that  they  might 


his  Prayer,  May  the  A/mighty  fhut  Heaven 
ogainfl  the  Arch-Bifhop"  s  Grace  -,  whereat  the 
Arch-Bifhop  inftead  of  being  offended,  as  the 
Pick-thankly  Reporter  hoped  he  would  have 
been,  fell  a  laughing  heartily  and  anfwered, 
Thofe  Good  Men  know  well  enough,  that  if  1 
were  gone  to  Heaven,  their  Exercifes  would 
foon  be  put  down.  And  it  came  to  pafs  accor- 
dingly ! 

§  6.  In  Deliverying  the  Word  of  God,  he 
would  fometimes  go  beyond  the  Strength, 
which  God  had  given  him  ;  for  though  he  had 
a  Lively  Spirit,  yet  he  had  a  Crazy  Body -, 
which  put  him  upon  ftudying  Phyfick,  wherein 
he  attained  unto  a  Skill  confiderable.  But  the 
worft  was  this,  That  riding  far  from  home, 
fome .  violent  Motion  ufed  by  him  in  ordering 
of  his  Horfe,  broke  a  Vein  within  him  -,  where- 
upon he  betook  himfelf  to  his  Chamber,  and 
there  kept  private,  that  his  Friends  might  not 
perfecute  him,  with  any  of  theit  Unfeafonable 
Kindnefs.  But  in  two  Month's  time,  he  ob- 
tained a  Cure,  fo  that  he  returned  unto  his 
Family  and  his  Employment :  God  would  not 
fuffer  that  Mouth  to  be  flopped,  which  had  fo 
many  Teflimonies  to  bear  itill  for  his  Truths 
and  Ways  ! 


admit  a  Third  Plantation  in  the  middle  be- 
tween them  -,  which  was  a  Great  Advantage 
to  Mr.  Ezekiel  Rogers;  who  called  the  Town 
Rowly,  and  continued  in  it  about  .the  fame 
Number  of  Years,  that  he  had  fpent  in  that 
Rowly,  from  whence  he  came  on  the  other  fide 
of  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 

§  p.  About  five  Years  after  his  coming  to 
New  England,  he  was  chofen  to  preach  at  the 
Court  of  Ele Qion  at  Boflon-,  wherein  though 
the  Occafion  and  the  Auditory  were  Great,  yet 
he  fhew'd  his  Abilities  to  be  Greater-,  info- 
much,  that  he  became  famous  through  the 
whole  Country.  And  what  RefpeCt  all  the 
Churches  abroad  paid  him,  he  much  more 
found  in  his  own  Church  at  Home^  where  he 
was  exceedingly  fuccefsful,  and  approved  in 
his  Miniftry,  in  which  the  Points  of  Regenera- 
tion and  Union  with  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  by 
Eaith,  were  thofe  whereon  he  moft  infilled. 

In  the  Management  of  thofe  Points,  he  had 
a  notable  Faculty  at  penetrating  into  the  Souls 
of  his  Hearers,  and  manifefting  the  very  Secrets 
of  their  Hearts.  His  Prayers  and  Sermons 
would  make  fuch  lively  Reprejcntations  of  the 
Thoughts  then  working  in  the  Minds  of  his 
People,  that  it  would  amaze  them  to  fee  their 

own 


Book  Hi.       The  Hijlcry  of  iNew-Mogland 


ioj 


own  Condition  fo  exafrly  reprefented.  And  his  upon 
Occasional  Difcourfes  with  his  People  ;  efpe-  Hand. 
dally  with  the  young  ones  among  them  ;  and 
rnoft  of"  all,  with  fuch  as  had  been,  by  their 
Dtxeafed  Parents,  recommended  unto  his  watch 
iul  Care  ;  were  marvclloufly  profitable.  He 
was  a  Tree  of  Knowledge,  but  fo  laden  with 
Fruit,  that  he  ftoopt  for  the  very  Children  to 
pick  oft"  the  Apples  ready  to  drop  into  their 
Mouths.  Sometimes  they  would  come  to  his 
Houfe,  a  Dozen  in  an  Evening  ;  and  calling 
them  up  into  his  Study,  one  by  one,  he  would 
examine  them,  How  they  walked  with  God  ? 
how  they  fpent  their  Time  >  What  good  Books 
they  read  ?  Whether  they  pray'd  without  cea- 
iing  ?  And  he  would  therewithal  admomff 
them  to  take  heed  of  fuch  Temptations  and 
Corruptions,  as  he  thought  molt  endangered 
them.  And  if  any  Differences  had  fallen  out 
amongft  his  People,  he  would  forthwith  fend 
for  them,  to  lay  before  him  the  Reafon  of  their 
Differences  ;  and  fuch  was  his  Intereft  in  them, 
that  he  ufually  heal'd  and  ftopt  all  their  little 
Contentions,  before  they  could  break  out  into 
any  open  Flames. 

§  i  o.  After  Ten  or  Twelve  Years  moil  pro- 
fperous  Attendance  on  his  Miniftry  in  Rozvly, 
fome  unhappy  Griefs  befel  htm,  which  were 
thus  occafioned.  It  was  thought  pity,  that  fo 
Great  an  Ability,  as  that  wherewith  Mr.  Ro 
gers  was  Talented,  fhould  be  confined  into  fo 
/"mail  an  Auditory,  as  that  whereto  his  Lord's 
Day  Labours  were  confined  ■,  and  he  was  per- 
fwaded  therefore  to  fet  up  a  Leffure,  once  in  a 
Fortnight,  whereto  the  Inhabitants  of  other 
Towns  reforted,  with  no  fmall  Satisfaction . 
A  mod  Excellent  Young  Man  was,  upon  this 
Increafe  of  his  Labours,  obtained  for  his  Affr- 
ftent  :  But  through  the  Devices  of  Satan,  there 
was  raifed  a  Jcaloufy  in  the  Hearts  of  many 
among  the  People,  that  their  Old  Paflor  was 
not  Real  and  Forward  enough,  in  profecuting 
the  Settlement  of  that  Ajf/ijient  -,  and  this  Jea- 
loufy  broke  forth  into  almoft  unnaccountable 
DffatiffaQions  between  him  and  them;  which 
though  they  were  afterwards  cured,  yet  the 
Cure  was  in  fome  Regards  too  Palliative. 

1}  1 1.  The  Reft  of  this  Good  Man's  Time  in 
the  World  was  Winter  ;  he  faw  more  Nights 
than  Days,  and  in  Viciffitudes  of  Affli&ion, 
The  Clouds  returning  after  the  Rain.  He  bu- 
ried his  Firft  Wife,  and  all  the  Children  he  had 
by  that  Wife.  He  then  married  a  Virgin  Daugh- 
ter of  the  well  known  Mr.  John  Wilfon,  in 
hopes  of  Iffue  by  her;,  but  God  alfo  took  her 
away,  with  the  Child  fhe  had  conceived  by 
him. 

After  this,  he  married  once  more  a  Perfon, 
in  Years  agreeable  to  him ;  but  that  very  Night 
a  Fire  burnt  his  DwellingHoufe  to  the  Ground, 
with  all  the  Goods  that  he  had  under  his  Roof 
Having  Rebuilt  his  Houfe,  he  received  a  Fall' 
from  his  Horfe,  which  gave  to  his  Right  Arm 
fuch  a  Bruife,  as  made  it  ever  after  ufelefs  unto 
him 


Learning    to     Write    with    his    Left 


—-—Pollebat  mira  Dextcritate  tamen.  — 

Thus  having  done  the  Will  of  God,  he  was 
put  upon  further  Trial  of  his  Patience !  But 
there^was  this  Comfortable  in  his  Trial,  that 
the  Good  Spirit  of  God  enabled  him  to  bear 
his  Croffes  chearfully,  and  Rejoice  in  his  Tri- 
bulations. 

§  12.  The  Natural  Conftitution  of  his  Body 
was  but  Feeble  and  Crazy :  Nevertheless,  by  a 
Prudent  Attendance  to  the  Rules  of  Health,  his 
Lite  was  lengthened  out  confident bly  :  But  at 
laft  a  Lingring  Sicknefs  ended  his  Days,  Jan. 
23.  1660.  in  the  Seventieth  Year  of  his  Age. 
His  Books  wherewith  he  had  Recruited  his  Li- 
brary, after  the  Fire,  which  confumed  the  good 
Library,  that  he  had  brought  out  of  England, 
he  bellowed  upon  Harvard  College. 

His  Lands,  the  greateft  part  of  them,  with 
his  Houfe,  he  gave  to  the  Town  and  Church 
of  Rowly. 

§13.  Becaufe  'twill  give  fome  Illuftration 
unto  our  Church  Hiftory,  as  well  as  notably  de- 
fence the  Excellent  and  Exemplary  Spirit  of 
this  Good  Man,  and  it  hath  been  fometimes 
noted,  Optima  Hijloria,  eft  Hifloria  Epiflolaris^ 
I  will  here  infert  one  of  his  Letters,  written 
(with  his  Left  Hand)  unto  a  Worthy  Mini- 
fter  in  Charlefiown,  the  6th  of  the  12th  Month, 
1657. 


Dear  Brother, 

T Hough  I  have  now  done  my  Errand  in 
'  the  other  Paper,  yet  methinks,  I  am 
not  fatisfied  to  leave  you  fo  fuddenly,  fo 
barely.  Let  us  hear  from  you,  I  pray  you  $ 
How  you  do.  Doth  your  Miniftry  go  on 
comfortably  ?  Find  you  Fruit  of  your  La- 
bours ?  Are  New  Converts  brought  in  ?  Do 
your  Children  and  Family  grow  more  Godly  ? 
I  find  greateft  Trouble  and  Grief  about  the 
Rifing  Generation.  Young  People  are  little 
ftirred  here  ;  but  they  ftrengthen  one  another 
in  Evil,  by  Example,  by  Counfel.  Much  a 
do  I  have  with  my  own  Family ;  hard  to  get 
a  Servant  that  is  Glad  of  Catechifing,  or  Fa- 
mily-Duties :  I  had  a  rare  Bleffing  of  Ser- 
vants in  York/hire-,  and  thofe  that  I  brought 
over  were  a  Bleffing  :  But  the  Young  Brood 
doth  much  afflicF  me.  Even  the  Children  of 
the  Godly  here,  and  elfewhere,  make  a  wo- 
ful  Proof.  So  that,  /  tremble  to  think,  what 
will  become  of  this  Glorious  Work  that  we  have 
begun,  when  the  Ancient  fhall  be  gathered  un- 
to their  fathers.  I  fear  Grace  and  Bleffing 
will  die  with  them,  if  the  Lord  do  not  alfo 
fhow  fome  Signs  of  Difpleafure,  even  in  our 

'  Days. •   We    grow    Worldly  every 

:  where  -,  methinks  I  fee  little  Godlinefs,  but 
upon  which  Account  he  was  now  put  |c  all  in  a  Hurry  about  the  World;  every  one 

Ooo  '  for 


io4  ?be  Hi/lory  of  New-Etigland.      Book  111 

^^■-—         .n  fcji— .—    i  ■  .         i  i— —   ■— i    i     —  -  ■   ■  ■■  ■  "■  —  ■  ■  '  —..i        ■—■■         ■■—-.■-...- 1  _,   i     i   .  -     , 


for  himfelf,  little  Care  of  Publick  or  Common 
Good. 

'  It  hath  been  God's  way,  not  to  fend  fweep- 
ing  Judgments,  when  the  Chief  Magijirates 
are  Godly  and  grow  more  fo.  I  befeech  all 
the  BayJUinifiers,  to  call  earneftly  upon  Ma- 
gift  rates  ( that  are  often  among  them  )  tell 
them,  That  their  Godlinefs  will  be  our  Pro- 
teSion:  It  they  fail,  I  fhall  fear  fomefweep- 
ing  Judgment  lhortly.  TheCleuds  feems  to  be 
gathering. 

'  1  am  haft ning  Home,  and  grown  very  Afth- 
matical,  and  Short-breathed.  Oh  !  that  I  might 
fee  fome  Signs  of  Good  to  the  Generations 
following,  to  fend  me  away  Rejoicing !  Thus 
I  could  weary  you  and  my  felj,  and  my  Left 
Hand;  but  I  break  off  fuddenly.  0,  Good 
Brother,  I  thank  God,  I  am  near  Home  •,  and 
you  too  are  not  far.  Oh!  the  Weight  of  Glo- 
ry, that  is  ready  waiting  for  us,  God's  poor 
Exiles !  We  fhall  fit  next  to  the  Martyrs 
and  ConfeJJbrs.  O,  the  Embraces  wherewith 
Chrift  will  embrace  us !  Cheer  up  your  Spi- 
rits in  the  Thoughts  thereof  -,  and  let  us  be 
zealous  for  our  God  and  Chrift,  and  make  a 
Conclufion.  Now  the  Lord  bring  us  well 
thro'  our  Poor  Pilgrimage. 

Tour  Affeftionate  Brother, 


Ez.  Rogers. 


Epitaph. 

A  Refurre&ion  to  Immortality, 

is  here  Expecled, 

For  what  was  Mortal, 

of  the  Reverend 

Ezekiel   Rogers. 

Put  off,  Jan.  23.  1660. 

When  Preachers  Die,  what  Rules  the  Pulpit 

gave 
Of  hiving,  are  ftill  Preached  from  the  Grave. 
The  Faith  and  Life,  which  your  Dead  Pafior 

Taught 
Now  in  One  Grave  with  him,  Sirs,  Bury  not, 

Abi,  Viator. 

A  Mortuo  difce  Vivere  ut  Moriturus  3 
E   Term  difce  Cogitare  de  Ccelis. 


CHAP.     XIV. 

Eitlogius.    The  LIFE  of  Mr.    NATHANAEL    ROGERS. 

In   J  ESU  me  a  Vita  nieo,  me  a  Claufula  Vita 
Ejt,  & in  hoc  J  ESU  Vita  perennk  erit. 


§r.TT  is  a  Reflection,  carrying  in  it  fomewhat 

X  of  Curiofity  -,  that  as  in  the  Old  Tefiament, 

God  faw  the  Firft  Sinners  under  a  Tree,  fo  in 

the  Neva  Tefiament,  Chrift  faw  one  of  the  Firft 

Believers  under  a  Tree,  with  a  particular  Ob- 

fervation.    The  Sinner  hid  himfelf  among  the 

Trees  of   the  Garden,  ailifted  with  Fig-Leaves, 

but  it  was  a  falfe  Covert  and  Shelter  whereto 

he  trufted  ;   the  moft  High  difcovered   him. 

The  Believer  alio  hid  himfelf  under  a  Fig-Tree, 

where  nevertheless,  the  Shady  Leaves  hindred 

not  our  Lord  from  feeing  of  him.    The  Sinner 

when  he  was  difcovered,  expreffed  his  Fear, 

faying,  I  heard  thy  Voice,  and  I  was  afraid.  The! 

Believer  feen  by  our  Lord,  expreffed  his  Faith, 

faying,  Mafter,  Thou  art  the  Son  of  God.   Thel 

Name  of  this  Believer  was  Nathanael.     At  the 

Beginning  of  the  Law  under  the  O/^Teftament, 

you  have  Nature  in  an  Adam  under  a  Tree  •,  at 

the  Beginning  of  the  Go/pel,  under  the  New 

Teftament,  you  have  Grace  under  a  Tree  in  a 


Nathanael.  Truly,  at  the  Beginning  of  New- 
England  alfo,  among  the  Firft  Believers,  that 
formed  a  Church  for  our  God  in  the  Country, 
there  was  a  Famous  Nathanael,  who  retired 
into  thefe  American  Woods,  that  he  might  ferve 
the  King  of  Ifrael :  This  was  our  Nathanael 
Rogers.  One  of  the  Firft  Englifh  Arch-bifhops 
affumed  the  Name  of  Detts  dedit,  and  the  Hi- 
(torian  fays,  he  anfwered  the  Name  that  he  af- 
fumed. Our  Nathanael  was  not  in  the  Rank 
of  Arch-bifhops ;  but  at  was  his  Name,  A  GIFT 
OF  GWd,Jowa*hc\ 

§  2.  Cornelius  Tacitus,  who  is  by  the  Great 
Buintm  called,  The  Wickedeft  of  all  Writers, 
reports  of  the  Jews,  That  they  adored  an  Afs's 
Head;  Becaufe  by  a  Direftion  from  a  Company 
of  Affles,  erroremfitimque  depeclerant  -,  and  this 
Report,  received  by  him  from  a  Railing  Egyp- 
tian, became  fo  received,  that  no  Defence  a- 
gainft  it  would  be  allowed.  That  Excellent 
Company  of  Divines,  which   led  the  People  of 

God 


Book  IU.      The  Hifiory  of  New-England. 


ios 


God,  unto  the  fweet  Waters  of  his  Inftitutions, 
in  the  Wilder  nefs  of  New-England,  whereinto 
they  were  driven,  have  been  elteemed  nc  better 
than  a  Company  of  Ajfes,  by  the  Romijhty  affe&ed 
Writers  of  this  Age.  But  thofe  Heads,  which 
are  juftly  admired  (tho'  not  adored)  among  that 
People,  had  more  of  Angels,  than  of  AJJes  in 
them  :  The  Englifh  Nation  had  few  better  Chri- 
ftians  than  molt,  and  if  had  not  many  better 
'Scholars  than  fome,  who  then  retired  into  theie 
Ends  of  the  Earth.  Now  among  all  thofe  Great 
Men  who  fubmitted  themfelves  unto  all  the 
Littleneffes  of  a  Wildernefs,  there  is  a  very  high 
Rank  to  be  affigned  unto  one,  who  is  now  to  be 
defcribed. 

He  was  the  Second  Son  of  that  famous  Man, 
Mr.  John  Rogers  of  Dedham  ;  and  born  while  his 
Father  was  Minilter  of  Have.nl,  about  the  \  ^ar 
i  598.    He  was  educated  at  the  Grammar  School 
in  Dedham,  cill  he  was  near  Fourteen  Years  old, 
and  then  he  was  admitted  into  Emanuel  College 
in  Cambridge.     There  he  became  a  remarkable 
and  incomperable    Proficient    in  all  Academick 
Learning  ;  but  fome  Gircumitances  of  his  Father 
would  not  permit  him  to  wait  for  Preferments, 
after  he  was  become  capable  of  Employments  in 
other  places.     His  ufual  manner  there,  was  to 
be  an  early  and  an  exact  Student  •,  by  which 
means  he  was  quickly  laid  in  with  a  good  Stock 
of  Learning  ;    but  unto  all  his  other  Learning, 
there  was  that  Glory  added,  The  bear  of  God, 
for  the  Crown  of  all ;  the  Principles  whereof 
were  inlYilled  into  his  young  Soul,   with  the 
Counfels  of   his  pious  Mother,    while  he  yet 
fat  on  her  Knees,    as  well  as  his  holy  father, 
when  he  came  to  riper  Years.    From  his  very 
Childhood  he  was  exemplary  for  the  Succefs 
which  God  gave  unto  the  Cares  of  his  Parents, 
to  principle  him  with  fuch  things  ,  as  rendred 
him  wife  unto  Salvation. 

§  3.  Having  from  his  Youth  been  ufed  unto  the 
mod  Religious  Exercifes,  not  only  Social,  but 
alio  Secret,  neverthelefs  the  Hurries  of  Avoca- 
tion carried  him  abroad  one  Morning  before  he 
had  attended  his  ufual  Devotions  in  his  Retire 
ments ;  but  his  Horfe  happening  to  Humble  in 
a  plain  Road,  it  gave  him  a  bruifing,  bloody, 
dangerous  Fall ;  which  awakened  him  lb  to  con 
fider  of  his  Omiffzon  in  the  Morning,  that  for 
the  reft  of  his  Life,  he  was  wondrous  careful 
to  omit  nothing  of  his  Daily  Duties  :  Wherein 
at  length  he  fo  abounded,  that  as  Carthufian 
fpeaks,  Dukiffimo  Deo  totus  immergi  cupis,  & 
invifcerari. 

§  4.  Tho'  he  were  of  a  plea  fa  nt  and  cheerful 
Behaviour,  yet  he  was  therewithal  fometimes 
inclined  unto  Melancholly  ;  which  was  attended 
with,  and  perhaps  produilive  of  fome  Dejeflions 
in  his  own  Mind,  about  his  Intereft  in  the  Fa- 
vour of  God.  Whence  even  after  he  had  been 
a  Preacher  of  fome  Handing,  he  had  fometimes 
very  fore  Defpondencies  and  Objections  in  his 
own  Soul,  about  the  Evidences  of  his  own  Re- 
generation ■,  he  would  conclude,  that  no  Grace 
of  God  had  ever  been  wrought  in  him.  Where 
upon  a  Minilter,  that  was  his  near  Friend,  gave 


him  once  that  Advice,  To  let  all  go  for  loft,  and. 
begin  again  upon  a  new  foundation  -,  but  Upon 
his  recollecting  himfelf,  he  found  that  he  could 
not  forego,  he  might  not  renounce  all  his  for- 
mer bleifed  Experience.  And  16  his  Doubts 
expired. 

§  5.  The  firft  Specimen  that  he  gave  of  his 
Minifterial  Abilities,  was  as  a  Chaplain  in  the 
Houfe  of  a  Perfon  of  Quality  ■,  whence  after  a  - 
Year  or  two  thus  fledged,  he  adventured  a  Flight 
unto  a  great  Congregation  at  Backing,  in  Efjex, 
under  Dr.  Barkam  ■,  not  without  the  wonder  of 
many,  how  the  Son  of  the  moit  noted  Puritan 
in  England,  fhould  come  to  be  employed  under 
an  Epifcopal  Doftor ,  lb  gracious  with  Bilhop 
Laud;  but  this  Dr.  Barkam  was  a  good  Preacher 
himfelf,  and  he  was  alfo  willing  to  gratifie  hi? 
Parifhioners,  who  were  many  of  rhem  Religi- 
oufly  difpofed  :  Hence,  tho'  the  Doctor  would 
not  fpare  a  Tenth-part  of  his  Revenues,  which 
from  his  divers  Livings,  amounted  unto  near  a 
Thoufand  a  Year,  to  one  who  did  above  T/v<v 
Quarters  of  his  Work,  yet  he  was  otherwife 
very  Courteous  and  Civil  to  our  Mr  Rogers, 
whom  his  Parifhioners  handfomely  maintained 
out  of  their  own  Purfes,  and  fhew'd  what 
a  room  he  had  in  their  Hearts,  by  their  doing 
fo. 

§  6.  All  this  while,  Mr.  Rogers  had,  like  his 
Father,  applied  his  Thoughts  only  to  the  main 
Points  of  Repentance  from  dead  Works,  and  Faith 
towards  God  ;  and  he  had  never  yet  look'd  into 
the  controverted  Points  of  Difcipline.    Indeed 
the  Difpofition  of  his  famous  Father  towards 
thofe  things,  I  am  willing  to  relate  on  this  oc- 
cafion  •,  and  I  will  relate  it  in  his  own  words, 
which  I  will  faithfully  ttanferibe,  from  a  MSS. 
of  his  now  in  my  Hands  :  '  If  ever  I  come  into 
c  Trouble,  [he  writes]  for  want  of  Conformity, 
'  I  refolve  with  my  felf,  by  God's  AtMance, 
c  to  come  away  with  a  clear  Confcience,  and 
c  yield  to  nothing  in  prefent,  until  I  have  pray- 
'  ed  and  failed,  and  conferred  :  And  tho'  the 
'  Liberty  of  my  Mini  ft  ry  be  precious,  yet  buy  it 
'  not  with  a  guilty  Confcience.     I  am  fomewhat 
'  troubled  fometimes  at  my  Subfcription,  but  I 
faw  fundry  Men  of  good Gifts,  and  good  Hearts, 
as  I  thought,  that  did  fo.     And  I  could  not 
prove  that  there  was  any  thing  contrary  to 
the  Word  of  God  :    Tho'  I  mill  iked  them 
much,  and  I  knew  them  uprofitable  Burthens 
to  the  Church  of  God,     But  if  I  be  urged  unto 
the  Ufe  of  them,  I  am  rather-  refolved  never  to 
yield  thereto.    They  are  to  me  very  irkfome 
Things  -,   yet  feeing  I  was  not  able  to  prove 
them  flatly  unlawful,  or  contrary  to  God's 
Word,  I  therefore  thought  better  to  fave  my 
Liberty  with  Subfcribing,  (feeing  I  did  it  not 
againft  my  Confcience)   than   to  lofe  it,  for 
not  yielding  fo  far.     Yet  this  was  fome  fmall 
trouble  to  rne,  that  I  did  it,    when  I  was  in 
no  fpecial  Peril  of  any  prefent  Trouble  •  which 
yet  I  thought  I  were  as  good  do  of  my  felf, 
as  when  I  fhould  be  urged  to  it.    But  it  may- 
be, I  might  not  have  been  urged  of  a  long 
time,  or  not  at  all ;  but  might  have  efcaped 
0  0  0  2  *  by 


io6 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.      Book  111. 


'.by  Friends  and  Money,  as  before  ;  which  yet 
'  Heared  :  But  it  was  my  Weaknefs,  as  I  now 
'  conceive  it  ;  which  I  befeech  God  to  pardon 
c  unto  me.  Written  1627.  This  I  fmarted  for 
'1631.  If  I  had  read  this,  it  may  be,  I  had 
1  not  done  what  I  did. 

Reader,  In  this  one  Paffage  thou  haft  a  large 
Hiitory,  of  the  Thoughts  and  Fears,  and  Cares, 
with  which  the  Puritans  of  thofe  Times  were 
exercifed. 

But  Mr.  Hooker,  now  Lecturer  at  Chelmsford, 
underltanding  that  this  young  Preacher  was  the 
Son  of  a  Father,  whom  he  molt  highly  relpeft- 
ed,  he  communicated  unto  him  the  Grounds  of 
his  own  DiiTatisfa&ion,  at  the  Ceremonies  then 
impofed.  Quickly  after  this,  the  Doftor  of 
Backing  being  preient  at  the  Funeral  of  fome 
eminent  Perfon  there,  he  obferved  that  Mr.  Ro- 
gers forbore  to  put  on  the  Surplice,  in  the  Exer 
rife  of  his  Miniftry  on  that  occaiion  ■,  which  in- 
fpired  him  with  as  much  Diiguit  againlt  his  Cu- 
rate, as  his  Curate  had  againft  the  Surplice  it 
felf.  Whereupon,  tho'  the  Dottor  were  fo  much 
a  Gentleman,  as  to  put  no  Publick  Affront  upon 
Mr.  Rogers,  yet  he  gave  him  his  private  Advice 
to  provide  for  himfelf,  in  fome  other  place. 

^  7.  See  the  Providence  of  our  Lord !  About 
that  very  time,  Ajjington,  in  Suffolk,  being  void 
by  the  Death  of  the  former  Incumbent,  the  Pa- 
tron thereof  was  willing  to  beftow  it  upon  the 
Son  of  his  honoured  Friend  in  Dedham  ;  whither 
he  now  removed,  after  that  'Booking  had  for 
four  or  five  Years  enjoyed  his  Labours.     The  In 


with  the  Converfion  of  Souls  more  than  him. 
And  good   Bifhop    Brownrig  would  fay,  John 
Rogers  will  do  more  good  with  his  Wild  Notes 
than  we  fhall  do  with  our  Set  Mufick.    But 
our  Nathanael  Rogers,  was  a  Fijher  of  Men,  who 
came  with  a  Silken  Line,  and  a  Golden  Hook 
and  God  profpered  him  alfo.     He  was  an  Apollo 
who    had  his  Harp  and  his  Arrows  -,  and  the 
Arrows  his  charming  and  piercing  Eloquence, 
which  had  8-fytt  £  b*^?,  in  it  were  Arrows  in  the 
Hand  of  a  mighty  Alan.     He  not  only  knew  how 
to  build  the  Temple,  but  alfo  how  to  carve  it: 
And  he  could  fay  with  Lallantius,   (his  very 
Names-fake)  Vellem  mihi  dari  Eloquentiam,  vel 
quia  magis  credunt  Homines  Vcritati  ornat&  vel 
ut  ipfifuh  Armh  vincantur. 

^  9.  But  a  Courfe  was  taken  to  extinguifh 
thefe  Lights,  as  faft  as  any  Notice  could  be  ta- 
ken of  them.  It  was  the  Refolution  of  the  Hie- 
rarchy, that  the  Minifters  who  would  not  con- 
form  to  their  Impofitions,  muft  be  filenced  all 
over  the  Kingdom.  Our  Mr.  Rogers  perceiving 
the  Approaches  of  the-  Storm  towards  himfelf \ 
did  out  of  a  particular  Ciramfpetlion  in  his  own 
Temper,  choofe  rather  to  prevent  than  to  re- 
ceive  the  Cenfures  of  the  Ecclefiajlical  Courts  h 
and  therefore  he  refigned  his  place  to  the  Pa- 
tron, that  fo  fome  Godly  and  Learned  Confor- 
mifl,  might  be  invefted  with  it :  Neverthelefs. 
not  being  free  in  bis  Confcience,  wholly  to  lay 
down  the  Exercife  of  his  Miniftry,  he  defigned 
a  Removal  into  New-England;  whereunto  he 
was  the  rather  moved,  by  his  Refpeft  unto  Mr. 


habitants  of  Bromly,  near  Colchefler,  were  at  the  |  Hooker,  for  whom  his  Value  was  extraordinary 


fame  time  extreamly  difcontented  at  their  mif- 
fing of  him.  However,  fee  again  the  Provi- 
dence of  our  Lord  ;  the  Bifhop  of  Norwich  let 
him  live  quietly  five  Years  at  Ajjington,  which 
the  Bifhop  of  London  would  not  have  done  at 
Bromly.  This  was  the  Charge  now  betrufted 
with  our  Rogers ;  concerning  whom,  I  find  an 
eminent  Perfon  publifhing  unto  the  World,  this 
Account :  Mr.  Nathanael  Rogers,  a  Man  jo  able 
and  fo  judicious ,  in  Soul-work,  that  I  would  have 
betrufted  my  Soul  with  him,  us  fcon  a*  with  any 
Man  in  the  Church  ofChrifi. 

§  8.  Here  his  Miniftry  was  both  highly  refpe- 
cled,  and  greatly  profpered,  among  Perfons  of 
all  Qualities,  not  only  in  the  Town  it  felf,  but 
in  the  Neighbourhood.  He  was  a  lively,  curi- 
ous, florid  Preacher ;  and  by  his  Holy  Living, 
he  fo  farther  preached,  as  to  give  much  Life 
unto  all  his  other  preaching.  He  had  ufually, 
every  Lord's  Day,  a  greater  Number  of  Hearers 
than  could  croud  into  the  Church  ;  and  of  thefe 
many  Ignorant  Ones  were  inftruSted,  manyU/?- 
godly  Ones  were  Converted,  and  many  Sorrow- 
ful Ones  were  comforted.  Tho'  he  had  not  his 
Father's  notable  Voice,  yet  he  had  feveral  Mi- 
nifterial  Qualifications,  as  was  judged,  beyond 
his  Father  ;  and  he  was  one  prepared  unto  every 
good  Work  ;  tho'  he  was  alfo  exercifed  with  Bo 
dily  Infirmities,  which  his  Labours  brought  upon 
him.  'Tis  a  thing  I  find  obferv'd  by  Mr.  Virmin, 
John  Rogers  was  not  John  Chryfoftom  ;  and  yet 
God  honoured  no  Man  in  thofe  Parts  of  England 


is  no  Reproach  caft 


Reader,  In  all  this,  there 
upon  this  excellent  Rogers. 

§  10.  He  had  married  the  Daughter  of  one 
Mr.  Crane  of  Cogefloal,  a  Gentleman  of  a  very 
confiderable  Eftate,  who  would  gladly  have 
mentioned  this  his  worthy  Son-in  Law,  with  his 
Family,  if  he  would  have  tarried  in  England '{' 
but  obferving  the  ftrong  Inclination  of  his  Mind 
unto  a  Aew-Eng/iJhVoyage,  hedurft  not  oppofe 
it.  Now,  tho  Mr.  Rogers  were  a  Perfon  very 
unable  to  bear  the  Hardfhips  of  Travel,  yet  the 
ImpreJJton  which  God  had  made  upon  his  Heart, 
like  what  he  then  made  upon  the  Hearts  of  ma- 
ny Hundreds  more,  perhaps  as  weakly  and  fee- 
ble as  he,  carried  him  through  the  Enterprize 
with  an  unwearied  Refolution  ;  which  Refolu- 
tion was  tried,  indeed,  unto  the  utmoft.  For 
whereas  the  Voyage  from  Graves/end  unto  Bo- 
Jion,  ufes  to  be  difpatched  in  about  Nine  or 
Ten  Weeks,  the  Ships  which  came  with  Mr. 
Rogers,  were  fully  Twenty  four  Weeks  in  the 
Voyage  •,  and  yet  in  this  tedious  Paffage,  not 
one  Perfon  did  mifcarry.  After  they  had  come 
Two  Thirds  of  their  way,  having  reached  the 
length  of  Newfound-land,  their  Wants  were  ib 
multiplied,  and  their  Winds  were  fo  contrary, 
that  they  entred  into  a  ferious  Debate,  about 
returning  back  to  England  :  But  upon  their  fet- 
ting  apart  a  Day  for  folemn  Faffing  and  Prayer, 
the  Weather  cleared  up  -,  and  in  a  little  time 
they  arrived  at  their  defired  Port  ■,  namely,  a- 

bout 


Book  III.        '1  he  Hijhxy  of  Nevv-hngland. 


1 07 


bout  the  middle  of  November,   in  the  Year 

16 36. 

&  if,  It  was  an  extream  Difcouragement  un- 
to him,  at  his  Arrival,  to  find  the  Country 
thrown  into  an  horrible  Combuf lion,  by  the  f a- 
^iMieal  Opinions,  which  had  newly  made  fyeh 
a  Disturbance,  as  to  engage  all  Pcrfons,  on  one 
fide  or  t'other  ol'  the  Controverfies,  all  the  Coun 
try  over.  But  God  blefTed  the  Prayers  and 
Pains  of  his  People,  for  the  fpeedy  (lopping  of 
that  Gangreen  ;  and  fetled  the  Country  in  a 
comfortable  Peace,  by  a  Synod  convened  at 
Qwbnigt  the  nex*  Year  -,  whereto  our  Mr.  Ro 
gers  and  Mr.  Pat  ridge,  who  came  in  the  lame 
Ship  with  him,  contributed  not  a  little  by  their 
Judicious  Difcourfes  and  Collations. 

§  12.  His  firft  Invitation  was  to  Dorcbefier  ; 
but  the  Number  of  Good  Men  who  came  hi- 
ther, delirous  of  a  Settlement  under  his  Mini 
ftry,  could  not  be  there  accommodated  ;  which 
cauied  him  to  accept  rather  of  an  Invitation  to 
lpfwich,  where  he  was  Ordained  P  aft  or  of  the 
Church,  on  Feb.  10.  1638.  At  his  Ordination 
preaching  on  2  Cor.  2.  16.  Who  is  fujficient  for 
theje  things  :  A  Sermon  fo  Copious,  Judicious, 
Accurate,  and  Elegant,  that  it  Itruck  the  Hearers 
with  admiration.  Here  was  a  Renowned  Church 
confiding  moilly  of  fuch  illuminated  Chriftians, 
that  their  Pallors  in  the  Exercife  of  their  Mini- 
itry,  might  (as  Jerom  faid  of  that  brave  Woman 
Murcella)  Sent  ire  fe  non  tarn  Difcipuhs  habere 
mam  Judices.  His  Collegue  here,  was  the  Ce- 
lebrious  Norton  ;  and  glorious  was  the  Church 
of  Ipfwich  now,  in  two  fuch  extraordinary  Per- 
fons,  with  their  different  Gifts  ■,  but  united 
Hearts,  carrying  on  the  Concerns  of  the  Lord's 
Kingdom  in  it.  While  our  humble  Rogers  was 
none  of  thofe,  who  do,  T*«  -mv  iSixyav  haynrg}' 
7»73f,  lavTuv  i;jA\j^<sHi  vofMt^iHv,  Think  the  Bright- 
ness of  their  Brethren  to  jhadow  and  obfeure 
them/elves.  But  if  Norton  were  excellent,  there 
are  Perfons  of  good  Judgment,  who  think  them 
felves  bound  in  Juftice  to  fay,  That  Rogers 
came  not  fhort  of  Norton,  in  his  greateft  Ex- 
cellencies. 

§13.  While  he  lived  in  Ipfi-jich,  he  went  over 
the  Five  laft  Chapters  of  the  Epiftle  to  the  Epbe- 
fans,  in  his  Miniftiy  •  the  Twelfth  Chapter  to 
the  Hebrews ;  the  Foi  1  eenth  Chapter  of  Hofea  ; 
the  Doctrine  of  Self  din:.1',  ind  walking  with 
God  ■,  and  the  Fifty  third  Cha;  er  of  Ifaiah  -,  to 
the  great  Satisfaction  of  all  his  Hearers,  with 
many  other  Subjects  more  occafionally  handled. 
It  was  counted  pity  that  the  Publick  fhould  not 
enjoy  ibme  of  his  Difcourfes,  in  all  which  he 

WaS,    K    -7VV    IjJ.iVTUlV     <*Wl<*.     7UC    AX&C'eVTWV  \      But  his 

Phyfician  told  him,  That  if  he  went  upon  tran- 
fcribing  any  of  his  Compofures,  his  Difpofition 
to  Accuracy  would  fo  deeply  engage  him  in  it, 
as  to  endanger  his  Life  :  Wherefore  he  left  tew 
Monuments  of  his  Miniftiy,  but  in  the  Hearts 
of  his  People,  which  were  many.  But  tho'  they 
were  fo  many,  that  he  did  juftly  reckon  tint 
well  inftrucFed,  and  well-inclined  People,  his 
Croivn,yzi  in  the  Varoxiftn  of  Temptation  among 
them,  upon  Mr.  Norton's  Removal,  the  melan- 


choly Heart  of  Mr.  Rogers,  thought  for  a 
while,  they  were  too  much  a  Crown  of  Thorns 
unto  him. 

§  14.  It  belongs  to  bis  Character,  that  he 
feared  God  above  many,  and  walked,  with  God, 
at  a  great  Rate  of  Hohnej's  :  Tho1  fuch  was  his 
Refervednejs,  tint  none  but  his  hirsute  Friends 
knew  the  Particularities  of  his  Walk,  yet  fuch 
as  were  indeed  intimate  with  him  could  ob- 
ferve,  that  he  was  much  in  Prayer, 

and  Meditation,  and  thofe  Duties  wherein  the 
Power  of  Godlinrjs  is  moft  maintained  :  And  as 
the.  Graces  of  a  Christian,  fo  the  Gifts  of  a  Mi- 
nifter,  in  him,  were  beyond  the  ordinary  At- 
tainments of  good  Men.  Yea  ,  I  (hall  do  a 
wrong  unto  his  Name,  if  I  do  not  freely  lay, 
That  he  was  one  of  the  great cjl  Men,  that  ever 
let  foot  on  the  American  Strand.  Indeed,  when 
the  Apcftle  Paul  makes  that  juft  Boaft,  /  iva* 
not  a  whit  behind  the  very  chief ifl  Apoflles  :  He 
does  not  fpeak  (as  we  commonly  take  it)  in 
relpecF  of  fuch  as  were  true  Apoftles,  but  in  re- 
ference to  xhotefalfe  Apoftles,  who  had  nothing 
to  let  them  out,but  their  own  lofty  Words,  with 
an  unjulf  flight  of  him.  Whereas  our  blelfed, 
Rogers,  I  may  without  Injury,  or  Odium,  ven- 
ture to  compare  with  the  very  belt  of  the  true 
Minifters,  which  made  the  beft  Days  of  New- 
England,  and  fay,  He  came  little,  if  at  all  be- 
hind the  very  chief  eft  of  them  all. 

§15.  He  was  much  troubled  with  Spitting 
of  Blood ;  wherein  he  would  comfort  himfelf 
with  the  Saying  of  one  Mr.  Price,  upon  fuch  an 
Occafion,  That  tho'  he  fhould  /pit  out  his  own 
Blood,  by  which  his  Life  was  to  be  maintained, 
yet  he  fhould  never,  Expuere  Sanguinem  Chrifti, 
or  lofe  the  Benefits  of  ChrifPs  Blood,  by  which  he 
wai  redeemed.  He  was  alfo  fubjecF  unto  the 
Plat  us  Hypocondriacus,  even  from  his  Youth  ; 
wherewirh  when  he  was  firft  furprized,  he 
thought  himfelf  a  dying  Man  ;  but  a  good  Phy- 
fician, and  a  long  Experience,  convinced  him, 
that  it  was  a  more  Chronical  Diftemper.  And 
while  he  was  under  the  early  Difcouragements 
of  this  Diftemper,  I  find  the  famous  Mr.  Cotton, 
in  a  Letter  dated  March  <?.  163  r.  thus  encoura- 
ging of  him : 

'  I  blefs  the  Lord  with  you,  who  fupporteth 
■  your  feeble  Body,  to  do  him  Service,  and  mean 
6  while  perfecFeth  the  Power  of  his  Grace  in 
'  your  Weaknefs.  You  know  who  faid  it,  Un- 
c  mortified  Strength  poftcth  hard  to  Hell,  but  fan- 
'  ftified  Weaknefs  creepcth  faft  to  Heaven.  Let 
'  not  your  Spirit  faint,  tho'  your  Body  do.  Your 
'  Soul  is  precious  in  God's  fight ;  your  Hairs 
'  are  numbred,  and  the  number  and  meafure  of 
1  your  fainting  Pits,  and  wearifome  Nights,  are 
'  weighed  and  limited  by  his  Hand,  who  hath 
L  given  you  his  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  to  take  upon 
'  him  your  Infirmities,  and  bear  your  Sick- 
"  ncftfes. 

Nor  was  it  this  Diftemper  which  at  laft  end- 
ed his  Days;  but  it  was  a  Flood  of  Rheum,  oc- 
cafioned  partly  by  his  difufe  of  Tobacco,  whereto 

he 


io8 


The  Hiflory  of  New-Fngland.      Book  111. 


he  had  formerly  accustomed  himfelf,  but  now 
left  it  off,  becaufe  he  found  himfelf  in  Danger 
of  being  Enflaved  unto  it  ;  which  he  tnought 
a  thing  below  a  Chriftidn,  and  much  more  a 
Minifter.  He  had  often  been  feized  with  Fits 
ot  Sicknefs  in  the  Courfe  of  his  Life  :  And  his 
laft  feemed  no  more  threatning  than  the  for- 
mer, till  the  laft  Metning  of  it.  An  Epide- 
mical fort  of  Cough  had  arretted  molt  of  the 
Families  in  the  Country  ;  which  proved  mod 
particularly  Fatal  to  Bodies,  before  labouring 
with  Rheumatic  Indifpofitions.  This  he  felt  •, 
but  in  the  whole  time  of  his  Hinds,  he  was 
full  of  Heavenly  Difcourie  and  Counfel,  to 
thofe  that  came  to  vifit  him.  One  of  the  laft 
things  he  did,  was  to  Blefs  the  Three  Chil- 
dren of  his  only  Daughter,  who  had  purchafed 
his  Blefling  by  her  lingular  Dutifulnefs  unto 
him.  It  is  a  notable  Palfage  in  the  Talmuds, 
That  the  Inhabitants  of  TJippor  exprefling  an 
extreme  Unwillingnefs  to  have  the  Death  of 
K.  Judah  (whom  they  Surnamed,  The -Holy, ) 
reported  unto  them,  he  that  brought  the  Re- 
port, thus  exprefled  himfelf,  Holy  Men  and 
Angels  took  hold  of  the  Tables  oj  the  Covenant, 
arid  the  Hand  of  the  Angels  prevailed,  fo  thai 
they  look  away  the  Tables  !  And  the  People  then 
perceived  the  meaning  of  the  Parabolizer  to 
be,  That  Holy  Men  would  fain  have  detained 
R.Judab  lllll  in  this  World-,  but  the  Angels 
took  him  away.  Reader,  I  am  as  lothe  to  tell 
the  Death  of  Rogers  the  Holy-,  and  the  Inha- 
bitants of  Ipfwich  were  as  lothe  to  hear  it : 
But  1  mull  fay,  The  Hand  of  the  Angels  pre- 
vailed, on  July  3.  1655.  in  the  Afternoon, 
when  he  had  uttered  thofe  for  his  laft  Words, 
My  Times  are  in  thy  hands. 

§  i<J.  He  was  known  to  keep  a  Diary  ;  but 
he  kept  it  with  fo  much  Refervation,  that  it 
is  not  known,  that  ever  any  one  but  himfelf 
did  read  one  Word  of  it  :  And  he  determined 
that  none  evcvj7?ould;  for  he  ordered  a  couple 
of  his  Intimate  Friends  to  caft  it  all  into  the 
Fire,  without  ever  looking  into  the  Contents 
of  it. 

Surely,  with  the  Lofs  of  fo  Incomparable  a 
Pcrfon,  the  Survivors  muff,  lament  the  Lofs 
of  thofe  Experiences,  which  might  in  thefe 
Rich  Papers,  have  kept  him,  after  a  fort,  ftill 
Alive  unto  us!  But  as  they  would  have  prov'd 
him,  An  Incarnate  Seraphim,  fo  the  other  Se- 
raphim, who  carried  him  away  with  them, 
were  no  Strangers  to  the  Methods,  by  which 
he  had  Ripened  and  Winged  himfelf,  to  be- 
come one  ot  their  Society. 

I  cannot  find  any  Compofures  of  this  Wor- 
thy Man's  offered  by  ihePrefs  unto  the  World; 
except  one,  and  that  is  only  a  Letter  which  he 
wr6te  from  New  England,  unto  a  Member  of 
the  Honourable  Houie  of  Commons,  at  Weft- 
minfler,  in  the  Year  1643.  Wherein  obferving, 
That  Ecclefiam  ad  Mundi  Kormam  Regnorum&f 
ftatuum  componcre,  eft  mere  Domum  Tapetibus  ac- 
-commodare  ;  he  pathetically  urged,  That  the  Par- 
foment  would  confefs  the  Guilt  of  Neglecting, 


yea,  Rejecting  Motions  of  Reformation  in  for- 
mer Parliaments,  and  proceed  now  more  fully 
to  anfwer  the  juft  Expectations  of  Heaven'.  Bur 
I  have  in  my  Hands,  a  brief  Manufcript,  writ- 
ten in  a  Neat  Latin  Style,  whereof  he  was  an 
Incomparable  Mailer.  'Tis  a  Vindication  of 
the  Congregational  Church  Government  ■,  and 
there  is  one  Paffage  in  ir,  by  Tranfcribing 
whereof,  I  will  take  the  Leave  to  addrefs  the 
prefent  Age. 

Kon  rani  Reformat  ionem  impedit  Difficult  at 
Refbrmandi,  iff  Ecclefios  vera  Difciplina  Con- 
formes  reddendi.  Jehojhaphat  excelfa  non  amo- 
vebat  quia  Populus  non  Comparaverat  Animum 
Deo.  '  l\on  defuerunt  (inquit  Bucerus)  intra 
'  hos  Triginta  Annos,  qui  Yideri  voluehnt  Ju- 
'  flam  Evangelii  Pradicationem  plane  amplefli, 
'  atq-,  Religionk  Chrifti  rite  Conftituenda  pra- 
'  cipuam  Curam  fufcipere,  propter  quam  etiam 
'  non  par um  pencil! ari  funt.  Vetum  perpauci 
'  adhuc  reperti  funt,  qui  Je  Chrifti  Evangeiio  iff 
'  Regno  omninofubjeciffent.  Multo  vero  minus 
'  per  miff  urn  fiat  fides,  probatifp,  Eccleliarum 
'  Mmijirk,  nee  adeo  mu/ti  Miniftrorum  vohi- 
'  iffent  id  fibi  concedi,  ut  qui  Privatk  Admoni. 
c  tionibus  non  acquievijjent,  atq-,  a  manifests 
'  peccatkfuk  reciperefc  noluiffent,  eos  una  cum 
'  Ecclefia  Senioribus,  ad  hoc  eleffk,  nomine  to- 
'  tins  Ecclefia,  ad  P<enitentiam  VocaJJent  iff  Li- 
'  gajfent  ;  cofq;  qui  iff  hoc  Salutis  fua  Keme- 
'  dium  rejpuiffent,  cum  affenfu  Ecclefia  pru 
'  Ethnic  is  iff  Publican  is  habendos  Public  e  pro- 
'  nunciafjent.  Cujus  Rat  ionem  etiam  pofuit  Pe- 
ter Martyr  ;  '  Videntur  aliqui  fubvereri  Tumul- 
'  tus,  iff  Turbos,  quod  fua  Tranquilitati  con- 
'  fulant,  fibiq-,  fingant  atq-,  fomnient,  quondam 
'  Tranquilitatem  m  Ecclefia,  quam  impofjibile 
'  eft  ut  habeant,  ft  Gregem  Chrifti  reffe  pa/ci 
'  volucrint.  Hmc  Regula  Prudentix  pro  Re- 
gula  Pracepti  proponitur  ;  iff  ^jiariter  potius 
quid  fieri  convenient er  poiht,  quam  quid  debeat. 
tall  it  hac  Regula-,  cum  mult  a  Deus  efficiat  per 
Zelotas  (quos  vecant)  qux  Politicis  ImpoJJibilia 
Vifa  fuerint  -,  Puta  Hezekiam,  Jofiam,  iff  Ed- 
vardum  Sextum,  Angliz  Regem.  Cum  videos 
unum  Ezram  Cine  re  iff Cilicio,  fietu  iff  Jejunio, 
tarn  Spiff um  iff  Arduum  Opus  fuperajfe,  quo  Ca- 
riffimai  Conjuges,  iff  liberos  defiderarijjimos,  e 
Maritorum  Grernio,  iff  Paternis  Genibus,  re- 
vulfit  iff  ablegavit ;  eorumq-,  non  tantum  infim£ 
Plebk  -,  etiam  Manus  ipforum  Principum  &  An- 
tiffitum,  prima  fuit  in  Prxvaricationeifia:  S>uk 
inquam,  fidelk  Minifter  adeo  o\ip7n&<  eft,  ut  in 
repurganda  Ecclefia,  nihil  non  audeat,  cum  Bono 
Deo  ?  Magna  quidem  eft  Veritatk  &  Sanffita- 
tis,  Vis  iff  Majeftas :  lidelts  iff  Efficax  eft  Ajfi- 
Jientia  Spirit/a,  lis  qui  Zelo  accenfi  Gloria  Dei 
fedulo  incumbunt.  Tempori  quidem  aliquando 
eft  cedendum -,  fed  Operi  Dei  non  eft  Juperfe- 
dendum, 

God  will  one  Day  caufe  thefe  Words  to  be 
Tranllated  inro  Englifh  I 

In  rhe  mean  Time,  Go  thy  way,  NATHA- 
N  A  E  L,  until  the  End;  for  thou  fhalt  Reft.  — 

and 


Book  III.      The  Hi/lory  of  New-England. 


109 


and  on  thy  Refting  Place  I  will  infcribe  the 
Words  of  Luther  upon  his  Nefenus,  for  thy 

Epitaph. 

O  N  A  T  H  A  N  A  E  L,  Si  mihi  datum  ejjet 
Don  urn 
Miraculofum  Excitandi  Mortuos, 


Et  ji  ullum  unquam  Excitaffem, 
T  E  nunc  Excitorem. 


And  for  the  fame  life  borrow  the  Words,  ia 
the  Epitaph  of  Brentius,  the  Younger. 

Morte  Piarapitur,  Cceliq^fit  Incola  :  Semper 
Andiet^  O  magno  digna  propago  Patre. 


APPENDIX. 


TH  E  Invaluable  Diary  of  Mr.  Nathanael 
Rogers  is  lolt :  Something  of  his  Fathers 
is  nor  fo:  We'll  do  fomething  towards  Repair- 
ing our  Lofs  out  of  That :  Some  Secret  Papers 
01  Old  Mr.  John  Rogers^  are  fallen  into  my 
Hands  :  I  will  make  them  as  Publick  as  I  can  ; 
and  I  will  annex  them  to  the  Life  of  his  Excel- 
lent Son,  becaufe  that  Son  of  his,  did  live  over 
the  Life  of  his  Renowned  Father.  Thus,  Fa 
ther  and  Son  fhall  live  here  together  ;  and  by 
offering  the  Reader  an  Extraft  of  fome  Obfer- 
vable  Memorials  for  a  Godly  Life,  contained  in 
Referved  Experiences  of  Mr.  John  Rogers  of 


Dedham,  I  fhall  alfo  defcribe  the  very  Spirit 
of  the  Old  Puritans,  in  the  Former  Age,  by  the 
View  whereof,  I  hope  there  will  more  be  made 
in  that  Age  which  is  to  come.  Sirs,  Read  thele 
Holy  Memorials,  and  let  it  not  be  faid  of  us, 
according  to  the  Complaint  which  the  Tal- 
muds  thus  utter  5  Si  prifci  fuerunt  Filii  Reg- 
num,  nos  fumus  Filii  Horn  in  urn  Vulgar ium  ■  & 
fi  prifci  fuerunt  Homines  Vulgar  es,  nos  fumus 
velut  Afim.  Let  it  not  be  faid,  as  it  ufes  to 
be  by  the  Jewifh  Rabbi's,  Elegant  wr  eft  Sermo 
familiaris  Patritm,  quam  Lex  Filiorum. 


Sixty  Memorials  for  a  Godly  Life. 


•      A    COVENANT. 

I.  1 '  Have  firmly  purpofed,  (by  God's  Grace,) 
A  to  make  my  whole  Life,  a  Meditation  of 


Godlinefs  in  every  part 
Point   to  Point,  and  from 
more  Watchfulnefs,  walk 


a  Better  Life,  and 
That  I  may  from 
Step  to  Step,  with 
with  the*  Lord. 

Oh  !  The  Infinite  Gain  of  it !  Nofmall  Help 
hereto,  is  Daily  Meditation  and  often  Confe- 
rence. Therefore,  fince  the  Lord  hath  given 
me  co  fee  in  fome  fort,  the  Coldnefs  of  the 
Half  Service,  that  is  done  to  his  Majefty,  by 
the  moft,  and  even  by  my  felf,  I  renew  my  Co- 
venant more  firmly  with  the  Lord,  to  come 
nearer  unto  the  PraSice  of  Godlinefs,  and  of- 
tener  to  have  my  Convention  in  Heaven,  my 
Mind  feldomer,  and  more  lightly  fet  upon  the 
things  of  this  Life, to  give  to  my  felflefs  Liberty 
in  the  fecreteft  and  fmalleft  Provocations  to 
Evil,  and  to  endeavour  after  a  more  continual 
Watch  from  thing  to  thing,  that  as  much  as 
may  be,  I  may  walk  with  the  Lord  for  the 
Time  of  my  abiding  here  below. 

A  Form  of  Dire&ion. 

II.  This  Refolutely  Determine,  That  God  be 
always  my  Glory,  through  the  Day:  And,  as 


occafion  iliali  be  offered,  help  forward  fuch  as 
fhall  Repair  to  me,  or  among  whom,  by  Gcd's 
Providence,  I   fhall  come  ;  And    thele  rwo  be- 
ing regarded,  That  I  may    tend  my  own  Good 
going  forward,  (my  own  Heart,  I  mean,  Call- 
ing and   Life,    and  my   Family  and  Charge) 
looking  for  my  Change,  and   preparing  for  the 
Crqfs,  yea,  for  Death  it  (elf :  And  to  like  little 
of  mine  Eftate,  when  I  (hall  not  fenfibly  find  it 
thus  with  me  \  And  whiles  God   affordeth  me 
Peace,  Health,  Liberty,  an  Heart  delighting  in 
him,  outward  Bieffings  with   the  fame,  to  be 
ware  that  Godlinefs  feem  not  pleafant   to  me 
for  Earthly  Commodity,   but  for  it  felf:  If  in 
this  Courfe,  or  any  part  of  it,  I  fhould  hair, 
or  miflike,  not  to  admit  of  any  fuch  Deceit  .- 
And  for  the  Maintenance  of  this  Courfe,  to 
take  my  Part  in  all  the  good  Helps   appointed 
by  God  for  the  fame  5  as  thefe :  Firft,  To  Be- 
gin the  Day  with  Meditation,  Thankfgiving, 
Confeffion  and  Prayer :  To  put  on  my  Armour . 
To  Watch  and  Pray  oft  and  earneftly  in  the  D^y, 
for  holding  fa  ft   this  Courfe  :  To  hearten  on 
my  felf  hereto  by  mine  own  Experience  f  who 
have  ever  feen,  that  it  goeth  well  with  thofe, 
which  walk  after  this  Rule,  1  Pet.  3.  13.  GaJ. 
6.  16.)    and  by  the  Example  of  others.  fHek. 
13-  7-)  And  for  the  better  helping  my  felf  for- 
ward, ftill  in  this  Courfe,  my  Purpofe  and  De- 
fire  is,  to  learn  Humility  and    Meeknefs  more 

ard 


no 


The  Hi/lory  oj  New-England.       Book  HI. 


and  more,  by  God's  Cha/rifements,  and  encou- 
rage my  felf  to  this  Courfe  of  Life,  by  his  dai- 
ly Bleffings  and  Mercies  -,  and  to  make  the  fame 
ufe  of  all  Exercifes  in  my  Family.  And  faith- 
fully to  perufe  and  examine  the  leveral  parts  of 
my  Life  every  Eveningjnow  this  Courfe  hath  been 
kept  ol  me,  where  it  hath  to  keep  it  ftill*  where 
it  hath  nor,  to  leek  Pardon  and  Recovery  -,  and 
all  Behaviour  that  will  not  ftand  with  this,  to 
hold  me  from  it,  as  from  Bane. 

A  Form  for  a  Minifler's  Life 

Ilf.  In  Solitarinefs  to  be  leaft  folitary  :  In 
Company,  taking  or  doing  of  Good  -,  to  Wife, 
to  Family,  to  Neighbours,  to  Fellow-Minifters, 
to  all  with  whom  I  deal,  kind  -,  amiable,  yet 
modefi  ;  low  in  mine  own  Eyes  ;  oft  with  the 
Sick  and  Afflicted  :  Attending  to  Reading;  pain 
ful  for  my  Sermons  ,  not  eafily  provoked  unto 
Anger  -,  not  carried  away  with  Conceits  haft ily  •, 
hot  wand  ring  in  fond  Dreams,  about  Eafe  and 
deceivable  Pleafures  -,  not  fnared  in  the  World, 
nor  making  lawful  Liberties  my  delight  ;  help- 
ful to  all  that  need  my  help,  readily,  and  all 
thofe  that  I  ought  to  regard  :  And  all  this,  with 
continuance,  even  all  my  Days. 

IV.  Chief  Corruptions  to  be  watch'd  againft, 
be,  Sournefs,  Sadnefs,  Timoroufnefs,  Forget- 
fulnefs,  Fretting,  and  Inability  to  bear  Wrongs. 

V.  I  am  very  backward  to  private  Vifaing  of 
Neighbours  Houfes,  which  doth  much  hurt : 
For  thereby  their  Love  to  me  cannot  be  fo  great 
as  it  would  be  ;  and  1  know  not  their  particu- 
lar Wants  and  States  fo  well,  and  therefore 
cannot  fpeak  fo  fitly  to  them  as  I  might. 

VI.  A  Minifter  had  need  look,  that  he  profit 
by  all[his  Preaching  himfelf,  becaufe  he  knows 
not  what  others  do  :  Many,  he  knows,  get  no 
good  ;  of  many  more  he  is  uncertain  :  So  that  if 
he  get  no  good  himfelf,  his  Labour  and  Travail 
ihall  be  in  vain. 

VII.  Begin  the  Day  with  half  an  Hour's  Me- 
ditation and  Prayer.  And  let  me  refolutely  fet 
my  felf  to  walk  with  God  through  the  Day  :  If 
any  thing  fall  out  amifs,  recover  again  fpeedily, 
by  humble  ConfefTion,  hearty  Prayer  for  Par- 
don, with  Confidence  of  obtaining.  And  fo 
proceed. 

VIII.  Oh  !  MUdnefs,  and  Cheerfulnefs,  with 
Reverence,  how  fweet  a  Companion  art  thou  ! 

IX.  Few  rare  and  worthy  Men,  continue  fo 
to  their  End  -,  but  one  way  or  other,  fall  into 
Coldnefs,  grofs  Sin,  or  to  the  World :  There- 
fore beware. 

X.  Count  not  the  Daily  DireUion,  nor  Chri- 
ftian  Life,  to  be  Bondage  •,  but  count  it  the 
fweeteff  Liberty,  and  the  only  way  of  true  Peace. 
Whensoever  this  is  counted  hard,  that  State 
that  is  embraced  inftead  thereof,  ihall  be 
harder. 

XI.  Worldly  Dealings,  are  great  Lets  to  Fruit- 
fulnefs  in  Study,  and  cheerful  proceeding  in 
our  Chriltian  Courfe. 

XII  One  can  never  go  about  Study,ox  Preach- 
ings if  any  thing  lie  heavy  on  the  Confcience. 


XIII.  The  worft  Day  wherein  a  Man  keeps 
his  Watch,  and  holds  to  the  daily  Rules  of  Di- 
rections, is  freer  from  danger,  and  brings  more- 
Safety  than  the  belt  Day,  wherein  this  is  net 
known  or  practifed. 

XIV.  I  am  ofr,  I  cbnfefs,  afhamed  of  my 
felf,  when  I  have  been  in  Company,  and  lee!; 
Gifts  oj  Knowledge,  in  many  careleis  uncon- 
fcionable,  and  odd  Minifters  -,'  which  (with  bet- 
ter Reafons)  hath  ftirred  up  a  Defire  oftimes  in 
me,  that  I  could  follow  my  Studies.  Yet  I 
would  never  have  been  willing  to  have  changed 
with  them  :  For  what  is  all  Knowledge,  with- 
out a  fanctified  and  comfortable  ufe  of  it,  thro' 
Love;  and  without  Fruit  of  our  Labour,  in  do- 
ing good,  and  winning  and  building  up  of  Souls, 
or  at  leaft  a  great  endeavour  after  it. 

XV.  Many  Minijlers  fet  their  Minds  much 
upon  this  World,  either  Profit ,  or  Preferment, 
for  which  they  venture  dangerouily,  and  fome 
of  them  are  foonfnatcFd  away.  Therefore  God 
keep  me  ever  from  fetting  my  Foot  on  fuch  a 
Path,  as  hath  no  Continuance,  and  is  not  with- 
out much  Danger  in  the  End. 

XVI.  It's  good  for  a  Man  to  delight  in  that, 
wherein  he  may  be  bold  to  delight  without  Re- 
pentance :  And  that  is,  to  be  always  doing,  or 
feeking  occafion  to  do  fome  Good.  The  Lord 
help  me  herein. 

XVII.  When  God  hedgeth  in  a  Man  with 
many  Mercies,  and  gives  him  a  comfortable 
Condition,  its  good  to  acknowledge  it  often,  and 
be  highly  thankful  for  it.  Elfe  God  may  foon 
bring  a  Man  fo  low,  as  he  would  think  that 
State  happy,  that  he  was  in  before,  if  now  he 
had  it  again.  _  Therefore,  God  make  me  wife. 

XVIII.  Right  good  Men  have  complained, 
that  they  are  oft-times  in  very  bad  Cafe,  their 
Hearts  difordered  and  diftempered  very  fore,  for 
want  of  taking  to  themfelves  a  certain  DireUion 
for  the  Government  of  their  Lives. 

XIX.  Idle  and  unprofitable  Talk  of  By. mat- 
ters, is  a  Canker  that  confumeth  all  Good,  and 
yet  our  Heart  much  lufteth  after  it :  Therefore 
refolve  firmly  againft  it. 

XX.  A  neceffary  and  moft  comely  thing  it  is, 
for  a  Minifter  to  carry  himfelf  fo  wifely  and 
amiably  unto  all,  as  he  may  do  good  unto  all 
forts  ;  to  bring  back  them  that  be  fallen  off,  in 
meeknefs  and  kindnefs,  to  pafs  by  an  Offence  in 
thofe  that  have  wronged  him,  which  is  an  high 
Point  of  Honour,  and  not  to  keep  from  them, 
and  eftrange  himfelf  from  their  Acquaintance, 
and  fo  fuffer  them  to  fall  further,  to  be  lowly 
towards  the  meaner  fort  of  Chriftians  ;  to  keep 
the  Credit  of  his  Miniftry  with  all. 

I  am  perfwaded,  If  my  Light  did  (nine  more 
clearly,  and  mine  Example  were  feen  more  ma- 
nifeftly,  in  thefe  and  fuch  things  (which  are  of 
no  fmall  force  to  perfwade  the  People,)  that 
both  my  Miniftry  would  be  of  more  power, 
and  that  I  fhould  draw  them  alfo  to  be  better. 

XXI.  Look,  that  I  lie  not  down  in  Bed,  but 
in  Peace  with  God  any  Night,  and  never  my 
Heart  reft,  until  it  relent  truly ,  for  any  thing 
that  hath  paiTed  amifs  in  the  Dav. 

XXII.  It 


Book  HI.        I  be  Hi/lory  of  New-rngland. 


in 


XXII.  It  is  good  for  a  Minifter,  not  to  deal 
much  with  his  People  about  Worldly  Matters, 
yet  not  to  be  ft  range  to  them  :  Nor  to  be  a 
Stumbling-block  unto  the  People,  by  World/mcfs, 
or  any  other  Fault,  elfe  he  deprives  himfeli  of 
all  liberty  and  advantage  of  dealing  with'//;*?/;/ 
for  their  Errors. 

XXIII.  Buffet  ings  of  Satan,  tho'  they  be  gne- 
vous,  yet  they  are  a  very  good  Medicine  againft 
Pride  and  Security. 

XXIV.  Chrift's  Death,  and  Gods  Mercy,  is 
not  fweet,  but  where  Sin  is  four. 

XXV.  It  is  an  hard  thing  for  a  Man  to  keep 
the  Rules  of  Daily  Dircflion,  at  Times  of  Sick- 
nefs  or  Vain.  Let  a  Man  labour  to  keep  out 
Evil,  when  he  wants  litnefs,  Strength,  and 
Occafwn,  to  do  Good,  and  that  is  a  good  Portion 
for  a  fick  Body.  Alio  in  Sicknefs  that  is  fore  and 
fharp,  if  a  Man  can  help  himfelf  wither/  and 
oft  Prayers  to  God,  for  Patience,  Contentment, 
Meekneis,  and  Obedience  to  his  holy  Hand,  its 
well,  tho'  he  can't  bend  the  Mind  much,  or 
earneftly  upon  any  thing. 

XXVI.  Innocence  is  a  very  good  Fence  and 
Fort  againft  Impatience,  in  falfe  Accufations,  or 
great  Afflictions.  Let  them  that  be  Guilty  fret 
and  vex  chemfelves,  and  fhew  Bitternefs  of  Sto- 
mach againft  fuch  as  fpeak  ill  of  them  ;  but 
they  that  look  carefully  to  their  Hearts  and 
Ways  ,  (without  looking  at  Mens  Eye),  let 
them-  be  ftill,  and  of  a  meek  and  quiet 
Spirit. 

XXVII.  Befidestheufe  of  the  Daily  DireUion, 
and  following  ftriaiy  the  Rules  thereof,  yet 
there  muft  be  now  and  then  the  ufe  of  fafting, 
to  purge  out  Wearinefs,  and  Commonnefs,  in  the 
ufe  of  it. 

XXVIII.  Tis  a  rare  thing  for  any  Man,  fo  to 
ufe  Profperity,  as  that  his  Heart  be  drawn  the 
nearer  to  God.  Therefore  we  had  need  in  that 
Eftate,  to  watch  diligently,  and  labour  to  walk 
humbly. 

XXIX.  Oh ,  frowardnefs  !  How  unfeemly. 
and  hurtful  a  thing  to  a  Man's  felf  and  others ! 
Amiable  Cheerfulnefs,  with  Watchfulnefs  and 
Sobriety,  is  the  belt  Eftate,  and  meeteft  to  do 
good,  efpecially  to  others. 

XXX.  Follow  my  Caliing  :  Lofe  no  Time  at 
home  or  abroad  ;  but  be  doing  fome  Good  : 
Mind  my  going  Homeward  :  Let  my  Life  ne- 
ver be  pleafant  unto  me,  when  I  am  not  fruitful, 
and  fit  to  be  employ'd  in  doing  good,  one  way 
or  other. 

XXXI.  It  is  a  great  Mercy  of  God  to  a  Mi- 
nifter, and  a  thing  much  to  be  defired,  that  he 
be  well  moved  with  the  Matter  that  he  preaches 
to  the  People  ;  either  in  his  private  Meditation, 
or  in  his  publick  Delivery,  or  both  :  Better 
hope  there  is  then,  that  the  People  will  be  mo- 
ved therewith  :    Which  we  fhould 


ever  aim 


at. 


XXXII.  If  the  Heart  be  heavy  at  any  time, 
and  wounded,  for  any  thing,  fhame  our  felves, 
and  be  humbled  for  our  Sin,  before  we  attempt 
any  good  Exercife  or  Duty. 

XXXIII.  It's  a  very  good  Help,  and  moft 


what  a  prefent  Remedy,  when  one  feels  ntmfel* 
dull,  and  in  an  ///  Condition,  'ftraightway  to 
confefs  it  to  God,  accufe  himfelf,  and  pray  for 
Quickning.    God  fends  Redrefs. 

XXXIV.  There  is  as  much  need  to  pray  to 
be  kept  in  Old  Age,  and  Unto  the  End,  as  at 
any  time.  And  yet  a  Body  would  think,  that 
he  that  hath  efcaped  the  Danger  of  his  younger, 
fhould  have  no  great  Fear  in  h%iattcr  Days,  but 
that  his  Experience  might  prepare  him  againft 
any  thing.  However,  it  is  not  fo  :  For  many 
that  have  done  well,  and  very  commendably  for 
a  while,  have  fhrewdty  fallen  to  great  Hurt. 
This  may  moderate  our  Grief,  when  young  Me n 
of  great  Hopes  be  taken  away. 

Oh !  how  much  rather  had  I  die  in  Vea'et  quick- 
ly ,  than  live  to  dif grace  the  Go/pel,  and  be 
a  Stumbling-block  to  any ,  and  live  with  Re- 
proach ! 

XXXV.  What  a  fweet  Life  is  it,  when  every 
part  of  the  Day,  hath  fome  Work  or  other  allot- 
ted unto  it,  and  this  done  conftantly,  but  without 
Commonnefs,  or  Cuftomarinefs  of  Spirit  in  the 
doing  it. 

XXXVI.  When  a  Man  is  in  a  drowfie  unpro- 
fitable Courfe,  and  is  not  humbled  for  it,  God 
oft  lets  him  fall  into  fome  fenfible  Sin,  to  fhame 
him  with,  to  humble  his  Heart,  and  drive  him 
more  throughly  to  God,  to  bewail  and  repent  of 
both. 

XXXVII.  A  true  Godly  Man,  hath  never  his 
Life  joyful  unto  him,  any  longer  than  his  Con- 
verfation  is  holy  and  heavenly.  Oh !  let  it  be 
fo  with  me ! 

XXXVIII.  It  is  fome  Comfort  for  a  Man, 
whofe  Heart  is  out  of  Order,  if  he  feeth  it,  and 
that  with  hearty  Miflike,  and  cannot  be  content 
until  it  be  bettered. 

XXXIX.  I  have  feen  of  others,  (which  I  de- 
fire  to  die,  rather  than  it  fhould  be  verified  ot 
me  !)  that  many  Miniflers  did  never  feemgrofly 
to  depart  from  God,  until  they  grew  wealthy 
and  great. 

XL.  How  much  better  is  it  to  refift  Sin,  when 
we  be  tempted  thereunto,  than  to  repent  of  it 
after  we  have  commuted  it  ? 

XLI.  Whatfoever  a  juftified  Man  doth  by 
Direction  of  God's  Word,  and  for  which  he  hath 
either  Precept,  or  Promife,  he  pleafes  God  in 
it,  and  may  be  comfortable,  in  whatfoever  falls 
out  thereupon.  But  where  Ignorance,  Rafhnefs, 
or  our  own  Will  carry  us,  we  offend. 

XLIL  Let  no  Man  boaft  of  the  Grace  he 
hath  had  ;  for  we  ftand  not  now  by  that,  but 
it  muft  be  daily  nourifhed  -,  or  elfe  a  Man  mail 
become  as  other  Men,  and  fall  into  noifome  E- 
vils  :  For  what  are  we  but  a  Lump  of  Sin  ot 
our  felves  ? 

XLIII.  If  God  in  Mercy  arm  us  not,  and  keep 
us  not  in  compafs,  Lord  what  Stuff  will  break 
from  us  !  For  what  a  deal  of  Poifon  is  in  our 
Hearts,  if  it  may  have  Iffue !  And  therefore 
what  need  of  Watchfulnefs  continually  ? 

XLIV.  The  worft  Ddy   (commonly)  of  him 

that  knoweth,  and  endeavoureth  to  walk  by  the 

Daily  Diretlion.  is  freer  from  danger,  and  palled 

P  p  p  in 


112 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 


In  greater  Safety,  than  the  beft  Day  of  a  Godly 
Man,  that  knows  not  this  DireUion. 

XLV.  Many  fhew  themfelves  forward  Chri- 
fiians  in  Company  abroad,  that  yet  where  they 
ftiould  (hew  molt  Fruits,  fas  at  home)  are  too 
fecure  ;  either  thinking  they  are  not  marked,  or 
if  they  be,  do  not  much  regard  it.  This  ought 
not  to  be, 

XLVI.  Be  careful  to  mark  what  falls  out  in 
the  Day,  in  Heart,  or  Life  ;  and  be  fure  to  look 
over  all  at  fright,  that  hath  been  amifs  in  the 
Day :  That  fo  I  may  lie  down  in  Peace  with 
God,  and  Confcience.  The  contrary  were  a 
woful  thing,  and  would  caufe  Hcllijh  Unquiet- 
Kefs.  Be  lure  therefore,  that  none  of  the  ma 
licious  Subtleties  of  the  Devil,  nor  the  Naugh- 
tinefs  of  my  own  Heart,  do  carry  me  further 
than  at  Night,  I  may  fleep  with  quiet  to  God- 
ward. 

XLVII.  When  God  faith,  Dcut.  12.  7.  That 
his  may  re  Joyce  before  him,  in  all  that  they  put 
their  Hands  unto  :  It's  a  great  Liberty,  and  en- 
joy 'd  of  but  few.  No  doubt,  many  of  our  Sor- 
rows come  rhrough  our  own  Default,  which  we 
might  avoid.  And  as  for  Godly  Sorrow,  it  may 
Hand  with  this  Rejoicing.  If  therefore  we  may 
in  all  things  rejoice,  then  from  one  thing  to  ano 
ther,  from  our  Waking  to  our  Sleeping  :  Firft, 
In  our  firfl  Thoughts  of  God  in  the  Morning  ; 
then  in  our  Prayer ;  after  in  our  Calling,  and 
while  we  are  at  it  •,  then  at  our  Meat,  and  in 
Company,  and  Alone,  at  Home,  and  Abroad,  in 
Prosperity,  and  Adverjity,  in  Meditation,  in 
Dealings,  and  Affairs  :  And  Laftly,  in  Ihutting 
up  the  Day  in  Examination,  and  viewing  it  over. 
And  what  hinders  ?  If  we  be  willing  and  refol- 
ved  to  do  the  Will  of  God,  throughout  the 
Day,  but  that  we  may  rejoice  before  him,  in  all 
we  put  our  Hand  unto. 

XLVIII.  He  that  makes  Confcience  of  his 
Ways,  and  to  pleafe  God  his  only  Way,  is  to 
take  him  to  a  Daily  Direction,  and  fome  Jet 
Rules,  thereby  looking  conltantly  to  his  Heart 
all  the  Day  :  And  thus,  for  the  mod  part,  he 
may  live  comfortably  ;  either  not  falling  into 
any  thing  that  mould  much  difquiet  him,  or 
ibon  returning  by  Repentance  to  Peace  again. 
But  if  a  Man  tie  not  himfelf  thus  to  Rules,  his 
Heart  will  break  from  him,  and  be  difguifed 
one  way  or  another,  whic.h  will  breed  continual 
Wound  unto  his  Confcience,  and  fo  he  mail  ne- 
ver live  any  time  together  in  Peace.  The  Caufe 
why  many  Chritlians  alfo  give  themfelves  great 
Liberty,  in  not  accufing  themfelves  for  many 
Offences,  is  the  want  of  fome  certain  Direttwn 
to  follow  in  the  Day. 

XLIX.  When  we  feel  unfitnefs  to  our  ordi 
nary  Duties,  we  either  begin  to  be  djfcouraged, 
or  elfe  yield  to  Corruption,  and  neglect  our  Du- 
ties :  Neither  of  both  which  ftiould  be,  but 
without  Diicouragement  we  mould  refill  our 
Untowerdnefs,  and  lhake  it  off,  and  flee  toGod 
by  Prayer,  even  force  our  felves  to  pray  for 
Grace,  and  fitnefs  to  pray  -,  and  being  earneff, 
and  praying  in  Faith,  we  may  be  allured,  that  we 
mall  obtain  Life  and  Grace. 


L.  When  the  Mind  is  diftra&ed  any  way,  vn- 
fettled,  unquiet,  or  out  of  order,  then  get  alone 
and  mufe,  and  fee  what  hath  brought  us  to  itil* 
pafs  *  confider  how  irkfome  a  State  this  is,  and 
Unprofitable,  pray  to  God,  and  work  with  thy 
own  .Heart,  until  it  be  brought  in  frame.  An 
Hour  or  two  alone,  fhall  do  a  Man  more  good, 
than  any  other  Courles  or  Duties. 

LL  Aim  fif  it  be  poflible)  to  l'pend  one  After- 
noon in  aWeek,in  vifiting  the  Neighbours  houfes-, 
Great  uk  there  is  of  it :  Their  Love  to  me  will 
be  much  increafed  :  Much  occafion  will  be  mi 
niftred  unto  me,  for  Direction  to  fpeak  themorg 
fitly  in  my  Miniltry.  I  am  exceedingly  grieved, 
that  I  am  fo  diltracfed  with  Journeyings  about, 
that  I  cannot  bring  this  to  pafs. 

LII.  I  never  go  abroad,  (except  I  feafon  my 
Mind  with  good  Meditations  by  the  way,  or 
read,  or  confer )  but  hefides  the  lois  of  my  Tim% 
neglecting  my  ordinary  Task  at  home,  at  my 
Study,  I  come  home  weary  in  Body,  -unladed 
in  Mind,  untoward  to  Study.  So  that  I  have 
fmall  caufe  to  rejoice  in  my"  Goings  forth,  and 
I  defire  God  to  free  me  more  and  more  from 
them  :  So  may  I  alfo  attend  my  own  Neigh- 
bouts  more  diligently,  which  is  my  great  defire  \ 
and  the  contrary  hath  been,  and  is  my  great 
Burthen. 

LIII.  I  have  ever  obferved,  that  by  Journey- 
ings and  Dijlrallions  of  divers  kinds,  in  theie  my 
later  Times,  and  by  too  often  Preaching  in  my 
younger  Tears,  I  have  been  held  from  ufing 
means  to  get  Knowledge,  and  grow  therein  : 
Which  I  counted  ever  the  julf  Punifhment  -of 
God  upon  me,  for  the  neglett  of  my  young  Time, 
when  I  fhould  and  might  have  furnimed  mv 
felf. 

LIV.  When  1  am  in  the  beft  Eftare  my  felt; 
I  preach  molt  zealouily  and  profitably  tor  the 
People. 

LV.  It  breeds  an  incredible  Comfort  and  Joy 
when  one  hath  got  power  over  fome  fuch  Co>i 
ruption,  as  in  former  Times  hath  tiled  to  get  the 
Maltery  over  him.  This  is  a  good  Provocation 
to  Itrive  hard  lb  to  do,  and  a  Caufe  of  great 
Thankfulnefs  when  it  fo  comes  to  pafs. 

LV1.  If  we  be  at  any  time  much  deje&ed  for 
Sin,  or  otherwife  difquieted  in  our  Minds  tht 
beft  way  that  can  be,  is  to  fettle  and  quiet  them 
by  private  Meditation  and  Prayer.  Probata?* 
eft. 

LVIL  The  humble  Man  is  the ftrongeft  Man 
in  the  World,  and  fureft  to  Hand,  for  he  ^oes 
out  of  himfelf  for  help.  The  proud  Man  isthe 
weakeft  Man,  and  fureft  to  fall  :  For  he  trulte 
to  his  own  ftrength. 

LVIII.  It's  good  in  all  the  Changes  of  ourLtftv 
whatfoever  they  be,  to  hold  our  own,  and  be 
not  changed  theie  with  from  our  Goodnejs :  As 
Abraham,  wherefoever  he  came  (after  his  Cal 
ling)  Itill  built  his  Altar  to  the  true  God,  a)  .' 
called  upon  his  frame  :  He  changed  his  Plut\ 
but  nevtr  changed  his  God 

LIX.  Our  whole  Life  under  the  Go/pel  fhould 
be  nothing  but  Thankfulnjs  and  bruiifubxj.. 
And  if  we  muft  judge  our  felves  for  our  imvard 

Lulls 


Book  III.     The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


113 


Luftre  and  Corruptions  of  Pride,  Dulnejs  in 
good  Duties,  Earthlinejs,  hnpatience.  If  we 
make  not  Confcience  of ,  and  be  not  humbled 
for  thefe,  God  will  and  doth,  oft  give  us  up 
to  open  Sins,  that  Stain  and  Blemifh  our  Pro- 
feflion. 

LX.  The  more  we  Judge  our  felves  Daily, 
the  lefs  we  fhall  have  to  do  on  our  Sickbeds, 
and  when  we  come  to  die.  Oh!  That  is  an 
unfit  Time  for  This  !  We  fhould  have  nothing 
to  do  then,  but  bear  our  Pain  wifely,  and  be 
ready  to  die.  Therefore,  let  us  be  exa£t,  in 
our  Accounts  every  Day  ! 

Reader,  Having  thus  entertained  thee  with 
the  Memorials  of  the  Famous  Mr.  John  Rogers, 
I  will  conclude  them  with  tranfcribing  a  Re- 
mark, which  I  find  in  a  Book  publifhed  by 
Mr.  Giles  Firmin,  1  <58 1. 

'  Some  Excellent  Men. at  home  conformed, 
c  but  groaned  under  the  Burden  •,  as,  I  remem- 
'  ber,  Mr.  John  Rogers  oi'Dcdbam,  an  Eminent 


Saint  j  tho'  he  did  conform,  I  never  faw  him 
wear  a  Surplice,  nor  heard  him  ufe  but  a  few 
Prayers-,  and   thofe,  I  think,  he  faid  memo- 
riter,  he  did  not   read    them:  But   this   he 
would  do   in  his  Preaching,  draw  his  Finger 
about  his  Throat,  and  fay,  Let  them  take  mc 
and  hang  tne  up,  Jo  they  will  but  re-move  theje 
Stumbling  Blocks  out  of  the  Church.     But  how 
many  Thoufands  of  Choice  Chriftiafis  pluck'd 
up   their  Stakes    here,    forfook    their   Dear 
Friends  and  Native  Country,  (hut  up  them- 
felves  in  Ships,  (to  whom  a  Prifon  for  the 
time,  had  been  more  eligible)  went  remote 
into  an  howling  Wildernefs,  there  underwent 
great  Hardlhips,  Water  was  their   common 
Drink,  and  glad  if  they,  might  have  had  but 
that  which  they  had  given  at  their  Doors 
here,  (many  of  them  :)  and  all  this  Suffering 
was  to  avoid  your  Impofmon?,  and  that  they 
might  dwell  in  the  Houie  of  God,  and  enioy 
all  things  therein,  according  to  his  own  Ap- 
pointment. 


CHAP.     XV. 
Bibliander  Nov-Anglicanus.     The  L  I  F  E  of  Mr.  S  A  M  V  E  L    NEW  MAN. 


Nulla  Tuas  unguam  Virtutes  nefciet  JEtas  ± 
Kon  Jus  in  Laiides  Mors  habet  Atra  Tuas. 


§  i.TWTONE  of  the  leaft  Services,  which 
J_\  the  Pens  of  Ingenious  and  Induftrious 
Men  have  done  for  the  Church  of  God,  hath 
been  in  the  Writing  of  CONCORDANCES 
for  that  Miraculous  Book,  where,  Qiricquiddo- 
cetur  eft  Veritas  ;  Quicquid  pracipitur,  Boni 
tcu  ;  £>uicquid promittitur,  Fxlicitaa.  The  Ufe 
of  fuch  Concordances  is  well  understood  by  all 
xh.il  Jearcb  the  Scriptures,  and  think  thereby  to 
have  Eternal  Life :  But  molt  of  all  by  thofe 
Bezaleels,  whole  Bufinefs  'tis  fas  one  fpeaks) 
to  cut  and  Jet  in  Gold  the  Diamonds  of  the  Di- 
vine Word. 

And  therefore  there  have  been  many  Concor- 
dances of  the  Bible  fince  that  Origen  firft  led  the 
way  for  fuch  Compofures,  and  divers  Langua 
ges  •,  whereof,  it  may  be,  the  Maxim*  tl?  abjo 
lutiffim£  Concordant! a,   molt  Compleat,   have 
been  thofe  that  were  compofed  by  the  Two 
Stephens,  Robert  the  Father  and  Henry  the  Son ; 
thefe,  as   their  Name  fignifies  a  Crown,  fo  in 
this  Work   of  theirs,  like   Demofthenes  in  his 
Oration,    Dei  Corona,  have  carried  away  the 
Garland  from  all  that  went  afore  them. 

Now,  in  the  Catalogue  of  Concordances,  even 
from  that  of  R.  IJaac  Nathans,  in  Hebrew,  to 
all  that  have  in  many  other  derived  Languages 
imitated  it,  there  is  none  to  be  compared  unto 
that  of  Mr.  Samuel  Newman,  in  Englifli.  In- 
deed, firft  Marbeck  in  a  Concordance,  which 
pointed  unto  Chapters,  but  not  unto  Verjes-, 
then  Cotton,  who  though  no  Clergy-man  himfelf, 


yet  by  his  more,  but  yet  not  quite  perfe£t  Concor* 
dance  and  his  Diligence,  obliged  all  Qergy-ment, 
and  afterwards  Bernard,  who  yet  (no  more  than 
his  Name's  tike)  faw  not  all  things;  and  then 
Downham,    Wickens,    Ben  net,  and    how   many 
more  ?  have  done  vertuoujly  ;  but  Thou,  New- 
man, haji  excelled  them  all !  It  hath  been  a  juft 
Remark,  fometimes,  made  by   them,  who  are 
fo  wife  as  to  objerve   thefe   things,  that  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chrilt,  in  his  Holy  Providence,  hath 
chofe  efpecially  to  make  the  Names  of  thofe 
Perfons  Honourable,  who  have  laboured  in  their 
Works,  efpecially  to  put  Honour  upon  the  Sa-> 
crcd  Scriptures.     And   in  Conformity    to  that 
Obfervation,  there  are  Dues  to  be  now  paid 
unto  the  Memory  of  Mr.  Samuel  Newman,  who 
that  the  Scriptures  might  be  preferved  for  the 
Memory,  as  well   as  the  \fnderfanding  of  the 
Cbriftian  World,  firft  compiled  in  England,  a 
more  Elaborate  Concordance  of  the  Bible,,  than 
had  ever  yet  been  feen  in  Europe  -,  and  after  he 
came  to  New-England,  made  that  Concordance 
yet  more  elaborate,  by  the  Addition  of  not  only 
many  Texts,  that  were  not  in  the  former,  but 
alio  the  Marginal  Readings  of  all  the  Texts 
that  had  them,  and  by    feveral  other  Contri- 
vances to  made  the  whole  more  Expedite,  for 
the  Ufe  of  them  that  Confulted  it. 

§  2.  The  Life  of  Mr.  Samuel  Newman,  com- 
menced with  the  Century  now  running  ;  at  Ban- 
bury, where  he  was  born   of  a  Family,  more 
Eminent  and  more  Ancient  for  the  Profeflion 
P  p  p  2  of 


ii4 


Ihe  Hijiory  of  New-England.      Book  ill. 


of  the  True  Froteftam  Religion,  than  moft  in  I  very  Preaching  Liver.     He  lov'd  his  Church  as 
the  Real™  of  England.     After  his  Parents,  who  I  if  it  had  been  his  Family,  and  he  taught  his  Fa- 


had   more   Piety  and   Honefty,    than  Worldly 
Great nefs  to   fignalize  them,  had  beftowed  a 
Good  Education  upon  him,  and  after  his  Abode 
in  the  Univerfity  of  Oxford,  had   given  more 
Perfection   to   that  Education,   he  became  an 
Able-  Minifter  of  the  New  Teftament.    But  be- 
ing under    the  Confcientious  Difpofitions  of 
RedChnftianity,  which  was  then  called  Pari 
tanifm,    the  Perfecution   from  the  Prevailing 
Hierarchy,  whereto  he  therefore  became  Ob- 
noxious,  deprived   him   of  Liberty,    for  the 
peiceable  Exercife  of  his  Miniitry.     Whence  it 
came  to  pafs,  that  although  we  might  other- 
wife  have  termed  him  a  Presbyter  of  One  Town 
by  Ordination,  we  muft  now  call  him  an  Evan- 
gel; ft  of  many,  through  Perfecution :  For  the 
Epifcopal  Moleftations  compelled  him  to  no 
lefs  than  Seven  Removes,  and  as  many  Places 
may  now  contend  for  the  Honour  of  his  Mini- 
itry, as  there  did   for  Homer's  Nativity.    But 
an  Eighth  Remove,    whereto  a  Wearninefs  of 
the  former  Seven  drove  him,  (hall  bury  in  Si- 
lence the  Claims  of  all  other  places  unto  him  ; 
for  after  the  Year  1638.  (in  which  Year,  with 
many  others,  as  Excellent  Chriftians,    as  any 
Breathing  upon  Earth,  he  crofs'd  the  Water  to 
America)  he  muft  be  ftyled,   A  NewEngland 
Man. 

§  5.  After  Mr.  Newman's  Arrival  at  New- 
England,  he  fpent  a  Year  and  half  at  Dorche- 
fter,  Five  Years  at  Weymouth,   and  Nineteen 
Years  at  Rehoboth,  which  Name  he  gaveunto 
the  Town,  becauie  his  Flock,  which  were  be- 
fore ftraitned  for  Want  of  Room,  now  might 
fay,  rhe  lj>rd  hatb  made  Room  for  us,  and  we 
Jhall  be  Fruitful  in  the  Land:  Nor  will  it  be 
wondered  at,  if  one  fo  well-verfed  in  the  Scri 
pture,  could   think  of  none  but  a   Scripture- 
Name,  for  the  Place  of  his  Habitation.    How 
many  Straits  he  afterwards  underwent  at  Reho 
both,  in  the  Dark-Day,  when  he  was  almoft 
the  only   Minifter,   whofe  Invincible  Patience 
held   out,  under  the  Scandalous  Negleft  and 
Contempt  of  the  Miniftry,  which  the  whole 
Colony  of  Plymouth,  was  for  a  while  Bewitch- 
ed into,  it  is  beft  known  unto  the  Companio- 
nate  Lord,   who   faid  unto  him,   J  know  thy 
Works,  and  horn  thou  had  born  and  haft  Patience, 
and  for    mv  Name's  fake  haft  laboured,  and 
haft  not  fainted.     But,  no  doubt,  the  Straits 
did  but  more  effectually  Recommend  Heaven 
to  him  as  the  only  Rehoboth  ;  whether  he  went 
July*,,  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord   1663.  when 
by  palling  through  Nine  Sevens  of  Years,  he 
was  come  to  that  which  we  call,  The  Grand 
Climaclerical.    Nor  let  it  be   forgotten,  that  in 
this  Memorable  and  Miferable  Year,  each  of 
the  Three  Colonies  of  New-England  was   be- 
headed of  the  Minifter  from  whence  they  had 
moft  of  their  Influences  ;   Norton  went  from 
the  Maffjchufet  Colony,  Stone  went  from  Con- 
nctticut  Colony,  and  Newman  from  Plymouth 
Colony,  within  a  few  Weeks  of  one  another. 
§  4.  He  was  a  very  Lively  Preacher,  and  a 


mily,  as  if  it  had  beenhis  Church.  He  was  an 
Hard-Student ;  and  as  much  Toy  I  and  Oyl,  as 
his  Learned  Name's  fake  Neander  employed  in 
Illuftrations  and  Commentaries,  upon  the  Old, 
Greek,  Pagan  Poets,  our  Newman  beftowed  in 
compiling  his  Concordances  of  the  Sacred  Scri- 
ptures :  And  the  Incomparable  Relijh  which 
the  Sacred  Scriptures  had  with  him,  while  he 
had  them  thus  under  his  Continual  Rumination, 
was  as  well  a  Mean,  as  a  Sign  of  his  arriving 
to  an  extraordinary  Meafure  of  that  S  anility, 
which  the  Truth  produces.  But  of  his  Family- 
Difcipline  there  was  no  part  more  notable,  than 
this  one  ;  That  once  a  Year  he  kept  a  Solemn 
day  of  Humiliation  with  his  Family  ;  and  once  a 
Year,a  day  oiThankfgiving;  and  onthefedays, 
he  would  not  only  enquire  of  his  Houfllold,  what 
they  had  met  withal  to  be  Humbled,  or  to  be 
Thankful  (or,  but  alfo  he  would  Recruit  the 
Memoirs  of  his  Diary ;  by  being  denied  the 
Sight  whereof,  our  Hiftory  of  him  is  necefla- 
rily  Creepled  with  much  Imperfeftion. 

But  whether  it  were  entred  in  that  Diary  or 
no,  thete  was  one  Remarkable  which  once  be- 
fel  him,  worthy  of  a  mention  in  this  Hiftory. 
He  was  once  on  a  Journey  home  from  Bofton  to 
Rehoboth :  But  hearing  of  a  Le&ure  at  Dorche- 
fter  by  the  way,  he  thought  with  himfelf,  Per- 
haps I  Jhall  not  be  out  of  my  way,  if  I  go  Jo  far 
out  of  my  way,  at  to  take  that  Letlure.  There  he 
found  Mr.  Mather  at  Prayer ;  the  Prayer  be- 
ing ended,  Mr.  Mather  would  not  be  fatisfied 
except  he  would  Preach.  Accordingly  after 
the  finging  of  a  Pfalm,  he  preached  an  Excel- 
lent Sermon  ;  and  by  that  Sermon,  a  poor  Sin- 
ner, well  known  in  the  Place,  was  remarkably 
converted  unto  God,  and  became  a  Serious  and 
Eminent  Chriftian. 

§  5.  Hofpitality  was  an  EJJential  of  his  Cha- 
racter ;  and  I  can  tell  when  he  entertained  An- 
gels not  Unawares.  Tis  doubtlefs,  a  Faulty  piece 
of  Infenfibility ,  among  too  many  of  _the  Faith- 
ful, that  they  do  little  confider  the  Guard  of 
Holy  Angels,  wherewith  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift 
wonderfully  fupplies  us  againft  the  Mifchief 
and  Malice  of  Wicked  Spirits.    Thofe  Holy  An- 
gels, are,  it  may  be,  Two  Hundred  and  Sixty 
times  mentioned  in  the  Sacred  Oracles  of  Hea- 
ven-, and  yet  we  that  read  fo  much  in  thofe 
Oracles,  are  fo  Earthly-minded,  as  to  take  little 
Notice  of  them.    'Tis  a  marvellous  thing,  that 
as  one  fays,  The  Natives  of  Heaven  do  not 
grudge  to  attend  upon  thofe,  who  are  only  the 
Denifons  thereof;   and  that,    as  the  Ancient 
expreffes  it,  we  may  fee  the  whole  Heaven  at 
work  for  our  Salvation;  God  the  Father  fend- 
ing his  Son  to  Redem  us,  both  the  Father  and 
the  Son  fending  their  Spirit  to  guide  us,  the 
Father,  Son  and  Spirit  lending  their  Angels  to 
minilfer  for  us.    Now  of  the  whole  Angelical 
Miniliration  concerned  for  our  Good,  there  is, 
it  may  be,  none  more  confiderable,   than  the 
llluftrious  Convoy  and  ConduS,  which  they  give 
unto  the  Spirits  of  Believers,  when  being  ex- 
pired, 


Book  III.      "The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


*i5 


pired,  they  pafs  through  the  Territories  of  the 
Prince  of  the  Power  of  the  Air,  unto  the  Regions, 
where  they  mult  attend  until  the  Refurreflion. 
What  Elijah  had  at  his  Tranflation,  A  Chariot  of 
Angels,  does,  in  fome  fort,  accompany  all  the 
Saints  at  their  Expiration ;  they  are  carried  by 
jngels  unto  the  Feaft  with  Abraham,  and  An 
gels  do  then  Receive  them  into  Evcrlafting  Ha- 
bitations. The  Faith  of  this  matter  has  there- 
fore filled  rhe  Departing  Souls  of  many  Good 
Men,  with  A  Joy  mfpeakable  and  full  of 
Glory  :  Thus,  the  Famous  Lord  Mornay,  when 
Dying,  faid,  J  am  taking  my  Flight  to  Heaven  3 
here  are  Angels  that  Jiand  ready  to  carry  my 
Soul  into  the  Bofom  of  my  Saviour ;  thus  the 
Famous  Dr.  Ho/land,  when  dying,  faid.  0  thou 
Fiery  Chariot,  which  camcsl  down  to  fetch  up 
Elijah)  you  Angels,  that  attended  the  Soul  of 
Lazarus,  bear  me  into  the  Bojom  of  my  beft 
Beloved  :  Thus  we  know  of  another,  that  when 
Dying,  faid,  0  that  you  had  your  Eyes  opened 
to  fee  what  I  fee  ;  I  fee  Millions  oj  Angels  \ 
God  ha*  appointed  them  to  carry  my  Soul  up  to 
Heaven,  where  I  J  ha! I  behold  the  Lord  Fice  to 
Face.  And  now,  let  my  Reader  accept  another 
Inftance  of  this  Dying  and  molt  Lively  Expe 
ftation ! 

Our  Newman,  towards  the  Conclufion  of 
his  Days,  advanced  more  and  more  rowards 
the  Beginning  of  his  Joys :  And  a  Joyful  as 
well  as  a  Prayerful,  Watchful,  and  Fruitful 
Temper  of  Soul,  obfervably  irradiated  him. 
At  length,  being  yet  in  Health,  he  preached  a 
Sermon  on  thefe  Words  in  Job  14.  14.  All  the 
Days  of  my  appointed  Time  will  I  wait,  until 
my  Change  come :  Which  proved  his  Laft.  Fal- 
ling fick  hereupon,  he  did  in  the  Afternoon  of 
a  following  Lords  P<7/,askaD^w7ofhisChurch 
to  pray  with  him  ±  and  the  pious  Deacon  having 
finifhed  his  Prayer,  this  Excellent  Man  turned 
about,  faying,  And  now  ye  Angels  of  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrifi,  Come,  Do  your  Office  !  with  which 
Words  he  immediately  expired  his  Holy  Soul, 
into  the  Arms  of  Angels :  The  Spirit  of  this 
Juji  Man,  was  immediately  with  the  Innume 
ruble  Company  of  Angels. 

§  6.  The  Believing  Sinner,  then  has  the  For 
givenefs  of  Sin  effectually  declar'd  and  alTur'd 
unto  him,  when  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  with 
a  Special  Operation  (which  is  call'd,  The  Seal 
of  the  Holy  Spirit)  produces  in  him  a  Solid, 
Powerful,  Wonderful,  and  Well  grounded  Per 
fwafion  of  it  ;  and  when  he  brings  home  the 
Pardoning  Love  of  God  unto  the  Heart,  with 
fuch  Immediate  and  IrrefilTible  Efficacy,  as  mar- 
veloufly  moves  and  melts  the  Heart,  and  over- 
whelms it  with  the  Inexpreflible  Confolations 
of  a  Pardon.  The  Forgive nefs  of  Sin,  may  be 
Hopefully,  but  cannot  be  Joyfully,  evident  unto 
Us,  without  fuch  a  Special  Operation  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  giving  Evidence  thereunto.  When 
we  let  our  ielves  to  argue  our  J uftif cation^ 
from  the  Marks  of  our  Sanctified  ion,  that  we 
can  find  upon  ourfelves,  we  do  well;  we  work 
right-,  we  are  in  an  orderly  way  of  proceeding. 
But  yet,  we  cannot  well  fee  our  Sanffification, 


except  a  Special  Operation  of  the  Spirit  of  God, 
help  our  Sight ;  and  if  we  do  fee  our  Sanftifi- 
cation,  yet  our  Sight  of  our  Juflijication  will 
be  no  more  than  feeble,  except  a  Special  Opera- 
tion of  the  Spirit  of  God  fhall  comfort  us.  Our 
own  Argument  may  make  us  a  little  eafy  ;  and 
it  is  our  Duty  to  be  found  in  that  Rational  way 
of  Arguing  ;  but  this  meer  Argument  of  our 
own,  will  not  bring  us  to  that  Joyful  Peace  of 
Soul,  that  will  carry  us  triumphantly  thro'  the 
Dark  Valley  of  the  Shadow  of  Death,  and  make 
us  Triumph  over  our  Doubts,  our  Fears,  and 
all  our  Difcouragements.  At  laft,  rhe  Spirit 
of  God,  He  will  come  in  gloriouily  upon  our 
Hearts,  and  caufe  us  to  receive  the  Pardon  of 
our  Sins,  offered  freely  thro'  Chrift  unto  us  ; 
and  then,  we  fhall  Rejoice  with  Joy  unfpeaka- 
b/e  and  full  of  Glory.  Neverthelefs,  When- 
ever the  Forgivenefs  of  our  Sins,  is  by  a  Special 
Operation  of  the  Holy  Spirit  Reveal'd  unto  us, 
the  Symptoms  of  a  Regenerate  Soul,  do  always 
accompany  it.  Tho'  the  Marks  of  Santtifica- 
tion  are  not  enough,  to  give  us  the  full  Joy 
of  our  Juft ifi cation ;  yet  they  give  us  the 
Proof  of  it.  When  a  Special  Operation  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  gives  us  to  fee  our  J  unification,  it 
will  give  us  to  fee  our  Sanllijkation  too. 

In  writing  this,  I  have  written  a  considerable 
Article  of  our  Church  Hiftory :  For  it  was  this 
Article,  that  perhaps  more  than  any  whatfo- 
ever,  exercifed  the  Thoughts  and  Pens  of  our 
Churches,  for  many  Years  together.  But  the 
mention  hereof,  ferves  particularly  to  introduce 
a  few  more  Memoirs  of  our  Holy  Kewman. 

All  Good  Chriflians  do  fometimes  Examine 
themfelves  about  their  Interiour  State  :  And 
they  that  would  be  Great  Chriflians,  muff  of- 
ten do  it.  Tho'  the  Referv'd  Papers  of  our 
Newman,  are  too  carelefly  loft,  yet  I  have  re- 
covered one,  which  runs  in  fuch  Terms  as 
thefe- 

'  Notes^  or  Marks  of  Grace,  I  find  in  my 
'  felf  j  Not  wherein  I  defire  to  glory, 
'  but  to  take  ground  of  Affurance,  and 
'  after  our  Apollles  Rules,  To  make  my 
'  Election  Jure,  tho'  I  find  them  but  in 
'  weak  Meafure. 

*  1.  I  find,  I  love  God,  and  defire  to  love 

'  God,  principally/w  him/elf. 

'  2.  A  Defire  to  Requite  Evil  with  Good. 

'  3.  A  looking  up  to  God,  to  fee  him,  and 
''his  Hand,  in  all  things  that  befai  me. 

'  4.  A  Greater  Fear  of  difpleaftng  God,  than 
'  all  the  World. 

'  5.  A  Love  to  fuch  Chriflians  as  I  never  Caw, 
'  or  received  Good  from. 

'  6.  A  Grief,  When  I  fee  God's  Commands 
'  broken  by  any  Perfon. 

'  7.  A  Mourning  for  not  finding  the  Affu- 
'  ranee  of  God's  Love,  and  the  Senfe  of  his 
'  Favour,  in  that  comfortable  manner,  at  one 
'  Time,  as  at  another  •,  and  not  being  Able  to 
6  fervc  God  as  I  fhould. 

'  8.  A  Willingneis  to  give  God  the  Glory  of 
'  any  Ability  to  do"  Good. 

'  9-  A 


116 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.     Book  III. 


'  p.  A  Joy,  when  I  am  in  Cbriftian  Company, 
1  in  Golly  Conference. 

'  10.  A  Grief,  when  I  perceive  it^j-  ill  with 
'  Cbr/jlians,  and  the  contrary. 

'  ii,  A  conllant  Performance  of  Secret  Du- 
c  tics,  between  God  and  my  felf,  Morning  and 
4  Evening. 

'  12.  A  bewailing  of  fuch  Sins,  which  none 
c  in  the  World  can  accufe  me  of. 

'  1 3.  A  choofing  of  Suffering  to  avoid  Sin. 

But  having  thus  mentioned  the  Self-Examina- 
tion, which  this  holy  Man  accuftomed  himfelf 
unto,  I  know  not ;  but  this  may  be  a  very  pro 
per  Opportunity,  to  obferve,  That  the  Holinefs 
of  our  Primitive  Chriftians,  in  this  Land,  was 
more  than  a  little  exprefled  and  improved,  by 
this  piece  of  Chrifiianity.  And  that  I  may  ferve 
this  Defign  of  CbriJhanity,upon  the  devout  Rea- 
der, I  will  take  this  Opportunity  to  digrefs,  (If 
it  be  a  Digrelfon)  fo  far,  as  to  recite  a  paftage 
I  lately  read  in  a  Paper,  which  a  private  Cbri- 
jiian, one  of  our  Godly  Old  Men,  who  died 
not  long  fince,  (namely  Mr.  Clap,  once  the  Ca- 
ptain of  our  Caftlej  did,  at  his  Death,  leave 
behind  him. 

That  Godly  Man  had  long  been  labouring 
under  Doubts  and  Fears,  about  his  interiour 
State  before  God.  At  laft  he  was  one  Day  con- 
fidering  with  himiilf,  what  was  his  moft  belo- 
ved Sin.    Herewithal  he  confidered,  whether 


in  cafe  the  Lord  would  allure  him.  that  all  Sin 


fhould  arrive  fafe  to  Heaven  in  the  Iflue,  yet 
he  fhould  not  in  the  mean  time  have  that  one 
Sin  mortified,  and  be  delivered  from  the  Reign 

and  Rage  of  that  one  Sin, Whether  this 

would  content  him  ?  Hereunto  he  found  and 
faid,  before  the  Lord,  That  this  would  not  con- 
tent him.  And  hereupon  the  Spirit  of  God  im- 
mediately irradiated  his  Mind,  with  a  ftrange 
and  a  Itrong  Affurance  of  the  Divine  Love  unto 
him.  He  was  diffolved  into  a  Flood  of  Tears, 
with  affurance ,  That  God  had  loved  him  with 
an  everlafting  Love.  And  from  this  time,  the 
Affurance  of  his  Pardon,  conquered  his  Doubts 
and  Fears,  I  think,  all  the  reft  of  his  Days. 

Our  too  defective  Hiftory  of  our  Newman, 
I  will  conclude,  as  Blahoflim  did  l.i  his  Hiftory 
of  Johannes  Cornu  :  Lengum  eftct  Elogia  bujus 
viri  nana, e.  Sed  perfeclicr  Hiftoria,  ut  de  a- 
Hi*  vires,  it  a  &  de  ijio,  confummatur,  &  qucti- 
die  augetur  in  Vita  eterna  ;  §>uam  da  nobis,  0 
Domino  Devs,  in  gloria  cum  gaudio  legendam. 
Amen. 


Epitaphium. 


MortttM  eji  NEANDER.  Nov-Anglus, 
Qui  ante  mortem  dedicit  mori, 
Et  obiit  ea  morte,  qn£  potefi  ejffe,  Ars  bene 
fhould  be  for  ever  pardoned  unto  him,  and  he       moriendi. 


CHAP.     XVI. 

Dailor  Imfragabiks.     The  L  I  F  E  of    Mr.    S  A  M  V  E  L    STONE. 


§  i.TF  the  Church  of  Rome  do  boaft  of  her 
±  Cornelius  a  Lapide,  who  hath  publilhed 
Leatned  Commentaries  upon  almoft  the  whole 
Bible,  the  Proteftant  and  Reformed  Church  of 
New  England,  may  boaft  of  her  Samuel  Stone, 
who  was  better  skill'd  than  the  other  in  Sacred 
Philology,  and  whole  Learned  Sermons  and  Wri- 
tings were  not  fluffed  with  fuch  Trifles  and  Fa- 
bles ,  and  other  Impertinencies ,  as  fill  many 
Pages  in  the  Compofures  of  the  other. 

§  2  In  his  Youth,  after  his  leaving  of  the  U- 
niverfity  of  Cambridge,  where  Emanuel-Colledge 
had  inltructed  him  with  the  Light,  and  nou- 
rifh'd  him  with  the  Cup  of  that  famous  Univer- 
iity,  he  did,  with  feveral  other  Perfons,  that 
proved  famous  in  their  Generation,  fit  at  the 
beet  of  a  moft  excellent  Gamaliel;  attending  up 
on  that  eminently  Holy  Man  of  God,  whom  I 
ivill  venule  to  call,  Saint  Blackerby.  That  Re- 
verend Richard  Blackerby,  whofe  moft  Angelical 
fort  of  Life,  you  may  read  among  the  laft  of 
Sam.  Clark's  Collections,  was  a  Tutor  to  Mr. 


Stone  -,  and  you  nny  reafonably  expe£t,  that 
fuch  a  Scholar,  fhould  have  a  double  Portion  of 
the  Spirit,  which  there  was  in  fuch  a  Tutor. 

§  3.  Having  been  an  accomplifhed,  induftrt- 
ous,  but  yet  petfecuted  Minifter  of  the  Gofpel, 
in  England,  he  came  to  New- England,  in  the 
fame  Ship  that  brought  over  Mr.  Cotton,  and 
Mr.  Hooker.  A  Ship,  which  in  thofe  Three 
Worthies,  brought  from  Europe  a  richer^Load- 
ing,  than  the  richeft  that  ever  faifd  back"  from 
America  in  the  Spanifh  Plot  a  ;  even  that  Wreck 
which  had  on  Board,  among  other  Treafares, 
one  entire  Table  of  Gold,  weighing  above  Three 
thoufand  and  three  hundred  Pound.  Indeed  the 
Foundation  of  NewEnglandhzi.  a  precious  Jem 
laid  in  it,  when  Mr.  Stone  arrived  in  thefe  Re-  . 
gions. 

But  the  Circumftances  of  this  Removal,  re- 
quire to  be  related  with  more  of  Particularities. 
The  Judicious  Chriftians  that  were  coming  to 
New  England  with  Mr.  Hooker,  were  defirous 
to  obtain  a  Collegue  for  him,  and  being  difap- 

pointed 


Book  III.       7  be  Hi/lory  of  New-England. 


117 


pointed  of  obtaining  Mr.  Cotton  for  that  pur- 
pole/ who  neverthelefs  took  it  very  kindly,  that 
Mr.  "hooker  had  lent  them  unto  himj  they  be- 
gan to  think,  that  a  couple  of  fuch  great  Men 
might  be  more  ferviceable  afunder,  than  toge- 
ther. So  their  next  Agreement  was,  to  procure 
ibme  able  and  godly  \omg  Man,  who  might  be 
an  AJJiffttit  unto  Mr.  Hooker,  with  fomething 
v\'  a  Dfciple  alio  ■,  and  thofe  Three,  Mr.  She- 
pard,  Mr.  Norton,  and  Mr.  Stone,  were  to  this 
end  propofed  ;  and  Mr.  Stone,  then  a  Lecturer 
at  To'-celln  in  Northampton  fivre,  was  the  Per 
fon  upon  whom  at  length  it  fell,  to  accompany 
Mr.  Hooker  into  America. 

§  4.  From  the  New-Engiijh  Cambridge ,  he 
went  Collegue  to  Mr.  Hooker,  with  a  chofen 
and  a  devout  Company  of  Chriltians,  who  ga- 
thered a  famous  Church,  at  a  Town  which  they 
call'd  Hartford,  upon  the  well-known  River  of 
Connecticut.  There  he  continued  feeding  the 
Flock  of  our  Lord,  fourteen  Years,  with  Mr. 
Hooker,  and  fixteen  Years  after  him  •,  till  he 
that  was  born  at  Hartford  in  England,  now  on 
July  20.  1665.  died  iu  Hartford  of  New  Eng- 
land ■,  and  went  unto  the  Heavenly  Society, 
whereof  he  would  with  fome  Longing  fay,  Hea- 
th'/: h  the  more  defirable,  for  fuch  Company  at 
Hooker,  and  Shepard,  and  Hains,  w}w  are  got 
there  before  me. 

§  5.  His  way  of  living  was  godly,  fober,  and 
righteous,  and  like  that  great  Apoftle  who  was 
his  Name-fake,  he  could  ferioully  and  iincerely 
profels,  Lord,  thou  knowefl  all  things  ;  thou 
knowefi  that  I  love  thee.  But  there  were  two 
things,  wherein  the  Power  of  Godlinefs  ufes  to 
be  molt  remarkably  manifefted  and  maintained  -, 
and  he  was  remarkable  for  both  of  thefe  things  -, 
namely,  irequent  faftmgs,  and  exact  Sabbaths. 
He  would,  not  rarely,  let  apart  whole  Days  for 
fafting  and  Prayer  before  the  Lord,  whereby  he 
ripened  his  blelfed  Soul  for  the  Inheritance  oj 
the  Saints  in  Light.  And  when  the  Weekly 
Sabbath  came,  which  he  Hill  began  in  the  Even- 
ing before,  he  would  compofe  himlelf'  unto  a 
moft  heavenly  Frame  in  all  things,  and  not  let 


a  Man  of  Principles,  and  in  the  Management  of 
thofe  Principles,  he  was  both  a  Loadpm\  and 
a  Hint  f  one. 

§  7.  He  had  a  certain  Pleafancy  in  Converfi- 
tion,  which  was  the  Effect  and  Symptom  of  hU 
molt  ready  Wit  -,  and  made  Ingenious  Men  to  be 
as  Covetow  of  his  familiarity ,  as  Admirers  of 
his  Ingenuity.  Poifibly  he  might  think  of  what 
Sutdai  reports  concerning  Macarws,  That  by 
the  Pleafancy  of  his  Difcourjes  on  all  Occaiion.s 
he  drew  many  to  the  Ways  of  God.  He  might 
be  inclined,  like  Dr.  Staunton,  who  laid,  /  '  . . 
ufed  my  felf  to  be  cheerful  in  Company,  that  fo 
Standersby  might  be  the  more  in  Love  with  Re- 
ligion, feeing  it  confident  with  Cheeifulnefs. 
Hence  facetious  lions  were  almoft  N aural  to 
him,  in  his  Convert  ion  nith  fuch,  as  had  the 
Sence  to  comprehend  the  bubt'etws  of  his  Re- 
panics.  But  Hill  under  fuch  a  Relerve,  as  to 
efcape  the  Sentence  oi  the  Canon  of  the  Council 
ol  Carthage*  Cicricum  jcurrilem  &  verbis  turpi- 
b'fs  foculatorem,  ab  officio  Retrahendum  ejfe  cen- 
femtfs. 

^8.  Reader,  What  fhould  be  the  meaning  of 
this  ?  Our  Mr.  Stone,  about,  or  before  the  Year 
1650,  when  all  things  were  in  a  profound  Calm, 
delivered  in  a  Sermon  his  Pre  apprehenfions,  that 
Churches  among  them  would  come  to  be  broken 
by  Schifm,  and  fudden  Cenfures,  and  angry  Re- 
moves :  And  that  e'er  they  were  aware,  thefe 
Mifchiefs  would  arife  among  them ;  in  the 
Churches  Prayers  againlt  Prayers,Hearts  againft 
Hearts,  Tears  againft  Tears,  Tongues  againft 
Tongues,  and  Pajts  againft  fafis,  and  horrible 
Prejudices  and  Underminings.  Many  Years  did 
not  pafs,  before  he  faw  in  his  own  Church,  all  of 
this  accomplilhed.  He  little  thought  that  his 
own  Church,  mult  be  the  Stage  of  thefe  Trage- 
dies, when  he  told  fome  o{'  his  Friends,  That  he 
(l)ould  never  want  their  Love.  He  did  live  to 
undergo  what  we  are  now  going  to  fignifie  : 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  his  time,  this/vr- 

fent  evil  World,  was  made  yet  more  Evil  unto 

him,  through  an  unhappy  Difference  ,  which 

arole  between   him  and  a  Ruling  Elder  in  the 

fall  a  Word,  but  what  fhould  be  grave,  ferious, I  Church,  whereof  he  was  himlelf  a  Teaching 


pertinent.  Moreover,  it  was  his  Cuftom,  that 
the  Sermon  which  he  was  to  preach  on  the 
Lord's  Day  in  his  AlTembly ,  he  would  the 
Night  before,  deliver  to  his  own  Family.  A 
Cultom  which  was  attended  with  feveral  Ad- 
vantages. 

§  6.  Being  ordained  i\\&Teacher  of  the  Church 
in  Hartford,  he  apprehending  himlelf  under  a 
particular  and  peculiar  Obligation,  to  endeavour 
the  Edification  of  his  People,  by  a  more  Dollri- 
nal  way  of  Preaching  :  Accordingly,  as  he  had 
the  Art  of  keeping  to  his  Hour,  io  he  had  an 
incomparable  Skill  at  filling  of  that  Hour  with 
Nervous  Dilcourfes,  in  the  way  of  Common-place 
and  Proportion,  handling  the  Points  of  Divinity, 
which  he  would  conclude  with  a  brief  and  clofe 
Application  :  And  then  he  would  in  his  Prayer, 
after  Sermon,  put  all  into  fuch  pertinent  Con- 
feffions,  Petitions,  and  Thankfgivings,  as  nota 
bly  digelled  his  Dotlrine  into  Devotion.    He  was 


Elder.  They  were  both  of  them  Godly  Men  ; 
and  the  true  Original  of  the  Mifundeijianding 
between  Men  that  were  of  fo  Good  an  Uridcr- 
ftanding,  has  been  rendred  almoft  as  obfeure  as 
the  Rife  of  Connetficut-Kwzx.  But  it  proved  in 
it?  unhappy  Confequences,  too  like  that  River 
in  its  great  Annual  Inundations  5  for  it  over- 
fpread  the  whole  Colony  of  Connecticut.  Such 
a  monftrous  Enchantment  there  was  upon  the 
Minds  even  of  thofe  who  were  Chrifiians,  and 
Brethren,  that  in  all  the  Towns  round  abour, 
the  People  generally  made  themfelves  Parties, 
either  to  one  fide,  or  t'other,  in  this  Squirrel ; 
tho5  Multitudes  of  them,  fcarce  ever  diltin£tly 
knew,  what  the  Quarrel  was  :  And  the  Factions 
inlinuated  themfelves  into  the  fmalleft,  as  well 
as  the  greateft  Affairs  of  rhofe  Towns.  From 
the  fire  of  the  Altar,  there  iifued  Tkundrmgs 
and  Lightnings,  and  Earthquakes,  through  the 
Colony.     As  once  in  Conflantinoplel  a  Fire  that 

began 


n8  The  Hlflory  iifi  New-England.       Book  III. 


began  in  the  Church  continued  the  Senate-Houff. 
Thus  the  fire  which  began  in  the  Church  more 
than -i  little  arreted  the  Se/utc-HouJe  \wCon- 
netlicut  :  And  the  People  alio  were  many  of 
them  as  fiercely  fet  againft  one  another,  as  the 
Combites  in  the  Poet  were  againft  the  Tentyrites. 
A  World  of  Sin  was  doubtlefs  committed,  even 
by  Pious  Men  on  this  Occafion,  while  they 
permitted  lb  many  things  contrary  to  the  Law 
of  Charity,  and  fo  much  mifpending  of  their 
Time,  and  mifplacing  of  their  Zeal,  as  mulf 
needs  occur  in  their  woful  Variance.  Alas! 
How  many  of  Solomons  wife  Proverbs  were  ex- 
plained and  intlanced  in  the  follies  of  thefe 
Contelts  !  Indeed,  lor  the  compofing  of  thefe 
Brangles,  there  was  the  Help  of  Council  called 
in  ;  but  every  Council  fetch'd  from  the  Neigh- 
bourhood, was  thought  prejudiced;  for  which 
Caule,  atlaft,  a  Council  was  defired  from  the 
Churches  about  Bojhn,  in  the  Majjachufet  Bay, 
whole  MeflTengers  took  the  pains,  thus  to  Tra- 
vel more  than  an  Hundred  Miles  for  the  Paci- 
fication of  thefe  Animofities  •,  and  a  fort  of  Pa- 
cification was  thereby  attained  ■  but  yet  not 
without  the  Difmillion  and  Removal  of  many 
Vertuous  People,  further  up  theRnw-,  where- 
by  fome  other  Churches  came  to  be  gathered, 
which  are  now  famous  in  our  Ifrael.  'Tis  not 
eafy  to  comprehend,  and  I  wilh  no  fuch  Faith- 
ful Servant  of  God  may  experience  it  ;  how 
much  the  Spirit  of  Mr.  Stone,  was  worn  by  the 
Continual  Dropping  of  this  Contention.  —  Gutta 
cavat  Lapidem.  But  the  Duji  of  Mortality  be- 
ing thrown  upon  thofe  Good  Men,  they  have 
not  only  left  Jling'mg  one  another,  but  alfo  they 
are  together  Hived  with  Unjarring  Love,  in 
the  Land  that  flows  with  what  is  better  than 
Milk  and  Honey.  As  for  Mr.  Stone,  if  it  were 
Metaphorically  true  (what  they  Proverbially 
laid)  ofBeza,  that  he  had  no  Gall,  the  Phyfi- 
ciar.s  that  opened  him  after  his  Death,  found 
it  Literally  true  in  this  worthy  Man. 

§  P.  In  his  Church-Difcipline,  he  was,  per- 
haps, the  exa&eft  of  that  which  we  call  Con- 
greatwnal,  and  being  asked  once  to  give  a  De 
1'cription  of  the  Congregational  Church-Govern- 
ment,  he  replied,  It  was  a /peaking  Ariftacra- 
tfy  ;';/  the  Face  of  a  Jilent  Democracy. 

§  10.  He  was  an  Extraordinary  Perfon  at  an 
Argument  -,  and  as  clear,  and  fmart  a  Difpu- 
taut,  as  moft  that  ever  lived  in  the  World. 
Hence,  when  any  Scholar  came  to  him  with 
any  £>iie(iion,  it  was  his  Cuftom  to  bid  him 
take  which  part  the  Qjmift  himfelf  pleafed, 
either  Pofitive  or  Negative,  and  he  would  moft 


Argumentatwcly  difpute  againft  him  -,  whereby 
having  difputed  one  another  into  the  Narrow 
of  the  Cafe,  he  would  then  give  the  Enquirer 
the  moll.  Judicious  and  fatisfying  Determination 
of  his  Problem,  .that  could  be  imagined.  Yea, 
what  Cteero  fays  of.  one,  might  almoft  be  faid 
-of  him,  Nullam  unqtiam  in  Difputationibus  rem 
defendit,  qudm  non  probarit  -,  nullum  oppugna- 
vit,  quern  non  everterit. 

§  ii.  The  World  has  not  been  entertained 
with  many  of  his  Compofures,  But  certain 
Strokes  of  Mr.  Hudfon  and  Mr.  Cowdrey, 
fetch'd  one  Spark  out  of  this  well  compared 
Stone  -,  which  was,  A  Dijcourfe  about  the  Lo- 
gical Notion  of  a  Congregational  Church  -,  where- 
in fome  thought,  that  as  a  Stone  from  the 
Sling  of  David,  he  has  mortally  wounded  the 
Head  of  that  Goliah,  A  National  Political 
Church.  At  leaft,  he  made  an  EfTay,  to  do 
what  was  done  by  the  Stone  of  Bohan,  letting 
the  Bounds  between  Church  and  Church,  as 
That  between  Tribe  and  Tribe. 

Moreover,  I  find  in  a  Book,  which  a  late 
Author  hath  written  On  Free-Grace,  this  Paf- 
fage  ;  Might  the  World  be  fo  happy,  as  to  fee 
a  very  Elaborate  Confutation  of  the  Antino- 
mians,  zvntten  by  a  very  acute  and  folid  Per- 
fon, a  Great  Dijputant,  viz.  Mr.  Stone  of  ^  New- 
England,  a  Congregational  Divine,  it  would  ea- 
fily  appear,  that  the  Congregational  are  not 
Antinomian.  And  Mr.  Baxter,  in  one  of  his 
laft  Works,  does  utter  his  Dying  Willies,  for 
the  Refurreftion  of  that  buried  Manufcript. 

But  one  of  the  moft  Elaborate  things  written 
by  Mr.  Stone,  or  indeed,  in  this  Land,  is  his 
Body  of  Divinity-,  wherein  the  Reader  has  in  a 
Richardfonian  Method,  curioufly  drawn  up  the 
DoSrine  of  the  Proteftant,  and  Reformed,  and 
New-Englifh  Churches ;  and  the  Marrow  of  all 
that  had  been  Reached,  by  the  hard  and  long 
Studies  of  this  Great  Student  in  Theology.  This 
Rich  Treafure  has  often  been  Tranfcribed  by 
the  vaft  Pains  of  our  Candidates  for  the  Mini- 
ftry ;  and  it  has  made  fome  of  our  moft  Consi- 
derable Divines.  But  all  Attempts  for  the 
Printing  of  it,  hitherto  proved  Abortive 


Epitaphium. 

.gyem  Nubjla  Vitta  Coronant. 


CHAP. 


Book  lit.        i  he  Hijlory  of  New-England. 


H5> 


CHAP.     XVIL 

The  L  I  F  E  of  Mr.    IV  ILL  I A  M    THO  M  P  SO  N. 


I)  i. T^ Here  is  no  Experienced  Miniftet  of  the 
A.  Gofpel,  who  hath  not  in  the  Cafes 
of  Tempted 'Souls,  often  had  this  Experience,  that 
the  111  Cafes  of  their  diftempered  Bodies,  are  the 
frequent  Occafion  and  Original  of  their  Tempta- 
tions. There  are  many  Men,  who  in  the  very 
Conftitution  of  their  Bodies,  do  afford  a  Bed, 
wherein  bufy  and  bloody  Devils,  have  a  fort 
of  a  Lodging  provided  for  them.  The  Mafs 
of  Blood  in  them,  is  difordered  with  fome  fiery 
Acid,  and  their  Brains  or  Bowels  have  fome 
Juices  or  Ferments,  or  Vapours  about  them, 
which  are  moft  unhappy  Engines  for  Devils  to 
work  upon  their  Souls  withal.  The  Vitiated 
Humours  in  many  Perfons,  yield  the  Steams, 
whereinto  Satan  does  infinuate  himfelf,  till  he 
has  gained  a  fort  of  Pojfeffion  in  them,  or  at 
leatf,  an  OppDrtunity  to  ihoot  into  the  Mind, 
as  many  Fiery  Darts,  as  may  caufe  a  fad  Life 
unto  them  -,  yea,  'tis  well  if  Self-Murder  be  not 
the  fid  end,  into  which  thefe  hurred  People  are 
thus  precipitated.  New-England,  a  Country 
where  Splenetic  Maladies  are  prevailing  and 
pernicious,  perhaps  above  any  other,  hath  af 
forded  Numberlefs  Inftances,  of  even  pious 
People,  who  have  contracted  thofe  Melancholy 
lndifpojitwnsy  which  have  unhinged  them  from 
all  Service  or  Comfort',  yea,  not  a  few  Perfons 
have  been  hurried  thereby  to  lay  Violent  Hands 
upon  themfelves  at  the  laft.  Thefe  are  among 
the  unfearcbable  Judgments  of  God  ! 

§  2.  Mr.  William  Tho?npfon  was  a  Reverend 
Minifter  of  the  Gofpel,  who  felt  in  himfelf, 
the  Vexations  of  that  Melancholy,  which  Per- 
fons in  his  Office  do  fo  often  fee  in  others.  He 
was  a  very  powerful  and  fuccefsful  Treacher  -, 
and  we  find  his  Name  fometimes  joined  in  the 
Title-Page  of  feveral  Books,  with  his  Country- 
man, Mr.  Richard  Mather,  as  a  Writer.  Nor 
was  New- England  the  only  part  of  America, 
where  he  zealoufly  publifhed  the  Meffages  and 
Myfteries  of  Heaven,  after  that  the  Englifh 
Hierarchy  had  perfecuted  him  from  the  like 
Labours  in  Lancafhire,  over  into  America;  but 
upon  a  Million  from  the  Churches  of  New-Eng- 
land, he  carried  the  Tidings  of  Salvation  by 
our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  into  Virginia :  Where  he 
faw  a  Notable  Fruit  of  his  Labours,  until  that 
Faclion  there,  which  call'd  it  felf,  The  Church 
of  England,  perfecuted  him  from  thence  alfo. 
Satan,  who  had  been  after  an  extraordinary 
manner  irritated  by  the  Evangelic  Labours  of 
this  Holy  Man,  obtained  the  Liberty  to  fift 
him  j  and  hence,  after  this  Worthy  Man  had 
ferved  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  in  the  Church  of 
our  New-Englifh  Braintree,  he  fell  into  that 
Balneum  Diaboli,  a  black  Melancholy,  which  for 
divers  Years  almoft  wholly  difabled  him  for  the 


Exercife  of  his  Miniftry  :  But  the  end  of  this 
Melancholy,,  was  not  fo  Tragical,  as  it  fome- 
times is  with  fome,  whom  yec  becaufe  cf  their 
Exemplary  Lives,  we  dare  not  cenfure  for  their 
Prodigious  Deaths,  ft  is  an  Obfervation  of  no 
little  Confequence,  in  our  Chriftian  Warfare, 
That  for  all  the  fierce  Temptations  of  the  Devil 
upon  us,  there  is  a  Time  limited  ;  an  Hour  of 
Temptation.  During  this  Time,  the  Devil  may 
grow  the  more  furious  upon  us,  the  more  we 
do  Refift  him.  We  muft  Refift  until  the  Time. 
which  is  prefixt  by  God,  but  unknown  to  us. 
is  expired:  And  then,  we  fhall  find  it  a  Law 
in  the  lnvifible World  ftri&ly  kept  unto,  That 
if  the  Refinance  be  carried  on  to  fuch  a  Period, 
tho'  perhaps  with  many  Intervening  Foyle,  the 
Devil  will  be  gone ;  yea,  whether  he  will  or 
no,  we  muft  be  gone.  There  is  a  Law  for  it, 
which  obliges  him  to  a  Flight,  and  a  Flight  that 
carries  a  Fright  in  it ;  a  Fear  from  an  Appre- 
henfion  that  God,  with  his  Good  Angels,  will 
come  in,  with  terrible  Chaftifements  upon  him, 
if  he  prefume  to  continue  his  Temptations  one 
Moment  longer,  than  the  Time  that  had  been 
allow'd  unto  him.  All  this,  may  be  implied, 
in  that  Paffage  of  the  Apoftle,  Refift  the  Devil, 
and  he  will  flee  from  you.  And  as  our  Lord, 
being  Twice  more  furioufly  Tempted  by  the 
Devil,  Drew  near  to  God,  with  Extraordinary 
Prayer-,  but  when  the  Time  for  rhe  Tempta- 
tion was  out,  God  by  his  Angels  then  feniibly 
drew  near  unto  him,  with  frefh  Confolations  : 
To  this,  no  doubt,  the  Apoftle  refers,  when  he 
adds,  Draw  nigh  to  God,  and  he  fhall  draw  nigh 
to  you.  Accordingly,  the  Paftors  and  the  Faich- 
ful,  of  the  Churches  in  the  Neighbourhood, 
keptRefifting  of  the  Devil,  in  his  cruel  Affaults 
upon  Mr.  Thompfon,  by  continually  Drawing 
near  to  God,  with  ardent  Supplications  on  his 
Behalf:  And  by  praying  always,  Without  Faint- 
ing, without  ceafing,  they  law-  the  Devil  at 
length  Flee  from  him,  and  God  himfelf  Draw 
near  unto  him,  with  unutterable  Joy.  The  End 
of  that  Man  is  Peace !  ■ 

§  3.  A  fhort  Flight  of  our  Poetry  fhall  tell 
the  reft. 


Re 


MARKS 


On  the  Bright  and  the  Dark,  Side, 

of  that  American  Pillar, 

The  Reverend  Mr.  William  Thompfon  j 

Paftor  of  the  Church  at  Braintree. 
Who  Triumphed  on  Dec.  10. 1666. 

U  T  may  a  Rural  Pen  rty  to  fet  forth 
Such  a  Great  Fathers  Ancient  Grace  and 
Worth ! 

Q  q  q  I  under- 


v 


B 


120 


The  Hiftory  of  New- England.      Book  ill, 


1  undertake  a  no  lefs  Arduos  Theme, 
Than  the  Old  Sages  found  the  Cbaldee  Dream. 
'Tis  more  than  Tythes  of  a  profound  Refpecf , 
Th  it  muff  l)e  paid  fuch  a  Melchizedeck. 

Oxford  this  Lights  with  Tongues  and  Arts 
doth  Trim  ; 
And  then  his  Northern  Town  dorh  challenge  him- 
His  Time  and  Strength  he  centered  there  in  thk  ; 
To  do  Good  Works,  and  Be  what  Now  he  is. 
His  fulgent  Venues  there,  and  Learned  Strains, 
Tail .comely  Frefenee,  Life  unfoil'd  with  Stains, 
Things  molt  on  WORTHIES,  in  their  Stories 

writ, 
Did  him  to  moves  in  Orbs  of  Service  fit. 
Things  more  peculiar  yet,  my  Mufe,  intend, 
Say  Stranger  Things  than  thefe  5  ib  weep  and 

end. 

When  he  forfook  firft  his  Oxonian  Cell, 
Some  Scores  at  once  from  Popifh  Darkneis  fell; 
So  this  Reformer  ftudied  !  Rare  Firft  Fruits! 
Shaking  a  Crab-Tree  thus  by  hot  Difputes, 
The  Acid  Juice  by  Miracle  turn'd  Wise, 
And  rais'd  the  Spirits  of  our  Young  Divine.  ■ 
Hearers,   tike -Doves,  flock't  with  contentious 

Wing, 
Who  fhould  be  firft,  feed  moft,  moft  Homeward 

bring. 
Laden  with  Honey,  like  HybUan  Bees, 
They  knead  it  into  Combs  upon  their  Knees. 

Why  he  from  Europe's  Pleafant  Garden  fled, 
In  the  Next  Age,  will  be  with  Honour  faid. 
Braintree  was  of  this  Jewel  then  pofTeft, 
Until  himfelf,  he  laboured  into  Reft. 
His  Inventory  then,  with  Johns,  was  took; 
A  Rough  Coat,  Girdle  with  the  Sacred  Book. 

When  Reverend  Knowles  and  he,  fail'd  hand 
in  hand, 
To  CHRIST  efpoufing  the  Virginian  Land, 
Upon  a  Ledge  of  Craggy  Rocks  near  ftav'd, 
His  Bible  in  his  Bofom  thruiting  fav'd  ; 
The  Bible,  the  beft  of  Cordial  of  his  Heart, 
Come  Floods,  Come  Flames,  (cry'd  he  J  we'll  ne- 
ver part. 
A  Conjiellation  of  Great  Converts  there, 
Shone  round  him,  and  his  Heavenly  Glory  were. 
GOOKINS  was  one  of  thefe  :   By  Thompfon's 

Pains, 
CHRIST  and  NEW-ENGLAND,  adear 
GOOKINS  gains. 


With  a  Rare  Skill  in  Hearts,  this  Doelor 
cou'd 
Steal  into   them  Words  that   fhould  do  them 

Good. 
WxsBalfams  from  the  Tree  of  Life  diftilfd, 
Hearts  cleans'd  and  heal'd,  and  with  Rich  Corn- 
ions  fill'd. 
But  here's  the  Wo !  Bal/ams  which  others  cur'd, 
Would  in  his  own  Turn  hardly  be  endur'd. 

Apqllyon  owing  him  a  curfed  Spleen 
Who  an  Apollos  in  the  Church  had  been, 
Dreading  his  Traffick  here  would  be  undone  ' 
By  Num'rous  Profelytes  he  daily  won, 
Accus'd  him  of -Imaginary  Faults, 
And  pufh'd  him  down  fo  into  difmal  Vaults : 
Vaults,   where  he  kept  long  Ember-Weeks  of 

Grief  \ 
Till  Heaven  Alarm'd fent  him  in  Relief. 
Then  was  a  Daniel  in  the  Lions  Den, 
A  Man,  oh,  how  Bclov'd  of  God  and  Men  ! 
By  his  Bed-fide  an  Hebrew  Sword  there  lay, 
With  which  at  hit  he  drove  the  Devil  away. 
Quakers  too  durft  not  bear  his  keen  Replies, 
But  Fearing  it  half  drawn,  the  Trembler  flies. 
Like  Lazarm,  new  railed  from  Death,  appears 
The  Saint  that  had  been  Dead  fox  many  Years. 
Our  Nehemiah  faid,  Shall  fuch  at  I 
Defer  t  my  Flock,  and  like  a  Coward  fly  I 
Long  had  the  Churches  begg'd  the  Saints  Re- 
lea  fe  -, 
Releas'd  at  Iaft,  he  dies  in  Glorious  Peace. 
The  Night  is  not  fo  long,  but  Phofphor's  Kzj 
Approaching  Glories  doth  on  High  difplay. 
Faith's  Eye  in  him  difcern'd  the  Morning  Star, 
His  Heart  leap'd  ;  fure  the  Sun  cannot  be  far. 
In  Extafies  of  Joy,  he  RavifiVd  cries, 
Love,  love  the   Lamb,  the  Lamb  !  In  whom  he 
dies. 

Dec.  10.  1666. 


But  the  Churches  of  New  England  having 
had  another  Inftance  of  Affliction  like  that 
which  exercifed  our  Thompfon,  I  fhall 
chufe  this  Place  to  introduce  it.  Lives 
have  been  fometimes  beft  written  in  the 
way  of  Parallel.  To  Mr.  William  Thomp- 
fon, (hall  now  therefore  be  Parallefd,  our 
Mr.  John  Warham.  , 


CHAP, 


Book  III.      The  Hijhry  of  New-England. 


121 


CHAP.     XVIII. 

The  L  I  F  E   of   Mr.  JOHN    IV  A  R  H  A  M. 


WHen  the  Time  of  Reformation  was  come 
on,  one  of  the  more  effectual  things, 
done  towards  that  Reformation  in  England,  a- 
bout  the  middle  of  the  former  Century,  was  to 
•  lend  about  the  Kingdom  certain  Itinerant  Prea- 
chers, with  a  Licenfe  to  preach  the  Fundamen- 
tals of  Religion,  inftead  of  the  Stuff,  with  which 
the  Souls  of  the  People  had  been  formerly  h- 
mifhed.  Upon  this  occafion ,  'tis  a  Patftge 
mentioned  by  the  famous  Dr.  Burnet  :  Many 
Complaints  were  made  of  thofe  that  were  Licenfcd 
to  Preach  ;  and  that  they  might  be  able  to  juflipZe 
themfelves,  they  begin  generally  to  write  and 
read  their  Sermons  :  And  thus  did  this  Cuftom 
begin  ;  in  which,  what  is  wanting  in  the  Heat 
and  Force  of  Delivery,  is  much  made  up  by  the 
Strength  and  Solidity  of  the  Matter  :  And  it  has 
produced  many  Volumes  of  as  excellent  Sermons, 
at  have  been  preached  in  any  Age. 

The  Cuftom  of  Preaching  with  Notes,  thus 
introduced,  has  been  decried  by  many  good 
Men,  befides  Fanaticks,  in  the  prefent  Age,  and 
many  poor  and  weak  Prejudices  againft  it  have 
been  pretended.  But  hear  the  Words  of  the 
molt  accomplifhed  Mr.  Baxter,  unto  fomeGain- 
fayers  :  It  is  not  the  want  of  our  Abilities,  that 
makes  us  ufe  our  Notes  ;  but  it's  a  Regard  unto 
our  Work,  and  the  Good  of  our  Hearers.  I  ufe 
Notes  as  much  as  any  Man,  when  I  take  Pains  ; 
and  as  little  as  any  Man,  when  I  am  lacy,  or 
bufie,  and  have  not  leifure  to  prepare.  Its  eafier 
unto  us,  to  preach  three  Sermons  without  Notes, 
than  one  with  them.  He  is  a  fimple  Preacher, 
that  is  not  able  to  preach  a  Day,  without  Prepa- 
ration, if  his  Strength  would  fcrve.  Indeed  I 
would  have  Diftin&ion  made  between  the  read- 
ing of  Notes,  and  the  ufing  of  Notes.  It  is 
pity  that  a  Minifter  fhould  fo  read  his  Notes, 
as  to  take  away  the  Vivacity,  and  Efficacy  of  his 
Delivery  -,  but  if  he  foufe  his  Notcs,as  a  Lawyer 
do's  the  Minutes  whereupon  he  is  to  plead,  and 
carry  a  full  Quiver  into  the  Pulpit  with  him, 
from  whence  he  may  with  one  cajl  of  his  Eye, 
after  the  lively  (hooting  of  one  Arrow,  fetch 
out  the  next,  it  might  be  a  thoufand  ways  ad- 
vantageous. 

I  fuppofe  the  firft  Preacher  that  ever  thus 
preach'd  with  Notes  in  our  JV<?to  England,  was 
the  Reverend  Warham :  Who  though  he  were 
foraetimes  faulted  for  it,   by  fome  Judicious 


Men,  who  had  never  heard  him,  yet  when  once 
they  came  to  hear  him,  they  could  not  but  ad- 
mire rhe  notable  Energy  of  his  Miniftry.  He 
was  a  more  vigorous  Preacher  than  the  moft  of 
them  who  have  been  applauded  for,  never  look- 
ing in  a  Book  in  their  Lives.  His  latter  Days 
were  fpent  in  the  Paftoral  Care  and  Charge  of 
the  Church  at  Windfor,  where  the  whole  Colony 
otConnetfwut  confider'd  him  as  a  principal  Pil- 
lar, and  Father  of  the  Colony. 

But  I  have  one  thing  to  relate  concerning  him, 
which  I  would  not  mention,  if  I  did  not  by  the 
mention  thereof,  propound  and  expect  the  ad- 
vantage of  fome,  that  may  be  my  Readers. 
Know  then,  that  tho'  our  Warham  were  as  pi- 
ous a  Man  as  moft  that  weje  out  of  Heaven, 
yet  Satan  often  threw  him  into  thofe  deadly 
Pangs  of  Melancholly,  that  made  him  defpair 
of  ever  getting  thither.  Such  were  the  terrible 
Temptations,  and  horrible  Buffet ings,  undergone 
fometimes  by  the  Soul  of  this  holy  Man,  that 
when  he  has  adminiftred  the  Lord's  Supper  to 
his  Flock,  whom  he  durft  not  ftarve  by  omit- 
ting to  adminifter  that  Ordinance  5  yet  he  has 
forborn  himfelf  to  partake  at  the  fame  time  in 
the  Ordinance,  through  the  fearful  Dejections  of 
his  Mind,  which  perfwaded  him  that  thofe 
bleffed  Souls  did  not  belong  unto  him.  The 
dreadful  Darknefs  which  overwhelmed  this 
Child  of  Light  in  his  Life,  did  not  wholly  leave 
him  till  his  Death.  Tis  reported,  that  he  did 
Qvenfet  in  a  Cloud,  when  he  retired  unto  the 
glorified  Society  of  thofe  Righteous  Ones  that 
are  to  jlrine  forth,  as  the  Sun  in  the  Kingdom  of 
their  Father  :  Tho'  fome  have  aliened,  that  the 
Cloud  was  difpelled,  before  he  expired. 


What  was  defired  by  Joannes  Mathefius,  may 
now  be  inferibed  on  our  W  A  R  H  A  M,  for 
an 


Epitaph. 

Securus  recubo  hie  mundi  pert<efus  iniqui  ; 
Et  didhi  d>  docui,  vulnera,  Chrijie,  tua< 


Q.q  q  2 


GHAP, 


122 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 

CHAP.     XIX 
The   LIFE   of  Mr,  H  E  N  R  T    F  L  I  N  T, 


ALtho'  there  is  a  moft  fenfible  and  glorious 
Demonftration  of  the  Divine  Providence 
over  Human  Affairs,'  in  the  f  upend  Variety  of 
Human  Faces,  that  among  fo  many  Millions  of 
Men ,  their  Countenances  are  diftinguiftable 
enough  to  preferve  the  Order  of  Human  Society, 
and  Convention  thereon  depending  •,  yet  there 
have  been  fome  notable  Inftances  of Refemblance 
in  the  World.  They  are  not  only  Twins,  which 
have  fometimes  had  this  Refemblance,  in  fuch  a 
degree,  as  to  occafion  more  Diverfion,  than  the 
two  Sofia's  in  Plautus's  Amphytrio  ■,  but  fome 
other  Perfons  have  been  too  like  one  another 
to  be  known  afunder,  without  Critical  Obfer- 
vations  of  Accidental  Ctrcumflances.  I  will  not 
mention  the  feverai  Examples  of  Likenefs  re- 
ported by  Pliny ,  becaufe  there  is  frequently  as 
much  Likelinefs between  zPlinyifm  and  a  Fable. 
But  Merfennus  gives  us  the  Names  of  two  Men 
i'o  extreamly  alike,  that  their  neareft  Relations 
were  thereby  moll:  notorioufly  impofed  upon. 
Yea,  thjs  Likenefs  has  proceeded  fo  far,  that 
Polyjlratus,  and  Hippoclides,  two  Philofophers 
much  alike,  were  both  born  in  the  fame  Day  ; 
they  were  School- Fellows ,  and  of  the  fame 
Seel ;  they  both  dy'd  in  a  great  Age,  and  at  the 
very  fame  Inftant.  Further  yet,  the  two  famous 
Brothers  at  Riez,  in  France,  perfectly  alike,  if 
one  of  them  were  lick,  or  fad,  or  fleepy,  the 
other  would  immediately  be  fo  too.  And  the 
Story  of  the  three  Gordians,  the  one  exactly 
like  Auguflus,  the  fecond  exa&ly  like  Pvmpey, 
the  third  exaftly  like  Scipio  ;  he  that  has  read 
Pezelim,  doubtlefs  will  remember  it. 
,  I  know  not  whether  any  of  thefe  LikeneJJ'es 
are  greater,  than  what  it  was  the  Dejire  and 
Study,  and  in  a  lefler  meafure  the  Attainment  of 


that  holy  and  worthy  Man,  Mr.  Henrv  Flint 
the  Teacher  of  Brain-tree,  to  have  unto  Mr* 
Cotton,  the  well-known  Teacher  of  Bofion.  Ha- 
ving Twins  once  born  unto  him,  he  called  the 
one  John,  t'oher  Cotton,  and  his  Honouring  Imi- 
tation of  that  Great  Man,  was  as  if  he  had  been 
a  Twin  to  John  Cotton  himfelf.  In  his  exem- 
plary Life,  he  was  John  Cotton  to  the  Life  -, 
and  in  all  theCircumltances  of  his  Miniftry,  he 
propounded  John  Cotton  for  his  Pattern  -,  as'ap- 
prehending  that  he  followed  JeJ its  Cbr if. 

You  may  be  fure,  he  that  Copied  after  fuch 
an  excellent  Perfon,  rriuft  write  fair,  tho'  he 
ftould  happen  to  fall  any  thing  ftort  of  the 
Original. 

Wherefore,  having  already  written  the  Life 
of  John  Cotton,  I  need  fay  nothing  more  of  Henry 
Flint ;  but  they  are  now  both  of  them  gone, 
where  the  Harmony  is  become  yet  more  agree- 
able. 

He  that  was  a  Solid  Stone,  in  the  Foundations 
of  New-England,  is  gone  to  be  a  glorious  One,in 
the  Walls  of  the  New  ferufalem. 


He  died  April  27. 
ferved  the  Epitaph 
zer. 


166%.  and  at  his  Death  de- 
once  allowed  unto  Ment- 


Epitaph 


mum. 


FlintJPUS  femper  Medttatus  Gaudia  Calz, 
Nunc  tandem  C<eli  Gaudia  L#tus  habit. 


CHAP.    XX. 

The    L  I  F  E  of   Mr.  R  I  C  H  A  R  D    MATHER. 


Florcnte  verbo,  omnia  Florent  in  Eeclefia. 


Luther. 


§ 


is  a 


1  SoxHalL 


memorable  Paflage,  which  Do- 
after  a  Perfonal  Examination 
of  it,  ventures  to  relate,  as  moft  credible,  [in 
his  Book  of  A??gels,~]  That  a  certain  Cripple  cal- 
led John  Trelille,  having  been  fixteen  Years  a 
miferable  Cripple,  did  upon  three  Monitions  in 
a  Dream  to  do  fo,  waft  himfelf  in  S.  Mathern's 
Well,  and  was  immediately  reftored  unto  the 
ufe  of  his  Limbs,  and  became  able  to  walk, 
and  work,  and  maintain  himfelf. 


Reader,  If  thou  haft  any  feeblenefs  upon  thy 
Mind,  in  regard  either  of  Piety,  or  thy  Per- 
fwafion  about  the  Church  Order  of  the  Gofpel,  I 
will  carry  thee  now  to  a  Well  of  a  S.  Mathern  ; 
which  Name,  I  fuppofe,  to  be  the  Cornijh  Pro- 
nunciation of  that,  which  was  worn  by  the  good 
Man,  whofe  Hiftory  is  now  going  to  be  of- 
fered. 

In  the  Night  whereon  our  Lord  was  born, 
there  was  a  glorious  Light,  with  an  Hoft  of  An- 
gels 


Book  i    .       ^Ibe  Hi/lory  of  New-hogland. 


123 


gels  gloriouily  finging  over  Bethlehem  ;  and  the 
Birth  of  the  great  and  good  Shepherd,  was  thus 
revealed  unto  the  Shepherds  of  that  Country. 
The  Magicians  in  the  Eaft,  whether  they  had 
by  their  Converfations  with  the  Invifible  World, 
a  readier  Eye  to  difcern  fuch  Objects,  or  whe- 
ther it  were  only  the  Sovereign  and  Gracious 
Providence  of  God,  which  thus  directed  them, 
they  probably  faw  that  Glory  of  the  Lord.  Pof- 
iibly  to  them  at  a  diftance,  it  might  feem  a  new 
Star  hanging  over  Judxa  -,  but  after  two  Tears 
of  Wonder  and  Sufpence  about  it,  they  were 
informed  by  God,  what  it  fignihed ;  and  when 
they  came  near  the  place  of  the  Lord's  Nativity, 
'tis  likely  that  this  Glory,  once  again  appeared, 
lor  their  fullelt  Satisfaction.  This,  till  I  fee  a 
better  Account,  mull  be  that  which  I  fhall  take 
about,  The  Star  of  the  Wife  Men  in  the  Eafi. 
But  I  am  now  to  add,  that  in  all  Ages,  there 
have  been  Stars  to  lead  Men  unto  the  Lord  Je- 
fus  Chrift :  Angelical  Men  employ'd  in  the  Mi- 
niltry  of  our  Lord,  have  been  thofe  happy  Stars; 
and  we  in  the  Weft,  have  been  &>  happy,  as  to 
fee  fome  of  xh.Qfi.rfi  Magnitude  -,  among  which 
one  was  Mr.  Richard  Mather. 

§  2.  It  was  at  a  fmall  Town,  called  Lowton, 
in  the  County  of  Lancajler,  Anno  i5P<5,  that  fo 
great  a  Man,  as  Mr.  Richard  Mather  was  born, 
of  Parents  that  were  of  Credible  and  Ancient 
Families.    And  thefe  his  Parents,  tho'  by  fome 
Difafiers,  their  Ettate  was  not  a  little  funk  be- 
low the  Means  of  theitAnceftors,  yet  were  wil- 
ling to  beftow  a  Liberal  Education  on  him  ;  up- 
on occafion  whereof  Mr.  Mather  afterwards  thus 
expreffed  himfelf :    By  what  Principles  and  Mo. 
tives  my  Parents  "were  chiefly  induced  to  keep  me 
at  School,  I  have  not  to  fay,  nor  do  I  certainly 
know  :  But  this  I  muft  needs  fay,  that  this  was 
the  fingular  good  Providence  of  God  towards  me, 
(who  hath  the  Hearts  of  all  Men  in  his  Hands) 
thus  to  incline  the  Hearts  of  my  Parents  ;  for  in 
this  thing  the  Lord  of  Heaven  ftjewed  me  fuch 
Favour,  as  had  not  been  fbewed  to  many  my  Pre- 
deceffors  and  Contemporaries  in  that  place.    They 
fent  him  to  School   at  Winwick,  where  they 
Boarded  him  in  theWinter  -,  but  in  the  Summer 
fo  warm  was  his  defire  of  Learning,  that  he  tra- 
velled every  Day  thither,  which  was four  Miles 
from  his  Father's  Houfe.    Whilit  he  was  thus 
at  School,  Midtu  tulit  fecitque  Puer — he  met 
with  an  Extremity  of  Difcouragement  from  the 
Orbilium  Harfhnefs  and  Fiercenefs  of  ths  Peda- 
gogue -,  who  tho'  he  had  bred  many  fine  Scho- 
lars, yet  for  the  Severity  of  his  Difcipline,  came 
not  much  behind  the  Mailer  of  Junius,  who 
would  beat  him  eight  times  a  Day,  whether  he 
were  in  a  Fault,  or  no  Fault.     Our  young  Ma- 
ther,  tired  under  this  Captivity,    atjlalt  fre- 
quently and  earneftly  importuned  of  his  Father, 
that  being  taken  from  the  School,  he  might  be 
difpofed  unto  fome  Secular  Calling  ;   but  when 
he  had  waded  through  his  Difficulties,  he  wrote 
this  Reflection  thereupon  :  God  intended  better 
for  me,  than  I  would  have  chofen  for  myfelf; 
and  therefore,  my  Father,  tho'  in  other  things  in- 
dulgent enough,  yet  in  this  would  never  conde- 


fcend  to  my  Re  que  ft,  but  by  putting  me  in  hope, 
that  by  his  f peaking  to  the  Maftcr,  things  would 
be  amended,  would  ft  ill  overrule  me  to  go  on  in 
my  Studies  :  And  good  it  wot  for  me  to  be  over- 
ruled by  him,  and  his  Difcretion,  rather  than  to 
be  left  to  my  own  Affeclions  and  Defire.  But,  0, 
that  all  School  Mafter s  would  learn  Wifdom,  Mo- 
deration, and  Equity,  towards  their  Scholars  j 
and  feck  rather  to  win  the.  He  arts  of  Children  by 
righteous  Loving,  and  courteous  Ufage,  than  to 
alienate  their  Minds  by  Partiality,  and  undue  Se- 
verity ■,  which  had  been  my  utter  Undoing,  had 
not  the  good  Providence  of  God,  and  the  Wifdom 
and  Authority  of  my  Father  prevented. 

§3.  Yea,  and  here  Almighty  God  made  ufe 
of  his  otherwife  cruel  School Mafter,  to  deliver 
this  hopeful  young  Man  from  an  Apprenticelhip 
unto  a  Popifh  Merchant,  when  he  wjs  very  near 
falling  into  the  woful  Snares  of  fuch  a  Condi- 
tion -,  which  Mercy  of  Heaven  unto  him  wasac- 
companied  with  the  further  Mercy  of  living  un- 
der the  Miniftry  of  one  Mr.  Palm,  then  Preacher 
at  Lcagh  :  Of  whom  he  would  long  after  fay, 
That  tho"  his  Knowledge  of  that  good  Man  was 
only  in  his  Childhood,  yet  the  Remembrance  of 
him  wot  even  in  his  Old  Age  comfortable  to  him  \ 
inafmuch  as  he  obferved  fuch  a  penetrating  Effi- 
cacy in  the  Miniftry  of  that  Man,  at  was  not  in 
the  common  fort  of  Preachers. 

§  4.  There  were  at  this  time,  in  Toxteth  Park 
near  Liverpool,  a  well  difpofed  People,  who 
were  defirous  to  erect  a  School  among  them,  for 
the  good  Education  of  their  Pollerity.  This 
People  fending  unto  the  School-Mafter  of  Win- 
wick, to  know  whether  he  had  any  Scholar  that 
he  could  recommend  for  a  Mafter  of  their  New 
School.  Richard  Mather  was  by  him  recom- 
mended unto  that  Service  ;  and  at  the  Perfwa- 
fion  of  his  Friends  to  attend  that  Service,  he  laid 
afide  his  Defire,  and  his  Defign  of  going  to  the 
Univerfity  :  Not  unfenfible  of  what  hath  been 
{till  obferved,  Scholas  effe  Theologize  pediffe  qua», 
acfeminana  Rcipublics.  Now  as  it  cannot  juft- 
ly  he  reckoned  any  Blemifh  unto  him,  that  at 
fifteen  Tears  of  Age  he  was  a.  School- Mafter,  who 
carried  it  with  fuch  Wifdom,  Kindnel's,  and 
grave  Refervation,  as  to  be  loved  and  feared  by 
his  young  Folks,  much  above  the  mod  that  ever 
ufed  the  Ferula  -,  fo  'twas  many  ways  advanta- 
geous unto  him,  to  be  thus  employed.  Hereby 
he  became  a  more  accurate  Grammarian,  than 
Divines  too  often  are ;  and  at  his  leifure  Hours 
he  fo  fiudied,  as  to  become  a  notable  Proficient 
in  the  other  Liberal  Arts. 

Moreover,  'twas  by  means  hereof,  that  he 
experienced  an  effectual  Converfwn  of  Soul  to 
God,  in  his  tender  Years,  even  before  his  going 
to  Oxford  •,  and  thus  he  was  preferved  from  the 
Temptations  and  Corruptions ,  which  undid  ma- 
ny of  his  Contemporaries  in  the  Univerfity. 
That  more  thorough  and  real  Converfwn  in  him, 
was  occafioned  by  obferving  a  Difference  be- 
tween his  own  Walk,  and  the  molt  exaft,  watch- 
ful, fruitful,  and  prayerful  Converfation  of 
fome  in  the  Family,  of  the  learned  and  pious 
Mr.  Edward  Afpi;nva/3  of  Toxteth,  where  he  fo- 

journed. 


124 


7 he  Hifiory  of  New-England.       Book  ill. 


journed.  This  Exemplary  Walk  of  that  Holy  I 
Man,  caufed  many  lad  Fears  to  arife  in  his 
own  Soul,  that  he  was  himfelf  out  of  the  way,' 
which  Confideration  with  his  hearing  of  Mr. 
Harrifon,  then  a  Famous  Miriifter  at  Hyton, 
preach  about  Regeneration,  and  his  reading  of 
Mr.   Perkins's  Book,    that  (hows,  How  far  a 


you,  Sir,  and  you  mufi  not  deny  me  : 
you  would  pray  for  me  ;  for  I  know 
the  Prayers  of  Men  thai- 
much,  and  you  I  believe 


Reprobate  m.iv  go  m 


Relig  wn 


'Tts,  that 

(fiid  he) 

fear  God  will  avail 

are  fuch  a  one.     And 


were  the  means 
whereby  the  "God  of  Heaven  brought  him  into 
the  Scare  of  a  New  Creature.  The  Troubles  oj 
Seal,  which  attended  his  New  Birth,  were  fo 
exceeding  Terrible,  that  he  would  often  retire 
from  his  appointed  Meals  unto  fecret  Places, 
to  lament  his  Miferies ;  but  after  fome  time., 
and  about  the  Eighteenth  Tear  or'  his  Age,  the 
Good  Spiiir  of  God  healed  his  Broken  Heart, 
by  pouring  thereinto  the  Evangelical  Confola- 
trons  of  His  Great  and  Precious  Promtfes. 

kj  5.  After  this,  lie  became  a  more  Eminent 
Bleljmg,  in  the  Calling,  wherein  God  had  now 
difpolcd  him-,  and  fuch  Notice  was  taken  of 
him,  that  many  Perfons  were  fent  unto  him, 
even  from  Remote  Places,  for  their  Education  5 
whereof,  not  a  few  went  well  accomplished, 
from  him  to  the  Vnrccrfity.  But  having  fpent 
fome  Years  in  this  Employment,  he  judged  it 
many  ways  advantageous  for  him  to  go  unto 
the  Vniverfity  himfelf,  that  he  might  there 
converfe  with  Learned  Men  and  Books,  and  more 
improve  himfelf  in  Learning,  than  he  could  have 
done  at  Home.  Accordingly,  at  Oxford,  and 
particularly  at  Brazen-Nofe  College  in  Oxford, 
he  now  refided,  where  together  with  the  Satis- 
fatlion  of  feeing  his  Old  Scholars,  who  had  by 
his  Education,  been  fitted  for  their  being  there, 
he  had  the  Opportunity  further  to  enrich  him- 
felf by  Study,  by  Conference,  by  Difputation, 
and  other  Atadetiiical  Entertainment :  As  confi- 
dering,  tint  the  Lamps  were  to  be  lighted,  be- 
fore the  Ixtefife  was  to  be  burned  in  the  San- 
cFuary.  And  here,  he  was  more  intimately  ac- 
quainted with  famous  Dr.  Woral,  by  whofe  Ad- 
vice, he  read  the  Works  of  r^ter  RaMn/s,  with 
a  lingular  Attention  and  Affecf  ion  ;  which  Ad- 
vice, he  did  not  afterwards  repent  that  he  had 
followed. 

^  6.  But  it  wis  not  very  long  before  the 
People  off oxteth  fent  after  him,  that  he  would 
return  unto  them,  and  inftruft,  not  their  Chil- 
dren as  a  School-majler,  but  themfelves  as  a 
Minifter  :  With  which  Invitation,  he  at  laft 
complied;  and  at  Toxteth,Nov.  13.  1 618.  he 
preached  his  Firft  Sermon,  with  great  Accep- 
tance in  a  vaft  Affembly  of  People  :  But  fuch 
was  the  Strength  of  his  Memory,  that  what  he 
had  prepared  for  one,  contained  no  lefs  than 
Sr.v  long  Difcouifes.  He  was  after  this  or- 
dained, w itii  many  others,  by  Dr.  Morton,  the 
Bilhop  of  Chejler,  who  after  the  Ordination 
was  over,  iingled  out  Mr.  Mather  from  the  reft, 
fi'ving,  I  have  feme thing  to  fay  betwixt  you  and 
me  a>hne.  Mr.  Mather  was  now  jealous,  that 
fome  'Informations  might  have  been  exhibited 
'a  gain  ft  him  for  his  Puritanifm,  inftead  of  which 
when  the  Bifhop  had  him  alone,  what  he  faid 
unto  him  was,  I  have  an  earnefl  Reauefl  unto 


being  fo  fettled  in  Toxteth,  he  matried  the 
Daughter  of  Edmund  Holt,  YAq-,  of  Bury  in  Tan- 
cajhire,  Sept.  3.9.  1624.  which  Vertuous  Gen- 
tlewoman, God  made  a  Rich  Blefling  to  him, 
tor  Thirty  Years  together  5  and  a  Mother  of 
Six  Sons,  moft  of  whom  afterwards  proved  fa- 
mous in  their  Generation. 

§>  7.  He  preached  every  Lord's  Day  twice  at . 
Toxteth,  and  every  Fortnight  he  held  a  Tuefday 
Lefture,  at  Pre/cot:  Befides  which,  he  often 
preached  upon  the  Holy-Days,  not  as  thinking 
that  any  Day  was  now  Holy,  except  the  Chri- 
llian  Weekly  Sabbath,  but  becaufe  thete  was 
then  an  Opportunity  to  caft  the  Net  of  the  Go- 
fpel  among  much  Fifhi  in  Great  Affemblies, 
which  then  were  convened,  and  would  other- 
wife  have  been  worfe  employed.  In  this,  he 
followed  the  Examples  of  the  Apoftles,  who 
preached  moft  in  populous  Places,  and  this  alfo 
on  the  Jewifh  Sabbaths,  which  yet  were  fo  far 
abrogated,  that  they  charged  the  Faithful  to 
Let  no  Man  judge  them  in  impofing  the  Obfer- 
vation  thereof  upon  them. 

He  preached  likewife  very  frequently  at  fu- 
nerals, as  knowing,  that  though  Funeral  Ser- 
mons are  wholly  difufed  in  fome  Reformed  Chur- 
ches, and  have  been  condemned  by  fome  De- 
crees of  Councils,  yet  this  was  chiefly  becaufe 
of  the  common  Error  committed  in  the  Lavifh 
Praifes  of  the  Dead  on  fuch  Occafions,  which 
therefore  he  avoided,  inftead  rhereof,  only  gi- 
ving Counfels  to  the  Living.  Indeed,  the  Cu- 
ftom  of  Preaching  at  Funerals  may  feem  Eth- 
nical in  its  Original ;  for  Publicola  made  an  Ex- 
cellent Oration  in  the  Praife  of  Brutus,  with 
which  the  People  were  fo  taken,  that  it  became 
a  Cuftom,  for  famous  Men,  after  this,  at  their 
Death,  to  he  fo  celebrated  ;  and  when  the  Wo- 
men among  the  Romans  parted  with  their  Orna- 
ments, for  the  Publick  Weal,  the  Senate  made 
it  lawful  for  Women  alfo  to  be  in  the  like  man- 
ner celebrated.  Hmc  mortuos  Laudandi  Mos 
fluxit,  quern  nos  ho  die  fervami/s,  if  Poly  dor  e 
Virgil  may,  as  he  Jometimcs  may  be  believed. 
But  the  Madgeburgenfian  Centuriators  tell  us 
that  this  Rite  was  not  pracfifed  in  the  Church, 
before  the  Beginning  of  the  Apoftacy.  However, 
this  Watchful  Minifter  of  our  Lord,  made  his 
Funeral  Speeches  to  be  but  a  Faithful  Difcharge 
of  his  Miniftry  in  Admonitions  concerning  the 
laft  things,  whereby  the  Living  might  be  edi- 
fied. But  thus  in  his  Publick  Miniftry,  he 
went  over  the  24th  Chapter  in  the  fecond  of 
Samuel ;  the  firft  Chapter  of  Proverbs  ;  the  firft 
and  fixth  Chapters  of  l/aiah  -,  the  twenty  fe- 
cond and  twenty  third  Chapters  of  Luke-,  the 
Eighth  Chapter  of  the  Romans-,  the  fecond  Epi- 
ille  toTimothy ;  the  fecond  Epiftle  of  John,  and 
the  Epiftle  of  Jude. 

§8.  Having  fpent  about  Fifteen  Years,  thus, 
in  the  Labours  of  his  Miniftry,  his  Le&ure  at 
Prefcot  in  fine,  gave  him  to  find  the  Truth  of 

Qiiintiliari's 


hook  III.      the  Hijlory  of  New-England 


125 


Quint  ilian's .  Obfervation,    Magnam   Famam  iff 
Magnam   ghuctem,  eodem  Tempore,   Nemo  po- 
teft  Acquirer e.     Through  the  Malice  of  Satan, 
and  the  Envy  of  the  Sat  amen!,  there  were  now 
brought  againit  him,  thofe  Complaints  for  his 
Non  Conjormity  to  the  Ceremonies,  which    in 
Awufl,  1 63 3-  procured  him   to  be  J  upended. 
The  Sujpenlton  continued  upon  him,  till  the 
November  following,    but  then   by  the  Inter- 
ceffion  of  lbme  Gentlemen  in  Lancaflnre,  and 
the  Influence  of  Simon  Biby,  a  near  Alliance  of 
the   Bilhop's  Vifitor,  he  was  Reftored.     After 
his  ReftairatioR,  he  more  exactly  than  ever,  ftu- 
died  the  Points  of  Churcb-Difcip/iae ;  and  the 
EffecF  of  hismoft  careful  Studies  was,  that  the 
Congregational  Way,  afferted  by  Cart-wright,  Par- 
ker, Baines   and  Ames,  was  the  Pitch  of  Re- 
formation, which   he  judged  the  Scriptures  di- 
rected the  Servants  of  the  Lord  humbly  to  en- 
deavour.   But  this  Liberty  was  not  longer  lived 
than   the  Year  1634..  for   the  Arch-Bilhop  oi 
York  now  was  that   Gentleman,  whom  King 
James  pleafantly  admonilhed  ot  his  Preaching 
Popery,  becaufe  of  lbme  Unacceptable   things 
in  his  Conduct,  which  taught  the  People  to  pray 
for  a  Blejfing  on  his  Dead  Predecejjor ;  and  he 
now  lending   his  Vifuors,  among   whom  the 
Famous  Dr.  Coufins  was  one,  into  Lancajhire ; 
where  they  kept  their  Court  at  Wigan,  among 
other  Hard  Things,  they  palled  a  Sentence  of 
Sufpenfwn  upon  Mr.  Mather,  meerly  for  his 
Non  Conformity.     His  Judges  were  not  willing, 
that  he  fhould  offer  the  Reafons,  which  made 
him  Confcientioufly  fo  difpoled,  as  then  he  was, 
hut  the  Glorious  Spirit  of  God  enabled  him  with 
much  Wifdom,   to  encounter  what   they  put 
upon  him  ;  inibmuch,  that  in  his  Private  Ma- 
mifcripts,  he  entred  this  Memorial  of  it,  In 
the   PajJ'ages  of  that  Day,  I  have  this  to  Blefs 
the  Name  of  God  for,  That  the  Terr  our  of  their 
Threat rung  Words,  of  their  Purfevants,  and  of 
the  reft  of  their  Pomp,  did  not  terrifie  my  Mind, 
but  that  I  could  ft  and  before  them  without  being 
daunted  in  the  leaft  Meafure,  but  anfwered  for 
my  fclf  fuch  Words  of  Truth  and  Sober  nefs,-  ru 
the  Lord  put  into  my  Mouth,  not  being  afraid 
of  their  Paces  at  all:  Which  fupporting  and  com- 
forting Prefence  of  the  Lord,  I  count  not  ?nuch 
lefs  Mercy,  than    if  I  had  been  altogether  pre- 
ferved  out  of  their  Hands.     But  all  means  uied 
afterwards,  to  get  off  this  unhappy  Sufpenfwn, 
were  ineffectual  -,  for  when    the    Vifitors  had 
been   informed,   that   he  had  been  a  Minifter 
Fifteen  Years,  and  all  that  while  never  wore  a 
Surpiifs,  One  of  ihem  fwore,  It  had  been  better 
for  him,  that  he  had  gotten  Seven  Baflards. 

§  p.  He  now  betook  himlelf  to  a  private 
Life,  without  Hope  of  again  enjoying- the  Liberty 
of  doing  any  more  publick  Work,  in  his  Native 
Land  •,  but  herewithal  fore  feeing  a  Storm  ofCa 
lamities  like  to  be  hallncd  on  the  Land,  by  the 
Wrath  of  Heaven  incenled,  particularly  at  the 
Injustice  ufed  in  depriving  the  truly  Conicten- 
tious  of  their  Liberty,  his  Wilhes  became  like 
thofe  of  the  Deprived  Pfalmift,  0,  that  I  had 
iV'wgs  like  a  Dove  !  La,   then  would  I  wander 


far  off,  and  remain  in  the  Wilde rnefs  -,  I  would 
ha  ft  en  my  efcapc  from  the  Windy  Storm  and 
Tempefi. 

New  England  was  the  Retreat  which  new 
offered  it  felf  unto  him  ^  and  accordingly,  he 
drew  up  fome  Arguments  for  his  Removal  thi- 
ther, which  Arguments  were  indeed,  the  very 
Reafons,  that  moved  the  Firft  Fathers  of  ? 
England  unto  that  unpaniliel'd  Undertaking  of 
Tranfponing  their  Families  with  themfelves, 
over  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 

I.  A  Removal  from  a  Corrupt  Church  to  a 
Purer. 

II.  A  Removal  from  a  Place,  where  the 
Truth  and  Profeffors  of  it  are  perfecuuJ 
unto  a  Place  of  more  ^uiel  and  Safety. 

III.  A  Removal  from  a  Place,  where  all  the 
Ordinances  of  God  cannot  be  enjoyed,  un- 
to a  Place  where  they  may. 

IV.  A  Removal  from  a  Church,  where  the 
Difciplrne  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrilt  is  want- 
ing, unto  a  Church  where  it  may  be  pra- 
aifed. 

V.  A  Removal  from  a  Place,  where  the  Mi- 
niflers  of  God  are  unjuftly  inhibited  from 
the  Execution  of  their  Functions,  to  a 
Place  where  they  may  more  freely  execute 
the  fame. 

VI.  A  Removal  from  a  Place,  where  there 
are  Fearful  Signs  of  Defolation,  to  a  Place 
where  one  may  have  well  grounded  Hope 
of  God's  Protection. 


Such  a  Removal,  he  judged  That  unto  New- 
England  now  before  him. 

Thefe   Confiderations  were  prefented   unto 
many  Ministers  and   Chriftians  of  Lancajhire, 
at  feveral   Meetings,  whereby  they  were  per- 
fwaded,*and  even  his  own  People  of  Toxteth, 
who  dearly   loved  him  and  prized  him,  could 
not  gain-fay  it,  that  by  removing  to  New  Eng- 
land, he  would  not  Go  out  of  his  way.     And 
hereunto  he  was  the  more  inclined  by  the  Let- 
ters of  fome  Great  Perfons,  who  had  already 
fettled  in  the  Country  ;  among  whom  the  Re- 
nowned Hooker  was  one,  who  in  his  Letters 
thus  exprefled    himfelf,   In  a  Word,   if  I  may 
fpeak  my  own  Thoughts  freely  and  fully,  though 
there  are  very  many  Places  where  Men  may  re- 
ceive and  expeel  more  Earthly  Commodities,  yet 
do  1  believe  there  k  no  Place  this  Day  upon  the 
Face  of  the  Earth,  where  a  Gracious  Heart  and 
a   Judicious  Head,  may  receive  more  Spiritual 
Good  to  himfelf,  and  do  more  Temporal  and  Spi- 
ritual Good  to  others.     Wherefore  being  fatis- 
hed  in  his  Defign  for  Nczo  England,  after  Ex- 
traordinary Supplication  for  the  Smiles  of  Hea- 
ven upon  him  in  it,  he  took  his  Leave  of  his 
Friends  in  Lancaflnre,  with  Affections  on  both 
fides  like  thofe,  wherewith  Paul  bid  Farewel 
to  his  in  Ephcfus ;    and 'in    April,  1635.   he 
made   his  Journey  unto  Bnjlol,  to  take  Ship 
there;    being  foced  as    once  Brentius   was, 
to  change  his  Apparel,  that  he  might  efcape 

the 


126 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.       Book  III. 


he  Purfevants,  who  were  endeavouring  to  ap 
prehend  him.  .     . 

§  10.  On  May  23.  KS35,  he  fet  Sail  from 
Brifiol  for  New-England  :  But  when  he  came 
upon  the  Coafts  of  New-England,  there  arofe  an 
horrible  Hurricane,  from  the  Dangers  whereof 
his  Deliverance  was  remarkable,  and  well  nigh 
miraculous.  The  belt  Account  of  it,  will  be 
from  his  own  Journal  ;  where  the  Relation  runs 
in  thefe  Words : 

Auguft  if.    i<*35- 

'  The  Lord  had  not  yet  done  with  us,  nor 
c  had  he  let  us  fee  all  his  Power  and  Goodnejs, 
4  which  he  would  have  us  take  the  knowledge 
1  of.  And  therefore  about  break  of  Day,  he 
'  lent  a  mod  terrible  Storm  of  Rain,  and  Ea- 
1  flerly  Wind,  whereby  we  were,  I  think,  in  as 
4  much  Danger  ar  ever  People  were.    When  we 

*  came  to  Land,  we  found  many  mighty  Trees 

*  rent  in  pieces,  in  the  midft  of  the  Bole,  and 
.  4  others  turned  up  by  the  Roots,  by  Fiercenefs 

c  thereof!  We  loft  in  that  Morning  three  An- 
4  chors  and  Cables  ;  one  having  never  been  in 
4  the  Water  before  :,  two  were  broken  by  the 
1  Violence  of  the  Storm,  and  a  third  cut  by  the 
'  Sea- men  in  extremity  of  Diftrefs,  to  fave  the 
4  Ship,  and  their,  and  our  Lives.     And  when 

*  our  Cables  and  Anchors  were  all  loft,  we  had 

*  no  outward  Means  of  Deliverance,  but  by 
4  hoifting  Sail,  if  fo  be  we  might  get  to  Sea, 
4  from  among  the  Ijlands  and  Rocks,  where  we 
'  were  Anchored.  But  the  Lord  let  us  fee,  that 
c  our  Sails  could  not  help  us  neither,  no  more 

*  than  the  Cables  and  Anchors  -,  for  by  the  force 

*  of  the  Wind  and  Storm,  the  Sails  were  rent 
4  afunder,  and  fplit  in  pieces,  as  if  they  had 
4  been  but  rotten  Rags  ;  fo  that  of  divers  of 
4  them,  there  was  fcarce  left  fo  much  as  an 
4  Hand's-breadth,  that  was  not  rent  in  pieces, 

*  or  blown  away  into  the  Sea  7  fo  that  at  that 
4  time,  all  Hope  that  we  fhould  be  faved,  in  re 
4  gard  of  any  outward  Appearance,  was  utterly 
4  taken  away :  and  the  rather,  becauie  we  feem- 
4  ed  to  drive  with  full  force  of  Wind,  dire£tiy 
'  upon  a  mighty  Rock,  ftanding  out  in  fight  a- 
4  bove  Water  ;  fo  that  we  did  but  continually 
1  wait,  when  we  fhould  hear  and  feel  the  dole- 
4  ful  Crufhing  of  the  Ship  upon  the  Rock.    In 
4  this  Extremity  and  Appearance  of  Death,  as 
4  Diftrefs  and  Diftra&ion  would  fuffer  us,  we 
4  cried  unto  the  Lord,  and  he  was  pleafed  to 
c  have  Companion  upon  us ;  for  by  his  over-ru- 
4  ling  Providence,  and  his  own  immediate  good 
4  Hand,  he  guided  the  Ship  paft  the  Rock,  af- 
4  fwaged  the  Violence  of  the  Sea,  and  of  the 
4  Wind.    It  was  a  Day  much  to  be  remembred, 
4  becaufe  on  that  Day  the  Lord  granted  us  as 
4  wonderful  a  Deliverance  as,  I  think,  ever  any 
4  People  had  felt.    The  Seamen confeffed, they 
4  never  knew  the  like.    The  Lord  fo  imprint 
4  the  Memory  of  it  in  our  Hearts,  that  we  may 
4  be  the  better  for  it,  and  be  careful  to  pleafe 
•  him,  and  to  walk  uprightly  before  him  as  long 
4  as  we  live.    And  I  hope  we  fhall  not  forget 


the-PalTagei  of  that  Morning,  until  our  Dying 
Day.  In  all  this  grievous  Storm ,  my  Fear 
was  the  lefs,  when  I  confidered  the  Clear nefs 
of  ?ny  Calling  from  God  this  way.  A  nd  in  fome 
meafure  (the  Lord's  holy  Name  be  bleffedfor 
it)  he  gave  us  Hearts  contented  and  willing, 
that  he  fhould  do  with  us,  and  ours,  what  he 
pleafed,  and  what  might  be  molt  for  the  Glo- 
ry of  his  Name  *  and  in  that  we  relied  our 
ielves.  But  when  News  was  brought  us  into 
the  Gun-Room,  that  the  Danger  was  paft,  Oh ! 
how  our  Hearts  did  then  relent  and  melt  with- 
in us  !  We  burft  out  into  Tears  of  Joy  among 
our  felves,  in  Love  unto  the  gracious  God, 
and  Admiration  of  his  Kindneis,  in  granting 
to  his  poor  Servants  fuch  an  extraordinary  and 
miraculous  Deliverance,  his  Holy  Name  be 
blelTed  for  evermore. 

The  Storm  being  thus  allay'd,  they  came  to 
an  Anchor  before  BoJIon ,  Augufi  17.  1^35. 
Where  Mr.  Mather  abode  for  a  little  while,  and' 
with  his  vertuous  Confort,  joined  unto'  the 
Church  in  that  place. 

§  11.  He  quickly  had  Invitations  from  feve- 
ral  Towns,  to  bellow  himfelf  upon  them  ;  and 
was  in  a  great  Strait,  which  of  thofe  Invitations 
to  accept.  But  applying  himfelf  unto  Counfel, 
as  an  Ordinance  of  God,  for  his  Dire&ion,  Dor- 
chefhr  was  the  place,  wherero  a  Council,  where- 
in Mr.  Cotton,  and  Mr.  Hooker,  were  the  prin- 
cipal, did  advife  him.  Accordingly  to  Dorche- 
fter  he  repaired  -,  and  the  Church  formerly  ' 
planted  there,  being  tranj planted  with  Mr.  War- 
ham  to  ConneUicut,  another  Church  was  now 
gathered  here,  Augufi  23.  163  6.  by  whofe  Choice 
Mr.  Mather  was  now  become  their  Teacher.  ■ 
Here  he  continued  a  Blefling  unto  all  the  Chur- 
ches in  this  Wildernefs,  until  his  dying  Day, 
even  for  near  upon  Four  and  thirty  Years  toge- 
ther. He  underwent  not  now  fo  many  Changes, 
as  he  did  before  his  coming  hither  ;  and  he  ne- 
ver changed  his  Habitation  after  this,  till  he 
went  unto  the  Houfe  Eternal  in  the  Heavens  ; 
albeit  his  old  People  of  Toxteth  vehemently  fol- 
licited  his  Return  unto  them,  when  the  trouble- 
fome  Hierarchy  in  England  was  depofed. 

§  1 2.  Neverthelefs,  if  Luther's  three  Tutors 
for  an  able  Divine,  Study,  and  Prayer,  and 
Temptation,  as  Mr.  Mather  could  not  leave  the 
twofirfl,  fo  the  laft  would  not  leave  him  -,  the 
Wildernefs  whereinto  he  was  come,  he  found 
not  without  its  Temptations.  He  was  for  fome 
Years  exercifed  with  Spiritual  Diftreffes,  and 
Internal  Defertions,  and  Uncertainties  about  his 
Everlafting  Happinefs  ■,  which  Troubles  of  his 
Mind  he  revealed  unto  that  eminent  Perfon  Mr. 
Norton,  whofe  well-adapted  Words,  comforted 
his  weary  Soul.  It  was  in  thefe  dark  Hours, 
that  a  glorious  Light  rofe  unto  him,  with  a  cer- 
tain Difpofition  of  Sou!,  which  I  find  in  his  pri- 
vate Papers  thus  exprelTed  :  My  Heart  relented 
with  Tears  at  this  Prayer,  That  God  would  not 
deny  me  an  Heart  to  blefshim,  and  not  blafpheme 
him,  that  is  fo  holy,  juft,  and  good;  tho  1 Jbould 
be  excluded  from  his  Prefence,  and  go  down  into 

ever- 


Book  III.        the  Hijiory  of  New-England. 


iftf 


ever fafting  Darknefs  and  Dif comfort.  But  when 
thefe  terrible  Temptations  from  within  were 
over,there  were  feveral  and  fucceffive  AffliUions, 
which  he  did  from  abroad  meet  withal  :  Of  all 
which  Afflictions,  the  molt  calamitous  was,  the 
Death  of  his  dear,  good,  and  wife  Con  fort,  by 
whofe  difcreet  Management  of  his  Affairs,  he 
had  been  fo  releafed  from  all  Secular  Incum- 
brances, as  to  be  wholly  at  Liberty,  for  the  Sa- 
cred Employment  of  his  Miniftry.  However, 
after  he  had  continued  in  his  Widowhood  a 
Year  and  half  the  State  of  his  Family  made  it 
neceflary  for  him  to  apply  himfelf  unto  a  Second 
Marriage  ;  which  he  made  with  the  pious  Wi- 
dow of  the  moft  famous  Mr.  John  Cotton  ;  and 
her  did  God  make  a  Bleffing  unto  him  the  reft 
of  his  Days, 

§  13.  My  defcribing  his  general  Manner  of 
Life,  after  he  came  to  New-England,  fhall  be 
only  a  tranferibing  of  thofe  Vows,  which  tho'he 
made  before  his  coming  thither,  yet  he  then  re- 
newed. In  his  private  Papers,  wherein  he  left 
fome  Recotds  of  the  Days  which  he  fpent  fome- 
times  in  fectet  Humiliations,  and  Supplications, 
before  the  God  of  Heaven,  and  of  the  Ajfurances 
which  with  the  Tears  of  a  melted  Soul,  in  thofe 
D.:ys,  he  received  of  Bleflings  obtained  for  him- 
felf, his  Children,  his  People,'  and  the  whole 
Country,  1  find  Recording  the  enfuing  Inftru 
ment. 


Promifflones  Deo  fail £, ' 
'  per  me,  Richarduml 
'  Matherum. 
21.  D.  6.M.  1635. 


\Pfal.  66.  13,  14. 
PCal.  119.  io<5. 
>Pfd.  $6.  \2. 
Jteh.  9.  33.  with  .10. 
29,  30,  31,  eh:. 


I.  Touching  the  Miniftry. 

I.  '  I  s0  be  more  painful  and  diligent  in  pri- 
X  '  vate  Preparations  for  Preaching,  by 
Reading,  Meditation,  and  Prayer  •  and  not 
ilightly  and  fuperficially.  Jer.  48.  10.  Excl.  9. 
10.  1  Tim.  4.  13,  15. 

B  2.  In  and  after  Preaching,  to  ftrive  ferioufly 
againtf  inwatd  Pride,  and  Vainglory. 

1  3.  Before  and  after  Preaching,  to  beg  by 
Prayer  the  Lord's  Bleifmg  on  his  Word,  for  the 
Good  of  Souls,  more  carefully  than  in  time 
path    1  Cor.  3.  6.  AUs  id.  74. 

II.  Touching  the  Family. 

L  1.  To  be  more  frequent  in  Religious  Dif- 
courje  and  Talk,  Dent.  6.  7. 

"■  2.  To  be  more  careful  in  Catechifing  Chil- 
dren. Gen.  18.  19.  Prov.  22.6.  Epb.6.4.  And 
therefore  to  beftow  fome  Pains  this  way,  eve- 
ry Week  once;  and  if  by  urgent  Occasions  it 
be  fometimes  omitted,  to  do  it  twice  as  much 
another  Week.  ' 

III.  Touching  My /elf. 

1  i:  To  ftrive  more  againft  Worldly  Cares 
and  tears,  and  againft  the  inordinate  Love  of 


Earthly  Things.  Mat.  6.  25,0V.  pfil.  %f.  & 
1  Pet,  5.  7.  Phil.  4.  6. 

1  2.  To  be  more  frequent  arid  -conffarit  in 
private  Prayer.  Mat.  6.  6.  &14.  23.  Pfal.5<c. 
17.    Dan.  6.  10. 

'  3.  To  pra£tife  more  carefully  and  ferioufly { 
and  frequently  the  Duty  of  Self-Examination. 
ham.  3.  40.  Pfal.  4.  4.  Pfal.  t\<y.  59.  efpeci- 
ally  before  the  Receiving  of  the  Lord's  Supper- 
1  Cor.  11.  28. 

'  4.  To  ftrive  againft  carnal  Security,-  and  ex- 
ceifive  Sleeping.  Prov.  6.  9,  10.'  be  Prov, 
20.  13. 

'  5-  To  ftrive  againft  vain  Jangling';- and  mJ- 
fpending  precious  Time.  Eph.  5.  16. 

IV.  Touching  Others. 

1  1.  To  be  more  careful  and  zealous,  to  dc 
good  unto  their  Souls,  by  private  Exhorrationsx 
Reproofs,  Inftrucfions,  Conferences  of  God's 
Word.  Prov.  10.  21.  &  15.  17.  Lev.  19.  17, 
Pfal.  37.  3  o. 

'  2.  To  be  ready  to  do  Offices  of  Love  and 
Kindn'efs,  not  only,  or  principally,  for  the 
Praife  of  Mem,  to  purchafe  Commendation  for 
a. good  Neighbour,  but  rather  out  of  Confcience 
to  the  Commandment  of  God.  Phil.i.\.  iCon 
to.  24.  Heb.  13.  \6. 

'  Renewed  with,  a  Profeflion  of  Difabili- 
'  ties  in  my  felf,  for  Performance, 
i  and  of  Defire  to  fetch  Power  from 
*  Chrift,  thereunto  to  live  upon  him, 

-  '  and  aft  from  him,  in  all  Spiritual 
'  Duties.' 


15.  D.  6.  Mi  1636, 


Richard  Mather, 


§  14.  His  way  of  Preaching  Was  very  plain., 
ftudioufly  avoiding  obfeure  and  foreign  Terms, 
and  unneceffary  Citation  of  Latine  Sentences. ; 
and  aiming  to  (hoot  his  Arrows,  not  over  the 
Heads,  but  into  the  Hearts  of  his  Hearers.  Yet 
fo  Script  urally,  and  fo  Powerfully  did  he  preach, 
his  plain  Sermons,  that  Mr:  Hooker  would  fay, 
My  Brother  Mather  is  a  mighty  Alan  $  and  in- 
deed he  faw  a  great  Succefs  of  his  Labours,  in 
both  Englands,  converting  many  Souls  unto  God. 
His  Voice  was  loud  and  big,  and  uttered  with  a 
deliberate  Vehemency,  it  procured  unto  his  Mi- 
niftry an  awful  and  very  taking  Majefty-,  never- 
thelefs,  thefubftantial  and  rational  Matter  de- 
livered by  him,  caufed  his1  Miniftry  to  take  yet 
more,  where-ever  he  came.  Whence,  even 
while  he  was  a  young  Man,  Mr.  Gellibrartd^  a 
famous  Minifter  in  Lancafhire.  hearing  him,  en- 
quired, What  his  Name  was  ?  When  Anfwer 
was  made,  That  his  Name-  was  Mather  -  he? 
replied,  Nay,  his  Name  f ball ,  be  Matter  ;  for 
believe  it^  this  Man  had/good  Subftance  in  hinu 
He  was  indeed  a  Perfon  eminently  Judicious^  irt 
the  Opinion  i  of  fuch  as  were  not  mCcntrover- 
fies  then  managed,  of  hii  own  Opinion;  j<  by  the 

R  1  x  faro* 


128 


The  Hiftory  of  New- En  gland.     Book  HI, 


Tame  Token,  that  when  Dr.  Parr,  then  Bifliop 
in  the  Ifle  of  Man,  heard  of  Mr.  Mather's  being 
filenced,  he  lamented  it,  laying,  If  itfr.Mather 
be  filenced,  I  am  for ry  for  it ;  for  he  vqm  a  Solid 
Man,  and  the  Church  of  God  hath  a  great  Lofs  of 
him  And  it  was  becaufe  of  his  being  efteemed 
Co  Judicious  a  Perfon,  that  among  theMinifters 
of  New-England,  he  was  improved  more  than 
the  moft,  in  explaining  and  maintaining  the 
Points  of  Church-Government  then  debated.  The 
Pifcourfe  abour  the  Church-Covenant,  and  the 
Anfwer  to  the  Thirty  two  Quejiions,  both  writ- 
ten in  the  Year  1632,  tho'  they  pafs  under  the 
Name  of  the  Miniflers  of  New-England,  Mr. 
Mather  was  the  fole  Author  of  them.  And 
when  the  Platform  of  ChurchDifcipline  was  a 
greed  by  a  Synod  of  thefe  Churches,  in  the  Year 
1 647.  Mr.  Mather's  Model  was  that  out  of 
which  it  was  chiefly  taken. 

And  being  thereto  defired,  he  alfo  prepared 
for  the   Prefs,   a  very  elaborate  Compofure, 
which  he  entituled,  A  Plea  for  the  Churches  of 
New- England. 

Moreover,  to  defend  the  Congregational,  in 
thole  Idler  Pu?itlilio's,  wherein  it  feems  to  differ 
from  the  Presbyterian  Way  of  Church-Govern- 
ment  -,  he  Printed  one  little  Book  in  Anfwer  to 
Mr.  Her/,  and  another  in  Anfwer  to  Mr.  Ruther- 
ford: And  yet  was  he  fo  little  Broivnijiically 
affecled,  that  befides  his  Apprehenfion  of  fo  vi- 
cious and  infamous  a  Man,  as  Brown's  not  being 
likely  to  be  the  Difcoverer  of  any  momentous 
Truth  in  Religion,  he  wrote  a  Treatife  to  prove, 
That  whatever  Privi/edge  and  Liberty  may  be- 
long to  the  Fraternity,  the  Rule  of  the  Church 
belongs  only  to  its  Presbytery.  Furthermore, 
when  the  Propositions  of  the  Synod,  in  1662. 
were  oppofed  by  Mr.  Davenport,  .Mr.  'Mather 
was  called  upon  to  Anfwer  him  -,  which  he  did, 
and  therein,  as  in  his  former  Anfwers,  he  gave 
fuch  Initances  of  a  clofe  Regard  unto  the  Truth, 
and  the  Ctttfe,  without  the  leaft  Expreffion  of 
DiiiefpecT:  unto  the  Perfons  anfwered,  That  as 
my  Reverend  Friend  Mr.  Higginfon  hath  faid 
fometimes  to  me,  He  wo*  a  Patern  for  all  An- 
fwer ers  to  the  end  of  the  Wor/d. 

But.  as -he  judged  that  a  Preacher  of  the  Go- 
fpel  fhouid  be,  he.  was,  a  very  hard  Student  : 
Yea,  fo  intent  was  he  upon  his  beloved  Studies, 
that  the  Morning  before  he  died,  he  importuned 
the  Friends  that  .watched  with  him,  to  help 
him  into  the: Room,  where  he  thought  his  ufual 
Works  and  .Books  expected  him  -,  to.  fatisrie  his 
Importunity,  they  begun  to  lead  him  thither  ; 
but  finding  himfelf  unable  to  get  out  of  his 
Lodging-Room,  he  'faid,  I  fee  1  am  not  able,  1 
have  not  been  in  my  Study  fever al  Days  ;  and  is 
it  not- a  lamentable  thing,  that  I  fhould  lofe  fo 
much  time  ?  He  was  truly  abundant  in  his  La- 
bours :  For  tho'  he;  was  very  frequent  in  hearing 
the  Word 'from  others,  riding  to  the  Leflures  in 
the  Neighbouring  Towns,  till  his  Difeafe  difa- 
bled  him,  and  even  to  Old  Age  writing  Notes 
at  thofe  Lectures,  as  the  Renowned  Hilderfham 
likewife  did  before  him  ;  yet  he  preached  for 
the  rnoft  part  every  Ldrd's  Day  twice ;  and  a 


Letture  once  a  Fortnight,  befides  many  Occasio- 
nal Sermons  both  in  publick  and  private  ;  and 
many  Cafes  of  Confidence,  which  were  brought, 
unto  him  to  be  difcufled.  Thus  his  Miniftry  jn 
Dorchefler,  befides  innumerable  other  Tex 
Scripture,  went  over  the  Book  .of  1  Is.  to 
Chap.  38.  the  Sixteenth  PJ. aim-,  the  whole  Book 
of  the  Prophet  Zechanah  -,  Matthew's  Gofpel  to 
Chap.  15.  the  fifth  Chapter  in  the  Firft  Epiftle 
to  the  TheJJalonians  ;  and  the  whole  Second  Epi- 
flle  of  Peter  -,  his  Notes  whereon  he  reviewed 
and  renewed,  and  fitted  for  the  Prefs  before  his 
Death. 

He  alfo  publifhed  a  Treatife  of  Juftification, 
whereof  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr.  Wiljon  gave  this 
Teftimony  :  Thou  fhalt  find  this  little  Treatife  to 
be  like  Mary'-r  Box  of  Spikenard,  which  wajhing 
the  Paths  of  Cbrift  towards  us,  (a*  that  did  his 
Feet)  will  be  fit  to  perfume  not  only  the  whole 
Houfe  of  God  wfth  the  Odour,  of  his  Grace,  but  al- 
fo thy  Soul  with  the  OylcfGladnefs,  above  what 
Creature  Comforts  can  afford.  The  manner  of 
handling  thou  fhalt  find  to  be  f olid,  judicious,  fuc- 
cinU,  and  pithy,  fit  (by  the  Blefjing  of  Chnfi)  to 
make  wife  unto  Salvation.  And  befides  thefe 
things,  he  publifhed  Catechifms,  a  leffer  and  a 
larger,  fo  well  formed,  that  a  Luther  himfelf 
WQuld  not  have  been  alhamed  of  being  a  Learn- 
■cr  from  them. 

Ncverthelefs,  after  all  thefe  Works,  he  was  as 
Nazianzen  faith  of  Atbanafius,"r^>,@-  w<V  Spjwr, 
ivjmiVQi  Si  7vs   wovhfjutm       As  k  W  If}  hifi  3  I  oughts, 

as  he  Was  high  in  his  II  'orks.  He  never  became 
twice  a  Child  through  Infirmity. ,  but  was  al- 
voays  one,  as  our  Saviour  hath  commanded  us, 
in  Humility. 

(j  15.  A  Jerom  would  weep  at  the  Death  of 
■fuch  a  Man,  as  portending  Evil  to  the  Place  of 
his  former,  ufeful,  holy  Life  :  But  fuch  an  oc- 
cafion  of  Tears,  the  Death  of  Mr.  Mather  mutt 
atlaft  give  to  his  bereaved  People.  SomsTears 
before  his  Death,  [having  fent  over  unto  his  old 
Flock  in  Lancafhire,  a  like  Teflimony  of  his 
Concernment  for  them]  he  compofed  and  pub- 
lifhed, A  Earewel Exhortation  to  the  Church  and 
People  of  Dorchefler,  conftffing  of  Seven  Dire- 
ctions, wherein  his  Flock  might  read  the  Defign 
and  Spirit  of  his  whole  Miniftry  among  them  ; 
on  a  certain  Lord's  Day,  he  did,  by  the  Hands 
of  his  Deacons,  put  thefe  little  Books  into  the 
Hands  of  his  Congregation,  that  fo  whenever  he 
fhould  by  Death  take  his  Farewel  of  them,  they 
might  ftill  remember  how  they  had  been  exhort- 
ed. But  Old  Age  came  now  upon  him,  wherein 
tho'  his  Hearing  was  decay'd,  and  (as  with 
Great  Zanchy)  the  Sight  of  one  of  his  Eyes  : 
Yet  upon  all  other  Accounts  he  enjoyed  aft 
Health  both  of  Body  and  Spirit,  which  was  very 
wonderful,  and  agreeable  as  well  to  his  Hardy 
Conflitution,  as  to  the  fuuple  and  whoUom  Diet, 
whereto  he  ftill  accuflomed  himfelf.  He  never 
made  ufe  of  any  Phyfician  all  his  Days  ;  nor 
was  he  ever  lick  of  any  Acute  Difeafe,  nor  in 
Fifty  Years  together,  by  any  Sicknefs  detained 
fo  much  as  one-  Lord's  Day  from  his  Publick 
Labours.    Only  the  two  laft  Years  of  Ms  Life, 

he 


Book  ill.      The  Hi/lory  of  I\ ew- England 


129 


he  felt  that  which  has  been  called  Plage  Hum 
Studioforum,  namely,  The  Stone  which  proved 
the  Tombftone,  whereby  all  his  Labours  and 
Sorrows  were,  in  fine,  brought  unto  a  Pe- 
riod. 

§  16.  A  Council  of  Neighbouring  Churches 
being  affembled  at  Boffon,  Apr.  13.  1669.  to 
advife  about  fome  Differences  arifen  there,  Mr. 
.'I,-.  her,  tor  his  Age,  Grace  and  Wifdom,  was 
chofen  the  Moderator  of  that  Reverend  Aflem- 
hly.  For  divers  Days,  whilff  he  was  attend- 
ing this  Confutation,  he  enjoyed  his  Health 
butter,  than  of  fome  later  Months;  but  as  Lu- 
ther was  at  a  Synod  furprized  with  a  Violent 
Fit  of  the  Stone,  which  caufed  him  to  Return 
home,  with  little  Hope  of  Life,  fo  it  was  with 
this  Holy  Man.  On  Apr.  \6.  lodging  at  the 
Houfe  of  his  Worthy  Son,  a  Minifter  in  Bojion, 
he  wis  taken  very  III  with  a  Total  Stoppage 
of  Urine,  wherein  according  to  Solomons  Ex- 
preffion  for  it,  The  Wheel  was  broken  at.  the 
Citlcrn.  So  his  Lord  found  him  about  the 
Bleffed  Work  of  a  Peacemaker-,  and  with  an 
Allufion  to  the  Note. of  the  German  Phtenjx, 
Mr.  Shepard  oi' Chads  town,  put  that  Stroke  af- 
terwards into  his  Epitaph  : 

Vixerat  in  Synod  is,  Moritur  Moderator  in  II lis. 

Returning  by  Coach,  thus  111,  unto  his  Houfe 
in  Dorcbefier,  he  lay  patiently  expecting  of  his 
Change  •,  and,  indeed  was  a  Pattern  of  Pa- 
tience, to  all  Spectators,  for  all  Survivors. 
Though  he  lay  in  a  Mortal  Extremity  of  Pain, 
he  never  fhrieked,  he  rarely  groaned,  with  it ; 
and  when  he  was  able,  he  took  Delight  in 
Reading  Dr.  Goodwin's  Difcourfe,  about  Pa- 
tience, in  which  Book  he  read  until  the  very 
Day  of  his  Death.  When  they  asked  him, 
how  he  did?  His  ufual  Anfwer  was,  Par  from 
well,  yet  far  better  than  mine  Iniquities  deferve. 
And  when  his  Son  faid  unto  him,  Sir,  God 
hath  [hewed  his  great  faithfulnejs  unto  you,  ha- 
ving upheld  you  now  for  the  Space  of  more  than 
fifty  Tears  in  his  Service,  and.  employed  you 
therein  without  ceafing,  which  can  be,  faid  of 
very  few  Men,  on  the  Pace  of  the  Earth  -,  he 
Replied,  you  fay  true  -,  I  mufi  acknowledge,  the 
Mercy  of  God  hath  been  great  towards  me,  all 
my  Days ;  but  I  mufi  alfo  acknowledge,  that  1 
have  had  many  failings,  and  the  Thoughts  of 
them  abafeth  me,  and  worketh  Patience  in  me. 
So  did  he,  like  Aujiin  having  the  Penitential 
Pfalms  before  him,  until  he  died,  keep  up  a 
Spirit  of  Repentance,  as  long  as  he  lived.  In 
deed  this  Excellent  Man  did  not  fpeak  much 
in  his  Lift  Sicknefs,  to  thofe  that  were  about 
him,  having  fpoken  fo  much  before.  Only  his 
Son  perceiving  the  Symptoms  of  Death  upon 
him,  faid,  Sir,  If  there  be  any  J fecial  thing, 
which  you  would  recommend  unto  me  to  do,  in 
cafe  the  Lord  fhould  fpare  me  on  Earth,  after 
you  are  in  Heaven,  I  would  intreatyou  to  exprefs 
it  •,  at  which,  after  a  little  Paufe,  with  lifted 
Eyes  and  Hands,  he  returned,  A  fpecul  thing] 
which  I  zoould  commend  to  you,  is,  Care  concer- 


cernmg  the  Rifing  Generation  in  this  Country, 
that  they  be  brought  under  the  Government  of 
Chrifl  in  his   Church,  when  gt'dwh  up, 

and  qualified,   they  ha,  fm,  for.  their  Chil- 

dren, i  mufi  confefs,  1  have  been  Drfcirive,  ai 
to  Practice -,    yet    I   /..  ,/  mj> 

Judgment,  andmanifefied  .   .  : 
that  which  I  think  o.ighl  la  be  alt-. ..  ■:'  the 

DiJJenting  of  fome  in  cur  Church,  dij 
me.  I  have  thought,  that  Pe'rfbns  might 
Right  to  Baptifm,  and  yet  not  to  the  Lord's 
Supper  ]  and  I  fee  no  caltfe  to  alter  my.  Judg- 
ment, of  to  that  particular.  And  \  ftill  think, 
that  Perfons  Qualified,  according  to  the  Fifth 
Yrdpofition  of  the  laic  Syr  od  Book,  have  Right 
to  Baptifm  for  their  Children.  His  Dolours 
continued  on  him,  u\V  April  22.  at  Night; 
when  he  quietly  breathed  forth  his  1  lit-,  af- 
ter he  had  'been  about  Seventy  Three  Years,  a 
Citizen  of  the  World,  and  fifty  1  'cars  a  Mini- 
fter in  the  Qwrch  of  God. 

§  17.  The  Prcfage  which  he  had  upon  his 
Mind,  of  his  own  approaching  DiiTolution,  was 
like  that  in  Ambrofc  among  the  Ancients,  and 
in  Gefner,  Melaittthon,  and  Sandford,  among 
the  Modern  Divines ;  whence  the  laft  of  the 
Texts,  whereon  he  infifted,  in  his  Public  Mi- 
niflry,  was  that  in  2  Tim.  4.  6,  7,  8.  The  Time 
of  my  Departure  is  at  hand,  —  I  have  finifhed 
my  Courje.  And  the  laft  before  that,  was  that 
in  Job  14.  14.  All  the  Days  of  my  appointed 
Time  will  I  wait,  till  my  Change  come.  And  for 
a  Private  Conference,  he  had  prepared  a  Ser- 
mon on  thofe  Words,  in  2  Cor.  5.  i.'V  for  we 
know,  that  if  our  Earthly  Houfe  of  this  Taber- 
nacle were  Diffolved,  we  have  a  Building  of  God, 
an  Houfe  not  made  with  Hands,  Eternal  in  the 
Heavens ;  but  by  his  Removal  from  this  Houfe 
to  that,  he  was  prevented  in  the  Preaching  of 
the  Sermon.  How  ready  he  was  for  the  Laft 
End  of  his  Days  thus  expecled,  is  a  little  ex- 
prelTed  in  certain  PalTages  of  his  Lafl  Will  ±  the 
whole,  of  which  if  I  lhould  here  tranferibe  it, 
after  the  Example  of  Beza,  wriring  rhe  Life  of 
Calvin,  and  Bannofws  writing  the  Life  of  Ra- 
mus, and  other  fuch  Examples,  it  would  be 
no  Ungrateful  Entertainment,  but  I  l'hall  only 
offer  that  one  Paragraph,  wherein  his  Words 
were : 

Concerning  Death,  as  I  do  believe,  it  is  ap- 
pointed for  all  Men  once  to  die-,  fo  becaufe  I 
fee  a  great  deal  of  Vnprofitablencjs  in  my  own 
Life,  and  becaufe  God  hath  alfo  let  me  fee  Cuch 
Vanity  and  Emptineff  even  in  the  befi  of  thofe 
Comforts,  which  this  Life  can  afford,  that  I 
think  I  may  truly  fay,  That  I  have  <een  an  end 
of  all  Perfection  :  Therefore  if  it  kcic  the  Witt 
of  God,  I  fhould  be  glad  to  be  removed  hence, 
where  the  Be  ft,  that  «  to  be  had,  doth  yield  fuch 
little  Satkfiition  to  my  Soul,  and  to  be  brought 
into  his  Prefence  in  Glory,  That  there  1  might 
find,  (for  there  I  know  it  is  to  be  had)  that  fa- 
tisfying  and  Allfufficient  Contentment,  in  him, 
which  under  the  Sun  is  not  to  be  enjoyed;  in  the 
R  r  r  2  mean 


130 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.      Book  III 


mean   time  J  defire  to   flay  the  Lord's  Lei  fare. 
But  thou,  0  Lord,  bow  long  ! 

Thus  Lived,  and  thus  Died  Richard  Mather ; 
able  to  make  his  Appeal  unto  an  Evil  Worlds 
at  his  leaving  of  it. 

'Nullum  Turbavi  ;  Difcordes  Pacificavi  : 
'     Lafus  fujiinui  -,  nee  mihi  Complacuu 

§  18.    The  Special  Favour  of  God,  which 
was  granted  unto  fome  of  the  Ancients,  that 
that  their  Sons  after  them  fucceeded  in  the  Mi- 
nistry of  the  Golpel  ;  and  which  was  particu- 
larly granted  unto  the  Happy  Fathers  of  Gre- 
gory Nazianzen,  Gregory  Nyffen,  Bafd  and  Hi- 
lary ;  1  'his  was  enjoyed  by  many  of  thofe  good 
Men,    that  planted  our  New  Englifh  Churches, 
but  by  none  more  comfortably,  than  by    Mr. 
Mather.     It  is  mentioned  as  the  Felicity  of  the 
BlefTtd   Vetterus  a  Bohemian  Paffor  in  the  for- 
mer Century,  that  he  gave  the  Church  no  lefs 
than  tour  So/is,  to  be  Worthy  Minifters  of  the 
Gofpel.     Such  was  the  Felicity  of  our  Mather. 
Many  Years  before  he  died,  he  had  the  Com- 
fort of  feeing  four  Sons  that  were  Preachers  of 
no  mean  Confideration  among   the  People  of 
God  -,  It  was  counted  the  Angular  Happinefs  of 
the  Greit  Roman  Metellus,  that  he  expired  in 
the  Arms  of  his  hour  Sons,  who  were  all  of 
them   Eminent  Perfons;    As  happy  was   our 
Mather  ;  and  in   a   Christian   Account,  much 
hore  happy.     And  fince  his   Death,  our  com- 
mon Lord,  ha*  been  ferved  bv  Mr.  Samuel  Ma- 
ther Pa  (to  //"«,  Mr.  Natha- 
nacl  Mat                                  n  of  the  fame 
Church,                                    f  Barnfiable,  and 
then  of                                    hat  of  a  Church 
in  Lo/k  n  ;   M..  ^/c_            'her,  Paftor  of  a 
Church  at  our  Northampton ;  and  Mr.  Increafc 
Mather,  Teacher  of  a  Church  in   Boflon,  and 
Prcfident  of  Harvard  Colledge.     Now  becaufe 
this  Mighty  Man,  and  the  youngeft  but  one  of 
thefe  Arrows  in  hh  Hand,  were  not  only  Love- 
ly and  Uf'eful  in  their  Lives,  but  alfo,  in  their 
Deaths   not  divided  (lor  he  died  about  Three 
Months  after  his  Father,)  it  will  be  Pity  to  Di- 
vide them,  in  the  HiStory  of  their  Lives :  And 
therefore  of  this  Mr.  Wleazar  Mather,  we  will 
here  fubjoin  fome  fmall  Account. 

§  1  p.  "Mr.  Eleazar  Mather  (Born  May  13. 
1657.)  having  paffed  through  his  Education  in 
Harvard-Colledge,  and  having  by  the  Living 
and  Lively  Proofs  of  a  Renewed  Heart,  as  well 
as  a  well  inftrucled  Head,  recommended  him- 
felf  unto  the  Service  of  the  Churches, 
the  Church  of  Northampton  became  the 
happy  Owner  of  his  Talents.  Here  be  la- 
boured for  Eleven  Years  in  the  Vineyard  of  our 
Lord ;  and  then  the  Twelve,  Hours  of  his 
Days  Labour  did  expire,  not  without  the  deep- 
elf  Lamentations  of  all  the  Churches,  as  well 
ziftk  own  -,  then  fitting  along  the  River  of  Con- 
nrclicut.  As  he  was  a  very  zealous  Preacher, 
and  accordingly  faw  many  Seals  of  his  Mini- 
stry,' fo  he  was  a  very  pious  Walker  -,  and  as 


he  drew  towards  the  End  of  his  Days,  he  grew 
fo  remarkably  Ripe  for  Heaven,  in  an  Holy, 
Watchful,  Fruitful  Difpofition,  that  many  ob- 
feri'ing  Perfons  did  prognosticate  his  being  not 
far  from  his  End.  He  kept  a  Diary  of  his  Ex- 
periences ;  whereTn  the  lap:  Words  that  ever  he 
wrote  were  Thefe. 


July   10.    j<5£c. 

'  This  Evening,  if  my  Heart  deceive  me  not, 
I  had  fome  fweet  Workings  of  Soul  after 
God  in  Chrilt,  according  to  the  Terms  of  the 
Covenant  of  Grace.  The  General  and  Inde- 
finite Expreflion  of  the  Promife,  was  an  En- 
couragement unto  me  to  look  unto  Chrifr, 
that  he  would  do  that  for  me,  which  he  has 
promifed  to  do  for  fome,  nor  dare  I  exclude 
my  felf -,  but  if  the  Lord  will  help  me,  I  de- 
fire  to  lie  at  his  Feet,  and  accept  of  Grace, 
in  his  own  way,  and  with  his  own  Time^ 
through  his  Power  enabling  of  me.  Though 
I  am  Dead,  without  Strength,  Help  or  Hope 
in  my  felf,  yet  the  Lord  requireth  nothing  at 
my  Hands  in  my  own  Strength  -,  but  that  bv 
bis  Power,  I  fhould  look  to  him.  To  work  all 
his  Works  in  me  and  for  me.  When  I  find  a 
dead  Heart,  the  Thoughts  of  this  are  exceed- 
ing fweet  and  reviving,  being  full  of  Grace, 
and  difcovering  the  very  Heart  and  Love  of 
Jejus. 

He   Died  July  24. 1669.  Aged  Years,  about 
Thirty  Two. 

Sic  Rofi,fic  Violx,  prima  Moriunturin  Herb  a, 
Candida,  nee  Toto,  Lilia,  Me/ife  nitent. 

§  20.  The  Dying  Words  of  his  father  unto 
his  Brother,  about  the  Rifng  Generation,  cau- 
fed  him,  in  the  few  Sabbaths  now  left,  before 
his  own  Death,  to  preach  feveral  Sermons  upon 
the  Methods  that  fhould  be  taken  for  the  con- 
veying and  fecuring  of  Religion,  with  the  good 
Pre  fence  of  God  unto  that  Generation,  [on 
1  Kings  8.  57.]  The  Notes  which  he  left  writ- 
ten of  thofe  pungent  Sermons,  were  afterwards 
Printed,  and  Reprinted,  with  a  Preface  of  his 
Brothers  :  And  when  unto  the  other  Signs  of 
Churches  left  by  God,  therein  mentioned  ^ 
namely,  the  People's  being  abandoned  unto  a 
fleighty  Spirit -,  an  ill  life  made  of  Temporal 
Profperity ,  A  Spirit  of  Divifwn  and  Contention, 
turning  Religion  it  felf  into  faffion ;  The  Effica- 
cious and  Victorious  Operations  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  withdrawn  from  O/dinances  -,  he  added, 
the  Death  of  fuch  Men,  as  are  chief  means  of 
continuing  the  Prefence  of  God  unto  a  People  -, 
he  therein  gave  unto  us  too  true  an  Interpreta- 
tion, of  the  fad  Providence,  which  was  juft 
going  by  Death  to  remove  him.  from  this  Peo- 
ple unto  a  better  World. 


Epifaphinrri 


Book  III.       Tfe  jS//?^  o/"  New-England. 


131 


Epitaphium. 


PvlCHARDQS   hie  dormit  MATHEPvlIS. 

L<elatus  Gcnuiffe  Pares. 
Incerium  eft,  UtruiH  Dutlior,  an  Melior. 

An'wia  &  Gloria,  non  quaint  kumari. 


But  that  nothing  may  be  wanting  to  his  Epi- 
taph, I  will  tranferibe  the  Epitaph  which  the 
Reverend  Old  Mr.  John  Bifhop,  the  Paftor  of 
St a>r ford,  provided  for  him. 


In  Phim,  DoElnm,  &  Pr£clartim, 
Dorcejirenfem  Matherum. 

Sincerus  Terr  is,  nofter  jacet  ecce  Matheras  •, 

Religionis  Honos,  qui  tulit  ejus  onus. 
Quicquid  crat  Synodis,  Sacris  de  rebus  agendum., 

We  (Dei  adjutu)  fxpius  Attor  erat. 
Magnus  hie  in  magnis,  non  parvam  rebus  iifiem 

Temporibus  Variis  contribuebat  opem  : 
Con  fills  Solidis,  Doflrina,  Dexterittite, 

Judicw  Claro,  cumq-,  labore  gravi. 
Nam  Doff  us,  Prudens,  Pius,  hnpiger,  atq;  pen t  us, 

In  Sacris,  nee  non  prompt  us  ad  omne  Bonum. 
Omnia  per  Chriftum  potuit,  credenfq;  precanfq;? 

Tantafuit  Fides,  Vis  quoq-,  tanta  pre  cum. 
Mine  nnhi  Sublato  Charo  Vi  Mortis  Amico, 

tisc  Amor  atq-,  Dolor,  compofuere  me  us. 

J.  Epifcopius. 


CHAP.     XXI. 
The  LIFE  of  Mr.  Z  ACHARI AH  STMMES. 


§ 


1. 


"T^HE  Emperour  Probus  having  an 
JL     nour  for 


^  Ho- 

the  Memory  of  his  Friend 
Aradion,  honouted  him  with  a  Tomb  Two 
Hundred  Foot  broad.  But  our  Value  for  the 
Memory  of  the  Divines  that  formerly  ferved 
our  Churches,  mult  not  be  meafured  by  the 
Breadth  of  our  Hiftory  concerning  them.  We 
cannot  give  much  Breadth  to  the  Room,  which 
we  dedicate  in  this  our  Hiftory,  unto  the  Me- 
mory of  our  Symmes,  becaule  we  have  not  re- 
ceived vety  large  Informations  concerning  him. 
Neverthelefs,  according  to  the  trench  Proverb, 
Un  Minijlre  ne  doit  Scavoir  que  fa  Bible,  A 
Minifter  fhould  know  nothing  but  his  Bible  -,  here 
was  one  worthy  the  Name  of  a  Minifter-,  for 
he  knew  his  Bible  well,  and  he  was  a  Preacher 
of  what  he  knew,  and  a  Sufferer  for  what  he 
freac&d. 

^  2.  Reader,  We  (hall  not  confound  our 
felves  with  tables  and  Endlefs  Genealogies,  but 
we  (hall  truly  edify  our  felves.  if  we  enquire 
fo  far  into  the  Genealogy  of  Mr.  Zechariah 
Symmes,  as  to  recite  a  Paffage  written  by  Mr. 
Willi  am  Symms,  the  Father  of  our  Zechariah, 
in  a  Book  which  was  made  by  a  Godly  Prea 
cher,  that  was  hid  in  the  Houfeof  Mr.  William 
Symms,  the  Father  of  William,  from  the  Rage  of 
the  Motion  Perlecution.  '  I  note  it  as  a  fpecial 
'  Mercy  of  God,  ( writes  he,  in  a  Leaf  of  that 

*  B  ok)  that  both  my  Father  and  Mother  were 

*  Favourers  of  the  Gofpel,  and  hated  Idolatry, 

*  under  Queen   Mary's  Ptrfecution.     I  erne  to 

*  this  Book  by  this  means:  Going  to  Sandwich 


where  Mr.  Paw/on,  an  Ancient  Godly  Preacher? 

was  Minifter,  who  knew  my  Parents  well  and 

me  too,  at  School  ;  he,  after  I  had  finifhed  my. 

Sermons,  came  and  brought  me  this  Book 
:  for  a  Prefent,  acquainting  me  with  the  above- 
•  mentioned  Circumftances.  And  then  he  adds, 
:  I  charge  my  Sons  Zechariah  and  William,  be- 
:  fore  him,  that  fhall  judge  the  Quick  and  the 
c  Dead,  that  you  never  defile  your  felves  with 
c  any  Idolatry  or  Superftition  whatfoever,  but 
c  learn  yom  Religion  out  of  God's  Holy  Word, 
'  and  worjhip  Godas  he  himfelf  hath  prefcribed, 
•'  and  not  after  the  Devices  and  Traditions  of 
6  Men.     Scrip fi.  Dec.  6.  1602. 

§  3.  Deicended  from  fuch  Anceftors,  ourZ<?- 
chariah,  was  Bom  April  5.  1 599.  at  Canterbury, 
and  the  Savoury  Exprefhons  in  the  Letters  yet 
extant,  which  he  wrote  while  he  was  a  Youth 
in  the  Univerfity  of  Cambridge,  intimate,  that 
he  was  New  Born,  while  yet  a  Child. 

After  his  leaving  the  Univerfity,  he  was  em- 
ployed for  a  while  in  the  Houles  of  feveral 
Perfons  of  Quality,  as  a  Tutor  to  their  Chil- 
dren, but  not  without  Moleftation  from  the 
Prelates  for  his  ConJ'cientious  Non  Conformity 
to  certain  Rites  in  the  Worfhip  of  God,  then 
impofed  on  the  Confciences  of  the  Faithful 
When  he  had  palled  through  thefe  Changes, 
he  was  chofen  in  the  Year  1621.  to  be  a  Lectu- 
rer at  Aiholines,  in  the  City  of  London:^  And 
after  many  Troubles  from  the  Bifhops  Courts, 
for  his  Dijfent  from  things,  whereto   his  Con- 

required  by    the  Great 


Went   had  never  been 
Kent,    to     preach   the  Firft    or   Stcond\  Shepherd  and  B(fhop  of  our  Souls,  he  removed 
Year,  after  I  was  ordained   Minilfer,  Anno  from  thence  in   the  Year  1625.  to  Dunftable,. 
1 5S7.  or  b 8.  and  Preaching   in  Saint  Mary's,  \  where   his   Troubles    from  the  Bijhop s  Courts 

continuing' 


132 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.       Book  ill. 


continuing,  he  at  length  transported  himfelf, 
with  his  Family  into  an  American  Wildernefs. 
New  England,  and  Charles  Town  in  New-Eng 
land,  enjoy'd  him  all  the  reft  of  his  Days,  even 
until  Feb.  4.  1670  5  when  he  retired  into  a  bet- 
ter World. 

§  4.  His  Epitaph  at  Charles-Town,  where  he 
was  Honourably  Interr'd,  mentions  his  having 
lived  Forty  nine  Years  and  Seven  Months  with 
his  Vertuous  Confort ,  by  whom  he  had  Thir- 
teen Children,  Five  Sons,'  and  Eight  Daughters, 
and  annexes  this  Diftich. 

A  Prophet  lies  under  this  Stone  :  [ 

His  Words  Jhall  live,  tho"  he  be  gone. 


But  as  that  eminent  Perfon  order 'd  this  Cla  ufe 

for  his  own  Epitaph,  initead  of  other  Glories 
and  Memoirs*  which  ufe  to  adorn  a  Monument, 
Here  lies  the  Friend  of  Sir  Philip  Sidney.  Thus 
the  Epitaph  of  this  eminent  Perfon,  might  have 
mentioned  one  thing  more,  which  might  have 
gone  in  the  room  of  many  other  Testimonies, 
to  the  Ability,  and  Integrity,  and  Zeal,  that 
fignalized  him  -,  Here  lies  the  Friend  of  Mr.  Je- 
remiah Burroughs.  For  we  have  (fill  to  fhew 
the  Letters,  which  that  great  Man  lent  unto  our 
Symmcs,  alter  his  coming  to  New-England ;  Let- 
ters wherein  he  compares  the  Love  between 
them,  unto  that  between  David  and  Jonathan  -, 
as  having  been  a  fort  of  Sworn  Brothers  to  each 
other,  ever  fince  their  living  together  at  the  17- 
mverfity. 


CHAP.    .XXII. 
The  LIFE  of  Mr.  JOHN    A  L  L  I  K 


Seauitur  quern  Vita  perennis  5 


Vivus  enim  Semper,  qui  bene  vixit,   cr.  t 


§  r.    T-r  T  H  Y  is  the  dead  Relation  of  Father 
VV     Abraham  called,  Hk  Dead,  no  lefs 
than  eight  feveral  rimes,  in  one  fhort  Chapter  ? 
It  feems,  tho'  Death  has  dillolved  our  old  Rela 
tion  to  our  dead  Friends,  yet  it  has  not  releafed 
us  from  all  our  Duty  to  them  ;  they  are  ftill  fo  j 
far  ours,  that  we  owefomething  unto  their  Me  I 
mory.     Reader,  We  are  enterraining  our  felves  j 
with  Our  Dead  ;  but  if  we  do  nothing  to  keep. 
alive  their  Memory  with  us,  we  may  blufh  to 
call  them  ours. 

Among  thefe,  one  is  Mr.  John  Alii n.  But  it 
there  were  fuch  an  Officer  in  ufe  among  us,  as 
once  was  among  the  Greeks,  to  meafure  rhe  Mo- 
numents  of  dead  Perfons,  according  to  their 
Vertues,  he  would  greatly  complain  of  it,  that 
I  have  been  able  to  recover  no  more  Memoirs  ot 
a  Perfon,  whofe  Vermes  and  Merits  were  far 
from  the  fmalleft  fize,  among  thofe  who  did 
■worthily  in  Ifrael. 

§  2.  He  was  born  in  the  Year  1596. 

Having  palfed  his  Curfus,  in  the  Tongues  and 
Arts,  until  he  was,  as  Theodorit  fays  of  Inno- 
cent. 'Kyytvoia.  £  avyifet  Koaf/.i^avQ-,  Ingenit  iff  p'U- 
dentin  ornamentis  egrcgie  Inflrutfus  :  He  became 
a  faithful  Preacher  of  Chri/i,  choofing  rather  to 
dig  in  that  Rock  of  Zion,  than  in  a  Rock  of 
Diamonds. 

It  is  an  ancient  Obfervation,  that  there  were 
ihrecThings  done  by  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  on 
and  for  the  Prophets,  which  were  employ 5d  in 
Publick  Service  for  him  :  One  was  to  give  them 
Courage  againft  the  Rage  of  Adverfaries.  Ano- 
ther was,  to  give  them  Wifdom,  for  to  regulare 
their  Conduct  A  third  was,  to  give  them  Fir- 
tue  and  Holinefs,  that  their  own  Confciences 


might  not  fting  them,  when  they  Were  to  be- 
llow Aculeate  Rebukes  upon  the  Vices  oi'  other 
Men. 

This  Obfervation,  which  is  as  ufefulz%  anci- 
ent, wis  made  by  them  that  countered  thofe 
Words  of  the  Prophet  Mkab  :  I  am  full  of 
(1.)  Power,  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord.  Aid  of 
(2.)  Judgment.  And  of,  (3.)  Venue.  With 
all  of  thele  Excellencies,  did  the  Holy  Spirit  of 
God',  in  a  gracious  Meafure  adorn  our  Aliin. 
But  when  the  Evil  Spirit  raited  a  Storm  of  Per- 
fection upon  the  Puritans,  in  the  Englijh  Na- 
tion, thefe  Excellencies  could  not  (helter  this 
worthy  Man,  from  the  Injuries  of  it  ;  but  ra- 
ther expole  him  thereunto.  Leaving  of  Eng- 
land ,  whereof  he  might  have  taken  that  Fare- 
wel  j 

Kon  careo  Patrid,  me  caret  ilia  magis. 

He  chofe  an  American  Wildernefs,  for  his  Coun- 
try :  And  cheerfully  conformed  his  Genteel  Spi- 
rit, unto  the  Difficulties  of  fuch  a  Wildernefs  : 
Being  only  of  Aujl/n sMivd,  about  the  banifh'd 
Chriltians,  Miferrimum  effet,  ft  alicubi  duel  po* 
terant,  ubi  Deumfuum  non  invenijjent. 

§3.  He  was  a  J'ufficient  Scholar,  and  (which 
is  the  way  to  become  fo)  a  diligent  Student  h 
but  yet  his  Experimental  Acquaintance  with 
Christianity,  taught  him  to  be  ot  the  Mind, 
which  the  Learned  Suarez  expreffed,  when  he 
did  ufe  to  fay,  That  he  efteemed  more  that  little. 
Pittance  of  Time,  which  he  conftant/y  Jet  apart 
every  Day,  for  the  private  Examination  of  his 
own  Heart,  than  all  the  other  part  of  the  Day, 
which  he  f pent  in  Volmimm  Controvcrftes.    Fiis 

Accomr 


' 


book  Hi.      fhe  Hijiory  of-  New-Jbngland, 


133 


Accomplishments  were  confideraole  •,  and  being 
a  very  bumble  Man,  he  found,  that  fimSified 
Knowledge  grows  moft  luxuriant  in  the  fat  Val- 
leys of 'Humility  :  Being  a  very  patient  Man,  he 
found  that  th  :  Dew  of  Heaven,  which  falls  not 
in  a  rtormy  or  cloudy  Night,  was  always  falling 
on  a  Soul  ever  ierene,  with  the  meekeft  Pati- 
ence. He  was  none  of  thofe  low-built  thatch'd 
Cottages,  that  are  apt  to  catch  Ere  ;  But  like 
an  high  built  Caftle,  or  Palace,  free  from  the 
Combuft ions  of  Palfion.  He  was  indeed  one  of 
fo  fweet  a  Temper,  that  his  Friends  Anagram. 
matifed,  JOHN  ALLIN,  into  this : 

IN    H  0  N  I    ALL. 

§  4.  His  Polemical  Abilities,  were  difcovered, 
in  a  Treatife  called,  A  Defence  of  the  Nine  Po- 
rtions :  Wherein  (being  of  Calvin's  Mind,  Ink 
is  too  dear  and  coftlyivith  us,  if  we  doubt  to  fpend 
Ink  in  Writing,  to  teftifie  thofe  things,  which 
Martyrs  of  old  fealei  with  their  Blood:  )  He, 
with  Mr.  Shepherd  of  Cambridge,  handle  the 
Points  of  Church-Reformation  -,  at  what  rate,  not 
my  Pen,  but  our  tamous  old  Mr.  Cotton's,  in  his 
Preface  to  a  Book  of  Mi.  Norton's,  may  defcribe 
unto  us. 

Shepardus,  una  cum  Aliinio  Fratre,  (Fratrum 
dulce  par)  utt  eximia  pie t ate  florent  a>nbo,  & 
Eruditione  non  medioeri,  atque  etiam  MyfteriA- 
rum  Pie  tat  is  pradicatione.^per  Chrifti  Gratiam) 
efficaci  admodum,  itd  egregtam  novariint  Operam 
in  abflrufi funis  Difciplinx  nodisjdiciter  enodan- 
dis.  Verba  horum  Fratrum,  uti  fuaviter  fpirant 
Pietatem,  Veritatem,  Charitatem  Chrifti ;  itafpe- 
ramus  fore  {per  Chrifti  Gratiam)  ut  multi,  qui 
a  Difciplina  Chrifti  alieniores  erant,  odore  horum 
unguent  or um  Chrifti  effuferum  delebati  atque  de- 
lintti,  ad  amor  em  ejus  if  pelleSi  iff  pertraUi, 
earn  avidius  arripiunt  atque  amplexentur.      • 

Moreover,  another  Judicious  Difcourfe  of  his, 
in  Defence  of  the  Synod  held  at  Bofton,  In  the 
Year  1662,  has  declared  his  Principles  about 
Church-D'tfcipline,  as  well  as  his  Abilities  to 
maintain  his  Principles.  The  Perfon  againft 
whom  he  wrote  this   Defence,  was  that  very 


Perfon,  whofe  Life  fhall  be  the  very  next  in 
our  Hiifory :  For, 

Hi  Mot  us  Animorum,  atque  hxc   certamir.d 

tanta, 
Pulvens  exigui  Jact.i  comprefa  quiefcunn 

§  5.  When  the  holy  Church  of  Dedham  was 
gathered,  in  the  Year  1638,  he  became  their  Pa- 
llor :  And  in  the  Paftoral  Care  of  that  Church 
he  continued,  until  Aug.  16.  1671  ■,  when  after 
ten  Days  of  eafie  Sicknefs,  he  died,  as  Myconi- 
us  well  exprelTes  it,  Vitaliter  mori  •,  in  the  Se- 
venty fifth  Year  of  his  Age. 

Now,  according  to  that  of  Jerom,  Lacrymz 
Auditorum  Tux  fact  Laudes  ■,    behold,  Reader, 
the  Praifes  of  this  excellent  Man     His  Flock 
publifhed  the  two  laft  Sermons  that  ever  he 
preached  ;  one  whereof  was  on  Cant.  8.  5.  Who 
is  this  that  comes  up  from  the  Wilder nefs,  leaning 
on  her  Beloved?    The  other  on  John   14.   22. 
Peace  I  leave  with  you.     But  they  write  their 
Preface  with  Tears  ;  and  with  fearful  Praifes 
they  celebrate  him,  as  one  altogether  above  their 
Praifes  ;  and  a  conftant,  faithful,  diligent  Stew- 
ard in  the  Houfe  of  God ;  a  Man  of  Peace  and 
Truth,  and  a  burning  and  a  fhining  Light.     Ad- 
ding, The  Crown  is  fallen  from  our  Heads  :  Oh ! 
that  it  were  with  us  ax  in  times  paft  !    Which 
Defire  of  theirs,  has  been  happily  anfwered,  in 
two  moff  worthy  Succeffors. 

The  Character  once  given  toPhilippus  Ga/lus, 
may  very  juffly  be  now  made  the  Epitaph  of  our 
John  Allin. 


Epitafhium. 
Johannes  Allinius. 

Vir  Sincertts,  Amans  pacts,  patienfque  La.- 

borum, 
Perfpicum,  Simp  lex ,  Do3rin£  pur  us  Amator, 


- 


Cadmtts  Americanus.    The  L 


I 
CHAP.    XXIII. 

I  F  E  of 


Mr.  CHARLES  CHANCER 


Suadet  Lingua,  Jubet  Vita. 


n  Times, 
as 


§  1.  'T^Heie  was  a  famous  Perfon, 

JL  by  Chronological  Computation, 
ancient  as  the  Days  of  Jofhua,  known  by  the 
Name  of  Cadmus  -,  who  carried  not  only  People, 
but  Letters  alfo,  from  Phxnitia  into  Boeetia. 
The  Grecian  Fable  of  a  Serpent,  in  the  Story  of 
Cadmus,  was  only  derived  from  the  Name  of  an 


Hivite,  which  by  his  Nation  belonged  unto 
him  ;  for  an  Hivite  fignifies  a  Serpent,  in  the 
Language  of  Syria.  This  Renowned  Cadmus, 
was  indeed  a  Gibeonite,  who  having  been  well 
treated  by  Jojhita,  and  by  Jofhua  not  only  con- 
tinued in  the  Comforts  of  Life,  but  alfo  inft  ru- 
£ted  and  employed  in  the  Service  of  the  true 

GoL 


*34 


The  Hi/lory  of  New- England.      Book  11/. 


God,  he  retained  ever  after  moft  honourable 
Sentiments  of  that  Great  Commander.  Yea, 
when  after  Ages,  in  their  Songs,  praifed  Apollo 
for  his  Victory  over  the  Dragon  Pytho,  they 
uttered  but  the  Difguifed  Songs  of  Canaan, 
wherein  this  Cadmus  had  celebrated  the  Praifes 
of  jofhua,  for  his  Vi&ory  over  Og  the  King  ot 
Bajhan.  Cadmus  having  been  (as  one  of  the 
Greek  Poets  writes  of  him)  Educated  in  He 
bron  or  Debit;  the  Univerfities  of  Paleftine, 
was  fitted  thereby  to  be  a  Leader  in  a  Great 
Undertaking -,  and  when  the  Oppreffton  of  Cu- 
fhanrifhathatm,  caufed  a  Number  of  People  to 
feek  out  New  Seats,  there  were  many  who  un- 
der the  Conduft  of  Cadmus,  tranfported  them 
ielyes  into  Greece,  where  the  Notions  and  Cu- 
stoms of  an  Ijraeluifh  Original,  were  therefore 
a  long  while  preferved,  until  they  were  con 
founded  with  Pagan  Degeneracies.  There  is 
Reafon  to  think,  that  a  Colony  of  Hebrews 
them  (elves  did  now  /warm  out  into  Pehponne 
fus,  where  the  Book  of  Maccabees  will  help  us 
to  find  Lacedemonians  for  Cadmonians,  that  is, 
the  Followers  of  Cadmus,  in  their  True  Etymo- 
logy,) of  the  Stock  of  Moraham ;  and  we  know 
that  Strabo  tells  us,  That  Cadmus  had  Arabians 
(and  the  Ijraelites,  were  by  fuch  Heathen  Wri 
ters  accounted  fo)  in  his  Company.  Accor- 
dingly, when  we  read,  that  a  College  among 
the  Old  Grecians  was  called  Acidemia,  we  may 
foon  inform  our  felves,  that  it  was  at  firft  cal- 
led Cadmia  or  Cadmea,  in  Commemoration  of 
Cadmus,  the  Phrnician ;  to  whom  thofe  Parts 
of  the  World  were  firft  beholden,  for  fuch  Nur- 
ieries  of  good  Literature  and  Religion. 

Thefe  Refearches  into  Antiquity,  had  not, 
in  this  place  been  laid  before  my  Reader,  if 
they  might  not  have  ferved  as  an  Introduction 
unto  this  piece  of  N'ewEnglifh  Hiftory  ;  that 
when  fome  Ecclejiaftical  Oppreffions  drove  a  Co- 
lony of  the  Trueft  Ifraelites  into  the  Remoter 
Parts  of:  the  World,  there  was  an  Academy 
quickly  founded  in  that  Colony  :  And  our 
Chancey  was  the  Cadmus  of  that  Academy  ;  by 
whofe  vaft  Labour  and  Learning,  the  Know- 
ledge of  the  Lord  Jefus  Cbriji,  ferved  by  all 
the  Human  Sciences,  hath  been  conveyed  unto 
Pofterity. 

It  is  now  fit,  That  a  few  Memoirs  of  that 
Reverend  Man  (hoiild  fill  our  Pages. 

^  2.  Mr.  Charles  Chancey  was  an  Hart  for  d- 
flnre  Man  ;  born  in  the  Year  158?.  of  Parents 
that  were  both  Honourable  and  Religious.  Be- 
ing Cent  from  thence  to  Wefiminjier-School,  his 
Hopeful  Proficiency  in  Good  Literature,  with- 
in a  fhort  while,  ripened  him  for  the  Univer- 
fity.  And  it  was  one  thing  which  caufed  him 
to  have  the  more  feeling  Refentments  of  the 
Famous  Powder-Plot,  the  Report  whereof  will 
make  a  Nqife  as  long  as  the  Fifth  of  November 
is  in  our  Kalendar ;  that  at  the  time  when  that 
Plot  ffaould  have  taken  its  horrid  Effecf,  he 
was  at  that  School,  which  muft  alfo  have  been 
blown  up,  if  the  Parliament -Ho  ufe  had  perill- 
ed. The  Univerfity  of  Cambridge,  was  that 
which  afterward  kiflrutted  and  Nourijhed  this 


Eminent  Perfon,  and  fitted  him  for  the  Service 
wherein  he  had  Opportunity  afterwards  to  de 
monftrate  that  he  was  indeed  fuch  a  Perfon.  The 
particular  College  whereof  he  was  here  a  Mem- 
ber,  was  Trinity  College  ■,  by  the  lame  Token, 
that  in  the  Lachrymx  Cantabrigicnfes,  publi^ed 
by  the  Cantabrigians,  on  the  Death  of  Queen 
Ann,  I  find  him  in  that  Style  compofing  and 
fubfcribing  one  of  the  moft  Witty  Latin  Poems 
in  that  whole  Collection.  Here  he  proceeded 
Batchelour  of  Divinity .-  And  having  an  Intimate 
Acquaintance  with  that  Great  Man  Dr.  Ufher 
whom  ail  Men  have  confeffed  Worthy  of  the' 
Character,  wherewith  Vbetius  mentions  him 
Vafi£  Leilionk  &  Eruditions  Theologies,  inq- 
Antiquitate  Ecclefiaftica  Verjatijpmus ,  he  had' 
hereby  an  Opportunity  farther  to  advantage 
himfelf  with  the  Ancient  Monuments  in  King 
James's  Library. 

§  3.  By  the  Head  of  the  Houfes  he  was  chd- 
fen  Hebrew- Profefjor-,  but  the  ViceChancellour 
Dr.  Williams,  preferring  a  Kinfman  of  his  own 
to  that  Place,  at  the  fame  rime  he  put  our 
Mr.  Chancey  into  the  Place  of  Greek  Profefjor  • 
And  as  one  well  known  to  be  an  Accurate  Gre*- 
cian,  'twas  he  that  afterwards  was  rhe  C.  C. 
the  Vir  DciliJJimus  &  Piijjimus,  whofe  Uikunt 
you  have  at  the  Beginning  of  Leigh's  Crhica 
Sacra  upon  the  NetaTef] anient.  He  was  indeed 
a  Perfon  incomparably  well  skill'd  in  all  the 
Learned  Languages  -,  efpecially  in  the  Oriental; 
and  eminently  in  the  Hebrew  :  In  his  obtaining' 
whereof,  his  Convention  with  a  Jew  for  the 
fpace  of  a  Year,  was  no  little  Advantage  to 
him.  I  know  that  the  Hebrew  Tongue,  as  an 
Exception  to  the  General  Rule,  D<fficilia  quje 
Pulchra,  is  more  eafily  Attained,  than  any  that 
I  have  yet  oblerved ;  and  hence  we  fee  even  our 
Englifh  Women,  fometimes  in  a  little  icbilc,  and 
with  a  little  pains,  grown  as  expert  at  it  as 
the  Ladies  Paufa  or  Blafilla,  by  Jerom  therefore 
celebrated  ;  and  I  have  wifhed  that  many  in 
the  World,  were  more  moved  by  thofe  Words 
of  a  Worthy  Author,  Aufim  fpo rider e,  illos  qui 
Studiis  Hebraic  is,  tantum  Temper  is  Impende- 
rent,  quantum  Tubulo  Nicotian  a  imbibe ndot 
(quo  nunc  pars  bona  Studio/or urn  pro  Hydragogo 
uti  confuevit)  turn  Mane,  turn  Vefperr,  impen* 
difolet,  progreffus  in  hujujee  Lingua  Cognitione, 
hand  Vulgares,  brevi  ejfe  falluros,  adeo  ut  mi- 
rent  ur,  fe  effe  turn  doffos,  antequam  Didiccrint. 
Neverthelefs,  this  Tongue  is  as  eafily  forgotten. 
But  being  once  attained^  and  therewithal  pre- 
ferved and  improved,  good  Men  will  find  as 
our  Mr.  Chancey  did,  that*  the  Conjunct  Profit 
and  Pleafure  of  it  were  inexprefiible  ;  and  that 
the  Talents  wherewith  it  would  furnifh  them 
to  do  fo  many  Services  for  the  Church  of  God, 
were  fuch  as  to  make  them  join  with  Luther y 
in  his  Proteftation,  That  he  would  not  part  with 
his  Knowledge  of  the  Hebrew^  for  many  Tbcit- 
fands  of  Pounds;  or  to  approve  the  (ufual) 
modeft  Words  of  Melantlhon.  Scio  me  vix  pri- 
mis  Labris  degufiaffe  Hebraicus  laterat ;  fed 
tamen,  hoc  Ipfum,  quod  didici  quant  uhtmcunq, 
eft,    propter  Judicium   de  Religione,    Omnibus 

Mundi 


Book  Hi.       ^be  Hi/lory  of  New -England. 


135 


Mundi  Regnis,  omniumq-,  opibus  Longe  Ante- 
pono. 

(j  4.  When  he  left  the  Univerfity,  he  became 
a  Diligent  and  Eminent  Preacher  of  the  Gofpel 
at  Marfton ;  but  after  fome  time,  he  removed 
himfelf  to  Ware,  where  the  Hand  of  the  Lord 
was  with  him,  and  many  believed,  and  turned 
unto  the  Lord.  Here  'twas  that  the  Succeffes 
of  his  Faithful  Miniftry,  in  the  Inftruclion  ol 
the  Ignorant,  and  the  Converfion  of  the  Un- 
godly, became  a  Matter  of  much  Obferva 
tion. 

But  when  Satan  wanted  a  Shibboleth  for  the 
Difcovering  and  Extinguifhing  fuch  an  Holy 
Miniftry,  throughout  the  Nation,  the  Mifera- 
ble  Arch  Bifhop  Laud,  ferved  him  with  a  Li- 
cence for  Sports  on  the  Lord's  Day  ;  whereby 
the  People  were  after  an  horrid  manner  invited 
unto  the  Profanation  of  that  Sacred  Reft ;  and 
indeed  of  every  thing  Sacred  with  it.  Then 
'twas  that  our  Mr.  Chancey  hearing  the  Drums 
beat  for  Dances  and  Fr  clicks  on  the  Lord's  Day, 
was,  like  other  Good  Men,  afraid  that  God 
would  break  the  Reft  of  the  Kingdom,  and 
caufe  Drums  to  be  beaten  up  for  Manhes  and 
Battels  on  that  very  Day.  But  when  he  was 
inhibited  from  attending  of  other  Exercifes,  on 
the  Afternoons  of  the  Lord's  Day,  he  fet  him- 
felf to  Catechife  as  many  as  he  could,  both  old 
and  young ;  which,  as  the  Bifhop  in  Sheeps  Cha- 
rting faid,  was  As  bad  as  Preaching.  And  by 
fuch  Methods,  he  ftill  continued  ferving  the 
Interefts  of  the  Gofpel. 

§  5.  But  about  this  Time  there  arofe  a  Storm 
of  mod  Unreafonable,  but  Irrefiftible  Perfec- 
tion, upon  thofe  Miniffers,  who  were  Well- 
wifhers  to  the  Progrefs  of  the  Proteftant  Refer 
ruation  in  the  Kingdom  -,  and  Mr.  Chancey  was 
one  of  thofe  who  fuffered  in  it.  In  Mr.  Rufh- 
worth's  Collections  for  the  Year  1629.  I  find 
this  PalTage. 

'  Mr.  Charles  Chancey,  Minifler  of  Ware, 
'  ufmg  fome  ExprefTions  in  his  Sermon,  That 
4  Idolatry  wot  admitted  into  the  Church ;  That 
1  the  Preaching  of  the  Gofpel  would  be  fup 
'  prefjed  -,  that  there  is  much  Aiheifm,  Popery, 
1  Armimanifm  and  Herejy  ,  crept  into  the 
'  Q)urch  :  And  this  being  look'd  upon  to  raife 
.  '  a  Fear  among  the  People,  that  fome  Altera- 
4  tion  of  Religion  would  enfue ;  he  was  que- 
4  ftioned  in  the  High  CommiJJion ;  and  by  Or- 
4  der  of  that  Court,  the  Caufe  was  referred  to 
'  the  Bifhop  of  London,  being  his  Ordinary  •, 
4  who  ordered  him  to  make  a  SubmiJJion  in 
4  Latin. 


^  This  Worthy  Man,  being  by  the  Terrors  and 
Cenfures  of  that  Infamous  Court,  fuddenly  fur- 
prifed  unto  a  fort  of  Subtniffion,  which  gave 
too  good  an  Acknowledgment  of  the  Conftitu- 
tion,  whereinto  the  Laudian  Fattion  was  then 
precipitating  the  Church  of  England,  he  no  foo- 
ner  got  a  little  out  of  the  Temptation,  but  he 
fignalized  his  Repentance  ofihatSubmijfion,  with 
a  Zeal  not  unlike  that  of  the  Bleffed  Cranmer 


againft  his  own  Right  Hand,  for  f'ubferibing  his 
Recantation.    Although  he  was  not  long  with- 
out the  Faith  of  his  having  this  his  too  fudden 
Compliance  with  the  Demands  of  his  Perfecu- 
tors,  Forgiven  in  Heaven,  yet  he  never  forgave 
himfelf  as  long  as  he  liv'd  on  Earth  >,  he  would 
on  all  Occafions  exprefs  himfelf  extreamly  dif- 
fatisfied,  as  well  at  the  ///  Things  then  advan- 
ced in  the  Church   of  England,  as  at  himfelf 
alfo  for  ever  in  the  leaft,  confenting  to  thofe 
things.       Thofe  Memorable  Puritans  which 
were  driven  into  America,  all  of  them  had  a 
Diflike  of  the  Deformities,  which  they  faw  yet 
cleaving  to  the  Church  of  England;  but  I  que- 
ftion,  whether  any  difliked   rhem  with  fuch 
fervent  ExprefTions  of  Indignation,  as  our  Mr. 
Chancey,    who   thus  took   the   Revenges  of  a 
deep  Repentance  upon  his  own  Conformity  to 
them.     And  few   luffered   for  Non-Conformity 
more  than  he  by  Fines,  by  Gaols,  by  Neceffities 
to  abfeond,  and   at  laft  by  an  Exile  from  his 
Native  Country.     Yea,  though  he  had  lived  a 
very  exacf  Life,  yet  when  he  came  to  die, 
more  than  Forty  Years  after  this,  he  left  thefe 
Words  in  his  laft  Will  and  Tejiament.    In  re- 
gard of  Corrupt  Nature,  I  do  acknowledge   my 
felf  to  be  a  Child  of  Wrath,  and  fold  under  Sin, 
and  one  that  hath  been  polluted  with  Innumera- 
ble Tranfgrefftons    and  Mighty  Sins,   which  as 
far  an  I  know  and  can   call  to  Remembrance,  I 
keep  ftill  frefh  before  me,  and  defire  with  Mour- 
ning ,  and  felf  abhorring  ftill  to  do,  as  long  as 
Life  fhall  laft ;  and  efpecially  my  fo  many  finful- 
Compliances  with  and  Conformity  unto  Vile  Hu- 
man Inventions,  and  Will-  Worfhip  and  Hell-bred 
Superftition,  and  Patcheries  fticht  into  the  Ser- 
vice of  the  Lord,  (which  the  Englifl)  Mafs  Book, 
J  mean,  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  and  the 
Ordination    of  Priefts,  £TV.    are  fully  fraught 
withal. 

(j  6.  There  was  once  a  Parliament  in  England, 
whereto  a  Speech  of  no  lefs  a  Man  than  the 
Lord  Digby,  made  a  Complaint,  That  Men  of 
the  be  ft,  Confcience  were  then  ready  to  jly  into 
the  Wilder nefs  for  Religion  :  And  it  w.ts  com- 
plained in  an  Elegant  Speech  of  Sir  Benjamin 
Rudyard's,  A  great  Multitude  of  the  King's 
Subjeffs,  ftriving  to  hold  Communion  with  us, 
but  feeing  how  far  we  were  gone,  and  fearing 
how  much  further  we  would  go,  were  forced  to 
fly  the  Land,  very  many  into  Salvage  Wilder- 
nejfes,  becaufe  the  Land  would  not  bear  them  : 
Do  not  they  that  caufe  thefe  things,  caft  a  Re- 
proach upon  the  Government.  And  in  a  Nota- 
table  Speech  of  Mr.  Fiennes,  A  certain  Number 
of  Ceremonies  in  the  Jugment  of  fome  Men, 
Unlawful,  and  to  be  rejected  of  all  Churches, 
in  the  Judgment  of  all  wfe/- Reformed  Churches, 
and  in  the  Judgment  of  our  own  Church,  but  In- 
different, yet  what  Difference,  yea  what  Diffra- 
ction have  thefe  Indifferent  Ceremonies  raifed 


among  us?  What  hath  deprived  us  of  fo  many 
Thoufands  of  Chriftians,  which  defired,  and  in 
all  other  Refpefts  deferved  to  hold  Communion 
with  us  ;  I  Jay,  what  hath  deprived  us  of  them, 
and  fcattered  them  into  I  know  not  what  Places 
S  f  f  and 


i%6 


1 be  Hiflory  of  New-England.      Book  HI. 


and  Corners  of  the  World,  but  thefe  Indifferent 
Ceremonies  ?  It  wjs  then  that  Mr.  Pym,  in  the 
Name  of  the  Houfe  of  Commons,  Impeaching 
A.  B.  Laud,  before  the  Houfe  of  Lords  had 
thefe  Expreilions.  Ton  have  the  King's  Loyal 
Subjefls  bahijhed  out  of  the  Kingdom,  not  an  Eli 
melech,  tofeek  for  Bread  in  Foreign  Count  ries,by 
reafon  of  the  great jcarcity  which  was  in  Ifrael:,  but 
travelling  abroad  for  the  Bread  of  Life,  becaufe 
they  could  not  have  it  at  home,  by  Reafon  of  the 
Spiritual  Famine  of  God's  Word,  caufed  by  this 
Man,  and  his  Partakers  :  And  by  this  means 
you  have  the  Induftry  of  many  Thoufands  of  his 
Majeftfs  Subjetfs  carried  out  of  the  Land. 
And  at  laft  the  whole  Houfe  of  Commons  put 
this  Article  in  the  Remonflrance,  which  they 
then  made  unto  the  King.  The  Bijhops  and 
their  Courts  did  impoverifh  many  Thoufands 
andfo  affliB  and  trouble  others,  that  great  Nttfn 


his  Inftalment,  he  concluded  his  Excellent  Ora- 
tion, made  unto  a  Venerable  Aifembly,  then  fill- 
ing the  Colledge-Hall  with  fuch  a  Paffigeas  this 
unto  the  Students  there,  Doffiorem,  certe  Pra- 
fidem,  &  huic  Oneri  ac  Stationi  multis  Modis 
Aptiorem,  vobis  facile  licet  Invenire  fed  Aman- 
tiorem,  &  vefiri  Boni  Studiofwrem,  non  Inve- 
nietis.  And  certainly  he  was  as  good  as  his 
Word.  How  Learnedly  he  now  conveyed  all 
the  Liberal  Arts  unto  thofe  that  J  at  at  his  Feet  -, 
how  Wittily  he  moderated  their  Difputations, 
and  other  Exercifes;  how  Conftantly  he  ex- 
pounded the  Scriptures  to  therrfin  the  Colledge- 
Hall;  how  Fluently  he  expreifed  himielf  unto 
them,  with  Latin  of  a  Terentian  Phrafe,  in  all 
his  Difcourfes  ;  and  how  Carefully  he  Infpecfed 
their  Manners,  and  was  above  all  things  con- 
cerned for  them,  that  they  might  anfwer  a 
Note  which  he  gave  them  \lVhen  you  are  your 


bers,  to  avoid  their   Miferies,  departed  out  of\felves  Interefted  in  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  and 

his  Righteoufnefs,  you  will  be  fit  to  be  Teachers: 
of  others:  Iiaiah  cries,  Now  fend  me!  When 
his  Sins  were  pardoned :  But  without  this,  you. 
are  fit  for  nothing  .•]  will  never  be  forgotten 
by  Many  of  our  moft  worthy  Men,  who  were 
made  fuch  Men,  by  their  Education  under  him : 
For  we  fhall  find  as  many  of  his  Difciples  in 
our  Catalogue  of  Graduates,  as  there  were 
in  that  Colledge  of  Believers,  at  Jerufalem, 
whereof  we  read  in  the  firft  Chapter,  of  the 
Ails  of  the  Apoftles.  But  if  there  were  any 
Difadvantages  of  an  tiafty  Temper,  fometimes 
in  his  Conduct,  they  (fill  were  prelently  fo  cor- 
rected with  his  Holy  Temper,  that  this  did  but 
invite  Peribns  to  think  the  more  of  that  Elias, 
to  Whom  wer;have  compared  him  -,  and  there- 
fore, as  they  were  forgotten  by  every  one,  in 
the  very  Day  of  them,  they  are,  at  this  Day, 
much  more  to  be  fo :  Mt.  Urian  Oakes  that 
preached  his  Funeral  Sermon,  well  faid,  The 
mention  thereof  was  to  be  wrapped  up  in  Elijah'.? 
Mantle.  But  if  the  whole  Country  were  fen- 
fible  of  the  Blefllng  which  all  Ntw  England 
enjoyed  in  our  Chancey  now  at  Cambridge  ;  the 
Church  of'  Cambridge,  to  whom  he  now  joined, 
and  Preached,  had  a  very  particular  Caufe  to 
befo.  And  fo  indeed  they  were-,  by  the  fame 
Token,  that  when  he  had  been  above  a  Year  or 
two  in  the  Town,  the  Church  kept  a  whole 
Day  of  THANKSGIVING  to  God,  for  the 
Mercy,  which  they  enjoy'd  in  his  being  there. 

§8.  He  was  a  molt  Indefatigable  Student, 
which  with  the  Bleffing  of  God,  render'd  him 
a  moft  Incomparable  Scholar.  He  rofe  very 
early,  about  Four  a  Clock,  both  Winter  and 
Summer  -,  and  he  let  the  Scholars  an  Example 
of  Diligence,  hardly  to  be  followed.  But  Be- 
ne Oraffe,  eft  Bene  StuduiJJ'e :  By  interweaving 
of  conftant  Prayers  into  his  Holy  Studies,  he 
made  them  indeed  Holy ;  and  my  Reader  fhall 
count,  if  he  pleafes,  how  oft  in  a  Day  he  ad- 
drefled  Heaven  with  Solemn  Devotions,  and 
judge  whether  it  might  not  be  faid  of  our 
Ch./rlcs,  as  it  was  of  Charles  the  Great,  (which  is 


the  Kingdom,  fame  into  New-England,  and  other 
parts  of  America. 

But  it  is  now  time  to  tell  my  Reader,  That 
in  the  Tr asportations,  thus  Reafonably  and 
Parliamentary  complained  of,  one  of  the  moft 
Confiderable  Perfons  removing  into  America, 
was  Mr.  Charles  Chanciy  ;  who  arrived  at  Ply 
mouth  in  New  England,  a  few  Days  before  the 
Great  Earthquake  which  happened  Jan.  1. 1638. 

§  1 7.  After  he  had  fpent  fome  time  in  the 
Miniftry  of  the  Gofpel,  with  Mr.  Reyner  of 
Plymouth,  he  removed  unto  a  Town  a  little 
Northward  of  it,  called  Scituate,  where  he 
remained  for  Three  and  Three  times  Three 
Years,  cultivating  the  Vineyard  of  the  Lord 
in  that  Place.  Of  this  his  Miniftry  at  Sci- 
tuate,  let  me  preferve  at  leaft,  this  one  Re- 
membrance :  Having  his  Ordination  Renewed 
at  his  Entrance  upon  this  New  Relation,  he  did 
at  that  Solemnity  Preach  upon  thofe  Words,; 
in  Prow  9.  3.  Wifdom  hath  fen  t  forth  her  Mai- 
dens ;  and  in  his  Difcourfe,  making  a  moft  affe- 
ctionate Reflection  upon  his  former  Compli- 
ances with  the  Temptations  of  the  High  Com- 
■mijfon-Court ,  he  faid  with  Tears,  A/as,  Chri- 
ft ians,  I  am  no  Maiden ;  my  Soul  hath  been  de- 
filed with  Falfe  Worjhip ;  How  wondrous  is  the 
Free -Grace  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Clirifl,  that  I 
jhould  ft  ill  be  employed  among  the  Maidens  of 
Wifdom  I 

crwards,  upon  an  Invitation  from  his  Old 
People  at  Ware,  to  return  unto  them,  he  pur- 
pofed  a  Removal  with  his  Family  back  to  Eng- 
land; but  when  he  came  to  Boflon  in  order 
thereunto,  the  Ovetfeers  of  Harvard-College  at 
Cambridge,  which  now  wanted  a  Prefidenti  by: 
their  \eh;ment  Importunity,  prevailed  with 
him  to  accept  the  Government  of  that  Society^ 
wherein  worthily  chufing  their  Way,  and  fitting 
chief,  and  dwelling  as  a  King  in  the  midft  of 
his  Army,  he  continued  unto  the  Day  of  his 
Death.  From  this  time  I  behold  him  as  ano- 
ther Elijah,  ftiedding  his  Benign  Influences  on 
the  School  of  the  Prophets  ;  and  with  Immenfe 


Labours   Inftrufting,   Directing,    arid   Feeding  indeed  the  way  to  become  Great)  Carolus plus 


the  Hope  of  the  Flock  in  the  Wildernefs.    At 


cum  Deo^  quam  cum  Homimbus  loquitur-,  when 

1  have 


Book  Hi.       The  Hi/tory  of  New-England. 


133 


MunAi  Regnis,  omt  opibus   Longe  Ante- 

pono. 

k;  4.  When  he  left  the  Univerfity,  he  became 
a  Diligent  and  Eminent  Preacher  of  the  Gofpel 
it  Marfton ;  but  after  fome  time,  he  removed 
jjimfelf  to  Ware,  where  the  Hand  of  the  Lord 
was  with  him,  and  many  believed,  and  turned 
unto  the  Lord.  Here  'twas  that  the  Succeffes 
of  his  Faithful  Miniffry,  in  the  InftruUion  of 
the  Ignorant,  and  the  Converfion  of  the  Un- 
godly, became  a  Matter  of  much  Oblerva- 
tion. 

But  when  Satan  wanted  a  Shibboleth  for  the 
Di {"covering  and  Extinguishing  fuch  an  Holy 
Miniftry,  throughout  the  Nation,  the  Mifera- 
ble  Arch-Bifhop  Laud,  ferved  him  with  a  Li- 
cence for  Sports  on  the  Lord's  Day  ;  whereby 
the  People  were  after  an  horrid  manner  invited 
unto  the  Profanation  of  that  Sacred  Reft  ;  and 
indeed  of  every  thing  Sacred  with  it.  Then 
'twas  that  our  Mr.  Chancey  hearing  the  Drums 
beat  for  Dances  and  Frolic  As  on  the  Lord's  Day, 
wis,  like  other  Good  Men,  afraid  that  God 
would  break  the  Reft  of  the  Kingdom,  and 
caule  Drums  to  be  beaten  up  for  Marches  and 
Battels  on  that  very  Day.  But  when  be  was 
inhibited  from  attending  of  other  Exercifes,  on 
the  Afternoons  of  the  Lord's  Day,  he  fet  him- 
felf  to  Catechife  as  many  as  he  could,  both  old 
and  young ;  which,  as  the  Biflwp  in  Sheeps  Cloa- 
thing  laid,  was  As  bad  at  Preaching.  And  by 
i'uch  Methods,  he  ftill  continued  ferving  the 
Intereffs  of  the  Gofpel. 

§  5.  But  about  this  Time  there  arofe  a  Storm 
of  moft  Unreafonable,  but  Irrefiff ible  Perjecu- 
tion,  upon  thofe  Minifters,  who  were  Well- 
wiftiers  to  the  Progrefs  of  the  Proteftant  Refor- 
mation in  the  Kingdom ;  and  Mr.  Chancey  was 
one  of  thofe  who  iuftered  in  it.  In  Mr.  Rufh- 
worth's,  Colle&ions  for  the  Year  1629.  1  find 
this  PafTage. 


c  Mr.  Charles  Chancey,  Miniffer  of  Ware, 
ufing  fome  Expreflions  in  his  Sermon,  That 
Idolatry  was  admitted  into  the  Church  ;  That 
the  Preaching  of  the  Gofpel  would  be  f up- 
preyed  -,  that  there  is  much  Atheifm,  Popery, 
Arminiantfm  and  Herefy ,  crept  into  the 
Church  :  And  this  being  look'd  upon  to  raife 
a  Fear  among  the  People,  that  fome  Altera- 
tion of  Religion  would  enfue;  he  was  que- 
ftioned  in  the  High  Commijfion ;  and  by  Or- 
der of  that  O.irt,  the  Caule  was  referred  to 
the  Bifhop  of  London,  being  his  Ordinary ; 
who  ordered  him  to  make  a  Submijflon  in 
Latin. 


This  Worthy  Man,  being  by  the  Terrors  and 
Cenfures  of  that  Infamous  Court,  fuddenly  fur- 
prifed  unto  a  fort  of  Submifflon,  which  gave 
too  good  an  Acknowledgment  of  the  Conftitu- 
tion,  whereinto  the  Laudian  FaUion  was  then 
precipitating  the  Church  of  England,  he  no  foo- 
ner  got  a  little  out  oi  the  Temptation,  but  he 
fignalized  his  Repentance  of 'that  Submijjion,  with 
a  Zeal  not  unlike  that  of  the  Blefled  Cranmer 


againft  his  own  Right  Hand,  for  fubferibing  his 
Recantation.  Although  he  was  not  long  with- 
out the  Faith  of  his  having  this  his  too  fudden 
Compliance  with  the  Demands  of  his  Perfecu- 
tors,  Forgiven  in  Heaven,  yet  he  never  forgave 
himfelf  as  long  as  he  liv'd  on  Earth ;  he  would 
on  all  Occafions  exprefs  himfelf  extreamly  dif- 
latisfied,  as  well  at  the  III  Things  then  advan- 
ced in  the  Church  of  England,  as  at  himfelf 
alio  for  ever  in  the  lea  ft,  confenting  to  thofe 
things.  Thofe  Memorable  Puritans  which 
were  driven  into  America,  all  of  them  had  a 
Diflike  of  the  Deformities,  which  they  faw  yet 
cleaving  to  the  Church  of  England;  but  I  que- 
ftion,  whether  any  difliked  them  with  fuch 
fervent  Expreffions'of  Indignation,  as  our  Mr. 
Chancey,  who  thus  took  the  Revenges  of  a 
deep  Repentance  upon  his  own  Conformity  to 
them.  And  few  lufrered  for  Non-Conformity 
more  than  he  by  Fines,  by  Gaols,  by  Neceflitiis 
to  abfeond,  and  at  laft  by  an  Exile  from  his 
Native  Country.  Yea,  though  he  had  lived  a 
very  exacl:  Life,  yet  when  he  came  to  die, 
more  than  Forty  Years  after  this,  he  left  thefe 
Words  in  his  laft  Will  and  Teftament.  In  re- 
gard of  Corrupt  Nature,  I  do  acknowledge  my 
felf  to  be  a  Child  of  Wrath,  and  fold  under  Sin, 
and  one  that  hath  been  polluted  with  Innumera- 
ble Tranfgrefftons  and  Mighty  Sins,  which  as 
far  an  I  know  and  can  call  to  Remembrance,  I 
keep  ftill  fre/h  before  me,  and  defire  zvitb  Mour- 
ning, and  felf  abhorring  ftill  to  do;  as  long  as 
Life  fhall  laji ;  and  efpeci ally  my  Jo  many  finful 
Compliances  with  and  Conformity  unto  Vile  Hu- 
man Inventions,  and  Will  Worfhip  and  Hell-bred 
Superjiition,  and  Patcheries  fticht  into  the  Ser- 
vice of  the  Lord,  (which  the  Englift?  Mafs  Book, 
I  mean,  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  and  the 
Ordination  of  Prieffs,  &c.  are  fully  fraught 
withal. 

(j  6.  There  was  once  a  Parliament  in  England, 
whereto  a  Speech  of  no  lefs  a  Man  than  the 
Lord  Digby,  made  a  Complaint,  That  Men  of 
the  be  ft  Confcience  were  then  ready  to  fly  into 
the  Wildernefs  for  Religion  :  And  it  was  com- 
plained in  an  Elegant  Speech  of  Sir  Benjamin 
Rudyard's,  A  great  Multitude  ef  the  King's 
SubjeUs,  ft  riving  to  hold  Communion  with  us, 
but  feeing .  how  far  we  were  gone,  and  fearing 
how  much  further  we  would  go,  were  forced  to 
fly  the  Land,  very  many  into  Salvage  Wilder- 
neffes,  becaufe  the  Land  would  not  bear  them  : 
Do  not  they  that  caufe  thefe  things,  caft  a  Re- 
proach upon  the  Government.  And  in  a  Nota- 
table  Speech  of  Mr.  Fiennes,  A  certain  Number 
of  Ceremonies  in  the  Jugment  of  fome  Men, 
Unlawful,  and  to  be  rejected  of  all  Churches, 
in  the  Judgment  of  all  other  Reformed  Churches, 
and  in  the  Judgment  of  our  own  Church,  but  In- 
different, yet  what  Difference,  yea  what  Diffra- 
ction have  thefe  Indifferent  Ceremonies  raifed 
among  us  ?  What  hath  deprived  us  of  fo  many 
Thousands  of  Chriftians,  which  defired,  and  in 
all  other  Refpetts  deferved  to  hold  Communion 
with  us  ;  I  fay,  what  hath  deprived  us  of  them, 
and  jcattered  them  into  I  know  not  what  Places 
S  f f  and 


n6 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.      Book  HI. 


and  Corners  of  the  World,  but  thefe  Indifferent 
Ceremonies  ?  It  was  then  that  Mr.  Pym,  in  the 
Name  of  the  Houfe  of  Commons,  Impeaching 
A.  B.  Laud,  before  the  Houfe  of  Lords  had 
thefe  Exprdlions.  Ton  have  the  King's  Loyal 
Sub jeffs  banifheii  out  of  the  Kingdom,  not  as  Eli 
melech,  tofeekfor  Bread  in  foreign  Count  riesfy 
reafon  ej the great J  car  city  which  was  in  Ifrael;  but 
travelling  abroad  for  the  Bread  of  Life,  becaufe 
they  could  not  have  it  at  home ,  by  Reafon  of  the 
Spiritual  Famine  of  God's  Word,  caufed  by  this 
Man,  and  his  Partakers  :  And  by  this  means 
you  have  the  Induftry  of  many  Thoufands  of  bfs 
Majefifs  Subjects  carried  out  of  the  Land. 
And  at  laft  the  whole  Houfe  of  Commons  put 
this  Article  in  the  Remonfirance,  which  they 
then  made  unto  the  King.  The  Bijhops  and 
their  Courts  did  impoverifh  many  Thoufands  -, 
andfo  afflitt  and  trouble  others ;  that  great  Num- 
bers, to  avoid  their  Miferies,  departed  out  of 
the  Kingdom,  fome  into  New-England,  and  other 
parts  of  America. 

But  it  is  now  time  to  tell  my  Reader,  That 
in  the  Tranfportations,  thus  Reafonably  and 
Parliamentariiy  complained  of,  one  of  the  moft 
Confiderable  Perfons  removing  into  America, 
was  Mr.  Charles  Qiancey  ;  who  arrived  at  Fly 
mouth  in  New  England,  a  few  Days  before  the 
Great  Earthquake  which  happened  Jan.  1.11538. 

§  17.  After  he  had  fpent  fome  time  in  the 
Miniftry  of  the  Gofpel,:  with  Mr.  Reyner  of 
Plymouth,  he  removed  unto  a  Town  a  little 
Northward  of  it,  called  Scituate,  where  he 
remained  for  Three  and  Three  times  Three 
Years,  cultivating  the  Vineyard  of  the  Lord 
in  that  Place.  Of  this  his  Miniftry  at  Set- 
tuate,  let  me  preferve  at  leaft,  this  one  Re- 
membrance :  Having  his  Ordination  Renewed 
at  his  Entrance  upon  this  N'ew  Relation,  he  did 
at  that  Solemnity  Preach  upon  thofe  Words, 
in  Prov.  p.  3.  Wifdom  hath  fent  forth  her  Mai- 
dens -,  and  in  his  Difcourfe,  making  a  moft  affe- 
ctionate Reflexion  upon  his  former  Compli- 
ances with  the  Temptations  of  the  High  Com- 
■miffion-Court,  he  faid  with  Tears,  Alas,  Chri- 
ft ians,  I  am  no  Maiden ;  my  Soul  hath  been  de- 
filed with  Falfe  WorJInp  j  How  wondrous  is  the 
Free-Grace  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  that  1 
fhould  fill  be  employed  among  the  Maidens  of 
'Wifdom  ! 

Afterwards,  upon  an  Invitation  from  his  Old 
People  at  Ware,  to  return  unto  them,  he  pur- 
pofed  a  Removal  with  his  Family  back  to  Eng- 
land ;  but  when  he  came  to  Bofion  in  order 
thereunto,  the  Overfeers  of  Harvard-College  at 
Cambridge,  which  now  wanted  a  Prefident,  by 
their  vehement  Importunity,  prevailed  with 
him  to  accept  the  Government  of  that  Society  ; 
wherein  worthily  chufing  their  Way,  and  fitting 
chief,  and  dwelling  as  a  King  in  the  midjl  of 
his  Army,  he  continued  unto  the  Day  of  his 
Death.  From  this  time  I  behold  him  as  ano- 
ther Elijah,  fhedding  his  Benign  Influences  on 
the  School  of  the  Prophets  -,  and  with  Immenie 
Labours  Inftrudting,  Directing,  and  Feeding 
the  Hope  of  the   Flock  in  the  Wildernefs.     At 


his  Inftalment,  he  concluded  his  Excellent  Ora- 
tion, made  unto  a  Venerable  Affembly,  then  fill- 
ing the  Colledge-Hall  with  fuch  a  Paffageas  th'rs 
unto  the  Students  there,  DoUiorem,  certe  Prt- 
fidem,  &  huic  Oneri   ac  Stationi   multis  Modis 
Aptiorem,  vobis  facile  licet  Invenire  fed  Aman- 
tiorent,  &   veftri   Boni  Stud/of orem,  non  Inve- 
nietis.    And  certainly  he  was  as  good  as   his 
Word.    How  Learnedly  he  now  conveyed  all 
the  Liberal  Arts  unto  thofe  thzx  fat  at  his  Feet  -, 
how  Wittily  he  moderated  their  Difputations^ 
and  other  Exercifes^  how  Conftantly  he  ex- 
pounded the  Scriptures  to  them  in  the  Colledge- 
Hall;  how  Fluently  he  expreifed  himfelf  unto 
them,  with  Latin  of  a  Terentian  Phrafe,  in  all 
his  Difcourfes  ;  and  how  Cat  efully  he  Infpefted 
their  Manners,  and  was  above  all  things  con- 
cerned  for  them,  that  they  might  anlwer  a 
Note  which  he  gave  them  {fVhen  you  are  your 
/elves  Interefted  in  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  and 
his  Righteoufnefs,  you  will  be  fit  to  be  Teachers 
of  others:  Ifaiah  cries,  Now  fend  me!  When 
his  Sins  were  pardoned  :  But  without  this,  you 
are  fit  for  nothing  .•]  will   never  be  forgotten 
by  Many  of  our  moft  worthy  Men,  who  were 
made  fuch  Men,  by  their  Education  under  him : 
For  we  (hall  rind  as  many  of  his  Difciples  in 
our  Catalogue   of  Graduates,    as   there  were 
in  that   Co/ledge   of  Believers,  at   Jerufalem, 
whereof  we   read   in   the  firft  Chapter,  of  the 
AQs  of  the  Apoftles.     But  if  there  were  any 
Difadvantages  of  an  Hafty  Temper,  fometimes 
in  his  Conduft,  they  ftill  were  prelently  fo  cor- 
rected with  his  Holy  Temper,  that  this  did  but 
invite  Perfons  to  think  the  more  of  that  Elias, 
to  whom  we  have  compared  him  ;  and  there- 
fore, as  they   were  forgotten  by  every  one,  in 
the  very  Day   of  them,  they  ?re,  at  this  Day, 
much  more   to  be   fo  :  Mr.'  Urian  Oakes  that 
preached  his   Funeral  Sermon,  well  faid,  The 
mention  thereof  was  to  be  wrapped  up  in  Elijahs 
Mantle.    But  if  the  whole  Country  were  fen- 
fible  of  the  Bleffing  which   all  New  England 
enjoyed  in  our  Chancey  now  at  Cambridge  -,  the 
Church  of  Cambridge,  to  whom  he  now  joined, 
and  Preached,  had  a  very  particular  Caufe  to 
be/0.    And  fo  indeed  they  were;  by  the  fame 
Token,  that  when  he  had  been  above  a  Year  or 
two  in   the  Town,  the  Church  kept  a  whole 
Day   of  THANKSGIVING  to  God,  for  the 
Mercy,  which  they  enjoy 'd  in  his  being  there. 

§8.  He  was  a  moft  Indefatigable  Student, 
which  with  the  Bleffing  of  God,  render'd  him 
a  moft  Incomparable  Scholar.  He  rofe  very 
early,  about  Four  a  Clock,  both  Winter  and 
Summer  -,  and  he  fet  the  Scholars  an  Example 
of  Diligence,  hardly  to  be  followed.  But  Be- 
ne Oraffe,  ell  Bene  Studuiffe:  By  interweaving 
of  conftant  Prayers  .into  his  Holy  Studies,  he 
made  them  indeed  Holy  •,  and  my  "Reader  ftiall 
count,  if  he  pleafes,  how  oft  in  a  Day  he  ad- 
drefied  Heaven  with  Solemn  Devotions,  and 
judge  whether  it  might  not  be  faid  of  our 
Charles,  as  it  was  of  Charles  the  Great,  (which  is 
indeed  the  way  to  become  Great)  Carolus  plus 
cum  Deo,  quam  cum  Hominibus  loquitur ;  when 

I  have 


BooOlTT    The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


14,1 


«  requite  the  Lord,  ye  foolifh  People,  and  un- 
'  wife  '■ 

1  But  then   let  Scholars  mainly  intend,  la- 
«  bour,  and  ftudy  for  this ;  to  be  Prophets  and 
'  Nazantes:    And    therefore    let  Speaking  to 
1  Edification,  Exhortation,  and  Comfort  be  aimed 
1  at  in  all   your  Studies:    And  behave  your 
'  felves  as  being   fet  apart  in  peculiar  manner 
'  for  the  Lord.    To  ufe  the  Veffels  of  the  Tem- 
ple, to   quaff  and  caroufe  in,  was  a  Babylo- 
nish   Practice.    You  fhould  have  lefs  to  do 
with  the  World,  and  Worldly  Delights,  and 
be  lefs  cumbred  than  others  with  the  Affairs 
of  this  Life. 


All  that  we  will  add  of  this  Good  Old  Man, 
Jfhali  be  the  Epitaph,  which  is  now  to  be  read 
on  his  Tomb-itone  in  Cambridge. 


Conditum 
hie  eft  Corpus, 

CAROLI    CHAUNCiEI; 

S.  S.    Theologian  Baccalaur. 

E  T 

Collegii  Harvardini  Nov-Angl. 
Per  XVII.  Annorum  Spacium, 
Pratfidis  VigilanthTrmi, 
Viri  Plane  Integerrimi, 
Concionatoris  Eximii, 

Pietate 

Pariter  ac  Liberali  Eruditions 

Ornatiffimi. 

Qui  Obiit  in  Domino,  Feb.  XIX. 
An.  Dom.    M.DC.  LXX.I. 

Et  iEtatis  fuse,  LXXX.  II. 


CHAP.     XXIV. 

Lucas.    The  LIFE  of  Mr.    JOHN   FISK, 

'larjoj  $  dvnt  •myhwv  hvtu^ik  o.»mv. 


§  1.  A  Mong  the  moft  Famous  Preachers  and 
Jf\-  Writers  of  the  Gofpel,  with  which 
the  Primitive  Church  was  Blefled,  there  was 
Luke,  the  Beloved  Phyfician  ;  of  whom  Jerom 
elegantly  fays,  Quomodo  Apoftoli  de  P  if ca  tori  bus 
pifcium,  Pifcatores  Hominum  faQi  funt,  ita  de 
medico  Corporum  in  Medicum  Verfis  eft  Anima- 
rum ;  cujits  Liber  quotiefcunq-,  legit ur  in  Eccle 
Jits,  toties  Medicina  non  cejfat  :  That  Blefled 
Scholar  and  Collegue,  of  the  Apoftle  Paul, 
who  (as  Jerom  alfo  tells  us  J  according  to  the 
Opinion  of  fome,  intends  the  Volume  which 
had  been  Penned  by  this  Luke,  as  often  as  he 
ufes  that  Expreffion  in  his  Epiftles,  according  to 
my  Gofpel. 

And  among  the  firft  Preachers  ar  i  Writers, 
which  rendered  the  Primitive  limes  of  New- 
England  happy,  there  was  one  who  might  like- 
wife  be  called,  A  Beloved  Phyfician ;  one  to 
whom  there  might  alfo  be  given  the  Eulogy, 
which  the  Ancients  think  was  given  to  Luke, 
A  Brother  whqfe  Praife  was  in  the  Gofpel, 
throughout  all  Churches. 

This  was  Mr.  John  Fisk. 

§  2.  Mr.  John  Fisk  was  Born  in  the  Parifti 
of  St.  James,  (called  for  Diftincf ion,  One  of 
the  Nine  Parifhes)  in  the  County  of  Suffolk, 
about  the  Year  1601.  of  Pious  and  Worthy  Pa 


rents,  yea,  of  Grand-Parents,  and  Great  Grand- 
Parents,  Eminent  for  Zeal  in  the  True  Reli- 
gion. There  were  Six  Brothers  in  the  Infa- 
mous Reign  of  Queen  Mary,  whereof  three 
were  Papifts,  and  three  were  Proteftants,  I 
may  fay,  Puritans  -,  and  of  the  Latter  (where- 
of none  were  owned  by  the  Former)  Two  were 
very  forely  perfecuted.  For  one  of  thefe  Bre- 
thren, the  Purfevant,  having  a  Kindnefs,  gave 
him  a  Private  and  Previous  Notice  of  his  com- 
ing with  an  Order  to  feize  him  ;  whereupon 
the  Good  Man,  firft  called  his  Family  to  Pray, 
er,  haftned  away  to  hide  himfelf  in  a  Ditch, 
with  his  Godly  Wife,  which  had  a  Sucking 
Child  at  her  Breaft.  The  Purfevant  being  near 
at  Hand,  a  Thorn  in  the  Hedge  gave  fuch  a 
Mark  to  the  Child's  Face,  as  never  went  out ; 
whereat  the  Child  beginning  to  Roar,  the  Mo- 
ther prefently  clapt  it  to  the  Breaft,  whereby 
it  was  quieted  at  once,  and  there  was  no  Dis- 
covery then,  or  after,  made  of  thefe  Confejfors, 
Another  of  thefe  Brethren,  from  whom  our 
Fisk  was  defended,  was  then  ('to  avoid  Burn- 
ing) hid  many  Months  in  a  Wood-pile  -,  and  af- 
terwards, for  half  a  Year  in  a  Cellar,  where 
he  diligently  employ'd  himfelf  in  profitable 
Manufacfures,  by  Candle  Light,  after  fuch 
a  manner  as  to  remain  likewife  undiicovered  j 
but  his  many  Hardships  brought  that  Exceifive 

Bleeding 


14-2 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 


Bleeding  upon  him,  x.h'ixfliortned  his  Days,  and 
added  unto  the  Cry  of  the  Souls  under  the  Al- 
tar. 

§  3.  Our  John  was  the  Eldeft  of  Ew  Chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  afterwards  came  to  "New- 
England  with  him,  and  left  a  Pofterity,  with 
whom  God  eltablifhed  his  Holy  Covenant.  His 
Parents  having  devoted  him  unto  the  Service 
of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  they  fent  him  firft  un- 
to a  Grammar  School,  Two  Miles  from  the 
Place  of  their  Abode,  tvhither  his  Diligent  Soul 
was  inftead  of  Wings,  every  Day  to  carry  him. 
His  Education  at  the  School,  having  fitted  him 
for  the  Univerfity,  he  went  unto  Cambridge, 
where  he  was  admitted,  into  (as  I  think)  bn- 
manuel-College,  in  which  he  refided,  until  he 
became  a  Graduate.  Some,  time  after  this,  be- 
ing both  by  Art  and  by  Heart,  well  prepared 
for  it,  he  applied  himfelf  unto  the  Work  to 
which  he  had  been  devoted ;  namely,  the 
Preaching  of  the  Gofpel :  But  the  Silencers 
grew  fo  hard  upon  him  for  his  Non  Conformity, 
that  upon  the  Advice  of  his  Friends,  he  let 
himfelf  to  ltudy  Phyfick,  and  upon  a  thorough 
Examination,  he  obtained  a  Licence  for  Publick 
Practice.  When  he  was  about  Eight  and  Twen- 
ty Years  of  Age,  he  married  a  Vertuous  Young 
Gentlewoman;  feveral  Hundreds  of  Pounds  of 
whole  Patrimony  were  denied  her  upon  the 
Difpleafure  of  her  Father,  at  her  coming  to 
New-  England. 

But  upon  the  Death  of  his  Father,  who  had 
committed  unto  him  the  Care  of  his  Mother 
and  his  two  Sifters,  and  his  younger:  Brother, 
he  thought  it  his  Duty  to  Remove  into  New- 
England,  where  he  faw  an  Opportunity  of  re- 
turning unto  the  Quiet  Exercife  of  his  Mini- 
ftry.  He,  and  that  Excellent  Man  Mr.  John 
Allin,  came  aboard  in  a  Dilguife,  to  avoid  the 
Fury  of  their  Perfecutors ;  but  after  they  were 
pair  the  Lands-End,  they  entertained  the  Paf- 
fengers  with  Two  Sermons  every  Day,  befides 
other  Agreeable  Devotions,  which  filled  the 
Voyage  with  fo  much  of  Religion,  that  one  of 
the  Paifengers  being  examined  about  his  going 
to  divert  himfelf  with  an  Hook  and  Line,  on 
the  Lord's  Day,  he  protefted,  That  he  did  not 
know  when  the  Lord's  Day  was ;  he  thought 
every  Day  was  a  SabbathDay^  for,  he  faid, 
they  did  nothing  but  pray  and  preach  all  the 
Week  leng. 

§  4.  Mr.  Fisk  arrived  at  New-England  in  the 
Year  163-.  having  had  nothing  to  render  the 
Voyage  uncomfortable,  but  only  that  his  Aged 
Mother  died  quickly  after  he  came  aboard, 
and  his  only  Infant  quickly  after  he  came  a- 
lhore.  He  came  well  ftock'd  with  Servants, 
and  all  forts  of  Tools  for  Husbandry  and  Car- 
pentry, and  with  Provi/ions  to  fupport  his  Fa- 
mily in  a  Wilderneis  for  Three  Years  together-, 
out  of  which,  he  charitably  lent  a  confiderable 
Quantity  to  the  Country,  which  he  then  found 
in  the  Diftreffes  of  a  War  with  the  Pequot-ln- 
dians.  He  now  fojourned  about  Three  Years 
at  Salem,  where  he  was  both  a  Preacher  to  the 
Church,  and  a  Tutor  unto  divers  young  Scho- 


lars (whereof  the  well  known  Sir  George  Down- 
ing was  one)  as  he  was  afterwards  unto  his 
own  Children,  when  the  want  of  Grammar- 
Schools  at  Hand  made  it  neceflary.  From  thence 
he  removed  unto  a  Place  adjoining  thereunto, 
which  is  now  called  Wenham  :  Where  on  Ottob\ 
8.  1644.  a  Church  was  gathered,  of  which  he 
continued  the  P  aft  or,  in  that  Place,  for  more 
than  Twice  Seven  Years :  Contented  with  a 
very  mean  Salary,  and  confirming  his  own  fair 
Eftate  for  the  Welfare  of  the  New-Planta- 
tion. 

§  5.  About  the  Year  16^6.  he  Removed,  with 
the  major  part  of  his  Church,  to  another  New 
Town,  called  Chelmsford;  and  there  he  fpent 
the  Remainder  of  his  Days.  Of  the  Afftittions 
which  now  Difciplin'd  him,  one  of  the  faddeft 
was  the  Lofs  of  his  Concordance ;  I  mean,  of 
his  Godly  and  Worthy  Confort,  who  by  her  In- 
comparable Expertneis  in  the  Scriptures,  had 
rendred  any  other  Concordance  of  the  Bible  ufe- 
lefs  unto  his  Library.  This  Vertuous  Woman 
loft  her  Sight  for  fome  Years  before  fhe  died  ; 
under  which  Difafter  a  moft  Exemplary  Pa- 
tience was  produced  in  her,  by  her  View  of,  The 
things  which  are  not  feen,  and  are  Eternal : 
And  at  length,  after  many  Admonitions  unto 
her  Friends  to  Improve  their  Sight  well  whilft 
they  had  it,  fhe  had  on  Feb.  14.  i6ji.  her  Eyes 
opened,  by  their  being  clofed;  and  was  by  Death 
carried  from  Faith  unto  Immediate  and  Ever- 
lafting  Sight :  After  which  he  married  again. 

§6.  Twenty  Years  did  hsfhitie  in  the  Golden 
Candlefiick  of  Chelmsford  ■,  a  plain,  but  an  Able, 
Painful,  and  Ufeful  Preacher  of  the  Gofpel ; 
rarely,  if  ever,  by  Sicknefs  hindred  from  the 
Exercife  of  his  Miniftry.  As  MarcUius  Ficinus 
having  written  one  Book,  De  Sanitate  Tuenda, 
and  another  Book,  De  Valetudme  Reftituenda, 
concluded  his  Courfe  with  writing  his  Book, 
De  Vita  Celitus  Comparanda  :  Thus,  our  Mr. 
Fisk,  now  fuperfeded  his  Care  and  Skill  of 
difpenfing  Medicines  for  the  Body,  by  doing  it 
for  the  Soul.  But  although  he  did  in  his  Mi- 
niftry, go  through  an  Expofition  of  almoft  all 
the  Scripture  in  both  Teftaments,  and  unto  his 
Lord's  Day  Sermons,  added  a  Monthly  Lcflure 
on  the  Week  Day,  befides  his  Difcourfes  at  the 
Private  Meetings  of  the  Faithful,  and  his  exa£t 
and  Faithful  Cares  to  keep  upCburcb-Difcipline, 
yet  none  of  his  Labours  were  more  Confiderable 
than  his  Catechetical.  It  is  by  the  Excellent 
Owen  excellently  well  obferved,  That  unlefs  a 
Man  haf  fome  Good  Satisfaction  concerning  the 
Spiritual  Condition  of  thofe  that  are  committed 
unto  his  Charge,  he  can  never  approve  himfelf 
among  them,  a  Workman  that  needeth  not  to  be 
afhamed,  rightly  dividing  the  Word  of  Truth  : 
And  the  Work  of  the  Miniftry  is  not  by  any 
means  more  evacuated,  and  rendered  IneffeCiual, 
than  when  Men  have  not  a  certain  Defign  to 
deal  with  their  Hearers  according  to  what  they 
are  per/waded,  that  their  Spiritual  Eftate  doth 
require.  Our  Fisk  therefore,  did  by  moft  la- 
borious Catcchiftng,  endeavour  to  know  the  State 

of 


Book  ill.      The  Hiftory  of  New- England. 


141 


'  requite  the  Lord,  ye  foolifh  People,  and  un- 
'  wife  ■' 

c  But  then   let  Scholars  mainly  intend,  la- 
c  bour,  and  fludy  for  this ;  to  be  Prophets  and 
'  Xaz'arites:    And    therefore   let  Speaking  to 
t  Edification,  Exhortation,  and  Comfort  be  aimed 
'  at  in  all   your  Studies:    And   behave  your 
'  felves  as  being   let  apart  in  peculiar  manner 
'  for  the  Lord.    To  ufe  the  Veffels  of  the  Tem- 
ple, to  quaff  and  caroufe  in,  was  a  Babylo- 
nijh    Practice.    You  fhould  have  lefs  to  do 
with  the  World,  and  Worldly  Delights,  and 
be  lefs  cumbred  than  others  with  the  Affairs 
of  this  Life. 


All  that  we  will  add  of  this  Good  Old  Man, 
(hall  be  the  Epitaph,  which  is  now  to  be  read 
on  his  Tomb-ftone  in  Cambridge. 


Conditum 
hie  eft  Corpus, 

Caroli  Chaunc^Ij 

S.  S,    Theologiae  Baccalaur. 

E  T 

Collegii  Harvardini  Nov-AngL 
Per  XVII.  Annorum  Spacium, 
Pratfidis  Vigilantiflimi, 
Viri  Plane  Integerrimi, 
Concionatoris  Eximii, 

Pietate 

Pariter  ac  Liberali  Eruditione 

OrnatiffimL 

Qui  Obiit  in  Domino,  Feb.  XIX, 
An.Dom.    M.DC.LXX.I. 

Et  iEtatis  fuse,  LXXX.  II. 


CHAP.     XXIV. 

Lucas.    The  L  I  F  E  of  Mr.    JOHN   F I S  K. 


§  i.  A  Mong  the  moft  Famous  Preachers  and 
il  Writers  of  the  Gofpel,  with  which 
the  Primitive  Church  was  Blefled,  there  was 
"Luke,  the  Beloved  Phyfician  ;  of  whom  Jerom 
•elegantly  fays,  Qiwmodo  Apoftoli  de  Pifcatoribus 
pifcium,  Pif cat  ores  Hominum  fatli  funt,  ita  de 
Medico  Corporum  in  Medicum  Verfis  eft  Anima 
rum ;  cujus  Liber  quotiefcunq-,  legitur  in  Eccle 
fiis,  toties  Medicina  non  ceffat  :  That  Bleffed 
Scholar  and  Collegue,  of  the  Apoftle  Paul, 
who  (as  Jerom  alfo  tells  usj  according  to  the 
Opinion  of  fome,  intends  the  Volume  which 
had  been  Penned  by  this  Luke,  as  often  as  he 
ufes  that  Ex  predion  in  his  Epiftles,  according  to 
my  Gofpel. 

And  among  the  firft  Preachers  and  Writers, 
which  rendered  the  Primitive  Times  of  New- 
'England  happy,  there  was  one  who  might  like- 
wife  be  called,  A  Beloved  Phyfician  -,  one  to 
whom  there  might  alfo  be  given  the  Eulogy, 
which  the  Undents  think  was  given  to  Luke, 
A  Brother  whofe  Praife  was  in  the  Gofpel, 
throughout  all  Churches. 

This  was  Mr.  John  Fisk. 

§  2.  Mr.  John  Fisk  was  Born  in  the  Parifh 
of  St.^  James,  (called  for  DiftincTaon,  One  of 
the  Nine  Parifhes)  in  the  County  of  Suffolk, 
about  the  Year  1601.  of  Pious  and  Worthy  Pa 


rents,  yea,  of  Grand-Pdrents,  and  Great  Grand- 
Parents,  Eminent  for  Zeal  in  the  True  Reli- 
gion. There  were  Six  Brothers  in  the  Infa- 
mous Reign  of  Queen  Mary,  whereof  three 
were  Papifts,  and  three  were  Proteftants,  1 
may  fay,  Puritans  -,  and  of  the  Latter  (where- 
of none  were  owned  by  the  Former)  Two  were 
very  forely  perfecuted.  For  one  of  thefe  Bre- 
thren, the  Purfeyanr,  having  a  Kindnefs,  gave 
him  a  Private  and  Previous  Notice  of  his  com- 
ing with  an  Order  to  feize  him  ;  whereupon 
the  Good  Man,  firft  called  his  Family  to  Pray, 
er,  haftned  away  to  hide  himfelf  in  a  Ditch, 
with  his  Godly  Wife,  which  had  a  Sucking 
Child  at  her  Breaft.  The  Purfevant  being  near 
at  Hand,  a  Thorn  in  the  Hedge  gave  fuch  a 
Mark  to  the  Child's  Face,  as  never  went  out  j 
whereat  the  Child  beginning  to  Roar,  the  Mo- 
ther prefently  clapt  it  to  the  Breaft,  whereby 
it  was  quieted  at  once,  and  there  was  no  Dis- 
covery then,  or  after,  made  of  thefe  Confejjbrs. 
Another  of  thefe  Brethren,  from  whom  our 
Fisk  was  defcended,  was  then  fto  avoid  Burn- 
ing) hid  many  Months  in  a  Wood-pile  ■,  and  af- 
terwards, for  half  a  Year  in  a  Cellar,  where 
he  diligently  employ'd  himfelf  in  prorkable 
Manufactures,  by  Candle  Light,  after  fuch 
a  manner  as  ro  remain  likewife  undifcovered  j 
but  his  many  Hardships  brought  that  Exceffive 

Bleeding 


i4'2  The  Hijiory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 

Bleeding  upon  him,  that  Jbortned  his  Days,  and  I  lars  (whereof  the  well  known  Sir  George  Down- 


added  unto  the  Cry  of  the  Souls  under  the  Al- 
tar. 

§  3.  Our  John  was  the  Eldeft  of  Your  Chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  afterwards  came  to  "Neva- 
England  with  him,  and  left  a  Pofterity,  with 
whom  God  eltablifhed  his  Holy  Covenant.  His 
Parents  having  devoted  him  unto  the  Service 
of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrilt,  they  fent  him  firft  un- 
to a  Grammar  School,  Two  Miles  from  the 
Place  of  their  Abode,  whither  his  Diligent  Soul 
was  inftead  of  Wing**,  every  Day  to  carry  him. 
His  Education  at  the  School,  having  fitted  him 
for  the  Univerjity,  he  went  unto  Cambridge, 
where  he  was  admitted,  into  (as  I  think)  bn- 
man ucl College,  in  which  he  refided,  until  he 
became  a  Graduate.  Some  time  after  this,  be- 
ing both  by  Art  and  by  Heart,  well  prepared 
for  it,  he  applied  himfelf  unto  the  Work  to 
which  he  had  been  devoted  -,  namely,  the 
preaching  of  the  Gofpel :  But  the  Silencers 
grew  fo  hard  upon  him  for  his  Non  Conformity, 
that  upon  the  Advice  of  his  Friends,  he  let 
himfelf  to  ftudy  Phyfick,  and  upon  a  thorough 
Examination,  he  obtained  a  Licence  for  Publick 
Practice.  When  he  was  about  Eight  and  Twen- 
ty Years  of  Age,  he  married  a  Vertuous  Young 
Gentlewoman;  ieveral  Hundreds  of  Pounds  of 
whole  Patrimony  were  denied  her  upon  the 
Difpleafure  of  her  Father,  at  her  coming  to 
New  England. 

But  upon  the  Death  of  his  Father,  who  had 
committed  unto  him  the  Care  of  his  Mother 
and  his  two  Sifters,  and  his  youngeft  Brother, 
he  thought  it  his  Duty  to  Remove  into  New- 
England,  where  he  faw  an  Opportunity  of  re- 
turning unto  the  Quiet  Exercife  of  his  Mini- 
ftry.  He,  and  that  Excellent  Man  Mr.  John 
Allin,  came  aboard  in  a  Difguife,  to  avoid  the 
Fury  of  their  Perfecutors ;  but  after  they  were 
paft  the  Lands-End,  they  entertained  the  Paf- 
fengers  with  Two  Sermons  every  Day,  befides 
other  Agreeable  Devotions,  which  filled  the 
Voyage  with  fo  much  of  Religion,  that  one  of 
the  PafTengers  being  examined  about  his  going 
to  divert  himfelf  with  an  Hook  and  Line,  on 
the  Lord's  Day,  he  protefted,  That  he  did  not 
know  when  the  Lord's  Day  was -,  he  thought 
every  Day  was  a  Sabbath  Day ;  for,  he  faid, 
they  did  nothing  but  fray  and  preach  all  the 
Week  long. 

kj  4.  Mr.  Yisk  arrived  at  New-England  in  the 
Year  1657.  having  had  nothing  to  render  the 
Voyage  uncomfortable,  but  only  that  his  Aged 
Mother  died  quickly  after  he  came  aboard, 
and  his  only  Infant  quickly  after  he  came  a- 
fhore.  He  came  well  ftock'd  with  Servants, 
and  all  forts  of  Tools  for  Husbandry  and  Car- 
pentry, and  with  Provifions  to  fupport  his  Fa- 
mily in  a  Wildernefs  for  Three  Years  together-, 
out  of  which,  he  charitably  lent  a  confiderable 
Quantity  to  the  Country,  which  he  then  found 
in  the  DiftrefTes  of  a  War  with  the  Pequot-In- 
dians.  He  now  fojourned  about  Three  Years 
at  Salem,  where  he  was  both  a  Preacher  ro  the 
Church,  and  a  Tutor  unto  divers  young  Scho- 


ing  was  one)  as  he  was  afterwards  unto  his 
own  Children,  when  the  want  of  Grammar- 
Schools  at  Hand  made  it  neceflary.  From  thence 
he  removed  unto  a  Place  adjoining  thereunto, 
which  is  now  called  Wenham  :  Where  on  O&ob. 
8.  1644.  a  Church  was  gathered,  of  which  he 
continued  the  Pajior,  in  that  Place,  for  more 
than  Twice  Seven  Years :  Contented  with  a 
very  mean  Salary,  and  confuming  his  own  fair 
Eftate  for  the  Welfare  of  the  New-Planta- 
tion. 

§  5.  About  the  Year  1656.  he  Removed,  with 
the  major  part  of  his  Church,  to  another  New 
Town,  called  Chelmsford;  and  there  he  fpent 
the  Remainder  of  his  Days.  Of  the  Afflitlions 
which  now  Difciplin'd  him,  one  of  the  faddeft 
was  the  Lofs  of  his  Concordance ;  I  mean,  of 
his  Godly  and  Worthy  Confort,  who  by  her  In- 
comparable Expertnefs  in  the  Scriptures,  had 
rendred  any  other  Concordance  of  the  Bible  ufe- 
lefs  unto  his  Library.  This  Vertuous  Woman 
loft  her  Sight  for  fome  Years  before  fhe  died  -, 
under  which  Difafter  a  moft  Exemplary  Pa- 
tience was  produced  in  her,  by  her  View  of,  The 
things  which  are  not  feen,  and  are  Eternal  : 
And  at  length,  after  many  Admonitions  unto 
her  Friends  to  Improve  their  Sight  well  whilft 
they  had  it,  fhe  had  on  Yeb.  14.  1671.  her  Eyes 
opened,  by  their  being  clofed;  and  was  by  Death 
carried  from  Yaith  unto  Immediate  and  Ever- 
lafting  Sight :  After  which  he  married  again. 


§  6.  Twenty  Years  did  hcjhine  in  the  Golden 
Candlejiick  of  Chelmsford-,  a.  plain,  but  an  Able, 
Painful,  and  Ufeful  Preach  it  of  the  Gofpel $ 
rarely,  if  ever,  by  Sicknefs  hundred  from  the 
Exercife  of  his  Miniftry.     As  Marcilius  Yicinus 
having  written  one  Book,  De  Sanitate  Tuenda, 
and  another  Book,  De  Valet  udine  Refiituenda* 
concluded  his  Courfe  with  writing  his  Book, 
De  Vita  Calitus  Comparanda  :  Thus,  our  Mi. 
Yisk,  now   fuperfeded  his  Care  and    Skill   of 
difpenfing  Medicines  for  the  Body,  by  doing  it 
for  the  Soul.    But  although  he  did  in  his  Mi- 
niftry, go  through  an  Expofuion  of  almoft  all 
the  Scripture  in  both  Teftaments,  and  unto  his 
Lord's  Day  Sermons,  added  a  Monthly  LeUure 
on  the  Week  Day,  befides  his  Difcourfes  at  the 
Private  Meetings  of  the  Faithful,  and  His  exa£l 
and  Faithful  Cares  to  keep  up  ChurchDifcipline, 
yet  none  of  his  Labours  were  more  Confiderable 
than  his  Catechetical.    It  is  by  the  Excellent 
Owen  excellently  well  obferved,  TJjat  unlefs  a 
Man  has  fome  Good  Satisfaction  concerning  the 
Spiritual  Condition  of.  thefe  that  are  committed 
unto  his  Charge,  he   can  never  approve  himfelf 
among  them,  a  Workman  that  needeth  not  to  be 
afhamed,  rightly  dividing  the  Word  of  Truth  : 
And  the  Work  of  the  Miniftry  is  not  by  any 
means  more  evacuated,  and  rendered  Ineffectual, 
than  when  Men  have  not  a  certain  Defign  to 
deal  with  their  Hearers  according  to  what  they 
are  per/waded,  that  their  Spiritual  EJlate  doth 
require.    Our  Yisk  therefore,  did  by  moft  la- 
borious Catechiftng,  endeavour  to  know  the  State 

of 


Book  III.      The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  143 


of  bis  Bock,  and  make  it  good ':  And  hence,  al- 
tho'  he  did  himfelf  compoie  and  publish  a  moft 
ufeful  CaUcbifm^  which  he  entituled,  The  Olive- 
Plant  watered  i  yet  he  chofe  the  Affemblfs  Ca- 
tecbifm  for  his  Publick  Expo  fit  ions,  wherewith 
he  twice  went  over  it,  in  Difcourfes  before  his 
Afternoon  Sermons  on  the  Sabbath. 

§  7.  Towards  the  end  of  his  Life,  he  began 
to  labour  efpecially  under  two  Maladies,  either 
of  which  were  enough  to  try  the  molt  confum- 
mate  Patience  of  any  Man  living  5  thele  were, 
firlt  the  Stone,  and  then  the  Gout  ;  which  at  laft 
■were  followed  with  Convulfwns  ,  that  brought 
his  laborious  Life  unto  an  end  :  And  gave  him 
the  Experience  of  Sireitbergerus's  Motto,  Qui 
non  eji  Crucianus  non  eft  Cbr'iflianiis.  Yea,  for  a 
Complication  of  Maladies,his  Condition  became 
not  unlike  the  bleffed  Calvin  s,  of  whom  the  Hi 
ftorian  relates,  That  be  wot  troubled  witb  as  ma- 
ny Infirmities,  as  indifferent  Subjeffs  might  have 
fupplied  an  Hofpital. 

On  the  Second  Lord's  Day  of  his  Confine- 
ment by  Illnefs,  after  he  had  been  many  Lord's 
Days  carried  unto  the  Church  in  a  Chair,  and 
preached,  as  in  the  Primitive  Times  they  ftill 
treated,  fitting,  he  was  taken  with  Convulfwns, 
which  renewed  ib  fait  upon  him,  that  within  a 
few  Days  he  died,  on  January  14.  11576.  fee  a 


Reft  from  bis  Labours  :  Having  hrlt,  after  this 
manner  bleffed  his  Four  Children,  two  Sons  and 
two  Daughters,  who  were  by  his  Bed-fide  wait- 
ing for  his  BleJJing:  You  are  as  a  Shock  of  Corn 
bound  up ,  or  as  Twins  made  beautiful  by  the.  Co- 
venant of  Grace,  Tou  have  an  Inter'efi  in  the 
fure  Mercies  of  David  -,  tbqfe  you  bave  to  live 
upon.  Study  to  emulate  one  another ;  but  in  the 
befi,  in  the  be  ft.  Provoke  one  another  to  hove. 
The  God  of  your  Forefathers  b/efs  you  all.  And 
added  unto  his  younger  Son ,  the  prefent  wor- 
thy Pallor  of  Braintree,  concerning  his  Wife  and 
his  two  Children,  then  abfent,  The  God  of  Abra- 
ham, IJaac,  and  Jacob,  blejs  you,  and  your  Pc 
jferity  after you. 


We  will  now  leave  hirri  ottering  the  Wdrds 
of  Weinrichius,  in  his 

Epitaph. 

Vixi,&  quem  dedcras  cifrfuxi  mihi,CtinftsP 
peregi  : 
Vcrtfju*  Vit<£,  fuaviter  opto  morl. 


CHAP.     XXV. 

Scholapcus.     The  LIFE  of  Mr.   THOAU5    PARKER, 


§  r.  TT  may  without  any  ungrateful  Compan 
_L  fons  be  afferted,  that  one  of  the  greatefl 
Scholars  in  the  Englifl)  Nation ,    was  that  Re- 
nowned Robert  Parker,  who  was  driven  out  of 
the  Nation  for  his  A  'on  Conformity  to  its  unhap- 
py Ceremonies  in  the  Worlhip  of  God.     It  was 
the  Honour  of  that  Great  Man,  to  be  the  father 
of  fuch  Learned  Books,  as  that  of  his  De  Politia 
Ecelejiajiica,  and  that  Of.  the  Crofs  ;  as  well  as 
Foftor  Father  to  that  of  Sandford's  De  Difcenfu 
Chrifli  ad  Inferos ;  yea,  to  be  in  fome  fort  the 
father  of  all   the  NonConformifis  in  our  Age, 
who  yet  would  not  call  any  Man  their  Father. 
But  let  it  not  be  counted  any  Difhonour  unto 
him,  that  he  was  alto  the  Natural  Fat  her  of  our 
Thomas  Parker. 

§  2.  This  Mr.  Thomas  Parker  was  the  only 
Son  of  his  Father,  who  being  very  delirous  to 
have  him  a  Scholar,  committed  him  unto  pet- 
haps  a  godly,  but  a  vety  fevere  Matter.  Under 
this  hard  Mafter,  tho'  he  was  well  nigh  difcou- 
raged  by  the  Dulnefs,  which  he  apprehended  in 
his  own  Capacity,  yet  the  Confideration  of  his 
Father's  Defire,  made  him3  with  an  Early  Piety, 
to  join  his  Prayers  unto  his  Pains,  that  he 
might  have  his  Education  profpered  •,  and  God 
fo  profpered  him,  that  he  arrived  unto  a  delira- 
ble  Degree  of  Knowledge,  both  in  the  Tongues, 
and  in  the  Arts. 


§  3.  He  had  been  admitted  into  Magdalen 
Colledge,  in  Oxford;  but  after  the  Exile  of  his 
Father,  he  removed  unto  Dublin,  in  Ireland  ; 
where  he  found  from  Dr.  VJher  the  fame  fa- 
vourable Afpeft,  which  that  eminent  Perfon 
did  ufe  to  cait  upon  young  Students  that  were 
ingenious  :  And  from  thence  he  went  after  his 
Father  into  Holland,  where  Dr.  Ames  favoured 
him  with  his  Encouragements  and  Affiftances, 
in  the  Profecution  of  his  honeft  Studies  now  at 
Leyden. 

§  4.  As  his  Diligence  was  indefatigable,  fo 
his  Proficiency  was  proportionable  :  And  he  was 
particularly  confiderable  there,  for  his  Difpu- 
tations  upon  the  Points  then ,  moft  confiderably 
controverted.    It  was  at  trie  Age  of  Twenty, 
two,  that  he  drew   up  his  moft  Judicious  and 
Approved  Tbefes,    De  Traducliene  Peccatoris  : 
Which  are  bound  up  with  Dr.  Ames,  his  Opuf- 
cula,  in  fome  Editions  of  his  Anfwer  to  Grevm- 
chovius.    Thole  moft  accurate  Tbefes,  being  thus 
publifhed,  as  the  Compofure  of  another,  our 
humble  Parker,  tho'  inltigated  thereunto,  did 
yet  refufe  to  do  himfelf  the  Juflice,  of  publifh- 
ing  himfelf  fome  other  way,  to  be  the  Author 
of  them.     This  neglect  of  his,  he  laid,  was,  to 
chaltize  the  Vanity  oj  bk  ownysung  Mind,  which 
had  been  too  much  pleafed  with  the  Accuracy  of 
\his  own  early  Performance  in  tbofe  Thefes.    But 

T  t  t  rife 


*44 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.       Book  III. 


the  Author  of  the  Thefts  afterwards  came  to  be 
well  known,  by  the  Providence  of  God,  when 
whole  Books  came  to  be  written  by  learned  Men 
upon  them  5  whereof  one  was  entituled,  Parke- 
rus  11  hi  ft  rat  us. 

But  before  this  Age  of  Twenty  two,  he  pro 
ceeded  Mifnr.  with  the  general  Applaufe  of 
all,  an;! 'the  fperial  Elreem  of  Maccovius,  a 
man  Renowned  in  the  Be/gick  Univerfities.  In 
the  Diploma  then  given  him,  they  tettifie,  Ilium 
non  fine  magna  Admiratione  aud'.verimus, — And 
Se  FhH-'fcpl'ix  Art  1  umque  liber  all  urn  peritiffimum 
declaraverit. 

§  5.  Maccovivs  would  hereupon  have  had  Si- 
brandus  Lubbertus,  the  Moderator  of  the  Claffis 
there,  to  have  ordained  our  Parker  a  Presbyter, 
as  an  Acknowledgment  of  his  exceeding  worth ; 
but  tho'  Lubbertus  could  not  but  acknowledge 
it,  yet  out  of  a  fecret  Grudge,  he  would  not  al 
low  of  the  Ordination.  Whereupon  maccovivs 
rode  unto  the  States  at  Leodin,  with  Complaints 
of  Lubbertus  for  fo  ill  a  thing,  as  letting  fuch 
a  Perfon  as  this  Parker  go  away  under  any  Cloud 
of  Difrefpeft  ;  and  the  States  thereupon  wrote 
unto  Lubbertus  to  admit  him  :  But  the  haft  of 
his  return  into  England  prevented  it. 

§  6.  Refiding  ziNewherry  in  England,  he  ap- 
plied himfelf  with  an  invincible  Induftry  unto 
the  Study  of  School-Divinity  :  In  which  pro- 
found and  knotty  Study,  he  found  fuch  enfrn- 
ring  Temptations,  that  he  afterwards  laid  it  all 
afide,  for  the  Knowledge  of  Jefus  Ckriji  cruci- 
fied. The  wife  Bullinger  would  with  too  much 
Reafon  fay,  Unus  Seneca  plus  finceriora  Theolo- 
gy pofteritate  rcliquit,  quam  omncs  fere  omnium 
Scholiiflicorum  Libri.  The  great  Chamier  would 
with  a  like  Reafon  fay  ,  Solere  fe  Scholaflicos 
confulere,  non  alitor,  quam  fi  q:m  aliquando pa- 
fat  ium  invifens,  poji  An I  arum,  cubiculorum  (if 
canaculorum  magnifvccntiam  etiam  Latrina*  non 
dedignetur  tnfpicere,fed  paucis,ob  fttorcm.  The 
learned  Whitaker  would  fay  of  the  Schoolmen, 
Plus  habent  Argutiarum  quam  Scientice  plus  Sci- 
entist quam  Dottrina,  plus  Doitrinx  quam  ufus, 
plus  ufus  quam  adfalutem.  Our  Parker  conver- 
fed  indeed  with  the  Schoolmen,  until  he  almoft 
became  one  of  them  himfelf  :  Bat  not  fuch  an 
one  as  Luther  meant,  when  he  laid,  4W  Theo- 
logian Scholafticum  videt,  videt  Sept  em  peccata 
mortalia  .-  For  he  grew  fick  of  all  the  Learning 
that  he  had  got  from  the  Schoolmen  ;  and 
would  often  fay,  All  the  ufe  I  now  make  of  all 
my  School-Learning  is  this  :  I  have  fo  much  to 
deny  for  the  fake  of  my  Lord  Jefus  Cbrijf.  Nor 
was  he  infenfible  of  what  Sir  Walter  Rawleigh 
cbferved  concerning  the  School-men,  That  they 
taught  their  Followers  rather  to  Jhift,  than  to 
rcfolvc  by  their  Diftintfions. 

§  7.  From  thence  removing  with  feveral  de- 
vout Chrilfians  out  of  Wiltfhire  into  New-Eng- 
land, he  wis  Ordained  their Paftor,  at  a  Town, 
on  his,  and  their  Account,  called  Nervberry  •,, 
where  he  lived  many  Years,  by  the  Holinefs, 
the  Humblenefs,  the  Charity  of  his  Life,  giving 
his  People  a  perpetual  and  moft  lively  Com- 
mentary upon  his  Dodrine. 


§  8.  The  Strains  which  hisimmoderateStudies 
gave  unto  his  Organs  of  Sight,  brought  a  mife- 
rableDefluxionof  Rheum  \x$or\  his  Eyes-,  which 
proceeded  fo  far,  that  one  of  them  fwe'lled  un- 
til it  came  out  of  his  Head,  and  the  other  grew 
altogether  dim  fome  Years  before  his  Death. 
Under  this  extreme  Lofs  he  would,  after  a  Chri- 
ftian  and  pleafant  manner,  give  himfelf  that 
Confolation  :  Well,  they'll  be  refiored/bortly  at 
the  Refurrellion. 

The  Jews,  upon  the  dim  fight  of  Eli,  have 
an  Obfervation,  That  none  are  mentioned' in  the 
Scripture,  as  affli&ed  with  Failure  of  Sight,  but 
fuch  as  were  affli&ed  either  in  their  Children,  or 
in  their  Pupils.  Our  Parker  had  no  Children 
to  affli£t  him,  and  his  Pupils  were  fuch  as  to 
comfort  him  -,  yet  Failure  of  Sight  was  his  Ca- 
lamity. 

§  9.  In  the  latter  part  of  his  Life,  he  bent 
himfelf  unto  the  Study  of the  Scripture-Prophe- 
cies ;  being,  as  has  been  fa  id  by  Dr.  Ufher,  intti- 
gated  thereunto.  Twas  with  an  arduous'  Con- 
junction of  Meditations,  and  Supplications,  that 
he  followed  this  delightful  Study,  till  he  had 
written  feveral  Volumes,  a  great  part  of  them 
in  Latin  ;  whereof  no  part  was  ever  publiflfd 
but  one  upon  Daniel,  which  he  wrote  in  Englijh. 
If  fome  of"  his  Expofitions  upon  thofe  difficult 
parts  of  the  Scripture,  h3ve  been  fince  confuted 
by  fome  great  Authors,  who  dill  iked  them,  we 
may,  on  more  Accounts  than  one,  confider  him, 
as  the  Homer  of  New-England ;  and  add, 

Aliquando  Bonus  Dormitat  Homer  us. 

§  10.  He  went  unto  the  Immortals,  in  the 
Month  of  April  1677,  about  the  Eighty  fecond 
Year  of  his  Age  :  And  after  he  had  lived  all  his 
Days  afngle  Alan,  but  a  great  part  of  his  Days 
engaged  in  Apocalyptical  Studies,  he  went  unto 
the  Apocalyptical  Virgins,  who  follow  the  Lamb 
whitherfoe-oer  he  goes. 

He  was  a  Perfon  of  a  moft  extenfive  Charity  -, 
which  Grain  of  his  Tamper,  might  contribute 
unto  that  Largencfs  in  his  Principles,  about 
Church  Government,  which  expofed  him  unto 
many  Temptations,  amongft  his  Neighbours, 
who  were  not  fo  Principled.  He  would,  in- 
deed, exprefs  himfelf  diffatisfied  ar  the  Edge, 
which  there  was  in  the  Writings  of  his  Father, 
againft  the  Bijhops  -,  and  he  did  himfelf  write  a 
Preface  unto  a  Book  ;  whereupon  Mr.  Charles 
Chancey  beftow'd  a  fhort  Anfwer,  which  begins 
with  this  Jhorter  Cenfure. 

c  Let  it  not  be  an  Offence  to  any  Chriftian, 
'  that  there  hath  been  found  one  like  to  Urijah 
'the  Prieft,'that  would  fet  up  the  Altar  of 
'  Damafcus  among  us,  to  thruft  out  the  Brazen 
'  Altar  of  the  Lord's  Inftitution  -,  viz.  Mr.  Tho- 
'  mm  Parker,  who  haspublifhed  a  Book,  plead - 
*  ing  for  Epifcopacy  ■,  wherein  is  found,  ii<2a©- 
'  Kaji^av,  a  Colt  kicking  againft  his  Dam. 

Such  a  Difference  in  Apprehenfion,  and  in  Af- 
fection too,  did  on  that  occafion  difeover  it  felf, 

be- 


__ ■ — —— — — ■  -,,  ■  ■■■ — _i- . 1 

Booklll.       The  Hijlory  of  New-England 


between  thofe  Good  Men,  who  are  now  joy- 
fully met,  Ubi  Luthi  Lutbero  cum  Zuinglio,  op- 
time  jam  Convenit. 

Yet  the  Alienation  between  them,  was  not 
fo  grearas  that  between  Theoclus,  and  Pellink, 
who  being  burnt  in  one  Funeral  Fire,  after  they 
had  kill'd  one  another,  the  very  Flame  of  that 
Fire  divided  it  fell\  the  Flame  of  their  Funeral 
Fire  would  not  be  united.  Cbancey  and  Parker 
are  united  in  our  ■Church-Hiftory ;  the  Funeral 
Refpe&s  which  are  here  paid  unto  both  of 
rhem,  agree  very  well  together.     Now, 

That  which  the  Learned,  Pious,  and  Sweet 
fpirited  Bitcholtzer,  provided  for  himfelf,  we 
will  now  aflign   unto  this  our  Sweet- fpirited 


Parker  (who  fpent  his  Life  much  in  Chrono- 
logical Studies,  like  thut  Great  Bteckolit ?>\) 
for  an 


E 


P  I  T    A  P   H. 


Hie,  Pie  Chrifie !  Tuo  recubat  quxfita  cruore) 
lnq;  Tuo  Gremio,  Parvula  dormit  Ovis- 

Reddidit  hac  Animam  balanti  Voce  Yidelem  : 
Huic  Pajior  dices,  Intret  Ovile  meum. 


An   APPENDIX      Containing    M  emoirS 

of  Mr.  fames  Noyes. 


WHEN  we  had  thus  hniihed  our  Me- 
moirs of  Mr.  Parker,  our  Second 
Thoughts  told  us,  that  fome  of  Mr.  Noyes  mud 
accompany  them.  Sending  therefore  to  my 
Excellent  Friend,  Mr.  Nicolas  Noyes,  the  pre- 
fent  Minifter  of  Salem,  for  fome  Account,  con- 
cerning a  Perfon  fo  nearly  related  unto  him,  he 
favoured  me  with  the  following  Relation.  And 
tho'  he  were  pleafed  in  his  Letters  to  tell  me, 
'  That  he  had  fent  me  only  a  Rude  Immetho- 
c  dical  Jumble  of  things,  intending  that  I 
'  fhould  ferve  my  Occafions  out  of  them,  for  a 
*  Composition  of  my  own.  Yet  I  find,  that  I 
fh  ill  not  give  my  Readers  a  better  Satisfaction, 
any  way,  than  by  tranferibing  the  Words  of 
my  Friend.  The  Account  in  his  own  Words, 
is  too  Elegant,  and  Exprefhve,  to  need  any 
Alteration. 


'  Mr.  James  Noyes  was  Born,  160%.  zxChoul 
derton  in  Wiltfhire,  of  Godly  and  Worthy 
Parents  His  Father  was  Minifter  of  the  fame 
Town,  a  very  Learned  Man,  the  Shool  Ma 
fter  of  Mr.  Thomas  Parker.  His  Mother  was 
Sifter  to  the  Lejrned  Mr.  Robert  Parker,  and 
he  had  much  of  his  Education  and  Tutorage 
under  Mr.  Thomas  Parker.  He  was  called 
by  him,  from  Brazen  Nofe  College  in  Oxford, 
to  help  him  in  teaching  the  Free  School  at 
Newberry-,  where  they  taught  School  toge- 
ther, till  the  Time  they  came  to  New  Eng 
land.  He  was  converted  in  his  Youth,  by  the 
Miniftry  of  Dr.  Twifs,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Par 
ker,  and  was  admired  for  his  Piety  and  his 
Vertue  in  his  younger  Years.  The  Reafon  of 
his  coming  to  New  England,  was,  becaufe  he 
could  not  comply  with  the  Ceremonies  of  the 
Church  of  England.  He  was  married  in  Eng- 
land to  Mrs.  Sarah  Brown,  the  Eldeft  Daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  Jofeph  Brown  of  Southampton,  not 
long  before  he  came  to  New  England,  which 


was  in  the  Year  1634.  In  the  fame  Ship 
came  Mr.  Thomas  Parker,  Mr.  James  Noyes-, 
and  a  Younger  Brother  of  his,  Mr,  Nicolas 
Noyes,  who  then  was  a  fingle  Man :  Between 
which  Three,  was  a  more  than  ordinary  En- 
dearment of  Affecfion,  which  was  never  fha- 
ken  or  broken,  but  by  Death  Mr.  Parker  and 
Mr.  James  Noyes,  and  others  that  came  over 
with  them,  Faffed  and  Prayed  together  many 
times,  before  they  undertook  this  Voyage ,; 
and  on  the  Sea,  Mr.  Parker  and  Mr.  Noyes 
preached  or  expounded,  one  in  the  Forenoon., 
other  in  the  Afternoon,  every  Day  during  the 
Voyage,  unlefs  fome  extraordinary  thing  in- 
tervened, and  were  abundant  in  Prayer. 
'  When  they  arrived,  Mr.  Parker  was  at 
firft  called  to  preach  at  Ipfwich,  and  Mr. 
Noyes  at  Mifiick,  at  which  Places  they  con- 
tinued nigh  a  Year.  He  had  a  Motion  made 
unto  him  to  b"e  Minifter  at  Watertown ;  but 
Mr.  Parker  and  others  of  his  Brethren  and 
Acquaintance,  fettling  at  Newberry,  and  ga- 
thering the  Tenth  of  the  Churches  in  the  Co- 
lony, and  calling  Mr.  Noyes  to  be  the  Tea- 
cher of  it,  he  preferred  that  place  -,  being 
lothe  to  be  feparated  from  Mr.  Parker,  and 
Brethren  that  had  fo  often  Fafted  and  Prayed 
together,  both  in  England  and  on  the  Atlan- 
tic Sea.  So  he  became  the  Teacher  of  that 
Church,  and  continued  painful  and  fuccefsful 
in  that  Station  fomething  above  Twenty 
Yeats,  without  any  confiderable  Trouble  in 
rhe  Church.  Notwithstanding  his  Principles 
as  to  DiJcipline,  were,  fomerhing  differing 
from  many  of  the  Brethren,  rhere  Avas  fuch 
Condefcenfion  on  both  Parts,  that  Peace  and 
**  Order  was  not  Interrupted.  He  Was  very 
much  loved  and  Honoured  in  Neibberry  •  his 
Memory  is  precious  there  to  this  Day,  and 
and  his  Carechifm  (which  is  a  publ'ick  and 
ftanding  Teftitnony  oi'  his  Underftanding  and 
T  1 1   2  Orthodoxy 


146 


The  Hifiory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 


Orthodoxy  in  the  Principles  of  Religion,)  is 
publickly  and  privately  ufed  in  that  Church 
and  Town  hitherto.  He  was  very  well  Lear- 
ned in  the  Tongues,  and  in  Greek  excelled 
moll  He  was  much  Read  in  the  Fathers  and 
the  Schoolmen.  And  he  was  much  efteemed 
by  his  Brethren  in  the  Minillry.  'Twice  he 
was  called  by  Mr.  Wilfon  and  others,  to 
preach,  in  the  Time  when  the  Antinomian 
Principles  were  in  danger  of  prevailing  •, 
which  he  did  with  good  Succeis,  and  to  the 
Satisfaction  of  thofe  that  invited  him.  Mr. 
Wilfon  dearly  loved  him  ;  and  it  fo  happened 
once  at  Newbury,  that  he  preached  in  the 
Forenoon  about  Holinefs  lb  holily  and  Ably, 
that  Mr.  Wilfon  was  lb  aifecfed  with  it,  as 
to  change  his  own  Text,  and  pitch  upon 
Mr.  Koyes\  for  the  Afternoon-,  prefacing 
his  Difcourfe,  with  telling  the  Auditory, 
that  his  Brother  Koyes's  Dilcourfe  about  Ho- 
linefs in  the  Forenoon  had  fo  much  Impreflion 
upon  his  mind,  he  knew  not  how  in  the  Af- 
ternoon to  purfue  any  other  Argument.  His 
Converfation  was  fo  unqueftionably  Godly, 
that  they  who  differed  from  him  in  fmaller 
Matters  as  to  Difcipline;held  a  moft  amicable 
Correfpondence  with  him,  and  had  an  high 
Eftimation  of  him.  Altlio'  he  was  very 
averfe  to  the  Ceremonies  of  the  Church  ol 
England,  accounting  them  needlefs,  many 
Ways  orfenfive  and  hurtful  at  the  belt,  and 
the  Rigorous  Impofition  of  them  Abominable 
and  Intolerable,  fo  that  he  left  England  for 
their  fake;  yet  he  was  not  equally  averfe  to 
Epifcopacy,  but  was  in  Opinion  for  Epifcopus 
Prxfes,  tho'  not  for  Epifcopus  Princeps.  His 
own  Words  teftify  this,  for  fo  he  wrote  -,  It 
feemcth  he  that  wan  culled,  Antilles  Prsepofi- 
tus,  the  Bifhop,  in  a  Presbytery,  by  Proccfs 
of  Time  wot  only  called  Bilhop,  tho'  all  El 
ders  are  alfo  according  to  their  Office  Etfen- 
t tally  Bifhops,  and  differing  only  in  Gradual 
Jurifdiclion.  He  no  ways  approved  of  a 
Governing  Vote,  in  the  Fraternity,  but  took 
their  Confent  in  a  Silential-  way.  He  held 
Ecclcfiaftical  Councils  fo  far  Authoritative  and 
Binding,  that  no  particular  Elder,  or  So 
ciety,  might  feein  to  have  Independency  and 
Sovcra'ignty,  or  the  Major  Part  of  them  have 
Liberty  to  fin  with  Impunity.  He  was  equal 
ly  afraid  of  Ceremonies  and  of  Schifm\  and 
when  he  fied  from  Ceremonies  he  was  afraid 
of  being  guilty  of  Schifm.  For  that  Reafon 
he  was  jealous  (if  not  too  jealous)  of  parti- 
cular Church-Covenants  -,  yet  he  accounted 
them  Adjunffs  of  the  Covenant  of  Grace.  He 
held  Profeflion  of  Faith,  and  Repentance,  and 
SubjeUion  to  the  Ordinances,  to  be  the  Rule 
of  Admiifion  into  Church  Fellowfhip  ;  and  that 
fuch  as  (how  a  Willingnefs  to  Repent,  and  be 
Baptifed  in  the  Name  of  the  Lord  Jefus, 
without  known  Diffimulation,  are  to  be  ad- 
mitted thereto  -,  and  that  it  depended  more  on 
God's  Providence,  than  his  Ordinances,  to 
render  Church-Members  found  in  the  Faith  -. 
and  that  God  took  into  Covenant  fome  that 


were  Veffels  of  Wrath,  as  for  other  Ends,  fo 
to  facilitate  the  Converfion  of  their  Elect 
Children.  He  was  as  Religious  at  Home  as 
Abroad,  in  his  Family  and  in  fl-crer,  as  he 
was  publickly^  and  they  that  bed  knew  him, 
molt  loved  and  efteemed  him.  Mr.  Parker 
and  he  kept  a  Private  Fa  ft  once  a  Month,  fo 
long  as  they  lived  together,  and  Mr.  Parker 
after  his  own  Death,  till  his  own  Departure. 
Mr.  Koyes  bitterly  lamented  the  Death  of 
K.  Charles  I.  and  both  he  and  Mr.  Parker 
too  had  too  great  Expectations  of  K.  Charles 
II.  but  Mr.  Parker  lived  to  fee  his  Expedi- 
tions of  Charles  the  Second  fruflrated.  He 
had  a  long  and  tedious  Sicknefs,  which  he 
bore  patiently  and  chearfully  ;  and  he  died 
joyfully  in  the  Forty  Eighth  Year  of  his  Age, 
0£t.  22.  1656.  He  lett  Six  Sons  and  Two 
Daughters,  all  of  which  lived  to  be  married, 
and  have  Children,  tho'  fince  one  Son  and  one 
Daughter  be  dead.  He  hath  now  living  Fifty 
Six  Children,  Grand  Children,  and  Great 
Grand  Children.  And  his  Brother  that  came 
over  with  him  a  fingle  Man,  is  thro'  the 
Mercy  of  God,  yet  living  ^  and  hath  of  Chil- 
dren, Grandchildren,  and  Great  Grand- 
Children,  above  an  Hundred  :  Which  is  an 
Inllance  of  Divine  Favour,  in  making  the 
Families  of  his  Servants  in  the  WiLL'rnefs 
like  a  Flock.  There  was  the  greateit  Amity, 
Intimacy,  Unanimity,  yea,  Unity  imaginable 
between  Mr.  Parker,  and  Mr.  Koyes.  So 
unlhaken  was  their  Friendfhip,  nothing  but 
Death  was  able  to  part  them.  They  taught 
in  one  School;  came  over  in  one  Ship  -,  were 
Paftor  and  Teacher  of  one  Church;  and  Mr. 
Parker  continuing  always  in  Celibacy,  they 
lived  in  one  Houfe,  till  Death  iepara ted  them 
for  a  Time^  but  they  are'bqth  now  together 
in  one  Heaven,  as  they  that  belt  knew  them 
have  all  pdlable  Reafon  to  le  pcrfwaded. 
Mr.  Parker  continued  in  his  Houle,  as  long 
as  he  lived ;  and  as  he  received  a  great  deal 
of  Kindnefs  and  Refpecf  there,  lb  he  (how'd 
a  great  deal  of  Kindnefs  in  the  Educating  of 
his  Children,  and  was  very  Liberal  to  that 
Family  during  his  Life,  and  at  his  Death.  He 
never  forgot  the  Old  Friendlhip,  but  (hewed 
Kindnefs  to  the  Dead,  in  (hewing  Kindnefs 
to  the  Living. 

'  Mr.  Parker  and  Mr.  Koyes,  were  Excellent 
Singers,  both  of  them  ;  and  were  extraor- 
dinary delighted  in  Singing  of  P films.  They 
fang  Four  times  a  Day  in  the  Publick  Wor- 
(hip,  and  always  juft  after  Evening-Prayer  in 
the  Family,  where  reading  the  Scripture,  ex- 
pounding, and  Praying,  were  the  other  con- 
itant  Exercifes.  Mr.  Parker  and  Mr.  Koyes, 
were  of  the  fame  Opinion  with  Dr.  Owen, 
about  the  Sabbath ;  yet  in  Prailice,  were 
ftri£t  Obfervers  of  the  Evening  after  it.  Mr. 
Parker,  whofe  Practice  I  my  fclf  remember, 
was  the  llricfeft  Obferver  of  the  Sabbath, 
that  ever  I  knew.  I  once  asked  him,  feeing 
his  Opinion  was  otherwife,  as  to  the  Even- 
ing  belonging  to  the  Sabbath,  why-ius  Pra- 

dice 


Book  III.       7 be  Hi/lory  of  New-England. 


147 


'  Sice  differed  from  his  Opinion  !  He  anfwered 
'  me,  Beciiufe  he  dare  not  depart  j row  the  Foot- 
'  Jfeps  of  the  Flock,  fir  bis  private  Opinion. 

4  Being  got  into  fome  Paflages  of  Mr.  Par- 
4  ker'slAk  before  I  am  aware,  I  will  infer:  a 
1  few  mere:  And  you  may  make  what  life  of 
4  them  you  pleafe.  He  kept  a  School,  as  well 
«  as  preached,  at  Newbury  in  New  England 
«  He  ordinarily  had  about  Twelve  or  Fourteen 

*  Scholars.  He  rook  no  pay  for  his  pains,  unlefs 

*  any  prelent  were  freely  lent  him.  He  uied 
4  to  fay,  He  lived  for  the  Churches  fake,  and 
1  begrutch'd  no  pains  that  were  for  its  Bene- 
4  fit;  and  by  his  Good  Will  he  was  not  free 
4  to  teach  any  hut  fuch  as  wete  defigned  for 
4  the  Minifhy  by  their  Parents ;  tor  he  would 
4  fav,  He  could  net  beftow  his  Time  and  Pains 
1  unlefs  it  were  for  the  Benefit  of  the  Church. 
'  Tho'  he  were  blind,  yet  fuch  was  his  Me- 
4  moty,  that  he  could  in  his  Old  Age,  teach 
'  Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew,  very  Artificially. 
1  He  feldom  corrected  a  Scholar,  unlets  for  Ly- 

*  ing  and  Fighting,  which  were  unpardonable 
4  Crimes  in  our  School.  He  promoted  Learn- 
4  ing  in  his  Scholars,  by  fomething  an  unufual 
'  way ;  encouraging  them  to  learn  LefTons, 
'  and  make  Verfes,    beiides   and  above   their 

*  ftinted  Tasks,   for   which  they  had  Pardons 

*  in  Store,  that  were   kept  on  Record  in  the- 
4  School,    and    were    for   leffer  School-Faults, 
4  fuch   as    were  not   Immoralities,-  and  Sins 
4  againft  God,  crols'd   out ;   but    he   always 
4  told  them,  they   muft   not  think  to  efcape 
4  unnunifhed  for  Sin  againft  God,  by  reafon 
4  of  them-,  tho'  for  fome   leffer  Defects  about 
4  their    LeiTons,  they  were  accepted.     I  heard 
4  him  tell  Mr.  Miller   the  Minilter,  that  the 
4  great  Changes  of  his  Lite  had  been  fignified 
4  to  him  before-hand  by  Dreams.     And  I  heard 
4  him  fay,  That  before  a  Fiery  Temptation  of 
4  the  Devil  betel  him,  he  had  a  very  Terrible 
4  Reprefentation    in  a    Dream,    of  the  Devil 
c  allaulting  of  him,  and  he  wreftled  with  him,  I 
4  and  had  more  than  once  like  to  have  prevailed 
4  againft  him  -,  but  that  when  he  was  moft  likely 
4  and  moft  near  to  be  overcome,  he  was  afrefh 
4  animated  and  ftrengthened  torefift  him  ■,  till  at 
'  length  the  Devil  feemed  to  break  abroad  like 
4  a  flails  of  Lightning,   and  then  difappeared -, 
4  and    that  not  long  after,  the  moft  Difmal 
'  Temptation  of  Satan  betel  him  that  ever  he 
1  was  fenfible  of,  and  that  all  the  Paffages  of 
c  that  Temptation  anfwered  the  forementioned 
'  Repretentarion  -,  and  that  the  Hazards  of  it, 
'  and  his   ftefh    Supplies    when  almoft  van- 
4  quithed,  and  his  Deliverance  was  fb  remar- 
'  kable,  that   every   Day  he  had    lived  fince 
1  that  Time,  he  had  given  Thanks  to  God  par- 
4  ticularly    tor  his   Atfiftance   of  him  in  that 
'  Temptation,  and  his  Deliverance  out  of  it : 
4  Tho1  it  were   Twenty  Years  betore  the  time 

*  of  his  now  telling  me  concerning  it.  Mr  Parker 
4  excelPd  in  Liberty  ot  Speech,  in  Praying, 
1  Preaching  and  Singing,  having  a  molt  delicate 

*  tweet  Voice  ;  ye't  he  had  all  along  an  In/pulje 
6  upon  his  Spirit^  that  he  (hould  have  the  Pal 


1  fey  in  his  Tongue,  before  he  died.     His  Voice 
6  held  extraordinarily,  until  very  Old  Age  -,  and 
'  I  think  the   more,    becaule  his  Teeth  held 
'  found  and  good  until  then;  his  Cutlom  Be- 
c  ing  to  wafh  his  Mouth,  and   rub  his  Teeth 
'  every  Morning.     -Some  tew  Years   before  his 
'  Death,  he  began  to  complain  ot  the  Tooth-ach^ 
'  and  then  he  quickly  began  to  lofe  his  Teeth-., 
'  and' now  he  laid,  The  Daughters  of  his  Mufick 
'  began  to  fail  hint.  And  about  a  Year  and  half  be- 
'  fore  he  Died,  That  which  he  had  long  feared 
'  befel  him,  viz.  The  Palfy  in  bis  Tongue  ;  and 
'  fo  he  became   Speechlefs,  and  thus  continued 
'  until  Death;  having  this  only  help  lefthim,that 
'  he  could  pronounce  Letters,  but  not  Syllables 
'  or  Words.  He  iignified  his  Mind,  by  Jpclling  his 
'  Words,  which  was  indeed  a  tedious  way,  but 
c  yet  a  Mercy   fo  far  to  him  and  others.     Du- 
'  ring  that   Time,  which  was   in  our  firft  In- 
'  dian  War,  when  the  Indians  btoke  in  upon: 
'  many  Towns,  and  committed  horrible  Out- 
'  rages,  and  tormented  fuch  as  they  took  Cap- 
'  tives,  one  Night  he  fell  into  a  dreadful  Ten- 
'  tation,  left  the  Indians  fhould  break  in  upon 
'  Newbury^  and  the   Inhabitants  might  gene- 
'  rally  elcape  by  fighting  or  flying,  but  he  be- 
c  ing  Old  and  Blind,  and  grown  Decrepit,  he 
■  muft  of  Necefliry  fall  into  their  hands  -,  and 
;  that  being  a  Minifter,  they  would   urge  him 
:  by  Torture  to  Blafpheme  Chrift,  and  that  he 
:  fhould   not  have  Grace  to   hold  our  againft 
:  the  Tentation  of  Indian  Torture ;  and  with 
£  the  very  fear  of  this,  he  was  for  the  moft  part 
t  of  the  Night   in  fuch  Agonies  of  Soul,  that 
'  he  was  on  the   very  Brink  of  Defparation ; 
'  but  at  length,  God   helpt  him,  by  bringing 
c  to  his  Mind,  Two  Places  of  Scripture  :  That 
'  in  Ifa.  51.  j  2,  13.     /,  even  I,  am  he  that  com- 
'  forts  thee ;  who  art  thou,  that  thou  fhouldeft 
'  be  afraid  of  a  Man  that  fhall  die,  and  forget - 
'  teft  the  Lord  thy  Maker  !  And  that  in  Rom. 
'  S.  35,  36.  Who  fhall  fepar ate  us  from  the  Love 
'  of  Chnfi  ?  Shall  Tribulation  or  Dijlrefs,  or 
Perfecution,   or    Famine,    or   Nakcdncfs,    or 
Peril,  or  Sword  !  — —  For  thy  Sake  we  are 

killed  all  the  Day  long  •  Nay  in  all  the  ft 

things,  we  are  more  than  Conquerors  thrd  him 
that  hath  loved  us.  Sleep  departed  from  him 
that  Night,  by  reafon  of  the  Honour  of  that 
Tentation  -,  and  the  Joy  that  came  towards 
Morning  he  was  wonderfully  affefted  with; 
and  in  the  Morning  early,  he  pronounced  all 
this  to  me  Letter  by  Letter,  and  glorified 
God.  Once  hearing  fome  of  us  laughing  ve- 
ry freely,  while,  I  fuppofe,  he  was  better 
bufied  in  his  Chamber  above  us,  he  came 
down,  and  gravely  faid  to  us.  Ccufins,  I  won- 
der you  can  be  Jo  merry,  unlefs  you  are  fur  e 
of  your  Salvation  !  He  was  a  very  Holy  and 
Heavenly-minded  Man,  and  as  much  morti- 
fied to  the  World,  as  almoft  any  in  it.  He 
fcarce  called  any  thing  his  own,  but  his  Books 
and  his  Cloaths.  When  he  was  urged,  to 
vindicate  himfelf  to  be  the  Author  of  the 
Thejes  de  TraduUione  Peccatoris  ad  Vitam,  b? 
utterly  refufed  it  5    frying,  being  young  at 

tha 


148 


7 he  Hifiory  of  New-Ingland.       i  00k  III^ 


him  fay,  He  felt  the  whole  Frame  of  his  Na- 
ture giving  way,  which  threaded  his  Diflblu- 
tion  to  be  at  hand  :  But  he  thanked  God  he 
was  not  amaz'd  at  it. 


the  Time  when  he  made  them,  he  was  afraid 
he  had  not  fo  fully  aimed  at  the  Glory  of 
GoJ,  as  he  ought  to  have  done.  But  a  while 
after,  one  unbeknown  to  him  in  Holland,  Re- 
printed them,  with  the  Name  of  the  Author, 
and  fet  him  forth  with  more  advantage,  than 
would  have  been  modelt  or  proper  for  himielfi 
to  have  done  :,  giving  him  his  Parental  as 
well  as  Vcrjonal  Honour  ;  and  faying,  That 
his  Father  was,  Pater  dignus  tali  Filio  ;  and 
that  he  was,  Filius  dignus  tali  Patre.  Thus 
he  that  humbleth  himfelj Jhall  be  exalted. 
'  Mr.  Wiljon  once,  on  occafion  of  his  Celiba- 
cy, laid  to  him,  That  if  there  could  be  Anger/  gUlar  Salifications,  in  Piety  excelling,  anim- 
in  Heaven,  his  Father  would  chide  him,  when|  '  placable  Enemy  to  all  Herefie  and  Schijm,  and  a 
he  came  there,  becaufe  he  had  not,  like  him,!'  moft  ableWarriour  again]}  the  fame,  lie  woe 
a  Son  to  follow  him.  But  he  had  many  Spi-  j'  of  a  reaching  and  ready  Apprehenfion,  a  large 
ritual  Children,  that  were  the  Seals  of  his  i c  Invention,  a  moft  profound  Judgment,  a  rare 
Miniliry  :  He  was  alfo  a  Father  to  the  Father-  '  and  tenacious  and  comprehenfive  Memory,  fixed 
'  Ids-,  and  many  Scholars  were  little  lefs  be  ji'  and  unmovdbk  in  his  grounded  Conceptions  y 
'  hoklen  to  him' tor  their  Education,  than  they    'Jure  in  Words  and S}  ihout   Rafbnefs  ; 

were  to  their  Parents  for  their  Generation.  "  senile  and  mild  in  all  !  xprelfions,   without  all 

'  The  Occafion  of  his  Cxlibacy  was  this  :  At  '   Faffwh,    of' provoking   Language.     And  a*  be 
the  time  that  he  meditated  Marriage,  he  was  ■■ '  was  a  notable   Difpufant,  jo,    're  never  would 
■  aiTaulted  with  violent  Temptations  to  Infidel1-  provoke    his  Adverfary ,  faving  by  the  fbort 
lity,    which  made  him  regardlefs  of  every  ■  '  Knocks,  and] heavy  Weigh •  oj    Argument, 


'  To  conclude,  all  I  intend  concerning  Mr. 
Parker,  or  Mr.  Noyes,  I  fhall  give  you  Mr. 
Parker's  Character  of  Mr.  Noyes,  who  belt 
knew  him,  and  whofe  Teilimony  of  him  is 
very  credible. 

'  Mr.  James  Noyes,  my  worthy  Qollegue  in 
the  Miniftry  of-  the  Go/pel,  was  a  Man  of  fin- 


thing,  in  comparifon  of  confirming  his  Faith, l ' 
'  about  the  Truth  of  the  Scriptures.     This  occa- 1 ' 
'  fion'd  his  falling  into  the  Study  of  the  Prophe-  \ ' 
'  cies,  which  proved  a  means  of  Confirming  his1' 
'  Faith  ;  but  he  fell  fo  in  Love  with  that  Study, 
'that  he  never  got  out  of  it,  until  his  Death  : 
'  And  the  Church  had  doubtlefs  had^  much  Be- 
'  nefit   by  his  profound  Studies  in  that  kind, 

*  could  the  Bifhopshave  been  perfwaded  to  Li  jc  expedite  the  Entangled,  out  of  the"" Briars. 

•  cenfe  his  Books  ;  which  they  refufed,  becaufe  |'  was  Courageous  in  Dangers,  and  jiill  was  apt 
1  he  found  the  Pope  to  be  prophefied  of,  where  | '  to  believe  the  beft,  and  made  fair  Weather  in  a 
1  they  could  not  underftood  it.  His  whole  Life,  '  Storm.  jtie  was  much  honoured  and  efteemei 
'  befides  what  was  neceffary  for  the  Support  of  ■  in  the  Country,  a/id  his  Death  was  much  bewail- 
'it,  by  Food,  and  Sleep,  was  Prayer,  Study,  '  cd.  I  think  he  may  be  reckoned  among  the  great- 
'  Preaching,  and  teaching  School.     I  once  heard  '  efi  Worthies  of  this  /go. 


He 

w.u  of  fo  loving  .  and  companionate  ,  and 
humble  Carriage,  that  I  believe  never  any  were 
acquainted  with  him,  but  did  defire  the  Conti- 
nuance of  his  Society  and  Acquaintance.  He 
was  rcjolute  for  Truth,  and  in  defence  thereof, 
had  no  refpetf  to  any  Perjons.  He  was  a  moft 
excellent  Counfellor  in  Doubts,  and  could  ft rike 
t  art  Hairs-breadth,  like  the  Benjamites,  and 

He 


CHAP.     XXVI. 
The  LIFE    of   Mr.  THOMAS    T  H  A  C  H  E  R. 
Virtutem  Virtus  pariat  ;    De  lumine  Lumen  prodeat. 


§  1.  A  Thanafius  writing  the  Life  of  his  An- 
J\.  tenuis,  defcribes  him  as  propounding 
to  his  own  Obfervation  and  Imitation,  the  vaii- 
ous  Excellencies  of  the  Good  Men  whom  he  con 
verfed  w  ithal :  The  to  %t&.iv,  or  Good  Carriage 
of  One  ;  the  70  <*•£$'«  toV  ev%i(  mvlovw,  or  Prayer- 
fulnejs,  of  Another  ;  the  i$  «&p>»7oc,  or  Lenity. 
of  a  Third  ;  the  ™  yixtLvfyumv,  or  Humanity,  of 
a  Fourth  ;  attending  to  one  iv>  dyowivv-n,  or 
keeping  of  his  Watchfulnefs  -,  to  another  -m  <pi>.a 
\<yy£vn,  or  loving  of  Learning  :  Remarking  of 
One,  w  lnyj.fli(U,  in  his  Patience  ;  of  Another, 
-riv  iv  v»tr«a/f  >y  ^tuwAcLii ,  in  his  t'ajiings  and  Hard- 
jh/ps  :    Regarding  the  xW  v&!oT>rm,  or  Manfue- 


tude,  of  One  ;  the  rUtf  /MwfoQvuitM,  or  Longani- 
mity of  Another  :  But,  t*.v\uv  op*  tW  Ik  t  yo-siv 
ivaiCeteui  ^  tLu  Tp3;«M«\w  a;«.W,  the  Piety  of  them 
All,  toward  the  Lord  Jefus  Quiff,  and  the 
Charity  of  them  All,  towards  One  another. 

Such  Excellencies  of  Good  Men  have  been  fet 
before  my  Reader,  in  the  Lives  that  we  have 
written  of  fevetal  iuch  Good  Men,  who  were 
the  Excellent  on  the  Earth.  But  if  my  Reader 
would  fee  a  many  of  thole  Excellencies  meeting 
together  in  one  Man,  there  are  not  many,  in 
whom  I  could  more  hopefully  promife  him  luch 
a  Sight,    than  in  our   Excellent  Mr.  TJjomat 

Thai 


^^Oli.        The  Hifiory  of  New* England, 


Thacher  :  Who  is  now,  therefore,   to  be  con- 

fidered. 

(s  2.  Mr.  Thomas  Tbacher  was  born  May  i. 
1620.  the  Son  of  Mr.  Peter  Tbacher,  a  Reve- 
rend Minider  at  Salisbury,  in  England :  One, 
whom,  in  a  Letter  of  Dr.  Tzv/fs  to  Mr.  Mede, 
at  the  end  of  his  Works,  we  rind  joined  with 
famous  Mr.  White  of  Dorchester,  in  a  Conver- 
sation, wherein  the  Learned  Exercifes  of  that 
Great  Man,  made  a  grateful  Entertainment. 
And  becaufe  it  may  be  fome  Satisfaction  unto 
Good  Men,  to  fee  Inftances  multiplied,  lor  the 
Confirmation  of  a  Matter  mentioned  by  Mr. 
Baxter,  in  his  Proof  of  Infant  Baptifm,  where 
he  lays,  As  large  Experience  at  I  have  had  in 
my  Alinijtry,  of  she  State  of 'Souls,  and  the  Way 
of  Converfion,  1  dare  fay,  I  have  met  not  zcith 
one  of  very  many,  that  would  fay,  That  they 
knew  the  time  when  they  were  converted  :  And 
of  thoje  that  mould  fay  fo,  by  reafon  that  they 
then  found  fome  more  remarkable  Change,  yet  \ 
they  di fewer  ed  fuch  Stirrings  and  Workings  be  ' 
fore,  that  many,  I  had  caufeto  think,  were  them- 
felves  mitlaken.  I  wiu  once  in  a  Meeting  of 
very  many  Chriltians,  the  moft  eminent  for  Zeal 
and  Holme fs  of  moft  in  the  hand,  of  whom  divers 
were  Minillers,  and  fome  at  this  Day  at  famous, 
and  as  much  followed  as  any  I  know  in  England  ; 
and  it  was  there  de fired,  that  every  one  flwuld 
give  in  the  Manner  of  their  Converfion,  that  it 
might  be  obferved,what  was  God's  ordinary  way  -, 
and  there  was  but  one,  that  I  remember,  of  them 
all,  that  could  conjecture  at  the  Time  of  their 
firft  Converfion.  It  Ihall  here  be  noted,  That 
this  was  the  Experience  of  our  Thatcher.  The 
Regenerating  and  Verticordious  Grace  of  Hea-, 
ven,  took  advantage  from  his  Religious  Educa- 
tion, inlenfibly,  as  it  were,  to  fteal  into  the 
Heart  of  thisyoung  Difciple. 

He  afterwards  affirmed,  That  he  was  never 
able  to  determine  the  Time,  when  the  Spirit  of 
God  firlt  began  to  convince  him  ,  and  renew 
him ;  only  he  could  fay  with  the  Reverend, 
Blind  Man,  /  was  blind,  but  now  I  fee.  When' 
Thacher  was  a  Child,  the  Lord  loved  him,  and; 
this  Child  alio  loved  the  Lord  :  He  was  an  Abi- 
jab,  that  while  he  was  a-Child,  had  many  Good 
Things  in  him  towards  the  Lord  God  of  his  Fa- 
ther :  He  was  a  Timothy,  that  while  he  war  a 
Child,  knew  the  Holy  Scriptures.  He  was  a  Sa- 
muel, that  in  his  Childhood  was  vifited  by  the 
Holy  Spirit :  He  was  a  Jofiah,  that  while  ha 
was  yet  young,  Jought  after  the  Lord ;  and  fa 
much  remarked  was  his  Early  Piety,  that  while 
he  was  in  his  Earliejl  Alinonty,  they  would  fay 
of  him,  There  goes  a  Puritan.  It  might  indeed1 
be  faid  of  him,  as  they  report  of  Sr.  Nicholas, 
That  he  led  a  Life,  Santlijfime  ab  ipfis  Incuna 
bulls  Inchoatam.  And  it  might  be  faid  by  him, 
as  it  was  by  the  BlelTed  Ancient  in  his  Confelh- 
ons,  Dominc,  puer  caepi  rogare  te  Auxilium  c?' 
Rejugium  mount,  &  rogavi  parvus,  non  parvo 
affetfu. 

§  3.  Having  been  well  Educated  at  the  Graml 
mar  School,  he  had  the  Offer  of  his  Father  to 
perfect  his  Education  at  the  Univerfity,  either  of 


Camb ridge  or  Oxford.  But  confideving  the  Im- 
pofitions  of  Things,  to  him  appearing  unwar- 
rantable, whereto  he  then  muft  have  expofed 
himfelf,  heConfcientioully  declined  his  Father's 
Offer,  and  chofe  rather  co  venture  over  the  At- 
/</tf//VOcean,and  content  hfonfelf  with  theMean- 
neffes  of  America,  than  to  wound  his  own  Con- 
fidence for  the  Academical  ftfiviledges  of  Eng- 
land 

When  his  Parents  difcerned  his  Inclination, 
they  permitted  his  Removal  to  New-England : 
Intending  themfclves,  within  a  Year  or  two, 
with  their  Family,  to  have  removed  thither  af- 
tet  him  :  Whi< .  h  Intention  was  prevented  by  the 
Death  of  his  Morher,  betbie  it  could  be  ef- 
fected. 

He  arrived  at  Bcjlon,  June  4.  1635.  In 
which  Year  he  was  wonderfully  preferved  from 
a  Shipwreck,  with  his  Uncle,  wherein  a  wor- 
thy Minifter,  one  Mr.  Avery,  loft  his  Life,  as 
elfewhere  we  have  related.  A  Diy  or  two  be- 
fore that  fatal  Voyage  from  ■Newberry  to  Mar- 
blchead,  our  young  thacher  had  fuch  a  ftrong, 
and  fad  Impreffion  upon  his  Mind,  about  the 
Ilfue  of  the  Voyage,  that  he,  with  another, 
would  needs  go  the  Journey  by  Land,  and  fo 
he  efcaped  perifhing  with  fome  of  his  pious 
and  precious  Friends  by  Sea. 

(j  4.  5Tis  well  known,  that  in  the  early  Days 
of  Cbriftianity,  there  were  noColledges,  (except 
we'll  fay  the  Catechetick  Lecture  at  Alexandria 
was  one)  for  the  breeding  of  young  Mini  Hers  •, 
but  the  Bifhop  of  every  Church  took  the  Care- 
to  educate  and  elevate  fome  young  Men,  who 
might  be  prepared   thereby  to  fucceed  in  their 
place,  when  they  fhould   be  dead   and  gone. 
And  in   the  early  Days  of  New-England,  they 
were  for  a  little  while  obliged  unto  fuch  a  Me- 
thod of  providing  young  Men  for  the  Service  of 
the  Churches.     Thus  outThacber,  by  the  good 
Providence  of  God,  was  now  calf  into  the  Fa- 
mily, and  under 'the  Tuition  of  that  Reverend 
Man,  Mr.  Charles  Chancey  ;  who  was  afterwards 
■the  Prefident  of  Harvard Onkdgc,  in  our  Cam- 
bridge.   Under  the  Conduct' 'of    that  eminent 
Scholar,  he  became  fuch  an  one  himfelf '■,  and 
his  indefatigable  Studies  were  fo  proipcred,that 
he- became  Aliquis  m  Omnibus,  without  the  Ble- 
mifh  ufually,   but  ibmetimes  unjufily  annexed 
unto  it,  Nullus  in  Singulis.     Fie  was  not  un- 
skill'd  in  the  Tong ues,  efpeeially  in  the  Hebrew, 
Whereof  he  'did  compole  a  tlixicott  -,   but  fo 
Comprize  it,  that  within  One-Sheet  of  Paper,  he 
had  every  confiderable'Werd  of  the  Language. 
And  he  was  as  well  skiU'd  in  the  Arts,  efpeci- 
ally  in  Logic ^  whereof  he  gaveDemonfiration,  in 
his  being  a  moft  irrefragable  Difputant,  on  fome 
great  Occafions. 

Moreover,  it  was  his  Cuftom,  once  in  three 
or  four  Years' time,  at  fubcejive  Hours,  to  go 
over  the  Tongues,  and  .-Arts,  at  fuch  a  Rate, 
that  his  good 'Skill  in  them  eonrinued  frefh  unto 
the  laft.  And  to  all  his  other  Accomplifhments, 
there  was  this  added,  that  he  was  a  moft  in- 
comparable Sdrtbe  : '  He  Wior Lonly  wrote  all  the 
forts  of  Hands  in  the1  beft  Copy-Books  then  ex- 
tant, 


150 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.     Book  III. 


tant,with  a  lingular  Exa&nefs  and  Acutenefs,  but 
there  are  yet  extant  Monuments  ol  Syriac,  and 
other  Oriental  Characters  of  his  Writing,  which 
are  hardly  to  be  imitated.  He  had  likewife  a 
certain  Mechanic  Genius,  which  difpofed  him 
in  his  Recreations  unto  a  Thoufand  Curiofities, 
especially  the  Ingenuity  of  Clock  -work,  wherein 
at  his  Leifure,  he  did  things  to  Admiration. 

^  5.  On  May  11.  1643.  he  was  married  unto 
the  Daughter  of  that  Venerable  Man  Mr.  Ralph 
Partridge,  the  Minifter  of  Duxbury,  The 
Conforr,  whom  the  Favour  of  Heaven,  thus 
bellowed  upon  him,  was  a  Perfon  of  a  molt 
amiable  Temper-,  one  Pious,  and  Prudent,  and 
every  way  worthy  of  the  Man  to  whom  fhe 
became  a  Glory.  By  her  he  received  Three 
Sons  and  One  Daughter  ;  and  when  fhe  had 
continued  Three  Sevens  of  Tears  with  him,  fhe 
went  after  a  very  Triumphant  manner  to  be  for 
ever  with  the  Lord,  June  2.  i66±  uttering  thofe 
for  her  Dying  Words,  Come,  Lord  Jefus,  Come 
quickly  :  Why  are  thy  Chariot-Wheels  fo  long  a 
coming  ? 

§  6.  Having,  as  a  Candidate  of  the  Miniftry, 
by  his  moll  commendable  Preaching  and  Liv- 
ing, abundantly  Recomfnended  himfelf  unto 
the  Service  of  the  Churches,  he  was  invited  by 
the  Church  of  Weymouth  to  take  the  Paftoral 
Charge  of  them  ;  whereto  he  was  Ordained, 
Jan.  2.  1644.  And  here  he  did  for  many  Years 
fulfil  his  Miniitry,  not  only  with  Elaborate 
and  Affectionate  Sermons,  twice  every  Lord's 
Day,  and  in  a  Lecture  once  a  Fortnight ;  but1 
alio  in  Catechifwg  the  Lambs  of  his  flock,  for 
which  he  likewife  made  a  Catechifm.  Thefe, 
alfo,  he  would  at  fit  Seafons  call  to  an  Ac- 
count, concerning  their  Proficiency  under  the 
means  of  Grace ;  and  fuch  as  he  found  Ripe 
for  an  Admiffion  unto  the  Higheji  Myfteries,  at 
the  Table  of  the  Lord,  he  would  encourage  to 
put  themfelves  upon  the  Publick  and  Ufual 
Probation,  in  order  theteunto,  but  fuch  as  he 
found  fhort,  he  would  fuitably,  faithfully,  and 
fervently  advife  unto  the  Preparations,  wherein 
they  appeared  hitherto  defective.  And  God 
crowned  thefe  Methods  and  Labours  of  his 
Holy  Servant,  with  obfervable  Succeffes;  which 
were  feen  in  the  great  Growth  of  the  Church, 
whereof  he  had  the  Overfight.  But  one  Ex- 
cellency that  fhined  above  the  other  Glories  of 
his  Miniftry,  was  that  Excellent  Spirit  of  Pray- 
er, which  continually  breathed  in  him.  It  has 
been  ufed  among  the  Arguments  for  Men  to  be 
much  in  Prayer,  That  the  Dignity  ot  the  Per- 
fon praying  is  thereby  much  augmented  ;  and 
Chryfoftom,  in  his  Book,  De  Deo  Orando,  fays, 
The  very  Angels  cannot  but  honour  him,  vohom 
they  fee  familiarly^  and  frequently  to  be  admit- 
ted unto  the  Audience,  and  as  it  were,  dif- 
courfe  with  the  Divine  Majefty.  Now,  though 
this  Ho/lour  have  all  the  Saints,  yet  our  Thacher 
had  more  than  ordinary  fhare  of  this  Honour  ; 
he  was  a  Perfon  much  in  Prayer,  and  as  he  was 
much  in  Prayer,  fo  he  had  an  Eminency  above 
moft  Men   living,  for  his  Copious,   his  Fluent, 


his  Fervent  manner  of  performing  that  Sacred 
Exercife. 

It  was  an  Heaven  upon  Earth,  to  be  prdent 
at  the  Notable  Salleys  of  a  Railed  Soul,  a 
Livecy  Faith,  and  a  Tongue  toucht  with  a  Coal 
from  the  Altar,  with  which,  in  his  Prayers,  he 
did  Caelum  Tundere,'^  Mifericordiam  Ext  or- 
quere, 

k;  7.  After  the  Death  of  his  Firft.  Wife,  he 
married  a  Second  in  Bafion,  which,  with  a  Con- 
currence of  many  obliging  Circumltances,  occa- 
lioned  his  Removal  thither.     And  it  was  after- 
wards found,  that   He  who  holds   the  Stars  in 
his  Right  Hand,  had  a  Purpofe  of  Service  to  be 
done  for    his  Name,  in   that  Populous  Town, 
by  the  Talents  of  this  his  Good  and   Faithful 
Servant.     For  in  the  Month  of  May,  1 669.  A 
Third  Churdifivarming  out  from  the  Firji  in 
Bojlon,  which  afterwards  made  one  of  the  moft 
confiderable  Congregations  in  the  Colony,  this 
Worthy   Perfon  was  chofen  the  Pallor  of  that 
Church :  And  Enftalled  in  the  Paftoral  Charge 
thereof,  Feb.  16.  1669.  wherein  he  continued 
until  he  died.     From  this  Time,  I  behold  him 
in  the  Metropolis  of  the  Englifh  America,  not 
only  difpenfing   both  Light  and  Warmth,   unto 
his  own  particular  Floor,  but  alio  as  he   had 
Opportunity,  expr<.fling*a  Care  of  all  the  Chur- 
ches.    And  lor  the  Comfort  of  thofe  Worthy 
Minifters,  who    commonly  have  their  Spirits 
Buffeted  with  ftrong  Temptations  and  fore  De- 
jections, s  before    their   performing  any   fpecial 
Service   of  their  Miniitry,    I'll   mention   one 
Paffage,  that   may  a  little  defcribe   how   this 
Worthy  Man  became  fo  ufeful  :  He  would  fay 
to  his  Son;  Son,    I  never  preach  a  Sermon,  till 
I  cannot  preach  at  all ! 

§  8.  As  he  was  in  his  whole  Behaviour  a 
Serious,  Holy,  and  Ufeful  Man,  fo  in  his  Go- 
vernment of  his  Family,  he  fo  well  RuPd  his 
own  Houfe,  as  to  give  particular  Demonftra- 
tions  of  his  Abilities  to  Take  Care  of  the.  Church 
of  God.  His  Domefticks  both  bv'd  him,  and 
feard  him  -,  and  he  was  molt  Confcientioufly 
and  Exemplarily  Careful,  about  their  Interiour 
as  well  as  Temporal  Welfare.  This  appeared 
efpecially  in  the  Management  of  his  Family 
Worfhip  -,  wherein  he  ufually  read  a  Portion  of 
the  Scriptures,  both  Morning  and  Evening, 
and  he  would  Raife  Dollrincs  Irom  every  Verfe 
with  Brief  Confirmations,  and  clofe  Applications 
thereof  as  he  went  along.  Yea,  fometimes  one 
might  hear  from  him  thus,  in  One  Family  Ex- 
pofition,  as  entertaining  a  Variety  of  Truth, 
notably  and  pungently  expreffed,  as  in  fever al 
publick  Sermons :  And  he  has  told  his  Worthy 
Son,  for  his  Encouragement  unto  fuch  Exer- 
cifes,  that  he  had  found  as  much  Advantage 
by  them,  as  by  moft  of  his  other  Studies  of 
Divinity  h  adding  that  he  looked  upon  it  as 
the  Lord's  Gracious  Accomplifhment  of  that 
Word,  Shall  I  hide  any  thing  from  Abraham? 
1  know  Abraham,  that  he  will  Teach  his 
Houfe  ! 

§  9.  He  was  one  very  Watchful  over  the  Souls 
of  his  People,  and   Careful  to    preferve  them 

from 


Book  III.        I  he  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


i5i 


from  Errors  as  well  as  Vices :  But  of  all  Errors, 
he  difcovered  an   Antipathy  unto  none  more, 
than  that  Sink  of  all£Ww\r,  QUA  KER  ISM. 
It  was  in  his  Time,   namely,  about  the  Year 
1652.  that  there  appeared  a  Nepo  Sell  or'  Peo 
pie  in  the  World,  which   from   the  odd  Mo- 
tions of    their    Bodies,    that   attended  efpe- 
cially  their  Firlf  Pcrverfion,  were  called  QUA- 
KERS 5  and  it  was  not  long  after  their  firft  Ap- 
pearance, that  New  England  began  to  be  trou- 
bled with  them.     Their  Spirit  of  the  Hat,  and 
their  Fopperies  of  Thou  and  Thee,  in  their  Lan- 
guage  to  a  Single   Peifon,    were  the   leaft  of 
thole  things  which  gave  our  Thacher  a  Diffa- 
tisfacfion  at  them^  that   which  caufed  him  to 
employ  a  moll  fervent  Zeal  againft  thofe  He- 
reticks,  was  the  Horrible  End  of  their  Herefies. 
to  lead  Men  into  a  Pit  of  Darknejs,   under  a 
Pretence  of  the   Light,  and  Annihilate  all  the 
Senfible  Objects  of  our  Holy  Religion,  under  a 
Pretence  of  advancing   the  Spiritual  ■,  fo  that 
we  mult  have  no  Bible,  no  jefus,  no  Baptifm, 
no  Eucharift,  no  Ordinances,  but  what  fhall  be 
Evaporated"  into  Difpenfations,   Allegories,  and 
meer  Ahftical  Notions  :  When  he  faw  that  quite 
contrary  to  the  Tendency  and  Character  of  eve- 
ry Truth,  which  is  to  Abuje  the  Creature,  the 
Main   Defign   of  Quakerifm  is   to  Exalt  Man, 
and  find    that  in  Man  himfelf,  which  may  be 
inflead  of  Saviour,  Scripture,  Heaven,  Righte- 
oujncfs  and  all  Inftitutions  unto  him,  he  could 
not   but  adore   the  Juftice  and   Vengeance  of 
God,  in  permitting  fuch  a  Spiritual  Plague  to 
be  inflicFed  on  Places^  where   the  Go/pel  had 
been  more  eminently  finned  againft  ;'  but  he  fet 
himfelf  with  the  more  of  a  Paftoral  Diligence 
to  defend  his  own  Flock  from  the  Contagion  : 
And  hence,  when  he  heard  of  any  Books  left  by 
the  Quakers  in  any  Houfcs  of  his  Neighbour 
hood,  he  would  prefently  repair  to  the  Houfes, 
and  obtain   thofe    Venomous  Pamphlets   from 
them  :  For  which,  that  the  Wolves  barked  more 
at  him  than  at  many   other  Men,  and  would 
fometimes  come    with   their  Faces  hideoufly 
Blacked,  and  their  Garments  fearfully  Torn,  in- 
to his  Congregation,  whereby  the  Neighbours 
were  frighted  unto  the  Danger  of  their  Lives, 
is  not  at  all  to    be  wondred   at.    In   this  his 
Paftoral  Care,  he  met  with  fome  Experiments, 
that  were  extraordinary  ;    whereof  one  fhall 
here  be  related.    It   has  here  fometimes  been 
Remarked,   That  a  very   fenfible  PoffeJJion  of 
the  Devil  has  attended  the  Firft  Arreft  of  Qua- 
kerifm, on  the  Minds  of  Men,  and  the  Sedu- 
cers, have  with  a  Real  and  Proper  Witchcraft, 
by  certain  Ceremonies  conveyed   it  unto  them. 
Agreeably  hereunto,  an  Inhabitant  of  Weymouih 
having  bought  certain  Bibles  at  Boflon,    lod'g'd 
the  Night  following  at  a  Tavern,    where  two 
Quakers  lodged  with  him.  The  Quakers  fell  to 
ditgracing  and  degrading  the  Bibles,  wherewith 
he  had  furnifhed  himfelf \  as  a  Dead  Letter,  and 
advifed  him  to  hearken  to  the  Light  zvitbin,which 
would  lufficiently   direcf  him  to  Heaven  -,  and 
the  Eftccl:  of  their  Enchantments  was,  that  be< 
fore  Morning,  the  poor   Man   was  as  very  3 


Quaker  as  the  belt  of  them.     In  the  Morning 
he  was  carrying  back  his  Bibles   to  the  Book- 
fellers,  as  Books  now  become  altogether  uje- 
lej's  ;  and  refblving  to  keep    no  Dead  Letter 
any  longer  in  his  hands  ^  but   in    the  way,  he 
was  met  by  Mr.  Thacher,  who  feeing  the  Man 
look  Wild  and  Strange,  and  of  an  Energume;- 
Countenance,   over-perfwaded  him  togoafide 
with  him,  that  he  might  enquire  a  little  further 
to  his  Condition.     He   carried   the  poor  Man 
into  a  Neighbour's  Houfe,  and  privately  there 
Talked  with  him,  and   prayed  with  him,  2nd 
by  the  Wonderful  Blelfing  of  Heaven,  immedi- 
ately recovered  him  from  the  Error  of  his  Way  . 
The  Man  was  never  any   more  a  Qitaker,  but 
ever  after  this,  wonderfully  thankful  unto  God, 
and  unto  this  his  Servant,  for  his  Recovery 

kj  io.  The  lait  that  I  fhall  mention  of  the 
Excellencies  that  fignalized  this  Worthy  Man 
fhall  be  his  Claim  to  the  Accompiifhments  of 
an  Excellent  Phyfician.  He  that  for  his  Lively 
Miniftry  was  juftly  reckoned  among  The  Angels 
of  the  Churches,  might  for  his  Medical  Acquain- 
tances, Experiences,  and  Performances,  be  truly- 
called  a  Raphael.  Ever  fince  the  Days  oi  Luke 
the  Evangelift,  Skill  in  Phyfick  has  been  fre- 
quently profeffed  and  praftifed,  by  Perfons  whofe 
more  declaredBufinefswas  the  Study  of  Divinity. 
To  fay  nothing  of  fuch  Monks  as  /Egidius  Athe- 
nienftsi  or  Conftantinus  Afer,  or  Johannes  Da- 
rn a/cen  us,  or  Trufianus  Flore  nt  in  us,  and  to  fay 
nothing  of  Henry  Bochelt,  a  Bifhop,  or  of  At- 
bicus,  an  Arch  Bifhop,  or  of  Ludovictts  Patd- 
vinus,  a  Cardinal,  or  of  John  22.  a  Pope1,  all 
of  whom  were  Notable  Phyficians,  our  Englijh 
Nation  has  commonly  afforded  Eminent  Phyfi- 
cians, who  were  alio  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel. 

But  I  fuppofe  the  Greatelf  Frequency  of  the 
Angelical  Conjunction,    has  been  feen  in  thefe 
Pans  of  America,  where  they  are  moftly  the 
Poor  to  whom  the  Gofpel  is  preached,  by  Paftors 
whofe  Companion  to  them  in  their  Poverty^ 
invites  them  to  fupply  the  Want  of  Able  Phy- 
ficians among  them,  and   fuch  an   Univerfally 
Serviceable    Paftor    was   our  Thacher.    Thev 
Were  the  Priefts  of  Egypt,  of  Greece,  and  of 
Rome,  who   referved  in  the  Archives  of  their 
Temples  the  Stories  and  Methods  of  the  Cures, 
wrought  on  the  Recovered  Perfons,who  brought 
thither  their  Thankful  Sacrifices  ;  and  by  the 
Priefts  were  Directions  hence  communicated 
unto  fuch  as  wanted  Cures  for  the  like  Di- 
ftempers.      As  the  Art  of  Healing  was  firft 
brought  into  fome  Order  by  the  Hands  of  Offi- 
cers that  have  been   fet  apart  for  the  Care  of 
Souls  -,  thus,  that  Art  has  been  happily  exer- 
cifed  by  the   Hands  of  Church  Officers  in   all 
Ages,  who  have  adminift red  unto  the  Souls  of 
People  the  more  effectually,  for  being  Able  to 
Adminifter  unto  their  Bodies.    And  a  Singular 
Artift  herein  Was  our  Thacher ;  who,  knowing 
that  every  Rank  of  Generous  Men  had  at  fome 
time  or  other  afforded  Perfons  Eminent  for  Skill 
in  Phyfick  -,  yes,  that   it  had  been  ftudied  by 
no  lels  than  fuch  Cfpvoried  Head  as  Mtlhridates 
and  Hadriuniis,  and  Conftantinus  Pogonatus,  he 
U  u  u  thO'Jg^t 


1^2 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-irngland.     Book  111, 


thought 


it  no  ways  misbecoming  him,  to  fol- 
low the  Example.  How  many  Hundreds  in 
this  way  fared  the  better  for  him,  I  cannot  fay  •, 
but  this  I  cm  fay,  That  as  King  Zamolxes  ol 
Tbracid,  uhowas  of  Old  a  Renowned  Phyfi- 
cian,  would  give  this  as  the  Reafon  why  the 
Greeks  had  the  Difeafes  among  them,  fo  much 
uncured,  Becaufe  they  negleBed  their  Souls,  the 
Chief  thing  of  all :  So  our  Thacher.  was  Bleffed 
of  God  in  his  Faithful  Endeavours  to  make 
Natural  and  Spirit ual  Health  accompany  each 
other  in  thofe  that  were  about  him. 

§11.  But,  Contra  Vim  Mortis Nothing 

will  exempt  from  the  Arretl  of  Death.  It  hap- 
pened that  this  Excellent  M  n  preached  for  my 
Father,  a  Sermon  on  the  I  Per.  4.  18.  The  Righ- 
teous Jcarcely  faved  ;  the  lalt  Words  of  which 
Sermon  were,  When  a  Saint  comes  to  die,  then 
often  it  vi  the  hour  and  Power  of  Darknefs 
Vim  ;  then  h  the  lad  Opportunity  that  the 
Devil  hoi  to  vex  thi  People  of  Go.! ;  and  hence 
they  then  fomelmes  have  the  greatefi  of  their 
Diftrefjes.  Don't  think  him  no  Godly  Man, 
that  then  meets  with  Doubts  and  rears  -,  our 
Lord  fejus  Chrifi  then  cries  out,  My  God,  my 
God,  why  haft  thou  forfakeri  me  >  God  help 
us,  that  cvs  we  live  by  Faith,  fo  we  may  Walk 
in  it.  And  thefe  proved  the  Laft  Words  that 
ever  he  uttered  in  any  Sermon  whatfoever.  For 
vifiting  a  Sick  Perfon,  after  his  going  out  of 
the  Afiemhly,  he  got  Come  Harm,  which  turned 
into  a  Fever,  whereof  he  did,  without  any 
Hour  and  Power  of  Darknefs  upon  his  own 
Holy  Mind,  expire  on  Offober  15.  1578.  He 
left  behind  him  Two  Worthy  Sous,  Mr.  Peter 
Thacher,  who  is  at  this  time  the  Pallor  of  the 
Church  at  Milton,  and  one  from  whole  pious 
Labours,  not  the  EngliJJj  only,,  but  even  the 
Indians  alio  receive  the  Glad  Tydings  of  Salva- 
tion ;  and  Mr.  Ralph  Thacher,  Mhiifter  of  the 
Word  at  Martha's  Vineyard.  And  he  likewife 
left  one  Printed  Offjprmg  of  his  Mind  •,  for  as 
the  Reverend  Prcf'acer  thereto  obferves,  When 
the  Lord  knew  that  Bofton,  yea  that  New-Eng- 
.land  would  have  caufe  for  many  Days  of  Humi- 
liation, he  therefore  fir  red  up  the  Heart  of  his 
Servant  aforehand  to  give  InftruUions  and  Di- 
regions,  concerning  the  Acceptable  Performance 
of  fo  great  a  Duty,  he  did  in  the  Year^i<574. 
preach  on  the  Nature  of  a  Sacred  Fafl  -,  and 
fome  of  his  Hearers,  who  wrote  after  him, 
when  he  preached,  afterwards  publifhed  it  un- 
der the  Title  of,  A  Faji  of  God's  Chufing. 

§  12.  The  Church  of  this  Worthy  Man  at 
Weymouth,  has  been  entertained  with  one  Cu- 
ricjity,  which  byway  of  Appendix  to  his  Life, 
is  not  unworthy  to  be  related. 

One    Matt  beta   Prat,    whofe   Religious   Pa- 
rents had  well  inftru£ted  him  in  his  Minority, 
when  he  was  Twelve  Years  of  Age,  became,  to- 
tally LVrf/thro'  Sicknefs,  and  fo  hath  ever  fince 
"continued.     He  was  taught  after  this  to  Write, 
"as  he  had  been  before  to   Read;  and  both  his 


but  ImperfeUly,  and  fcarce  Intelligibly,  and  ve- 
ryJeliom.    He  is  yet  a  very  Judicious  Chri- 
itian,  and  being  admitted  into  the  Communion 
of  the  Church,  he  has  therein   for  many  Years 
behaved  himielf,  unto  the  extream  Satisfaction 
of  Good   People,  in   the  Neighbourhood.    Sa- 
rah Prat,  the  Wife  of  this  Man,  is  one  alfo 
who^  was  altogethet  deprived  of  her  Hearing, 
by  Sicknefs,  when  fhe  was  about   the  Third 
Year  of  her  Age  -,  but  having  utterly  loft  her 
Hearing,  fhe   has  utterly   loft  her  Speech  alfb. 
and  no  doubt,  all  Remembrance  of  every  thing 
that  refers  to  Language.     Mr.  Thacher  made  an 
Elfay  to  teach   her  the  life  of  Letters,  but  it 
fucceeded  not.-  However,  fhe  has  a  molt  quick 
Apprehenfion  of  things,   by    her  Eye,  and  fhe 
dilcouries    by    Signs,    whereat    fome    of  her 
Friends  are  fo  expert,   as  to  maintain  a  Con- 
vention with  her  upon  any  point  whatever, 
with  as  much  Freedom  and   Fulnefs,   as  if  fhe 
wanted  neither  Tongue,    nor  Ear,  for   Confe- 
rence.    Her  Children  do  learn  her  Signs  from 
rhe  Breaft  :  And  fpeak  fooner  by  her  Eyes  and 
Hands,  than  by  their  Lips.     From  her  Infancy, 
fhe  was  very  fober  and  model! ;  but  fhe  had 
no  Knowledge  of  a  Deity,    nor  of  any  thing 
that  concerns  another   Life,  and   World.     Ne- 
verthelefs,  God  of  his  Infinite  Mercy  has  Re- 
vealed the  Lord  Jefus  Chrifi,  and  the  Great 
Myfteries  of  Salvation  by  him,  unto  her,  by 
a  more  Extraordinary  and  Immediate  Operation 
of  his  own  Spirit  upon  her.     An   Account  of 
her  Experiences  was  written  from  her,   by  her 
llusband  j  and  the  Elders  of  the  Church  em- 
ploying het  Flusband,  with  two  of  her  Sillers, 
who  are  notably  skilled   in  her  Way  of  Commu- 
nication, examined  her  flri&ly  hereabout;  and 
and  they  iound  that  fhe  underftood  the  Unity 
;  of  the  Divine  EfTence,  the  Trinity  of  Perfons 
in  the   Godhead,  the  Perfonal  Union  in  our 
Lord,  the  Myftical  Union  between  our  Lord  and 
his  Church;  and  that  fhe  was  acquainted  with 
the  ImpreiTions  of  Grace  upon  a   Regenerate 
Soul.     She  was  under  great  Exercife  of  Mind, 
about  her  Internal  and  Eternal  State  -,  fhe  ex- 
preffed   unto  her  Friends  defire  of  Help;  and 
fhe  made  ufe   of  the  Bible,  and  other  Good 
Books,  and  with  Tears,  remark'd  fuch  Palfages 
as  w.ere  fuitable  to   her  own  Condition.     Yea, 
fhe  once,  in  her  Exercife,  wrote  with  a  Pin  up- 
on a  Trencher,  three  times  over,  Ah,  Poor  Soul! 
and  therewith  before  divers  Perfons,  burfl  into 
Tears.    At  a  Sermon  fhe  would  enquire  after 
the  Text,  which  being  fhewn  her,  fhe  would 
look  and  mufe  upon  it:    And   fhe  ftrangely 
knows  the  Names  of  thofe  with  whom  fhe  is 
acquainted ;  infomuch  that  if  they  be  Names 
found  in  the  Scripture,  fhe  will  turn  and  find, 
and  point   them  there.     It  feems  that  Written 
Words  are  a  fort  of  Hieroglyphicks  unto  her. 

She  was  admitted  into  the  Church  with  the 
General  Approbation  of  the  Faithful,  nor 
would  the  mofl  Judicious  Cafuifts  in  the 
World,  a  Luther,  a  Melanffbon,  a  Gerhard, 
an  Mingy  a  Baldwin,   have  fcrupled  her  Ad- 


Reading  and  his  Writing  he  retaineth  perfeclly, 

.but  he  has  almofl  forgotten  to  fpeak  ;  fpeakingl  million  to  the  Sacred  Myfteries  :  And  her  Car 

'  riage 


Book  III.       Ihe  Hi/lory  of  New-England. 


i53 


riage  is  that  of  a  Grave,  Gracious,  Holy  Wo- 
man. 

The  wonderful  Circumftances  of  this  Couple, 
may  iuftly  be  added  unto  the  Entertainments 
for  the  Curious,  which  we  have  in  the  young 
Man  and  Maid,  mentioned  by  Camerarius,  who 
tho*  Deaf  and  Dumb,  could  Read  and  Write, 
and  Cypher,  and  know  a  Man's  Meaning  by 
the  Motion  of  his  Lips.  And  the  Perfon  men- 
tioned by  Platcrus,  who  tho'  born  Deaf  as  well 
as  Dumb,  yet  could  exprefs  his  Thoughts  in  a 
Table-Book,  and  comprehend  what  was  written 
by  others  in  it,  and  with  Edification  attend  up- 
on the  Miniftry  of  Oecolampadius  ;  And  both 
Mr.  Crifp  of  London,  and  Gennet  Lowes  of  £,'- 
dinburgh,  who  tho'  naturally  Deaf,  and  by  con- 
fequence  Dumb,  could  yet  fee  what  People 
fpoke,  by  feeing  them  when  they  fpoke  :  And 
in  a  word,  the  exquifite  Sence  of  the  Mutes  in 
the  Ottoman  Court,  related  by  Rycaut,  in  his  Hi- 
Itory  of  that  Empire. 

An  Epitaph  muft  now  'be  fought  for  this 
Worthy  Man  :  And  becaufe  the  Nation  and 
Quality  of  the  Author,  will  make  the  Compo- 
fure  to  become  a  Curiofity,  I  will  here,  for  an 
Epitaph,  infert  an  Elegy,  which  was  compofed 
upon  this  Occafion,  by  an  Indian  "Louth,  who 
was  then  a  Student  of  i/arawv/-Colledge.  CHis 
Name  was,  Eleazar.) 


In  obitum  Viri  vere  Reverends 

D*  Thom£  Thachepj, 

QUI    AD 
Dom.exhacVitamigravit,  18.8.  1678, 

TEntabo  Illufirem,  trifti  'me  mo  fare  dolor  e, 
Quern  LacrymU  repetunt  Temper  a,  noftra, 
Virum. 
Memnonajfc  Mater,  Mater  ploravit  Achillem, 

Juftis  cum  Lacrymis,  antique  Dolor e  gravi. 
Mens  ftupet,  era  filent,  jufium  nunc  palmo  re- 
cufat 

QJJicium  :   Quid  ?  Opcm  Trips  Apollo  ncgat  ? 
Aft  Thachere  Thus  conabor  dicere  laudes, 

Laudes  Virtutis,  qux  fuper  Aftra  volat. 
Confultis  Rerum  Dominis,  Gentiqiae  togat<e 

Not  a  fuit  virtus,  ac  tua  SanUa  Fides. 
Vwispoji  Funus  5  Ftlix  poft  Fata  ;  Jaces  Tu  f 

Sed  Stellas  inter  Gloria  nempe  Jaces. 
Mens  Tua  jam  c&los  repetit ;  Vifforia  part  a  eft  i 

Jam  Tuus  eft  Chriftus,  quod  meruitque  tuum. 
Hie  finis  Crucis  ■,  magnorum  hxc  met  a  malorum , 
•  ■  U/terius  non  quo  progrediatur  erit. 
Crux  jam  cajfa  manes  •,  requie fount  offa  Sepulchro  ■; 

Mors  moritur ;  Vit£  Vita  Beat  a  redit. 
Quum   tuba  per  Denfas  Jon  it  urn   dabit  ultima 
Nubes, 

Cum  Domino  Rcdiens  Ferrea  Sceptra  geres. 
Ce/es  tumjeandes,  ubi  P atria  Vera  pi  or  urn  ; 

Fr&vius  banc  Patriam  nunc  tibi  Jefus  adit, 
lllic  vera  Quics  ;  illic  fine  fine  voluptas  ; 

Gaudia  £f  Humanis  non  referenda  Jonis. 

So//  tyn  11  Kofh,  irm  yw  t  ovo/a   kttot'  oXHTdU, 
Kx&vbv  iv  H[UTi(yis  k   lomuiVoitn  yj'wotf' 

"truyn  J*'  Ik.  ftftiav  if\a.uJ:VK,    fin  vgttvov  di-rdtP, 
M/^8h«-'  *'fl«ca7©"  irvdiiMmv  a.Q&va.Ttii<. 

Eleazar,  Judus  Senior  Sophifta, 


CHAP.     XXVII. 
The  L  I  F  E  of  Mr.  P  E  T  E  R    H  O  B  A  R  T. 


§  1.  TT  was  a  Saying  of  Alphonfus  (whom  they 
JL  Sir-named,  The  Wife,  King  of  Arragon) 
That  among  Jo  many  Things  as  are  by  Men  poj 
feffed  or  purfued,  in  the  Courje  of  their  Lives, 
all  the  reft  are  Baubles,  be  fides,  Old  Wood  to  burn, 
Old  Wine  to  drink,  Old  Friends  to  converfe  with, 
and  Old  Books  to  read.  Now  there  having  been 
Proteftant  and  Reformed  Colonies  here  formed, 
in  a  New  World,  and  thofe  Colonies  now  grow- 
ing Old,  it  will  certainly  be  no  unwife  thing  for 
them  to  converfe  with  Tome  of  their  Old Friends, 


among  which  one  was  Mr.  Peter  Hobart,  whom 
therefore  a  New  Book  fhali  now  prefent  unto  my 
Readers. 

(j  2.  Mr.  Peter  Hobart  was  born  at,  or  near 
Hingham,  a  Market-Town,  in  the  County  of 
Norfolk,  about  the  latter  end  of  the  Year  1604. 
His  Parents  were  eminent  for  Piety,  and  even 
from  their  Youth  feared  God  above  many  ; 
wherein  their  Zeal  was  more  confpicuous,  by 
the  Impiety  of  the  Neighbourhood ,  among 
whom  there  were  but  three  or  four  in  the  whole 
V  y  v  2  Town, 


154 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.       Book  III. 


Town,  that  minded  ferious  Religion,  and  thefe 
were  lufficientlv  maligned  by  the  Irreligious  for 
their  Puritanifm.  Thefe  Parents  of  our  Hobart, 
were  fuch  as  nad  obtained  each  other  from  the 
God  of  Heaven,  by  Ifmc-Wke  Prayers  unto  him, 
and  fuch  as  afterwards  befieged  Heaven  with  a 
continual  Importunity  for  a  BlefTmg  upon  their 
Children  ;  whereof  the  Second  was  this  our 
Peter.  This  their  Son  was  like  another  Samuel, 
from  his  Infancy  dedicated  by  them  unto  the 
Minitfry,  and  in  order  thereunto,  fent  betimes 
unto  a  Grammer  School  3  whereto,  fuch  was  his 
defire  of  Learning,  that  he  went  feveral  Miles 
on  foot,  every  Morning,  and  by  his  early  Ap- 
pearance there,  If  ill  (hamed  the  ^loth  of  others. 
He  went  afterwards  unto  the  i'rce-School  at  Lyn, 
from  whence  when  he  was  by  his  Matter  judged 
fit  for  it,  he  was  admitted  into  a  Colledge  in  the 
Univerfity  of  Cambridge  -,  where  he  remained, 
ffudied,  profited,  until  he  proceeded  Batchellor 
of  Arts. :  Giving  all  along  an  Example  of  So- 
briety, Gravity,  Averfation  from  all  Vice,  and 
Inclination  to  the  Service  of  God. 

^>  3.  Retiring  then  from  the  Univerfity,  he 
taught  a  Grammar  School ;  but  he  lodg'd  in  the 
Houfe  of  a  Confbrmift  Miniffer,  who  tho1  he 
were  no  Friend  unto  Puritans,  yet  he  employed 
this  our  young  Hobart  fometimes  to  preach  for 
him,  and  when  ask'd,  What  bis  Opinion  of  this 
young  Man  was  ?  He  faid,  /  do  highly  approve  his 
Abilities  ;  he  will  make  an  able  Preacher  :  But  I 
fear  he  ■will  be  too  precife.  When  the  time  for 
it  came,  he  returned  unto  the  Univerfity,  and 
proceeded  Mafter  of  Arts  :  But  the  reft  of  his 
time  in  England  was  attended  with  much  Un> 
fettlement  of  his  Condition.  He  was  employed 
here  and  there,  as  Godly  People  could  obtain 
Permiffion  from  the  Parfon  of  the  Parifh,  who 
upon  any  little  Difguft  would  recal  that  Per- 
miffion :  And  yet  all  this  while,  by  the  Bleffing 
of  God  upon  his  own  Diligence  and  Difcretion, 
and  the  Frugality  of  his  Vertuous  Confort,  he 
lived  comfortably.  The  lalt  place  of  his  Refi- 
dence  in  England,  was  the  Town  of  Haverhil, 
where  he  was  a  Lecturer,  laborious  and  fuccefs- 
ful  in  the  Vineyard  of  our  Lord. 

^4.  His  Parents,  his  Brethren,  his  Sifters, 
had  not  without  a  great  Affliction  to  him,  em- 
barked for  New-England  ^  but  fome  time  after 
this,  the  Cloud  of  Prelatical  Impofitions  and 
Perfections  grew  fo  black  upon  him,  that  the 
Solicitations  of  his  Friends,  obtained  from  him 
a  Refolution  for  New-England  alio,  where  he 
hoped  for  a  more  fettled  Abode,  which  was 
moit  agreeable  to  his  Inclination.  Accordingly 
in  the  Summer  of  the  Year  1635,  he  took  Ship, 
with  his  Wife  and  four  Children,  and  after  a 
Voyage  by  conftant  Sicknefs  rendred  very  tedi- 
ous to  him,  he  arrived  at  Charles-Town,  where 
he  found  his  defired  Relations  got  fafe  before 
him.  Several  Towns  now  addreffed  him  to  be- 
come their  Miniffer  j  but  he  chofe  with  his  Fa- 
ther's Family,  and  fome  other  Chriftians,  to 
form  a  new  Plantation,  which  they  called  Hing- 
ham  -,  and  there  gathering  a  Church,  he  conti- 
nued a  faithful  Paftor,  and  an  able  Preacher,  for 


many  Years.  And  his  old  People  at  Haverhil 
indeed,  in  fome  time  after,  fent  moft  importu- 
nate Letters  unto  him,  to  invite  his  Return  for 
England  :  And  he  had  certainly  returned,  ifths 
Letters  had  not  fo  mifcarried,  that  before-his 
Advice  to  them,  there  fell  out  fome  Remark* 
ble,  and  Invincible  Hindrances  of  his  Re* 
moval. 

§  6.  Not  long  after  this,  he  had  fa  his  own 
Expreffion  for  it  was)  his  Hart  rem  out  of  his 
Breafl,  by  the  Death  of  his  Confort  -.  but  his 
Chrilfian,  Patient,  and  Submiffive  Refignation 
was  rewarded  by  his  Marriage  to  a  Second,  that 
proved  a  rich  Bleffing  unto  him.  His  Houfe 
was  alio  edified  and  beautified  with  many  Chil- 
dren, On  whom,  when  he  look'd  he  would  fay 
fometimes  with  much  Thankfulnefs  ■  Behold 
thus  jhall  the  Man  be  blefjed,  that  feareth  the 
Lord  !  And  for  whom  he  employ 'd  many  Tears 
itt  his  Prayers  to  God,  that  they  might  be  happy 
and'  like  another  Job,  offered  up  his  daily  Sup- 
plications. 

His  Love  to  Learning,  made  him  ftrive  hard 
that  his  hopeful  Sons  might  not  go  without  a 
Learned  Education  ;  and  accordingly  we  find 
four  or  five  of  them  wearing  Laurels  in  the  Ca. 
talogue  of  our  Graduates  •  and  feveral  of  them 
are,  at  this  Day,  worthy  Preachers  of  the  Go- 
fpel  in  our  Churches. 

§  7.  He  was  moftly  a  Morning  Student,  not 
meriting  the  Name  of  Homo  Leclitfmits  'as  he 
in  the  witty  Epigrammatiff,  from  his  long  lying 
a  Bed  -,  and  yet  he  would  improve  the  Darknels 
of  the  Evening  alfo,  for  folemn,  fixed,  and  il- 
luminating Meditations.  He  was  much  admired 
for  well-Jiudied  Sermons  -,  and  even  in  the  midft 
of  Secular  Diverfions  and  Diitraaions,  hisaftive 
Mind  would  be  bufie  at  providing  Materials  for 
the  Compofure  of  them.  He  much  valued  that 
Rule,  Study  Standing  ;  and  until  Old  Age,  and 
Weaknefs  compelled  him,  he  rarely  would  Stu- 
dy fitting  :  Which  Praftice  of  his  he  would  re- 
commend unto  other  Students,  as  an  excellent 
Preventive  of  that  Flagellum  Studiqforum,  the 
Stone.  And  when  he  had  an  opportunity  to'hear 
a  Sermon  from  any  other  Miniffer,  he  did  it 
with  fuch  a  diligent  and  reverent  Attention,  as 
made  it  manifeft  that  he  worfhipped  God  in'do- 
ing  of  it  •.  And  he  was  very  careful  to  be  pre- 
fentftilhat  the  beginning  of  the  Exercifes,  count- 
ing it  a  Recreation,  to  fit  and  wait  for  the  Wor- 
(hipof  God. 

Moreover,  his  Heart  was  knit  in  a  moft  fincere 
and  hearty  Love  towards  pious  Men,  tho'  they 
were  not  in  all  things  of  his  own  Perfwafion. 
He  would  admire  the  Grace  of  God  in  Good 
Men,  tho'  they  were  of  Sentiments  contrary  un- 
to his  ;  and  he  would  fay,  lean  carry  them  in 
my  Bo  fome  :  Nor  was  he  by  them  otherwife  re- 
fpefted. 

§8.  There  was  deeply  rooted  in  him  a  ftrong 
Antiparhy  to  all  Profanities,  whereof  he  was  a 
faithful  Reprover,  "both  in  publick  and  in  pri- 
vate ■,  and  when  his  Reproofs  prevailed  not,  he 
would  weep  in  fecret  Places. 

Drinking 


BooklTTT    The  tiijiory  of  New- England. 


i$5 


Drinking  to  Excels,  and  Mifpence  of  precious 
Time,  in  Tiplingor  Talking  with  vainPeribns, 
which  he  law  grown  too  common,  was  an  Evil 
fo  extremely  oifenfive  to  him,  that  he  would 
call  it,  Sitting  at  Meat  in  an  Idol's  Temple  -,  and 
when  he  law  that  Vanity  grow  upon  the  more 
high  Profeflbrs  of  Religion ,  it  was  yet  more 
diltallful  to  him,  who  in  his  own  Behaviour  was 
a  great  Example  of  Temperance. 

Pride,  expreffed  in  a  Gaiety,  and  Bravery  of 
Apparel,  would  alfo  caufehim  with  much  Com- 
panion to  addrefs  the  young  Perfons  with  whom 
he  law  it  Budding,  and  advife  them  to  correct 
it,  with  mote  Care  to  adorn  their  Souls  with 
luxh  things  as  wete  of  great  Price  before  God  : 
And  here  likewife  his  own  Example,  joined 
Handfomnefs  with  Gravity,  and  a  Moderation 
that  could  not  endure  a  fhow.  But  there  was 
no  fort  of  Men  from  whom  he  more  turned  a- 
way  than  thofe,  who  under  3  Pretence  of  Zeal 
for  ChurchDifcipline,  were  very  pragmatical  in 
Controverfies,  and  furioufly  fet  upon  having  all 
things  carried  their  Way,  which  they  would  call, 
The  Rule  ;  but  at  the  fame  time,  were  molt  in 
lipid  Creatures,  deffitute  of  the  Life  and  Power 
of  Godlinefs,  and  perhaps  humoral 'in  their  Con- 
ventions. To  thefe  he  would  apply  a  Saying 
of  Mr.  Cotton's,  That  fome  Men  are  all  Church, 
and  no  Chrifi. 

§  p.  He  was  a  Perfon  that  met  with  many 
Temptations  and  AfflMons,  which  are  better 
forgotten  than  remembred  -,  but  he  was  inter- 
nally, and  is  now  eternally  a  Gainer  by  them. 
It  is  remark'd  of  the  Patriarch  Jacob,  that  when 
he  was  a  vety  Old  Man,  and  much  older  than 
the  moft  that  lived  after  him,  he  complained, 
few  and  evil  have  been  the  Days  of  the  Tears  of 
my  Life  :  In  which  Complaint,  the  few  is  ex- 
plained by  the  evil;  his  Days  weteWinter-days, 
and  fpent  in  the  Darknefs  of  fore  Calamity. 
Winter-days  are  Twenty  four  Hours  long  as  well 
as  other  Days  ;  yea,  longer,  if  the  Equation  of 
Time  Ihould  be  Mathematically  confidered  ;  yet 
we  count  them  the  fhorter  Days.  Thus  altho' 
our  Hobart  lived  untoO/<i  Age,  he  might  call  his 
Days  few,  becaufe  they  had  been  Evil.  But 
mark  this  perfect  Man,  and  behold  this  upright 
one  ;  for  the  end  of  this  Man  was  Peace.  In  the 
Spt ing  of  the  Year  1 670,  he  was  vifited  with  a 
Sicknefs  that  feemed  the  Meffenger  of  Death  ; 
but  it  was  his  humble  Defire,  mat  by  having  his 
Life  prolonged  a  little  further,  he  might  fee  the 
Education  of  his  own  younger  Children  perfect- 
ed, and  beftow  more  Labour  alfo  upon  the  Con- 
verfion  of  the  young  People  in  his  Congregation : 
J  have  travelled  in  the  Minifiry  in  this  place, 
Thirty  five  Tears,  and  might  it  pleafe  God  fo  far 
to  lengthen  out  my  Days,  as  to  make  it  up  Forty, 
I Jhould not,  1  think,  defire  anymore.  Now  the 
Lord  heard  this  Defire  of  his  praying  Servant, 
and  added  no  lefs  than  Eight  Tears  more  unto 
his  Days.  Ths  mori  part  of  which  time,  except 
the  laft  Three  Quartttc  of  a  Year,  he  was  em- 
ployed in  the  Publick  Services  of  his  Miniftry. 


Being  recovered  from  his  Illnefs,  he  proved 
that  he  did  not  flatter  with  his  Lips,  inth^Vows 
that  he  had  made  lor  his  Recovery  ;  for  he  now 
fet  himfelf  with  great  Fervour  to  gather  the 
Children  of  his  Church,  under  the  faring  Wings 
of  rhe  Lord  Jefus  Chritt  ;  and  in  order  thereun- 
to he  preached  many  pungent  Sermons,on£«'/<'/. 
11.  5>,  10.  and  Eccl.  ia.  1.  and  ufed  many  other 
fuccefsful  Endeavours. 

§  10.  Tho'  his  Labours  were  not  without  Sue- 
cefs,  yet  the  Succefs  was  not  fo  general,  and 
notable,  but  that  he  would  complain,  A/as,  for 
the  Barrennefs  of  my  Minijlry !  And  when  he 
found  his  Lungs  decay  by  Old  Age,  |r|B  ¥cvei\ 
he  would  clap  his  Hands  on  his  BrcaO:  and  fay, 
The  Bellows  are  burnt,  the  pounder  has  melted 
in  vain  !  At  length  Infirmities  grew  fo  fait  up- 
on this  painful  Servant  of  our  Lord,  that  in  the 
Summer  of  the  Year  1678,  he  feemed  apace 
drawing  on  to  his  End  ;  but  after  fome  Revivals 
he  again  got  abroad  •,  however,  he  feldom,  if 
ever  preached  after  it,  but  only  admimfrred  the 
Sacraments.  In  this  time  his  Humility^  •  and  con- 
fequently  all  the  other  Graces  which  God  gives 
unto  the  Humble,  grow  exceedingly,  and  obfer- 
vahly  -,  and  hence  he  took  delight  in  hearing  the 
Commendations  of  other  Men,  tho3  fometimes 
they  were  fo  unwifely  uttered,  as  to  carry  fome 
Diminutions  unto  himfelf;  and  he  fet  himfelf 
particularly  to  put  all  Refpeftand  Honour  upon 
the  Miniftets  that  came  in  the  time  of  his  Weak- 
nefles  to  fupply  his  place.  After  and  und?r  his 
Confinement,  the  fmging  of  Pfalms  was  an  Exer- 
cife  wherein  he  took  a  particular  delight ,  fay- 
ing, That  it  was  the  Work  of  Heaven,  which  he 
was  willing  to  anticipate.  But  about  Eight  Weeks 
before  his  Expiration,  he  did  with  his  Aged 
Hand  Ordain  a  Succeffor  •,  which  when  he  had 
performed  with  much  Solemnity,  he  did  after- 
wards with  an  AiTembly  of  Minilters,  and  other 
Chriftians,  at  his  own  Houfe,  joyfully  ling  the 
Song  of  Aged  Simeon,  Thy  Servant  now  let  left 
thou  depart  in  Peace.  He  had  now  nothing  to 
do,  but  to  die  ;  and  he  fpent  his  Hours  accord- 
ingly, in  affiduous  Preparations ;  not  without 
fome  dark  Intervals  of  Temptation  ;  but  at  laft 
with  Light  arifing  in  Darknefs  unto  him.  While 
his  Exteriour  was  decaying,  his  brteriour  was 
renewing,  every  Day,  until  the  Twentieth  Day 
of  'January,  1(578.  When  he  quietly  and  fi- 
lently  refigned  his  holy  Soul,  unto  its  faithful 
Creator. 


D.  P 


E 


Efitaphium. 

TRI   HOBARTI, 


Offa  fub  hoc  Saxo,  Latitant  defojfa  SepidchrOj 
Spzrit/tf  in  C<elo,  car  cere  miffus  agit. 


CHAP, 


i5* 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.      Book  III 


CHAP.    XXVIII. 

A  Man  of  God,  and  an  Honourable  Man.     The    L  I  F  E    of  Mr.     SAMUEL 

WHITING, 


Hi  mihi  Dotfores  femper  placuere,  docenda 
Qui  faciunt,  flits,  quam  qui  facie nda  docent. 


(j  l.TTTHEN  the  miferable  Saul  applied 
VV  himfelf  to  the  Witch  of  Endor,  for 
the  Invoking  of,  and  Confulting  with,  lbme 
Spirit  in  the  Invifible  World,  he  chofe  that  the 
Spirit  fhould  rather  appear  in  the  Shape  of  the 
Venerable  Samuel,  than  in  any  other.  A  Dif- 
pute  is  raifed  among  Learned  Men,  on  the  Oc- 
cafion  of  the  Spirit  thus  raifed  •,  Who  it  Jbould 
be  ?  For  while  fome  think,  that  beyond  the 
Expectation,  and  unto  the  Aftonifhment  of  the 
Witch,  it  was  the  True  Samuel,  which  now  ap- 
peared; in  as  much  as  the  Apparition  is  five 
times  over  called  by  the  Name  of  Samuel,  and 
the  Apocryphal  Ecclefiafticus  affirms  of  Samuel, 
that  after  his  Death  he  prophefied :  And  feveral 
of  the  Fathers  and  of  the  School-men,  herein 
followed  by  Mendoza,  Delrio,  Dr.  More,  Mr. 
Glanvil,  and  others,  are  of  this  Opinion :  They 
imagine  with  Lyra,  that  God  then  fent  in  the 
Real  Samuel,  unlootfd  for,  as  he  came  upon  Ba- 
laam, when  employed  about  his  Magical  Impo 
ftures:  There  are  more,  who  judge  that  it  was 
a  Spirit  of  the  fame  kind  with  that,  which  is 
defcribed  by  Porphyrins ,  mvl<t!*>o$tpov  ts  x)  -toko 
1z?Trav  changing  themjclves  into  multifarious 
harms,  one  while  ailing  the  Parts  of  Demons, 
another  while  of  Angels,  and  another  while  the 
Souls  of  the  Deccafed :  Of  which  Opinion  was 
'TertuUian,  and  the  Author  of  the  Quefi.  cf 
Rcfp.  afcribed  unto  Juftin  Martyr,  and  the 
Generality  of  Proteftants  :  Who  cannot  per- 
fwade  themfelves,  that  the  Lord  would  have 
fo  far  countenanced  Necromancy,  or  Pfycomancy, 
as  to  have  let  the  Real  Samuel  come,  upon  the 
Sollicitations  of  an  Enchantrefs  -,  and  that  the 
Real  Samuel  would  not  have  difcourfed  at  the 
Rate  of  the  SpeUre  now  exhibited. 

Let  the  Difputants,  upon  this  Queftion, 
wrangle  on;  w,hile  we  by  a  very  Lawful  and 
Laudable  Art, w\ll  fetch  another  Samuel  from  the! 
Dead:  And  by  the  Happy  Magick  of  our  Pen, 
Reader,  we  will  bring  into  the  View  of  the 
World,  a  Venerable  Old  Man,  a  Samuel  who 
fhall  entertain  us  wich  none  but  Comfortable 
and  Profitable  Tidings. 

§  2.  Mr.  Samuel  Whiting  drew  his  fir  ft  Breath 
at  Baft  on,  in  Lincolnflnre,  Nov.  20  A.D.  1597. 
His  Father  a  Perfon  of  good  Repute  there,  the 
Eldeft  Son  among  many  Brethren,  an  Alderman, 
andTometimesa  Mayor  of  the  Town,  had  three 
Sons ;  the  Second  of  thefe  was  our  Samuel, 
who  had  a  Learned  Education  by  his  Father 
bellowed  upon  him,  firft  at  Bofton  School,  and 


then  at  the  Univerfity  of  Cambridge.  He  had 
for  his  Companion  in  his  Education,  his  Cofen- 
German,  the  very  Renowned  Anthony  Tuckney, 
afterwards  Doctor,  and  Mafter  of  St.  John's 
College  :  They  were  <S<r/w/-Fellows  at  Bofton, 
and  Chamber  Mates,  at  Cambridge  -,  they  both 
belonged  unto  Jw/;w;7/^7-Colledge,  and  they 
continued  an  Intimate  Friendfhip,  when  they 
left  the  Seats  of  the  Mujes ,  which  indeed  was 
not  quenched  by  the  many  Waters  of  the  Atlan- 
tick,  when  they  were  a  Thoufand  Leagues 
afunder.  It  was  while  he  was  thus  at  the 
Univerfity,  that  the  good  Spirit  of  God  made 
early  Impreflions  of  Grace  upon  his  young  Soul; 
and  the  Cares  of  his  pious  Tutor,  (I  think  Mr. 
Yates)  to  inft ruft  him  in  Matters  of  Religion, 
as  well  as  of  Literature,  were  bleffed  for  the 
Imbuing  of  his  Mind,  with  a  Tincture  of  Early 
Piety  -,  which  was  further  advanced  by  the 
Miniftry  of  fuch  Preachers  as  Dr.  Sibs  and  Dr. 
Prefton :  So  that  in  his  Age  he  would  give 
Thanks  to  God  for  the  Divine  Favours  which 
he  thus  received  in  his  Youth,  and  when  he 
was  entring  into  his  Reft,  where  he  expected 
the  moft  Intimate  Communion  with  our  Glo- 
rious Immanucl,  and  with  the  Spirits  of  Jdft 
Men  made  perfeQ,  he  could  with  Joy  reflect 
upon  the  Anticipations  of  it,  which  he  enjoyed 
in  the  Retired  Walk  of  lmmanuel-Colkge, 

§  3.  Having  proceeded  Mafter  of  Arts,  he 
removed  from  Cambridge,  and  became  a  Chap- 
lain to  Sir  Nathanael  Bacon,  and  Sir  Roger 
Townfend,  where  he  did  for  "Three  Tears  toge- 
ther, with  Prayers,  with  Sermons,  with  Cate- 
chifing,  and  with  a  Grave  and  Wife  Deport- 
ment, lerve  the  Intereft  of  Religion,  in  a  Fa- 
mily, which  had  no  lefsthan  'Two  Knights  and 
Five  Ladies  in  it.  He  next  removed  unto  Lyn, 
in  the  County  of  Norfolk,  and  fpent  another 
Three  Tears,  as  a  Collegue  in  the  Miniftry  of 
the  Gofpel,  with  a  Reverend  and  Excellent 
Man,  Mr.  Price.  But  the  Great  Content  which 
he  took  in  his  prefent  Sciruation,  and  Society, 
and  Service,  was  intetrupted  at  length  by.C.orn- 
plaints  made  unto  the  Bifhop  of  Norwich,  for 
his  Non  Conformity  unto  thofe  Rices,  which 
never  were  of  any  life  in  the  Church  of  God, 
but  only  to  be  Tools,  by  which  the  Worft  of 
Men  might  thruft  out  the  Bell  from  ferving  it, 
Being  Cited  unto  the  High  Commiffwn  Court,  he 
expected  that  he  ftiould  loie  the  moft  of  his 
Eftate,  for  his  being  a  Non  Confer  mi  ft;  hut  be- 
fore the  Time  for  his  Appearance,  according 

to 


Foukli).      The  Hi/lory  of  New-England 


157 


to  the  Citation,  came,  King  James  died  ;  and 
fo  his  Trouble  at  this  Time  was  diverted.  The 
Ejrl  of  Lincoln  afterwards  interceding  for  him, 
the  Bifhop  was  willing  to  promife,  that  he 
would  no  farther  Worry  him,  in  cafe  he  would 
be  gone  out  of  his  Diocefs,  where  he  could  not 
reichhim  ;  and  therefore  leaving  Lyn,  he  ex- 
erciied  his  Miniffry  at  S&irbick,  near  Bojinn  in 
Lincolnfhire,  lor  a  confiderable  white,  with  no 
Inconfiderable  Fruit •,  refreshed  with  the  De 
lightful  Neighbourhood  of  his  Old  Friends 
and  efpecially  thole  Eminent  Pcrlbns  Mr.  Cot- 
ton and  Mr  Tuckney,  to  both  of  whom  he  had 
forne  Affinity,  as  from  both  of  them,  no  little 
Affection. 

§  4.  Having  buried  his  Firft  Wife,  by  whom 
he  had  Three  Children,  Two  Sons,  who  died 
in    England,    and    one    Daughter   afterwards 
matched  with  one   Mx.Tbomai  Weld,  in  ano 
ther  Land  ;  he  married   the  Daughter  of  Mr. 
Oliver  St.  John,  a  Bedfordfhire  Gentleman,  of 
an  Honourable  Family,  nearly  related  unto  the 
Lord  St.  John  of  bletfo.     This  Mr.  St.  John, 
was  a  Perfon  of  Incomparable  Breeding,  Vertue 
and  Piety  •,    fuch,  that    Mr.  Cotton,  who   was 
well  acquainted  with  him,  fa  id  of  him,  tie  ym 
one  of  the  Ccmpleatefi  Gentlemen,  without  Afje- 
Sation,  thai  ever  he  knew.     And  this  his  Daugh- 
ter was  a  Perfon  of  lingular  Piety  and  Gravity-, 
one  who  by  her  Difcretion  freed ,  her  Husband 
from  all  Secular  Avocations  ■,  one  who  upheld 
a  daily  and  conftant  Communion   with  God, 
in  the  Devotions  of  her  Clofet  •  one,  who  not 
only  Wrote  the  Sermons  that  fhe  heard  on  the 
hordes  Days   with  much  Dexterity,  but  Liv'd 
them,  and  Li-Jd  on  them  all  the  Week.    The 
ufual  Phrafe  for  an  Excellent  Woman,  among 
the  Ancient  Jews  was,  One  who  defervesto  mar- 
ry a  Prieft  :   Even    fuch  an   Excellent  Woman 
was  now  married  unto  Mr.  Whiting.;    This  Gen- 
tlewoman having  lfay'd  with  her  worthy  Cor- 
fort  Forty   Seven   Years,  went  in  the  Seventy 
Third  Year  of  his  Age,  unto  him  to  whom  her 
Soul  had  been  feme  Scores  of  Years  efpoufed.  Mr. 
Whiting  had  by  her  four  Sons  and  two  Daughters. 
Three  of  the  Sons  lived  unto  the   Eftate  and 
Stature  of  Men -,    and    had  a  Learned  Educa- 
tion.    Samuel  is  at  this  Day  a  Reverend,  Holy 
and  Faithful   Minifter  of  the  Gofpel,  in  the 
New-Englijh  Town  of  billerica:  John  was  in- 
tended for  a  PhyJician,  but  became  a  Preacher, 
firft  at  butterwich,  then  at  Leverton  in  Lincoln- 
shire, where  he  died  a  Godly  Conformift  :  Jo 
feph  is,  at  this  Day,  a  Worthy  and  Painful  Mi- 
nifter of  the  Gofpel,  at  Southampton  upon  Long- 
IJland. 

§  5.  After  he  had  abode  feveral  Years  at 
Skirbick,  foon  after  Mr.  Cotton's  Removal,  he- 
fell  into  fuch  Trouble,  for  his  Nan  Conformity 
to  the  Vanities,  which  Men  had  received  by 
Tradition  from  their  Popiftl  lathers^  and  this 
through  the  Complaint  of  the  fame  unhappy 
Man,  'tis  faid,  who  procured  the  Trouble  of 
Mr.  Cotton,  that  he  found  he  muff  be  gone  : 
But  New-Englnni  offered  it  felf  as  the  moll 


that  he  could  be  gone  unto.  The  Ecclefiaffi- 
cal  Sharks  then  drove  this  Whiting  over  the 
Atlantic  Sea,  unto  the  American,  Strands  Let 
it  not  be  a  matter  of  Wonder,  That  Perfons  of 
a  Confcience  rightly  informed  and  inclined, 
chofe  rather  to  undergo  an  uncomfortable  Ex- 
ile from  the  beft  Ijland  under  heaven,    to  as 


ratner  than 


hard  a  Defart  as  any   upon  Earth, 
to  Conform   to  the  Ceremonies  of  the  Englifli 
Liturgy.     If  the  things  had  been  as  Lawful  in 
the  Judgment  of  the  Sufferers,  as  they  were  in 
the  Pretences   of  the  hnpofers,  they  were  not 
fo fond  of  Mifims  as  to 'have  refuted  Confor- 
mity.    But  ic  was  of  old  obferved,  that  when 
Sinful  Things  were  commanded,  Nihil  ob ft/ na- 
eitts  Chrijliano,  nothing  is , more  Obfiinate  than 
a  Chrittian  Diffenter :  And  it  is  a  Commenda- 
ble  Obftinacy !    The    faithful   in  Tenullian's 
Time,  would   undergo  any  thing  rather  than 
ufe  the  Ce/anonies  of  Idolaters,  though    they 
might  have  us'd  them  to  another  End,  and  with 
another  Ahnd  than  they.    The  Firft  Planters  of 
New  England  knew,  that   the    Ceremonies   re- 
tained  in   the   Church   of  England,  had  been 
firft  Invented  and  PraSis'd  by  Idolaters  :  And 
knowing  that  all  the  Abominations  of  the  Po~ 
pifh  Alajs,  originally  fprang  from  an  Impofed 
Liturgy,  they  thought  it  no  Nicety  to  have  de- 
clined   all   Compliance    with   fuch   a    thing, 
though  they  ftiould  not  have  had  as  they  had, 
numberlefs    Objeilions  againft  it.      The   very 
Words  ufed   in  the  Rites  then  required,  were 
fear'd  by   thofe  good  Men,  as  Dangerous  -,  af- 
ter they  read  thole   Words  of  the  Rhemtftsy 
While  they  fay,  Minifters,  let  us  fay,  Priefts^ 
When  they  call  itz  A  Communion  Table,  Let 
us   call  it,   An   Altar.     Let  us   keep  our  Old 
Words,  and  we  fball  keep  our  Old  Things,  our 
Religion.     But  much  more  did  thefe  good  Men 
fear  the  Rites  of  Things  themfeives  5  efpecially 
when  they  faw  them  to  be  not  only  Unfcrip- 
turalasii   VmnftituteP,  but  alfo  of  Pernicious 
ConJequencc  to  the  very  Vitals  of  Religion.     For 
this   they  had  the  Example  of  Peter  Martyr, 
who  wifhed,.  that  the  Reformed  Churches,  keep- 
ing up  thefe  things  would  be  fenfible,  Evange- 
Hum    us   manentibus,    non  fatk    e\fe  firmum  ; 
That  the    Gofpel   can't  be    fecure,  while  the 
Ceremonies  continue:  They  had  the  Example  of 
Martin  buccr^  who  complained,  That  the  Ce- 
remonies and  the  Preaching  of  the  Word,  mu- 
tually expel  one  another.     Where  Knowledge 
through  the  Preaching  of  the  Gofpel  prevails, 
there  the  Love  of  thefe  withers,  and  where  the 
Loveoi  thefe  prevails,  there  Knowledge  decays : 
They  had  the  Example  of  the  Divines  of  Ham- 
burgh, who  looked  upon  fuch  Ceremonies  to  be 
the  Cum culi,  the  Secret  Alines  by  which  the 
Papifls    would  convey   themfeives  under  our 
Foundations,  and  overthrow  our  Churches.   And 
if  they  did    then  entertain  Auftin\  Fear,   In 
Aluititiidinc  Cercmoniarum  peric/itat ur  Fides  ;  I 
with  the  Event  had  lefs  confirmed  it.     It  is  ve- 
ry certain,  in  the  Englijh  Nation,  they  ferv'd 
<;nly  as  Gileadites,  to  keep  the  Parages  of  the 


Hopeful  and  Quiet,  and  indeed  the  only  Mace:  Church,  lo  that  no  Minifter,  how  able  or  wor- 
thy 


158 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.      Book  II], 


thy  foever  could  pafs,  unlefs  he  could  pro 
nounce  that  Shibboleth.  And  if  the  Man  of 
Bern,  mentioned  by  Melanllhon,  who  would 
rathe'r  be  Martyred  than  obferve  one  I'afl  in 
the  Popifh  manner,  were  to  be  commended  for  his 
Fidelity  to  Chritt,  tho'  it  feemed  fuch  a  little 
matter,  thefe  good  Men  mult  not  be  reproached 
for  this,  that  they  would  rathet  be  Exiled  than 
conform  to  thofe  things,  which  were  like  the 
pretended  Indifferent  Things,  impofed  in  the  Old 
German  Instrument  called  the  Interim,  namely 
Semina  Corrupt elx,  the  Seeds  of  Romijb  Corru- 
ption. Tis  time  for  me  now,  without  any  fur- 
ther Obfervation,  to  3dd  concerning  our  Whiting. 
His  Vertuous  Confort  was  far  from  difcouraging 
him,  through  any  unwillingnefs  in  her  to  for- 
iake  her  Native  Country,  or  expofe  her  own 
Perfon  rirft  unto  the  Hazards  of  the  Ocean,  and 
then  unto  the  Sorrows  of  a  Wilder nefs  :  But 
tho'  fome  of  her  Friends  were  much  againff  it, 
yet  (he  rather  forwarded  than  kindred  her  Huf- 
band's  Inclination  for  America.  When  he  fhip'd 
himfelf,  he  took  with  him  all  that  he  had  -, 
and  whereas  he  might  have  referved  his  Lands 
in  England,  which  would  have  yielded  him  a 
confiderable  Annual  Revenue,  and  notable  Ac- 
ceflion  to  the  f mall  Salary,  which  he  was  after- 
wards put  off  withal  5  yet  judging  that  he  never 
fhould  return  to  England  any  more,  he  fold  all, 
faying.  I  am  going  into  the  Wildernefs  to  a  Sacri- 
fice unto  the  Lord,  and  I  will  not  leave  an  Hoof 
behind  me. 

He  took  Shipping  about  the  beginning  of  A- 
pril,  1636.  and  arrived  May  26.  after  he  had 
been  fo  very  fick  all  the  way,  that  he  could 
preach  but  one  Sermon  all  the  while ;  and  he 
would  fay,  That  he  bad  much  rather  have  under- 
gone fix  Weeks  Imprifonment  for  a  good  Caufe, 
than  to  undergo  fix  Weeks  of  fuch  terrible  Sea- 
ficknefs  a*  he  had  now  been  tried  withal. 

But  in  a  Sermon  after  his  Arrival,  he  thus 
exprelfed  his  Appreheniions  and  Confolations  : 

'  We  in  this  Country  have  left  our  near  and 
'  our  dear  Friends  :  But  if  we  can  get  nearer  to 
*■  God  here,  he  will  be  inftead  of  all,  and  more 
'  than  all  unto  us  :  He  hath  all  the  Fulnefs  of 
1  all  the  fweeteft  Relations  bound  up  in  him. 
L  We  may  take  out  of  God,  which  we  forfook 
'  in  Father,  Mother,  Brother,  Sifter,  Friends 
'  that  hath  been  as  near,  and  as  dear  as  our  own 
«  Soul. 

k)  6.  When  he  came  afhore,  his  Friends  at  the 
NewEnglifhBojion,  with  many  of  whom  he  had 
been  acquainted  in  Lincoln-fhire,  let  him  know 
how  glad  they  were  to  fee  him  -,  and  having 
lodged  about  a  Month  with  his  Kinfman,  Mr. 
Adderton  Haugh,  he  removed  unto  Lyn,  the 
Church  there  inviting  him  to  be  their  Pallor -, 
and  in  the  Paftoral  Care  of  that  Flock,  he  fpent 
all  the  reft  of  his  Days.  The  Year  following 
Mr.  Thomas  Cobbet  followed  him  :  And  foon 
after  his  Arrival  at  New-England,  became  his 
Collegue,  in  the  Service  of  the  Church  at  Lyn. 
Great  was  the  Love  that  fweetned  the  Labours, 
and  whole  Converfation  and  Vicinity  of  thefe 
Yelhw  Labourers  •,  the  Rays  with  which  they  il 


luminated  the  Houfe  of  God,  fweetly  united  ■ 
they  werealmoft  every  Day  together,and  thought 
it  a  long  Day  if  they  were  nor  lb ;  one  rarely  tra 
veiling  abroad  without  the  other :  And  "chefe 
two  Angelick  Men  feem'd  willing  to  give  one 
another  as  little  Joftlc,  as  the  Angels  upon  Ja- 
cob's Ladder  did  unto  one  another,  while  one 
was  defcending,  and  another  afcending  there. 
How  little  Stipends  thefe  great  greatServants  of 
the  Church,  were  opprefled,  but  yet  contented 
withal,  may  be  gathered  from  this  one  Story. 

The  ungrateful  Inhabitants  of  Lyn,  one  Year 
pafs'd  a  Town  Vote,  That  they  could  not  allow 
their  Minifters  above  Thirty  Pounds  apiece,  that 
Year,  for  their  Salary  :  And  behold,  the  God 
who  will  not  be  mocked  ,  immediately  caufed 
the  Town  to  Iofe  Three  hundred  Pounds,  in  that 
one  Specie  of  their  Cattel,  by  one  Difafter. 

However,  Mr.  Whiting  found  fuch  a  Blefling 
of  God  upon  his  Little,  that  he  would  cheer- 
fully fay,  He  que  ft  ion  d  whether,  if  he  had  abode 
in  England,  where  his  Means  were  much  more 
confiderable,  he  could  have  brought  up  three  Sons 
at  the  Univerfity  there ,  at  he  did  at  Harvard- 
Colledge  here.  But  after  they  had  lived  about 
a  Score  of  Years  together,  Mr.  Cobbet  was,  up 
on  the  Death  of  Mr.  Rogers,  tranflated  'unto 
Ipfwich  ■,  from  this  time  was  Mr.  Whiting  moftly 
alone  in  his  Miniftry  ;  and  yet  not  alone,  becaufe 
the  Heavenly  Father  was  with  him.  And  as  he 
drew  near  his  End,  he  had  his  youngeft  Son  for 
his  Afliftant. 

In  the  Sixty  Third  Year  of  his  Age,  AT>.i6^. 
he  began  to  be  vifited  with  the  grinding  and 
painful  Difeafe  of  the  Stone  in  the  Bladder,  with 
which  he  was  much  exercifed,  ( and  the  Reader 
that  knows  any  thing  cf  it,  will  fay  it  was£>- 
ercife  enough]  until  he  came  to  be  ,  where  the 
Weary  are  at  reft.  He  bore  his  Affliction  wirh 
incomparable  Patience  -,  and  he  had  one  Favour 
which  he  much  ask'd  of  God,  that  tho'  lmall 
Stones,  with  great  Pains,  often  proceeded  from 
him,  and  he  fcarce  enjoy'd  one  Day  of  perfect 
Eafe,  after  this,  until  he  died  -,  yet  it  is  not  re- 
membred,  that  he  was  ever  hindred  thereby  one 
Day  from  his  Publick  Services.  And  whereas 
it  was  expected,  both  by  himfelf  and  others, 
that  as  he  grew  in  Years,  the  Torments  of  his 
Malady  would  grow  upon  him,  it  proved  much 
otherwife  -,  the  Torments  and  Complaints  of  his 
Diftemper  abated,  as  his  Age  increafed.  At 
length  a  Senile  Atrophy  came  upon  him,  with  a 
wafting  Diarrhoea,  which  brought  Lyn  into  Dark- 
nefs,  Decemb.  11.  1679.  in  the  Eighty  third 
Year  of  his  Peregrination. 

§  7.  For  his  Learning  he  was  many  ways  well 
accomplilhed  :  Efpecially  he  was  accurate  in 
Hebrew ,  in  which  Primitive  and  Expreflive 
Language,  he  took  much  delight :  And  he  was 
elegant  in  Latin,  whereof  among  other  Demon- 
ftrations  he  gave  one,  in  an  Oration  at  one  of 
our  Commencements  :  And  much  of  his  vacant 
Hours  he  employ'd  in  Hiftory  :  Hiftory,  which 
made  good  unto  him  her  ancient  Character  : 

Omnh  nunc  nofiro  pendet  Prudentia  Senfu, 
Riteque  nil,  nofira,  qui  caret  Arte,  fapir. 

He 


Book  III.       The  Hijlory  of  New-England. 


159 


Hiftory,  whofe  great  Votary  Polybivs,  truly  af- 
ferts,  Nulla  hominibus  facilior  ad  Vit.e  Ififtitutio- 
ncm  via  ejl,  quam  Rerum  ante  gcflarum  Ggnitio. 
And  he  was  no  lefs  a  Man  or"  Temper,  than  of 
Learning :  The  peculiar  Sweetnefs  and  Good- 
nefs  of  his  Temper,  mud  be  an  effential  Stroke 
in  his  Character :  He  was  wonderfully  happy 
in  his  meek,  his  composed,  his  peaceable  Difpo- 
fition  :  And  his Meekneis  of  Wifdomout-fhone 
all  his  other  Attainments  in  Learning-,  for  there 
is  no  Humane  Literature  lb  hardiy  attained,  as 
the  Difcretion  of  a  Man  to  regulate  his  Angeri 
His  very  Countenance  had  an  amiable  Smile 
continually  fweetning  of  it :  And  his  Face  herer 
in  was  but  the  true  Image  pf  his  Mind,  which 
like  the  upper  Regions  was  marveiloully  free 
from  the  Storms  of  Paflions. 

In  Profperity  he  was  not  much  elated,  in  Ad 
verfity  he  was  not  much  dejected  -,  under  Pro- 
vocations he  would  fcorn  to  be  provoked.  When 
the  Lord  would  not  exprefs  himfelf  unto  Elijah 
in  the  Wind,  nor  in  the  Eatrhquake,  nor  in  the 
Fire,  hut  in  the  ltill  Voice,  I  futpecl,  left  one 
thing  intended  among  others,  might  be  an  Ad- 
monition unto  the  Prophet  himfelf,  to  beware 
of  the  hoifterous,  uneven,  inflamed  Efforts^ here- 
to his  Natural  Conftitution  might  be  ready  to 
betray  him 

This  worthy  Man,  as  taking  that  Admoniti- 
on, was  for  doing  every  thing  with  a  ftili  Voice. 
He  knew  himfelf  to  be  born,  as  all  Men  are, 
with  at  leaft  a  Dozen  Paflions  ;  but  being  alfo 
new  bom,  he  did  not  allow  himfelf  to  be  Hag- 
ridden with  the  Enchantments  thereof.  The 
Philofopher  of  old,  C3lfd  our  Paflions,  by  the 
jult  Name  of  unnurtured  Dogs  <  but  thefe  Dogs 
do  often  worry  the  Children  of  God  themfelves  -, 
even  a  Great  Luther,  who  removed  the  fouleft 
Abominatioits  out  of  the  Houfe  of  God,  could 
not  hinder  thefe  Dogs  from  infecting  of  his  own 
Heart :  However,  this  excellent  (becaufe  cool, 
therefore  excellent)  Spirited  Perfon,  kept  thefe 


ous  Dunce,  and  mfplent  as,  a  Female  Tyrant  '■> 
proud  and  haughty  in  their  Deportment  '\  peevifh-. 
petulant,  and  f elf -willed,  impatient  of  Gantradv 
ffion,  implacable  in  their  Anger,  rude  and  impe- 
rious in  all  thar  Converfation,  and  made  up  of 
nothing  but  Prick ,  Malice  ,  and  Peevifbnefs- 
But  it  any  have  eve*  given  occafion  for  this  Ob' 
legation,  there  was  none  given  by  our  Whiting, 
who  would  have  thought  himfelf  a  Fifh  out  of 
his  Element,  if  he  had  ever  bean  at  any  rime 
any  where  but  in  the  Paafick  Sea.  And  from 
Shis  Account  of  his  Temper,  I  may  now  venture 
to  proceed  unto  his  Vertue  ;  by  which  I  intend 
the  Holinefs  of  his  renewed  Heart  and  Life,  and 
the  Change  made  by  the  fupernatural  Grace  of 
Chrift  upon  him,  without  which  all  Vertue  is 
but  a  Name,  a  Sham,  a  Fiftion.  He  was  a  very 
Holy  Man  :  As  the  Ancients  hath  alTured  us; 
Ama  Scientiam  Script  ur arum  if) 'Vitia  Garnk  non 
Amabii  i  Thus  by  reading  daily  fevcral  Chapters 
in  both  Teftamenfs  of  the  Scriptures,  with  feri- 
ous  .and  gracious  Reflections  thereupon,'  which 
he  Hill  followed  with  fecret  Prayers  he  grew 
more  holy  continually,  until  in  a  flourifhing  Old 
Age,  he  was  found  tit  for  Tranfplantation. 

His  Worfliip  in  his  Family,  was  that  which 
argued  him  a  true  Child  of  Abraham  -,  and  his 
Counfel  to  his  Children,  was  grave,  watchful, 
ufeful,  favoury,  and  very  memorable.  And  if 
Meditation  ( which  was  one  of  Luther's  Great 
Things  to  make  a  Divine)  be  a  thing  of  no  lit- 
tle confequence  to  make  a  Ghriflian ,this  muft  be 
numbred  among  the  Exercifes  whereby  our  Habi- 
ting became  very  much  improved  in  Chnfiianity. 
Meditation  (which  is  Menti-s-Ditatio)  daily  en- 
riched his  Mind  with  the  DifpMirions  of  Hea- 
ven ■,  and  having  a  Walk  for  that  purpofe  in  his 
Orchard,  fome  of  his  Flock  that  fawhim  con- 
ftantly  taking  his  Turns  in  that  Walk,  with 
Hand,  and  Eye,  and  Soul,  often  directed  Heaven- 
ward, would  fay,  There  does  our  dear  Paflor 
walk  with  God  every  Day. 

In  fine,  As  the  Apoflle  Peter  fays,  They  that 
Dogs  with  a  llrong  Chain  upon  them ;  and  fince  I  obey  not  the  Word,  yet  with  Fear  behold  the  chaft 
Man  was  created  with  a  Dominion  ovet  the  ]  Gonverfation  of  them  who  do.  And  as  Ignatius 
Beafts  of  the  Field,  he  would  not  let  the  Sm&x  1  defcribes  the  Paftor  of  the  Trallians,  for  one  of 
ms4<V8h  hold  him  in  any  Slavery.     He  liv'd  as  \fuch  a  SanQity  of  Life ,  that  the  greateft  Atheifl 


under  the  Eye  and  Awe  of  the  Great  God ;  and 
as  Bafl  noted,  Poteji  Miles  cor  urn  Rege  fuo  non 
irafci,  oh  folum  Regit  majeflatis  Eminent iam  : 
Thus  the  Fear  of  God  ftill  reftrained  him  from 
thofe  Ebullitions  of  Wrath  which  other  Men  are 
too  fearlefs  of.  As  virulent  a  Pen  as  ever  blot- 
ted Paper  in  the  Englijh  Nation,  pretends  to 
obferve,  That  fome  Men  will  pray  with  the  Ar- 
dours of  an  Angel,  love  God  with  Raptures  of 
Joy  and  Delight,  be  tranfported  with  deep  and 
pathetick  Devotions,  talk  of  nothing  but  the  un- 
jpeakable  Pie  a  fares  oj 'Communion  with  the  Lord 
Jefm,  be  ravifhW  with  devout  and  feraphick 
Meditations  of 'Heaven \and  like  the  blejj'ed  Spirits 
there,  feem  to  relifh  nothing  but  Spiritual  De-' 
lights  and  Entertainments  :  Who  when  they  re- 
turn from  their  Transfiguration,  to  their  ordina- 


would  have  been  afraid  to  have  looted  upon  him  . 
Even  fo  the  Natural  Confidence  in  the  worii  of 
Men,  paid  an  Homage  of  Reverence  to  this  Holy 
Man,  where-ever  he  came. 

(j  8.  Tho'  he  fpent  his  Time  chiefly  in  his  be- 
hoved Study,  yet  he  would  fometimes  Vifit  his 
Flock  ;  but  in  his  Vifit,  he  made  Confcience  of 
entertaining  his  Neighbours  with  no  Difcourfe 
but  what  fhould  be  grave,  and  wife,  and  profi- 
table ;  as  knowing  that,  §>uoe  funt  inOrePopuli 
Nugie,  funt  in  Ore  Paftoris  Blafphemix.  And 
fometimes  an  Occafional  Word  let  fall  by  him, 
hath  had  a  notable  EffecF  :  Once  particularly, 
in  a  Journey  being  at  an  Inn  upon  the  Road,  he 
over-heard  certain  People  in  the  next  Room,  fo 
merry,  as  to  be  too  loud  and  rude  in  their  Mirth  9 
wherefore,  as  he  paffed  by  the  Door,  he  look'd 


ry  Gonvcrfc  imh  Men,  are  churli/h  as  a  Gynick,  •  in  upon  them,  and  with  a  fweet  Majefiy,  only 
jjajfionate  as  an  angry  Wafp,  envious  as  a  (iudt-  :dropt  thofe  Words  •.  Friends,  If you  are  fare  thar 

X  x  x  yout 


\6o 


The  Hiflory  of  New-England.       Book  III. 


year  Sins  are  pardoned,  you  may  be  wifely  merry. 
And  thefe  Words  not  only  ftiU'd  all  their  Noife 
for  the.prefent,  but  alfo  had  a  great  Effeft  af- 
terwards upon  forae  of  the  Company.  Indeed, 
his  Converfation  preached  where-ever  he  was  ; 
as  being  fenfible  of  the  Jewifh  Proverb,  Propbeta 
qui  tranjgreditur  Prophetiam  fuam  propriam, 
Mors  ejus  eft  in  Manibt/s  Dei  :  But  in  the  Pul- 
pit he  laboured  efpecially  to  approve  himfelf  a 
Preacher.  In  his  Preaching  his  Defign  was,  Pro- 
deffe  magis  quam  flacerc  :  And  his  Practice  was, 
Nm  aha  fed  apta  proferre.  But  what  a  proper 
and  ufeful  Speaker  he  was,  we  may  gather  from 
what  we  find  him,  when  a  Writer. 

There  are  efpecially  two  Books,  wherein  we 
have  him  yet  living  among  us.  In  the  Fate  and 
Fire  of  Sodom,  there  was  a  notable  Type  of  the 
Conflagration,ihn  will  arreft  this  polluted  World 
at  the  Day  oj  Judgment :  And  the  famous  Prayer 
of  Abraham,  (who  as  R.  Bechai  imagines,  had 
fome  hope,  when  he  deprecated  that  Ruine  for 
the  fake  of  Ten  Righteous  Ones,  that  Lot,  and 
his  Wife,  and  the  Four  Daughters,  which  Tra- 
dition hath  afiigned  him,  and  his  four  Sons  in 
Law,  would  have  made  up  the  Number)  on 
that  occafion,  is  indeed  a  very  rich  Portion  of 
Scripture.  Now  our  Whiting  published  a  Vo- 
lume of  Sermons  upon  that  Prayer  of  Abraham  ; 
wherein  he  does  raife,  confirm,  and  apply  Thirty 
two  Docfrines,  which  he  offered  unto  the  Pub- 
lick  (as  he  fays  in  his  Preface)  at  the  Words  of 
a  dying  Man  ;  hoping,  that  as  ConJiantine  the 
Great  would  ftoop  lb  low,  as  to  kifs  Paphnuti- 
us's  maimed  Eye,  fo  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  would 
condefcend  to  put  Marks  of  his  Favour,  on  (that 
which  he  humbly  calls  J,  A  Maimed  Work.  But 
that  which  encouraged  him  unto  this  Publica- 
tion, was  the  Acceptance  which  it  had,  before 
this,  been  found  by  another  Treatife  of  his  upon 
The  Day  of  Judgment  it  felf.  In  the  Fifty  eighth 
Chapter  of  tfaiah,  the  Lord  promifes  a  Time  of 
wondrous  Light  and  Joy,  unto  his  reffored  Peo- 
ple, and  the  Confolations  of  a  lafting  Sabba- 
tifm :  Things  to  be  accomplifhed  at  the  Second 
Coming  of  our  Lord.  Now  to  prepare  for  that 
Bleffednefs,  thofe  very  things  be  required  which 
our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  afterwards  mentioned,  in 
the  Twenty  fifth  Chapter  of  Matthew,  as  the 
Qualifications  of  thofe  whom  he  will  admit  in- 
to his  bleffed  Kingdom.  There  feems,  at  lealt,  a 
little  Reafon  for  it,  that  at  the  Second  Coming 
of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  one  of  the  firft  things 
will  be  a  glorious  Tranflation,wherein  the  Mem- 
bers of  Chriftian  Churches  will  be  call'd  before 
him,  and  be  Examined,  in  order  to  the  Deter- 
mination of  their  State  under  the  New  Jerufa- 
lem,  that  is  to  follow  :  Either  to  take  their  part 
in  the  Glories  of  that  City,  and  Kingdom,  for 
the  Tkoufand  Tears  to  come,  and  by  confequence 
what  enlues  thereupon  •,  or  to  be  exiled  into  the 
Confufions  of  them  that  are  to  be  without. 
Now  tho'  'tis  poffible,  that  whole  Difcourfe  of 
our  Lord,  may  nextly  refer  to  no  no  more  than 
this  Tranfaction,  yet  inafmuch  as  the  generality 
of  Interpreters  have  carried  it  unto  the  more  ge- 
neral and  ultimate  Proceedings  of  the  laft  Judg- 


ment, our  Whiting  did  fo  too  ;  and  he  has  gi- 
uen  us  Forty  two  DoUrines  thereupon,  fo  handled 
as  to  fuit  the  Edification  of  all  Readers.  The 
Notes  are  fhort,  and  but  the  concife  Heads  of 
what  the  Author  prepared  for  his  Weekly  Exer- 
cifes ;  neverthelefs  Mr.  Wilfon,  and  Mr.  Mitchel. 
obferve  in  their  Preface  thereunto  :  That  the 
Reader  by  having  much  in  a  little  Room,  is  the 
better  furnifhed  with  variety  of  Matter,  worthv 
of  Meditation,  for  want  of  which  many  a  Man 
does  digeft  little  of  what  he  reads.  They  fay, 
8  It  is  a  good  Saying  of  one,  That  the  Reading 
'  of  many  diver fe  Heads,  without  fome  interlaced 
'  Meditation,  is  like  eating  of  Marrow  without 
'  Bread.  But  he  that  fhall  take  time  to  paufe 
'  upon  what  he  reads  (where  great  Truths  are 
'  but  in  few  Words  hinted  atj  with  intermixed 
'  Meditations  and  Ejaculations,  fuitable  to  the 
'  Matter  in  hand,  will  find  fuch  Truths  con- 
'  cifely  delivered,  to  be  like  Marrow  and  Fat- 
'  nefs,  whereof  a  little  does  go  far,  and  feed 
'  much. 

But  a  little  Poetry  muff  now  wait  upon  the 
Memory  of  this  Worthy  Man. 


Upon  the  very  Reverend 


A  M  U  E  L 


Wh 


I  T  I  N  G. 


MOunt  Fame,  the  glorious  Chariot  of  the 
Sun-, 
Through  the  World's  Cirque,  all  you,  her  He- 
rald's, run  : 
And  let  this  Great  Saint's  Merits  be  reveal'd, 
Which,  during  Life,  he  ftudioufly  conceal'd. 
Cite  all  the  Levites,  fetch  the  Sons  of  Art, 
In  thefe  our  Dolours  to  fuftain  a  part. 
Warn  all  that  value  Worth,  and  every  one 
Within  their  Eyes  to  bring  an  Helicon. 
For  in  this  Jingle  P  erf  on  we  have  loft 
More  Riches,  than  an  India  has  engroft. 

When  Wilfon,  that  Plerophory  of  Love, 
Did  from  our  Banks,  up  to  hisCenter  move, 
Rare  Whiting  quotes  Columbus  on  this  Coaft, 
Producing  Gems,  of  which  a  King  might  boafi 
More  fplendid  far  than  ever  Aaron  wore, 
Within  his  Breaft,  this  Sacred  Father  bore. 
Sound  Doctrine  XJrim,  in  his  Holy  Cell, 
And  all  Pefeftions  Thummim  there  did  dwell. 
His  Holy  Vefiure  was  his  Innocence, 
His  Speech,  Embroideries  of  curious  Sence. 
Such  awful  Gravity  this  Dottor  us'd, 
As  if  an  Angel  every  Word  infus'd. 
No  Turgent  Ctile,  but  Afiatic  Store  ; 
Conduits  were  almoft  full,  feldom  run  o're 
The  Banks  of  Time  :  Come  Vifit  when  you  will, 
The  Streams  ofNeffar  were  defcending  frill : 
Much  like  Septemfluous  Nilus,  rifing  fo, 
He  watered  Chriftians  round,  and  made  them 

grow. 

His 


Book  HI.       The  Hi/lory  of  New-togland. 


His  modeft  Whifpers  could  the  Confcience  reach, 
As  well  as  Whirlwinds,    which   fome   others 

preach ; 
No  Boanerges,  yet  could  touch  the  Heart, 
And  clench  his  Doctrine  by  the  meekefi  Art. 
His  Learning  and  his  Language,  might  become 
A  Province  not  inferiour  to  Rome. 
Glorious  was  Europe's  Heaven,  when  fuch  as 

thefe 
Stars  of  his  Size,  (hone  in  each  Diocefs. 

Who  writ'ft  the  Fathers  Lives,  either  make 
Room, 
Or  with  his  Name  begin  your  Second  Lome. 
Ag'd  Polycarp,  Deep  Origen,  and  fuch 
Whofe  Worth  your  Quills ;  your  Wits  not  them, 

enrich ; 
Latfantius,  Cyprian.  Bafil  too  the  Great, 
Quaint  Jerom,  Auftin  of  the  foremoft  Seat, 
With  Ambrofe,  and  more  of  the  Higheft  Clafs, 
In  CHRIST'S  great  School,  with  Honour,  I  let 

pafs; 
And  humbly  pay  my  Debt  to  Whiting's  Ghoft, 
Of  whom  both  Englands,  may   with  Reafon 

boaft. 
Nations  for  Men  of  LelTer  Worth  have  firove, 
To  have  the  Fame,  and,  in  Tranfports  of  Love, 
Built  Temples,  or  fix'd  Statues  of  pure  Gold, 
And  their  valt  Worth  to  After- Ages  told. 
His  Modefty  forbad  fo  fair  a  Tomb, 
Who  in  Tea  Thoufand  Hearts  obtain'd.a  Room. 

What  fweet  Compofures  inhis  Angels  Face ! 
What  foft   Affeftions  ,  Melting   Gleams   of 

Grace ! 
How  mildly  pleafant !  By  his  clofed  Lips, 
Rhetoricks  Bright  Body  fuffers  an  Eclipfe. 
Should  half  his  Sentences  be  truly  Numbred, 
And  ■weigh' dm  Wifdom's  Scales,  'twould  fpoil  a 

Lombard: 
And  Churches  Homilies,  but  Homily  be, 
If  Venerable  WHITING,  let  by  thee. 
Profoundeft  Judgment,  with  a  Meeknefs  rare, 
Preferr'd  him  to  the  Moderator's  Chair  j 
Where  like  Truth's  Champion,  with  his  piercing 

Eye,  _ 

He  filene'd  Errors},  and  made  Heaors  fly. 
Soft  Anjwers  quell  hot  PaJJions  ■,  ne'er  too  foft 
Where  /olid  Judgment  is  enthron'd  aloft. 
Church  DoUors  are  my  Witnefles,  that  here 
Affetfions  always  kept  their  proper  Sphere, 


Without  thofe  Wilder  Eccentricities, 

Which  fpot  the  faireft  Fields  of  Men  moft 

Wife. 
In  pleafant  Places  fall  that  Peoples  Line, 
Who  have  but  Shadows  of  Men  thus  Divine. 
Much  more  their  Prefencc,  and  Heaven  puree- 
ing Prayers, 
Thus  many  Years,  to  mind  our  Soul- Affairs. 
A  poor  eft  Soil  oft  has  the  Richeji  Mine  •, 
This  Weighty  Oar,  poor  Lyn  was  lately  thine. 
0  Wondrous  Mercy !  But  this  Glorious  Light 
Hath  left  thee  in  the  Terrors  of  the  Night. 
New-England,   didlt  thou  know  this  Mighty 

One. 
His  Weight  and  Worth,  thou'dft  think  thy  felf 

undine  : 
One  of  thy  Golden  Chariots,  which  among 
The  Clergy,  render'd  thee  a  Thoufand  lfrong  : 
One,  who  for  Learning,  Wifdom,  Grace,  and 

Years,  ' 

Among  the  Levites  hath  not  many  Peers: 
One,  yet  with  God  a  Kind  of  Heavenly  Band, 
Who  did  whole  Regiments  of  Woes  withftand  : 
One,  that  prevail'd  with  Heaven ;  One  greatly 

mift 
On  Earth  ;  be  gain'd  of  Chrift  whate'er  he  lift : 
One  of  a  World  $  who  was  both  born  and  bred 
At  Wifdom's  Feet,  hard  by  the  Fountain's  Head. 
The  Lqfs  of  fuch  an  One,  would  fetch  a  Tear, 
From  Niobe  her  felf  if  fhe  were  here. 

What  qualifies  our  Grief  centers  in  This, 
Be  our  Lofs  near  fo  Great,  the  Gain  is  bis. 


B.  Thompfon. 


We  will  now  leave  hirn,  with  fuch  a  Diftich, 
as  Wigandus  provided  for  his  own 

Epitaph. 

In  Chnfto  Vixi,  Morior,  Vivoas  WHITINGUS ; 
Do  Sordes  Morti,  cater  a,  Cbrijle,  Tibh 


X  x  x 


CHAP, 


l62 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.     Book  111. 


CHAP.     XXIX. 
The    LIFE  of  Mr.  JOHN    SHERMAN. 

ji 

I  'c  tuft  as  judicavit  honcflum,  ut  Mortui  Laudarentur.     Thucid. 


§  i.^TpHAT  Great  Athanafius,  whom  fome.val  from  the  Colledgc,  in  a  little  time  occafioti- 

JL    of  the  Ancients  juftly  called,  Propug-'eA  alfo  his  Removal  from  the  Kingdom  -,  for 

naculum  Veritatis,  others  Lumen  Ecclefi£,  others  upon  Mature  Deliberation,  after  extraordinary 

Orbis  Oraculum,  is    in  the   Funeral  Oration  of  j  AddrelTes  to  Heaven  for  Direction,  he  embark'd 


in 
Gregory  Nazianzen,  on  him  fo  fet  forth :  To 
Commend  Athanafius,  is  to  prai/eVertue  it  /elf. 
My  Pen  is  now  falling  upon  the  Memory  of  a 
Perfon,  whom,  if  I  mould  not  commend  unto 
the  Church  of  God,  I  fhould  refufe  to  praife 
Vcrtue  it  felf,  with  Learning,  Wifdom,  and  all 
the  Qualities  that  would  render  any  Perfon 
Amiable.  1  fhall  proceed  then  with  the  Endea- 
vour of  my  Pen,  to  Immortalize  his  Memory, 
that  the  Signification  of  the  Name  Athanafius, 
may  belong  unto  him,  as  much  as  the  Grace 
lor' which  that  great  Man  was  Exemplary. 


§  2.  Mr.  John  Sherman  was  bom  of  Godly 
and  Worthy  Parents,  Decemb.  26.  1613.  in  the 
Town   of  Dedham,  in   the   County   of  EjJ'ex. 
While  he  was  yet  a  Child,  the  Inftrucf  ion  of 
his  Parents,  joined  with  the  Miniftry  of  the 
Famous  Rogers,  produced  in  him,  that  Early 
Remembrance  of  his  Creator,  which  more  than 
a  little  encourag'd  them  to  purfue  and  expeel 
the  Good  Effe£t s  of  the  Dedication,  which  they 
had  made  of  him,  unto  the  Service  of  the  Lord 
Jems  Chrift,  in  the  Work  of  the  Gofpel.     His 
Education  at  School  was  under  a  Learned  Ma- 
iler, who  fo  much  admired  his  Youthful  Piety, 
Tnduftry  and  ingenuity,  that  he  never  bellowed 
any    Chaft/emcnt   upon  ;   except   once  for  his 
giving  the  heads  of  Sermons  to  his  Idle  School 
Mates,  when  an  Account  thereof  was  demand 
ed  from  them.    So  ftudious  was  he,  that  next 
unto   Communion  with  his  God,  he  delighted 
in  Communion   with  his  Book,  and  he  ft udied 
nothing  more,  than  to  be  an   Exception  unto 
that  Ancient  and  General  Complaint,  ^uem  mi- 
hi  dab  is.  qui  Diem  a  ft  i  met? 

§  3.  Early  Ripe  tor  it,  he  went  into  the  Uni- 
verfity  of  Cambridge,  where  being  admitted  in- 
to Immanucl-College,  and  inftrucled  fuccelfively 
by  two  very  Confiderable  Tutors,  his  Profi- 
ciency ftill  bore  Proportion  to  his  Means,  but 
out-went  the  Proportion  of  his  Tears.  When 
his  Turn  came  to  be  a  Graduate,  he  ferioufly 
confidered  the  Subfcription  required  of  him  : 
And  upon  Invincible  Arguments,  became  fo 
dilfitisfied  therewithal,  that  advifing  with  Mr. 
Rjgers,  Dr.  Prcfton,  and  other  eminent  Perfons, 
who  commending  his  Confcientious  Confidera- 
tion,  counfelled  his  Remove,  he  went  away 
under  the  Perfccuted  Character  of  a  Colledge- 
Puritun.    The  fame  that  occafioned  his  Remo- 


himfelr,  with  feveral  Famous  Divines,  who 
came  over  in  the  Year  1634-  hoping  that  by  go- 
ing over  the  Water,  they  lhould  in  this  be  like 
Men  going  under  the  Earth,  lodg'd  where  the 
Wicked  would  cea/e  jrom  Troubling  and  the 
Weary  be  at  Reft. 

§  4.  So  much  was  Religion  the  Firft /ought, 
of  the  Firft  come,  into  this  Country,  that  they 
folemnly  offer'd  up  their  Praifes  unto  him  that 
Inhabits  the  Praifes  of  1/rael,  before  they  had 
provided  habitations,  wherein  to  offer  thofe 
Praifes.  A  Day  of  Thankfgiving  was  now  kept 
by  the  Chriftians  of  a  New  hive,  here  called 
Water-Town,  under  a  Tree;  9s  which  Thankf- , 
giving,  Mr.  Sherman  preached  his  Firft  Sermon, 
as  an  Afliftant  unto  Mr.  Philips  .-  There  being 
prefent  many  other  Divines,  who  wondred  ex- 
ceedingly to  hear  a  Subjecf  fo  accurately  and 
excellently  handled  by  one  that  had  never  be- 
fore performed  any  fuch  publick  Exercife. 

§  5.  He  continued  not  many  Weeks  at  Water- 
town,  before  he  removed,  upon  Mature  Advice, 
unto  New-haven  -,  where  he  preached  occafio- 
nally  in  moft  of  the  Towns  then  belonging  to 
that  Colony  :  But  with  fuch  deferved  Accep- 
tance, that  Mr.  Hooker  and  Mr.  Stone  being  in 
an  Affembly  of  Minifters,  that  met  after  a  Ser- 
mon of  our  Young  Sherman,  pleafantly  faid, 
Brethren,  we  muft  look^to  our  /elves,  and  our 
Miniftry  -,  for  this  Toung  Divine  will  out-do  us 
all. 

Here,  though  he  had  an  Importunate  Invita- 
tion unto  a  Settlement  in  Miljord,  yet  he  not 
only  declined  it  out  of  an  Ingenuous  Jealou/y, 
left  the  Worthy  Perfon,  who  muft  have  been 
his  Collegue,  mould  have  thereby  fuffered  fome 
Inconveniencies,  but  alfo  for  a  little  while, 
upon  that,  and  fome  other  fuch  Accounts,  he 
wholly  fufpended  the  Exercife  of  his  Miniftry. 
Hereupon  the  Zealous  Affecf  ion  of  the  People 
to  him  appeared,  in  their  chufing  him  a  Magi- 
ftrate  of  the  Colony  -,  in  which  Capacity,  he 
ferved  the  Publick,  with  an  Exemplary  Dif 
cretion  and  Fidelity,  until  a  frefh  Opportunity 
for  the  Exercife  of  his  Miniftry,  within  Two 
or  Three  Years,  offered  it  felt ;  and  then  all 
the  Importunity  ufed  by  the  Governour  and 
Affiftents,  to  fatten  him  among  themfelves, 
could  not  prevail  with  him  to  Look  back  from 
that  Plow. 


Oar 


Book  III.      The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


Our  Land  has  enjoyed  the  Influences  of  many 
accomplished  Men,  who  from  Candidates  of 
the  Miniftry,  have  become  our  Magi ft -rates  ; 
but  this  Excellent  Man,  is  the  only  Example 
among  us,  who  left  a  Bench  of  our  Magi- 
Urates,  to  become  a  painful  Servant  of  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift  in  the  Work  of  the  Miniftry. 
Neverthelefs,  he  that  beholds  Jofeph  of  An- 
mathm,  a  Counfellour  of  Stite,  Ambrofe  the 
Conful  q{~  MilLiin,  George  the  Prince  of  An- 
halt,  Cbryfojtom,  a  Noble  Antiochean,  John  a 
Lajco,  a  Noble  Polonian,  all  becoming  the 
plain  Preachers  of  the  Golpel,  will  not  think 
that  Mr.  Sherman  herein  either  fufrered  a  De- 
gradation, or  was  without  a  Pattern. 

§  6.  Upon  the  Death  of  Mr.  Philips  at  Wa- 
tertown,  Mr.  Sherman  was  addreffed  by  the 
Church  there,  to  fucceed  him  ^  and  he  accepted 
the  Charge  of  that  Church,  although  at  the 
fame  time,  one  of  the  Churches  at  Bofton,  ufed 
their  Endeavours  to  become  the  Owner  of  fo 
well  Talented  a  Perfon,  and  feveral  Churches 
in  London  alfo,  by  Letters  much  urged  him  to 
Come  over  and  help  them.  And  now,  being  in 
the  Neighbourhood  oi  Cambridge,  he  was  iike- 
wife  chofen  a  Fellow  of  Harvard  College  there  ; 
in  which  place  he  continued  unto  his  Death, 
doing  many  Good  Offices  for  that  Society. 
Nor  was  it  only  as  a  Fellow  of  the  College,  that 
he  was  a  Bleffing,  but  alfo  as  he  was  in  fome 
fort  a  Preacher  to  it :  For  his  Leflures  being 
held  for  the  moft  part  once  a  Fortnight,  in 
the  Vicinage,  for  more  than  Thirty  Years  to- 
gether, many  of  the  Scholars  attending  thereon, 
did  juftly  acknowledge  the  Durable  and  Abun- 
dant Advantage  which  they  had  from  thofe 
Lectures. 

§  7.  His  Intellectual  Abilities,  whether  Na- 
tural or  Acquired,  were  fuch  as  to  render  him 
a  Firji-Rate  Scholar -,  the  Skill  of  Tongues  and 
Arts,  beyond  the  common  rate  adorned  him. 
He  was  a  Great  Reader,  and  as  Athanafius  re- 
ports of  his  Antonius,  T^omy^y  «7»  %  dvaytdtni, 

as  [j.nJiv  \ay  yvyg^ufJAVuv    aV  axm  mw}e<v  %ajuai,  ireivja 
J£    yfjifttv,    ^    Xoivmy    a.\j\a    %v    yvti/uwv  d\fji   jSifiKiuv 

•jtm^Li :  He  read  with  fuch  Intention,  as  to  lofe 
nothing,  but  keep  every  thing,  of  all  that  he 
read,  and  his  Mind  became  his  Library  :  Even 
fuch  was  the  Felicity  of  our  Sherman  ;  he  read 
with  an  unufual  Di/patch,  and  whatever  he 
Read  became  his  own.  From  fuch  a  Strength 
of  Invention  and  Memory  it  was,  that  albeit 
he  was  a  curious  Preacher-,  neverthelefs,  he 
could  preach  without  any  Preparatory  Notes, 
of  what  he  was  to  utter.  He  ordinarily  wrote 
but  about  half  a  Page  in  Octavo,  of  what  he 
was  to  preach  ;  and  he  would  as  ordinarily 
preach,  without  writing  of  one  Word  at  all. 
And  he  made  himfelf  wonderfully  acceptable 
and  ferviceable  unto  his  Friends,  by  the  Home- 
liftical  AccompUflments,  which  were  produced 
by  his  Abilities,  in  his  Converfation.  For 
though  he  were  not  a  Man  of  much  Difcourfe, 
but  ever  thought,  h  rroxuxo-ia.  fa  iroKv^dcc:  And 
when  fome  have  told  him,  That  he  had  Lear- 
ned the  Art  of  Silence,  he  hath,  with  a  very 


i6j 

becoming  Ingenuity,  given  them  to  understand. 
That  it  was  an  Art,  which  it  would  hurt  none 
of  them  to  learn,  yet  his  Difcourfe  h?d  a  rare 
Conjunction  of  Profit  and  Pleafure  in  it. 

He  was  Witty  and  yet  Wife,  and  Grave,  car- 
rying a  Majefty  in  his  very  Countenance  ;  and 
much  vifited  for  Council,  in  weighty  Cafes  5 
and  when  he  delivered  his  Judgment  in  any 
Matter,  there  was  little  or  nothing  to  be  Ipoken 
by  others  after  him. 

§  8.  It  is  a  Remark,  which  Melchior  Adam 
has  in  the  Life  of  his  Excellent  Pitifcus  h  Illud 
mirandum,  quod  Homo  Theologus,  in  Mathe- 
matum  Jiudiis,  nullo  hi  ft  fe  Magiflro,  eo  ufq-, 
progreffus  eft,  ut  Editis  Scripts,  Difciplinx 
illius  Gloriam,  magnk  Mathefeos  Profefforibus  ' 
prsrtpuent :  And  it  might  be  well  applied  un- 
to our  Eminent  Sherman,  who  though  he  were 
iConfummate  Divine,  and  a  Continual  Preacher^ 
yet  making  the  Matbemaiicks  his  Dwerfwn,  dia 
attain  unto  fuch  an  Incomparable  Skill  therein, 
that  he  was  undoubtedly  one  of  the  beft  Ala- 
thematicians  that  ever  lived  in  this  Hemifpherc 
of  the  World,  and  it  is  great  Pity  tha<-  the 
World  fhould  be  deprived  of  the  Agronomical 
Calculations,  which  he  has  left  in  Manufcript 
behind  him.  It  feems,  that  Men  of  great  Parts 
may,  as  it  is  obferved  by  that  great  Inftance 
thereof,  Mr.  Boyle,  fucceifwely  apply  themfelves 
to  more  than  one  Study.  Thus  Copernicus  the 
Aftronomer,  eternized  like  the  very  Stars,  by 
his  New  Syftem  of  them,  was  a  Church-man  ^ 
and  his  Learned  Champion  Lansbergius,  was  a 
Minifter.  Gaffendus  was  a  Doctor  of  Divi- 
nity ;  Clavius  too  was  a  Do£tor  of  Divinity  h 
nor  will  the  Names  of  thofe  Englifh  Doaors, 
Wallis,  Wilkins,  and  Barrow,  be  forgotten  fo 
long  as  that  Learning  which  is  to  be  called 
Real,  has  any  Friends  in  the  Englifh  Nation  : 
And  Ricciolus  himfelf,  the  Compiler  of  that 
Voluminous  and  Judicious  Work,  the  Alma* 
gejhtm  Novum,  was  a  Profeffor  of  Theology, 

Into  the  Number  of  thefe  Heroes,  is  our 
Sherman  to  be  admitted  ;  who,  if  anyone  had 
enquired,  how  he  could  find  the  Leifure  for 
his  Mathematical  Speculations?  Would  have 
given  the  Excufe  of  the  Famous  Pitifcus  for 
his  Anfwef, Alii  Schacchia  Ludunt,  &  Ta- 
lis :  Ego  Regnala  iff  Circino,  ft  quando  Ludere 
datur. 

And  from  the  View  of  the  EfFeas,  which  the 
Mathematical  Contemplations  of  our  Sherman t 
produced  in  his  Temper,  I  cannot  but  utter  the 
Wifh  of  the  Noble  Tycho  Br  ache  upon  that 
Bleffed  Pitifcus,  Optarem  plures  ejufmodi  Con- 
cionatores  reperiri,  qui  Geometrica  gnavitur  cal- 
ler ent  :  forte  plus  effet  in  lis  Circumf petit  &fo- 
lidi  Judicii,  Rixarum  inanium  iff  Logomachiaruni 
minus  :  For  among  other  things  very  valuable 
to  me,  in  the  Temper  of  this  Great  Man,  one 
was  a  certain  Largenefs  of  Soul,  which  parti- 
cularly difpofed  him  to  embrace  the  Congrega- 
tional Way  of  Church  Government,  Without 
thofe  Rigid  and  Narrow  Principles  of  Unchari- 
table Separation,  whete  with  fome  Good  Men 
have  been  Leavened. 

§  p.  But 


i&j- 


Tbe  Hlfiory  of  New-England.       Book  111. 


§  9.  But  as  our  mentioned  Piiifcus,  when 
his  Friends  congtatulated  unto  him  the  Glory 
of  his  Mathematical  Excellencies,  with  an  hum- 
ble and  holy  Ingenuity  replied,  Let  us  rejoice 
rather  that  our  Names  be  written  in  Heaven. 
Thus  our  Sherman  was  more  concerned  for,  and 
more  employed  in  an  Acquaintance  with  the 
Heavenly  Seats  of  the  Bleiied,  than  with  the 
Motions  of  the  Heavenly  Bodies.  He  did  not  fo 
much  ufe  a  Jacob's  Staff  in  Obfervations,  as 
he  was  in  Supplications  a  true  Jacob  himielf. 
He  was  a  Perfon  of  a  molt  Heavenly  Dijpofiiwn 
and  Converfation  ■  Heavenly  in  his  Words,  Hea- 
venly in  his  Thoughts,  Heavenly  in  .his  Defigns 
and  Defires  5  few  in  the  World  had  fomuch  of 
Heaven  upon  Earth.  He  was  a  moff  Practical 
Commentary'  upon  thofe  Words  of  thePiaimiff, 
Mine  Eyes  are  ever  towards  the  Lord:  And  thofe 
of  the  Apoftle,  Keep  your  J  elves  in  the  Love  of 
God. 

As  the  Scriptures  are  the  Firmament,  which 
God  hath  expanded  over  the  Spiritual  World,  fo 
this  good  Man  u (bally  f'pent  an  Hour  every 
Morning,  in  entertaining  hiimfdf  wUkihtLights 
that  are  "mining  there.  Befides  this,  with  Me 
dilations  on  GJ,  Chnfi.  and  Heaven,  he  fell a- 
lieep  at  Night  ;'dnd  with  the  like  Meditations 
he  woke  and  role  in  the  Mornings  and  Prayer 
was  therefore  the  firft  and  laft  of  his  Daily 
Works.  Yea,  had  any  one  caft  a  Look  upon 
him,  not  only  abroad  in  Company,  but  alfo  in 
his  clofeft  Retirement,  they  would  have  feen 
Icarce  a  Minute  pafs  him,  without  a  Turn  of 
his  Eye  towards  Heaven,  whereto  his  Heaven- 
touched  Heart  was  carrying  of  him,  with  its 
continual  Vergencies.  And  as  the  Stars,  they 
Wiy,  may  be  feen  from  the  bottom  of  a  Well, 
when  the  Day  light  in  higher  places  hinders  the 
fight  thereof;  fo  this  worthy  Man,  who  faw 
more  not  only  of  the  Stars  in  Heaven,  but  alfo 
of  the  Heaven  beyond  the  Stars,  than  molt  o 
ther  Men,  was  one,  who,  in  his  Humility,  laid 
himielf  low,  even  to  a  Fault  •,  and  he  had  bu- 
ried himfelf  in  the  Obfcurity  of  his  Receffes 
and  Retirements,  if  others  that  knew  his  worth, 
had  not  fometimes  ietch'd  him  forth  to  more 
publick  Action. 

The  Name  Defcentim,  which  I  found  worn 
by  an  eminent  Perfon,  among  the  Primitive 
Chriftians,  I  thought  proper  lor  this  eminent 
Perfon ,  when  I  have  confidered  the  Conde- 
fcenfion  of  his  whole  Deportment-  And,  me 
thought  it  was  an  Inftance  of  thisCondefcenfion, 
that  this  Great  Man  would  fometimes  give  the 
Country  an  Almanack  ,  which  yet  he  made  an 
Opportunity  to  do  good,  by  adding  at  the  end 
of  the  Compoiures  thofe  Holy  Refieffions,whkh 
taught  good  Men  how  to  recover  that  little,  but 
fpreading  thing,  the  Almanack,  from  that  com 
mon  Abufe,  of  being  an  Engine  to  convey  only 
filly  hnpertinencies,  or  ImfaiSuperJtitions,  into 
almoft  every  Cottage  of  the  Wildernefs.  One 
of  thofe  Refledwns  1  will  recite,  becaufe  it  lively 
expreffed  the  holy  Sence  of  Death,  in  which  the 
Author  daily  lived  : 

Let  me  intreat  one  thing  of  thee,  and  J  will  ad 


venture  to  promife  thee  a  good  Tear  5  the  Reaueft 
is  in  it  J elf  re  a/on  able,  and  may  to  thee  be  eter- 
nally profitable.  It's  only  this:  Duly  to  prize, 
and  diligently  to  improve  Time,  for  obtaining  the 
bleffed  End  it  was  given  for,  •  and  is  yet  gracioufly 
continued  unto  thee,  by  the  Eternal  God.  Of  Three 
hundred  fixty  five  Days,  allowed  by  the  making 
up  of  this  Year,  which  fball  be  thy  la  ft,  thou  know- 
eft  not ;  but  that  any  of  them  may  be  it,  thou 
wghteji  to  know,  and  jo  confider,  that  thou  may- 
efi  pafs  the  Time  of  thy  Sojourning  here  with 
Fear. 

§  10.  Behold  him  either  in  the  Lord's  Houfe, 
or  in  his  own,  of  both  which  a  Well  Government 
is  joined  in  the  Demands  of  the  Apoftle,  and 
we  may  behold  both  of  them  after  an  exemplary 
manner  ordered.  In  his  Miniflry  he  was  Judi- 
cious, Induflrious,  Faithful  -,  a  moft  curious  Ex- 
positor of  Scripture,  and  one  that  fed  us  with 
the  fattell  Marrow  of  Divinity.  And  there  was 
one  thing  in  his  Preaching,  which  procured  it  a 
lingular  admiration  5  this  was  a  natural,  and 
not  affected  Loftinefs  of  Stile  ;  which  with  an 
eafie  Fluency  befpangled  his  Difcourfes  with 
fiich  glittering  Figures  of  Oratory,  ascaufed  his 
abieft  Hearers,  to  call  him  a  Second  Ifaiah,  the 
Honey. dropping,  and  Golden  mouthed  Preacher. 
But  among  the  SuccefTes  of  his  Conduct  in  his 
Miniftry,  there  was  none  more  notable  than  the 
Peace,  which  by  God's  Blefling  upon  his  Wif- 
dom  and  Meeknefs,  more  than  any  other  things 
was  preferved  in  his  populous  Town,  as  long  as 
he  lived,  notwithftanding  many  Temptations 
unto  Differences,  among  the  good* People  there. 
From  thence  let  us  follow  him  to  his  Family, 
and  there  we  law  him  with  much  Discretion, 
maintaining  both  Fear  and  Love,  in  thofe  that 
belong'd  unto  him,  and  a  zealous  Care  to  up- 
hold Religion  among  them.  The  Duties  of 
Reading,  Praying,  Singing,  and  Gncchifing,  were 
eonftantly  obferved,  and  Sermons  repeated.  And 
he  was,  above  all;  a  great  Lover,  and  ftricF 
Keeper  of  the  Chnjlian  Sabbath  -,  in  the  very 
Evening  of  which  approaching,  he  would  not 
allow  any  Worldly  Matter  to  difturb,  or  divert 
the  Exercifes  of  Piety  withm  his  Gates. 

§ij.  He  was  twice  married.  By  his  Firji 
Wife,  rhe  Vertuous  Daughter  of  Parents  therein 
reiembled  by  her,  he  had  Six  Children.  But  his 
next  Wife  was  a  young  Gentlewoman  whom  he 
chofe  from  under  the  Guardianfljip,  and  with 
the  Countenance  of  Edward  Hopkins,  Efq-,  the 
excellent  Governour  of  Connecticut.  She  W3S  a 
Perfon  of  good  Education,  and  Reputation,  and 
honourably  defcended  ;  being  the  Daughter  of 
a  Puritan  Gentleman,  whofe  Name  was  Launce, 
and  whofe  Lands  in  Cornzval  yielded  him  Four- 
teen hundred  Pounds  a  Year.  He  was  a  Parlia- 
ment-man, a  Man  learned  and  pious,  and  a  no- 
table Difputant  ;  but  once  difputing  againft  the 
Englifh  Epifcopacy  (as  not  being  ignorant  of 
what  is  affirmed  by  Contzcn  the  Jefuite,  in  his 
Politicks,  That  were  all  England  brought  once  to 
approve  tffBilhops,  it  were  cafe  to  reduce  it  un- 
to the  Church  of  Rome,)  he  was  worfted  by  fuch 
a  way  of  maintaining   the  Argument,  as  was 

thought 


BookTTT      The  Hiftory  of  New~fcnglan& 


thought  agreeable  -,  that  is,  by  a  Wound  in  the 
Side,  from  his  iurious  Antagonift  •,  of  which 
Wound  at  laft  he  died.  The  Wife  of  that  Gen- 
tleman was  Daughter  to  the  Lord  Darcy,  who 
was  Earl  of  Rivers  -,  a  Perfon  of  a  Protefiant, 
and  Punt.in  Religion,  tho'  of  a  Popijh  Family, 
and  one  that  after  the  Murder  of  her  former 
Husband,  Mr.  Launce,  had  for  her  Second  Huf 
band  the  famous  Mr.  Sympfon.  But  by  the 
Daughter  of  that  Mr.  Launce,  who  is  yet  living 
among  us,  Mr.  Sherman  had  no  lefs  than  twenty 
Children  added  unto  the  Number  of  fix,  which 
he  had  before. 

I  remember  John  Helwigius  of  late,  befides 
What  has  been  related  formerly  by  other  Authors, 
brings  undeniable  Attestations  of  a  Married  Cou- 
ple, who  in  one  Wedlock  were  Parents  to  Fifty 
three  Children,  at  Thirty  five  Births  brought  into 
the  World:  Somewhat  fhort  of  that,  but  not 
fhort  of  Wonder,  is  a  late  Inftance  of  one  Mo- 
ther, that  has  brought  forth  no  lefs  than  Thirty 
nine  Children,  the  'Thirty  fifth  of  whom,  was 
lately  difcourfed  by  Perfons  of  Honour  and 
Credit,  from  whom  I  had  it.  Altho'  New> 
England  has  no  Inftances  of  fuch  a  Polytokie,  yet 
it  has  had  Inftances  of  what  has  been  remarka- 
ble :  One  Woman  has  had  not  lefs  than  Twenty 
two  Children  •,  whereof  fhe  buried  Fourteen 
Sons,  and  Six  Daughters.  Another  Woman  has 
had  no  lefs  than  Twenty  three  Children,  by  one 
Husband  ;  whereof  Nineteen  lived  unto  Mens 
and  Womens  Eftate.  A  third  was  Mother  to 
Seven  and  twenty  Children  :  And  fhe  that  was 
Mother  to  Sir  William  Phips,  the  late  Governour 
of  New-England,  had  no  lefs  than  Twenty  five 
Children  befides  him  -,  fhe  had  One  and  twenty 
Sons,  and  Five  Daughters.  Now  into  the  Cata- 
logue of  fuch  fruitful  Vines  by  the  fides  of  the 
Houfe,  is  this  Gentlewoman,  Mrs.  Sherman,  to 
be  enumerated.  Behold,  thus  wot  our  Sherman, 
that  Eminent  Fearer  of  the  Lord,  Blejfed  of 
him. 


§  12.  He  had  the  rare  Felicity  to  grow  like  the 
Lilly,  as  long  as  he  lived  ;  and  enjoy  a  ffourilh- 
ing,  and  perhaps  increafing  Liveliness  of  his  Fa- 
culties,  until  he  died.  Such  Keennefs  of  Wit, 
fuch  Soundnefs  of  Judgment ,  fuch  Fulnefs  of 
Matter,  and  fuch  Vigtur  of  Language,  is  rarely 
feen  in  Old  Age,  as  was  to  be  feen  in  him,  when 
he  was  old. 

The  laft  Sermon  which  he  ever  preached,  was 
at  Sudbury,  from  Eph.  2.  8.  By  Grace  ye  are  fa* 
ved :  Wherein  he  fo  difplayed  the  Riches  of  the 
Free  Grace  exprefTed  in  our  Salvation,  as  to  fill 
his  Hearers  with  admiration.  Being  thus  at6W- 
bury,  he  Was  taken  fick  of  an  Intermitting,  but 
malignant  Fever  -,  which  yet  abated,  that  he 
found  opportunity  to  return  unto  his  own  Houfe 
at  Water-Town.  But  his  Fever  then  renewing 
upon  him,  it  prevailed  fo  far,  that  he  foofi  ex- 
pired his  holy  Soul ;  which  he  did  with  Expref- 
fions  of  abundant  Faith,  Joy,  and  Refignation, 
on  a  S^Wflv-Evening,  entring  on  his  Eternal 
Sabbath,  Augujl  8.  1685.     Aged  Seventy  two. 


Eptafbium, 


For  an  Epitaph  upon  this  Worthy  Man,  111 
prefume  a  little  to  alter  the  Epitaph  by  Stenius^ 
beftow'd  upon.  Pitifcus. 

Vt  Pauli  Pietas,  fie  Euclidea  Mathef/s, 
1)no,  Sherraanni,  conditnr,  inTnmulo. 

And  annex  that  of  Altenburg  upon  Cefius. 

Qui  curfum  Aftrorum  vivens  Indagim 
multh 
£H£fivit,  coram  nunc  ea  cermit  ovane. 


CHAP.     XXX. 

Eufebiu*    The  L  I  F  E   of  Mr.   T  H  0  M  A  S    C  0  B  B  E  T. 

Et  Eruditis  Pietate,  iff  Pm  Eruditione  haude  entecellens,  ita  Secundan  Dcflrinte  ferens, 
ut  Pietath  prima*  obtineret. 

Nazianz.  de  Bafilio. 


§  1.  TN  the  Old  Church  of  Ifrael  we  find  a 
JL  confiderable  Sort  and  Sett  of  Men,  that 
were  called,  The  Scribes  of  the  People :  Whofe 
Office  it  was,  not  only  to  Copy  out  the  Bible, 
for  fuch  as  defired  a  Copy  thereof,  with  fuch 
Exa£tnefs,  that  the  Myfteries  occurring,  even 
in  the  leaft  Vowels  and  Accents  of  it,  might 
not  be  loft,  but  alfo  to  be  the  more  Publick 
Preachers  of  the  Law,  and  common  and  conftant 
Pulpit-Men  ;  taking  upon  them  to  be  the  Ex- 


pounders, as  well  as  thePrefervers  of  the  Scri- 
pture. But  one  of  the  principle  Scribes  enjoy'd 
by  the  People  of  New-England,  was  Mr.  Tliotnai 
Cobbet,  who  wrote  more  Books  than  the  moft  of 
the  Divines ,  which  did  their  parts  to  make  a 
KirjathSepher  of  this  Wildernefs-,  in  every  one 
of  which  he  apprOv'd  himfelf  one  of  the  Scribes 
mention'd  by  ourSaviour,from  his  richTreafure 
bringing  forth  Inftruct ions,  both  out  of  the  New 
Teftament,  and  out  of  the  Old, 

§  2.  Our 


166 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.       Book  III 

§  2.  Our  Mr.  Thorna*  Cobbet  was  born  at  I  Commandment,  as  well  as  the  Fifth  -,  and  this 
Newbury,  long  enough  before  our  New  England\  he  did  in  a  Large,  Nervous,  Golden  Difcouric 
had  a  Town  of  that  Name,  or  indeed  had  any  Of  Prayer.    But  that   the  Second  Command 


fuch  thing  as  a  Town  at  all ;  namely,  in  the 
Year  1608.  And  altho  his  Parents,  who  after 
wards  came  alfo  to  NewEngland,  were  fo  de- 
ftitute  of  Worldly  Grandure,  that  he  might 
fay,  as  divers  of  the  Jewilh  Rabin's  tell  us, 
the  Words  of  Gideon  may  be  Read,  Behold,  my 
father  it  Poor,  yet  this  their  Son  was  Great  nefs 
enough  to  render  one  Family  memorable.  Rea- 
der, we  are  to  defcribe, 

Ingenua  de  plebe  Virumy  fed  Vita  Fidefq-, 
Inculpata  fuit. 

And  remember  the  Words  of  Seneca,  ex  cafa 
etiam  Virum  magnum  prodire  poffe. 

When  Cicero  was  jeer'd,  for  the  mean  Signi- 
fication of  his  Name,  he  faid,  However  he  would 
not   change  it,  but  by  his  Anions  render  the 
Name  of  Cicero  more  I/Iujlrious  than   that  of 
Cato :  And  our  Cobbet  has  done  enough  to  make 
the  Name  of  Cobbet  Venerable,  "in  tliefe  Ame- 
rican Parts  of  the  World,  whether  there  were 
the  Anions  of  any  Anpdtors  or  no,  to  fignalize 
it.    A  Good  Education  having  prepared  him 
for  it,  he  became  an  Oxford  Scholar,  and  re 
moving  from  Oxford  in  the  Time  of  a  Plague 
r3ging  there,  he  did,  with  other  young  Men, 
become  a  Pupil  to  Famous  Dr.  Twifs  at  New- 
bury.    He  was,  after  this,    a  Preacher   at  a 
fmall  Place  in  Lincoln/hire ;  from  whence,  be- 
ing driven  by  a  Storm  of  Perfection  upon  the 
Reforming  and  Puritan  Part  of  the  Nation,  he 
came  over  unto  New-England,    in   the  fame 
VeiTel  with  Mr.  Davenport  coming  to  New- 
England,  his  Old  Friend  Mr.  Whiting  of  Lyn 
exprefled  his  Friendfhip,  with  Endeavours  to 
obtain  and  to  enjoy  his  AfTtftance,  as  a  Col 
legue,  in  the  Paltoral  Charge  of  the  Church 
there  ;  where  they  continued  Fratrum  Dulce 
Par,  until  upon  the  Removal  of  Mr.  Norton 
toBofton,  and  of  Mr.  Rogers  to  Heaven,  he  was 
Tranflated  unto  the  Church  of  Ipfwich-,  with 
which  he  continued  in  the  Faithful  Difcharge 
of  his  Miniftry,    until  his  Reception   of  the 
Crown  of  Life  at  his  Death,  about  the  Begin- 
ning of  the  Year  i6%6.    Then  'twas,  that  he 
was  (to  fpeak  Jewifhly)  Treafur'dup. 


us. 


§  3.    The  Witty  Epigrammatift  hath   told 

Qui  dignos  Ipfi  Vita  fenpf ere  Libellos, 
lllorum  Vitam  fcribere  non  Opus  eft. 


And  we  might  therefore  make  the  Story  of  this 
Worthy  Man's  Life,  to  be  but  an  Account  of 
the  Immortal  Books,  wherein  he  lives  after  he 
is  Dead.  What  Mr.  Cobbet  was,  the  Reader 
may  gather  by  Reading  a  very  Savoury  Trea- 
tife  of  his,  upon  the  Fifth  Commandment.  But 
that  he  might  ferve  both  Tables  of  the  Law,  he 
was  willing  to  writs  fomething  upon  the  Firft 


ment,  as  well  as  the  Firft  might  not  be  unler- 
ved  by  him,  there  were  divers  Difapl'mary 
Trails,  which  he  publickly  offered  nnto  the 
Church  of  God.  He  Printed  upon  the  Duty  of 
the  Civil  Magiftrate,  in  the  Point  of  Toleration  ■ 
a  Point  then  much  Debated,  and  not  yet  every 
where  Decided;  whereto  he  annexed  a  Vindi- 
cation of  the  Government  of  New-England 
from  the  Afperfions  of  fome,  who  thought 
themfelves  perfecuted  under  it. 

He  was  likewife  a  Learned  and  a  Lively  De- 
fender of  Infant- Bapt  if m,  and  he  gave  the 
World  an  Elaborate  Compofure,  on  that  Sub 
je£t,  on  the  Occafion  whereof  Mr.  Cotton,  in 
his  Incomparable  Preface  to  a  Book  of  Mr. 
Norton's,  has  theie  Paffages.  COVETVS  cum 
perfentifceret  aliquot  ex  Ovibi/s  Chrifli  fibi  com- 
mijfis,  Antipadobaptijmi  Laqueis  atq-,  Dumetu 
irretitat,  Zelo  Dei  accenfus  (&  Zelo  qmdem 
fecundum  Scientiam)  inw,  &  Miferecordia  etiam 
Chrifli  Commotus,  erga  Errant es  Oviculat  •  Li- 
bros  quos  potuit,  ex  Anabapti/larum  penu,  con- 
gcjfit  j  Rationum  Momenta  (^ualia  f iterant)  in 
Lance  Saniluarii  trutinavit  •,  Teftimomorum 
Plauflra,  qux  ab  aliis  congefla  fucrant,  fedulo 
perquifivit ;  (ff  pro  eo,  quo  floret,  Difputandi 
Acumine,  Dijudicandi  folertia,  folida  mult  a, 
paucis  Complettendi  Dexteritate  atq-,  Indefejfo 
Lahore,  nihil  pene  Intent  at  um  reliquit,  quod  vel 
ad  Veritatem,  in  hac  Caufa  llluflrandam,  vel  ad 
Errorum  ]\iebulai  Dijcutiendat,  atq-,  Difpcllen- 
ias,  conduceret. 

Reader,  To  receive  fo  much  Commemora- 
tion from  fo  Reverend  and  Renowned  a  Pen,  is 
to  have  One's  Life,  fuffkiently  written  :  If  is 
needlefs  for  me  to  proceed  any  further,  in  fer- 
ying  the  Memory  of  Mr.  Cobbet. 

§  4.  And  yet  there  is  one  thing,  which  my 
poor  Pen  may  not  leave  unmentioned.  Of  all 
the  Books  written  by  Mr.  Cobbet,  none  deferves 
more  to  be  Read  by  the  World,  or  to  Live  till 
the  General  Burning  of  the  World,  than  that 
Of  Prayer:  And  indeed  Prayer,  the  Subject  fo 
Experimentally,  and  therefore  Judicwufly,  there- 
fore Profitably,  therein  handled,  was  not  the 
leaft  of  thofe  things,  for  which  Mr.  Cobbet  was 
Remarkable.  He  was  a  very  Praying  Alan,  and 
his  Prayers  were  not  more  obfervable  through- 
out New-England  for  the  Argumentative,  the 
Importunate,  and  I  had  almolt  faid,  Filially  Fa- 
miliar, Strains  of  them,  than  for  the  wonder- 
ful Succefjes  that  attended  them.  It  was  a  Good 
Saying  of  the  Ancient,  Homine  probe  Orantc  ni- 
hil pot  entius  ;  and  it  was  a  Great  Saying  of  the 
Reformer,  Eft  qufdam  Precitm  Ommpotcnua. 
Our  Cobbet  might  certainly  make  aconfidenble 
Figure  in  the  Catalogue  of  thofe  Eminent  Saints, 
whole  Experiences  having  notably  Exemplified, 
The  Power  of  Prayer,  unto  the  World.  Thar 
Golden  Cham,  one  End  whereof  is  tied  unto  the 
'Tongue  of  Alan,  the  other  End  unto  the  Ear  ,.f 
God  ('which  is  as  Juji,  as   Qte,  a  KefemLiiiig 

or' 


Book  III.       The  Hijloxy  of  New-England. 


\&1 


of  Prayer)  our  Cobbet  was  always  pulling  ar, 
and  he  often  pull'd  unto  fuch  Marvellous  pur- 
pole,  that  the  Neighbours  were  almott  ready 
to  fing  of  him,  as  Claudian  did  upon  the  pro- 
iperous  Prayers  of  Theodofius. 

0  Nimium  DileUe  Deo. 

A  Son  of  this  Man  of  Prayer  was  taken  into 
Captivity  by  the  Barbarous,  Treacherous  In- 
dian Salvages,  and  a  Captivity  from  whence 
tbere  could  be  little  Expectation  of  Redemp- 
tion :  Whereupon  Mr.  Cobbet  called  about 
Thirty,  as  many  as  could  fuddenly  convene,  of 
the  Chriflians  in  the  Neighbourhood  unto  his 
Houfe  ;  and  there,  they  together  pra/d  for  the 
Tottng  Man's  Deliverance.  The  Old  Man's 
Heart  was  now  no  more  fad;  he  believed  that 
the  God  of  Heaven  had  accepted  of  their  Sup 
plications,  and  becaufe  he  Believed,  therefore  he 
fpakc  as  much,  to  thofe  that  were  about  him, 
Who  when  they  heard  him  /peak  did  Believe  To 
too.  Now  within  a  few  Days  after  jhis,  the 
Prayers  were  all  anfwered,  in  the  Return  of 
the  Young  Man  unto  his  Father,  with  Circum- 
ftances  little  fhort  ofMtraefe!  But  indeed  the 
Inftances  of  furprizing  Effe&s  following  upon 
the  Prayers  of  this  Gracious  Man,  were  fo  ma- 
ny, that  I  muft  fuperfede  all  Relation  of  them, 
with  only  noting  thus  much,  That  it  was  ge- 
nerally fuppofed  among  the  pious  People  in  the 


Land,  that  the  Enemies  of  New-England  owed 
the  wondrous  Dilaffers  and  Confulions  that 
(fill  followed  them,  as  much  to  the  Prayers  of 
this  True  Ifraelite,  as  perhaps  to  any  one  Oc- 
cafion.  Mr.  Knox's  Prayers  were  fbmetimes 
more  feared,  than  an  Army  of  Pen  Thoufand 
Men ;  and  Mr.  Cobbei's  Prayers  were  effeemed 
of  no  little  Significancy  to  the  Welfare  of  the 
Country,  which  is  now  therefore  Bereaved  of 
its  Chariots  and  its  Uorfemen.  If  New  England 
had  its  Noah,  Daniel  and  Job,  to  pray  wonder- 
fully for  it,  Cobbet  was  one  of  them  ! 


Epitapbium. 

STA    VIATOR^    Thefaurus  hie  Jacet, 

Thomas  Cobbet  us- 

C  U  J  u  s, 

Nofli  Preces  PotentiffimiU,  ac  Mores  Probatijfvms, 
Si  es  Nov-Anglus. 
Mirare,  Si  Pietatem  Colas  ; 
Sequere,  Si  Pelicitatem  Optes. 


CHAP.     XXXI. 

The  L  I  F  E   of   Mr.  JOHN    WARD. 


|  i  QOme  famous  Perfons  of  old,  thought  it  a 
O  Greater  Glory,  to  have  it  enquired  ;  Why 
fuch  a  one  had  not  a  Statue  ereffed  for  him  ?  Than 
to  have   it   enquired,  Why  he  had  ?  Mr.  Natha- 
nael  Ward,  born  at  Haverhil,  in  EJfex,  about 
1 570.  was  bred  a  Scholar,  and  was  firit  Intended 
and  Employed  for  the  Study  of  the  Law.     But 
afterwards  travelling  with   certain  Merchants 
into  Pruffia  and  Denmark,  and  having  Difcourfe 
with  David  Partus,  at  Heidelberg,  from  whom 
he  received  much  Direction  ;  at  his  return  into 
England,  he  became  a  Minilfer  of  the  Gofpel, 
and  had  a  Living  at  Stondon.   In  the  Year  1 634. 
he  was  driven  out  of  England,  for  his  Non- 
Conformity;  and  coming  to  New-England,  he 
continued  ferving  the  Church  of  lpfwich,  till 
the  Year  1645.     When  returning  back  to  Eng- 
land, he   fettled  at  Sheffield,  near  Brentwood  -, 
and  there  he  ended  his  Days,  when  he  was 
about  Eighty  Three  Years  of  Age.     He  was  the 
Author  of  many  Compofures  full  of  Wit,  and 
Senfe-,  among  which,  that  Entituled,  The  Sim- 
ple Cabler  (which  demonftrated  him  to   be  a 
Subtil  State/man)  was   moft  confidered.    If  it 


be  enquired,  Why  this  our  St.  Hilary  hath  among 
our  hives  no  Statue  ereUed  for  him  ?  Let  that 
Enquiry  go  for  part  of  one.  And  we  will  pay 
our  Debt  unto  his  Worthy  Son. 

§  2.  Mr.  John  Ward  was  Born,  I  think,  at 
Haverhil,  —  on  Nov.  5.  —  i6o<5.  His  Grand- 
father was  that  John  Ward,  the  Worthy  Mini- 
fter  of  Haverhil,  whom  we  find  among  The 
Worthies  of  England ,  and  his  Father  was  the 
Celebrated  Nathanael  Ward,  wbofe  Wit  made 
him  known  to  more  Englands  than  one.  Where 
his  Education  was,  I  have  not  been  informed  ; 
the  firft  Notice  of  him  that  occurs  to  me,  being 
in  the  Year  1639.  When  he  came  over  into 
thefe  Parts  of  America  -,  and  fettled  there  in 
the  Year  11541.  in  a  Town  alfo  called  Haverhil. 
But  What  it  was,  every  Body  that  faw  him, 
faw  it  in  the  Effefls  of  it,  that  it  was  Learned, 
Ingenuous,  and  Religious.  He  was  a  Perfon 
of  a  Quick  Apprehenfion,  a  clear  Understand- 
ing, a  (frong  Memory,  a  facetious  Conversation -, 
he  was  an  exact  Grammarian,  an  expert  Phy- 
\fician,  and  which  was  the  Top  of  all,  a  tho- 
rough Divine:  But,  which  rarely  happens, 
Y  y  y  thefe 


768 


The  Hi/lory  of  New- 


England.      Book  111 


thele  Endowments  of  his  Mind,  were  accom- 
panied with  a  moit  Healthy,  Hardy,  and  Agile 
Conftitution  of  Body,  which  enabled  him  to 
make  nothing  of  walking  on  foot,  a  Journey 
as  long  as  Thu  ty  Miles  together. 

\  3.  Such  was  the  Bleffing  of  God  upon  his 
Religious  Education,  that  he  was  not  only  Re- 
trained from  the  Vices  of  Immorality  in  all 
his  younger  Years,  but  alio  Inclined  unto  all 
Vertuous  Aclions.  Of  young  Perfons,  he  would 
himfelfgive  this  Advice^  Whatever  you  do,  be 
Jure  to  maintain  Shame  in  them  ;  for  if  that  be 
once  gone,  there  is  no  hope  that  they'll  ever 
come  to  good.  Accordingly,  our  Ward  was  al 
ways  afioamed  of  doing  any  111  thing.  He  was 
of  a  Modeft  and  Bafiful  Difpofition,  and  very 
fparing  of  Speaking,  efpecially  before  Strangers, 
or  fuch  as  he  thought  his  Betters.  He  was 
wonderfully  Temperate,  in  Meat,  in  Drink,  in 
Sleep,  and  he  was  always  Exprejfed,  I  had  al- 
moft  faid,  Affefled,  a  peculiar  Sobriety  of  Ap- 
parel. He  was  a  Son  moft  Exemplarily  Duti 
ful  unto  his  Parents ;  and  having  paid  fome 
confiderable  Debts  for  his  Father,  he  would  af- 
terwards humbly  obferve  and  confefs,  that  God 
had  abundantly  Recompenced  this  his  Dutiful- 
nefs. 

§  4.  Tho'  he  had  great  Offers  of  Rich 
Matches,  in  England,  yet  he  chofe  to  marry  a 
meaner  Perfon,  whom  Exemplary  Piety  had  re- 
commended. He  lived  with  her  for  more  than 
Forty  Years,  in  fuch  an  Happy  Harmony,  that 
when  fiae  died,  he  profefled,  that  in  all  this 
Time,  he  never  had  received  one  Difpleafing 
Word  or  Look  from  her.  Altho'  fhe  would  fo 
faithfully  tell  him  of  every  thing  that  might 
feem  Amendable  in  him,  that  he  would  plea- 
fantly  compare  her  to  an  Accujing  Confidence, 
yet  (he  ever  plea/ed  him  wonderfully  :  And  fhe 
would  often  put  him  upon  the  Duties  of  fe 
cret  Fafts,  and  when  fhe  met  with  any  thing 
in  Reading  that  lhe  counted  Angularly  agree- 
able, fhe  would  Hill  impart  it  unto  him.  For 
which  Caufes,  when  he  loft  this  his  Mate,  he 
caufed  rhofe  Words  to  be  fairly  written  on  his 
Table-Board, 


In  Li/genda  Compare, 
Orbits. 


Vita  Spacium  Compleat 


Refervation,  ir  came  to  pafs,  that  as  he  choie 
to  begin  his  Minitlry  in  Old  England,  at  a  verv 
imall  Place,  thus  when  he  came  to  New  Eng- 
land \\q  chole  to  fettle  with  a  New  Plantation,, 
where  he  could  expeel:  none  but  fmall  Circurn- 
ftances  all  his  Days.  He  did  not  love  to  appear 
upon  the  Public k  Stage  himfelf,  and  there  ap- 
peared i'ew  there,  whom  he  did  not  prefer 
above  himfelf :  But  when  he  was  there,  even- 
one  might  fee  how  confeientioufly  he  foughc 
the  Edification  of  the  Souls  of  the  piaineft  Au- 
ditors, before  the  Oftentation  of  his  own  Abi- 
lities. And  from  the  like  Seif-Diffidencc  it  was, 
that  he  would  never  manage  any  EccleJt&Jhtut 
Affairs  in  his  Church,  without  previous  and 
prudent  Confutations  with  the  beft  Advifiers 
that  he  knew  :  He  would  fay,  J.  ud  rather 
always  follow  Advice,  tho'Jomet.mes  the  Advice 
might  mi  fie  ad  him.  than  ever  att  without  Advice, 
tho'  he  might  happen  to  do  well  by  no  Advice  but 
his  own. 

§  6.  This  Diligent  Servant  of  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chriff,  continued  under  and  againft  many  Tem- 
ptations, watching  over  his  Flock  at  Haverhil, 
more  than  twice  as  long  as  Jacob  continued 
with  his  Uncle ;  yea,  for  as  many  Years  as 
there  are  Sabbaths  in  the  Year.  On  Nov.  i$>. 
r<5p3.  he  preached  an  Excellent  Sermon,  en- 
tring  the  Eighty  Eighth  Year  of  his  Age-,  the 
only  Sermon  that  ever  was,  or  perhaps  ever 
will  be  preached  in  this  Country  at  fuch  an 
Age.  He  was  then  fmitten  with  a  Paralytic 
Indifpofition  upon  the  Organs  of  his  Speech, 
which  continuing  about  a  Month  upon  him, 
not  without  Evident  Proofs  of  his  Undemand- 
ing, and  his  Heave nlinefs,  continuing  firm  with 
him  to  the  lafl -,  at  lait,  on  Dec.  27.  he  went 
off,  bringing  up  the  Rear  of  ourFirft  Genera- 
tion. 


Epitaphium. 


Utimus- 


And  there  is  this  memorable  PalTage  to  be  added. 
While  fhe  was  a  Maid,  there  was  enfured  un- 
to her,  the  Revenue  of  a  Parfonage  worth  two 
Hundred  Pounds  per  Annum,  in  cafe  that  fhe 
married  a  Minifter.  And  all  this  had  been  gi-\ 
ven  to  our  Ward,  in  Cafe  he  had  conformed,; 
unto  the  Doubtful  Matters  in  the  Church  of 
England :  But  tie  left  all  the  Allurements  and 
Enjoyments  of  England,  chufing  rather  to  fuffer 
Afflitlion  with  the  People  of  God  in  a  Wilder- 
nefis. 

§  5.  Altho1  he  would  fay,  There  is  no  place 

for  Filling  like  the  Sea,  and  the  more  Hearers 

a  Minifter   hat,  'the   ihore  Hope  ih  re  is  that. 

Jome'vfi  them  will  be  catf       W'fb'e  ..eisofthe 

G"jpel  5    nevertheless,    thro'  his  Humility  and 


Bonorum  Ultimus,  at  inter  Bonos  non  \Jh 

Mantijfa 

The  Church  of  God  is  wrong'd,  in  that  the 
Life  of  the  Great  John  Owen  is  not  written. 
He  was  by  his  Intention,  fo  much  a  New  Eng- 
land Man,  that  a  New  Englifh  Book  affords  no 
Improper  Station  for  him.  Let  him  that  once 
would  have  chofe  to  die  among  the  Worthies 
of  New  England,  be  counted  worthy  to  live 
among  them.  The  moft  Expreflive  Memorials 
of  his  Life,  that  we  at  Bofton  can  yet  procure, 
are  Infcribed  on  his  Grave  at  London.     Thefe 


rhuft  be   then  Tranfcribed  $ 
guage  of  his 


Behold,  the  Lan- 


Epitaph 

Johannes  Owen,  S.  T.  P. 

AGro  Oxonienfi,   Patre  Infigni  Theologo. 
Matre  Pia  Matrona,  Oriundus : 

Morum 


book  111.     The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


169 


Morum  Elegant  Li,  8c  Lepore I/inocuo, 
Omnibus  quibufcum  converfatus  eft, 


tijjlmm  : 

Donorum  pari,  Gratiarumque  Eminentia 

lis  potilTimum  in  Pretio  habitus,  8cLY//V/'*s, 

Quibus,  fincera,Ctf>\e erat,C?n%;Religio : 

Lite/is  natus,  Literis  innutritus,  To- 

tufque  Dedans, 

Donee  Animal  a  plane  evafit  Bibliotbeca  : 

Authoribus  C/j///Vat,  qua  G/\tcis,quz Latinis, 

Sub  Edv.  S;lveJirot  Schola:  Private  Oxonii  Mo- 

deratore, 
Operam  navayit  fads  Eehcem  -, 
Feficiorem  adhuc  Studiis  Pbilofophicis, 
Magho  fub  Bar/ovio,  Coll.  Reginr»s  id  tempus 

Socio  •, 
(JEdis  Chrifti  ibidem,  temporis  Decurfu,  Ipfemet 

Decanus, 

Yxquinquennalis  Academic  Vice-Cancellarius :) 

Theologix  demum  longe  felicijjimus  incubuit ; 

Artibus 
Pedifequis,   Duce,  &  Aufpice,  Santto  Chrifti 

Spiritu ; 
(Cups  omnes,  in  Parta  a  Chrifto  Redemptione 
Applicanda,  PariesThzologommfolus Ex 

pofuit.) 
Triumque,  qua:  Dofl<e  prafertim  audiunt, 

(Alias  prarter  0/7>/?/d/fx)LinguarumPeritus-, 
Paginas  Sacrjs  Intus,  8C  in  Cute, 

Spiritu,  gc  Litera,  fibi  habuic  notiflimas  -, 
In  Mjgnis  vero  Nafcentis  Ecclefi^  Luminibus 

Veraftifiimus  j 
Primis  longum  Degeneris  Refticutoribus  neuti- 

quam  negle£tis  ■, 
Nee  melioris  Notz  Scholafticis  Contemptui 

habitis  j 
Tarn  in  Palsftrd,  quam  Pulpito,  Domi 

natus  eft. 
In  Palxftra  -,  Pontificios,  Remonftrantes,Sociniftas, 

Noflrofque 
In   Momentofo  Juftificationk  Apice  Novaturi 

entes, 
Scriptis  'Nervofiffmi*  Proftravit,  Proculcavit  : 
In  Pulpito,  maxime  Intirmi  Corporis^ 
Prxfentia  minime  Infirma"  : 
Geftu,  Theatriea  procul  Gefticulatione, 
Ad  Optimas  Decori  Regulas  Compofito  : 
Scrmor.e,  a  Contemptibili  remotiflimo  ^  Canovo, 
Sed  non  Stridulo  -,  Suavi,  fed  prorfus  Vtrili  j 
Et  Autboritdtn  quiddam  Sonante : 


I  Pari,  fi  non  8c  Superiore,  Aninn  Prsfentii  ; 
Gra    Concionum,   quas,   ad  Verbum,   tot  as  Chartis 

commifit, 
Ne  verbum  quidem  vel  carptim,8cftringente  oculo 

Inter  Prardicandum  LeSitavit  : 
Sed  omnia,  Suo  primum  Impreffa  alrids  Pe£tori, 
Auditorum  Animis,  Cordtbufq^  potentius  ingeffit : 
Nee  Orandi,  minus,  qu?.m  Perorandi,  Donis  In- 

ftru&us ; 
Miniftri  vere  Evangilici  Omnes  complevit  Nu- 

meros : 
Cultus  8c  Regiminis  Inftituti  (una  turn  Do£trinat 

Revelata) 

Magnus  Ipfemet  Zelotes$L  After  tor  ftrenuus : 

AmpliffimsE  denique,  cui,  Spiritus  S,  Eum  prx- 

fecerar,  Ecclcfix. 
Prudentijfvnis  pariter,    ac  Vigilant  iffimiK 

Paftor. 
Cujus  Pr&lufiri  e  Multis  Unum  fufficiat  Epita- 
ph io 
Author  Quadripartiti  in  Ep.  ad  Hebr.  Commen- 

tarii. 
Pera&o  in  Terris  Curfu ,   8c  quod  acceperat, 

Miniiterio, 
Ad  Chrifti  in  Ccelo  Statum,  quern  Sero  Vita:  Ve- 

fperc, 
Clarius,  licet  eminiis,  Profpe&um  Graphic^ 

linearar, 
Propius,  Penitiufque  contuendum  Anhelus 

Deceflit. 


Menfis  Augujli  (Non-Conformijik  id  magis 
adhuc  Fatali )  Die  xxiv.  Anno  Sal 
MDCLXXXllI.  JEiat.  ULVIU 


Epitaphlum  iftud  ab  Indigno  Symmifta  Qompofitum 
Uti  Latius,  quam  ut  infra  breves 

Tabula  Marmorea:  Cancellos  clauderetur  ; 

ltd  etiafn  Anguftius,  qudm  ut  Juftum 

Drs  Admodum  Reverendi  adimpleret  Characte- 

lerrii 
Nobiliofem,  quam  neruit^   tortium  eft, 

Sedem, 
A  fronte  Operis  Hujus  Operofijfimi 
Chartacei  Marmereo  Perennioris  Monu- 

menti. 


Yyy 


'Qtrttt-- 


!7o  The  Hiflory  of  New-England.      Book  IJJ. 


>Ovm?&  &Wf"**'  sive>  UTILES    NARR  A  T  I  0  N  E  S. 


THE 

7  RIVMT  HS  of  the  Reformed  Religion  wAmerica: 

or,    THE 

L I F  E  of  the  Renowned  John  Eliot ; 

A 

Perfon  juftly  Famous  in  the  Church  of  G  O  D  • 

NOT    ONLY 

As  an  Eminent  Chriftian,  and  an   Excellent  Minifter  among  the  Ettglijh  ; 
but  alfo,  as  a  Memorable  Erangelift  among  the  Indians  of  New- England* 

WITH 

Some  Account  concerning  the  late  and  ftrange  Succefs  of  the  Gofpel  in  thofe  Parts  of 
the  World,  which  for  many  Ages  have  lain  buried  in  Pagan  Ignorance. 


->  ■ '  <' 


F ffayd  by  C  0  T  T  0  N    MATHER. 

'Ov  yb  wyiv  omov,  X^y^-n^jTwrnDv  tpyav  j£  owwipo^aw  SbyfActTtov  70  kM&,  7ntfj^&iv  \Jsro  ^  A«9n$ 
miXifjuivQv :  i.  e.  Exiftimavi,  haud  fine  fcelere  fieri  potuifle,  ut  fa&orum  fplendidifli- 
morum,  &  utilium  Narrationum  gloria,  Oblivioni  traderetur.  Theodorit. 

h      '- 1  1  ■  '^— »^    1  urn  ■■— tm*m mm  ■■  ■"■■    ■         ■       ■ ■ — ,     ■  —  -■ 

Blejfcd  is  that  Servant,  whom  his  Lord,  when  he  comcth,  Jhall  find  fo  doing. 


%l)t  Xl)trD  $att< 


To  the  Right  Honourable  PHILIP  Lord  Wharton  ;   a  no  lefs  Noble,  than 
Aged  Patron  of  Learning  and  Verttte. 

May  it  pie afe  your  Lord/hip, 

IF  it  be  confidered  that  fome  Evangelical  and '  one  fo  excellent  for  Love  to  God,  as  your  Lord- 
v^/foZ/td/Hiftoriesof  theNewTeframent, '  fhip  is  known  to  be  :  And  one  upon  this  Ac- 
were  by  the  Direction  of  the  Holy  Spirit  count  only,  an  unmeet  Subject  for  the  Praifes  of 
himfelf,  Dedicated  unto  a  Perfon  of  Qua-  j  the  obfcure  Pen  which  now  writes,  that  §>uis 
iity,  and  that  the  Noble  Perfon  addreffed  with  Vituperat  ?   I  do  not,  I  dare  not,  fo' far  intrude 
Otic -^ch  Dedication,  entertained  it  with  Re- !  upon  your  Honour,  as  to  ask  your  Patronage 
merits  that  encouraged  his  dear  huciliui  to  unto  all  the  Aew  Englijh  Principles  and  Pra&i- 
make  a  Second,  the  World  will  be  fatisfy'd  that  ces,  which  are  found  in  the  Character  of  our 


I  do  a  thing  but  reafonable  and  agreeable,  when 
unto  a  Narrative  of  many  Evangelical 'and  Apo 


Celebrated  Eliot ;  for  as  the  diftance  of  a  thou- 
fand  Leagues,  has  made  it  impoffible  for  me  to 


(iolical  Affairs,  I  prefume  to  prefix  the  Name  of  attend  the  (ufual)  Orders  and  Manners  of  asking 

firft 


Book  III.       i  be  Hiftory  of  New-Fngland. 


175 


firft  your  Allowance  for  whar  I  have  openly  en- 
titled you  unto  •,  fo  the  Renowned,  Eliot  is  gone 
beyond  any  Occafions  for  the  greatelt  Humane 

patronage. 

But  that  which  has  procured  unto  your  Lord- 
fhip,  the  Trouble  of  this  Dedication,  is,  my  De- 
fire  to  give  you  the  Picture  of  une  Aged  Saint, 
lately  gone  to  that  General  Affembly,  which  the 
Eternal  King  of  Heaven,  by  the  Advances  of 
your  own  Age  in  the  way  of  Right  eoufnefs,  does 
quickly  Summon  your  felf  unto  the  profound 
Refpeft  which  our  Eliot  had  for  your  Honour, 
will  doubtlefs  be  anfwered  and  requited  with 
your  own  Value  for  the  Memory  of  fuch  a  me- 
morable Chripan,  Minifter,  and  Evangelijl;  in 
afmuch  as  your  Affe&ions,  like  his,  take  not 
their  Meafures  from  thefe  or  thofe  Matters  of 
doubtful  Deputation,  but  from  fuch  an  univerfal 
Piety  and  Charity,  and  Holinefs,  as  he  was  an 
Inftance  of. 

No  Man  ever  complained  of  it,  that  in  the 
Works  of  Chryjofiom,  we  find  feven  Orations  not 
far  afunder,  in  Commendation  of  Paid :  Nor 
is  it  any  Fault  that  I  have  now  written  One,  in 
Commendation  of  a  Man  whom  a  Pauline  Spi- 
rit had  made  IUuftrious.  In  defcribing  him,  I 
have  made  but  little  Touches  upon  his  Paren- 
tage and  Family,  becaufe  as  the  truly  Great 
Bafil  excufes  his  Omiflion  of  thofe  Things,  in 
his  Oration  upon  Gordius  the  Martyr,  Ecclefia 
hac  tanquam  fupervacua  dimittit.  But  I  have 
related  thofe  Things  of  him,  which  cannot  but 
create  a  good  Efteem  for  him,  in  the  Breaft  of 
your  Lordfhip,  who  are  a  faithful  and  Ancient 
Witnefs  againft  thofe  Diftempers  of  the  World, 
whereby  (as  the  bleffed  Salvian  lamented  it)  Co-, 
gimur  ejfe  Tiles,  ut  Mobiles  habeamur :  And  raife 
the  Sweetnefs  of  your  Thoughts  upon  your  Ap- 
proaches ;  which  may  our  God  make  both  flow 
and  lure,  unto  that  State  which  cannot  be 
moved.  But  if  I  may  more  ingenoufly  cOnfefs 
the  whole  Ground  and  Caufe  of  this  Dedication, 
I  muft  own,  'tis  to  pay  a  part  of  a  Debt  :  A 
Debt  under,  which  you  have  laid  my  Country, 
.  when  you  did  with  your  own  Honourable'Hand, 
prefent  unto  His  Majefty,  the  fame  Account, 
which  I  have  here  again  publifhed,  Concerning 


the  Succefs  of  the  Go/pel  among  the  Indians  in 
New -England. 

My  Lord, 

In  one  Eliot  you  fee  what  a  People  'tis,that  you 
have  counted  worthy  of  your  Notice,  and  what  a 
People  'tis,  that  with  ardent  Prayers  befpeak  the 
Mercies  of  Heaven  foryourNoble Family.  Indeed 
it  is  impoflible  that  a  Country  fo  full  as  New- 
England  \s,  of  what  is  tru'y  Primitive,  fhould  not 
be  expofed  unto  the  bittereft  Enmity  and  Ca- 
lumny of  thofe,  that  will  ftrive  to  entangle  the 
Church  in  a  Sardian  Unreformednefs,  until  our 
Lord  Jefus  do  fhortly  make  them  know,  that  he 
has  loved,  what  they  have  hated,  maligned, 
perfecuted.  But  if  the  God  of  New-England 
have  inclined  any  Great  Perfonage,  to  intercede, 
or  interpofe,  for  the  prevention  of  the  Ruines 
which  ill  Men  have  defigned  for  fuch  a  Coun- 
try ;  or  to  procure  for  a  People  of  an  Eliot's 
Complexion  in  Religion,  the  undifturbed  En- 
joyment and  Exercife  of  that  Religion  :  It  is  a 
thing  that  calls  for  our  moft  feniible  Acknow- 
ledgments. 

It  is  an  odd  Superjlition  which  the  Indians  of 
this  Country  have  among  them,  that  they  count 
it  (on  the  Penalty  of  otherwile  never  profper- 
ing  more  J  neceffary  for  rhem  ,  never  to  pafs 
by  the  Graves  of  certain  famous  Perfons  a- 
mong  them,  without  laying  and  leaving  fome 
Token  of  Regard  thereupon.  But  we  hope, 
that  all  true  Proteftants,  will  count  it  no  more 
than  what  is  equal  and  proper,  that  the  Land 
which  has  in  it,  the  Grave  of  fuch  a  remark- 
able Preacher  to  the  Indians,  as  our  EL  10  T, 
fhould  be  Treated  with  fuch  a  Love  ,  as  a 
Jerufalem  ufes  to  find  from  them  that  are  to 
profper. 

Upon  that  Score  then,  let  my  Lord  accept  a 
Prefent,  from,  and  for  a  remote  Corner  in  the 
New  World,  where  God  is  praifed  on  your  be- 
half ;  a  fmall  Prefent  made  by  the  Hand  of  a 
rude  American,  who  has  nothing  to  recommend 
him  unto  your  Lordfhip,  except  this,  That  he 
is  the  Son  of  one  whom  you  have  admitted  unto 
your  Favours  ;  and  that  he  is  ambitious  to  wear 
the  Title  of, 


My    LORD, 

lour  Lordfbifs  mod  Humble, 
and  moft  Obedient  Servant* 


Cotton  Mather- 


*7 


A. 


The  Hi/lory  of  New- England.     Book  III. 


THE 


INTRODUCTION. 

T 


Was  a  very  fur prifing  as  well  as  an  un  j  among  us,  one  appearing  in  the  Spirit  of  a  Mofes  -, 


I 


doubted  Accident  which  happened  with 
in  the  Memory  of  Millions  yet  alive, 
when  (an  the  Learned  Hormws  has 
given  us  the  Relation),  certain  Shepherds  upon 
Mount  Nebo,  following  part  of  their  ftraggling 
flock,  at  length  came  to  a  Valley,  the  prodigious 
depths  and  Rocks  whereof,  rendred  it  almofl  in- 
acceffible  ;  in  which  there  icon  a  Cave  of  inex- 
prejjible  Sweetnefs,  and  in  that  Cave  WiU  a  Se- 
pulchre, that  had  very  difficult  OmraUers  upon 
it.  The  Patriarchs  of  the  Maronites  thereabouts 
inhabiting,  procured  fome  Learned  Perfons  to 
take  Notice,  and  make  Report  of  this  Curiofity, 
who  found  the  Infcription  of  the  Graveftone  to 
be  in  the  Hebrew  Language  and  Letter  ;  Mofes, 
the  Servant  of  the  Lord. 

The  Jewsjhe  Gxedk$,and the  Roman  Catholics 
thereabouts,  were  all  together  by  the  Ears,  for  the 
Poffejfion  of  this  Rarity,  but  the  Turks  as  quickly 
laid  Claim  unto  it, and firongly  guarded  it  Never* 
thelefs,  the  Jefuites  found  a  way  by  Tricks  and 
Bribes,  to  engage  the  Turkifh  Guards  into  a  Con- 
spiracy with  them,  for  the  tranfporting  of  the  in- 
clofed  and  renowned  Afhes  into  Europe  ;  but  when 
they  opened  the  Grave,  there  was  no  Body,  nor 
fo  much  at  a  Relick  there.  While  they  were  un 
der  the  Confufion  of  this  Dif appointment ,  a 
Turkifh  General  came  upon  them,  and  cut  them 
all  to  pieces  ;  therewithal  taking  a  Courfe  never 
to  have  that  place  vifited  any  more.  But  the 
Scholars  of  the  Orient  prefently  made  this  a 
Theme  which  they  talked  and  wrote  much  upon  : 
And  whether  this  were  the  true  Sepulchre  of 
Mofes,  was  a  Quejtion  upon  which  many  Books 
were  publifhed. 

The  World  would  now  count  me  very  abfurd, 
if  after  this  Ifhouldfay,  that  1  had  found  the  Se- 
pulchre of  Mofes,  in  America  :  But  I  have  cer 
uinly  here  found  Mofes  himfe/f-t  we  have  had 


and  it  is  not  the  Grave,  but  the  Life  of  fuch  a 
Mofes,  that  we  value  our  J  elves  upon  being  the 
Owners  of. 

Having  implored  the  Ajftftance  and  Accept- 
ance of  that  God,  whofe  Bleffed  Word  hat  told 
us,  The  Righteous  lhall  be  had  in  everlafting 
Remembrance  :  /  am  attempting  to  write  the 
Life  of  a  Righteous  Perfon,  concerning  whom  all 
things,  but  the  mcannefs  of  the  Writer,  invite 
the  Reader  to  expett  nothing  fave  what  is  truly 
extraordinary.  Tis  the  Life  of  One  who  bar 
better  and  greater  Things  to  be  affirmed  of  him, 
than  could  ever  be  reported  concerning  any  of 
thqfe  famous  Men,  which  have  been  celebrated 
by  the  Pens  of  a  Plutarch,  a  Pliny,  a  Laerti- 
us,  an  Eunapius,  or  in  any  Pagan  Hijfcries. 
'T/>  the  Life  of  one  whofe  Character  might  very 
agreeably  be  look'd  for ,  among  the  Colle&ions 
of  a  Dorotheus,  or  the  Orations  of  a  Nazian- 
zen  ;  or  is  worthy  at  leapt  of  nothing  lefs  than 
the  exquifite  Stile  of  a  Melchior  Adam,  to  e- 
ternize  it. 

If  it  be,  as  it  is,  a  true  AJfertion,  That  the 
lea  ft  Exercife  of  true  Faith,  or  Love,  towards 
God,  in  Chrift,  is  a  more  glorious  thing  than 
all  the  Triumphs  of  a  Csfar,  there  mufl  be 
fomething  very  confiderable,  in  the  Life  of  one 
who  /pent  fever al  Scores  of  Tears  in  fuch  Exer- 
cifes  ;  ana  of  one,  in  the  mention  of  whofe  At~ 
chievements,  we  may  alfo  recount,  that  he  fought 
the  Devil  in  (once)  his  American  Territories, 
till  he  had  recovered  no  fmall  Party  of  his  old 
Subiefls  and  Vaffals  out  of  his  cruel  hands  -,  it 
would  be  oj  unreafonable,  as  unprofitable,  for 
Poflerity  to  bury  the  Memory  of  fuch  a  Perfon  in 
the  Duji  of  that  Obfcurity  and  Oblivion,  which 
has  covered  the  Names  of  the  Herd's^  who  d/d 
before  the  Days  of  Agamemnon. 


P  R  E  L  I  M  I- 


Book  III.       7  be  Hifiory  of  New-England. 


175 


PRELIMINARY    L 

The  Birth,Age,WFamilyo/'  Mr.  ELIOT. 


T 


i  H  E  Infpired  Mofes,  relating  the  Lives 
of  thole  Ami  Diluvian  Patriarchs,  in 
whom  the  Church  of  God,  and  Line 
of  Chrift  was  continued,  through  the 
firft  Sixteen  hundred  Years  of  Time,  recites  little 
but  their  Birth,  and  their  Age,  and  their  Death, 
and  their  So/is  and  Daughters.  If  thofe  Arti- 
cles would  fatisfie  the  Appetites  and  Enquiries 
of  fuch  as  come  to  read  the  Life  of  our  Eliot, 
we  fhall  foon  have  difpatch'd  the  Work  now 
upon  our  Hands. 

The  Age,  with  the  Death  of  this  Worthy 
Man,  has  been  already  terminated,  in  the  Nine- 
tieth Year  of  the  prefent  Century,  and  the  Eighty 
fixth  Year  of  his  own  Pilgrimage.  And  for  his 
Birth,  it  was  at  a  Town  in  England  -,  the  Name 
whereof  I  cannot  ptefently  recover ;  nor  is  it 
neceffary  for  me  to  look  back  fo  far  as  the  place 
of  his  Nativity  ;  any  more  than  'tis  for  me  to 
recite  the  Vertues  of  his  Parentage,  of  which 
he  faid,  Vixea  noftra  voco  :  Tho*  indeed  the  pi- 
ous Education  which  they  gave  him,  caufed  him 
in  his  Age,  to  write  thefe  Words  :  I  do  fee  that 
it  was  a  great  Favour  of  God  unto  me,  tofeafon 
my  fir  ft  Times  with  the  fear  of  God,  the  Word, 
and  Prayer. 

The  Atlantick  Ocean,  like  a  River  of  Lethe, 
may  eafily  caufe  us  to  forget  many  of  the  things 
that  happened  on  the  other  fide.  Indeed  the 
Nativity  of  fuch  a  Man,  were  an  Honour  wor- 
thy the  Contention  of  as  many  Places,  as  laid; 
their  Claims  unto  the  famous  Homer's :  But 
whatever  Places  may  challenge  a  (hare  in  the 
Reputation  of  having  enjoy'd  the  Jirft  Breath  of1 
our  Eliot,  it  is  New-England  that  with  molt 
Right  can  call  him  Hers  ;  his  beji  Breath,  and 
afterwards  his  I  aft  Breath  was  here  %  and  here 
'twas,  that  God  beffow'd  upon  him  Sons  and 
Daughters. 

He  came  to  New-England  in  the  Month  of 
November,  A.  D.  1631.  among  thofe  blefled 
old  Planters,  which  laid  the  Foundations  of  a 
remarkable  Country,  devoted  unto  the  Exercife 
of  the  Proteltant  Religion,  in  its  pureft  and 
highelt  Reformation.  He  left  behind  him  in 
England,  a  Vertuous  young  Gentlewoman,  whom 
he  had  purfued  and  purpofed  a  Marriage  unto  ; 
and  (he  coming  hither  the  Year  following,  that 
Marriage  was  confummated  in  the  Month  ol 
Oifobcr,  A.D.  1632. 

This  Wife  of  his  Youth  lived  with  him  until 
Hie  became  to  him  alfo  the  Staff  of  his  Age ;  and 
Ihe  left  him  not  until  about  three  or  four  Years 
before  his  own  Departure  to  thofe  Heavenly 
Regions,  where  they   now   together  fee  Light. 


She  was  a  Woman  very  eminent,  both  for  Ho- 
linefs  and  Ufcfulnejs,  and  (he  excelled  mod  of 
the  Daughters  that  have  done  vertuoufly.  Her 
Name  was  Anne,  and  Gracious  was  her  Nature. 
God  made  her  a  rich  Blefling,  not  only  to  het 
Family,  but  alfo  to  her  Neighbourhood ;  and  when 
at  laft  (he  died,  I  heard  and  faw  her  Aged 
Husband,  who  elfe  very  rarely  wept,  yet  now 
with  Tears  over  the  Coffin,  before  the  Good 
People  ,  a  valt  Confluence  of  which  were 
come  to  her  Funeral,  lay,  Here  lies  my  dear, 
faithful,  pious,  prudent,  prayerful  Wife  ;  I  fhall 
go  to  her,  andfhe  not  return  to  me.  My  Reader 
will  of  his  own  accord  excufe  me,  from  be- 
ftowing  any  further  Epitaphs  upon  that  gracious 
Woman. 

By  her  did  God  give  him  fix  worthy  Children, 
Children  of  a  Character  which  may  forever  flop 
the  Mouths  of  thofe  Antichriftian  Blafphcmers, 
who  have  fet  a  falfe  Brand  of  Difalterand  In- 
famy, on  the  Off  fpring  of  a  Married  Clergy. 
His  Firff  born  was  a  Daughter,  born  Sept.  17, 
A.  C.  1633.  This  Gentlewoman  is  yet  alive, 
and  one  well  approven  for  her  Piety  and  Gravi- 
ty. His  next  was  a  Son^  born  Aug.  31.  A.  C. 
16315.  He  bore  his  Father's  Name,  and  had  his 
Fathers  Grace.  He  was  a  Perfon  of  notable 
AccomplifTiments,  and  a  lively,  zealous,  acute, 
Preacher,  not  only  to  the  Englifh  at  New  Gam- 
bridge,  but  alfo  to  the  Indians  thereabout.  He 
grew  lb  faff,  that  he  was  found  ripe  for  Hea- 
ven, many  Years  ago  ;  and  upon  his  Death  bed 
uttered  fuch  penetrating  things  as  could  proceed 
from  none,  but  one  upon  the  Borders  and  Con- 
fines of  Erernal  Glory.  'Tis  pity  that  fo  many 
of  them  are  forgotten  -,  but  one  of  them,  I  think, 
we  have  caufe  to  remember  :  Well,  (faid  he)  my 
dear  Friends  ;  There  is  a  dark  Day  coming  upon 
New-England  ;  and  info  dark  a  Day,  I  pray  how 
will  you  provide  for  your  own  Security  !  MyCoun- 
fel  to  you  is,  get  an  for  ere/1  in  the  bleffed  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  ;  and  that  will  carry  you  to  the 
World's  end.  His  Third  was  alfo  a'  Son,  born 
Decemb.  20.  A.  C.  t6$%.  him  he  calPd  fofeph 
This  Perfon  hath  been  a  Pallor  to  the  Church  at 
Guilford.  His  Fourth  was  a  Samuel,  born  June 
22.  A.  C.  1641.  who  dy'd  a  molt  lovely  young 
Man,  eminent  for  Learning  and  Goodnefs,  a 
Fellow  of  the  Colled ge,  and  a  Candidate  of  the 
Miniftry.  His  Fifth  was  an  Aaron,  born  Feb. 
19.  A.C.  1643.  who  tho' he  dy'd  very  young, 
yet  firlt  manifested  many  good  things  towards  the 
Lord  God  of  Ifrarl.  His  Laft  was  a  Benjamin, 
born  Jan.  29.  A.  C  1646.  Of  all  thefe  three, : 
it  may  be  faid.  as  it  was  of  Haran,  They  d/d 

before 


174 


The  Hiflory  of  New-England.      Book  111. 


before  their  father ;  but  it  may  alfo  be  written 
over  their  Graves,  All  thefe  died  in  faith.  By 
the  pious  Defign  of  their  Father,  they  were  all 
Confecrated  unto  the  Service  of  God,  in  the 
Miniftry  of  the  Gofpel;  but  God  faw  meet  ra- 
ther to  fetch  them  away,  by  a  Death,  which 
(therefore)  I  dare  not  call  Premature,  to  glo- 
rify him  in  another  and  a  better  World.  They 
all  gave  fuch  Demonltrations  of  their  Conver- 
iion  to  God,  that  the  good  old  Man  would 
fometimes  comfortably  fay,  I  have  hadfixChil 
dren,  and  I  blefs  God  for  his  Free  Grace,  they 
are  all  either  with  Chrift,  or  in  Chrift  ;  and  my 
Mind  is  now  at  red  concerning  them.  And 
when  fome  asked  him,  how  he  could  bear 
the  Death  of  fuch  excellent  Children,  his  hum- 
ble Reply  thereto  was  this,  My  Dejire  was  that 


thev  fhould  have  ferved  God  on  Earth  -,  but  if 
God  will  chufe  to  have  them  rather  ferve  him  in 
Heaven,  I  have  nothing  to  cbjetf  again/}  it,  but 
his  Will  be  done  !  His  Benjamin  was  made  rhe 
Son  of  his  Right-Hand  -,  for  the  Invitation  of 
the  good  People  at  Roxbury,  placed  him  in  the 
fame  Pulpit  with  his  Father,  where  he  was  his 
AfTvftant  for  many  Years;  there  they  hid  a  Proof 
of  him,  that  as  a  Son  with  bis  Father,  he  ferved 
with  him  in  the  Gofpel.  But  his  Fate  was  like 
that  which  the  great  Gregory  Naziansen  de- 
fcribes  in  his  Difcourfe  upon  the  Death  of  his 
honourable  Brother,  his  Aged  Foither  being  now 
alive  and  prefent ;  My  Father  having  laid  up  in 
a  better  World,  a  Rich  Inheritance  for  his  Chil- 
dren, fent  a  Son  of  his  before,  to  take  Poffeffion 
of  it. 


Preliminary    II, 

Mr.    Eliot' J-    Early  Converfion,    Sacred  Employment,  and  fufl 

Removal  into  America. 


BU  T  all  that  I  have  hitherto  faid,  is  no  more 
than  an  entrance  into  the  Hiftory  of  ou> 
Eliot.  Such  an  Enoch  as  he,  muft  have  fomethine, 
more  than  thefe  things  recorded  of  him ;  his 
Walk  with  God,  muft  be  more  largely  laid  be- 
fore the  World,  as  a  thing  that  would  befpeak 
us  all  to  be  Followers  no  lefs  than  we  lhall  be 
Admirers  of  it. 

He  had  not  palled  many  Turns  in  the  AVorld, 
before  he  knew  the  meaning  of  a  faving  Turn 
from  the  Vanities  of  an  Unregenerate  State,  un- 
to God -in  Chrift,  by  a  true  Repentance;  he 
had  the  lingular  Happinefs  and  Privilege  of  an 
early  Converfwn  from  the  Ways,  which  Origi 
nal  Sin  difpofes  all  Men  unto.  One  of  the 
principal  Inftruments  which  the  God  of  Heaven 
ufed  in  tingeing,  and  filling  the- Mind  of  this 
chofen  Veffel,  with  good  Principles,  was  that 
Venerable  Thomas  Hooker,  whole  Name  in  the 
Churches  of  the  Lord  Jefus,  is,  As  an  Oint- 
ment poured  forth  ;  even  that  Hooker,  who  ha- 
ving Angled  many  Scores  of  Souls  into  the  King- 
dom of  Heaven,  at  laft  laid  his  Bones  in  our 
New  England  i  it  was  an  Acquaintance  with 
him,  that  contributed  more  than  a  little  to  the 
Accomplifhment  of  our  Elifha,  for  that  Work 
unto  which  the  mod  High  defigned  him.  His 
liberal  Education,  having  now  the  Addition  of 
Religion  to  direft  it,  and  improve  it,  it  gave 
fuch  a  Biafs  to  his  young  Soul,  as  quickly  dif 
covered  it  felf  in  very  fignal  Inftances.  His  firft 
Appearance  in  the  World  after  his  Education 
in  the  Univerjity,  was  in  the  too  difficult  and 
unthankful  but  very  neceffary  Employment  of  a 
School- Majler,  which  Employment  he  difcharg- 
ed  with  a  good  Fidelity.  And  as  this  firft 
Effay  of  his  Improvement  was  no  more  Dif 


grace  unto  him,  than  it  was  unto  the  famous 
Hieron,  Whituker,  Vines,  and  others,  that  they 
//jNStf  began  to  be  ferviceable;  fo  it  rather  pre- 
pared him,  for  the  further  Service,  which  his 
Mind  was  now  fet  upon.  He  was  of  worthy 
Mr.  Thomas  Wilfon's  Mind,  that  the  calling  of 
a  Mimjler  was  the  only  one  wherein  a  Man 
might  be  more  ferviceable  to  the  Church  of 
God,  than  in  that  of  a  School- Majier :  And 
with  Melchior  Adam,  he  reckoned,  the  Calling 
of  a  School- Mafter,  Pulverulent  am,  ac  Mole- 
ftiffimam  quidem,  fed  Deo  longe  gratijfimam  Fun- 
ilionem.  Wheretbre  having  dedicated  himfelf 
unto  God  betimes,  he  could  not  reconcile  him- 
felf to  any  lelfer  way  of  ferving  his  Creator 
and  Redeemer,  than  the  Sacred  Miniftry  of  rhe 
Gofpel^  but  alas,  where  fhould  he  have  Op- 
portunities for  the  Exercifing  of  it  ?  The  Lau- 
dian,  Grotian,  and  Arminian  Facfion  in  the 
Church  of  England,  in  the  Profecution  of  their 
Grand  Plot,  for  the  reducing  of  England  unto 
a  moderate  fort  of  Popery,  had  pitched  upon 
this  as  one  of  their  Methods  for  it ;  namely, 
to  creeple  as  faft  as  they  could,  all  the  Learned, 
Godly,  Painful  Minifters  of  the  Nation;  and 
invent  certain  Shibboleths  for  the  detecting  and 
the  deftroying  of  fuch  Men  as  were  cordial 
Friends  to  the  Reformation.  'Twas  now  a 
time  when  there  were  every  day  multiplied 
and  impofed  thofe  unwarrantable  Ceremonies 
in  the  Worfhip  of  God,  by  which  the  Con- 
fcience  of  our  Confiderate  Eliot  counted  thefe- 
cond  Commandment  notorioufly  violated ;  'twas 
now  alfo  a  time,  when  fome  Hundreds  of  thofe 
Good  People  which  had  the  Nick  name  of  Pu- 
ritans put  upon  them,  tranfported  themfelves, 
with  their  whole  Families  and  Interefts,  into 

the 


Book  111.      The  Hifiory  of  New-Englafid. 


*75 


the  Defarts  of  America,  that  they  might  here 
peaceably  erect  Congregational  Churches,  and 
therein  attend  and  maintain  all  the  pure  Infti 
tutions  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  ;  having  the 
Encouragement  of  Royal  Charters,  that  they 
fhould  never  have  any  Interruption  in  the  En- 
joyment of  thofe  precious  and  peafant  things. 
Here  was  a  Profpect  which  quickly  determined 
the  devout  Sod  of  our  young  Eliot,  unto  a  Re- 
move into  New  England,  while  it  was  yet  a 
Land  not  /own;  he  quickly  lifted  himfelf  a 
mong  thofe  valiant  Souldiers  of  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift,  who  cheerfully  encountred  firlr  the  Pe- 
rils of  the  Atlantick  Ocean,  and  then  the  Fa- 
tigues of  the  New-Englifh  Wildernefs,  that  they 
might  have  an  undilturhed  Communion  with 
him  in  his  Appointments  here.  And  thus  did 
he  betimes  procure  himfelf  the  Confolation  of 
having  afterwards  and  for  ever  a  Room  in  that 
Remembrance  of  God,  /  remember  thee,  the 
Kindnefs  of  thy  Youth,  and  the  Love  of  thine 
Efpoufals,  when  thou  went  eft  after  tne  into  the 
Wildernefs. 

On  his  firft  Arrival  to  New  England,  he  foon 
joined  himfelf    unto  the  Church    at    Bolion; 


'twas  Church  work  that  was  his  Errand  hither. 
Mr.  Wilfon,  the  Pallor  of  that  Church,  was 
gone  back  into  England,  that  he  might  perfect 
the  Settlement  of  his  Affairs ;  and  in  his  Ab- 
fence,  young  Mr.  Eliot  was  he  that  fupplied 
his  place.  Upon  the  Return  of  Mr.  Wilfon, 
that  Church  was  intending  to  have  made  Mr. 
Eliot  his  Collegue,  and  their  Teacher  •  but  it 
was  diverted.  Mr.  Eliot  had  engaged  unto  a 
felect  Number  of  his  Pious  and  Chrittian  Friends 
in  England,  that  if  they  fhould  come  into  thefe 
Parts  before  he  fhould'be  in  the  Pafforal  Care 
of  any  other  People,  he  would  give  himfelf  to 
Them,  and  be  for  Their  Service.  It  happened, 
that  thefe  Friends  tranfporred  themftives  hi- 
ther, the  Year  after  him  ;  arid  chofe  their  Ha- 
bitation at  the  Town  which  they  called  Rox- 
bury.  A  Church  being  now  gathered  at  this. 
!  place,  he  was  in  a  little  while  Ordained 


unto 


the  Teaching  and  Ruling  of  that  Holy  Society. 
So,  'twas  in  the  Orb  of  that  Church  that  we 
had  him  as  a  Star  fixed  for  very  near  Three- 
fcore  Years  •  it  only  remains  that  we  now  ob- 
ferve  what  was  his  Magnitude  all  this  while, 
and  how  he  performed  his  Revolution. 


PART    I. 
Or,    ELIOT   as  d   Christian, 

ARTICLE     I. 
His  Eminent  PIETY. 


SUdi  was   the  Piety  of  our  Eliot,  that  like 
another  Mofes,  he  had  upon  his  face  a  con- 
tinual flvne,    arifing    from  his    uninterrupted 
Communion  with  the  Father   of  Spirits.     He 
was  indeed  a  Man  of  Prayer,  and  might   fay 
after  the  Pfalmift,  /  Prayer,  as  being  in  a  manner 
made  up  of  it.     Could  the  Walls  of  his  Old 
Study  fpeak,  they  would  even  Ravifh.us  with 
a  Relation  of  the  many  Hundred  and  Thoufand 
fervent  Prayers  which  he  there  poured  out  be- 
fore the  Lord.  He  not  only  made  it  his  daily  Pra- 
ctice to  enter  into  that  Clofet,  and  Jhut  his  Door, 
and  pray  to  his  father  in  Secret,  but  he  would 
not  rarely  fet  apart  whole  Days  for  Prayer  with 
Faffing,    in  fecret  Places  betbre   the  God    of 
Heaven.     Prayer  folemnized  with  fa  fling  was 
indeed  fo  agreeable  unto  him,  that  I  have  fome- 
times  thought  he  might  juftly  inherit  the  Name 
of  Johannes   Jejunatcr,    or    John   the   f after, 
which  for  the  like  Reafon  was  put  upon  one 
of  the  Renowned  Ancients.     Efpecially,    when 
there  was  any  remarkable  Difficulty  bstore  him, 
he  took  this  way  to  encounter  and  overcome  it-, 
being  of  Dr.  Preflon'%   Mind,    That  when  we 
woutd  have  any  great  things  to  be  accomplifhed, 


the  be(i  Policy  ii  to  work  by  an  Engine  zdh'tch  the 
World  fees  nothing  of.     He  could    fay   as  the 
pious  Robert/on    did    upon   his   Death-bed,    I 
thank  God,  I  have   loved  faftihg  and  Prayer, 
with  all  my  heart !  If  one  would  have  known 
what  that  Sacred  thing,  The  Spirit  of  Prayer, 
intends,  in  him  there  might  have  hfcen  feen  a 
mofl  luculent  and   Practical  Expofii*ion  of  it. 
He  kept  his  Heart  in  a  frame  for  Prayer,  with 
a  marvellous  Couftancy ;  and  was  continually 
provoking  all  that  were  about  him  thereunto. 
When   he   heard  any    con  fid  era  ble  News,  his" 
ufual  and  fpeedy  Reflection  thereupon  would 
be,  Brethren,  let  us  turn  all  this  into  Prayer ! 
And  he  was  perpetually  jogging  the  Wheel  of 
Prayer,  both  more  privately  in  the  Meetings, 
and  more  publickly  in  the  Churches  of  his  Neigh- 
bourhood.    When  he  came  to  an  Houfe  that  he 
was  intimately    acquainted   with,    he   would 
often  fay,  Come,  let  us  net  have  a  Vifit  without 
a  Prayer  -,  let  its  pray  down  the  Blcffmg  of  Hea- 
ven on  your  family  bejore  we  go.     Lfpecially 
when  he  came  into  a  Society  of  Minilfers,  be- 
fore he  had  fat  long  with  them,  they  would 
look  to   hear  him   urging,  Brethren,  the  Led 
Zzz  jeftti 


Ibe  Hiflory  of  New-England.       Book  I! 


176 

Jefus  takes  much  notice  of  ivbat  is  done  and 
/aid,  among  his  Minifers  when  they  are  together; 
come,  let  us  pray  before  we  part!  And  hence 
alio,  his  whole  Brfaih  feerned  in  a  fort  made 
up  of  Elucidatory  Prayers,  many  fcores  of  which 
winged  Meffengers  he  difpatched  away  to  Hea- 
ve,1,  upon  pious  Errands  every  Day.  By  them 
he  befpoke  Bleilings  upon  almoft  every  Perfon 
or  Affair  that  he  was  concerned  with;  and  he 
carried  every  thing  to  God  with  fome  pertinent 
liofanna'Ss  or  Hallelujah's  over  it.  He  was  a 
nnghty  arid  an  happy  Man,  that  had  his  Quiver 
full  of  thefe  Heavenly  Arrows'  And  when  he 
was  never  fo  ftraitly  befieged  by  Humane  Occur- 
rences, yet  he  faftned  the  Wifhes  of  his  devout 
Soul  unto  them,  and  very  dexteroully  fhot  them 
up  to  Heaven  over  the  head  of  all. 

As  he  took  thus  delight  in  fpeaking  to  the 
Almighty  God,  no  lefs  did  he  in  fpeaking  of 
him  •,  but  in  ferious  and  fivoury  Difcourfes, 
he  frill  had  his  Tongue  like  the  Fen  of  a  ready 
Writer.  The  Jefuits  once  at  Kola  made  a  no 
lefs  profane  than  fevere  Order,  That  no  Man 
fbouldjpcak  of  God  at  all;  but  this  Excellent 
Perfon  almoit  made  it  an  Order  wherever  he 
came,  to  J  peak  of  nothing  but  God.  He  was 
indeed  fufficiently  pleafant  and  witty  in  Com- 
pany, and  he  was  affable  and  facetious  rather 
than  morofe  in  Converfation ;  but  he  had  a 
Remarkable  Gravity  mixed  with  it,  and  a  lin- 
gular Skill  of  railing  fome  Holy  Obfervation  out 
of  whatever  matter  of  Difcourfe  lay  before 
him  ;  nor  would  he  ordinarily  difmifs  any 
Theme  wirhout  fome  Gracious,  Divine,  pithy 
Sentence  thereupon.  Doubtlefs,  he  impofed  it  as 
a  Law  upon  himfelf,  that  he  would  leave  fome- 
thing  of  God  and  Heaven,  and  Religion,  with 
all  that  fhould  come  a  near  him  ;  fo  that  in  all 
places,  his  Company  was  attended  with  Ma- 
jefty  and  Reverence ;  and  it  was  no  fooner 
proper  for  him  to  fpeak,  but  like  Mary's  open 
ed  Box  of  Ointment,  he  fill'd  the  whole  Room 
with  the  Perfumes  of  the  Graces  in  his  Lips, 
and  the  ChriOian  Hearers  tailed  a  greater  fweet- 
nefs  in  his  wellfeafoned  Speeches,  than  the  II- 
luftrious  Homer  afcrib'd  unto  the  Orations  of 
his  Neftor, 

Whcfe    Lip  drop\l  Language  than  fweet  Honey, 
Jwecter  abundance. 

His  Conferences  were  like  thofe  which  Ter- 
tullian  affirms  to  have  been  common  among  the 
Saints  in  his  Days,  Ut  qui  fciret  Dominum  au- 
dirc,  as  knowing  that  the  Ear  of  God  was  open 
to  them  all ;  and  he  managed  his  Rudder  foas 
to  manifelt  rhat  he  was  bound  Heaven-ward, 
in  his  whole  Communication.  He  had  a  parti- 
cular Art  at  Spiritualizing  of  Earthly  Objecfs, 
and  railing  of  high  Thoughts  from  very  mean 
things.  As,  once  going  with  fome  Feeblenels 
and  We  uineis  up  the  Hill  on  which  his  Meet- 
ing-Hoi&fe  now  Hands,  he  faid  unto  the  Perfon 
thac  led  him,  This  is  very  like  the  voay  to  Hea 
ven,  'tis  up  Hill !  The  Lord  by  his  Grace  fetch 
f&  up  !  And  inftantly  fpying  a  Bufh  near  him, 


he  as  nimbly  added,  And  truly  there  are  Thorns 
and  Briars  in  the  way  too  !  Which  Inffance  I 
would  not  have  fingled  out  from  the  manv 
Thoufmds  of  his  Occafwnal  RrfleQions,  but  onlv 
that  1  might  fuggeft  unto  the  good  People  of 
Roxbury,  fbmething  for  them  to  think  upon 
when  they  are  going  up  to  the  Houfe  of  the 
Lord,  It  is  enough,  that  as  the  Friend  of  the 
famous  Urfin  could  profefs  that  he  never  went 
unto  him  without  coming  away,  aut  dotlior  aut 
?nelior,  either  the  wifer  or  the  better  from  him  • 
fo,  'tis  an  acknowledgment  which  more  than 
one  Friend  of  our  Eliot's  has  made  concerning 
him,  /  w<u  never  with  him  but  1  got,  or  might 
have  got  fome  good  from  him. 

And  hearing/>w»  r he  great  God,  wasanEx- 
ercifeoflike  Satisfa&ion  unto  the  Soul  of  this 
good  Man,  with  fpeaking  either  to  him,  or  of 
him.  He  was  a  mighty  Student  of  the  Sacred 
Bible;  and  it  was  unto  him  as  his  necepjary  fiod. 
He  made  the  Bible  his  Companion,  and  his 
Counfellor,  and  the  Holy  Lines  of  Scripture 
more  Enamoured  him  than  the  profane  ones  of 
L'ully,  ever  did  the  famous  Italian  Cardinal. 
He  would  not  upon  eafy  Terms,  have  gone  one 
Day  together,  without  ufing  a  Portion  of  the 
Bible  as  an  Antidote  againft  the  Infeclion  of  Tern-  \ 
ptation.  And  he  would  prefcribe  it  unto  others, 
with  h\s probatum  eft  upon  it;  as  once  particu- 
larly a  pious  Woman,  vexed  with  a  wicked  Hus- 
band, complaining  to  him,  That  bad  Company 
was  all  the  day  frill  infeft ing  of  her  Houfe,  and 
what  fhould  fhe  do?  He  advifed  her,  Take  the 
Holy  Bible  into  your  Hand,  when  the  bad  Com- 
pany comes,  and  you'll  f con  drive  them  out  of 
the  Houfe  -,  the  Woman  made  the  Experiment, 
and  thereby  cleared  her  Houfe  from  the  Haunts 
that  had  molefted  it.  By  the  like  way  'twas 
that  he  cleared  his  Heart  of  what  he  was  loth 
to  have  Netting  there.  Moreover,  if  ever  any 
Man  could,  he  might  pretend  unto  that  Evi- 
dence of  Uprightnefs,  Lord,  I  have  loved  the 
Habitation  of  thine  Houfe  -,  for  he  not  only  gave 
fomething  more  than  his  Prefence  there  twice 
on  the  Lord's  Days,  and  once  a  Fortnight  be- 
fides  on  the  Letlures,  in  his  own  Congregation, 
but  he  made  his  weekly  Vilits  unto  the  Le&ures 
in  the  Neighbouring  Towns;  how  often  was 
he  feen  at  Boflon,  Charlftown,  Cambridge,  Dor- 
chefter,  waiting  upon  the  Word  of  God,  in 
Recurring  Opportunities,  and  counting  a  Day 
in  the  Courts  of  the  Lord  belter  than  a  Thou- 
fa/td?  It  is  hardly  conceivable,  how  in  the 
midlf  of  fo  many  Studies  and  Labours  as  he 
was  at  home  engaged  in,  he  could  poffibly  re- 
pair to  fo  many  Letlures  abroad  -,  and  herein 
he  aimed,  not  only  at  his  own  Edification,  but 
at  the  Countenancing  and  Encouraging  of  the 
Letlures  which  he  went  unto. 

Thus  he  took  heed,  that  he  mightHear,  and  he 
took  as  much  heed  how  he  Heard  -,  he  fet  himfelf 
as  in  the  Prefence  of  the  Eternal  God,as  the  great 
Conftantine  ufed  of  old,  in  the  AlTemblies  where 
he  came,  and  faid,  J  will  hear  what  God  the 
.  Lord  will f peak  s  he  exprefled  a  diligent  Atten- 
tion, by  a  watchful  and  wakeful  Polfure,  and 

.    br 


Book  III.      The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


177 


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by  rurning  to  the  Texts  quoted  by  the  Preacher ; 
he  expreffed  a  fuitable  AjfeSion  by  feeding  on 
what  was  delivered,  and  accompanying  it  with 
Hands  and  Eyes  devoutly  elevated  ;  and  they 
whole  good  hap  'cwas  to  go  home  with  him, 
were  fure  of  having  another  Sermon  by  the  way, 
until  their  very  Hearts  burned  in  them.  Lallan- 
ffius  truly  faid,  Non  eji  vera  Religio,  qi<£  cum 
Templo  relinquitur-,  but  our  Eliot  always  car- 
ried much  ol  Rehpo.n  with  him,  from  the  Houfe 
ol  God. 

In  a  word,  he  was  one  who  Livd  in  Heaven 
while  he  was  on  Earth  ;and  there  is  no  more  than 
pure  Juliice  in  our  Endeavours  that  he  fhould 
Live  on  Earth  after  he  is  in  Heaven.  We  can- 
not fay  that  we  ever  law  him  walking  any  whi- 
ther but  he  was  therein  walking  with  God\  where 
ever  he/d/,  he  had  God  by  him,  and  it  was  in 
the  Everlafting  Arms  of  God  that  he  Slept  at 
Night.  Methouglus  he  a  little  difcovered  his 
Heavenly  way  of  living,,  when  walking  one  day 
in  his  Garden,  he  pluck'd  up  a  Weed  that  he 
faw  ni&v  and  then  growing  there,  at  which  a 
friend  pleafantly  faid  unto  him,  Sir,  you  tell 
i  us,  we  mufi  be  Heavenly-minded  ;  but  he  imme- 
diately reply 'd,  It  is  true  ;  and  this  is  no  Impe- 
diment unto  that,  for  were  I  jure  to  go  to  Hea 
ven  to  morrow,  I  would  do  what  I  do  to  Day. 
From  fuch  a  Frame  of  Spirit  it  was  that  once 
in  a  Vifit,  rinding  a  Merchant  in  his  Counting 
Houfe,  where  he  faw  Books  of  Bufinefs  only 
on  his  Table,  but  all  his  Books  oi  Devotion  on 
the  Shelf,  he  gave  this  Advice  unto  him,  Sir, 
Here^s  Earth  on  the  Table,  and  Heaven  on  the 
Shelf ;  pray  don't  Jit  fo  much  at  the  Table  a* 
altogether  to  forget  the  Shelf  -,  let  not  Earth  by 
any  means  thrujl  Heaven  out  of  your  mind. 

Indeed  I  cannot  give  a  fuller  Defcription  of 
him,  than  what  was  in  a  Paraphrafe-that  I  have 
heard  himielf  to  make  upon  that  Scripture,  our 
Converfation  is  in  Heaven,  I  writ  from  him  as 
he  uttered  it. 


c  Behold,  faid  he,  the  Ancient  and  Excellent 
Character  of  a  true  Chriifian  ;  'tis  that  which 
Peter  calls  liolinefs  in  all  manner  of  Converfa- 
tion ;  you  (hall  not  find  a  Chriftian  out  of  the 
way  of  Godly  Converfation.  For,  firft,  a 
Seventh  part  of  our  time  is  all  fpent  in  Hea- 
ven, when  we  are  duly  zealous  lor,  and  zea- 
lous on  the  Sabbath  of  God.  Betides,  God 
has  written  on  the  Head  of  the  Sabbath  Re- 
member ■,  which  looks  both  forwards  and 
backwards  ;  and  thus  a  good  part  of  the 
Week  will  be  fpent  in  Sabbatizmg.  Well, 
but  for  the  reft  of  our  Time!  Why,,  we  lhall 
have  that  Ipent  in  Heaven,  e'er  we  have  done. 
For,  Secondly,  we  have  many  Days  for  both 
I'ajhng  and  Thankfgiving,  in  our  Pilgrimage ; 
and  here  are  fo  many  Sabbaths  more.  More- 
over, Thirdly,  we  have  our  LeUures  every 
Week  ;  and  pious  People  won't  mifs  them,  il 
they  can  help  it.    Furthermore,  Fourthly,  We 


have  our  private  Meetings  wherein  we  pray, 
and  frog,  and  repeat  Sermons,  and  confer  to- 
gether about  the  things  of  God  -and  being 
now  come  thus  far,  we  are  in  Heaven  almoft 
every  Diy.  But  a  little  farther,  Fifthly,  We 
perform  Family  Duties  every  Day  ;  we  have 
our  Morning  and  Evening  Sacrifices,  wherein 
having  read  the  Scriptures  to  our  Families, 
we  call  upon  the  Name  of  God,  and  ever 
now  and  then  carefully  Catechize  thofe  that 
are  under  our  Charge.  Sixthly,  We  (hall 
alfo  have  our  daily  Devotions  in  our  Clofets  ; 
wherein  unto  Supplication  before  the  Lord,  we 
lhall  add  fame  ierious  Meditation  upon  his 
Word  ;  a  David  will  be  at  this  Work  no  lefs 
than  thrice  a  Day.  Seventhly,  We  have 
likewife  rhanyfeores  of Ejaculations  in  a  day; 
and  theie  we  have,  like  Nehemmh,  in  what- 
ever place  we  come  into.  Eighthly,  We  have 
our  Occafional  Thoughts,  and  our  Occafional 
Talks,  upon  Spiritual  Matters  ;  and  we  have 
our  Occafional  Acts  of  Charity,  wherein  we 
do  like  rhe  Inhabitants  of  Heaven  every  day. 
Ninthly,  In  our  Callings,  in  our  Civil  Call- 
ings, we  keep  up  Heavenly  Frames  -,  we  buy 
and  fell,  and  toil ;  yea,  we  eat  and  drink, 
with  fome  Eye  both  to  the  Command  and  the 
Honour  of  God  in  all.  Behold,  I  have  not 
now  left  an  Inch  of  Time  to  be  Carnal ;  it  is 
all  Engrofled  for  Heaven.  And  yet,  left  here 
fhould  not  be  enough,  Laftly,  We  have  our 
Spiritual  Warfare.  We  are  always  encoun- 
tring  the  Enemies  of  our  Souls,  which  conti- 
nually raifes  our  Hearts  unto  our  Helper  and 
Leader  in  the  Heavens.  Let  no  Man  fay,  'Tti 
impojjib/e  to  live  at  this  rate  -,  for  we  have 
known  fome  live  thus  •,  and  others  that  have 
written  of  fuch  a  Life,  have  but  fpun  a  Web 
out  of  their  own  blelfed  Experiences.  Nets- 
England  his  Example  of  this  Life  •,  tho'  alas, 
'tis  to  be  lamented,  that  the  Diftraftions  of 
the  World,  in  too  many  Profeflors,  do  be- 
cloud the  Beauty  of  an  Heavenly  Converfation. 
In  fine,  our  Employment  lies  in  Heaven.  In 
the  Morning,  if  we  ask,  Where  am  I  to  be  to 
Day  ?  Our  Souls  muff  anfwer,  In  Heaven.  In 
the  Evening,  if  we  ask,  Where  have  I  been  to 
Day  >  Our  Souls  may  anfwer,  In  Heaven.  If 
thou  art  a  Believer,  thou  art  no  Stranger  to 
Heaven  while  thou  liveft  -,  and  when  thou 
dieft,  Heaven  will  be  no  ftrange  Place  to 
thee;  no,  thou  haft  been  there  a  Thoufand 
times  before. 

In  this  Language  have  I  heard  him  exprefs 
himielf ;  and  he  did  what  he  faid  ;  fie  was  a 
Boniface  as  well  as  BenediUs  and  he  was  one 
of  thofe. 

Qui  faciendo  docent,  qu<e  facienda  docent. 

It  might  be  faid  of  him,  as  that  Writer  cha* 
racferifes  Origen,  Qiiemadmodum  docuit,  ftc  vix- 
it,  &  quemadmodum  vixit  fie  docuit. 


zr; 


A  R  T I 


*■■■■■>■  I.. ,      ■     ■ 


Tfe  /?$«?  of  New-England.      Book  UL 


ARTICLE     II. 
His  Particular  Care  and  %eal  about  the  Lords  Day. 


TH I  S  was  the  Piety,  this  the  Holinefs  of 
our  Eliot;  but  among  the  many  Inftances 
in  which  his  Holinefs  was  remarkable,  I  mu(T 
not  omit  his  exatt  Remembrance  of  the  Sabbath 
Day,  to  keep  it  holy. 

It  has  been  truly  and  juftly  obferved,  That 
our  whole  Religion- fares  according  to  our  Sab- 
baths, that  poor  Sabbaths  make  poor  Chriflians, 
and  that  a  Strittnefs  in  our  Sabbaths  infpires  a 
Vigour  into  all  our  ether  Duties.  Our  Eliot 
knew  this,  and  it  was  a  moft  Exemplary  Zeal 
that  he  acknowledged  the  Sabbath  of  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  withal.  Had  he  been  asked,  Scrvafli 
Dominicum  ?  He  could  have  made  a  right  Chri- 
ftian  primitive  Anfwer  thereunro.  The  Sun  did 
not  fet,  the  Evening  before  the  Sabbath,  till  he 
had  begun  his  Preparation  for  it ;  and  when  the 
Lord's  Day  came,  you  might  have  feen  John  in 
the  Spirit,  every  Week.  Every  Day  was  a  fort 
of  Sabbath  to  him,  but  the  Sabbath-day  was  a 
Kind,  a  Type,  a  Taft  of  Heaven  with  him. 
He  laboured,  that  he  might  on  this  High  Day, 
have  no  Words  or  Thoughts  but  fuch  as  were 
agreeable  thereunto ;  he  then  allow'd  in  him- 
felf  no  Aftions,  but  thofe  of  a  Rai fed  Soul.  One 
(fiould  hear  nothing  dropping  from  his  Lips  on  j 
this  Day,  but  the  Milk  and  Honey  of  the' 
in   which  there  yet  remains  a  Reft 


our  Eliot  was  one  ■  whereupon  with  his  ufuai 
Z'eal,  Gravity  and  Sanctity,  he  wrote  unto  the 
Doftor,  his  Opinion  thereabout  •  who  returned 
unto  him  an  Anfwer  lull  of  Refpect,  fome  part 
whereof  1  fhall  here  tranfcribe. 

'  As  to  what  concerns  the  Natural  Strength 
of  Alan  (faith  hej  Either  I  was  under  fome 
Mi  [rake  in  my  Exprcjfon,  or  you  feem  to  be 
fo,  in  your  Apprchenfion.  I  never  thought, 
and  I  hope,  I  have  not  faid,  for  I  cannot  rind 
it,  that  the  Continuance  of  the  Sabbath  is  to 
be  commenlurate  unto  the  Natural  Strength 
of  Man,  but  only  that  it  is  an  Allowable 
Mean  of  Mens  Continuance  in  Sabbath  Du- 
ties-, which  I  fuppofe  you  will  not  deny,  left 
you  fhould  caft  the  Confidences  of  ProtelTors 
into  inextticable  Difficulties. 
'  When  rirft  I  engaged  in  that  Wotk,  I  intend- 
ed not  to  have  fpoken  one  word  about  the 
PraUical  Obfrvation  of  the  Day ;  but  only  to 
have  endeavoured  the  Revival  of  a  Truth, 
which  at  prelent  is  defpifed  and  contemned 
among  us,  and  ftrenuoufly  oppofed  by  fundry 
Divines  of  the  United  Provinces,  who  call 
the  Doctrine  of  the  Sabbath,  \igmcntum  An- 
glicanum.  Upon  the  Defite  of  lbme  Learned 
Men  in  thefe  Parts,  it  was,  that  I  undertook 


Counttey, 

for  the  People  of  God  ;  and  if  he  beheld  in  any  j  c  the  Vindication  of  it.    Having  nowdifcharged 

Perfon  whatfoever,  whether  old  or  young,  any  | '  the  Debt,  which  in  this  matter  I  owed  unto 


Profanation  of  this  Day,  he  would  be  fure  to 
beftow  lively  Rebukes  upon  it.  And  hence  al- 
fo  unto  the  genetal  Engagements  of  a  Covenant 
with  God,  which  'twas  his  Defire  to  bting  the 
Indians  into,  he  added  a  particular  Article, 
wherein  they  bind  themfelves,  mehquontamunat 
Sabbath,  pahketeaunat  tohfohkc  pomantamog ;  i.e. 
To  Remember  the  Sabbath  day,  to  keep  it  holy,  a* 
long  at  we  live. 

The  mention  of  this,  gives  me  an  Opportu- 
nity, not  onlv  to  Recommend  out  Depatted  Eliot, 
but  alfo  to  Vindicate  another  gteat  Man,  unto 
the  Churches  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift.  The 
Reverend  and  Renowned  Owen  in  his  Elaborate 
Exetcitations  on  the  Lord's  Day,  Bad  let  fall 
fuch  a  Paffage  as  this  : 

1  judge,  That  the  Obfervation  of  the  Lord's 
Day  is  to  be  Commenfurate  unto  the  uje  of  our 
natural  Strength,  on  any  other  Day  ;  from  Mor- 
ning to  Night.  The  Lord's  Day  is  to  be  Jet 
apart  unto  the  ends  of  an  holy  Rep  unto  God,  by 
every  one  according  as  his  natural  Strength  will 
enable  him  to  employ  himfelf  in  his  lawful  Occa- 
sions any  other  Day  of  the  Week. 

This  Paffage  gave  fome  fcandal  unto  feverai 
very  Learned  and  Pious  Men ;  among  whom, 


the  Truth  and  Church  of  God,  tho'  not  as  I 
ought,  yet  with  fuch  a  Compofition  as  I  hope, 
'  thro'  the  Interposition  of  our  Lord  Jefus 
1  Chrift  might  find  Acceptance  with  God  and 
1  his  Saints.  I  fuppofe  I  fhall  not  again  engage 
'  on  that  Subject. 

c  I  fuppofe"  there  isfcarceany  one  alive  in  the  \ 
c  Wotld,  who  hath  more  Reproaches  caft  upon 
'  him  than  I  have  ;  tho'  hitherto  God  has  been 
6  pleafed  in  fome  meafure  to  fupport  my  fpirit 
6  undet  them.  I  frill  relieved  my  felf  by  this, 
'  That  my  poor  Endeavours  have  found  Accep- 
'  tance  with  the  Churches  of  Chfift:  Butmyho- 
'  ly,  wife,  and  gracious  Father,  fees  it  needful 
'  to  try  me  in  this  matter  alfo^  and  what  I  have 
'  received  from  you  (which  it  may  be  contains 
'  not  your  fenfe  alone)  hath  printed  deeper,  and 
'  left  a  greater  Imprefiion  upon  my  Mind,  than 
'  all  the  vitulent  Revilings,  and  falfe  Accufati- 
c  ons  I  have  met  withal,  from  my  ptofeffed  Ad- 
(  verfaries.  I  do  acknowledge  unto  you,  that  I 
'  have  a  dry  and  barren  Spirit,  and  I  do  heartily 
'  beg  your  Prayers,  that  the  Holy  One  would, 
'  notwithstanding  all  my  finful  Provocations, 
'  water  me  from  above  ■,  but  that  I  fhould  now 
be  apprehended  to  have  given  a  Wound  unto 
Holmefs  in  the  Churches,  ''tis  one  ofthefaddcfl 
frowns  in  the  cloudy  Brews  of  Divine  Providence. 

'  The 


Book  III.       The  Hi/lory  of  New-England. 


M9 


'  The  Doctrine  of  the  Sabbath,  I  have  affet 
1  ed,  tho'  not  as  it  fhould  be  done;,  yet  .as  well 
'  as  I  could  •,  the  Obfcrvation  of  it  in  Holy  Du- 
'  ties  unto  the  utmoit  of  the  ftrength  for  them, 
c  which  God  fhall  be  pleafed  to  give  us,  I  have 
c  pleaded  lor-,  the  necetlity  alio  of  aferiousP;-*? 
1  puaiion  for  it  in  fundry  previous  DutiesJ  have 
'  declared.  But  now  to  meet  with  fevere  Ex 
'  pre/Jwns~\t  may  be  'tis  the  Will  of  God,  that 
'  Vigour  fhould  hereby  be  given  to  my  former 


'  Difcouragements,  and  that  there  is  a  Call  in 
(  it,  to  furceafe  from  thefe  kinds  of  Labours. 

I  have  tranferibed  the  more  of  this  Letter, 
becaufe  k  not  only  difcovers  the  concern  which 
our  Eliot  had  for  the  Sabbath  of  God,  but  alfo 
it  may  contribute  unto  the  Worlds  good  Recep- 
tion and  Perufal  of  a  Golden  Book  on  that  Sub- 
ject, written  by  one  of  the  molt  Eminent  Pet* 
Ions  which  the  Englifh  Nation  has  been  adorned 
with. 


ARTICLE     M. 
R'm  Exemplary  Mortification. 


TH  V  S  did  Eliot  endeavour  to  live  umo  God; 
but  how  much  at  the  -fame  tune  did  he  die 
unto  all  the  World? 

Twere  impoifihle  to  finifh  the  lively  Picture 
of  this  Pious  and  Holy  Eliot,  without  lome 
Touches  upon  that  Mortification,  which  accom- 
panied him  all  his  Days  ;  for  never  did  I  fee  a 
Perfon  more  mortify3 4  unto  all  the  Pleafures  of 
this  Life,  or  more  unwilling  to  moult  the  Wings 
of  an  Heaven-born  Soul,  in  the  dirty  Puddles 
of  carnal  and  fenfual  Delights.  We  are  all  of 
us  compounded  of  thofe  two  things,  the  Man^ 
and  the  Beaft  ;  but  fo  powerful  was  the  Alan, 
in  this  Holy  Perfon,  that  it  kept  the  Beafi  ever 
ty'd  with  a  fhort  Tedder,  and  fuppreffed  the 
irregular  Calcitrations  of  it.  He  became  fo 
nailed  unto  the  Crofs  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chriff, 
that  the  Grandeurs  of  this  World  were  unto 
him  juft  what  they  would  be  to  a  dying  Man  ; 
and  he  maintained  an  almoft  unparallel'd  Indif 
fcrency  towards  all  the  Pomps,  which  Man- 
kind is  too  generally  flattered  and  enchanted 
with. 

The  Luji  of  the  Flejh  he  could  not  reconcile 
himfelf  to  the  lealt  pampering  or  indulging  of: 
But  he  perfecuted  it  with  a  continual  Antipathy, 
being  upon  higher  Principles  than  Tully  was  ac 
quainted  withal,  of  his  Mind,  Kon  eft  dignus 
nomine  hominis,  qui  unum  diem  totum  vein  ejjc 
in  ifto  genere  voluptatis.  The  Sleep  that  he  al- 
low'd  himfelf,  cheated  him  not  of  his  Morning 
Hours ;  but  he  reckoned  the  Morning  no  leis  a 
Friend  unto  the  Graces,  than  the  Mufes.  He 
would  call  upon  Students,  I  pray  look  to  it  that 
you  be  Morning  Birds  ?  And  for  many  more 
than  a  fcore  of  Years  before  he  died,  he  remo- 
ved his  Lodging  into  his  Study,  on  purpofe 
that  being  there  alone,  he  might  enjoy  his  early 
Mornings,  without  giving  the  Dilturbance  of 
the  lealt  noife  to  any  of  his  Friends,  ,whofe 
Affect ions  to  him  elfe  might  have  been  ready  to 
have  called,  Maflcr,  fpare  thy  felf.  The  Meat 
upon  which  he  lived  was  a  Cibus  Simplex,  an 
homely  hut  an  wholefome  Diet.  Rich  Varie- 
ties, coftly  Viands,  and  poinant  Sauces,  came 


not  upon  his  man  Table,  and  when  he  found 
them  on  other  Mens,  he  rarely  tailed  of  them. 
One  Difh,  and  a  plain  one,  was  his  Dinner  5 
and  when  invited  unto  a  he  aft,  I  have  feen  him 
fit  Magnifying  of  God.  for  the  Plenty  which 
his  People  in  this  Wildernefs  were  within  a- 
few  Years  arifen  to  -,  but  not  more  than  a  Bit 
or  two  of  all  the  Dainties  taken  into  his  own 
Mouth  all  the  while.  And  for  a  Supper,  he 
had  learn'd  of  his  loved  and  bleffed  Patron,  old 
Mr.  Cotton,  either  wholly  to  omit  it,  or  to 
make  a  fmall  fup  or  two  the  utmoft  of  it.  The 
Drink  which  he  ftill  ufed  was  very  fmall  -,  he 
cared  not  for  Wines  or  Drams,  and  I  believe  he 
never  once  in  all  his  Life,  knew  what  it  was  to 
feel  fo  much  as  a  noxious  Fume  in  his  Head, 
from  any  of  them;,  good,  clear  Water  was 
more  precious,  as  well  as  more  ufual  with  him, 
than  any  of  thole  Liquors  with  which  Men  do 
fo  frequently  fpoil  their  own  Healths,  while 
perhaps  they  drink  thofe  of  other  Men.  When 
at  a  Strangers  Houle  in  the  Summer  time,  he 
has  been  entertained  with  a  Glafs,  which  they 
told  him  was,  Of  Water  and  Wine,  he  has  with 
a  complaifant  Gravity  reply'd  unto  this  purpofe, 
Wine,  'tis  a  noble  generous  Liquor,  and  zve  fhould 
be  humbly  thankful  for  it  -,  but  at  I  remember, 
Water  io.t!  made  before  it !  So  abffemious  Was 
he;  and  he  found,  that  Carerefuavn 'atibus  iftis, 
his  Abltinence  had  more  Sweet nefs  in  it,  than 
any  of  the  Sweets  which  he  ablfained  from  \ 
and  lb  willing  he  was  to  have  others  partake 
with  him  in  that  Sweet nefs,  that  when  he  has 
thought  the  Countenance  of  a  Minilter  has 
look'd,  as  if  he  had  made  much  of  himfelf,  he 
has  gone  to  him  with  that  Speech,  Study  Mor- 
tification Brother,  Study  Mortification!  And  he 
made  all  his  AddrelTes  with  a  becoming  Majefty. 
The  Luft  of  the  Eye,  he  was  put  out  by  him 
in  fuch  a  manner,  that  it  was  in  a  manner  all 
one  with  him  to  be  Rich  or  Poor.  It  could  not 
be  laid  of  him,  That  he  J  ought  great  things  for 
himfelf ;  but  what  F.ftate  he  became  Owner  of, 
was  from  the  Blefhng  of*  God  upon  the  Hus- 
bandry and    Induftry  of  fome   in    Irs  Family, 

father' 


i8o 


The  Hiftory  of  New-Jb'n gland.     Book  111. 


father  than  from  any  Endeavours  of  his  own. 
Once  when  there  flood  feveral  Kine  of  his  own 
before  his  Door,  his  Wife,  to  try  him,  asked 
him,  Whqfe  they  were?  And  (he  found  that  he 
knew  nothing  of  them.  He  could  not  endure 
to  plunge  himfelf  into  fecular  Defigns  and  Af 
fairs,  but  accounted  Sacerdos  in  foro  as  worthy 
of  Giftigation  as  Mercatdr  in  Tempb ;  he 
thought  that  Minifier  and  Market  mart,  were 
not  Vnifons,  and  that  the  Earth  was  no  Place 
for  Aaron's  Holy  Mitre  to  be  laid  upon.  It 
was  the  Ufage  of  moft  Farifhes  in  the  Country, 
to  have  an  annual  Rate  for  the  Maintenance  ol 
the  Miniftry,  adjufted  commonly  by  the  Seleft: 
Men  of  the  Towns*  which  tho'  it  raifed  not 
any  exuberant  Salaries  for  the  Ministers,  who 
alio  feldom  received  all  that  the  People  had 
conm£ted  for,  nevefthelefs  in  many  places  it 
prevented  fore  Temptations  from  befalling  thofe 
that  were  labouring  in  the  Word  and  Doftrine  ; 
who  mil  ft  el  Pe  often  have  experienced  the  Truth 
of  Luther  s  Obfervation,  Duriter  profello  & 
ftiifere  viverent  Evangelii  Miniftri,  ft  ex  Li  be 
ra  populi  contnbutione  ejfent  fuftentandi.  How  • 
ever,  for  his  part,  he  propounded  that  what 
Stipend  he  had,  fhould  be  raifed  by  Contribution ; 
and  from  the  lame  Temper  it  was,  that  a  few 
Years  before  his  Diflolution,  being  left  without 
an  Afliftant  in  his  Miniftry,  he  preffed  his  Con- 
gregation to  furniftl  themfelves  with  another 
Pajior ;  and  in  his  Application  to  them,  he  told 
them,  'Tit  pojfible,  you  may  think  the  burden  oj 
maintaining  two  Minifters  may  be  too  heavy  jot 
you  ;  but  I  deliver  you  from  that  fear  ;  I  do  here 
give  back  my  Salary  to  the  Lord  J  ejus  Chrift,  and 
novo,  Brethren,  you  may  fix  that  upon  any  Man 
that  God  jliall  make  a  Pajior  for  you^  But  his 
Church  with  an  handfome  Reply,  allured  him, 
That  they  would  count  his  very  Prefence 
Worth  a  Salary,  when  he  fhould  be  fo  fuper 
annuated  as  to  do  no  further  Service  for  them. 

And  as  for  the  Pride  of  Life,  the  Life  of  it 
was  moft  exemplarily  extinguiftVd  in  him.  The 
Humility  of  his  Heart  made  him  Higher  by  the 
Head  than  the  red  of  the  People.  His  Habit  and 
Spirit  were  both  fuch  as  declared  him  to  be 
among  the  Lowly,  whom  God  has  moft  Refpeil 
unto.  His  Apparel  was  without  any  Ornament, 
except  that  of  Humility,  which  the  Apoftle  Ele- 
gantly compares  to  a  Knot  of  Comely  Ribbons, 
in  the  Text  where  he  bids  us  to  be  cloathed  with 
it  *  any  other  flaming  Ribbons  on  thofe  that 
came  in  his  way  he  would  ingenioufly  animad- 


vert upon  \  and  feeing  forrie  Scholars  once,  he 
thought  a  little  too  gaudy  in  their  Cloaths. 
liunnliamini,  Juvenes,  tiiemittamini ,  was  his 
immediate  Complement  unto  them.  Had  you 
feen  him  with  his  Leathern  Girdle  {'for  fuch 
an  one  he  wore)  about  his  Loins,  you  would 
aimoft  have  thought  what  Herod  fear'd,  T/W 
John  Bap  fill  k,u  come  to  Life  again.  In  ffiort ' 
he  was  in  all  Regards.  A  Nazarite  indeed;  un- 
lefs  in  this  one,  that  long  Hair  was  always  ve- 
ry loathfome  to  him  •  he  was  an  acute  Ramift, 
but  yet  he  profeffed  himfelf  a  Lover  of  a  Tri- 
chotomy. Doubtlcfs,  it  may  be  lawful  for  us 
to  accommodate  the  length  of  our  Hair  unto 
the  modeft  Cujloms  which  vary  in  the  Churches 
of  God;  and  it  may  be  lawful  for  them  that 
have  not  enough  of  their  own  Hair  for  their 
own  Health,,  to  fupply  themfelves  according  to 
the  fober  Modes  of  the  Places  they  live.  But 
the  Apoftle  tells  us,  Nature  teaches  in,  that  if 
a  Man  have  long  Hair,  'tis  a  Shame  to  him  -, 
where,  by  Nature  can  be  meant,  no  other  than 
The  difference  of  Sex  •  as  the  Word  el  fe where 
is  ufed. 

Thus  Mr.  Eliot  thought  that  for  Men  to 
wear  their  Hair  with  a  Luxurious,  Delicate, 
Faeminine  Prolixity  -  or  lor  them  to  preferve 
no  plain  Diftinclion  of  their  Sex,  by  the  Hair 
of  their  Head  and  Face ;  and  much  more,  lot 
Men  thus  to  disfigure  themfelves  with  Hair 
that  is  None  of  their  own-,  and  moft  of  all,  for 
Minifters  of  the  Gofpel  to  ruffle  it  in  Excefles 
of  this  kind  •,  may  prove  more  than  we  are  well 
aware,  difpleafing  to  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God. 
The  Hair  of  them  that  profelfed  Religion,  long: 
before  his  Death,  grew  too  long  for  him  to 
fwallow  •,  and  he  would  cxprels  himfelf  conti- 
nually with  a  boiling  Zeal  concerning  it,  until 
at  laff  he  gave  over,  with  fome  Regret  com- 
plaining, The  Luff  is  become  Infupcrable  !  I 
know  not  whether  that  horrible  Dit  tern  per  pre- 
vailing in  fome  European  Countries  known  by 
the  Name  of  Plica  Polonica,  wherein  the  Hair 
of  People  matted  into  ugly  and  filthy  Forms, 
like  Snakes  upon  their  Heads,  which  whofoe- 
ver  cut  off,  prefently  fell  blind  or  mad  5  I  fay, 
I  know  not  whether  this  Difeafe  was  more 
odious  in  it  felf,  than  the  fweeter,  neater,  but 
prolix  Locks  of  many  People  were  to  our  Eliot, 
He  was  indeed  one  prifcis  moribm,  as  well  as 
Antiquafide;  and  he  might  be  allow'd  fome- 
whateven  of  Severity  in  this  matter,  on  thar 
account. 


a  ft  f i ex  E 


Book  III.        I  he  Hijtory  of  New- England. 


181 


ARTICLE     IVr, 
His  Exqitiftte  Charity, 


T  jE  that  will  write  of  Eliot,  muff  write  of 
XX  Charity,  or  fay  nothing.  His  Charity  waS 
a  Star  of  the  firft  Magnitude  in  the  bright  Con- 
ftellation  of  his  Venues;  and  the  Rays  of  it 
were  wonderfully  various  and  extenfive. 

His  Liberality  to  pious  Llfes  whether  publick 
or  private,  went  much  beyond  the  Proportions 
of  his  little  Eftate  in  the  World.  Many  Hun- 
dreds of  Pounds  did  he  freely  beftow  upon  the 
Poor ;  and  he  would,  with  a  very  forcible  im- 
portunity, prefs  his  Neighbours  to  join  with 
him  in  fuch  Beneficences.  'Twas  a  marvellous 
Alacrity  with  which  he  imbraced  all  Opportu 
nities  of  relieving  any  that  were  miferable^  and 
rhe  good  People  of  Roxbury  doubtlefs,  cannot 
remember  (but  the  Righteous  God  will!)  how 
often,  and  with  what  Ardors,  with  what  Argu- 
ments, he  became  a  Beggar  to  them  for  Collect. i 
ons  in  their  Affemblies,  to  fupport  fuch  needy 
Objects,  as  had  fallen  under  his  Obfervation. 
The  poor  counted  him  their  Father,  and  repair- 
ed (fill  unto  him,  with  a  filial  Confidence  in 
their  Neceffities;  and  they  were  more  than/<?- 
vcn  or  eight,  or  indeed  than  fo'manyy2wi?.r,  who 
received  their  Portions  of  his  Bounty.  Like  that 
worthy  and  famous  Englifl)  General,  he  could 
not  perfwade  himfelf,  That  he  had  any  thing  but 
what  he  gave  azvay-,  but  he  drove  a  mighty 
Trade  at  fuch  Exercifes  as  he  thought  would 
furnifli  him  with  Bills  of  Exchange,  which  he 
hoped  after  many  days  to  find  the  Comfort  of ; 
and  yet  after  all,  he  would  fay  like  one  of  the 
moft  charitable  Souls  that  ever  .lived  in  the 
World,  That  looking  over  his  Accounts^  he  could 
no  where  find  the  God  of  Heaven  charged  a 
Debtor  there.  He  did  not  put  off  his  Charity, 
to  be  put  in  his  Lift  Will,  as  many  who  therein 
fhew  that  their  Charity  is  againfi  their  Willi 
but  he  was  his  own  Adminiflrator  ^  he  made 
his  own  Hands  his  Executors,  and  his  own  Eyes 
his  Overfeers.  It  has  been  remarked,  That  li- 
beral Men  are  often  kmglivd  Men;,  lb  do  they 
after  many  days  find  the  Bread  with  which  they 
have  been  willing  to  keep  oLher  Men  alive. 
The  great  Age  of  our  Eliot  was  but  agreeable 
to  this  Remark  ;  and  when  his  h%;  had  unfitted 
•him  for  aimoft  all  Employments,  and  bereaved 
him  of  thofe  Gifts  and  Parts  which  once  he  had 
been  accomplifhed  with,  being  asked,  How  he 
did?  He  would  fometimes  aufwer,  AIm,  I  have 
loft  every  thing  ;  my  Under/landing  leaves  me, 
my  Memory  fails  me,  my  Utterance  fails  ?ne  -, 
but  I  thank  God,  my  Charity  holds  out  fill ;  1 
find  that  rather  grows  than  fails  !  And  I  make 
no  queftion.  Thai  at  his  Death,  his  happy  Soul 
wasreceived,  and  welcomed  into  the  eve/laji 
wg  Habitations,  by  many  fcores  got  thither  be- 


fore him,  of  fuch  as  his  Charity  had  been  libe 
ral  unto. 

But  befides  thefe  more  Subftantial  Exprejfions 
of  his  Charity^  he  made  the  Odours  of  that 
Grace  yet  more  fragrant  unto  all  that  were 
about  him,  by  that  Pittifulnefs  and  that  Peace- 
ablenefs,  which  render'd  him  yet  further  Amia- 
ble. If  any  of  his  Neighbourhood  were  in  di 
ftrefs,  he  was  like  a  Brother  born  for  their  Ad- 
verfity  ■  he  would  vifit  them,  and  comfort  them 
with  a  moft  Fraternal  Sympathy  ;  yea,  'tis  not 
eafy  to  recount  how  many  whole  Days  of  Pray- 
er  and  Fafiing  he  has  got  his  Neighbours  to 
keep  with  him,  on  the  Behalf  of  thofe  whofe 
Calamities  he  found  himfelf  touched  withal. 
It  was  an  extreme  Satisfaction  to  him,  that  his 
Wife  had  attained  unto  a  confiderable  Skill  in 
Phyfick  and  Chyrurgery,  which  enabled  her  to 
diipenfe  many  fife,  good,  and  ufeful  Medicines 
unto  the  Poor  that  had  occafion  for  them  ;  and 
fome  Hundreds  of  Sick  and  Weak  and  Maimed 
People  owed  Praifes  to  God,  tor  the  Benefit, 
which  therein  they  freely  received  of  her.  The 
good  Gentleman  her  Husband,  would  ft  ill  be 
cafting  Oyl  into  the  Flame  of  that  Charity, 
wherein  fhe  was  of  her  own  accord  abundantly 
forward  thus  to  be  doing  of  good  unto  all;  ^nd 
he  would  urge  her  to  be  ferviceable  unto  the 
worft  Enemies  that  he  had  in  the  World.  Ne- 
ver had  any  Man  fewer  Enemies  than  he  f  But 
once  having  delivered  fomething  in  his  Mini- 
ifry,  which  difpleafed  one  of  his  Hearers,  the 
Man  did  pailionately  abufe  him  for  it,  and  this 
both  with  Speeches  and  with  Writings,  that  revi- 
led him.  Yet  it  happening  not  long  after,  that 
this  Man  gave  himfelf  a  very  dangerous  Wound, 
Mr.  Eliot  immediately  fends  his  Wife  to  cure 
him  h  who  did  accordingly.  When  the  Man 
was  well  he  came  to  thank  her  ;  but  fhe  took 
no, Rewards;  and  this; good Man  made  him  ftay 
and  eat  with  him,  taking  no  notice  of  all  the 
Calumnies  with  which  he  had  loaded  him  -,  but 
by  this  Carriage  he  mollified  and  conquered  the 
Stomach  of  his  Reviler. 

Ele  was  alfo  a  great  Enemy  to  all  Contention, 
and  would  ring  aloud  CourfcuBell,  wherever 
he  faw  the  Fires  of  Animofity.  When  he  heard 
any  Minifters  complain,  that  fuch  and'fuch  in 
their  Flocks  were  too  difficult  for  them,  the 
ftrain  of  his  Anfwer  Itill  was,  Brother,  Compafs 
them  !  And  Brot  her,  Learn  the  meaning  of  thofe 
three  little  Words,  Bear,  Forbear,  Forgive.  Yea, 
his  Inclinations  for  Peace,  indeed  fometimes  ai- 
moft made  him  to  facrifice  Right  ir  felf.  When 
there  was  laid  before  an  Affembly  of  MiniHers 
a  bundle  of  Papers,  which  contained  certain 
Matters  of  Difference  and  Contention,  between 

fome 


i8 


The  Hi/lory  of  New- En  gland,     Book  III, 


fome  People  which  our  Eliot  thought  fhould 
rather  unite,  with  an  Amnefty  upon  all  their 
former  Quarrels,  he  f  with  fome  Imitation  of 
what  Conftantirte  did  upon  the  like  occation) 
haffily  threw  the  Papers  into  the  Fire  before 
them  all,  and  with  a  Zeal  fcr  Peace  as  hot  as 
that  Fire,  faid  immediately,  Brethren,  wonder 
not  at  what  I  have  done  ,  I  did  it  on  my  knees 
this  Morning,  before  I  came  among  yon.  Such 
an  Excefs  (if  it  were  one;  flowed  from  his 
Charitable  Inclinations  to  be  found  among 
thofe  Face  makers,  which  by  following  the 
Example  of  that  Man  who  is  our  Peace,  come 
to  be  called,  The  Children  of  God.  Very  wor- 
thily might  he  be  called  an  Irenaus,  as  being 
all  for. Peace-,  and  the  Commendation  which 
Epiphanii/s  gives  unto  the  Ancient  of  that  Name, 
did  belong  unto  our  E/'iot,  he  was  a  mofi  Blrffed 
and  a  tnoji  Holy  Mm.  He  difliked  all  forts  of 
Bravery-,  bur  yet  with  an  ingenious  Note  upon 


the  Greek  Word  in  Col.  3.  15.  he  propounded, 
That  Peace  might  brave  it  among  m.  In  fhort' 
wherever  he  came,  it  was  like  another  old  John 
with  folemn  and  earned  Perfwafives  to  love. 
and  when  he  could  fay  little  el'fe,  he  would' 
give  that  Charge,  My  Children,  love  one  ano- 
ther ! 

Finally,  'Twashis  Charity  which  difpofed  him 
to  continual  Apprecations  for,  and  Beneditlions 
on  thofe  that  he  met  withal ;  he  had  an  Heart 
full  of  good  Wifhes,  and  a  Mouth  full  of  kind 
Bleffings  for  them.  And  he  often  made  his  Ex- 
prejfions  very  wittily  agreeable  to  the  Circum- 
ffances  which  he  law  the  Perfons  in.  Some- 
times when  he  came  into  a  Family,  he  would 
call  for  all  the  Young  People  in  it,  that  fo  he 
might  very  DifimWy  lay  his  Holy  Hands  upon 
every  one  of  them,  and  befpeak  the  Mercies  of 
Heaven  for  them  all. 


AUTICLE     V. 


Some  Special  Attainments^   that  were  the  EffeSts  of  his  Piety  and  Charity. 


BUT  what  was  the  Effect  of  this  Exemplary 
Piety  and  Charity  in  our  Eliot  f  It  will  be 
no  wonder  to  my  Reader,  if  I  tell  him,  That 
this  good  Man  walked  in  the  Light  of  God's 
Countenance  all  the  day  long.  I  believe  he  had 
a  continual  Aflarance  of  the  Divine  Love,  mar 
velloufly  Sealing,  Strengthening,  and  Refrefh 
ing  of  him,  for  many  Luftres  of  Years  before 
he  died  -,  and  for  this  Caufe,  the  Fear  of  Death 
was  extirpated  out  of  his  Heavenly  Soul,  more 
than  out  of  mofi  Men  alive.  Had  our  BlelTed 
Jefm  at  any  time  fent  his  Waggons  to  fetch 
this  old  Jacob  away,  he  would  have  gone  with 
out  the  leaft  Relucfancies.  Labouring  once 
under  a  Fever  and  Ague,  a  Vifitant  asked  him. 
How  he  did?  And  he  reply 'd,  Very  well,  but 
anon  I  expect  a  Paroxifm.  Said  the  Vifitant, 
Sir,  fear  not  -,  but  unto  that  he  anfwered,  Fear ! 
No,  no  j  /  bee  n't  afraid,  I  thank  God,  I  becn't 
aj raid  to  die  !  Dying  would  not  have  been  any 
more  to  him,  than  Sleeping  to  a  weary  Man. 

And  another  Excellency,  which  accompained 
this  Courage,  and  Comfort  in  him  was,  A  won- 
derful Refignalion  to  the  Will  of  God  in  all  events. 
There  were  fore  Affl/ffions  that  fometimes  befel 
him-,  efpecially  when  he  follow'd  fome  of  his 
hopeful  and  worthy  Sons  two  or  three  defira 
ble  Preachers  of  the  Gofpel,  to  their  Graves. 
But  he  ficririced  them,  like  another  Abraham-, 
with  fuch  a  facred  Iudirferency,  as  made  all  the 
Spectators  to  fay,  This  could  not  be  done  without. 
the  Fear  oj  God.  Yea,  he  bore  all  his  Trials 
with  an  admirable  Patience,  and  feemed  loth  to 
have  any  Will  6?  his  own,  that  fhould  not  be 
wholly  rne|ted  and  moulded  into  the  Will  oih'is 


Heavenly  Father.  Once  being  in  a  Boat  at  Sea, 
a  larger  VeiTel  unhappily  overrun,  and  over- 
ret  that  little  one  which  had  no  fmall  Con- 
cerns, becaufe  Eliot's  in  the  Bottom  of  it  ■  he 
immediately  funk  without  any  Expectation  of 
ever  going  to  Heaven  any  other  way  ;  and  when 
he  imagined  that  he  had  nut  one  Breath  more 
ro  draw' in  the  World,  it  was  this,  The  Will  of 
the  Lord  be  done!  But  it  was  the  Will  of  the 
Lord,  that  he  fhould  furvive  the  danger ;  for  he 
was  refcued  by  the  help  that  was  then  at  hand, 
and  he  that  had  long  been  like  Mofes  in  every 
thing  elf e,  was  now  drawn  out  oj  the  Waters. 
Which  gives  me  opportunity  to  mention  one 
Remarkable  that  had  fome  Relation  hereunto. 
This  Accident  happened  in  the  time  of  our  In- 
dian Wars,  when  fome  furious  Englifh  People 
that  clamoured  for  the  Extirpation  of  the  Pray- 
ing Indians,  which  were  in  Subjection  unto  us, 
as  well  as  the  Pagan  Indians  that  were  in  Hoffi- 
liry  againff  us,  vented  a  very  wicked  Rage  at 
our  Holy  Eliot,  becaufe  of  his  Concernment  for 
the  Indians ,  and  one  profane  Monffer  hearing 
how  narrowly  Mr.  Eliot  efcap'd  from  Drown-  y 
ing,  'tis  faid,  he  wifh'd  this  Man  of  God  hacH[ 
then  been  Drowned.  But  withing  a  few  Days, 
that  woful  Man  by  a  ffrange  Difaffer,  was 
Drowned  in  that  very  place  where  Mr.  Eliot 
had  received  his  Deliverance. 

There  was  indeed  a  certain  Health  of  Soul 
which  he  arriv'd  unto :,  and  he  kept  in  a  blef- 
fed  meafure  clear  of  thofe  Diftempers  which 
too  often  diforder  the  mod  of  Men.  But  the 
God  of  Heaven  favoured  him  with  fomething 
that  was  yet  more  Extraordinary  !  By  getting 

2Bd 


Book  III.       'The  Hi/lory  of  New- England. 


183 


and  keeping  near  to  God,  and  by  dwelling  un- 
der the  Shadow  of  the  Almighty,  be  contracted 
a  mo:Q  exquifitefenfe  of  Mind,than  what  is  ufual 
arnon^  other  Proieffors  of  Chriftianity  -,  he  fonae 
times  felt  a  lively  touch  of  God  upon  his  refined 
and  exalteii  Spirit,  which  were  not  in  any  paper 
of  ours  lawful  or  eafy  to  be  uttered ;  and  he 
was  admitted  unto  a  lingular  Familiarity  with 
the  Holy  One  of  \frael.  Hence  'twas,  that  as 
Bodies  of  a  rare  and  fine  Conttitution,  will/or*?- 
bode  the  C  hanges  or  the  Weather,  fo  the  fub 
limed  Soul  of  our  Eliot  often  had  ffrange  Fore- 
boding*  of  things  that  were  to  come.  I  have 
been  afroniflbgd  at  fome  of  his  PreditTwas,  that 
were  both  of  a  more  Pojonal,  and  of  a  more 
general  Application,  and  were  followM  with 
exact  Accomplilhments.  If  he  faid  of  any  Af 
fair,  /  cannot  blefs  it!  it  was  a  worfe  Omen  to 
it,  than  -the  moll  inaufpicious  Prefages  in  the 
World  ;  but  fometimes  after  he  had  been  with 
God  in  Prayer  about  a  thing,  he  was  able  fuc- 
cefstully  to  foretel,  /  have  Jet  a  mark  upon  it, 
it  will  do  well?  I  ihall  never  forget,  That  when 
England  and  Holland  were  plunged  into  the  un- 
happy War,  which  the  more  feniible  Proteftants 
every  where  had  but  ibrrowful  Apprehenfions 
of,  our  Eliot  being  in  the  height  and  heat  of  the 
War,  privately  asked,  What  News  we  might 
look  for  next  ?  Anfwered  unto  the  Suprize  of 
the  Enquirer,  Our  next  News  will  be,  a  Peace 
between  the  two  Protefiant  Actions ;  God  knoios, 
I  pray  for  it  every  Day  ;  and  I  am  verily  per- 
/waded,  we  fhall  hear  of  it  fpeedily  !  And  it 
came  to  pals  accotdingly. 

It  is  to  be  confeffed,  That  the  written  Word 
of  God,  is  to  be  regarded  as  the  perfect  and 
only  Rule  of  our' Lives;  that  in  all  Articles  of 
Religion,  if  Men  /peak  not  according  to  this 
Word,  there  k  no  light  in  them  ;  and  that  it  is 
no  warrantable  or  convenient  thing  for  Chri 
ftians  ordinarily  to  look  for  fuch  Infpirations 
as  directed  the  Prophets  that  were  the  Pen-men 
of  the  Scriptures.  Neverthelefs,  there  are  fome 
uncommon  Injlances  of  Communion  and  Frui- 


might  be 


tion,  which  in  our  Days  the  Soveiaiga  God 
here  and  there  favours  a  good  Mm  withal; 
and  they  are  very  Heavenly  Perfons,  PerfonS 
well  purify'd  from  the  Fsculenacs  of  Senfua- 
lity,  and  Perfons  better  purged  \v-.\w  the  hea- 
ven of  Envy  and  Malice,  and  intolerable  Pride, 
than  uiiially  thofe  vain  Pretenders  to  Revela- 
tions, the  Quakers  are,  that  are  made  Parta- 
kers of  theie  Divine  Dainties.  Now  fiickan 
one  was  our  Eliot  -  and  for  this,  worthy  to  be 
had  in  Everlaftmg  Remembrance. 

It  would  not  be  improper,  under  this  File  to 
lodge  the  lingular  and  Surprizing  Succefles  of 
his  Prayers  1  For  they  were  fuch,  that  in  out 
Diirrefles  we  ifill  repaifd  unto  him,  under  that 
Encouragement,  He  is  a  Prophet,  and  he  fiall 
pray  for  thee,  and  thoufhah  live.  1  fhall  (in- 
gle out  but  one,  from  the  many  that 
mentioned. 

There  was  a  Godly  Gentleman  of  Charlftown, 
one  Mr.  Fofler,  who  with  his  Son,  was  taken 
Captive  by  Turkifh  Enemies.  Much  Prayer 
was  employed,  both  privately  and  publickly, 
by  the  good  People  here,  for  the  Redemption 
of  that  Gentleman^  but  we  were  at  laft  infor- 
med, that  rhe  Bloody  Prince,  in  whole  Domi- 
nions he  was  now  a  Slave,  was  refolved  that 
in  his  Life  time  no  Prifoner  fhould  be  relafed  ; 
and  lb  the  Dilfrefied  Friends  of  this  Prifoner 
now  concluded,  Our  Hope  is  loft  I  Well,  upon 
this,  Mr.  Eliot,  in  fome  of  his  next  Prayers, 
before  a  very  folemn  Congregation,  very  broad- 
ly beg'd,  Heavenly  Father,  work  for  the  Redem- 
ption of  thy  poor  Servant  Fofter  ;  and  if  the 
Prince  which  detains  him  will  not,  as  they  Jay, 
difmifs  him  as  long  himjelf  lives,  Lord,  we  pray 
thee  to  kill  that  Cruel  Prince ;  kill  him,  and 
glorify  thy  f elf  upon  him.  And-now  behold  the 
Anfwer:  The  poor  Captiv'd  Gentleman  quickly 
returns  to  u$  that  had  been  mourning  for  him 
as  a  loft  Man,  and  brings  us  News,  that  the 
Prince  which  had  hitherto  held  him,  W3S  come 
to  an  Untimely  Death,  by  which  means  he  was 
now  fet  at  Liberty. 


PART    II. 

Or,    ELIOT   as  a    Minister 


ARTICLE     I. 
His  Miuijlerial  Accomplifljments. 


TH  E  Grace  of  God,  which  we  have  feen  fo 
Ilhiftrioufly  Endowing  and  Adorning  of 
our  Eliot,  a's  well  qualify'd  him  for,  as  difpos'd 
him  to  the  Employment  wherein  he  fpent  about 
Six  Decads  of  his  Years  •,  which  was,  The  Ser- 
vice of  the  Lord  Jefm  Chriff,  in  the  Miniftry 


i  of  the  Go/pel.  This  was  the  Work  to  which 
I  he  apply'd  himfelf ;  and  he  undertook  it,  I  be- 
;  lieve,  with  as  Right  Thoughts  of  it,  and  as  Good 
\Ends in  it,  as  ever  any  Man  in  our  Days  was 
acted  with.  He  look'd  upon  the  Conduct  of  a 
'Church,  as  a  thing  no  left  Dangerous  than  hn- 
A  a  a  a  port  ant  <, 


184.  The  Hiftory  of  New-tngland,      Book  111. 


portant,  and  attended  with  lb  many  DrKjculties, 
Temptations,  and  Humiliations,  as  that  nothing 
but  a  Call  from   the  Son  of  God,-..-coul.dhave 
encouraged  him  unto  the  Sufcepcion  of  it.  i.He 
law  that  Flefh  and  Blood  would  rind  it  no  very 
pleafant  thing,  to  be  obiig'd  unto  the  Overfight 
of  a  Number,    that  by    a   folemn   Covenant 
fhould  be  lifted  among  the  Volant iers  of  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chrilt  •,  that  it  was  no  eafy  thing  to 
feed  the  Souls   of  fuch  a  People,  and  of  the 
Children  and  the  Neighbours,  which  were  to 
be  brought  into  the  fame  Shcepfold  with  them:, 
to  bear  their  manners  with  all  Patience,  not  be- 
ing by  any  of  their  Infirmities  dilcouraged  irom 
Teaching  of  them,  and  from  Watching  and  Pray 
ing  over   them  -,  to  value   them  highly  as  the 
Flock    which  God  has  fur'ebafed  with  bis  own 
Blood,  notwithltanding  all  their  Mifcarriages  3 
and  in  all  to  examine  the  Rule  of  Scripture  for 
the  Warrant  of  whatever ./Zw//  be  done-,  and  to 
remember  the  Day  of  Judgment,  wherein  an  ac- 
count mult  be  given  of  all  that  bos  been  done-, 
having  in  the  mean  time  no  Expectation  of  the 
Riches  and  Grandeurs  which  accompany  a  world- 
ly Domination.    It  was  herewithal  his  Opinion, 
That  (as  the  great  Owen  exprefies  it)  notwith- 
flanding  all  the  countenance  that  Is  given  to  any 
Church  by  the  publick  Magiflracy,  yet  whilji  we 
are  in  this  World,  thoje  who  mill  faithfully  dif 
charge  their  Duty,  a*  Minifiers  of  the  Go/pel, 
fhall  have  need  to  be  prepared  for  Sufferings ; 
and  it  was  in  a  fenfe  of  thefe  things  that  he 
gave  himfelf  up  to  the  facred   Miniftry.    A 
Stranger  to  Regeneration  can  be  but  poorly  ac- 
complifhed,  for  fuch  a  Miniltry  ;  very  truly  fays 
the  Incomparable  Alfted,  Impii  auidam  Homines 
egregie  videntur   callere  ti  Oioxoyxfava,  revcra 
tamen    ilia  Cognitio   Rerum   Theologicarum  cjl 
c&i'ahoyx,  cjuia  fieri  non  pot  eft  ut  Cognitio  verc 
Theologica,  habit et  in  Corde  non  Theologo  :  And 
however  God  may  profper  the  Sermons  of  fuch 
a  Man  for  the  Advantage  of  his  Church  :  How- 
ever the  Building  of  the  Ark  may  be  help'd  on 
by  fuch  Carpenters  as  perifti  in  the  Flood ;  and 
the  Tyrians  may  do  fome  Work  about  the  Tem- 
ple, who  arrive  to  no  Worfhip  in  the   Inner- 
Courts  thereof,   and  as  Aujiin  expreffed  it,  a 
Stone-Cutter  may  convey  Water  into  a  Garden, 
without  having  himfelf  any  advantage  of  it . 
Neverthelefs,  the  Unfanttify'd  Minilter,  how 
Gifted,  how  Able  foever  he  may  be,  muft  have 
it  ftill  faid  unto  him,  Thou  lackeji  one  thing  ! 


And  that  One  Thing  our  Eliot  had.  But  the 
One  Thing  was  not  All!  As  indeed,  it  would 
not  have  been  enough.  God  furnifhed  him  with 
a  good  meafure  of  Learning  too,  which  made 
him  capable  to  divide  the  Word  aright.  He  was  a 
molt  Acute  Grammarian-,  and  underftood  very 
well,  the  Languages  which  God  firft  wrote  his 
Holy  Bible  in.  He  had  a  good  Infight  into  all 
the  other  Liberal  Arts,  and  made  little  Sy ferns 
of  them,  for  the  ule  of  certain  Indians,  whole 
exafter  Education  he  was  defirous  of  But,  a- 
bove  all,  he  had  a  moit  eminent  Skill  in  Theo- 
logy-, and  that  which  profane  Scoffers  reproach- 
ed, as  the  Difgrace  of  the  Bleffed  Alt  ing,  all  of 
whofe  Works  always  weigh  down  the  pureft 
Gold,  was  the  Honour  of  our  Eliot,  namely  to 
be  Script  urarins  Tbeologm,  or  One  mighty  in  the 
Word  ■,  which  enabled  him  to  convince  Gain- 
fayers,  and  on  many  occaiions  to  Ihow  himfelf  ' 
A  Workman  that  needed  not  be  afhamed. 

In  fhorr,  He  came  in  fbme  Degree,  like  ano- 
ther Bezaleel,  or   Aholiab,  unto  the  Service  of 
the  Tabernacle.     And  from  one   Particularity' 
in  that  part  of  his  Learning,  which  lay  in  the 
Affairs  of  the  Tabernacle,  it  was,  that  in  a  lit- 
tle Book  of  his  we  have  thole  Lines,  which  for 
a  certain  Caule  I  now  transcribe  •,  Oh  that  the 
Lord  would  put  it  (fays  he,)  into  the  Heart  of 
fome  of  his  Religious  and  Learned  Servants,  to 
take  J  itch  pains  about  the  Hebrew  Language,  at 
to  fit   it  for  univerfal  Ufe\    Confidering,  that 
above  all  Languages  fpoken  by  the  Lip  of  Man 
it  is  mofl  capable  to  be  enlarged,  and  fitted  to  ex- 
prefs  all  things,  and  Motions,  and  Notions  f  that 
our  Humane  Intelleft  is  capable  of  in  this  mortal 
Life  ,  confidering  alfo,  that  it  is  the  Invention 
of  God  himfelf  -,  and  what  one  is  fitter  to  be  the 
univerfal  Language,  than  that  which  it  p leafed 
our  Lord  Jefus  to  make  ufe  of,  when  he /pake 
from  Heaven  unto  Paul! 

In  fine,  Tho'  we  have  had  Greater  Scholars 
than  he,  yet  he  hath  often  made  me  think  of 
Mr.  Samuel  Ward's  Obfervation.  In  obferving 
I  have  obferved  and  found,  that  divers  Great 
Clerks  have  had  but  little  Fruit  of  their  Mini- 
firy,  but  hardly  any  truly  zealous  Man  of  God 
(tho''  of  Leffer  Gifts)  but  have  had  much  Com- 
fort-of  their  Labours  in  their  own,  and  border- 
ing Parifhes  -,  being  in  this  likened  by  Gregory, 
to  the  Iron  on  the  Smiths  Anvil,  f par /ding  round 
about. 


ARTICLE 


Book  III.       The  Hifiory  of  New-England. 


185 


ARTICLE     II. 
His  F amUy-Government, 


THE  Apoftle  Paul,  reciting  and  requiring 
Qualifications  of  a  Go/pel  Minider,  gives 
Order,  that  he  be  The  Husband  of  one  Wife,  and 
one  that  rulcth  well  his  own  Houfe,  having  his 
Children  in  fab  jell  ion  with  all  gravity.  1 1  feems, 
that  a  Man's  Carriage  in  his  own  Houfe  is  a  part, 
or  at  leait  zftgn,  of  his  due  Deportment  in  the 
Houfe  of  God;  and  then,  I  am  lure,  our  Eliot's 
was  very  Exemplary.  That  one  Wife  which 
was  given  to  him  truly  from  the  Lord,  he  loved, 
prized,  cherifhed,  with  a  KindneJ's  that  notably 
reprefented  the  Compafiion  which  he  (thereby) 
taught  his  Church  to  expett  from  the  Lord  Je- 
fusChrift  ;  and  after  he  had  lived  with  her  for 
more  than  half  an  Hundred  Years,  he  followed 
her  to  the  Grave  with  Lamentations  beyond 
thole,  which  the  Jews  from  the  figure  of  a  Letter 
in  the  Text,  affirm,  that  Abraham  deplored  his 
aged  Sarah  with  ;  her  Departure  made  a  deeper 
Impreffion  upon  him  than  what  any  common 
AlflicYion  could.  His  whole  Converfation  with 
her,  had  that  Sweetnefs,  and  that  Gravity  and 
Modefly  beautifying  of  it,  that  every  one  called 
them  Zachary  and  Elizabeth.    His  Family  was 


a  little  Bethel,  for  the  Woffhip  of  God  conffanr- 
ly  and  exactly  maintained  in  it ;  and  unto  the 
daily  Prayers  of  the  Family,  his  manner  was  to 
prefix  the  Reading  of  the  Scripture  -,  which  be- 
ing done,  'twas  alfo  his  manner  to  make  his 
young  People  to  chufe  a  certain  Paflage  in  the 
Chapter,  and  give  him  fome  Obfervation  of  their, 
own  upon  it.  By  this  Method  he  did  mightily 
fharpen and  improve,  as  well  as  try,  their  Under- 
ifandings,  and  endeavour  to  make  them  wife 
unto  Salvation.  He  was  likewife  very  ftri£t  in 
the  Education  of  his  Children,  and  more  care- 
ful to  mend  any  error  in  their  Hearts  and  Lives, 
than  he  could  have  been  to  cure  a  Blemijh  in 
their  Bodies.  No  Exorbitances  or  Extravagan- 
cies could  find  a  Room  under  his  Roof,  nor  was 
his  Houfe  any  other  than  a  School  of  Piety  t,  one 
might  have  there  feen  a  perpetual  mixture  of  a 
Spartan  and  a  Chrijlian  Difciple.  Whatever 
Decay  there  might  be  upon  Family-Religion  a- 
mong  us,  as  for  our  Eliot,  we  knew  him,  that 
he  would  command  his  Children,  and  his  Hou- 
/hold  after  him,  that  they  fhould  keep  the  Way 
of  the  Lord. 


ARTICLE     III. 
Hh   Way  of  Preaching, 


SUch  was  he  in  his  lejjer  family!  And  in  his 
greater  Family,  he  manifeffed  ftill  more  of 
his  Regards   to  the  Rule  of  a  Gofpel-Minifry. 
To  his   Congregation,  he  was  a  Preacher  that 
made  i:  his  Care,  to  give  every  one  their  Meat  in 
due  Scafv/t.     It  was  Food  and  not  Froth;  which 
in  his  publick  Sermons,  he  entertained  the  Souls 
of  his  People  with,  he  did  not  ftarve  them 
with  empty  and  windy  Speculations,  or  with 
fuch  things  as  Animum  non  dant,  quia  non  ha- 
bent ;  much  Ids  did  he  kill  them  with  fuch 
Poyfcn  as  is  too  commonly  expofed  by  the  Ar- 
minim  and  Socinian  Doftors  that  have  too  often 
fat  in  iUyl'/s  Chair.     His   way  of  Preaching 
was  very  plain  ;  fo  that  the  very  Lambs  might 
wade,  into  his  Dilcourfes  on  thofe  Texts  and 
Themes,  wherein  Elephants  might  fvrim ;  and 
herewithil,  it  was  very  powerful,  his  Delivery 
was  always   very    graceful  and  grateful  -,  but 
when  he  was  to  ufe  reproofs  and  warnings  againtt 
any  Sin,  his  Voice  would  rife  into  a  Warmth 
which  had  in  it  very  much  of  Energy  as  well 
as  Decency  -,  he  W'lild  found  the  Trumpets  of 


God  againft  all  Vice,  with  a  molf  penetrating 
Livelinefs,  and  make  his  Pulpit  another  Mount 
Sinai,  for  the  Flafhes  of  Lightning  therein  dif- 
play'd  againft  the  Breaches  of  the  Law  given 
upon  that  Burning  Mountain.  And  I  obferved, 
that  there  was  ulually  a  fpecial  Fervour  in  the 
Rebukes  which  he  beftow'd  upon  Carnality,  a 
carnal  Frame  and  Life  in  Profeflors  of  Religion  •, 
when  he  was  to  brand  the  Earthly-mindednefs 
of  Church-Members,  and  the  Allowance  and  the 
Indulgence  which  they  often  gave  unto  them- 
felves  in  fenfual  Delights,  here  he  was  a  right 
Boanerges  -,  he  then  fpoke,  as  'twas  faid  one 
of  the  Ancients  did,  ^jwt  verba  tot  Fulmina,  as 
many  Thunderbolts  as  Words. 

It  was  another  Property  of  his  Preaching,  that 
there  was  evermore  much  of  C  H  R I S  T  in  it ; 
and  with  Paul,  he  could  fay,  I  determined  to 
know  nothing  but  Jefus  ChrijI  ;  having  that 
BlelTed  Name  in  his  Difcourfes,  with  a  Fre- 
quency like  that,  with  which  Paul  mentions  it 
in  his  Epijlle s.  As  'twas  noted  of  Dr.  Bodly% 
that  whatever  Subject  he  were  upon,  in  the  Ap- 
A  a  a  a   2  plication 


i  u 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.     Book  ill, 


plication  (till  his  Ufe  of  it  would  be,  to  drive 
Men  unto  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  s  in  like  man 
ner,  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  was  the  Loadltone 
which  gave  a  touch  to  all  the  Sermons  of  our 
Eliot ;  a  Glorious,  Precious,  Lovely  Chrift  was 
the  Point  of  Heaven  which  they  (till  verged 
unto.  From  this  Inclination  it  was,  rhataltho' 
he  Printed  feveral  Englifl)  Books  before  he  dy'd, 
yet  his  Heart  feemed  not  fo  much  in  any  of 
them,  as  in  that  ferious  and  favoury  Book  of 
his,  Entituled,  The  Harmony  of  the  Go/pels,  in 
the  Holy  Hifiory  of  Jefus  Cjrift.  From  hence 
alfo  'twas,  that  he  would  give  that  Advice  to 
young  Preachers,  Pray  let  there  be  much  of 
Chrift  in  your  Mini  ft  ry  •  and  when  he  h3d 
heard  a  Sermon,  which  had  any  fpecial  Relifh. 
of  a  Bleffed  Jefus  in  it,  he  would  fay  thereupon, 
0  bleffed  be  God,  that  we  have  Chrift  fo  much 
anifo  well  preached  in  poor  New -England! 

Moreover,  he  lik'd  no  Pleaching,  but  what 
had  been  well  ftudied  lor ;  and  he  would  very 
much  commend  a  Sermon  which  he  could  per 


ceive  had   required  fome  good   Thinking  and 
Reading  in  the  Author  of  it.     1  have  been  pre- 
fent,  when  he  has  unto  a  Preacher  then  iuft 
come  home  from  the  AfTembly  with  him,  thus 
expreffed    himfelf,  Brother,  there  weu  Oyl  re- 
quired jor  the  Service  of  the  SanQuary  •  but  it 
mufl  be  beaten  Oyl ;    1  praife  God,  that  I  faw 
your  Oyl  fo   well  beaten   today-,  the  Lord  help 
us  always  by  good  Study   to   beat   our  Oyl,  that 
there  may  be  no  knots  in   oitr  Sermens  left  ien- 
diffolved,  and  that  there  may  a  clear  h°ht  be 
thereby  give n  in  the  Hotife  rj  God !  And  yet  he 
likewile  louk'd  lor  iomethwag  in  a  Sermon  be- 
fide  and  beyond  rhe  mter  Study  of  Alan  •    he 
was  for  having  the  Spirit  of  God,  breathing  in 
it  and  with  it ;  and  he  wjs  lor  fpeaking  thofe 
things,  from  thofe  Impreflions  and    with  thofe 
Affections,  which  might  compel  the  Hearer  to 
lay,  The  Spirit  oj  Godw.i\  here  !  1  have  heard 
him   complain,  It   /»  a  j, id  thing,  whenaSer. 
mon  Jhall  have  jh.it  one   thing,  The  Spirit  of 
God  wanting  in  it. 


\ 


ARTICLE     IV. 
His  Cares  about  the  Children  of  bis  People. 


BU  T  he  remembred,  that  he  had  Lambs  in  of  Antiquity  affirm  Infant Baptifm  to  have  been 
his  Tlock,  and  like  another  David hQ  could  an  Ufage  in  all  the  Primitive  Churches ;  That 
not  endure  to  fee  the  Lion  feize  upon  any  of  even  before  the  early  Days  oiKazianzen,  Chry- 
them.  He  always  had  a  mighty  concern  upon  foftem,  Bafdy  Athanafius,  Epiphanius,  in  the 
his  Mind  for  little  Children ;  'twas  an  Affe&io-  Greek,  and  Ambrofe,  Jerom,  Auftin,  intheLa- 
nate  Stroke  in  of  the  little  Papers  which  he ;  tin  Church,  all  ofw'hich  give  Glorious  Telti- 
publifhed  for  them,  Sure  Chrift  is  not  willing  j  monies  for  Infant  Baptifm,  even  Cyprian,  before 


to  lofe  his  Lambs;  and  I  have  caufe  to  remem 
ber  with  what  an  hearty,  fervent,  zealous  Ap- 
plication, he  addrefs'd  himfelf,  when  in  the 
Name,  of.  the  Neighbour  Pattors  and  Churches 
he  gave  me,  The  Right  Hand  of  their  Fellow/hip^ 
at  my,  Ordination,  and  faid,  Brother^  Art  tJwu: 
a  Lover  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  ?  Then,  Ipray 
Feed  his  Lambs. 

One  thing  whereof  he  was  very  defirous  for 
poor  CJjilcli'cn,  was  the  Covenanting ,-of  them  -, 
he  was  very  follicitous  that  the  Lambs  might 
pafs  under  the  Lord's,  Tything  Rod,  and  be 
brought  under  the  Ben4  of  the  Covenant.  He 
very  openly  and  earneftly  maintained  the  caufe 
of  Infant -Baptifm,  againft  a  fon  of  Perfons 
rifen  fince  the  Reformation,  famong  which  in> 
deed  there  are  many  godly  Men,  that  were 
dear  to  che  Soul  of  our  Eliot)  who  target  that 
in  the  Goipel  Church-ltate  as  well  as  in  the 
fewijh,  .The  Promife  U  fo  Believer*,' and  their 
Children :  And  are  unwilling  to  reckon  Children 
among  the  Difciples  of  Jefus  Chriit :  Or  to 
grant,  That  of  fuch  ii  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  : 
Or  tq'Hnow,  That  the  moft  undoubted  Records 

i 


thefe  allures  us,  that  in  his  Days  there  was  no 
doubt  of  it  j  and  Origen  before  him  could  fay, 
'Twos  from  the  Apvftles  that  the  Church  took  up 
the  Baptifm  oj  Infants  ;  and  Clemens  Romanus- 
before  him  could  fay,  That  Children  J7:ould  be 
Recipients  of  the  Dijcifline  of  Chrift  •,  befides 
what  plain  Evidence  we  have  in  Irenxus  and- 
J uft in  Alartyr  h  and  that  the  very  Arguments 
with  which  tome  of  the  Ancients  did  fuperlri- 
tioufly  advife  the  Delay  of  Baptifm,  do  at  the 
tame  time  confefs  the  Divine  Right  of  Infants 
in  it.  Our  Eliot  could  by  no  means  look  upon 
the  Infants  of  Godly  Men,'  as  Unholy,  and  Un- 
believers, arid  unfit  Subjects  to  have  upon  them 
a  Mark  of  Dedication  to  the  Lotd. 

Wherefore,  when  there  was  brought  among 
us  a  Book  of  Pious  Mr.  Norm's,  whereby  fome 
became  dilpofed  to,  or  confirmed  in,  a  Preju- 
dice againft  Pudo  Baptifm,  it  was  not  long  be- 
fore Mr.  Elut  puhlifhedj  a  little  Anfwer  there- 
:untoi  the  firlt  Lines  whereof  prefently  difcover 
what  a  Temper  he  writ  it  with;  fays  he,  The 
Book  fpeaks  with  the  Voice  of  a  Lamb,  ariV  I 
tbjnk  the  Author  ps  a  Godly,  though  Erring  Brri- 
]tber;  but  he  jffs  the  Caufe  of  a  Rearing  Lion, 


book  Hi.     The  Hifioty  of  JStew-England. 


devour  the 

Lambs  of  the  flock  of  Chrift.     And  io  he 

to  plead  the  Cauie  of  them  that  cannot 


cobo  by  all  c fifty   mays,  j'eeketb  to 
poor  Lambs  of 
goes  on  to  plea 
/peak  for  tbem/elyes. 


No  Man  could  entertain 
i  Perfon  of  a  different  Perfwaffon  from  himfelf, 


with  more  Sweetnefs  and  Kindnefs.  than  he, 
when  he  law,  Aliquii  CbriJJi,  or  the  Fear  of 
God  prevailing  in  them ;  he  could  uphold  a 
moil  intimate  Correfpondence  with  fuch  a  Man, 
as  Mr.  Jefjcy,  as  long  as  he  lived  t,  and  yet  he 
knew  how  to  be  an  Hammer  upon  their  unhappy 
Errors. 


But  having  once  Baptized  the  Children  of 
his  Neighbours,  he  did  not  as  too  many  Mini- 
iters  do,  think,  that  he  had  now  done  with 
them.  No,  another  thing  wherein  he  was  ve- 
ry laborious  lor  poor  Children  was,  the  Gate- 

(hijiig  pf  them*  lie  kept  UP  tne  great  ^rdi 
nance  of  Catecbi/mg,  both  publickly   and  pri- 
vately, and  fpent  in  it  a  World  of  time.  About 
the  end  of  the  Second  Century,  before  there  had 
in  the  leaft  begun    to  Itart  up  New  Officers  in 
the  Chutch  of:  God,  we  find  there  were  Perfons 
called  unto  the  Office  of  Publick  leaching,  who 
were  not  Paftors,  not  Rulers,  not  called  unto 
the  Adminiltration  of  other  Ordinances  ;  tho/e 
in  the  Church  of  Alexandria,  were  of  a  fpecial 
Remark  and  Renown  for  their  Abilities  this 
way  •,  and  their  Employment   was  to  Explain 
and  Defend  the  Principles  of  the  Chriftian  Re 
ligion,  unto  all  with  whom  they  could  be  con- 
cerned..   Here  was  the  Catechtfi,  with  reference 
unto  whom  the  Apoftle  fays,  Let  the  Catechifed 
communicate  unto  him  in  all  good  things,    Now 
tho'  fome  think,  a  Teacher  purely  as  fiich,  hath 
no  Right  unto  further  Church  Adminiftrations, 
any  more  than  the  Rabbi's  or  Doffors  among  the 
Jews,  had    to  Offer  Sacrifices  in  the  Temple; 
yet  he  who  is  called  to  be  a  Teacher,  may  at 
the  fame  time  alfo  be  called  to  be  an  Elder,  and. 
being  now  a  Teaching  Elder,  he  becomes  inte- 
refted  in  the  whole  Government  of  the  Church, 
he  has  the  Power  of  all  Sacred  Adminiftrations. 
'Tis  the  latter  and  more  compleat  and  perfecf 
Character,  which  the  Churches  of  New-England 
have  ftill  acknowledged  in  their  Teachers;  and 
fuch  a  Teaching  Elder,  did  our  Eliot  remember 
himfelf  to   be.     He  thought    himfelf  under  a 
particular  Obligation  to  be  that  Officer,  which 
the  Apoftle  calls  in  i  Cor.  4.  15   An  Inftrutfor 
of  the  Toung;  nor  was   he  afhamed,  any  more 
than  fome  of  the  Worthieft  Men  among  the 
Ancients  were,  to  be  called,  A  Catecbijl.     He 
would  obferve  upon  Joh.  21.  15.  That  the  care 
of  the  Lambs,  is  one  third  part  of  the   charge 
over  the  Church  of  God.     It  would  be  incredible 
if  I  fhould  relate  what  pains  he  took  to  keep 
up  the  BleiTed  Echols  of  Truth,  between  him- 
felf and  the  young  People  of  his  Congregation; 
and  what  Prudence  he  ufed,  in  fuiting  of  his 
Catechi/ms  to  the  Age  and  Strength  of  his  little 
Catechumens.    But  one  thing  1  mult  obferve, 
which  is,  That  altho'  there  may  be  fas  one  has 
computed^  no  lefs  than  five  Hundred  Catechi/ms 


of  adding  to  their  Number,. by  compofing  of 
fome  further  Catechi/ms,  which  were  more  par- 
ticularly defigned  as  an  Antidote  for  his  own 
People,  againft  the  Contagion  of  fuch  Errors 
as  might  threaten  any  peculiar  Danger  to  them. 
And  the  Effett  and  Succe/s  of  this  Catechifing^ 
bore  Proportion  to  the  indefatigable  Induftry 
with  which  he  profecuted  it ;  it  is  a  well  prin- 
cipled People  that  he  has  left  behind  him.  A$ 
when  certain  Je/uits  were  fent  among  the  Wat-. 
den/es  to  corrupt  their  Children,  they  returned 
with  much  Difappointment  and  Confufion,  be- 
caufe  the  Children  of  feven  Years  old  were  well- 
principled  enough  to  encounter  the  moft  Lear- 
ned of  them  all ;  fo,  if  any  Seducers  were  let 
loofe  to  wolve  it  among  the  good  People  of 
Roxbury,  I  am  confident,  they  would  find  as 
little  Prey  in  that  well  inftru&ed  Place,  as  in 
any  part  of  all  the  Country  ;  no  Civil  Penal- 
ties would  fignify  fo  much  to  fave  any  People 
from  the  Snares  of  bufy  Hereticks,  as  the  un- 
wearied Catechifing  of  one  Eliot  has  done  to 
preferve  his  People  from  the  Gangren  of  ill  Opi- 
nions. 


extant,  yet  Mr.  Eliot  gave  himfelf  the  Travail 


There  is  a  Third  Inftance  of  his  Regards  to 
the  Welfare  of  the   poor  Children  under  his 
Charge  \  and  that  is,   his  perpetual  Refolution 
and  Activity  to  fupporr  a  good  School-  in  the 
Town  that  belong'd   unto  him.     A  Grammar- 
Schoo/hs  would  always  have,  upon  the  Place, 
whatever-  it  coll  him ;  and  he  importun'd   all 
other  Places  to  have  the  like.    I  can't  forget 
the  Ardour,  with  which  I  once  heard  him  pray, 
in  a  Synod  of  thefe  Churches,  which  met  at  Bo- 
flon  to.  confider,  How  the  Mi/carriages  which 
were  among  us  might  be  prevented ;  I  fay,  with 
what  Fervour  he  uttered  an  Exprelfion  to  this 
purpofc,  Lord,  for  Schools  every  where  among 
us!  That  our  Schools  may  flourijh  I  That  every 
Member  of  this  Affemb/y  may  go  home  and  pro- 
cure a  good  School  to  be  encouraged  in  the  Toion. 
where  he  lives  !  That  before  we  die,  we  may  be 
/o  happy  an  to  /ee  a  good  School  encouraged  in 
evcty  Plantation  of  the  Country.     God  fo  blefled 
his  Endeavours,  that  Roxbury  could   not  live 
quietly  without  a  free  School  in  the  Town  j 
and  the  Iffue  of  it  has  been  one  thing,  which 
has  made  me  almoft  put  the  Title  of  Scbola 
Ulufiris  upon  that  little  Nurfery;  that  is,  that 
Roxbury  has  afforded   more  Scholars,  firlt  for 
the  College,  and  then  for  the  Publick,  than  any 
Town  of  its  Bignefs,  or  .if  I  miftake  not,  of 
twice  its  Bignefs  in   all  New'England.     From 
the  Spring   of  the  School  at  Roxbury,   there 
have  run  a  large  Number  of  the  Streams,  which 
have  made  glad  this  whole  City  of  God.     I  per- 
fwade  my  ielf,  that  the  good  People  of  Rox- 
bury, will  for  ever  fcorn  to  begrutch  the  Cofl, 
or  to  permit  the  Death  of  a  School  which  God 
has  made  fuch  an  Honour  to  them  ;  and  this 
the  rather,   becaufe  their  Deceafed  Eliot  has 
left  them  a  fair  part  of  his  own  Flfate,  for  the 
maintaining  of  the  School  in  Roxbury  -,  and  I 
hope,  or  at  leaff,  I  wifh,  that  the  Minifters  of 
New  England  may  be  as  ungainfayably  impor- 
tunate 


i88 


The  Hijlory  of  New-England.      Book  HI. 


tunate  with  their  People,  as  Mr.  Eliot  was 
with  his,  for  Schools  which  may  feafonably 
tinge  the  Young  Souls  of  the  Rijing  Genera- 


tion. A  Want  of  Education  for  them,  is  the 
blackeft  and  faddeft  of  all  the  bad  Omens  that 
are  upon  us. 


ARTICLE     V. 
His    Cburcb-Difcipline. 


IT  yet  more  endears  unto  us  the  Memory  of 
our  Eliot,  that  he  was  not  only  an  Evangeli- 
cal Minifter,  but  alio  a  true  New-Englijh  one  •, 
he  was  a  Proteftant,  and  a  Puritan,  and  one  ve- 
ry full  of  that  Spirit  which  a&ed  the  firft  Plan- 
ters of  this  Country,  in  their  peaceable  Sue celfion 
from  the  unwarrantable  things  elfewhere  im- 
pos'd  upon  their  Confciences.  The  Judgment 
and  Praffice  of  one  that  readily  underwent  all 
the  Mifery  attending  the  Infancy  of  this  Plan- 
tation, for  the  fake  of  a  true  Church  Order,  is 
a  thing  which  we  young  People  fhould  count 
worthy  to  be  enquired  after ;  and  fincewefaw 
him  fo  well  behaving  himfclf  in  the  Houfe  of 
God,  it  cannot  but  be  worth  while  to  know 
what  he  thought  about  the  Frame  and  Form, 
and  Conffitution  of  that  Bleffed  Houfe. 

He  was  a  modeft,  humble,  but  very  reafona- 
ble  Nonconformift  unto  the  Ceremonies,  which 
have  been  fuch  unhappy  Apples  of  Strife  in  the 
Church  oi [England;  otherwife  thedifmal  Thic- 
kets of  America,  had  never  feen  fuch  a  Perfon 
in  them. 

It  afflicted  him  to  fee  thefe,  and  more  fuch 
as  ihefe,  things  continued  in  the  Church  of 
England,  by  the  Artifice  of  certain  Perfons  who 
were  loth  to  have  the  Reformation  carried  on 
unto  thofe  further  Degrees  which  the  molf 
Eminent  of  the  fird  Reformers  had  in  their. 
Holy  Defigns. 

We  fee  what  was  not  his  Opinion  !  But  Id 
us  hear  what  it  was.  It  was  his  as  well  as  his 
Matter,  the  great  Ramus's  Principle,  that  in  the 
Reformation  of  Churches,  to  be  nrw  endeavoured, 
things  ought  to  be  reduced  unto  the  Order  where- 
in we  find  them  at  their  Primitive,  Original, 
Apojlolical  Inftitution.  And  in  purfuance  of 
this  Principle,  hejuftly  efpoufed  that  way  of 
Church-Government,  which  we  call  the  Congre- 
gational'-,  he  was  fully  perfwaded,  that  the 
Church  fate  which  our  Lord  Chrift  hath  infti- 
tuted  in  the  New-Teftament,  is,  In  a  Congrega- 
tion or  Society  of  Profejfed  Believers,  Agreeing 
and  AQ'embling  together  among  them/elves,  with 
Officers,  of  Divine  Appointment,  for  the  Celebra- 
tion of  Evangelical  Ordinances,  and  their  own 
mutual  Edification-,  for  he  faw  it  muff  be  a  cm 
cl  Hardf.'ip  ufed  upon  the  Scriptures,  to  make 
them  fo  much  as  lifp  the  leaft  Intimatiort  of 
any  other  Church  Hate  prefcribed  unto  us  ;  and 
he  coui  J  afl'ert,  That  no  Approved  Writers,  for 
the   Space  of  two  Hundred  Tears  after   Chrift, 


make  any  mention  of  any  other  Organical,  Vifible, 
Profejftng  Church,  but  that  onely  which  is  Con- 
gregational. He  look'd  upon  the  Congregational 
way  as  a  Largefs  of  Divine  Bounty  befrow'd  by 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chrilt  on  his  People,  that  fol- 
lowed him  into  this  Wildernefs,  with  a  pecu- 
liar Zeal  for  Communion  with  him,  in  his  pure 
Worfhip  here.  He  perceived  in  it,  a  fweet 
fort  of  Temperament,  between  Rigid  Presbyte- 
rianifm,  and  Levelling  Brownifm  -,  fo  that  on 
the  one  fide,  the  Liberties  of  the  People  are 
not  opprefled  and  overlaid  5  on  the  other  fide, 
the  Authority  of  the  Elders  is  not  rendred  in- 
fignificant,  but  a  due  Ballance  is  herein  kept 
upon  them  both;  and  hence  he  clofed  with  our 
Platform  of  Church-Difcip/ine,  as  being  the 
neareft  of  what  he  had  yet  feen,  to  the  Dire- 
ctions of  Heaven. 

He  could  not  comprehend,  that  this  Church- 
ftate  can  arife  from  any  other  Formal  Caufe, 
but  the  Confent,  Concurrence,  Confederation 
of  thofe  concerned  in  it;  he  looked  upon  a  Re- 
lation unto  a  Church,  as  not  a  Natural,  or  a 
Violent,  but  a  Voluntary  thing,  and  fo  that  it  is 
to  be  entred  no  otherwife  than  by  an  Holy  Co- 
venant, or  as  the  Scripture  fpeaks,  by  giving 
our  /elves  firft  unto  the  Lord,  and  then  one  un- 
to another.  He  could  not  think,  that  Baptifm 
alone  was  to  be  accounted  the  Caufe,  but  rather 
the  Effeff,  of  Church  Member-fhipi  inafmuch 
as  upon  the  DhTolution  of  the  Church  to  which 
a  Man  belongs,  his  Baptifm  would  not  become 
a  Nullity :  Nor  that  meer  Profejfon  would  ren- 
der Men  Members  of  this  or  that  Church,  for 
then  it  would  be  impoffible  to  cut  off  a  corrupt 
Member  from  that  Body  Politic :  Nor  that 
meer  Cohabitation  would  make  Church-Members ; 
for  then  the  vileft  Infidels  would  be  actually 
incorporated  with  us.  And  a  Covenant,  was 
all  that  he  now  faw  remaining  in  the  Inven 
tory. 

But  for  the  Subjetls  to  be  admitted  by  Chur- 
ches unto  all  the  Privileges  of  this  Fellowfhip 
with  them  he  thought,  they  ought  to  be  fuch 
as  a  trying  Charity,  or  a  charitable  Tryal%  fhould 
pronounce  Regenerate.  He  found  the  firft  Chur- 
ches of  the  Gofpei  mentioned  in  the  Scripture, 
to  be  Churches  of  Saints;  and  that  the  Apoflles 
writing  to  them,  lfill  acknowledge  them  to  be 
Holy  Brethren,  and  fuch  as  were  made  meet  for 
to  be  partakers  of  the  Inheritance  of  the  Saints 
in  Light;  and  that  a  main  end  of  Church  fel- 
lowfhip, 


Book  111.      The  Hiftory  of  New-Etigland 


185? 


biojhip,  is  to  reprefent  unto  the  World,   the 
Qualifications  of  thofe  that  (hall  Afccnd  into 
the  Hill  of  the  Lord,  and  Jl  and  in  his  Holy  Place 
for  ever.    He  would  therefore  have  Bona  Mens, 
and  Purum  pekus,  and  Vita  Innocens,  required, 
us  Ldlantius  tells  us,  they  were  in  his  Days, 
of  all  Communicants  at  the  Table  of  the  Lord  : 
And  with  Holy  O?ryfofiom.  he  would  fooner 
have  given  his  Heart'blood,  than  the  Cup  vf  the 
I^ord,  unto  fuch  as  had  not  the  hopeful  Marks 
of  our  Lord's  Difciples  on  them.     The  Churches 
ofiWw  England  (till  retain  a  Cuilom  which 
the  Great  fuftin  Martyr,  in  the  Second  Cen- 
tury, allures  us  to  have  been  in  the  Primitive 
Churches  of  his  Time-,  namely,  To  Examine 
thofe  they  Receive,  not  only  about  their  Perfwa- 
fion,  but  alfo  whether  they  have  attained  unto  a 
'Work  of  Grace  upon  their  Souls.     In  the  Pro- 
fecution  hereof,  befides  the  Enquiries  of  the  £7- 
dcrs  into   the  Knowledge,  and  Belief,  and  Con~ 
verfation  of  them  that  offer  themfelves  unto 
Church-fellowihip,  it  is  expected,  tho'  I  hope 
not  with  any    Severity  of  Impofition,  that  in 
the  Addrefles  which  they  make  to  the  Churches, 
they  give  Written,  if  not  Oral  Account,  of  what 
Impreflions  the  Regenerating  Word  of  God  has 
had  upon  their  Souls.   This  was  a  Cuftom  which 
this  Holy  Man    had  a  marvellous  Efteem  and 
Value  for ;  and  I  have  taken  from  his  Mouth 
fuch  as  thefe  Exprefllons  very  publickly  deli- 
vered thereabouts. 

4  It  is  matter  ffaid  he)  of  great  Thankful- 
1  nefs,  that  we  have  Chrifi  Confeffed  in  our 
4  Churches,  by  fuch  as  we  receive  to  full  Com- 
4  munion  there.  They  open  the  Works  ofChnfl 
'  in  rheir  Hearts,  and  the  Relation  thereof  is  an 
'  eminent  Confeffion  of  our  Lord ;  experienced 
'  Saints  can  gather  more  than  a  little  from  it. 
1  It  is  indeed  an  Ordinance  of  wonderful  Bene- 
'  fit ;  the  Lord  planted  many  Vineyards  in  the 
'  tirft  Settlement  of  this  Country,  and  there 
1  were  many  Noble  Vines  in  them  •,  it  was  their 
'  Heavenly  mindednefs  which  difpos'd  them  to 
1  this  Exercife,  and  by  the  upholding  of  it,  the 


There  were  efpecially  two  things,  which  he 
was  loth  to  fee,  and  yet  fear'd  he  faw,  falling 
in  the  Churches  of  New  England.  One  was,  A 
thorough  Eftablifhment  of  Ruli-g  Elders  in 
our  Churches;  which  he  thought  fufficiently 
warranted  by  the  Apoftles  mention  of,  Eldcn 
that  rule  well,  who  yet  labour  not  m  Word  and 
Dotfrinc.  He  was  very  defirous  to  have  prudent 
and  gracieus  Men  let  over  our  Churches,  for  the 
Afliftance  of  their  Pajiors,  in  the  Church  afts 
that  concern  the  Admijfon  afld  Exclufwn  of 
Members,  and  the  InjpeBicn  of  the  Converfation 
led  by  the  Communicant,  and  the  Inf  ruffian  of 
their  feveral  Families,  and  the  Vijimionof  the 
Affli&ed  in  their  Flock,  over  which  they  fhoulj 
prefide.  Such  Helps  in  Governments  had  he  him 
felf  been  blefled  withal:,  the  laft  of  which  was 
the  well- deferring  Elder  Bowles;  and  of  him, 
did  thiKgood  Man,  in  a  Speech  to  a  Synod  of  'all 
the  Churches  in  this  Colony,  take  occafion  to 
lay,  There  is  my  Brother  Bowles,  the  godly  Elder 
oj  our  Church  at  Roxbury,  God  helps  him  to  do 
great  things  among  ml  Had  all  our  Paftors  been 
lb  well  accommodated,  it  is  pollible  there  would 
be  more  Encouragement  given  to  fuch  an  Office 
as  that  of  Ruling  Elders. 

But  the  mention  of  a  Synod  brings  to  mind  a- 
nother  thing,  which  he  was  concerned,  that  we 
might  never  want;  and  that  is,  a  frequent  Re- 
petition of  A  Teedful  Synods  in  our  Churches.  For 
tho'  he  had  a  deep  and  a  due  Care  to  preferve 
the  Rights  of  particular  Churches,  yet  he  thought 
all  the  Churches  of  the  Lord  Jefus  by  their 
Union  in  what  they  profefs,  in  what  they  in- 
tend, and  in  what  they  enjoy,  fo  compacted  into 
one  Body  Myfiical,  as  that  all  the  feveral  par- 
ticular Churches  every  where  fhould  aff  with 
a  regard  unto  the   good   of  the   whole,  and 


unto  the  common  Advice  and  Council  of  the 
Neighbourhood  ;  which  cannot  be  done  al- 
ways by  Letters  mijfive,  like  thofe  that  paiTed 
between  Corinth  and  Rome  in  the  early  days  of 
Chriftianity  5  but  it  requires  a  Convention  of 
the  Churches  in  Synods,  by  their  Delegates  and 


Churches  are  (fill  filled  with  Noble  Vines-,  it  \Meffengers.    He  did  not  count  Churches  to  be  fo 


mightily  maintains  Purity  of  Churches.    Tis 
'  the  Duty  of  every  Chrilfian,  With  the  Mouth 
'  Confeffion  is  made  unto  Salvation.     As  among 
"•  the  jews,  ufually  moft  Men  did  once  in  rheir 
'  Life,  celebrate  a  Jubilee  -,  thus,  this  Confelli- 
}  on  of  Chrift,  is  methinks,  a  fort  of  Jubilee  -, 
'  and  every  good  Man  among  us,  is  ar  leaft  once 
'  in  his  Life  call'd   unto  it.     It  is  a  thing  that 
'  gives  great  Glory  to  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift; 
c  and. younger  Converts  are  thereby  exceedingly 
'  edify'd;  and  the  Souls  of  Devout  Chrijiians 
'  are   hereby  very  much  ingratiated  one  unto 
c  another.     The  Devil  knows  what  he  does, 
'  when  he  thruff  lb  hard   to  get  this  Cuilom 
4  out  of  our  Churches.    For  my  parr,  I  would 
'  fay  in  this  Cafe,  Get  thee  behind  me  Satan ; 
'  thou  givefl  an  horrible  Offence  unto  the  Lord 
<  Jefm  Chrifi,    Let  us  keep  up  this  Ordinance 
c  with  all  Gentlencfs  -,  and  where  we  fee  the 
'  leaft  fpark  of  Grace  held  forth,  let  us  prize 
'  it  more  than  all  the  Wit  in  the  World. 


Independent,  as  that  they  can  always  difcharge 
their  whole  Duty,  and  yet  not  aft  in  a  Conjun- 
ction with  Neighbour  Churches;  nor  would  he 
be  of  any  Church  that  will  not  acknowledge  it 
felf  accountable  to  rightly  compofed  Synods, 
which  may  have  occafion  to  enquire  into  the 
Circumlfances  of  it;  he  faw  the  main  IntereJI 
and  Buftnefs  of  Churches  might  quickly  come  to 
be  utterly  loft,  if  Synods  were  not  often  called 
for  the  Repairing  of  Inconveniences,  and  he 
was  much  in  conrriving  for  the  regular  and  re- 
peated meeting  of  fuch  AfTemblies. 

He  wifh'd  for  Councils  to  fupprefs  all  dam- 
nable Herefies,  or  pernicious  Opinions,  that 
might  ever  arife  among  us  ;  for  Councils  to 
extinguish  all  dangerous  Divifions,  and  fcanda- 
lous  Contentions  which  might  ever  begin  to 
flame  in  our  Borders ;  for  Councils  to  recFif y  all 
Male-Adminiftrations  in  the  midft  of  us,  or  to 
Recover  any  particular  Churches  out  of  any 
Diforders  which   they  may  be  plung'd  into : 

For 


i?o 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.       Book  II 


For  Councils  to  enquire  into  the  Love,  the 
Peace,  the  Holinefs  maintained  by  the  feveral 
Churches ;  in  line,  for  Councils  to  fend  forth  fir 
Labourers  into  thofe  Parts  of  our  Lord's  Har- 
veft,  which  are  without  the  Gofpel  of  God. 
He  beheld  an  Apoftolical  Precept  and  Pattern 
for  fuch  Councils;  and  when  fuch  Councils  con- 
vened in  the  Name  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  by 
the  confent  of  feveral  Churches  concerned  in 
mutual  Communion,  have  Declared,  Explained, 
Recommended  the  Mind  of  God  from  his  word 
unto  us,  he  reckoned  a  Truth  fo  delivered, 
challenged  an  Obfervation  from  the  particular 
Churches,  with  a  very  great  Authority. 

He  therefore  Printed  a  little  Book  wearing 
this  Title,  The  Divine  Management  of  Gofpel- 
Churches  by  the  Ordinance  of  Councils,  confitu- 
ted  in  order  according  to  the  Scriptures,  -which 
may  be  a  means  of  uniting  thofe  two  holy  and 
eminent  Parties,  the  Presbyterians  and  the  Con- 
gregational. It  is  a  Remarkable  Conceifion 
made  by  the  Incomparable  Jurieu  who  is  not 
reckoned  a  Congregational  Man,  in  his  Traite 


de  VUnite  de  VEglife,  That  the  Apoflolicah 
Churches-  lived  not  in  any  Confederation  for  mu- 
tual Dependence.  The  grand  Equipage  of  Me- 
tropolitans, of  Primates,  of  Exarchs,  of  Patri- 
archs^ wilt  yet  unknown  ;  nor  does  it  any  more 
appear  to  us,  that  the  Churches  then  had  their 
Provincial,  National,  and  Oecumenical  Synods  ■ 
every  Church  wat  its  own  Miftrefs,  and  inde- 
pendent on  any  other.  But  on  the  other  fide 
our  Eliot,  who  was  no  Presbyterian,  conceived' 
Synods  to  be  the  Inftitutions  of  our  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift,  the  Apoftolical  Churches  themf elves  ac- 
knowledging a  Stamp  of  Divine  Right  upon 
them. 

Such  as  thefe  were  the  Sentiments  of  our 
Eliot ;  and  his  deferved  Reputation  in  the 
Churches  of  New-England,  is  that  which  has 
caufed  me  to  forefee  fome  Advantage  and  Be- 
nefit arifing  unto  the  Concerns  of  the  Gofpel 
by  fo  large  a  Recitation  as  I  have  now  made' 
thereof. 

The   Reader  has  now  feen,  An  Able  Mini- 
nifier  of  the  NewTcJiament. 


PART    III. 
Or,  ELIOT   as  an  Evangelist. 


f"F^HE  Titles  of  a  Chriftian  and  of  a  Mimfter, 
A     have  rendred  our  Eliot  confiderable ;  but 
there  is  one  memorable  Title  more,  by  which 
he  has  been  fignalized  unto  us.     An  Honoura- 
ble Perfon  did  once  in  Print  put  the  Name  of 
an  Evangelifl  upon  him ;  whereupon  in  a  Let- 
ter of  his  to  that  Perfon  afterwards  Printed, 
his  Expreilions  were,    'There  is  a  Redundancy, 
c  where  you  put  the  Title  of  Evangelifi  upon 
'  me  -,  I  befeech  you  to  fupprefs  all  fuch  things ; 
'  let  us  do  and  fpeak  and  carry  all  things  with 
-  Humility ;  it  is  the  Lord  who  hath  done  what 
c  is  done;,  and  it  is  moft  becoming  the  Spirit 
c  of -Jefus  Chrift  to  lift  up  him,  and  lay  our 
'  felves  low^  I  wifh  that  Word  could  be  obli 
•  terated.    My   Reader  fees  what  a  Caurion 
Mr.  Eliot  long  fince  entred  againft  our  giving 
him  the  Title  of  an  Evangeliji;  but  his  Death 
has  now  made   it  fafe,  and  his  Life  had  long 
made  it  juft,  for  us  to  acknowledge  him  with 
fuch  a  Title.    I  know  not  whether  that  of  an 
Ecangelift,  or  one  feparated  for   the  Employ- 
ment of  Preaching  the  Gofpel  in  fuch  Places 
whereunto  Churches  have  hitherto  been  gather 
ed,  be  not  zn  Office  that  fhould  be  continued  in 
our  Days  •,  but  this  I  know,  that  our  Eliot  very 
norably  did  the  Service  and  Bufncfs  of  fuch  an 
Officer. 

Cambden  could  not  reach  the  Height h  of  his 
Conceit,  who  bore   in  his  Shield  a  Salvage  of 


America,  with  his  Hand  pointing  to  the  Sun, 
and  this  Motto,  Mihi  Accejfu,  Tibi  Rece/fu. 
Reader,  Prepare  to  behold  this  Device  lllu- 
ftrated ! 

If  The  Natives  of  the  Country  now  Pof- 
feflTed  by  the NewEnglanders,  had  been  forlorn 
and  wretched  heathen  ever  fince  their  firft  herd- 
ing here  -,  and  tho'  we  know  not  When  or  How 
thofe  Indians  firft  became  Inhabitants  of  this 
mighty  Continent,  yet  we  may  guefs  that  pro- 
bably the  Devil  decoy'd  thofe  miferable  Salva- 
ges hither,  in  hopes  that  the  Gofpel  of  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift  would  never  come  here  to 
deftroy  or  difturb  his  Abfolutc  Empire  over 
them.  But  our  Eliot  W3S  in  fuch  ill  Terms  with 
the  Devil,  as  to  alarm  him  with  founding  the 
Silver  Trumpets  of  Heaven  in  his  Territories, 
and  make  fome  Noble  and  Zealous  Attempts 
towards  outing  him  of  his  Ancient  PoiTeffiou.s 
here.  There  were,  I  think,  Twenty  feveral 
Nations  (if  I  may  call  them  foj  of  Indians 
upon  that  fpot  of  Ground,  which  fell  under  the 
Influence  of  our  Three  United  Colonies;  and 
out  Eliot  was  willing  to  refcueas  many  of  them 
as  he  could,  from  that  old  ufuiping  Landlord 
of  America,  who  is  by  the  Wrath  of  God,  the 
Prince  of  this  World. 

I  cannot  find  that  any  befides  the  Holy  Spirit 
of  God.  firft  moved  him  to  the  bleiTed  Work 

of 


Book  III.       *  be  Hijcory  of  New-Fngland. 


i$i 


of  Evangelizing  thefe  perifhing  Indians  ;  'twas 
that  Holy  Spirit  which   laid  belore  his  Mind 
the  Idea  of  that  which  was  on  the  Seal  of  the 
Maffachufet  Colony  j  A  poor  Indian  having  a 
Label  going  from  his  Mouth,  with  k  COME 
OVER    AND    HELP    US.      It  was  the 
Spirit  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Clnift,  which  enkind- 
led in  him  a  ?itty  for  the  dark  Souls  of  thefe 
Natives,  whom  the  God  of  this  World  had  blind 
cd,  through  all  the  By-pa  it  Ages.     He  was  none 
of  thofe  that  make,  The  Salvation  of  the  Hea- 
then, an  Article  of  their  Creed;  but  fleeting 
afide  the  unrevealed  and  extraordinary  Steps 
which  the  Holy  one  of  Ifrael  may  take  out  of 
his   ufual  Paths)  he  thought  men  to  be  loft  if 
our  Go/pel  be  hidden  from  them  ;  and  he  was 
of  the  lame  Opinion  with  one  of  the  Ancients, 
who  Laid,  Some  have  endeavoured  to  prove  Pla- 
to a  Chriftian,  till  they  prove  themjelvcs  little 
better  than  Heathens.     It  is  indeed  a  Principle 
in  the  Turkilh  Alcoran,  That  Let  a  Mans  Re- 
ligion be  what  it  will,  he  Jhall  be  faved,  if  he 
conjeientioufly  live  up  to  the  Rules  of  it :  But 
our  Eliot  was  no  Mahometan.    He  could  molt 
heartily  fubferibe  to  that  Paffage  in  the  Arti 
cles  of  the  Church  of  England.     '  They  are  to 
'  be  held  accurfed,  who   prefume  to  fay ,  that 

*  every  Man  fhall  be  faved  by  the  Law  or  Seel: 

*  which  he  profeffeth,  fo  that  he  be  diligent  to 

*  frame  his  Life  according  to  that  Law,  and 
'  Light  of  Nature  -,  for  Holy  Scripture  doth  fet 

*  out  unto  us,  only  the  Name  of  Jefus  Chrilt, 

*  whereby  Men  muft  be  faved.  And  it  afto- 
nifhed  him  to  fee  many  diffembling  Subfcribers 
of  thofe  Articles,  while  they  have  grown  up  to 
fuch  a  Phrenfy,  as  to  deny  peremptorily  all 
Church  fate,  and  all  Salvation  to  all  that  are 
not  under  Diocefan  Bilhops,  yet  at  the  fame 
time  to  grant  that  the  Heathen  might  be  faved 
without  the  Knowledge  of  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrilt. 

But  when  this  Charitable  Pitty  had.  once 
begun  to  flame,  there  was  a  Concurrence  of 
many  things  to  caft  Oyl  into  it.  All  the  good 
Men  in  the  Country  were  glad  of  his  Engage- 
ment in  fuch  an  Undertaking;  the  Minifterstf- 
pecially  encouraged  him,  and  thofe  in  the  Neigh- 
bourhood kindly  fupply'd  his  place,  and  per- 
formed his  Work  in  part,  for  him  at  Roxbury, 
while  he  was  Abroad  labouring  among  them 
that  were  without.  Hereunto,  he  was  further 
.  awakened  by  thofe  Expreffions  in  the  Royal 
Charter,  in  the  Aflurance  and  Protection  where 
of  this  Wildernefs  was  firft  Peopled ;  namely, 
To  win  and  incite  the  Natives  of  that  Country 
to  the  Knowledge  and  Obedience  of  the  only  true 
God  and  Saviour  of  Mankind,  and  the  Chriftian 
Faith,  in  our  Royal  Intention,  and  the  adven- 
turers free  ProjeJJion  is  the  principal  end  of 
the  Plantation.  And  the  Remarkable  Zeal  of 
the  Romilh  Milfionaries  compaffing  Sea  and 
Land,  that  they  might  make  Profelytes,  made 
his  Devout  Soul  think  of  it  with  a  further 
Difdain,  that  we  fhould  come  any  whit  behind 
in  our  Care  to  Evangelize  the  Indians,  whom 


we  dwelt  among.  Lalvly,  when  he  had  well 
begun  this  Evangelical  Bujinefs,  the  good  God, 
in  an  Anfwer  to  his  Prayers,  mercifully  ftirred 
up  a  liberal  Contribution  among  the  Godly 
People  in  England  for  the  promoting  of  it  -,  by 
means  whereof,  a  confiderable  Eftatc  and  In- 
come was  at  length  entruited  in  the  hands  of 
an  Honourable  Corporation,  by  whom  'tis  to 
this  Day  very  carefully  employ'd  in  the  Chri- 
itian  Service,  which  k  was  deffgned  for!  And 
then,  inlhort,  inafmuch  as  our  Lord  Jefus  had 
beltow'd  on  us,  our  Eliot  was  gratefully  and 
generoufly  defirous  to  obtain  for  him,  The  Hea- 
then for  en  inheritance,  and  the  iitmoji  parts  of 
the  Earth  for  a  PoQeJfton. 

The  exemplary  Charity  of  thi  llent  Per- 

fon  in  this  important  Affair,  will  nor  be  fe  :'n  in 
its  due  Luftres,  unlefs  we  make  I 
upon  fcveral  Circumftances  which  he  beheld 
thefe  forlorn  Indians  in.  Know  then,  that 
thefe  doleful  Creatures  are  the  verielt  Raines  of 
Mankind,  which  are  to  be  found  any  where 
upon  the  Face  of  the  Earth.  No  fuch  Ehiates 
are  to  be  expefted  among  them,  as  have  been 
the  Baits  which  the  pretended  Converters  in  o- 
ther  Countries  have  fnapped  at.  One  might 
fee  among  them,  what  an  hard  Mafter  the  De- 
vil is,  to  tiiefnoft  devoted  of  his  Vaffdlsl  Thefe 
abject:  Creatures,  live  in  a  Country  full  of  Mines ; 
we  have  already  made  entrance  upon  our  Iron  ; 
and  in  the  very  Surface  of  the  Ground  among 
us,  'tis  thought  there  lies  Copper  enough  to 
fupply  all  this  World;  befides  other  Mines 
hereafter  to  be  expofed;  but  our  fhittleis  Indi- 
ans were  never  Owners  of  fo  much  as  a  Kmfc, 
till  we  come  among  them  ;  their  Name  for  an 
EngltfJy-man  was  a  Knife  man  ;  Stone  was  in- 
ftead  of  Metal  for  their  Tools  -,  and  for  their 
Coins,  they  have  only  little  Beads  with  Holes 
in  them  to  firing  them  upon  a  Bracelet,  whereof 
fome  are  white-,  and  of  thefe  there  go  fix  for  a 
Penny  -,  fome  are  black  or  blew  -,  and  of  thefe, 
go  three  for  a  Penny  ;  this  Wampam,  as  they 
call  it,  is  made  of  the  Shell fifh,  whichliesupon 
the  Sea  Coaft  continually. 

The  live  in  a  Country,  where  we  now  have 
all  the  Conveniences  ofhuman  Life  :  But  as  for 
them,  their  houjing  is  nothing  but  a  few  Mats  ty'd 
about  Poles  fattened  in  the  Earth,  where  a  good 
Eire  is  their  Bed  Clothes  in  the  coldeft  Sealons ; 
their  Clothing  is  but  a  Skin  of  a  Bealt,  covering 
their  Hind-parts,  their  Pore-parts  having  but  a 
little  Apron,  where  Nature  calls  for  Secrecy  ; 
their  Diet  has  not  a  greater  Dainty  than  their 
Nokehick,  that  is  a  fpoonful  of  their parctid meal, 
with  a  fpoonful  of  Water,  which  will  (trengthen 
them  to  travel  a  Day  together  -,  except  we 
fhould  mention  the  Flefh  of  Deers,  Bears,  Mofe, 
Rackoons,  and  the  like,  which  they  have  when 
they  can  catch  them ;  as  alfb  a  little  Fijb,  which 
if  they  would  preferve,  'twas  by  drying,  not  by 
falling  ■,  for  they  had  not  a  grain  of  Salt  in  the 
World,  I  think,  till  we  beltow'd  it  on  them. 
Their  Phyfick  is,  excepting  a  few  odd  Specificks, 
which  lome  of  them  Encounter  certain  Cafes 
with,  nothing  hardly,  but  an  Hot-Houfe,  or  a 
B  b  b  b  Powaw  -, 


I?2 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.      Book  HI 


Powaw\  their  Hot-Houfe  is  a  little  Cave  about 
eight  foot  over,  where  alter  they  have  terribly 
heated  it,  a  Crew  of  them  go  lit  and  fweat  and 
fmoke  for  an  Hour  together,  and  then  imme- 
diately run  into  fome  very  cold  adjacent  Brook, 
without  the  lealt  Mifchief  to  them  >  'tis  this 
way  they  recover  themlelves  from  fome  Dif- 
eafes,  particularly  from  the  French  -,  but  in 
mod  of  their  dangerous  Dillempers,  'tis  a 
Powaio  that  mult  be  lent  for  -,  that  is,  a  Pneft, 
who  has  more  Familiarity  with  Satan  than  his 
Neighbours  ;  this  Conjurer  comes  and  Roars, 
and  Howls,  and  ufes  Magical  Ceremonies  over 
the  Sick  Man,  and  will  be  well  paid  for  it, 
when  he  has  done  -,  if  this  don't  effect  the  Cure, 
the  Man's  Time  is  come ;  and  there's  an  end. 

They  live  in  a  Country  full  of  the  beft  Ship- 
Timber  under  Heaven:  But  never  faw  a  Ship, 
till  fome  came  from  Europe  hither;  and  then 
they  were  fcar'd  out  of  their  Wits,  to  fee  the 
Monfier  come  failing  in,  and  fpitting  Fire  with 
a  mighty  noife,  out  of  her  floating  fide  j  they 
crofs  the  Water  in  Canoe's,  made  ibmetimes  of 
Trees,  which  they  burn  and  hew,  till  they  have 
hollow'd  them-  and  fometimes  of  Barks,  which 
they  ftitch  into  a  light  fort  of  a  Veffel,  to  be 
ea lily  carried  over  Land  -,  if  they  over-fet,  it 
is  but  a  little  paddling  like  a  Dog,  and  they 
are  foon  where  they  were. 

Their  way  of  living,  is  infinitely  Barbarous : 
The  Men  are  moft  abominably  flothful  -,  making 
their  poor  Squaws,  or  Wives,  to  plant  and  drefs, 
and  barn,  and  beat  their  Corn,  and  build  their 
Wigwams  for  them  -,  which  perhaps  may  be  the 
ieafon  of  their  extraordinary  Eafe  in  Child- 
birth. In  the  mean  time,  their  chief  Employ- 
ment, when  they'll  condefcend  unto  any,  is  that 
of  Hunting  -,  wherein  they'll  go  out  fome  fcores, 
if  not  Hundreds  of  them  in  a  Company,  dri- 
ving all  before  them. 

They  continue  in  a  Place,  till  they  have  burnt 
up  all   the   Wood  thereabouts,  and  then  they 
pluck  up  Stakes  ;  to  follow  the  Wood,  which  they 
cannot  letch  home  unto  themfelves  5  hence  when 
they  enquire  about  the  Englijh,  Why  come  they 
hither !  They  have  themfelves  very  Learnedly 
determined  the  Cafe,  'Twos  becaufe  we  wanted 
firing.    No  Arts  are  underffood  among  them, 
unlefs  jufl  fo  far  as  to  maintain  their  Brutifh 
Converfation,  which  is  little  more  than  is  to  be 
found  among  the  very  Bevers  upon  our  Streams. 
Their  Divifion    of  Time  is  by  Sleeps,  and 
Moons,  and  Winters ;  and  by   lodging  abroad, 
they  havefomewhat  obferved  the  Motions  of  the 
Stars-,  among  which  it  has  been  furprifing  unto 
me  to  find,  that  they  have  always  call'd  Charles's 
Wain  by   the  Name  of  Paukunnawaw,  or  The 
Bear,  which  is   the  Name  whereby  Europeans 
alfo  have  dill inguifhed  it.  Moreover,  they  have 
little,  if  any  Traditions  among  them    worthy 
of  our  Notice ;  and  Reading  and  Writing  is  al- 
together unknown  to  them,  tho'  there  is  a  Rock 
or  two  in  the  Country  that  has  unaccountable 
Characters  Engrav'd  upon  it.    All  the  Religion 
they  have  amounts  unto  thus  much  ;  they  be- 
lieve, that  there  are  many  Gods,  who  made  and 


own  the  feveral  Nations  of  the  World  -,   ef 
which  a  certain  Great  God  in  the  South- Welt 
Regions  of  Heaven  bears  the  greatell  Figure. 
They  believe,  that  every  remarkable  Creature 
has  a  peculiar  God  within  it,  or  about  it :  There 
is  with  them,  a  Sun  God,  a  Moon  God,  and  the 
like;  and  they   cannot   conceive  but  that  the 
Fire  mull  be  a  kind  of  a  God,  inafmuch  as  a 
Spark  of  it  will  foon  produce  very  lira nge  ef- 
fects.    They  believe  that  when  any  Good  or  111 
happens  to  them,  there  is   the  Favour  or   the 
Anger  of  a  God  exprelfed  in  u-,  and  hence  as 
in  a  Time  of  Calamity,  they  keep  a  Dance,  or 
a  Day  of  extravagant  ridiculous  Devotions  to 
their  God,  fo  in  a  Time  of  Profperity  they  like- 
wife  have  a  Feaft,    wherein  they   alfo  make 
Prefents  one  unto  another.     Finally, .  they  be- 
lieve, that  their  chief  God  Kautantowit,  made 
a  Man  and  Woman  of  a  Stone-,  which,  upon 
Diflike,  he  broke  to  pieces,  and  made  another 
Man  and  Woman  of  a  Tree,  which  were  the 
Fountains  of  all  Mankind ;  and   that  we  all 
have  in  us  Immortal  Souls,  which  if  we  were 
godly,  fhall  go   to  a  fplendid  Entertainment 
with  Kautantowit,  but   otherwife  mull  wander 
about  in  a  refllefs  Horror  for  ever.     But  if  you 
fay  to  them  any  thing  of  a  Refurretlwn,  they 
will   reply   upon  you,  1  fhall  never  believe  it  1 
And  when  they  have  any  weighty  Undertaking 
before  them,  'tis  an  ufual   thing  for  them  to 
have  their  Affemblies,  wherein  after  the  ufage 
of  fome  Diabolical  Rites,  a  Devil  appears  unto 
thero,  to  inform  them  and  advife  "them  about 
their  Circumftances  -,  and  fometimes  there  are 
odd  Events  of  their  making  thefe  Applications 
to  the  Devil.    For  inilance,  'tis  particularly 
affirmed,  That  the  Indians  in  their  Wars  with 
us,  finding  a  fore  Inconvenience  by  ouj  Dogs, 
which  would  make  a  fad  yelling  if  in  the 
Night  they   fcented  the  Approaches  of  them, 
they  facrificed  z  Dog  to  the  Devil;  after  which 
no  Englijh  Dog  would  bark  at  an  Indian  for  di- 
vers Months  enfuing.    This  was  the  miferable 
People,  which  our  Eliot  propounded  unto  him- 
felf,  to  teach  and  fave !  And  he  had  a  double 
Work  incumbent  on  him;  he  was  to  make  Men 
of  them,  e'er  he  could  hope  to  fee  them  Saints-, 
they  mud  be  civilized  e'er  they  could  be  Chri- 
Jiianised  -,  he  could  not,   as  Gregory  once  of  ouf4'' 
Nation,  fee  any  thing  Angelical  to  befpeak  his 
Labours  for  their  Eternal  Welfare,  all  among 
them  was  Diabolical.  To  think  on  railing  a  Num- 
ber of  thefe  hideous  Creatures,  unto  the  Eleva- 
tions of  our  Holy  Religion,mull  argue  more  than 
common  or  little  Sentiments  in  the  Undertaker -, 
but  the  Faith  of  an  Eliot  could  encounter  it! 

I  confefs,  that  was  one,  I  cannot  call  it  fo 
much  guefs  as  wifh,  wherein  he  was  willing  a 
little  to  indulge  himfelf  -,  and  that  was,  That 
our  Indians  are  the  Pofierity  of  the  difperfed  and 
rejeSedlix^QYitts,  concerning  whom  our  God  has 
promifed  that  they  (hall  yet  be  faved,  by  the  Deli- 
verer coming  to  turn  away  Ungodlinej's  from  them. 
He  faw  the  Indians  ufing  many  Parables  in  their 
Difcourfes;  much  given  to  anointing  of  their 
Heads  ;  much  delighted  in  Dancing,  efpecially 

after 


Book  III.       The  Htftory  of  New- England. 


in 


after   Vi&ories ,    computing   their  Times   by 
Nights  and  Months-,   giving  Dowries  for  Wires, 
and  cauling  their  Women  to  dwell  by  them/elves, 
at   certain  Seafons,  for  fecret  Caufes ;  and  ac 
cuftoming  themfel  ves  to  grievous  Mournings  and 
Tellings  ibr  the  Dead  >,  all  which  were  ufual 
things  among  the  Israelites.     They  have  too  a 
great  unkindnefs  for  our  Swine  5  but  I  fuppofe 
that  is  becaufe  our  Hogs  devour  the  Clams  which 
are  a  Dainty  with  them.     He   alfo  faw  fome 
learned  Men,  looking  for  the  loft  l/raelites  a- 
mong   the    Indians  in  America,  and   counting 
that  they  had  thorow good  Reafons  for  doing  fo. 
And  a  few  fmall Argument s3  or  indeed  but  Con- 
jetfures,  meeting  with  a  favourable  Difpofition 
in  the  Heater,  will  carry  fome  Conviction  with 
them  ;  efpecially,  if  a  Report  of  a  Menaffeh  ben 
I/rael  be  to  back  them.     He  faw  likewife  the 
Judgments  threatned  unto  the  I/raclites  of  old, 
ftrangely  fulfilled  upon  our  Indians;  particularly 
xhxtTe  fhall  eat  theflefhofyourfons,vih\ch  is  done 
with  exquite  Cruelties  upon  the  Prifoners  that 
they  take  from   one  another  in  their  Battels. 
Moreover,  'tis  a  Prophefy  in  Deut.  28.  d8.  The 
Lord /hall  bring  thee  into  Egypt  again  zoith  Ships, 
by  the  way  whereof  \  f pake  unto  thee,  Thou  Jhalt 
fee  it  no  more  again  ;  and  there  fljall  ye  be  fold 
unto  your  Enemies,  and  no  Man  fhall  buy  you. 
This  did  our  Eliot  imagine  accomplifhed,  when 
the  Captives  taken  by  us  in  our  late  Wars  upon 
them,  were  fent  to  be  fold,  in  theCoaffs  lying 
not  very  remote  from  Egypt  on  the  Mediterra- 
nean Sea,  and  fcarce  any  Chapmen  would  offer 
to  take  them  off.     Being  upon  fuch  as  thefe 
accounts  not  unwilling,  if  it  were  poffible,  to 
have  the  Indians  found  l/raelites,   they  were, 
you  may  be  fure,  nor  a  whit  the  lefs  Beloved 
for  their  (fuppofed)  lathers  fake  ;  and  the  Fa- 
tigues of  his  Travails  went  on  the  mors  chear- 
fuily,  or  at  leaff,  the  more  hopefully,  becaufe 
of  fuch  Poflibilities. 

The  iirfi  Step   which  he  judg'd  necelTary 
now   to  be   taken  by  him,  was  to  learn   the 
Indian  Language  j  for   he  faw  them  fo  ftupid 
and  fenfelefs,  that  they  would  never  do  fo  much 
as  enquire  after  the  Religion  of  the  Strangers 
now  come  into  their  Country,   much  lefs  would 
they  fo  far  imitate  us,  as  to  leave  off  their 
beaftly  way  of  living,  that  they  might  be  Par- 
takers of  any  Spiritual  Advantage  by  us :  Un 
lefs  we  could  firft  addrefs  them  in  a  Language 
of  their  own.    Behold,  new  Difficulties  to  be 
furmounted  by  our    indefatigable  Eliot  !   He 
hires  a  Native  to  teach  him  this  exotick  Lan- 
guage, and  with  a  laborious  Care  and  Skill, 
reduces  it  into  a  Grammar  which  afterwards 
he  publifhed.    There  is  a  Letter  or  two  of  our 
Alphabet,    which    the  Indians  never   had    in 
theirs ;  tho'  there  were  enough  of  the  Dog  in 
their  Temper,  there  can  fcarce  be  found  an  R 
in  their  Language  ;  (any  more  than  in  the  Lan- 
guage of  the  Chine/e,  or  of  the  Greenlanders) 
fave  that  the  Indians  to  the  Northward,  who 
have  a  peculiar  Dialetf,  pronounce  an  R  where 
an  N  is  pronounced  by  our  Indians  ;  but  if  their 
Alphabat  be/Zwv,  I  am  fure  the  Words  compo- 


fed  of  it  are  long  enough  to  tire  rhe  Patience 
of  any  Scholar  in  the  World  3  they  are  Sefqui- 
pedaha  Verba,  of  which  their  Linguo  is  com- 
p  fed ;  one  would  think,  they  had  been  grow- 
in  ever  fince  Babel,  unto  the  Dimenfions  to 
w,  ch  they  are  now  extended.  For  inftance, 
if  iy  Reader  will  count  how  many  Letters 
theie  are  in  this  one  Word,  Nummat'ehekodtdn- 
tamooonganunnonafh,  when  he  has  done,  for  his 
Reward  I'll  tell  him,  it  fignifies  no  more  in 
Englifh,  than  our  Lujis ,  and  iff  were  to  tran- 
flate,  our  Loves  -,  it  muff  be  nothing  fhorter 
than  Noowomantammoojnkanunonnafh.  Or,  to 
give  my  Reader  a  longer  Word  than  either  of 
thefe,  Kummogkodonattoottummoociiteao'ngannun- 
nonafl?,  is  in  Englifh,  OurQueftion;  But  I  pray, 
Sir,  counr  the  Letters !  Nor  do  we  find  in  all 
this  Language  the  leali  Affinity  to,  or  Deriva- 
tion from  any  European  Speech  that  we  are  ac- 
quainted with.  1  know  not  what  Thoughts  ir 
will  produce  in  my  Reader,  when  I  inform 
him,  that  once  finding  that  the  Demons  in  a 
polTeffed  young  Woman,  underftood  the  La- 
tin and  Greek  and  Hebrew  Languages,  my  Cu- 
riofiry  led  me  to  make  Trial  of  this  Indian 
Language,  and  the  Demons  did  feem  as  if  they 
did  not  underftand  it.  This  tedious  Language 
our  Eliot  (the  Anagram  of  whofe  Name  was 
TOILE)  quickly  became  a  Milter  of  j  he  em- 
ploy'd  a  pregnant  and  witty  Indian,  who  alfo 
fpoke  Englifh  well,  for  his  Afliftance  in  it  -,  and 
compiling  fome  Difcourfes  by  his  Help,  he 
would  fingle  out  a  Word,  a  Noun,  a  Verb,  and 
purfue  it  through  all  its  Variations:  Having  fi- 
nifhed  his  Grammar,  at  the  clofe  he  writes, 
Prayers  and  Pains  thro'  Faith  in  Chrifi  Je/us 
will  do  any  thing!  And  being  by  his  Prayers 
and  Pains  thus  furnifhed,  he  fet  himfelf  in 
the  Year  16415.  to  preach  rhe  Gofpel  of  our 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  among  thefe  Defolate  Out- 
cafls. 

5F  It  remains,  That  I  lay  before  the  World, 
the  Remarkable  Conduct  and  Succefs  of  this 
Famous  Man,  in  his  grear  Affair^  and  I  fhall 
endeavour  to  do  it,  by  Englifhing  and  Re- 
printing a  Letter,  fent  a  while  fince  by  my  Fa- 
ther, unto  his  Learned  and  Renowned  correspon- 
dent, the  Venerable  Dr.  Leu/den  ar  Utrecht  : 
Which  Letter  has  already  been  publifhed,  if  I 
miftake  not,  in  Four  or  Five  divers  Languages, 
I  find  it  particularly  publifhed  by  the  moff  Ex- 
cellent Jurieu,  at  the  end  of  a  Pafioral Letter  3 
and  this  Reflecf  ion  then  worthily  made  upon  it, 
Cette  Lettre  doit  opporter  une  tres  grande  Con- 
folation,  a  toutes  les  bonnes  ames,  qui  font  alte- 
rees  de  Jufiice,  &  qui  font  enflammees  du  zele 
de  la  gloire  de  Dieu.  1  therefore  perfwade  my 
felf  that  the  Republication  of  it  will  not  be  un- 
grateful unto  many  good  Souls  in  our  Nation, 
who  have  a  due  Thirfl  and  Zeal  tot  fuch  things 
as  are  mention'd  in  it  •,  and  when  that  is  done, 
I  fhall  prefume  to  make  fome  Annotations  for 
the  Illuflration  of  fundry  memorable  things 
therein  Pointed  at. 


B  b  b  b  2 


A  LET- 


194- 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.     Book  111. 


A  Letter  concerning  the  Succefs  of  the  GofpeL 
amongft  the  Indians  in  New- England. 

Written  by  Mr.  Increafe  Mather,  Minifter  of  the  Word  of  God  at  Bojlony 
and  Rc£tor  of  the  College  at  Cambridge  in  New-England,  to  Dr.  John 
Lenfden,  Hebrew  ProfeiTor  in  the  Univerfity  of  Vtrecht. 

Tranflated  out  of  Latin  into  Englifk. 


Worthy,  and  much  Honoured  Sir, 

YO  UR  Letters  were  very  Grateful  to  me, 
(a)  by  which  1  undcrfland  that  you  and 
others  in  your  Famous  Univerfity  of 
Utrecht  defire  tp  be  informed  concerning  the  con- 
vened Indians  in  America  :  Take  therefore  a 
true  Account  of  them  in  a  few  Words. 

It  is  above  Forty.  Tears  fince  that  truly  Godly 
Man,  Mr-.  John  Eliot,  Pa  (lor  of  the  Church  at 
Rocksborough,  (about  a  Mile  from  Bolton  in 
New-EnglandJ  being  warmed  with  a  Holy  Zeal 
of  Converting  the  Americans,  fct  bimfelf  to 
learn  the  Indian  Tongue,  that  he  might  more  ea- 
fily  and  fucccfsfully  (b)  open  to  them  the  My- 
Jl 'erics  of  the  G  of  pel }  upon  account  of  which  he 
bits  been  (and  not  undejerved/y)  called,  TheA- 
poftle  of  the  American  Indians.     Tim  Reverend 
Perjfbn,  not   without  very  great  Labour,  Tran- 
flated the   whole  Bible  into  the  Indian  Tongue-, 
(cj  tie  Tran  fluted  alfo  feveral  Englifh  Treat  ifes 
of  Prattical  Divinity  and  Catechifms   into  their 
Language.     Above   2.6  Tears  ago  he. gathered  a 
Church  of  Converted  Indians  in  a  Town  called 
(d)  Natick;    thefe  Indians  confeffed  their  Sins 
with  Tears,  and  prof  (fed  their  Faith  in  Chrijl, 
and  afterwards  they  and  their  Children  were  Bap 
tized,  and  they  were  folemnly  pined  together  in 
a  Church-Covenant  -,  the  J  aid  Mr.  Eliot  was  the 
firfl  that  Ad-mi m 'ft red  the  Lord's  Supper  to  them. 
The   Pajlor  of 'that   Church  nozv  is  an  Indian, 
his  Name  is  Daniel.     Befidcs  this  Church  at  Na- 
tick, among  our  Inhabitants  in  the  Maflachufets 
Colony   there   are  Four  Indian  Affemblies,  (  e  ) 
where   the  Name  of  the  true  God  and  Jefus 
Chrijl  is  folemnly  called  upon  ;  thefe  Affemblies 
have  fame  American  Preachers,  Mr.  Eliot  for- 
merly 11  fed  to  Preach   to  them  once   every  Fort- 
night, but  now  he  is  wcakned  with  Labours  and 
Old- Age,  being  in  the  Eighty  Fourth  Tear  of  his 
Age,   and  Prcacheth  not  to  the  Indians  oftner 
rhkn  once  in  two  Monihs. 

There  is  another  Church,  confiding  only  of 
Converted  Indians,  about  fifty  Miles  from  hence 
m  M  Indian  Town  called  Mafhippaug :  The  firfl 
Pa  for  of  that  Church  was  an  Englifh  Man, 
being  skilful  in  the  American  Language, 
Preached  the  Gqfpel  to  them  in  their  own 
Tongue*     (f  )  This  Englifh  Pajlor  is  Dead,  and 


in/lead   of  him,    that    Church   ha*  an  Indian- 
Preacher. 

There  are  be  fides  that,  five  Affemblies  of 
Indians  profeffing  the  Name  ofChrifl,  not  far 
dijlant  from  Mafhippaug,  which  have  Indian 
Preachers  ■:  (  g  )  John  Cotton,  Pajlor  of  the 
Church  at  Plymouth  (Son  of  my  Venerable  Fa- 
ther-in-Law  John  Cotton,  Jormerly  the  Famous 
Teacher  of  the  Church  at  BoftonJ  both  made  ve- 
ry great  Progrefs  in  Learning  the  Indian  Tongue, 
and  is  very  skilful  in  it  ;  he  Preaches  in  their 
own  Language  to  the  lajl  five  mentioned  Congre- 
tions  every  Week.  Moreover  of  the  Inhabitants 
^fSaconet  in  Plymouth  Colony,  there  is  a  great 
Congregation  of  thofe  who  for  DiftinUion  fake 
are  called  Praying  Indians,  becauje  they  fray  to 
God  in  Chrijl. 

Not  far  from  a  Promontory  called  Cape  Cod, 
there  are  fix  Ajfemblies  of  Heathens  who  are  to 
be  reckoned  at  Catechumens,  amongfl  whom 
there  are  fix  Indian  Preachers  :  Samuel  Treat, 
Pajlor  of  aChurch  at  Eaftham,  Prcacheth  to  thofe 
Congregations  in  their  own  Language.  There 
are  likewife  amongfl  the  IJlanders  oj  Nantacket 
a  Church,  with  a  Pajlor  who  was  lately  a  Hea- 
then, and  feveral  Meetings  of  Catechumens, 
who  are  injiruffed  by  the  Converted  Indians. 
There  is  alfo,  another  Ifland  about /even  Leagues 
long  (called  Martha'*-  Vineyard)  where  are  two 
American  Churches  planted,  which  are  more  Fa- 
mous than  the  reft,  over  one  of  which  there  pre- 
fides-  an  ancient  Indian  as  Pajlor,  called  Hia- 
cooms :  John  Hiacooms,  Son  of  the  Indian  Pa- 
jlor, alfo  Preacheth  the  Go/pel  to  his  Country- 
men. In  another  Church  in  that  Place,  John 
Tockinofh,  a  Converted  Indian,  teaches.  In 
thefe  Churches  Ruling  Elders  of  the  Indians  are 
joined  to  the  Pajlor s :  The  Pajlors  zeere  chojen 
by  the  People,  and  when  they  had  Jojled  and 
prayed,  Air.  Eliot  and  Air.  Cotton  laid  their 
Hands  on  them,  fo  that  they  were  folemnly  or- 
dained. Ail  the  Congregations  (  h  )  of  the  Con- 
verted Indians  (both  the  Catechumens  and  thofe 
in  Church  Order)  every  Lord's  Day  meet  toge- 
ther -,  tic  Paftjr. or  Preacher  always  begins  with 
Prayer,  and  without  a  Form,  becaufe  from  the 
Hearr ;  when  the  Ruler  of  the  Affembly  hat  ended 

Prayer^ 


Book  ill.      The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


195 


Prayer,  the  whole  Congragation  of Indians  praife 
God  with  finging  ;  fome  cj  them  arc  excellent 
Singers:  After  the  Pfahn,  he  that  preaches  read* 
a  Place  of  Scripture  (one  or  more  Verfcs  as  he 
will)  ana  expounds  it,  gathers  Do'Jrines  from 
it  proves  them  by  Scriptures  and  Rcalons,  and 
infers  Ufes  from  them  after  the  manner  of  the 
Englifh,  of  whom  they  have  been  tatght  ■,  then 
another  Prayer  to  God  in  the  NameofChri/i  con 
eludes  the  whole  Service.  Thus  do  they  meet 
together  twice  every  Lord's  Day.  They  obferve 
no  Holy-days  but  the  Lord's  Day,  except  upon 
fome  extraordinary  Occafwn  ;  and  then  they  fo- 
lemnly  Jet  apart  whole  Days,  either  in  giving 
Thanks  or  Fafting  and  fraying  with  great  Fer- 
vour of  Mind. 

Before  the  Englifh  came  into  thefe  Coaffs  thefe 
Barbarous  Rations  were  altogether  ignorant  of 
the  true  God  ;  hence  it  is  that  in  their  Prayers 
and  Sermons  they  life  Englifh  Words  and  Terms  ; 
he  that  calls  upon  the  mofi  Holy  Name  of  God, 
fays,  Jehovah,  or  God,  or  Lord,  and  alfo  they 
have  learned  and  borrowed  many  other  Theolo- 
gical Phrafes  from  us. 

Infhort,  '  There  are  fix  Churches  of  Bapti- 
'  zed  Indians  itr  New  England,  and  Eighteen 
"■■jlffemblies  0/ Catechumens,  profejfing  the  Name 


'  ofChrifl :  Of  the  Indians  there  are  four  an,! 
■  Twenty  who  are  Preachers  of  the  Word  ofG.J. 
'-  and  befides  thefe  there  are  four  Englifh  Mim- 
c  fters,  who  preach  the  Go/pel  in  the  Indian 
'  Tongue.  ( i )  I  am  now  my  felf  weary  with 
writing,  and  I  fear  left  if  I  fhould  add  more.  I 
(hould  alfo  be  tedious  to  you  ;  yet  one  thing  I 
muff  add  (which  I  had  almofl  forgot)  that  there 
are  many  of  the  Indians  Children,  who  have  lear- 
ned by  Heart  the  Catechifm,  either  of  that  Fa- 
mous Divine  William  Perkins,  or  that  put  forth 
by  the  Affembly  of  Divines  at  Weftminfter,  and 
in  their  own  Mother  Tongue  can  anfwer  to  all 
the  Qiieftions  in  it. 

But  I  muft  end,  Ifalute  the  Famous  P'rofeffors 
in  your  Unroerfity,  to  whom  Idefire  you  to  com. 
mumcate  this  Letter,  as  written  to  them  alfo. 

Farewel,  Worthy  Sir  -,  the  Lord preferve your 
Health  for  the  Benefit  of  your  Country,  his 
Church,  and  of  Learning. 


Bofton  in  New-England, 
July  12.  1687. 


Yours  ever, 
Increase  Mather, 


(a)  The  Snccefs  of  the  Go/pel  in  the  Eaft-Indie9. 


AFter  the  Writing  of  this  Letter,  there  came 
one  to  my  Hands  from  the  Famous  Dr. 
Leufden,  together  with  a  New  and  Fair  Edi- 
dition  of  his  Hebrew  Pfalter,  Dedicated  unto 
the  Name  of  my  Abfent  Parent.  He  therein 
informs  me,  That  our  Example  had  awakened 
the  Dutch  to  make  fome  Noble  Attempts  for 
the  Furtherance  of  the  Gofpel  in  the  Eaftln 
dies  ■,  befides  what  memorable  things  were  done 
by  the  Excellent  Robert  Junii/s,  in  Formofa  fifty 
Years  ago. 

He  alfo  informs  me,  That  in  and  near  the 
Ifland  of  Ceylon,  the  Dutch  Paitors  have  Bap- 
tized about  Three  Hundred  Thoufand  of  the 
Eaftem  Indians  ;    for  altho'  the  Minifters  are 


utterly  ignorant  of  their  Language,  yet  there 
are  School- Mafters  who  teach  them,  The  Lord's 
Prayer,  the  Creed,  the  Ten  Commandments,  a 
Morning  Prayer,  an  Evening  Prayer,  a  Blefjing 
before  Meat,  and  another  after  ;  and  the  Mi- 
nifter  in  his  Vifits  being  aiTured  by  the  Matter, 
who  of  them  has  learned  all  of  xhtm  feven 
things,  he  thereupon  counts  they  have  fuch  a 
perfetl  Number  of  Attainments  that  he  prefently 
Baptizes  them. 

The  Pious  Reader  will  doubtlefs,  blefs  God 
for  this  ;  but  he  will  eafily  fee  that  one  of  our 
Converted  Indians  has  coft  more  Pains  than 
many  of  thofe;  more  thorough  Work  has  been 
made  with  them, 


W 


uir. 


i<}6 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.       Book  HI. 


(b)   Mr.  Eliot  V  Way  of  Opening  the  Myfleries  of  the  Gofpef,  to  our  Indians. 


T 


Was  in  the  Year  i6$6,  that  Mr.  Eliot,  ac- 
company'd  by  three  more,  gave  a  Vifit 
unto  an  AlTembly  of  Indians,  of  whom  he  de- 
fired  a  Meeting  at  fuch  a  Time  and  Place,  that 
he  might  lay  before  them  the  Things  of  their 
Eternal  Peace.  After  a  ferious  Prayer,  he  gave 
them  a  Sermon  which  continued  about  a  Quar 
ter  above  an  Hoar,  and  contained  the  principal 
Articles  of  the  Chriftian  Religion,  applying  all 
to  the  Condition  of  the  Indians  prefent.  Having 
done,  he  asked  of  them,  Whether  they  under- 
flood?  And  with  a  General  Reply  they  ani'wer- 
ed,  They  under/food  all.  He  then  began  what 
was  his  ufual  Method  afterwards  in  treating 
with  them  ;  that  is,  hecaufed  them  to  propound 
fuch  Queftions  as  they  pleas'd  unto  himfelf ; 
and  he  gave  wife  and  good  Anfwers  to  them  all. 
Their  ^iieflions  would  often,  tho'  not  always, 
refer  to  what  he  had  newly  preached  ;  and  he 
this  way  not  only  made  a  Proof  of  their  profit- 
ing by  his  Miniftry,  but  alfo  gave  an  Edge  to 
what  he  delivered  unto  them.  Some  of  their 
Qucftions  would  be  a  little  Philofophical,  and 
required  a  good  Meafure  of  Learning  in  the  Mi- 
nitter  concerned  with  them  ;  but  for  this  our  E- 
Hot  wanted  not.  He  would  alfo  put  proper  §>ue- 
ftions  unto  them,  and  at  one  of  his  firlt  Exercifes 
with  them,  he  made  the  Young  Ones  capable  of 
regarding  thofe  three  Queftions, 

Q.  i.  Who  made  you  and  all  the  World  £ 

Q.  2.  Who  do  you  look  fhould  fave you  from  Sin 

and  Hell  ? 

Q.  )•  How  many  Commandments  )\u  the  Lord 

given  you  to  keep  ? 

It  was  his  Wifdom  that  he  began  with  them 
upon  fuch  Principles  as  they  themfelves  had  al- 
ready fome  Notions  of ;  fuch  as  that  of  an  Hea- 
ven for  good,  and  Hell  for  bad  People,  when 
they  dy'd.  It  broke  his  gracious  Heart  within 
him  to  fee,  what  Floods  of  Tears  fell  from  the 


Eyes  of  feveral  among  thofe  degenerate  Salva 
ges,  at  the  firft  Addrelfes  which  he  made  unto 
them  j  yea,  from  the  very  worft  of  them  all. 
He  was  very  inquifitive  to  learn  who  were  the 
Powawes,  that  is,  the  Sorcerers,  and  Seducers, 
that  maintained  the  Worfhip  of  the  Devil  in 
any  of  their  Societies  ;  and  having  in  one  of  his 
firlt  Journeys  to  them,  found  out  one  of  thofe 
Wretches,  he  made  the  Indian  come  unto  him, 
and  faid,  Whether  doyoufuppofe  God,  or  Che- 
pian  (  i.  e.  the  Devil )  to  be  the  Author  of  all 
Good?  The  Conjurer  anfwered,  G^.  Upon  this 
he  added  with  a  Item  Countenance,  Why  do  you 
pray  to  Chepian  then  ?  And  the  poor  Man  was 
not  able  to  ftand  or  fpeak  before  him  ■,  but  at 
lalt  made  Promifes  of  Reformation. 

The  Text  which  he  firft  preach'd  upon,  was 
that  in  Ezek.  37.  9,  10.  That  by  Prophefying  to 
the  Wind,  the  Wind  came,  and  the  dry  Bones  li- 
ved :  And  it  was  an  Obfervation  made  by  one 
who  then  juftly  confeffed,  there  was  not  much 
weight  in  it  }  that  the  Word  which  the  Indians 
ufe  tor  Wind  is  Wauban,  and  an  Indian  of  that 
Name  was  one  of  the  firlt  that  here  zealoully 
promoted  the  Converfion  of  his  Neighbours. 
But  having  thus  entred  upon  the  Teaching  of 
thele  poor  Creatures,  'tis  incredible  how  much 
Time,  Toil,  and  Hardfhip,  he  underwent  in  the 
Profecution  of  this  Undertaking  5  how  many 
weary  Days  and  Nights  rolled  over  him  ;  how 
many  tirefome  Journeys  he  endured  ■,  and  how 
many  terrible  Dangers  he  had  experience  of.  If 
you  briefly  would  know  what  he  felt,  and  what 
carried  him  through  all,  rake  it  in  his  own  words 
in  a  Letter  to  the  Honourable  Mr.  W inflow,  fays 
he,  I  have  not  been  dry  Night  nor  Day^  from  the 
third  Day  of  the  Week  unto  the  fixth,  but  fo  tra- 
velled, and  at  Night  pull  off  my  Boots,  wring  my 
Stockings,  and  on  with  them  again,  andfo  continue. 
But  Godfteps  in  andhelps.  I  have  confidered  the 
Word  of  God  in  2  Tim.  2.  3.  Endure  Hardfhip  as 
a  good  Soldier  of  Chrift. 


(  c  )     His  Tranflating  the  Bible,  and  other  Books  of  Piety,   into  the   Indian 

Tongue. 


ON  E  of  his  remarkable  Cares  for  thefe  illi- 
terate Indians,  was  to  bring  them  into  the 
ufe  of  Schools  and  Books.  He  quickly  procured 
the  benefit  of  Schools  for  them ;  wherein  rhey 
profited  fo  much,  that  not  only  very  many  of 
rhem  quickly  came  to  Read  and  Write  -,  but  alfo 
feveral  arrived  unto  a  Liberal  Education  in  our 
Colledge.and  one  or  two  of  them  took  their  De- 
gree with  the  reft  of  our  Graduates.  And  tor 
Books,  'twas  his  chief  Defire  that  the  Sacred 


Scriptures  might  not  in  an  unknown  Tongue  be 

locked  or  hidden  from  them  ;  very  hateful  and 

hellifh  did  the  Policy  of  Popery  appear  to  him 

.  on  this  Account :   Our  Eliot  was  very  unlike  to 

|  that  Francifcan,  who  writing  into  Europe,  glo- 

iried  much  how  many  Thoufands  of  Indians  he 

I  had  converted  ;  but  added,  That  he  defired  his 

Friends  would  fend  him  the  Book  called  the  Bible  j 

for  he  had  heard  of  there  being  fuch  a  Book  in 

Europe,  which  might  be  of  fome  ufe  to  him.    No, 

our 


Book  Hi.       7h  Hi/lory  of  New-fcngland. 


t5>7 


our  Eliot  found  he  could  not  live  without  a  Bi- 
ble himfelf '-,  he  would  have  parted  with  all  his 
Eftate,  fooner  than  have  loft  a  Leaf  of  It  ^  and 
he  knew  it  would  be  of  more  than /owe  ufe  unto 
the  Indians  too  t,  he  therefore  with  a  vaft  Labour 
transited  the  Holy  Bible  into  the  Indian  Lan- 
guage. Behold,  ye  Americans,  the  greateft  Ho 
nour  that  ever  you  were  Partakers  of  !  This 
Bible  was  Printed  here  at  our  Cambridge  ;  and 
it  is  the  only  Bible  that  ever  was  Printed  in  all 
America,  Horn  the  very  Foundation  ol  the  World. 
The  whole  Tranflation  he  writ  with  but  one  Pen ; 
which  Pen,  had  it  not  been  loft,  would  have  cer- 
tainly deferved  a  richer  Cafe  than  was  beftow'd 


upon  that  Pen,  with  which  Holland  writ  his 
Tranflation  of  Plutarch.  The  Bible  being  juftly 
made  the  Leader  of  all  the  reft,  a  little  Indian 
Library  quickly  followed  :  For  befides  Primers^ 
and  Grammars,  and  fome  other  fuch  Compo- 
fures,  we  quickly  had  The  Pratfice  of  Piety  in 
the  Indian  Tongue,  and  the  Reverend  Richard 
Baxter's  Call  to  the  Unconverted.  He  alfo  tran- 
slated fome  of  Mr.  Shepherd's  Ccmpofures  •,  and 
fuch  Catechifms  likewife  as  there  was  occafion 
for.  It  cannot  but  be  hoped  that  fome  Fifh  wete 
to  be  made  alive,  fince  the  Waters  of  the  Sc.r 
Unary  thus  came  unto  them. 


(d)  His  Gathering  of  a  Cburcb  at  Natick. 


TH  E  Indians  that  had  felt  the  Impreffions  of 
his  Ministry,  were  quickly  distinguished 
by  the  Name  of  Praying  Indians  ;  and  thefe 
Praying  Indians  as  quickly  were  for  a  more  De- 
cent and  Englijh-zvay  of  Living,  and  they  defired 
a  more  fixed  Cohabitation.  At  feveral  Places 
did  they  now  combine  and  fettle  •,  but  the  Place 
of  greatest  Name  among  their  Towns,  is  that  of 
Natick. 

Here  'twas,  that  in  the  Year  165-1.  thofe  that 
had  heretofore  lived  like  the  wild  Beafls  in  the 
Wildernefs,  now  compared  themfelves  into  a 
Town ;  and  they  firft  apply'd  themfelves  to  the 
forming  of  their  Civil  Government.    Our  Gene- 
ral Court,  notwithstanding  their  exa£l  Study  to 
keep  thefe  Indians  very  fenfible  of  their  being 
Subject  unto  the  Englifh  Empire,  yet  had  allow- 
ed them  their  fmaller   Courts,  wherein  they 
might  govern  their  own  fmaller  Cafes  and  Con- 
cerns,  after  their  own  particular  Modes,  and 
might  have  their  Town  Orders,   if  I  may  call 
them  fo,  peculiar  to  themfelves.    With  refpeft 
hereunto,  Mr.  Eliot  on  a  Solemn  Faff,  made  a 
Publick  Vow,  That  feeing  thefe  Indians  were  not 
prepojfeffed  with  any  Formr  of  Government,  he 
would  in/lrufl  them  into  fuch  a  form,  as  we  had 
written  in  the  Word  of  God,  thatfo  they  might  be 
a  People  in  all  things  ruled  by  the  Lord.     Ac- 
cordingly he   Expounded  unto  them  the  Eigh- 
teenth Chapter  of  Exodt/s  •,  and  then  they  chofe 
Ruler;  of  Hundreds,  of  Fifties,  of  Tens  ;    and 
therewithal  entred  into  this  Covenant. 

4  We  are  the  Sons  of  Adam ;  We  and  our 
'  Forefathers  have  a  long  time  been  loft  in  our 
'  Sins ;  but  now  the  Mercy  of  the  Lord  begin- 
'  neth  to  find  us  out  again  -,  therefore  the  Grace 
'  of  Chrift  helping  us,  we  do  give  our  felves, 
1  and  our  Children  unto  God,  to  be  his  People. 
'  He  In.?  11  Rule  us  in  all  our  Affairs  ;  the  Lord 
'  is  our  Judge,  the  Lord  is  our  Law  giver,  the 
'  Lord  is  our  King  ;  he  will  fave  us  ;  and  the 
'  Wifdom  which  God  has  taught  us  in  his  Book 
c  fhall  guide  us.  Oh  Jehovvh,  teach  us  Wif- 
1  dom  ■,  fend  thy  Spirit  into  our  Hearts ;  take 


'  us  to  be  thy  People,  and  let  us  take  thee  to  be 
c  our  God. 

Such  an  Opinion  about  the  Perfection  of  the 
Scripture  had  he,  that  he  thus  expreffed  himfelf 
upon  this  occafion,  God  will  bring  Nations  into 
Diftrefs  and  Perplexity,  that  fo  they  may  be  for- 
ced unto  the  Scriptures ;  all  Governments  will  be 
fhaken,  that  Men  may  be  forced  at  length  to 
pitch  upon  that  firm  Foundation,  The  Word  of 
God. 

The  little  Towns  of  thefe  Indians  being  pitch- 
ed upon  this  Foundation,  they  utterly  abandon'd 
that  Poligamy  which  had  heretofore  been  com- 
mon among  them  j  they  made  fevere  Laws  a- 
gainft  Fornication ,  Drunkennefs ,  and  Sabbath- 
breaking,  and  other  Immoralities ;  and  they  next 
began  to  Lament  after  the  Eftablifhment  of  a 
Church-Order  among  them,  and  after  the  feveral 
Ordinances  and  Priviledges  of  a  Church-Commu- 
nion.   The  Churches  of  New-England  have  ufu- 
ally  been  very  ftricf  in  their  Admiffions  to  Church- 
Fcllowfhip,  and  required  very  fignal  Demonstra- 
tions of  a  Repenting  and  a  Believing  Soul,  be- 
fore they  thought  Men  fit  Subjects  to   be  en- 
trufted  with  the  Rights  of  the  Kingdom  of  Hea- 
ven.   But  they  feem'd  rather  to  augment  than 
abate  their  ufual  Strifinefs,  when  the  Examina- 
tion of  the  Indians  was  to  be  performed.   A  Day- 
was  therefore  fet  apart,  which  they  called,    Na- 
tootomnhteackefuk,  or  a  Day  of  Asking  §>iieflions, 
when  the  Minifters  of  the  adjacent  Churches, 
affifted  with  all  the  beft  Interpreters  that  could 
be  had,  publickly  examined  a  good  Number  of 
thefe  Indians,  about  their  Attainments  both  in 
Knowledge  and  in  Vertae.     And  notwithstand- 
ing  the  great  Satisfaction   then  received,  our 
Churches  being  willing  to  proceed  furely,  and 
therefore  Slowly,  in  raifing  them  up  to  a  Church- 
State,  which  might  be  comprehended  in  ourGw?- 
fociations,  the  Indians  were  afterwards  called  in 
considerable  ASfemblies  convened  for  that  pur- 
pofe,  to  make  open  Confejfwns  of  their  Faith 
in  God  and  Chrift,  and  of  the  Efficacy  which 
his  Wordkai  upon  them  for  their  Converfion  to 

him  $ 


I5>8 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 


him  -,  which  Confeffions  being  taken  in  writing 
from  their  Mouths  by  able  Interpreters,  were 
fcanned  by  the  People  of  God,  and  found  much 
Acceptance  with  them. 

I  need  pafs  no  further  Cenfure  upon  them, 
than  what-  is  given  by  my  Grand-father,  the 
well-known  Richard  Mather,  in  an  Epiftle  of  his 
Publifhed  on  this  occafion  ;  fays  he,  '  There  is 
'  fo  much  of  God's  Work  among  them,  as  that  I 
'  cannot  but  count  it  a  great  Evil,  yea  a  great 
'  Injury  to  God  and  his  Goodnefs,  for  any  to 
'  make  light  of  it.  To  fee  and  hear  Indians  o- 
'  pening  their  Mouths,and  lifting  up  their  hands 
'  and  eyes,  in  Prayer  to  the  Living  God,  calling 
'  on  him  by  his  Name  Jehovah,  in  the  Mediation 
'  of  Jefus  Chrift,  and  this  for  a  good  while  to- 
'  gether  ;  to  fee  and  hear  them  Exhorting  one 
c  another  from  the  Word  of  God  ;  to  fee  and 
'  and  hear  them  conferring  the  Name  of  Chrift 
'  Jefus,  and  their  own  finfulnefs  ;  fure  this  is 
'  more  than  ufual !  And  tho'  they  fpoke  in  a 
c  Language,  of  which  many  of  us  underftood 
'  but  little,  yet  we  that  were  prefent  that  Day, 


c  we  faw  and  heard  them  perform  the  Duties 
'  mentioned  with  fuch  grave  and  fober  Counte- 
'  nances,  with  fuch  comely  Reverence  in  their 
4  Gefture,  and  their  whole  Carriage,  and  with 
'  fuch  plenty  of  tears  trickling  down  the  Cheeks 
'  of  fome  of  them,  as  did  argue  to  us  that  they 
'  fpake  with  the  Holy  Fear  of  God,  and  it 
'  much  affe&ed  our  Hearts. 

At  length  was  a  Cburch-ftate  fettled  among 
them  :  They  entred,  as  our  Churches  do,  into 
an  holy  Covenant, wherein  they  gave  themfelves 
fir  ft  unto  the  Lord,  and  then  unto  one  another 
to  attend  the  Rules,  and  Helps,  and  expeft  the' 
Bleffing  of  the  Everlafting  Gofpel;  and  Mr. 
Eliot,  having  a  Mifhon  from  the  Church  of  Rox- 
bury,  unto  the  Work  of  the  Lord  Chrift  among 
the  Indians,  conceived  himfelf  fufficiently  Au- 
thorized unto  the  performing  of  all  Church- 
work  about  them  ;  grounding  it  on  Aff.  13.  i  2 
3,  4.  and  he  accordingly  Adminiftred,  firft  the 
Baptifm,  and  then  the  Supper  of  the  Lord  unto 
them. 


(  e  )    The  Hindrances  and  Obftrn&ions  that  the  Devil  gave  unto  him. 


WE  find  four  AiTemblies  of  Fraying  Indi- 
ans befides  that  of  Natick,  in  our 
Neighbourhood.  But  why  no  more?  Truly, 
not  becaufe  our  Eliot  was  wanting  in  his  Offers 
and  Labvurs  for  their  good  j  but  becaufe  many 
of  the  obdurate  Infidels  would  not  receive  the 
Gofpel  of  Salvation.  In  one  of  his  Letters,  I 
find  him  giving  this  /'//  Report,  with  fuch  a 
good  Reafon  for  it  •,  Lyn-Indians  are  all  naught, 
fave  one,  who  fometimes  comes  to  hear  the  Word; 
and  the  Reafon  why  they  are  bad,  is  principally 
becaufe  their  Sachim  is  naught,  and  careth  not 
to  pray  unto  Gcd.  Indeed  the  Sachims,  or  the 
Princes,  of  the  Indians  generally  did  all  they 
could  that  their  Subjects  might  not  entertain 
the  Gofpel  j  the  Devils  having  the  Sachims  on 
their  fide,  thereby  kept  their  Poffeffion  of  the 
People  too.  Their  Pauwaws  or  Clergy- men, 
did  much  to  maintain  the  Intereft  of  the  Devils 
in  this  Wildernefsj  thofe  Children  of  the  Devil, 
and  Enemies  of  all  Right eoufnefs,  did  not  ceafe 
to  pervert  the  Right  ways  of  the  Lord,  but  their 
Sachims  or  Magtftrates  did  more  towards  it ; 
for  they  would  prefently  raife  a  Storm  of  Per- 
fection upon  any  of  their  Vaflals  that  fhould 
Pray  unto  the  Eternal  God. 

The  ground  of  this  Conduct  in  them,  was  an 
odd  Fear,  that  Religion  would  abridge  them  of 
the  Tyranny  which  they  had  been  ufed  unto  ; 
they  always  like  the  Devil  held  their  People  in 
a  moftabfolute  Servitude,  and  rul'd  by  no  Law 
but  their  Will,  which  left  the  poor  Slaves  no- 
thing that  they  could  call   their  own.    They 


now  fufpefted  that  Religion  would  put  a 
Bridle  upon  fuch  Ufurparions,  and  oblige  them 
to  a  more  Equal  and  Humane  Way  of  Govern- 
ment -,  they  therefore  fome  of  them,  had  the 
Impudence  to  Addrefs  the  Englifh  ,  that 
no  Motions  about  the  Chriftian  Religion  might 
ever  be  made  unto  them  •,  and  Mr.  Eliot  fome- 
times in  the  Wildrenefs,  without  the  Com- 
pany or  Affiftance  of  any  other  Englifh-man,  has 
been  treated  in  a  very  Threatening  and  Bar- 
barous manner  by  fome  of  thefe  Tyrants  -,  but 
God  infpir'd  him  with  fo  much  Refolution  as 
to  tell  them,  J  am  about  the  Work  of  the  Great 
God,  and  my  God  is  with  me-,  fo  that  I  fear 
neither  you,  nor  all  the  Sachims  in  the  Countiy ; 
Vll  go  on,  and  do  you  touch  me,  if  you  dare  I 
Upon  which  the  ftouteft  of  them  have  fhrunk 
and  fell  before  him.  And  one  of  them,  he  at 
length  conquered  by  Preaching  unto  him  a  Ser- 
mon upon  the  Temptations  of  our  Lord  ;  par- 
ticularly, the  Temptation  fetch'd  from  the  King- 
doms and  Glories  of  the  World. 

The  little  Kingdoms  and  Glories  of  the  Great 
Men  among  the  Indians,  was  a  Powerful  Obfta- 
cle  to  the  Succefs  of  Mr.  Eliot's  Miniftry  ;  and 
it  is  obfervable,  that  feveral  of  thofe  Nations 
which  thus  refufed  the  Gofpel,  quickly  after- 
wards were  fo  Devil  driven  as  to  begin  an  un- 
juft  and  bloody  War  upon  the  EngliJI),  which 
ilTued  in  their  fpeedy  and  utter  Extirpation 
from  the  Face  of  God's  Earth.  It  was  particu- 
larly Remark'd  in  Philip  the  Ring-Leader  of 
the  moft  Calamitous  War  that  ever  they  made 

upon 


Book  111.      The  Hiftory  of  New-England 


199 


upon  us ;  our  Eliot  made  a  Tender  of  the  Ever- 
Lifting  Salvation  to  that  King  ;  but  the  Monfter 
entertain'd  it  with  Contempt  and  Anger,  and 
alter  the  Indian  Mode  of  joining  Signs  with 
Words,  he  took  a  Button  upon  the  Coat  of  the 
Reverend  Man,  adding,  That  be  cared  for  bh 
Go/pel,  juft  iU  much  ai  be  cared  for  that  Button. 
The  World  has  heard  what  a  Terrible  Ruine 
foon  came  upon  that  Monarch,  and  upon  all 
his  People.  It  was  not  long  before  the  Hand 
which  now  writes,  upon  a  certain  occafion  took 
off  the  Jaw  from  the  expofed  Skull  of  that 
Blafpemous  Leviathan  5  and  the  Renowned  Sa- 
muel Lee  hath  fince  been  a  Paftor  to  an  Engitfh 
Congregation,  founding  and  mowing  the  Prai- 
fes  ol  Heaven,  upon  that  very  ipot  of  Ground, 
where  Philip  and  his  Indians  were  lately  wor- 
fhipping  of  the  Devil. 

Sometimes  the  more  immediate  Hand  of  God, 
by  cutting  off  the  Principal  Oppofers  of  the 
Gofpel  among  the  Indians  made  way  for  Mr. 
Eliot's  Miniftry.  As.  I  remember,  he  relates 
that  an  AfTociation  of  profane  Indians  near  our 
Weymouth,  fee  themfelves  to  deter  and  feduce 
the  Neighbour  Indians  from  the  Right  Ways  of 
the  Lord.  But  God  quickly  fent  the  Small-Pox 
among  them,  which  like  a  great  Plague  foon 
fwept  them  away,  and  thereby  engaged  the  reft 
unto  himfelf.  I  need  only  to  add,  That  one 
Attempt  made  by  the  Devil,  to  prejudice  the 
Pagans  againft  the  Gofpel,  had  fomething  in  it 
extraordinary.  While  Mr.  Eliot  was  Preaching 
of  Cbrijl  unto  the  other  Indians, .  a  Dxnton  ap- 


peared unto  a  Prince  of  the  Eaftcrn-  Indians,  in 
a  fhape  that  had  fome  Refemblance  of  Mr.  Eliot 
or  of  an  Englijh  Minilter,  pretending  to  be,  The 
Englifh-marfs  God.     The  Speftre  commanded 
him,  To  forbear  the  drinking  of  Rum,  and  To 
obferve  the  Sabbath  Day,  and  To  deal  jufily  with 
bis  Neighbours,  all  which  things  had  been  incul- 
cated in  Mr.  Eliot's  Miniltry  ;  promifing  there- 
withal unto  him,  That  if  he  did  ib,  at  his  Death 
his  Soul  fhould  Afcend  unto  an  happy  place ;  0- 
therwife  Defend  unto  naileries ;  but  the  Appa 
rition  all  the  while,    never  faid  one  word  about 
Chnft,  which  was  the  ma  in  fubjecf  of  Mr.  Eliot's 
Miniftry.    The  Sachim  received  fuch  an  Impref- 
fion  from   the  Apparition,  that  he  dealt  jufily 
with  all  Men,  except  in  the  Bloody  Tragedies 
and  Cruelties  he  afterwards  committed  on  the 
Englifh  in  our  Wars  -,  he  kept  the  Sabbat h-Djj 
like  a  Fafi,  frequently  attending  in  our  Congre- 
gations ;  he  would  not  meddle  with  any  Rum, 
tho'  ufually   his  Country-men,  had   rather  die 
than  undergo  fuch  a  piece  of  Self  denial  ;    that 
Liquor  has  meerJy  Enchanted  them.  At  laft,  and 
not  long  iince  this  Damon  appear'd  again  unto 
this  Pagan,  requiring  him  to  kill  himfelf,  and 
alluring  him  that  he  fhould  revive  in  a  Dav  or 
two,  never  to  die  any  more.    He  thereupon  di^ 
vers  times  attempted  it,  but  his  Friends  very 
carefully  prevented  it  ■,  however  at   length   he 
found  a  fair  Opportunity,  for  this  foul  Bufinefs, 
;  and  hanged  himfelf ;  you  may  be  fure,  without 
he  expetted  RefurreSion.    But  it  is  eafy  to  fee 
what  a  ftumbling  Block  was  here  laid  before  the 
miferable  Indians. 


(f)    The  \n&\m-Ckurchef  at  Mafliippaug,  and  elfexvbere . 


TH  E  fame  Spirit  which  a£t ed  Mr.  Eliot, 
quickly   infpited  others  elfewhere  to  pro- 
fecute  the  Work  of  refcuing  the  poor  Indians 
ov.  of  their  worfe  than  Egypt  i  an -Darkmis,  in 
which  Evil  Angels  had  been  fo  long  preying 
upon  them.    One  of  thefe  was  the  Godly  and 
Gracious  Richard  Bourn,  who  foon  faw  a  great 
effect  of  his  lu'v  Labours.     In  the  Year  1666. 
Mr.  Eliot  accomi-     y'd  by  the  Honourable  Go- 
vernour,  and  feverai  ?  ^agiftrates  and  Minifters 
of  Plynuutb  Colony,  pro^.-ed  a   vaft  AfTembly 
at  Mupippaug  -,  and  there  a  good  Number  of 
Indians,  made  Confeflions  touching  the  Know^ 
ledge  and  Belief  and  Regeneration  of  their  Souls, 
with  fuch  Llnderftanding  and  Afte&ion  as  was 
extreamly  grateful  to  the  Pious  Auditory.     Yet 
fuch  was  the  Stricf  nefs  of  the  good  People  in 
this  Affair,    that  before   they  would   counte- 
nance the  Advancement  of  thefe  Indians  unto 
QntrchPellovofinp^  they  ordered  their  Confefli- 
ons to  be  written  and  fent  unto  all  the  Chur- 


Prefence  and  Confent,  they  became  a  Church,and 
chofe  Mr.  Bourn  to  be  their  Paftor ;  who  was 
then  by  Mr.  Eliot  and  Mr.  Cotton  ordain'd  unto 
that  Office  over  them.  From  hence  Mr.  Eliot  and 
Mr.  Cotton  went  over  to  an  Ifland  called  Marthas 
Vineyard,  where  God  had  fo  fucceeded  the  honeft 
Labours  of  fome,  and  particularly  of  the  Ma- 
yheio's  as  that  a  Church  was  gathered. 

This  Church,  after  Fafiing  and  Prayer,  chofe 
one  Hiacoomes  to  be  their  Paftor,  John  TocJanofi), 
an  able  and  a  difcreet  Chriftian  to  be  their 
Teacher;  Jojhua  Mummeecbeegs  and  John  AY 
nafo  to  be  Ruling  Elders  •,  and  thefe  wete  then 
ordained  by  Mr.  Eliot  and  Mr.  Cotton  thereunto. 
Diftance  of  Habitation,  caufed  this  one  Church 
by  mutual  Agreement  afterwards  to  become 
two  ■,  the  Paftor  and  one  Ruling  Elder  taking  one 
part,  and  the  Teacher  and  one  Ruling  Elder, 
I  another ;  and  at  I\antucket  another  adjacent 
!  Ifland,  was  another  Church  of  Indians  quickly 
gathered,  who  chofe  an   Indian,  John  Gibs,  to 


dies  in  the  Colony,  for  their  Approbation ;  but  |  be  their  Minifter.  Thefe  Churches  are  fo  exacl 
fo  approved  they  were,  that  afterwards  the:  in  their  AdmilTion,  and  fo  folemn  in  their  Dif- 
Meltengers   of  all  the  Churches  giving  their  cipline,  and   ib  ierious  in   their  Communion, 

C  c  c  c  that 


200 


The  Hijlory  of  New-England,       Book  II 


'  that  fome  of  the  Christian  Englifh  in  the  Neigh- 
bourhood, which  would  have  been  loth  to  have 
mixed  with  them  in  a  civil  Relation,  yet  have 
gladly  done  it  in  a  Sacred  one. 

'Tis  needlefs  for  me  to  repeat  what  my  Fa- 
ther has  written  about  the  other  Indian  Con- 
gregations-, only  there  having  been  made  men- 
tion of  one  Hiacooms,  I  am  willing  to  annex  a 
Paffage  or  two  concerning  that  memorable  In- 
dian. That  Indian  was  a  very  great  Inftrument 
of  bringing  his  Pagan  and  wretched  Neighbours, 
to  a  laving  Acquaintance  with  our  Lord  Jefus 
Chrilt ;  and  God  gave  him  the  Honour,  not  only 
of  fo  doing  much  for  ibme,  but  alfo  of  Suffering 
much  from  others,  of  thole  unhappy  Salvages. 
Once  particularly,  this  Hiacoomes  received  a 
cruel  blow  from  an  Indian  Prince,  which  if 
fome  Englifh  had  not  been  there,  might  have 
killed  him,  for  his  Fraying  unto  God.  And  af- 
terwards he  gave  this  account  of  "his  Trial  in 
it  -,  fa  id  he,  I  have  two  Hands  -,  I  bad  one  Hand 
for  Injuries,  and  the  other  for  God ;  while  I  did 


ireceive  Wrong  with   the  one,  the  other  laid  the 
greater  hold  on  God. 

Moreover,  the  Powawts  did  ufe  to  heclor  and 
abufe  the  Praying  Indians  at  fuch  a  rate,  -ds 
rerrify'd  others  from  joining  with  them  -,  'but 
once  when  thofe  Witches  were  bragging,  that 
they  could  kill  all  the  Praying  Indians,  if  thev 
would ;  Hiacoomes  reply'd,  Let  all  the  Powawes 
in  the  Ifland  come  together ,  I'll  venture  my  (elf 
in  the  midft  of  them  ;  let  them  ufe  all  their 
Witchrafts  ;  with  the  help  of  God,  VII  tread  up- 
on them  all.  By  this  Courage,  he  filenced  the 
Powawes  :  But  at  the  fame  time  alfo  he  heart- 
ned  the  People  at  fuch  a  rate  as  was  truly  won- 
derful ;  nor  could  any  of  them  ever  harm  this 
Eminent  Confefibr  afterward  -,  nor  indeed  any 
Profelyte  which  had  been  by  his  means  brought 
home  to  God  ;  yea,  'twas  obferved  after  this 
that  they  rather  kilPd  than  curd  all  fuch  of  the 
Heathen,  as  would  yet  make  ufe  of  their  En- 
chantments for  help  againft  their  Sicknejjes. 


f  g  )    Of  Mr.  Eliot'/  Fellow-Labourers  in  the  Xndian-^r^. 


SO  little  was  the  Soul  of  our  Eliot  infected 
with  any  Envy,  as  that  he  long'd  for  nothing 
more  than  Fellow-Labourers,  that  might  move 
and  fhine  in  the  fame  Orb  with  himfelf ;  he 
made  his  Cries  both  to  God  and  Man,  for  more 
Labourers  to  be  thruft  forth  into  the  Indian 
Harveff  $  and  indeed  it  was  an  Harvefl  of  fo 
few  lecular  Advantages  and  Encouragements, 
that  it  muff  be  nothing  lefs   than  a  Divine 
Thruft,  which  could  make  any  to  Labour  in  it. 
He  law  the  Anfwer  of  his  Prayers,  in  the  Ge- 
nerous and  Vigorous  Attempts  made  by  feveral 
other  moft  worthy  Preachers  of  the  Gofpel,  to 
Gqfpclize  our  psrifhing  Indians.    At  the  Wri- 
ting of  my  Father's  Letter  there  were  Four  ■, 
but  the  Number  of  them  increafes  apace  among 
us.    At  Marthas  Vineyard,  the  old  Mr.  May- 
hew,  and  feveral   of  his  Sons,  or  Grandfons 
have  done  very  worthily  for  the  Souls  of  the 
Indians  -,  there  were  fifteen  Years  ago,  by  Com- 
putation, about  fifteen  Hundred  Seals  of  their 
Miniftry  upon  that  one  Ifland.     In  ConneUicut, 
the  holy  and  acute  Mr.  Fitch,  has  made  noble 
EfTays  towards  the  Converfion  of  the  Indians  ■, 
but,  I  think,  the  Prince  he  has  to  deal  withal, 
being  an  obftinate  Infidel,  gives  unhappy  Re- 
mora's  to  the  Succeffes  of  his  Miniftry.    And 
godly  Mr.  Pier/on,  has  in  that  Colony  deferved 
well,  if  I  miftake  not,  upon  the  fame  account. 
In  Maffachujets  we  fee  at  this  Day,  the  Pious 
.Mr.  Daniel  Gookin,   the   Gracious  Mr.  Peter 
Thatcher,  the  well  accomplished  and  induftri- 
ous  Mr.  Grindal  Raw/on,  all  of  them  hard  at 
Work,  to  turn  thefe  Poor  Creatures//w/?  Park- 
nefs  unto  Light,  and  from  Satan  unto  God.     In 
Plymouth  we  have  the  moft  ^ftive  Mr.  Samuel 


Treat  laying  out  himfelf  to  fave  this  Generati- 
on ;  and  there  is  one  Mr.  Tapper,  who  ufes 
his  laudable  Endeavours  for  the  Inftruction  of 
them. 

'Tis  my  Relation  to  him,  that  caufes  me  to 
defer  unto  the  laft  place,  the  mention  of  Mr. 
John  Cotton,  who  hath  addreffed  the  Indians 
in  their  own  Language  with  fome  Dexterity. 
He  hired  an  Indian,  after  the  rate  of  Twelve- 
pence  per  Day  for  Fifty  Days,  to  teach  him  the 
Indian  Tongue  -,  but  his  Knavifh  Tutor  having 
received  his  whole  Pay  too  foon,  ran  away 
before  Twenty  Days  were  our ;  however,  in  this 
time  he  had  profited  fo  far,  that  he  could 
quickly  Preach  unto  the  Natives. 

Having  told  my  Reader,  that  the  Second  Edi- 
tion of  the  Indian  Bible  was  wholly  of  his  Cor- 
rection and  Amendment ;  becaufe  it  is  not  pro- 
per for  me  to  fay  much  of  him,  I  fhall  only 
add  this  Remarkable  Story.  An  Englifh  Mini- 
fter  accompany'd  by  the  Governour  and  Major- 
General,  and  fundry  Perfons  of  Quality,  be- 
longing to  Plymouth,  made  a  Journey  to  a  Na- 
tion of  Indians  in  the  Neighbourhood,  with  a 
free  Offer  of  the  Words  whereby  they  might  be 
faved.  The  Prince  took  time  to  coniider  of  it, 
and  according  to  the  true  EngliJJ}  of  Taking 
Time  in  fuch  cafes,  at  length  he  told  them,  He 
did  not  accept  the  Tender  which  they  made  him. 
They  then  took  their  Leaves  of  him,  not  with- 
out firft  giving  him  this  plain  and  fhort  Admo- 
nition, If  God  have  any  Mercy  for  your  mife- 
rabie  People,  He  will  quickly  find  a  way  to  take 
you  out  of  the  way.  'Twas  prefently  after  this, 
that  this  Prince  going  forth  to  a  Battel  againft 

another 


Book  111.       ^be  Hijiory  of  New- England. 


201 


another  Nation  ot"  Indians,  was  killed  in  the 
Fight ;  and  the  young  Prince  being  in  his  Mi- 
f  7,i  v.  the  Government  fell  into  the  Hands  of 
Vrotettors,  which  favoured  thelnteieft  of  the 
Gofpel.  The  Englijh  being  ad'.ifed  of  it,  fpee* 
dilv  and  profperoully  renewed  the  Tidings  of 
an  Eternal  Savioui  to  the  Salvages,  who  have 
ever  fince  attended  upon  the  Gofpel:  And  the 
young  Sachim,  after  he  came  to  Age,  expreffed 
hrs  approbation  of  the  Chriftian  Religion  ;  ef 
pccially  when  a  while  fince,  he  lay  a  Dying 
of  a  tedious  Diitemper,  and  would  keep  Read- 
ing of  Mr.  Baxter's  Call  to  the  Unconverted, 
with  Floods  of  Tears  in  his  Eyes,  while  he  had 
any  Strength  to  do  it. 
Such  as  thefe  are  the  Perfons,  whom  our  E- 


Hot  left  engag'd  in  the  Indian-Work,  when  he 
departed  from  his  Employ?nent  unto  his  Recom- 
pence.  And  thefe  Gentlemen  are  fo  indefatiga- 
ble in  their  Labours  among  the  Indians,  as  that 
the  molt  equal  Judges  mutt  acknowledge  them 
worthy  of  much  greater  Salaries  than  they  arc. 
generoufly  contented  with.  But  one  may  fee 
then,  who  infpired  that  clamorous  (tho'  con- 
temptible) Periecutor  of  this  Country,  who 
very  zealouily  addrefled  the  A.  B.  o^  Canter- 
bury, that  thefe  Minifters  might  be  deprived  of 
their  little  Stipends,  and  that  the  faid  Stipends 
might  go  to  maintain  that  Worfhip  among  us, 
which  the  Plantation  was  Erected  on  purpofe 
for  the  peaceable  Avoiding  of. 


C  h  )    The  Sacred  and  Solemn  Exercifes  performed  in  the  Indian  Con- 
gregations. 


MY  Father's  Account  of  the  Exercifes  per- 
formed in  the  Indian  Congregations,  will 
tell  us  what  a  Bleffed  Fruit  our  Eliot  faw  of 
his  Labours,  before  he  went  unto  thofe  Rewards 
which  God  had  referv'd  in  the  Heavens  for  him. 
Some  of  the  Indians  quickly  built  for  them- 
felves  good  and  large  Meeting  Houfes  after  the 
Englijh  Mode,  in  which  alfo  after  the  Englijh 
Mode,  they  attended  the  Things  of  the  King- 
dom of  Heaven.  And  fome  of  the  Englijh  were 
helpful  to  them  upon  this  account ^  among 
whom  I  ought  particularly  to  mention  that 
Learned,  Pious  and  Charitable  Gentleman,  the 
Worfhipful  Samuel  Sewal,  Efq^  who  at  his 
own  Charge  built  a  Meeting  Hcufe  for  one  of 
the  Indian  Congregations,  and  gave  thofe  Indi- 
ans caufe  to  pray  for  him  under  that  Character, 
He  loveth  our  Nation,  for  he  hath  built  us  a 
Synagogue. 

It  only  remains  that  I  give  a  touch  or  two  up- 
on the  Worfhip  which  is  attended  in  the  Syna- 
gogues of  the  Indians.    And  firff,  the  very  Name 
of  Praying  Indians  will  allure  us  that  Prayer  is 
one  ot  their  Devotions ,  be  fure,  they  could  not 
be  our  Eliot's  Difciples  if  it  were  not  fo.    But 
how  do  they  P?ay  ?  We  are  told,  it  is  Without 
a  Form,  becaufe  from  the  Heart;  which  is  as  1 
remember,    Tcrtullian's  Expreflion  concerning 
the  Prayers  in  the  Affembiies  of  the  Primitive 
Chriftians ;  mmdy,Jine  monitorequiade  peffore. 
It  is  evident,  that  the  Primitive  Chriftians  had 
no  itated  Liturgies  among  them-,  that  no  Forms 
of  Prayers  were  in  their  time  impofed  upon  the 
Minilters  of  the  Gofpel,  that  even  about  the 
Platform  of  Prayer  given  us  by  our  Lord,    it 
was  the  Opinion  of  Auflin  himfelf,  notwith- 
itandingthe  Advances  made  in  his  Age  towards 
what   we  count  Superfiitious,    that  our  Lord 
therein  Taught  not  what  Words  we  Jhould  ufe  in 
Prayer,  but    what    things  we  Jhould  pray  for. 
And  whatever  Scoffs  the  Profanity  of  our  Days, 


has  abufed  that  Phrafe  and  Thing  withal,  Gre- 
gory Nazianzen  in  his  Days,  counted  it  the  Ho- 
nour of  his  Fathers  publick  Prayers,  That  he 
had  them  from,  and  tnade  them  by  the  Holy  Spi- 
rit. Our  Indians  accordingly  find,  that  if  they 
itudy  the  Words  of  God,  and  their  own  Sins 
and  Wants,  they  fhall  foon  come  to  that  At- 
tainment, Behold  they  pray !  They  can  pray 
with  much  Pertinence  and  Enlargement ;  and 
would  much  wonder  at  it,  if  they  fhould  hear 
of  an  Englijh  Clergy,  that  fhould  Read  their 
Prayers  out  of  a  Book,  when  they  fhould  pour 
out  their  Souls  before  the  God  of  Heaven. 

Their  Preaching  has  much  of  Eliot,  and  there- 
fore you  may  be  fure  much  of  Scripture,  but 
perhaps  more  of  the  Chrijiian  than  of  the  Scho- 
lar in  it.  I  know  not  how  to  defcribe  it  better 
than  by  reciting  the  Heads  of  a  Sermon,  uttered 
by  an  Indian  on  a  Day  of  Humiliation  kept  by 
them,  at  a  time  when  great  Rains  had  given 
much  Damage  to  their  Fruits  and  Fields  ;  'twas 
on  this  wife. 

A  little  I  fhall  fay,  according  to  that  little  1 
know. 

Gen.  8.  20,  21. 

And  Noah  built  an  Altar  unto  Jehovah ;  and 
he  took  of  every  clean  Beafl,  and  of  every  clean 
Fowl,  and  offered  Burnt-Offerings  on  the  Altar. 
And  the  Lord  fuelled  afweet  favour,  and  the 
Lord  faid  in  his  Heart,  I  will  not  again  Curfe 
the  Ground. 

'  In  that  Noah  facrifked,  he  ihow'd  himfelf 
Thankful;  in  that  Noah  worfhipped,  he  (hew- 
ed himfelf  Godly.  In  that  he  offered  Clean 
Beafls,  he  fhow'd  that  God  is  an  Holy  God. 
And  all  that  come  to  God,  muff  be  pure  and 
clean.  Know,  that  we  muft  by  Repentance, 
C  c  c  c  7  '  purge 


202 


The  Hiflory  of  New-England.       Book  III. 


purge  our  felves  -,  which  is  the  Work  we  are 
to  do  this  Day. 

'  Noah  faerificed  and  fo  worfhipped.  This 
was  the  manner  of  old  time.  But  what  Sa 
entices  have  we  now  to  offer?  I  (hall  anfwer 
by  that  in  Pfal.  4.  5.  Offer  to  God  the  Sacrifice 
of  Right eoufnefs,  and  put  yourTruft  in  the 
Lord.  Thefe  are  the  true  Spiritual  Sacrifices 
which  God  requirerh  at  our  hands,  the  Sacri- 
fices of  Right  eoufnefs-,  that  is,  we  mutt  look 
to  our  Hearts  and  Ways  that  they  be  Righte 
ous  -,  and  then  we  (hall  be  acceptable  to  God 
when  we  Worfhip  him.  But  it"  we  be  un- 
righteous, unholy,  ungodly,  we  (hall  not  be 
accepted,  our  Sacrifices  will  be  ftark  naught. 
Again,  (Ve  are  to  put  our  Truft  in  the  Lord. 
Who  elfe  is  there  for  us  to  truft  in?  We  mull 
believe  in  the  Word  of  God;  if  we  doubt  of 
God,  or  doubt  of  his  Word,  our  Sacrifices 
are  little  worth  ;  but  if  we  /r///?«ftedlalfly  in 
God,  our  Sacrifices  will  be  good. 

'  Once  more,  What  Sacrifices  muft  we  offer? 
My  Anfwer  is,  we  muff  offer  fuch  as  Abraham 
offered.  And  what  a  Sacrifice  was  that  ?  We 
ate  told  in  Gen.  22.  12.  Nozv  I  know  that  thou 
fearefi  me,  feeing  thou  haft  not  witheld  thy  Son, 
thy  only  Son  f row  me.  It  feems  he  had  but  one 
dearly  Beloved  Son,  and  he  offered  that  Son 
to  God;  and  fo  God  fa  id,  /  know  thou  fear  eft 
me !  Behold,  a  Sacrifice  in  Deed  and  in  Truth ! 
fuch  an  one  muft  we  offer.  Only,  God  re- 
quires not  us  to  Sacrifice  our  Sons,  but  our 
Sins,  our  deareft  Sins.  God  calls  us  this 
Day  to  part  with  all  our  Sins,  tho'  never  fo 
beloved  ,  and  we  muft  not  withold  any  of 
them  from  him.  If  we  will  not  part  with 
all,  the  Sacrifice  is  not  right.  Let  us  part 
with  fuch  Sins  as  we  love  befi,  and  it  will  be 
a  good  Sacrifice ! 

'  God f melt  a  fiaeet  favour  in  Noah\r  Sacrifice-, 
and  fo  will  God  receive  our  Sacrifices,  when 
we  worihip  him  aright.  But  how  did  God 
manifeft  his  Acceptance  of  Noah's  Offering  : 
'twas  by  promifing  to  Drown  the  World  no 
more,  but  give  us  Fruitful Seafons.  God  has 
chaftifed  us  of  late,  as  if  he  would  utterly 
Drown  us  ;  and  he  has  Drowned  and  Spoiled 
and  Ruin'd  a  great  deal  of  our  Hay,  and 
threatens  to  kill  our  Cattel.  'Tis  for  this  that 
we  Faji  and  Pray  this  Day.  Let  us  then  offer 
a  clean  and  pure  Sacrifice,  as  Noah  did;  fo 
God  will  fmell  a  favour  of  Reft,  and  he  will 
withold  the  Rain,  and  blefs  us  with  fuch 
Fruitful  Seafons  as  we  are  defiling  of  him. 


Thus  preached  an  Indian  called  Nijhokon,  a- 
bove  Thirty  Years  ago ;  and  fince  that  I  fuppofe, 
rhey  have  grown  a  little  further  into  the  New- 
Englijh  way  of  Preaching :  You  may  have  in 
their  Sermons,  a  Ku  kkojtomivehteaonk,  that  is, 
a  DoUnne,  Nahtcolomwchteaonk,  or  Queftiori, 
a  Sampooaonk,  01  an  Anfwer,  Witcheayeuonk,  or 
a  Reafon,  with  an  Quwoteank,  or  an  Ufe  for 
the  Clofe  of  all. 


As  for  Holydaysy  you  may  take  it  for  granted 
our  Eliot  would  not  perfwade  his  Indians  to  any 
Stated  ones.  Even  the  Chriftian-Feftwal  it 
(elf,  he  knew  to  be  a  Stranger  unto  the  Apo^ 
(tolical  Times ;  that  the  exquifite  Vojjws  him- 
felf  acknowledges,  'twas  not  celebrated  in  the 
rirfi  or  fecond  Century  :  And  that  there  is  a 
Truth  in  the  Words  of  the  Great  Chemnitius 
Anniverf avium  Diem  Nat  alii  Chriffj,  celebratuin 
fuiffe,  a  pud  vetuftijfimos  nunquam  legit  ur.  He 
knew  that  if  the  Day  of  our  Lord's  Nativity 
were  to  be  obferved,  it  fhould  not  be  in  De- 
cember: That  many  Churches  for  divers  Ages 
kept  it  not  in  December,  but  in  January  -,  that 
Qiryfoffom  himfelf,  about  four  Hundred  Years 
after  our  Saviour,  excufes  the  Novelty  of  the 
December  Seafon  for  it,  and  confeffes  it  had 
not  been  kept  above  Ten  Years  at  Conft  amino- 
pic:  No,  that  it  (hould  be  rather  in  September, 
in  which  Month  the  Jews  kept  the  Feaft  that 
was  a  Type  of  our  Lord's  Incarnation  ;  and  So- 
lomon alio  brought  the  Ark  into  the  Temple  -, 
for  our  Lord  was  Thirty  Tears  old  when  he  en- 
tred  upon  his  Publick  Miniftry  ;  and  he  conti- 
nued in  it  Three  Tears  and  an  half :  Now  his 
Death  was  in  March,  and  it  is  eafy  then  to 
calculate  when  his  Birth  ought  to  be.  He 
knew,  that  indeed  God  had  hid  this  Day  as  he 
did  the  Body  of  Mofes,  to  prevent  Idolatry-, 
but  that  Antichrift  had  cbqfe  this  Day,  to  ac- 
commodate the  Pagans  in  their  Licentious  and 
their  Debauched  Saturnalia;  and  that  a  Tertul 
lian  would  not  ftick  to  fay,  Shall  we  Chriflians 
who  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  Feftivals  of  the 
Jews,  which  were  once  of  Divine  Inftitution,  em- 
brace the  Saturnalia,  of  the  Heathen?  How  do 
the  Gentiles  fhame  its,  who  are  ynore  true  to  their 
Religion,  than  we  are  to  ours ?  None  of  them  will 
objerve  the  Lords-day,  for  fear  left  they  fhould  be 
Chriftians;  and  fhall  not  we  then  by  obferving 
their  Feftivals,fear  left  we  be  made  Ethnicks  ?  In 
fine,  it  was  his  Opinion,  That  for  us  to  have 
(fated  Holy  Days  which  are  not  appointed  by 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  is  a  deep  ReHecf  ion 
upon  the  Wifdom  of  that  glorious  Lord  ;  and 
he  brought  up  his  Indians  in  the  Principles 
which  the  old  V/aldenfes  had  about  fuch  unwar- 
rantable Holy  Days. 

Neverthelefs,  he  taught  them  to  fet  apart 
their  Days  for  both  Faffing  and  Prayer,  and  for 
Feaffing  and  Prayer,  when  there'(hould  be  Ex- 
traordinary Occafions  for  them ;  and  they  perform 
the  Duties  of  thefe  Days  with  a  very  laborious 
Piety.  One  Party  of  the  Indians  long  fince  of 
their  own  accord,  kept  a  Day  of  Supplication 
together,  wherein  one  of  them  difcourfed  upon 
Pfal.  66.  7.  He  rules  by  his  Power  for  ever, 
his  Eyes  behold  the  Nations,  let  not  the  Rebel- 
lious exalt  them/elves.  And  when  one  asked 
them  afterwards,  what  was  the  Reafon  of  their 
keeping  of  fuch  a  Day,  they  reply'd,  It  zcat  to 
obtain  five  Mercies  of  God. 

'  Firft,  That  God  would  flay  the  Rebellion 
'  of  their  Hearts.  Next,  That  they  might  love 
'  God  and  one  another.     Thirdly,  That  they 

mighr 


Book  III.       the  Hijlory  of  Nevv-f  ngland.  203 


•  might  withftand  the  Temptations  of  wicked 
'  Wen  fo  that  they  might  not  be  drawn  back 
'  from' God.     Fourthly,    That  they  might  be 

•  Obedient  unto  the  Councils  and  Commands 
c  of  their  Rulers.  Fifthly,  That  they  might 
'  have  their  Sins  done  away  by  the  Redemption 
c  of  JefusGhrift:  And  hilly,  That  they  might 
'  walk  in  the  good  Ways  of  the  Lord.  I  mult 
here  embrace  my  Opportunity  to  tell  the  World, 
that  our  Cautious  Eliot  was  far  from  the  Opi- 
nion of  thole  who  have  thought  it  not  only 
warrantable,  but  alfo  commendable  to  Adopt 
fome  Heatheniftl  Ufajges  into  the  Worfhip  of 
God,  for  the  more  eafy  and  ipeedy  gaining  of 
the  Heathen  to  that  Worfhip.  The  Policy  of 
Treating  the  Pagan  Rites  as  the  Jems  were  to 
do  Captives,  before  they  married  them,  to  (have 
their  Hair,  and  pare  their  Nails,  our  Eliot 
counted  as  ridiculous  as  pernicious.  He  knew 
that  the  Idolatries  and  Abominations  of  Popery, 
were  founded  in  this  way  of  Projecting  the 
barbarous  Nations,  which  made  their  Defcent 
upon  the  Roman  Empire ;  and  he  lookd  upon 
the  like  Methods  which  the  Protejlants  have 
ufed,  that  they  might  ingratiate  themfelves 
with  the  Papijis,  and  that  our  Separation  from 


them  ffiould  become  the  lefs  dangerous  an&fen- 
fible,  to  be  the  molt  fienfible  and  dangerous 
Wound  of  the  Reformation.  Wherefore  as  no 
lefs  a  Man  than  Dr.  Henry  Moor  fays  about  our 
Compliances  with  the  Papijis,  which  are  a  fort 
of  Pagans,  'Their  Converfiwn  and  Salvation  being 
not  to  be  compajficd  by  needlefs  Symbolizing  with 
them  in  any  thing,  I  conceive  our  be  ft  Policy  is 
ftudioufily  to  mutate  them  in  nothing ;  but  for 
all  indifferent  things,  to  think  rather  the  worfe 
of  them  for  their  ufiing  of  them.  As  no  Perfion 
of  Honour  would  willingly  go  in  the  known  Garb 
of  infamous  Perfons.  Whatfoever  we  court  them 
in,  they  do  but  turn  it  to  our  Scorn  and  Con* 
tempt,  and  are  the  more  hardened  in  their  own 
Wickednejs.  To  a£t  upon  rhis  Principle,  is  the 
Defign  and  Glory  of  New  England !  And  our 
Eliot  was  of  this  Perfwafion,  when  he  brought 
his  Indians  to  a  pure,  plain  Scripture  Worjbip. . 
He  would  not  gratify  them  with  a  Samaritan 
fort  of  blended,  mixed  Worfhip  •,  and  he  ima- 
gined, as  well  he  might,  that  the  Hpoftle  Paul's 
firft  Epiftle  to  the  Corinthians  had  enough  in  it 
for  ever  to  deter  us  all  from  fuch  Unchrifiian 
and  unhappy  Temporizing. 


(1)  A  Comparifon  between  what  the  New-Englanders  have  done  for  the 
Converfion  of  the  Indians,  and  what  has  been  done  elfewhere  by  the  Ro- 
man Catholicks. 


IT  is  to  be  confeffed,    That  the  Roman  Catho- 
licks have  a  Clergy  fo  very  numerous,  and  fo 
little  encumbred,  and  are  Matters  of  fuch  pro- 
digious Ecclefiafiial  Revenues,  as  renders  it  ve- 
ry eafy  for   them  to  exceed  the  Proteftants  in 
their  Endeavours  to  Chriftianize  the  Pagan  Sal 
vages.     Nor  would  I  Reproach,  but  rather  Ap- 
plaud their  Induflry  in  this  matter,  wifhingthat 
we  were  all  touched  with  an  Emulation  of  it. 
Nevenhelefs,  while  I  commend  their  Induftry, 
they  do  Hy  their  Clamours  againft  the  Reform- 
ed  Churches  upon   this  account,  oblige  me  to 
tax  divers  very  fcandalous  things  in  the  Mijfi- 
ons  which  they  make  pro  propaganda  fide  through- 
out the  World  ;  and  therewithal    to  compare 
what   has  been  done  by  that  little  Handful  of 
Reformed  Churches  in  this  Country,  which  has 
in  divers  Regards  out  done  the  furtheft  Efforts 
of  Popery. 

The  Attainments  which  with  God's  help  we 
have  carried  up  our  Indians  unto,  are  the  chief 
Honour  and  Glory  of  our  Labours  with  them. 
The  Reader  will  fmile  perhaps,  when  I  tell 
him,  that  by  an  odd  Accident  there  are  lately 
fallen  into  my  hands,  the  Manufcripts  of  a 
Jefuite,  whom  the  French  employed  as  a  Mijfi- 
onary  among  the  Weftern  Indians  ;  in  which 
Papers  there  are,  both  a  Catechifm,  containing 


the  Principles  which  thofe  Heathens  are  to  be 
inftru£led  in ;  and  Cafes  of  Confidence,  referring 
to  their  Converfations.  The  Catechifm  which 
is  in  the  Iroauoife  Language  (a  Language  re- 
markable for  this,  that  there  is  not  fo  much  as 
one  Labial  in  itj  with  a  Tranflation  annexed, 
has  one  Chapter  about  Heaven,  and  another 
about  Hell,  wherein  are  fuch  Thick  fikulPd  Paf- 
fages  as  thefe. 

c  Q.  How  is  the  Soy  I  made  in  Heaven  ? 
1  A.  'Tis  a  very  fair  Soy/,  they  want  neither 
for  Meats  nor  Cloths:  'Tis  but  Wifihing  and 
we  have  them. 

'  Q,  Are  they  employ 'd  in  Heaven? 
1  A.  No,  they  do  nothing  ;  the  Fields  yield 
Corn,  Beans,  Pumpkins,  and  the  like,  without 
any  Tillage. 

'  Q.  What  fort  of  Trees  are  there  ? 
'  A.  Always  Green,  Full,  and  Florifhing. 
'  Q;  Have  they  in  Heaven  the  fame  Sun,  the 
fame  Wind,  the  fame  Thunder  that  we  have 
here  ? 

1  A.  No,  the  Sun  ever  fhines  •,   'tis  always 
fair  Weather. 

'  Q.  But  how  their  Fruits  ? 
c  A.  In  this   one  Quality  they  exceed  ours  ; 
that  ihey  Tire  never  wa fed -,  you  have  no  foo- 

'  net 


204 


7 be  Hi/lory  of  Nevv-EnglancL      Book  III 


ner  pluckt  one,  but  you  fee  another  prefently 
hanging  in  its  Room.  And  after  this  rate  goes 
on  the  Catechifm  concerning  Heaver?.    Con- 
cerning He//,  it  thus  difcourfes. 
'  Q.  Whit  fort  of  a  Soy  I  is  that  of  Hell? 
c  A.  A  very  wretched  Soyl  ■,  'tis  a  Fiery  Pit, 
in  the  Center  of  the  Earth. 
'  Q.  Have  they  any  Light  in  He  I!  ? 
'  A.  No.    'Tis  always  dark;  there's  always 
Smoke  there;  their  Eyes  are  always  in  Pain 
with  it ;    they  can  fee  nothing  but  the  De- 
vils. 

'  Q.  What  fJmfd  things  are  the  Devils? 
'  A.  Very    ill  (hap'd  things ;  they  go  about 
with  Vizards  on,  and  they  terrify  Men. 
c  Q.  What  do  they  Eat  in  Hell  ? 
'  A.  They  are  always  Hungry,  but  the  Dam- 
ned feed  on  hot  Afhes  and  Serpents  there. 
'  Q.  What  Water  have  they  to  drink  ? 
c  A.  Horrid  Water,  nothing  but  melted  Lead. 
'  Q.  Don't  they  die  in  Hell  ? 
e  A.  No :  Yet   they  eat   one  another,  every 
Day  ;  but  anon,  God  reffores  and  renews  the 
Man  that  was  eaten,  as  a  cropt  Plant  in  a  lit- 
tle time.repullulates. 


It  feems,  they  have  not  thought  this  Divi- 
nity too  Grofs  for  the  Barbarians.  But  I  fhall 
make  no  Reflections  on  it;  only  add  one  or 
two  Cafes  of  Confidence,  from  their  Directory. 

'Tis  one  of  their  weighty  Cafes,  '  Whether 
'  a  Chriflian  be  bound  to  pay  his  Whore  her 
'  Hire  or  no  ?  To  this  Father  Brutus  anfwers, 
Tho'  he  be  bound  in  Jujiice  to  do  it,  yet  inafmuch 
as  the  Barbarians  [and  you  muff  fuppofe  their 
Whores  to  be  fuch]  Ufe  to  keep  no  Faith  in  fitch 
matters,  the  Chri/tians  may  chufe  whether  they 
■will  keep  any  too.  But  Father  Pierron,  with  a 
moft  profound  Learning  anfwers,  He  is  not 
bound  unto  it  a/I;  inafmuch  as  no  Man  thinks 
himfclf  bound  to  pay  a  Witch,  that  has  Enchanted 
him ;  and  this  bufinefs  is  pretty  much  a  kin  to 
that.  Another  of  their  difficult  Cafes  is,  '  Whe- 
'  ther  an  Indian  ffealing  an  Hatchet  from  a 
'  Dutch-man,  be  bound  to  make  Reltitution  ? 
'  And   it   is  very  confcieiitioufly  determined, 

That  if  the  Dutchman  be  one  that  has  ufed 
c  any  Trade  with  other  Indians,  the  Thief  is 
c  not  bound  unto  any  Reffitution  ;  for  'tis  cer- 
'•  tain,  he  gains  more  by  fuch  a  Trade  than  the 
:  Value  of  many  Hatchets  in  a  Year. 

I'll  tire  my  Reader  with  no  more  of  this 
wretched  fluff.  But  let  him  underffand  that 
the  profeiyted  Indians  of  New.  England  have 
been  inftrucfed  at  a  more  Noble  Rate;  we  have 
helped  them  to  the  fine  ere  Milk  of  the  Word; 
we  have  given  them  the  whole  Bible  in  their  own 
Language;  we  have  laid  before  them  fuch  a 
Creed  as  the  Primitive  Believers  had,  with  fuch 
Explications  as  we  embark  our  own  Souls  upon 
the  Affurance  of.  And  God  has  blelfed  our  Edu- 
cation of  thefe  poor  Creatures  in  fuch  a  mea 
fure,  that  they  can  Pray  and  Preach  to  better 
Edification  ( give  me  leave  to  fay  it )  than 
Multitudes  of  the  Romijh  Clergymen.  We  could 


have  Baptifcd  many  Troops  of  Indians,  if  we 
would  have  ufed  no  other  meafures  with  them. 
than  the  .Raman Catholicks  did  upon  theirs  at 
Maryland,  where  they  Baptifed  a  great  Crew 
of  Indians,  in  fome  New  Skirts,  betfow'd  upon 
them  to  encourage  them  thereunto;  but  the  In- 
dians in  a  Week  or  two,  not  knowing  how  to 
wafh  their  Shirts  when  they  were  grown  foul, 
came  and  made  a  Motion,  that  the  Roman  Ca- 
tholicks would  give  more  Shirts  to  them,  or 
elfe  they  would  renounce  their  Baft  if m.  No, 
'tis  a  Thoroughpaced  Chriflianity,  without 
which  we  have  not  imagined  our  Indians  Chri- 
ftianized. 

Nor  have  we  been  a£ted  with  a  Roman 
Catholick  Avarice,  and  Falfity,  and  Cruelty  in 
profecuting  of  our  Converfions;  'tis  the  Spirit 
of  an  ELIOT,  that  has  all  along  directed  us. 
'Tis  a  Specimen  of  the  Popifh  Avarice  that  their 
Miffionaries  are  very  rarely  employ'd  but  where 
Bever  and  Silver  and  vaft  Riches  are  to  be 
thereby  gained;  their  Minifhy  is  but  a  fort  of 
Engine,  to  enrich  Europeans  with  the  Treafures 
of  the  Indies-,  thus  one  efcaped  from  Captivity 
among  the  Spaniards  told  me,  that  the  Spanijh 
Friars  had  carried  their  Gofpel  into  the  fpa- 
cious  Country  of  California,  but  finding  the 
Indians  there  to  be  extremely  poor,  they  quickly 
gave  over  the  Work,  becaufe  forlboth  fuch  a 
poor  Nation  was  not  worth  Converting.  Where- 
as the  New-Englanders  could  expe£f  nothing 
from  their  Indians.  We  are  to  Feed  them  and 
Cloath  them,  rather  than  receive  any  thing 
from  them,  when  we  bring  them  home  to  God. 
Again,  the  Popifh  Falfity  difpofes  them  to  fo 
much  Legerdemain  in  their  Applications,  as  is 
very  difagreeable  to  the  Spirit  and  Progrefs 
of  the  Gofpel.  My  Worthy  Friend,  Mynheer 
Dellim,  who  has  been  fedulous  and  fuccefsful 
in  his  Miniftry  among  the  Maquas,  affuresme, 
thatz  French  Predicator,  having  been  attempt- 
ing to  bring  over  thofe  Indians  unto  the  Iute- 
relt  f  not  of  our  Saviour  fo  much  as)  of  Cana- 
da, at  laff,  for  a  Cure  of  their  Infidelity,  told 
them,  he  would  give  them  a  fign  of  God's  Dif- 
pleafure  at  them  for  it;  The  Sun  fhould  fuch  a 
Day  be  put  out.  This  terrify'd  them  at  a  fad 
rate,  and  with  great  Admiration  and  Expecta- 
tion they  told  the  Dutch  of  what  was  to  come 
to  pafs ;  the  Dutch  reply'd,  Tim  was  no  more 
than  every  Child  among  them  could  foretel;  they 
all  knew  there  would  then  be  an  Eclipfe  of  the 
Sun ;  but  (faid  they)  fpeak  to  Monfieur,  that 
he  would  get  the  Sun  cxtinguijh'd  a  day  before, 
or  a  day  after  what  he  fpoke  of,  and  if  he  can 
do  that,  believe  him.  When  the  Indians  thus 
underflood  what  a  Trick  the  Frenchman  would 
have  put  upon  them,  they  became  irreconcile- 
ably  prejudiced  againll  all  his  Offers ;  nor  have 
the  French  been  fince  able  to  gain  much  upon 
that  confidence  People.  The  New-Englanders 
have  ufed  no  fuch  Stratagems  and  Knaveries  ; 
'tis  the  pure  Light  of  Truth,  which  is  all  that 
has  been  ufed  for  the  affefting  of  the  rude  Peo- 
ple, whom  'twas  eafy  to  have  cheated  into  our 
Profeffion.  Much  le'fs  have  we  ufed  that  Po- 
pifh 


Book  HI.       ^  be  Hijiory  of  New- England. 


205 


pi(h  Cruelty,  which  the  Natives  of  America^ 
have  In  tome  other  People  been  treated    with. 
Even  iBifhop  of their  own,  hath  publifhed  very 
Tragical  Hiftbries  of  the  Spanifh  Cruelties  upon 
±c  Indians  of  this  Weltern  World.    Such  were 
thofe  Cruelties,  that  the  Indians  at  length  de- 
clared, They  hud   rather  go  to  Hell  with  their 
Ancejhrs,  than  to  the  fame  Heaven  which  the 
Spaniards  pretended,  unto;  'tis  indeed  impoflible 
to  reckon  up  the  various  and  exquifite  Barba- 
rities, with   which   thefe    execrable   Spaniards 
■  murdered  in  lefs  than  fifty  Years  no  leis  than 
fifty  Millions  of  the  Indians ;  it  feems  this  was 
their  way   of  bringing  them  into  the  Sbeepfojd 
of  our  Merciful  Jefus !  But  on  the  other  fide, 
the  good  People  of  New-England  have  carried 
it  with  fo  much  Tenderneis  towards  the  taw- 
ny Creatures  among  whom  we  live,   that  they 
would  not  own  fo  much  as  one  Foot  of  Land  in 
the  Country,  wicbouta  fair  Purchafe.  and  Con- 
fent  from  the  Natives  that  laid  claim  unio  it  -, 
albeit,  we  had  a  Royal  Charter  from  the  King  of 
Great  Britain,  to  Protect  us  in  our  Settlement 
upon  this  Continent.   I  fuppofe  'twas  in  revenge 
upon  us  for  this  Confcientioufnefs,  that  the  late 
OpprelTois  of  New-England  acknowledged  no 
Man  to  have  any  Title  at  all  unto  one  boot  of 
Land  in  all  our  Colony.     But  we  did  and  we 
do,    think,    notwithftanding    the    Banters    of 
thofe  Tories,  that  the  Indians  had  not  by  their 
Paganifm  fo  forfeited  ail  Right  unto  any  of 
their  Pojjejfions,  that  the  firft  pretended  Cbrifti- 
a/is  that" could,  might  Violently  and  yet  Honeftty 
fcize  upon  them.     Inlfead  of  this,  the  People 
of  New-England,  knowing  that  ibme  of  the 
Englifc    were  fufficiently    covetous   and     en- 
croaching, and  that  the  Indians  in  {freights  are 
eafily  prevailed  upon,  to  fell  their  Lands,  made 
a  Law,  That  none  fhould  pur  chafe,  or  fo  much 
a*  receive  any  Land  of  the  Indians,  icuhout  the 
Allowance  of  the  Court.  1   Yea,  and  fome  Lands 
which  were  peculiarly  convenient  for  the  Indi- 
ans, our  People  who  were  more  careful  of  them 
than  they  were  of  themfelves,  made  a  Law, 
That  they  fhould  never   be  bought  out  of  their 
hands.     I  'fuppofe  after  this  it  would  fuprize 
Mankind,   if  they  fhould  hear  fuch  wonderful 
Creatures  as  our  late  Secretary  Randolph  affirm- 
ing, Thi-s  Barbarous  People  ivere   never  civilly 
treated  by   the  la.'e  Government,  who  made  it 
their  Bujincfs  to  encroach  upon  their  Lands,  and 
by  degrees  to  drive  them  out  of  all.     But,  how 
many  other  Laws  we  made  in  Favour  of  the 
Indians,  'tis  not  eafy  to  reckon  up. 

Twas  one  of  our  Laws,   '  That  for  the  further 

•  Encouragement  of  the  hopeful  Work  among 
'  them,  for  the  Civilizing  and  Christianizing  of 
'  them,,  any  Indian  that  fhould  be  brought  unto 

•  Civility,  and  come  to  live  orderly  in  any  En- 
'  glifb  Plantation,  fhould  have  fuch  Allotments 
'  among  the  Englijh,  as  the  Englifh  had  them- 

•  felves.  And  that  if  a  competent  number  of 
'  them,  fhould  fo  come  on  to  Civility,  as  to  be 
1  capable   of  a  Townlhip,  the  General  Court 

■  fhould  grant  them  Lands  for  a  Plantation  as 
'  they  do  unto  the  Englifh.     Altho'  we  had  al- 


ready brought  up  their  Claims  unto  our  Lands. 
We  likewife  had  our  Laws,  That  if  any  of  our 
Cattle  did  any  damage  to  their  Corn,  we  fhould 
make  them  ample  Sat  ufatfwn  ;  and  that  toe  fhould 
give  them  all  manner  of  Ajfihwce,  in  fencing 
of  their  Fields.  And  becaule  the  Indians  are 
exceffively  given  unto  the  Vice  of  Drunkennefs^ 
which  was  a  Vice  unknown  to  them,  until  the 
Englijh  brought  Strong-drink  in  their  way,  we 
have  had  a  fevere  Law  ag,\inff  all  felling  or.  gi- 
ving any  Intoxicating  Liquors  to  them,  ft 
were  we'll,  if  this  Law  were  more  feverely  Exe- 
cured. 

By  this  time  I  hope,  1  hive  ftop'd  the  Calum- 
nious Exclamations  of  the  Roman  Catholicks 
agafoft  the  Churches  of  the  Reformation,  for 
neglecting  to  Evangelize  the  Natives  of  the 
Indies.  But  let  me  take  this  occafion  to  addrefs 
the  Chrjflian  Indians  of  my  own  Country,  into 
fome'  of  whole  Hands,  'tis  likely,  this  little 
Book  may  come. 


*f[ '  Behold,  v<?  tndmns,  what  Love,  what  Care, 
what  Coft,  has  been  ufed  by  the  Englifh  here, 
for  the  Salvation  of  your  precious  and  immor* 
tals  Souls.  It  is  not  becaufe  we  have  expected 
any  Temporal  Advantage  from  yon,  that  we 
have  been  thus  concerned  for  your  good  ;  No, 
'tis  God  that  has  caufed  us  to  defire  his  Glory 
in  your  Salvation;  and  our  Hearts  have  bled 
with  Pity  over  you,  when  we  have  feen  how 
horribly  the  Devil  opprefs'd  you  in  this,  and 
defiroy'd  you  in  another  World.  It  is  much  that 
has  been  done  for  you^  we  have  put  you  in- 
to a  way  to  be  happy  both  on  Earth  while  you 
live,  and  in  Heaven  when  you  die.    What  can 
you  think  will  become  of  you,  if  you  flight  all 
thefe  Glorious  Offers!   Methinks  you  fhould 
fay  to   your   felves,   Vttoh  weh  kittinne  peh 
ijuoh  humunan   mifhanantamog  ne  mohfag  wad- 
chanittuonk !  You  all  believe   that  your  Tea- 
cher Eliot,  was  a  Good  and  a  Br «Man,  and 
you  would  count  it  your  Bleffednels  to  be  for 
ever  with  him.     Neverthelefs,  I  am   to  tell 
you,  that  if  you   don't  become   Real,   and 
Thorough,  and  Holy  Chriflians,  you  (hall  ne- 
ver have  a  comfortable  Sight  of   him  any 
more.    You  know  how  he  has  Fed  you,  and 
Cloatly'd  you,  as  well   as  Taught  you ;  you 
know  how  his  Bowels  yerned  over  youi  even 
:  as  tho'  had  you  had  been  his  Children,  when 
he  faw  any  Afflictions  come  upon  you  5  but 

■  if  he  find  you  among  the  wicked,  in  the  Day 

■  of  Judgment,  which  he  fo  often  warn'd  you 
'  of,  he  will  then  be  a  Dreadful  Wftnefs  a- 
•  gainft  you,  and  when  the  Lord  Jefus  pafles 
L  that  Sentence  on  you,  Depart  ye  Curfitd  into 

■  Evcrlafting  Fire  with  the  Devil  and  hk  An' 
'  gels,  even  your  own  Eliot  will  then  fay  Amen, 
'  unto  it  all.    Now  to  deal  plainly  with  you, 

0  there  are  two  Vices,  which  many  of  you  are 
'  too  prone  unto,  and  which  are  utterly  incon- 
'  fiftent  with  a  True  Chriftianity.  One  of  thofe 
'  Vices,  is  that  of  Idlcnefs.  If  you  had  a  Dif- 
'  pofition   to  follow  an  Honefl  Calling,  what 

1  fhould  hinder  you  from  prowins  as  Confide- 

'  rah!?: 


206 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.     Book  III, 


rable  in  your  Eftates,  as  many  of  your  En- 
glifb  Neighbours :  Whereas,  you  are  now 
poor,  mean,  ragged,  ftarved,  contemptible 
and  miferable ;  and  inflead  of  being  able,  as 
your  Englifl)  Neighbour?  do,  to  fupport  the 
Ordinances  of  God,  you  are  beholden  to  them, 
not  only  for  maintaining  of  thofe  Blelfed  Or- 
dinances among  you.  but  for  many  other 
Kindndfcs.  And  have  you  indeed  forgot  the 
Commandment  of God,  ivhich  has  been  fo  often 
hid  before  you,  Six  Days  floalt  thou  labour ! 
For  fhame,  apply  your  lelves  to  fuch  Labour 
as  may  bring  you  into  more  Handfome  Cir- 
cumffances.  But  the  other  of  thefe  Vices,  is 
that  of  Drunkennefs.  There  are  godly  En 
glifh  Neighbours,  of  whom  you  fhould  learn 
to  Pray  ;  but  there  are  fome  of  you   that 


learn  to  Drink,  of  other  profane,  debauch'd 
Engiijh  Neighbours.  Poor  Creatures,  'tis  bv 
this  Iniquity  that  Satan  ftiii  keeps  Poffeiiio'n 
of  many  Souls  among  you,  as  much  as  if  you 
were  /till  in  all  your  ivoful  Heatbembn  j  and. 
how  often  have  you  been  told,  Drunkards 
Jhall  not  inherit  the  Kingdom  cf  God  ?  I  be- 
feech  you  to  be  fenfible  of  the^  Mifchiefs  to 
which  this  thing  expofes.  you,  and  never 
dream  of  efcaping  the  Vengeance  of  Eternal 
Eire,  if  you  indulge  your  lelves  in  this  Ac- 
curfed  thing. 

*  I  have  done,  when  I  have  wifh'd,  That  the 
Go/pel  of  the  Lord  Jefus  may  always  Run  and 

be  Glorify  d  among  you  ! 


The  Conclusion:   Or,  Eliot  Expiring. 


BY  this  time,  I  have  doubtlefs  made  my 
Readers  loth  to  have  me  tell  what  now 
ianains  of  this  little  Hiftory ;  doubtlefs  they 
are  wifhing  that  this  John  might  have  Tar- 
ried unto  the  Second  Coming  cf  our  Lord.  But, 
alas,  All-devouring  Death  at  Iaft  fnatch'dhim 
from  us,  and  flighted  all  thofe  Lamentations 
of  ours,  My  Father,  My  Father,  the  Chariots  of 
Ifrael,  and  the  Horfemen  thereof! 

When  he  was  become  a  fort  of  Miles  Emeri- 
tus, and  began  to  draw  near  his  End,  he  grew 
(fill  more  Heavenly,  more  Savoury,  more  Di- 
vine, and  fcented  more  of  the  Spicy  Country 
at  which    he  was  ready  to  put  alhore.    As 
the  Hiftorian  obferves  of  Tiberius,  That  when 
his  Life  and  Strength  were  going  from  him, 
his  Vice  yet  remained  with  him ;  on  the  con- 
trary, the  Grace  of  this  Excellent  Man  rather 
increafed    than  abated,  when  every  thing  elfe 
was  dying  with  him.     'Tis  too  ufual  with  Old 
Men,  that  when  they  are  part  Work,  they  are 
lealt  fenfible  of  their  Inabilities  and  lncapacf" 
ties,  and  can  fcarce  endure  to  fee  another  fuc- 
ceeding  them  in  any  part   of  their  Office.     But 
our  Eliot   was  of  a   Temper   quite  contrary 
thereunto ;  for  rinding  many  Months  before  his 
Expiration,  That  he  had  not  Strength   enough 
to  Edify  his  Congregation  with  Publick  Pray- 
ers, and   Sermons,    he  importun'd   his   People 
with  fome  Impatience  to  call  another  Minifter ; 
profefling  himfelf  unable  to  die  with  Comfort, 
until  he  could  fee  a  good  Succeflbr  ordained, 
fettled,  fixed  among  them.     For  this  Caufe,   he 
alloc/d  mightily  unto  the  Lotd  Jefus  Chri ft 
our  Afcenied Lord,  that  he  would  give  fuch  a 
Gift  mito  Roxbuty,  and  he  fometimes  call'd  his 
whole  Town   together  to  join  with  him  in  a 
Fajl  for  fuch  a  Bleffing.     As  the  Return  of  their 
Supplications,  our  Lord  quickly  beftow'd  upon 


them,  a  Perfon  young  in  Years,  but  old  in  Dif 
cretion,  Gravity,  and  Experience  -,  and  one 
whom  the  Church  of  Roxbury  hopes  to  find, 
A  Faftor  after  God's  own  Heart. 

It  was  Mr.  Nehcmiah  Walter,  who  being  by 
the  Unanimous  Vote  and  Choice  of  the  Church 
there,  become  the  Faftor  of  Roxbury,  immedi- 
ately found  the  Venerable  Eliot  Embracing  and 
Gherifhing  of  him,  with  the  tender  Affe&ions 
of  a  Father.    The  good  Old  Man  like  Old 
Aaron,  as  it  were  difrobed  himfelf,  with  an 
unfpeakable  Satisfaction,  when  he  beheld  his 
Garments  put  upon  a  Son  fo  dear  unto  him. 
After  this,  he  for  a  Year  or  two  before  his 
Tranflation,  could  fcarce   be  perfwaded  unto 
any  Publick  Service,  but  humbly  pleaded,  what 
none  but  he  would  ever  have  laid,  It  would  be 
a  Wrong  to  the  Souls  of  the  People,  for  him  to 
do  any  thing  among  them,  when  they  were  fup- 
pl/dfo  much  to  their  Advantage  otherwifc.    If 
I  millake  not,  the  laft  that  ever  he  Preached 
was  on  a  Publick  Fafi  ■,  when  he  fed  his  Peo- 
ple with  a  very  diftinft  and  ufeful  Expofition 
upon  the  Eighty  Third  Pfalm  ;  and  he  conlud- 
ed  with  an  Apology,  begging  his  Hearers  to 
pardon  the  Foornefs,  and  Meannefs,  and  Bro- 
kennefs,  (as  he  called  it)  of  his  Meditations ; 
but  added  he,  My  dear  brother  here,  will  bfnd 
by  mend  all. 

But  altho'  he  thus  difmifled  himfelf  as  one  fo 
near  to  the  Age  of  Ninety,  might  well  have 
done,  from  his  Publick  Labours;  yet  he  would 
not  give  over  his  Endeavours,  in  a  more  pri- 
vate Sphere,  to  Do  good  unto  all.  He  had  al- 
ways been  an  Enemy  to  Jdlenefs  -,  any  one  that 
fhould  look  into  the  little  Diary  that  he  kept 
in  his  Almanacks,  would  fee  that  there  was 
with  him,  No  Day  without  a  Line-,  and  he  was 
ttoubled  particularly,  when  he  faw  how  much 
Time  was  devoured  by  that  Slavery  to  Tobacco, 

which 


Book  III.       :1  lye  Htjtory  of  New-England. 


- 


207 


which  too  many  debafe  themfelves  unto  •,  and 
now  he 'grew  old,  he  was  defirous  that  his 
Works  fhould  hold  pace  with  his  Life  ;  the 
lefs  Time  he  law  left,  the  lei's  was  he  willing 
to  have  .Jeff.  He  imagined  that  he  could  now 
do  nothing  to  any  purpole  in  any  Service  lor 
God  5  and  fometimes  he  would  fay  with  an"  Air 
peculiar  to  himfelf,  1  wonder  for  what  the  Lord 
J  ejus  Cbrift  lets  me  live  -,  he  knows  that  now  I 
canto  nothing  for  him  !  And  yet- he  could  not 
forbear  Effaying  to  Do  fomething  for  his  Lord  ; 
he  conceived,  that  tho'  the  Enghfh  could  not 
be  benefited  by  any  Gifts  which  he  now  fancied 
himielf  to  have  only  the  Ruines  of,  yet  who 
can  tell  but  the  Negro's  might !  He  had  long 
lamented  it  with  a  Bleeding  and  a  Burning 
Paflion,  that  the  Englifh  ufed  their  Negro's  but 
as  their  Horfes  or  their  Oxen,  and  that  fo  little 
Care  was  taken  about  their  immortal  Souls ; 
he  look'd  upon  it  as  a  Prodigy,  that  any  wear- 
ing the  Name  of  Chrift  ians,  fhould  fo  much 
have  the  Heart  of  Devils  in  them,  as  to  pre- 
vent and  hinder  the  Inirrucfion  of  the _  poor 
Blackambres\  and  confine  the  Souls  of  their  mi- 
ferable  Slaves  to  a  Deftroying  Ignorance,  meetly 
for  fear  of  thereby  lofing  the  Benefit  of  their 
Vaffalage;  but  now  he  made  a  Motion  to  the 
Engltfb  within  two  or  three  Miles  ol  him,  that 
at  fuch  a  time  and  Place  they  would  fend  their 
Negro's  once  a  Week  unto  him  :  For  he  would 
then  Catcchije  them,  and  Enlighten  them,  to 
the  utmoft  of  his  Power  in  the  Things  of  their 
Everlafting  Peace ;  however,  he  did  not  live 
to  make  much  Progrefs  in  this  Undertaking. 

At  length,  when  he  was  able  to  do  Little 
without  Doors,  he  try'd  then  to  do  fomething 
within ;  and  one  thing  was  this.  A  young  Boy 
in  the  Neighbourhood,  had  in  his  Infancy  fal- 
len into  a  Fire,  fo  as  to  burn  himfelf  into  a  per- 
fect Blindnefs ;  but  this  Boy  being  now  grown 
to  fome  Bignefs,  the  good  old  Man  took  him 
home  to  his  Houfe,  with  fome  Intentions  to 
make  a  Scholar  of  him.  He  firft  informed  him  of 
and  from  the  Scripture,  in  which  the  Boy  fo 
profited,  that  in  a  little  time  he  could  even 
Repeat  many  whole  Chapters  Verbatim,  and  if 
any  other  in  Reading  miffed  a  Word,  he  would 
mind  them  of  it  •,  yea,  and  an  ordinary  piece 
of  Latin  was  become  eafy  to  the  Lad  ;  but  ha- 
ving his  own  Eyes  clofed  by  Death,  he  could 
no  longer  help  the  poor  Child  againft  the  want 
of  his. 

Thus,  As  the  Aged  Polycarp  could  fay,  Thefe 
Eighty  Six  Tears  have  I  Jerved  my  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift  -,  and  he  has  been  fuch  a  good  Mafier  to 
me  all  this  while,  that  I  will  not  now  forfake 
him.  Such  a  Polycarp  was  our  Eliot ;  he  had 
been  fo  many  Years  engaged  in  the  fweet  Ser- 
vice of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  that  he  could 
not  now  give  it  over  :  'Twas  his  Ambition,  and 
his  Privilege,  to  bring  forth  Fruit  in  old  Age  ; 
and  what  Veneration  the  Church  of  Smyrna 
paid  unto  that  Angel  of  theirs,  we  were  upon 
the  like  Accounts  willing  to  give  unto  this 
Man  of  God. 


While  he  was  thus  making  his  Retreat  out 
of  this  evil  World,  his  Diicourfes  from  time 
to  time  ran  upon,  The' Coming  of  the  Lord  Je- 
fus Chrift  ,  it  was  the  Theme  which  he  fiill 
had  Recourfe  unto,  and  We  were  fure  to  have 
fomething  of  this,  whatever  other  Subject  he 
were  upon.  On  this  he  talk'd,  of  this  he  pray'd, 
for  this  he  long'd,  and  .  efpecially  when  any 
bad  News  arrived,  his  ufual  Reflexion  there- 
upon would,  be.  Behold,  fome  of  the  Chads, 
in  which  we  muft  look  for  the  Coming  of  the 
Son  of  Man.  At  laft,  his  Lord,  for  whom  he 
had  been  long  wifhing,  Lord,  come  I  J  have  been 
a  great  while  ready  for  thy  Coming  I  At  la  ft;,  I 
fay,  his  Lord  came  and  fetched  him  away  into 
the  Joy  of  his  Lord. 

He  fell  into  fome  Languifhments  attended 
with  a  Fever,  which  in  a  few  days  brought 
him  into  the  Pangs  (may  I  fay  ?  or  Joys)  of 
Death  ;  and  while  he  lay  in  thefe,  Mr.  Wal- 
ter coming  to  him,  he  faid  unto  him,  Brother, 
Thou  art  welcome  to  my  very  Soul.  Pray  retire 
to  thy  Study  for  me,  and  give  me  leave^  to  be 
gone  -,  meaning  that  he .  ihould  not,  by  Peti- 
tions to  Heaven  for  his  Life,  detain  him  here. 
It  was  in  thefe  Languifhments,  that  ipeaking 
about  the  Work  of  the  Gofpel  among  the  In- 
dians, he  did  after  this  Heavenly  manner  ex- 
prefs  himfelf,  There  is  a  Cloud  (  faid  he )  a 
dark  Cloud  upon  the  Work  of  the  Gofpel  among 
the  poor  Indians.  The  Lord  revive  and  profper 
that  Work,  dnd  grant  it  may  live  when  I  am 
Dead.  It  is  a  Work,  which  I  have  been  doing 
much  and  long  about.  But  what  was  the  Word 
I  /poke  lafi  ?  I  recal  that  Word,  My  Doings  ! 
Ahu,  they  have  been  poor  and  Jmall,  and  lean 
Doings,  and  Til  be  the  Man  that  /ball  throw  the 
firft  Stone  at  them  all. 

It  has  been  obferved,  That  they  who  have 
fpoke  many  confiderable  things  in  their  Lives, 
ufually  fpeak  few  at  their  Deaths.  But  it  was 
otherwife  with  our  Eliot,  who  after  much 
Speech  of  and  for  God  in  his  Life-tune,  uttered 
fome  things  little  fhort  of  Oracles  on  his  Death- 
Bed,  which,  'tis  a  thoufand  Pities,  they  were 
not  more  exactly  regarded  and  recorded, 
Thofe  Authors  that  have  taken  the  pains  to 
Collect,  Apophthegmata  Morientum,  have,  not 
therein  been  unferviceable  to  the  Living-,  but 
the  Apophthegms  of  a  Dying  Eliot   n  1  ce 

had  in  them  a  Grace  and  a  Strain  truly  .  jr- 
nary-,  and  indeed  the  vulgar  Error  of the  fignal 
fweetnefs  in  the  Song  of  a  Dying  Swan,  was 
a  very  Truth  in  our  Expiring  Eliot  ■,  his  laft 
Breath  fmelt  ftrong  of  Heaven,  and  wa:.  Arti- 
cled into  none  but  very  gracious  Notes ;  one 
of  the  laft  whereof,  was,  Welcome  Joy !  and  at 
laft  it  went  away  calling  upon  the  ftandersbya 
to  Pray,  pray,  pray !  Which  was  the  thing  in 
which  fo  vaft  a  Portion  of  it,  had  been  before 
Employ'd. 

This  was  the  Peace  in  the  End  of  this  Perfeft 

and  upright  Man ;  thus  was  there  another  Star 

fetched  away  to  be  placed  among  the  reft  that 

i     D  d  d  d  the 


208 


The  Hijlory  of  New-England.     Book  HI. 


the  third  Heaven  is  now  enriched  with.  He 
had  once,  I  think,  a  pleafant  Fear,  that  the 
Old  Saints  of  his  Acquaintance,  efpecially  thofe 
two  deareft  Neighbours  of  his,  Cotton  ofBofton, 
and  Mather  of  Dorchefter,  which  were  got  fafe 
to  Heaven  before  him,  would  fufpeft  him  to 
be  gone  the  wrong  way,  becaufe  he  ftaid  fo  long 
behind  them.  But  they  are  now  together  with 
a  Bleffed  Jefus,  beholding  of  hk  Glory,  and  ce- 
lebrating the  High  Prailes  of  him  that  has  calPd 
them  into  his  marvellous  Light.  Whether  Hea- 
ven was  any  more  Heaven  to  him,  becaufe  of 
his  finding  there,  fo  many  Saints,  with  whom 
he  once  had  his  Defireable  Intimacies,  yea,  and 
fo  many  Saints  which  had  been  the  Seals  of 
his  own  Miniftry  in  this  lower  World,  I  can- 
not fay  ;  but  it  would  be  Heaven  enough  unto 
him,  to  go  unto  that  Jefus,  whom  he  had  lov'd, 
preach'd,  ferv'd,  and  in  whom  he  had  been 
long  allured,  there  does  All  Fullnefs  dwell.  In 
that  fleaven  I  now  leave  him  :  Not  without 
Grynxuss  Pathetical  Exclamations  [0  beatum 
tllum  diem  >.  ]  '  Bleffed  will  be  the  Day,  O 
'  Bleffed  the  Day  of  our  Arrival  to  the  Glorious 
s  Affembly  of  Spirits,  which  this  great  Saint  is 
'  now  rejoicing  with ! 

Bereaved  New-England,  where  are  thy  Tears, 
at  this  III  boding  Funeral  ?  We  had  a  Tradi- 
tion among  us,  '  That  the  Country  could  never 
c  perifh,  as  long  as  Eliot  was  alive.  But  into 
whofe  Hands  muft  this  Hippo  fall,  now  the 
Auftin  of  it  is  taken  away  ?  Our  Eiijha  is 
gone,  and  now  who  muft  next  Tear  invade  the 
hand  ?  The  Jews  have  a  Saying,  Quando  Lu 
minaria  patiuntur  Eclipfin,  malum  Jignum  eft 
mundo ;  But  I  am  fure,  'tis  a  difmal  Eclipfe 
that  has  now  befallen  our  New-Engli/b  World. 
I  confefs,  many  of  the  Ancients  fell  into  the 
Vanity  of  efteeming  the  Reliques  of  the  Dead 
Saints,  to  be  the  Towers  and  Ramparts  of  the 
Places  that  enjoy'd  them  j  and  the  Dead  Bodies 
of  two  A  pottles  in  the  City,  made  the  Poet 
cry  out, 

A  Facie  Hojlili  duo  propugnacula  prafunt. 


1  ches  was  continually  encreafing  :  And  that 
(  the  Churches  were  (till  kept  as  big  as  they 
'  were,  by  the  Daily  Additions  of  thofe  that 
'  fhall  be  faved.  But  the  going  of  fuch  as  he 
from  us,  will  apace  diminifh  the  Occafions  of 
fuch  happy  Tidings. 

What  fhall  we  now  fay  ?  Our  Eliot  himfelf 
u fed  molt  affectionately  to  bewail  the  Death 
of  all  Ufeful  Men  -,  yet  if  one  brought  him  the 
notice  of  fuch  a  thing,  with  any  Defpondencies, 
or  faid,  0  Sir,  fuch  an  one  is  Dead,  what  fhall 
we  do?  He  would  anfwer,  Well,  but  God  lives , 
Chrijl  lives,  the  Old  Saviour  of  New-England 
yet  lives,  and  he  will  Reign  till  all  his  Enemies 
made  his  Footftool.     This,    and  only  : this, 


If  the  Duft  of  dead  Saints  cculd  give  us  any 
Protection,  we  are  not  without  it ;  here  is  a 
Spot  of  American  Soyl  that  will  afford  a  rich 
Crop  of  it,  at  the  Rejurrcttion  of  the  Juji.  Poor 
New  England  has  been  as  Glajienbury  of  Old 
was  called,  A  Buryingplace  of  Saints.  But  we 
cannot  fee  a  more  terrible  Prognoftick,  than 
Tombs  filling  apace  with  fuch  Bones^  as  thofe 
of  the  Renowned  Eliot's  ;  the  whole  Building 
of  this  Country  trembles  at  the  Fall  of  fuch  a 
Pillar. 

For  many  Months  before  he  dy'd,  he  would 
often  chearfully  tell  us,  '  That  he  was  fhortly 
1  going  to  Heaven,  and  that  he  would  carry  a 
c  deal  of  good  News  thither  with  him ;  he 
c  faid,  he  would  carry  Tidings  to  the  Old 
'  Founders  of  New-England,  which  were  now 

*  in  Glory,  that  Church-Work  was  yet  carried 

*  on  among  us:  That  the  Number  ofourChur- 


are 

Confideration  have  we  to  relieve  us ;  and  let  it 
be  accompanied  with  our  Addreffes  to  the  God 
of  the  Spirits  of  all  Flejh,  that  there  may  be 
Timothies  raifed  up  in  the  room  of  our  Depar- 
ted Pauls  -,  and  that  when  our  Mofes's  are 
gone,  the  Spirit  which  was  in  thofe  Brave 
Men,  may  be  put  upon  the  furviving  Elders  of 
our  Ifrael. 

The  laft  Thing  that  ever  our  Eliot  put  off, 
was,  The  Care  of  all  the  Churches,  which  with 
a  molt  Apoltolical  and  Evangelical  Temper  he 
was  continually  follicitous  about.    When  the 
Churches  of  New-England  were  under  a  very 
uncomfortable  Profpeft,  by  the  advantage  which 
Men  that  fought  the  Ruine  of  thofe  Golden  and 
Holy  and  Reformed  Societies,  had  obtained  a- 
gainft  them.    God  put  it  into  the  Heart  of  one 
well  known  in  thefe  Churches,  to  take  a  Voyage 
into  England,  that  he  might  by  his  Mediations 
at  Whitehall,  divert  the  Storms  that  were  im- 
pending over   us.     'Tis   not  eafy  to  exprefs 
what  Affection  our  Aged  Eliot  profecuted  this 
Undertaking  with ;  and  what  Thankfgiving  he 
rendred  unto  God  for  any  hopeful  Succeffes  of 
it.    But  becaufe  one  of  the  laft  Times,  and  for 
ought  I  know,  the  laft  of  his  ever  fetting  Pen 
to  Paper  in  the  World,  was  upon  this  occafion  5 
I  fhall  tranferibe  a  fhort  Letter,  which  was  writ- 
ten by  the  fhaking  hand,  that  had  heretofore  by 
Writing  deferved  fo  well  from  the  Church  of 
God,  but  was  now  taking  its  leave  of  Writing 
for  ever.    It  was  written  to  the  Perfon  that 
was  Engaging  for  us,  and  thus  it  ran. 


Reverend  and  Beloved  Mr.  Increafe  Mather, 


I 


Cannot  write.  Read  Neh.  2.  10.  When 
4  Sanballat  the  Horonite,  and  Tobijah  the 
Servant,  the  Ammonite,  heard  of  it ;  it  grie- 
ved them  exceedingly,  that  there  was  come 
a  Man  to  feek  the  Welfare  of  the  Children 
of  Ifrael. 

*  Let  thy  bleffed  Soul,  feed  full  and  fat  upon 
this  and  other  Scriptures.  All  other  things  I 
leave  to  other  Men-,  and  reft, 

Tour  Loving  Brother, 

JOHN  ELIOT. 

Thefe 


Be  ok  ill.       '({"be  Hijiory  of  JNevv-r  ngland. 


20^ 


Thcfe  Two  or  Three  Lines  manifelt  th.eC//-f 
cf  the  Churches  which  breath'd  in  this  greai 
Old  Man,  as  long  as  he  had  a  Breath  to  draw 
in  the  World.  And  fince  he  has  lett  few  like 
him  lor  a  Comprehenfive  and  Univerfal  Regard 
unto  the  Prolperity  of  all  the  Flocks  in  this 
Wildernefs,  we  have  little  now  to  comfort  us 
in  the  Lois  of  one  lb  like  a  Patriarch  among 
us,  but  only  this,  That  our  poor  Churches,  it 
may  be  hop'd,  have  ftill  tome  Intereft  in  the 
Cares  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  Who  walks  in 
the  miclji  of  the  Golden  CandlejYicks.  Lord ! 
make  our  Churches  and  keep  them,  yet  Golden 
Candlejlicks!  Amen. 

BU  T   I  have   not  obtained  the  End  of  this 
Hiftory,  nor  may  I  let  this  Hiftory  come 
to  an  End,  until  I  do  with   lbme  Importunity 
befpeak  the  Endeavours  of  good   Men  every 
where,  to   labour   in   that  Harveft  which  the 
BlelTed  Eliot  juftly  counted  worthy  of  his  ut- 
moft  Pains  and  Cares.     It  was  the  ConfefTion 
of  Themifiocles,  that  the  ViQory  of  Miltiades 
would   not  let  him  fleep  in  Quietnefs  •,  may 
thole  of  our  Eliot  raife  a  like  Emulation  in 
thofe  that  have  now  feen  the  Life  of  this  Evan 
gelical  Hero  !  One  Robert  Baily  (a  true  Son  of 
Epiphantus)  many  Years  ago  publifhed  a  Book, 
wherein  feveral  Grofs  Lies,  by  which  the  Name 
of  that  John  Cotton,  who  was  known  to  be  one 
of  the  Holieft  Men  then  alive,  was  mod  inju- 
rioully  made  odious  unto  the  Churches  abroad, 
were  accompanied  with  fome  ReHecYions  upon 
poor  New-England,  whereof  this  was  one,  The 
way  of  their  Churches  hath  moft  exceedingly  kin- 
dred the  Converfwn  of  the  poor  Pagans  :  Of  all 
that  ever  crofted  the  American  Seas,  they  are 
noted  of  moji  ncgletlful  of  the  Work  of  Conver- 
sion.   We  have  now  feen  thofe  Afperfions  and 
Calumnies  abundantly   wip'd  away.     But  let 
that  which  has  been   the  Vindication  of  New- 
England,  be  alfo  the  Emulation  of  the  World  : 
Let  not  poor  little  New-England,  be  the  only 
Proteftant  Country   that  (hall  do  any  Notable 
thing  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Faith,  unto  thofe 
Dark  Corners  of  the  Earth  wivii)  are  full  of 
cruel  Habitations.    But  the  Addrejfes  of  lb  mean 
a  Perfon  as  my  felf,  are  like  to  prevail  but  lit- 
tle abroad  with  Men  of  Learning  and  Figure  in 
the  World.     However,  I  (hall  prefume  to  utter 
my  Wijhes  in  the  light  of  my  Readers  -,  and  it 
is  poflible    that  the  Great  God  who  defpifes 
not  the  Prayer  of  the  poor,  may  by  the  Influ- 
ences of  his  Holy  Spirit,  upon  the  Hearts  of 
fome  whofe  Eyes  are  upon  thefe  Lines,  give  a 
BlelTed  Anfwer  thereunto. 

Wherefore,  May  the  People  of  New-England, 
who  have  feen  fo  fenfible  a  Difference  between 
the  Eftates  of  thofe  that  fell  Drink,  and  of  thofe 
that  preach  Truth,  unto  the  miferable  Salvages 
among  them,  as  that  even  this  alone  might  in- 
fpire  them,  yet  from  a  nobler  Confideration 
than  that  of  their  own  outward  Profperity 
thereby  advanced,  be  encouraged  ftill  to  prole- 


cute,  firft  the  Civilizing,  and  then  the  Chrifti- 
anizing  of  the  Barbarians,  in  their  Neighbour- 
hood ;  and  may  the  NewEnglandcrs  be  fo  far 
Politick  as  well  as  Religious,  as  particularly  to 
make  a  MiJJion  of  the  Gofpel  unto  the  Mighty 
Nations  of  the  Weftern  Indians,  whom^the 
French  have  been  of  late  fo  ftudiou%,  but  lb 
unfuccefsfully  Tampering  with  ;  left  thofe  hor 
rid  Pagans,  who  lately  (as  'tis  credibly  affirm 
ed)  had  fuch  a  Meafure  of  Devilifm  and  Info- 
lence  in  them,  as  to  fhoot  a  Volley  of  great  and 
fmall  Shot  againlt  the  Heavens,  in  Revenge 
upon  The  Man  in  the  Heavens,  as  they  called 
our  Lord,  whom  they  counted  the  Author  b? 
the  Heavy  Calamities  which  neHy  have  di 
(treiTed  them ;  be  found  fpared  by  our  Long- 
fuffering  Lord,  [who  then  indeed  prefently  tore 
the  Ground  afunder,  with  immediate  and  hor- 
rible Thunders  from  Heaven  round  about  them, 
but  kill'd  them  not  f]  for  a  Scourge  to  us,  that 
have  not  ufed  our  Advantages  to  make  a  ver- 
tuorn  People  of  them.  If  a  King  of  the  Weft 
Saxonslong  fince  afcribed  all  the  Diafaiters  on 
any  of  their  Affairs,  to  Negligencies  in  this 
Point,  methinks  the  New-Englanders  may  not 
count  it  unreafonable  in  this  way  to  feek  their 
own  Profperity.  Shall  we  do  what  we  can 
that  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  may  beftow  upon 
America,  (which  may  more  juftly  be  calfd  Co- 
lumba)  that  Salutation,  0  my  Dove .' 

May  the  feveral  Plantations,  that  live  upon 
the  Labours  of  their  Negro's,  no  more  be  guil- 
ty of  fuch  a  prodigious  Wickednefs,  as  to  de- 
ride, neglecF,  and  oppofe  all  due  means  of 
bringing  their  poor  Negroes  unto  our  Lord  -,  but 
may  the  Maflers  of  whom  God  will  one  Day 
require  the  Souls  of  the  Slaves  committed  unto 
them,  fee  to  it,  that  like  Abraham,  they  hive 
Cat echi fed  Servants  ;  and  not  imagine  that  the 
Almighty  God  made  fo  many  Thoulands  of 
Reafonable  Creatures  for  nothing,  but  only  to 
ferve  the  Lufts  of  Epicures,  or  the  Gains  of 
Mammonifls ;  left  the  God  of  Heaven  out  of 
meer  Pity,  if  not  Jujiice,  unto  thofe  unhappy 
Blacks,  be  provoked  unto  a  Vengeance  which 
may  not  without  Horrour,  be  thought  upon. 
Lord,  when  jball  we  fee  Ethiopians  read  thy  Scri- 
ptures with  Vnderftanding ! 

May  the  Englifh  Nation  do  what  may  be 
done,  that  the  Welch  may  not  be  deftrofd  jo> 
the  lack  of  Knowledge,  left  our  Indifpofition  to 
do  for  their  Souls,  bring  upon  us  all  thole 
Judgments  of  Heaven,  which  Gildan  their 
Country-man,  once  told  them,  that  they  fuffer- 
ed  for  their  Difregards  unto  ours  -,  and  may  the 
nefandous  MafTacres  of  the  Englifh  by  the  Irijh, 
awaken  the  Englifh  to  confider,  whether  they 
have  done  enough  to  reclaim  the  Irifh,  from 
the  Popifh  Bigottries  and  Abominations,  with 
which  they  have  been  intoxicated. 

May    the    feveral    Factories  and    Companies, 
whofe  Concerns  lie  in  Afia,  Africa,  or  Ameri- 
ca, be  peri  waded,  as  Jacob  once,  and  before  him 
Dddd  2  his 


2IO 


The  Hi/lory  of  Nevv-fcn  gland.     Book  I] 


his  Grandfather  Abraham  was,  That  they  al- 
ways owe  unto  God  certain  Proportions  of  their 
Po/fejfons,  by  the  honeft  Payments  of  which  lit- 
tle ^jut-Rents,  they  would  certainly  Jccure 
and  enlarge  their  Enjoyment  of  the  Principal; 
but  that  they  are  under  a  very  particular  Obli- 
gation to  communicate  of  our  Spirit  ualThings. 
unto  thofe  Heathens,  by  whofe  Carnal  Things 
they  are  Enriched  :  And  may  they  therefore 
make  it  their  Study,  to  employ  fome  able  and 
pious  Miniffers,  lor  the  InftrucVion  of  thofe  In 
fidels  with  whom  they  have  to  deal,  and  ho- 
nourably fupport  fuch  M  in  liters  in  that  Em- 
ployment. 

May  the  Poor  Greeks,  Armenians,  Mufco- 
vites,  and  others,  in  the  Eaftern  Countries, 
wearing  the  Name  ofChriJlians,  that  have  lit- 
tle Preaching  and  no  Printing,  and  few  Bibles 
or  good  Books,  now  at  lad  be  fumifhed  with 
Bibles,  Orthodox  Catechifms,  and  Practical 
Treadles  by  the  Charity  of  England;  and  may 
our  Preffes  provide  good  ftore  of  good  Books 
for  them,  in  their  own  Tongues,  to  be  fcatter- 
ed  among  them.  Who  knows  what  Convul- 
fions  might  be  haffened  upon  the  whole  Maho- 
metan World  by  fuch  an  extenfive  Charity  / 

May  fufficient  Numbers  of  great,  wife,  rich, 
learned,  and  godly  Men  in  the  Three  King 
doms,     procure  wellcompofed    Societies,    by 
whofe  united  Counfels,  the  Noble  Defign  of 
Evangelizing  the  World,    may  be  more  effe 
ftually  carried  on  ;  and  if  fome  generous  Per- 
fons  will  of  their  own  Accord  combine  for  fuch 
Confutations,  who  can  tell,  but  like  fome  o 
ther  Celebrated  Societies  heretofore  formed  from 
fuch  fmall  Beginnings,  they  may  foon  have  thai 
Countenance  of  Authority,  which  may  produce 
very  Glorious  Effe£ts,    and  give  Opportunity 
to  gather  vaft  Contributions  from  all  well  dif 
pofed  People,  to  Affift  and  Advance  this  Pro- 
grefs  of  Chriftianity.    God  forbid,  that  Popery 
fhould  expend  upon  cheating,  more  than  ten 


times  what  we  do   upon  faviag  the  Immortal 
Souls  of  Men. 

Laftly,  May  many  Worthy  Men,  who  find    ■ 
their  Circumitances  will  allow  of  ic,  get  the 
Language   of  fome  Nations  that  are  not  yet 
btought  home  to  God  -,   and  wait  upon  the 
Divine  Providence,  for  God's  leading  them  to 
and  owning  them  in  their  Apoftolical  Underta- 
kings.    When  they  remember  what  Ruffinus 
relates  concerning  the  Converfion  of  the  Ibe- 
rians, and  what  Socrates,  with  other  Authors 
relates  concerning  the  Converfion  wrought  by 
occafion  of  Prumentius  and  JEdefim,   in   the 
Inner  India,  all  as  it  were  by  Accident,  furely 
'twill  make  them  try,  what  may  be  done  by 
Defign  for  fuch  things  now  in  our  Day !  Thus, 
let  them  fee,  whether   while   we  at  home  in 
the  rnidft  of  wearifome  Temptations,  ate  Ang- 
ling with  Rods,  which  now  and  then  catch  one 
Soul  for  our  Lord,  they  fhall  not  be  Fifhing 
with  Nets,  which  will   bring  in  many  Thou- 
fands  of  thofe,  concerning  whom  with  unfpeak- 
able  Joy  in  the  Day  of  the  Lord,  they  may  fay, 
Behold,  I  and  the  Children  which  God  bat  given 
me  I  Let    them  fee,  whether,  fuppofing  they 
fhould  profper  no  farther  than  to  Preach  the 
Go/pel  of  the  Kingdom  in  all  the  World  for  a 
Witnefs  unto  all  Nations,  yet  the  End  which  is 
then  to  come,   will  not  bring  to  t!,em  the  more 
happy  Lot,  wherein  they  (hall  ftand,  that  are 
found  fo  doing. 

Let  no  Man  be  difcouraged  by  the  Difficulties, 
whi  h  the  Devil  will  be  ready  to  clog  fuch 
A  .tempts  againft  his  Kingdom  with  5  foi  I  will 
nke  leave  fo  to  Tranflate  the  Words  of  the 
Wile  M  in,  in  Prov.  27. 4.  What  is  able  toftand 
before  Zeal  ?  I  am  well  fatisfy'd,  that  if  Men 
had  the  Wifdom,  To  difcern  the  Signs  of  the 
Times,  they  would  be  all  Hands  at  Work, 
to  lpread  the  Name  of  our  Jefus  into  all  the 
Corners  of  the  Earth.  Grant  it,  0  my  God; 
and  Lord  Jefus,  Ceme  quickly. 


A  Copy  of  a   Letter,  from  the   very  Reverend 

Mr.  Richard  "Baxter,   to  Mr.  Increaje  Mather   ("then  in 
London.) 

Written  upon  the  Sight  of  Mr.  Eliot's  LIFE,  in  a  Former  Edition. 


Dear  Brother, 

I  Thought  I  had  been  near  Dying  at  12  a 
'  Clock,  in  Bed  ;  but  your  Book  reviv'd 
me :  I  lay  Reading  it,  until  between  One 
and  Two.    I  knew  much  of  Mr.  Eliot's  Opi- 


nions, by  many  Letters,  which  I  had  from 
him.  There  was  no  Man  on  Earth,  whom 
I  Honoufd  above  him.  It  is  his  Evangelical 
Work,  that  is  the ,  Apofiolieal  Succeffton  that 

I  plead 


k>~       —  I  III    ■ — —  ■  ■      

Book  111.      Ibe  Hijhry  of  New-England. 


211 


I  plead  for.  I  am  now  Dying,  I  hope,  as 
he  did.  It  plea  led  me  to  Read  from  him, 
my  Cafe,  [My  Underftanding  failetb,  my  Me- 
mory fai/ethi  my  Tongue  jaileth,  (  and  my 
Hand  and  Pen  tail  J  but  my  Chanty  fuleth 
not.  ]  That  Word  much  comforted  me.  I 
am  as  Zealous  a  Lover  of  the  New-England 
Churches,  as  any  Man,  according  to  Mr. 
Noyesy  Mr.  Norton?,  Mr.  Mitcbe/s,  and  the 
Synods  Model, 


'  I  loved  your  Father,  upon  the  Letters  I  re 
ceived  from  him.  I  \o\cyou  better  for  your 
Learning,  Labours,  and  peaceable  Modera- 
tion. I  love  your  Son  better  than  either  of 
you,  for  the  Excellent  Temper  that  appear- 
ed in  his  Writings.  O  that  Godlinels  and 
Wifdom  thus  Xncreafe  in  all  Families  ! 
He  hath  Honoured  himfelf  Half  as  much  as 
Mr.  Eliot .-  I  fay,  but  Half  a*  much  h  for 
Deeds  excel  Words.  God  preferve  you  and 
New-England!   Pray  for, 


Auguft  3. 
1691. 


Tour  Fainting, 


Ltmgnijhing  Friend, 


R  1.    Baxter, 


■  1  1— 


REMAINS 


212 


The  Hi/lory  of  New- England.      Book  III. 


REMAINS 


O  R, 


Shorter  Accounts  of  Sundry  Divines, 


Ufeful  in  the 


dmtc&eg  of  fitwtnulmn. 


Gathered  by  Cotton  Mather. 


XDe  jfOttttl)  Part- 


Whereto  is  more  Largely  Added, 

The  Life   and  Death  of  the  Reverend 
Mr.  fOHN   'BAILX 


INTRODUCTION, 


READER, 

PErufe,  I  pray,  and  ponder  thefe  Words  of 
the  Incomparable  Turretine. 
Singularem  Dei  Gratiam,  non  poflumus,  quin 
JEternis  Laudibus,  Celebremus,  quod  Noviffi- 
mis  hifce  faxulis,  reftituta  Evangelii  Luce,  tot 
tantolq;  Vitos,  Doclrina  &  Infigni  Pietate  Pra- 
ditos,  ad  Opus  Reformations  Inchoandum  8C 
Promovendum  Vocaverit  •,  qui  uberrima  Rerum 
Sacrarum  Scientid  imbuti,  8c  Heroico  Spiritu 
donati,  tanquam  [  nam  WJX  ]  Viri  Prodigis, 
Tuba:  Evangelical  Sonitu,  8c  Veritatis  Divinse 
Fulgore,  Tenebras  Erroris  Crafliffimas  fadicitli- 
me  fugarunt,  Antichrifti  Regnum  Concufierunt, 
8c  Ecclefiam  a  Multis  faxulis  mifere  Captivam, 
8c  Tyrannidis  Jugo  plufquam  ferreo  tantum  non 
oppreffam,  e  Babylone  Myftica  gloriofe  Evo- 
carunt. 


Thou  art  prepared  then  to  proceed,  in  what 
Remains  of  our  Hiftory. 

Reader,  Thou  knoweft  the  way  for  a  Man  to 
become  Wife,  wat  thus  declared  by  an  Oracle,  fi 
concolor  fieret  Mortuis. 

And  thou  wilt  net  forget  that  Lejfon  fometimes 
given ; 

'  Since  we  have  lived  here,  andfmce  we  are 
1  to  die,  and  yet  live  after  Death,  and  others 
'  will  fucceed  us  when  we  are  Dead,  We  are 
c  greatly  concerned,  to  fend  before  us  a  very 
'  Good  Treafure,  to  carry  with  us  a  veiy  Good 
6  Confcience,  and  to  have  behind  us  a  very 
'  Good  Example. 

Behold 


Book  III.      1  be  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


213 


Behold  f owe  of  them,  who  did  fo  !  1  not  wc  then  take  notice,  of  many  a  Good  Work, 

It  hath    been   Remarked,    That  when  Sarah  occurring  in  the  Lives  of  thofe,  concerning  whom 
call'd  her  Husband  Lord ;  her  Sp"nch  was  all  \ yet  we  do  not  pretend  or  fuppqfe,  that  they  lived 
an  heap  of  Sinful  Infidelity  ;  there  was  but  one  \  altogether  free  from  Infirmities?  Their  Infirmi- 
Good  Word  in  it  :  Yet  the  Spirit  of  God,  long  j  ties  were  but  Humanities. 
after  takes  notice  of  that  Word.    And  whyfhould\ 


CHAP.      I, 
REMAINS    of  the  Firft  Claffis. 


THE  furviving  Friends  of  the  Reft,  men-,' 
tioned  in  the  Firft  Catalogue  of  ConfeQ'ors, 
by  whom  the  Gofpel  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
was  brought  into  thisWildernefs.having  fupplied 
me  with  fo  few  and  fmall  Informations  con- 
cerning them,  that  I  am  of  the  Opinion,  Prfe- 
fiat  nulla  auam  Pauca  dicere.  Let  all  th^ir 
Vertues  then  be  Galaxied  into  this  one  Indiftin£f 
Luftre,  they  were  Faithful  Servants  of  Chrift, 
and  Sufferers  for  their  being  fo. 

Nor  is  it  unlikely  that  there  might  be  fome 
among  thofe  good  Men,  who  yet  might  be,  in 
fo  little  Extraordinary,  that  there  might  be  the 
fame  Account  given  of  them,  that  there  was 
of  a  certain  Bifhop  of  Rome,  in  the  Second 
Century,  Nihil  prxclari  de  Gubernatione  &  fa- 
flit  ejus  commemorari  pot  eft  ;  and  although  we 
New-Englanders  do  dwell  in  fo  Cold,  and  fo 
Clear  an  Air,  that  more  of  the  /mailer  Stars 
may  be  feen  by  our   Confiderers  than  in  many 
other  Places,  yea,  and  not  only  the  Nebuloja  of 
Cancer  it  felf,  but  even  the  Lcffer  Stars  which 
compofe  that  Cloud,  are  Conftdered  among  us  •, 
-neverthelefs,  for  us  to  attempt  the  Writing  of 
their  Lives,  would   carry  too  much   Fondnejs 
in  it :  Nor  do  we  forget,  that  Suum  eft  cuiq-, 
ordi  vulgus. 

-Moreover,  there  were  divers  of  thefe  Wor- 
thy Men,  who  by  removing  back  to  England 
upon  the  Turn  of  the  Times,  have  almolt  re- 
leafed  us  from  fuch  a  Large  Account  of  them, 
as  otherwife  might  have   been  expected  from 
us  :  And  yet  fome  Good  Account  of  not  a  few 
among  them,  is  to  be   reported.    I  remember, 
Dr.  Patin  in  his  Travels,  tells  us,  That  in  a 
certain  Mufeum  at  Vienna,  he  faw  a  Cherry- 
ftone,  on  which  were  engraved  above  an  Hun- 
dred Portraitures,  with  different  Ornaments  of 
the  Head  upon  them.     I  muft  now  endeavour  a 
Tenth  part  of  an  Hundred  Pourtraitures,  with 
different  Ornaments  of  the  Mind  upon  each  of 
them  -,  neverthelefs  I  am  to  take  up  almoft  as 
much  as  little  room  as  a  Cherry  ftone  for  them 
all.    Particularly, 


his  Life  at  the  City  of  Brijiol,  where  one  of 
the  laft  Things  he  did,  was  to  defend  in  Print 
the  Caufe  of  Infant  Baptifm. 

Mr.  SAMUEL  EATON.  He  was  the  Son 
of  Mr.  Richard  Eaton,  the  Vicar  of  Great  Burd- 
worth  in  Chefhire,  and  the  Brother  of  Mr.  Theo- 
philus  Eaton,  the  Renowned  Governour  of  New- 
Haven.  His  Education  was  at  the  Univerfity 
of  Oxford  •  And  becaufe  it  will  doubtlefs  re- 
commend him  to  find  fuch  a  Pen,  as  that  which 
wrote  the  Athena  Oxonienfes  thus  CharaSeri- 
fing  of  him,  Reader,  thou  (halt  have  the  very 


Mr.  RICHARD  BLINMAN.  After  a  Faith- 
ful Difcharge  of  his  Miniftry,  at  Glocefter,  and 
at  New-London,  he  returned  into  England;  and 
living  to  a  good  Old  Age,  he,  who  wherever  he 
came,  did  fet  himfelf  to  Do  Good, 


Words  of  that  Writer,  concerning  him  :  After 
he  had  left  the  Univerfity,  he  entred  into  the 
Sacred  EunUion,  took  Orders  according  to  the 
Church  of  England,  and  was  Beneficed  in  his 
Country :  But  having  been  puritanically  Edu- 
cated, he  did  dijfent  in  fome  Particulars  thereof 
Whereupon  finding  his  Place  too  warm  for  him, 
he  Revolted,  and  went  into  New-England,  and 
Preached  among  the  Brethren  there.    But  let  us 
have  no  more  of  this  Wood !  Mr.  Eaton  was  a 
very  Holy  Man,  and  a  Perfon  of  great  Learn- 
ing and  Judgment,  and  a  moft  Incomparable 
Preacher.    But  upon  his  DhTent  from  Mr.  Da- 
venport, about  the  Narrow  Terms,  and  Forms 
of  Civil  Government,  by  Mr.  Davenport,  then 
forced  upon   that  Infant-Colony,  his  Brother 
advifed  him  to  a  Removal :  And  calling  at  Bo- 
fton  by  the  way,  when  be  was  on  his  Removal, 
the  Church  there  were  fo  highly  affected  with 
his  Labours,  thus  occafionally  enjoyed  among 
them,  that  they  would  fain  have  engaged  him 
unto  a  Settlement  in  that  Place.    But  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  had  more  Service  for  him  in  Old- 
England,  than  he   could  have  done  in  New ; 
and  therefore  arriving  in  England,  he  became 
the  Paftor  of  a  Church  at  Duckenfield,  in  the 
Parifh  ofStocJfort,  in  Qiefhire,  and  afterwards 
at  Stockport ;  and  a  Perfon  of  Eminent  Note 
and  Ufe,  not  only  in  that,  but  alfo  in  the 
Neighbour-County. 

After  the  Reftoration  of  K.  Charles  II.  he  un- 
derwent firft  Silencing,  and  then  much  other 
Suffering,  from  the  Perfection,  which  yet  calls 
for  a  National  Repentance.  He  was  the  Author 
of  many  Books,  and  efpecially  of  fome  in  De- 
fence of  the  Chriftian  Faith,  about  the  God- 
concluded :  Head  of  Chrift,  againft  the  Socinian  Blafphe- 

mies  : 


214 


Tk  Hi/lory  of  New-England.       Book  III. 


mies:  And  his  Help  was  joined  unto^  Mr.  Ti- 
mothy Tailors,  in  writing  fome  Treatifes  enti- 
tled, The  Congregational  Way  Juftified.  By 
thele  he  Outlives  his  Death,  which  fell  out 
at  Denton,  in  the  Parifh  of  MariebeRer  in  Lan- 
caflvre  (where  fays  our  Friend  Rab/hakeh  Wood, 
he  had  jhehcred  himfelf  among  the  Brethren  af- 
ter fits  Eje&ion)  on  the  Ninth  Day  of  January, 
1654.  and  he  was  Buried  in  the  Chapel  there. 

Mr.  WILLIAM  HOOK.  This  learned,  Ho 
ly,  and  Humble  Man,  was  born  about  1600. 
and  was  for  fome  time  a  Collegue  with  Mr. 
Davenport,  in  the  Paltoral  Charge  of  the 
Church  at  our  New-Haven  ;  on  the  Day  of  his 
Ordination,  whereto  he  humbly  chofe  for  his 
Text  thofe  Words  in  Jttdg.  7.  10.  Go  thou,with 
Pbarah  thy  Servant ;  and  as  humbly  rais'd  his 
Doctrine,  That  in  Great  Services  a  little  Help 
is  better  than  none  -,  which  he  gave,  as  the  Rea- 
fon  of  his  own  being  joined  with  fo  confidera- 
ble  a  Gideon  as  Mr.  Davenport.  After  this 
returning  into  England,  he  was  for  fome  while, 
Minifter  at  Axmouth  in  Devon/hire,  and  then 
Mafter  of  the  Savoy  on  the  Strand,  near  Lon- 
don, and  fo  Chaplain  to  the  Greateft  Man, 
then  in  the  Nation.  He  was  the  Author  of  di- 
vers Compofures  that  faw  the  Light  5  whereof 
perhaps  one  of  the  moft  memorable  is  that 
about,  The  Privileges  of  the  Saints  on  Earth 
above  thofe  in  Heaven.  But  there  was  one  of 
his  Compofures,  which  did  more  nearly  con- 
cern himfelf,  than  perhaps  his  Perfecutors  did 
imagine  ;  and  that  was  about,  The  Slaughter 
of  the  Witneffes:  For  he  bore  a  part  in  that 
Slaughter,  when  his  Teftimony  to  the  Kingly 
Office  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  in  his  Church, 
procured  him  the  Condition  of  a  filenced  Non- 
Con form [ft,  from  May  24.  1662.  to  March  21. 
1677.  when  he  died  in,  or  near  London,  and 
went  from  the  Priviledges  of  Labours  among 
the  Saints  on  Earth,  to  thofe  of  Rewards  among 
the  Saints  in  Heaven.  He  lies  buried  in  the 
Sleeping-Place  or,  the  North-fide  of  the  New 
Artillery  Garden. 

Mr.  ROBERT  PECK.  This  Light  having 
been  by  the  Perfecuting  Prelates,  put  under  a 
Bufhel,  was,  by  the  good  Providence  of  Hea- 
ven, fetch'd  away  unto  New-England,  about 
the  Year  1638.  where  the  Good  People  of 
our  Hingham  did  Rejoice  in  the  Light  for  a  Sea- 
fon.  But  within  Two  or  Three  Years,  the  In- 
vitation of  his  Friends  at  Hingham  in  England, 
perfwaded  him  to  a  Return  unto  them  ;  where, 
being  though  a  Great  Perfon  for  Stature,  yet  a 
Greater  for  Spirit,  he  was  greatly  ferviceable 
for  the  Good  of  the  Church. 

Mr.  HUGH  PETERS.    A  Brief  Narrative 
of  his  Life,  both  before  and  after  his  Abode, 


for  about  Seven  Years,  in  the  Charge  of  the 
Church  at  Salem,,  the  Reader  may  find  at  the 
Conclufion  of  his  Advice  to  his  Daughter,  pub- 
lifhed  under  the  Title  of,  A  Dying  father's  lajl 
Legacy  to.  an  only  Child  :  And  indeed,  I  hearti- 
ly Recommend  it  unto  his  Reading.  The  Nar- 
rative of  his  Death  has  alfo  been  long  fince  pub- 
lifhed  unto  the  World  :  And  it  reports  thofe 
to  have  been  amongft  his  Laft  Words.  Oh  ! 
This  is  a  Good  Day  !  He  is  come  that  I  have 
long  looked  for,  and  Ifl)all  be  with  him  in  Glory  I 

Mr.  THOMAS  PETERS.  He  came  over 
unto  Neiu-England,  in  the  Time  of  the  Civil 
War  -,  and  flaying  but  about  Three  Years,  he 
returned  into  England.  A  Worthy  Man,  'and 
a  Writer  of  certain  Pieces,  which  will,  I  fUp. 
pofe,  preferve  his  Memory  among  thofe  that 
are  Strangers,  as  I  am  thereunto. 

Mr.  SAXTON.    He  was  a  Torkfbire 

Man  -,  a  Studious  and  a  Learned  Perfon,  a  great 
Hebrician.  The  unfettled  Condition  of  the 
Colony,  and  fome  unhappy  Contention  in  the 
Plantation,  where  he  Lived,  put  him  upon  re- 
moving from  Scituate,  firft  unto  Bqfton,  and  fo 
unto  England,  in  his  Reduced  Age.  I  find  in 
honeft  Mr.  Ryther's  Devout  Book,  Entituled, 
A  Plat  for  Mariners,  this  PafTage  related  con- 
cerning him.  '  An  Old  Puritan  Minifter,  [Mr. 
'  Sax  ton  of  Leeds,  in  Tbrk/hire,']  in  a  Storm 
'  coming  from  New-England,  when  they  were 
'  all  expecting  the  Veffel  to  fink,  he  faid,  Oh 
'  who  is  novo  for  Heaven,  iobo  is  bound  for  Hea- 


I  fay  nothing,  becaufe  I  know  nothing  of  Mr. 
Brecy  -,  but  this,  he  alfo  returned  into  England. 
But  the  lefs  of  him,  the  more  might  be  writ- 
ten of  Mr.  GILES  FIRMIN,  who  vifited  New- 
England  in  his  younger  Years,  but  afterwards 
became,  in  England,  an  Eminent  Preacher  of 
the  G  of  pel,  and  a  Writer,  as  well  as  a  Preacher 
of  it.  Among  the  reft  of  his  Books,  that  Gol- 
den one,  which  is  Entituled,  The  Real  Chrijiian, 
does  Really  prove  the  Title  to  be  his  own  Cha- 
racter ;  and  the  reft,  as  well  as  that,  prove  him 
to  be  an  Able  Scholar,  as  well  as  a  Real  Chri- 
jiian. I  fuppofe  him  to  be  yet  living  in  a  Fruit- 
ful Old  Age,  at  Ridgewel  in  Effex .-  But  fuch 
Demonftrations,  he  hath  ftill  given  of  his  Af- 
fections to  New-England,  on  all  occafions,  that 
he  might  have  juftly  refented  it,  as  an  Injury, 
if  he  had  been  wholly  omitted  in  the  Catalogue 
of  them  that  have  deferved  well  of  that  Coun- 
try. 

Befides  thefe  Perfons,  there  are  fome  others, 
of  whom  a  larger  Account  might  be  endea- 
voured. 

77;  w  fhall  be  All  that  we  will  offer. 


CHAP- 


Book  III.       The  Hi/lory  of  New-England. 


2i5 


CHAP.     II. 


The  LIFE   ofMr.  TH0M^5    ALLEK 


IT  was  a  Computation  made  in  that  Year, 
when  our  Colony  was  juft  Forty  Tears  Old, 
and  our  Land  had  Jeen  Reft  forty  Years,  that 
of  Minifters  which  had  then  come  from  Eng- 
land unto  us,  chiefly  in  the  Ten  Firft  Tears, 
there  were  Ninety  Four  t  Of  which  Number, 
Thirty  One  were  then  Alive  -,  Thirty  Six  had 
retired  unto  Heaven-,  Twenty  Seven  had  re- 
turned back  to  Europe. 

Ofthofe  Fir  ft  Comers,  who  again  left  the 
Country,  foon  after  rheir  Firft  Coming,  one  was 
that  Worthy  Man  Mr.  Thomas  Allen,  who  af- 
ter he  had  lor  fome  time  approved  himfelf  a 
Pious  and  Painful  Minifter  of  the  Gofpel,  in 
our  Char -left 'own,  law  Caufe  to  return  back  into 
England;  where  he  lived  unto  a  good  Old  Age, 
in  the  City  of  Norwich. 


The  Name  of  Allen  being  but  our  Pronun- 
ciation of  the  Saxon  Word.  A/wine,  which  is 
as  much  as  to  fay  Beloved  of  All,  expreffed  the 
Fate  of  this  our  Allen,  among  the  Generality 
of  the  welldifpofed.  And  being  a  Man  great- 
ly Beloved,  he  applied  himfelf  to  enquire  much 
into  the  Times,  wherein  his  PredecelTor  Daniel, 
was  an  Hard  Student,  when  the  Angel  came 
to  call  him  Jo. 

Though  he  ftaid  not  very  long  in  this  Coun- 
try, yet  this  Country  lays  claim  efpecially  to 
Two  of  his  Compofures,  which  have  been  Ser- 
viceable unto  the  World.  The  former  of  thefe 
W;is  printed  here  -,  namely,  An  Invitation  unto 
Thirtyr-Sinncrs  to  come  unto  their  Saviour  -,  pre- 
faced and  a  (Tilled  into  the  Light  by  our  Wor- 
thy Higginfon.  But  the  latter  was  Printed  be- 
yond Sea  -,  and  Entituled,  A  Chain  of  Scripture 
Chronology :  Wherein  the  Author  was  difpofed 
like  the  llluftrious  Bucholtzer,  who  being  wea- 
ry of  Controverfy,  betook  himfelf  to  Chronology, 
laying,  Malle  Ji  Computare  quam  Difputare. 
This  is  a  moft  Learned  and  uleful  Piece ;  and 
all  my  further  Account  of  the  Author  fhail  be 
in  the  Words  of  the  Famous  Greenhil,  in  his 
Epiftle  before  it,     Says  he, 


'  This  Work  having  had    its  Conception  ih 
a  Remote  Quarter  of  the  World,  it  was  la- 
tent in  his  Clofet,  thegreateft  part  of  Seven 
Years  ■,  as  Joafh  fometimes  was  kept  fecret 
in  a   Chamber  of  the  Temple,    before  he 
was   brought    to    publick  View  ,    by    the 
Means  of  Jehojadab,    that  good  Old  High 
Prieft  :  And  it  had  {fill  been  fupprejfed  had 
not   the   Author  been  preffed,   and   charged 
with   hiding  of  a  Talent   in  a  Napkin,  by 
fuch   another  as  Jehojadah  was  [Mr.  John 
Cotton]  whole  Soul  is  now  amonglt  the  Saints 
in  Heaven,  refting  from  its  manifold  Labours, 
and  whofe  Name  both  isjand  ever  will  be  pre- 
cious in  all  the  Gates  of  the  Daughters  ofSion^ 
■  through  all  Ages.     VHhtnMoJes,  Daniel,  mi 
1  John  were  in  fuffering  Conditions,  they  had 
:  much  Light  from  God,  and  gave  forth  much 
:  Truth  concerning  the  Qntrch  and  the  Times  .- 
:  And  many  of  our  Reverend,  Learned,  and 
;  Godly  Brethren,  being  through  the  Iniquity 
'  of  the  Times  driven  into  America,  by  look- 
'  ing  up   unto  God,    and  by  fearching  of  the 
■*  Scriptures,  received  and  found  much  Light 
c  concerning    the  Church  and  the  Times  -,  and 
c  have  made  w,  and  Ages  to  come,  beholden 
'  to  them,  by  communicating  the  fame  5  amongft 
c  whom  now,  is  this  Learned  and  Judicious 
'  Author. 

From  the  Epitaph  of  Helvicus,  the  Great 
Chronologid,  We  will  prefume  to  borrow  a  Te- 
traftick,  for  this  great  Student  in  Chronology. 


Epitaphium. 


Angel'icos  inter  cxtus,  Animajq-,  Beatas, 
Spirit  us  A  L  L  E  N  I  Gaudia  Mille  Capit  : 

AdLitui  Sonitum  dum  Corprntf  Ojfa  rejurganty 
Totus  ut  ALLENUS  Vivificatus  over. 


Ee 


e  e 


CHAP 


2l£ 


The  Biftory  of  New-England.      Book  Hi. 


CHAP    III. 


The  LIF  E  of  Mr.   JOHN   KNOWLES. 


OU  R  Bleffed  Saviour  has  denounced  that 
Righteous  and  Fearful  Curfe,  upon  thofe, 
who  defpife  the  Offers  of  his  Glorious  Gofpel, 
Whofoever  fhall  not  receive  you,  nor  bear  your 
Words,  it  Jhatl  be  more  tolerable  for  Sodom  and 
Gomorrah,  in  the  Day  of  Judgment^  than,  for 
that  City.  And  the  Excellent  Knowles,  was  an 
Eminent  Perfon  among  thofe  Embaffadors  of 
Heaven,  in  the  Quarrel  of  whofe  Entertain- 
ment, the  King  of  Heaven,  wonderfully  accom- 
plifhed  that  Prediction.  If  New-England  hath 
been  in  fome  Refpe£ts  ImmanuePs  Land,  it  is 
well  i  but  this  I  am  fure  of,  \mmanuel-College 
contributed  more  than  a  little  to  make  it  fo, 
a  Fellow  whereof  once  was  our  Mr.  John 
Knowles. 

He  was  among  the  ¥irfi  Comers  into  New- 
England,  joined  as  a  Colleague  with  Mr.  Phi- 
lips at  Watertown.  But  as  he  began,  fo  he 
ended  his  pious  Days  in  England ;  between 
which  there  occurred  one  very  Remarkable  Pro- 
vidence, now  to  be  Related. 

In  the  Year  1641.  One  Mr.  Bennet,  a  Gen- 
tleman from  Virginia,  arrived  at  Bofion,  with 
tetters  from  well-difpofed  People  there,  unto 
the  Minifters  of  New-England,  bewailing  their 
fad  Condition,  for  the  want  of  the  Glorious 
Gofpel,  and  entreating  that  they  might  hence 
be  fupplied  with  Minifters  of  that  Gofpel. 
Thefe  Letters  were  openly  Read  at  Bofion  upon 
a  LeUureDay-,  Whereupon  the  Ministers  a- 
greed  upon  fetting  apart  a  Day  for  Fafiing  and 
Prayer,  to  implore  the  Direction  of  God  about 
thisBufinefsj  and  then  the  Churches  of  Water- 
town,  Braintree,  and  Rowly,  having  each  of 
them  two  Mini  Iters  apiece,  Mr.  Philips  ofWa 
tertown,  Mr.  Thcmpfon  of  Braintree,  and  Mr. 
Miller  of  Rowly,  were  pitched  upon  for  the 
intended  Service  ;  whereof  the  General  Court 
fo  approved,  that  it  was  ordered,  the  Gover- 
nour  fhould  Recommend  thefe  Perfons  by  his 
Letters  to  the  Governour  and  Council  at  Vir 
ginia. 

Mr.  Philips  being  Indifpofed  for  the  Voyage, 
Mr.  Knowles  went  in  his  Room ;  and  Mr.  Alii 
ler's  Bodily  Weakneffes,  caufed  him  alfo  to 
Decline  the  Voyage.  But  the  Two  Churches 
of  Watertown  and  Braintree,  though  they  lo- 
ved their  Minilters  very  well,  yet  cheerfully 
difmiffed  them  unto  this  great  Concern;  ac- 
counting it  their  Honour  that  they  had  fuch 
Defireable  Perfons,  by  whom  they  might  make 
a  Mijfion  of  the  Gofpel,  unto  a  People  that  fat 
in  the  Region  and  Shadow  of  Death. 

On  Off.  7.  1642.  They  began  their  Voyage  : 
At  Rhode  Ifland,  they  lay   long  Wind  bound  ; 


and  they  met  with  fo  many  other  Difficulties 
that  they  made  it  Eleven  Weeks  of  dangerous 
Paffage,  before  they  arrived  at  Virginia  ■  Ne^ 
verthelefs,  they  had  this  Advantage  in  the  way 
that  they  took  in  a  Third  Minijfer  for  their 
Afliftance  5  namely,  Mr.  fames,  then  at  New- 
Haven. 

Though  their  hazardous  Retardations  in  their 
Voyage,  made  them  fometimes  to  fufpeft,  whe- 
ther they  had  a  clear  Call  of  God  unto'  their 
Undertaking,  yet  the  Succefs  of  their  Minifhy 
when  they  came  to  Virginia,  did  fufficiently 
extinguifh  that  Sufpicion.  They  had  little 
Encouragement  from  the  Rulers  of  the  Place 
but  they  had  a  kind  Entertaiment  with  the 
People;  and  in  the  feveral  parts  of  the  Coun- 
try where  they  were  belt  owed,  there  were  ma- 
ny Perfons  by  their  Mimuiy  brought  home  to 
God. 

But  as  Auftin  told  Mankind,  The  Devil  was 
never  turned  Chriftian  yet :  the  Powers  of  Dark- 
nefs  could  not  count  it  for  their  Intereft,  that 
the  Light  of  the  Gofpel  powerfully  preached 
fhould  reach  thofe  Dark  Places  of  the  Earth. 
The  Rulers  of  that  Province  did  not  allow  of 
their- publick  Preaching-,  but  inftead  thereof, 
an  Order  was  made,  That  fuch  at  would  not 
conform  to  the  Ceremonies  of  the  Church  of  Eng. 
land,  fhould  by  fuch  a  Day,  depart  the  Country. 
By  which  Order,  thefe  Holy,  Faithful,  Pain- 
ful Minifters,  were  driven  away  from  the  Vir- 
ginia Coaft :  But  when  they  return'd,  as  they 
Lejt  behind  them,  not  a  few  Seals  of  their 
Miniftry,  fo  they  Brought  with  them  fome, 
who  afterwards  proved  BlefTings  to  New-Eng- 
land. 

Well,  before  the  Day  fixed  for  the  Depar- 
ture of  thefe  Minifters  came,  the  Indians  far 
and  near  having  entred  into  a  Con/piracy,  to 
cut  off  the  Englifb  in  thofe  Territories,  execu- 
ted it  in  an  Horrible  Maffacre,  whereby  at  leaft 
Three  Hundred  poor  Englijh  Virginians,  were 
at  once  Barbaroufly  Butchered,  which  Maffa- 
cre was  alfo  accompanied  with  a  Grievous 
Mortality,  that  caufed  many  fober  Perfons  to 
Remove  out  of  that  Colony,  and  others  to  ac- 
knowledge the  Juftice  of  God  upon  them,  for 
the  Ill-Treats,  which  had  been  given  to  the 
Minifters  of  his  Gofpel,  and  the  Gofpel  brought 
by  thofe  Minifters. 

After  this,  did  Mr.  Knowles  remove  back 
to  England,  %vhere  he  was  a  Preacher  at  the 
Cathedral,  in  the  City  of  Briftol,  and  Lived 
in  Great  Credit   and  Service  for  divers  Years. 


But 


Book  III.       The  Hi/lory  of  New-Fngland. 


217 


But  when  the  Att  of  Uniformity,  made  fuch 
a  Slaughter  of  Non-Conformifts,  Mr.  Knowles 
was  one  of  the  Minifters  which  were  filenced 
by  that  Aft.  And  after  that  Civil  Death,  he 
lived  in  London  a  Collegue  to  the  famous  Mr. 
Kentifh,  and  a  Blefftng  to  the  Church  of 
God. 

Exercifing  his  Miniftry  in  the  City  of  Lon- 
don,  he  underwent  many  Grievous  Persecu- 
tions, and  received  as  many  Glorious  Delive- 
rances. —  But  when  fome  of  his  Friends  dif- 
couraged  him,  with  Fears  of  his  being  thrown 
into  Prifon,  if  he  did  not  affect  more  of  Priva- 
cy, he  Reply'd,  In  Truth,  I  had  rather  be  in  a. 
Gaol,  where  I  might  have  a  Number  oj  Souls, 
to  whom  I  might  Preach  the  Truths  of  my  Blef- 
fed  Mafier,  than  live  Idle  in  my  own  Houfe, 
without  any  fuch  Opportunities. 


He  lived  unto  a  very  Great  Age,  and  itaid 
longer  out  of  Heaven,  than  the  molt  of  them 
that  Live  in  heaven  upon  Earth.  But  in  his 
great  Age,  he  continued  (till  to  do  Great  Good  > 
wherein  his  Labours  were  fo  fervent  and  eager, 
that  he  would  fometimes  Preach  till  he  fell 
down ;  and  yet  have  a  Youthful  Readme fs  in  the 
Matter  and  Spirit  of  his  Preaching.  His  laft 
Fa/ling  Down  was  a  Flying  up  ■,  and  an  Efcapc 
to  that  Land  where  The  Weary  are  at  Rejl. 


Epitaphium. 


Vis  Scire,  $uis  Sim  ?  Nomen  eft  KNOLESIUS 
Dixi  Satis ! *— - 


CHAP     IV. 


Elifias  Bones.     The  LIFE  of  Mr.  HENRY  WHITFIELD. 


Cupiditatem  Imitandi fecit ;  Spent  abftulix, 


Inns  of  Court.  But  the  Gracious  and  early  Ope- 
rations of  the  Holy  Spirit,  on  his  Heart,  in- 
clined him  rather  to  be  Preacher  of  the  Go- 
fpelt  and  in  his  Inclinations  he  was  encouraged 
by  fuch  Eminent  Minifters,  as  Dr.  Stanton,  Mr. 
Byfield,  and  others. 

He  was  very  pious  in  his  Childhood,  andbe- 
caufe  pious,  therefore  Prayerful;  yea,  fo  ad- 
dicted unro  Prayer,  that  in  the  very  School  it 
felf,  he  would  be  fometimes  Praying,  when 
the  Scholars  about  him  imagined  by  his  Po- 
ftures,  that  he  had  only  been  intent  upon  his 
Book. 

As  he  grew  up,  he  grew  exceedingly  in  his 
Acquaintance  with  God,  with  Chrift,  and  with 


THere  has  been  a  Trite  Proverb,  which  I 
wifh  indeed  were  fo  Thread-bare  as  to  be 
never  uled  more  ; 

Angelicas  Juvenis,  fenibus  Satanizat  in  Annis. 

which,  though  'twere  pity  it  fhould  ever  fpeak 
Englifh,  has  been  Engllfbed,  A  Young  Saint,  an 
Old  Devil.  I  remember  Erafmus  believes,  the 
Devil  himfelf  was  the  Author  of  that  Proverb. 
This  lam  fure,  the  Proverb  was  none  of  Solo- 
mon's, who  fays,  Train  up  a  Child  in  the  way 
that  he  fhould  go,  and  when  he  is  old,  he  will  not 
leave  it.  Indeed  a  Young  Sinner  may  make  an 
Old  Devil ;    a  Young  Hypocrite,  a  Young  Dif 

fembler,  pretending  to  Saintflnp,  may  do  fo  ;  j  the'exceeding  Riches  of  Grace  difplay'd  in  th 
but  a  Young  Saint  will  certainly  make  an  0/i'New  Covenant.  And  he  gained  fuch  a  ground 
Angel. 

And  fo  did  our  BlelTed  Whitfield.  He  was 
a  Gentleman  of  Good  Extraction  by  his  Birth  -, 
but  of  a  Better  by  his  New-Birth  :  Nor  did 
his  New  Birth  come  very  long  after  his  Birth. 
He  did  betimes  begin  his  Journey  Heaven- 
wards ;  but  he  did  not  foon  Tire  in  that  Jour- 
ney -,  nor  did  the  Serpent  by  the  way,  the  Adder 
in  the  Path,  prevail  to  make  him  come  fhort 
home  at  laft. 

Hi's  Father  being  an  Eminent  Lawyer,  de- 
figned  this  his  youngeft  Son,  to  be  a  Lawyer 
alfo,  and  therefore  afforded  him  a  Liberal  Edu- 
cation, firft  at  the  Univerfity,  and  then  at  the 


ed  Affurance  of  his  own  faving  Intereft,  in 
that  Covenant,  that  he  had  not  for  Forty  Years 
together,  fallen  into  any  Mifcarriage,  which 
made  any  Confiderable  Breach  upon  that  Affu- 
rance. 

Oekely  in  Surrey,  was  the  Place  where  the 
Providence  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  now  jla- 
tion'd  him;  where  his  Labours  were  blelfed. 
unto  the  Good  of  many,  not  only  in  his  own 
Town,  but  in  all  the  Circumjacent  Country, 
from  whence  on  Holy-Days,  the  People  would 
flock  to  hear  him.  At  length,  obferving  that 
he  did  more  Good,  by  Preaching  fometimes 
E  e  e  e   2  Abroad, 


3i8 


7 he  Hi/lory  of  New-England.       Book  HJ. 


Abroad,  than  by  preaching  always  at  Home, 
and  enjoying  then  a  Church-Living  of  the  firft 
Magnitude,  befides  a  fair  Eftate  of  his  own, 
he  procured  and  maintained  another  Godly 
Miniiter  at  Okely ;  and  by  means  thereof,  he 
had  the  Liberty  to  preach  in  many  Places, 
which  were  deffitute  of  Minifters,  where  his 
Labours  were  fuccefsful  in  the  Converfion  of 
many  Souls  unto  God. 

He  was  one  who  abounded  in  Liberality  and 
Hofpitality  ;  and  his  Houfe  was  always  much 
Reforted  unto.  He  was  for  Twenty  Years,  a 
Conformift  -,  but  yet  a  pious  Non-Conformift 
was  all  this  while  very  dear  unto  him  :  And 
fuch  perfecuted  Servants  of  Chrift,  as  Mr. 
Cotton,  Mr.  Hooker,  Mr.  Goodwin,  and  Mr. 
Rye,  then  molefted  for  their  Non  Conformity, 
were  fheltered  under  his  Roof.  At  lalt,  being 
prefent  at  the  Conference  between  Mr.  Cotton, 
and  fome  other  Famous  Divines,  upon  the  Con- 
troverfies  of  ChurchDifcipline,  there  appeared 
lb  much  of  Scripture  and  Rea/on  on  that  fide, 
that  Mr.  Whitfield  alfo  became  a  Non  Confor- 
mift. But  now,  finding  it  impoflible  for  him, 
to  proceed  in  the  Publick  Exercife  of  his  Mi- 
niftry,  he  obtained  a  Godly  Succeffor,  he  em- 
braced a  Mode  ft  SeceJJion,  and  he  Refigned  his 
Place  with  the  true  Spirit  of  Self-Denial. 

He  now  fold  his  Perfonal  Eftate,  and  came 
over  to  New-England,  in  the  Year  1635?.  with 
a  Multitude  of  poor  People,  out  of  Surrey, 
Kent,  and  Sufiex,  who  could  not  live  without 
his  Miniftry.  With  thefe,  he  began  a  New 
Plantation,  about  Twenty  Miles  from  New- 
Haven,  and  called  it  Guilford :  Where  he  migh- 
tily encouraged  the  People  to  bear  with  a  Chri- 
ftian  Patience  and  Fortitude,  the  Difficulties  of 
the  Wildernefs,  which  they  were  come  into  ; 
not  only  by  his  Exhortations,  but  alfo  by  his 
own  Exemplary  Contentment,  with  low  and 
mean  Things,  after  he  had  once  lived  in  a 
more  fplendid  manner,  than  moft  other  Mi 
nifters. 

His  way  of  Preaching  was  muck  like  Dr. 
Sibs's  j   and  there  was  a  marvellous  Majefty 


and  San&ity,  obfervable  in  it.  He  carried 
much  Authority  with  him  •  and  ufing  frequent- 
ly to  Vifit  the  particular  Families  of  his  Flock 
with  Profitable  Difcourfes  on  the  Great  Con- 
cerns of  their  Interiour  State,  it  is  not  eaiy 
to  deicribe  the  Reverence  with  which  thev 
entertained  him. 

He  fojourned  Eleven  Years  at  Guilford,  liv- 
ing with  his  large  Family  of  Ten  Children 
moltly  on  his  own  Eftare,  which  was  thereby 
exceedingly  exhaufted.  But  the  lnconveniencies 
of  New-England,  and  Invitations  to  Old,  at 
length  overcame  him,  to  return  into  his  'Na- 
tive Country :  And  at  the  Time  of  parting,  the 
whole  Town  accompanied  him  unto  the  Wa- 
ter-fide, with  a  Spring  Tide  of  Tears,  becaufe 
they  fbould  fee  Ins  Face  no  more. 

This  was  in  the  Year  1650. 

How  highly  his  Ancient  Friends  then  wel- 
comed him  -,  how  highly  the  greateft  Perfons 
in  the  Nation  then  refpe&ed  him  ;  how  faith- 
fully he  then  difcharged  his  Miniftry  in  the 
City  of  Winchejler-,  how  many  Services  he  oc- 
cafionally  did  for  New-England;  and  how 
Triumphantly  at  laft  he  flew  away  to  Hea- 
ven -,  mull  be  no  part  of  this  Hiftory. 


But  let  the  Excellent  Words  of  Lup'uhius 
in  his  Epitaph,  be  borrow'd  for  an  Epitaph  to 
this  Rare  Perfon  ■,  inafmuch  as  no  Words  can 
more  livelily  exprefs  the  very  Spirit  of  all  his 
Life. 

Dum  mibi  Vitafuit,  Tibi,  CHRIST  E,  Fide  lis  ut 
ejfem, 

Mente  Pia  Studui,  Dogma  Sonando  Tuum. 

Tu  mihi  Dalitix,  —  Tu  Divitixa-,  fuijii  ; 

Tu  mihi  DefunUo,  Gloria,  Vitat  Salus. 


CHAP. 


Book  III.       The  Hiftory  of  JNew-Englii 


2ij 


CHAP.    V. 


REMAINS    of  the  Second  Claffis. 


OF  our  Second  Catalogue  are  now  Fallen 
afleep,  ARNOLD,  the  Author  of  a  Sa- 
voury Difcourfe,  published  under  the  Title  of 
David  Jerving   his   Generation)    BISHOP, 

BULK.LT,  carter,  dean,  hantord 

[of  which  Worthy  Man,  let  the  Reader,  here 
in  a  Crotchet,  as  we  go  along,  refrefh  him- 
Felf  with  one  Crotchet ly  Paffage  :  He  was  near 
Forty  Years  a  Faithful,  Painful,  and  Pious 
Minifter  at  Norwalk,  even  from  the  firft  Set- 
tlement of  that  Plantation :  But  though  he 
had  the  Comfort  of  feeing  a  Good  and  Great 
Succefs  to  his  Miniftry  there,  yet  there  were 
Times  wherein  the  Tire  of  Contention  annoy'd 
the  Affairs  of  that  Church  exceedingly  :  And 
in  this  Tire,  there  once  happened  fuch  a  Smoke, 
that  the  People  made  this  one  of  their  Arti- 
cles to  the  Council  againft  him,  that  in  a 
certain  Paper  of  his,  he  had  opprobrioufly 
called  them  Indian  Devils  :  The  Council  there- 
upon with  Wonder,  calling  for  the  Paper, 
wherein  the  Reproachful  Terms  was  to  belook'd 
for,  found  his  Expreihon  to  hare  been  only 
thus,  Every  Individual  anfohg  them :  Which 
occafioned  a  very  Joco-ferious  Reflection  upon 
the  Ridiculous  Errors  and  Follies  that  attend 
a  QuarrelFome  DiFpofition  :]  HOUGH,  NEW- 
TON. And  into  this  Catalogue  I  am  content 
that  there  Ihould  be  received  (For  the  Saints  of 
this  Catalogue  already  departed  have  received 
him  J  Honelt  Mr.  Nicholas  Baker  of  Scituate  ; 
who,  tho5  he  had  but  a  Private  Education, 
yet  being  a  Pious  and  Zealous  Man ;  or  as 
Dr  Arrowfmiih  exprefTes  it,  Fo  Good  a  Logi- 
cian, th.it  he  could  offer  up  to  God  a  Reaso- 
nable Service,  Fo  Good  an  Arithmetician,  that 
he  could  wiFely  Number  his  Days  ;  and  Fo 
Good  an  Orator,  that  he  perfzvaded  him/elf  to 
be  a  Good  Chriftian  -,  and  being  alFo  one  of 
good  Natural  Parts,  especially  oF  a  ftrong  Me- 
mory, was  choFen  Paiior  oF  the  Church  there  ; 
and  in  the  Paftoral  Charge  of  that  Church,  he 
continued  about  Eighteen Years,until  that  Horror 
of  Mankind,  and  Reproach  of  Medicine,  the 
STONE  (under  which  he  preached  Patience, 
by  a  very  memorable  Example  of  it ;  never  let- 
ting fall  any  Word  worFe  than  this,  which 
was  an  uFual  Word  with  him,  A  Mercy  of 
God  it   is   no  worfe  !)   put  an   end  unto  his 


Days. 


But  he  that  brings  up  the  Rear,  is  Mr. 
JOHN  WOODBRIDGE,  of  whom  we  are 
able  to  Fpeak  a  little  more  particularly. 

He  was  Bojn  at  Stanton,  near  Highworth,  in 
Wi/tfbire,  about  the  Year  1613.  of  which  Pa- 


rifh  his  Father  was  Minifter^  and  a  Minifler  fo 
Able  and  Faithful,  as  to  obtain  an  high  Efteem 
among  thofe  that  at  all  knew  the  Invaluable 
Worth  of  Fuch  a  Minifter.  His  Mother  was 
Daughter  to  Mr.  Robert  Parker,  and  a  Daugh- 
ter who  did  Fo  Virtuoujly,  that  her  own  Per- 
fonal  Character  would  have  made  her  highly 
cfteemed,  if  a  Relation  to  fuch  a  father  had 
not  farther  added  unto  the  Luftte  of  her  Cha- 
racter, 

Our  JOHN  was,  by  his  Worthy  Parents, 
trained  up  in  the  Way  that  he  Jhould go,  and  fent 
unto  Oxford,  when  his  Education  and  Profi- 
ciency at  School  had  ripened  him  for  the  Um- 
verfity  ;  and  kept  at  Oxford,  until  the  Oath 
of  Conformity  came  to  be  required  of  him  , 
which  neither  his  father,  nor  his  Corifcience 
approving,  he  removed  from  thence_  unto  a 
Courfe  of  more  Private  Studies.  The  Rigo- 
rous Enforcing  of  the  Unhappy  Ceremonies, 
then  caufing  many  that  underftood,  and  re- 
garded the  Second  Commandment  in  the  Laws 
oF  Heaven,  to  Feek  a  peaceable  ReceFs  for  the 
pure  Worfhip  of  the  Lord  JeFus  Chrift  in  an 
American  DeFart ;  our  young  Woodbridget  with 
the  ConFent  oF  his  Parents,  undertook  a  Voy- 
age to  New-England  about  the  Year  1634, 
and  the  Company  and  Afliftance  of  his  Worthy 
Uncle  Mr.  Thoma*  Parker,  was  not  the  leaft 
Encouragement  of  his  Voyage. 

He  had  not  been  long  in  the  Country,  before 
Newberry  began  to  be  planted  •,  where  he  ac- 
cordingly took  up  Lands,  and  fo  feated  him- 
felf,  that  he  Comfortably  and  Indultrioufly 
jiudied  on,  until  the  Advice  of  his  Father's 
Death  obliged  him  to  Return  into  England-, 
where,  having  fertled  his  Affairs,  he  Returned 
again  unto  New-England,  bringing  with  him  his 
Two  Brothers^  whereof  one  died  by  the  way 
He  had  married  the  Daughter  of  rhe  Honou- 
rable Thomas  Dudely,  Eiq-,  and  the  Town  of 
Andover  then  firft  peeping  into  the  World,  he 
was  by  the  Hands  of  Mr.  Wilfon  and  Mr.  Wor- 
cefter,  Sept.  1 6.  1 644.  ordained  the  Teacher 
of  the  Congregation  there. 

Here  he  continued  with  Good  Reputation, 
difcharging  the  Duties  of  his  Miniftry,  until 
upon  the  Invitation  of  his  Friends,  he  went 
once  more  to  England,  in  the  Year  1 647.  where 
he  foon  found  Employment  (befides  his  being 
a  Chaplain  to  the  Commiflioners  treating  with 
the  King  at  the  lile  of  Wight)  firft  at  the  Con- 
siderable Town  of  Andover,  and  afterwards  at 

Burford 


220 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 


Burford  St.  Martins,  in  Wiltfhire  ;  at  the  laft 
of  which  Places,  he  continued  until  the  Re- 
turn of  Epifcopacy  firft  fequeftred  him,  and 
they  being  outed  of  the  School  at  Newberry, 
the  Infamous  Bartholomew-Ail,  caufed  him,  in 
the  Year  1663.  (with  his  now  Numerous  Fa 
milyj  to  come  once  more  unto  New-England. 
Here  it  was  not  long  before  the  Church  of 
Newberry  folicited  him,  to  become  an  Afliftant 
unto  his  Aged  Uncle  Mr.  Parker ;  and  in  an- 
fwer  to  their  Solicitations,  he  beftowed  his 
Conftant,  Learned  and  Holy  Labours  upon 
them. 

At  laft,  there  arofe  little  Differences  be- 
tween him  and  fome  of  the  People  upon  cer- 
tain Points  of  Church-Di/cipline,  wherein  his 
Largcnefs  and  their  Straitnefs,  might  perhaps 
better  have  met  in  a  Temper^  and  thefe  Diffe- 
rences ended  not,  without  his  putting  an  end 
unto  his  own  Miniftry  among  them:,  after 
which,  the  Remarkable  Blefling  of  God  upon 
his  own  private  Eftate,  abundantly  made  up  to 
him  the  Publick  Stipend  which  he  had  "parted 
withal.  The  Country  hereupon  in  Token  of 
their  Value  for  him,  chofe  him  a  Magiftrate 
of  the  Colony,  that  fo  he  might  in  yet  a  more 
extenfive  Capacity,  be  A  Minifter  of  God  unto 
them  for  Good  ;  and  upon  the  Alteration  of  the 
Government,  he  was  made  a  Juftice  of  Peace, 
in  which  Office  he  continued  unto  the  laft. 

He  had  Iflue  Twelve  Children,  whereof  Ele- 
ven lived  unto  the  Age  of  Men  and  Women  : 
And  he  had  the  Confolation  of  feeing  Three 
Sons,  with  Two  Sonsin-Law,  Improved  in  the 
Miniftry  of  the  Gofpel,  and  Four  Grandfons 
happily  advancing  thereunto.  A  Perfon  he 
was,  truly  of  an  Excellent  Spirit  ■,  a  Pious 
Difpofition  accompanied  him  from  his  Early 
Childhood,  and  as  he  grew  in  Tears,  he  grew 
in  the  Proofs  and  Fruits  of  his  having  been 
fan&ified  from  his  Infancy.  He  fpent  much  of 
his  Time  in  Holy  Meditations,  by  which  the 
Foretafls  of  Heaven,  were  continually  Feeding 
of  his  Devout  Soul  ,•  and  he  abounded  in  all 
other  Devotions  of  Serious,  Heavenly,  Experi- 
mental Chriftianity. 

He  was  by  Nature  wonderfully  Compofed, 
Patient,  and  Pleafant  ;  and  he  was,  by  Grace, 


much  more  fo :  He  had  a  great  Command  of 
his  Pajfions,  and  could,  and  would,  and  often 
did  forgive  Injuries,  at  a  rate  that  hardly  can 
be  imitated..  It  was  rarely  or  never  obferved 
that  Worldly  Difappointments  made  any  Grie- 
vous bnprejfions  upon  his  Mind  -,  but  as  once 
when  Word  was  brought  him,  that  a  fore  Dif- 
after  had  befallen  many  of  his  Cattel,  the 
MefTenger  was  exceedingly  furprized,  on  his 
beholding  the  only  Refentments  of  this  Good 
Man  thereupon  to  be  in  .  thefe  Humble  Ex- 
preflions,  which  were  the  firft  he  uttefd,  What 
a  Mercy  it  is,  that  this  is  the  firft  Time  that 
ever  1  met  with  fuch  a  Difafter ! 

This  was  the  Frame  of  Mind  with  which 
he  ftiil  entertain'd  all  Difafterous  Occurrences. 
Only  he  was  obfervably  overwhelmed  by  the 
Death  of  his  moft  Religious,  Prudent  and 
Faithful  Confort,  when  the  was  July  1.  1691. 
Fifty  Years  after  his  firft  Marriage  unto  her, 
torn  away  from  the  Defire  of  his  Eyes.  His 
Value  for  the  whole  World,  was,  after  a  man- 
ner, extinguifhed  in  this  Lofs,  of  what  was  to 
him  the  be  ft.  part  of  it  ■,  and  he  fometimes  de- 
clared himfelf  defirous  to  be  gone,  whenever 
the  Lord  of  Heaven  fhould  pleafe  to  call  him 
thither. 

At  laft,  about  the  Beginning  of  March,  169$. 
the  Strangury  arrefted  him ;  and  he,  who  had 
been  a  Great  Render,  a  Great  Scholar,  a  Great 
Chrifiian,  and  a  Pattern  of  Goodnejs  in  all  the 
SuccefTive  Stations,  wherein  the  Lord  of  Hojts 
had  placed  him,  on  March  17.  the  Day  of  the 
Qmftian  Sabbath,  after  much  Pain,  went  unto 
his  Everlafting^  Reft  •,  having  a  few  Minutes 
before  it,  refuied  a  Glafs  of  offered  Wine,  fay- 
ing, I  am  going  where  Ifhall  have  better  I 

His  Age  was  about  Eighty  Two. 


Let  him  now  report  the  reft  himfelf,  in  a 
Epitaph,  like  that  on  the  Tomb  of  Chriftianus 
Macbabtus. 

Qjiam  Vivens  Potui  tantum  fperare,  Quiete 
Mortuus  in  Solida  nunc  Statione  fruor. 


CHAP. 


Book  111.       1  he  Hijtory  of  New-fcngland. 


221 


C  H  A  P.     VI. 


REMAINS    of  the   Third  Claffis. 


SEveral,  in  our  Third  Catalogue,  have  upon 
the  late  Revolutions,  returned  back  to  Eu- 
rope, and  feveral  are  yet  living  in  Service  and 
Efteem  among  our  felves. 

Article  ( I.  )  But  of  thofe  that  are  gone  un- 
to the  better  World,  we  have  caufe  particular- 
ly to  remember  Mr.  THOMAS  GILBERT, 
whole  Hifiory  is,  it  may  be,,  fufficienrly  related 
in  his  Epitaph,  which  is  at  this  Day  to  be  read 
on  his  Tomb  in  Charleftown. 


Here  is  Interred  the  Body  of  that  Revere nd, 
Sincere,  Zealous,  Devout  and  Faithful 
Mini  ft  er  of  Jefus  Chriji,  Mr.  THO- 
MA'S  GILBERT,  fometime  Paftor 
of  the  Church  of  Chr'ift,  at  Chedle  in 
Chefhire :  Alfo,  fometime  Paftor  of  the 
Church  of  Chr'ift  at  Eling,  in  Old  Eng- 
land :  Who  war  the  ProtoMartyr,  the 
Jirji  of  the  Minifters  that  fujfered  De- 
privation, in  the  Caufe  of  Non-Confor- 
mity in  England :  And  after,  betaking 
himfelf  to  New-England,  became  Paftor 
of  the  Church  of  Chriji,  in  Topsfield  ; 
and  at  Sixty  Three  Tears-  of  Age,  de- 
farted  this  Life.  Interred  OS.  28. 
1673. 


Omnia  pmerunt,  prater  amare  Deum. 

Thcfe  Things  pafs  for  ever,  Vain  World,   away; 
But  Lcve  to  God,  This,  This  endures  for  ay. 


Gilberti  hie  tenuem,  Leclores,  Ceruitis,Umbram, 
Longe  hac  Clara  Magis  Stella  Micauiq^  fuit. 

Sic  fuit  in  Vita  Gilbert  us,  ficq-,  RecelTu, 
Sicce  detur  nobis  Vivere,  ficq;  Mori. 

Lo  here  of  Gilbert,  but  a  Shadow  flight ; 
He  was  ,a  Star  of  more  Illuftrious  Light. 
Such  Gilbert  was  in  Lifex  fuch  in  his  Death  ; 
God  grant  zee  may  fo  live,  fo  yield  our  Breath. 


Article  (  II.)  On  Dec.  28.  1674.  Died  Mr. 
John  Oxenbridge,  a  Succeffor  to  tour  Famous 
JOHNS,  in  the  Paftoral  Charge,  of  the  Firft 
Church  in  Bofton.  He  was  Born  in  Daventry, 
Northampton/hire,  Jan.  30.  1608.  Both  Cam- 
bridge and  Oxford  contributed  unto  his  Liberal 
Education  -,  and  in  one  of  thofe  Univerfities  he 
proceeded  Mafter  of  Arts,  in  the  Year  163 1. 


The  Year  following,  he  became  a  Publick 
Preacher  of  the  Golpel ;  and  after  this,  taking 
fucceilively  Two  Voyages  to  Barmudaz,  he  at 
length  returned  into  England,  and  in  the  Year 
1644.  became  a  Paftor  to  a  Church  in  Beverly, 
I  find  him  after  this,  a  Fellow  of  Eaton  College : 
But  in  the  General  Shipwrack  that  befel  the 
Non-Conformifts,  A.  C.  1662.  I  find  him/w;>;/- 
ming  away  to  Surrinam,  in  America.  From 
thence  he  came  to  Barbados,  in  the  Year  1667, 
and  to  New  England  in  the  Year  1 669.  where 
he  fucceeded  Mr.  Davenport,  and  continued 
until  his  laft  Remove,  which  was  to  the  City 
of  God. 

The  Abilities  and  Inclinations  of  this  Wor- 
thy Man,  are  difcovered  in  feveral  of  his  pub- 
lifhed  Compoiures.  In  England  he  publifhed 
feveral  Difcourfes  on,  The  Duty  of  Watchjul- 
nej's.  He  alfo  publifhed,  A  Proportion  of  pro- 
pagating the  Go/pel  by  Chriftian  Colonies,  in  the 
Continent  of  "Guianai  being  fome  Gleanings  of  a 
larger  Difcourfe.  That  larger  Difcourfe  is  yet 
fleeping  :  But  upon  Perufal  of  the  M.  SS.  I 
am  fenfible,  that  there  is  in  it  a  grateful  Va- 
riety of  Entertainment.  After  he  came  to  New- 
England,  he  publifhed  a  Sermon,  preached  at 
the  Anniverfary  Election  of  our  Governour  and 
AJJifiants.  And  he  likewife  publifhed  a  Ser- 
mon about  Seafonable  fee  king  of  God. 


The  Piety  which  breathed  in  thefe  Compo- 
fures,  was  but  what  he  maintained  in  his  Dai- 
ly Walk :  And  fometimes  he  found  the  Leifure 
to  Articulate  the  Breathings  of  it  in  Writing. 
We  read  concerning  Balaam,  The  Lord  put  a 
Word  in  his  Mouth  :  It  fhould  feem,  his  Heart 
was  not  Holily  affe&ed  with  what  was  exprefTed 
by  his  Mouth.  But  the  Word  was  in  the  Heart, 
as  well  as  in  the  Mouth  of  our  Oxenbridge  -, 
and  his  Pen  alfo  fometimes  tranferibed  his 
Heart.    Once  thus  particularly. 


'  Certain  late  Experiments  of  the  Grace  of 
God  in  Chrift,  to  J.  0.  a  poor  Worm,  who 
defires  to  Record  them,  to  the  Praife  of  his 
Grace. 

'  Nov.  19.  1666.  was  a  Dark  Day  ;  my  Bo- 
dily Spirits  being  very  low  (  tho'  without 
Pain^)  and  my  Heart  fhut  up,  that  I  could 
not  look  up  to  God.  This  made  me  to  ap- 
prehend the  fad  Condition  of  a  Soul  deferred 
of  God  in  a  Time  of  Affliction  •,  but  the 
Lord  fuftered  not  this  Dark  Maze  to  continue. 
For  that  Night  he  thawed  my  Heart,  and 
opened    it  with   fome  Freedom    to  himfelf. 

But 


222 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.      Book  III. 


'  But  what  fhall  I  fay  for  the  ftrange  and 
'  ftrong  Confolations  ;  with  which  he  filled 
1  my  Soul,  on  the  20  and  the  21  of  November? 
'  No  Words  can  exprefs  what  I  have  felt  in 
E  my  Heart.  I  was  wholly  taken  up  with  the 
'  Thoughts  of  the  Kindnefs  of  God.  I  faid, 
'  What  Love  is  like  this  Love  ?  And  who  is  a 
'  God  like  unto  thee  ?  and  what  remains  for  me, 
'  but  to  love  and  to  p/aife  thee  for  ever  ?  Now 

*  Death  was  no   Dark  Thing   to  me,  neither 

*  was  any  Concern  of  this  Life  confiderahle. 
"  And  now  I  have  faid,  Who  can  lay  any  thing 
'  to  my  Charge,  fince  thrift  hath  fatz'sfiedby  his 
'  Death,  and  hath  gotten  a  Releafe  by  his  Re- 
'  furrettion,  and  lives  for  ever  to  perfeft  my 
4  Salvation  ?  This  hath  been  a  great  Stay  to 
'  me  in  my  Solitary  Condition  \  tho'  bereft  of 
'  fuch  Relations,  a  precious  Wife,  and  two 
'  fuch  Children.  But  the  Lord  Jefus  liveth 
'  for  ever,  to  do  all  for  me,  and  be  all  to  me. 
1  And  I  do  the  more  admire  and  adore  the 
'  Great  God,  in  his  condefcending  fo  much  to 
1  fo  vile  a  Worm,  that  hath  been  fo  full  of 
'  Fears  and  Doubts,  and  hath  fo  much  dif- 
*  pleafed  my  Lord  Jefus  and  his  Holy  Spirit. 
c  That  which  grieved  me  molt,  of  late  Months, 
c  is,  the  Unfixednefs  of  my  Thoughts  on  God : 
'  And  Oh,  that  the  Lord  may,  by  his  Eftablijh- 
4  ing  Spirit,  confirm  thefe  Comforts  on  me,  fo 
'  that  I  may  enjoy  them  in  Death,  and  improve 
'  them  for  the  good  of  others  in  Life.  I  know 
'  Satan  is  a  Wrangler  ;  but  my  Advocate  is 
'  able  to  filence  him  ! 

When  the  Lord  of  this  Faithful  Servant  came 
to  call  for  him,  he  was  found  in  his  Matter's 
Work.  Towards  the  Clofe  of  a  Sermon,  which 
he  was  preaching  at  Zfo/rW -Lecture,  he  was 
taken  with  a  Degree  of  an  Apoplexy  (as  John 
Cyril,  the  Worthy  Bohemian  Paftor  was  in  the 
Beginning  of  the  former  Century,  Apoplexia 
in  media  ad populum  condone  correptus)  which 
in  two  or  three  Days,  ended  his  Pilgrimage. 
Thus  he  had  the  Wi(h  of  fome  great  Men, 
Oportet  Concionatorem,  aut  Precantem  aut  Pre- 
dicantem,  Msri. 


Epitaphium. 


Vixi,  £?'  quern  dederas  Curfum,  in  Te  Chrifle, 
per  eg  1. 

Article  (III.)  On  March  24.  i6yl.  Expired 
that  Excellent  Man,  Mr.  THOMAS  WALLET, 
about  the  Age  of  Sixty  one.  I  can't  recover 
the  Day  of  his  Birth,  Let  it  content  my  Rea- 
der, that  the  Primitive  Chriffians  did  happily 
confound  the  Dilf incfion  of  the  Two  Times 
mention'd  by  the  Wife  Man,  A  Time  to  be 
Born,  and  a  Time  to  Die,  calling  the  Day  of  a 
Saint's  Death,  by  the  Name  of  their  Natalitia. 


This  Man  of  a  Thoufand,  was  a  well  accom- 
plifhed  Scholar;  but  his  Accomplifhments  ef- 
pecially  lay  in  that  which  the  Great  Gregory 
aliens  to  be,  Ars  Artium,  Cf  Scientia  Scientia- 
rum,  namely,  Animar um  Regimen., 

He  was  a  Chriftian  in  whom  the  Graces  of 
Chrift  very  richly  adorned  ,  but  mofi  of  all 
that  which  has  molt  of  Chrijlianity  in  it,  HU- 
MILITY; the  Happy  Vertue  which  we  may 
addrefs,  with  the  Acknowledgment  once  made 
unto  Ldix,  By  thee  we  enjoy  great  Quiet  nefs  -. 
and  by  that  Vertue  he  was  eminently  Service- 
able to  make  all  Quiet,  wherever  he  came.  He 
was  a  Divine,  well  furnifhed  with  the  Know- 
ledge neceffary  ro  Majter  Builder  in  the  Church 
of  God,  and  particularly  knowing  in  thofe 
Points  of  Divinity,  which  NonLettio  docet,  fed 
Unffio,  non  Lit  era,  Jed  Spirit  us,  non  Eruditio 
fed  Exercilatio. 

He  was  a  Preacher,  who  made  CHRIST 
the  main  Subject  of  his  Preaching  -,  and  who 
had  fuch  a  Regard  for  Souls,    that  he  thought 
much  of  nothing,  by  which  he  might  recom- 
mend a    CHRIST  unto  the  Souls  even  of 
the  meaneft,  as  well  as  of  the  greateft :  Being 
difpofed,  like  that  Great  King  of  Prance,  who 
being  found  inftru&ing  his  Kitchin-Boy  in  the 
Matters  of  Religion,  and  being  as'd  with  Won- 
der the  Reafon  of  it,  anfwered,  The  meaneft 
has/  a  Soul  a*  precious  as  my  own,  and  bought 
by  the  Blood  of  Chrift  as  well  as  mine  /It  may 
be  I  cannot  give  a  Truer  Defcription  of  this 
our  WA  LLET,  than  in   the  Words  of  him 
that  writes   the  Life  of   the  Famous  Belgic 
WALLJEUS;   '  He  was  diligent  in  Vifit- 
ing  his  Parifhioners,  whereby  he  Reformed 
many  which  were  given  to  Vicioufnefs.    He 
fatisfied    Doubting    Confciences,    and  extri- 
cated them  out  of  the  Snares  of  Satan.    He 
comforted    thole  that  were  caft  down,  with 
the  Apprehenfion  of  God's  Wrath  for  their 
Sins.    He  miniftred  Relief  to  Widows,  Or- 
phans, and  fuch   as  were   deftitute  of  Hu- 
mane Help.     His  Company  was  never  Grie- 
vous. 


His  being  fuch  a  one,  did  but  render  him 
the  more  likely  to  be  found  a  NonConformiji, 
when  the  Aft  of  Uniformity  ftruck  Dead  fo 
many  Faithful  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel  in  the 
Englifh  Nation.  When  the  Church  of  England 
under  the  New  Form,  which  its  Canons  after 
the  Year  i<5do.  depraved  it  into,  was  prefling 
its  Unferiptural  Rites,  our  W alley  replied, 
with  Tertullian,  fi  idco  dicetur,  licere,  quia 
non  prohibeat  Scriptura,  aque  retcrquebitur, 
ideo  non  licere,  quia  Scriptura  non  Jubeat. 


If  the  Church  of  England,  in  the  Days  of 
New-England's  firft  planting,  did  fo  want  Re- 
formation, that  thefe  Colonies  mult  be  planted 
for  the  fake  thereof,  how  much  more  would 
the  Second  Model  of  it  affright  fuch  Confcien- 
tious  Diifenters  as  our  IP r alley \  unto  Congrega- 
tions 


Book  Hi.      "1 he  Htjiory  of  JMew-Fngland. 


223 


tions  that  were  more .  thoroughly  Reformed? 
For,  as  one  writes,  '  Tho'  the  Church  of  Eng- 
'  land  ,was  never  fo  Reformed,  as  Geneva, 
1  France,  Holland,  and  other  Reformed  Chur- 
'  ches  j  yet  there  is  as  vaft  a  difference  between 
'  the  Old  Church  of  England  and  the  New  one, 
'  as  between  Nebuchadnezzar,  when  fitting  on 
c  his  Thtone  and  glittering  in  his  Glory,  and 
'  Nebuchadnezzar  when  grazing  among  Beafts 
'  in  the  Field,  with  his  Flair  like  Birds  Fea- 
'  thers,  and  Nails  like  Eagle's  Claws.  The 
Effect  of  all  was,  that  Mr.  Walley  was  driven 
from  the  Exercife  of  his  Miniftry  in  London, 
to  New-England;  where  he  arrived  about  the 
Year  1665. 

Here  he  had  a  Great  Service  to  do  •,  for  if 
the  Apoftle  Paul  thought  it  befeeming  an  Apo- 
ftle,  to  write  a  part  of  Canonical  Scripture, 
about  the  Agreement  of  no  mere  than  Two 
Godly  Perfons  [Phil.  4.  2.]  certainly  it  mull 
be  a  Great  Service  to  bring  a  Divided  Church 
of  Godly  Perfons  unto  a  Good  Agreement.  In 
Thebes,  he  that  could  reconcile  any  Quarelfome 
Neighbours,  was  honoured  with  a  Garland. 
The  Honour  of  a  Garland,  was  on  that  fcore, 
highly  due  to  our  Walley. 


The  Church  of  Barnftab/e  had  been  mifera- 
bly  broken  with  Divifions,  until  this  Prudent, 
Patient,  and  Holy  WA LLET  appeared  a- 
mong  them  :  And, 

Sluum  Pietate  Gravem,  ac  Mentis  hunc   Forte 
Virum  jam  Confpexere,  Silent. 

As  among  the  Suevians  it  was  a  Law,  That  in 
a  Fray,  where  Swords  were  drawn,  if  anyone 
did  but  cry  Peace,  they  muft  end  the  Quarrel, 
or  elfe  he  died  that  ffruck  the  next  Blow  after 
Peace  was  named.  Thus,  after  our  WALLEY, 
with  his  charming  Wifdom,  cried  Peace,  that 
Flock  was  happily  united  ■  and  he  continued  in 
much  Peace,  and  with  much  Fame,  Feeding  of 
it,  all  the  reft  of  his  Days. 

I  will  now  fo  far  difcover  my/elf,  as  to  ap- 
plaud this  Worthy  Man,  for  Two  Things 
which  it  may  be.  ,many  Good  Men  will  count 
worthy  rather  of  Reproach  than  Applaufc. 

One  is  this :  In  my  Father's  Preface  to  his 
Difcourfes  on  the  New  Jerufalem,  I  meet  with 
this  PaiTage,  Tho'  it  hath  been  generally 
thought,  that  the  Firft  RefLirre&ionj^'.'av?  cf  in 
the  Apocalypfe,  k  to  be  underftood  only  in  a 
Myflical  Senfe  ;  yet  fome  of  the  Firft,  and  Emi- 
nent Teachers  in  thefe  Churches,  'believed  the 
Firft  RefurreQion  to  be  Cc.poral.  So  did  Mr. 
Davenport,  Mr.  Hook,  and  of  later  Tears,  that 
Man  of  an  Excellent  Spirit,  Mr.  Thomas  Wal- 
ley, Paftor  of  the  Church  in  Barnftable.  Thus 
did  our  Pious  Chiliaft,  Walley,  it  feems,  come 
to  his  Thoughts,  as  Jofcph  Mede  before  him 
did,  and  as  in  the  Times  of  more  Illumination 
Learned  Men  muft  and  will  :  Polfquam  alia  om- 


nia fruftra  tentafiem,  tandem  Rei  Ipjats  Claritu- 
dine  perftritlus,  paradoxo  Snccubuu. 

Another  is  this:  Oh  a  Great  Occafion,  cm 
Walley  declared  himfelf  in  thefe  Words  It 
would  not  conftfl  with  our  Profejfion  of  Love  to 
Chrtfi  or  Saints,  to  trouble  thofe  that  peaceably 
dijjer  from  the  Generality  of  God's  People  in 
lejjer  Things  ;  thofe  that  are  like  to  live  in 
Heaven  with  us  at  laft,  zve  Jhould  endeavour 
they  might  live  peaceably  zoith  us  here.  A  well 
bounded  Toleration  were  very  definable  in  all 
Chriftian  Commonwealths,  that  there  may  be  no 
juft  Occafion  for  any  to  complain  of  Cruelty  or 
Perfection  =,  but  it  muft  befuch  a  Toleration, 
that  God  may  not  be  publickly  BlafpbemetL  nor 
Idolatry  pratTifed.  With  fuch  Candor  did  he 
expreis  himfelf  againft  the  way  well  decryed 
by  Gerhard,  A  Verba  ad  Ferrum,  ab  Atramcnlo 
ad  Arnidwcnta,  a  Penn/s,  ad  Bipenncs,  coiifu 
gcre. 

I  cannot  find  any  more  than  One  publifhed 
Compofure  left  behind  ;  which  is  Entituled, 
Balm  in  Gilead  to  heal  Sion'j  Wounds  :  Being' 
a  Sermon  preached  before  the  General  Court 
of  the  Colony  of  New-Plymouth,  —  Jun.  r. 
i66p.  the  Day  of  Election  there:  In  which, 
Let  it  be  remembred,  he  exprefly  foretels,  That 
New-England,  would  e'er  long,  lofe  her  Holi- 
nefs,  her  Righteoufnefs,  her  Peace,  and  her  LI 
berty. 


EpitaphiuiTL 


O  Mors,  §>icalem  Virum  Extinxifti ! 

Sed  bene  habet  -, 
Virtus   W  ALL  Ml   Immor talis  eft. 

Article  (IV:)  The  f mall  Sit  ay  of  the  Reve- 
rend Mr.  SAMUEL  LEE  in  this  Coun- 
try, where  he  was  Paftor:  of  the  Church  at 
New  Briftdl  [from  the  Year  i<58<5.  to  the  Year 
1691.']  will  excufe  me,  if  I  fay  little  of  him  - 
an  1  yet  the  Great  Worth  of  that  Renowned 
I4an^  will  render  it  inexcufable  to  fay  Nothing 
at  all.  & 

All  that  I  fhall  fay  is,  That  if  Learning 
ever  merited  a  Statue,  this  Great  Man,  has  as 
Rich  an  otf?  due  to  him,  as.  can  be  erefted  - 
for  it  muft  be  granted,  That  hardly  ever  a 
more  Umverfally  Learned  Perfon  trod  the  Ame- 
rican Strand. 

Live,  0  Rare  L  E  E,  Live,  if  not  in  our 
Works,  yet  in  thy  oivn  5,  Ten  or  Twelve  of 
which,  that  have  feen  the  Light,  will  Immor- 
talize thee.  But  above  all,  thy  Book  De  Ex- 
cideo  Antichrifli.  fhall  furvive  and  aflift  the 
F  f  f  f  Funeral 


224 


7 he  Hi/lory  of  New-England.       Book  111. 


funeral  of  the  Moxfter?  whofe  Nativity  is 
therein,  with  l'uch  Exquifite  Study  calculated ; 
and  thy  Book,  Entituled,  Orbis  Miraculum;  or 
The  Temple  of  Solomon,  (hall  proclaim  thee 
to  be  a  Miracle  for  thy  vaft  Knowledge,  and  a 
Pillar  in  the  Temple  of  thy  God  ! 


In  his  Return  for  England,  the  French  took 
him  a  Frifoner,  and  uncivilly  detaining  him, 
he  died  in  France  -,  where  he  found  the  Grave 
of  an  Here  tick,  and  was  therein  (after  fome 
fort,  like  WickliffzrA  Bucer)  made  a  Martyr 
alter  his  Death. 


CHAP    vir. 


A  Good  Man  making  a  Good  End.  The  L  I  F  E  and  D  E  AT  H  of  the 
Reverend  Mr.  JOHN  BAILT,  Comprifed  and  ExprefFed  in  a  Ser- 
mon, on  the  Day  of  his  Funeral.     Thurfday  16D.  10.  M.  1697. 


Pnlchra  funt  Verba  ex  Ore 

Ea  Facientium.     Adag.  Judaic. 


READER, 

WE  are  not  fo  Wife,  as  the  Miferable  Pa- 
pifts  !  Among  them,  a  F erf  on  of  Merit 
(hall,  at  his  Death,  be  Celebrated  and  Canonized 
by  all  Men  agreeing  in  it,  as  in  their  Common 
Intereft,  for  to  applaud  his  Life.  Among  us, 
let  there  be  Dues  paid  unto  the  Memory  of  the 
moft  Meritorious  Ferfon  after  his  Deceafe -,  ma- 
ny of  the  Survivers  are  offended^  I  had  abnoft 
[aid  enraged  at  it :  They  feem  to  take  it  as  a 
Reproach  unto  themf elves  (and  it  maybe,fo  it  is  !) 
That  fo  much  Good  jlmild  be  told  of  any  Man, 
and  that  all  the  little  Frailties  and  Errors  of  that 
Man,  (and  whereof  no  meer  Man  mas  ever  free  '.) 
be  not  alfo  told  with  all  the  Vnjujl  Aggravations 
that  Envy  might  put  upon  them.  This  Folly  is 
as  Inexprclfiblc  an  Injury  to  us  all  -,  as  it  cannot 
but  be  an  Advantage  unto  Mankind  in  General, 
for  Interred  Vertue  to  be  Rewarded  with  a 
Statue. 


If  ever  I  deferved  well  of  my  Country,  it  has 
been  when  1  have  given  to  the  World  the  Hijio- 
ries  and  Characters  of  Eminent  Ferfons,  which 
have  adorned  it.  Malice  will  call  fome  of  thofe 
things  Romances  ;  but  that  Malice  it  felf  may 
never  hifs  with  the  leaf  Colour  of  Reafon  any 
more,  I  do  here  declare,  Let  any  Man  living 
evince  any  one  Material  Miftake  in  any  one  of 
thofe  Compofures,  it  jhall  have  the  moft  Fublick 
Recantation  that  can  be  defired.  In  the  mean 
time,  while  fome  Impotent  Cavils,  nibbling  at 
the  Statues  which  we  have  eretted  for  our  Wor- 
thies, take  pains  to  prove  the mf elves,  The  Ene- 
mies of  New-England,  and  of  Religion,  the 
Statues  will  out-live  all  their  Idle  Nibbles ;  The 
Righteous  will  be  had  in  Everlafting  Remem- 
brance, when  the  Wicked  who  fee  it  and  are 
grieved,  Jhall  gnafh  with  their  Teeth  and  melt 
away. 


A  Good  Man  making  a  Good    End. 

Uttered,  Thurfday  1 6  D.  ioM.  1 697. 


I  Bring  you  this  Day  a  Text  of  Sacred  Scrip- 
ture, which  a  Faithful  Servant  of  the  Lord 
Jeius  Chrift,  lately  gone  unto  hkjj,  did  before 
his  going,  order  for  you  as  his  Legacy.  Give 
your  Attention. 

'Tis  That  in  Pftl.  XXXI.   5. 
Into  Thine  Hand  I  Commit  my  Spirit. 

THAT  Holy  and  Worthy  Minifter  of  the 
Gofpel,  whofe  Funeral  is  this  Day  to  be 
attended,  having  laboured  for  the  Converfion 


of  Men  unto  God,  at  length  grew  very  Frefa- 
gious  that  his  Labours  in  the  Evangelical  Mini- 
ftry,  drew  near  unto  an  End.  While  he  was 
yet  in  Health,  and  r.ot  got  beyond  the  Fifty 
Fourth  Year  of  his  Age,  he  did,  with  fuch  a 
Frefagc  upon  his  Mind  f  having  firft  written  on 
this  wife  in  his  Diary,  Oh  !  that  Chriffs  Death 
might  fit  trie  for  my  own  !)  begin  to  ftudy  a  Ser- 
mon on  this  very  Text,  Into  thine  Hand  I  com- 
mit my  Spirit.  But  his  Great  Mailer,  who  fa- 
voured him  with  fuch  a  Frefage,  never  gave 
him  an  Opportunity  to  finifh  and  utter,  what 

he 


Book  Hi.       '1  he  Hijlory  of  New-tngland. 


225 


he  had  began  to  itudy.     His  Life  had  all  this 
while,  been  a  Praff/cal  Commentary  upon  his 
DoSrine;  yea,  'twas  an  Endeavour  to  imitate 
our  Bleffed  Lord  Jefus  Chrilt,    who   js  faid 
[Act.  1.  i-]   hrfl:  to  Do,  and    then   to  Teach  : 
And   now,  Behold  !  His  Death  mult  Expound 
and  Apply  the  DoSrine  which  he  would  have 
preached    unto  us.     He  mull  Ihow  us,  how  to 
do  that  Important  Work   of  Committing  a  De- 
parting Spirit  into  the  Hands  of  God,  no  other- 
wife  than  by  the  Actual  doing  of  that  Work 
himfelf.     While  therefore  he  lay  a  Dying,  he 
ask'd  one   of  his  deareft  Relations,  Dofl  thou 
know  what  lam  doing  !  She  faid,  No  ;  He  then 
added,  lam  Rendring,  lam  Rendring  !  Mean- 
in,  I   fuppofe,  his  own  Spirit  unto  the  Lord. 
But  while  he  was  doing  of  that   Work,  and 
with  Humble  Relignation  Commuting  his  own 
Spirit  into  the  Hands  of  God,  he  defired  of  me, 
that  I   would  preach   upon   the  Text,   about 
which    he  had    been    under  fuch    Intentions. 
Wherefore  [IfatleaftI  maybe  thought  wor- 
thy of  fuch  a  Character !]  You  are  now  to  con- 
fider  me,  ihall  I  lay,  as  Executing   the  Will  of 
the  Dead?  Or,  as  Reprefenting  a  Alan  of  God, 
whom  God  hath  taken.     The  Truths  which  we 
fhall  now  Inculcate,  will  be  fuch,  as  you  are 
all  along  to  think,  Thefe  are  the  things  which 
a  Saint  now  in  Glory  would  have  to  be  Inculcated. 
And  when  we  have  briefly  fet  thofe  Truths  be 
fore  you,  we  will  defcribe  a  little  that  Excel- 
lent Saint,  as  from  whom  you  have  them  Re- 
commended:  We  will   defcribe  him   chiefly, 
with  Strokes  fetch'd  from  his  own  Diaries,  out 
of  which,  in  the  little  Time  I  have  had  fince 
his  Death,  I  have  collected  a  few  Remarkables. 

Our  Pfalmift,  the  Illuftrious  David,  now,  as 
we  may  judge,  drew  near  unto  his  End  :  And 
we  may  fay  of  the  Pfalm  here  compofed  by 
him,  Thefe  are  among  the  lafi  Words  of  David, 
the  Man  who  was  Raifed  up  on  High.  The 
Sighs  of  the  Pfalmift  here  collected,  feem  to 
have  been  occafion'd  by  the  Sufferings,  which 
he  underwent,  when  his  own  Subjects  took  up 
Arms  againft  him.  Neverthelefs,  as  our  Plat- 
ter is  all  over  The  Book  of  the  McJJiah,  fo  this 
particular  Hymn  in  it,  is  contrived  Elegantly 
to  point  out  the  Sufferings  of  our  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift  unto  us.  In  the  Text  now  before  us, 
the  Pfalmitt  apprehending  himlelf  in  danger 
of  Death,  does  the  Great  Work  of  a  Dying 
Man  :  Which  is,  To  Commit  a  Surviving  Spi- 
rit, into  the  Hand  of  God.  But  in  doing  this, 
he  entertains  a  fpecial  Confideration  ol  God, 
for  his  Encouragement  in  doing  it :  This  is, 
Thou  haft  Redeemed  me,  0  Lord  God  of  Truth. 
It  is  the  Mejjiah  that  hath  Redeemed  us ; 
It  is  the  Mejjiah  whofe  Name  is  the  Truth  -, 
David  upon  a  View  of  the  Mejjiah,  faid,  This 
is  the  Man,  who  is  the  Lord  God.  Wherefore. 
In  Commuting  our  Spirits  unto  God,  our  Lord 
Chrift  is  to  be  diltinctly  confidered  ;  and  he 
was^jie-  doubt,  by  David  confidered.  The 
Power  of  God  is  called  his  Hand;  The  Wifdom 
of  God  is  called  his  Hand:  But  above  all,  the 


Chrift  of  God,  who  is  the  Power  of  God,  and 
the  Wifdom  of  God,  he  is  the  Hand  of  God  ; 
By  Him  'tis,  that  the  God  of  Heaven  doth, 
what  he  doth  in  the  World  :  And  he  is,  for 
that  Caufe  alfo  ityled,  The  Arm  of  the  Lord.  It 
is  therefore  to  the  Power  and  Wifdom  and  Good- 
nefs  of  God,  in  Chrift,  that  our  Expiring  Spi- 
rits are  to  be  committed. 

There  was  indeed  a  wonderful  Time,  when 
our  Lord  Jefus  Chrilt  himfelf  made  a  wonder- 
ful Ufe  of  this  very  Text.  We  read  in  Luke 
23.  46.  When  Jefus  had  Cried  with  a  loud  , 
he  faid,  Lather,  into  thy  Hands  1  commen  I  ay  Spi- 
rit; and  having  faid  thus,  hi  gav,  7.  '.  Ghojf. 
Sirs,  God  uttered  hisVoice,  at  this  rue,  and 
Earth  trembled  at  it!  And  will  it  might,  for 
never  did  there  fuch  an  amazing  thing  occur 
upon  the  Earth  before.  Now,  our  Lord  having 
faid,  Into  thy  Hands  I  commend  my  Spirit,  (lop'd 
at  thofe  Words  ;  for  he  was  himlelf  the  Re- 
deemer, the  Lord  God  of  Truth.  But  as  fur  us, 
we  are  to  confider  God,  as  in  our  Lord  Jefus 
Chriji,  when  we  Commit  our  Spirits  into  his 
Hands.  As  Luther  could  fay,  Nolo  Deum  Ab- 
folutum,  I  tremble  to  have  to  do,  with  an  Ah- 
flute  God;  [hat  is  to  fay,  a  God  without' a 
Chriji .-  So,  we  may  all  tremble  to  think  of 
Committing  our  Spirits  into  the  Hands  of  God, 
any  otherwile  than  as  he  is,  in  Chrift  Reconci- 
ling the  World  unto  himfelf.  We  are  truly  told 
in  Heb.  1  o.  3 1.  It  is  a  fearful  thing  to  fall  into 
the  Hands  of  tie  Living  God.  Our  Spirits  are 
by  Sin  become  obnoxious  to  the  Fearful  Wrath 
of  God  ;  and  wo  to  us,  if  our  Spirits  fall  into 
his  Hands,  not  having  his  Wrath  appeafed  ! 
Sirs,  we  Commit  Briars  and  Thorns,  and  wret- 
ched Stubble  to  infinite  Flames,  if  we  Com- 
mit our  Spirits  into  the  Hands  of  God,  not  in  a 
Chrift,  become  our  Friend.  We  deliver  up  our 
Spirits  unto  a  Devouring  Fire,  and  unto  Ever- 
Lifting  Burnings,  if  we  approach  the  Holy,  Ho- 
ly, Holy  Lord  God  Almighty  any  otherwile  than 
thro'  the  Immanuel,  our  Mediator.  We  are  to 
Commit  our  Souls  unto  our  Faithful  Creator :  But 
if  he  be  not  our  Merciful  Redeemer  too,  then 
He  that  made  us  will  not  have  Mercy  on  us. 
When  Hezekiah  was,  as  he  thought,  a  Dying, 
he  t urn 'd  his  Face  to  the  Wall :  I  fuppofe  it  was 
to  that  fide  of  the  Upper  Chamber,  the  Praying 
Chamber,  where  he  lay,  that  had  God's  Window 
in  it,  the  Window  that  opened  it  felf  towards 
the  Ark  in  the  Temple.  When  we  Commit  our 
Spirits  into  the  Hand  of  God,  we  are  to  turn 
our  Face  towards  that  Ark  of  God,  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrilt.  We  have  this  Matter  well  dire- 
cted by  the  Words  of  the  Dying  Martyr  Ste- 
phen, in  Acts  7.  5P.  He  faid,  Lord  Jefus,  Re- 
ceive my  Spirit. 

And  now  there  is  a  weighty  CASE,  that  lies 
before  us^ 

After  what  manner  Jhould  ice  commit  our  Spirits 
unto  our  Lord  JeJ'us  Chrift,  that  fo  the  Eter- 
nal Safety  and  Welfare  of  our  Spirits,  may  be 
effeSually  provided  for  ? 

Ffff2  If 


226 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-Fngland.     Book  III 


If  our  Faithful  BA1LT  were  now  Alive,  I 
do  not  know  any  one  CASE,  that  he  would 
more  Livelily  have  difcourfed  among  you  :  But 
I  know,  that  he  would  have  Difcourfed  on 
this,  with  a  Soul  full  of  Inexprefiible  Agonies. 
He  was  a  Man,  who  had  from  a  Child,  been 
full  of  iollicitous  Cares  about  his  own  Soul  5 
and  from  hence  in  part  it  was,  that  when  he 
became  a  Preacher  of  the  Gofpel,  he  preach'd 
nothing  fo  much,  as  the  Cares  that  all  Men 
fhould  have,  about  the  Converfion  of  their 
Souls  unto  God,  and  the  Sincerity  of  their 
Souls  before  him.  There  were  many  Great 
Points  of  our  Chrifi  tan  Faith,  which  he  ffill 
treated  with  fhorter  Touches,  becaufe  his 
Thoughts  were  continually  fwallowed  up  with 
the  Vail  Concern  of  not  being  deceived,  about 
the  Marks  of  a  Regenerate  and  a  Sanctified  Soul, 
and  Hopes  of  being fomdin  Chrifi  at  a  Dying 
Hour.  He  was  none  of  thofe  Preachers,  !%ui 
luiunt  in  Cathedra,  &  ///gent  in  Gehenna.  Thofe 
two  Words,  A  Soul  and  Eternity,  were  Great 
Words  unto  him  ;  and  his  very  Soul  was  great- 
ly, and  always  under  the  Awe  of  them.  Hence 
the  very  Spirit  of  his  Preaching  lay  in  the  Points 
of  turning  from  Sin  to  God  in  Chriff,  and  the 
Tryal  of  our  doing  fo,  and  the  Peril  of  our  not 
doing  it.  Wherefore,  as  far  as  alas,  one  of  my 
finful  Coldnefs  in  thofe  dreadful  Points  can  do 
it,  I  will  fet  before  you  in  a  few  Minutes,  what 
I  apprehend,  my  dead  Friend  would  have  to  be 
fpoken,  upon  thefe  Points,  in  Relation  to  the 
Cafe  that  is  now  to  be  confidered. 

I.  Let  every  mortal  Man  be  very  fenfible, 
that  he  hath  an  Immortal  Spirit  in  him,  and 
prize  that  Spirit  exceedingly.  How  fhall  we 
Commit  a  Spirit  into  the  Hands  of  the  Lord  Je- 
fus  Chriff,  if  this  thing  be  not  Realized  unto 
us,  That  we  have  a  Spirit,  which  will  be  horri- 
bly miferable  to  all  Eternity,  if  the  Tor d  J ef us 
Chrifi  look  net  ajtcr  it ! 


Could  that  Mouth, 


in  him,  which  is  of  a  very  different   Nature 
from  his  Body  ?  Truly,  his  very  Thinking  is  e- 
nough  to  confute  his  monflrous  XJnreafqpable- 
nefs  :  Meer  fiody  cannot  Think;    and  I  pray, 
of  uh.u  Figure   is !-a  Rational  Atom  ?  The  Ora- 
cles of  God  have   therefore  affured  us,  That 
the  Fathers  of  our  Bodies,  are  nor  the  Fathers 
of  Spirits  -,    No,  thefe   have,  another  Father ! 
And,  That  the  Spirits  of  Men  may  go  from 
their  Bodies  ;  and  be  caught  up  to  the  Third 
Heaven  too !  Well ;  But  when  our  Bodies  crum- 
ble and  tumble   before   the  Strokes  of  Death, 
are  not  our  Spirits  overwhelmed  in  the  Ruines 
of  our  Bodies,  like  Samp/on,  when  the  Pbili- 
fiean  Temple  fell  upon   him  ?.  *No;  they  are 
Sparks  of  Immortality,  that  fhall  never  be  Ex- 
tinguifhed  5    they  muff  live,   and  move,    and 
think.until  the  very  Heavens  be  no  more.  Among 
other  Evidences,  That  our  Spirits  ore  Immortal, 
there  is   no  contemptible  one,  in  the  Pre/ages] 
which  the  Spirits  of  fuch    good   Men,  as"  he 
which  is  anon  to  be  interr'd,  have  had  of  their 
fpeedy  Pafiage  in  a  World  of  Spirits.     Our  Lord 
jefus  Chrift,  who  gave  his  own  Blood  for  the 
Purchace  of  our  Souls,  and  can  tell,  fure!  what 
it  is   that  he  has  purchafed  •    he  has   expreily 
told  us  in  Matth.  jo.  28.    They  which  kill  the 
Body,  are  not  able  to  kill  the  Soul.     Our  Bleffed 
Apoffle  Paul,  a  mighty   Student  and  Worker 
for  Souls,  was  not  fed  with  Fancies,  when  he 
took  it  for  granted,  in  Phil.  1.  Sr.  That  when 
he  fhould  be  difiolved,  he  fhould  be  with  Chrifi 
immediately.    Do,    try  thou  Fool-hardy  Crea- 
ture, to  perfwade  thy  felf,  That  thou  baft  not 
an  Immortal  Soul :  Thou  canft  not,  for  thy  Soul, 
render   thy  felf  altogether,  and  evermore  per- 
fwaded  of  it :  With  very  dreadful  Sufpicions, 
of  its  Immortality,  will  thy  own  Confcience,  a 
certain  Faculty  of  thy  Soul  terrify  thee,  when 
God  awakens   ir.     I  have  known  a  frurJy  Dii- 
puteragainft  the  Immortality  of  the  Soul,  go  out 
of  the   World  with   this  Lamentable  Out  cry, 
Oh  !  my  Soul,  my  Soul;    what  fijall  I  do  for 


0!  my  bout,  my  bout;    what  J  ball  I  do  Jor  my 
which  is  this  Day  to  be\poor  Soul?  Sirs,  let  this  Principle  ffand  like  the 


laid  in  the  Duff,  once  more  be  opened  among 
ns,  I  know  what  Voice  would  iffue  from  it : 
With  a  very  zealous  Vivacity,  I  know  this  Voice 
would  be  uttered,  Man,  Thou  baft  a  Soul,  a 
Soul  within  thee  ;  a  Soul  that  is  to  exift  through- 
out Eternal  Ages;  Oh  .'  Prize  that  Soul  of  thine 
at  the  great eft  rate  imaginable.  I  fay  then;  we 
mult  be  fenfible,  That  we  have  Spirits  which 
are  Diflinft  from  our  Bodies,  and  which  will 
out-live  them:  Spirits  which  are  Incorporeal 
Subjlances,  endued  with  Rational  Faculties ;  and 
thd  inclined  unto  our  Humane  Bodies,  yet  fur- 
viving  after  them.  An  Infidel  Pope  of  Rome, 
once  lying  on  his  Death-Bed,  had  fuch  a  Speech 
as  this  ;  I  pl.rnll  now  quickly  be  certified  and  fa- 
tisfied.  whether  I  have  an  Immortal  Soul  or  no ! 
Wotul  Man.  if  he  were  not  until  then  certified 
and  fatisried!  God  forbid,  that  there  fhould 
be  fo  much  as  one  Epicurean  Swine  among  us, 
dreaming.  That  Man  is  nothing  but  a  meer 
Tump  oj  Matter  put  inly  Met  ion.  Shall  a  Man 
dare  to  think,   that  he  lias  rot  a  Rational  Sen  ft, 


very  Pillars  of  Heaven  with  every  one   of  us, 
That  we  h  rce  Immortal  Souls  to  be  provided  for. 
But  if  a  Man   have  an  Immortal  Soul  within 
him,  what    will  be   the  Natural  Conlequence 
of  it?  The  Confequence  is  plainly  this;  That 
fince  the  Soul  is   Immortal,  it  fhould  be  very 
precious.     It  was  infinitely  Reafonable  for  the 
Soul  to  be  called,  as  it  was  in  Pfal.  22.  20. 
My  Soul,  my  Darling !    Oh  !  There  fhould  be 
nothing  fo  dear  to  a  Man  as  that  Soul  of  his,  that 
fhall  endure  when  all  other  things  are  changed  : 
For,  0  my  Soul,  of  thy  Tears  there  fhall  be  no 
end.     The  Intereifs  of  our  Spirits  are  to  be 
much  greater  things  unto  us,  than  the  Interefls 
of  our  Bodies.      What  will  become  of  our 
Souls  ?  That,   that  is  a  thing  that  fhould  lie 
much  nearer  to  our  Hearts,  than  what  will  be- 
come of  our  .Lives,  our  Names,  our  Effatcs. 
We  fhould  let  an  high  Value  on  our  Spirits, 
and   often   medirate  on  the  Text,  which  was 
once  given  to  a  Great  rVlan,  for  his  daily  Me- 


dilation  in   Matt.  \6.  26 


Whet  is  a  Man  pro- 
file!. 


Boqfc  ill.      The  Hifiory  of  New-England. 


227 


fie&  if  he 
nam  Soul. 


gain  the  whole  World,  and  lofe  lm 


If  Let  every  Man  in    this  World  that  hath 
an  Immortal    Spirir,    be   above    all    Things, 
thoughtful  for   fhe  Welfare  of  that  Spirit  in 
another  World.     When  we  Commit  a  Spirit  in- 
to the  Hands  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  it  is, 
that  fo  it  may  efcape  that  Wretchedneis,  and 
attain  that  Bleffednels  in  another  World,  where- 
of  our  Lord   hath    in   his   Word  advifed  us. 
1  that  Embaffadot,  of  Chrift,  who  is  lately 
gone  back   unto  him,  was  Refident  among  us, 
there  was  no  one  thing  that  he  more  vigoroufly 
infilted  on  than  this  ■,  Ob  .'  there  is  nothing  fo 
dreadful,  an  that  Hell,  which  every  wicked  Soul 
fnall  be  turned  into  :  There  k  nothing  fo  joyful 
"at  that  heaven  which  Is  prepared  for  every  god- 
ly Soul:  And  there  is  nothing  of  fo  much  Con- 
cernment for  you,  as  to  flee  from  that  Wrath  to 
come,  and  lay  bold  on  that  Life  Eternal.    I  fay 
accordingly ;    there  are    aftonifhing   Dangers, 
whereto  our  Souls   are  expofed   by  our  Sins. 
Our  Spirits  ate  in  Danger  of  being  for  ever  ba- 
nifhed  from  the  Communion  of  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift,  into  a   State  of  Fafelefs  and  Endlefs 
Horror;  our  Spirits  are  in  Danger  to  be  plung'd 
into  doleful  Torments,  among  the  Devils  that 
have  been  our  Tempters :  Our  Spirits  are  in 
Danger  to  be  feiz'd  by  the  Juflice  of  that  God 
againft  whom  we  have  finn'd,  and  laid  undef 
Everlafting    Impreflions    of    his    Indignation. 
There  are  Spirits  in  Pr'ifon ;  there  is  Danger 
left  the  Vengeance  of  God  chain  up  our  Spirits 
in  that  fiery  Prifon.     fit  was  but  a  little  before 
he  went  unto  Heaven,  that  our  Baily  in  Twen- 
ty  Six   Difcourfes   on   Rev.  6.  8.  opened  the 
Treafures  of  that  Wrath  among  u?.)  And  we 
fhould  now  be  fo  thoughtful  of  nothing  upon 
Earth,  as  how  to  get  our  Spirits  delivered  from 
this  Formidable  Hell.    The  fitteft  Language  for 
us,  would  be  like  that  in  Pfal.  116.  3,4.  The 
pains  of  Hell  are  getting  hold  on  me  >  0  Lord,  I 
befecc  ■)  thee  to  deliver  my  Soul.     But  then  there 
is  a  Great   Salvation,   which  our   Lord  Jefus 
Chrift  has  wrought  for  us-,  and  that  Salvation 
is,  The  Salvation  of  the  Soul.     Our  Spirits  may 
be  releafed  from  the  Bonds,  which  the  Sentence 
of  Death,  by  the  Law  of  God  palled  upon  them, 
has  laid  them  under.     Our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
fatisfying   of  the  Law,   by  his  Death  in  our 
ftead,  hath  procured  this  Releafe  for  the  Spitits 
of  his  chofen.     Thete  are  rhe  Spirits  of  Juft 
Men  made  per  fell ;    and  there  is  perfect  Light, 
and  perfect  Love,  and  perfect  Joy,  among  thofe 
glorified  Spirits.    Our  Spirits  may  be  advanced 
into  the  Society  of  Angels-,  and  be  with  our 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift  in    Heaven,  the   Spectators 
and  Partakers  of  his  Heavenly  Glory.     Now, 
we  fhould  be  more  thoughtful  to  make  fure  of 
fuch  a  Heaven  for  our  Spirits,  than  to  enfure 
any  thing  on  Earth.     We  fhould   wifh  for  no- 
thing fo  much  as  that  in  1  Sam.  25.  29.  A  Soul 
bound  up  in   the  Bundle  of  Life.     There  are 
Souls  which  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  has  bundled 
like  fo  many  Slips,  to  be  tranfplanted  into  the 


fweet  Garden  of  Heaven ;  fay  now,  0  Man, 
with  all  pofiible  Ardour  of  Soul,  Ob!  may  my 
Soul  be  one  of  them  ! 


ofi 

When  our  Father  Jacob  was  a  Dying,  he 
feems,  upon  the  Occafion  of  mentioning  a  Set- 
pent,  immediately  to  call  to  mind  the  Mif- 
chiets  which  had  been  done  by  the  old  Serpent 
unto  our  Spirits :  Whereupon  he  cried  out, 
Gen.  49.  18.  Ibave  waited  for  thy  Salvation  [for 
thy  J  E  S  U  S !]  0  Lord.  That  our  Spirits  may 
not  be  deftroy'd  in  our  Dying,  This,  this  is  the 
Thing  that  we  fhould  be  concerned  for ;  That 
they  may  be  faved  by  a  Jefus,  from  the  Mif- 
chiefs,  which  the  old  Serpent  has  brought  up 
on  them. 

III.  When  we  Commit  our  Spirits  into  the 
Hands  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  we  muft  be- 
lieve in  him,  as  fully  able  xofave  our  Spirits 
unto  the  uttermo/L    It  is  by  Faith  afted  unto 
the  uttermoft,  that  we  are  to  Commit  our  Spirits 
into  the  Hands  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  :  Now 
the  Acts  of  thisFaitb  are  admirably  expreffed  in 
2  Tim.  1.  1 2.  1  know  whom  I  have  believed,  and 
I  am  perfwaded,  That  be   ts  able  to  keep  that 
which  I  have  committed  unto  him.     We  would 
have  our  Spirits  preferved  from  the  Direful  An: 
ger  of  God,  which  threatens  to  fwallow  them 
up:  Say    now,  Lord  Jefus,    I  am  perfwaded, 
Thou  art  able  to  preferve  me.     We  would  have 
our  Spirits  enriched  with  the  Knowledge  and 
Image,  and  Favour   of  God,  in  his  Kingdom : 
Say  now,  Lord  Jefus,  I  am  perfwaded,   Thou 
art  able  to  enrich  me.    We    are  therefore  to 
place  our  Faith  on  the  Sacrifice  which  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  hath  offered  unto  God,  on  the  be- 
half of  his  People.    We  read  in  Job  33.  22. 
When  a  Soul  draws   near   unto  the  Grave,  If 
there  be  a  Aleffenger  with  him,  an  Interpreter, 
then  he  fays,  Deliver  him  from  going  down  to 
the  Pit,  I  have  found  a  Ranfome.    Some  of  the 
Ancients  take   that,  Angelus  Interpres,  to  be 
Chrift  the  Alediator.    Sirs,  when  yours   Souls 
are  drawing  near  unto  the  Grave,  'tis  high  time 
to  believe  on  that  Ranfome,  which  One  among 
a  Tboufand  has  paid  unto  God  for  us.     We 
muft  believe,  That  the  Sacrifice  of  the  Soul  of 
the  MeJJiah,  when  He  was  cut  off,  but  not  for 
himfelf,   is  a  valuable  Sacrifice,  a  fufficient  Sa- 
crifice,   and  a  Sacrifice  which  the    wondrous 
Grace  of  God  invites  us  to  depend  upon;  and 
with  a  firm  Dependance  on   that  Sacrifice,  we 
muft  plead,  0  let  my  Soul  be  delivered  from  go- 
ing down  to  the  Pit,  fince  God  baa  found  fuch 
a  Ranfome  for  me  !  But  while  we  rely  on  our 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  as  he  has  been   facrificed  for 
us  here  below,  we  muft  alfo  reply  upon  him, 
as  he  is  now  above,  in  the  Holy  of  Holies,  in- 
terceeding  for  us.     And  that  our  Faith  in  com- 
mitting our  Spirits  unto  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
may   be  a  truly  Chriftian  Faith.     We  muft  be- 
lieve him  to  be  no  lefs  than  The  Lord  God  of 
Truth  ;  to  be  God  as  well  as  Man  -,  to  be  God 
and  Man  in  one  Perfon.    That  Man  is  a  very 
Foolilh  Man,    who  will  truft  his  own  Soul 

with 


228 


The  Hi/lory  of  New-England.       Book  III. 


with  any  one  lefs  than  the  God  who  made  our 
Soul,  and  who  alone  can  lave  it.  Our  Belief 
mult  pronounce  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  the  fame 
that  his  Bible  has  pronounced  him  ;  The  True 
God,  the  Great  God,  and  God  over  all;  one 
who  is  every  where,  and  who  knows  every 
thing.  This  Article  of  our  Faith,  which  the 
modern  Jews  deny,  is,  indeed  fo  incontestable, 
that  I  could  prefently  overwhelm  them  with  an 
Army  of  Tefti monies,  from  the  Rabbies  among 
the  Ancient  Jews,  conferring,  Thar  the  Mejfiah 
muft  be  very  Jehovah  himfelf.  I  befeech  you, 
let  no  Man  dare  to  die  in  any  Doubt,  whether 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  unto  whom  he  commits 
his  own  Soul,  be  not  more  than  a  meer  Man. 
Believing  him  to  be  God,  let  us  believe,  that 
his  Blood  is  Price  enough  to  obtain  for  us  the 
Everlafting  Happinefs  of  our  Spirits-,  what  can 
our  Spirits  want  that  the  Blood  of  God  can't 
obtain  ?  Let  us  believe,  that  his  Holy  Spirit  can 
fit  our  Spirits  for,  and  fill  our  Spirits  with  Eter- 
nal Glories;  the  Sprrit  of  Chrift  is  the  Spirit 
of  God :  What  cant  he  do  for  us  ?  Let  us  be 
lieve,  that  he  has  Legions  and  Myriads,  and 
Millions  of  Blefled  Spirits  to  be  our  Convoy, 
and  Safeguard  from  thofe  Evil  Spirits,  which 
are  waiting  to  arreft  our  Spirits  at  our  DifTo- 
lution  :  He  is  God  among  the  Thoufands  of 
his  Angels,  in  his  Holy  Place :  They'll  fly  like 
fwift  Flafhes  of  Lightning  to  fuccour  us,  when 
ever  he  fhall  command  them  fo  to  do.  What 
fhall  we  fay  ?  When  Jacob  fell  afleep  with  his 
Head  lying  upon  a  Stone,  he  had  a  Virion  of 
Angels  concerned  for  him.  Truly,  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  is,  The  Stone  of  IJrael.  If  you 
don't  fall  afleep,  till  you  have  laid  your  Heads 
and  Hopes  on  that  Stone,  you  fhall  then  fee 
Armies  of  Angels  about  you,  to  fecure  you. 

IV.  When  we  commit  our  Spirits  into  the 
Hand  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  we  muft  fubmit 
unto  all  his  Gracious  Operations  upon  our  Spi 
rits.  We  commit  our  Spirits  into  the  Hand  of 
our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  we  fay:  Well,  he  then 
demands  of  us,  as  in  Mark  10.  51.  What  wilt 
thou,  that  I  jhould  do  unto  thee  ?  And,  I  pray, 
mark  it;  If  there  beany  Article  of  Grace  al 
ways  wrought  by  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  for 
the  Spirits  of  his  Elect,  which  you  do  not  Con- 
fent  unto,  he  will  not  receive  your  Spirits  ;  no, 
he  willdeftroy  them  dreadfully.  Some  commit 
their  Spirits  into  the  Hand  of  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift,  they  fay  ;  but  they  are  not  willing  that 
the  Hand  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  fhould  ever 
do  for  them,  all  that  muft  done,  in  all  that 
are  brought  Home  unto  God.  Perhaps  they 
would  have  their  Spirit  refcued  from  the  Hands 
of  the  Devils  hereafter  -,  but  they  don't  heartily 
commit  their  Spirits  into  the  Hands  of  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift,  for  to  have  all  the  Lutf  s  that  make 
their  Spirits  like  Devils,  here  embittered,  and 
Eradicated.  They  would  have  eafy  Spirits,  it 
may  be,  but  Oh !  they  are  loth  to  have  Holy 
Spirits.  This  Halving  of  it,  thou  Hypocrite. 
this  Halving  of  a  Chrift,  will  hang  the  Mil 
ftones  of  Damnation  about  the  Neck  of  thy 


Soul  for  ever.  The  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  puts  this 
Queftion  unto  us,  Poor  Sinner  what  /ball  I  do 
for  thy  Spirit  ?  No  Man  can  aright  commit  a 
Spirit  into  the  Hand  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
until  he  have  ferioufly  pondered  on  that  Que- 
ftion. Ponder  it  Sirs,  in  the  Fear  of  God  !  But 
then  let  our  Anfwer  to  it,  be  according  to  that 
in  2  Thef.  1.  11.  That  be  would  fulfil  all  the 
good  fie  af ure  of  his  Gocdnefs  in  you,  and  the 
Work  of  Faith  with  Power.  In  committing  your 
Spirits  into  the  Hand  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
Oh!  Let  your  Hearts,  bring  made  willing  in  the 
Day  oj  his  Power,  declare  themfelves  willing  to 
have  him  do  for  you,  all  that  he  is  willing  to  do. 
Tis  the  Propofal  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  Shall 
my  Obedience  to  my  Father  fur nijh  thee  with  that 
Attonement,  and  that  Right eoufnefs  whereby  thy 
Spirit  fhall  ftand  without  Fault  before  the 
Throne  oj  God  ?  Reply,  Lord,  I  commit  my  Spi- 
rit into  thy  Hand,  for  thee  to  juftify  it.  The 
Propofal  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  unto  us  is 
All  the  Maladies  oj  thy  Spirit,  fhall  I  heal  them 
all  ?  Reply,  Lord,  I  commit  my  Spirit  into  thy 
Hand,  as  into  the  Hand  of  the  Lord  my  Healer- 
0  let  that  handoj  thine  open  this  Blind  Mind,  and 
I ub due  this  bafe  Will,  and  retlifie  all  thefe  depra- 
ved Affeflions  ;  and  on  all  Accounts  renew  a 
right  Spirit  within  me.  Man,  commit  thy  Spi- 
rit  into  the  Hand  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  with 
fuch  a  Difpofition  •,  and  then  reft  afTured^  That 
Spirit  fhall  never  be  loft. 

V.  If  you  would  fuccefsfully  commit  your 
Spirits  into  the  Hand  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
when  you  die,  you  are  to  do  it  for  your  Spirits 
before  you  die.  Indeed,  what  fhould  all  our 
Life  be,  but  a  Preparation  for  Death  ?  And  all 
of  our  Life  truly  is  little  enough.  So  thought 
our  Devout  Baily.  It  was  the  Counfel  which 
he  often  gave  to  his  Friends,  Let  not  one  Day 
pafs  you,  without  an  earn  eft  Prayer,  that  you 
may  have  a  Chrift  for  to  ftand  by  you  in  a  Dying 
Hour.  And  his  own  Practice  was  according  to 
that  Counfel,  as  is  well  known  to  them  that 
lived  with  him  in  his  Family.  Sirs,  you  are 
not  fure,  that  when  the  Decretory  Hour  of 
Death  overtakes  you,  you  fhall  have  one  Mi- 
nute of  an  Hour  allow'd  you,  to  commit  your 
Spirits  into  the  Hand  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift. 
Is  not  a  Sudden  Death  a  Frequent  Sight  ?  There 
are  very  many  fo  fuddently  fnatched  away  by 
the  Whirlwind  of  the  Vengeance  of  the  Al- 
mighty, that  they  have  not  opportunity  fo 
much  as  to  fay,  Lord  have  Mercy  upon  me ! 
And  let  me  tell  you,  That  a  Sudden  Death  is 
moft  likely  to  be  the  Portion  of  thofe  who  moft 
prefumptuoufly  put  off  to  a  Deathbed,  the 
Work  of  committing  their  Spirits  inro  the 
Hand,  that  can  alone  befriend  them.  I  have 
Read,  That  of  old,  according  to  the  Laws  of 
Perfia,  a  Malefactor  had  Liberty,  for  an  Hour 
before  his  Execution,  to  ask  what  lie  would, 
and  what  he  ask'd  was  granted  him.  One  that 
was  under  Sentence  of  Death,  being  admitted 
unto  theufe  of  this  Liberty,  defired  neitber  one 
I  thing  nor  another,  but  only,  That  he  might  fee 

the 


Book  ill.       The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


229 


the  Kings  Face  ;  which  being  allow'd  him,  he 
fo  plied  the  King  in  that  Hour,  that  he  obtain- 
ed his  Pardon  :  Whereupon  the  Perjians  altered 
iheir  Cuftom,  and  covered  the  Face  of  the  Ma,- 
lefa&or,  that  he  might  never  fee  the  King  any 
more.  I  will  not  now  Enquire,  how  far  this 
Paffage,  will  illuftrate  the  Story  of  Human ; 
but  I  will  obferve,  That  the  Face  of  God  is  the 
Name  of  the  Meffiah  5  and  in  this  Obfervation, 
I  have  given  you  a  Golden  Key  to  come  at 
New  Treafures  in  fcores  of  Scriptures.  And 
I  will  apply  it  with  faying,  you  have  it  may 
be  an  Hour  and  no  more  allow'd  you  to  addreis 
the  Face  of  God  in  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift.  In 
this  Hour  you  may  obtain  his  Favour  and  Mer- 
cy, and  Pardon.  Don't  flip  this  Hour,  left  it 
be  too  late.  Or,  peradventure  (and  alas,  'tis 
but  a  peradventure!)  you  fhould  upon  a  Death- 
bed have  fpace  enough  to  commit  your  Spirits 
into  the  Hands  of  the  Lord,  are  you  fure  that 
you  (hall  then  have  the  Grace  to  do  it  ?  It  is  a 
folemn  Caution  that  is  given  us,  in  Phil.  2.  1 2, 
13.  Work  out  your  own  Salvation  with  Fear  and 
Trembling  ;  for  it  is  God  that  works  in  you, 
both  to  will  and  to  do  of  his  own  good  Plea- 
fure.  Even  fo  fear  and  tremble,  to  delay  com- 
mitting your  Spirits  into  the  Hand  of  the  Lord, 
fo  much  as  one  Day  longer  ;  you  don't  know, 
that  God  will  pleale  to  work  in  you,  for  the 
doing  of  it,  when  your  laft  Moments  are  upon 
you. 

I  have  read  it,  as  the  Obfervation  of  fome 
very  Experienced  Minifters,  that  they  never 
handled  in  their  Miniftry  any  Subje&s  more 
fuccefsfully  than  thofe  which  led  them  to  dif 
courfe  againft  Procraftination  in  the  Concerns 
of  their  Souls.  Our  Baity  was  much  in  ma- 
king of  this  Experiment.  Many  a  Man  inferts 
that  Claufe  in  his  Laft  Will,  I  bequeath  my 
Soul  unto  God  that  gave  it.  But  in  the  Name 
of  God,  art  thou  certain  that  he  will  accept 
of  it  ?  The  Law  fays,  Legato  renunciari  pot  eft, 
and  Legation  ace  1  per e  nemo  nolens  cogitur  -,  one 
may  refufe  a  Legacy,  there's  no  compelling  one 
to  accept  it.  It  is  true,  our  Companionate 
Lord  will  ever  accept  a  poor  Soul,  whenever 
'tis  with  a  true  Faith  brought  unto  him. 
Yea,  but  it  may  be,  he  will  not  accept  of  thy 
Soul,  inafmuch  as  thou  haft  no  true  Faith  to 
bring  it  withal ;  Faith,  which  is  not  of  our 
felves,  'tis  the  Gift  of  God !  Wherefore,  O 
Man,  if  thou  haft  any  Regard  unto  thy  never 
dying  Soul,  go  thy  ways  prefently,  and  earneft- 
ly  commit  it  unto  the  Lord  before  a  Dying 
Hour.  As  the  Apoftle  faid.  This  I  fay,  Bre- 
thren, the  Time  is  ftsort :  Even  fo,  this  I  fay, 
My  friend,  thy  Time  it  may  be  fhcrter  than 
thou  art  well  aware  of.  What  (hall  I  fay  ?  I 
fay,  Boaft  not  thy  f elf  of  to  Morrow.  I  fay, 
This  Wight  thy  Soul  may  be  required. 

And  if  thy  Faithlefs  Heart,  have  the  Afli- 
fiances  of  the  Divine  Grace  witheld  from  it, 
when  the  damp  Sweats  of  Death  are  upon  thee, 
there  is  yet  another  Objection,  with  which  the 


God  of  Heaven  will  Thunder  (trike  thy  At- 
tempts to  commit  thy  Spirit  into  his  Hand. 
That  is  this  :  That  Spirit  of  thine,  is  it  thy  own 
to  difpofe  of?  Haft  thou  not  already  otherwise 
difpojed  of  it  ?  It  is  a  Rule  in  Law,  Nerte  poteft 
legare,  quod  fuum  ;am  non  eft.  No  Man  can 
by  Will,  Demife,  Deviie,  Difpofe  of  that,  of 
which  he  had  made  Sale  before.  It  is  laid  of 
a  very  Ungodly  Man,  in  1  King.  21.25.  He 
fold  himfelf  to  work  Wickednefs,  in  the  fight  of 
the  Lord.  Ungodly  Sinner,  the  Devil  has  of- 
ten bargain'd  with  thee,  about  thy  Soul  5  he 
hath  faid,  By  deliberate  finning  againft  Heaven 
do  thou  make  over  thy  Soul  to  me,  and  thou 
fhalt  have  thefhort  Tleafures  of  Sin  for  it.  God 
knows  how  often  thou  haft  thus  bargain'd  away 
thy  Soul  to  the  Devil ;  and  fince  thou  haft  not 
in  all  thy  Life  revok'd  that  Bargain,  then 
though  thou  do  at  thy  Death  cry  unto  him, 
Lord,  Receive  this  poor  Soul  of  mine !  How 
juftlyrmy  he  fay,  No,  not  11  'Thou  haft  fold 
that  Soul  to  another  -,  and  let  him  keep  it  for 
ever  !  There  will  alfo  be  this  further  to  be 
faid,  What  Power  haft  thou  to  difpofe  of  thy 
Spirit  ?  haft  thou  any  thing  at  all  at  thy  own 
Difpofal?  J 

It  is  a  Rule  in  Law,  Servits  non  poteft  Con- 
dere  Teft amentum  -,  a  Slave  can't  make  a  Will  1 
He  has  nothing  of  his  own  to  difpofe  of.  It  is 
faid  in  Joh.  8.34.  Whofoever  pratfifeth  Sin,  is 
the  Slave  of  Sin.  It  may  be,  thou  haft  all  this 
while  been  a  very  Slave  -,  thy  Luft  is  thy  Lord, 
a  Luft  of  Uncleannefs,  of  Drunkennefs,  of 
Worldlinefs,  it  hath  utterly  enflaved  thee. 
And,  What?  Not  got  out  of  that  Slavery  be- 
fore thy  Dim  Eyes,  and  Cold  Lips,  and  Falter- 
ing Tongue,  and  Failing  Breath,  hath  put  over 
thy  Soul  into  the  Hand  of  the  Lord !  How  juft- 
ly  may  he  fay,  Slave,  Thou  art  not  able  to  do 
for  thy  wretched  Soul,  what  thou  doft  now  pre- 
tend unto.  The  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  will  not  caft 
off  thy  Soul  with  fuch  Objections,  if  thou  Seek 
the  Lord  while  he  may  be  found,  and  call  upon  him 
while  he  is  near.  I  earneftly  teftify  unto  you 
The  Vileft  and  the  Oldeft  Sinner  among  you 
all,  may  Come  and  be  Welcome  unto  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift,  if  you  will  come  now,  while  it  is 
the  Acceptable  Time,  now  while  it  is  the  Day  of 
Salvation.  Though  thou  art  never  fo  bad,  yet 
come  and  heartily  complain  to  him  of  all  thy 
Badnefs,  and  he  will  do  good  unto  thy  Soul ! 

I  am  fure  my  BAIL  T,  would  have  faid  no- 
thing more  heartily  than  this  among  you ;  you 
heard  him  often  fay  it,  Come  in  to  the  Mercy 
of  my  Lord,  for  yet  there  is  Room  !  But  it  is  to 
be  fear'd,  That  if  thou  ftay  till  the  laft  Affaults 
of  Death  are  made  upon  thee,  the  Door  of 
Mercy  will  be  fhut,  and  fo  when  the  Shrieks 
are,  Lord,  Lord,  Open  to  me .'  all  the  Anfwers 
will  be  Rebukes  and  Fiery  Thunders. 

VL  Often  committing  our  Spirits  into  the 
Hand  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  while  we  live, 
Let  us  endeavour  after  fuch  Characters  upon 

our 


230 


The  Hijlory  of  New-Fngland.      Book  III. 


our  Spirits,  as  may  allure  us,  that  he 
ceive  us  when  we  die. 


will  re 


Indeed  when  we  firft  commit  our  Spirits  into 
the  Hand  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  we  are  to 
bring  them  with  no  other  Characters  but  thole 
of  Sin  and  Hell  upon  them.  If  we  then  com- 
mit our  Spirits  into  the  Hand  of  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift,  under  the  Encouragement  of  any  Lau- 
dable Qualifications  and  Recommendations  in 
them,  Ah  !  Lord,  thou  wilt  abhor  us  and  caft  us 
off!  In  our  firft  Believing  on  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift,  he  enquires  of  us,  What  Spirit  is  that 
which  thou  doft  now  commit  into  my  hand  ?  Our 
Anl'wer  mull  be,  Lord,  It  is  a  guilty  Spirit,  a 
filthy  Spirit,  a  Spirit  full  of  Sin  and  Hell,  as 
ever  it  can  hold,  and  a  Spirit  horribly  under  the 
Curfe  of  God. 


Sirs,  If  you  anfwer  any  otherwife  than  fo, 
the  Redeemer  of  Spirits  will  not  receive  your 
Spirits.  But  when  we  commit  our  Spirits  into 
the  Hand  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  in  the  laft 
A&ions  of  our  Life,  it  is  to  be  fuppofed,  That 
we  only  repeat  what  we  have  done  before,  and 
that  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  has  already  received 
our  Spirits  on  our  doing  of  it.  Oh !  Tis  a 
dreadful  thing  for  a  Dying  Man  to  think,  The 
Lord  never  yet  received  this  poor  Soul  of  mine  ; 
for  I  never  till  now  committed  it  unto  the  Lord! 
When  fuch  Perfons  commit  their  Spirits  into 
the  Hand  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  under  the 
Dimnefs  of  the  Anguifh  of  Death,  'tis  as  one 
fays,  As  if  one  fhould  bequeath  unto  an  Honou 
rable  Per/on  Jorne  greafy  Dijh  clout,  or  fome 
dirty  Shooe-  clout. 


A  Work  of  Grace  produced  by  the  Spirit-  of 
God,  upon  the  Spirits  of  Men.  'is  a  fure  Token 
of  his  purpofe  to  beftovv  a  State  of  Glory  upon 
them,  at    their  Departure  from   their  Bodies. 
The  Primitive  Martyrs  were  bidden  in  1  Pet.  4. 
1  p.     ToComto'a  the  keeping  of  their  Souls  unto 
God,  as  unto  a  faithful  Creator.     But  it  is  pro- 
bable, the  New  Creation   experienced-  by  Re- 
newed Souls,  is  efpecially  therein  referred  un- 
co.    Has  the  Spirit- of  God  made  a  New  Crea- 
ture of  thy  Spirit  ?.  This  will  be  a  Demonflra- 
tion,  that   the   Lord  Jefus   Chrift  has  already- 
received  thy  Spirit,  and  that  when  thou  doft 
again  commit  thy  Spirit  unto  him,  he  will  re- 
ceive it.     When  we  do,  in  our  laft  Actions, 
commit  a  Spirit  into  the  Hand  of  the  Lord  Je- 
fus Chrift,  wh.it  is  it  for  >    It  is  that  he  may 
put  an  upper  Garment  of  Glory  upon  that  Spirit. 
But  he  will  demand,  Where  is  the  under  Garment 
of  Grace  upon  it  ?    If  thou  art  without  that 
Garment,  he  will  doom  thy  Spirit  unto  Outer 
Darknefs,  that  is  to   fay  (for  Outer  Darknefs 
was  the  Name  of  the  Prifon  among  the  Jews) 
he  will   make  a  perpetual  Imprifonment,  the 
Portion  of  thy  Soul.     Wherefore,  let  us  en- 
quire diligently  into  the  Signs  of  a  Newborn 
Soul  upon  us  before  we  come  to  die.    Wo  to 
us,  if  we  are  not  Born  Twice  before  we  Die 
Once'.  Why   fhould  we  incur  this  Defolation 
upon  our  Souls,  That  when  at  laft  we  go  to 
commit  them  into  the  Hand  of  the  Lord,  he 
(hall  reject  them  and  fay,  No,  I  /;now  them  not; 
they  are  none  of  mine  j  they  are  the  Workers  of 
Iniquity ! 


It  is  of  unutterable  Concernment,  for  every 
Man  to  get  the  Symptoms  of  a  Received  Soul 
upon  him,  now  before  his  laft  furrender  of  a 
Diilrefled  Soul :  And  for  a  Man  to  be  able  to 
fay  at  the  laft,  Lord,  I  commit  a  poor  finful  Spi- 
rit now  into  thy  Hand  ;  but   it  is  a  Spirit  upon 
which  thy  Blood  has  been  fprinkled,  and  it  is  a 
Spirit  which  thy  Spirit  haw  long  fince  taken  Pof 
feffton  of.    Now  to  render  this  unqueftionable, 
we  are  to  examine  our  feives,  Whether  our  Spi- 
rits have  been  renewed  by  the  Holy   Spirit  of 
God?.  And.  be  Reftlefs  in  our  own  Spirits,  till 
we  are  fure  of  fuch  a  Renovation.    The  Apo- 
ftle  once  concluded,  Th3 1  when  our  Spirits  de- 
part from  hence,  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  will 
receive  them  into  an  Houfe  not  made  with  Hands, 
Eternal  in  the  Heavens:   And  upon  what  was 
it,  that  he  raifed  this  Conclufion  ?  He  fays,  in 
2  Cor.  5.  5.    For  he  that   wrought  us,  for  this 
felffame  Thing  is  God.    The  Greek  Word  ufed 
there,  is  the  fame  that  the  LXX  ufe  for  the 
Curious  Works  about  the  Tabernacle. 

When  Bezaleel  had  neatly  wrought  a  Board, 
for  to  be  fet  up  in  the  Silver  Sockets  of  the 
Tabernacle,  he  would  not  throw  it  away  among 
the  Rubbifti.  Man  !  If  thou  haft  a  well  wrought 
Soul  within  thee,  God  will  receive  it,  and  ad- 
vance and  improve  it,  in  his  Houfe  for  ever. 


The  more  certainly  to  prevent  this  Defola- 
tion, let  this  one  Comprehenfive  Duty  of  the 
New  Creature,  be  often  renewed  with  you. 
Receive  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  into  thy  Soul, 
when  he  does  command  it  of  thee,  and  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift  will  receive  thy  Soul  into 
Heaven,  when  thou  doft  at  laft  commit  it  un- 
to him.  As  Jotham  faid,  in  Judg.  9.  7.  Hear- 
ken to  me,  that  God  may  hearken  to  you  :  Even 
this  do  I  now  fay  to  you  ;  and  I  carry  it  on  to 
this  Iffue  :  Do  you  hearken  to  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift,  when  he  bids  you  to  receive  him,  and 
when  you  pray  him  to  receive  you.  He  will 
then  hearken  to  you. 

The  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  is  often  knocking  at 
the  Door  of  thy  Soul :  There  would  he  enter, 
with  all  his  Gracious  Influences :  Open  to  the 
Lord,  by  refigning  up  thy  Soul  to  the  fweet 
Influences  of  his  Grace  :  Reply,  0  come  in,  thou 
Blefjed  of  the  Lord,  why  flandcfl  thou  without  ? 
So  when  my  laft  Sands  are  running,  thou 
mayft  joyfully  think,  My  Lord  Jefus  Chriji 
will  now  receive  me,  more  heartily  than  ever  I 
received  him  :  If  1  have  had  an  Heart,  alas  a 
vile  Heart !  for  him.  I  am  fure  he  has  an 
Heaven  for  me !  Lord,  I  now  commit  into  thy 
Hand,  a  Spirit  into  which  thou  haft  been  re- 
ceived, when  thy  wondrous  Grace  demanded  it 
for  an  Habitation  :  And  thou  wilt  now  receive 
this  unworthy  Spirit  of  min  e  into  a  better  Ha- 
bitation. 


Book  III.      The  Hijlory  of  New-England. 


231 


bitation.  Think  thus,  and  Rejoice  with  Joy  un- 
fpeakable  and  full  of  Glory  ! 

VII.  When  we  come  to  commit  our  Spirits 
into  the  Hand  of  our  Lord  Jel'us  Chrift,  at 
and  for  our  laft  Refignation,  let  us  do  it  very 
Humbly,  hut  very  Willingly,  but  very  Chear- 
fully. 

How  humbly  ought  we  to  commit  our  Spi- 
rits into  the  Hand  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift ! 
With  how  much  Loathing  and  Judging  of  our 
felves,  and  with  what  fhameful  Reflections  on 
all  our  paft  Behaviours.  Wc  are  bitterly  ro 
acknowledge  the  Diforders  and  Corruptions  of 
our  own  Spirits,  when  we  commit  them  unto 
the  Lord,  and  acknowledge  the  numberlefs  Er- 
rors whereinto  our  Spirits  have  betray'd  us. 
When  we  lift  up  our  Soul  unto  the.  Lord,  let 
it  be  in  Terms  like  thofe  in  Ezra  9.  6.  0  my 
God,  I  am  aflmmcd,  and  blujh  to  lift  up  my  face 
to  thee,  my  God  !  ft.nd  therefore,  whatever 
Bleilings  we  expetf.  for  our  Souls,  let  us  with 
all  pofhble  Self- Abhorrence  found  our  Expe£ta- 
tions  on  the  pure  Mercy  of  God,  in  our  Lord 
Tefus  Chrift.  Moll  fweetly  did  our  Dying 
Hooker  exprefs  the  frame  of  Spirit,  wherewith 
a  Spirit  is  to  be  committed  into  the  Hand  of 
the  Lord :  When  one  that  flood  weeping  by  his 
Bed-fide  faid  unto  him,  Sir,  Ton  arc  going  to 
receive  the  Reward  of  all  your  Labours,  he  re- 
plied, Brother,  I  am  going  to  receive  Mercy  I 
What  fhall  I  fay  ?  The  Frame  of  Spirit  necefla- 
ry  in  this  Glorious  TranfacFion,  I  cannot  better 
paint  out  unto  you,  than  by  reciting  the  Words, 
which  I  remember  I  once  had,  from  an  Eminent 
old  Servant  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  at  my  ta- 
king Leave  of  him :  Said  he,  '  Sir,  I  am  every 
1  Day  expecting  my  Death ;  but  I  defire  to 
'  die  like  the  Thief,  crying  to  the  Crucified 

*  Jefus  for  Mercy.  I  am  nothing,  I  have  no- 
4  thing,  I  can  do  nothing,  except  what  is  un- 
'  worthy.  My  Eye,  and  Hope,  and  Faith,  is 
4  to  Chrift  on  his  Crofs.  I  bring  an  llnwor- 
1  thinefs,  like  that  of  the  poor  Dying  Thief 
'  unto  him,  and  have  no  more  to  plead  than 
c  he.  ,  Like  the  poor  Thief  Crucified  with  him, 

*  I  am  waiting  to  be  received,  by  the  Infinite 
'  Grace  of  my  Lord,  into  his  Kingdom.  And 
'  pray  tell  me,  did  not  aged  Paul  mean  fome- 

*  thing  of  this,  when  he  faid,  I  am  Crucified 
1  with  Chrift? 

Sirs,  This  is  the  Frame  wherewith  we  are  to 
do  what  we  do.  But  then  how  Willingly, 
how  Chearfully  !  God  forbid,  That  we  fhouid 
commit  our  Spirits  into  his  Hand,  as  only 
drag'd.  and  fore'dunto  it  by  unavoidable  Death. 
Our  dying  Lord  faid,  Father,  Into  thy  Hands 
I  commend  my  Spirit.  When  God  calls  for  our 
Spirit,  we  are  to  think,  'T/i  my  father  that  calls 
for  me-,  andjhal!  not  I  go  to  my  Father  ? 

It  was  a  good  Speech  even  of  an  Heathen, 
Bene  Mori  eft  Libentcr  Mori,  one  thing  in  well 
dying,  is  to  die  willingly.     Tis  a  difmal  thing 


for  the  Spirit  of  a  Man  to  be  torn  from  him, 
and  be  pull'd  away  with  roaring  Reluctances, 
with  Horrid  Convulfions.  Where  would  be 
the  fenfe  of  it,  if  a  dying  Man  fhould  fay, 
Lord,  Into  thy  Hand  I  commit  my  Spirit ;  but  if 
[could  have  my  choice,  my  Spirit Jho'uld  never 
come  there  l  When  we  perceive  that  Call  from 
our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  Go  up  and  die !  Let  us 
freely  furrender  our  Spirits  unto  our  Great 
Lord,  and  Go  up  and  die :  He  is  the  Lord  of 
our  Lives.  Freely,  did  I  fay  ?  Yea,  and  gladly 
too.  When  we  have  aright  committed  our  Spi- 
rits into  the  Hand  of  the  Lord,  then  take  up 
that  Conclufion  in  Pfal.  $p.  15.  God  will  re- 
ceive my  Soul.  And  then,  let  us  wonderfully  - 
comfort  our  felves,  in  the  Thoughts  of  that 
Spiritual  Wrorld  which  we  are  going  into. 
Think,  I  fhall  quickly  it'll  from  Sin  and  all  Tem- 
ptations, and  all  Affections,  and  all  the  curfed 
EffeSs  of  Sin,  and  all  the  Annoyances  of  111  Spi 
rits  for  ever.  1  fhall  quickly  be  lodged  among  the 
pure  Spirits  that  fee  God,  andfervc  him  Day 
and  Night  in  }m  Temple,  and  God  fhall  wipe 
away  all  Tears  from  my  Eyes.  Tea,  I  (hall  quick- 
ly be  with  my  Lord  Jefus  Chriji,  which  is  by  far 
the  beft  of  all.  Oh !  Rejoice  in  the  Hope  of  this 
Glory  of  God!  And  let  not  your  Joy  be  interrup- 
ted by  any  Fear  of  what  may  become  of  your 
Friends,  when  you  fhall  be  dead  and  gone. 
The  Lord  that  calls  you  to  commit  your  Spirits 
into  his  Hand,  calls  you  at  the  fame  time,  to 
commit  your  Widows,  your  Orphans,  and  all 
your  Friends,  into  that  Omnipotent  Hand  :  He 
fays,  Leave  them  all  with  me,  and  Vll  take  the 
Care  of  them  all! 

It  was  noted  of  the  Englifl)  Martyrs,  which 
dy'd  at  the  §take  in  the  Bloody  Marian  Perfe- 
ction-, That  none  of  them  went  more  joyfully 
to  the  Stake,  than  thofe  that  had  the  large  ft  and 
the  dear  eft  Families  then  to  commit  unto  the 
Lord :  And  afterwards  thofe  large  Families, 
were  wondroufly  provided  for.  The  Eyxeilent 
Mr.  Heron,  a  Miniffer,  that  had  a  Family  of 
many  fmall  Children  in  it,  when  he  lay  a  dying, 
his  poor  Wife  laid  with  Tears,  Alu,  what  will 
become  of  all  thefc  Children  ?  He  prefently  and 
pleafantly  replied,  Never  fear,  he  that  feeds 
the  young  Ravens,  won't ftarve  the  young  Herons! 
And  it  came  to  pals  accordingly. 

Sirs,  Thus  you  are  to  commit  your  Spirits 
into  the  Hand  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift. 

My  Reverend  BAILT  did  fo ■,  and  it  is  as 
from  him,  that  I  do  this  Day  befpeak  your  do- 
ing like  him  j  yea,  not  from  him  only,  but 
from  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  the  God,  whofe  he 
wan,  and  whom  he  ferved.  If  you  would  more 
particularly  be  told  after  what  manner  he  did 
commit  his  own  Spirit  into  the  Hands  of  the 
Lord,  I  can  faithfully  recite  you  his  own  Ac- 
count of  the  TnnfacFion.     He  gives  it  thus, 

*  I  fpent  half  the  Day  alone  in  fceking  of 

c  God  :,  defiring  to  give  up  my  felf  unto  God  in 

G  g  g '  g  Chrift 


232 


Tbe~Hi/tory  of  New-England.       Book  III. 


'  Chrift  wholly,  and  to  be  his  in  Soul  and  Bo- 
*  dy.  The  Particulars  I  omit.  I  hope,  God  in 
'  Chrift,  will  accept  of  me,  3nd  enable  me  by 
c  his  Spirit  to  keep  touch  with  him  :  For  I 
'  owned  my  felf  wholly  unworthy  to  enter  in- 
'  to  Covenant,  and  alio  unable  to  keen  it ; 
'  but  Jefus  Chrift  is  both  worthy  and  able. 

'Tis  from  one  who  thus  did  it,  that  you  are 
now  cill'd  upon  to  do  likewife. 

When  you  fee  the  Coffin  of  this  Man  of  God, 
anon  carried  along  the  Streets,  imagine  it  a 
mournful  Pulpit,  from  whence,  'Being  Dead  he 
yetfpeaks  thus  unto  you  ;  Whatever  yon  do,  com- 
mit your  perijhing  Souls  into  the  Hands  of  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  cu you  have  been  advifed. 

That  thefe  Admonitions  may  have  the  more 
of  Emphafis,  a  fhort  Account  of  this  worthy 
Man  mult  now  be  given  you. 

He  was  Born  on  Febr.  24.  1643.  near  Black- 
bourn  in  Ldncajhire  \  of  a  very  Pious  Mother,- 
who  even  before  he  was  Born,  often  as  Hannah 
her  Samuel,  Dedicated  him  unto  the  Service  of 
the  Lord. 

Of  this  his  Birthday,  in  the  Return  of  every 
Year,  he  flill  took  much  Notice  in  his  Diaries  : 
And  made  his  humble  and  ufeful  Reflexions 
thereupon. 

Once  particularly,  I  find  him  thus  entertain- 
ing it. 

*  This  is  my  Birth-day,  I  am  ready  to  fay  of 
e  it,  as  Job  doth  of  his:  But  I  forbear  any  un- 
'  advifed  Words  about  it:  Only,  I  have  done 
'  little  for  God,  and  much  againft  him  •,  for 
1  which  I  am  forry. 

When  this  Day,  lift  arrived  unto  him,  he 
thus  wrote  upon  it. 

'  I  may  fay  with  a  great  Sigh,  This  was  my 
'  Birth  day !  O  how  little  Good  have  I  done  all 
'  this  while!  O  what  Reafon  have  I  to  ftand 
'  amazed  at  the  Riches  of  God's  Forbearance ! 
6  Much  may  happen  this  Year !  Lord,  Carry 
'  me  through  it ! 

From  a  Child  he  did  know  the  Holy  Scriptures, 

j  yea,  From  a  Child  he  was  wife  unto  Salvation. 

In  his  very  Childhood  he  difcovered  the  Fear  of 

God,  upon  his  young  Heart;    and  Prayer  to 

God  was  one  of  his  Early  Exercifes. 

There  was  one  very  Remarkable  EfFecF  of  it. 
His  Father  was  a  Man  of  a  very  Licentious 
Converiation;  a  Gamelter,  a  Dancer,  a  very 
Lewd  Company-keeper.  The  Mother  of  thjs 
ElecF  VeiTel,  one  Day  took  him,  while  he  was 
yet  a  Child,  and  calling  the  Family  together, 
made  him  to  pray  with  them.  His  Father  co- 
ming to  underftacid,  at  what  a  rate,  the  Child 


had  pray'd  with  his  Family,  it  fmote  the  Sou! 
of  him  with  a  great  Conviction,  and  prov'd 
the  Beginning  of  his  Converfion  unto  God. 
God  left  not  off  Working  on  his  He^rt,  until 
he  proved  one  of  the  moft  Eminent  Chriftians" 
in  all  that  Neighbourhood.  So  he  lived  -,  fo 
he  died  ;  a  Man  of  more  than  ordinary  Piety. 
And  it  was  his  manner  fometimes-to  retire  untc 
thofe  very  Places  of  his  former  LewdnefTes, 
where  having  this  his  little  Son  in  his  Compa- 
ny, he  would  pour  out  Floods  of  Tears  in  re- 
penting Prayers  before  the  Lord. 


This   Hopeful  Youth  having  been   educated 
in  Grammar-Learning  under  a  worthy  School- 
matter,  one  Mr.  Soger,  and  in  further  Learning, 
under  the  Famous  Dr.  Uarrifm,  at  length,  a- 
bout  the  Age  of  Twenty  Two,  he  entred  on 
the  Puhlick  Employment  of  Preaching  the  Go 
lpjl.     In  lb  doing,  he  was  not  one   of  thofe, 
of  whom  even  tlie  great  Pa  pi  It  Bellarminec 
plains,  §>uinon  valde  folliciti  ejfe  folent ;  an  ea 
qua  par  eft  preparation  accedant,  cum  Finis  ea- 
rum  magis  fit  cibz/s  Corporis,  quam  Anima.     fie 
began  at  Chcfter  ;  but  afterwards  went  over  to 
Ireland,  where  his  Labours  were  fo  frequent, 
and  fervent,  that  they  gave  thofe  Wounds  unto 
his  Health,  which  could    never    be  recovered. 
About  Fourteen  Years  of  his  Time,  in  Ireland, 
he  fpentat  Limrick,  and  faw  fo  many  Seals  of 
his  Miniftry,  in  that  Country,  that  he  feem'd 
rather  to  fifh  with  a  Net,  than  with  an  Hook, 
for  the  Kingdom  of  God. 

I  am  not  willing  to  relate,  how  grievoufly, 
and  yet  how  patiently  he  fullered  long  and 
hard  Imprifonments,  from  thoie  Men,  concern- 
ing whom  a  conformable  Divine  of  the  Church 
of  England,  very  truly  fays,  That  they  were 
Athcifts,  with  the  Inventions  of  Ceremonies  ha- 
bited like  Chriftians,  for  the  Service  of  the  De- 
vil, to  corrupt  and  deftroy  true  Chriftidniiy  :  I 
I  Ihould  relate  but  little  of  this,  becaufe  that 
Spirit  of  Perfecution,  has  been  repented  by  an 
happy  A£t  of  Parliament. 

And  yet  for  the  Admonition  of  our  Inexcu- 
fable  Young  Men,  The  Sin  of  which  Young  Men 
is  very  great  before  the  Lord \  above  that  of 
thofe,  who  have  been  brought  up,  as  many 
very  Godly  Chriftians  have  in  thofe  ways  of 
the  Church  of  England,  for  a  Seceffion  'from 
which,  this  Country  was  firft  planted  :  Young 
Men,  who  notwithstanding  their  Defcent  from 
Fathers  and  Grandfathers,  that  were  great 
Sufferers  for  their  Non-Conformitv  to  an  Un- 
inftituted  Worfhip  of  Chrift,  aud  notvvith- 
ftanding  their  Education  in  the  Knowledge  of 
what  is  Required,  and  what  is  Forbidden  in 
the  Second  Commandment,  and  notwithftand- 
ing  their  being  urged  by  no  Temptation  of 
Perfecution,  or  being  tempted  by  any  thing, 
but  the  Vanity  of  their  own  Minds,  dp  vet  fo 
Rebel  againft:  the  Light,  as  to  turn  Apoftates 
from  rhe  Firft  Principles  of  jK+ew  ^g'land',  it 
may  be  feafonable   to  repeat  fo  much  bf  the 

Hiftory 


Book  ll\7    The  Hi/lory  of  New-England. 


233 


Hiftory  of  this  Worthy  Man,  as  a  little  further 
to  illuftrate  this  Article. 

He  no  fooner  began  to  preach  the  Gofpel  of 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chriit,  but  his  Fidelity  to  that 
Gofpel,  was  tried  by  an  hard  Impriionment, 
which  he  underwent  becaufe  his  Confcience 
could  not  conform  to  Humane  Inventions  in  the 
Sacred  Service  of  Heaven.  Yea,  while  he  was 
yet  a  Young  Man,  he  often  travelled  far  by 
Night  in  the  Winter,  as  well  as  in  the  Sum- 
mer, that  fo  he  might  enjoy  the  Ordi- 
nances purely  adminiftred  in  the  Meetings  of 
the  Faithful  ;  and  was  laid  up  fometimes  in 
Lancafhirc  Gaol,  for  being  found  at  thofe  Meet 
ings.  When  he  was  at  Limrick,  the  Atten- 
dance of  a  Perfon  of  Great  Quality,  and  his 
Lady,  (who  were  nearly  related  unto  the  Duke 
of  Ormond,  the  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland) 
upon  his  Mini  (fry,  provoked  the  Bifh&p  to  com- 
plain unto  the  Lord  Lieutenant.  This  Gentle- 
man then  profered  unto  Mr.  Baily,  that  if  he 
would  conform,  he  would  procure  his  being 
made  Chaplain  to  the  Duke,  and  having  a 
Deanery  immediately,  and  a  Bifliopricfc  upon 
the  rirlf  Vacancy :  But  he  refuted  the  Profer. 
Albeit,  another' Eminent  Non-Conformilt  Mi 
nilfer,  not  far  from  Limrick,  a  Godly  and  an 
able  Man,  and  one  who  had  appeared  much 
againft  Conformity  at  the  firlt  preifing  thereof, 
did  afterwards  accept  of  the  aforefaid  Chap- 
lainfhip,  and  by  degrees  conformed,  and  arri- 
ved unto  feveral  Places  of  Preferment :  Pretend- 
ing, That  he  did  it  for  the  fake  of  Opportunities 
to  preach  the  Gofpel.  But  it  was  remarkable  ! 
God  fo  difabled  him  with  Diifempers  after  this, 
that  he  was  very  feldom,  if  ever  able  to  preach 
at  all. 

Mr.  Baily  went  on  in  the  Exercife  of  his  Mi- 
niffry,  not  purfuing  any  Factious  Defigns,  but 
meerly  the  Converlion  of  Men  to  Chrilf,  and 
Faith,  and  Holinefs,  which  the  Devil  counts 
the  worii  of  all  Defigns.  And  now,  although 
he  were  fo  harmlefs  and  blameleis  in  his  whole 
Converfation,  that  he  was  always  much  belo- 
ved wherever  he  came,  yet  another  long  Impri 
fonment  was  infii&ed  on  him,  while  the  Papilis 
in  the  Neighbourhood,  had  all  manner  of  Li- 
berty and  Countenance.  When  he  was  before 
the  Judges,  he  told  them,  If  I  had  been  drink- 
ing and  gaining  and  caroufing  at  a  Tavern  with 
my  Company,  my  Lords ;  I  pre  fume  that  would 
not  have  procured  my  being  thus  treated  at  an 
Offender.  Muff  praying  to  God,  and  preaching 
of  Chrift,  with  a  Company  of  Chrijiians,  that  are 
at  Peaceable  and  Inoffenfwe,  and  Serviceable  to 
his  Majeliy  and  the  Government  as  any  of  his 
Subjefls,  mu ft  this  be  a  greater  Crime  ?  The 
Recorder  anfwered,  We  will  have  you  to  Anoiv, 
it  a  a  greater  Crime. 

While  he  was  impriibned,  his  Church  being 


ved  them  all.  But  this,  in  a  little  while  gave 
fuch  Offence,  that  a  Violent  Obfifuftion  was 
given  thereunto ;  and  though  his  Flock,  parti- 
cularly his  Dear  Young  Men  (as  he  calfd  them) 
did  pray  without  ccafing,  and  not  without 
falling,  for  his  Releafe  -,  and  humble  Applica- 
tions were  alfo  made  unto  the  Judges  at  the 
Aflizes  for  it,  yet  no  Releafe  could  be  granted 
him,  without  his  giving  Security,  to  depatt  the 
Land,  within  a  little  time  then  limited  unto 
him. 

It  was  not  long,  before  a  Wrath  unto  the 
uttermoft  came  upon  the  City,  which  had  thus 
perfecuted  this  Faithful  Minifter  of  God  ;  and 
that  Perfon  particularly,  who  had  been  the 
chief  Inffrument  of  his  Perfecution,  was  fas 
we  have  been  told  J  within  a  while,  upon  other 
Accounts,  himlelf  run  into  Prilon,  where  he 
cried  out  with  Horror,  of  the  Wrongs  done  by 
him  to  Mr.  Baily,  and  then  running  Diftra<5ted, 
he  died  mifcrably.  But  New  England,  a  Coun- 
try originally  a  Retreat  for  perfecuted  Non- 
Conformifts,  hereupon  afforded  unto  our  Bai/y 
an  Opportunity  oi'  labouring  near  Fourteen 
Years  moie,  in  the  Work  which  he  loved  above 
all  things  in  the  World  ;  the  Work  of  Turning 
the  Souls  of  Men  from  Darknefs  to  Light,  and 
from  Satan  to  God :  Wherein  for  fome  time, 
his  Younger  and  Godly,  and  fweet  natut'd  Bro- 
ther, who  came  over  with  him,  was  his  com- 
fortable Companion  and  Afhitant ;  until  he  got 
the  ftart  of  him  in  his  Departure  to  the  Glo- 
ries of  the  better  World.  They  were  indeed, 
i'ratrum  dulce  par ;  a  David  and  a  Jonathan. 
Death,  which  for  a  while  parted  them,  has  now 
again  brought  them  together.  This  Mr.  Tho- 
mat  Baily,  died  January  2r.  1689.  as  this  his 
Brother  and  Colleague  nores  in  his  Diary  ;  lie 
died  well,  which  is  a  great  Word  ;  fo  fweet  ly  at 
I  never  Jaw  the  like  before !  But  as  for  this  El- 
der Brother,  he  was  a  Man  of  Great  Holinefs, 
and  of  fo  tender  a  Confclence,  that  if  he  had 
been  at  any  time  innocently  chearful,  in  the 
Company  of  his  Friends,  it  coft  him  afterwards 
abundance  of  fad  Reflection,  through  Fear,  left 
e'er  he  had  been  aware,  he  might  have  grieved 
the  Holy  Spirit  of  Chrift- .  A  Savoury  Book  of 
his  about  The  Chief  End  of  Alan,  published  a- 
mongus,  has  fully  defcribed  unto  us,  that  Sa- 
vour of  Spirit,  which  was  in  his  daily  Walk 
maintained. 


Sic  Oculcs,  Sic  Hie  manus,  Sic  craferebat. 

The  Dcfire  of  this  Holy  Man,  was  (as  him- 
felf expreifed  itj  to  get  up  unto  Three  things : 
To  Patience  under  the  Calamities  of  Life  ;  To 
Impatience  under  the  Infirmities  of  Life;  and 
to  earned  Longings  for  the  next  Life. 

And  his  Defire  at  another  Time,  he  thus  ex- 


divided  into  Seven  Parts,  vifited  him  one  part/  prefled.     Oh!  that  1  weight  not  be  of  the  Num- 
a  Da",  fo  that  preaching  to  them,  and  praying/  her  of  them,  that  live  without  Love,  ffeak  with 

with  them  every  Day,  he  once  in  a  Week  fer-{  out   Reeling,  and  att  without  Life '.    Oh !   that 

G  e  g  g  2  God 


234 


The  Hiflory  of  New-Fngland.     Book  HI. 


God  would  make  inc  hk  Humble  and  Upright  and 
faithful  Servant  ! 

From  this  Holy  Temper  it  was,  that  when 
fome  kind  Prefents  were  made  unto  him,  he 
wrote  in  his  Diary  thereupon  -,  /  have  my  Wa- 
ges quickly  ;  But  Oh !  that  God  may  not  put  me 
off,  with  a  Reward  here\  0h\  that  God  tn ay  be 
fay  Reward*  <■ 

We  will  more  particularly  note  a  few  No- 
table, wherein  the  Holinefs  which  irradiated 
him,  will  be  defcribed  unto  us. 

We  might  begin  with  obferving,  That  the 
Holy  Word  of  God  was  very  dear  to  him,  as 
indeed  it  is  to  every  Holy  Man.  Hence,  I  find 
this  Pallage  in  his  Diary,  Jan.  u.  '  Ifinijhed 
'  the  Reading  of  \  the  Bible \  in  my  Family  (as 
€  formerly  J  Oh !  it's  a  Dear  Book  •,  it's  always 
'-  New.  In  the  Beginning  of  every  Chapter  it's 
c  good  to  fay,  Lord,  open  my  Eyes,  that  I  may 
1  fee  Wonders  out  of  thy  Law ;  And  when  we 
4  fhut  it  up  to  fay,  I  have  fee n  an  end  of  all 
c  "Lerfettion,  but  thy  Law  is  exceeding  Broad. 
'  Oh!  how  terrible  are  the  Threatning-,  how 

•  precious  are  the  Promifes ;  how  ferious  are 
'  the  Precepts ;  how  deep  are  the  Prophecies 
1  of  this  Book !  But  we  will  pafs  on  to  fome 
'  further  Obfervations. 

What  is  Holinefs  but  a  Dedication  to  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift  ?  This  Holy  Man  was  often 
breathing  in  himfelf,  and  preffing  on  others, 
that  great  Point  of  dedicating  every  thing  to 
the  Service  of  the  Lord.  Thus  in  his  Diary, 
there  frequently  occur  fuch  Strains  as  thefe. 
'  Oh!  that  I  may  glorifie  God   with  all  I  am, 

*  or  have ;  even  with  all  the  Faculties  of  my 
;  Soul,  all  the  Members  of  my  Body,  and  in 
c  all  the  Places  and  Relations  that  I  ftand  in, 
'  as  Man,  Matter,  Minifter,  Husband,  Kinfman, 
c  and  Neighbour.  Oh !  I  ftand  in  need  both 
4  of  a  Justifying  Chriit,  and  a  Sanctifying 
:  Chrift.  When  thai!  1  fenfibly  find  a  Chrifl 
,;  iwaying  his  Scepter  in  my  Soul !  Thus  what- 
ever Houfe  he  came  to  live  in,  it  came  under  a 
Dedication ;  and  once  upon  a  Remove,  he 
wrote  this  Paffage  in  his  Diary.  '  I  could  not 
c  but  leave  my  Old  Houfe,  with  a  Prayer  in 
'•  every  Room  of  ir,  for  pardoning  Mercy. 

But  it  was  particularly  expreffed,  when  one 
of  his  Children  was  to  be  Baptized.  He  thus 
wrote  upon  it.  '  I  fpent  fome  time  in  offer- 
-  ing  up  my  felf,  and  my  Child  unto  the  Lord, 
c  and  in  taking  hold  of  the  Covenant  for  my  felf 
1  and  him.  k  is  a&ually  to  be  done  to  Mor 
'  row,  [in  Baptifm.^j  I  prayed  hard  this  Day, 
'  all  this  Day,  that  I  might  be  able  in  much 
c  Faith,  and  Love,  and  New-Covenant  Obedi- 
'  ence  to  do  it  to  morrow.  It  is  not  eafy,  tho' 
c  common  to  offer  a  Child  unto  God  in  Bap- 
'  tifm.  Oh  !  that's  a  fweet  Word,  I  will  be  a 
'  God  to  thee,  and  thy  feed  after  thee.  No  marvel 
''  Abraham  icll  on  his  Face  ut  the  hearing  of  it! 


Hence,  when  he  parted  with  the  greateft  En- 
joyment he  had  in  this  World,  he  thus  wrote 
upon  it,  in  his  Diary  -, 

c  If  I  can  but  Exchange  outward  Comforts 
'.  for  inward  Graces,  'tis  well  enough  :  Oh  3 
{  for  an  Heart  to  Glorify  God  in  the  Birel 

From  this  Holinefs  proceeded  that  Watch- 
fulnefs,  which  difcovered  a  lingular  Fear  of 
God,  in  his  whole  Converfation.  I  find  him  en- 
tring  in  his  Diary  fuch  PalTages  as  thefe 


At  one  Time. 

*  I  did  not  watch  my  Tongue  foasl  ought, 
'  which  coft  me  much  Trouble  afterwards,  and 
'  made  me  walk  heavily.  It's  a  mad  thing  to 
'  Sin ! 

At  another  Time. 


'  I  fpoke  two  unadvifed  Words  to  Day.  Tho5 
there  was  no  great  harm  in  them,  yet  I  was 
rebuked  by  my  Confcierics  for  them.  Let 
the  Lord  forgive  them  5  and  for  the  future, 
fet  a  watch  before  ihe  Door  of  my  Lips.  Let 
my  Thoughts  and  Words  be  acceptable  in  thy 
fights  O  Lord. 

At  another  Time. 

'  That  a  ferious  Word,  methinks,  in  Eph.  5. 
'  30.  I  have  grieved  the  Holy  Spirit,  by  my  un- 
'  edifying  Communication.  Oh !  that  in  fpeak- 
(  ing,  I  might  adminifter  Grace  to  the  Hearer ! 
c  Oh !  that  Honey  and  Milk  were  under  my 
'  Tongue  continually. 

At  another  Time. 

'  I  was  too  forgetful  of  God,  and  exceeding 
c  in  Tobacco.  The  Lord  pardon  that,  and  all 
'  other  Sins,  and  heal  this  Nature,  and  hum- 
'  ble  this  Heart. 

At  another  Time. 

'  This  Day  I  have  been  more  chearful  than 
'  I  have  been  of  a  long  time.  It  hath  affli£ted 
'  me  fince,  fearing  it  was  not  fuitable.  Oh !  I 
'  ought  to  walk  in  the  midft  of  my  Houfe,  in  a 
'  perfecf  way.  I  ought  evei y  Day  to  be  wri- 
'  ting  Copies ;  and  to  leave  a  Stock  behind  me 
'  that  others  may  trade  for  God  withal,  when 
1  I  am  dead.  And  behold,  you  fee  this  Day, 
that  he  did  fo. 


And  as  Holy  Men  ufe  to  be  full  of  Hearty 
Prayers  and  Wifhes  for  the  Good  of  other  Men, 
thus  this  Holy  Man  has  fiil'd  many  Places  in 
his  Diaries,  with  his  Prayers  for  the  Welfare 
of  thofe,  with  whom  he  was  concerned ;  from 
whence  we  may  gather  how  full  his  Heart  was 
of  Bleffings  tor  his  Neighbous. 

Once 


BookJiJ.      The  Hiftoty  ~of  New-England. 


235 


Once  particularly  I  find  him  thus  writing. 

'  I  defired  to  know  of  Dr.  0.  what  I  was  in- 
debted to  him  for  thofe  many  rich  things  I 
have  had  from  him  ;  He  told  me,  Nothing  ; 
[which  was  a  great  Favour !J  only  defired  my 
Prayers  for  him.  Oh!  that  I  could  pray  ' 
Whenever  I  can  pray,  I  will  heartily  fiiy  to 
God  in  the  Name  of  Chrift  for  him,  The 
Lcrdblcfs  him  indeed]  Let  thy  Hand  be  with 
him,  and  keep  him  from  all  Evil,  that  it  may 
not  grieve  him. 


Moreover,  It  was  not  only  among  the  great 
Signs,  but  alfo  among  the  great  Mean.,  pf.his 
Holinefs,  that  he  was  very  ibllicitous-,  ^s  well 
in  his  Preparation  for  the  Table  of  the  Lord, 
as  111  his  Obfervation  of  what  Communion  he 
enjoyed  with  the  Lord  Jeius  Chrilt,  at  his 
Table. 

His  Diary  abounds  with  Paflages  of  this  Im- 
portance j  theExpreflions  of  a  Careful  Soul. 

Thelaft  time  of  his  being  at  the  Lord's  Ta- 
ble, he  wrote  the  enfuing  PalTages. 

'  I  was  encouraged  to  carry  my  Lue  bad 
Frame  to  the  Crofs  of  Chrilt,  and  to  bewaii 
there  my  late  Prayerlefnefs  and  Unthankful- 
nefs.  Of  late  it  hath  troubled  me,  to  think 
how  little  I  have  admired  Chrift  for  bringing 
me  out  of  fome  late  Plunges  of  Temptation. 
I  now  come  to  him  for  two  things ;  namely, 
for  Pardon  ;  and  alfo  for  double  Power;  both 

*  to  receive  him,  and  to  fhew  forth  his  Pfaifes, 

Let  me  add  ;  Sometimes,  as  he  was  able,  he 
would  fet  a  part  half  a  Day  for  extraordinary 
Prayers:  He  if  ill  did  fo,  when  there  were  any 
extraordinary  Cares  upon  him.  Thus  he  Re- 
cords in  his  Diaries. 

At  one  Time! 

,   '  Being  of  late  in  fo  ill  a  Frame,  I  fpent  fome 

*  time,  to  feek  the  fair  Face  of  Jefus  Chrift ; 

*  and  I  did,  on  purpofe,  addrefs  my  felf  to 
c  him,  who  is  the  moft  Admirable  Saviour.  I 
'  left  my  felf  with  him-,  my  Mind,  Hearr, 
1  Mouth;  efpfecialiy my Conjcience\  Oh!  how 
'  many  Wonders  are  to  be'  wrought  in  me!  I 
'  know,  the  Loving  and  Wonder-working  Je- 
'  Jus  can  do  them  all. 

At  another  Time. 

'  I  fpent  iome  time  alone  in  Prayer,  from 
'  8  to  3.  I  was  much  tired.     Oh !  that  I  might 

wait  for  Returns,  and  never  more  turn"  to 
'  Folly.  I  can't  tell  how  God  ihould  admit 
'  me  near  him,  confidering  how  I  have  grieved 

his  Spirit,  Having  prav'd  in  the  Morning  in 
1  the  Family,  I  retired ;  and  firft  fought  at 
"  large  unto  God  for  help   to  zo  through  the 


;  Da/  :  Especially  begging  Repentance,  and  net 

I  TV0'  bTut  Faith>  chat  I  might  not  reft  in 

the  bare  Work;  that  Satan  might  get  no  Ad 

.  vantage  after  it;  that  I  might. Have  Reafcii 

c  £  , •  re  morc  fuch  cIa>'s-    Th£n  ^ter  a  little 

Meditation  and  Breathing,  I  went  to  Prive* 

cf  again,  only  to  conrefs  my  Sin  before  God  2nd 

to  fet  my  Soul  as  before  the  Lord ;  labouring 

(  to  judge  and  loath  mv  felf,  for  all  my  Sin 

£  from  firft  to  latL  God  helped  a  little ;  but  Oh  ' 

that   my   Heart  was  broken  in   pieces,  an  i 

humbled  to  the   Duft.     After  a  little  more 

Meditation,  1  went  to  Prayer  in  way  of  Pe- 

'  tmon,  and  that  at  large."    Oh!  Lord,  hfeai 

'  me,  and  give  me  the  Wildom  that  I  want,     i 

',  hope  God  will  hear,  pity,  pardon,  and  help  me 

After  a  little  more  Meditation,  I  fell  to  brail  • 

'  and  blefs  God   for   my  Mercies,  bv    Sea  and 

[  Land ;  but  was  fomewhat  ftlort  in  this  part 

'  for  which  Lam  forry.     At  kit  I  concluded 

'  all,  in  praying  for  the  Church  of  God  in  crC. 

•  neral,  for  London,  Lancajhin\  and  Lirnrick 

c  and  for  New-England  alfo.     Here  I  brought 

I  all  my  Relations  to  the  Lord.      Oh,  Lord, 

^  accept  of  me,  and  my  poor  Services  in  Chrilt' 

c  Oh  !   that  I;  may  watch  afterward,  and  never 

'  more  be  fenfual,  unbelieving,  proud,  nor  hv- 

'  pocritical.     Lord,  fay  Amen. 

And  that  Praifes,  as  well  as  Prayers  might 
not  be  forgotten  with  him,  I  find  him  oncf 
particularly  in  his  Diary,  thus  exprelfing  him- 
felf.  . 


December  15.   1691. 

'I  refolved-,  through  the  Grace  and  Strength 
of  Jefus  Chrift,  even  in  the  mldff  of  all  my 
Sorrows  and  Sinkings,  Defpairings  and  Di- 
ftra£lions,  to  keep  as  much  of  this  Day  as  I 
could  in  Thankfgiving;  which  1  did  ;  but 
could  not  go  thorow  with  it,  through  bodily 
huntnefs.  I  fpent  Five  Hours  iomewhat 
comfortably ;  but  after  that  I  Sagged.  I  re- 
folved to  do. three  things.  Firft,  to  fpend 
fome  time  in  praifingGod  for  his  Excellencies 
God  was  with  me,  I  hope,  in  that  part  of  it 
and  I  fpent  my  felf  fo  much  therein,  that 
I  was  dilabled  for  the  reft.  To  help  it  for- 
ward  God  brought  to  hand  Mr.  Burroughs 
of  the  Nature  of  God;  I  blefs  God  for  it 
After  that,  I  went  to  Prayer;  labouring  to 
exalt  God  ■  (it.  was  a  good  Time!)  after  that 
I  fang  the  148th.  Pfaltn.  Secondly,  after  that 
I  fet  my  felf  to  blefs  God  for  his  Benefits  and 
KindnelTes  to  me.  But  being  fpent,  I  did  not 
much ;  only  going  to  Prayer,  I  made  mention 
of  iome  Mercies;  fuch  as  thefe,  viz.  for 
Chrift ;  his  Covenant  of  Grace ;  and  the  Pro- 
mifesofit  (fome  of  which,  were  particularly 
mentioned  and  preffed  :)  alfo  my  Education- 
my  manifold  Prefervations  by  Land  and  Sea; 
(efpecially  that  in  Ipfzvich  Bay.)  and  mani- 
fold tedious  SicknelTes  fince;  for  the  long 
Day  of  God's  Patience,  notwithftandingmany 
Sins:     For  mv    comfortable  Provifions  all 

a'long  5 


2%6 


7 he  Hi/lory  of  New-England.       Book  III, 

i  ...  . 


along ;  for  preserving  his  great  Name,  that  '  lie,  God  doth  not  terrify  me,  either  with 

Sin,   or  with  my  Death,  or  with  himfelf. 


I  have  in  nothing  openly  difhonoured  it  ^  for 
my  Succefs  and  Acceptance  in  my  Work  ;  for 
my  dear  Wife,  that  1  had  her  fo  long  •,  and 
that  my  Brother  and  my  dear  Wife  died  both 
of  them  glorifying  of  God  :  They  are  in  Hea- 
ven, and  I  am  out  of  Hell  !  that  I  have  hither- 
to been  kept  from  Diltraftion  and  Defpair, 
and  kept  to  my  Work:  That  I  have  any 
Friends  (in  this  ftrange  Land)  and  any  in  my 
Family  to  mind  me  and  tend  me:  That  I  have 
Work  here,  and  Opportunities  of  Service  :  For 
my  fore  CrolTes  and  LolTes  of  late  Afflictions 
and  Temptations,  hoping  they  may  work  for 
Good.  Thirdly,  To  conclude  all,  with  a 
chearful  accepting  of  Chrift,  and  devoting  my 
felf  to  his  Service  :  To  do  for  him,  that  had 
done  all  this  for  me  :  Saying,  If  God  would 
help  me  to  frudy,  he  fhould  have  all  the 
Glory  of  it.    Thus  did  he  walk  with  God. 


His  Minifiry  was  very  Acceptable  to  the  Peo- 
ple, whofe  Good  he  molt  aimed  at,  wherever 
he  came :  Great  Auditories  ufually  flocking 
thereunto,  proclaimed  it.  But  that  he  might 
not  be  Lifted  up,  it  feemed  meet  unto  the  Wif- 
dom  of  Heaven,  to  humble  him  with  fore  and 
long  Temptations,  often  Recurring  to  Buffet 
him.  In  his  Days,  he  faw  many  Difconfolate 
Hours  -,  he  was  fill'd  with  Defponding  Jealou- 
fies,  left  after  he  had  preached  unto  others,  he 
fhould  be  himfelf  a  Cajt-away :  And  he  often  in- 
treated  thofe,  who  faw  the  Diftreffes  of  his 
Mind,  That  they  wouldby  no  means  take  up  any 
Prejudice  again/}  the  fweet  and  good  Ways  of 
Religion,  from  what  they  faw  of  his  Difconfolate 
Uneafmcffes. 

It  may  be,  'twill  be  profitable  unto  fome 
Difcouraged  Minds,  to  underltand  how  he  ex- 
prelfes  himfelf  on  fuch  Occalions.  In  Sermons 
on  thofe  Words,  /  am  opprejfed,  undertake  jor 
me,  he  much  defcribed  it  unto  us.  But  in  his 
Diaries 'twas  thus: 

At  one  Time. 

'  I  was  almoft  in  the  Suburbs  of  Hell  all 
'  Day;  a  meer  Magor  Mijfabib.  I  faw  Death 
1  and  Sin  full  of  Terror  :  I  thought  I  never 
•  fought  the  Glory  of  God :  Ah !  What  a  match- 
'  lefs  Wretch  am  I!  Oh!  That  I  could  love 
'  above  all  things,  and  feek  the  Glory  of  God, 
'  and  live  contentedly  on  him  alone!  Oh!  that 
'  I  could  fee  the  Blood  of  Chrift  on  my  Soul, 
c  and  at  the  Bottom  of  my  Profeffion.  Oh  ! 
'  for  a  Sight  of  the  Myftery  and  Maiefty  of 
'  the  Grace  and  Love  of  Jefus  Chrift  -,  fo  that 
'  all  Excellencies  might  fall  down  before  it ! 

At  another  Time. 

'  I  am  in  a  woful  Frame  ;  far  from  faying, 
1  with  Dr.  Avery,  Here  I  lie,  not  knowing 
{  what  God  will  do  with  me,  but  tho'  I  thus 


my 


At  another  Time 


'  If  God  fhould  yet  fave  my  Soul,  and  his 
Work  in  my  Hand,  it  would  be  amazing. 
There  is  a  May  bt\  If  thefe  inward  Troubles 
hold,  I  fhall  be  forced  to  lay  down  my 
Work.  0  Lord,  ftep  in  for  my  Relief!  O 
the  Worth  of  the  Senfe  of  God's  Love  in 
Chrift ! 

At  another  Time; 

'  I  am  opprefTed  unto  Death,  and  fill'd  with 
the  Angry  Arrows  of  God :  It  arifeth  not  at 
prefent  from  any  particular  Caufe,  but  the 
Senfe  of  my  woful  Eftate  in  general.  Oh  ! 
that  the  Iffue  may  yet  be  Peace,  and  that  I 
may  not  fetch  Comfort  unto  my  felf,  but  by 
Faitb  in  Jefus  Chrift. 

At  anotherr  Time. 

1  Oh !  That  Jefus  Chtift  would  undertake 
for  me!  If  God  marvelloufly  prevent  not,  I 
fhall  lay  down  my  Work.  O  Lord,  appear. 
Oh  !  for  one  faving  Sight  of  the  Love,  and 
Lovelinefs  of  Jefus  Chrift.  I  wifh  I  could 
fay,  as  my  dear  Tutor  Dr.  Harrifon  faid, 
That  he  could  not  live  a  Day,  without  a  frefh 
Manifejiation  of  God  unto  his  Soul\ 

At  another  Time. 

'  The  Eclipfe  of  the  Moon  laft  Night,  made 
one  think,  Oh !  that  1  could  mourn  bitterly, 
who  have  finned  my  felf  into  Darknefs.  How 
is  the  Earth  interpoh'ng"!  Lord,  Remove  it.  Let 
the  Son  of  Rightcoufnefs  in  his  Glory  and 
:  Strength  yet  be  iben  by  me ! 

At  another  lime. 

'  I  have  much  Reafon  to  blefs  God,  for  Re- 
:  buking  of  Satan.  I  have  been  many  a  Time 
•  ready  to  give  up  all,  and  lay  down  my  Mini- 
1  ftry,  thinking  that  God  had  utterly  forfaken 
:  me,  and  hid  Jefus  Chrift  from  me ;  which  I 
'  would  juftify  him  in.  But  by  the  Confidera- 
'  tion  of  the  Brazen  Serpent,  I  was  fomewhat 
:  Recovered. 

At  another  Time. 

'  I  was  now  fupported  by  the  Thoughts  of  a 
'  Precious  JESUS.  I  fhould  for  ever  fink,  but 
'  for  him !  When  I  look  backward  or  forward, 
'  upward  or  downward,  I  die,  I  fink  ;  but 
'  when  I  look  at  the  fweet  JESUS,  I  live.  I 
'  may  refolve  with  Dr.  Prefton ;  (O  that  I 
'  could !)  faying,  /  have  often  trfd  God,  and 
'  now  Pll  truft  him.  It's  a  good  Refoluticn ; 
'  Lord,  help  me  to  it ! 


At 


Book  Hi.       7 he  Hi/lory  of  New-England.  237 


At  another  Time. 

'-  I  would  gladly  think,  That  God  is  my  fa- 
'  tber.  And  it'  fo,  Oh  !  what  Glory  is  due  to 
*  the  Riches  of  Free  Grace!  Oh!  how  glorious 
'  is  that  Grace,  and  how  will  it  fhine  thr< 
'  all  Erernity  !  If  ever  I  lee  my  lcll  fafe  at 
'  la  It,  I  mult  for  ever  cry  out,  1  am  wonder- 
\  fully  faved  . 


In  fine,  One  thing  that  much  relieved  him 
in  his  internal  Troubles,  was  what  he  had  oc- 
cafion  (thus)  to  write  in  his  Diary,  a  little  be- 
tore  his  End. 

1  I  do  more  fee  into  the  great  Myltery  of  our 

*  Jultification  by  Faith,  meetly  of  Grace.  There 
1  is  no   refpecF    in  it,    unto  this  or  that  5   but 

*  Jefus  Chrift  having  wrought  out  a  Redemp- 
'  tion  for  us,  and  by  his  Active  and  Pa  (five 
1  Obedience  procured  a  fufficienr  Righteouihefs, 

*  and  making  a  Tender  of  it  in  the  Gofpel,  it 
1  becomes  mine,  by  my  accepting  of  it,  and 
1  relying  on  it  alone  for  Salvation.  And  (hall 
4  I  not  accent  of  it  ?  God  forbid  ! 


Jefus!  When  his  Afreclionate  Friends  were 
weeping  about  him,  he  beftow'd  this  Rebuke 
upon  them,  Away  vsith  your  Idols!  Aihay  tehb 
your  Idols  !  It  was  nor  very  long  before  he  felt 
fick,  that  he  wrote  this  Pillage  in  his  Diary. 
,;  1  was  affetted  with  what  I  read  of  Mr.  Sht 
;  o{  Coventry,  who  died  in  the  Pulpit.     Lord. 

Lei  not  only,  but  in  dying  Jbri 

-  Glory  to  thee.  And  now  it  (hall  be  To!  Al 
lalt,  juit  as  he  was  going  to  expire,  he  feem'd 
as  if  he  had  fome  extraordinary  Apprehenfions 
of  the  Glory,  in  which  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift 
is  above  enthroned  :  He  {trove  to  (peak  unto 
his  Vertuous  Contort  and  anon  ipoks  thus 
much,  Ob!  What  ih.:/l  I  fay?  He  fe  altogether 
lovely?  His  Worthy  Sitter-in-Law,  then  com- 
ing to  him,  he  haid,  Oh !  All  our  Praifes  of 
him  here,  are  poor  and  low  things!  And  then 
added,  life  Glorious  Angels  are  come  for  v;e  \ 
Upon  the  faying  whereof  he  clofed  his  own 
Eyes,  about  the  time  when  he  (till  opened  his 
Bible  for  his  Publick  Labours  :  On  the  Lord's 
Day,  about  three  in  the  Afternoon  ;  and  he 
never  opened  them  any  more. 


c  I  fee  (' faith  he  j  there  are  two  things, 
x  wherein  I  can't  eafily  exceed,  viz.  In  afcri- 
'  bing  to  the  Grace  of  God,  the  Freenefs  and 
'  Richnefs  of  it  in  Man's  Salvation  ;  and  in  af 
'  cribingto  theRighteoufnefsof  Chrift  in  Man's 
'  Jultification. 

At  length,  difmal  Pains  of  the  Gout,  with  a 
Complication  of  other  Maladies,  confined  him 
for  a  Quarter  of  a  Year  together.     Under  the 
Pains  of  his  Confinement,  he  took  an  extraor- 
dinary Contentment  in  the  Fifty  Third  Chapter 
of  Ifaiah,  which  represents  the  Sorrows  of  our 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  whereby  all  our  Sorrows  are 
fan£tified:  And  he  would  often  roll  over  thofe 
Words  of  our  Saviour,   elfewhere  occurring, 
They  pierced  my  Hands  and  my  Feet.    When  the 
Remainders  of  his  Flock,  which  waited  on  him 
to  New-England,  vifited   him,    his  ufual  and 
folemn  Charge  to  them  was,  I  charge  you,  That 
J  find  you  all  fafc  at  laft !  My  Brethren,  God 
make  the  Charge  of  your  dead  Paftor  abide 
upon  you.  Forfometime  in  his  laft  Sicknels,  his 
Heavenly  Soul  was  harraiTed  with  terrible  Dif 
couragements  :  Under  all  of  which,  ir  was  yet 
a  common  Expreffion  with  him,   The  Mafier 
hath  done  all  things  well !  But  at  laft,  he  arri 
ved  unto  a  BlelTed  Satisfaction,  That  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  had  made  his  Peace  in  Heaven, 
and  that  he  was  going  into  Eternal  Peace.  Yea, 
at  the  worft,  he  would  fay,  That  his  bear  wcu 
not  fo   much  about  the   End    of  all  as  about 
i  he  might   meet  withal  in  the  way  to  that 
End.    He  had  begun  to  prepare  a  Sermon  for. 
oar  South-Church,  upon   thofe  Words,  Who  is 
that  comes  up  from  the   Wilderncjs,  lean- 
on  her  Beloved?   And   he   now  ipoke  of 
as  expreffing  his   own   Condition  -,    Thus 


this 
ing 
it, 


am  I  gang  (laid  he )    out   of  the  Wilder  nefs 
of  all  my  Temptations,  leaning  on  my  Blefjed 


This  was  he  whom  you  ate  now  going  to 
Bury;  but  I  pray  you,  Bury  not  with  him  alL 
the  Holy  Counfels  and  Warnings,  that  we  have 
heard  from  him-,  Remember  how  yen  have  re- 
ceived and  heard. 

He  was  one,  who  took  much  Notice  of  what 
was  from  the  Oracles  of  God,  fpoken  to  him, 
in  the  Sermons  of  other  Men.  He  has  much 
repleniftied  his  Diaries,  mtfi  Remarks  of  this 
Importance  ;  I  have  heard  a  good  Word  to  day ! 
And  he  would  often  decline  going  to  Featts, 
whereto  his  friends  invited  him,  that  he  might 
go  to  Private  Meetings  in  fome  other  Parrs  of 
rhe  Town,  where  he  might  at  the  fame  time 
t'eajl  on  the  Word  of  God.  Thus,  more  par- 
ticularly. 

At  one  Time. 

'  I  heard  a  very  good  Word.  Are  ye  not 
c  Carnal?  Ah,  Lord,  I  am  Carnal.  The  Lord 
'  give  me  his  Spirit  to  make  me  Spiritual!  I 
c  was  in  many  things  juttly  reproved  :  Let  me 
'  rake  it,  and  be  wrought  into  the  Likenefs  of 
'  this  good  Word. 

At  another  Time. 

'  To  day  I  heard  a  mott  precious  Word,  with 
c  which  1  was  much  edified  and  refrefhed,  viz. 
c  Chrift  fe  all.     Oh !  that  I  might  never  forget 
c  it!  Oh!  that  it   might  be  written  upon  the 
Table  of  my  Heart !  Let  my  Soul  feed  upon 
it  for  ever.     It  was  very  feaibnable.     Though 
it  was  a  Day  mott  intolerably  cold;  fo  cold, 
that  there  vvas 'littie  writing  it;  yer  it  hear- 
tily  warmed   me.     I  needed  a  Chrift;    Oh! 
that  I  could  get  him,  and  keep  him  for  ever! 
I  would  make  him  my  All,  and  count  him 
my  All.     I  need  a  who's  Chrift :   Oh !  that  I 
mav  prize  a  whole  Chrift,  and  improve  a  whole 

Chrift 


238 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.     Book  I 


'  Chrift.  I  have  of  late  thought,  that  this  may  Riches  had  been  heaped  in  upon  him.  And. 
'  be  one  Evidence  of  my  Right  unto  Glory, | yet  he  would  add  [fuch  Paflages  (  fometfr  .  - 
c  that  Chrift  is  more  precious  to  me  than  ever,     rind.] 


What  I  fay  upon  it,  is ;  Imitate  him  in  a 
point  fo  linkable.  This  Preacher  is  well  wor- 
thy to  be  imitated,  as  he  was  an  Hearer. 

You  can  all  teftify,  that  he  W2s  none  of  thofe 
Co/d  Preachers,  whereof  one  complains,  Verba 
vita  in  quorundam  Dofforum  Labiis,  quantum 
ad  Virtutem,  iff  Efficaciam  Moriuntur  :  Adeo 
enim  tepide,  adeo  remiffe,  verba  Dei  annunciant, 
ut  ExtinUa  in  Labiis  Eorum  penitus  videantur ; 
unde  Sicut  ipfi  Frigidi  funt,  &  Extintfi,  fie 
Frigidos  &  Extinilos  relinquunt,  iff  utinam  non 
facerent  Auditores. 

For  his  Preaching,  he  particularly  prefcribed 
unto  himfelf,  according  to  a  Memorandum, 
which  I  found  thus  entred  in  his  Diary. 


c  Old  Mr.  Thomas  Shepheard,  when  on  his 
Deathbed,  faid  unto  the  young  Minifters 
about  him,  That  their  Work  war  great,  and 
called  for  great  Serioufnefs.  For  his  own  part, 
he  told  them  three  things.  Firft,  That  the 
ftudying  of  every  Sermon  coft  him  Tears ;  he 
wept  in  the  ftudying  of  every  Sermon.  Se- 
condly, Before  he  preach'd  any  Sermon,  he 
got  Good  by  it  himfelf  Thirdly,  He  always 
went  up  into  the  Pulpit,  as  if  he  were  to 
give  up  his  Accounts  unto  his  Mafter.  Oh ! 
that  my  Soul  /adds  our  Baily)  7tiay  remember 
and  praUife  accordingly  \ 


To  this  his  Preaching,  when  he  faw  God  gave 
any  Succefs,  he  would  ftill  in  his  private  Pa- 
pers, take  as  Thankful  a  Notice,  as  if  great 


'  Let  my  Soul  rejoice.  Bur,  Lord,  keep  me 
1  from  Pride.  I  defire  to  be  humbled  for  it. 
:  Do  I  not  know  that  God  makes  ufe  of  whom 
'  he  pleafes,  and  ufually  of  the  Wcakcll  !  No 
'  Flejhfhall glory ! 

But  if  the  Word  preached  by  this  lively  Dif- 
penfer  of  it,  live  not  in  our  Lives,  after  he  is 
Dead,  he  will  himfelf  be,  which  he  often  told 
you,  he  fear'd  he  mould  be  in  the  Day  of  God, 
a  Witncjs  againft  many  of  you. 

That  we  may  then  meet  him  with  Joy,  Let 
m  remember  them,  who  have  fpoken  to  us  the 
Word  of  God,  andjollotv  their  Faith,  conjidcring 
the  End  of  their  Converfation. 

But  be  thou  fenlible,  O  all  my  Country  of 
New-England,  how  much  thou  art  weakened, 
by  the  Departure  of  fuch  Blefllngsto  the  World 
of  the  Blefled. 

Thy  Baily  could  fometimes  write  fuch  PalTa- 
ges  as  this,  (I  find)  in  his  Referved  Papers. 

'  There  was  a  Day  of  Prayer.  God  was  with 
'  me  in  Prayer,  helping  me  to  plead  with  him 
'  an  Hour  and  half,  for  this  poor  Land,  and.  in 
'  fome  meafure  to  Believe  for  it.  I  hope,  God 
'  will  hear  and  help. 

Such  an  one  taking  Flight  from  thee,  Let  thy 
Lamentations  thereupon  be  heard  ;  My  Father, 
my  Father  \ 


The  End  of  the  T  hi  kd    Book. 


SAL   GENTIUM. 


THE 


Fourth    BOO 


o  F    T  H  E 


CONTAINING 

An  ACCOUNT  of  the 


NT  T  V  Th  T?  QIT 

IN  1  V  E  Jlv  Oil 


From   whence    the  Churches  of  NEW-ENGLAND,   (  and    many  other 

Churches)  have  been  Illuminated. 

Its   LAWS,    its   BENEFACTORS,   its    VICIS- 
SITVDES,  and  a  CATALOGUE  offuch 

as  have  been  therein  Educated  and  Graduated. 

Whereto  are  ADDED, 

The   LIVES  of  fome    Eminent  Perfons,  who  were  Plants  of  Renown 
growing    in  that   NURSERY. 


Offered  unto  the  Publick 

By   COTTON    MATHER. 


Here,  as  in  Furnaces  of  Boiling  Gold 

Stars  Dipt,   Come  back,  full  as  their  Orbs  can  hold 

Of  Glitt'ring  Light ! 


AB.  COULiEUS,  de  AMERICA. 
Ittgeninm,    Pietas,   Artes,   ac  Bel/ica    Virtus, 
Hue  profuga  venient,  et   Regna  Illufiria  evident  j 
Et  Domina  his  Virtus  erit,  et  Fortuna  Miniftra. 

Plantar.  Lib.  5. 


LONDON, 
Printed    for     Tht>.     Parkbnrji.        170:2. 


Book  IV. 


125 


Y 


O  F 


lwfca?tj=Coiletjge 


INTRODUCTION. 

T  there  have  been  Univerfities  m  the  World,  wbich  a  Be7.a  would  call  Flabella  Satanx,  and  a  Luther 
would  call  Cathedras  Peftilentix,  &;  Ancichrifti  Luminaria,  and  a  Third  ventures  to  flyle,  Syna- 
gogas  Perditionis  c<  Puteos  Abyfli  ;  the  Excellent  Arrowfmkh  bus  truly  obferved,  That  it  is  no 
more  to  be  inferred  from  hence  that  all  are  fo,  than  that  all  Books  are  to  be  burnt.,  becaufe  the  Chrifti- 
ans  did  burn  the  Magical  Ones  at  Ephefus.  The  New-Englanders  have  not  been  Weigelians  :  or  the 
Difciples  of  the  Furious  Fanatick,  who  held  forth  f_  Reader,  Let  it  never  be  tranflated  into  Englifh  !  ] 
Nullam  efTe  in  Univerfo  Terrarum  Orbe  Academiam,  in  qua  Chriftus  inveniatur ;  In  Academijs 
fie  tantillam  quidem  Chrifti  Cognitionem  reperiri  pofle :  NoluifTe  Chriftum  Evangeliurn  prasdicari 
per  Diabolos ;  ergo  non  per  Academicos.  Left  all  the  Hellebore  of  New-England  (  a  Countrey 
abounding  with  Hellebore  )  fhould  not  fuff.ee  to  re/lore  fuch  Dreamers  unto  their  Wits,  it  hath  produ- 
ced an  Univerfity  alfo,  for  their  better  Information,  their  utter  Confutation.  Behold,  an  American 
Univerfity,  prefenting  her  felf,  with  her  Sons,  before  her  European  Mothers  for  their  Bkffmg.  An  Uni- 
verfity, which  hath  bien  to  thefe  Plantations,  as  Livy  faith  of  Greece,  for  the  good  Literature  there 
cultivated,  <3>itf  (SStttttUltl  '■>  An  Univerfity,  which  may  make  her  bo  aft  unto  the  Circumjacent  Regi- 
ons, like  that  of  the  Orator  on  the  behalf  of  the  Englifh  Cambridge,  Fecimus  (abfit  Verbo  Invidia,  cui 
abeffc  Falfitas)  ne  in  Demagorijs  Lapis  federet  fuper  Lapidem,  ne  deefTenx  in  Templis  Theologi, 
in  Foris  Jurifperiti,  in  Oppidis  Medici ;  Rempublicam,  Ecclefiam,  Sedatum,  Exeicitum,  Viris 
Doftis  replevimus,  ebq;  melius  bono  publico  infervii  e  comparatis,  quo  magis  eruditi  fuerint : 
FinaHy,  An  Univerfity  which  has  been  what  Stangius  made  his  Abbey,  when  he  turnd  it  into  a  Froteflant 
Colledge ;  Tk*  ®ioyva<Aa.<  ■x*ihvri?w  x)  VvyZv  Si&tv^cv  Ao;,w...  And  a  River,  without  the  Streams 
whereof,  thefe  Regions  would  have  been  meer,  Unwatered  Places,  for  the  Devil  ! 


PART    I. 


Its    Laivs,     Bet/efaciorSj     Vicejfitudcs,    and   its    Graduates. 


H  E  Nations  of  Mankind,  that 
have  fhaken  off  Barbarity,  have 
not  more  Differed  in  the  Lan- 
guages, than  they  have  Agreed 
_JBL_         in    this  One   Principle,  That 
Schools  for   the  Inftitution  of 
Young  Men,    in  all    other   Liberal  Sciences,  as 
well  as  that  of  Languages,  are  neceffary  to  pro- 
cure, and  preferve,  that  Learning  amongft  them, 
which 

Emollit  Mores,  nee  finit  effe  feros. 
I 

To  relate  the  Thonfandth  Part  of  the  Brave 
Things,  which  have  been  done   by  the  Nations 


of  Afia,  in  former,  or  the  Nations  of  Europe, 
in  later  Ages,  purfuant  to  this  Principle,  would 
be  to  fill  huge  Folio  Volumes,  with  Tranfcribing 
from  Hofpinian  or  Middendorpius,  from  Aljted7 
from  Junius,  and  from  Leigh,  and  from  very 
many  other  Authors.  America  is  the  part  of 
the  World,  whereto  our  Hiftory  is  confined  ; 
and  one  little  Part  of  America,  where  the  Firft 
Academy,  that  ever  adorned  any  Englifh  Planta- 
tion in  America  was  erected  ;  and  an  Academy, 
which  if  Aia]ores  noflri  Academias  fignato  voca- 
bulo  appcllav^re  Univcrfitates,  qmd  Univerfarum 
Divinarum  Humanaritmq;  Rerum  Cognitio,  in  ijst 
ut  Thefaitro  confervata  aperiatur,  it  may,  though 
A  a  a  a    2  it 


I  26 


The  Hifiory  of  New-England.  Book 


ic    have   otherwise    wanted   many    Priviledges, 
from  the  very  Foundation  of  it,  pretend  unto 
the  Name   of  an  (UtlitlCrfttP.     The  Primitive 
Chriflians  were  not   more  prudently  careful,  to 
fettle  Schools  for  the  Education  of  Perfons,    to 
fucceed  the  more  immediately  Infpired  Miniftry 
of  the  Apoftles,  and  fuch  as  had  been  Ordained 
by  the  Apoftles ;  (and  the  Apoftate  y«/»'<w,  truly 
imagined,  that  he  could  not  fooner  undo  Chriflia- 
nity,  than  by  putting  of  them  down!)  than  the 
Christians   in  the    moft  Early   Time*  of   New- 
England,  were  to  form  a  QEodCtltJC,  wherein  a 
Succeflion  of  a  Learned  and  Able  Minijlry  might 
be  Educated.    And,  indeed,  they  forefaw  that 
without  fuch  a  Piovifionfor  a  Sufficient  Minijlry, 
the  Churches  of  Neve-England  mult   have  been 
lefs  than  a  Bufmefs  of  One   Age,  and  foon  have 
come    to  Nothing  :    The  Other  Hemifphere  of 
the  World,  would  never  have  fent  us  over  &$cn 
enough  to  have   anfwered  our  Necflkies ;    but 
without    a     Nurfeiy     for    fuch    fflftl    among 
our  felves  Parknefs    muft   have  foon  covered   the 
Land,  and  Orofs  Darknefs  the   People.     For  fbme 
little  while,  indeed,  there  very  Hopeful  ErFe&s 
of  the   Pains  taken   by  certain  particular  Men 
of  Great  Worth  3nd  Skill,  to  bring  up  fome  in 
their  own  Private  Families,  for  Publick  Services ; 
but  much   of  'uncertainty  and  of  Inconveniency  in 
this  Way,  was  in  that  little  while  difcovered ; 
and  when   Wife  Men  conildered   the  Queftion 
handled  by  Quintilian,  "Julius  ne  fit   Domi,  atq; 
intra  privatos  Parietes  Jludentem  continere,  an  fre- 
quentia  Scholarum,  &  velut  publicis   Praceptoribus 
tradero  ?   they  foon  determined  it  as  He  did, 
That  Set -Schools  are  fo  neceiFary,  there  is  no  Do- 
ing   without  them.      Wherefore  a  ColICUgC 
mull  now   be   thought   upon  :    A  Colledge,  the 
belt  Thing  that  ever  New-England  thought  upon  ! 
As  the  Admirable  Foetius  could  happily  boaft 
of  it,  that  whereas  there  are  no  lefs  than  Ten 
Provinces  in  the  Popi/h  Belgium,  and  there  are 
no  more  than  Two  Vniverfities  in  them,   there 
are  but  Seven  Provinces  in  the  Reformed  Belgium, 
and   there  are  Five  Vniverfities  therein,  befides 
other  Academical  Societies  ;  thus  the  Firft  Pof- 
feflbrs  of  this  Protefiant  and    Puritan  Country, 
were  zealous  for  an  Vniverfity,   that   fliould  be 
more  fignificant  than  the  Seminaries  of  Canada 
and  Mexico  ;  New-England  compared  with  other 
Places,  might  lay  Claim  to  the  Character  that 
Strabo  gives  of  Tarfus,  the  City  of  our  Apoftle 
Paul's  firft  Education  ;  They  had  fo  great  a  Love 
to  Philofophy,    f_  -n>m\m  <?■**<&  itfit  n  $i*o'mpta.i>  J"  and 
all  the  Liberal  Sciences,  that   they  excelled  Athens, 
Alexandria,  and  if  there  were  any  other  Place  worth 
Naming  where  the  Schools,  and  Difputes  of  Philo- 
fhy,  and  all  Humane  Arts  maintained.     And  al- 
though this  Country  did  chiefly  confift  of  fuch 
as  by  the  Difficulties  of  Subduing  a  Wretched 
Wildernefs,  were  brought  into  fuch  a  Condition 
of  Poverty,  that  they  might  have  gone   by  the 
Title,  by  which  the  modeftly-clad  Noblemen  and 
Gentlemen,  that  firft  petitioned  againft  the  Inqui- 
fttion  in  the  Low-Countries,    were  diftinguifhed, 
namely,    A  Troop  of  Beggars,   yet  thefe  Gueux 
were  willing  to  let  the  Richer  Colonies,  which 


I  retained  the  Ways  of  the  Church  of  England, 
fee  How  much  True  Religion  was  a  Friend  unto 
good  Literature.  The  Reader  knows  that  in  eve- 
ry Town  among  the  Jews,  there  was  a  School, 
whereat  Children  were  taught  the  Reading  of 
the  Law,  and,  if  there  were  any  Town  defti- 
tute  of  a  School,  the  Men  of  the  Place  did  ftand 
excommunicate,  until  One  were  erected  :  Befides 
and  beyond  which  they  had  Midrafhoth.  or  Di- 
vinity-Schools, in  whLh  they  expounded  the 
Law  to  their  Difciples.  Whether  the  Churches 
of  New-  England  have  been  duely  careful  or  no, 
about  their  other  Schools,  they  have  not  been  al- 
together carelefs  about  their  Midrafhoth  ;  and  ic 
is  well  for  them  that  they  have  not. 

§.  2.  A  General  Court  held  at  Boflon,  Sept.  8. 
1630.  advanced  a  Small  Sum  (and  it  was  then 
a  Day  of  Small  Things  )  namely,  Four  Hundred 
Pounds,  by  way  of  Iffay  towards  the  Building 
of  fomething  to  begin  a  Colledge ;  and  New-Town 
being  the  Kiriath  Sepher  appointed  for  the  Seat  of 
it,  the  Name  of  the  Town  was  for  the  fake  of 
fomewhat  now  founding  here,  which  might  here- 
after grow  into  an  Univerfity,  changed  into 
Cambridge.  'Tis  true,  the  Univerfity  of  Vpfal 
in  Sueden,  hath  ordinarily  about  feven  or  eight 
Hundred  Students  belonging  to  it,  which  do 
none  of  them  live  Collegiately,  but  board  all  of 
them  here  and  there  at  Private  Houfes ;  never- 
thelefs  the  Government  of  New-England,  was 
for  having  their  Students  brought  up  in  a  more 
Collegiate  Way  of  Living.  But  that  which  laid 
the  moft  figuificantSrowe  in  the  Foundation,  was 
the  Laft  Will  of  Mr.  JaOit  IpatiiatB,  a  Reve- 
rend, and  Excellent  Minifter  of  the  Gofpel,  who 
dying  at  Charlftown,  of  a  Confumption,  quickly 
after  his  Arrival  here,  bequeathed  the  Sum  of 
Seven  Hundred,  feventy  nine  Pounds,  feventeen 
Shillings  and  two  Pence,  towards  the  Pious  Work 
or  building  a  Colledge,  which  was  now  fet  a  foot. 
A  Committee  then  being  chofen,  to  profecute 
an  Affair,  fo  happily  commenced,  it  foon  found 
Encouragement  from  feveral  other  BenefacJors  : 
The  other  Colonies  fent  fome  final]  Help  to  the 
Undertaking,  and  feveral  particular  Gentlemen 
did  more,  than  whole  Colonies  to  fupport  and 
forward  it  :  But  becaufe  the  Memorable  Mr. 
3i0f)lt  Jpatrtiai-rj,  led  the  Way  by  a  Genero- 
iity  exceeding  the  moft  of  them,  that  followed 
His  Name  was  juftly  /Eternized,  by  its  having 
the  Name  of  JpattiarfrCOlICtip  'impofed  up- 
on it.  While  thefe  Things  were  a  doing,  a  So- 
ciety of  Scholars,  to  Lodge  in  the  New  Neflsy 
were  forming  under  the  Conduct  of  one  Mr. 
Nathanael  Eaton  f_or,  if  thou  wilt,  Reader,  Or- 
bilius  Eaton "]  a  Blade,  who  marvelloufly  deceived 
the  Expectations  of  Good  Men  concerning  him  ; 
for  he  was  One  fitter  to  be  Mafter  of  a  Bridewel 
than  a  Colledge  :  And  though  his  Avarice  was 
notorious,  enough  to  get  the  Name  of  a  Pbilar- 
gyrius  fixed  upon  him,  yet  his  Cruelty  was  more 
fcandalous  than  his  Avarice.  He  was  a  Rari 
Scholar  himfelf,  and  he  made  many  more  fuch ; 
but  their  Education  truly  was  In  the  School  of 
Tyrannus.     Among  many  other  Inftances  of  his 

Cruelty 


Im     ,    „  ,  ,,  ,  -        -  ■  1 —  I  .--..-■ 

Book    IV.  The  Hiftory  of  New-England 


/ 


place  a  MoV  LSO  A ,   a  S  A  LT  0  NS  7  A  L\ 
an      AS  HV&ST,    a    £  £  A  Ar  OT  E  R,     a 

£0  D  D  RJ  DG  E,  an  HOPKINS,  a  0'££, 
an  VS  H  E  R,an  H V  L&,  a  RICHARDS, 
an  HVLTuN,  a  GVNSTON,  would 
hardly  be  excufablc.  And  while  thcfe  made 
their  Liberal  Contributions,  either  to  the  Edi- 
fice or  to  the  Revenue  of  the  Colledge,  thete  were 
others  that  enrich'd  its  Library,  by  prefenting 
of  Choice  Z?oota  with  Mathematical  Instruments, 
thereunto,  among  whom  Sir  Kenelm  Digby,  Sir 
To/™  Maynard,  Mr.  Richard  Baxter  and  Mr.  ^o- 
England,  where  lie  lived  privately  until  the  Re-  fipb  Hill,  ought  always  to  be  remembred.  But 
figuration  of  King  Charles  II.  Then  Conform- |  the  moft  Conliderable  Accefiion  to  this  Library 
ing  to  the  Ceremonies  of  the  Church  of  England},  was,  when  the  Reverend  Mr.  Theophilus  Gale, 
he  was  fixed  at  Biddifcrd,  where  he  became  (as  I  a  well  known  Writer  of  many  £<w£j,  and  Oipwr 
Apojiata  eft  0  •><  f"  Ordinis)  a  bitter  Perfecutor  \  of  more,  bequeathed  what  he  had,  unto  this 
of  the  Chrifrians,  that  kept  faithful  to  the  Way  j  New-Englifh  Treafury  of  Learning ;  whereof  I 
of'Worfhip,  from  which  he  was  himfelf  an  ^o- 'find  in  an  Oration  of  Mr.  Increafe  Mather,  at 
flate;  until  he  who  had  caft  fo  many  into  Prifon  .the  Commencement  in  the  Year  io"8i.  thisCom- 

for  Confidence,   was  himfelf  caft  into  Prifon  for  j  melioration, /  ihris  quam  plurimis  iisq;  Lett* 

Debt;  where  he  did,  at  length,  pay  One  Dcbt,\digmjfimis  Bibliotheca    Harvardina    / otapUtatur, 
namely,  that  unto  Nature,  by  Death,  j  q»os  THEOPHILUS  GALEUS  (a  ^4. 

ej'7iK  )  Tbeologus  nmquam  fatis  Lattdatus,  legavit  ; 


Cruelty,  he  gave  One  in  earning  tAO  Men  to 
hold  a  young  Gentleman,  while  hefo  unmercifully 
beat  him  with  a  Cudgel,  that  upon  Complaint  of 
it  unto  the  Court  in  September,  1639.  he  was 
fined  an  Hundred  Marks,  beiides  a  Convenient 
Sum  to  be  paid  unto  the  young  Gentleman,  that 
had  fofFered  by  his  Unmcrcifulnefs-  and  for  his 
Inhumane  Severities  towirds*  the  Scholars,  he 
was  removed  from  his  Truft.  After  this,  being 
firft  Excommunicated  by  the  Church  of  Cam- 
bridge, he  did  himfelf  Excommunicate  all  our 
Churches,    going   frit   into  Virginia,  then  into 


§.  3.  On  Augufl  27.  1640.  The  Magiflrates, 
with  the  Minifiers,  of  the  Colony,  chofe  Mr.  Hen- 
ry Dunflar,  to  be  the  Prelident  of  their  New 
Harvard-Colledge.  And  in  time. convenient,  the 
General  Court  endued  the  Colledge  with  a  Char- 
ter, which  made  it  a  Corporation,  contifting  of  a 
Preftdent,  two  Fellows,  and  a  Treafurer  to  all  pro- 
per Lntents  and  Purpofes:  Only  with  Powers  re- 
ferved  unto xhzGovemour  ,Deputy-Governour ,  and 
all  the  Magiflrates  of  the  Colony,  and  the  Miniflers 
of  the  fix  next  Towns  for  the  Time  being,  to 
aft  as  Overfeers,  or  Vifitors  of  the  Society.  The 
Tongues  and  Arts  were  now  taught  in  the  Col- 
ledge, and  Piety  was  maintained  with  fo  Lauda- 
ble a  Difiipline,  that  many  Eminent  Perfons  went 
forth  from  hence,  adorned  with  Accomplifhments, 

that  rendred  them  formidable  to  other  Parts  of 

the  World,  as  well  as  to  this  Country,  and  Per- 
fons of  good  Quality  fent  their  Sons,  from  other 

Parts   of  the    World,    for  fuch  an   Education, 

as  this  Country   could  give   unto  them.    The 

Number  of  Benefactors  to  the  Co'dedge,  did  here- 1  </'"'  Fceltcuatem  banc  ignorant. 

withal  increafe  to  fuch  a  Degree  of  Benefits,  that 

although  the  Praslldent   were  fupported  ftill  by 

a  Salary,  from  the    Treafury  of  the    Colony,  yet 

the  Treafury  of  the  Colledge  it  felf  was  able  to 

pay  many  of   its  Expences  •  efpccially  after  the 

Incomes  of  Charlstotvn  Ferry,  were  by  an   Aft  of 

the  General  Court  fettled  thereupon.  To  Enu- 
merate  thefe    Benefactors   would    be  a  piece  of 

Jufltce  to  their  Memory,  and  the  Catalogue  of 

their   Names,  and  Works  preferved  in  the  Col- 

ledge%  has  done  them  that  Juflice .  But  as  I  find 

One  Article   in  that  Catalogue  to  run  thus,  A 

Gentleman  not  willing  his  Name  fhould  be  put  upon 

Record,  gave  fifty   Pounds ;  thus,  I  am  fo  willing 

to  believe,  that  the  moft  of  thofe  Good  Men  that 

are  mentioned  were    content    with  a  Record  of 

their  Good  Deeds  in  the  Book  of  God's  Remem- 
brance, that  I  fhall  Excnfe  this  Book  of  our  Chunk- 

Hiftory  from  fwelling  with  a  particular  Mention 

of  them:  albeit  for  us  to  leave  unmemioned  in  this 


quofq;  Novanglorum  Mofes,  Dominum  Galielmurri 
Stoughtonum  volo,  procuravit,  eoq;  fe  prvnarium 
Hitjits  Acadcmtcc  Curatorem  pr^buit,  atq;  Harvar- 

dinos  omnes  ftbi  in  perpetuum  Devintlos  habet. 

indeed  this  Library  is  at  this  Day,  far  from  a  Va- 
tican, or  a  Bodleian  Dimenlion,  and  fufficiently 
(hort  of  that,  made  by  Ito'omy  ac  Alexandria, 
in  which  Fame  hath  placed  Seven  Hundred 
Thoufand  Volumns,  and  of  that  made  by  Theo- 
dofuis  at  Conftantinop'.e,  in  which  a  more  cer- 
tain Fame  hath  told  us  of  Ten  Myriads  .-  Never- 
thelefs,  'tis  I  fuppofe  the  beft  Furniihed  that 
can  be  fhown  any  where,  in  all  the  American 
Regions-,  and  when  I  have  the  Honour  to  walk 
in  it,  1  cannot  but  think  on  the  Satifaftion, 
which  Heinfim  reports  himfelf  to  be  fill'd  with- 
al, when  Ibut  up  in  the  Library  at  Leyden;  Ple- 
rumq;  in  ci  fimulac  pedem  pofui,  foribus  Pefj'idum 
obdo,  et  in  ipfo  zAEternitatis  Gremio,  inter  tot  lilt*- 
fires  Animas  Jedem  mihi  Sumo  :  cum  ingenti  qui- 
dem   Animo,  i.t  jubinde    Magnatum  me  tnifcreat, 


§.  4.  When  Scholars  had  fo  far  profited  at 
the  Grammar  Schools,  that  they  could  Read  any 
Clajfcal  Author  into  Englifh,  and  readily  make, 
and  fpeak  true  Latin,  and  Write  it  in  Verfe  as 
well  as  Profe;  and  perfeftly  Decline  the  Para- 
digms of  Nouns  and  Verbs  in  the  Greek  Tongue, 
they  were  judged  capable  of  Admiffion  in  Har- 
vard-Colledge ;  and  upon  the  Examination,  were 
accordingly  Admitted  by  the  Prefident  and  Fel- 
lows^ who,  in  Teftimony  thereof,  ligned  a  Copy 
of  the  Colledge  Laws,  which  the  Scholars  were 
each  of  them  to  Tranfci  ibe  and  Preferve,  as  the 
continual  Remembrancers  of  the  Duties,  where- 
to their  Priviledges  obliged  them.  While  the 
Praftdent  infpected  the  Manners  of  the  Students 
thus  £ntertjiued  in  the  Colledge,  and  unto  his 
Morning  and  Evening  Prayers  in  the  Hall,  join- 
ed an  Expojition  upon  the  Chapters  ;  which  they 
Read  but  of  Hebrew  into  Cruk,    from  the  Old 

Tefta- 


I 


128 


The  Hifiory  of  ■  N ew-England. 


Book  IV. 


-« _ ; ^ 

Teftamcnt  in  the  Morning,  and  out  ot  Englijh 
into  Greek,    from  the  New  Teftament   in    the 
Evening;  befides  what  Sermons  he  faw  caufe   to 
Preach    in    publick    AUemblies  on    the  Lord's- 
Dayax.  Cambridge,    where  the  StudeDts   have  a 
particular  Gallery  allotted  unto  them  ■  ;    the   Fel- 
lows Refident  on  the  Place,  became  Tutors  to  the 
feveral   Claffcs,   and   after  they  h3d    Inftructed 
them  in  the  Hebrew  Language ,  led  them  through 
all  the  Liberal  Arts,    e're  their  firft    Four  Years 
expired.  ■  And  in  this    Time,    they  had  their 
Weekly  Declamations,  on  Fridays  in  the  Colledge- 
Hall,  befides  publick  Dentations,   which  either 
the  Prxfidcnt  or  the  Fellows  moderated.     Thofe 
who  then  flood  Candidates  to  be  Graduates,  were 
to  attqnd    in   ;nc   Hall   for  certain  Hours,    on 
Sundays,    and  on  Tucfdays,    Three  Weeks    to- 
gether towards  the  Middle  of  June,  which  were 
caked  »'<e«  of  Tifitatwi;  fo  that  all  Comers  that 
pleafed,    might  examine  their  Skill  in  the  Lan- 
guages and  Sciences,   which  they  now  pretended 
unto  ■    and  ufually,  fome  or  other  of  the  Over- 
Jeers  of   the  Colledge,    would   on    purpofe  ffifit 
them,  whilft    they  were  thus  doing  what   they 
called,  fitting  of  Solfticcs  :    When  the  Commence- 
ment arrived,    which  was  formerly   the  Second 
Tuefday  in  Auguft,  but  fince,  the  Firft  Wednefdty 
in  July  ;    they  that  were  to   proceed  Bachelors, 
held  their  AQ  publickly  in  Cambridge  ;  whither 
the  Magiftrates  and  Minifttrs,  and  other  Gentle- 
men then  came,  to  put  Refpeft  upon  their  Exer- 
cifes :  And  thefe  Exercifes  were  belides  an  Ora- 
tion ufually  made  by  the  Frefidrnt,    Orations  both 
Salutatory  and  Faledittory,  made  by  fome  or  other 
of  the  Commencers,    wherein  all  Perfons  and  Or- 
ders of  any  fafhion  thenprefent,  were  AddreiTed 
with  proper  Complements,  and  Reflections  were 
made  on  the  moft  Remarkable  Occurrents  of  the 
proceeding  Year  •,  and  thefe  Orations  were  made 
not  only  in  Latin,  but  fometimes  in  Greek  and  in 
Hebrew  alfo  •    and  fome  of  them  were  in  Ferfe, 
and  even  in  Greek  Verfe,    as  well  as  others  in 
Profe.     But  the  main  Exercifes  were  Deputations 
upon   Queftions,     wherein  the    Refpondents  firft 
made  their  Thefes  :  For  according  to  Voffms,  the 
very  EfTence  of  the  Baccalaureat  feems  to  lye  in 
the  Thing  :  153000111111:  CUSS  being  but  a  Name 
Corrupted  of  Batnalius,  which  Batuahus  (  as  well 


!  a  little  higher  Elevation:,  Thefe  now,  with  a  like 
Formality,  received  their  Second  Degree^  proceed- 
ing Mafrers  of  At.  - Quis  enim  Lollrinam 

amphtlitur  ipfim,  prxmii  f:  toUis  ?  The  Words 
ufed  by  the  Prxlidenr,  in  this  Aclion,  were 

For  the   Patchclours. 

Admitto  Te  ad  Primum  Gradum  in   Artibus 
fiilicet,  ad  Rcfpondendum  ()u.tftior.i,  pro  nun 
Academiarum  in  Anglia. 

Tibia;  Trado  hitnc  Librurfy  una  cum  Poteftate 
public?  Pr.dcgcndi,  in  aliq;:J  Artium  (  quam 
profiteyts  )  quotiescitriq;  ad  hoc  Munus  evocatas 
fueris. 

For  the  M afters. 

Admitto  Te  ad  Secundum  Gradum  in  Artibus, 
pro  more  Academiarum  in  Anglia. 

Tradoque  Ttbi  hiwc  Librum,  una  cum  Tuttjlate 
1  rcfitendi,  ubicunque  ad  hue  Mumts  public''  evo- 
catus  fueris. 

§.  5.  Mr.  Henry  Dunjler,  continue  '  he  Prce- 
fident  of  Harvard  Colledge,  until  his  unhappy 
Entanglement  in  the  Snaies  of  Anahaptifip  •  tui'd 
the  Overfecrs  with  uneafie  Fears,  left  the  Stu- 
dents by  his  means,  fhculd  come  to  be  Enfnared : 
Which  Unealinefs  was  at  length  fo  fignified  un- 
to him,  that  on  Oiiobcr  24.  1654.  He  pre- 
faced unto  the  Overfeers,  an  Inftrument  under 
his  Hands  ;  wherein  he  Refigned  his  pTefident- 
fhip,  and  they  accepted  his  Resignation.  That 
brave  Old  Man  Johannes  A,,m  COM  ML  NIL'S, 
the  Fame  of  whofe  Worth  hath  been  Trumpitttd 
as  far  as  more  than  Three  Languages  (  whereof 
every  one  is  Endebted  unto  his  Janua  )  could 
carry  it  was  indeed  agreed  withal!,  by  our  Mr. 
Winthrop  in  his  Travels  through  the  Low  Coun- 
tries, to  come  over  into  New-England,  and  Illu- 
minate this  Colledge  and  Country,  in  the  Quality 
of  a  Pre/idcnt  ;  But  the  Solicitations  of  the  Sipo 
di/h  Ambaifador,  diverting  him  another  way, 
that  Incomparable  Moravian  became  not  an 
American.  On  November  2,  1654.  Mr.  Richard 
Mather  and  Mr.  Norton,  were  employed  by  the 
Overfeers,  to  tender  unto  Mr.  Charles  Chamcy  the 
Place  of  Frefident,   which  was  now  become  Va- 


as  the  French  Bataile)  comes  d  Batuendo,  a  Bufi- 1  cant  ;  who  on  the  Twenty  Seventh  Day  of  that 


nefs  that  carries  Beating  in  it  :  So  that,  Batualii 
fuer unt  vocati,  quia  jam  quafi,  Batuiffent  cum  Ad- 
verfario,  ac  Manns  conferuijfent ;  hoc  eft,  PUBLI- 
CE  D1SPUT  ASSENT,  atqne  ita  Peritia  fn<e  Spe- 
cimen dedijfetit.  In  the  Clofe  of  the  Day,  the 
Prasfident,  with  the  Formality  of  Delivering  a 
.gooHnto  their  Hands,  gave  them  their  Firft  De- 
gree ;  But  fuch  of  them  as  had  Studied  Three 
Tears  after  their  Firft  Degree,  to  Anfwer  the 
Horation  Character  of  an  Artift, 

Qui  Studiis  Annos  Septem  dedit  infenuitque  Libris 
et  Curis.    . 

And  befides  their  Exhibiting  Synopfes  of  the 
Liberal  Arts,  by  themfelves  compofed,  now  again 
publickly  diiputed  on  fome  Queftions,  of  perhaps 


Month,  had  a  Solemn  Inauguration  thereunto. 
A  Perfon  he  was,  of  whom  'tis  not  cade  to  fay 
too  much  •  but  let  it  here  be  enough,  to  Recite  the 
Words  of  Mr.  Increafe  Mather  (  who  now  flic- 
ceeds  him  )  in  one  of  his  Orations. 

CI.  Jlie  Chancauis.  quern  CAROLUM  magnum, 
jure  Optimo  nominare  poffumus :  Fttit  ille  Senex  (Tne- 
randus,  Linguarum  &  Artium  prxfidiis  Jnftrulli/fi' 
mus,  Gymnafiarcha  praclarc  Daft  us  •  qni  in  filiis 
Prophetarum  Erudiendis  fidelem  navavit  operant 
omnemque  diligentiam  adhibuit.  Abitus  &  Obitits 
tanti  Viri,  Collegium  quafi  truncatum,  ac  tantimi 
non  enecatumreliqiierunt.  Atterthe  Death  of  Mr. 
Chancey,  which  was  at  the  latter  End  of  the 
Year  1701.  The  Alma  Mater  Academia,  muft 
look  among  her  own  So^j,  to  find  a  Prefiaent  for 
the  reft  of  her  Children  ;    and  accordingly  the 

Fe"cnv? 


Book  IV. 


The  Hijlory  of  New-England. 


I29 


Fellows  of  the  Colledge  with  the  Approbation  or 
the  Overfeers,  July  13.  1672.  elected  Mr.  Leo- 
nard Hoar,  unto  that  Office  •,  whereto,  on  the 
Tenth  of  September  following  he  was  Inaugu- 
rated. 

This  Gentleman,  after  his  Education  in  Har- 
vwd- Colledge,  travelled  over  into  England  ; 
where  he  was  not  only  a  Preacher  of  the  Gofpel 
in  divers  Places,  but  alfo  received  from  the  Uni- 
verlity  in  Cambridge,  the  Degree  of  A  Dottor  of 
Phyftck.  The  Doclor,  upon  fome  Invitations,  re- 
lating to  a  Settlement,  in  the  Paftoral  Charge 
with  the  South  Church  at  Boflon,  returned  into 
New- England  ;  having  firit  married  a  Virtuous 
Daughter  of  the  Lord  Lifle,  a  Great  Example 
of  Piety  and  Patience,  who  now  crofs'd  the  At- 


prohllis,  five  Divina  Vltione,  feu  Fato  fuo,  jaftait, 
mortem  obicrunt  Exemplo  Memorabili.  All  that 
I  fhall  farther  add  concerning  our  Dodtor,  is. 
that  in  his  Time,  there  being  Occalion  for  the 
Colledge  to  be  recruited  with  New-Edifices,  there 
was  a  Contribution  made  for  it  through  the  Co- 
lony, which,  in  the  whole,  amounted  unto  One 
Thoufand,  Eight  Hundred,  Ninety  Five  Pounds, 
Two  Shillings  and  Nine  Pence  •  and  df  this,  there 
was  Eight  Hundred  Pounds  given  by  the  One 
Town  of  Boflon  ;  and  of  that,  there  was  One  Hun- 
dred Pounds  given  by  the  One  Hand  of  Sir  Thomas 
Temple,  as  True  a  Gentleman,  as  ever  fet  foot  on 
the  American  Strand  ;  and  this  Contribution  with 
fome  other  Affiftances,  quickly  produced  a  New 
Colledge,  wearing  ftill  the  Name  of  the  Old  One, 


lan:ick  with  him-,  and   quickly  after  his  Arrival1  which  Old  One  is  now  fo  mouldred  away,  that 

Jam  Seges  efi  ubi  Troja  frit. 

After  the  Death  of  Dr.  Hoar,  the  Place  of 


here,  his  Invitation  to  Prtcfide  over  the  Colledge 
at  Cambridge,  fuperfeded  thofe  from  the  Church 
in  Boflon.  Were  he  confidered  either  as  a 
Scholar,  or  as  a  Chri/lian,  he  was  truly  a  Worthy 
Man;  and  he  was  generally  reputed  fuch,  unti' 


Prxfident  pro  Tempore,  was  put  upon  Mr.  Vri>- 

an  Oakes,  the  Excellent  Paftor  of  the  Church  at 

Cambridge ;  who  did  fo,  and   would   no  othcrwifc 

happening,  I  can  fcarce  tell  W,"to  fall  under  the  I  accept  of  the  Place  ;  though  the  Offer  of  a  Full 

Difpleafure  of  fome  that  made  a  Figure   in  the  |  Settlement  in  the  Place,  was  afterwards  imponu 


Neighbourhood,  the  Young  Men  in  the  Colledge, 
took  Advantage  therefrom,  to  ruine  his  Repu- 
tation, as  far  as  they  were  able.  He  then  found 
the  Redorfhtp  of  a  Colledge  to  be  as  troublefome 
a  Thing,  as  ever  Antigonus  did  his  Robe  ;  and 
he  could  fubferibe  to  Mclchior  Adam\  Account 
of  it,  Sceptrum  illud  Scholafticum,  plus  babct  folici- 
tudinis  quam  pulchritudinis,  plus  curs  quam  Auri, 
plus  Impediment!  quum  Argent i.  The^oww^  Plants 
turned  Cud-weeds,  and  with  great  Violations  of 
the  Fifth  Commandment:  fet  themfelves  to  Tra- 
veftie  whatever  he  did  andfaid,  and  aggravate  eve- 
ry thing  in  his  Behaviour  difagreeable  to  them, 
with  a  Defign  to  make  him  Odious ;  and  in  a 
Day  of  Temptation,  which  was  now  upon  them, 
feveral  very  Good  Men  did  unhappily  counte- 
nance the  Vnfovemed  Youths,  in  their  Ungover- 
nablenefs.  Things  were  at  length  driven  to  fuch 
apafs,  that  the  Students  defeited  the  Colledge,  and 
the  Dot! or  on  March  15.  1  675.  refignedhis  Prx- 
ildentihip.  But  the  Hard  and  IB  Ufage,  which 
he  met  withal  made  fo  deep  an  Impreflion  up- 
on his  Mind,  that  his  Grief  threw  him  into  a 
Confumption,  whereof  he  dyed  Novem.  28.  the 
Winter  following,  in  Boflon  ;  and  he  lies 
now  interr'd  at  Braintree  :  Where  he  might  pro- 
perly enough  have  this  Line  inferibed  over  him 
for  his 

EPITAPH, 

Malus    ecleri    fancirts    Africa. 

The  Fate  of  this  Ingenious  Man,  was  not  al- 
together without  a  Parallel,  in  what  long  fince 
befel  Dr.  Mctcalf,  the  Matter  of  St.  Jthn's  Col- 
ledge in  Cambridge ;  who,  as  Dr.  Fuller  has  re- 
lated it,  was  injurioufly  driven  from  the  Colledge, 
and  expired  loon  after  his  going  out  of  his  Of- 
fice :  But  I  would  not  have  my  Reader  go  too 
far,  in  Conftruing  the  Remark,  which  the  Great 
Cains  made  thereupon,  Omnes  qui  Metcalli  exclii- 
dendi  Autores  cxtiterunt,   multis  Advcrfa  Fortune 


nately  made  unto  him.  He  did  the  Services  ot* 
a  Prxfident,  even,  as  he  did  all  other  Services, 
Faithfully,  Learnedly,  lndefatigably  •,  and  by  a 
New  Choice  of  him  thereunto,  on  Feb.  1.  1679 
was,  at  laft,  prevailed  withal  to  take  the  full 
Charge  upon  him.  We  all  know,  that  Britain 
knew  nothing  more  Famous,  than  thjdr  Anci- 
ent Seft  of  DRV  IDS;  the  Philofophers,  whofe 
Order,  they  fay,  was  inftituted  by  One  Samo- 
thes,  which  is  in  Englifh,  as  much  as  to  fay,  An 
Heavenly  Man.  The  Celtic  Name,  Deru  for  an 
Oak,  was  that  from  whence,  they  received  their 
Denomination  ;  as  at  this  very  Day,  the  Welch 
call  this  Tree  Dirw,  and  this  Order  of  Men  Dcr- 
wyddon.  But  there  are  no  fmall  Antiquaries, 
who  derive  tbis  Oaken  Religion  and  Philofophy^ 
from  the  Oaks  of  Mamre,  where  the  Patriarch 
Abraham  had  as  well  a  Dwelling  as  an  Altar.  That 
Oaken-Plain,  and  the  Eminent  £>ftft  under  whith 
Abraham  lodged,  was  extant  in  the  Days  of 
Conftantine,  as  Jfidore,  Jerom  and  Sozomen  have 
allured  us.  Yea,  there  are  fhrew'd  Probabili- 
ties, that  Noah  himfelf  had  lived  in  this  very 
Oak-plain  before  him  •  for  this  very  Place  was 
called  f)-A>M,  which  was  the  Name  of  Noah,  fo 
ftyled  from  the  Qggyan  (fubcincritiis  paribus)  'Sa- 
crifices, which  he  did  ufe  to  offer,  in  this  Re- 
nowned Grove:  And  it  was  from  this  Example 
that  the  Ancients,  and  particularly  that  the 
Druids  of  the  Nations,  cbofe  Oaken  Retirements 
for  their  Studies.  Reader,  Let  us  now  upon  a- 
nother  Account,  behold  the  Students  of  Har- 
vard-CoBedge,  as  a  Rendezvous  of  Happy  Druids, 
under  the  Influences  of  fo  Rare  a  Prstident :  But 
alas!  our  Joy  muft  be  fhort  lived  ;  for,  on  July 
25.  1 68 1.  the  Stroak  of  a  fudden  Death  fell'd 
the  Tree, 


Qui  t  ant  urn  inter  Caput  exiulit  Omnes, 


Quar.tum  Lenta  folent,  inter  Vihnma  Cyprcfji. 

Mr.  Oah,  thus  being   Tfanfplanted  into   the 

Better 


?3 


o 


The  Hifiory  of  New-England. 


Book  IV. 


Better  World,  the  Praefide-nclhip  was  immediate- 
ly tendered  unto  Mr.  Jncreafe  Mather  ;  but  his 
Church  upon  the  Application  of  the  Overfeers 
unto  them,  to  difmifs  him  unto  the  Place,  where 
to  he  was  now  chofen,  refilling  to  do  it,  he  de- 
clined the  Motion.    Wherefore,  on  April   10. 
1682.     Mr.  John  Rogers  was  Elected  unto  that 
Place  j  and  on  Auguft  12.  1683.  he  was  Installed 
into  it.    This  Worthy    Perfon  was  the  Soa  of 
the  Renowned  Mr.  Natbanael  Rogers,  the  Paftor 
to  the  Church  of  Ipfwicb;  and  he  was  himfelf  a 
Preacher  at  Jpjwich,  until  his  Difpofition  for  Me- 
dicinal Sudics    caufed  him  to  abate  of  his   La- 
bours ill  the  Pulpit.     He  was  One  of  fo  fweet  a 
Temper,  that  the  Title  of  Delicia  bumani  Gene- 
ris might   have  on  that  Score  been  given  him  \ 
and  his  Real  Piety  fet  off  with  the  Accomplifh- 
ments  of  a  Gentleman,    as  a  Gem  fet  in  Geld. 
In  his  Praefidentlhip,   there  fell  out  one  thing 
particularly,  for  which  the  Colledge  has  caufe 
to  remember  him.  It  was  his  Cuftom  to  be  fome- 
what  Long  in  his  Daily  Prayers  (  which  our  Pre- 
fidents  ufeto  make)  with  the  Scholars  in  the  Col- 
ledge-Ball     But  one  Day,   without  being  able 
to  give  Reafon  for  it,  he  was  not  fo  Long,  it 
may  be  by  Half  as  he  ufed  to  be.     Heaven  knew 
the    Reafon  !    The  Scholars   returning  to  their 
Chambers,  found  one  of  them  on  fire,  and  the 
Fire  had  proceeded  fo  far,  that  if  the  Devotions 
had  held  three  Minutes  longer,  the  Colledge  had 
been  irrecoverably  laid  in  Afh.es,  which  now  was 
happily  prefer ved.     But  him  alfo  a  Praemature 
Death,  on  July  2.  1684.  the  Day  after  the  Com- 
mencement, fnatcht  away,   from  a  Society,  that 
hoped  for  a  much   longer   Enjoyment  of  him, 
and  counted  themfelves  under  as  Black  an  Eclipfe 
as  the  Sun  did  happen  to  be,  at  the  Hour  of 
his  Expiration. 

But  that  the  Character  of  this  Gentleman  may 
be  more  perfe&ly  exhibited,  we  will  here  take 
the  Leave  to  tranferibe  the  Epitaph  engraved  on 
his  Tomb,  in  God's- Acre,  at  Cambridge.  It  is 
the  Defire  of  Immortality  in  wrought  into  the 
very  Nature  of  Man,  that  produced  the  Inven- 
tion of  Epitaphs,  and  while  fome  will  afcribe 
the  Invention  unto  the  Scholars  of  Linus,  who  fo 
fignified  their  Affection  to  their  flain  Mailer,  o- 
thers  will  that  it  may  be  afcend  as  high  as  the 
Great  Stone  of  Abel,  mentioned  in  the  firlt  Book 
of  Samuel,  which  they'll  tell  us,  was  Erected  as 
a  Memorial  to  Abel,  by  his  Father  Adam,  with 
that  Infcription  upon  it,  Here  was  (bed  the  Blood 
of  the  Righteous  Abel. 

Now  to  Immortalize  this  their  Mailer,  one  of 
the  Scholars  in  Harvard-Colledge,  gave  to  the 
Great  Stone  of  ROG  E  RS,  the  enfuing  Lines 
to  be  now  read  there  for  his  Memorial  •  which 
for  the  fame  Caufe,  we  make  a  part  of  our 
Hiftory. 

A 1 and.it ur  huic   Terra  &  Tumulo, 
Humanitatis    <sAlrarium, 
Thcologix  Horreum, 
(jplima>-um  Liter  arum  Bibiotheca* 
Rei  Medicinalvs  Syftcma, 
Jni  egritati  f  JMriicilium, 


Fidei   Repojitorium, 
Chrifliana  Simplicities  Exemplar, 

Sc.    Domini  Reverendijfimi, 
D.  JOANNIS  ROGERSII, 

Rogerfij  Dotlijftmi  ipfuicenfis  in 

Nov-Anglica,  Filij, 
Dedhamenfis,  in  Veteri  AngliaT  per 
Orbem  Terr  arum  Chrijfimi,  Ncpoiis, 
Collegij  Harvardini 
Leftiffimi,  ac  Merita  dilctlijjum  Pr±fidis, 

Pars  Terreftior. 
Qeleftior,  d  nobis  Ere\ta  fait, 
Julij  2°.  A.  D     M.  DC.  LXXX.  IV. 
lAitatis  [uae,  LIV. 

Qj&a  ejl  pars  rep  am  nobis,  &  auando  cadaver. 

§.  6.  The  Colledge  was  now  again  by  Univerfal 
choke,  call  into'the  Hands  of  Mr.  Jncreafe  Ma- 
ther, who  had  already  in  other  Capacities,  been 
ferving  of  it  •,  and  he  accordingly,  without  leav- 
ing either  his  Houfe  or  his  Church  at  B  oft  on,  imde 
hiscontinual  Vifits  to  the  Colledge  at  Cambridge, 
managing  as  well  the  Weekly  Difputatiow,  as 
the  Annual  Commencements,  and  infpefting  the 
whole  Affairs  of  the  Society  •  and  by  Preaching  > 
often  at  Cambridge,  he  made  his  Vifits  yet  more 
profitable  unto  them. 

Reader,  the  Intereft  and  Figure  which  the 
World  knows  this  my  PARENT  hath  had, 
in  the  Ecclefiaftical  Concerns  of  this  Country, 
ever  fince  his  firft  Return  from  England  in  the 
Twenty  Second,  until  his  next  Return  from 
England  in  the  Fifty  Third  Year  of  his  Age  ; 
makes  it  a  Difficult  thing  for  me  to  Write  thi 
Church-Hiftory  of  the  Country.  Should  I  Infert 
every  where,  the  Relation  which  he  hath  bad 
unto  the  Publick  Matters,  it  will  be  thought  by 
the  Envious,  that  1  had  undertaken  this  Work, 
with  an  Eye  to  fuch  a  Motto  as  the  Son  of  the 
Memorable  Prince  of  Orange  took  his  Device, 
P  ATRIiAiQV  E  PATRIOVE  :  Should 
I  on  the  other  lide  bury  in  utter  iilence,  all  the 
Effects  of  that  Care  and  Zeal  wherewith  he  hath 
Employed  in  his  peculiar  Opportunities,  with 
which  the  Free  Grace  of  Heaven  hath  Ta- 
lented him  to  do  Good  unto  the  Publick  ;  I 
mud  cut  off  fome  Ejfentials  of  my  Story  I  will 
however  Bowie  nearer  to  The  latter  Mark  than 
the  former  ;  and  if  no  Body  blame  Sir  Henry 
Wot  ton  for  ft  i  11  mentioning  his  Father  with  fo 
much  Veneration,  as  that  beft  of  Men  •  my  Fa- 
ther, I  hope  I  fhall  not  be  blamed  for  faying  thus 
much,  my  Father  bath  been  defirous  to  do  fome 
Good.  Wherefore  I  will  not  only  add  in  this 
Place,  that  when  the  Honourable  Jofeph  Dudley 
Efq-,  was  by  the  King's  Commiffion  made  Prtft- 
dent  of  the  Territory  ol :  Neve- England;  thisGeni 
tleman,  among  other  Expreffions  of  his  hearty 
Defire  to  fecure  the  Profperity  of  his  Mother, 
whofe  Breafts  himfelf  had  fucked  ;  continued  the 
Government  of  the  Colledge  in  the  Hands  of 
Mr.  Mather,  and  altered  his  Title  into  that  of  a 
RECTOR.  But,  when  Wife  Perfoas  appre- 
hend 


Book  lv. 


The  Hijiory  of  New-England. 


3l 


head  that  the  Conftitntion  of  Men  and  Things, 
which  followed  after  the  Arrival  of  another  Go- 
vernor, 'chreatned  all  the  Churches  with  Quick 
Ruines,  wherein  the  Coliedge  could  not  but  be  com- 
prehended, Mr.   Mather,    did  by  their  Advice, 
repair  to  WlMcball  •     where  being    Remarkably 
favoured  by  Three   Crowned  Heads,  ia  Succcfiive 
and    Perfonal   Applications    unto  them,  on  the 
behalf  of  his  diltrelfed  Countrey,  and  having  ob- 
tained feveral  Kind nefles  for  the  C      ge  in  par- 
ticular, he  returned   into   New-En     ;-:d,  in   the 
Beginning  of  the   Year,    1692.     with  a 
Charter,  full  of  moll:  ample  Priviledges.     By  that 
Roy  A  Charier  under  the  Seal  of  King  William  and 
Queen  Miry,  the  Country  had  its  Englijh,  and 
its  Christian  Liberties,  as  well  as  its  T/r/cj  to  ins 
Lands  (formerly  contefted  )  fecured  to  it  •  and 
the  Province    being  particularly   en  ibled    here- 
by to  incorporate  tf;e  Colledge  (  which  was  the 
Reafon,  that  he  did  not  ftay  to  follicitea  parti- 
cular Charter  for  it)  immediately  upon  his  Ar- 
rival, the  General  Ajfembly  gratified    his  Dcfiie, 
in  Granting  a  Charter  to   this  Vniverfity.     Mr. 
Mather  now  reafluming  the  Quality  of  Prefident1 
over  the  Colledge  which  in  his  Abfence  had  flou- 
tilhed  for  divers  Years,  under  the  Prudent  Go- 
vernment  of  Two   Tutors,    Mr.  John    Leveret, 
and   Mr.  William  Brattle,  he  does  to  this  Day 
continue  his  Endeavours  to  keep  alive  that  Ri- 
ver, the  Streams  whereof  have    made  glad  this 
City  of  Cod.     Unto  this  brief  Recitation  of  Oc- 
currences relating  to  the  Colledge,  I  fhall  only 
annex  a  few  Paftages,  ufed  by  Mr.  Mather,  when 
he  gave  the  Degrees,  at  the  firft  Commencement, 
after  his  Arrival ;  .becaufe  they  are  Expreflive  cf 
Things  purely  Academical. 

.  Gradus  Academicus  eft  Honor  ob  Virtutem 
potiflimum  Intelledtualem,  merentibus,  collatus: 
Eftq;  Baccalanreatas,  Magiflerium3  ac  Doiioratas. 
Dotloratns  in  Noftro  Athenxo  pla,ne  ignotus  • 
Et  quod  fttpra  nos,  nihil  ad  rws.     De  vera   Nomi- 


Vix  facile  iavenies  multis  in  Millibus  ITnum, 
Virtutem  Pretium,  qui  putet  efTe  fui. 

De  Jure  Conferendi  Academicos  Honores,  ]u- 
venis  Doftiffimus Cbriflia,  ,  as,  Librum  pere- 
ruditum  nuper  edidit :  Atq;  alterum  de  Jure  Eri* 
gendi    Acidemias,  5   publici  Juris  fecit. 

Mitto  Kotmarum,  4m   Collegia  Corj    1     Ecclefi- 
ajlica  efle  vult  ac  igitur  pro  Academiis  non  ha- 
bendas,   quas  Privilegii-   Pontificiorum  non  funn 
Donate,     jus  Conftituendi  Academias,  omnibus 
&  fobs,  qui  1$  K,:etov  habent  in  Republica  tribui- 
tur.    Oggcrent  forfan  aliqoio,   fi  haze  Poteftas 
inter   Regalia    nnmeretur,   quid   Novanglia  cum 
Academia  ?  Quid   Cantabrigia  Novanglornm  cum 
Cradu    Academico  ?    Ejusmodi  Objectores  fciant 
velim,  noftram  Academiam  Regis  Automate  jam 
firmatam  &  munitam  efle.     Notius  eft  quam  ut 
mea  Narratione   egear,  quod  non   folum  Sum- 
ma;  Pcteltates,  fed  alii,  eerum  Nomine,  hos  Ho- 
nores difpertiant,  quod,  Exempli  gratia,  in  Im- 
perio   Romano  Germanico,    Archidnces    Auftrice, 
etiam  et  Comites  Palatini;  quodq-  in  Feeder ato  Eel- 
gio,  lingnii  Grdines,  id  unaquaq-  Provincia,  hanc 
Poteftatem  habeant  &"  exerceant.    Imo,  et  REX 
ipfe   Magnus  Guitelmas,  magna:  Britaniae  Impe- 
rator,  mini  c'icere  Dignatus  eft,  fe  fat  fcire,  quod 
apud  fttos  in  Novanglia  fubditos  tjfet  Academia: 
Qitce  Academia  (  aiebat,   Leliciam  HUmani  Gene- 
ris, Rex  nofter  Potentiffinius)  mihi  erit  in  Gratia. 
Quid  Verbis  Regiis  Gratiofius  efle  poterit  ?  De- 
inde    veto    Summa    Provincia    Majfachufettenfls 
Curia,  Gubernator,  Senatus,  Populusq^  Nov.  An- 
glicanas ^Collegium  Harvardinum,Academiam,  cum 
Autoritate  Conferendi  Gradns  pro  more  Acade- 
raiarum  Anglia.  nominarunt  &  inftituerunt.  Ad- 
funt  deniqi  Illulrres    Duumviri.      D.  Gulielmus 
PHIPSrJS,Uv]\^  Territorii Gubernator  Am- 
pliflimus.  Regis   Mandato  delegatus  •,  nee    non. 
D.Gulieimits  STOVG  HTONVS,  Pro-Guber- 
nator,    Macenas  nofter   teternum    Honorandus; 


nis  Baccalanrei  Notatione,  inter  Pe-rtftiiiimos  am-   quos  equidem  tanquam  CdnceUariuni  &  Pice-Caa- 
bigitur.     Nonnulli  Verbum    a  Baccate,   derivari  tcellarium,  hujus  Academia:  veneror,  Animo,  Men- 
volunt-   unde    Scholaltici  hanc  Baccalanrai  De-    teq^  fnfpicio.     Kxc  cum  ifta  fe  habeant,  ad  Cra- 
fcriptio/iem   formarunt,    B ace al aureus  cjl  Perfo-  a  \  das  Academics   line  mora,  ac  folito   more,   cur 
habens   Dignitatem  Bajulandi  ;  Baculwn^  pranovi-  j  non  procederemus,  nullus  video. 
bilis  in  Magifiram.      Ridiculum    Animal  Bacca-  j 
{aureus  fitopoitet,  fi  base  Dennitio,  fuo  Definite 
per  Omnia  quadraret !    A  Bacca  Lauras  Vccem 
defumi  verilimilius  eft  •,  Caveant  artem  Bacca- 
laurei,  ne  Laweolos,  in  Muftaceo  quasrunt,      Ad 
Magjflerii  Gradum  quod  attinet,  eo  decorari  i'o- 
lent,  qui  abfoluco  Liberalium  Artium  ftudio  ifta 


§.7  At  the  Commencement,  it  has  been  the 
Annual  Cuftom  for  the  Batchelors  to  publifli  a 
Sheet  of  Thefes,  \ro  virili  Defend'endf,  upon  all 
or  moft  of  the  Liberal  Arts  ;  among  which  they 
do,  with  a  particular  Character,  diftingrJifl)  thefe 
that  are  to  be  the  Subjects  of  the  Publick  Dif- 
Laurea,  fe  dignos  prcebent.  Magifier  Artium;\p.tations  then  before  them  ;  and  thofe  Tbtfei 
in  quibusdam  Academiis  Pbilofpbia  Doclor  audit;:.,  they  dedicate  as  handFcnnely  as  they  can,  to  the 


Sic  apud  Bclgat,  et  fie  etiam,  ni  fallor,  apud 
Nonnullos  Genr.anos  ;  quam  vis  Angl'vs,  Gallvs, 
Hifpanvs,  Jtalis,  Polon'vs,  ifte  Titulus  fi:  Ignotis. 
De  Antiquitate  et  Utilbate  Gradnum  .■ cademi- 
corum,  Multi  multa  fcripferunt,  piee -cxteris  A.- 
tingitts  et  Cun-ingius.  Honos  alit  Artes.  Ea  qui- 
dem  Virtutis  Perfectio  eft,  u:  propter  fe  expeeti 
debeat ;  Ea  tamen  eft  Humani  Ingenii.  Pervcr- 
fitas,  qubd  nifi  Honoribus  Erigantur  Aires,  Ne- 
glettui  habentur. 


Perfons  of.  Quality,  but  efpecially  the  $Ql3£l'= 
ttOUC  of -the'  Province,  whofe  IpdttOTiBQB  the 
Colledge  would  be  recommended  unto.  The 
Mafias  <U),  in  an  half  fiieet,  without  any  Dedi- 
cation, pijbiifli  only  the  'Quaftiones  pro  Modulo 
difcutiendtf,  which  they  j  urpoie  either  Affirma- 
tively or  Negatively  to  maintain  as  Kejpondents, 
inthe  Dilatations,  which  are  by  them  to  be  mana- 
ged. They  that  perufe  the  Thefes  of  the  Batchelors 
of  later  Years  publii  ill  find  that  though  the 

'    B  b  b  b  Ra- 


J32 


J  be  Hiftory  of  New- England. 


Book 


Ramaart  Difcipline  be  in  this  Coll  edge  prefer- 
l'ed  unco  the  Ariflotelaan,  yet  they  not  lb  con- 
fine themfelves  unto  That  neither-,  as  to  deprive 
themfelves  or'  that  Libera  Pbilofopbia,  which  the 
Good  Spirits  of  the  Age  have  embraced,  ever  fince 
the  Great  Lord  Bacon  fhow'd  'em  the  way  to 
The  Advancement  of  Learning  ;  but  they  feem  to 
be  rather  of  the  Secly  begun  by  Potamon,  called 
ixAixtaa/,  who  adhering  to  no  former  Self,  chofe 
out  of  them  all,  what  they  lik'd  belt  in  any  of 
them:  At  lead,  I  am  fore,  they  do. not  (how 
fuch  a  Veneration  for  Ariftotle  as  is  exprefs'd  at 
Queens-OAkdgc  in  Oxford  ;  where  they  read  Ari- 
jlotle  on  their  Knees,  and  thofe  who  take  Degrees 
are  fxorn  to  defend  his  Philofophy.  A  Venetian 
Writer  pretends  to  enumerate  no  lefs  thanTwelve 
Thoufaiid  Volumes  publifhed  in  the  Fourteenth 
Age,  about  the  Philofophy  of  A'ifiotle,  none  of 
ours  will  add  unto  the  Number.  For  this  let 
the  Learned  Reader,  accept  the  Excufe,  which 
their  prefent  Prefident,  in  one  of  his  Orations, 
at  the  Clofe  of  their  Exercifes,  has  helpt  us 
unto. 

Mihi  quidem  maxime  arridet,  quod  vos  qui 
eft  is  in  Artibus  Liberalibus  lnitiati,  I.iberum 
Philofophandi  Modum,  potius  quam  Pcripatcticif- 
mum  fapere  videmini.  Nullus  addubito  quin  CI. 
Gajfendi  Exercitatioues  vobis  non  font  ignotse, 
>  in  quibus,  quod  apud  Ariftotelem  mulra  deficiant, 
multa  fuperfluant,  multa  fallant,  pluribus  Often- 
dit.  Tritum  eft  illud,  Qui  non  vult  Intelligi  de- 
bet negligi;  Nonnulla  autem  in  Libris  Arijlotelis, 
Nemo  mortalium  poteft  Intellegere.  Fertur  ita- 
que  de  Hermolao  Barbaro,  qubd  Damonem  ab  In- 
feris  Excitaverit,ut  quid  Arifiotehs  per  fuam  WloA- 
yjiav  voluit,  exponeret.  En.  Egregium  Ariflotelis 
Interpretem  !  O^iam  plurima  in  ejus  Scriptis, 
Authoris  Paganifmum  redolent  :  Mundum  facit 
Increatum  :  Mortuorum  Refurre&ionem  poflibi- 
lemnegat;  Animam  mortalem.  Nonnulli  Pyrr- 
bonem,  qui  fuit  Pater  Scepticorum  i  Alii  Zenonem, 
qui  fuit  Pater  Stoicornm  •,  Multi  Platoncm,  qui  fu- 
it Pater  Academicorum  ;  Arifloteli  prceferunt.  Vos 
autem  quibus  Liber*  Philofupbari  contigir,  in  Nul- 
lius  jurare  Verba  Magiftri,  eftis  addidi :  Aft 
unicum  Arijlotelis  DiQum  vere  Aureum,  memo- 
ria  teneatis,  Amicus  Plato,  Amicus  Socrates  (ad- 
do  ego  Amicus  Ariftoteles  )  fed  magis  Arnica 
Veritas. 

Theylikewife  which  perufe  the  Quefliones  pub- 
lifbed  by  the  Maflers,  will  find,  that  as  thefe, 
now  and  then  prefume  to  fly  as  high  as  Divi- 
nity ;  fo  their  Divinity  is  of  that  Reformed  Stamp, 
which  carries  as  frequent  Confutations  of  Armi- 
manifm  with  it,  as  are  poffible  :  Herein  condem- 
ning thofe  F  rot  eft  ant  ZJniverfitics,  abroad  in  the 
World,  which  have  not  preferved  the  Glorious 
Doclrines  oj  Grace,  in  fuch  Purity,  as  that  great 
Party  among  the  Romanifts  themfelves,  which  go 
under  the  Name  of  Janfenift s.  But  for  this  alfo 
let  their  Prefent  Prefident  be  Accountable,  whofe 
Orations  at  the  End  of  their  Exercifes,  have  ut- 
tered fuch  Paflages  as  thefe  unto  them.'" 

Gravis  i!la  luit  Profundi  DoBoris  Querela,  to- 
turn  pene  Mundum  poft  Pdagium  in  Errorem  abi- 
re.     Ciufa  in  promptu  eft  ;  nam  propter  Ada, I 


et  in  eo  Peccantis  Humani  Generis,  Naufragium 
mortales  prout  Res  lint,  nee  fentiuDt,  nee  judi- 
cant.  Toti,  toti,  quanti  quantiq-  font,  a  Bono 
&  Vero  averfi,  converfi  ad  Malum  &  Erro- 
rem. Pelagianifmus  itaq^  Homini  in  Statu  lapfo 
Naturalise!!,  nee  unquam  ficavelli  poteft,  qubd 
non  iterum  tanquanT  infelix  Lolium,  in  Fundo 
Nature  corrupts  exoriatur.  Videmus  Papiftas 
Socinianiftas,  nee  non  Armimi  Sequaces,  ■Pelagil 
de  Liberi  Arbitrii  Viribus,  virus  Abforbentes  ac 
Devorantes  •,  tametfi  eorum  Error,  non  tantum 
ab  Augnftino,  jamdudum,  &  a  Luthero,  in  Libro 
Infigni  cui  Titulus  eft,  De  fervo  Arbitrio,  fed 
etiam  ab  Innumeiis  hujus  Seculi  Viris  perquam 
Eruditis,  refutatur.  Sed  facefTat  jam  Armimanif- 
mus,  cum  lit  Neo-pelagianifmus.  Mihi  in  Men- 
tern  venit  Anagramma,  five  Ingeniola  Nominis 
Aminii  Interpretatio,  ex  Literarum  Trajedtione. 
Jacobus  Arminius,  ttv ay gay.^ali fruits  eft,  VaniOr- 
bis  Amicus;  At  nobis  ergo  non  fit  Amicus.  Ha- 
bemus  autem  in  Amyraldo,  Arminium  Redivivum; 
parumenim,  aut  nihil  afFerunt  Amyraldift<s,q\:ol 
Novatores  &  Afcthodiftas  vocant,  nili  qua;  ab 
Arminiams  acceperunt,uti  MuhisQ.AMintus  evi- 
cit.  Faceffant  igitur  Novatores,  ct  in  Noftra 
Academia,  nee  Vola,  nee  Vcftigium  Arminia- 
nifmi  unquam  inveniatur.  In  quantum  verb  In- 
ceptores  noftri  ver3m  contra  Arminiar.ifmum  Sen- 
teptiam  pro  virili  propugnarunt,  eos  Laurea 
Dignos  habeamus. 

And  now,  I  hope,  that  the  European  Churches 
of  the  Faithful,  will  caft  an  Eye  of  fome  Refpeft 
upon  a  little  Univerfity  in  America,  recommend- 
ed by  the  Character  that  has  been  thus  given  of 
it.  Certainly  they  mnft  be  none  but  Enemies 
to  the  Reformation,  the  Sons  of  Edcm  (  which  the 
Jewifh  Rabbins  very  truly  tell  us,  is  the  Name 
of  Rome  in  the  Sacred  Oracles )  that  fhall  fay  of 
fuch  an  Univerfity,  Raje  it !  Rafe  it  ! 

§.  8.  But  our  Account  of  Harvard-Colledge,  will 
be  rendred  more  cocnpleat,  if  we  do  here  tran- 
fcribe  the  Laws  of  it;  which  &attJ0,  now,  Rea- 
der, do  befpeak  thy  Patience. 

Statut3,  Leges,  &  Privilegia,  a  Frefid%£  So- 
ciis,  CoUegij  HARVARDINI,  apud 
Cantabrigienfes  in  Nova  Anglia,  approbata 
&  fancita  •,  quibus  Scholares  five  Studentes, 
et  Admifii&  Admittendi,  ad  Literas  &  bo- 
nos  Moics,  promovendtjm,  fobjicere  tenen- 
tur. 

i.  Cuicunq:,  fuerit  Peritia  Legendi  Ciceronem, 
aut  quemvis  alium  ejusmodi  Clafiicum  Autorem 
ex  tempore,  et  congrue  Loquendi  ac  Scribendi 
Latine  Facultas,  Oratione  tarn  foluta  quam  Li- 
gata,  fuo  (  ut  aiunt )  Marte,  &  ad  unquam  in- 
flectendi  Grcecorum  Nominum,  &  Verborum  Pa- 
radigmata  «  Hie  Admifiionem  in  Collegium  jure 
poteft  exp:<ftare  :  Ojiicunque  vero  deftitutus  fuerit 
hac  Peritia,  Admifiionem  fibi  Neutiquam  ven- 
dicet. 

2.  Qiiicunq-,  in  Collegium  admittuntur,  iidem 
etiam  Contubernio  excipiendi  font  •,  et  Unus- 
quifq:,  S;riolariam   Oeconomo  tres   Libras    cum 

Hofpitio 


Book    IV.  The  Hiflory  of  New-England. 


i 


33 


Hofpicio  accipitui,  numerabit  ^  Eidem  ad  finem 
cujusq^  Trimefhis  quod  debitum  eric,  folvet  : 
Nee  licet  Ulli  Academico,  nondum  Gradu  Or- 
nato,  Coneu'ium  extra  Collegium  quxrere,  nifi 
venia  impetrata  a  Prxfide,  aut  fuo  Tutore.  Si 
quis  autem  hanc  Pixiidis  aut  Tutoris  Indulgen- 
tiam  obtinebit,  Confuetudinem  ulitatamy  fideli- 
ter  obfervabit  ^  fin  aucem  aliquis  a  ColUgio  Def- 
cedendo,  privaram  lnftitutionem  qr.xfierit  •,  co- 
pia  a  Prxlide,  vel  a  Tutoribus  illi  non  facia, 
nullo  Privilegio  Academico  patietur. 

3.  Dum  liic  egerint,  Tempus  ftudiofe  Redi- 
muuto  •  cam  Communes  Omnium  Scholarium 
lioras,  quam  fuis  Puekftionibu*  aeftiuatas,  Ob- 
fei  vando. 

4.  Unufquifquc  Scholarium  Exercitia  omnia 
Scholafli.a  et  Keligiofa,  tam  publica  quam  privata 
libi  propria  prxftabit.  Ad  hue  in  Statu  pupillari 
degences,  Sexies  quotanuis  Roftra  Oracoria  af- 
cendent.  Unaquaque  Sepcimana  bis  Difputatio- 
nibus  publicis  Sophiftx  interefle  debent  :  Cum 
Baccalaurei  turn  Sophillx,  Analyfin  in  aliquam  S. 
Literarum  partem,  inftituent  :  Baccalaurei  fin- 
gulis  femeftribus,  publice  Quxftiones  Philofophi- 
cas  fub  Prxfidis  Moderamine  dilcutient :  Abfente 
vero  Prxfide,  duo  Seniores  Tutores  Moderatoris 
partes  altcrnatim  agent. 

5.  Ne  quis  fub  quovis  Prxtextu,  Hominnm, 
quoram  Perditi  acDifcinfli  funt  Mores,  Confue- 
tudine  utitor. 

6.  Nemo  in  ftatu  pupillari  degens,  nifi  con- 
ccfTa  prius  a  Prxfide,  vel  a  Tutoribus,  venia  ex 
Oppido  exeat :  Nee  quis  quam  Cnjuscunque  Gra- 
des aut  Ordinis  fueric,  Tabernas  aut  Diverforia, 
ad  ComefTandum,  aut  Bibendum,  accedat,  nifi  ad 
Parentes,Curatores,  Nutricios,  aut  hujusmodi,ac- 
cerfitus  fuerit. 

7.  Nullus  Scholaris,  nullo  Parentum,  Curato- 
rum,aut  Tutorum  approbante,  quicquam  emito, 
vendito,  aut  commutato  qui  autem  feeds  fecerit,  a 
Prxfide  ant  Tutore,  pro  Delicti  Ratione  Mul- 
ftabicur. 

8.  Omnes  Scholares  a  Veflibus,  qux  Faft.im 
aut  Luxum  prx  fe  ferunc,  abftineant  ;  nee  Ulli 
Studeiiti  extra  Li  mites  Academix,  fine  Toga, 
Tunica,  vel  Penula,  exire  liceat. 

9.  Omnis  Scholaris  non  Graduatus,  folo  Cog- 
nomine  vocetur,  nifi  fit  Commenfalis,  aut  Equi- 
tis  Primogenitus,  vel  infigni  Geneve  natus. 

10.  Omnis  Commenfalis,  quinque  Libtas,  in 
perpetuum  AcademixUfum  folvet,  priusquam  in 
Collegium  admitcatur. 

11.  Unufquifqne  Scholaris  in  Statu  pupillari 
degens,  Tutori  fuo  duas  Libras,  at  li  Commen- 
falis, tres  Libras,  per  Annum  dinumerare  tene- 
bitur. 

12.  Nulliex  Scholaribus  Senioribus,  folis  Tu- 
toribus et  Collegii  fociis  exceptis,  Recentem  five 
Juniorem,  ad  Itincrandum,  aut  ad  aliud  quodvis 
faciendum,  Minis,  Verberibus,  vel  aliis  Verbis 
impellere  licebit  Et  fiquis  non  Graduatus,  in 
hanc  Legem  peccaverit,  Cafligatione  Corporali, 
Expulfione,  vel  aliter,  prout  Prxfidi  cum  Sociis, 
vifum  fuerit  ponietur. 

T3.  Scholares,  cujuscunq:,  Conditionis,  a  Lufu 
Alearum   vel   Chartarum  pi&arum,  nee  non  ab 


omni  Lufi'is  Gemre,  in  quo  de  pecunia  concer- 
tatur,  abftineant,  fub  pcena  viginti  Solidorum 
toties,  quoties,  fi  fit  Graduatus,  vel  aliter,  pro 
Arbitrio  Prxfidis  &  Tutoris,  fi  non  fit  Gradua- 
tus. 

1 4.  Siquis  Scholarium  a  Prxcibus,  aut  Prx- 
ledtionibus  abfueric,  nili  neceffitate  Coaclus, 
aut  Prxlidis  aut  Tutoris  naftusveuiam  -7  Admo- 
nitioni,  aut  aliusmodi,  pro  Prxfidis  aut  Tutoris, 
prudentia,  pxnx,  fi  plusquam  femd,  in  Hebdo- 
raade  peccaverit,  erit  obnoxius. 

15.  Nullus  Scholaris  quavis  de  Caufa  (  nifi 
prxmonftrata  &  approbata,  Prxfidi  &  Tutori 
fuo  )  a  Studiis,  ftatisve  Exercitiis  abefto  :  Ex- 
cepta  femibora  Jentaculo,  Prandio  vero  fesqui- 
hora,  concefla  -,  nee  non  Ccenx  ufq^  ad  horam 
nonam. 

16.  Siquis  Scholarium  ullam  Dei  aut  hujus 
Collegii  Legem,  five  Animo  perverfo,  five  ex 
fupina  Negligentia  violarit,  poftquam  fuerit  bis 
admoaitus,  gravioribus  pro  Prxfidis  aut  Tutoris 
prudentia,  pcenis,  cocrceatur.  In  Atrocioribus 
autem  DelicYis,  uc  adeo  gradatim  procedatur, 
Nemo  expedtet. 

17.  Qmcunq;  Scholaris, probaticne  habita,  po- 
tent facrus  utriusq-,  Inftrumenti  Scripturas,  de 
Textu  Originali  Latine  Interpretari  •,  &  Logice 
refolvere  ;  fueritq-  Naturalis  &  Moralis  Philofo- 
phix  Principiis  Imbutus  }  Vitaq^  &  JMoribus  in- 
culpatus ;  et  publicis  quibusve  Comitiis  a  Prxfide 
&  Sociis  Collegii,  approbatus,  prime  fuo  Gradu 
poffit  Ornari.  Aliter  Nemo,  nifi  poft  Trien- 
nium  et  decern  Menfes  ab  Admiffione  in  Colle- 
gium, ad  primum,  in  Artibus  Gradum  adtnit- 
tetur. 

18.  Qpicunq-,  Scholatis  Locum  habuit  Com- 
munem,  fcriptamq;  Synopfin,  vel  Compendium 
Logics,  Naturalis  &  Moralis  Philofophix,  Arith- 
meticx,  aut  Gsometrix,  aut  Aftronomix,  exhi- 
bueric,  fueritq^  ad  Thefes  fuas  defendenclas  pa- 
ratus  ;  nee  non  Originalium,  ut  fupra  di&um, 
Linguarum,  peritus  ^  quern  ctiamnum  Morum 
Incegricas  ac  Studiorum  Diligentia  cohoneftave- 
rint,  publicis  quibusvis  Comitiis  probatione  fadat 
fecundi  Gradus,  Magiftcrii  nimirum ,  capax 
erir. 

19.  Statutum  eft,  quod  qui  Theologiz  dat 
Operam,  antequam  Bjccalaureatum,  in  ilia  Fa- 
cultate  Confeqjatur,  Gradum  Magifterii  in  Arti- 
bus, fufcipiat,  ac  fedulb  Theologicis  &  Hebrai- 
cis  Leflionibus  incumbat  ^  quibus  Annorum  fep- 
tem  dabit  Operam:  quo  Spatio,  bis  Difputabit 
contra  Theologix  Baccalaineum,  femelq^  Refpon- 
debit  in  Theologia  •,  concionabitur  Latine  femel, 
&  femel  Anglice,  vel  in  Templo,  vel  in  Aula 
Academix :  Et  fi,  in  hoc  Tempore,  in  Theolo- 
gia profecerit,  per  folennem  Inaugurationem, 
Baccalaureus  fiet  :  Hac  tamen  Cautione  fervata, 
ne  quis  ante  quinquennium  completum  a  fufcepto 
M3giftrali  Gradu,  Conctoncm  hujusmodi  habere 
permittetur. 

20.  Statutum  efr,  Quod  qui  cupit  in  Ordinem 
Dociorum  Theologix  cooptari,  per  Integrum 
Quinquennium,  poft  fufceptum  Baccalaurei  gra- 
dum, Leclionibus  &  Studiis  Theologicis  dabit 
Operam,   et  antequam   Incipiendum,   in  eadero 

B  b  b  b  z  fa- 


?■ 


i  — ' —     .  .  I.I  ...... .    .,, „ 

The  Hiftory  of  New-England.         Book  IV. 


Facilitate  admutatur,  ia  Qiiajftionibus  Theolo- 
gicis  bis  Opponet,  fcra.el  Refpondebit,  idq^  Do- 
dtori,  fi  commode  fieri  poterit  ;  Latine  femel, 
Anglici  femel,  coacionabitur  ia  Templo,  vel  ia 
Aula  Academic  ;  folenaiter  fexies  Legat,  et  Ex- 
plicit aliquara  Scripture  partem,  et  poll  foleaaem 
Iaceptionem,  femel  infra  Aaaum  ipfe  fibi  <9uefti- 
oaem  proponere,  teaebitur  ia  Aula  Academic, 
cujus  Ambigua  &  Dubitatioaes,  ia  utramq;  par- 
tem, .enuc'eabit,  defiaiet  &  determiaabit. 

ii.  Statutum  elHj  quod  prater  cetera  Exer- 
ciua,' pro  Gradihas  Theologicis  preftanda,  uaus- 
quifq^tam  pro  Theologian  Baccalaureatu,  quaai 
pro  Dodloratu  Caadidatus,  Traftatum  queadam 
contra  Hsrefia  vel  Errorera  alliquem  Grafl'aatem, 
aut  ia  aliud  utile  quoddam  Argumeatum  (  diri- 
gentibus  id  Praeiide  &  Collegii  Sociis  )  pro  Com- 
muni  Ecclefiarum  commodo,  ia  Lucear  eaiittere, 
tenebitur. 

i  22.  Gradus  Academici,  qui  a  Prxfide  &  Cu- 
ratoribus  Collegii  Harvardioi,  antehac  Collati 
fuat,  pro  Valid  is  habeanour. 

23.  -Unusquifq-  Scholaris  harum  Legum  Exem- 
plar, a  Prcelide,  &  Aliquo  Tntornm  Subfcrip- 
turn,  hbi  ■  comparabit,  priusquam  ia  Collegium 
admittatur. 

§.  9.  Among  the  Laws  of  Harvard-Colledge 
thus  recited,  the  Reader  will  find  the  Degrees 
of  a  Baccalaureate  and  a  Doiiorate,  ia  Divinity, 
provided  for  thofe,  that  by  comiagup  to  Terms, 
beyond  thofe  required,  in  aay  oae  European  Uai- 
verfity,  fnal!  merit  them.  Now  tho'  there  are 
Divines  in  the  Couatry,  whofe  Abilities  would 
fully  aafwer  the  Terais  thus  propofed  ;  yet  part- 
ly from  the  Novelty  of  the  Matter  it  felf,  which 
uader  the  former  Charter  was  aever  pretended 
uato,  and  partly  from  the  Modejly  of  the  Per- 
fons  molt  worthy  to  have  this  Refpedl:  put  up- 
on them,  there  was  yet  never  made  among  us' 
any  ofthefe  Promotions.  'Tis  true,  thefe  Titles, 
are  of  no  very  Early  Original  ;  for  the  Occafioa 
of  them  firft  arofe,  about  the  Year  of  our  Lord, 
1135.  Lotbarius  the  Emperor,  having  found  in 
Italy,  a  Copy  of  the  Roman  Civil  Law,  which  he 
was  greatly  takea  withal,  he  ordaiaed,  that  it 
ftiould  be  Publickly  expounded  in  the  Schools  ;  aad 
that  he  might  give  Eacouragemeat  uato  this  Em- 
ployment, it  was  Ordaiaed,  that  the  Public!; 
Profeffors  of  this  Law  fhould  be  Digaified  with 
the  Style  of  Dollars,  whereof  Bulgaria  Hugoli- 
nus,  with  Others,  was  the  Firft.  Not  loag  af- 
ter, this  Rite  of  Creating  Dollars,  was  borrowed 
of  the  Lawyers,  by  Divines,  who  in  their  Schools 
publickly  taught  Divinity  ;  and  the  Imitation 
took  place,  'firfc  ia  Bcnonia,  Paris  aad  Oxford. 
But  I  fee  not,  why  fuch  Marks  of  Honour  may 
not  be  properly  given  by  aa  American  Univerlity, 
as  well  as  aa  European  to  them,  who  by  fuch  Capa- 
city and  Allivityiox  the  Service  of  the  Churches, 
do  deferve  to  be  fo  diftinguifhed.  Indeed,  this 
Univerlity  did  prefent  their  Preiident  with  a 
Diploma,-  for  a  Doiiorate  under  the  Seal  of  the 
Coliedge  with  the  Hands  of  the  Fellows  annexed; 
which,  becaufeitis  the  Firft  and  the  So/Hnftance 
of  fuch  a  Thing  done  in  the  whole  Englifh  A>r.e- 
yica,  I  will  here  tranferibe  it. 


Quum  Gradus  Academic  as,  tarn  in  Tbcologij, 
quam  in  rbilofopbia,  pro  more  Academiai  urn 
ia  Anglia,  Conferendi  Poteftas,  abAmplif- 
fimo  Gubernatore,  et  a  Summa  Mailachu- 
fetteafis  Provincial  Curia,  fecuadiim  Sere* 
nils.  Regis  ac  Reginaj  Gnlidmi  &  Maria:^ 
iilis  Conccfium  Diploma,  ft  ad  nobis  Cora- 
miffi  :  et  quoniaai  Vir  Clarifllmus,  D. 
CRESC  ENTVS  M  A  T  II  E  RV  S7 
Collegii  Harvardini  in  Nova  Angti.i  Prsefes 
Rever.endus,  Librosquam  plmimostam  An- 
glne  quam  Latine  edidit,  Oma/geaa  Lite- 
ratura  Refertos,  multisq-,  prasteiea,  n  odis, 
non  folum  in  Linguis  et  ia  Artibus  Libe- 
ralibus  peritiiTtmum,  vcrum  ethm  in  S.  S. 
Scripturis  8c  ia  Theolgia  fe  ofteadit  vcrfa- 
tifljmum  •,  Atq:,  per  Stadia  &  Merita  vere 
extraordinaria,  non  tanttim  apud  America- 
vas,  fed  et  EuropcC.rn.15  Ecdeiias  commen- 
datiffimum  fe  reddidit  ;  propterca  dictum 
D.  CRESCENT TV M  MATHERVM, 
Docrorali  Cathedra  dignum,  judicamus, 
eumq-  pro  Authorirate  nqbis  Commifia, 
S.  Theologize  DOCTO  RE  A>f,  Nominamus 
bc  Renvmciamus.  In  cujus  Rei  '  Teftimonicm, 
Academis  Sigillum  Hifce  Literis  aflixinius; 
Nos,  quorum  hie  funt  fubferipta  Nomina, 
Datum  Cantabrigian  Nov- Am.',  lor  urn  Die 
Novembris  Septimo,  Anno  Domini  Millell- 
mo,  Sexcentellmo,  Nocagelimoq-  Secur.do. 

Neverthelefs,  whatever  Life  he  may  hereafter,fee 
Caufe  to  make  of  this  Inftrument,  he  hath  hitherto 
been  willing  to  wear  ao  other  Title,  thaa  what: 
formerly  he  h3dv  ia  the  Catalogue  of  our  Gradu- 
ates, which  is  the  Next  Thing,  that  my  Reader 
is  to  be  entertained  withal. 

§.  10.  Reader,  The  Sons  of  HARVARD 
are  going  to  prefent  tbsir.felves  m  Qrdtr  before 
thee.  The  Catalogue  preteads  not  unto  fuch 
Numbers,  as  Qfiaxaer  will  find  for  us  ia  his  Aca- 
demy of  Tubinga,  which  yielded  more  thaa  Four 
Thoufand  Mailers,  Inter  quos  erant  magna  No- 
mina &  Lamina  ;  nor  fuch  Numbers,  as  Howel 
reports  of  Paris,  where  there  have  been  known, 
at  One  Time,  Twenty  Thoufand,  yea,  Thirty  Thou- 
fand  Students  ;  nor  fuch  Numbers  as  Af.td  re- 
ports of  Prague^  where  the  Univerfity  had  at 
Oace,  Forty  Four  Thoufand  Fomigntrs,  that  were 
Studeats  in  it,  belides  the  Native  Bohemians.  Ne- 
verthelefs it  muft  be  acknowledged,  That  here 
are  pretty  Competent  Numbers,  fora/o&r  Wd- 
dernefs  in  its  Infancy  ;  and  a  poor  Wildcmefs  in- 
deed it  had  been,  if  the  Cultivations  of  fuch  a 
Coliedge  had  not  been  beftowed  upon  it.  In  the 
perufal  of  this  Catalogue,  it  will  be  found,  that, 
belides  a  Supply  of  $l3in!i?£Ty  for  our  Churches 
from  this  Happy  Seminary,  we  have  hence  had 
a  Supply  of  99figiffrat££,  ss  well  as  Pbylicians 
and  other  Gentlemen,  to  ferve  the  Common-wealth 
with  their  Capacities.  Yea,  the  Conliderable 
Names  of  STuVG  HTONznd  DVDLEY, 
in  this  Lift,  have  been  advanced  unto  the  Chief 
Place  in  Government  :  Nor  has  the  Couatry  fenr, 

over 


Book  IV. 


The  Hiflory  tf/New-Ensland. 


'35 


over  Agent's  to  appear  at  Whitehall,  for  any  of 
its  Inter-efts  upon  any  Occalion  for  more  than. 
th!":  Thirty  Years,  but  what  had  their  £duca- 
tiou  ia  this  NuiTery.  It  will  be  alfo  found  that 
/  i:>-o;-c  as  svell  as  Awrica,  has  from  this  Learned 
Simiaary,  been  enriched  with  fjme  Worthy. 
Men  ;  among  whom  I  will  rather  choofe  to  o- 
mit  the  mention  of  Sir  George  Downing,  who 
occurs  in  the  firft  Clafs  of  our  Graduates,  than 
reckon  him  with  a  Company  fo  difagreeable  to 
him,  as  the  Reft,  that  were  many  of  them  af- 
terwards Famous  Miniftcr,  of  the  Gofpel  in  Eng- 
land and  Ireland.  Nun  bene  convenumt,,  nee  in  una 
kde  morar.ti.r.  It  will  be  likewlfe  found,  that 
not  a  few  of  thefe  Harvardians,  have  by  their 
Publifkd  Writings  been  ufetul  unto  the  World. 
That  Excellent  Man,  who  is  the  Leader  of  this 
whole  Company,  and  who  was  a  Star  of  the  firjt 
'Magnitude,  in  his  Couftellation,  to  wit,  Mr.  Ben- 
\anun  Wcgdbridge;  an  Eminent  Herald  of  Hear 
veil  at  Salisbury,   and   afterwards  at  Newbury  in 


England,  and  (  after  the  Ail  of  Uniformity  and  we  have  Three  or  Four  feveral  Sermons  pub 
the  Perfcuiion  following  hereupon  cieepled  him) 
in  feveral  otljer  Places,  as  he  had  Opportunity  : 
He  wrote  feveral  Confiderable  Treatifes  about 
'Tufification  ;  as  alfo,  Agamfi  the  Unwarrantable 
Frailice  of  Private  Chriflians,  in  V fur  ping  the  Of- 
fice of  Publick  Preaching  ;  and  as  the  Scoffing  Wood 
acknowledges,  He  was  accounted  among   the  Bre. 


thrcn  a  Learned  and  a  Mighty  Man.     After  Him 
we  have  bad,  befides  thofe,  whofeL/wj  are  anon 


Finally,  if  Harvard  be  now  asked,  as  once 
Jeffe  was,  are  here  all  thy  Sons  ?  It  mull  be  an- 
fwered,  no  ;  for  up  >n  a  DifatisfacUon,  about  an 
Haiddnp  which  the/  thought  put  upon  them- 
felvqs,  in  making  them  lofe  a  good  part  of  a 
Tear  of  the  Time,  whereupon  they  Claimed  their 
Degree  (about  the  Year  1055)  there  was  a  Consi- 
derable Number,  even  Seventeen  of  the  Scholars, 
which  went  away  from  the  Colledge  wirhout  any 
Degree  at  all.  Neverthelefs,  this  Difafter  hin- 
drcd  nor  their  future  ferviceablenefs  in  the  Chur- 
ches of  the  Faithful,  and  fqine  of  them  indeed 
proved  extraordinary  ferviceablc  :  Among  whom 
it  would  be  Criminal  for  me  to  forgot  Mr,  Willi- 
am Primfmead,  Pallor  at  this  Day  to  the  Church 
of  Malborougb  5  and  Mr.  Samuel  Torrey,  of  Weg- 
mouth,  (of  whofe  there  are  published  Three  Ser- 
mn»j,which  at  fo  many  feveral  times  were  Preach- 
ed, at  the  Amuverfaiy  Elections  of  Magiftraies.) 
And  unto  thefe  1  may  add- Mr.  Samuel  Wakernan, 
the  Pallor  to  the  Church  of  I 'airfield.,    of  whom 


lifhed. 

Whit  now  Remains,  is  to  look  over  our  Cata- 
logue -.  and  then  tingle  out  fome  Subjects  for  a 
moie  particular  Biography.  Only,  while  I  car- 
ry in  my  Readu  to  fpeak  with  them,  the  Writef 
himfelf,  (  folicitous,  that  the  Name  which  Phi!0 
Judc£us  puts  upon  a  Colledge  ;  Namely,  a/JV^;- 
hZot  MKTwjf  *?**?$,  or,  A  School  of  all  Virtue,  may 
ever  and  juftly  be  the  Name  of  Harvard  Colledge} 


to  be  Written,    many    ethers  that  by  W7w/ff£  will  take  the  Leave  to  Addrefs  their  Succcjfors, 


have  made  themfelves  to  Live;  and  not  only 
have  we  had  a  Danforth,  a  Nathanael  Mather, 
an  Hoar,  a  Rowlandfon,  a  Novel,  a  Whiting,  an 
Hooker  1  a  Moodey,  an  Eleaz.ar  Mather,  a  Richard- 
fon,  a  Thacber,  an  Adams,  a  Saltonjlal,  a  Walter, 
the  Authors  of  LefTer  Compofures,  out  of  .their 
modeft  Studies,  even  as  with  a  Cafarean  Seclion, 
forced  into  Light-,  but  alfo  we  have  had  an  Hub- 
hard,  an  Ifaac  Chanccy,  a  IVillard,  a  Stoddard, 
the  Authors  of  larger  Compofures.  Yea,  the 
Prefent  Prefident  of  the  Colledge  has  obliged 
the  Publick  with  more  than  Thirty  feveral  Trea- 
tifes of  Diverfe  Matters,  and  Figures,  and  in 
Diverfe  Languages.  'Tis  true,  there  is  One  more 
among  the  Sons  of  this  Colledge,  that  might  al- 
ready bring  in  a  Catalogue  of  more  than  Three- 
fcare  feveral  Books,  which  the  Prefs  has  had  from 
him  ;  neverthelefs  as  Ron  ford  the  trench  Pott  up- 
on Reading  of  Pft-Bartas's  WEEKS,  would 
fay,   Monfuur  Du  Bams  a  fait  plus  en  une  Se 


with  certain  Admonitions,  tranflated  from  no  lefs 
than  a  National  Synod  of  the  Prcteflant  Churches 
in  France.  The  laft  National  Synod,  that  fat  be- 
fore the  Diflipation  of  thofe  Renowned  Churches, 
after  the  Other,  and  many,  Cares,  which  the  for- 
mer mofl  Venerable  Affmihlies  took  of  their  Vnir 
verfities,  by  their  Decree,  earnellly  exhorted  the 
Governors  of  the  Vni-vcrpties,  to  exert  all  their 
Power,  For  the  Supprejfon  of  Abnfis  crept  in  among 
them,  redounding  to  the  Dijgrace  of  Religion,  and 
opining  the  Flood-gates  to  the  Deluge  of  Profane- 
nefs,  to  break  in  upon  the  Santluary  ;  and  under 
Seven:  Penalties  enjoined  the  Scholars,  but  moft 
efpeciarjy  the  Students  in  Divinity,  To  keep  them- 
felves at  the  great  eft  Diflance  from  f tub  Things,  as 
are  contrary  to  Chriftian  Modefly  and  Sanflity,  and 
to  perfume  the  Houfe  of  Godt  betimes  with  the  fweet 
Odours  of  an  Early  Religious  Converfation,  every 
way  becoming  the  Sacred  Employment,  whereto  they 
be  defighed.      Now  when  we   have    tranferibed 


maim,  que  Je  nay  fait  en  toitte  ma  Vite;  Du-jfome  of  the  Excellent  Words,  ufed  by  Moniieur 
Bartas  has  done  more  in  One  Week,  than  J  have  .Guitton,  at  the  prefenting  of  this  Decree  to  the 
done  all  the  Days  of  my  Life :  So  it  mull  be  ac-  jUniverhty  of  Saumur,  we  will,  without  any  fur- 
knowledged,  That  Three  Compofures  of  One  Wrii  the?  Delay  give  our  Catalogue  Leave  to  appear 
ter  may  be  more  valuable  than  Threefcore  of  ano- ;  before  us- 
ther.    Nor  indeed,  mufl  it  be  Enumerated  among 

the  lead  Bleffings  of  New-England,  that  it  has!  "You  have  Confecrated  your  Labours;  your 
been  above  all  the  reft  of  the  Englifh  America,  fur-  ',<■<■  Time,  your  whole  xMan,  unto  the  Service  of 
nilhed  with  Preffes,  from  which  it  has  had  a  |«  the  Soveieign  Monarch  of  the  Whole  World  ; 
Thoufand  Ways,  the  Benefits  of  that  Art  o/V*  that  Lord,  who  is  ador'd  by  all  the  Angels.  Your 
Printing  -,  a  Gift  of  Heaven,  whereof  Beroaldus  well  "own  Ccnfciences,  Sirs,  as  well  as  mine,  muft 


fang; 


Oho  nil  Vtilius  dedit  Velufias, 
Libras  Scribcre  qua  deces  pretnendo. 


"needs  tell  you,  you  cannot  bring  with  you,  too 
much  FJumility,  nor  too  much  Self-Ahafement, 
nor  too  much  Self-Annihilation,  nor  too  much 

"  Simplicity 


36 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


Book  IV. 


"  Simplicity  and  Sincerity,  when  you  come  into 
"  His  Prefence,  whofe  Eyes  are  as  a  Flaming 
"  fire,  and  who  fearcbctb  your  Hearts  and  tritib 
"  your  Reins  ;  and  offer  your  felves  to  be  Enroll'd 
"  in  the  Number  of  his  Menial  Servants,  and 
"  Go/pel- Miniflers. 

"  To  be  fhort,  Sirs,  You  are  deftinated  unto 
"  an  Employment,  in  which  there  be  no  Advance- 
"  ments  made,  but  by  Prayers  ;  and  Prayers  are 
"  never  Heard,  nor  Anfwered  by  God,  further 
**  than  they  be  Sincere ;  and  they  be  not  in  the 
41  lea  ft  Sincere,  where  the  Hearts  are  not  guided 
"  and  purified  bv  the  Truth  of  God's  Holy 
"  Word  and  Spirit,  who  di&ateth  our  Prayers 
"  and  quickn.eth  and  fanftifieth  our  Affeilions. 
"  Do  yon  imagine,  Sirs,  that  God  will  give  you 
"  His  Holy  Spirit,  without  whom  you  are  Nothing 
"  and  caa  do  Nothing,  unlefs  you   ask    Him  of 


"  will  Refltcl  Beams  of  Honour  again  upon  you. 
"  Confider.  Sirs,  what  is  Becoming  you,  and  God 
"  will  communicate  what  is  needful  for  you,  to 
"  ev'ry  one  of  you.  Let  His  Name  and  Glory 
"  be  the  Principal  Murk  and  Butt  of  yo.ir  Con- 
"  ditions  and  Studies,  and  it  will  bring  down 
a  the  Choice!!:  and  Chiefeft  of  Bleffings  of  God 
"  upon  you.  Let  your  Lives  and  Converfations 
"  be  Accompanied  and  Crowned  with  all  the 
"  Virtues  and  Graces  of  Reformed  Chriflians  ■  with 
"that  Humility,  which  becometh  the  Servants  of 
"  God ;  with  that  Univerfal  Madefy  and  Simplicity, 
"  which  God  requireth  from  the  Mimflers  of  Hii 
"  SanUnary,  in  their  Lives,  A&ions,  Habits, 
"  Language,  Behaviour,  and  in  your  whole  Courfe! 
"  And  then,  Sirs,  this  your  Santlificatian  will  bi 
"  moft  Acceptable  unto  God,  and  faving  unto 
"  your  felves ;  it  will  bring  your  Profejfwn  into 


"  God  ?     And  are  you  then  Qualified  and  Fitted  \  "  Credit  and  Reputation  ■  it  will    attract  upon. 


«•  for  Prayer,  a  moft  Holy  Duty,  when  as  your 
"  Spirit  is  fluffed  up,  occupied  and  diffracted, 
"  with  your  Youthful  Lufls,  and  replenifhed  with 
"  the  Provoking  Obje&s  of  your  Vanity  ?  Or, 
lt  C3n  you  bring  unto  this  Sacred  Ordinance, 
"  unto  this  moft  Religious  Exercife,  that  Atten- 
"  tiors,  Affiduity  and  Perfeverance,  which  is  need- 
"ful  to  the  Getting  of  Gracious  Anfwers,  and 
"  Returns  from  Heaven,  wherjas  the  Better  and 
*'  far  Greater  Part  of  your  Time,  is  confumed  in 
'*  Worldly  Companies  and  Converfations  ?  Cer- 
"  tainly,  Sirs,  You  wi/i  find  it  exceeding  Diffi- 
"  cult  to  difentangle  your  felves  from  thofe  Im- 
"preflions  you  havefirjl  received,  and  to  empty 
*'  your  felves  of  the  Vanities  you  have  imbibed, 
"  that  you  may  be  at  Liberty  to  Reflect  and  Me- 
**  ditate  upon  God's  Holy  Word. 

<l  My  Dear  Brethren,  Honour  and  Adorn  that 


"  Profcjjion,    whereto  you  are  Devoted,    and  it  I  dt fire  able  Speftacle> 


"you  the  Eeft  Bleffings  of  Heaven  •  it  will  ren- 
"  der  your  Studies,  and  Employments  profperous, 
"  faccefsful  and  edifying;  the  Churches  will  be 
"  the  Better  for  you,  and  the  Kingdom  of  our 
"  Lord  Jefus  Chiift  will  be  by  you  Promoted 
"  and  Advanced. 

To  thefe  Admonitions  of  Monfieur  Cuitton,  I 
will  only  for  a  Farewel,  unto  every  Scholar  now 
addrefVd,  fubjoin  That  wherewith  Mr.  Carter 
took  his  Leave  of  a  Scholar,  Fuge  Fajlxm,  Igna- 
viam  &  AnticbriQum. 

Our  CATALOGUE  is  now,  without  any 
further  Ceremony  to  be  produced  ;  A  Catalogue 
of  Cbrifiian  Students,  inftructed  in  thofe,  which 
the  other  Day  were  Pagan  Regions;  A  Catalogue, 
whereof  1  may  therefore  fay  as  the  Hiftorian  does 
of  the  Temples  built  by  Conjlantine,  It  is  Trx  mnt 
tmrnioe't  £  otM.uww  5'iufta-,  To    all    Good   Men^   a 


CATALOGUS, 

Eorum  qui  in   COLLEGIO    HARVARD1NO,    quod  eft    CANTA- 
BRIGI/E,    Nov-Axglorum,  ab  Anno    1642.   ad  A>uuwi   i6^S.     alicujus 


gradus  Laurea 


donati  lunr. 


B' 


1642. 

lEnjamin  Woodbridge. 
*  Georgius  Downing. 

*  Johannes   Bulklxus  Mr. 
Gulielmns  Hubbard  Mr. 
Samuel   Bellingham  Mr.  M  D. 

Ludg. 

*  Johannes  Willbnus  Mr. 

*  Henricus  Saltonftall. 

*  Tobias  Barnardus. 

*  Nathanael  Brufterus.  Th.  Bac. 
Dub.  Hib. 

1643. 

*  Johannes  Jonefius.  Mr. 

*  Samuel  Matherus  Mr.  g&OCtlljS- 

*  Samuel  DanforthMr  S>0CUI#. 

*  Johannes  Allin. 


io'44. 
1645, 

*  Johannes  Oliverus. 

*  Jeremias  Hollandus. 

*  Gulielmus  Ameiius. 

*  Johannes  RufTellus.  Mt 
Samuel  Stow,  Mr. 

*  Jacobus  Ward. 

*  Robertus  Johnfon. 

1 646. 

*  Johannes  Alcock  Mr. 

*  Johannes  Brock  Mr. 

*  Georgius  Stirk. 

*  Nathaniel  White.  Mr. 

1647. 

*  Jonathan  Mitchel  Mr.  <§>rjC!U£ 

*  Nathaniel  Matherus  Mr. 
Confolantius  Star  Mr,  £&0CIU£ 


*  Johannes  Baiden. 

*  Abrahamus  Waiver. 

*  Georgius  Haddenrjs  Mr. 

*  Gulielmus  Mi  Id  may  Mr. 
1 548. 
16*49. 

J  *  Johannes  Rogerfius.  Mr.  Prafes 
i*  Samuel  Eaton,  Mr.  ©Otitic 

*  Urianus  Oakcs  Mr.  sB>0Ctti£», 
Prafes. 

*  Johannes  Collins  Mr.g>0CtltJS 

*  Johannes  Bowers. 
1650. 

Gulielmus  StoughtonMr  Opconii. 

*  JohannesGloverus  AID  Abtrd 
Jolnua  Hobartus.  Mr. 
Jeremias  Hobartus.  Mr. 

*  Ed  my  rid  vis  We'W. 

+  Samuel 


Book  IV.  The  Hifiory  of  New- England. 


37 


*  Samuel  Philipfius  Mr. 

*  Leonard  us  Hoar  Mr.  M.  D. 
Cwtabr.  Prafes. 

*  Ifaacus  Allertonus 

*  Jonathan  Inceus  Mr. 

1651. 
Michael  WigglefWorth  Mr.  %#■- 

cfu& 

*  Marigena  Cottonus  Mr. 

*  Thomas  Dudlxus  Mr.  S>OCitl0 

*  Johannes  Gloverus  Mr. 
Henricus  Buclerus  Mr. 

*  Nathaniel  Pelhamus. 

*  Johannes  Davifius  Mr. 
Ifaacus  ChauncieusMr. 

*  Ichabod  Chauncxus  Mr. 

*  Jonathan  Burrxus  Mr. 

T  6"5  2. 

*  Jofephus  Rovvlandfonus. 

1653.   Jug.  9. 
Samuel  Willis. 

*  Johannes  Angier  Mr. 

*  Thomas  Shepardus  Mr.  <g)0; 
CM0. 

*  Samuel  Nowel  Mr.  % QCIU0. 

*  Richardus  Hubbard  Mr. 

*  Johannes  Whiting-Mr. 

*  Samuel  Hookerus  Mr  'SOCIttg 

*  Johannes  Stone  Mr.    Cantab. 

Jngl. 
Guilielmus  Thomfonus 

Qui  ad  [ecundum  Gradum  ad- 
mijji  fucr e  1655.  Diei  fequentis 
Baccalaurei,  ad  fecund-urn  Gradum 
admijfi  ut  moris  eft.   \6%6. 
1653.   jug.   10. 

*  Edwardus  Rawfonus. 

*  Samuel  Bradftreet  Mr.  gj)0* 
CIU0, 

*  Jofhua  Long  Mr. 
Samuel  Whiting  Mr. 

*  Jofhua  Moodey  Mr.  g>OClU0 
Jofhua  AmbrofiusMr.  Oxomt. 

*  Nehemiah  Ambrolius    Mr. 

§>ocm0. 

Thomas  Crosbxus. 
1554. 

*  Philippus  Nelfon. 

l655 
Gerfhom  Bulklxus  Mr.  <S0CfU0 
Mordecai  Matthewftus. 

1656. 

*  Eleazarus  Matherus. 
Crefcentius  Matherus  Mr.  Dubl. 

^ib.%0£ilW,  Retlor.  Prafes. 

S.  T.  D. 
Robertus  Painxus  Mr. 
*Subael  Dummerus. 

*  Johannes  Hay  nefms  Mr  Cantab. 

*  Johannes  Eliotus  Mr. 

*  Thomas  Gravefius  Mr.  %fc 

tiw. 

Johannes  Emmerfonus  Mr. 

„    .     .  1<5S7- 

Zecharias  Symmes  Mr.  ^>0fJtl0 

*  Zecharias  Brigden  Mrg)0CUl0 


Johannes  Cottonus  Mr. 
Johannes  Hale  Mr. 
Elilha  Cookxus  Mr. 

*  Johannes  Whiting. 

*  Barnabas  Chauncxus  Mr. 

1658. 
""Jofephus  Eliotus  Mr. 

*  Jofephus  Haynes. 

*  Benjamin  Bunker  M-. 
Jonah  Fordhamus. 

*  Johannes  Barfham. 

*  Samuel  Talcot. 

+  Samuel  Shepardus  Mr  <§)0Citt0 

1659. 
Nathaniel  Saltonftall. 

*  Samuel  Alcock. 
P  Abijah  Savagius. 

Samuel  Willard  Mr  g>OCitl0, 
Thomas  Parifh. 
Samuel  Cheverus. 

*  Ezekiel  Rogerus. 
Samuel  Belcherus. 
Jacobus  Noyes. 
Mofes  Noyes. 

1660. 

*  Simon  Bradftreet  Mr. 

*  Nathaniel  Collins  Mr. 

*  Samuel  Eliotus  Mr.  <£>O£IU0- 
¥  Guilielmus  Whittingham. 

*  Jofephus  Cookxus. 

*  Samuel  Carterus. 

*  ManafTeh  Armitagius. 

*  Petrus  Bulklxus  Mr.  sSOCtU0 

1661. 

*  Johannes  Bellingham  Mr. 

*  Nathaniel  Chauncxus  Mr. 
g>0CUI0* 

*  Elnathan  Chauncxus  Mr. 
Ifrael  Chauncxus  Mr. 

*  Compenfantius  Osborn. 

*  Daniel  Weld. 

*  Jofephus  Cookxus. 
Jofephus  Whiting  Mr.  ®0CU10 
Caleb  Watfonus  Mr. 

*  Johannes  Parkerus 

*  Thomas  Johnfonus 

*  Bezaleel  Shermannus 

1662. 
1  Johannes  Holiokus 
Benjamin  Thomfonus 
Solomon  Stodard  us  Mr.  <g)0£iu0 
Mofes  Fiskxus  Mr. 
Ephraim  Savagius 
Thomas  Oakes 

1563. 

*  Samuel  Symondus 
Samuel  Cobbet 

*  Johannes  ReynerusMr. 

*  Benjamin  Blackman 
*Thom3s  Mighil  Mr. 

*  Nathaniel  Cutler. 

1 664. 

*  Alexander  Nowellus  Mr.  %Z- 

CIU0. 

*  Jofiah  Flintxus  Mr. 


*  Jofephus  Pynchonus  Mr.  <g)0* 
f      HU0. 

*  Samuel  Brackenburius  Mr. 

*  Johannes  Woodbridge 
Jofephus  Eafterbrookxus  Mr. 
Samuel  Street. 

1565. 

*  Benjamin  Eliotus  Mr. 
Jofephus  Dudlxus  Mr. 

*  Samuel  Bilhop 
*Edvardus  Mitchelfanus 
Samuel  Mannxus 

*  Sperantius  Athertonus 
Jabez  Foxius  Mr. 

*  Caleb  Cheefchaumuk  Indus 

1666. 
+  Jofephus  Brownxus  Mr.  g»o* 

tim. 

*  Johannes    Rjchardfonus  Mr. 
%OCiU0. 

*  Daniel  Mafonus 
Johannes  Filerus 

1667. 
Johannes  Harrimari  Mr. 

*  Nathaniel  ^tkinfonus 

*  Johannes  Fofterus 
Gerlhom  Hobartas  Mr. 

*  Japherh  Hobartus 
Nehemiah  Hobertus  Mf.  ©rjCttfg 
Nicholaus  Noyes. 

1668. 
Adamus  Winthrop 

*  Johannes  Cullick 
Zecharias  Whitmanntis 
Abramus  Picrfonus 
Johannes  Prudden 

1669. 

*  Samuel  Epps  Mr. 
Daniel  Epps 

Jeremias  Shephardus  Mr. 
Daniel  Gookin  Mr.  <§H)r;iU0 
Johannes  Bridghamns  Mr. 

*  Daniel  RuflellUs  Mr. 

*  Jofephus  Taylorus  Mr. 
Jacobus  BayleyMr. 
Jofephus  Gerrifh 
Samuel  Treat  Mr. 

1 670. 
Nathaniel  Higginfon  Mr 

*  Jmmi  Ruhamah  Gorlec  Mr. 
®OCM0. 

Thomas  Clarke  Mr. 

*  Georgius  Burrrough 

1 67 1. 

*  Ifaacus  Fofterus  Mr.  ©CCftlft- 
Sauiuel  Phips  Mr. 

Samuel  Sewall  Mr.  g>0c(U0. 
Samuel  Matherus 

*  Samuel  Danforth  Mt.%OCIV& 
Petrus  Thacherus  Mr.  @>0Cttl0 

*  Gulielmus  Adamus  Mr. 
Thomas  Weld  Mr.' 

¥  Johannes  Bowles  Mr. 

Johannes  Nortonns 

Edvardus  Taylorus.  • 


*2§ 


The  Hiflory  of  New-England. 


Book  IV. 


,1672. 
16-3. 

Edvar-dus  Pelhamus 
"•  Georgius  Alcock 
Samuel  AngierMr. 
Johannes  Wife  Mr. 
1674. 

*  Edmundus  Davie  M.D.Ta&na. 

*  Thomas  Sergeant. 

1675-. 
Jofephus  Hanley 
Johannes  Pike  Mr. 
Jonathan  Rudellus  Mr. 

*  Pe:rus  Oliverus  Mr. 
Samuel  Andrew  Mr.  ScctUlS* 
Jacobus  Minot 
Tjrnothasus  Woodbridge  Mr. 

*  Daniel  Alttn  Mr. 
Johannes  Emmerfonus  Mr, 

*  Nathaniel  Gookin   Mr 

am* 

1676. 

*  Thomas  Shepardus  Mr. 
Thomas  Brattle  Mr. 
Jeremiah  Culhing. 

1677. 
Thomas  Chevers  Mr. 
Johannes  Danforth  Mr.  ®>0CtUjS 
Edvardus  Payfon  Mr. 
•  SamnelSweetman 
Jofephus  Capen  Mr. 
Thomas  Scottow. 
167H. 


*  Richardus  Wenflceus 
Samuel  Myleiius  Mr. 
Nehemiah  Walterus  Mr@)0f  iug 
Jofephus  Webb  M. 
Edvardus  Thompfonus 
Benjamin  Rolf  Mr. 

1685. 

*  Thomas  Dudlanis  Mr. 
Warhamus  Matherns  Mr. 
¥  Nathaniel  Matherus  Mr. 
Roulandus  Cottonus  Mr. 
Henricus  Gibs  Mr. 

*  Thomas  Berrius  Mr. 

*  Johannes  Whiting  Mr. 
Edvardus  Mills  Mr. 
Johannes  Eliotus  Mr. 
Samuel  Shepardus 

*  Petrus  Ruck 
Ifaacus  Greenwood. 

%3-  j  Johannes  White  Mr.  g)0Cl'ug. 
'  Jonathan  Pierpont  Mr. 

1680". 
Francifcns  Wainwright 
Benjamin  LyndeMr. 
Daniel  Rogerfius  Mr. 
Georgius  PhillipfiusMr. 
Robertus  Hale 
Carolus  Chauncceus 

*  Nicolaus  Mortonus. 
1687. 

Johannes  Davenport  Mr. 
Johannes  Clark  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Rogers  Mr. 


Johannes  Cottonus  Mr.SoCiltg  ,*  Jonathan  Mltchel  Mr 
Cottonus  Matherus  Mr.^OCtllg  Daniel  Brewer  Mr. 
Grindallus  Raw  forms  Mr. 


*  Urianus  Oakcs. 

1679. 

*  Jonathan  Danforth  Mr. 

*  Edvardus  Oakes  Mr. 
'*  Jacobus  Ailing  Mr. 
Thomas  Barnardus  Mr. 

1680. 

*  Richardus  Martin 
Johannes  LeveretusMr.<g>0CittS 
Jacobus  Oliver  Mr. 
Gulielmus  Brattle  Mr.  <g>0CiU£ 

*  Percivallus  Green  Mr. 

1681. 

*  Samuel  Mitchel  Mr.  g>0CtU0> 
Johannes  Cottonus  Mr. 
Johannes -Halting  Mr. 
Noadiah  RulTellus  Mr. 
Jacobus  Pierpont  Mr. 
Johannes  Davie 

Samuel  Ruflelius  Mr. 
Gulielmus  Denifon  Mr. 
Jofephus  Eliot  Mr. 

1682. 

1683.     : 
Samuel  Danforth  Mr. 
Johannes  Williams  Mr 
Gulielmus  Williams-Mr 

1684. 

*  Johannes  Denifon  Mr. 
Johannes  Rogerfius  "Mr. 
Gordonius  Saltonfrall  Mr. 


Timotheus  Stevens  Mr. 
j  *  Nathaniel  Welfh 
1  *  Jofephus  DafTett  Mr. 
1  Henricus  Newman  Mr. 

Jofias  Dwight 
!  Set  h  us  Shove  Mr. 
1688. 

!  1689. 

j*  Jacobus  Allen  Mr. 
Samuel  Moodey  Mr. 
Gulielmus  Payn  Mr. 
Addingtonus  Davenport 
Johannes  Haynes 

*  Gulielmus  Partrigg 
Richardus  Whittingham  Mr. 
Johannes  Emerfonus  Mr. 
Johannes  Sparhawk  Mr. 

*  Benjamin  Marfton 
Johannes  Eveleth 

*  Benjamin  Pierpont  Mr. 
Johannes  Hancock  Mr. 
Thomas  Swan.  Mr. 

1690. 
Paulns  Dudlaus  Mr.  <S>0Cilt& 
Samuel  Matherus  Mr. 
Johannes  Willard  Mr. 

*  Daniel  Denifon 
Johannes  Jonefins  Mr. 
Jofephus  Whiting  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Clap. 
Jofephus  Belcherus  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Stone. 


-  I 


j  Johannes  Clark  Mr. 
I  Thomas  Buckinghainus 

Samuel  Mensfield  Mr. 

Petrus  Burr  Mr. 

*  Johannes  Selleck 
Johannes  Newmarch  Mr. 
Thomas  Greenwood  Mr. 
Benjamin  Wadfworth  Mr.  <§)0= 

dug 

Thomas  Ruggles  Mr. 
Stephanus  Mix  Mr. 
Edmundus  Goffe  Mr. 
Nicholxus  Lynde 

*  Benjamin  Eafterbrookseus  Mr. 

1691. 
Johannes  Tyng  Mr. 
lEbenezer  Pemberton  Mr.  %Q- 
J     CM0. 

1*  Thomas  Mackarty  Mr. 
I  Jofephus  Lord  Mr. 
jChriftopherus  Tappan  Mr. 
j  Samuel  Emery  Mr. 
1*  Thomas  Atkinfonus 

Timotheus  Edwards  Mr. 
1592. 

Benjamin  Colman  Mr. 

Zecharias  Alden 

Ebenezer  White  Mr. 

Jacobus  Townfend 

Johannes  Mors  Mr. 

Caleb  Cufliing  Mr. 
1693. 

Ifaacus  Chauncseus  Mr. 

Sthephanus  Buckinghamus 

Henricus  Flintxus  Mr. 

Simon  Bradftreet  Mr. 

Johannes  Wadseus  Mr. 

Nathanael  Hodfon 

Penn  Townfend 

Nathanael  Williams  Mr. 

Georgius  Denifon 

Johannes  Woodward  Mr. 

Jofephus  Baxter  Mr. 

Gulielmus  Veazie 

Nathanael  Hunting  Mr. 

Benjamin  Ruggles  Mr.- 

Gulielmus  Grofvenor  Mr. 
1  694. 

Adamus  Winthrop  Mr. 

Johannes  Woodbridge 

Dudlceus  Woodbridge 

Eliphalet  Adamus  Mr. 

Johannes  Savage 

Johannes  Ballantine  Mr. 

Salmon  Treat 

Jabez  Fitch  Mr.  £§)0CUI]E>. 

Samuel  Vaffal 
Gualterus  Price  Mr. 
Richardus  SaltonftaU  Mr. 
Nathaniel  SaltonftaU  Mr. 
Johannes  Hubbard  Mr. 
Simon  Willard  Mr. 
Habijah  Savage  Mr. 
Oliver  Noyfe  Mr.- 
Thomas  Phips 


Timo- 


Book   IV. 


■  --"-* 


be  Hifiory  of  New-England. 


I    i—         -  — -  -•■•'  -■---■    - 


I 


w 


Timotheus  Lindal 
Jonathan   Law 
Ezekiel  Lewis 
Thomas  Blowers  Mr.  - 
Thomas  Little 
Ephraim  Little, 

ohannes  Perkins  Mr. 

edediah  Andrews  Mr. 

ofephu's  Smith 

ohannes  llobinfon  Mr. 

ofephus  Green  Mr. 

ofephns  Mors  Mr. 
Nicolaus  Webfter. 
1696. 
Georgius  Vaughan 
Petrus  Thacherus 
Dudlxus  Woodbridge 
Jonathan  Remington 


CANTABKIGI 


Samuel  Whitman 
Samuel  Eftabiookxus 
Andreas  Gardner 
Samuel  Melyen. 

1 CJ97. 
Elifha  Cookxus 
Antonius  Stoddardus 
Antonius  Stoddardus 
Jfbez  Wakcman 
Nathaniel  Collins 
Samuel  Burr 
Johannes  Read 
Samuel  Moodey 
Richardus  Brown 
Hugo  Adams 
Johannes  Swift 
Johannes  Southmayd 


joiephus  Parfonus. 
169S. 
Thomas  Symmes 
Jofias  Cottonus 
Samuel  Matherus 
Joins  Willard 
Dud  l.eus  Bradftreet 
Petrus  Cutler 
Johannes  Foxius 
Nathanael  Hubbard 
rko£ici)s  Swan 
Johannes  White 
Jofias  Torrey 
Oxenbridge  Thacherus. 
Richardus    Billings. 


$■ 

I 


r 
.  I 

■.•- 


llli  quorum  Nominibits  k<cc  No- 
ofephus  G^   ^  ¥  »  Prxfigttur^rivis  cejferunt. 

N  O  V  -  A  N  G  L  O  R  U  M  "  Sexto    Qjiintilis. 
M  DC  XC  VIII. 


We  will  conclude  our  Catalogue  of  the  Gr  tdu.ita  in  this  fcolledge,  with  the  Elegy,  which  the 

Venerable   Mt^JO  HN  IVILS.O  A^-iuade  upon  its  Founder.    , 


In  Pientiflimnm,  Reverendifiunumq}  Virum, 

JO  HAN  NBA!  HARVARDVM, 
e  fuggefto  Sacro  Car oloenfi  ad  Ccelos  Eveftum, 
Ad  <\\\iwntji Ciwt.ibrknfts  Literatos,  Potma. 


Johannes   Harvardus. 

Anagr. 

Si  nod  (  ah!  )    furda  AuTe. 

En,  mihi  fert  Animus,  Patroni  Nomine  Veftri 

(  Si  non  (  ah  '  )  fitrd*  fpernitur  Ante  )  loqui. 
Sic  ait. 
MeDeus,  immenfo  per Chr ilium  Motus  amore,. 

Ad  Ccelos  fervum  juflit  abire  fuum. 
Pareham  •,  monituq-,  Dei  prxeunte  parabam 

Qnicquid  ad  Optatum  fufficiebat  Opus. 
Me  (Licet  Indignum  )  Selegit  Gratia Chrifti, 

Fundarem  Mulis,  qui  pia  Te£a  pijs. 
(Non  qubd  vel  Chara,  rnoriens  Uxore  carerem, 

Aut  Hxres  alius  qubd  mihi  nullus  erat : ) 
Hxredcs  vos  ipfe  meos,  fed  liriquere  fuafit, 

Ulqi  ad  Dimidium  fortis  opumq;,  Deus. 
Me  commune  Bonum,  prxfertim  Gloria  Chrifti, 

Impulit  et  charx  Pofteritatis  Amor  : 
Sat  ratus  effe  mihi  Sobolis,  Pietatis  Amore 

Educet  Ulultre'sfiSchola  noftra  Viros. 


Hxc  mihi  Spes  (  Vita  Morienti  dulcior  olim  ) 

Me  recreat,  Cceli  dum  Requiete  frtior. 
At  11  degeneres  liqueat  vos  effe  (  quod  abfit !  ) 

Otia  fi  Studiis  lint  potiora  bonis  : 
Si  nee  Dodtrina,  nee  Moribus  eftis  Honeftis 

Imbuti,  (  Faflu  non  leviore  tamen  . 
Grata  fit  aut  Vobis,  fi  fe£ta  vel  H<erefis  ulla,  ' 

Vos  fimul  inficiens,  Vos,  Dominiq*  gregem  ; 
Hxc  mihi  Patrono  quam  funt  contraria  veftro ! 

Atq;  magis  fummo  Difplicitura  Deo  ! 
Nee  tamen.ifta  meo  fie  Noininadicier  opto, 
'•'  Mens  quafi  promittat  non  meliora  mihi  1  ' 
Gaudia  Ccelorum  vix  me  fatiare  valereat, 

Si  tanta  Orbatus,  Speq,  Fideq;  forem.  ' 
Ille  Deus  Vobis,  Veftrisq-,  Laboribus,  almarn, 

Et  dedit,  et  porrb  fuppeditabit  opem. 
Ejus  in  Obfequio,  fie,  O  !  fie,  pergite  cunctf, 

Ut  flu'at  lunc  major  Gloria  Lausq-  Deo. 
At  (i  quis  reclo  male  fit  de  Tramite  greflns 

(  Quod  Davtd,  et  Solomon  ?  et  Petrus  ipfe  queat. ) 
Hie  fibi  ne  placeat,  Monitus  neq^  ferre  recufct, 

In  rettam  pofllot  qui  revocare  viam. 
Sic  Grati  Vos  efte  Deo  !  Veftriq^  Labores     . 

Quos  olim  in  Chrifto  fufcipietis  erunt. 
11  tq-,ret;«. meruit  fibi  Cantabrigia Nomen, 

Sic  Nomen  fiet  dulce  Feraxq:,  Nwa. 


Johannes    Wilfomts. 


Verba  Doft.  Arrorvfrnitb,  in  Orat.  Antiweigeliana. 

Faxit    Ecus  Optimus,  Maximus,  tenacem  adc«  Veritatis  banc  Academiam,  ut  deiftceps  in  Anglia  Lu- 
pi'v.vi  Hibernia  Bufonemy  tuvemre  facilius  fit,  qu*m  mt  Socimamm,  aut  Atminiamun  in  Cantabrigia. 


C  cc 


THE 


140 


..  II* 


Book  IV. 


THE 


HISTORY 


O  F 


8fattoata=Colletige. 


a- 


PART    II. 


The  LIVES  of  fame   Eminent   Perfons  therein    Educated. 

Difcant  ergo  rabidi  adverfus  Chriftum  canes,  difcant  eorum  Seffotores,  qui  putant  Eccleliam 
nullos  Philofophos  et  Eloquentes,  nullos  habuiffe  Dolores,  quanti  et  quales  Viri  earn  extruxe- 
rint  et  ornaverint,  et  definant  Fidem  noftram  Ruftkae  tantum  Simplicitatis  arguere,  fuamque 
potius  Imperitiam  agnofcaat.    Hieron.  Praf.  ad  Catul.  de  Scrip.  EccleJ. 


5-  t. 


T 


H  E  Great  Faftl  mentions  a  Cer- 
tain Art,  of  Drawing  many  Doves, 
by  anointing  the  Wings  of  a  Few 
with  a  Fragrant  Ointment,  and 
fo  fending  them  abroad  that  by  the  Fragrancy 
of  the  Ointment  they  may  allure  others  unto  the 
Houfe,  whereof  they  are  themfelves  the  Dome- 
fticks.  I  know  not  how  far  it  may  have  any 
Tendency  to  draw  others  unto  the  Religion  hi- 
therto profeffed  and  maintained  in  Harvard- 
CoUedge :  But  I  have  here  fent  forth  fome  of 
the  Doves  belonging  to  that  Houfe,  with  the 
Ointment  of  a  Good  Name  upon  them.  And  yet 
I  fhould  not  have  beftow'd  the  Ointment  of  their 
Embalmed  Name,  as  I  have  done,  if  the  God 
of  Heaven  by  firft  bellowing  the  Ointment  of  His 
Heavenly  Grate  upon  them,  had  not  given  them 
todeferveit.  Socrates  being  asked,  which  was  the 
molt  Beautiful  Creature  in  the  World,  anfwer- 
ed,  A  Man  garmfhed  with  Learning.    But,  with 


his  Leave,  a  more  Beautiful  Creature  is,  A 
Man  garnished  with  Vertue.  Reader,  I  will  now 
fhow  thee  Ten  Men  garniflied  with  Both. 

§.  2.  The  Death  of  thofe  Brave  Men  that 
firft  planted  New-England,  would  have  rendred 
a  fit  Emblem  for  the  Countrey.  A  Beech-Tree 
with  its  Top  lapt  off,  and  the  Motto,  Rnina 
Reltnquor  ;  ( which  Tree  withers  when  its  Top 
is  lopt  off !  )  if  Harvard-CoUedge  had  not  pre- 
vented it.  But  now,  upon  the  Lops  of  Mortality 
Vno  avulfo  non  deficit  Alter.  We  have  Opportunity 
to  Write  the  Lives  of  another  Set,  who  indeed 
had  their  Whole  Growth  in  the  Soyl  of  New- 
England  ;  Perfons,  whom  I  may  call  Cedars 
and  Fir-Trees,  as  Jerom  did  Cyprian  and  Hilary, 
and  other  Holy  Men  in  his  Comment  on  that 
Paffage,  J  fa.  60.  13.  The  Glory  of  Lebanon  /hall 
come  unto  thee,  the  Fir-Tree,  'and  the  Pine-Tree,  to 
beantifie  the  Place  of  my  Santtuary. 


CHAP. 


Book  IV.  ^  H//fory  0/  New-England. 


141 


CHAP.     I. 
FIDES     IN    VITA: 

OR,   THE 

LIFE 

O     F 

Mr.    John    Brock. 

O/im  Fides   erat  in  Fit*,  magis  quim  in  Articulorum  Profejftone*    Erafin.  Epiji, 


§•  1. 


D 


Tfigning  to  Write  the  Lives  offome 
Learned  Men,  who  have  been  the 
Jffut  and  the  Honour  of  Harvard- 
Colledgt,  let  my  Reader  be  rather 
Admonifhed  than  Scandalised  by  it,  if  the  Firft 
of  thefe  Lives,  exhibit  One,  whofe  Goodnefs  was 
above  his  Learning,  and  whole  Chief  Learning 
was  his  Goodnefs.  If  One  had  asked  Mr.  JOHN 
BROCK,  that  Queftion  in  Antoninus,  Ti?  *;  »  Tix*» : 
Of  what  Art  baft  thou  proceeded  Mafter  ?  He 
might  have  truly  anfwered,  'hyatih  *„.«,.  My 
Art  is  to  be  Good.  He  was  a  Good  Grammarian, 
chiefly  in  this,  that  he  Stil  /poke  the  Truth  from 
i>is  Heart.  He  was  a  Good  Logician,  chiefly  in 
this,  that  he  Prefented  himfelf  unto  God  with  a 
Reasonable  Service.  He  was  a  Good  Arithmetician, 
chiefly  in  this,  that  he  So  numbred  his  Days  as  to 
apply  his  Heart  unto  Wifdom.  He  was  a  Good 
A(lronomer,  chiefly  in  this,  that  his  Converfation 
vnas  in  Heaven.  It  was  chiefly  by  being  a  Good 
Chriflian,  that  he  proved  himfelf  a  Good  Anifl. 
The  Elogy  which  Gregory  the  Great  beftow'd  on 
Steven  the  Monk,  Erat  hujus  Lingua  Rufiica,  fed 
Docla  Vita  ;  fo  much  belong'd  unto  this  Good 
Man,  that  fo  Learned  a  Life,  may  well  be 
judg'd  worthy  of  being  a  Written  One. 

§.  t.  He  was  Born  at  the  Town  of  Strad- 
brook,-  in  the  County  of  Suffolk.  A.  D.  162©. 
And  from  his  own  Trial  of  Early  Piety  in  him- 
felf, while  he  was  yet  a  Touth,  he  was  qualified, 
in  a  more  Significant  and  Efficacious  Manner, 
to  Recommend  it  unto  Young  People,  as  he  very 
much  did,  when  he  came  to  be  Old.  When  he 
was  about  feventeen  Years  of  Age,  he  came  to 
New-EngLwd,  as  to  a  Nurfery  of  Piety,  with  his 
Parents.-  And  here,  no  fooner  was  he  recovered 
of  the  Small  Pox,t  v.heiein  he  was  very  nigh  unto 

! 


Death,  but  another  Fit  of  Sicknefs  held  him  for 
no  lefs  than  Thirty  Weeks  together ;  whereby 
the  Hand  of  Heaven  ordering  the  Furnace,  pre- 
pared him  for  the  Services  that  he  afterwards 
performed. 

§.  3.  He  was  admitted  into  Harvard- CoUedge, 
A.  D.  1643.  where  he  ftudied  for  feveral  Years, 
with  an  Exemplary  Diligence  ■  being  of  the  Opi- 
nion, that  as  Caleb  faid  unto  his  Men,  1  beftotv 
my  Daughter  upon  one  of  you,  but  he  that  will  have 
her,  muft  firft  win  Kiriath-Sepher;  i.  e.  A  City 
of  Books ;  thus,  One  is  not  worthy  to  have  a  Church 
beftow'd  upon  him,  until  he  hath  fome  time  Jain 
before  Kirtath-Sepher,  and  ftaid  at  fomeVniver/ity. 
After  five  Years  lying  here  (  as  loth  to  be  one 
of  the  Sacerdotes  Moment andi,  or,  Modi  Idiota 
mox  Clerici,  fomeiimes  by  the  Ancients  complained 
of  )  he  entred  upon  the  Work  of  the  Evangeli- 
cal Miniftry ;  firft  at  Rowly,  and  then  at  the  Jfle 
of  Sholes.  Here  Scaliger  might  have  indeed  found 
Wifdom  inhabiting  the  Rocks;  and  here  a  Spiritual 
Fifherman,  did  more  than  a  little  Good  among 
a  Rude  Company  of  Literal  Ones. 

§.  4.  In  the  Year,  \66i.  he  became  a  Paftcr 
to  the  Church  at  Reading.  And  here  he  conti* 
nued  in  the  Faithful  Difcharge  of  his  Miniftry, 
until  the  Time,  that  (as  the  Ancients  expreffed 
it )  He  took  his  Journey  a  little  before  his  Body,  in- 
to  another  Countrey.  He  wholly  devoted  himfelf, 
unto  his  Beloved  Employment;  preaching  on  Lord's 
Days,  and  on  Le&ures  at  Private  Church- Meetings, 
and  at  Meetings  of  Young  Ptrfons  for  the  Exerci- 
fes  of  Religion,  which  he  mightily  encouraged, 
as  Great  Engines,  to  render  his  more  Publick  La- 
bours effectual  on  the  Rifing  Generation.  His  Pa- 
floral  1'ifits,  to  Water  what  had  been  Sown  in  his 
C  c  c  c  2  Pub- 


142 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  Book  IV 


Pstblick labours,  were  alfo  very  fedulous  and  afli- 
duous  •,  and  in  thefe  he  managed  a  peculiar  Ta- 
lent, which  he  had  at  Cbriflian  Conference,  where- 
by he  did  more  Good,  than  fome  Abler  Preach- 
ers did  in  the  Pulpit.  He  was  herewithal  fo 
Exemplary  for  his  Holintfs,  that  our  Famous 
Mr.  Mitcbel  would  fay  of  him,  He  dwelt  as  near 
Heaven,  as  any  Man  upon  Earth. 

§  5.,  About  Three  or  Four  Years  before  his 
Death,  he  was  viiited  with  a  Long  and  Sore  Fit 
of  Sicknefs  :  But  upon  his  Rdloration  from  that 
Sicknefs,  he  en  joy 'd  a  more  Wonderful  Pre  fence 
of  God  with  htm  in  his  Miniftry  than  ever  be- 
fore, and  a  more  Wondtrful  Succefs  of  it.  At 
length,  he  told  One  in  his  Family,  that  he  had 
befought  this  Favour  of  Heaven  •,  To  live  but 
fourteen  Days  after  the  Publick  Labours  of  bis  Mi- 
niftry fhould  befimfhed  :  And  he  was  in  this  thing 
moft  particularly  favoured.  He  fell  fick,  and 
after  a  Sicknefs  of  juft  Fourteen  Days,  on  June  18. 
1688.  his  Friends  full  of  Sorrow  for  their  Lofs, 
might  ufe  Nazi.inzsns  Words  concerning  him, 
V«wi,  He  is  flown  array.  But  their  Sorrow, 
Quid  talent  a  mftrint,  was  (  to  ufe  the  Words 
of  Jeroni  to  Nepotian  )  accompanied  with  Glad- 
nefs,  Qu°d  talem  babuerint. 

§.  6.  Good  Men,  that  labour  and  abound  in 
Prayer  to  the  Great  God,  fometimes  arrive  to 
the  AfTurance  of  a  Particular  Faith,  for  the  Good 
Succefs  of  their  Prayer.  'Tis  not  a  Thing  that 
never  happens,   That  the  Children  of  God,  ini 

the  midft  of  their  Supplications  for  this  or  thav  Small  Pox,  his  diftreffed  Mother  came  drowned 
Particular  Mercy:  find  their  Hearts  very  Comfor-'in  Tears  to  Mr.  Brock;  fhe  told  him,  She  left 
tably,  but  Vna-countably  carried  forth  to  a  ftrange  her  Son  fo  fick,  that  (he  did  not  imagine  ever  to  fee 
Pcrfwafton,  that  they  (hall  receive  this  Particular  him  alive  again;  he  replied,  Sifter y  Be  of  good 
Mercy  from  the  Lord  ;  and  this  Perfwafion  is  not  j  Cbe er  ■  the  Lord  has  told  me  nothing  of  your  Son's 
a  meer  Notion  and  Fancy  but  a  fpecial  Impreffion  'dying,  Pi  again  go  with  his  Cafe  unto  the  Lord. 
from  Heaven,  upon  the  Minds  of  the  Saints  that  The  Young  Man  recovered,  and  is  at  this  Day 
are  made  Partakers  of  it.  This  Particular  Faith  a  Deacon  of  the  Church  in  Reading. 
is  not  the  Attainment  of  Every  Chriftian,  much  j  A  Child  of  one  Arnold,  about  fix  Years  old, 
lefs  an  Endowment  of  Every  Prayer.  There  is  Tay  fick,  fo  near  dead,  that  they  judg'd  it  really 
no  Real  Cbriflian,  but  what  Prays  in  Faith;  his, dead.  Mr.  Brock  perceiving  fome  Life  in  it, 
Prayer  hath  a  General  Faith  in  the  Power,  and! goes  to  Prayer ;  and  in  his  Prayer  ufcd  thisEx- 
Wifdom,  and  Goodnefs  of  God,  and  the  Mediation  '  preflion,  Lord,  wilt  thou  not  grant  fome  Sign,  lei 
of  Chrift.     But  there  is  many  a  Real  Chriftian,  fore  we  leave  Prayer,  that  thou  wilt  fp are  and  heal 


do  this  or  that  individual  Thing  for  him  ;  how- 
ever,  'tis  no  Sin  for  a  Chriftian  to  break 
off  not  Affured  of  it.  But  it  is  the  Holy  Spirit 
of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  that  with  a  Singular 
Operation,  does  produce  in  a  Chriftian  this  Par- 
cular  Faith  ;  which  indeed  is  near  akin  to  the 
Faith  of  Miracles.  Nor  does  the  Principal  Effici- 
ency of  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  thefe  Ulapfes,  exclude 
and  hinder,  the  Inftrumentality  of  the  Holy  An- 
gels in  them :  They  are  are  no  doubt  the  Holy 
Angels,  that  with  an  Inexpreffible  Impulfe,  bear 
in  upon  the  Mind,  the  Particular  Faith,  wherewith 
fome  Saints  are  at  fome  Times  irradiated.  The 
Wondrous  Meltings,  the  Mighty  Wreftlings,  the 
Quiet  Waitings,  and  the  Holy  Refolves,  that  are 
Characters  of  a  Particular  Faith,  which  is  no 
Delufion,  are  the  Works  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
wherein  His  Holy  Angels  may  be  lnftruments. 

Eminent  was  Mr.  Brock,  for  this  Myfterions 
Excellency.  This  Good  Man,  was  One  Full  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  and  Faith.  He  had  many  of  thofe 
Things,  which  we  may  call  (  as  the  Martyr  Cy- 
prian call'd,  thofe  Communications  from  Heaven, 
which  often  directed  him  in  his  Exigencies. )  Di- 
vine Condefcenftons.  And  there  were  many  Nota- 
ble Effefts  of  his  Faithful  and  Fervent  Prayers, 
whereof  the  Exaft  Hiftory  is  now  loft,  becaufe 
it  was  not  in  the  proper  Seafon  thereof  compo- 
fed  and  preferved. 

Some  few  Remarkables,  are  not  only  ftill  re- 
membred,  but  alfo  well  Attefted. 
One   Thomas  Bancroft  lay  very    fick  of  the 


who  is  a  Stranger  to  the  Meaning  of  this  Thing ; 
A  particular  Faith  for  fuch  Mercies,  without  which 
a  Man  may  get  fife  to  Heaven  at  the  laft.  It  is 
here  and  there  a  Chriftian,  whom  the  Sovereign 
Grace  of  Heaven,  dots  Favour,  with  the  Confo- 
lations  of  a  Particular  Faith  :  Nor  if  a  Chriftian 
tafte  of  thefe  Joys,  may  |he  expeft  more  than  a 
Taftt  of  them  ;  they  are  Dainties  that  are  not 
every  Day  to  be  Feafted  on  :  'Tis  not  in  every 
Prayer,  that  the  King  of  Heaven  will  admit  eve- 
ry one  to  fo  much  of  Intimacy  with  himfelf.  In- 
deed, fuch  a  Particular  Faith,  is  not  fo  much  the 
Duty  of  a  Chriftian ,  as  his  Comfort,  his  Honour,  his 
Priviledpe.  There  is  a  Praying  in  Faith,  incum- 
bent on  every  Chriftian  in  every  Prayer  ;  but  this 
Particular  Faith  for  the  beftowal  of  fuch  and  fuch 
defired  Mercies,  is  not  incumbent  on  a  Chriftian  •, 
'tis  not  required  of  him.  'Tis  a  vaft  Priviledge, 
for  a  Chriftian  to  be  Affured,  that  the  Lord  will 


this  Child  ?  We  cannot  leave  thee  till  we  have  it ! 
The  Child  fneez'd  immediately,  Mr.  Brock  then 
gives  Thanks,  and  breaks  off]  The  very  next 
Day,  the  Child  vifited  Him,  and  carried  him  a 
Prefent. 

When  Mr.  Brock  lived  in  the  Ifle  of  Sholet, 
he  brought  the  People  into  an  Agreement,  that, 
befides  the  Lord's-Days,  they  would  fpend  one 
Day  every  Month  together  in  the  Worfhip  of 
our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift.  On  a  certain  Day,  whid> 
by  their  Agreement  belong'd  unto  the  Exercifes 
of  Religion,  being  arrited,  the  Fifhermen  came 
to  Mr.  Brock,  and  ask'd  him,  that  they  might 
Put  by  their  Meeting,  and  go  a  Fifhing,  becaufe 
they  had  loft  many  Days  by  the  Foulnefs  of  th« 
Weather.  He  feeing,  that  without  and  againft 
hisiConfent,  they  refolved  upon  doing  what  they 
had  asked  of  him,  replied,  If  you  will  go  away,  I 
fay  unto  you,    catch  Fi(h,    if  you  can  !    But  as  for 

you, 


Book  IV.  The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


45 


you,  that  will  tarry,  and  worfhip  the  Lord  Jefus 
Qmft  this  Day,  1  will  fray  unto  Him  for  yon,  that 
you  may  take  Fifh  till  you  are  weary.  Thirty  Men 
went  away  from  the  Meeting,  and  Five  tarried. 
The  Thirty  which  went  away  from  the  Meeting, 
with  all  their  Skill  could  catch  but  Four  Fifties ; 
the  Five  which  tarried,  went  forth  afterwards, 
and  they  took  Five  Hundred.  The  Fifhermen  af- 
ter this  readily  attended,  whatever  Meetings 
Mr.  Brock  appointed  them. 

A  Fifher-man,  who  had  with  his  Boat,  been 
very  Helpful,  to  carry  a  People  over  a  River, 
for  the  Worfhip  or  God,  on  the  Lords-Days, 
in  the  JJle  of  Sholes,  loft  his  Boat  in  a  Storm. 
The  poor  Man  laments  his  Lofs  to  Mr.  Brock ; 
who  tells  him,  Go  home,  Honeft  Man,  PI  men- 
tion the  Matter  to  the  Lord,  you'l  have  your  Boat 
again  to  Morrow.  Mr.  Brock  now  considering, 
of  what  a  Confequence  this  Matter,  that  feem'd 
fofmall  other  wife,  might  be  among  the  untracea- 
ble Fifhermen,  made  the  Boat  an  Article  of  his 
Prayers ;  and  behold,  on  the  Morrow,  the  poor 
Man  comes  rejoycing  to  him,  That  his  Boat  was 
found,  the   Anchor  of  another  VefTel,  that  was 


undefignedly  caft  upon  it,  having  ftrangely  brought 
it  up,  from  the  Unknown  Bottom,  where  it  had 
been  funk. 

'  When  K.  Charles  II.  fentOne  of  his  Infamous 
Creatures,  whofe  Name  was  Cranfield,  for  to  be 
Governor  of  HampfhWe,  a  Northern  Province  of 
New-England,  one  of  the  Illegal  Outrages  com- 
mitted by  that  Cranfield  was,  the  Imprifoning  of 
Mr.  Moodey,  the  Minifter  of  Port/mouth-  One, 
who  then  lived  with  Mr.  Brock,  feeing  him  one 
Morning  very  forrowful,  ask'd  him  the  Reafoa 
of  his  prefent  Sorrow.  Said  he,  1  am  very  much 
troubled  for  my  Dear  Brother  Moodey,  who  is  im- 
prifoned  by  Cranfield  :  but  I  will  this  day  feek 
to  ithe  Lord  on  his  behalf,  and  1  believe  my 
God  will  hear  me  !  And  on  that  very  Day  was 
Mr.  Moodey  (  forty  Miles  off )  by  a  marvellous 
Difpofal  of  Providence,  delivered  out  of  his  Im- 
prifonment. 

Multitudes  of  fuch  Paftages,  whereof  thefe  are 
but  fome  few  Gleanings,  caufed  our  Mr. "John  Allin 
of  Dedham,to  fay  concerning  Mr.  Brock  ;  I fcarce 
ever  knew  any  Man  fo  Familiar  with  the  Great  God, 
as  His  Dear  Servant  Brock  ! 


CHAR    II. 

FRVCTVOSVS; 

OR,    THE 

L    I    F    E 

O  F 

Mr.  Samuel  Mather, 


H«c  cafli  maneant  In  Religione  Nepotes 
Et  Nati  Natorum,  et  qui  najcentur  ab  illis^ 


I 


§.  i .  T  T  is  a  Thing  truly,  and  juftly  thought 
among  the  Churches  of  God,  Fcelix 
ilia  Anima,  ante  Aliis  eft  Forma  Sanili- 
tatis :  Thrice  and  Four  Times  Happy 
that  Man,  from  whofe  Example,  other  Men 
may  learn  to  be  Holy  and  Happy.  Now,  for  this 
Happinefs,  not  only  were  many  among  the  firft 
Fathers  of  New-England,  with  the  Hiftory  of 
whofe  Exemplary  Lives,  the  Faithful  have  been 
entertained,  confiderable ;  but  fome  among  the 
Sons  of  thofe  Fathers  alfo,  have  bin  fo  exemplary 
for  their  Holsnefs,  that  their  Lives  alfo  deferve  to 
fill  the   Pages  of  an  Ecslefiaftical  Hiftory.    One 


of  thofe  is  now  going  to  be  fet  before  my  Red- 
der; and  one,  who,  whether  we  confider  his 
Early  Sanclity,  or  his  Fervent  Miniftry,  will  ap- 
pear fo  much  of  a  John  Baptift  unto  us,  that  I 
choofe  the  Confeffion  of,  Jofepbus  the  Jewifh  Hi- 
ftorian  (  who,  if  he  were  admitted  into  the 
Difcipline  of  Banus,  a  Difctple  of  John,  as,  he 
fays,  he  was,  he  might  well  make  fuch  a  Con- 
feflion  )  concerning  that  John,  to  exprefs  the 
Character  of  this  Worthy  Man ;  He  was  an  Ex- 
cellent Man,  and  One  that  ftirred  up  the  People  to 
Piety  and  Virtue,  Holinefs  and  Purity.  This  was 
Mr.  Samuel  Mather. 

§.  2.    Mr- 


1 44  the-  Hifiory  of  New-England. 


Book  IV. 


§.  2.    Mr.    Samuel   Mather,   was  Born  May 
13.   A.  D.   1626.  at  Much-Wootton  in  Lancaflnre. 
But  was  the  Queftion  of  Saul  concerning  David, 
Wbofe  Son  is  this  Tenth  ?     About  the  Meaning 
of  which  Queftion,  there  may  be  fame  Wonder, 
becaufe  David  had  already  been  ferviceable,  at 
the    Court  of  Sa:d,  fome  while,  before:    And 
therefore  fome  take   the  Meaning  of  the  Que-- 
ftion  to  be.  What    Manner  of  Man's  Son  is  this  f 
It  was   Obferved,    that  fome  of  the  Notableft 
Men  in  the  Land,  were  of  this   Family,    and, 
among  the  rtft,  joab  was  of  it,  Joab,  who  tor 
his  Valour  .was  made  General  of  the  Field,  Joab, 
who  never  once  in  his  Life  mifs'd  of  the  Vi- 
ctory ;  He  was  the  Son  of  J#'s  Daughter.  Now 
Said  was  inquifitive,   What   manner  of  Man  this 
Jejfe  was,  that  all  his  Children  prov'd  fo  Eminent. 
If  my  Reader,  thereto  excited    by  the  Figure, 
which  as  well  this  Perfon,  as  divers  of  his  Bro- 
thers have   made   in  the  Church  of  God,  fhall 
accordingly  enquire  Wbofe  Son  was  this  Toitth  ?  It 
mutt  be  anfwered,  that  his  Father  was  the  Famous 
Mr.  Richard  Mather,  whofe  Life  has  been  already 
a  Confiderable  Part  not  only  in  our  own  Church- 
Hifiory,  but  alfo  in  the  haft  Volume  of  Mr.  Clark's 
Collections.    Brought  up,  and  brought  over  by 
this  his  Father,  out  Samuel  came  to  New-England, 
in  the  Year  1635.  delivered  with  the  reft  of  bis 
Family,  from  as  Eminent  Danger  of  Death,  as 
ever  was  efcaped  by  Mortal  Men,  in  a  Fierce 
and  Sore  Hurricane  on  the  New-Englifh  Coaft. 

§.3.  Let  the  Silly  Romanifi  pleafe  himfelf 
with  his  Romance  of  St.  Rumald,  who  as  foon 
as  he  drew  his  Firjl  Breath,  cryed  Three  Times 
I  am  a  Chrijlian  !  and  then  making  a  plain  Con- 
feffion  of  his  Faith,  defired,  that  he  might  be  bap- 
tised :  It  is  moft  certainly  True,  that  Samuel 
Mather,  did  not  fuffer  two  Times  Three  Years 
to  pafs  him  after  his  Firfl  Breath,  before  he  had, 
many  times,  manifefted  himfelf  to  be  a  Chrijlian, 
under  the  Regenerating  Impreflions  of  that  Spi- 
rit, into  whofe  Name  and  Faith,  he  had  been 
baptised.  The  Holy  Spirit  of  God  made  Early 
Vifits  unto  our  Samuel,  who  from  his  Child- 
hood was  devoted  unto  the  Tabernacle.  He  was 
in  his  Early  Childhood,  an  Extraordinary  Inftance 
of  Difcretion,  Gravity,  Serioufnefs,  Prayerful- 
nefs,  and  Watchfulnefs,  which  accompanied  with 
a  certain  Generofity  of  Temper,  and  an  ufual  Pro- 
grefs  in  Learning,  wherein 

. Rerum  Prudentia  Felox, 


Ante  Pilos  venit  • 


render'd  him  the  Delight  of  all  that  part  of  Man- 
kind)  that  know  him  ;  and  as  the  Name  of 
ricufaeioyitot,  was  of  Old  given  to  Macarius,  thus 
this  Bleffed  Young  Man  was  commonly  called, 
The  Young  Old  Man,  by  thofe  that  mentioned 
him.  R.  Eliez.tr,  the  Son  of  R.  Asariah,  when 
made  Prefident  of  the  Jewijh  Sanhedrin,  at  fix- 
teen  Years  of  Age,  was  not  one  of  a  more  com- 
pofed  Behaviour.  A  certain  Arabian  Commen- 
tary upon  the  Alchoran  reports,  That  when  John 
Baptijl  was  a  Child,  other  Boys  asked,  him  to 
play  with  them  ;  which    he  refufed,  faying,   / 


was  not  fent  into  the  World  for  Spcrt.  Such  great 
Thoughts  infpired  our  Samuel  Mather,  while  he 
was  yet  a  Child  !  To  Demonftrate  and  llluftrate 
this  Part  of  his  Character,  I  fhall  only  recite  an 
Extract  of  a  Letter,;  which  he  wrote  from  his 
Lodging  in  Cambridge,  to  his  Father  in  Dor- 
cbefier,  when  he  was  no  more  than  Twelve 
Years  of  Age. 

'  c Though  (faith  he)    I  am  thus  well  in 

my  Body,  yet  I  queftion  whether  my  Soul  doth 
profper  as  my  Body  doth  ;  for  I  perceive,  yet  to 
this  very  Day  little  Growth  in  Grace  ;  and  this 
makes  me  quell  ion,  whether  Grace  be  in  my 
Heart  or  :no.  I  feel  alfo  daily  Great  VnwiUing- 
nefs  to  good  Duties,  and  the  Great  Ruling  hi 
Sin  in  my  Heart  ,•  and  that  God  is  angry  with 
me,  and  gives  me  no  Anferers  to  my  Prayers, 
but  many  times,  He  even  throws  them  down 
as  Dufl  in  my  Face  ;  and  He  does  not  Grant 
my  Continual  Requefts  for  the  Spiritual  Blef- 
fing  of  the  Sof tning  of  my  Hard  Heart.  And 
in  all  this  I  could  yet  take  fome  Comfort,  but 
that  it  makes  me  to  Wonder,  What  God's 
Secret  Decree  concerning  me  may  be ;  for  I  doubt 
whether  ever  God  is  wont  to  deny  Grace  and 
Mercy  to  His  Chofai  (though  Uncalled)  when 
they  feek  unto  Him,  by  Prayer,  for  it  ;  and 
therefore,  feeing  he  doth  thus  deny  it  to  me, 
1  think,  that  the  Reafon  of  it  is  moft  like  to  be, 
becaufe  I  belong  not  unto  the  Eleilion  o/Graa, 
I  defire  that  you  would  lee  me  have  your  Pray- 
ers, as  I  doubt  not  but  I  have  them  ;  and  reft 

Your  Son, 

Samuel  Mather. 

Behold  the  Language  of  One,  more  able  than 
the  Famous  Cornelius  Mus,  to  have  been  a  Preach- 
er (  as  they  fay  he  was)  when  Twelve  Tears  of 
Age !  Now  albeit,  fuch  Early  Accompli Jlmients, 
Ufe  to  be  threatned  with  Cicero's,  Non  potejl  in 
eo  ftccus  effe  dint  urn  us,  quod  nimis  cehtiter  matu- 
ritatcm  eft  affecutus  :  And  with  Quintihanh,  Ingc- 
niornm  precox  Genius,  non  temere  unqusm  perve- 
nit  ad  Irugem-,  and  with  Curtius\,  Nulhs  efl 
et  Diutumus  &  Precox  FruClus ;  which  our  Pro- 
verb has  Engliftied,  Si  on  Ripe,  foon  Rotten  ;  there 
was  no  fuch  Obfervation  to  be  made  of  our  Sa- 
muel, who  ftill  continually  grew  in  his  Accom- 
plifhments,  and  inftead  of  loling  them,  like  the 
Hermogenes  mentioned  by  C.  Rodiginus,  he  kept 
advancing  in  all  Wifdom  and  Goodnefs,  'till  he 
was  found  Ripe  for  Eternal  Glory. 

§.  4.  In  the  Catalogue  of  the  Graduates  pro- 
ceeding from  Harvard-Colledge,  our  Samuel  Ma-  . 
therf  was  the  Firft,  who  appears  as  a  Fellow  of 
that  Happy  Society  •,  wherein  his  careful  Jnjlru- 
clhn,  and  exaft  Government  of  the  Scholars  un- 
der his  Tuition,  c3ofed  as  many  of  them  as  were 
fo,  to  mention  him  afterwards  with  Honour,  as 
long  as  they  lived  ;  and  fuch  was  the  Love  of 
all  the  Scholars  to  him,  that,  not  only  when  he 
readthis  Lafl  Philofopby-Leclwe,  in  the  Colledge- 
Hall,  they  heard  him  with  Tears,  becaufe  of  it's 
1  *  being 


Book  IV.  The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  145 


being  his  Laft,  but  alfo,  when  he  went  away  from 
the  Colledge,  they  put  on  the  Tokens  of  Mourn- 
ing in  their  very  Garments  for  it.     But  by  this 
his  Living  at  Cambridge,  under  the  Miniftry  of 
Mr.  Shepard,  he  had  the  Advantage  to  conform 
himfelf,  in  his  younger  Years,  more  than  a  little, 
unto  the  Spirit  and  Preaching  of  that  Renowned 
Man  ;  (  of  whofe  Life,  he  afterwards  publifhed 
certain   Memoirs   unto   the  World  )  Of  which 
Thing  the  Famous  Mr.  Cotton  fpeaking  to  this 
our  young   Mather,  did  Congratulate  his  Hap- 
pinefs  therein  ;    adding,  that  in  like   manner, 
one  Great  Reafon,    why  there  came  fo  many 
Excellent  Preachers  out  of  Cambridge,  in  England, 
more  than  out  of  Oxford,  in  fome  former  Days, 
was  the  Miniftry  of  Mr.  Perkins,  in  that  Univer- 
fity.    Our  Mather  being  not  only  by  Notable 
Tarts,    both  Natural  and   Acquired,  and  by  an 
Eminently  Gracious  Difpofition  of  Soul,  but  alfo 
by  a  certain  Florid  and  Sparkling  Livelinefs  of 
Expreffion,  admirably  fitted  for  the  Service  of 
the  Gofpel,  feveral  Congregations  in  this  Wil- 
dernefs,  applied  themfelves  unto  him,    for  the 
Enjoyment  of  his  Labours  among  them.    In  An- 
JTwer  to  their  Applications,  he  fpent  fome  time 
v  th  the  Church  of  Rowly,  as  an  Afliftant  unto 
C  c   Mr.  Ez.ekiel  Rogers ;  where  the  Zeal  of  the 
People     >  have  him  fettled,  was  the   Caufe  of 
hu  not  fetling  there  at  all  •,  but  when  the  Temp- 
tations   arifing    from  the  Zeal  of  the   People, 
caufed    him  to  choofe  a  Removal  from  thence, 
it  went  fo  near  unto  the  Hearts  of  fome  Good 
Men  there,  that  it  contributed,  as  'twas  thought, 
even  unto  flvrcning  of  their  Days,  in  the  World. 
Here,  although  in  his  Rich  Furniture  of  Learning, 
from  the  Schools,  the  Lamps  were  lighted,  before 
he  did  venture  to  bring  his  Incenfe  unto  the  Al- 

make  his 


tar,  yet  his  Great  Learning  did  not 
Preaching  fo  obfeure,  as  to  give  the  plain  Coun- 
try-People Occafion  for  the  Complaint,  which 
they  l'ometimes  made  of  another  ;  This  Man  may  '  be  fuch  Extreme  Blindnefs  and  Blockifhnefs. 


one  thing,  againlf  which "fte  lifed  more  ot Thun- 
derbolt, than  that  VhLoly  Spirit  of  AMnotniamfm, 
wherewith    many   People  iri   thofe  DlMv  were 
led  alide.     It    was  with  a'patticular  Agony  of 
DilTatisfaftion,  that  he  wotild  ftill  fpeak  of  theft 
Vngodly  Men,    who  turned  ilk  Grace  of  (fad  into 
Wantonnefs  .  He  would  fpeak  of  them    in;  fuch 
Words  as  thefe  f_  Reader,  they  are  of  his  Inn 
Words,  in  a  Sermon  about  Hatdnefs  of  Heart .-  ] 
The  fame    Word  is  ufed   for    Blindntf,    and 
J  Hardnefs  (  Eph.  4. 1 8.  &  Rom.  1 1 .  7, 8.  )  when 
Ahafhucrus  was  offended  with  Haman,  his  Face 
1  was  covered;  and  amongft  us,  when  the  Cloath 
is  pulled  over  the  Face,  at  an  Executiou,  the 
J  Wretch  is  prefently  to  be  turn'd  off.    Thus, 
'  when  the  Eyes  of  the  Soul  are  covered,  and 
the  God  of  this  World  blinds  them,  and  they  are 
'  Given  over  to  believe  a  Lye,  this  is    the  Begin- 
'  ning  of  their  utter  Hardnefs,  and  Eternal  Per- 
dition.    There    are   now    many  Principles   of 
c  Darhefs,  whereby  Mens  Hearts  are  Hardened 
'  in  Sin  ;  whereof  One  is,  Vae  Abrogation  of  tip 
'  Moral  Law,  as  a  Rule  of  Life  unto  a  Chriftipn  : 
1  A  Conceit  that  came  out  of  Hell;  and  is  di- 
*  redly  againft  the  Cleareft  Light  of  Scripture  j 
Mat.  5. 17,  18, 19.  And  blafphemoufly  injuri- 
c  ous  to  the  Blood  of  the  Lord  Jefus  ChViff'3 
4  who  dyed  for  this  End,  to  make  his  People 
Zealous  of  good  Works,  and  therefore  it  makes 
'  him  to  Dye  in  vain.    This    Principle   works 
'  extream  Hardnefs  of  Heart ;  for  when  a  Man 
'  hath  drunk  in  this  Poifon,  he  may  fin  without 
Sorrow,  yea,  and  without  any  Check  of  Con- 
'  fcience  for  it.    If  he  be  not  bound  to  Keep 
'  to  the  Rule,  why  fhould  he  be  troubled  for 
'  Breaking  of  it  ?     What   are   fuch  Errors  but 
as    Calvin    fpeaks,     Exundantis    in    Mundum 
■  Furoris  Dei  Flagelia,  the  Scourges  of  the  Over- 
;  flowing  Fury  of  an   Angry   God  againft  this 
Wicked  World  ?    Hence  alfo  there  comes  to 


e  a  Great  Scholar,  but  he  wants  Beetle  and  Wedges 
to  hew  our  knotty  Timber  withal.  Afterwards  a 
Church  being  to  be  gathered,  iu  the  North  Part 
of  Boflon,  they  had  their  Eyes  upon  Him  to  be 
their  Pallor,  and  accordingly  He  entertained  a 
Vaft  Auditory  of  Chriftians,  with  fo  incompa- 
rab'e  a  Sermon  upon  the  Day,  when  that  People 
pubii.kly  embodied  themfelves  into  their  Eccle- 
ftafiical  State,  that  Old  Mr.  Cotton,  with  whom 
he  then  fojourned,  faid  upon  it,  Such  a  Sermon 
from  fo  young  a  Man  as  this,  is  a  Matter  of  much 
more  Satisfaction,  than  fuch  an  One  from  One  of  us 
Elder  Men;  for  this  young  Man  is,  S>p£|5  <$5tC- 
glS.  And  with  this  People  he  continued  the 
Winter  following;  among  whom,  he  was  long 
after  fucceeded,  by  One  of  his  Worthy  Bre- 
thren. 

§.  5.  Having  in  him,  the  true  Spirit  of  a 
Witnefs  for  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  he  did,  even 
while  he  was  a  Young  Man,  in  this  Country  fet 
himfelf,  with  a  prudent,  but  yet  fervent  Zeal;  up- 
on all  Occafions  to  bear  a  juft  Witnefs,  againft 
every  thing  which  he  judged  contrary  unto  the 
Interefts  of  Holimfs.    But  there  was  hardly  any 


and  Blacknefs  of  Hell,  upon  the  Spirits  of  fome, 
•  as  to  Deny  the  Neceffity  of  a  Broken  Hearty 
c  and  Sorrow  for  Sin,  in  thefe  Times.  Minifters 
'  muft  preach  Old  Errors,  and  call  them  by  the 
'  Name  of  New  Light.  Why,  becaufe  they  are 
'  Gofpel  Times,  as  if  it  were  the  Work  of  the 
'  Gofpel  to  Harden  Mens  Hearts,  and  make  them 
1  Stocks  or  Stones,  or  like  the  Sturdy  Oaks  of 
4  Bafian,  before  the  Words  of  the  God  of  If- 
1  rael. 

Nor  could  he  with  eafier  Terms,  at  any  time, 
fpeak  of  the  Licentious  Difpofition,  engendred  by 
the  Antinomianifm  broached  and  Rampant,  at 
that  time,  among  many  ProfefTors  of  Chriflia- 
nity. 


§.  6.  But  he  that  Holds  the  Stars  in  his  Right 
Hand,  intending  that  a  Star  of  this  Magnitude, 
fhould  move  in  an  Orb,  where  his  Influences 
might  be  more  Extended  than  they  could  have 
been  by  any  Opportunities,  to  be  enjoyed  and 
improved  in  an  American  Wildernefs,  He  in- 
fpired  our  Mather  with  a  ftrong  Defife  to  paft 
over  into  England,  and  by  the  Wifdom  °f  He** 
ven,  there  fell  out  feveral  Temptationt  in  this 

Wider* 


146  The  Hijlory  of  New-England.  BookTT 


IVTldlfpefi,  which  occafioned  him  to  be  yet  more 
de.fjrpu.s.  of  fuch  a  Removal.     To  England  then 
he  wefit,  in  the  Year  1650.     Where  the  Right 
Honorable  Thomas,  Andrews,    Efq-,  then  Lord 
Mayor  of  the  City  of  London,  quickly  took  fuch 
Notice'of  his'  Abilities,  as  to  make  Choice  of 
him,  for  his  Chflphnn;   and  by  the    Advantage 
of' the  Poft,  where  he  was  now  placed  in  that 
Cbaplainfhip,  .he  came    into  an   Acquaintance, 
with  xhe  mo  ft 'Eminent  Minifteis  in  the  King- 
dom f  who  much  Honoured    and  Valued  him, 
a'nd,   though  of  different  Perflations,   Loved, 
Cfmfium  babitantcm  in   Matbero,     Here  his  Incli- 
nation. To  do  Good,  produced.  Good  and  Great 
Effe£s  •  but  yec  One  that  had  like  to  have  pro- 
ved fatal  unto  bimfelf :  For  being  a  Man  of  fuch 
Excellent  Accompliibments,  he  was  Courted  fo 
often  to  preach  in  the  Biggeft  AfTemblies,  that 
by  Overdoing' therein,  he  had  like  to  have  undone 
his  Friends,   and  loft  bis  :  Life.      The  Famous 
.Mr.  Sydracb  S^p/e»,' obferving  this  InconvenL- 
'^nqe!,^did  with  a  Brotherly,  yea,  with  a  Fatherly 
Cgr'e,.  obtain,  of  him  a  Promife,   that  he  would 
"ilot'jP^f/;  abroad  at  all,  except  when  He  fhould 
giy^b.i;s  Confent ;,  a,nd  accordingly  when  any  pub- 
lic^ ^ermons.  were  asked  of  him,  he  would  re- 
fer-lh^fe   that  asked    unto  Mr.  Sympfon,    who 
With,  a'*  Wife  and  Kind  Confederation  of  this  his 
F/ign4's  Health,  would  give  his  Confent,    but 
when  it  fhould  be  convenient. 

§,7.  Mr.  Mather,  was  after  this,  invited  un- 
to a  Settlement,  in  fevcral  Places  ;  and  in  An- 
fwer  to  thofc  Invitations,  he  did  preach  for  a 
while,. at  Graves-End,  and  after' that,  attheCj- 
tbedral,  in  the  City' of  Exeter.  But  having  from 
ins  Childhood,  a  Natural  and  Vehement  Affedi- 
on  to  a  ColUdgc-Lije,  he  retired  unto  Oxford, 
where  he  became  a  Chaplain  in  Magdalen-Colledge ; 
and  he  had  therewithal  an  Opportunity,  fome- 
times  at  St.  Maries^  to  preach  the  Gofpel  of  the 
Lord  Jefu,s  Chrift,  which  for  the  Sake  of  the 
Lord  Redeemci;,whom  he  loved  always  to  preach, 
be  gladly  took.  And  having  before  this,  pro- 
ceeded Mafler  of  Arts  in  the  only  Protectant 
Colledge  of  America,  he  was  now  admitted,  Ad 
Enrtdem,  not  only  in  the  Renowned  Univerfity  of 
Oxford,  but  in  that  of  Cambridge  alfo.  But 
having  been  fome  time  refident  in  Oxford,  the 
Englifh  ConmiJJioners,  then  going  into  Scotland, 
were  willing  to  carry  with  them  fome  Enghfh 
Miniflers,  whofe  Eminent  Learning,  Wifdom, 
Goodnefs  and  Reputation,  might  be  ferviceable 
unto  the  Interefts  of  Truth  and  Peace  in  that  Na- 
tion. Accordingly  Mr.  Mather  was  one  of  the 
Perfons  chofen  for  that  Service  •  and  there  he 
continued  at  Leigh,  preaching  the  Gofpel  of  God 
our  Saviour,  for  Two  Years  together. 

§.  8.  In  the  Year  1655.  he  returned  into 
England  :  And  the  Lord  Henry  Cromxvel,  then 
going  over  Lord-  Deputy  for  Ireland,  there  were 
feveral  Minifters  of  great  Note  pitched  upon  to 
go  oyer  with  him,  for  the  Service  of  the  Chri- 
llian  Religion  there,  whereof  was  Dr.  Harrifon, 
Dr..  Winter ',  Mr.  Cbarnock  and  our  Mr.  Mather. 


When  Mr.  Mather  came  to  Dublin^  was  made 
a  Senior  Fellow  of  frim'ty-Coliedge  ;  and  from  that 
Univerfity  he  had  .the  Offer  of  a  Bx£caiai:rcaUn 
in  Tbeohgu,   but  he  modeftly  declined  it     and 
feemed  inclinable  to  the  Jcmfh  Rule,  about  the 
Rabbinate,.  Love  the  Work,    but  Hate  the  RjbbL 
//■»/>  -,  yet  he  that  had  already  proceeded  Mafler  of 
Arts,    in  fo  many  Universities,  did    here  again 
proceed  Ad .  Eundem.      Of  any  further  Degrees 
our  Mather  was   ready   to  fay  with  the  Great 
Melanilhon,  who  would  not   accept    an  Higher 
Title  than,  that  of  M after  ;  Fides  me  urn  E*em- 
plum ;  Nemo   me  perpellere  potuit,  id  ilium  quam- 
Ubet  Honorificum  Titulum   Doftoris    mihi  decern 
finer  em.     Nee  ego  Gr  adits  illos  parvifacio,  fed  ideb, 
quia  judico  effe  magna  Onera,  et   neceffaria    j?«- 
publica,  vereemdt  petendos  effe,  et  confer endos  fntio. 
But  now  in  preaching  to  that  Renowned  Cityj 
and  in  the  Pafloral  Charge  of  the  Church  there, 
he  was  joined  as  a  Colleague  with  Dr.  Winter  ■ 
and  here  preached  every  Lord's  Day  Morning 
at  St  Nichol's  Church  •  befides  his  Turn  which 
he   took' once    in  fix  Weeks,  to  preach  before 
the  Lord  Deputy  and  Council.     A   Preacher  he 
now  was' of  Extroardinary  Efleem  and  Suuefs  j 
and  as  the  whole  Kingdom  took  Notice  of  him' 
fo  he  did  Service  for  the  whole  Kingdom,  in  the 
Eminent  Station,  where  God  had   placed  him. 
The  more  fpecial  Excellencies  for  which  his  Mi- 
niltry  was  here  obferved,  were,  Etrft,  A  moft 
Evangelical  Endeavour  to  make  the  Lord  Jtftts 
Chrift  the  Scope  and  Sum  of  all  that  he  faid.     Se- 
condly,   A  moft   Angelical  Ma)efly,    wherewith 
his  Meffages  were  (till  uttered,  as  coming  from 
the  Throne  of  God  ;  And     Thirdly,  Such  a  Clear- 
nefs  of  Keqfon  and  Method,  that  it  was  commonly 
remark'd,  Mr.  ChamocW  Invention,  Dr.  Hani- 
fon\  Expieffion,  and  Mr.  Mather  %  Logick,  meet- 
ing together,  would   have  made   the  Perfettefl 
Preacher    in  the  World.     And  if  the   Sloathful 
Man  in  Frov.  19.  24.  who  Will  not  fo  much  as  bring 
his  Hand  unto  his  Month,    were  by  the  Ancients 
underftood  concerning  the  Vnholy  MWiftcr,  who 
will  not  bring  Focifua  Fttam  fuam,  our  Mr.  Ma- 
ther was  no  Sloathful  Preacher  ;  for  befides  his  be- 
ing a  Preacher,  who,  as  Melcbior  Adam  defcribes  • 
Jacobus  slndretf,  Si  quando  opus  erat,  mera  fonabat 
Tonitrua,  he  was  alfo  a  Preacher  very  Eminent 
for  Holinefs,  and  he  Taigbt  the  People  at  other 
Times,  befides  when  he  Opened  bis  Mouth. 

§.  9-  A  certain  Writer,  who  does  continu- 
ally ferve  the  Romanizing  Faction  in  the  Church  of 
England,  with  all  manner  of  Malice  and  Slander 
againft  the  belt  Men  in  the  World,  that  were 
in  any  meafure  free  from  the  Spirit  of  that  Faction^ 
yet  mentioning  our  Samuel  Mather ,  inhis^rte«? 
Oxonienfes,  gives  this  Account  of  him  ;  '  Tho* 
1  he  was  a  Congregational  Man,  and  in  his  Prin- 
'  ciples  an  High  Non-Conformift,  yet  he  was  ob- 
1  ferved  by  fome  to  be  Civil  to  thofe  of  the 
'  Epifcopal  Perfwafion,  when  it  was  in  his  Power 
1  to  do  them  a  Difpleafure.  And  when  the  Lord- 
*  Deputy  gave  a  Commiffion  to  him,  and  others, 
4  in  Order  unto  the  Difplacing  of  Epifcopal  Mi- 
'  nifters,  in  the  Province  of  Munfleri  he  decli- 

4  ned 


Book  IV.  T'be  tii/tory  of  New-England 


M7 


*  ned  ic  ;    as  he  did  afterwards  to  do  the  like 
4  Matter  in  Dublin;  alledging,  that  he  was  called 

*  into  that  Country,  To  Preach  the  Gofpcl,  and 

*  not  to  hinder  others  from  doing  it.     He  was  a  Re- 
4  ligious  Man  in  the  Way  he  profeft,  [  This  Au- 
4  thor  confeffes  ]  and  was  valued  by  fome,  who 
'  differ'd  from    him    as   to  Opinion  in  Leffer, 
4  and  Circumftantial  Points  of  Religion.    Thus 
One  of  themfelves,  even  a  Bigot    of  their •  own,  has 
reported,  and  his  Report  is  true !  For  which  Caufe 
when  the  Storm  of  Ptrftcution,  fell  upon  the  Non- 
Conformifls  in  Ireland,  Mr.  Mather,   in  his  Ad- 
drefs  to  the    Lord-Chancellor  for    his  Liberty, 
ufed  thefe,  among  many  other  PafTages  •,    /  can 
truly  fay,  I  defire  no  more,  not  fo  much  favour  for 
my  felf  now,  as  I  have  /hewed  unto  others  formerly, 
when  they  fl  od  in  need  of  it.     But  I  wili  not  fiy, 
how  much  caufe  I  have  to  refmt  it,  and  to  .take  tt 
a  little  unkindly ,  that  I  have  met  with  fo  much  of 
Molefiation  from  thofe   ofth«t  Judgment,  .whom  I 
have  not  provoked  unto  it,  by  my  Example,  but  ra- 
ther have  obliged  by  fparing  their  Cwfciences,  to  ano- 
ther manner   of  Deportment.      For  indeed,    I  have 
always  thought,  that  it  is  an  Irkfome  Woik,  to  pu- 
nifh  or  trouble  any  Man,  foit  is  anM\\\  and  Sinful 
Work,  to  trouble  any  Good  Man  with  Temporal 
Coercions,  for  fuch  Errors  in  Religion,  as  are  con- 
jiflent  with  the  Foundation  of  Faith  and  Holinefs.     It 
is  no  Good  Spirit  in  any  Form,  to  fight  with  Car- 
nal Weapons;  /  mean,  by  External  Violence,  to 
Intpofe  and  Propagate  it  felf,  andfeek  by  fuch  means, 
the  fupprefftng  of  Contrary  Ways,  which  by  Argu- 
ment it  it  not  able  to  fubdue:    But  let  the  Merits 
of  Mr.  Mather  have  bin  what  they  will,  he  could 
not  avoid  the   Hardfhips,  which  the  Hiftorian 
proceeds  to  relate  in  thefe  Terms     *  After  his 

*  Majefty's  Reftauration,  he  was  fufpended  from 

*  Preaching,  'till  his  Majefty's  Pleafure  fhould  be 

*  known  for  Two  Sermons,  which  were  judged 
4  Seditious.  Thus  writes  the  verieft  Zofimus,  that 
ever  fet  Pen  to  Paper  •,  even  that  Zofimus  the 
Younger,  who  cannot  mention  any  Well-wifhef 
to  the  Reformation  of  the  Church  of  England, 
without  giving  One  Occalion  to  think  on  Dr.  How- 
el's  Obfervatibns  upon  the  Old  Zofimus;  We 
know  it  to  be  the  Pr alike,  in  all  Reformations,  of 
tbofe  who  are  addicted  unto  the  Old  Way,  to  render 
Infamous  fuch,  as  have  bin  Infttumcnit  in  the  .  Itera- 
tion ;  and  by  a  Prijudice  againft  the  Per  fans  mo'fl 
ridkuloufly  to  infmuate  an  ill  Opinion  of  the  Thing, 
or  Caufe  it  felf. 

S,  io.  One  Principal  Character  upon  the  Spirit 
of  Mr.  Mather,  and  One  Remarkable  in  the  Stu« 
dies  and  Sufferings  of  his  Life,  will  be  given  to 
my  Reader,  in  an  Account  of  the  Two  Sermons, 
which  were  the  pretended  Occcafions  of  his 
being  filenced.  Know  then,  that  the  Epifcopel 
Party  in  Ireland,  immediately  upon  the  King's 
Rtftauration,  haftning  to  reftore  their  Spiritual 
Courts,  and  fummon  the  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel 
to  appear  before  them,  and  fubmit  unto  thofe 
Unfcriptural  lmpofitions,  which  many  Years  had 
bin  laid  afide  Ratione  Belli  (  as  they  exprefled  it  ) 
Rabieq;  Hareticorum  &  Schifmaticorum,  and  an- 
fwer  for  the  Brsach  of  Canons,  which   (  as  the 


Others  anfwered  )  We  blefs'  Cod,  we  have  never 
kept,  to  His  Praifc  we  [peak  it,  and  we  hope  through 
His  Grace,  we  never  fh.ill  .-  It  was  thought  necel- 
fary  on  this  Occalion,  that  a  Publ ick  .Teflimony 
fhould  be  born  againft  the  Revival  of  thofe  Dead 
Siiptrjlitiovs.    Accordingly  Mr.  Mather,  being  the 
fkteft  Perfon  on  many  Accounts  to  be  put  up- 
on that  Service,  He  did  in  the  Capitol  City  of  the 
Kingdom,    in  a  Great  Auditory,  preach   Two 
Sermons  upoh.K.  Htz-ckiaffs  breaking  i.i  pieces 
the  Brazen  Serpent,  and  calling  "it  Nebi<jl.:ri,  and 
thence  advance  this  AfTertion,  That  it  is  a  Thing 
very  pleafmg  in  the  Sight  of  God,  when  the'  Sin  of 
Idolatry,  and  all  the  Monuments,  all   the  Remem- 
brances and  Remainders  of  it,  are  quite  destroyed  and 
rooted  out  from  among  His  People  :  Wherein  his 
Note  upon  the  Text,  was  indeed  but   the  very- 
fame  with  ,what  his  Adverfaries,  who  are  ufually 
Great  Admirers  of  every  thing  faid  by  Grotius, 
might  have  read  in  the  Commentary  of  that  ad- 
mirably Learned    (  though  frequently  Sociniani- 
iing,  and  at  J  a  ft  Romanizing  )  Interpreter,  upon 
the  very  fame  Text  ;  Egregimn  Documentum  Re- 
gibus,  Htquamv'vsber''.  /nflituia,  fednon  Neceffuria, 
ubi  tai  1*  w.At),  rnale  ufurpantur,  b  Confpetlu  t'ollant^ 
n'e  ponant  OffendicHUm  Ccecis.     In  the  Profecution 
of  this  AlTenidn,  he  offered  many  Arguments^ 
why  the    Ceremonies  of  the    Church    of  England^ 
j which  were  but  the  Old  Leaven  of  Humane  In- 
ventions  and  Popifh  Corruptions  remaining  in  the 
Worfhip  of  a  Church,  whofe  Dotlrine  he  yet  ap- 
prov'd,  as  generally  owned  by  Good  Men,  fhould 
not  be  reaffumed,  and  by  the  Old  Cruel  Methods 
of  Pocnal  Laws,  reinforced.     Againft  the  Ceremo- 
nies in  General,  he  argued,  That  the  Preface  to' 
the  Common-Prayer- Book,  exprefly  declared  theni 
to  be  Myflical  and  Significant,  and  fo  they  differed 
nothing  from  Sacraments,  but  that  they  wanted 
a  Divine  fnfliiution  ;  and,  faid  he,  The  Promoters 
of  them  do  pretend  only  the  Authority  of  the  Church  • 
but  if  the  Second  Commandment  was  given  to  the 
Church,  Thou  (halt  not  make  any  Graven  Image, 
or  Form  of  Worfhip  to  thy  felf ;  They  are  a  ma- 
nifefl  Breach  of  that  Commandment.     He  added 
That,  as  they  were  the  Monuments  of  the  Old 
Papal  and  Pagan  Idolatry,  and  Men  did  therein, 
but  Symbolize  with  Idolaters,  thus,  by  the  Gre ater 
Weight  almoft  perpetually  laid  upon  them,  thari 
upon  Greater  Things,  they  were  ftill  made   fur- 
ther Idols.     Particularly,  he  argued  againft  the 
Surplice,  That  it  was  a  Continuation  of  the  Su- 
perflit  hus  Garments,  wherein  the  FalfeWorfhippers 
did  ufe  to  officiate  ;  That  the  Aaronical  Garments 
being  Typical  of  the  Graces  attending  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift,  they  are  by  His  Coming  antiquated '; 
Tloat  the  Scriptures  give  not  the  leaft  Intimation. 
of  any  Garments,  whereby  Aliniflers  are  to  be 
diftinguifhed.     He  added,  That  among  the  Firft 
Reformers,  the  moft  Eminent  were  in  their  Un- 
diftreffed  Judgments,  againft  the  Feflment ;  and 
that  when  the  Canons  of  1571.  forbad  the  Gray 
Amice,  or  Any  other  Garment  difilcd  with  the  like 
Superftition,  the  Equity  of  that  Canon  would  ex- 
clude This  alfo.     He  argued  againft  the  Sign  of  the 
Crofs  in  Baptifm,  That  whatever  was  to  be  faid 
againft  Oyl,  Cream,  Salt,  Spittle,  therein,  ii  to  be 
D  d  d  d  faid 


14S 


The  Hiftory  of'Kevj- 


England. 


Book 


faid  againft  the  Crbfs,  which  indeed  never  had 
bin  ufed,  in  the  Worfhip  of  God,  as  Oyl  had  bin 
of  Old.  That  there  is  as  much  Caufe  to  wor- 
fhip  the  Spear  that  pierced  onr  Lord,  as  the 
Crofs  which  hanged  him,  or  that  it  were  as  Rea- 
sonable, to  fcfatch  a  Child's  Forehead  with  a 
Thorn,  to  fhew  that  it  mutt  fuffer  for  him,  who 
Wore  a  Crown  of  Thorns :  That  the  Crofs  thus  em- 
ployed is  a  Breach  of  the  Second  Commandment 
in  the  very  Letter  of  it,  being  an  Image  in  the 
Service  of  God  of  Man's  Devifwg,  and  fetch'd, 
as  Mr.  Parker  fays,  From  ti)e  brbthel- Houfe  of  God's 
grcatefi  Enemy.  He  argued  againft  Kneeling  at 
the  Lord's-Supper,  That  it  is  contrary  to  the  Firft 
Inflitution,  which  had  in  it  none  but  a  Table- 
Gift  ure  ;  That  it  isgrofs  Hypocrifie  to  pretend  unto 
rriofe  Devotion,  Holinefs,  and  Reverence,  in  the 
Aft  of  Receiving,  than  the  Apoflles  did,  when 
our  Lord  Was  there  Bodily  prefent  with  them ; 
That  it  countenanced  the  Error  of  the  Papifts, 
who  Kneel  before  their  BreadenGod,  and  profefs; 
that  They  would  be  foontr  torn  in  pieces  than  do  <f, 
if  they  did  not  believe  that  Chriff  w  there  Bodily 
prefent  :  And,  That  fince  it  was  a  Rule  in  the 
Common-Prayer -Book,  fet  forth  in  K.  Edward's 
Time,  .  i  549.  As  touching  Kneeling  and  other  Ge- 
flurcs,  they  may  be  ufed  or  left,  as  every  Mans 
Devotion  ftrveth,  it  was  a  fhameful  Thing  to  be 
fo  retrograde  in  Religion,  as  now  to  eftablifh 
that  Gefture.  He  argued  againft  Bowing  at  the 
Altar,,  and  fitting  the  Communion-Table  Altarwife, 
Thai  the  Communion-Table  is  in  the  Sacred  Ora- 
e'es  called  a  Table  ii\\\  and,  nowhere,  an  Altar; 
and  if  it  were  an  Altar,  \t  would  imply  f  Sacri- 
fice, which  the  Lord's  Supper  is  not  ;  yea,  it 
would  be  Greater  and  Better,  than  the  Lord's 
Supper  it  felf,  and  fanftifie  it ;  That  if  it  were  an 
Altar,  yet  it  fbould  not  be  faften'd .  unto  the 
Wall,  Dreffer-Fafhion;  but  fo  ftand,  as  that  it 
might  be  Compared  about ;  That  the  placing  of 
i:  at  the  Eafl-End  of  the  Church,  with  Steps  go- 
ing up  to  it,  and  efpecially  the  Setting  of  Images, 
or  other  Majfwg  Appurtenances  over  it,  fmells 
rank  of  Paganifm :  And,  Tbaty  whereas  in  the 
•very  Beginning  of  the  Reformation,  this  Abufe, 
Was  One  of  the  Firft  Things  put  down,  it  were 
a  moft  Romifh  Vergency,  Now  to  Conjure  it  up 
ag3in.  He  argued  againft  Bowing  at  the  Name  of 
Jefus,  Tliat  the  Phrafe  of  Bowing  j„  •)£  J^^,, 
in  the  Text,  wrefted  unto  this  purpofe,  is  but 
very  untowardly  tranflated,  AT  the^  Name  of 
Jefus,  inftead  of  I N  the  Name ;  and  it  were  as 
proper  to  fpeak  of,  Baptizing  AT  the  Name  of 
the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Spirit,  and  of  Believing 
AT  God  the  Father,  and  AT  Jefus  Chrijl  his 
Son  our  Lord,  and  AT  the  Holy  Ghofl.  That  by  the 
Name  of  J ESV  S,  is  not  meant  the  Sound  of 
the  Syllables  in  the  Word  J  E  S  U  S,  but  the  Power, 
Majefty,  Dominion  and  Authority  of  the  Perfon 
of  the  Lord  Jefus ;  and  it  is  a  Piece  of  Cabaliftical 
Magic,  to  make  an  Incurvation  at  the  Sound  of 
this  Name,  without  paying  the  like  Refpeft  un- 
to other  Names  of  the  Bleffed  God,  or  particular- 
ly the  Name  Chrift,  which  is  more  diftinguifh- 
ing  for  our  Lord,  than  that  of  JESVS ;  or, 
why  not  at  the  Sight  as  well  as  the  Sound  ?  That 


the  Apoitle  l'peaks    of  fuch   a  Name   to  be  ac- 
knowledged wit;i#oim£,asvvasgi\en  t<~,cur  Lord 
after  His  Rrfwndion,  and  as  the  Fffm  and  Xel 
ward  of  hh  Humiliation^  which  the  Name  JESUS 
was  net  •  it  is  the  Name  cf  Cfitifi  Exalud,  or 
Chrifl  the  Lord  ;  and  by  Bowing  the  Aw,  is  meant 
the  Univerfal  Subje&ion  of  all  Creatures  unto  his 
Lordfhip,  efpecially  at  the  Day  cfjudf»;c;:t.  He 
argued  againft  The  Stated  Holy  days,  Tnat  being 
Feafls  which  the  Jeroboam  of  Rome  had  dtvifidof 
his  own  Heart,  yea  fome  of  them,  efpecially  the 
December- Fejltval,  an  Imitation  of  an  Heathemfb 
Original,  if  the  Apoftle  forbad  the  Obfervation 
of  the  jewifh  Feftivals,  becaufe  they  were  a  Sha- 
dow of  Good  Things  to  come,  it  could  not  but  be 
amifs  in  us,  to  obferve  the   Popifh  Ones,  which 
were  Ethnic  alfo  ;  That  it  was  a  deep  Reflection 
upon  the  Wifdom  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift   our 
Lawgiver,  the  Lord  of  Time,  and  of  the  Sabbath, 
to  add  unto  His  Appointments,  and  it  is  an  In- 
fringement of  our  Chriftian  Liberty  ;  That  an  Oc- 
cafional  Defignation  of  Time  for  Lcthires,  for  Faf- 
tings,  tor  Thanhjgivings,  which  are  Duties  requi- 
red by  God,   is  vaftly  different   from  the   Sta- 
ting of  Times  far  Holy,  fo  that  the  Duties  are 
then  to  be  done  for  the  fake  of  the  Times.  He 
added,  the  With  of  Luther,  then  fevenfcoie  years 
ago,  in  his  Book,  De  Bonis  Operibus  ■  That  there 
were  no  other  Feftival  Days  among   Chriflians,  but 
only  the  Lord's  Day  i  And  the  Speech  of  K.  James  % 
to  a  National  Affembly   in  Scotland,   wherein, 
He  praifed  God,  that  he  was  King  in  the  Sincerefb 
Church  in  the  World  ;   fmcerer    than   the  Church 
of  England,  for  their    Service    was    an  Ill-faid 
Mafs  in  Englifh  ;   fmcerer  than    Geneva   it  felf^ 
for  they  obferved  Pafche  and  Yoole,  that  is  Eafter 
and  Chriftmas  ;  and  (  faid  the  King  )  What  War- 
rant have  they  for  that  f  Againft  Holinefs  of  Places, 
he  argued,  That  they  were  the  Handing  Symbols 
of  God's  Prefence,  which  made  ftated  Holy  Pla- 
ces under  the  Law,  and  thofe  Places  were  Holy 
becaufe  of  their  Typical  Relation  to  the  Lord  Je- 
fus Chrift,  and  there  was  a  further  Inflitution  of 
God,  which  did  make  them  to  be  Parts  of  Mis 
Worfhip,  and  Ways  and  Means  of  Men's  Com- 
munion with  Himfelf,  and  to  Sandifie  the  Perfons 
and  AQions  approaching  to  them ;  which  cannot 
be  faid  of  any  Places  under  the  New-Teftament ; 
That  under  the  New-Tcjlament,  God  has  decla- 
red Himfelf  to  be,  both  no  Rcfpeiler  of  Perfons, 
and  no  Refpeder  of  Places  ■  and  our  Meeting-Pla- 
ces  are  no  more  facred,  than  the  Ancient  Syna- 
gogues :  That  fome  Excellent  Men  of  the  Epif- 
copul  Way  it  felf,  have  been  above  the  Conceit 
of  any  Difference  in  Places ;  Dr.  Vfher  more  par- 
ticularly, who  fays,  In  Tunes  cf  Perfection,  the 
Godly  did  often  meet   in  Barns,  and   fuch    Obfcure 
Places,  which  indeed  were  public,  becaufe  of  the  Church 
of  God  there  ;  the  Heufe  or  Place  availing  nothing  to 
make  it  Public  or  Private;  even,  as  where fcever the 
Prince  is,  there  is  the  Court,  although  it  were  in  a 
poor  Cottage.     He  added,  That  yet  the   Churches 
(  as  they  were   Metonymically,  and  almoft  Cate- 
chreftically  called  )  in  the  Englifh   Nation,  were 
not  for  the  fake  of  Old  Abufes  to  be  demolifhed, 
as  were  the  Temples  of  the  Canaanites,  inafmuch 

as 


Book  IV 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


49 


as  they  were  builc  for  the  Worfhip  of  Gid;  and 
thofe  Places  are  no  longer  polluted,  when  they 
are  no  longer  fo  Abu  fed.  He  argued  againft 
Organs  and  Cathedral  Muftc,  That  there  was  a 
Warrant  of  Heaven  for  Infrumental  Muftc  in  the 
Service  of  God  underthe  L^ro,  when  alfo  this  was 
not  a  Part  of  their  Synagogue-Worfhip,  which  was 
Moral,  but  of  their  Ceremonial  Temple-Worfhip, 
whereas  there  is  no  fuch  Warrant  under  the  Gofpel: 
That  the  Inftrumental  Muftc  under  the  Law,  was 
intended  for  a  Shadow  of  good  Things  to  come,viWich 
being  now  come,  ic  was  abolifhed  ;  That  even 
Aquinas  himfelf,  as  late  as  four  Hundred  Years 
ago,  pleaded  againft  this  Inftrumental  Muftc,  as 
being  ufed  among  the  Jews,  Quia  Populus  erat 
magis  Durus  &  Carnalts  ;  the  Church  of  Rome  it 
felt,  it  feems,  had  not  then  generally  introduced 
it  as  he  fays,  N*  videatur  jttdaititre.  Finally,  a- 
ga'inll  the  Book  of  Common- Prayer,  he  argued, 
That  it  is  a  Setting  of  Mens  Pofts  by  Cod's,  to 
introduce  into  the  Public  Worfhip  of  God,  as  a 
/landing  Part  thereof,  and  impofe  by  Force,  ano- 
ther Book  bsfides  the  Books  of  God  •  nor  is  there 
any  Pracept  or  Promife  in  the  Book  of  God,  for 
the  Encouragement  of  it,  norany  Example  that 
any  Ordinary  Church-Off  cers,  impoled  any  Hin- 
ted Liturgies  upon  the  Church  :  Tloat  K.  Edward 
VI.  in  his  Declaration  acknowledged,  It  feemeth 
unto  you  a  New-Service,  hut  is  indeed  no  other,  but 
the  Old,  the  felf-fame  Words  in  Englifh,  that  were 
in  Latin,  faving  a  few  things  taken  out,  which  were 
fo  fond,  that  it  had  bin  a  jhame  to  have  heard  them 
in  Englifh  :  Yea,  fome  of  the  Bijhops  themfelves 
have  reported,  that  Pope  Paul  IV.  did  offer 
Q.  Elizabeth  to  ratifie  it  by  his  Authority,  Vt 
Sacra  h>c  omnia,  hoc  iffo,  quo  nunc  funt  apud  nos 
niodo,  procuraxi  fas  effet ;  Now  inafmuch  as  the 
Church  of  Rome  is  the  Mother  of  Harlots,  let  any 
Protejlant  judge,  whether  ic  be  fit  for  us,  to  fetch 
the  Form  of  our  Worfhip  from  thence,  and  in- 
deed a  great  part  of  the  Form  from  that  Old  Con- 
jurer Numa  Pompiliiis  :  That  for  Miniftcrs,  in- 
ftead  of  uling  their  own  Minijlerial  Gifts,  todif- 
charge  the  Work  of  their  Miniftry,  by  thePre- 
fcriptions  of  others,  is  as  bad  as  carry  ing  the  Ark 
upon  a  Cart,  which  was  to  have  bin  carried  upon 
the  Shoulders  of  the  Lcvites ;  and  it  is  a  Sin  againft 
the  Spirit  of  Prayer,  tor  Minifters  in  thefe  Days 
to  be  diverted  from  the  Primitive  Way  oi  Pray- 
ing,  which  was  according  to  Tertullians  Account, 
Sine  Momt'.re,  quia  de  Peclorc,  in  Oppofition  to 
thePtsefctipt  Forms  of  Prayer  amongft  the  Pagans. 
He  alfo  touched  upon  the  Corruptions  in  the  very 
Matter  of  the  Common-Prayer  ;  the  grievous  Pre- 
ference therein  given  unto  the  Apocryphal  above 
the  Canonical  Writings  ;  the  Complementing  of 
the  Almighty  To  give  us  thofe  things,  which  for  our 
Vuwcrtbtnefs  wc  dare  not  prefume  to  ask  ;  the  Non- 
fence  of  calling  the  Leffbns  out  of  the  Prophets, 
Epjiles ;  and  m3ny  more  fuch  Paffages,  which  he 
but  briefly  touched,  though,  he  laid,  It  would  fill 
a  Volume  to  reckon  them-  He  concluded  thefe  Dif- 
courfes  with  an  Admonition  to  the  B'fhops  and 
Epifcopal  Party,  that  they  would  not  now  Revive, 
or,  at  leair,  not  Impofe,  the  Super ftttions  of  the 
former  Time?:  But  among  Alany  things  which  he 


fpake  in  his  Exhortation,  1  (hall  only  tranferibe  thefe 
Words,  '  When  you  have  ftopt  our  Mouths 
from  Preaching,  yec  we  fhall  Pray  ;  and  not 
only  We,  but  all  the  Souls  that  have  bin  Con- 
verted, or  Comforted  and  Edified  by  our  Mini- 
ftry, They  will  all  cry  to  the  Lord  againft  you 
for  Want  of  Bread,  becaufe  you  deprive  them 
of  thofe  that  fhould  Break  the  Bread  of  Life  unto 
them.  Now  I  had  rather  be  environed  with 
Armies  of  Armed  Men,  and  compaffed  round 
about  with  Drawn  Swords,  and  Inftruments 
of  Death,  than  that  the  leaft  Praying  Saint  fhould 
bend  the  Edge  of  his  Prayers  againft  me,  for 
there  is  no  ftanding  before  the  Prayers  of  the 
Saints.  Yea,  I  teftifie  unto  you,  that  as  the 
Saints  will  Pray,  fo  the  Lord  Himfelf  will  Fight 
againft  you,  and  will  take  you  into  His  own 
Revenging  Hand  :  I  fpeak  it  Conditionally,  in 
Cafe  you  Perfecnte,  and  I  wifh  all  the  Bifhops  in 
Ireland  heard  me  !  For  in  the  Name,  and  in  the 
Love  of  Chrift,  I  fpeak  it  to  you,  and  I  befeech 
you  fo  to  take  it.  1  fay,  if  once  you  fall  to  the 
Old  Trade  of  Ptrfecution,  the  Lord  Jefus  will 
never  bear  it  at  your  Hands,  but  He  will  bring 
upon  you  a  S.\ift  Ueftruttion.  And  your  Second 
Fall  will  be  worfe  than  the  Ftrfl;  for,  Dagony 
the  firft  Time,  did  only  Fall  before  the  Ark 
of  God  ;  but  when  the  Men  of  Afhdod  had  fet 
him  up  in  his  Place  again  the  Second  Time,  than 
he  Brake  himfelf  to  pieces  by  his  Second  Fall,  info- 
much  that  there  was  Nothing  but  the  Stump  of 
Dagon  left.  Perfection  is  a  very  Ripening  Sin  ; 
and  therefore  if  once  you  fuperadd  the  Sin  of 
Perfection,  to  the  Sin  of  Superjlition,  you  will  be 
quickly  Ripe  for  final  Rhine;  and  in  the  Day, 
when  God  fhall  vifit  you,  the  Guilt  of  all  the 
Righteous  Blood,  that  hath  bin  fhed  upon  the 
Face  of  the  Earth,  from  the  Blood  of  Abel,  to 
the  Blood  of  Vdal,  and  unto  this  Day,  will  come 
down  the  Hill  upon  your  Heads,  even  upon  the 
Perfecutors  of  this  Generation.  The  Lord  Jefus, 
when  the  Day  of  Vtngeance  vs  in  his  Heart,  and 
when  the  Tear  of  His  Redeemed  is  come,  which 
is  not  far  off,  He  will  then  Require  all  that 
Blood,  and  Revenge  it  all  upon  your  Heads,  if 
you  juftifie  the  Ways  of  former  Perfecutors,  by 
Walking  in  the  fame  Steps  of  Blood  and  Plo- 
lence. 

Mr.  Mather  having  thus  faithfully  born  his 
Tejlimony,  his  Perfecutors  yet  let  him  live  qui- 
etly for  more  than  Five  Months  after  it  •  but  Then 
they  thought  it  their  Time  to  call  thefe  Two  Ser- 
mons ( though  there  were  not  one  Word  there- 
in, directly,  or  indireftly  againft  the  King,  or 
His  Government  )  Seditious  Preaching; and  there- 
upon they  filenced  him,  though  with  fo  much. 
Noife,  that  both  Englifh  and  French  Gaz.ets  took 
Notice  of  it:  But  all  the  Notice,  which  he  took 
of  that  Charge  himfelf,  was  to  fay,  '  If  it  bcSedi- 
'  tion  to  diflurb  the  Devil's  Kingdom,  who  rules 
'  by  his  Antichriftian  Ceremonies,  in  the  Kingdom 
1  of  Darhnefs,  as  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  doth  by 
4  His  own  Ordinances,  in  HisChnrch,  which  is 
'  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven,  I  may  fay,  I  did  it  be- 
1  fore  the  Lord,  who  bath  cbofen  me  to  be  a 
'  Minifter,  and  if  this  be  to  be  File,  J  mil  yet  b; 
D  d  d  d  2  *  more 


5° 


r/7?e  Hiftory  of  New-Enghnd.         Book  IV, 


more  i'ile  than  thus.  Indeed  there'belong'd  un-  c  the  Times  ;  and  this  for  feven  or  eight  Yean 
to  him  the' Character  once  given  of  Erafimus  Sar-  j l  together  ;  1  mould  not  have  believed  it,  1  mould 
cerius  \  Likebat  in  hoc  Viro  commemorablis  Gravi-%  have  thought  it  next  to  an  /mpoffibility  ;. Mt  With 
tas  6"  Conjlantia  5  nm  Mmas,non  Exilia,non  ullam.1  God  all  Things  are  poffible. 

ulliits  Houams  pteniiam  ant  vim  pertirnejecbat .-  pene  :§  ,  2>  Although  Mr.  Mather  was  thus  full  of 
dixeram,  foiem  facilius  de  Cur  fit  dimoveri  pot#iJfi:,i  Zia\  againft  Corruptions  in  the  Wor/bip  of God,  and 
auam  Matherum,   d  lreritaw  Profejfione^  ■  I  jn  thar  Jujl  Zeal^z  alfo  wrote  a  Treatife  contain- 

§.   ii,     Mr.  Mather  being  fo  filenced by  thofe  ing  Reafions  ag&inil  Stinted  Liturgies,  and  the  Eng 
Dwellers  on  the  E,arth,  who  had  bin  thus  tormented  by  ' 
him,  he  did  with  the  Content  of  his  Church,  in 
the  Latter  End  of  the  Year  1660.  go  over  to  Eng- 
land ;  where  he  continued  a  Publick  Preacher  in 


lift]  One  in  particular,  and  Anfwersto  the  Lamen- 
table Conceffions,  which  a  Reverend  Perfon  (  whole 
Name,  for  Honours  fake  he  yet  fpared  )  had 
made,  in  his  Difjutations,  for  them  ;  neverthelefs, 
great  Reputation,  at  Burton-Wood  in  Lancafhire,\\\kt  the  Apoftlejoiw,  whom  he  had,  long  before 
until  the  General  Death  upon  the  Miniflry  of  the!  imitated,  when  he  was  a  Tomig  Difciple,  upon  o- 
Non-Conformifh,  at  the  Black  Bartholomew-Day^ibGr  Accounts,  he  was  full  of  Love  towards  the 
Auguft.24.  1662.  The^tfof  which  Day  doubt-!  Perfons  of  Good  Men,  that  were  too  much  led 
lefs  made  the  Presbyterians  think  on  the  BartholoA  away  with  thofe  Corruptions.  Hence  he  carried 
mew-Day,  which  had  been  in  another  Kingdom  jit  with  all  poflible  Refpedt  unto  Godly,  and  Wor- 


Ninety  Years  before ;  after  which,  the  Deputies 
of  the  Reformed  Religion,  treated  with  the  Freneh 
King,  and  the  Qneen  Mother,  and  fomc  others  of 


thy  Men  of  that  Way,  which  he  fo  much  dilliked  -7 
the  Epifcopal .-  However,  while  they  excluded  the 
Scripture  irom  being  the  Rule  of  Clmreh-Admmi- 


the  Councillor  a  Peace,  and  Articles  were  on  both  'flrations,  and  made  Unjcriptural  Rites,  with  promifi- 
fides  agreed  ;  but  there  was  a  Qucflion  upon  the  cuous  Aamiffwns  to  the  Lord's  Table,  and  the  De- 
Security  for  the  Performance  of  thofe  A  icicles  j  nial  of  Church-Power  unto  the  proper  Paflors  of  the 
whereupon  the  Queen  faid,  Is  not  the  Word  of  a  .Churches,  to  be  the  Terms  of  Communion  he 
King  a  fiujjicient  Security  }  but  one  of  the  Depu-  thought  it  impoflible  for  Non-Con for mifls  to  coa 
ties  anfwered,  No,  by  St.  Bartholomew,  Madam,  lefce,  in  the  fame  Ecclefiaflkal  Communion  with 


It  is  not !  Mr.  Mather  being  one  of  the  Twenty 
Hundred  Minilters,  expelled  from  all  Public  Places, 
by  that  Ait,  which  was  compleated  by  the  AtJive 
Concurrence  (  as  that  Excellent  and  Renowned 
Perfon,  Dr.  Bates,  has  truly  obferved  )  of  tht 
OldClcrgy  from  Wrath  and  Revenge,  and  the  Tonng 
Gentry  from  their  Servile  Compliance  with  the  Court, 
and  their  Diflafl  of  ferious  Religion  ;  His  Church  in 
Dublin  fent  unto  him,  to  Return  unto  his  Charge 
of  them;  having,  by  this  time,  Opportunity  to 
afe  that  Argument  with  him,  for  his  Return,  The 
Men  are  dead  that  fought  thy  Life.  Accordingly, 
he  fpent  all  the  Relt  of  his  Days  with  his  Church 
in  Dublin  ;  but  he  preached  only  in  his  Own  Hind 
Houfie,    which    being  a    very   large   One,    was 


them.  Albeit  he  had  the  Vmon  of  Chanty  and 
sficllion,  with  all  Pious  Conformifis,  of  whom  his 
Words  were,  There  is  Chriflian  Love  and  Eflcem 
due  to  finch,  as  per  finally  confidered,  and  we  fhould 
be  willing  and  ready  to  receive  them  in  the  Lord;  yet 
for  the  Vnion  of  an  Ecclefiaflkal  Combination,  with 
Men  that  were  of  fuch  Principles,  and  by  fuch 
Principles  became  the  Authors  of  a  Scbifm,  he 
faid,  Vnto  their  Ajfcmtly,  my  Glory,  be  not  thou 
United  ;  and  he  added,  The  befit  Way  for  Vnion 
with  them,  is  to  labour  to  red  nee  them  from  the  Error 
of  their  Way.  Neverthelefi,  Mr.  Mather  behold- 
ing, that  they  who  appeared  ftudious  of  Reforma- 
tion in  the  Nations,  were  unhappily  fubdivided 
into  Three  Eorms,  or  Parties,  commonly  known 


well  fittedjfor  that  purpofe.  And  there  was  This\  by  the  Name  of  Presbyterians,  Independents,  and 
Remarkable  concerning  it;  That  although  nolAntipado-BaptiJls,  he  fet  himfelf  to  endeavour  an 
Man  living  ufed  a  more  Open  and  Generous  Free-  Union  among  all  the  Good  Men,  of  thefe  three 
dom,  in  Declaring  againft  the  Corruptions  ofiWor-i  perflations.  To  this  purpofe,  he  did  Compofe 
jfhip,  reintroduced  into  the  Nation,  yet  fuch  was  a  moft  Judicious  Irenkum  (  afterwards  Printed  ( 
his  Learning,  his  Wifidomi  his  known  Piety,  and;  wherein  he  Hated  the  Agreement  of  thefe  Parties : 
the  true  Loyalty  of  his  whole  Carriage  towards  ■  He  found,  That  they  were  agreed  in  all  theFun- 


.  the  Government,  that  he  lived  without  much  fur- 
ther Molettation  ;  yea,  the  God  of  Heaven  re- 
compeuced  i\k  Integrity  of  this  his  Faithful  Servant, 
wherein  he  expo  fed  himfelf  above  moft  other  Men 
for  the  Truth  by  granting  him  a  Protection  above 
moft  other  Men,  from  the  Adverfaries  of  it.  For 
which  Caufe  he  did  in  the  Year  166S.  thus  write 
unto  his  Aged  father  in  New-England.  '  1  have 
1  enjoy'd  a  VVondei  ful  Protecting  Providence  in  the 
'  Work  of  my  Miniflry.  I  pray  Remember  me 
'  daily  in  your  Prayers,  that  1  may  Walk  worthy 
'  of  this  Goodnefi  of  God,  and  be  made  ufeful 
L  by  him,  for  the  Good  of  the  Souls  of  his  People. 

'f  If  any  had  told  mc  in  April  1660.  that  I  fhould 
1  have  cxercifed  the  Liberty  of  my  Miniftry  and 
i  Coufcience,  either  in  England  or  Ireland,  and 
*  that  without  Conforming  to  the  Cfl    options  of 


damental  Points  of  the  Chriflian  Faith,  and  Rules 
of  a  Chriflian  Life ;  That  they  were  agreed  in  the 
Main  Alls  of  Natural  Worlhip,  namely  Prayer, 
and  Preaching,  and  Hearing  of  the  Word  ;  and  in 
the  Special  Time  for  Publick  Worfhip,  namely, 
The  Lord's  Days :  That  as  to  Matters  of  Inflitu- 
tion,  they  were  agreed  in  Declaring  for  the  Scrip- 
tures, as  the  Direction  of  all ;  they  were  agreed, 
that  the  Lord  hath  appointed  a  Miniflry  in  the 
Church,  who  are  bound  by  Office  to  publifh  the 
Gofpel,  and  in  His  Name  therewith  todifpeuce 
Sacraments,  and  the  Difciplincs  ofjhe  Gofpel,  and 
and  that  all  Ignorant  and  Ungodly  Perfons,  are  to 
be  debarred  from  the  Holy  Myfieries-,  and  finally, 
th3t  the  Ilnma»e  Inventions  ufed  and  urged  in  the 
Service  of  the  Church  of  England,  are  unlawful. 
He  proceeded  then  to  Coniider  the  Articles  of 

Difference 


took  IV.  Tbt  tiifiory  0/ New-England. 


51 


Difference,  which  were  bitwixc  tliem  ;  and  lie 
found  thole  Articles  to  be  inoltly  fo  meerly  Cir- 
cuffijlaritiai,  that  if  the  feveral  Sides  would  but  pa- 
tiently underltand  owt  another,  or  Aflt  accord- 
ing to  the  Conceljions  and  Confc/fons  which  are 
ifiade  in  their  molt  Allowed  Writings,  they  Ihight 
ealily  lV.dk  together,  wherein  they  were  of  One 
Mind,  and  wherein  they  werewof  fo,  they  might 
willingly  bear  with  One  another,  Vritil  Godrcveal 
into  them.  Only  Fnch'as  Unchurch  all  others  be- 
sides the  nfeives,  he  found  by  the  Severity  of  their 
own  Difumv.ng  'Principle,  rendered  uhcapable  of 
Coming  into  this  C  moh':  But  unto  all  the  Socie- 
ties of  thefe  Chi  ifc'i  ins,  iV.at  made  Z'nionani  Com- 
munion witn  the  Lord  jefus  Chrifr,  the  Founda- 
tion of  Church-CoDiin.'nion,  he  did,  with  a  moft 
Evangelical  Spirit,  offer,  ."frj  ft,  That  they  fhould 
mutually  give  the  Right  Hand  of  Fcjionfhip,  unto 
each  other,  as  true  Churches  of  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift.  Secondly,  That  they  fhould  kindly  Ad- 
infe  and  Ajjif  each  other  in  their  Affairs,  as  there' 
fhould  be  Occalion  for  it  :  Thirdly,  That  they 
fhould  admit  the  Members  of  each  other's  Congre- 
gations, unto  Occjfionjl  Communion,  at  the  Table 
of  the  Lord.  In  this  "Uniting  Scheme  of  his,  as 
there  was  a  due  Tendemefs  towards  Paripus  Ap- 
prchenftous,  without  Sccpticifm  in  Religion,  fb 
there  was  a  Bleiled  FJfay  to  remove  the  Great- 
eft  Stumbling- Blocks  of  Chriftianity.  Indeed  fuch 
a  Generous  Largenefs  of  Soul  there  was  in  our 
Mather,  that  he  could  with  the  Excellent- fpirited, 
Mr.  Burroughs.,  have  written  it  as  the  Motto, 
upon  his  Study-Door,  Opinionum  Varictas,et  Opi- 
riantium    Vnita's,  non  funi  *A<rts*1*! 

§.  13.  While  Mr.  Mather  was  fulfilling  his 
Miniftrry  in  Dublin,  as  One,  who  might  juffly 
have  claimed  the  Name  of  the  Spanijh  Bilhop, 
Fruiluofus,  there  were  many  SalUys  to  the  Doing 
of  Good,  which  he  added  unto  the  Weekly  and 
Coultant  Services  of  his  Miniitry  •,  whereof  One 
was  this.  A  certain  Roman  Catholiek  having  pub- 
lifhed  a  Pnort,  but  fubtil  Difcourfe,  Entitled, 
Of  the  0'ie,  Only,C.iibolick  and  Roman  Fa-tb,  w  here- 
by the  Faith  of  fame  ZJncatecbized  Frotejlants  was  | 
not  a  little  endangered.  Mr.  Mather  was  defifed  ' 
by  Perfons  of  Quality,  to  give  the  World  an  An- 
swer to  this  Difcourfe.  And  in  AnfWer  to  their 
Deiire,  lie  Cdmpofed  and  Emitted,  a  moft  Ela- 
borate, Pertinent,  Judicious,  though  Brief  Trea- 
tiFe,  Entitled,  A  Defence  of  the  Protejlant,  Chrifli- 
an  Religion  againfl  Popery,  wherein  the  manifold  Apo- 
ftafies,  Herefics,  and  Schifms  of  the  Church  of  Rome, 
aialfothe  Weaknefs  of  their  Pretenfions  from  the  Scrip- 
tures and  the  Fathers  are  briefly  laid  open.  But 
there  was  another  Thing,  which  give  the  Studies 
of  this  Learned  and  Holy  Man,  a  Confiderable 
ExerciPe.  There  was  one  Mr.  Valentine  GreatreatSj. 
who  felt  a  vehement  'mprcjfwn,  or  Siigge/ticn  up- 
on his  Mind,  of  this  Import  ;  f_  /  have  given  thee 
the  Gift  of  Curing  the  Evil!  '}  In  Compliance 
with  which  Impulfe,  he  ftroked  a  Neighbour  gric- 
voufly  afHiftSd  with  the  Kings-Evil,  and  a  Cure! 
fticceeded.  For  about  a  Twelve-month  he  pre-  \ 
tended  unto  the  Cure  of  no  other  Diftemper  •, 
but,  then,  tHe  Ague  being  rife  in  the  Neighbour- 

l 


hood,  the  fame  fort  of  Impulfe  told  him  f_  /  have 
given  thee  the  Gift  of  Curing  the  Ague  l~\  After 
which,  when  he  laid  his  Hand,  on  People  in  their 
Fits,  the  Ague  would  leave  them.  About  half  a 
Year  after  this,  the  Impulfe  became  yet  more  Ge- 
neral, and  Paid  V_  I  have  given  thee  the  Gift  of 
Healings'}  and  then  our  Stroker  attempted  the  Re- 
lief of  all  DiFeaPes  indifferently  :  But  frequently 
with  Puch  violent  Rubbing,  as  from  any  One, 
would  have  had  a  Tendency  to  difpetfe  Ftw&jJm- 
Ping  from  Flatulencies.  All  this  while,  he  doubt- 
ed, whether  there  were  any  thing  more  in  the 
Caufe  of  the  Cure,  that  followed  this  Fritlion,  than 
the  ftrong  Fancy  of  the  feeble  People  that  addreP- 
Ped  him  \  Wherefore  to  convince  his  Incredulity, 
as  he  lay  in  his  Bed,  he  had  one  Hand  (truck  Dead, 
and  the  uFual  Impulfe  then  bid  him,to  make  a  Trial 
of  his  Virtue  upon  himfelf}  which  he  did  with  his 
other  Hand,  and  immediately  it  returned  unto  its 
former  Livetinefs  :  This  happened  for  two  or 
three  Mornings  together.  But  after  this,  there 
were  Thoufands  of  Perfons,  who  tiockt  from  all 
Parts  of  Ireland,  unto  this  Gentleman,  for  the 
Cure  of  their  various  Maladies,  among  whom 
there  were  fome  Noble,  Pome  Learned,  and  Pome 
very  Pious  PerFons,  and  even  Alinijlcrs  of  theGoP- 
pel •  and  although  it  was  obPerved,  That  a'.Cure 
feldorn  Pucceeded  without  Reiterating  Touches ;  That 
the  Patients  often rclapfed;  That  Fometimes  he  ut- 
terly fai^ti  of  doing  any  thing  at  all,  especially, 
when  there  was  a  Decay  Of  Nature ;  and  that 
there  were  many  Diftempers,  that  were  not  at  all 
Obedient  unto  the  Hand  of  this  Famous  Pratlit i* 
oner :  NeverthelePs  his  Touches  had  ThouPands  of 
Wonderful  Effefts.  There  were  Pome  Philofophi- 
,cal  Heads,  who  refer'd  all  this  Virtue  in  the  Hand 
of  our  New  Port  of  Chyrurgion,  unto  a  particular 
Complexion  in  him,  or  a  Port  of  Sanative  or  BalPa- 
mic  ferment,  which  was  in  the  Spirits  of  the  Man ; 
and  who  conceived  the  Impulfe  upon  him  to  be, 
but  a  Refult  of  his  Temper,  and  like  Dreams,  that 
are  ufually  according  to  our  Conftitution  ;  or  per- 
haps, there  might  be  fomeching  of  a  Genius  they 
thought,  alPo  in  the  Cafe.  Buc  Mr.  Mather  ap- 
prehended the  Hand  of  Joab  in  all  this  ;  and  a  Plot 
of  Satan,  that  Mvei^-yj  (!>:<■,  Generis  Humam  Hoflisr 
lying  at  the  Bottom  of  all.  Mr.  Greatrtats  had 
confeffed  unto  him,that  before  thePe  things,he  had 
bin  a  Student  in  Cornelius  Agrippa,  and  had  efPay'd 
the  Cure  of  Diftempers,  by  his  Abra  hat  Abra: 
And  Mr.  Mather  now  feared,  that  the  Devil, 
with  whom  he  had  bin  fo  far  familiar,  did  not  on- 
ly now  Impofc  upon  theMan  himfelf,  butalFoDf- 
fign  upon  multitudes  of  other  People.  Wherefore' 
to  reevtifie  the  Thoughts  of  People,  about  the 
Danger  of  Vnaccountable  Impidfes,  which  had  pre- 
cipitated Greatreats  into  his  prefent  Way  of  Cures  * 
and  about  the  Nature  and  Intent  of  Real  Miracles^ 
whereof  'twas  evident  there  were  none  in  the 
Cures  by  Greatreats  pretended  unto^  and  more- 
over, to  prevent  the  Super flitious  Negleft  of  GW, 
and  of  Means,  which  People  were  apt,  on  this 
Occalion,  Profanely,  to  run  into ;  and  Finally,  to 
prevent  the  Hazards,  which  might  ariPe  unto  our 
Sacred  Religion  by  our  Popular  Apotheifing  of  a 
Blade,  who  made  Sceptifm  in  Religion,  one  part  of 

his 


152 


The  Hiftory  of  New- England. 


Book 


his  Character  -,  Mr.  Mather  drew  up  a  Difcourfe 
relating  thereunto.  This  Difcourfe,  being  Ihown 
to  fome  of  the  King's  Privy-Council  in  Ireland, 
was  approved  and  applauded,  as  moft  worthy  to 
be  printed  ',  but  the  Primate's  Chaplain,  at  lafb, 
bbftru&ed  it,  becaufe  forfooth  -,  the  Geneva  Notes, 
and  Dr.  Ames,  were  quoted  in  it,  and  it  was  not 
convenient,  that  there  fhould  be  any  Book  print- 
ed, wherein  any  Quotations  were  made  from  fuch 
Dangerous  Fanaticks.  However,  God  blefled  this 
Manufcript,  for  the  fetling  of  many  Vnjlable 
Minds,  and  the  flopping  of  Mifehiefs  that  were 
threatned. 

§.  14.  It  is  reported,  in  the  Life  of  Mr.  Roth- 
wel,  that  being  advifed  by  a  Clergy-man  more 
Great  than   Wife,  to  forbear   medling  with  the 
Types,  as  Themes  not  convenient  for  him  to  ftudy 
upon,  he  made  that  very  Prohibition^  but  as  an 
Invitation,  to  expect  fomething  of  an  extraordi- 
nary Concernment  in  them  ;  and  accordingly 
falling  upon  the  Study  of  the  Types,  he  found  no 
part  of  his  Miniftry  moreadvantagiouQy  employ- 
ed for  himfelf  or  others.    Our  Mr.  Mather  on  the 
other  Hand,  was  earneftly  defired  by  the  Non~ 
Conformijl  Ministers,  in  the  City  of  Dublin,  to 
preach  upon  the  Types  of  Evangelical  Mifteries,  in 
the  Difpenfations  of  theOldTeJiament',  in  Com- 
pliance with  which,  he  had  not  proceeded  very 
far,  before  he  faw  Caufe  to  Write  unto  One  of 
his  Brothers,  Tlx  Types  and  Shadows  of  the  Old  Te- 
Jlament,  if  but  a  little  under  flood,  how  full  are  they 
of  G  of  pel- Light  and  Glory!  Having  gone  through  di- 
verfe  of  them,  I  muft  acknowledge,  with  Thankful- 
mfs  to  the  Praife  of  the  Freenefs  of  the  Grace  of  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chrijl,  that  1  have  feen  more  of  Him, 
than  I  faw  before.    With  much  Labour  and  Judg- 
ment, at  length,  he  finilhed  his  Undertaking,  and 
in  a  Cottrfe  of  Sermons,  from  March  1 666.  to  Feb. 
1668.  on  firft  the  Perfonal  Types,  and  then  the 
Real  Ones,  whether   firft,   the  more  Occaftonal 
7ypes,  and,  then,  the  more  Perpetual  Ones.  And 
his  Church  after  his  Death,  calling  another  of  his 
Worthy  Brothers,  namely,  Mr.  Nathanael  Ma- 
ther, to  fucceed  him,  that  Brother  of  his,  in  Imi- 
tation of  what  Ludovicus  Capellus,  did  for  His 
Brother,  and  what  Mr.  Dyke,  Mr.  Culverwel,  and 
others  have  done  for  theirs,  in  Publifhing  the  pro- 
fitable  Works  of  the  Deceafed,    Publilhed  this 
Courfe  of  Sermons  unto  the  World  ;   with  fome 
Judicious  Difcourfes,  againft  Modern  Superstitions, 
intermixed.     Here,  the  Waxen  Combs  of  the  An- 
cient and  Typical  CVflj,being  melted  down  is  (  as 
One  exprefles  it)  Rolled  up  into  fbining  Tapers  Jo  illu- 
minate the  Students  of  thofe  Myfteries,  In  finding 
out  the  Honey,  that  couches  in  the  Carcafe  of  the  flain 
Lion  of  the  Tribe  of  Judah.  All  the  Talents  which 
Cato  fpent  in  Erecting  a  Tomb  of  Thracian  Mar- 
ble for  his  Dead  Brother  C<gpio,  turned  not  un- 
to fo  much  Account,  as  the  Care  ufed  by  Mr.  Na- 
thnatl  Mather,  thus  to  bring  into   the  iLight  the 
Meditations  of  his  Excellent  Brother  Samuel  -,upon 
a  Subjeft  wherein  but  few  had  ever  waded  before 
him.     And  if  there  be  a  Truth  in  that  Opinion  of 
fome  Divines,  That  the  Glory  and  Gladnefs  of  the 
Saints  in  Heaven,  receives  Additions,  as  the  Good 


Effeils  of  what  they  formerly  did,  on  Earth  are  there 
increaftng;  his  Action  herein,  was  yet  more  Wor- 
thy, the  Relation  of  a  Brother.  But  Mr.  Mather 
did  not  fo  converfe  with  one  more  Obfcure  Part 
of  the  Sacred  Scripture,  as  to  leave  Another  Un- 
cultivated with  his  Induftrious,  and  Inquifitivc 
Studies  thereupon :  The  Difficulties  in  the  Pro- 
phetical Part  of  the  New-Teftament,  as  well  as  in 
the  Figurative  Part  of  the  Old,  were  happily  af- 
fail'd  by  his  Learned  Contemplations.  When  he 
had  made  a  confiderable  Progrefs  herein,  he 
wrote  unto  his  Youngeft  Brother,  who  was  then 
a  Minifter  in  New-England,  and  fince  Preftdent 
of  the  Colledge  there  ;  I  musl  needs  tell  you,  how 
much  I  do  rejoyce,  that  it  hath  pleafed  God  to  slir 
up  your  Spirit,  to  fearcb  into  the  Prophetical  Parts 
of  the  Scripture  •,  of  which  I  have  often  thought  and 
Jlill  do,  That  it  is  great  pity,  they  are  fo  little  minded 
and  feen  into,  by  many,  both  Minislers  and  others, 
who  do  deprive  themfelves  of  much  Satisfa(7ion,wbicb 
they  might  receive  thereby.  It  is  not  good,  to  defpife 
any  part  oftheMindandCounfelofGod,  rtvealedin 
his  Word  ;  there  are  Vnknown  Treafures  and  Plea- 
fures  there  flored  up,  more  precious  than  Gold  and  Sil- 
ver ;  and  /hall  we  not,  in  the  Strength  of  His  Spirit 
fearch  for  them  ?  And  as  the  Brother  to  whom 
he  thus  wrote,  gave  in  fundry  Treatifes,  and  in 
diverfe  Languages,  unto  the  Church  of  God,  fe- 
veral  Happy  Fruits  of  his  Enquiries  into  the  In- 
fpired  Prophesies,  which  Bleffed  are  they  that  read 
and  hear  ;  fo  our  Mr.  Mather  himfelf  arrived  un- 
to fuch  Attainments  herein,  that  he  had  no  Caufe 
to  make  the  Confeffion  (  tho'  fuch  was  his  Mode- 
fty,  that  he  was  ready  enough  to  do  it  )  of  fome 
Eminent  Perfons,  Nullus  fum  in  Propheticvs.  When 
'tis  faid,  Bleffed  are  they  that  Keep  the  things  written 
in  this  Prophecy,  a  Mathematician  will  tell  us,  that 
what  we  render  Keep,  is  rather  to  be  render'd 
Obferve,  or  Watch,  or  Mind;  for  l^ny,  is  ufed 
by  the  Greeks,  as  a  Term  of  Art,  expreffing  the 
Aftronomical  Obfervation  of  Eclipfs,  Planetary 
Afpetls,  and  other  C«leftial  Phce  '-omena  Mr.  Ma- 
ther accordingly  counted  it  his  Bleffednefs,  to  take 
an  Obfervation  of  what  Fulfillment  the  Divine  Books 
of  Prophecy  already  had  received,  and  thence  make 
a  Computation  of  the  7V»jf5,that  were  yet  before  us, 
and  of  the  Things  to  be  done  in  thofe  Times. 
But  of  all  his  Apocalyptical  Explications,  or  Ex- 
pectations, I  (hall  here  take  the  Liberty  to  infert 
no  more,  than  this  One,  which  may  deferve  per- 
haps a  little  thinking  on.  That  whenever  Godfets 
up  in  any  of  the  ten  Kingdoms,  which  made  the  ten 
Horns  of  the  Papal  Empire,  fuch  an  Ejlablifhmtnt, 
Sovereign  and  Independent,  wherein  Antichrijl  (hall 
have  neither  an  'Egada,  nor  a  bCva/tH,  neither  Power 
of  Laws,  nor  Force  of  Arms,  to  defend  him  and  his 
Corruptions  •  Doubtlefs,  then,  the  Witncffes  of  our 
Lord,  are  no  more  trodden  down,  to  prophecy  in  Sack- 
cloth, any  longer.  Then  therefore  expires  the  1260 
Tears,  and  ftnee  that  fuch  a  Kingdom  well  may  be 
called  The  Lord's,  then  will  the  feventh  Trumpet 
begin  to  found.  Which,  that  it  is  Near,  even,  at , 
the  Door,  I  may  fay,  through  Grace  I  doubt  not.     ' 

§.  1  5.    While  Mr.  Mather  was  thus  employ'd, 
it  pleas'd  the  God  of  Heaven,  to  Take  away  from 

him 


Book    IV,  The  Hiflory  of  New- England. 


l53 


bbn  the  Dcftre  oj  his  rya.  He  had  in  the  Year 
1655.  married  a  moft  Accomplifhed  Gentle- 
woman, the  Sifter  of  Sir  John  Stevens,  by  whom 
he  had  Four  or  Five  Children,  whereof  there  li- 
ved but  One,  which  was  a  Daughter.  But  in  the 
Year  1668.  this  Gentlewoman  fell  into  a  Sicknefs, 
that  lafted  Five  or  Six  Weeks;  all  which  Time 
(he  continued  full  of  Divine  Peace  and  Joy,  and 
uttered  many  extraordinary  Expreffions  of  Grace, 
wherewith  her  pious  Friends  were  extreamly  ft- 
tisficd.  When  fhe  drew  near  her  End,  her  Hus- 
band, feeing  her  in  much  Pain,  faid,  Tou  are  going 
whtre  there  will  be  no  more  Pain,  Sighing  or  Sorrow  .• 
Whereto  fheanfwered,  Ay,  my  Dear,  and  where 
there  will  be  no  more  Sin!  And  her  Sifter  faying  to 
her,  Tou  are  going  to  Heaven,  fhe  anfwered,  /  am 
there  already  !  So  fhe  went  away,  having  thofe 
for  her  laft  Words,  Come,  Lord,  Come,  Lord 
Jefus  !  Not  very  long  after  this  did  Mr.  Mather 
fall  III  himfelf,  of  an  lmpoftume  in  his  Liver  I 
But  as  in  the  Time  of  his  Health  and  Strength, 
he  had  maintained  an  Even  Walk  with  God,  with- 
out fuch  Rapture*  of  Soul,  as  many  Chriftians 
have  bin  carried  forth  unto,  fo  now  in  the  Time 
of  his  JUnefs,  he  enjoyed  a  certain  Tranquility  of 
Soul,  without  any  Approaches  toward  Rapturous 
Extafie.  He  never  was  a  Alan  of  Words,  but  of  a 
Silent,  and  a  Thinking  Temper,  a  little  tinged  with 
Melancholy  ;  and  now  he  lay  fick,  he  did  not 
[peak  much  to  thofe  that  were  about  him  •,  yet, 
what  he  did  fpeak,  was  full  of  Weight  and  Worth, 
nor  will  his  Friends  ever  forget,  with  what  So- 
lemnity, he  then-told  them  ;  Tliat  he  had  preached 
vnto  them  the  Truths  of  the  Great  God,  and  that  be 
now  charged  them  to  adhere  unto  thofe  Truths,  in  the 
firm  and  full  Faith  whereof,  he  was  now  entring  into 
Glory  :  And  that  he  did  particularly  exhort  them  to 
wafh  every  Day,  in  the  precious  Blood  of  the  Lord  Je- 
fns Cbrijl,  and  by  Faith  apply  H'vs  perfetl  and  fpotlefs 
Righteoufnefs  unto  their  own  Souls.  It  has  indeed 
bin  commonly  obferved,  that  Children,  Who  ho- 
nour their  Father  and  their  Mother,  according  to 
the  Fir  ft  Commandment,  in  the  Second  Table  of  the 
Law,  which  has  a  peculiar  Tromife  annexed  unto 


ir,  have  the  Recompense  ot  a  Lung  Life  upon  Earth. 
And  1  take  Notice,   that  in  the  Commandment, 
what  we  Tranilate,  Th.it  thy  Days  may  be  long,  i» 
to  be  Read,  That  they  my  froldng  \b)  LKiys $  than 
is,  Thy  Father  and  thy  Afothcr,  They  jhaji  prvlor.g 
thy  Days,  by  Bleffing  of  thee,  in  the   Name  or 
God,  if  thou  carry  it  well  unto  them.     But  when 
the  Sovereign  Providence  of  Heaven  makes   Ex- 
ceptions unto  this  General  /c«/c,    we  may  believe, 
that  what  is  not  fulfilled  in  the  Letter,  is  fulfilled 
in  the  Better;  and  fome,  that  Live  long  in  a  little 
time,  alio  have  their  Days  prolonged  in  the  En- 
joyment of  Life  with  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  our 
Life,  throughout  Eternal  Ages.  Thus  our  Mr. Ma- 
ther had  bin  as  Dutiful  a  "jofepb,  as  perhaps  ever 
any  Parents  had  ;  and  by  his  Yearly  and  Coftly 
Prefents  to  his  Aged  Father,  after  he  came  to  be 
a  Mafter  of  Poffeffions  in  Ireland,  he  continued  the 
Expreffions  of  his  Dutifulnefs  unto  the  laft  ;  ne- 
verthelefs  he  now  dyed,  Ottob.  29.  1671.  When 
he  wanted  about  fix    Months  of  being  Six  and 
Forty  Tears  Old:  And  yet  as  they,  who  have  gone 
to  prove  Adam,z  longer-lived  Perfon  than  Metbu- 
felab,  ufe  to  urge,  that  Adam,  was  to  be  fuppofed 
Fifty  or  Sixty  Years  old,  being  in  the  Perfetl  Sta- 
ture of  Man,  at  his  Firft  Creation,  fo,  if  it  be 
confider'd  how  much  of  a  Man,  our  Mather  was, 
while  he  was  yet  a  Child,  and  if  it  he  further  con- 
fidered  how  much  Work  he  did  for  the  Lord  JefuS 
Chrift,  after  he  came  to  the  Perfetl  Stature  of  Man, 
he  muft  be  reckoned,  An  Old  Man  full  of  Grace, 
though  not  full  of  Days ;  and  that  Epitaph,  which 
was  once  the  Great  JEWEL'S,  may  be  Written 
on  his  Grave,  in  the  Church  of  St.  Nicholas,  in 
the  City  of  Dublin,  where  his  Afhes  lye  covered 

Dili  vixit,  licet  non  diu  fuit. 

But  now, 
Gone    where  the    Wicked    ceafe   from 
Troubling,  and  where  the  Weary  are 
at  Reft. 


CHAP.    III. 


THE 


LIFE 


O  F 


Mr.  Samuel  Danforth, 


I 


§•  1.  1^    /fT1"'^  Chrijlian  and  Candid,  is  the 
1/  I    Speech    of  a   Certain  Author, 
JL  V  JL  who  yet  writes  himfelf,  A  Be- 
neficed  Minifler,  and  Regular  Son  of  the  Church  of 
England^  when  he  fays,  /  never  thought  them  good 


Painters,  who  draw  the  Piclures  of  the  Diffenting 
Brethren  with  Dirt  and  Soot ;  but  I,  knowing  them  to 
be  unlike  thofe  Piclures,  have  witbjnjl  Offence  beheld- 
their  Injuries,  and  would  have  been  plcafed  to  have 
feen  them  defer ibed  by  fome  Impartial  and  Ingenious 

Mafler, 


154  The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  Book  IV. 


Mafler,  as  fit  to  adorn  the  Palaces  of  Princes.  Rea- 
der I  am  going  to  draw  the  PUiure  of  another 
Mlnifter,  who  was  a  Nonconform^  unto  Emen- 
dables,  in  the  Church  of  England  4  wherein  tho' 
1  am  not  Ingenious,  yet  I  will  be  Impartial,  and 
therefore  inftead  of  the  Dirt  and  Soot,  which  the 
Perfecting  Bigots  for  a  few  Ceremonies,  would 
employ  upon  the  Memory  of  fuch  Men,  1  will 
with  an  Honeft  and  Mod  eft  Report  of  his  Cha- 
racter caufe  him  to  be  remembred  next  unto 
the  Firji  Fellow  of  that  Colledge,  whereof  He 
was  the  Next. 

§.  2.     This  was  Mr.  Samuel  Danfortb,  Son  to 
Mr.  N.  Danfortb ;  a  Gentleman  of  fuch  Eftate 
and  Repute  in  the  World,  that  it  coft  him  a  Con- 
liderable  Sum  to  efcape   the  Knighthood,  which 
K.  Charles  I.  impofed  on  all  of  fo  much  Per  An- 
num ;  and   of  fuch    Figure  and  Eiteem  in  the  . 
Church,  that   he  procured  that  Famous  Le&ure 
at  Framlingbam  in  Suffolk,  where  he  had  a  fine 
Mannour  ;  which  Lecture  was  kept  by  Mr.  Bur- 
roughs, and  many  other  Noted  Miniiters  in  their 
Turns ;  to  whom,  and  efpecially  to  Mr.  Shepard, 
he  prov'd  a  Gains,  and  then  efpecially  when  the 
Laudian  Fury  fcorched  them.    This   Perfon  had 
Three  Sons,  whereof  the  Second  was  our  Samuel, 
born  in  September  in  the  Year  1616.  and  by  the 
Defire  of  his  Mother,  who  died  Three  Years  af- 
ter his  Birth,  earneftly  Dedicated  unto  the  Schools 
of  the  Prophets.    His  Father  brought  him  to  New- 
England  in  the  Year  1634.  and  at  his  Death,  a- 
bout  four  Years  after  his  Arrival  here,  he  com- 
mitted this  Hopeful  Son  of  many   Cares   and 
Prayers,  unto  the  Paternal  Overfight  of  Mr.  She- 
pard, who  proved  a  kind  Patron  unto  him.    His 
Early  Piety,  anfwered  the  pious  Education  be- 
llowed upon  him  •,  and  there  was  One  Inftance 
of  it  fomewhat  Angularly  circumftanced  :  When 
he  was  reciting  to  his  Tutor,  out  of  the  Heathen 
Poets,    he  ftill  made  fome  Ingenious  Addition 
and  Correftion,  upon  thofe  Parages,  which  af- 
cribed  thofe  Things  unto  the  Falfe  Gods  of  the 
Gentiles,  that  could  not  without  Blafphemy  be  af- 
cribed  unto  any,  but  the  Holy  One  of  Jfrael ;  His 
Tutor  gave  him  a  (harp  Reprehenfion  tor  this, 
as  for  a  meer  Impertimncy  ;  but  this  Confcienti- 
ous  Child  reply'd,  Sir,  leant  in  Confaence  recite 
the  Blafpbemies  of  thefe  Wretches,  without  Wafhing 
my  Mouth  upon  it .'   Neverthelefs,  a  fiefh  Occa- 
fion  occuring,  his  Tutor  gave  him  another  fharp 
Reprehenfion,  for  his  doing  once   again  as   he 
had  formerly  done  •,  but  the  Tutor  to  the  Amaze- 
ment  of  them  all,   was  terribly  and   fuddenly 
fazed  with  a  Violent  Convulfion-Fit ;  out  of  which 
when  he  at  laft  recovered,  he  acknowledge  it 
as  an  Hand  of  God  upon  him,  for  his  Harfhnefs 
to  his  Pupil,  vvhofe  Confcientwufnefs   he  now  ap- 
plauded. 

§  3.  His  Learning  with  his  Virtue,  e're  long 
brought  Him  into  the  Station  of  a  Tutor  ;  being 
made  the  Second  Fellow  of  HarvardColledge, 
that  appears  in  the  Catalogue  of  our  Graduates. 
The  Diary,  which  even  in  thofe  Early  Times, 
he  began  to  keep  ©f  Paffages  belonging  to  his  In- 


terior State,  gave  great  Proof  of  his  Proficiency 
in  Godiinefs,  under  the  Various  Ordinances  and 
Providences  of  the  Lord  Jcfus  Chrift ;  the  Watch- 
fulnefs,  Tendernefs  and  Confcicntioufnefs  of 
Aged  Chriflianity  accompanied  him,  while  he  was 
yet  but  Young  in  Years.  His  Manner  was  to 
Rife  before  theS«w,  for  the  Exercifes  which  Ifaac 
attended  in  the  Evening ;  and  in  the  Evening  like- 
wife  he  withdrew,  not  only  from  theConverfa- 
tion  then  ufually  maintained,  which  he  thought 
hurtful  to  his  Mind  by  its  Infeilious  Levity,  but 
from  Sapper  it  felt  alfo,  for  the  like  Exercifes  of 
Devotion.  Although  he  was  preferved  free  from 
every  Thing  Scandalous,  or  Immoral,  yet  he  feem'd 
as  Tertullian  fpcaks,  Nulli  Rei  natus  ntfi  Paniten- 
tia  ;  and  the  Sin  of  Vnfruitfulnefs  gave  as  much 
Perplexity  to  him,  as  more  Scandalous  and  Im- 
moral Practices  do  to  other  Men ;  for  which 
Comprebenftye  Sin,  keeping  a  Secret  Faft,  once  be- 
fore the  Lord,  the  Holy  Spirit  of  the  Lord  fe- 
fus  Chrift  fo  powerfully  and  rapruroufly  com- 
forted him,  with  thofe  Words,  He  that  abideth 
in  me,  and  I  in  him,  the  fame  bringcth  forth  much 
Fruit ;  without  me  ye  can  do  nothing  :  That  the  Re- 
membrance theteof,  was  all  his  Days,  afterwards 
Comfortable  unto  him. 

§.^4.  Mr.  Welds  returning  for  England,  the 
Church  at  Roxbury  invited  Mr.  Danfortb,  to  be- 
come a  Colleague  to  Mr.  Eliot,  whofe  Evange- 
lical Employments  abroad  among  the  Indians, 
made  a  Collegue  at  Home  to  be  necefTary  for 
him.  The  Paftoral  Charge  of  that  Church  he 
undertook  in  the  Year  165*.  and  no  Tempta- 
tions arifing,  either  from  the  Incompetency  of  the 
Salary,  allow'd  him  to  fupport  an  Hofpitable 
Family,  or  from  the  Provocation,  which  unworthy 
Men  in  the  Neighbourhood  fometimes  tried  him 
withal,  could  perfwade  him  to  accept  of  Moti- 
ons, which  were  made  unto  him,  to  remove  un- 
to more  Comfortable  Settlements ;  but  keeping 
his  Eye  upon  the  Great  Man's  Motto,  Prudens^ 
qui  patier.s,  he  continued  in  his  Roxbury  Station, 
for  Three  Tears  more  than  Thrice  feven  together. 
All  this  time,  as  he  ftudied  Vfe,  by  Endeavours 
to  Do  good,  not  only  in  that  particular  Town, 
but  with  Influences  more  General  and  Extenfive, 
fo  he  did  endeavour  to  fignalize  himfelf,  by  ftu- 
dying  of  Peace,  with  a  Moderating  and  Interpo- 
fing  Sort  of  Temper,  in  riling  Differences  •,  be- 
ing of  the  Opinion,  That  ufually  they  have  little 
Peace  of  Conference,  who  do  not  make  much  Confci* 
exce  of  Peace.  And  when  he  then  came  to  Dye, 
fpending  one  whole  Sleepiefs  Night,  in  a  Survey 
of  his  paft  Life,  he  faid,  He  could  find  no  Re- 
markable Mifcarriage  (  through  the  Grace  of  Chrift  ) 
in  all  this  time,  to  charge  himfelf  withal,  but  that 
with  Hezekiah,  he  had  ferved  the  Lord  with  a  per* 
fttf  Heart  all  his  Days. 

§.  5.  The  Sermons  with  which  he  fed  his 
Flock,  were  Elaborate  and  Substantial ;  He  was 
a  Notable  Text-Man,  and  one  who  had  more 
than  Forty  or  Fifty  Scriptures  diftinctly  quoted 
in  One  Difcourfe  •,  but  he  much  recommended 
himfelf  by  keeping  clofe  to  his  Main  Text,  and 

avoiding 


Book  IV 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


55 


avoiding  of  all  remote  Excursions  and  Vagaries  ^ 
and  there  was  much  Notice  taken  of  it,  that 
though  he  were  a  very  Judicious  Preacher,  yet  he 
was  therewithal  fo  Affectionate,  that  he  rarely,  if 
ever  ended  a  Sermon  Without  Weeding.  On  the 
Lord's  Days  in  the  Forenoons,  he  expounded  the 
Rooks  of  the  Old-Tefiament  ;  in  the  Afternoons, 
he  difcourfed  on  the  Body  of  Divinity,  and  many 
Occafional  Subjects,  and  fome  Chapters  in  the 
Epiftle  to  the  Romans,  until  the  Year  \66\  ;  and 
then  he  began  to  handle  the  Harmony  of  the  Four 
Evangelifls,  proceeding  therein  to  thofe  Words 
of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrifr,  in  Luke  14.  14.  Thou 
/halt  be  recommenced  at  the  Rcfurrectlon  of  the  Ju/l  : 
On  which,  having  preached  his  Lafi  Sermon, 
it  proved  indeed  his  Lafl ;  and  from  thence  he 
had  no  more  to  do,  but  now  Waits  all  the  Days 
of  his  appointed  time,  until  his  Change  come,  at  that 
Refurreclion,  when  our  Lord  jefus  Chrift  mail  Call, 
and  he  mall  Aifxer  that  Call,  and  the  Lord  lhall 
have  a  Defire  to  the  Work  of  His  Hands.  Healfo 
preach'd  a  Monthly  Lecture,  and  on  many  Private 
Occafions,  at  Meetings  of  Chriftians,  in  the  Fa- 
milies of  the  Faithful.  But  inftead  of  ever  ven- 
turing upon  any  Extemporaneous  Performances,  it 
was  his  Manner  to  write  his  Sermons  twice  over  •, 
and  it  was  in  a  fair  long  Hand  that  he  wro:e 
them.  His  "Utterance  was  free,  de3r,  and  giv- 
ing much  in  a  little  time  •,  his  Memory  very  te- 
nacious, and  never  known  to  fail  him,  though 
he  allow'd  it  no  Afliftances.  And  unto  all  the 
other  Commendable  Things  obferved  in  the  Dif- 
charge  of  his  Miniftry  ;  he  added  that  of  a  mofl 
Paftoral  Watchfulmfs  over  his  Flock.  Hence  he 
not  only  vilited  the  Sick,  as  a  Mcffenger  from 
Heaven  to  them,  One  among  a  Thoufand,  but 
when  he  met  Perfons  recovered  from  Sidmfs, 
he  would,  at  this  Rate  accofl  them,  Well,  you 
have  been  in  Cod's  School,  but  what  have  you  learnt  ? 
What  Good  have  you  got  ?  And  notable  were 
the  EfFe&s  of  thefe  his  Applications.  Hence 
alfo  he  took  much  Care,  that  none  Ihould  keep 
an  Houfe  of  Publick  Entertainment  in  his  Town, 
but  fuch  as  would  keep  Good  Orders  and  Man- 
ners in  their  Houfe  ;  and  the  Tavern  being  in 
View  of  his  own  Study-Window,  when  he  faw 
any  Town-Dwellers  tipling  there,  he  would  go 
over  and  chide  them  away.  Hence  likewife  he 
would  animadvert  upon  Mifcarriages  that  came  j 
in  his  Way,  with  all  Watchful  and  Zealous  Faith- 
fulnefs,  and  One  Inftance  of  his  Doing  foj  had 
fomething  peculiar  in  it.  A  Day  of  Humiliation 
was  to  be  attended,  and  a  Man  of  another  Town, 
by  unfeafonable  Driving  a  Cart  through  the  Street, 
caufed  this  good  Man  to  come  out  and  reprove 
him,  for  the  Affront  he  thereby  put  upon  the 
Devotions  of  the  People  in  the  Neighbourhood : 
The  Man  made  him  an  Obftinate  and  Malapert 
Anfwer,  but  when  he  came  home,  he  found  One 
of  his  Children  fuddenly  Dead  ;  upon  this  he 
could  have  no  Reft  in  his  Mind,  until  he  came 
to  this  Reprover  in  the  Gate,  with  Humble  and 
many  Tokens  of  Repentance. 

§.  6.     After  his  Contraction,  according  to  the 
Old  Vfage  of  New-England,  unto  the  Virtuous 


Daughter  of  Mr.  Wilfofi  (  whereat  Mr.  Cotton 
preached  the  Sermon  )  he  was  married  unto  that 
Gentlewoman,  in  the  Year  1651.  Of  Twelve 
Children  by  her,  there  are  Four  now  3t  this  Day, 
furviving  ;  whereof  Two  are  now  Worthy  Mi- 
nisters of  the  GoFpel.  When  his  Wife  was  un- 
der Difcour3gements  at  any  time,  through  Do- 
meftick  Straits,  he  would  reply,  Bent  you  dif- 
couraged  ;  if  you  undergo  more  Difficulties  than  other 
Gentlewomen,  flill  we  have  the  Lord's  part,  and  at 
lafl  you  /hall  have  an  Ample  Recompence,  a  Prophet's 
Recompeme  !  As  his  End  approached  he  had 
ftrong  Apprehenfions  of  its  Approach  ;  and  the 
very  Night  before  he  fell  lick,  he  told  his  Wife, 
He  had  been  much  concerned,  how  /he  with  her  Chil- 
dren would  fubfift,  if  he  fhould  be  removed ;  but 
now  he  had  got  over  it,  and  firmly  believed  in  the 
Covenant  of  God  fur  them,  that  they  /tould  be,  by 
the  Divine  Providence,  as  well  provided  for,  as 
they  could  be,  if  he  were  alive  :  Which  has  been 
lince  accomplifhed  unto  Admiration  !  Immedi- 
ately after  this,  he  fell  fick  of  a  putred  Fever, 
occafioned  by  a  Damp,  Cold,  Nocturnal  Air,  on 
a  Journey  ;  and  in  the  Space  of  fix  Days,  palled 
from  Natural  Health, '  to  Eternal  Peace,  Nov, 
19.  1674.  Of  his  Dying  Prayers  for  his  Con- 
fort,  one  of  the  mofl  Lively  was,  that  her  Daugh- 
ter (  now  the  Wife  of  Edward  Bromfield,  Efq-  ) 
might  be  made  a  Rich  Bleflingand  Comfort  un- 
to her  ;  and  this  alfo  hath  not  been  without  its 
Obfervable  Accomplifhment  !  But  if  we  now 
Enquire  after  an  Epitaph,  to  be  lncribed  on  the 
Tomb,  where  his  A.fhes  now  lye,  with  thofe  of 
our  Governour  Dudley,  for  whofe  Honourable 
Family  he  always  had  a  Great  Friendfnip,  I  know 
not,  whether  One  might  not  betaken  out  of  the 
Words  of  his  Venerable  Old  Collegue  Mr.  Eliot, 
who  would  fay,  My  Brothtr  Danforth  made  the 
mofl  Glorious  End,  that  ever  I  faw  !  Or,  from 
a  Poem  of  Mr.  Weld's  upon  him,  which  had  a 
Claufe  to  this  purpofe. 

Mighty  in  Scripture,  fearching  out  the  Senfe, 
All  the  Hard  Things  of  it,  unfolding  thence  : 
He  Liv'd  Each  Truth  ;  His  Faith,  Love, Tender nefs 
None  can  to  th'  Life,  as  did  his  Life  exprefs  : 
Our  Minds  with  Gofpel,  his  Rhh  Lectures  fed; 
Luke,  and  his  Life,  at  once  are  fimfhed  : 
Our  New  Built  Church  now  fuffers  too  by  this, 
Larger  its  Windows,  but  its  Lights  are  left. 

§•  7.  The  leaft  Pupils  in  Astronomy,  cannot 
now  without  fome  Diverfion,  reflect  upon  the 
Aflronomy  of  the  Ancients,  when  we  read  them 
declaiming  againft  the  Spharical  Figure  of  the 
Heavens :  The  many  PafTages  to  this  purpofe  in 
Jufltn  Martyr,  and  Ambrofe,  and  Thtodoret,  and 
Theophylait,  and  the  Great  Aufiin  himfelf,  I  will 
not  recite,  leaft,  Reader,  we  fhould,  before  we 
are  aware,  play  too  much  with  the  Beards  of 
the  Fathers :  Nor  would  we  lay  afide  our  Value 
for  Good  Old  Chryfo/lom's  Theology,  becaufewe 
we  find  him  in  a  Confident  and  a  Triumphing 
Manner  upbraiding  the  World  with  fuch  an  Opi- 

|  nion  as,   n?  'iiTit  oj  <Jta.iFjc.iJ~  Z&iriv  ii<al  ii^zcf.iviui^oi  j 

,  Where  are  thefe  Men  that  imagine,  that  the  Heavens 
j  E  e  e  e  bavt 


1 56  W*  tiiftory  of  NewTEngland.  Book  IV. 


have  a  Sph-arieal  Form  ?  Since  the  Scripture  faith, 
God  ftrctcbed  forth  the  Heavens  as  a  Curtain,  and 
fee  fpread  them  as  a  Tent  to  Dwell  in,  which  are  not 
Spkaricall.  We  will  not  call  them  Fools  for  thefe 
Harangues  ;  but  leave  it  unto  One  of  themfelves, 
even  Jtrt.m,  to  pafs  his  Cenfure  upon  them,  Eft 
in  Lc(U;i't  Jluhiloquium,  fi  quis  Caelum  putet  form- 
c'ts  modo  cirvaium,  Efata,  quern non inteliigit,  Ser- 
mone  deceit  us,  JTis  Fovlifb  Speaking  in  the  Church, 
if  any  ih,u!:;'h  Mifipprehenfions  of  the  Words  of  If  ax  ah, 
jail  ,/,'/,)•;?;,  That  the  Heavens  are  not  round.  The 
Divines  of  the  Latter  Ages,  are  (though  to  our 
Surprize,  the  Voluminous  Toflatus  was  not !  ) 
bejBter  Aflromnnrs,  than  thofe  of  the  former  ; 
a  ,d  among  the  Divines  that  have  been  Aflrono- 
mm,  our  Mr.  Samuel  Danforth,  comes  in  with  a 
Claim  of  fome  Confideration.      Several  of  his 

ropomical  Compofures  have  feea  the  Light 
of  the  Sun  ;  but  one  efpecially  on  tins  Occafion. 
Among  the  Four  Hundred  an  '  '  '.id  Con.ets,  the 
Hiitories  whereof  have  pre'";,  vjed  in  theRecords  of 
Learned  Men,  a  fpecial  Notice  was  taken  of  that, 
which  JlarumW  the  Whole  World  in  the  Year 
1664.  Now  although  our  Davforth  had"  not  the 
Advantages  of  Hevelius,  to  difcover  how  many 
Odd  Clots,  compact  and  lucid,  there  were  in 
the  Head  of  that  Blazing-Star,  with  One  thicker 
than  the  reft,  until  it  v^as  grown  to  Twenty 
four  Minutes  Diameter,  nor  to  determine  that  it 
was,  at  leaft,  fix  Times  as  big  as' the  Earth,  and 
that  its  Parallax  rendred  it  at  length,  as  Remote 
from  the  Earth,  as  Mars  himfelf  •,  nevertheless, 
he  diligently  obferved  the  Motions  of  it,  from  its 
firft  Appearance  in  Corvus,  whence  it  rrjade  a  Def- 
cent,  eroding  the  Tropick  of  Capricorn,  till  it  ar- 
rived unto  the  Main  Top-fail  of  the  Ship,  and 
then  it  returned  through  Canis  Major,  and  again 
crofted  the  Tropkk  of  Capricorn,  parting  through 
Lcpus,  Eridanus  -,  and  the  Equinoilial,  and  entred 
into  the  Mouth  of  the  Whale,  and  fo  into  Aries ; 
where  it  retired  not  leaving  any  Philoibpher 
able  to  fulfil  the  Famous  Prophecy  of  Seneca,  in 
predi&iag  the  New  Appear  ante  of  it.  He  there- 
fore publifhed  a  little  Treatife,  Entitled,  An 
Agronomical  Defcription  of  the  late  Comet, with  a  Brief 
'  I'lKolc^cal  Application  thereof;  In  whichTreatife  he 
not  only  proves,  that  a  Comet  can  be  no  ether  than 
a  Coeleflial  Luminary  moving  in  the  Starry  Heavens, 
whereof  efpecially  the  Largenefs  of  the  Circle,  in 
which  it  moves  is  a  Mathematical  and  Irrefraga- 
ble Demonflration,  but  alfohe  improves  the  Opi- 
nion of  a  Comet's  being  portentous,  endeavouring 
as  it  became  a  Devout  Preacher,  to  awaken  Man- 
kind by  this  Portent,  out  of  a  finful  Security. 
Now,  though  for  my  own  part,  I  am  fometimes 
ready  to  fay,  with  a  Learned  Man,  Tadet  me 
Divinaiionvs  in  Rt  tarn  incert.i ;  yet  when  I  con- 
tider,  how  many  Learned  Men  have  made  Labo- 
rious Collections  of  Remarkable  and  Calamitous 
Events,  to  render  Comets  ominous,  I  cannot  re- 
proach the  Effays  of  Fwds  Men,  to  perfwade  us, 

utt  when  the  Hand  of  Heaven  is  thus  writing 
Ivi  E  N  E  T  E  K  E  L,  it  is  not  amifs  for  us  Mor- 
tals, to  make  ferious  Reflections  thereupon.  But  be- 
fides  this,  tl^pre  are  Two  other  Difcourfes  of 
this  Worthy  Man  printed  among  us.    One  is. 


The  Cry  of  Sedom,  enquired  into,  or,  a  Teftimo- 
ny  againft  the  Sins  of  Vncleanefs,  which  with 
much  Wonder  and  Sorrow,  he  law  too  many 
of  the  Rifing  Generation,  in  the  'Country  car- 
ried away  withal.  Another  is,  A  Recognition  of 
New-England's  Errand  into  the  WHdernefs,  or  a 
Sermon  preached  unto  the  General  Aflemby  of 
the  Colony,  at  their  Anniverfary  Eleilion  h  the 
Defign  of  which  was  to  remind  them,  of  what 
he  fummarily  thus  exprefles,  You.  have  folemnly 
rxpreffed  before  God,  Angels  and  Men,  that  the' 
Caufe  of  your  leaving  your  Country,  Kindred  and 
Father  s  Houfes,  and  transporting  your  felves,  with 
yur  Wives,  little  Ones,  and  Subflance  over  the 
Vafl  Ocean,  mto  this  Wafle  and  Howling  Wtlder- 
nefs,  was  your  Liberty  to  walk  in  the  Faith  of  the 
Gofpel  with  aU  good  Confcience,  according  to  the  Or- 
der of  the  Gofpel,  and  your  Enjoyment  of  the  pure 
Worfbip  of  God,  according  to  his  Jnflitution,  with' 
1  out  Humane  Mixtures  and  Impofitions. 

EP1TAPHIU  M. 

Non  dubium  eft,  quin  t"  iverit,  quo  Stella;  eunt, 
DANFORTHUS,  qui  StcWis  femper  fe  affociavit. 

lnT>ccember  1659.  the  (  until  then  unknown  ) 
Malady  of  Bladders  in  the  Windpipe,  invaded  and 
removed  many  Children  ;  by  Opening  of  one  of 
them  the  Malady  and  Remedy  (too  late  for  very 
many  )  were  difcovered.  Among  thofe  many 
that  thereby  expired,  were  the  Three  Children 
of  the  Reverend  Mr.  S.  D.  the  Eldeft  of  whom 
(being  upward  of  five  Years  and  half ;  fo  Gra- 
cious and  Intelligent  were  her  Expreffions  and 
Behaviour  both  living  and  dying,  and  fo  Evi- 
dent her  Faith  in  Chrift  )  was  a  Luculent  Com- 
mentary on  that  Marvellous  Prophecy,  that  the 
Child  fhould  dye  an  Hundred  Years  old.  How 
the  Sorrowful  Father  entertained  this  Solemn 
Providence  may  be  partly  gathered  from  what 
he  exprefTed  unto  fuch  as  came  to  attend  his 
Branches  unto  their  Graves ;  of  which  may  be. 
faid,  as  was  faid  of  Job,  In  all  this  he  finned  not 
He  faw  meet  to  pen  down  the  Minutes  of  what 
he  fpake,  and  they  are  faithfully  taken  out  of 
his  own  Manufcript. 

My  Friends, 
If  any  that  fee  my  Grief  fhould  fay  unto  me 
as  the  Danites  unto  Micah,  What  aileth  thee?  I 
thank  God,  I  cannot  anfwer  as  he  did,  They 
have  taken  away  my  Gods.  My  Heart  was  in- 
deed fomewhat  fet  upon  my  Children,  efpecially 
the  Eldeft  •  but  they  were  none  of  my  Gods, 
none  of  my  Portion  ;  my  Portion  is  whole  and 
untoucht  unto  this  Day.  To  underftand  my 
felf,  and  to  communicate  unto  my  Hearers,  the 
Spiritual  Meaning  and  Compafs  of  the  Law  and 
Rule,  and  the  Nature  of  Gofpel  Obedience  hath 
been  my  Defign  and  Work,  upon  which  I  have 
employ'd  much  Reading  and  Study,  and  what 
Faith,  Hope,  Love,  Patience,  &c.  the  Glorious 
Wifdom,  Power  and  Mercy  of  God  do  oblige 
us  to  render.  I  have  endeavoured  to  fet  forth 
before  you,  what  if  God  will  now  try  whether 

they 


Book  IV. 


Tbe  titjiory  of  .New-Jinglanc 


*57 


they  were  meer  Notions  and  Speculations  that 
I  fpake,  or  whether  1  believed  as  I  fpake,  and 
whether  there  be  any  Divine  Spark  in  my  Heart  ? 
I  remember  him  that   find   to  Abraham,  Hereby 
J  know  that  thou  ft  or  eft   me,  in  that    thou  baft  not 
witb-held  from  me  thy   Son,  thine  only  Son.     It  is 
the    Pleafure  of   God,    that    (  beiides  all   that 
may  be  gain'd  by  Reading,  and  Studying,  and 
Preaching  )  1  fhould  learn  and  teach  Obedience 
by  the  Things  that  I  fuffer.     The  Holy  Fire  is 
not  to  be  fetcht  for  you,  out  of  fuch  a  Flint,  as 
I  am,  without  fmiting.     Not   long  before  thefe 
Stroaks  light  upon  us,  it  pleafed  God  marvelloufly 
to  quicken  our  Hearts   (  both  Mine  and   my 
Wife's  )  and  to  ftir  up  in  us  molt  Earneft  De- 
fires  after  Himfelf:  And  now  he  hath  taken  our 
Children,  will  he  accept  us  unto  freer  and  fuller 
Communion  with  Himfelf,  Bleffed  be  his  Holy 
Name.    I  truft  the  Lord  huh  done,  what  he  hath 
done  in  Wifdom,  and   Faithfulnefs,   and  Dear 
Love,  and  that  in  taking  thefe  pleafant  Things 
from  me,  Fie  exercifeth  and  expreffeth  as  Ten- 
der Affection  unto  me,  as  I  now  exprefs  towards 
them  in  Mourning  for  the  Lofs  of  them.    I  de- 
fire  with    Fpbraim,   to  bemoan  my  [elf,  &c.  Jer. 
31.  18,  19.  O  that  I   might  hear  the  Lord  an- 
fwering  me,  as  he  did  Ver.  20.   It  is  meet  to  be 
faid  to  God,  We   have  born  Chaftifement,  me  will 
not  offend ;  What  we  fee  not,  teach  thou  us  ;  and  if 
we  have  done  Iniquity,  we  will  do  fo  no  more,     We 
know,  and  God   much    more  knows  enough  in 
us,  and  by  us  to   Juftifie  his  repeated  Stroaks, 
tho'  we  cannot  tax  our  felves  with  any  known 
Way  of  Difobedience.     My  Defire  is,  that  none 
may  be  overmuch  difmayed  at  what  hath  befallen 
us^  and  let  no  Man  by  any  means  be  offended. 
Who  may  fay  to  the  Lord,  What  doft  Thou  ?  I 
can  fay  from  my  Heart,  tho'  what  is  come  upon 
us  is  very  dreadful  and  amazing,  yet  I.  content 
unto  the  Will  of  God  that  it  is  good.    Doth 
not  the  Goldfmith  caft  His  Metal  into  the  Fur- 
nace ?    And  you  Husbandmen,  do  you  not  caufe 
the  Flail  to  pafs  over  your  Grain,  not  that  you 


haie    your    Wheat,  but   that    yon    defire   Pure 
Bread  ?     Had  our    Children  replyed  when  \vc 
j  Corrected  them,    we   could  not  have  born  it  : 
J  But,  poor  Hearts,  they  did  us  Reverence  ;  how 
much  rather  fhould  we  be  fubjecl:  to  the  Father 
of  Spirits  and  live.     You  know,  that  Nine  Years 
fince,  I  was  in  a  defolate  Condition  without  Fa- 
ther, without  Mother,  without  Wife,  without 
Children  :  But  what  a  Father,  3nd  Mother,  and 
Wife  have  been  beftow'd  upon    me,   and  are 
ftill  continued  tho'  my  Children  are  removed . 
And  above  all,  although  I  cannot  deny,  but  than 
it  pierceth  my  very  Heart  to  call  to  Remem- 
brance the  Voice  of  my  Dear  Children,  calling 
Father,  Father .'    a  Voice,  now  not  heard  :   Yet 
I  blefs  God,  it  doth  far  more  abundantly  refrefk 
and  rejoyce  me,  to  hear  the  Lord  continually 
calling    unto  me,  My  Son,    my  Sen  !     My  Son, 
defpife  not  the   Chaftening   of  the  Lord,   nor  faint 
thou  when  thou  art   corrected  of  Him.     And  blef- 
fed be  God,  that  doth  not  defpife  the  Affliction 
of  the  Affli&ed,  nor  hides  his  Face  from  Him. 
'Twas  the  Confideration  that  God  had  fan&ify'd 
and  glorify'd  Himfelf,  by  ftriking  an  Holy  Awe 
and  Dread  of  hisMajefty  into  the  Hearts  of  his 
People,  that  made  Aaron  hold  his  Peace  :  And  if 
the   Lord  will   glorifie  himfelf  by  my  Family, 
by  thefe  Awful  Stroaks  upon  me,  quickning  Pa- 
rents unto  their  Duty,   and  awakening   their 
Children  to  feek  after  the  Lord,  I  fhall  defire 
to  be  content,  tho'  my  Name  be  cut  off:  And  I 
befeech  you  be  earneft  with  the  Lord  for  us,  that 
he  would  keep  us  from  finning  againft  him ;  and 
that  he  would  teach  us  to  fanftifie  his  Name, 
and  tho'  our  Dear  Branches  have  forlaken  us, 
yet  that  He  that  hath  promifed  to  be  with  his 
Children  in  fix  Troubles  and  infeven,  would  nop 
forfake  us.     My  Heart  truly  would  be  confum'd. 
and  would  even  dye  within  me,   but  that  the 
Good  Will  of  Him  that  dwelt  in  the  Burning 
Bnfh,  and  His  good  Word  of  Prornife  art  my 
Truft  and  Stay. 


E  e  e  e  2 


CHAf, 


x58 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.         Book  IV. 


CHAP.    IV. 
ECCLESIASTES. 


The  LIFE  of  the  Reverend  and  Excellent  Jonathan 
Mitchel;  a  Paftor  of  the  Church,  and  a  Glory  of  the 
Colledge.,   m  Cambridge,    New-England. 

Written  £;  COTTON    MATHER. 


. Simul  et  Jucunda  et  idoned 

dicere  lrtt<c, 
Leftortm   Dekftando  Simul  at\tte    monendo. 

%ty  SfrcconD  ©rftiom 


The  EPISTLE  Dedicatory. 

To  the  Church  at  Cambridge  in  New-England,  and  to  the  Students 

of  the   Colledge  there. 


Dr.  Tuckney's 
Epiftle  prefixed 
to  Mr.  Cotton 
on  Ecchfiajies. 


Sight  Worjhipftil,  Reverend,  and  Dearly  Beloved, 

THERE  have  been  few  Churches  in  the 
World  fo  Lifted  up  to  Heaven,  in  re- 
fpect  of  a  Succeflion  of  Supereminent 
Minifters  of  the  Gofpel,  as  the  Church 
in  Cambridge  has    been.     Hooker,  Shepard,  Mit- 
cbely    Oakes   ( all  of  them  yours  )    were   Great 
Lights.    You  know  that  if  Light  has  been  brought 
into  a  Room,  when  it  is  removed,  the  Place  be- 
comes Darker,  than  if  never  any  fuch  Light  had 
been   there.     A  Learned   Pen  in 
an  Epifile  Dedicatory  to  the  Inha- 
bitants of  Boflon   in   Lincoln/hire, 
puts  them  in  Mind  what  an  Hap- 
py People  they  once  were,  while 
under  the  Teaching  of  Mr.  Cotton,  who  was  from 
them  removed  to  plantGhurches  for  Chrift,  in 
this  American  Defirt  :  And  prays  them  to  con- 
fider,  '  That  as  Empires  and  Kingdoms,  fo  par- 
'  ticular  Churches  have  had  their  Periods.     Be- 

*  tbcl  has  prov'd  a  Beth-haven  :    In  after  times 

*  we  find  young  profane  Mockers  in  Bethel,  and 
'  fcornful  Neuters  in  Fennel.  Go  to  Shiloh  • 
'  think  of  the  fometimes  Glorious  Churches  in 
1  Afta,  fays  he.     And  he  adds,  That  he  had  on 

*  purpofe  vifited  fome  Places,  where  God  had 
c  before  planted  his  Church,  and  a  Faithful  Mi- 
4  niftry,  to  fee,  if  He  could  difcern  any  Foot- 
'  ftepsand  Remembrances  of  fuch  a  Mercy,  and 
1  Lo,  they  were  were  all  overgrown  with  Thorns, 
1  and  Nettles  had  over-covered  the  Face  thereof, 
1  and  the  Stone-wall  thereof  is  broken  down.     And 

*  as  he  further  well  obfevves,  when  the  Lord  has 


1  been  provoked  to  remove  the  Candleftick, 
'  He  is  very  hardly  induced  to  reftore  it  again'. 
1  The  Ark  never  returned  to  the  fame  Place, 
'  from  whence  it  was  in  a  Way  of  Judgment  re- 
'  moved,  and  the  Glory  of  the  Lord,  when  after 
'  its  Gradual  Removes,  was  at  laft  quite  gone 
F  from  the  Firfi  Temple,  was  not  reftored  in  the 
'  Second,  till  Chrift  s  Firfl  Coming,  nor  will  it  be 
c  in  this  their  Rejeftion,  till  His  Second.  Merc^ 
forbid  that  fuch  Things  as  thefe  fhould  be  veri- 
fied in  New-England,  or  in  Cambridge  !  That 
this  may  not  be  your  Cafe,  it  concerns  you  not 
wantonly  to  Play  or  Fight  by  the  Light  yet  re- 
maining, but  to  make  the  beft  Improvement  of 
your  prefent  Advantages,  giving  all  due  Encou- 
ragement to  that  Worthy  Perfon,  who  is  now 
over  you  in  the  Lord. 

Concerning  your  Famous  Paftor,  $0ittl)tl,  I 
confefs,  I  had  the  Happinefs  of  afpecial  Intima- 
cy wich  him,  in  his  Life  time,  nor  do  I  know 
any  one  Death  ( thai  of  Natural  Relations  ex- 
cepted )   that  ever  has  been  fo  Grievous  and  Af- 
flictive to  my  Spirit,  as  was  his.     By  reafon  of 
his  Eminent  Parts  and  Piety,  he  had  an  happy  ■ 
Influence  on  all  thefe  Churches.    Many  of  them 
fare  the  better  at  this  Day,  becaufe  the  Preach- 
ers whom  they   are  now   inftructed  by,  whilft 
Students  at  the  Colledge,  lived  under  his  Mini- 
ftry.      The   Colledge,    Cambridge,    New-England 
may  Glory,  that  ever  fu:h  an  One  had  his  Edu- 
ducation  there!     As  for  the  Defcription  of  his 
Life,  by  my  SON  Emitted  herewith,  I  have  no- 
thing 


Book    IV^  The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 

thing  to  fay  concerning  the  Writer,  or  this  En- 
deavour of  his,  becaufe  of  my  Relation  to  him  ; 
Only,  that  it  is  what  he  could  Colled,  whether 
by  Informations  from  thofe  that  knew  that  Ex- 
cellent Man,  or  from  his  private  Manufcripts, 
which  he  had  the  Perufal  of.  It  is  not  without 
the  Providence  of  Chrift,  that  it  fhould  be  com- 
mitted to  the  ^cf0,  at  fucb  a  Tine,  when  there 
are  Agitations  about  forae  Disciplinary  Ouejiions 
amongft  your  felves.  What  the  Judgment!)!  that 
Man  of  God  was,  you  have  in  the  fubfequent 
Relation  of  his  Life  prefented  to  your  View. 

The  Original  Manufcript  written  by  Mr.  $0it- 
Cljd's  own  Hand,  I  have  by  me.  Whether  he 
committed  his  Thoughts  to  Writings  with  any 
Dellgn  of  Publication,  or  for  the  Satisfaction  of 
fome  Perfons  in  a  more  private  Way,  I  know 
not  •,  but  it  is  now  Evident,  that  when  his  Spi- 
rit was  inclined  thereunto,  Heaven  defigned  his 
Meditations  fhould  be  brought  into  Publick  rtew. 
Whilfh  he  was  Living,  you  that  were  of  his 
Flock,  had  (  and  conlidering  his  Great  Worth, 
and  Wifdom,  it  would  have  been  a  Reproach  to! 
you,  if  you  had  not  had  )  an  High  Efteem  of 
his  judgment.  Being  Dead  be  yet  fpeaketh  to  you, 
out  of  his  Grave.  Thofe  of  you  that  retain  a 
Living  Remembrance  of  him,  in  your  Hearts, 
will  eafily  difcern  fomething  of  Mr.  ^itCf)Ct's 
Spirit,  in  the  way  of  his  Arguing.  He  does 
therein  (  according  to  his  wonted  Manner  )  ex- 
prefs  himfelf  with  great  Caution  and  Prudence, 
avoiding  Extreams,  in  the  Controverted  Subjedt. 
It  cannot  be  denied  ;  but  that  there  has  been 
an  Error  in  fome  Churches,  who  have  made  this 
or  that  Mode  to  be  a  Divine  Invitation,  which 
Chrift  has  not  made  to  be  fo  ■  And  that  there 
has  been  an  unjuftifiable  Severity,  in  Impofing 
Circumftantials  not  instituted,  whereby  fome  tru- 
ly Gracious  Souls  have  been  difcouraged  from 
Offering  themfelves  to  joyn  in  Fellowihip  with 
fuch  Churches.  Thus  it  has  been,  when  an  Oral 
Declaration  of  Faith  and  Repentance  has  been  en- 
joyned  on  all  Communicants,  and  that  before  the 
whole  Congregation  ;  when  as  many  an  Humble 
Pious  Soul  has  not  been  Gifted  with  fuch  Confi- 
dence. So  likevvife  has  it  been,  when  the  Exaft 
Account  of  the  Time  and  Manner  of  Converfion 
has  been  required  -.  Whenas  there  have  been 
multitudes  of  true  Believers  (  fuch  efpecially  as 
have  been  advantaged  with  a  Religious  Education  ; 
that  the  Seed  of  Grace  has  fprnng 

nf»V/r  UP  '"  l^r  ^ou^s»  t]°ey  know  not  how 
tifm,  p.\ 2o~  Mark  4.  27.  Mr.  Baxter  relates, 
,33'  '  '  that  he  was  once  at  a  Meeting  of 
many  Chriftians  as  Eminent  for  Ho- 
lme fs,  as  molt  in  the  Land,  of  whom  divers  were 
Minifiers  of  Great  Fame  ;  and  it  was  defired, 
that  every  one  fhould  give  an  Account  of  the 
Time  and  Manner  of  his  Converfion,  and  there 
was  but  One  of  them  all,  that  could  do  it.  And 
(  fays  he  )  1  averr  from  my  Heart,  that  I  neither 
know  the  Day  nor  the  Tear,  when  I  began  to  le  ftn- 
cere.  For  Churches,  then  to  expect  an  Account 
of  that  from  all,  that  they  receive  into  their 
Fellowfhip,  is  Vnfcriptural  and  Vnrcafonablc.  Ne- 
verthelefs,  it  concerns  them  to  Beware  of  the  o- 


J  5C 


7 


ther  Extream  of  Laxnefs  in  Admillion  unto  the 
Lord's  Holy  Table.  You  know  that  your  t  tor 
99ttCfjCl  had  a  Latitude  in  his  Judgment  as  to 
the  Subject  of  Baptifm  (  as  alfo  Dr.  Ames,  Mr.  Cot- 
ton, and  others  of  the  Congregational  Perjwafion 
had  )  but  as  to  Admiffions  to  the  Sacrament  of 
the  Lord's -Supper.  I  know  no  Man,  that  was 
more  Confcientiou  fly  careful  to  keep  unqualified 
Perfons  from  partaking  therein  than  wasfcr,  As 
for  this  or  that  Mode  in  Examining  of  Perfons, 
that  offer  themfelves  to  be  Communicants  in  our 
Churches,  whether  it  (hall  be  by  a  more  conti- 
nued Relation  of  the  Work  of  Grace,  in  their 
Hearts,  or  by  Qhieflions  and  Anfwers  (  as  was  pra- 
ctifed  in  the  Church  at  Hartford  in  Mr.  Hooker's 
Tim?,  and  which  may  poffibly  be  as  Edifying  a 
Way,  as  the  former  )  or  whether  the  Perfons 
deligni.-jg  to  partake  in  the  Lord's- Supper,  fhall 
Declare  their  Experiences  Orally,  or  in  Wri- 
ting, are  Prudentials,  which  our  Lord  has  left 
unto  Churches  to  Determine  as  they  Jhail  find 
moft  Expedient  for  their  own  Edification.  Ne- 
i  verthe'efs  the  Subftame  of  the  Thing  (  \']z.£:ther  a 
Relation,  m  'tis  called,  of  an  Eqjiivak  I  ~)  ougnt 
to  be  inliltep  on.  Churches  are  bouro  in  Duty 
to  Enquire,  not  only  into  the  Knou'^gc  and 
Orthodoxy,  but  into  the  Spiritual  Efiate  of  thofe 
whom  they  receive  into   full  Commun.  all 

;  the  Ordinances  of  Chrift.     Some  have  th^i^:  t, 
that  fuch  Qualifications  are  not  to  be  expe&ed 
from  Children  born  in  the  Church,  as  from  Stran- 
gers; but  they    never  had  that  Opinion  out  of 
l  the  Scripture,    which  fays  expnfly  concerning 
'them  that  would  Eat  the  Paffoever,  that,    There 
is  One  Law  to  him  that  ts  Home-born,  and  to  the 
Stranger.    Exod,  12.  49.     Numb.  9.  14    Where- 
fore in  the  Platform  of  Difcipline  it 
is  faid,  The  like  Trial  is  to  be  Required     Capt.    12. 
of  fuch  Members  op  the  Church  as  were     §•  7« 
born  in  the  fairte,  or  Received  their  Alem- 
berfhip,  and  were  baptised  in  their  Infancy,  or  Mino- 
rity, by  virtue  of  the  Covenant  of  their  Parents,  when 
being  grown  up  to  years  of  Difcretion,  they  fiiall  de- 
fire  to  be  made  Partakers  of  the  Lord's  Table,  unto 
which,  becaufe   Holy  Tilings  are  not  to  be  given  to 
the  Vnxcorthy,  therefore  it  is    requifite,  that  thofe  as 
weli  as  others  fhould  come  to  their  Trial  and  Exami- 
nation, and  manifefi  their  Faith  and  Repentance  by  an 
open  Profejfwn  thereof,  before  they  are  received  to  the 
j  Lords  Supper,  and  otherwife  not  to  be  admitted  there- 
unto; Thefe  are  the  Words,in  the  Platform  of  Dif- 
cipline, agresd  unto  by  the  Elders  and  MefTengers 
of  the  Churches  in  the   Synod  at  Cambridge ;  In 
which    Synody  were    Mr.  Cotton,    Mr.    Roger  s^ 
Mr.  Norton,  Learned  and  Aged  Divines,  befides 
many  others  of  Great  Eminency.    It  is  not  the 
Opinion  of  Men,  but  the  Scripture  which  muft 
decide  the  Conti  overfie.  Neverthelefs,  the  Judg- 
ment of  thofe  Eminunt  Divines  who  had  deeply 
j  fearched  into  thefe  Matters,  is  not  to  be  flighted. 
j  Nor  is  the  Private  Sentiment  of  this  or  that  Per- 
jfon,  to  be  laid  in  the  Ballance,  with  the  Judg; 
'ment  of  a  Synod,  conllfting  of  Perfons,  of   far 
:  greater  Authority  than  any  younger  Ones  pre- 
tended to  be  of  a  Contrary  Opinion.     Nor  is 
there  Weight  in  that  Allegation,  that  when  a 
I '  Man 


i6o 


The  Hiftory  o/ New-England. 


iook  iV. 


Man  declares  his  own  Experiences,  he  Teftifies 
concerning  himfelf,  and  therefore  his  Teftimony 
is  of  no  Validity.  By  the  fame  reafon  it  may 
be  faid,  Churches  are  not  to  Examine  thofe, 
that  effay  to  joyn  themfelves  to  them,  about  the 
foundnefs  of  their  Faith.  For  they  may  (  as 
Arius  did  )  profefs,  that  they  Believe  Articles 
of  Faith,  which  God  knows,  they  do  not 
Believe,  nor  is  there  any  thing  but  their 
own  Teftimony  to  prove  that  they  do  believe  as 
they  profefs.  But  above  all,  their  Notion  is  to 
be  rejefted,  as  a  Church-corrupting  Principle,  who 
aflert  that  the  Sacrament  is  a  Converting  Ordinance. 
Tapifts,  Erajlians,  and  fome  others,  whom  I  for- 
bear to  mention  have  fo  taught ;  but  their  Hete- 
rodoxy has  been  abundantly  Refuted,  not  only 
by  Congregational  Writers,  fiich  as  Mr.  John 
Beverly  againft  Timpfon,  but  by  Worthy  Authors 
of  the  Presbyterian  Perfwafion,  particularly  by 
Mr  Gelapfy  in  his  Aarons  Rod,  Dr.  Drake  in  his 
Anf  wer  to  Mr.  Humphrys,  and  Mr.  Fines,  in  his 
Treatife  of  the  Lordts-Supper.  If  the  Sacrament 
were  appointed  to  be  a  Converting-Ordinance, 
then  the  moft  Scandalous  Perfons  in  the  World, 
yea,  Heathen  People  ought  to  have  it  Adminftred 
unto  them,  for  we  may  not  with-hold  from  them 
the  Means  appointed  for  their  Converfion.  The 
Scripture  fays,  Let  a  Man  examine  himfelf,  and  fo 
let  him  eat  of  that  Bread,  i  Cor.  n.  28.  which 
clearly  intimates,  that  if  upon  Examination,  he 
finds  himfelf  in  a  State  of  Sin  and  Vnregcneracy, 
he  ought  not  to  Eat  of  that  Bread. 

BlefTed  Mr.  Q^itCfjCl  would  frequently  afTert, 
That  if  it  mould  pals  for  Current  Do&rine  in 
New- England,  That  all  Perfons  Orthodox  in  Judg- 
ment, as  to  Matters  of  Faith,  and  not  Scandalous  in 
Life,  ought  to  be  admitted  to  partake  of  the 
Lard's- Supper,  without  any  Examination,  concern- 
ing the  Work  of  Saving  Grace  in  their  Hearts,  it 
would  be  a  Real  Apoftacy  from  former  Principles, 
and  a  Degeneracy  from  the  Reformation,  which  we 
had  attained  unto.  1  am  willing  upon  this  Occa- 
fion,  to  bear  my  Teftimony  to  the  prefent  Truth, 
and  to  leave  it  upon  Record  unto  Pofterity  ;  not 
knowing  how  foon  the  Lord  Jefus  may  by  one 


Providence  or  other  (  of  which  I  have  had  feveral    Heart,  to  be  in  my  Sanftuary  to  pollute  it ;  even  in  my 


Warnings  )  remove  me  from  my  prefent  Station 
among  thefe  Churches.  The  Arguments  which 
have  induced  me  to  believe  and  teftifie,  as  now  I 
do,  are  fuch  as  thefe. 

1.  Time  was  when  Churches  in  New-England, 
believed  there  was  Clear  Scripture  Proof  for  the 
Practice  we  plead  for.  Particularly  that  Scrip- 
ture, Pfal.  4,  10.  /  have  not  hidden  thy  Righteouf- 
nefs  from  the  great  Congregation.  And  that,  Pfal. 
66.  1 6.  Come  and  Hear  all  ye  that  fear  God,  and 
I  will  declare  what  he  has  done  for  my  Soul,  And 
that  Scripture,  1  Pet.  3.  15.  Be  ready  always  to 
give  an  A'ifwcr  to  every  Man,  that  asks  you  a  Rea- 
son of  the  Hope  that  is  in  you,  dees  by  juft  Confe- 
quence  intimate  as  much  as  what  we  aflert.  Some 
have  been  bold  to  fay,  that  fince  the  Apoftle  in 
the  Place  alledged,  fpeaks  of  Believers  Apologi- 
sing for  their  Hope  before  Perfecutors,  it  is  an 
Abufe  of  Scripture  from  thence  to  infer,  tiiat  any 
thing   of  that  Nature   onght  to  be  done  for 


the  Satisfa&ion  of  Churches.      But  Renowned 
Mr.  Hooker  in  a  Manufcript,  which  I  have  feen 
anfwering  the  Obje&ions  of  fome  who  diiliked 
the  Practice  of  thefe  Churches,  in  Examining  and 
Inquiring  into  the  Spiritual  Eftate  of  their  Com  - 
municants  (  efpecially  their  requiring  an  Account 
from  the  Children  of  the  Church  )  argues  Judici- 
oufly  that  if  Chriftians  are  bound  to  give  an  Ac- 
count of  the  Grounds  of  their  Hope  to  Perfecu- 
tors, much  more  to  Churches  that  fhall  defire  it. 
So  Mr.  Shepard,  the  Faithful  and  Famous  Pallor 
of  the  Church  in  Cambridge,  in  bis  Anfwer  to 
Mr.  Ball.     And  to  the  fame  purpofe,  in  the  Plat- 
form of  Difcipline  it  is  inferred,  that  Men  muft 
declare  and  fhew  their  Repentance,  and  Faith, 
and  Effe&ual  Calling,  becaufe  thefe  are  the  Rea- 
fon of  a  Well-grounded  Hope.    Now  for  any 
Man  to  charge  thefe  Worthies  of  the  Lord,  and 
the  Platform  of  Difcipline,  with  abufing  Scripture 
when  they  made  fuch  an  Inference,  is  a  very  un-? 
becoming  Prefumption.  It  was  formerly  thought, 
that  Scripture  Examples  are  not  wanting,   to 
Warrant  the  Pra&ice  of  our  Churches  in  this 
Matter,  fince  John  required  thofe  whom  he  ad- 
mitted to  his  Baptifm,   to  make  a  Confeffion  of 
their  Sins.     And  the   Apoftles  expected  a  De- 
claration of  their  Repentance  from  fuch  as  they 
admitted   into   the  Primitive  Church.     Alls  2. 
38.   And  Philip  examined  the  Eunuch  concerning 
the  Sincerity  of  his  Faith.  Alls  8  37. 

2.  That  Principle  which  tends  to  bring  Perfons  not 
duly  qualified,  to  partake  in  Holy  Things '  muft  needs 
be  dtfpleafmg  to  the  Holy  Lord  Jefus  Chrift.  He 
would  have  his  Servants  to  Diftinguifh  betwixt 
the  Precious  and  the  File.  Jer.  15.  19.  And  to 
Turn  away  from  fuch  as  have  only  the  Form,  and 
not  the  Power  ofGodlinefs  in  them,  2  Tim.  3.  5 .  they 
that  have  only  a  Doilrinal  Knowledge, and.  an  Exier- 
nalConverfton  free  trom  Scandal,  without  Regene- 
ration, have  no  more  than  a  Form  ofGodlinefs.  If 
Chriftians  fhould  not  make  fuch  Perfons  their  Fa- 
miliars, certainly  they  ought  not  admit  them  to 
their  Sacred  Communion.  It  is  a  very  folemn 
Word,  which  the  Lord  has  fpoken,  faying,  Ton 
have  brought  into  my  Santluary  Vncircumcifed  in 


Houfe,  whenyoit  Offer  the  Bread  and  the  Blood.  No 
Stranger  uncircumcifed  in  Heart,  fhaU  enter  into  my 
Santluary.  Ezek.  44.  7,  9.  That  Man  does  but 
defile  the  San&uary  of  the  Lord,  that  has  not  the 
Water  of  Separation  (  the  Blood  of  Chrift  through 
Faith)  Sprinkled  upon  him.  Numb.  19.  20.  But 
this  Principle  or  Pofition,  That  Perfons  are  to  be 
admitted  to  the  Table  of  the  Lord,  without  En- 
quiring into  their  KepiteratiOn,  tends  to  bring 
the  Vncircumcifed  in  Heart,  into  the  Santluary.  If 
Churches  fhould  neglect  all  Examinations  con- 
cerning the  Orthodoxy  of  thofe  they  receive  into 
their  Communion  ^  would  not  that  have  a  Natu- 
ral Tendency  to  bring  Heterodox,  and  it  may  be 
Heretical  Perfons  into  their  Communion  ?  By  a 
Parity  of  Reafon,  the  Omitting  all  Enquiries,  as 
to  the  Spiritual  Experience  of  them  that  come  to 
the  Table  of  the  Lord,  has  a  Tendency  to  fill 
the  Santtuary  with  thofe,  who  never  had  any 
Experimental  Knowledge  of  the  Things  of  God. 

3.  Tbs 


Book  IV. 


The  Hijtory  of  New-rEngland. 


161 


3.  The  Church  ought  to  know,  as  far  as  Men  can 
judge.,  that  the  Pcrfons  whom  they  admit  to  the  Lords 
Table  are  fit,  and  have  a  right  to  be  there.  Now 
none  are  meet  to  partake  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  ex- 
cepting fiKh  as  have  experienced  a  Saving  Work  of 
Grace.  They  rauft  be  fuch  as  can  and  will,  Exa- 
mine themfelvcs.  1  Cor  1 1 .  28.  And  therefore 
muft  have  the  Matter  of  Self-Examination,  which 
is  Faithx  Repentance,  and  Love,  and  other  Graces. 
Thus  it  was  in  the  Primitive  Apcitolical  Church, 
Acts  2.  47.  The  Lord  added  to  the  Church  daily,  fuch 
as  (hoidd  be  javedy  Churches  are  tq  receive  fuch 
as  the  Lord  has  received,  Rom.  14.  1,2,3.  Such  as 
are  United  to  Chrifi ,  1  Cor.  12.  27.  1  Thef.  1.1. 
Living  Stones  mutt  be  m  that  Building,  1  Pet.  2.  5. 
Made  ready  by  a  Work  of  Divine  Grace  on  and 
in  them,  before  they  are  laid  there ;  of  which  the 
Prepared  Materials  in  Solomonh  Temple  were  a 
Type,  1  Kings  5,  7.  They  ought  to  be  Saints  and 
Faithful  in  Chrifi  Jefus.  Eph.  1 .  1 .  How  fhall  the 
Churches  know,  that  the  Perfons  who  offer  them- 
felves  to  their  Communion  are  fuch,  unlefs  they 
pa'."-  Jer  their  TriaL  Rev.  2.  2.  If  a  Man  claim 
Kipbt  to  a  Priviledge,  and  yet  fheweth  no  fuffici- 
ent  Reafon,  he  ought  to  be  debarred  until  he  can 
fome  way  01  other  prove  his  Claim.  It  is  true, 
the  Judgment  of  Churches  is  fallible :  Grace  being 
a  Secret  Thing,  hid  in  the  Heart ;  only  Chrifi  feeth 
it  :  Churches  cannot  always  difeern  the  Tares 
from  the  Wheat.  Neverchelefs,  they  may  not 
willingly  receive  in  Hypocrites.  Bellarmine  hirn- 
jfelf  is  fain  to  Confefs,  as  much  as  that  comes  to. 
When  fuch  were  found  in  Churches  in  the  Apo- 
ftolical  Times,  it  is  faid,  that  they  Crept  in  pri- 
vily and  unawares.  Gal.  2.4.  Jude  v.  4.  Which 
intimates  unto  us,  that  they  did  not  willingly  ad- 
mit fuch  into  their  Fellowfhip.  When  the  Ene- 
my fowed  Tares  in  the  Field,  a  Culpable  Sleep- 
ing in  thofe,  that  mould  have  been  more  Watch- 
ful was  the  Caufe  of  it.  Math.  13.  i%.  They 
who  object,  that  we  are  bound  in  Charity  to 
believe,  that  the  Perfons,  who  offer  themfelves 
10  our  Communion,  are  Regenerate,  without 
ever  making  any  Enquiry  into  their  Spiritual 
Eftate,  may  with  as  good  Reafon  affirm,  that 
we  are  bound  in  Charity  to  believe,  that  fhty 
are  found  in  the  Faith,  without  Examining  them 
about  that  Matter.  A  Rational  Charity,  grounded 
upon  Evidence,  and  not  a  Blind  Charity  is  the  Rule 
according  to  which  Churches  are  to  proceed. 

4.  That  Pratliee,  which  Chrifi  has  'owned  with 
Hvs  fpecial  Bleffmg  and  Prefence,  ought  not  to  be 
decryed  as  an  Humane  Invention,  but  rather  owned 
as  a  Divine  Injlitution.  Was  not  the  Lord's  Blef- 
ling  Aaron's  Rod  an  Effectual  Demonfbration, 
that  his  Miniftry  had  a  Divine  Approbation  ? 
Is  not  Paul\  calling  to  the  Miniftry,  and  Pe- 
ters alfo,  proved  from  this  Argument,  that  God 
owned  and  Blcffed  them  both  ?  1  Cor.  9.  1,2. 
Gal.  2.  7,  8,  9.  That  Chrift  has  owned  His 
Churches,  in  their  Enquiries  into  the  Spiritual 
Ettate  of  fuch  as  they  admit  into  their  Commu- 
nion with  His  fpecial  Gracious  Prefence,  is  inoft 
certain.     Have  not  fme  be;n  Converted  by  hear- 


ing others  give  ah  Account  of  their  Converiion  ? 
How  many  have  been  Comforted,  and  how  many 
Edified  thereby  /  which  proveth,  that  this  Pra- 
ctice is  Lawful  and  Laudable,  and  that  to  Stig- 
matize it  fp,  as  fome  have,  done  is  not  pleating 
to  the  Lord. 


5.  To  ufe  al\  Lawful  Means  to  keep  Church  Com- 
munion pure,  is  a  Luty  incumbent  upon  all  Churches, 
and  moft  eminently  on  Churches  m  New-England. 
It  is  known  to  all  the  World,  that  Church  Re- 
formation, and  Purity  as  to  all  Adminiftrations 
therein,  was  the  Thing  deligned  by  our  Fathers, 
when  they  followed  the  Lord  into  this  Wilder- 
nefs :  And  therefore  Degeneracy  in  that  Refpedt 
would  be  a  greater  Evil  in  us,  than  in  any  Peo- 
ple. We  fhall  not  ait  like  Wife  Children,  if  we 
feek  to  pull  down  with  our  Hand,  That  Houfe 
(  or  any  Pillar- Principle,  whereon  it  is  founded  ) 
which  our  Wife  Fathers  have  built  The  Deba- 
fing  the  Matter  of  Particular  Churches  muft  needs 
Corrupt  them.  A  Learned  and  Renowned  Au- 
thor has  Evinced,  That  the  Letting 
go  this  Principle,  That  Particular  Owen  Theo!; 
Churches  ought  to  Confiji  of  Regene-  Lib-  6.  Cap.  3. 
rate  Perfons,  brought  in  the  Great 
Apoflacy  of  the  Chrijlian  Church.  The  Way  to 
prevent  the  like  Apofiacy  in  thefe  Churches,  is 
to  Require  an  Account  of  thofe,  that  offer  them- 
felves to  Communion  therein,  concerning  the 
Work  of  God  on  their  Souls,  as  well  as  concerning 
their  Knowledge  and  Belief.  If  once  this  Practice 
and  Principle  of  Truth  be  deferted,  A  World  of 
unqualified  Perfons  will  foon  fill,  and  peiter  and 
corrupt  the  Houfc  of  God,  and  canfe  Him  to 
Go  far  off  from  His  SancJuary.  We  may  then 
juftly  fear,  that  thefe  Golden  Candlcflicks,  will  be 
no  longer  fo,  but  become  Drofs  and  77k,  and 
Reprobate  Silver,  until  the  Lord  has  refilled  them. 
Let  us  Dread  to  have  an  Hand,  in  cauling  it 
to  be  fo  !  It  is  a  folemn  Paffage  which  Mr.  Cot- 
ton (  whom  Dr.  Goodwin  calls  the  Apoflle  of  this 
Age )  has  in  his  Judicious  Treatife  of  the  Holi- 
nefis  of  Church  Members,  p.  6©.  Methinks  (  fays 
he  )  the  Servants  of  God  (hould  Tremble  Jo  Erect 
fuch  a  State  of  the  vifible  Church,  in  Hypccrifte  and 
Formal  Frofejfon,  as  whofe  very  Foundation  threat- 
neih  certain  Diffolution  and  Defo'.ation.  True  it 
is,  That  we  may  not  Do  Evil,  that  Good  may 
come  of  it.  We  may  not  Ufe  any  unlawful 
PraCtice  to  prevent  Impurity,  as  to  the  Mattei 
of  our  Churches.  But  no  Man  can  fay,  Thau 
the  Praftice  we  plead  for  is  Sinful.  If  then  the 
life  of  it  may  (  by  the  Bleffing  of  Chrift  )  be  a 
Means  to  keep  our  Churches  and  Communion 
pure,  why  mould  it  be  laid  afide  ?  Mr.  $&itti)£l 
in  a  Manufcript  of  his,  which  I  have  feen,  has 
thefe  weighty  Words,  '  The  Over-enlarging 
'  of  full  Communion  or  Admiffion  of  Perfons 
1  thereunto,  upon  flight  Qualification?,  without 
'  infifting  upon  the  Practical  and  Spiritual  Pare 
'  of  Religion,  will  not  only  lofe  the  Power  of 
1  Godlinefs,  but  in  a  little  time,  bring  in  Pro- 
'  fanenefs,  and  Ruine  the  Churches  thefe  two 
'  Ways.  1.  Election  of  Minifters  will  foon  be 
'  carried  by  a  formal,    loofer  Sort.      2.   The 

'  Ex-- 


\6i 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


Book  IV. 


v  Exercife  of  Difcipline,  will  by  this  means  be 
'  rendred  impoffible.  Difcipline  falling,  Pro- 
1  fanenefs  rifeth  like  a  Flood.  For  the  Major 
'  Part  wanting  Zeal  againft  Sin,  will  folter  Li- 
c  centioufnefs.  It  is  not  fetiing  down  good 
'  Rules  and  Directions,  that  will  falve  it :  For 
1  the  Specification  of  Government  is  from  Men, 
1  not  horn  Laws.     Let  never  fo  good  a  Form 

*  of  Government  be  agreed  upon,  it  will  foon 
'  degenerate,  if  the  Inftroments  (  or  Men  )  that 

*  manage  it,  be  not  Good  BlefTed  iTQttCfjel ! 
Thefe  are  thy  Words  •,  This  was  thy  Spirit ! 

6.  In  the  Primitive  and  Pureft  Times  of  the 
Church,  there  was  great  StriBnefs  nfed  in  Exami- 
ning fuel)  as  were  admitted  to  Sacraments,  concern- 
ing the  Sincerity  of  their  Repentance  towards  God, 
and  their  Faith  in  the  Lo'd  Jefus  Chrift.  There 
are  who  pretend,  That  this  is  a  New  PraBice, 
begun  by  a  few  Separates  in  Amfterdam,  not 
an  Hundred  Years  fince.  But  fuch  Perfons  dis- 
cover their  Ignorance,  and  that  they  are  unac- 
quainted and  unftudied  in  Ecclefiaftical  Story. 
Juftin  Martyr  (  who  lived  1 50  Years  after  Chrift ) 
in  his  Second  Apology  for  the  Chriftians,  wri- 
teth,  That  they  did  Examine  fnch  as  were  ad- 
mitted to  their  Communion,  whether  they  were  able 
to  conform  themfelves  in  all  things  to  ihe  Word  and 
Will  of  God.  If  we  would  know  what  Things 
were  pracrifed  by  the  Churches  in  the  Primitive 
Times,  the  Writings  of  Tertullian  and  Cyprian, 
(  as  Learned  Vfher  has  truly  obferved  )  give 
us  the  cleareft  Difcovery  thereof.  It  is  evident 
from  them,  that  in  thofe  Days,  there  was  rather 
too  much  Rigidity,  than  too  much  Laxnefsfm  their 
Ad  million  to  Sacraments.  They  would  keep 
Men,  who  were  Catechumens  and  Competentes  a 
long  time,  before  they  did  receive  them  into 
full  Communion  in  the  Church.  They  required 
not  only  a  Profeflion  of  Faith,  and  a  Confeffion 
of  Sins,    but  a  SubmiiTion   to  a  Severe  Scrutiny 

concerning   their    Sincerity    therein. 
Akuinus.      Fiant  Scrutinia,  ut  fepins  explorentur, 

an  poft  Renunciationem  Satan<e  facra 
verba  data  Fidei  radicitus  Corde  defixerint.  They 
were  to  be  Examined  again  and  again,  to  find 
out,  whether  the  Words  of  the  Faith  they  pro- 
fefled,  were  indeed  fixed  in  their  Hearts.  Cyprian 
in  his  third  Epiftle  fays,  Aiihi  labor  eft  perfua- 
dere  fratribus  ut  recipiendis  Confentiant,  fix  Plebi 
perfuadeo,  ut  tales  patiantur  admitti,  quia  nrc  cum 
vera  pcenitentia  vencrant.  That  he  could  not  eafily 
perfwade  the  Brethren  in  Churches,  toconfentto 
the  Admiffion  of  fuch  Perfons  to  their  Commu- 
nion, of  whofe  Sincere  Repentance,  there  was  any 
doubt.  (Jrigen  declares,  as  much  as  that  amounts 
to.  When  in  after  Ages,  Churches  degenera- 
ted, Chryfoflom  complains,  that  by  Admitting 
ungodly  Men  into  the  Church,  they  had  filled 
the  Temple  with  Beafls,  and  he  profefied,  that 
he  would  fooner  choofe  to  have  his  Right 
Hand  cut  off,  than  Adminifter  the  Sacrament 
to  a  Known  wicked  Man.  It  is  well  known,  that 
the  Waldenfts,  amonglb  whom  Religion  was  pre- 
ferved,  during  the  Reign  of  Popery,  were  ftrid 
in  this  matter.    And  ib  were  the  Bohemian  Bre- 


hren  :  Commenius  teftifies  concerning  them  that 
they  ufed  a  Diligent  Exploration 
concerning  the  Faith  and  Re-      ^atio   diMpHv. 
pentance  of  their  Communicants,      irmum-  Bokm. 
left  haply  it  mould  be  only  Su-      P'  44>  p 
perficiary  and  Fallacious,     There  was  an  Examen 
Cenfcienttarium  ufed  amongft  them.     It  muft  be 
acknowledged,  that  in  the  Proteftant  Reformation 
there  has   been    a  great  NegleB  and  DefeB    as' 
to  what  concerns  the  Difcipline  and  Govern- 
ment of  Chrifl:  in   His  Church.    As  the   Apo- 
flary  was  gradual,  fo  has  the  Reformation  been 
And  there  was  (  as  Dr.  Owen 
well  obferves  )  a  Wife  Provi-    Dr-  Owen,  of  the 
dence  in  ordering  it  to  be  fo.    ^fu'i  °i ~aC°fptl 
'  For   had  the  Fir  ft  Reformers    PT*  p>  l* 
'  fet  themfelves  to  remove  out  of  the  Church  all 
1  fuch  as  were  unmeet  for  its  Communion,  and 
*  to  have  reduced  Things  to  their  Primitive  In- 
■■  ftitution.,  by  Reafon  of  the  Paucity  of  theNum- 
J  ber  of  fuch   Church  Members,  the  Endeavour 
for  a   General    Reformation   of    Dodtrine   and 
'  Worfhip  would  have  been  obftruded.    Hence 
4  it  comes  to  pafs,  That  the  Reformation  of  the 
1  Church,    as  unto  the  M.nter  of  it,  was  not 
'  attempted,  until  Calvin  fet  np  his  Difcipliae 
■  in  Geneva,  which  has  filled  the  World  with 
'  Clamours  againft   him  to  this  Day.    In  molt 
'  other    Places     the    Matter    or     Members    of 
'  Churches  were,  as  to  their  Lives  and  Conver- 
4  fation  as   bad    as    the    Papifts.     Neverthelefs, 
Eminent  Divines  of  the  Reformation,  in  this  and 
the  la  ft  Century,  have  approved  of  that  which 
we  are    pleading  for.      Bez.a   la- 
ments  the  Remifsncfs  of  Proteftant     Ben  Ep'fl-H- 
Churches  in  not  taking  more  Care 
about  the  Qualifications  of  their  Members  •  con- 
cluding, that  there  will  never  be  fuch  a  Refor- 
mation as  ought  to  be  endeavoured  after,  nifi  a 
Converftone  Cordium  Initium  lnft  anr  ationis  fuma- 
tur,  except  Men  with  Converted  Hearts,  be  laid 
in  the   Foundation.     Bitcer  finds    fault  with  the 
Englifb  Churches  for  Admitting  Chil- 
dren who  had  been  baptized,  unto     Bmr  ScriPu 
the   Lord's   Supper,   upon   too  low    Ar,^Cap-, 
Terms.     He  fays,  there   fhould  be    p'^2'^' 
manifejl  Signs  of  Regeneration  in  them  fir  ft  .-  That 
they  fhould  appear  to  be  fuch    as  had   upon  their 
Hearts  a  Scnfc  of  the  Word  of  God,  and  that  they 
did  life  Secret  Prayer,  &c.     But  how  mould  fuch 
Things    be  known   concerning  them    without 
Enquiry  into  their  Spiritual  Statt !  Coamier  com- 
mends the   Stridnefs  ufed  in  the 
Primitive  Times,  in  Examining  thofe     eiam'/r  de 
that  defired  to  joyn  to  the  Church,    faf"{m-  L  5" 
ne  quantum  fieri  poterit  lateant  Simo- 
nes,  that  fo  Simon  Magus  may  not  creep  into  the 
Church,  if  it  were  poffibie  to  prevent  it.    Lu- 
ther did  at  laft  forrowfully   bewail  it,  That  he 
began  his  Reformation  with  fuch  I'romifcuous  Jd- 
mijfwns  to  the  Table  of  the  Lord,  heartily  wifh- 
ing,  that   he  had  taught    and   pradifed  fuch  a 
Church  Difcipline,  as  that  which  was  profefied  by 
the   Bohemian  Brethren.    Chemnitius  wifheth,  that 
the  StriBnefs  ufed  among  the  Ancients  in  the 
Probation  of  Communicants  were  reftored,  and 
1  revir 


Book  IV.  25fe  ii//%  <jf  New-England 


.163 


revived  in  the  Churches  of  the  Reformation.  His 
Godly  Defire  and  Hope  that  in  Time  it  will  be 
fo,  is  approved  of  by  Gerhard  in  his  Common 
Place,  de  Sacr.i  Cctna. 

Some  of  thofe  that  are  called  Presbyterians 
fully  concur  with  us,  as  to  the  Subftance  of  what 
we  plead  for.  When  Mr.  Norton  in  his-Anfwer 
unto  Apo'.lmus,  does  afTert,  That  four  Things 
are  to  be  required  of  thofe,  that  defire  Admi- 
ffion  into  Church  Fellowfhip.  1.  A  Confeffion 
of  Faith.  2.  A  Declaration  of  their  Experience 
concerning  a  Work  of  Faith.  3.  A  Blamelefs  Con- 
verfation.  4.  ProfcfTed  SubjetJion  to  the  Gofpel, 
and  the  Order  of  ir.  That  Learned  and  Wor- 
thy Profeffor  of  Divinity,  in  the  Univerlity  of 
Leyden,  Dr.  Hcmbeck  declares  his 
Hombick  e-    Concurrence  with  hitn  therein,  and 

rlumtS'g.  tn3C  in  thefe  Particulars,  thofe  of 
the  Congregational  Way,  agree  with 
fome  other  Reformed  Churches.  To  my  certain 
Knowledge,  Eminent  Minifters  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Perfwalion,  in  London,  Fxamine  their  Com- 
municants (  before  they  admit  them  to  partake 
with  them,  at  the  Lord's  Table  )  concerning 
their  Faith  and  Repentance.  And  fo  (  notwith- 
ftanding  what  is  pleaded  for  by  the  Godly  Learned. 
Mr.  Rutherford  )  fome  do  in  Szotland,  as  divers 
Wot  thy  Minifters  of  that  Nation,  have  allured  me. 

The  Difference  as  to  this  Matter,  between  a 
Tresbyterian  and  a  Congregational  Man,  (  who  are 
neverchelefs  Vnncd   brethren  )  is  this.     There 

is  no    § •■;  tlponal  Man  but  he  reports  to  the 

Cl  thing  of   what  the   Perfon  'defiring 

Communion  with  them,  has  related  to  him  ; 
which  the  Presbyterian  does  not,  only  Declares 
his  own  Satisfaction,  and  giveth  the  Brethren  a 
Liberty  to  object  againft  the  Converfation  of  the 
Admittendi.  I  know  Presbyterians,  who  are  ftrifler 
in  their  Examinations  and  Adudffions,  than  fome 
Congregational  Men.  It  appears  therefore,  that 
fuch  Enquiries  into  the  Spiritual '  Eft  ate  of  them, 
who  are  to  be  admitted  unto  full  Communion:, 
in  all  the  Ordinances  of  the  Gofpel,  is  no  Singular 
or  Novel  Practice :  Nothing  but  what  is  con- 
firmed by  Reverend  Antiquity,  and  Ins  been  ingc- 
nuoully  afferted  by  the  Great  Reformers,  both 
of  the  former,  and  this  prefent  Age.  Whether 
the  brethren,  as  well  as  the  Elders'  fbould  not  be 
concerned  as  Judges,  concerning  the  Qualificati- 
ons of  thofe  whom  they  Receive  into  their  Com- 
munion, is  another  Queftion,  which  I  fhall  not 
here  enlarge  upon.  It  is  certain,  that  in  the 
Primitive  Ages  of  the  Church,  they  had  that  Li- 
berty •,  otherwife  Cyprian  would  never  have  faid, 
Vix  Plcbi  perfuadeo  ut  Tales  patiantur  admilti,  £:c. 
And  elfewhere  confefled  his  Obligations,  and 
Rcfolutions,  Nihil  fine  confenfu  plebis,  privata  fen. 
tentia  ga:ere. 

It  is  alio  certain,  that  this  is  an  avowed  Prin- 
ciple of  all  who  are  efteemed  Congregational.  In 
the  Declaration  of  the  Faith  and  Order  owned 
and  pr3cYifed  in  Congregational  Church  in  England, 
agreed,  and  confented  unto,  by  their  Elders  and 
MefTengers,  in  their  Meeting  at  the-  Savoy,  Ottob. 
12.  1658.  They  declare,  That  the-  Members  of 
Particular  Churches  are  Saints  by  calling,  viftbly  ma- 


nifefting  their  Obedience  to  the  Call  of  Chrift,  who 
being  further  known  to  each  other  by  their  Confejfien 
of  Faith  wrought  in  them  by  the  Power  of 
God,  declared  by  themfives,  or  otherwife  mamfefted, 
confent  to  walk  together  according  to  the  appointment 
of  Chrift.  I  have  known  many  in  England  of  that 
way  ;  but  never  any  that  did  not  concern  the  Bre- 
thren as  well  as  themfelves,  to  be  udges  of  the  fit- 
nefs  of  thofe  who  have  delired  to  be  received  into 
their  Communion.  It  is  evident,  that  the  Church, 
(  and  not  the  Officers  only  )  have  Power  given 
them  by  Chrift,  to  Judge  who  are  meet  to  be 
put  out  of  their  Communion.  Mat.  18.  17.  1  Cor. 
5  12.  Then  they  muft  needs  have  the  like  Power 
as  to  thofe  that  are  to  be  taken  into  their  Com- 
munion. Ejusdcm  eft  poteftatis  conftituere  ct  defti- 
tuere,  is  a  known  received  Axiom.  If  the  whole 
Church  has  power  to  Judge  of  the  Repentance 
of  one  that  is  to  be  Re-admitted,  then  of  the  Re- 
pentance of  one  that  is  to  have  his  fir  ft  Admif- 
jion.  But  the  Apoftle  fpeaks  to  the  Church,  and 
not  to  the  Officers  only  to  reftore  the  penitent 
Corinthian  to  their  Communion.  2  Co ;.  2.  8.  A- 
gain,  If  the  whole  multitude  of Difciples  have  tower 
to  Judge,  whether  Perfons  are  qualified  with 
that  Wifdom  and  Grace,  as  to  be  meet  for  Of- 
fice-Relation in  the  Church,  then  they  have  Power 
to  Judge  concerning  the  Knowledge  and  Grace 
of  Communicants.  The  A.gument  i?  a  majori  ad 
minus.  They  that  are  tneet  Judge!  in  a  greater 
Matter,  much  more  in  that  which  is  lifs.  But 
the  former  is  clear  from  the  Scripture.  Ails 
6.  2,  3, 4.  For  further  Satisfaction  in  this  point, 
Mr.  Norton,  and  Mr.  Sbipard  may  be  confulted, 
with  that  Man  of  vaft  Reading  and  Learning, 
Mr.  Robert  Parker. 

Thefe  Things  I  have  fuppofed  to  be  proper 
for  me  to  Write  to  you  the  Church  of  Chrift 
•in  Cambridge ;  not  as  doubting  of  your  Stedfaft- 
nefs  in  the  Truth  to  this  day  profeffed  and  pra- 
ftifed  by  yon,  but  as  defiring  that  thofe  who 
fhall  fucceed  you,  may  continue  to  walk  'there- 
in ;  and  that  fo  I  might  teflifie,  the  peculiar  Re- 
fped,  that  I  do  (and  ought  to  )  bear  unto  you, 
on  the  Account  of  the  Undeferved  Love,  which 
all  of  yon  have  manifefted  towards  me.  Five 
Years  are  not  expired,  fince  you  were  pica  fed 
unanimoufly  to  Invite  me  to  Accep:  of  the  Pa- 
ftoral  Off.ce  over  you.  But  the  UnwiUing'nefs  of 
the  Dear  People,  among  whom  1  have  been  La- 
bouring in  the  Gofpel  for  the  Space  of  Thirty 
fix  Years,  that  I  fhould  leave  them,  in  Confide- 
ration  with  fome  other  Obftaclcs,  kept  me  from 
complying  with  that  your  Loving  Motion.  Ne- 
verthelefs, \  cannot  but  whilft  I  Live,  have  a 
Dear  Affe&ion  for  you,  and  know  not  how  to 
exprefs  it  more,  than  by  Endeavouring  what  in. 
rrie  lies,  that  you  and  your  Children  after  you, 
may  be  confirmed  in  thofe  Ways  of  the  Lord, 
which  your  Fathers,  and  your  felves  too,  have 
experienced  fo  much  of  His  Prefer.ce  in,  And 
I  have  alfo  confidered,  that  you  are  fingularly 
circumftanced,  in  that  there  are  Refiding  with 
you,  the  Sons  of  the  Prophets,  whofe  EiftablifhmeDt 
in  the  prefent  Truth,  I  am  more  than  any  Man  in 
the  World,  under  an  Obligation  to  promove, 
F  f  f  f  and 


The  Hifiory  of  New-England. 


Book  IV. 


and  1  certainly  know  (  not  altogether  without)  he  would  fomeumes  difcourfe  them  about  the 
an  Awful  Senfe  of  it  )  that  the  Son  of  God,  mWlSpiritual  Ejlate  of  their  Immortal  Souls 
e're  long  Enquire  of  me,  whether  1  did  iu  this 
Matter,  Difcharge  my  Duty,  according  to  his 
Expectation,  to  whom  I  muft  be  accountable  con- 
cerning the  Improvement  of  whatever  Talents  or 
Opportunities  to  Serve  His  Interefts,  He  has  or 
fhall  Truft  me  with,  whilff.  I  am  in  this  World. 

A  few  Words  let  me  further  fpeak  to  you, 
who  belong  to  that  Nurfery,  for  Religion  and 
Learning,  which  has  for  a  long  time  been  the 
Glory,  not  of  Cambridge  only,  but  of  Ncw-Eng- 
land.    Sixteen  Years  will  this  Summer  be  lapfed, 


ucii 
private  Perfonal  Infiruttions,  are  many  times  more 
Effectual  to  Converfwn  than  Fublick  Sermons.  Some 
very  worthy  Perfons  who  were  ome  his  Scholars, 
have  a  Living  Remembrance  of  his  Words,  to  this 
Day.  Others  of  them  are  now  with  him  in  Glo- 
ry, blefilng  God  to  Eternity,  whofe  Providence 
difpofed  them  under  fnch  a  Tutor.  Famous 
Dr.  Prejlon  chofe  rather  to  Live  in  Cambridge, 
than  in  any  Place  of  England,  becaufe  by  Reafoa 
of  the  Vniverfity  there,  he  had  an  Opportunity, 
Non  modo  dolare  Lapidcs  fed  ArticbiteHos,  to  pre- 


face God,  by  his  Providence,  devolved  the  Pra- 1 pare  Builders  for  tbe'Houfe  of  God.  The  Angels 
fidentfhip  of  that  Society  into  my  Hands,  to  ma-  in  Heaven  would  not  think  it  beneath  them,  to 
nage  it    (Co  (av  as  my  Jnfnfficiencies  for  fuch  a  be  employed  in  fo  Great  a  Work  and  Service  for 

the  Churches  of  Chrift,   as  that  which  Infinite 
Grace  has  call'd^a«  unto.  If  you  follow  thofe,  that 


Service  will  permit  )  for  the  Ends,  which  He 
(  and  our  Fathers,  as  his  Inflruments  )  did  at  firft 
Ereft  a  Colledge  in  New- England  upon  ;  which  was1  have  gone  before  you  (  99itCf)Cl  in  particular  ) 


chiefly,  that  fo  Scholars  might  there  be  Educated 
for  the  Service  of  Chrifb  and  His  Churches,  in 
the  Work  of  the  Afinijlry,  and  that  they  might  be 
feafonefi  in  their  Tender  Years  with  fuch  Princi- 
ples   as  brought  their  BlefTed  Progenitors  into 
this     Wildemefs.      What  my    Solicitudes  for 
this   have  been  in  both  Englands^  is  known   to 
to   Him,    who    laid   to  the  Churches,   /  know 
your  Works.     There  is  no  One  Thing  of  Greater 
Concernment  to  thefe  Churches,  in  prefent  and 
after- times,  than  the  Profperity  of  that  Society. 
They  cannot  fubfiffc  without  a  Colledge.     There 
are  are  at  this  day  not  above  Two  or  Thiee  of 
our  Churches  but  what  are  fupplyed  from  thence. 
Nor  are  the  Churches  like  to  continue  pure  Gol- 
den Candle-flicks,    if  the  Colledge,    which  fhould 
fupply   them,    prove  Apoflate.     If  the  Fountain 
be  corrupted,  How  fhould  the  Streams  be  pnre, 
which  fhould  make  Glad  the  City  of  God  ?    How 
fhould  Plants  of  Renown  fpring  up  from  thence, 
if  the  Colledge  it  felf  become  a  Degenerate  Plant  ? 
You  that  are  Tutors  there,  have  a  Great  Advan- 
tage put  into  your  Hands  (  and  I  pray  God  give 
you  VVifdom  to  know  it!)  to  prevent  it.    The 
Lord  hath    made  you    Fathers   to  many   Pupils. 
You  will  not  deny,  but  that  He  has  made  me  a 
Father  to  you.     It  was  my  Recommendation,  that 
brought  you  into  chat  Staiion.    And   therefore, 
as  my   Joy  \>ill  be  Greater  to  fee  you    Acquit 
your  felves  Worthily,  Co  my  earneffc  Sollicitudes 
for  it  muft  needs  be  the  more,  on  that  Account. 
There  are  many  (  I  believe,  you  wifh  you  could 
fay  fo  of  all  of  them  )  who  were  once  under  your 
Tuition,  that  uo  worthily  in  Ephratah,  and  are  like 
to  be  famous  in  Bethlehem,  for  which  you  ought 
to  (  and  I  doubt  not  but  you  do  )  humbly  Blefs 
the  Lord,  That  yen  (and  they  who  fhall  fbeceed 
you)  miy  be  yet  Greater  Blejjings,  Let  me  com- 
mend unto  you  the  Example  of  this  BlefTed  Man, 
whofe  Life  is  here  defcribed.     When  Jerom  had 
conlldered   the    Life   of  Hilarion,    he  Refolvcd 
Hilarion  f]i  all  be  the  Champion,  whom  I  will  follow! 
Say  each  of  you,  $jj0itCfjCl,    (  once  a  Tutor  in 
Ha  vard-Cottedge}  (hall  be  the    Example,  whom  J 
will  imitate  !     You  will  fee  in  the  Story  of  his 
Life,  that  he  did  not  only  Inftrucl  his  Pupils  in 
the  Knowledge  of  the  Tongues  and  Arts,  but  that 


as  they  have  followed  Chrift,  your  Names  will  be 
Precious  and  Honourable  like  theirs,  and  you  fhall 
Live  after  you  are  Dead,  as  they  now  do. 

As  for  you  that  are  the  Students  in  the  Colledge  ; 
I  have  often   (  as  you  know  )  in  my  Difcourfes 
among  you,  Exhorted  you  above  all  Things  to 
Study  Chrift,  and  to  be  mindful  of,  The  one  Thing 
Neceffary.    Gifts    without    Grace  will  be  of  no 
Avail  unto  you  at  Iaft.    You  may  excel  in  Know- 
ledge, and  yet  be  of  all  in  the  Worldd  the  moft 
Mferable,  and  moft  like  to  the  Devils,  as  a  Con- 
verted Indian  once  fa  id  concerning  fome  Scholars. 
You  know,  thai  many  Fhilofophers  who  were 
Heathen  excelled  in  that  which  is  called,  Humane 
Learning.    And  fo  have  fome   Popi(h    Authors 
(  Jefuitcs  efpecially  )  done,  whofe   Books   have 
been  very  Edifying  to  others.    I   muft  confefs, 
that  as  to  that  fmall  meafure  of  Knowledge  which 
I  have  attained  unto,  I  have,  (  for  fome  part  of 
it )  been  beholden  to  the  Divine  Providence  for 
the  Works  of  Ricciolus,   Galtruchius,  and  others 
of  that  Fraternity,  who  were  very  Learned  Men, 
tho'    Enemies   of   the   True    Proteflant    Religion. 
Knowledge  then  without  Chrifl  and  Holinefs,  will 
never  bring  you  to  Heaven.    One    has  written 
a  Book,  De  Salute  Ariflolis  •  And  another,    Dc 
Animabus  Paganorum  endeavouring  to  prove,  that 
the  Philofophers  who  Knew  not  the  Only  True  Gody 
nor  Jefus  Cbnft,  have  Eternal  Life.    Let  fuch  and 
all  other  Pelagian  and  Arminian  Principles  be  far 
from  you.     But  do   not  think  it  is  enough,  if 
you   be  Orthodox,   in  the  Fundamental  Points  of 
Religion.    It  was  not    (  1  can  affure  you  )  on 
any  fuch   Account  that  your   Fathers    followed 
Chrift  into  this  Wildemefs,  when  it  was  a  Land 
not  fown.     If  you  degenerate  from  the  Order  of  the 
Gofpel  (as  well  as  from  the  Faith  of  the  Gofpel  ) 
you  will  juftly  merit  the  Name  of  Apoflates  and 
of  Degenerate  Plants.     And  fuch  Degeneracy  in 
the  Children  of  New-England,  and  moft  of  all 
in  you  will  be  worfe,  than  in  any  Children  in 
the  World.     If  any  of  you  fhall  prove  fuch,  Re- 
member that   you    were  told,  that  you  take  an 
unhappy   Time  to  Degenerate  in.     He  whofe  Fan  is 
in  bis  Hand,  will  throughly  purge  bis  Floor.    The 
Day  is  near,  when  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  will  make 
His  Churches  more  Pure  and  Reformed,  than  in 

the 


J3ook    IV,  The  Hi  (lory  of ;' New-England. 


\6 


5 


the  former  Af^es  ;  and  will  you  at  fucb  a  timei4  to  Reformation.  The  Reformation  ia  K.  Ed- 
corrupt  your  felves  with  loofe  and  large  Princi-j  c  ward's  Days  was  then  a  BlefTed  Work.  And  the 
pies  in  Matters  relating  to  the  Honfc  of  God,!'  Reformation  of  Geneva  and  Scotland,  was  then  a 
Wbofe  Houfe  Holinefs  becomes  for  ever  .'  How  if]'  larger  flep,  and  in  many  refpec'ts  purer  than  the 
fome  of  you  mould  live  to  fee  that  Scripture!'  other.  And  for  my  part  I  fully  believe,  that  the 
verified,  where  the  Lord  fays,  The  Levites  that  \ '  t  ongrcgational  Way  far  exceeds  both,  and  is  the 
are  gone  far  from  me,  wlien  lfrael  went  aflray,  they'.1"  Highefl  Step  that  has  been  taken  towards  Refor- 
Jhall  not  come  near  unto  me,  to  do  the  Office  of  \l  mation,  and  for  the  Subftance  of  it,  it  is  the 
a  Prieft  unto  me,  but  the  Sons  of  Zadok  that  kept] '  very  fame  way,  that  was  eftablifhed  and  pra- 

*U„  r\.*„~„   -r f n »L— .    /7._n    ...i...  -•    » '    t\\C„A   :„  »1 n..:...  *:_.-    rtrv i:_  _ -J ^i_. 


In  his  Electi- 
on Sermon  on 
Deut.    32. 

29.   p.  44. 


fie  Charge  of  my  Saniluary,  they  /hall  enter  into  my 
Saniluary,  and  they  /hall  come  near  to  my  Table  to 
Mtnifler  unto  me  I  Ezek.4+.  10,  15.  Let  me  Re- 
commend unto  you   the  weighty  Words  of  my 
molt  Dear  and  Worthy  Friend  and  PredecefTor, 
Mr.  Oakcs,  once  your  Learned  Pnftdent,  which 
he  delivered   (  and  afterwards  Printed  )  on  a 
very  folemn  Occafion.     He  fpeaketh  to  you  thus, 
Conllder  (faith  he  )  what  will  be 
the  End  or  Receding  or  making  a 
Defeclion  from  the  Way  of  Church 
Government  eftablilhed  amongft  us. 
I  pi'ofefs,  I  look  upon  the  Difco 
'  very  and  Settlement  of  the  Congre- 
gational Way,  as  the  Boon,  the  Gratuity,  the 
Largefs    of   Divine  Bounty,    which  the  Lord 
gracioufly  bellowed  on  His  People,    that  fol- 
lowed Him  into  this  Wildernefs ;  and  a  great 
part  of  the  Biejjing  on  the  Head  oi'Jofeph,  and 
of  them  who  were  Separate  from  their  Brethren. 
Thefe  Good    People  that  came  over,  fhewed 
more   Love,  Zeal,  and  AffecYionate  Defire  of 
Communion  with  God  in  pure  Worfhip  and  Or- 
dinances, and  did  more  in  Order  to  it  than  o- 
thcrs,  and  the  Lord  did  more  for  them  than 
for  any  People  in  the  World,  in  (hewing  them 
the  Pattern  oi  His  Houfe,  and  the  true  Scriptu- 
ral-way of  Church   Government  and  Admini- 
ftrations.    God  was  certainly  in  a  more  than 
ordinary  Way  of  Favour  prefent  with  his  Ser- 
vants  in  laying   of  our  Foundations,   and  in 
feeling  the  Way  of  Church  Order  according  to 
tne  Will  and  Appointment  of  Chrift.    Confi- 
der,  what  will  be  the  fad  Jjfue  of  Revolting 
from  the  Way  fixed  upon,  to  one  Extream  or 
to  another,    whether  it  be  to  Presbyterianifm 
or  Browmfm  ;  as  for  the  Presbyterians ,  it  muft 
be  acknowleged,  that  there  are  among  them  as 
Pious,  Learned,  Sober,  Orthodox  Men,  as  the 
World  affords  •  and  that  there  is  as  much  of  the 
Power  ofGodlinefs  among  that  Party,  and  of  the 
Spirit  of  the  good  Old  Puritans,  as  among  any 
People  in  the  World.     And  for  their  Way  of 
Church-Government,  it  mull:  be  confefTed,  that  in 
the  Day  of  it,  it  was  a  very  Confiderable  Step 


ftifed  in  the  Primitive  Times,  according  to  the 
Inftitution  of  Jefus  Chrift.  I  muft  needs  {iy, 
that  I  mould  look  upon  it,  as  a  fad  Degene- 
racy, if  we  mould  leave  the  Good  Old  Way, 
fo  far  as  to  turn  Councils  and  Synods  into  Clan* 
'  fes  and  Provincial  Ajfemblies,  and  there  mould 

*  be  fucb  a  Laxnefs  in  Admijjion  of  Members  f» 
1  Communion,  as  is  pleaded  for^  and  pr.itlifed  by 
'  many  Presbyterians,  and  Elders  ftould  manage  all 
'  themfelves  in  an  Autscratorical  Way,  to  the  Sub- 
c  verfionof  the  Liberty  and  Priviledge  of  theZ?rf- 
\  thren.  Thus  Mr.  Oakes.  As  for  that  Excel- 
lently Learned  and  Holy  Man  Mr.  Charles 
Chauncey,  who  for  many  Years  Prefided  over  Har- 
vard-CoUedge,  none  of  you,  who  now  belong  to 
that  Society,  c3n  remember  him.  But  you  have 
heard  what  his  Dying  Charge  to  his  Sons  (  who 
through  Grace  tread  in  their  Father's  Steps  ) 
was  in  his  Lafl  Will  and  Teflament,  which  you 
may  fee  Publifhed  with  his  Life  in  due  Time. 
He  that  is  now  your  Prefident  —  A  longe  fequi- 
tur  vefligia  femper  adorans  ■  yet  is  willing  not  to 
Evert  or  Undermine  the  Foundation,  which  his 
BlefTed  Predeceffbrs,  have  laid,  but  to  Build 
thereon.  I  remember  Buchanan  (  who  was  Tu- 
tor to  K.  James  I. )  in  the  Preface  to  his  Bap- 
tises, which  he  Dedicates  to  that  K.  fays,  That 
the  Reafon  why  he  did  fo,  was,  '  That  in  caft 
'  He  fhould  through  the  Influence  of  Evil  Coun- 

*  fellors,  or  from  any  other  Caufe,  be  Guilty  of 
1  Male-Adminiftration  in  His  Government,  af- 
'  ter  Ages  fhonid  know,  that  the  Blame  ought 
c  to  be  imputed  not  to  His  Tutor,  but  to  Him- 
1  felf.  So  let  me  fay,  If  you  the  Students  in 
Harvard-Coll  edge,  or  any  of  you,  (hall  deviate 
and  degenerate  from  the  Holy  Principles  and 
Practices  of  your  Fathers,  the  World  {hall  know, 
and  Pofterity  (hall  know,  That  the  Reafop,  of 
it  is  not  for  want  of  being  otherwife  inftrudted 
by  your  Prefent,  as  well  as  by  Former  Prefi- 
dents, 


May  7. 


INCREASE  MATHER 


Ffff  2 


ECC-LE- 


i66 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  Book  IV, 


ECCLESIASTES. 

OR,   THE 

LIFE 


O     F 


onathan  Mitchel 


Sanfforum  Vitas  Legere    &  non  Vivere,  frujlra  eft  5 
SanBcrum    Vitas   Degite,    non   Legite. 


I 


§.  1.  ''T  is  Reported  concerning  the  Ancient 
Phrygians,  that  when  a  Prieft  expired 
among  them,  they  Honoured  him  with 
a  Pillar  Ten  Fathom  high,  whereon 
they  placed  his  Dead  Body,  as  if  he  were  to  con- 
tinue after  his  Death,  from  thence  Inftructing 
of  the  People.  Nor  can  a  Mmifter  of  the  Gof- 
pel  have  any  more  Honourable  Funeral,  than 
That,  by  which  his  Inftru&on  of  the  People, 
may  be  molt  continued  unto  the  People,  after 
his  Expiration.  But  1  may  without  any  Danger 
of  Miftake,  venture  to  affirm,  That  there  can- 
not eafdy  be  found  a  Mimfter  of  the  Gofpel 
in  our  Days,  more  worthy  to  have  the  Story  of 
his  Life  employed  for  the  Inftruftionof  Mankind 
after  his  Deceafe,  than  oar  Excellent  ®$itCl)tl 
And  therefore  1.  (hall  now  endeavour  to  fet  him  on 
as  high  a  Pillar,  as  the  bell  Hiftory,  that  I  can  give 
of  his  Exemplary  Life,  can  eredt,  for  that  Wor- 
thy Man  ;  for  whom  Statues  of  Corinthian  Brafs, 
were  but  Inadequate  Acknowledgments. 

§.  2.  If  it  were  counted  an  Honour  to  the 
Town  of  Halifax  in  Torkfiire,  that  the  Famous 
fobn  de  Sacro  Bofco,  Author  of  the  well-known 
Treatife  De  Sphara,  was  born  there  ;  this  Town 
was  no  leis  Honoured  by  its  being  the  Place  of 
Birth  to  our  no  lefs  worthily  Famous  Joitatljatt 
95itCljCi,  the  Author  of  a  better  Treatife  Of 
Heaven,  who  being  defcended  (  as  a  Printed  Ac- 
count long  fince  has  told  us  )  of  Pious  and  Weal- 
thy Parents,  here  drew  his  fiiTt  Breath,  in  the 
Year  1624.  The  precife  Day  of  his  Birth  is  loft, 
nor  is  it  worth  while  for  us  to  enquire  by  an 
Aflrologic'al  Calculation,  what  Afpeft  the  Stars  had 
upon'  his  Birth,  lince  the  Event  has  proved, 
That  God  the  Father  was  in  the  Horofcope,  Cbrifl 
in  the  Mid- Heaven,  the  Spirit  in  the  Sixth  Houfe, 
Repentance,  Faith  and  Love,  in  the  Eighth :  And 
in  the  Twelfth,  an  Eternal  Happinefs,  where  no 
Saturn  can  dart  any    malignant   Rays.      Here, 


while  the  Father  of  his  Flefo  was  endeavouring  to 
make  him  Learned  by  a  proper  Education,  the  Fa- 
ther of  Spirits  ufed  the  Methods  of  Grace  to  make 
him  Serious  ;  efpecially  by  a  fore  Feavour,  which 
had  like  to  have  made  the  Tenth  Year  of  his  Life 
the  Lafl,  but  then  fettled  in  his  Arm  with  fuch 
Troublefome  Effecls,  that  his  Arm  grew,  and 
kept  a  little  bent,  and  he  could  never  ftretch  it 
out  Right  until  his  Dying  Day.  And  upon  this 
Accident  he  afterwards  wrote  this  Reflexion  • 
Thus  the  Lord  fought  to  make  me  Serious  (  Oh  !  when 
will  it  once  be!  )  by  flceping  my  fir  ft  Entrance  into 
Tears  of  "Under ft  anding,  and  into  the  Changes  of  Life, 
and  my  fir  ft  Motions  to  New-England,  in  Eminent 
and  Special  Sorrows.  Now  his  Firft  Amotions  to 
New-England,mentioned  in  this  Reflection,  invite 
us  to  Haften  unto  that  part  of  our  Hiftory,  which 
is  to  relate,  that  his  Parents  were  fome  of  thofe 
Exemplary  Cbriftians,  which  by  the  Vnconjcionable 
Impofitions'  and  Persecutions  of  the  Englifh  Hie- 
rarchy upon  the  Confciences  of  People,  as  Remar- 
kable for  True  Christianity  as  any  in  the  Realm, 
were  driven  out  of  it  in  the  Year  163$.  the  Ship, 
which  brought  over  Mr.  Richard  Mather,and  ma- 
ny more  of  thofe  Puritans,  which  had  found  the 
Church  of  England,  then  governed  by  fuch  an  Af- 
fembly  of  Treacherous  Men,  (  a  Faction  to  whom 
that  Name,  The  Church  o/England  never  truly  be- 
longed )  that  they  were  put  upon  wifhing  with 
the  perfecuted  Prophet,  Ob!  that  I  bad  in  the  Wil- 
dernefs  a  Lodging-place  of  Way-faring  Men\  was 
further  enriched  by  having  on  Board  our  3!0lt3- 
tfjatt,  than  a  Child  of  about  Eleven  Years  of  Age  ; 
whofe  Parents  with  much  Difficulty  and  Refolu- 
tion  carried  him  unto  Bristol  to  take  Shipping 
therc,while  he  was  not  yet  recovered  of  his  Iilnefs. 
OntheCoaft  of  New-England,  they  were  delive- 
red from  a  raoft  Eminent  and  Amazing  Hazard 
of  perifhing,  in  a  moft  Horrible  Tempest  ;  upon, 
which  Deliverance  Mr.  Mather  preached  a  Ser- 
mon from  that  Scripture,  John  5.  14.  Sin  no  more 

leafi 


Book  IV.  the  Miftory  of  New-England. 


lea  ft  a  worfe  thing  come  unto  thee  ;  whereby  fur- 
ther Impreflions  of  Serioufnefs  were  made  upon 
ihe  Soul  of  this  Young  Difciple. 

§.  3.  The  Godly  Father  of  our  Jonathan  found, 
that  Americans  well  as  Europe, New-England  as  well 
as  Old  England,  was  a  part  of  Old  Adam's  World  •, 
well  flocked  every  where  with  the  Thorns  of 
Worldly  Canities  and  Vexations;  and  that  a  Wil- 
dernefs  was  a  Place,  where  Temptation  was  to  be 
met  withal.  All  his  Family,  and  the  Jonathan  of 
the  Family,  with  the  Reft,  were  vifited  with  Sick- 
nefs,  the  Winter  after  their  firft  Arrival  at  Charl- 
Ftown,  and  the  Scarcity  then  afflifting  the  Coun- 
trey  added  unto  the  Afflictions  of  their  Sicknefs. 
Removing  to  the  Town  of  Concord,  his  greater 
Matters  continually  became  [mailer  there,  his  Be- 
ginnings were  there  confumed  by  Fire,  and  fome 
other  Lofles  befel  him  in  the  Latter  End  of  that 
Winter.  The  next  Summer  he  removed  unto 
Say-brook,  and  the  next  Spring  unto  Weathers- 
field  upon  Comietficut  River,  by  which  he  loft  yet 
more  of  his  PorTefllons,  and  plunged  himfelf  into 
other  Troubles.  Towards  the  Clofe  of  that  year 
he  had  a  Son-in-law  Slain  by  the  Pequot  Indians  • 
and  the  Reft  of  the  Winter  they  lived  in  much 
fear  of  their  Lives  from  thofe  Barbarians,  and 
many  of  his  Cartel  were  deftroyed,  and  his  Eftate 
unto  the  Value  of  fome  Hundreds  of  Pounds  was 
damnified.  A  Shallop,  which  he  fent  unto  the 
River's  Mouth  was  taken,  and  burned  by  the 
Pequots,  and  Three  Men  in  the  Veflel  flain,  in 
all  of  whom  he  was  nearly  concerned :  So  that 
indeed  the  Pequot  Scourge  fell  more  on  this  Fa- 
mily, than  on  any  other  in  the  Land.  After- 
ward there  arofe  unhappy  Differences  in  the  place 
where  he  lived,  wherein'  he  was  an  Antagonist 
againft  fome  of  the  Principal  Perfons  in  the  place, 
and  hereby  be  that  had  hitherto  Lived  in  precious 
Esteem  with  Good  Aicn,  wherever  he  came  (  as  a 
Record  1  have  feen,  teflifies  concerning  him  ) 
now  fuffered  much  in  his  Esteem  among  many 
fuch  Men,  as  'tis  ufual  in  fuch  Contentions,  and 
he  met  with  many  other  Injuries  ■  For  which 
Caufes,  he  transferred  himfelf,  with  hislnterefts, 
unto  Stamford  in  the  Colony  of  Nero  Haven.  Here 
his  Houfe  Barn  and  Goods  were  again  confumed 
by  Fire  ;  and  much  Internal  Diftrefs  of  Mind  ac- 
companied thefe  Humbling  Difpenfations.  At 
laft,  that  Moft  Horrible  of  Difeafis,  the  Stone, 
arrefted  him,  and  he  underwent  unfpeakable  Do- 
lours from  it,  until  the  Year  1645.  when  he  went 
unto  his  P.elt  about  the  Fifty  Fifth  Year  of  his 
Age. 

§.  4.  Although  the  Good  Spirit  of  God,  gave 
our  Jonathan  to  improve  much  in  his  Holy  Difpo- 
litions  while  he  was  yet  a  Youth,  by  the  Cala- 
mities, which  thus  befel  his  Father  •  and  particu- 
larly upon  Occafion  of  a  fad  thing  befalling  a 
Servant  of  his  Father's,  who  inftead  of  going  to 
the  Le&ure  at  Hartford,^  he  had  been  allowed  and 
Advifed,  would  needs  go  fell  a  Tree  for  himfelf, 
but  a  broken  Bough  of  theTree  ffruck  him  dead,fo 
that  he  never  fpokeorftirred  more  ^our  Jonathan, 
who  was  then  about  Fifteen  Years  old,  in  one 


of  his  Papers  does  Relate,  This  Amazing  Strok" 
did  much  jlirr  my  Heart,  and  I  [pent  fume  time  »« 
Endeavouring  the  work  of  Repentance  according  *9 
Mr.  Scudder's  Directions  in  his  Daily  Walk-.^ne- 
verthelefshehad  this  Difadvantage,  that  he  was 
thereby  Diverted  from  Study  and  Learning,  for 
the  firft  {even  years  after  his  Coming  into  the 
Country.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  Difadvan- 
tage of  this  Intermifjion,  we  had  feen  fome  Lively 
Emulation  of  BeUarmineh  open  Lectures  of  Divi- 
nity, at  Sixteen  years  of  Age,  or  Tor quato  Qua ffo's 
Receiving  his  Degrees  in  Philofophy  and  Divini- 
ty at  Seventeen,  or  Grotins's  publifhing  of  Com- 
mentaries at  the  like  Seventeen.  For  he  was,asthe 
Hiftorian  obferves,all  that  will  prove  Confiderable, 
mult  be,Puer,qui  Seminario  Firtutum  Generofiore  con- 
crete, aliquid  Inclytum  dtfignaffet.  But  after  fo  long 
an  Intcrmi/jion,  as  until  September  in  the  year  1 642. 
and  the  Eighteenth  year  of  his  Age,  upon  the 
Earncft  Advice  of  fome  that  had  Obferved  his 
great  Capacity,  and  efpecially  of  Mr.  Mather. 
with  whom  he  came  into  New-England,  he  Re- 
fumed  his  Defigns  for  Study  and  Learning  :  where- 
in he  made  fo  vigorous  a  Progrefs,  that  in  the 
year  1645.  he  was  upon  a  ftrift  Examination  Ad- 
mitted into  Harvard  Cclledge.  Nor  was  it  very 
long  before  Mr.  Mather,  who  was  the  Advifer  of 
this  matter,  had  the  Confolation  of  feeing  the 
Excellent  Labours  of  this  perfon  in  the  Pulpit 
worthy  of  hisown  Conftant  Journeys  to  his  month- 
ly Lectures  ;  yea,  and  the  moft  Confiderable  Fa- 
tb.rs  of  the  Country,  with  himfelf,  treating  this 
perfon,  as  not  Coming  behind  the  very  Chiefeft  of 
them  all,  and  Tailing  his  Communications,nct  as 
Vnr'qe  Grapes,  or  Winejufi  out  ofthc  Prcfs. 

§  5.  But  before  we  can  fairly  Arrive  to  that 
part  of  our  Story ,  in  will  be  as  profitable,^  neceffary 
for  ustoObferve  the  Steps  whereby  God  made; 
him  (jDl'CtJt-  The  Faculties  of  Mind,  with  which, 
the  God  that  Forms  the  Spirit  of  man,  enriched 
him,  were  very  Notable.  He  had  a  Clear  Head, 
a  Copious  Fancy,  a  Solid  Judgment,  a  Tenacious 
Memory,  and  a  certain  Difcretion,  without  an$ 
Childifh  Lafchete,  or  Levity  in  his  Behaviour, 
which  commanded  Refpecl  from  all  that  viewed 
him  :  So  that  it  might  be  faid  of  him,  as  it  once 
was  of  a  Great  Perfon  in  the  Englifh  Nation, 
They  that  knew  him  from  a  Child,  m-ver  h:cw  him 
any  other  than  a  Man.  Under  thefe  Advantages, 
he  was  an  Hard  Student,  and  he  fo  Profpered  in 
his  Indefatigable  Studies,  that  he  became  a  Scho- 
lar of  Illuminations,  not  far  from  the  Firft  Magni- 
tude :  Recommended  by  which  Qualifications^ 
was  not  long  before  he  was  Chofen  a  Fellow  of 
the  Colledge.  But  the  main  Strokes  of  his  Colledge- 
Lifc,  that  I  fhall  fingle  out  for  my  Readers  Ob- 
fervation,  are  of  yet  an  higher  Character.  Know 
then,  that  as  it  was  his  own  Counfel  to  his  Bro- 
ther, The  Writing  of fometimes  your  former  and  pre- 
fent  Life,  would  be  a  Thing  of  Endlefs  Vfe,  thus  it 
was  his  manner,  whilft  in  the  Colledge,  to  keep  a 
brief  Diary,  written  in  the  Laiine  Tongue,  which 
he  wrote  indeed  fluently  and  handfomely  -,  and 
from  a  part  of  this  Diary,  by  himEntituled,  Kn^ 
Hypomncmata,  happily  fallen  into  my  Hands,  I 
fhall  note  fome  few  Pvemarkablcs. 

He 


i68 


The  Hiftory  of  New-hnglanci. 


Book  IV. 


He  kept  a  drift  Eye  upon  his  Interior  State,  before  God  ;  and  upon  the  Difpoiit;ons  or  his 
Heart,  as  well  in  Sacred  as  in  Civil  Entertainments:  but  with  an  Extreme  Severity  of  Refitilion 
upon  himfelf,  when  perhaps,  at  the  fame  time  the  Severe/l  Spectator  upon  Earth  befides  would 
have  judged  every  thing  in  him  worthy  to  have  been  Admired,  rather  than  Cenfufed.  He  would 
Record  fuch  Things  as  thefe. 


One  Time, 
Inter  precandum,  Pens  ab  Infipido  ac  Defolato 
Corde  jufte  abfuit,  ut  me  (  quo  nihil  magis  ncceffa- 
rium  )  humiliaret  ;  Nam  aliter  (  ft  paulo  melius 
aliatiando  fe  babe  at  Cor  )  efi  in  me,  quod  propbana 
Spirituals  Superbia  tttillatur.  Eram  tamen  inde 
nonnibil  ad  Deum  Excitatior. 

At  another  Time, 

Jejunio  prlvato  interfui,  ubl  multo  Stupore,  & 
tnulta  vanitatc  Oppletus  fum  ;  aliaua  tamen  vigue- 
rant  Sufpiria  &  Dens  non  vlfus  ejl  me  omnino 
abdlcare,  fed  paiAo  meliorem  fecit ;  tttinam  tenuijfem 
&  fovlffem  Defideria,  qua  tunc   accer.dlt. 

At  another  Time, 

Locum  communem  babul ;  vix  abjlinu  la  ftcreta 
fuperbia  ;  Licet  turpljfima  vanitas  Animl  (  qua 
nunquam  non  omnia  me  a  venenantur  )  me  coram 
Deo  profiraviffct,  prater  alia  mea  peccata,  qua 
me  infra  vermes  pcnunt,  Neque  fane  unquam  all- 
quid  aut  facio  ai;t  dico,  itnde  plus  pudoris  quam 
Honoris,  mihl  non  nafcttur,  ft  omnia  mecum  per- 
pendo  ;  &  Lens  Jolet  femper  aliquid  relinquere, 
nude  me  ( fall em  apud  me  )  pudefacit. 

t 

At  another  Time, 

Colloquiis  Hllaribus,  cum  Sociis  quibufdam  nlmls 
Indulfi. 

At  another  Time, 

Adibam  Boftonium,  &  ibi  Libertatem  Civilem 
acccpl,  fed  ex  Ublefi amcnt'vs  Leve  &  Inftpidum  Cor, 

At  another, 

Liberius  quam  prudentius  quadam  locutus  fum, 
unde  mihl  pudor. 


In  my  Prayer,  God  was  juftly  withdrawn  from 
my  Unfavoury  and  Defolace  Heart,  that  fo  He 
might  Humble  me ;  than  which  there  is  nothing 
more  needful  for  me.  For  otherwife(if  my  Heart 
be  at  any  time  in  a  little  better  frame)  there  is 
that  in  me,  which  is  tickled  with  Spiritual  Pride. 
Neverthelefs  I  was  from  hence  more  Excited 
God-ward. 

I  was  prefent  at  a  private  Faft:,  where  I  was  fill- 
ed with  much  Sottifhnefs  and  Vanity  :  Yet  I  had 
fome  Lively  Sighs ;  and  God  Teemed  not  wholly  to 
caft  me  off,  but  made  me  a  little  Better  than  I  was 
before.  1  wifh  1  had  Retained  and  Cheriflied  the 
Defires,  which  He  then  Enkindled  .' 

I  Common- placed.  I  could  Scarce  abftain  from 
Secret  Pride ;  altho' a  very  bafe  Vanity  of  mind 
(  with  which  every  thing  of  mine  is  poifon'd  ! ; 
had  laid  me  low  in  the  Dull  before  God  ,  befides 
my  other  Sins,  which  lay  me  lower  than  the  very 
Worms  of  the  Duft.  But  indeed,  1  never  Do  or 
Say  any  thing,  from  whence  there  arifes  not  more 
of  Shame  than  of  Honour  to  me,  if  I  Confiderall 
things  •,  and  God  ufes  in  all  ever  to  leave  fome- 
thing,  by  which  He  makes  me  at  lcaft  alhamed 
of  my  felf. 

I  gave  too  much  Liberty  unto  Merry  Talk, 
with  fome  of  my  Friends. 

I  went  unto  fioflon,  and  there  took  a  Civil  Li- 
berty :  But  from  fuch  Entertainments  my  Heart 
grew  light  and  unfavoury. 

I  difcourfed  fome  things  with  more  Freedom 
than  Wifdom-,  for  which,  I  was  afhamed  of  my 
felf. 


Again  •,  He  laid  up  the  more  efpecial  Admonitions  which  touched  him,  in  the  Sermons  that  he 
heard  Preached,  ot  in  other  more  private  and  ufeful  Conferences,  and  the  Refoltttions,  which  he 
thereupon  asked  the   Help  of  Heaven  to  follow.     Fie  would  Record  fuch  Things  as  thefe, 


One  Time, 
Vix  aliquid  apud  Deum  fapui,  fed  excitavit  me 
Concio  Magiftri  Slicpardi,  Tremenda plan:  et  pra- 
Rantijfima.  Docuit  Aliquos  effe  qui  vldentur  in- 
venlrl  &  Servarl  a  Chrtfto  &  tamen  pojlea  pere- 
unt.  Hac  me  tcrrebant  (  &  ttttnam  infixa  ba- 
rere nt  ■'  )  ne  tan  turn  vlderer  effe  Chrijli,  &  ne 
ad  mortem  ufque  fie  pergerem.  Rogavi  Deum, 
ut  met  Miferius  totam  rem  ageret.  lUa  Ncfte 
multo  pudore,  apud  me  fuffufus  eram,  quod 
baclenus  nihil  in  Meditatione  quotidiana,  fece~ 
ram,  &  bine  cacus  &  Ignarus  In  Divinis,  ex- 
tra meipfitm,  &  (me  Deo,  per  Integras  Septlma- 
nas  vlxcrar.i.  Jam  Statui  Meditandi  opus  quoti- 
die  nrgere,  quod  ante  bac  aliquoties  (latui,  fed,  ben  ! 


I  had  little  Savour  on  my  Spirit  before  God  : 
but  a  terrible  and  Excellent  Sermon  of  Ur.Sbepards 
awakened  me.  He  taught,  that  there  are  fome 
who  feem  to  be  found  and  Sav'd  by  Chrift,  and 
yet  afterwards  they  periih.  Thefe  things  terrifi- 
ed me,  (  and  I  wifh,  they  had  ftuck  faft  in  me  !  ) 
left  1  mould  only  feem  to  belong  unto  Chrift,  and 
left  1  fhould  thus  go  on  unto  Death.  IBeg'd  of 
God,  that  He  would  have  mercy  on  me,  and  ac- 
complifh  the  whole  work  of  His  Grace  for  me. 
That  Night  I  was  covered  with  no  little  fhame, 
becaufel  had  hitherto  done  in  a  manner,  nothing 
at  the  work  of  DAILY  MEDITATION,  and 
hence  I  had  lived  Blind,  and  Ignorant  in  Divine 
Things,  a  ftranger  to  my  felf,  and  without  God, 
for  whole  Weeks  together.  I  now  Refolved, 
every  Day  to  urge  the  work  of  MEDITATION, 
which  heretofore  I  have  often  Refolved,  but  alas, 


Book  IV.  The  Hifiory  of  New-England, 


169 


A),  Onot 


Fropofita  vfalatn  •  nnde.  fucccnfct  Dens,  w,  v«</. 
&  grtdfta  fcin-  potuijfem  de  Deo,  ft  firms  &  con- 
flans  in  Meditatione  fuijjlm ! 

At  another  Time, 

D.  SheparJus  utilijjime  docuit.     Ilia  Node  Seria 
infabant  Cogit.itioncs,  de  infanda  men  mifcria,  qua 
fine  Deo,  fine    Rtdemptione ,  a  S.ibbato  ad  S.ibbatum 
miftrrimus  pergo.     Inde  Tria  fl.ituebam  mibi  Obfir- 
Vanda,  qua  etiam  Deo  connnendabam,  ut  in  me  effj- 
ceret.     Primo,  Non    Ouiete  manvndum  m  b.w  ttiea 
conditione  •   IntolcrabilT  effe,  v.t  ftc  pergtrem,    Se- 
cundo,     Precandum   conflanter,  fine   Languore,  out 
Inter  mifiione,    mane  noiieque   huploranduin  Deum, 
intimis  &  ineffubi'.ibus  fufpiriis.     Tertio,  ft  Dens 
non    aufcultaverit,    &  qua    opus    funt    praflarit, 
in  Amore  f.o    m.mifejlando,    [.litem    Lugeant    & 
Lacbymern,  &  per  gam  in   Amantadine  Animas  ; 
ft    1 '  onfoUtionem  &    Paccm  a  Deo,    non  babuero, 
falten   nuR.vn  omnino  babcam ! 


II  have  Violated  my  purpofes-,  for  which  caufe, 
God  is  Angry  with  me.  Ah  !  How  many,  how 
mighty  Things  of  God  might  I  have  underftood, 
if  1  had  been  Serious  and  Conftant  in  MEDITA- 
TION! 

Mr.  Sbepard  Preached  moft  profitably.  That 
night,  I  was  followed  with  Serious  Thoughts,  of 
my  Inexpreflible  mifery,  wherein  I  go  on  moft 
miferably  from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath,  without  God, 
and  without  Redemption.  From  hence  I  de- 
termined, That  there  arc  Things  which  I  muffc 
Obferve ;  and  I  Commended  thefe  Things  unto 
God,  that  he  would  Effect  them  in  me.  Firft  j 
That  I  muft  not  remain  quietly  in  this  my  con- 
dition; but  that  it  is  Intolerable  for  me  to  pro- 
ceed as  I  am.  Secondly  ;  That  I  muft  pray  con- 
ftantly,  without  fainting,  or  any  Intermiffion: 
Day  and  Night  I  muft  cry  unto  the  Lord,  with 
Groans  that  cannqt  be  uttered.  Thirdly  ;  If  God 
will  not  Hear  me,  nor  do  the  Things  that  arc 
needful  for  me  in  manifefting  to  me  His  Love, 
let  me  at  leaft  Mourn,  and  Weep,  and  go  on  in 
the  Bitternefs  of  my  Soul,  if  I  fhall  not  have 
Comfort,  and  Peace,  from  God,  let  me  have 
None  at  all  / 

Mr.  Samuel  Mather  Preached  Excellently,  con- 
cerning, The  Vncheangeablenefs  of  God.  From 
hence  he  Rebuked  the  Changeablenefsand  Incon- 
ftancy  of  men,towards  God. Thefe  Things  Touch- 
ed me  ;  for  I  was  Confcious  to  my  own  Incon- 
ftancy  •,  and  being  Serioufly  and  Inwardly  Smitten 
with  the  fenfeofit,  I  caft  my  felf  down  at  the 
Feet  of  God,  with  Vehement  Supplications  for 
His  Favour. 

betmote,  He  Acquitted  himfelf,  as  One  concerned  for  the  Sonh  of  his  Pupils,  when  he 
car  to  have  fiich  under  his  Charge;  and  was  very  defirous  to  fee  their  Hearts  renewed  by 
1  ce,  the  (  Beginning  or  )  Head  of  Knowledge,  as  well  as  their  Heads  fnrnifhed  with  other 
Knowledge.    He  would  Record  fuch  Things  as  thefe. 


At  another  Time, 

D.  Samuel  Matherus  eximic  concionatus  eft, 
de  Immut.ibUttate  Dei.  Inde  Redarguebat  muta- 
bilitatem  'J'  'nconftamiim  Homihum  erg.i  Deum. 
Hai  me  ttttgerw.t  ;  Confcius  eram  Inconftantia 
I  <  «  •.  Et  fir  10,  ir?timi"]:te  perru'fus,  proftratus  co- 
ram Deo  vehementcr    Orabam    Gratiam. 


At  One  Time, 

Alioqiiebar  M.  W.  de  Salmis  Negotio.  Multis 
ilium  bovtabart  month  am,  &  dirigebam^  ad  illud 
curandum,  ne  fuffocarct  Convicliones^  &  inconftan- 
tia  Deum  Indent.,  fed  prccibus  riPOSKAPTEPHSH. 
Vtinart  ipfe  prajlarcm,  qua  dixi .'  Deust  ferva 
ilium  Juvenem  ! 

At  another  Time, 

S.  M.  primus  e  Pupillis  meis,  me  aUocutus  efi 
de  Anima  fu<e  ftatu  ;  plura  quidetn  quam  fperaffem 
Latus  audivi;  &  (  quod  Dens  dedit  )  Confilium  ad- 
didi,  tit  pergcret  diligent cr  Deum  fequi,  Animabam 
ad  fequendum  Deum  •,  At  pudebat  me  Aciditatis 
Animi  mei. 


I  fpoke  unto  M.  W.  about  the  matters  of  Eter- 
nal Salvation,  I  largely  exhorted  him,  advifed  him, 
direfted  him  to  be  careful  of  This,  that  he  did  not 
StifflehisConviftions,  and  mock  God  by  Incon- 
ftancy,  but  be  inftant  in  Prayen  I  wifh  I  could 
my  felf  Do,  what  I  fpoke  !  Lord,  Save  that 
Young  man  ! 

5.  M.  the  firft  of  my  Pupils  had  fome  Speech 
with  me,  about  the  State  of  his  own  Soul ;  I  Glad- 
heard  move  from  him,than  I  ExpeQedjand  (with 
the  Help  of  God)  I  Counfelled  him,  that  he  would 
go  on  to  follow  hard  after  God.  I  Encouraged 
him  to  follow  the  Lord ;  but  I  was  afhamed  of 
the  Barrennefs  of  my  own  Soul ! 


Yea,  How  Watchful   he  was,  on  all  Occafions,  to  Obferve    what  Occafions  he   might  have 
to  Do  Good  among  all  the  Scholars.     I  fhall  no  more  than  Tranfcribe  the  following  Pafflge, 


to  intimate 

Nocle,  inter  Scholares,  n-.u\ta  ftria  dixi  de 
Cognofcendis  Rtbus  Pads  Noftra,  in  Die  noftro. 
Vtiaam  tpfe  mihrnut  Aujcultarem  !  Die  fe- 
fienti  plura  ego  coliocuttis  fum  cum  Contubcrvalibus, 


At  Night,  among  the  Scholars,  I  uttered  many 
Serious  Things,  about  Knowing  the  Things  of  our 
Peace  in  our  Day.  Oh  !  that  I  could  my  felf  here- 
in but  hearken  to  my  felf  !  The  Day  following,  I 
difcourfed  more,  with  my  Chanibcr-fellow«, 

to 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


170 

ad  probaudum,  effc  Deum,  &  Scripturas  effe  ipfius 
verbum.  Ah,  nimium  ferpit  inter  nos  ATHEO- 
,TES,  &  video  Sat  an  am  mnltos  perniciofijfimos  Di- 
abgifmos  in  Nonmtllorum  Mentes  injictre  !  Hoc 
malo  pcribunt  mn'.ti  Juvenes,  ni  miferearis,  O 
Deus  !  Et  fenfi  me  adlmc  in  bis  miferrime  tene- 
bricofum,  nee  tnagis  aliqaid  Rogandum,  quam  itt 
Stabilirct  me  quoad  Fundament  ales  iftas  veritates, 
claramque  bie  vifionem  daret  !  Mine  aliquando 
Occ.ifioncs  C.ipto  Realitaiem,  TSIN  eEoT  incul- 
candi,  &  illuflrandi  :  quod  non  prorfus  mane  vi- 
deo. Vtinam  m/jori  Cordis  fenfu,  ego  poffem 
Deum  pnedicare.  Scd  quid  mirum  me  oppleri 
Tenebris,  qui  Opplettisfum  Cnpiditatibus ! 


Reader,  fee   how   impoflible  k  was,  for  this  b 
Excellent  young  Man  to  Record  any  thing  in 
this  Diary,  without  fome  ftroke  ot  Humiliation^ 
a  id  Admonition  to  himfelf  in  the  Clofe  of  all  : 
The  ready  way  of  becoming  Excellent ! 

And  while  he  was  thus  a  young  man,  refiding 
in  the   Colledge,  he   would  fometimes,  on  the  Sa- 
turday, Retire  into  the  Woods,  near  the  Town, 
and  there  fpend  a  great  part  of  the  Day,  in  Ex- 
amining of  his  own  Heart  and  Life,  Bewailing 
the. Evils,  which  made  him  want  the  Mercies  of 
God,  arid  Imploring  the  Mercies  which  he  want- 
ed of  the  Lord:     which  Cuftom  ..of  fpending 
Saturday,  he  had  formerly  attended  Blfo  at  South- 
Hampton,  while  he  was  yet,  but  as  a  School-Boy 
there.     Moreover,  it  was,  while  he  thus  Relided 
at'  ibz.GoUcdge,  that  his  Brother  Daw'^under  deep 
Dill'  elfesof  mind  about  his  Everlafting  Interefts, 
addrell'e.d  ..him    for   Couufel  ;  and  our  Jonathan 
then  wrote  unto  his  Brother  that  Golden  Letter, 
which  was  almoK  Thirty  years  after,  publiflied  in 
London,  at  the  End  of  his  Difcourfe  of  Glory,   A 
Letter  whereof  the  famous  Collins  makes  this  Re- 
mzik.  Every  Reader  fenfible  of  Spiritual  Things,  will 
fee  it  written  with   an  Excellent  Spirit,  the  Spirit. of 
God,  and  drawn  out  of  his  own  Experiences,  and  this 
when  but  newly  Entritsg  upon  his  Minifry.    A  Let- 
ter, wherein  he  Difcovers  that  Experimental  Ac- 
quaintance with  the  Operations  of  Sin,  and   of 
Cr acc,  upon  the  Souls  of  Men,  which  may  Inti- 
jnate  how  Eminent  he  was  in  One  of  the  Accom- 
plishments moll  neceflary  to  the  Alhiflry  of  the 
,Gofple,  before  he  had  yet  Entred  upon   it.     If 
Cbry/ojloiu,-  t;he  Ancient,    were  fometimes  called 
'  bifignis  Animorum  trattandorum   Artifex,  Reader, 
here    warn  young  man,  who    effectually    proved 
himfelf,  An  Artijl,  at  handling  the  Cafes  of  a  Soul  ! 
1  Bemeniber,  that  Alexander  Afore  judges  Three 
certain  Epflas,  to  b~  the  moftConfummate  Pieces, 
that  ever  the  World  law  •,  Namely,  That  of  Cal- 
vin before:  his  Inftttutions;  That  of  Thitanus,  be- 
fore his  Hifl'P-y  ;  aadTbat  olCafaufcm,  before  his 
.  Polybius:     Now  though  this  Epiftle  of  our  young 
i^ttCljEl.  come  not  into  that  Clafs,  for  the  Em- 
be.  hlhments  of  Literature,  yet  It  has  been  Re.k- 
o.ied  one  of  the  molt  Confummate  Pieces,  in  the 
Methods  of  Addreifing  a  Troubled  Mind. 


Book  IV 


to  prove,That  there  is  a  GOD, and  that  the  Scrip, 
tures  are  His  Word.  Alas,  Atheifm  creeps  in 
too  much  among  us,  and  I  fee  that  Satan  does  caft 
many  molt  Pernicious  Reafonings  into  the  minds 
of  fome.  Many  Young  men,  will  perifk  by  this 
Mifchief,  Except  thou,  O  Lord  God,  have  Mercy 
on  them  !  I  found  my  felf  alfo  molt  miferably  dark 
in  thefe  things ;  nor  is  there  any  thing  that  I 
have  more  caufe  to  ask,  than  this ;  That  He  would 
Eftablifh  me  in  thefe  Fundamental  Truths,  and 
give  me  a  Clear  Vilion  of  them  !  From  hence  1 
fometimes  do  Snatch  at  Occafions,  to  inculcate 
and  illuftratethe  Reality  of  the  Things  of  God  : 
which  I  fee,  is  not  altogether  in  vain  I  wifli,  I 
could  Preach  God,  with  greater  fenfe  upon  my 
Heart.  But  what  wonder  is  it,  if  I  that  am  full  of 
Lujls,  be  alfo  full  of  Darknefs! 

§  6    The    Extraordinary    Learning,  Wifdom 
Gravity  and    Piety  of  this  Incomparable  Young 
Man,  caufed  fever  al  of  the    mofc    Confiderable 
Churches  in  the  Count'c.     to  contrive  how  they 
might  become  Owners  of  fuch  a    Treafure   even 
before  ever   he   had,  by  one    Bobliek   Sermon, 
brought  forth  any  of  the  Treafure  wherewith  Hea- 
ven had  Endowed  him.    The  Church  of  Hart- 
ford in  particular,  being  therein   Countenanced 
and  Encouraged  by  the  Reverend  Mr.  Stone,  fent 
a  Man,  and  Horfe,  above  an  Hundred  miles,  to 
obtain  a  vifit  from  him,  in  expectation  to    make 
him  the  Succeflbr  of  their  ever  famous  Hooker, 
and  though  upon  the  firft  motion  to  him  from 
Hartford,  his  Humble  Soul,  wrote  thefe  words    I 
had  more  need  get  alone  into  a   Comer,  and  weep 
than  think  of  Going  out  into  the  World,    to  Do  fuch 
Work  :  Darknefs  and  Death  clouds  my  Soul .'  Yet  he 
was  prevailed  withal  to  vifit  them.     At  Hartford, 
he  Preached  his  Firft  Sermon.  June   24.  1649.) 
upon  Heb.  1 1.27.  He  Endured,  as  feeing  Him  who 
is  Inviftble ;  On  which  Action,  though  with  his 
ufbal  Humility,  he  wrote  this    Reflexion  in  his 
Diary ;  In  Preaching  I  was  not  to  feck  of  what  I  had 
prepared  ;  but  my  own  Heart  was  Trie,  Carnal  and 
Vnaffefted,  and  metbought  I  could  ntHtfpeak  with  any 
Evidence,  or  Prefence  of  the  Sprit  of  God  ;  fo   that 
when  I  had  done,  J  rsas  deeply  afli  anted  within  my 
felf,  and  could  not  but  Loath  my  felf,  to  think  how  mi- 
ferably I  had  behaved  my  felf,  in  that  High  Employ- 
ment, and  how  unfavoury,fottifh  andfoolifh  my  Heart 
bad  been  therein  ;  I  thought  1,  and  all  J  did,  well  de- 
ferved  to  be  Loathed  by  God    and  man  :  Yet  that 
Judicious  Affembly  of  Chriftians,  were  fo  well 
pleafed  with  the  Labours    whereof  he   himfelf 
thought  fo  meanly,    that  in  a  Meeting  the  Day 
following,  they  Concluded  to  give  him  an  Invi- 
tation to  Settle  among  them  :  Adding,  That  if  he 
faw  it  his  belt  way  to  continue  a  year  longer  at* 
the  Collcdge,  they  would   however   immediately 
upon  his  Acceptance  of  their  Invitation  advance 
a  confiderable   Sum  of  Money,    to  aiTift  him  in 
furnifhing  himfelf  with  3.  Library    (not   unlike 
what  the  Vratiflavian  Senate  once  did  for  the 
Hopeful  young  Lucas  Pollio,  when  they  faw  him, 
Juvenem  Dctibus  Ornaium  a  Deo,  non  vulgaribus  :') 
which  they  faid,  was,  No  new  thing  unto  them,  ha- 
lving had  Air.  Hooker's    InftruQion   for  Doing  fo. 

But 


Book 


IV\ 


%e  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


But  he  durit  not  then  Accept  of  their  kind  Pro- 
pofals :  For  before  his  Journey  to  Hartford,  the 
Renowned  Mr.  Sbepard,  with  the  Principal  Per- 
fons  in  Cambridge ,  had  importunately  pray'd  him, 
that  he  would  come  down  from  Hartford,  as  free 
as  he  went  up,  infomuch  as  he  did  upon  divers 
Accounts  molt  belong  to  Cambridge, and.  Cambridge 
did  hope,  that  he  would  yet  more  belong  unto 
them.  When  Mr.  Sbepard  firft  mentioned  this 
thingunto  him,  he  did  with  his  conftant Humility 
record  it  in  his  Diary,  with  this  Reflection,  Ego 
mirabar  bine  rem  :  Quid  in  me  videt  Populuf  Dei- 
Totum  Negotium  Reliqui  Deo  agendum.  Iwondred  at 
this  matter  !  What  is  it  that  the  People  of  God  fees 
in  me  ?  1  left  the  whole  Bitfinefs  to  the  Divine  Ma- 
nagement !  And  now  Returning  to  Cambridge,  he 
no  fooner  came  into  the  Pulpit  (  Aug.  1 2.  1649.  ) 


n 

That  when  I  was  attempting  the  Pure  and  Sacred 
Work  of  the  Mini  fry,  1/lould  be  furprizjed  with  that 
Horrible  Difeafe!  Do  J  begin  to  be  fame  Body  in  the 
world  ?  God  void  make  me  rile  in  the  Eyes  of  the  whole 
Country  •  God  will  Humble  me  before  the  Sun,and  in 
the  Sight  of  all  Ifrael./ft  will  have  me  begin  my  Ait- 
niftry  witb  this  Difeafe :  He  knows,  that  J  have  need 
of  a  Great  Deal  of  Purifying,  before  I  come  to  th.it. 
A 'loath fame Sinner  fhall  have  a  loath  fame  Sichncfs  ! 
And  the  Grace  of  Heaven  that  made  this  Fit  of 
Sichicfs,  to  be  Confidered  thus  as  an  Humiliation 
by  tins  Eminent  young  man,  then  Entring  upon 
his  Miniftry,  did  by  continually  Infufing  other 
Thoughts  full  of  Humiliation  into  him,  lay  the 
Foundation  of  ftately  Super  fir  uCtitres.  As  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chriffc,  entring  upon  His  Miniftry,  endured 
the  foreft  Conflict  of  Temptation,  that  He  had  ever 


but  Mr.  .  Sbepard,  muff,  go  out  of  it  /  Mr.  J  met  withal,  fo  did  this  Excellent  Embaffador  of 
Sbepard  in  the  Evening  told  him,  This  was  the  Place  that  Lord  •,  He  had  his  Mind  forely  Buffeted  with 
where  befhould,  by  right,  be  all  the  refl  of  bis  Daycs  A  Amazing  and  Confounding  Apprehenfibns.  Per- 
and  enquiring  of  fome  good  People,  How  Mr.  haps  it  will  be  many  ways  profitable  unto  feme. 
S)9iCf)Crs  firft  Sermon  was  approved  among  them  -J  Candidates  of  the  Mini  fry,  as  well  as  others  to  fee 
they  told  him,  Very  well.  Then  faid  he,  My  thefe  Papers  Recite  fome  of  the  fad  Pdjfages,  that 
Work  is  done  !  And  behold,  within  a  few  Dayes  j  rolled  over  the  Soul  of  a  moft  Lovely  Preacher, 
more,  that  Great  Man  was  by  Death  taken  off,  i  when  he  was  Beginning  to  Preach  the  Gofjcl  of 
fo  that  the  Unanimous  Defire  of  Cambridge  for  Peace.  We  then  find  him  at  a  Time,  when  every 
Mr.  Q3itd)Cl  to  be  their  Paftor  was  Haftened,j  one  admired  the  Excellencies  that  Beautifyed him, 
with  feveral  Circumftances  of  Neceffity  for  him  '■  thus  Writing  and  Thinking  of  himfelf,as  theDc- 
to  Comply  with  their  Defire.  But  as  the  Jews  ufed  ,/ormcdeJl  Sinner  in  the  World.  At  one  time 
to  fay  about  the  Birth  of  R.  Jchuda,  on  the  very  I  '  I  have  Lived  in  this  World  altnoft  Twenty 
fame  Day  that  another  famous  Rabbi  dyed,  Eo'f  five  years,  and  unto  this  Day  have  known  lit:— 
die  occidit  L  ix  Ifraelis,  et  iterum  Orta  cf  ;  So  I  may 


now  fay,  Thejame  Day  was  the  Light  of  New-Eng- 
land, 


Extinguifycd  and  Revived  ■ 


tie  of  God  in  Chrift,  made  little  Provificn  for 
Eternity,  got  little  Acquaintance  with  the  fa- 
vour and  love  of  God.  How  I  have  Improved 
this  Time,Wo  to  me,  I  may  be  afhamed  to  fpeak, 
amazed  to  think!  At  another  t'vr.e.  'Lord,  I 
know  not  whether  ever  fuch  a  Sinner  as  I,  came 


§.    7.     Occubuit  Sol  ;   NoxnuUaSecuiacfl.  Up- 
on the  fetting  of  Sbepard  there  arofe  Q^ltCSjCl, 

in  whofe  Light  not  only  the  Church  of  Cambridge,]1  to  Thee  for  Mercy  ;  whether  ever  fuch  a  work 
but  the  Colledge,  and  the  whole  Country,  were  '  was  done  to  any  poor  Wretch,  as  the  favingof 

my  Soul  muft  be.  At  another  time.  '  I  have 
run  through  all  the  means  of  Knowledge,  and 
yet  fee  no  Truth  Really,  and  in  the  Glory  of 
it  •  All  Afflicf  ions,and  yet  am  not  Humbled  nor 
Serious-,  All  Mercies,  and  yet  am  not  Thank- 
full  •  All  Means  of  Good,  and  yet  amEvil,only 
Evil,  Tranfcendently  Evil,  in  the  higheft  De- 
gree to  this  Day.  At  another  time.  '  If  God 
do  me  any  Good,  or  do  any  Good  by  me,  it 
muft  be  a  Creating  work.  Lord,  I  am  fit  for 
nothing  5  (Good  for  nothing  at  all)  neither  to 
Live,  nor  Dye  ;  neither  to  Teach,  nor  Learn  ; 
neither  to  Think,  nor  Spea'k ;  neither  to  Do, 
nor  fuffer  •  neither  to  Communicate  Good, 
nor  receive  any  ;  Go  through  alt  that  1  am, 
either  within,  or  without,  what  ami  but  Vile- 
nefs,  and  Abomination  ?  At  another  time.  'The 
Church  will(  I  fuppofe)  this  day  confider,  and 
determine  a  Day  for  Ordination  ;  but  did  there 
ever  fuch  a  Creature,  as  I  am,  go  about  fuch  a 
bufinefs  ?  I  was  low,and  vile  this  time  Twelve- 
month, when  they  firft  made  the  Motion  ;  but 
I  am  far  lower  and  viler  now.  Great  is  the 
wrath  of  God  that  lyes  upon  me;  and  the  to- 
kens of  it  are  in  fome  refpecls  increafed.  I  can- 
not with  Confidence  go  to  God  as  my  Father 
in  Jefus  Chrift.  I  know  no  Truth  of  God  to 
G  g  g  g  *  any 


now  fo  Rejoycefor  a  Scafon.  The  Eyes  of  all  New 
England  were  upon  him  with  Great  Expc&ations  ;  j' 
and  he  did  more  than  anfwer  their  Expectations ;  c 
for  he  was  indeed  an  Extraordinary  Perfon.  But 
fcarce  a  Paragraph  of  his  Life  can  be  written  to 
the  L*/e,without  fome  Reflection  upon  that  Humi- 
lity, with  which  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift 
hath  prepared  "him  for,  and  adorned  him  in  all  of 
that  Figure,  whereto  he  Arrived  in  the  Service 
of  the  Churches.  Juft  upon  the  Time  of  his  Be- 
ginning his  Miniftry  at  Cambridge,  he  was  taken 
dangeroufly  Sick  of  the  Small  Pox,  but  though  he 
were  Sick  nigh  unto  Death,  God  had  Mtrcyonhim, 
and  not  on  him  only,  but  on  all  the  Churches  thro"1  this 
Wilder?:cfs  in  him  No  fooner  was  he  Recovered 
of  that  Sicknefs,  but  this  Humble  Soul  wrote, 
Oftob  4.  <  049. in  his  Diary,  (which  after  this  time 
fpoke  Engliflif)  thefe  among  other  paffages  :  It  has 
been  of  late  Weeks  a  fecial  time  of  Adverfity  with 
it.  The  Lord  Help  me  to  Confider  it  !   /  might  fay, 


M 


y  sKtn  is  Broken,  and  become  Loathfome ;  and 
There  is  no  Reft  in  my  Bones  becaufe  of  my  Sin, 
my  Loins  arc  filled  with  a  loathfome  Difeafe,  and 
there  is  no  foundnefs  in  my  flefh;  By  fuch  afoul 
roifom,  fjthy  Difeafe,  it  well  appeared,  what  I  indeed 
vas;  as  the  Prophet /peaks,  Full  of  putrefying  Sores, 
It  being  at  this  Time,  I  was  as  a  City  fet  upon  an  Hill; 


172 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


Book  IV. 


any  purpofe.     I  have  no  Treafure  of  Chri-    Preparations,  called  forth  to  the  Service  of  the 


ftian  Experience  :  I  know  not  what  belongs 
to  the  main  Matters  of  Converfion  and  Sal- 
vation. My  Sin  is  enough  to  bring  a  Curfe 
upon  all  I  do,  and  upon  the  whole  place  : 
1  am  under  the  very  Feet  of  Satan,  in  refpeft 
of  it.  Ohjeii.  But  (hall  not  my  Sin  thin  hinder 
me,  and  make  me  I'efufe  this  Work  of  the  Mini- 
fy ?  Anfw.  *  Tlut  is  to  mend  one  Sin 
with  another.  The  more  evil,  and  the  lefs 
good  I  have  done,  the  more  need  I  have  to 
give  my  felt  up  to  do  what  Good  I  can  now  •, 
1  fnonld  not  choofe  my  Sin,  and  leave  God's 
Work  •,  and  if  I  call  it  away,  and  go  to  God 
to  take  it  away,  and  wait  on  Him,  'tis  pof- 
ble  with  Him,  to  deliver  me  from  it,  and  to 
Help  me  in  His  Work  :  Though  that  would  be 
the  greatelt  Wonder,  that  ever  was  done  ! 
However,  let  me  lye  at  his  Feet,  and  leave 
my  felt  with  Him.     Queft.  Why  do  I  enter  up- 

■  on  it  .?  Anfw.  Becaufe"God  bids  me,  and  com- 
'  mands  me  ?     Luke  <;.     He  will  have  it  fo,  and 

why   fhould  my   felf,  or  Sin,  or  Satan,   fay, 

•  What  doff.  Thou  ?  Cbjeci.  But  it  may  be  God 
:  mil  take  no  pie. j  fur  e  in  me  ?     Anfw.  I  deferve 

•  He  fhould  not,  but  yet  He  deferves  to  be  Ho- 
1  noured  and  Served  ;  and  let  it  be  my  Hap- 

■  piaefs  and  Joy  to  do  that,  whatever  becomes 
;  of  me  at  laft.  At  another  time.  '  My  Cafe 
L  is  now  fuch  (  fo  Dreadful,  Defperate  and  For- 
1  lorn)  as  1  think,  there  never  was  the  like  up- 

•  on  Earth,  lince  Adam  was  formed,  unto  this 
'  Day:     There  is  rnly  this  place  of  Hope,  That 
'  there   is  a  Degree  of  Mercy  in  God,  beyond 
1  what  any  ever  yet  made  ufe  of !  for  no  Man 
'  ever  came  to  che  End  of  Infinite  Mercy  :  Lord, 
'  Honour  Thy  felf  by  me,  fome  way  or  other, 
'  whatever    become   of  mc.      At  another  time. 
'  Lord,  It  is  the  Hour  and  Power  of  Darknefs 
'  with  me  •  I  feel  the  Dreadful  Rage  of  Satan, 
4  and  my  vile  Heart,  now  againft  me,  toover- 
4  turn  me,    and  to  cut   off  thy  Name,    which 
4  Thou  calleft  me  to  bear  in  this  place.    I  kaow 
1  not  what    will  become  of  me,    nor  what  to 
*•  fay  to  Thee  -,  but  I  leave  my  Woful  Soul,  and 
4  felf  to  thy  Difpoling,  Lord,  lam  in  Hell,  wilt 
4  thou  let  me  lye  there  ?  At  another  time.     4  God 
4  hath  put  this  Fear  into  my  Heart,  left  this  be 
4  the  Fruit  and  Recompence  of  my   Sin,  that  I 
'-  (hall  never  know  God  for  mine  in  Truth,  but 
4  Live  and  Dye,  in  an  unfound  and  felf  Deceiv- 
4  ing  way  •,  that  I  fhould  have  many  Fears  and 
4  Prayers,  and  good  Affections,  and  Duties,  and 
4  Hopes,  and   Ordinances,    and  Seemings,    but 
4  never    an    Heart    foundly     Humbled  ,     and 
4  foundly  Comforted  unto  my  Dying  Day,  but 
4  be  a  Son  of  Perdition  to  the  laft,  and   never 
4  have  God's  fpecial  Love  Revealed  and  Aflu- 
4  to   me !    Lord,  keep  this   Fear  alive  in  my 
4  Heart  !     Such    Pafljges  as  thefe,   abundant^ 
dilcover  the  Contritions,  that  laid  him  exceeding 
Low,  in  his  own  A.pprehenfion   of  himfelf,   at 
the  Time  when    God  was   railing  him  to  High 
Improvements  among  His  People  ;  and    it  was 
by  thefe  Abafements,  that  Heaven  prepared  him 
for  thole  improvements.     But  being,  after   fuch 


Churches,  his  Employments  came  in  fo  thick 
upon  him,  that  he  had  not  fuch  leifure  as  here- 
tofore to  Enrich  his  Diarys,  with  his  Obferva- 
tions.  He  was  at  length  reduced  unto  this  Cu- 
itom,  that  Ordinarily,  on  the  Week  before  he  _, 
adminftred  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's-Supper,  ™ 
which  was  once  in  two  Months,  he  fpent  a  Day 
in  Prayer  with  Fa/ling  before  the  Lord ;  and  one 
of  his  Exercifes  on  fuch  a  Day,  was  to  Remind 
and  Record,  fuch  Paffages  of  Divine  Providence 
towards  Himfelf,  his  Hoitfe,  his  Flock,  the  whole 
Country,  yea,  and  the  whole  Nation,  as  he  judged 
Ufeful  to  be  Remembred  with  him;  and  fuch 
efpecia'ly  as  might  Quicken  the  Humiliations  and 
the  Supplications,  wherein  he  was  engaged. 

§.    8.    T+e    Death   of  Mr.    Shepard,   was  a 
Beath-womd  unto  the   Soul    of   Mr.    SJ^ttCl)?!, 
whofe  Veneration  for  the  Great  Holinefs,  Learn- 
ing, and  Wifdom,  of  his  Predeceffbr,    caufed 
him  to. Lament  exceedingly  the  Lofs  of  fo  Rich 
a  BleiTing,  and  begin  his  own  Publick  Miniftry, 
at  Cambridge  with  Sermons  full  of  thofe  Lamen- 
tations.    Indeed  when  he  h3d  Occafion  to  men- 
tion his  .own  Living  Four  Tears  under  Mr.  She- 
pard's  Miniftry,  he  added,  Vnlefs  it  had  ken  four 
years  living  in  Heaven,  1  know  not  how  J  could  have 
more    caufe    to  llefs  God  with    Wanda,    than  for 
thofe  Four  Tearu    Under  an  Affliction,  which  he 
fo  much  refented,  the  Comfort  which  he  fo  fought 
for  himfelf,  he  thus  exprefTed  :    What  a  bleffed 
Thing  is  it  to  have  this  Mediator,  the  Man   Chrifi 
Jefus  to  go  unto,  when  I  have  no  Friend  that  I  can 
fully  fpeak    to,    and    open  all  my  Complaints  and 
Ails  into  his  Bofom  ?   I  think,  were  Mr.  Shepard 
now   alive,  I  wo.ild  go   and  intreat  his  Counfel  and 
Help,  and  Prayer.     Why,  now  I  may  go  freely  in- 
to the  Bofom  of  the  Man  Chrifi  Jefus,  who  is  able, 
faithful,  tender-hearted  above  the  beft  of  meer  Men. 
And  I  may  go,  and   tell  him  not  only  my  Sorrows 
C  and  yet  that   is  no  fmall  matter  )  but  alfo  my 
Sins,  all  my  Sins  ;    though   not  without  fhame,  yet 
without  fearful   Defpair.     I  may  complain  to  Him 
of  a  Jirong  Luft,  and  of  an  bard  Heart.     And  He 
'does  not  only  Pity   me  (  and  that'^He  does    more 
than   any  Man   could  do  )  but  is  alfo  fully  able  to 
Help  me  againft  Sorrow,  yea,    and  againft  Stn  too. 
And  in  him,  I  may  fee,  and  take  hold  of  the  Pity, 
and  Love,  and  Grace  of  God  the  Father,  who  through 
Him,  is  well-pleafed.     But  that   he  might  figna- 
lize  his  Affection  to  the  Predeceflbr,  he  fpeedily 
took  the  Pains  to  perufe  and  publifh  the  Sermons 
of  that  Worthy  Man,  upon    the  Parable  of  the 
Ten  Virgins,  which    make  a  Volumn  in  Folio ; 
with  a  moft  Excellent,  and  Judicious  Preface  of 
his  thereunto.     Which  afterwards,  was  not  with- 
out its  Recompence  in   the   Providence    of  God. 
when  after  his    own  Death,  his  own  Sermonf 
upon  The  Glory  to  which  God  hath  called  Believers 
by  Jefus   Chrifi  (  carefully   Tranfcribed,  and  fo 
Tranfmitted  by  Captain  Laurence  Hammond  of 
Charlftown,  to  whofe  Cares  about  it,  the  Church 
is  now  beholden  for  this  Tresfure  )   were  by 
fome  furviving  Friends,  printed  at  London.  And 
he  whom  I  have  once   already   compared  unto 

Pollio. 


Book  VJ. 


The  tiijiory  of  New-England. 


73 


Pollio,  who  dyed,  when  between  Forty  and  Fifty 
Years  old,  was  in  this  alfo,  like  that  German  Di- 
vine, who  left  behind  him  a  Book  of  Sermons, 
De  Vita  <ctcr?ia,  whereof  Melchior  Adam  fays, 
Non  folnm  fine  Confejfionis  Homines  omnium  Ordi- 
rium  in  Delicits  babuemnt ,  atque  habent  ;  fed  etiam 
Adverfariorum  nonnulli,  minus  morofi  probaverunt  : 
both  Friends  and  Foes  approved  it.  The  young 
Gentlewoman,  whom  his  Prcdeceffor  had  mar- 
ried a  little  before  his  Deceafe,  He  now  alfo 
married  upon  the  General  Recommendations  of 
that  Widow  unto  him;  and  the  Epithalamiums, 
which  the  Students  of  the  Colledge  then  Cele- 
brated that  Marriage  withal,  were  exprefiive 
of  the  Satisfa&ion,  which  it  gave  unto  all  the 
Good  People  in  the  Vicinity.  Howbeit,  before 
this,  he  had  addrelfed  himfelf  unto  the  Venera- 
ble Old  Mr.  Cotton,  for  Leave  to  become  his 
Son-in  law,  and  Mr.  Cotton  prognofticating  the 
Eminency,  which  he  would  arrive  unto,  had 
given  Leave  unto  it :  But  the  Immature  Death 
of  that  Hopeful  Young  Gentlewoman  Mrs.  Sarah 
Cotton  preventing,  fo  delirable  a  Match,  made 
way  for  his  purfuing  and  obtaining  this  other 
Settlement.  Being  fo  fettled  ;  he  wholly  gave 
himfelf  up  to  the  Services  of  his  Miniftry,  with 
fuch  a  Difpofition,  as  he  exprelfed  in  his  Part' 
ing  Advice  to  another,  who  Travelling  from 
hence  to  England,  had  thefe  Words  from  him 
at  his  Farewel;  My  fcrious  Advice  to  yon  is,  That 
you  keep  out  of  Company,  as  far  as  Cbriflianity  and 
Civility  will  give  yon  leave ;  Take  it  from  me ; 
The  Time  fpent  in  your  Study  yon  will  generally 
find  fpent  the  mofl  Profitably,  Comfortably  and  Ac- 
countably. .  > 

§.  9.  Eighteen  Tears  did  he  continue  a  Pa- 
llor to  the  Church  of  Cambridge.  And  as  that 
which  encouraged  him  to  Accept  at  fir  ft  the  Pa- 
ftoral  Charge  of  that  Flock,  was  his  being  able 
to  write  that  Character  of  them,  That  they  were 
a  Gracious,  Savoury- fpirited  People,  principled  by 
Mr.  Shepard,  liking  an  Humbling,.  Mourning, 
Heart-breaking  A  lint  fry  and  Spirit  ;  Living  in  Re- 
ligion, Praying  Men  and  Women  :  Here  (  faid 
He  )  /  might  have  Occafions  of  many  feoeet  Heart- 
breakings  I0fe  God,  which  I  have  fo  much  need  of ! 
So  the  Continual  Prayers  of  fuch  a  People  to  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift  for  him  doubtlefs  contributed 
more  than  a  little  unto  his  being  furnifned  from 
Heaven  with  fuch  Rich  Treafures  of  Light  and 
-Grace,  as  made  his  Minijlry  richly  ferviceable 
junto  them  all.  In  this  his  Minijlry  he  preached 
over  a  great  part  of  the  Body  of  Divinty.  And 
as  Paul  appealed  unto  his  two  firft  Chapters  to 
the  Ephcfmns,  thus  in  fome  Degree,  an  Appeal 
might  have  been  made  unto  thofe  Labours  of 
this  Admirable  Preacher,  to  demonftrate  his 
Knowledge  of  the  My  fiery  of  Chrift.  He  made  a 
moft  Entertaining  Expofttion  on  the  Book  of  Ge- 
ne/is, and  part  of  Exodus ;  f_  an  Evangelical  Tar- 
gum  of  Jonathan  ]  he  made  many  Incomparable 
Difcourfes  on  the  four  firft  Chapters  of  John  :  Cc- 
cafional  Subjcils  he  alio  Handled  many  with 
much  Variety :  He  likevvife  kept  a  Monthly  Le- 
dure,  where  be  largely  Handled    Man's  Mifcry 


by  Sin,  and  Salvation  by  Chriit,  and  entred  oa 
the  Doclrine  of  Obedience  due  thereupon  •,  and 
vaft  Aifemblies  of  People  from  all  the  Neigh- 
bouring Towns  reckoned  it  highly  worth  their 
Pains  to  repair  unto  that  LeLlurc.  The  Sermons, 
wherewith  he  fed  the  Church  of  God,  were  ad- 
mirably Well-ftudied  ;  they  (till  fmelt  of  the  Lamp  • 
and,  indeed,  if  there  were  nothing  elfe  to  prove 
it,  yet  the  Notes  which  he  wrote  in  his  Prepa- 
rations for  his  Publick  Exercifes,  were  Proof  e- 
nough  of  his  being  an  Indefatigable  Student 
He  ordinarily  medled  with  no  Point,  but  what' 
he  managed  with  fuch  an  extraordinary  Jnvtn* 
tion,  Curious  Difpofition,  and  Copious  Application, 
as  if  he  would  leave  no  material  Thing  to  be 
faid  cf  ic,  by  any  that  fhould  come  after  him. 
And  when  he  came  to  Utter  what  he  had  Pre- 
pared, his  Utterance  had  fuch  a  becoming  Turie- 
ablenefs,  and  Vivacity,  to  fet  it  off,  as  was  in- 
deed Inimitable  ;  though  many  of  our  Eminent 
preachers,  that  were  in  his  Time  Students  at 
the  Colledge,  did  eflay  to  Imitate  him.  It  has 
been  obferved  by  others,  as  well  as  jerom,  that 
Quce  firmiter  conapimus,  bene  loauimnr,  fiquidem 
Talia  in  Anhncs  Subjlantiam  quaff  Concoqucndo  funt 
Converfa  ■  And  our  35tttf)Ci,  having  according- 
ly well  Concocled  what  he  was  to  deliver,  with 
clear  and  ftrong  Thoughts  upon  it,  exprelfed  it 
with  a  Natural  Eloquence,  which,  (  as  Tully  fays 
of  all  True  Eloquence  )  caft  the  Hearers  into 
Wonderment..  Profound  Meditation  having  firft, 
in  his  Heart  got  ready  a  well  compofed  Meat- 
Offering  for  the  Houfe  of  God,  his  Tongue  was 
as  the  Pen  cf  a  Ready  Writer  to  bring  it  forth  : 
and  his  Auditories  ufu3lly  counted  themfelvcs  at 
a  Feaft  with  the  Inhabitants  of  Heaven,  while 
he  was  thus  Entertaining  of  them.  His  Preach- 
ing was  not  that  which  Dr.  Manton  would  juft- 
ly  Rebuke  under  the  Name  of  Gentleman-Preach- 
ing :  Or,  a  fort  of  Harangue  finely  laced  and 
guilded  with  fuch  Phalerate  Stuff,  as  plainly  dif- 
covers  the  Vanity  of  them,  that  jingle  with  it : 
but  he  ^till  fpoke,  as  reckoning,  that  if  Sene- 
ca's Philofopher  was  to  remember,  Ad  mifros 
vocatus  es-y  opemlaturus  Naafragis,  Captis,  lAtgris, 
Jntentdi  feeuri  fubjeclum  praftanttbus  Caput  :  Such  a 
thing  is  much  more  to  be  Remembred  by  a  M\- 
nisler  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift.  Hence,  though 
he  had  a  very  Clean  Style,  and  fpoke,  —  Munda, 
fed  e  medio,  Confuetaque  verba ;  —  by  the  fame 
Token,  that  when  he  had  once  ufed  one  Word, 
in  the  Pulpit,  which  it  may  be,  no  Body  elfe  be- 
tides himfelf  would  have  fo  feverely  Cri- 
ticifed  upon,  after  he  came  home,  he  wrote  a 
fevere  Animadverfionupon  it;  I  was  after  in  my 
felf  afhamed  of  it  (  he  wrote  )  as  being  a  Phrafe 
too  courfe  for  the  Pulpit!  Neverthelefs,  he  had 
alfo  a  Plain  Style,  for  which  be  might  have  been 
juftly  called,  as  Melan&bon  was  by  Keckerman,  flir1 
ut  fie  dicam,  Perfpicuitatts  Genius  ;  but  fo  pun- 
gently  improved,  tfi3t  what  he  fpoke,  was  felt 
by  his  Hearers,  as  Quick  and  Powerful.  One, 
that  hath  add  relied  the  World  with  a'Treatile  of 
Ecclcfiaftical  Rhetortck,  faith,  Credat  rrahi  Afmifterii 
Candidates;  Triafunt,  qua  v 'aide  commend 'ant  Con-, 
cionatorem;  .Vocis  Amabilitas,  Fpithekrutn  Empha- 
G  g  g  g  2  /is, 


174 


The  Hijiory  of  New-England.  Book  IV. 


fis,  &  Connexions  Concinnitas  :  Now  all  of  thele 
Three  Commendations  did  belong  to  the  Preaching 
of  our  Mitcbel.  And,  as  it  was  the  Remark 
of  that  then  Matchlefs  Preacher  Bucholt- 
z.er,  to  whom  I  have  often  in  my  Thoughts 
matched  our  Mitehel,  That  a  Preacher  was  knoan 
by  his  Peroration,  fo  'twas  remarkt  of  our  Mitchel, 
that  tho'  he  were  all  along  in  his  Preaching,  as 
a  very  lovely  Song  of  one  that  hath  a  pleafant  Voice, 

?et  as  he  drew  near  to  the  Clofe  of  his  Exerci- 
es,  his  Comely  fervency  would  rife  to  a  marvel- 
lous Meafure  of  Energy ;  He  would  fpeak  with 
fuch  a  Tranfcendent  Majefly  and  Livelinefs,  that 
the  People  (  more  Thunderflruck  than  they  that 
heard  Cicero's  Oration  for  Ligarim  )  would  often 
Shake  under  his  Difpenfations,  as  if  they  had 
Heard  the  Sound  of  the  Trumpets  from  the  Burn- 
ing Mountain,  and  yet  they  would  Mourn  to  think, 
that  they  were  going  prefently  to  be  difmiffed 
from  fuch  an  Heaven  upon  Earth.  He  had  in- 
deed an  Uncommon  Meafure  of  that  Priviledge, 
that  is  Pveported  of  Bucholtz.er,  Vt,  licet  nonmft 
finita  Hora  Altera  ptroraret,  nullum  tamen  Audi- 
endi  Tadium,  vel  e  media  euiquam  plebe,  Obrep- 
ftrit  :  Though  he  preached  Long  Sermons,  the 
People    were   never  weary    of   Hearing    them. 


Holy,  and  like  an  Angel  of  a  Church,  Not  Bear* 
ing  with  thofe   that  are   Evil.     When  a   public!; 
Admonition  was  to  bedifpenfed  unto  any  One  than 
had  offended  fcandaloufly,one  could  have  heard  no- 
thing more  Pathetical^  or  more  Powerful,  than  his 
Difcourfes,  on  thofe  unwelcome  Occaiions  :  the 
Hearers  would  be  all  drowned  in  Tears,  as  If  the 
Admonition  had  been,  as  indeed  he  would  with 
much  Artifice  make  ic  be  dire&ed  unto  them  all- 
but  fuch  would  be  the  Companion,  and  yet  the 
Gravity,  the  Majefty,    the  Scriptural  and  Awful 
Pungency  ofthefe  his  Difpenfations,  that  the CW- 
fcience  of  the  Offender  himfelf,  could  make  no 
Refinance  thereunto.     But  when  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift  intends  to  make  any  Steward  in  His  Houfe, 
eminently  Prudent   and  Faithful,    He  commonly 
Tries  that  Perfon,  by  Ordering  fome  very  Diffi- 
cult Church  Cafes  to  arife,  quickly  after  his  firft 
Entrance    upon    the    Stewardship.      Some    fuch 
Thorny  Church-Cafes    did    foon     Exercife  the 
Thoughts  of  this  truly  Aged  young  Man  ;  in  all 
of  which  he  confcientioufly  confidered  the  Rights 
of  the  Fraternity  to  judge  in  their  own  Church- 
Cafes,  as  that  Renowned  Minifter,  and  Martyr, 
the  Bleffed  Cyprian  did,  when  he  could  fay  in  one 
of  his  Epiftles  unto  his  Flock,  From  the  very  Be- 
Vaft  was   the   Happinefs  of  the   Scholars  at  the  ginning  of  my  Miniflry,  J  determined  to  do  nothing 
Colledge,  and  (  in  them  )  of  all  the  Churches  in  i  without  the  Confent  of  my  People  •    And  again,  All 
the  Country,  while  Cambridge  was  illuminated  j  Church  Affairs,  as  mutual  RefpecJ  requireth    [_  in 


with  fuch  a  Miniftry  !  It  was  a  Reflection  up- 
on this  Matter  long  firice  Printed  unto  the 
World  -,  Reafon  and  Prudence  requireth,  that  the  \ 
Minifer  of  that  Place,  be  more  than  Ordinarily  en- 
dowed with  Learning,  Gravity  and  Wifdom,  Or- 
thodoxy, Ability,  Excellent  Gifts  in  Preaching,  that 
fo  the  Scholars,  which  are  Devoted  to  be  Preachers 
of  the  Gofpel,  might  be  feafoned  with  the  Spirit  of 
fuch  an  Elijah  :  in  which  Regards  this  Holy  Man 
of  God  was  eminently  furnijhed  ;  and  his  Labours 
were  abundantly  bleffed  :  For,  very  many  of  the  Scho- 
lars bred  up  in  his  time  (  as  is  obferved  )  do  fa- 
vour of  his  Sprit  for  Grace,  and  a  moft  attraQive 
manner  of  Preaching.  Truly,  as  it  was  no  rare 
thing  for  a  German  Divine  to  give  folemn  Thanks 
unto  God,  For  being  born  in  the  Days  of  Me- 
lanfthon  ;  fo  there  is  many  a  New-Engli/h  Divine, 
who  has  given  Thanks  to  God,  For  their  being 
at  the  Colledge  in  the  Days  of  ®$ittt)Cl-  But  it 
rnuft  here  be  added,  That  altho'  the  chief  La- 
bours of  this  Exemplary  Paflor  were  in  the  Study, 


commune  tra&abimus  ~\  we  will   manage  them  in 
common  •  and  again,  He  would  Reftore  and  Ad- 
mit none,  but  thofe  who  fhould  plead   their  caufe 
before  all  the  people  ;   [A&uri  apud  plebem  univer- 
fam  Caufam   fuam  .-  ]  and  order  none  of  their 
Matters,  but  [  prasfentibus  et  Judicantibus  ver- 
bis, ]  with  their  Pre  fence   and  "Judgment.-    And  if 
Mr.  Q9ttCf)eI  had  heard  any  reckon  the  Liberty 
of  the   Brethren  thns  confeffed  in    the  Days  of 
Cyprian,  to  be  an  Apoftafy  from  what  was  in  the 
Beginning,  he  would  have  ask'd  them,    whether 
they  reckon'd  the  Lofs  of  this  Liberty  afterwards 
in  the  Rife  j  of    Popery,  to  be  any   Beginning,  or 
Tendency  towards  Church-Reformation,  and  Re- 
covery ?     Now  tho'  this  Liberty  of  the  Brethren, 
which  our  ^ttCfjel   according  to  the  Primitive 
Congregational  Church-Difcipline  allow'd,    be  that 
wherein  for  the  moft  part  the  Re'pofe  of  the 
Pafiors  has  been  by  the  Cornpaffionate  Wifdom 
of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  provided  for,  yet  fome 
Trouble  fometimes  has  arifen  to  the  Pafiors  from 


and  the  Pulpit,  yet  he  did  not  think  himfelf  there- 1  the  Brethrens  abufe  of  their  Liberty,  which  has 


by  excufed  from  thofe  Paftoral  Vifits  which  his 
Flock  expe&ed  from  him.  Herein  he  vifited  at  fit 
Hours,  which  he  fet  apart  for  it,  the  feveral  Fami- 
lies of  his  Flock ;  not  upon  Trivial  Defigns,  but 
with  ferious  and  folemn  Addreffes  to  their  Souls 
upon  Matter  of  their  Everlafting  Peace  ;  and 
the  Gildas  Salvianus  of  Mr.  Baxter  was  herein 
our  QS)itCl)£l  himfelf,  as  well  as  much  Read  and 
Priz'd  by  this  Faithful  Paftor,  who  WatcWd  for 
Souls,  as  one  that  was  to  give  an  Account. 

§.  10.  What  he  was  in  his  Ministry,  the 
fame  he  was  in  his  DifcipliHe,  when  Offences  arofe, 
that  called  for  his  Consideration,  in  the  Church 
whereto  he  was  related ;  Faithful,  Prudent,  Zealous, 


call'd  for  much  Patience  and  Prudence  in  thofe 
that  have  the  Rule  over  them.  And  fo  there  did 
unto  our  ^SfttCfjel,  who  on  this  Occafion,  as  on 
all  others,  was  readier  ftill  to  condemn  himfelf, 
than  any  others  ;  and  once  particularly  record- 
ed this  Paffage  in  his  Diary.  /  was  Troubled, 
f_  at  fome  improper  Cavils  from  the  Brethren  ] 
and  I  fear  fpake  not  fo  Lovingly  and  Prudently  as 
I  fhould  have  dene.  I  feel  my  Spirit  ready  to  rife, 
and  forget  my  Principles  of  Lying  low  in  the  Duft, 
and  bearing  with  others  Infirmities,  and  becoming 
aU  Things  to  all  Men,  for  their  Edification.  Oh  ! 
Lord  Humble  me,  and  Teach  me  how  to  carry  it  .' 
Thus  did  this  Excellent  Perfon  write,  when  he 
was  Enumerating  his  Humbling  Circumftances,' 

in 


Book  IV 


the  ttifiory  of  New-England. 


J75 


in  a  Sttret  Fafi  before  the  Lord.     But  there  was 
an  Harder    Cafe  than  any    of  thefe  to   Exeicife 
him.      Our  9gJtf£fjcJ,     prefeutly  upon  his  be 
coming  the  Paftor  of  Cambridge,  met  whh  a  move 
than  ordinary  Trial,  in  that  the  Good  Man,  who 
was  then  the  Praftdcnt  of  the  Coltedge,and  a  Mem- 
ber of  the  Church    there,    was    unaccountably 
fallen  into  the  Bridrs'of  Antipadobafttfm \  and  be- 
ing briar  d  in  the  Scruples  ot  that  Perfwalion,  he 
not  only  forbore  to  prefent  an  Infant  of  his  own 
unto  the  Baptifm  of  our  Lord,  but  alfo  thought 
himfelf  under  fome  Obligation  to  bear  hisTefti- 
mony  in  fome  Sermons  againft  the  Adminiftra- 
tion  of  Baptifm  to  any  Infant  whatfoever.     The 
Brethren  of  the  Church  were  fomewhat  vehement 
and  violent  in  their  fignifyingof  their  Diffatis- 
tadtion  at    the  Obftruifion,  which  the  Renit  en- 
cits  of  that  Gentleman  threatned  unto  the  Peace- 
able Practice  of  Infant -Baptifm,  wherein  they  had 
hitherto  walked  •,  and  judged  it  neceflary  for  the 
.Vindication  of  the  Churches  Name  abroad  in  the 
Country,  and  for  the  Safety  of  the  Congregation 
at  home,  to  delire  of  him,  that  he  would  ceafe 
Preaching  as  formerly,  until  he  had  better  fatis- 
fied  himfelf  in  the  Point  now  doubted  by  him. 
At  thefe    things  extream  was  the  Uneafinefs  of 
tt'jr  03ittl)Z\,  who  told  the  Brethren,  That  more 
J.igk'and  Ufs  that  would  do  better  :  but  yet  faw 
ihe  Zeal  of  fome  againft  this  Good  Man's  Error, 
to  pnfh  this  Matter  on  fo  far,   that  being  but 
a  Young  Man,  he  was  likely  now  to  be  Emba- 
ralled  in  a   Controverfie  with  fo  Confiderable  a 
Perfon,  and  with  one  who  had  been  bis  Tutor, 
and  a  Worthy  3nd  a  Godly  Man.     He  could  give 
this  Account  of  it,  Through  the  Churches  bang  apt 
to  Harry  on  too  ffft,  and  too  impatiently,    1  found 
my  fit  much  oppreffed  ;  efpecially   Confidering   my 
own  ti'crj.ncfs  to  grapple  with  thefe  Difficulties;  This 
.Bufmejs  did  lye  down,  and  rife  up,  fleep  and  wake 
with    me  :    It  was   a  difmal  Thing  to  me,  that  I 
fhi.itld  live  to  fee  Truth  or  Peace  dying  or  decaying 
in  poor  Cambridge.     But  while  he  was  with  a 
Prudence  incomparably  beyond  what  might  have 
been  expe&ed  from  a  Toung  Man  managing  this 
■Thorny  Bufinefs,  he  faw  Caufe  to  Record  a  Paf- 
figc,  which  perhaps  will  be  judged  worthy  of 
fome  Remembrance.    That  Day  (writes he,  De- 
cerns. 24.  1653.  )  after  I  came  from  him,  J  had  a 
Jlrange  Experience  :  1  found  Hurrying  and  Pi effing] 
Siiggejiiws  againft  ?xdoba\)tito,andin)e8ed  Scruples 
and  Thoughts  whether  the  other  way  might  not  be  right, 
.and  Infant-Baptifhl  an  Invention  of  Men;  and  whe- 
ther I  might    with  good  Confcience  baptife  Children^ 
and  the  like,   And  thefe  Thoughts  were  darted  in  with 
feme  I-mprejfion,  and  left  a  ftrange  Confufton  and  Sick- 
lincfs  upon    my  Spirit.     Tet   tnethought,  it   was  not 
bard  to  difecrn^that  they  were  from  the  EVIL  ONE. 
Firic,  Becanfe  they  were   rather  injedfed,  hurrying 
Sr.ggcftions,  than  any  deliberate  Thoughts,,  or  bring- 
ing any  Light  with  them.     Secondly,  Btcuufe  they 
were   llnfeafonable  ;  Interrupting  me  in  my  Study 
for  the  Sahbath,    and  putting  my  Spirit  into  a  Con- 
fnfion,  fo  as   1  had   much  ado,  to  do  ought  in  my 
Sermon.      It   was  not    now  a   time   to   Study    that 
Matter  ;  but  when  in   the  former  part  of  the  Week, 
I  had  givci    my    felf  to  that    Study,    the   more 


I  ftudied  it,  the  more  Clear  and  Rational  Light 
I  faw  for  Psdo-baptifin.  But  now  thefe  Suggefti- 
or.s  hurry ed  me  into  Scruples.  But  they  made  mc 
cry  out  to  God  for  His  Help  ;  and  He  did  afterward 
Calm  and  clear  up  my  Spirit.  I  thought  the  End  of 
them  was,  Firft,  To  (hew  me  the  Corruption  of  my 
Mind  ;  How  apt  that  was  to  take  in  Error,  even  as 
my  Heart  is  to  take  in  L«ft.  Secondly,  To  make 
me  walk  in  Fear,  and  take  hold  en  Jefus  Chrift  to 
keep  me  in  the  Truth  ;  and  it  was  a  Check  to  my  for- 
mer Self-Confidence,  and  it  made  me  fearful  to 
go  needlefty  to  Air.  D.  for  methought  1  found  a  Ve- 
nom and  Poifon  in  his  Infinuations  and  Difcourfes 
igainft  Psedobaptifm.  Thirdly,  That  I  might  be 
mindful  of  the  Aptnefs  in  others  to  be  foon  jhaken 
in  Mind,  and  that  I  might  warn  others  thereof,  and 
might  know  how  to  fpeak  to  them  from  Experience. 
And  indeed  my  former  Experience  of  Irreligious 
Injection  was  fome  Help  to  mc  to  difcover  the  Na- 
ture of  Thefe.  I  Refolved  alfo  on  Mr.  Hooker'* 
Principle,  That  I  would  have  an  Argument  able 
to  remove  a  Mountain,  before  I  would  recede 
from,  or  appear  againft  a  Truth  or  Pradfice,  re- 
ceived among  the  Faithful.  After  the  Sabbath  was 
over,  and  I  had  time  to  refleci  upon  the  Thoughts  of 
thofe  things,  thofe  Thoughts  of  Doubt  departed,  and 
I  returned  unto  my  former  Frame.  The  Troubles 
thus  impending  over  the  Church  of  Cambridge, 
did  Mr.  ^itcjjCl  happily  wade  through  ;  partly, 
by  much  Prayer  with  Fafting,  in  fecret,  before 
God,  for  the  good  Iffue  of  thefe  things ;  partly, 
by  getting  as  miach  Help  as  he  could  from  the 
Neighbouring  Minifters,  to  be  interpofed  in  thefe 
Difficulties ;  and  partly,  by  ufing  much  Meeknejt 
ofWifdom  towards  the  Erroneous  Gentleman  \ 
for  whom  our  Mr.  ^ItCljCl  continued  fuch  an 
Efteem,  that  although  his  Removal  from  the 
Government  of  the  Colledge,  and  from  his  Dwel- 
ling Place  in  Cambridge,  had  been  procured  by 
thefe  Differences,  yetwhen  he  dyed,  He  Honou- 
red him  with  an  Elegy,  from  which  I  will  tran- 
fcribe  one  Stanza  or  two,  becaufe  it  very  truly 
points  out  that  Generous,  Gracious,  Catholick 
Spirit,  which  adorned  that  Perfon,  who  wrote 
it. 

Where  Faith  in  ]  E  S  U  S  is  Sincere, 
That  Soul,  He  Saving,  pardoneth; 

What  Wants,  or  Errors  elfe  be  there, 
That  may  and  do  Confift  therewith 

And  though  we  be  Imperfedt  here, 
And  in  One  Mind  can't  often  meet, 

Who  Know  in  part,  in  part  may  Err, 
Though  Faith  be  One,  All  do  not  fee't : 

Tet  may  we  once  the  Reft  obtain, 

In  Everlafting  Blifs  above, 
Where  Chrift  with  Perfedt  Saints  doth  Reign, 

In  Perfedt  Light  and  Perfedt  Love : 

Then  fhall  we  all  Like-minded  be, 
Faith's  Unity  is  there  full-grown  - 

There  One  Truth,  all  both  Love  and  See, 
And  thence  are  PerfecJ  made  in  One. 

There 


176 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


Book  IV. 


State  of  the  Children  born  in  the  Church  Declared 
and  Aiferted,  in  the  Platform  of  Church  Dtfcipline, 
among  the  Firjl  Principles  of  New-England,  ne- 
verthdefs  many  Worthy  Men  were  flow  to 
make  any  Sywdkal  Decifion  of  thofe  Principles, 
until  there  fhould  arife  more  Occafion  for  the 
Pratliccs,  that  were  to  be  deduced  from  them. 
This  Occafion  did  in  Twenty  or  Thirty  Years 
time  come  on  with  fome  Importunity  and  Impe- 
tuofity,  when  the  Country  began  to  be  filled  with 


Then  Luther  both  and  Zuinglitis, 

Ridley  and  Hooper,  there  agree  • 
There  all  the  truly  Righteous, 

Sans  Fetid  live  to  Eternity. 

But  there  was  a  facial  Dcfign  of  Heaven  in 
Ordering  thefe  Trials  to  befal  our  <ptCl)Ci, 
thus  in  the  Beginning  of  his  Miniftry.  He  was 
hereby  put  upon  Studying  and  Maintaining  the 

DocVme  of  Infant- Baptifm  ;  and  of  Defending  [the  Adult  Poflertty  of  the  Firjl  Planters  •  among 
the  Fifible  Intercfl  of  the  Children  of  the  Faithful' which  there  were  Multitudes  of  Perfons,  who 
in  the  Covenant  of  Grace,  under  the  New  Admi-|by  the  good  Effecls  of  a  pious  Education  under 
niftration  of  it,  as  well  as  under  the  Old,  where-  j  the  Means  of  Grace  obfervable  upon  them  in 
in  we  all  know  the  Infants  of  Believers  enjoyed. their  Profeflion  of  the  Faith,  not  contradicted 
the  Seal  of  being  made  Rightcons  by  Faith.  In  the ,  by  any  thing  fcandalous  in  their  Life,  deferved 
Defence  of  this  Comfortable  Truth,  he  not  only  |  another  Conlideration  in  the  Churches,  'than  what 
Preached  more  than  half  a  fcore  ungainfayable,  was  allowed  unto  Pagans ;  and  yet  were  not  fo 
Sermons,  while  his  own  Church  was  in  fome 'far  improved  in  all  the  Points  of  Experimental 
Danger  by  the  Hydrophobic  of  Anabaptifm,  which 
was  come  upon  the  Mind  of  an  Eminent  Perfon 
in  it  ;  but  alfo  when  afterwards  the  Reft  of  the 
Churches  were  Troubled  by  a  ftrong  Attempt 
upon  them  from  the  Spirit  of  Anabaptifm  ;  there 
was  a  Publick  Difputation  appointed  at  Pojlon 
two  Days  together,  for  the  clearing  of  the 
Faith  in  this  Article,  this  Worthy  Man  was  he, 
who  did  moft  Service,  in  this  Difputation  ;  where- 
of the  Effect  was,  that  although  the  Erring  Bre- 
thren, as  is  ufual  in  fuch  Cafes,  made  this  their 
Lad  Anfwer  to  the  Arguments,  which  had  caft 
them  into  much  Confufion,  Say  what  youwiU,  We 
veill  Hold  our  Mind  .' 


f,  Concurrat  veterum  licet  in  Te  ttirba,  potes  Tu, 
Hac  omnes  una  vincere  voce,  Nego  :  ] 

Yet  others  were  happily  eftablifhed  in  the 
Right  Ways  of  the  Lord.  Nor  was  this  all  the 
Good  and  Great  Work,  for  which  this  rare 
Perfon  was  marvelloufly  prepared,  by  thefe  Temp- 
tations :  There  is  a  further  Stroke  of  our  Church- 
Hifiory,  to  be  here  briefly  Touched,  though  elfe- 
where  more .fully  to  be  given. 

§.    n.      Befo-'Cnglnntl  was    a  Wildemefs 
Planted  by  a  People,  generally  fo  Remarkable  in 
their  Holy    Zeal  for  the  Ordinances  belonging 
totheHoufeof  God,  that  for  the  fake  of  Enjoy- 
ing the  Adminftrations  of  thofe  Ordinances  with 
Scriptural  Purity,  they  had  undergone  the  fevere 
Persecutions  which  at  laft  Exiled  them  into  that 
American  Wildernefs :    And    hence  there  were 
few  People  of  any  Significancy  in  the  Tranf- 
plantation,  but  what  at  their  firft  Coming  over, 
joyned  themfelves  unto  the  full  Communion  of 
the  Churches  in  all  fpecial    Ordinances,    though 
many  of  them  had  (  1  fay  not,  juftifiably  )  made 
the  Terms  of  their  Communion  fo  ftridt,  that  it 
might  juftLy  have  been  reckoned  a  difficult  thing 
for  fome  Sincere  Chrtflians  of  fmaller  Attainments 
in  Chrijlianity  to  come  up  unto  them.     For  this 
caufe,    although  feveral  of  our   Seers  did  fo  far 
See  the  5tate,  which  our  Matters  would  e'r«  long 
devolve  into,  that  they  Laboured  much  to  have 


Godliaefs,  that  they  could  boldly  Demand  an  Ad- 
miffion  unto   the  Myfleries   at  the  Table  of  the 
Lord  ;  the  Conditions  whereof  confined  it  unto 
Perfons  that  were  fenfibly   Crown  in  Grace,  and 
in  the  Knowledge  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrifl.    'The 
moft  of  the  Miniilers  then,  and  before  then,  in 
the  Land,  were  deiirous  to  have  the  thus  Qua- 
lified Pojlcrity  of    the  Faithful,  acknowledged  in 
the  Churches,  as  the  Nurftry,  from  whence  a  fuc- 
cefluve  Supply   of  Communicants  was  to    be  ex- 
petted  ;  and  it  was  their  Defire  that  this  Nur- 
fery  might  be  Watered  with  Baptifm,  and   Pruned 
with  Dtfcipline,  as  well  as  otherwife  Dreffed  by 
the  Miniflry  of  the  Word.     Yea,  they  thought,  that 
befides  the  Internal  Benefits  of  the  New  Covenant 
unto  the  Eleil  of  God,  the  Sealing  of  that  Cove- 
nant unto  them,  that  were  viizbly  the  Right  Sub' 
jetts  of  it,  would  be  an   Affurance  from  God, 
that   when  thefe  Perfons  grew  up  to  years  of 
Difcretion,  He  would  infallibly  make  them  the 
Offer  of  His  Covenant,  and  fo  continue  the  Gofpel 
of  it  among  them  :   Whereas  if  They  and  Theirs 
were  no  other  accounted  of  than  Heathens,  there 
would  not  pafs  many  Generations,  before  the  Sa- 
cred Religion  of  Chrijl,  would,   through  the  juft 
Wrath  of  Heaven  be  loft  among  them  in  utter 
Heathenifm.     However,  all  Men  did  not  thence 
all  things'.    When  the  Church  of  Roxbury  parti- 
cularly in  the  Year  1653.  was  put  upon  Doing 
wh3t  was  their  Duty  in  this  refpeft,  our  StfJttfJEjel 
was  yet  (  he  faid  )  in  the  dark  about  it ;  he  wilh- 
ed  and  wrote,  That  it  might  not  yet  be  preffed; 
and  added,  The  Lord  teach  me  Humility,  Modefiy, 
and  Wifdom  in  thefe  things !    Many  a  day  did  this 
Excellent  Man  fpend  now  in  Praying  with  Fafling 
before  God  ;  and  when  he  was  thus  engaged  in 
the  Exercifes  of  a  Sacred  and  Secret  Faft,  I  find 
him,  inferting  this,  as  not  the  leaft  caufe  of  his 
being  fo  engaged :    The   Cafe  of  the  Children  of 
the  Church  in  Regard  of  the  Dollrine  and  Praclice 
about  it.     Oh  !  that  God  would  fhew  me  His  Mind 
and  Way  clearly  in  thofe  things  :  Enable  me  t»  Teach 
them  convincingly,  and  fet  upon  the  Praclice  thereof: 
and  that  the   whole  Country  might  be  guided  aright 
therein  ;  That  Abraham'*  Commanding  Power  might 
have  its  due  Exercife  as  to  the  Children  of  our  Churches. 


the   Principles  of  Truth  concerning  The  Chureh]  And  that  all  the  remaining  Knots  and  Difficulties  a- 

bout 


Book  IV. 


The  Hijiory  0/ New-England 


bout  Church-Difcipline,  and  the  Management  of 
Chrift' s  vifjble  Kingdom  might  once  It  refolved  ac- 
cording to  the  Word.  Lord,  Humble  me,  and  prof- 
fer my  poor  Studies,  and  Teach  me  to  know  and  do 
thy  whole  Will  herein!  as  Ezek.  43.  11.  And  at 
another  Time  ;  The  Points  about  Church-Difci- 
pline, /  have  been  long  aiming  to  look  more  throughly 
into.  Lord,  Help  and  Guide  me  therein !  and  Grant 
that  I  may  be  kept  from  Extr earns  (  the  great  Undoing 
of  the  World  :  )  both  from  immoderate  Rigiduefs  on 
the  one  Hand,  either  in  Principles,  Spirit ,  or  Pr alike  • 
and  on  the  other  hand,  from  wronging  either  Truth, 
or  Conference,  by  any  finful  Compliance.  To  thefe 
Devotions,  he  joyned  indefatigable  Studies  upon 
the  great  QjJcftion  then  agitated  ;  and  the  Deter- 
mination of  the  Queltion  at  lair,  was  more  Owing 
unto  him,  than  unto  any  One  Man  in  the  World : 
For  He  was  a  Great  Part  in  that  Renowned  Sy- 
nod ;  that  met  at  Boflon  in  the  Year  i65i.  The 
Refn It  of  the  Synod  afterwards  publifhed,  was 
chiefly  of  his  Conipofure,  and  when  a  molt  Ela- 
borate Anfwer  to  that  Refult  was  publifhed  by 
fome  very  worthy  Perfons,  that  were  then  Dif- 
ftnters,  the  Hardeft  Service  in  the  Defence  was 
afligned  unto  him.  In  fine,  Our  Lord  Jcfus  Chrift 
made  this  Great  Man,  even  while  he  was  yec  a 
Toung  Man,  one  of  the  Greateft  Inftruments  we 
ever  had,  of  Explaining  and  Maintaining  the 
Truths,  relating  to  the  Church-State  of  the  Pofte- 
rity  in  our  Churches,  and  of  the  Church  Care, 
which  our  Churches  owe  unto  their  Pojlerity  .-  And 
I  have  laid  before  the  Reader  one  of  the  molt 
Extenfive  and  Expenfive  Labours,  that  exhaufted 
bis  Life,  when  I  have  mentioned  The  Propofitions 
of  the  Synod  about  the  SubjecJ  of  Baptifm.  All  that 
remains  neceffary  to  Illuftrate  this  Paragraph  of 
our  Riftory,  is  toDefcribe  in  a  Line  or  two,  the 
Difpofttion  which  our  !tJ9lt£!jCl  did  profecute  this 
Grand  Concern  withal  ;  and  I  will  therefore  only 
Tranfcribe  a  little  from  a  judicious  Letter  of  his, 
to  Mr.  Increafe  Mather  upon  that  Subject,  winch 
that  Reverend  Perfon  afterwards  Printed  unto. 
the  World  ;  with  an  Unanfwerable  Vindication 
of  thefe  Fir  ft  Principles  of  New-England,  both  from 
the  Imputations  of  Apoftacy,  by  fome  igtiorantly 
cafe  upon  them,  and  from  whatever  other  Obje- 
if  ions  might  be  advanced  againft  them.     '  As  for 

*  the  Subjlance  of  the  Caufe  wherein  we  have  Enga- 
1  ged  (  faith  he  )  lam  daily  more  and  more  con- 

*  firmed,  that  it  is  the  Caufe  of  Truth,  and  of 
c  Chrift,  and  that  wherein,  not  a  little  of  the 
'  Intereft  of  Chrift' s  Kingdom,  and  of  the  Souls  of 
c  Men,  is  laid  up.     We  have  been  reflected  up- 

*  on  by  fome,  as  feeking  our  /elves,  and  Driving 

*  on,  I  know  not  what  Defign;    though  I  can- 

*  not  readily  Imagine,  what  felf-Intcrcst  or  felf- 

*  End,  we  here  fhould  be  led  by  in  this  matter ; 
1  Sure  I  am,  that  for  my  own  part,  I  prejudice  my 
4  felf  much,  as  to  Name,  Interest,  and  Eafe,  for 

*  my  appearing  in  this  Caufe :  Neither  was  I  fo 
1  unfenfible,  as  not  to  feel  it  from  the  Firft.  I 
1  know  my  felf  to  be  a  poor,  vile,  finful  Crea- 
'  ture,  and  I  can  with  fome  feeling  fay,  Chief 
1  of  Sinners,  and  Leaft  of  Saints  ;  but  in  this  par- 
ticular matter,  I  have  often  faid,  /  wifJj  my 
Brethren  could  fee  through  me ;  for  I  know  not 


11 

'  any  Dcfign  or  Defirc  I  have  in  it  in  all  the 
'  World,  but  only  that  the  W'U  of  God  might 
1  be  done  among  us,  His  Kingdom  be  advanced, 
'  thek  Churches  fettled  on  Right  Bafes,  and  fiou- 
'  rifh  in  the  Ways  of  Truth,  Purity  and  Peace, 
'  and  that  the  Good  of  the  Souls  of  Men  might  be 
'  promoted  both  in  this,  and  after  Genera  ions. 
'  Touching  the  Matter  it  felf,  that  hath  been  in 
'  Debate  pleafe  to  confider  at  leifure,  thefe  Tltee 
1  Propofitions. 

'  Firft,  The  whole  vifible  Church,  under  the  New 
'   Teflament  is  to  be  Baptised. 

'  Secondly,  If  a  Man  be  one  in  the  Church, 
'  (  whether  admitted  at  Age,  or  in  Infancy  )  no- 
'  thing  lefs  than  Cen  fur  able  Evil,  can  put  him  out. 

'  Thirdly,  If  the  Parent  be  in  the  Vifible  Chunk, 
'  his  Infant  Chili  is  fo  alfo. 

'  Whether  the  Perfons  defeated  in  the  Fifth 
'  Proportion  of  the  Synod  fhould  be  Baptised,  as 
'  a  Catbotick,  or  in  a  Particular  Church- flat e,  is 
4  another  Queltion  :  And  I  cqnfefi  my  felf  not 
'  altogether  fo  peremptory  in  this  Latter,  as  I 
1  am  in  iheThing  it  felf;  [  viz.  That  they  ought 
'  to  be  baptized,  3  yet  ft  ill  I  think,  when  all  Scenes 
'  are  turned  it  will  come  to  this,  That  ail  ihe  Bap- 
1  tiz.ed  are  and  ought  to  be  under  Dijcipline  in  par- 
'  ticular  Churches. 

And  now  'tis  more  than  time  for  us  to  difmifs 
this  part  of  our  Mitchellian  Pourtraiture,  from  any 
farther  Elaborations. 

§.  12.  Mr.  ^itCljCFs  Defire  had  been,  To 
be  kept  from  Extreams  ;  and  indeed  there  was  no- 
thing more  Obfervable  in  his  Temper,  than  fuch  a 
Study  of  a  Temper  in  all  Difficult  Matters,  as  ren- 
ders a  Perfon  aimable,  wherever  'tis  Obfervable. 
I  remember,  I  have  met  with  a  Note  of  a  very 
famous  Preacher,  who,  in  the  midffc  of  many 
Temptations  on  both  Hands,  relieved  himfclfby  In- 
terpreting from  the  Context  that  Paffage  in  Ecclef, 
7.  18.  He  that  fear  eth  Cod  (hall  come  forth  from  them 
all,  to  be  meant  of  a  Deliverance  out  of  all  Ex* 
treams.  The  Fear  of  God  in  our  ^tttfjCl  had  this 
Effect,  3nd  Reward  :  And  his  wife  coming  forth 
from  all  Extreams,  was  no  where  more  Confpi- 
cuous,  than  in  thofe  points  of  Church-  Difcipline  y 
for  the  clearing  of  which  he  had  been,  (  I  may 
fay  Extreamly)  exercifed.  Hadthefwcct,  Cha- 
ritable, Amicable  Spirit,  that  fignalized  this  Good 
Man,  been  exprefl'ed  by  all  good  Men,  as  much 
as  it  was  by  him,  a  great  part  of  the  Ecclefiafti- 
cal  Differences  in  the  World  had  been  evaporated, 
and  it  had  not  been  fo  long  before  the  Names  of 
Presbyterian  and  Congregational,  had  been  melted 
down  into  that  One  of  G!mt£B  %t$ti)tttt.  It 
was  the  Wifh  of  our  Q3itCi)Cl,  to  have  thofe 
Two  Things  in  the  State  of  the  Church,  livelily 
rcprefented  unto  the  Senfe  of  the  World  ;  Firit, 
the  Grace,  and  then  at  the  fame  time,  the  Holi- 
nefs,  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  tfie  King  of  the 
Church  ^  and  for  the  Obtaining  of  fuch  a  Repre- 
fentation,  he  thought  nothing  more  effectual, 
than  the  Middle  Way  ;  For  the  Children  of  the 
Faithful  to  be  taken  wkhin  the  Verge  of  the  Church, 
under  the  Wings  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  in  hjs 
Ordinances,  and  under  Church  Care,  Difcipline, 

and 


/ 


8 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


Book  IV. 


and  Government,  and  to  be  in  a  State  of  Initia- 
tion and  Education  in  the  Church  of  God,  and 
confequently  to  have  Baptifm,  which  is  the  Seal 
of  Initiation .-  But  that  they  {hall  not  come  up  to 
the  Lord's  Talk,  nor  be  admitted  unto  an  equal 
/hare  with  the  Communicants  in  the  Management 
of  Church  Affairs  peculiar  to  them,  until,  as  a 
Fruit  of  the  aforefaid  Helps  and  Means,  they  at- 
tain unto  fuch  Qualifications,  as  may  render  their 
Adrniffion  fair,  fate,  and  comfortable,  both  to 
themfelves  and  others.  His  Words  were.  We 
make  account,  that   if  we   keep  Baptifm  within  the 


Either  fhe  muft  give  it  only  to  vifibly  Worthy  Re- 
ceiver s,ox  fhe  may  give  it  to  vifibly  Unworthy  Re- 
ceivers, which  were  to  profane  and  pollute  it. 
We  muft  difpence  Ordinances,  unto  fit  andpro- 
per  Subjects,  as  Chrift's  faithful  Stewards,   i  Cor. 

1.1,2. 

'  III.  None  can  be  fuch  Self-Examining  and 
Difceming  Chriftians  without  fome  Experience 
of  a  Work  oi  Grace,  (or  without  Grace  in  Ex- 
ercife  )  fo  as  to  have  an  Experimental  Savoury 
Acquaintance,  with  the  Effentials  of  Effeclual 
Calling,   viz.  Conviilion  of  Sin  and  Mifery  by 


Compafs   of  the  Non-Excommunicable,    and   the  *  Nature,  Illumination   in  the  Knowledge  of  the 


Lord's  Supper,  within  the  Compafs  of  thofe  that  have 
(unto  Charity)  fomewhat  of  the  Power  of  God- 
linefs  (  or,  Grace  in  Exercife  )  we  (hall  be  near 
about  the  Right  Middle-way  of  Church-Reforma- 
tion.    And  hence,  when  he  had  pleaded  with  as 
Irrefiftible  Reafon,  as  Indefatigable  Study,  for  the 
Grace  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven    to  be  exhibi- 
ted in  our  Churches,  by  Adminiftringthe  Baptifm 
of  the  Lord  unto  the  Perfons,  and  Infants  of  all, 
who  underftand  the  DoCirine  of  Faith,  and  publickly 
profefs  their  Affent  thereunto,  and  are  not  fcandalous 
in  Life,  and  Solemnly  own  the  Covenant  of  Grace  be- 
fore the  Church,  and  Subjctl  themfelves,  and  theirs  un- 
to the  Lord  in  His  Church  ;  He  then  fet  himfelf  to 
plead  for  the  Holinefs  of  that  Kingdom,  to  be  ex- 
hibited in  the  Churches,  not  only  by  Cenfuring  the 
Baptized}  when  they  fell  into  Scandalous  Evils, 
but  alfo  by  Requiring  further  Degrees  of  Prepara- 
tion, in  thofe  that  they  received  unto  the  Supper 
of  the  Lord.     Nothing  was  more  agreeable  un- 
to him,  than  fuch  a  Notion  of  Things,  as  Pola- 
'  mis  had,  when  Writing  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  he 
hid  thefe  Words  ;  Nee  ad  earn  admittendi  Jknt 
ulli,  riifi  prius  Pajloribus  Ecclefia  exploratum  fit,  eos 
veram  Fidei  Dotlrinam  reile  Unere  et  profiteri,  ac 
intclligere  quid  in  facra  ccena  agatur,  quove  fine,  et 
feipfos  probare  pojfent,  an  fint  in  Fide.  —  Quocirca 
ettam  Catcchumcni  aut  lmperiti,  e  vulgo,   tamdtu 
differendi  donee  de  Fide,    et  vita  eorum  Pajloribus 
probe  conflet.     Now,  becaufe  it  may  be  a  lingular 
Service  unto  the  Churches,    to  lay  before  them 
the  judgment  of  fo  Eminent  a  Perfon,  upon  a 
Concern  of  fome  Curious  and  Critical  Contefta- 
tion  in  them,  I  (hall  reckon  it  no  DigrefTion  from 
the  Story  of  his  Life,  to  recite  the  Refult  of  thofe 
Meditations,  in  the  Digefting  of  which  no  little 
part  of  his  Life  did  roll  away.    He  thus  wrote 
for  his  own  Satisfaction,  on  January.  1654.  And 
I  fhall  be  glad,  if  it  may  now  be  for  my  Rea- 
der's. 

P  ROP  OSITIO  NS. 
4  J.    It  is  a  Neceffary  Qualification,  in  Worthy 
4  Receivers  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  that  they  Exa- 
4  mine  themfelves,  and  Difcern  the  Lord's    Body. 
4  1  Cor.  11.  28,29. 

4  //.  Thofe  whom  the  Church  admits  to  the 
4  Lord's  Supper,  muft  be  fuch  as  fhe  in  Charity 
*  judgeth,  that  they  can  and  will  Examine  them- 
4  felves,  and  Difcern  the  Lords  Body  ^becaufe 
'  fhe  muft  admit  none,  but  fuch  as  are  in  Cha- 
4  1  icy  (  or  vifibly  )  Worthy  Receivers ;  and  they 
'  only  are  in  Charity  Worthy  Receivers,  who  in 
4  Charity  have  the  neceffary  Qualifications  of  fuch. 


Gofpel,  and  Converfion  of   Heart,   by  Repentance 
towards    God,  and  Faith  towards  our  Lord  Jefus 
Chrifl.     1 .  Self-Examination  implies  both,  that 
there  is  the  Grace  of  Faith  and  Repentance  (or 
of  Vocation  )   the  Matter  to  be  Examined  :  And 
alfo  an  Ability  to  Refietl  upon  that  Grace,  that 
is  and  hath  been  wrought  in  us  •  to  Prove  it, 
and  find  it  to  be  Approved,  at  leaft  by  a  pre- 
ponderating Hope.     2.  Difcerning  the  Lord's  Body, 
the  fhewing  forth  or  Annunciation  of  His  Death, 
imports  fome  Acquaintance  with,  and  Actual 
Eying  of  the  main  and  moft  Spiritual   Afyfle- 
ries  of  the  Gofpel,  concerning  Chrift,  Wis  Death, 
Right eoufnefs,  Redemption,  and  all  the  Benefits 
thereof  ;  and  thofe  as  exhibited  in  this  Ordi- 
nance of  the  Supper.     3.  That  a  lively  or  fpe- 
cial  Exercife  of  Grace,  (  by  Reviving  and  Re- 
newing our  Faith,  Repentance  and  Love  )  is  re- 
quired  in  Preparation  for,  and  Participation 
of  the  Lord's    Table,  is   abundantly  evident, 
both  by  the  Senfe  of  the  Expreffions  aforefaid, 
and,  by  the  Scope  of  this  Ordinance,  which  is 
to  Seal  not  only  Vnion,  but  ABual  Communion 
and  Fruition.    1  Cor.  10.   16.     By  the  Jtlive 
Vfe  of  all  the  Outward  Senfis,   in  Receiving 
the  Sacrament,   implying  that  there  muft  be 
an  A<ftnal,   and  Active  Ufe  of  Exercifed  Senfes, 
in  Reference  to  the  Inward  Part  of  it. 
.  '  IF.     None  can  appear  unto  Rational  Charity 
to  have  the  Qualifications  aforefaid,    without 
Fielding  forth  the  fame  in  fome  way  or  other. 
Man    can  judge   of  Internal    Qualifications   no 
way  but  by  External  Signs.     Invi/ible  Grace  is 
made  vifible  to  us  by  fome  Outward  Tokens 
and  Manifeftations.     Here,  Effe,  et   Apparere, 
Non  Effe,  et  Non  Apparere,  are  all  One. 
4  V.    Befides  a  Dotfrtnal  Knowledge  of  the  Prin- 
ciples of  Religion,  there    are  Two  Things  re- 
quired to  the  Holding  forth  of  Grace  in  Exercife 
'  (  or  of  an  Experimental  Savoury  Acquaintance 
'  with  the  Effentials  of  Effectual    Catting  )    viz. 
:  1.  A  Gracious  Converfation.     2.  Gracious  Ex- 
1  prejfwns.    By  a  Gracious  Converfation,  I  mean, 
\  not   only  Freedom   from    Notorious    Scandal 
4  and    Objlinacy    therein,     but  a  Converfation 
4  wherein  fome  pofitive  Fruits  of  Piety  do  appear, 
4  fo  as  they  that  know  the  Parties,   can  give  a 
4  pofitive   Tefiimony   for  them.    Gal.  5.  6.    "Jam. 
4  2.  18,26.     Gracious  Expreffions,  or  Words  are, 
when  a  Perfon  can  fo  fpeak  of  the  Effentials  of 
Effeclual  CaUing,    as  doth  fignifie,  not  only  a 
DoCtrinal,  but  a  Praclical  or  Spiritual  Acquain- 
tance therewithal.      That  thefe  are  Neceffary 

to 


Book  IV. 


The  Hifiory  of  New-England. 


79 


4  to  ihew  Grace  in  Exercife,  appears  •,  Becaufe 
'  i.  Good  Words  are  in  Scripture  made  the  great 
4  Sign  of  a  Good  Heart.    Mat.  12.  34,  3Si  37- 

*  Prov.  10.  20.  And  if  it  be  fo  in  Ordinary 
4  Converfion,  much  more  may  this  Sign  be  expe- 
4  fted,  when  a  Man  comes  to  Hold  forth,  and 
4  give  Evidence  of  the  Grace  that  God  has  beftow- 
4  ed  upon  him,  in  Order  to  Partaking  of  the 
'  Lord's  Table.  2.  Conftjjion  with  the  Mouth  is 
'  that  by  which  Faith  evidences  it  felf  to  be  Sa- 
4  ving  and  Effeclual.  Rom-  10.  9,  iQ.  3-  It  can* 
1  not  be  imagined,  how  a  Perfon  can   have  had 

*  Experience  of  a  Work  of  Grace,  and  that  unto 
4  a  Comfortable  Decerning  thereof  in  himfelf,  but 
4  that  he  can  [peak  of  it,  in  fome  way  or  other, 

*  after  a  favoury  manner. 

'  VI.     Hence,  either  a  Relation  of  the  Work  of 
4  Converfion,  fuch  as  hath  been  ordinarily  ufed, 

*  in  molt  of  our  Churches,  or  Some  nbat  Equi- 
4  valent  thereunto,  is  neceffary  in  order  unto 
4  Full  Communion,  or  to  Ad  million  unto  the 
4  Lord's  Table.  There  is  an  Equivalent  therc- 
4  unto.  1.  When  an  Account  of  the  Effentials 
4  of  Converfton  is  given  in  way  of  Anfwers,  unto 
4  Queflions  propounded  thereabout.  2.  In  a  Se- 
4  rious,  Solemn  and  Savoury  Profeffion,  or  Con- 

*  felfion,  De  Praefenti,  i.  e.  when  a  Perfon  doth 
4  with  Under  fan  ding  and  Affettion,  exprefs  and 
4  declare  himfelf  fenfible  of  his  Sin  and  Mifery, 
4  and  Abfolute  Need  of  Chrifl,  his  Believing  or 
4  Calling  himfelf  on  Chrifl  in   the  Tromife,  for 

*  Righteoufrefs  and  Life,  and  his  unfeigned  Pur- 
4  pofe  and  Defire  through  the  Grace  and 
4  Strength  of  Chrifl,  to  renounce  every  Evil 
4  Way,  and  walk  with  God  in  the  Ways  of  New 
4  Obedience ;  pointing  alfo  to  fome  fpecial  Truths, 
4  Confider3tions  or  Scriptures,  that  have  or  do 
4  affeft  his  Soul  with  Reference  to  thefe  Things, 
4  though  he  do  not  Relate  the  Series  of  former 
4  Paffages  and  Experiences.  3.  When  a  Perfon 
4  is  eminently  known  to  Excel  in  Gifts  and  Grace, 
4  (  as  a  long  approved  Minifter  of  the  Gofpel, 
4  or  other  eminently  Holy  Chriftian  ;  )  This  is 
4  more  than  Equivalent  to  fuch  a  Relation. 

4  '  The  Sum  is,  The  Modus  Agend'i  may  be  va- 
4  rious  and  mutable,  and  much  therein  left  unto 
'  the  prudence  of  Church-Officers  ;  But  the  Thing 
4  is  neceflary  ;  viz..  To  Hold  forth  in  one  way 
4  or  other,  Experience  of  a  Work  of  Grace,  or 
4  a  Pratlkal  Acquaintance  with  the  Effentials  of 
4  Effetlual  Calling.  TheReafonis,  Becaufe  with- 
4  out  This  they  cannot  fhew  themfelves  able  to 
4  Examine   themfelves,    and    Difcem  the    Lord's 

*  Body,  which  is  effentially  Neceffary  to  Worthy 

*  Receiving,  and  hence  the  Appearance  of  it  Ne- 
4  ceffary  in  a  Subject,  of  orderly  Admiffion  to 
4  the  Lord's  Table.  A  Man  muff  make  a  Rela- 
4  tion  to  himfelf ;  viz..  by  Reviewing  of  his  Faith 
4  and  Repentance,  or  at  leaft  an  Equivalent  pre- 
4  fent  Renewing  thereof  in  Preparation  for  the 
4  Lord's  Table ;  i.  e.  To  give  himfelf  a  Comfor- 
'  table  Regular  Admiffion  thereunto.  And  fhould 
4  he  not  Declare  and  Manifefl  fuch  a  Thing  to 
4  the  Church  or  Officers  thereof,  to  give  them  a 
4  Comfortable  Ground  to  Admit  him  ? 

4  Objett,  But  why  may  it  not  fufBce,  for  a  Man 


publickly  to  lay,  /  believe  on  Chtijt,  or  do  un- 
Jeigncdly  Repent  of  my  Sins?  Ox  to  confeut  to 
fuch  Expreifions  being  Read,  or  propounded 
unto  him,    without  any  more  ado>;  ? 

Anfw.  1.  He  that  can  Groundedly  fo  fav,  or 
profefs  before  God,  Angels  and  Men,  that  he 
hath,  (  yea,  knows  that  he  hath  )  unfeigned 
Faith  and  Repentance,  can  fay  fomewfiat  more 
particularly  to  fhow  the  Reality  of  his  Acquain- 
tance with  thofe  things.  And  if  he  cannot 
fay  it,  Grour.di.dly,  it  is  not  meet  to  put  him  fo 
to  fay. 

4  2.  He  that  either  Cannot,  or  Will  not  fay  any 
more  than  fo,  (  efpecially  in  Times  of  fuch 
Light  and  Means  as  we  live  in  )  he  renders 
the  Truth  of  his  Faith  and  Repentance  fufpici- 
ous,  fo  as  that  Rational  Charity  cannot  acquiefce 
in  it.  For  all  Men  know,  that  Faith  is  not  dropt 
into  Mens  Hearts  out  of  the  Clouds,  without 
previous,  concomitant  and  fubfequent  Opera- 
tions ;  or  if  it  was  full  wrought  in  Infancy, 
yet  it  will  (  efpecially  when  grown  to  fuch  a 
Lively  Exercife,  as  fits  for  the  Lord's  Supper) 
fhew  it  felf  in  Effects,  Renewings  and  In- 
creafings  by  the  Word  arid  Ordinances,  fo  as 
a  Man  will  be  able  to  hold  forth  fome  Expe- 
rience of  the  Operations  of  Grace. 
4  3.  That  Mode  of  Profe/Jion,wW\ch  the  Obje&ioa 
mentioneth,  hath  been  found  by  plentiful  Ex- 
perience, to  be  a  Nurfe  of  Formality  and  Irrc- 
ligwn.  Now  it  is  a  Rule  concerning  the  Modus 
Agendi,  or  fuch  like Circumftances,  That  when 
by  Experience  a  thing  proves  inconvenient,  and 
fubject  to  Abufe,  there  ought  to  be  an  Altera- 
tion thereof. 

'  Vll.  Betides  this,  from  the  Qualifications 
requilite  to  the  Lord's  Supper,  there  be  other 
Reafons  ferving  to  confirm  the  Ne.effity  of 
Practical  Confe/Jwns  {viz..  by  Relations,  or  0- 
therways,  as  was  before  faid  )  in  thofe  that 
are  admitted  unto  full  Communion. 
4  As,  1.  Let  thofe  Scripture  Examples  be  con- 
fidered,  wherein  the  Grace  wrought  in  the 
faithful  is  Evidenced,  or  Colle&ed  from  the 
Lord's  Dealings  with  them  in  the  Work  of 
Converfion,  and  Experiences  relating  thereto, 
or  to  the  Fruits  thereof.  See  1  Thef.  1.4,  5, 
6t  7>  9,  t  o.  Let  thofe  Words  be  paraphrafed 
according  to  their  obvious  Senfe,  they  will 
make  up  a  full  Relation.  And  ix  Paul  knew,  or 
gathered  the  Grace  that  was  in  the  Tbrjfalo- 
nians  from  fuch  Things  as  thofe,  does  it  not 
fhow,  that  fuch  things  are  a  proper  and  ratio- 
nal Ground  for  us  to  gather  Grace  from?  If 
they  bzfainouj/y  known  otherwife  (  as  they  were 
in  that  cafe  to  Paul  )  it  fufficetb,  as  was  above- 
faid ;  but  otherways  how  fhould  they  be  known, 
but  from  the  Party's  own  Mouth  ?  So  Col.  r. 
4,  —  8.  Is  there  not  a  kind  of  Relation,  of  the 
Work,  and  Manner  of  the  Converfion  of  thofe 
3000  in  Acts  2.  fet  down  in  that  Chapter  ? 
And  confequently,  the  Subilance  01  fuch  a  Rela- 
tion or  Work  was  then  dc  faclo  obvious  to 
the  Apoflles.  And  fo,  of  the  Convetfionof 
Paul  Chap.  9.  and  of  Cornelius,  Chap.  10.  Yea, 
if  we  look  into  moft  of  the  Examples  in  the 
H  h  h  h  A£ts 


lbo 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  Book  IV. 


'  Atls.  Confider,  if  they  be  not  more  immedi- 
4  ately  reducible  to  Q  A  mamfeftation  of  a  Work 
*  of  Grace  3  than  to  that  of  Knowledge,  and  a 
'  Blamelefs  Life  ?  Paul  had  little  to  fay  for  a 
4  foregoing  Blamelefs  Life  to  the  Difciples  of 
4  Damafcus ;  but  a  Woi  k  of  Converfion  he  could 
1  hold  forth  to  them,  and  a  Profeflion  d<?  pra- 
1  ftnti  thereupon.    So  ACts  q.  26,  27. 

'2.  Minifters  in  giving  the  Lord's  Supper  to 
4  Perfons,  do  give  a  Great  and  Solemn  Teftimo- 
'  ny  to  them,  C  Take,  Eat,  This  is  CbrifTs  Body, 
4  that  was  broken  for  you  ;  ]  therefore  furely  they 
4  may  take,  and  require  a  Solemn  Teftimony/row 


them,  and  had  not  need  to  be  flight  therein. 
4  3.  The  Power  ofGodlinefs  will  foon  be  loft, 
if  only  Dotirinal  Knowledge,  and  Outward  Blame- 
lefsnefs  be  accounted  fufficient  for  all  Church- 
Triviledges,  and  Pra&ical  Confcjfion?,  (  or,  Exa- 
minations of  Mens  Spiritual  Eftate  )  be  laid 
afide.  For  that  which  People  fee  to  be  pub- 
lickly  required,  and  held  in  Reputation,  that 
will  they  look  after,  and  ufually  no  more,  but 
content  themfelves  with  That.  Confider  ;  if  this 
hath  not  been  a  P».eafon  of  the  Formality  and 
Deadnefs,  that  hath  overgrown  many  Churches. 
January  4.    166^. 


Thus  did  a  Manufcript  of  this  Worthy  Man's,  now  in  my  Hands,  Harmonise  with  a  Notable 
Paffage  about  the  Bohemian  Churches. 


Dcmum.  quia  Objiciebatur,  Eratres  mn  habere  '• 
Ecclefiam  aptrtam  cum  plena  Sanclorum  Commie 
mone,  fed  Adminiflrare  Sacramcnta  Quibusdam  tan- 
tum  ftbi  additlis  :  Refponfum  fuit,  Sanfla  dare  non 
Sanclis,  prohibitive  Cvrtflum  ;  Coriftianifmumque  a 
pccnite/itia,  aufpkandmv,  non  a  Sacramentis  •  neque 
Secundum  Jnftituta  Chrijli  Abfolutionem  vuncian- 
4am  nifi  Refipifcentibits  et  Credentibus,  quod  utrmn- 
que  (P  ccnitentiam  &  Fidem)  ne  Superficiariuwfit  etfal- 
iax,Exploratione  indigere  ;  Exploration t  vtro  Tempore 
Juflo :  et  quia  Nud'vs  Sacramentis  Salutis  Vim  adferi- 
bere,  ex  Opcre  Opcrato,  Error  urn  in  Papatu  Bafts  eft, 
Errorem  banc  corrigi  non  poffe  aliter,  quam  ut  certa 
probatione,  nee  ilia  Subitanea,  Cardium  Arcana 
Revclentur,  Novitiiqite  diu  &  caute  tnm  Injormen- 
tur,  turn   Explorentur . 

Ratio  Difcipl.  Fatr.  Bohem.  p.  4,  5. 


Becaufe  it  was  objected,  That  the  Brethren 
have  not  an  Open  Church  with  the  full  Com- 
munion of  Saints,  but  adminifter  the  Sacra- 
ments only  to  fome  of  their  own  party  ■,  it  was 
anfwered  ,  Th.it  Chrift  h3th  forbid  our  Giving 
of  Holy  Things  unto  Vnholy  Perfons ;  and  thac 
ChifHanity  is  to  be  begun  with  Repentance^ 
and  not  with  the  Sacraments  ;  and  that  accord- 
ing to  the  Initiations  of  our  Lord,  Absolution 
is  not  to  be  pronounced  upon  any  but  thofe  thac 
Repent  and  Believe  ;  both  of  which  (  Repentance 
and  Faith )  that  it  may  not  be  Superficiary  and 
Fallacious,  it  muft  have  fome  Exploration  ■  and 
this  Exploration  muft  have  a  Sufficient  Time  for 
it.  And  becaufe  to  afcrjjbe  a  Saving  Venue  unto 
the  bare  Sacraments  Fx  Opcre  Operato,  is  the  bot- 
tom of  the  Errors  of  Popery,  this  Error  cannot 
otherwife  be  Corrected,  than  by  this  means  ■ 
That  by  a  certain,  and  no  fudden  Trial,  the  Se- 
crets of  Mens  Hearts  may  be  laid  open  and 
Novices  may  be,  with  a  long  Caution,  both  in- 
ftructed  and  examined. 


Reader,  If  the  Beating  out  oiTruth  in  Contro- 
verts,   that  have  rifen  among  us  relating  to 
our  Church  Difcipline,  had  not  been  the  fpecial  Ser- 
vice, wherein  all  our  Churches  beheld  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  making  ufe   of  this   our  Learned, 
Able,  Holy,  and  no  lefs  Confederate,  than  Con- 
siderable 05itCljd,  1  had  not  given  thee  fo  long 
an  Entertainment  as  that   of  thefe  Proportions  ; 
Tropcfttions,  which  if  they  fhould  in  the  Opinion 
of  any,  fall  fhort  of  Demonflrations,  and  contribute 
nothing  to  Unite  and  Settle  the  various  Appre- 
heniions  of  feme  very   Worthy  Men  among  us 
about  an  Important  Point  in  our  Church  Govern- 
ment, yet  they  will  in  the  Opinion  of  all  ferve  to 
exprefs  the  Difpofitions  of  Mind,  which  the  rare 
Spirited  Author  of  them  did  both  Live  and  Dye 
withal :  They  fhow  how    much  he  was  againfl 
that  Rigid,  Unfcriptural,  Uninftituted,  and  Un- 
warrantable Iniifting  upon  Modes,  wherein  fome 
of  our   Churches  had  finned  fometimes    againft 
the  Grace   of  the  Lord  Jefus   Chrift  •,  and  yet 
how  much  he  was  for  all  Scriptural  and  Rational 
Methods  to  preferve  the  Churches   from  finning 
againft  the  Holinefs,  which  does  become  thofe  Houfes 
of  God  for  ever. 


§.  13.  I  have  faid,  that  the  Life  of  our 
S^ttCfjel  was  in  a  fpecial  manner  EngrofTcd  by 
the  Services  of  Explaining,  Maintaining  and  Per- 
fecting thofe  Principles,  whereby  the  Chriltian 
Religion  muft  be  preferved,  with  a  True  and 
Pure  Church  fate  among  us,  and  conveyed  and  fe- 
tured  unto  Pofterity  ;  and  this  leads  me  to  that 
part  of  his  Character,  which  diftinguilbed  him, 
as  much  as  any  One  whatfoever  •,  Namely,  A 
Care  of  all  the  Churches.  Our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift 
complains,  That  the  Onldren  of  this  World  are  (  for 
fo  I  read  it)  wifer  for  their  own  Generation,  than 
the  Children  of  Light.  But  our  90ttC!)Cl  was  Wife 
for  his  Generation,  and  Exercifed  his  Wit  with  much 
Contrivance,  and  much  Diligence,  that  his  Gene- 
ration, even  the  Faithful  People  of  God  in  the 
World  might  be  accommodated  in  all  their  In- 
terefts.  He  was  endued  with  a  certain  foaring  and 
ferious  Greatnefs  of  Soul,  which  rendred  Fly- 
catching  too  low  a  Bufinefs  for  him  ;  though  he 
were  One  of  a  very  Lowly  Spirit  in  his  Difpofi- 
tion  to  be  always  condemning  of  himfelf,  yet  he 
nourifhed  in  himfelf  a  Generous  Difdain  of  Lowy 
Little,  Trifling  Matters,  and  was  of  a  Leading 
Spirit  where  hard  Service  was  call'd  for,  and  of  a 
I  Pub- 


Book  IV. 


1  be  tiiitory  of  New-England. 


181 


Tublick  Spirit,  for  Doing  of  Service  to  as  many  as 
he  could':  His  Thoughts  moved  in  a  large  Sphere 
of  Vfefulnefs,  and  he  was  continually  projecting 
how  to  Do  good ',  in  the  molt  Extenlive  Manner 
unto  more  than  an  whole  Country.  The  Bucholt- 
z.eria>i  Expreffion  of  the  Apoftolieal  nANTAXOr- 
2IA  might  be  transferred  into  our  Account  or 
Mr.  ^ItCljCl  :  He  was  a  Circle,  whereof  the  Center 
was  at  Cambridge,  and  the  Circumference  took  in 
more  than  all  New- England.  Hence,  when  he 
fet  apart  his  Days  for  Secret  Prayer  with  Faffing 
before  God,  he  would  recapitulate  in  his  pri- 
vate Papers  the  Humbling  Occafions  for  Sup- 
plication, which  he  faw  not  only  in  Afflictive 
Things  on  his  own  particular  Flock,  but  alfo  in 
all  the  fad  Sights,  which  in  Difaftcrs  either  upon 
the  Civil  or  Sacred  Concerns  throughout  all  our 
Three  Colonies,  and  all  Gradual  Decays  of  our 
Glory,  occur'd  unto  him  •,  yea,  and  he  would  then 
Travel  fo  far,  as  to  Obferve  the  Condition  of 
the  Church  throughout  Great  Britain,  and  the 
Nations  of  the  European  World  ;  and  all  thefe 
Occafions  of  Diflrefs  and  Requefl,  he  would  enu- 
merate before  -he  ^ord,  with  the  Matters  of  his 
own  Everlafling  Welfare.  From  the  fame  Heroick 
Vertue  (  as  fmay  properly  call  it)  in  him  it  was, 
that  in  the  Weekly  Meetings  of  the  Neighbouring 
Pallors,  after  the  Weekly  Leilures  in  the  Towns 
which  he  could  vifit  •,  and  at  all  other  fuch  Meet- 
ings, he  would  with  a  moft  becoming  Difcretion 
and  Mtdefly,  be  ftill  putting  forward  fomething 
or  other,  that  might  be  for  General  Advantage  .- 
And  when  the  Minifters  met  at  any  time  fo  much 
without  Advantageous  Fffells  of  their  Difcourfes, 
that  it  could  befaid,  The  T«me  had  been  fmoaked 
away  to  no  purpofe,  he  would  be  Troubled  at 
it :  It  caufed  him  once  to  write  this  Lamenta- 
tion ;  Little  done !  J  have  begun  to  feel  the  fadnefs 
of  the  prefent  time,  and  the  Lord's  withdrawing  from 
us  and  our  Chariot  wheels  taken  off :  I  find  that  in 
all  Societies,  where  I  have  any  thing  to  do,  Common- 
wealth, and  Church  and  Colledge  Things  flick,  and 
we  draw  heavily,  and  nothing  can  begotten  forward  : 
All  Things,  and  all  the  Spirits  of  Men,  feem  to  be 
off  the  Hinges  :  Oh !  Lord,  Affect  my  Heart  there- 
withal !  In  this  Lamentation,  the  Reader  finds 
the  Colledge  mentioned,  and  indeed  the  Colledge 
was  nearer  unto  his  Heart,  than  it  was  to  his 
Houfe,  though  next  adjoyning  to  it.  He  was 
himfelf  an  Accomplifhed  Scholar,  and  he  loved  a 
Scholar  dearly ;  but  his  Heart  was  fervently  fet 
upon  having  the  Land  all  over  illuminated  with 
the  Fruits  of  a  Learned  Education.  To  this  End, 
he  became  a  Father  to  the  Colledge,  which  had  been 
his  Mother,  and  fought  the  Prosperity  of  that 
Society,  with  a  very  Angular  Sollicitude ;  but  a- 
mong  other  Contrivances  which  he  had  tor  the 
Profperity  of  the  Colledge,  One  was,  A  Model 
for  the  Education  of  Hopeful  Students  at  the  Colledge 
in  Cambridge.  His  Propofals  were,  for  Septen- 
nial Subfcriptions  by  the  more  Worthy  and  Wealthy 
Perfons,  in  this  poor  Wildernefs  •  tobedifpofed 
of  by  Truflees  (  namely,  the  Magiftrates  and  Mi- 
nifters of  the/ix  next  Towns,  for  the  time  being, 
with  feven  other  Gentlemen  by  them  chofen  ouc 
of  the  faid  Towns,  of  which  any  Seven  to  be  a 


Quorum,  if  three  Minifters  were  among  them,) 
who  fhould  lingle  out  Scholars  eminently  preg- 
nant and  pious,  and  out  of  this  Bounty  fupport 
them  in  fuch  Studies,  as  they  fhould  by  thefe 
Truflees  be  directed  unto,  until  they  had  either 
performed  fuch  profitable  Services,  as  were  Impo- 
fed  on  them  in  the  Colledge  it  felf,  or  prepared 
themfelves  for  other  Services  abroad  in  the 
World.  He  was  mightily  affected  v\ith  a  Paffage 
of  Luther's,  If  ever  there  be  any  Confiderable  Blovr> 
given  to  the  Devil's  Kingdom,  it  mufl  be  by  Toutb 
excellently  educated.  And  therefore,  Res  feria  eft, 
Ingens  eft,  It  is  a  Serious  Thing,  a  Weighty  Thing, 
and  a  Thing  that  hath  much  of  the  Intertji  of  Chnfl, 
and  of  Chriflianity  m  it, that  Touth  be  well  trained  up, 
and  want  no  tlelps  for  that  end  ;  that  Schools,  and 
School- Maflers,  and  poor  Scholars  be  maintained.  It 
is  the  Flourtjhing  of  a  Common-Wealth,  to  be  well  fur  - 
nifhed  with  Learned,  Worthy  and  Able  Men  for  all 
Purpofes.  And  God  will  nut  give  us  fuch  Men  by 
Miracle,  feeing  He  bath  vomhfafed  us  other  way; , 
and  means  to  obtain  them.  Learning  is  an  Vnwel- 
come  Cueft  to  the  Devil,  and  therefore  hi  would  fain 
flarvc  it  out.  But  we  fhall  never  long  retain  the  Gof- 
pil  without  the  Help  of  Learning.  Jind,  if  ire 
fhould  have  no  Regard  unto  Religion,  even  the  Out- 
ward Profperity  of  a  People  in  this  World  would  ni- 
ce fjarily  require  Schools  and  Learned  Men.  Ala'., 
that  none  are  carried  with  Alacrity  and  Serinufieft 
to  take  Care  for  the  Education  of  Touth,  and  to  help 
the  World  with  Eminent  and  Able  Men.  'Twas 
from  Confiderations,  like  thefe  of  Luther's,  that 
he  did  with  an  Accurate  and  Judicious  Pen^ 
fhape  thefe  Propofals.  But  if  New- England  then, 
had  not  many  Perfons  in  it,  of  the  fame  Incli- 
nation with  Pope  Paul  2.  who  pronounced  them, 
Ij)CtCtiCfe0,  that  fhould  mention  the  Name  of  an 
3Ca3CttlP,  and  exhorted  People,  that  they  would 
not  put  their  Children  to  Learning,  inafmuch,  as 
it  was  enough  if  they  could  but  Read  and  Write  .- 
yet,  through  the  Discouragements  of  Poverty  and 
Selfilhnefs,  the  Propofals  came  to  nothing.  More- 
over, the  Remarkable  Acutenefs  joined  with  an 
Extraordinary  Holinefs  in  this  Renowned  Man, 
cauled  the  Churches  in  all  Quarters  far  and  near, 
when  their  Difficult  Church-Cafes  called  for  the 
Help  of  Councils,  to  make  their  Applications  un- 
to Cambridge,  for  Mr.  £Tjt)ltCi}Ci  to  come  and  help 
them  in  their  Difficulties.  And  in  thefe  Councils, 
as  well  as  when  Weighty  Cafes  have  been  laid 
before  the  Elders  of  the  Churches,  by  the  Gene- 
ral Courts,  though  ufually  molt  of  the  Minifters 
prefent  were  Elder  than  he,  yet  the  Senfe  and 
Hand  of  no  Man,  was  relied  more  upon  than 
His,  for  the  Exacl  Rcfult  of  all.  With  fo  much 
humble  Wifdom  and  Caution,  did  he  Temper 
the  Significant  Forwardnefs  at  Well-doing  which  he 
ftill  carried  about  him,  that  the  Difproportion 
of  Age,  hindered  not  the  moft  Aged  and  Able, 
and  Venerable  Angels  in  our  Churches,  from 
their  Paying  a  very  ftrange  Refpedt  unto  him. 
Yea,  as  the  Jewifh  Midrafcb  upon  that  Paffage 
in  the  firif.  Pfalm,  His  Leaf  fhall  not  wither  ;  I 
remember  is  this,  Omnes  neceffitatem  habent  Col- 
loquii  ejus ;  even  fuch  a  necellary  Tree  of  Life,  was 
99itCljel  accounted,  in  the  Garden  of  New-Eng- 
H  h  h  h  2  land- 


482 


The  Hiftory  of  New- England. 


Book  IV. 


Death,   publifhed  unto   the  World  under  the 
Title  of  Nebemiab  upon  the  Wall.     In  that  Sermon 
Reader,  Take  notice  of  the  Difcovery  which  he 
gave  of  his  own  Catbolick  Charity,  when  he  fays, 
'  Do  not  wrong  and  marr  an   Excellent  Work' 
and  Profelfion,  by  Mixing  and  Weaving  in  Spu- 
rious Principles,  or  Practices  ;  as  thofeof  <§>cpa* 
rtltlOtt,  Anabapifm,   MoreUian  (  Anarchical  ) 
Confulion.     If  any  would  fecretly  'twift   in, 
and  efpoufe  fuch  things  as  thofe,  and  ni3ke  them 
part  of  our  mtereft,  we  mull  needs  renounce 
it  as  none  of  our  Caufe,  no  part  of  the  End 
and    Defign  of  the   Lord's  faithful  Servants] 
when  they  followed  him    into  this  Land,  that 
was  not  J  own.     Separation  and   Anabaptifm,  are 
wonted  Intruders,  and  feeming  Friends,  but  fe- 
cret  fatal  Enemies,  to  Reformation.     Do  not 
on  pretence  cf  avoiding  Corruption,  run  Into fin- 
'  fid  Separation  from  any    True  Churches  of  God 
4  and   what  is  Good   therein  ;  and  yet  it  is  our 
'  Errand  into  the  Wildernefs  to  fludy  and  pra&ife 
1  true  Scripture-Reformation,   and  it  will  be  our 
'  Crown  in  the  Sight  of  God  and  Man,  if  we  find 
'  it  and  hold  it,  without  Adulterating  Deviations. 
Thus,  though  he  were  a  Reformer, yethz  had  no- 
thing  in  him  of  a  Donatifi  .-    For  which  caufe 
Mr.  Baxter  hearing  of  him,  faid,  Jf  an  Oecume- 
nical Council  could  be  obtained,    Mr.  Mitchel  were 
'-.-  ftaaded  that  the  Congregational  Communion  retains  .  worthy  to  be  its  Moderator.     And  this  Difpofition 
moft  of  the  Apoftolickfbecaufe  it  is  not  only  the  Cream  of  Charity  in  him,  was  rewarded  with  the  Re- 
and  beft  of  the  others,  bat  alfo  bccaife  it  bath  more  j  fpedls  which  he  found  from  Learned  and  Pious 
Charity.     "Vis  very  rarely  few  (faith  he)  that  any  |  Men,  that  were  in  many  things  not  of  his  own 
i)ne  of  the    Congregational  Way    dots  not  hue    all  j  perfwaiion  :    Such    Llohncfs,    and    Patience,  and 
Good  Men  of  w\H  Communion  fvevtr  they  be,  and  |  fvveet  Condefcenfion,  were  his  Incomparable  Abili- 


land,  However,  he  encountred  with  fuch  Tempta- 
■twns  as  mult  buffet  all  that  have  in  them  any 
thing  of  Significancy  •  for  which  caufe,  once 
particularly^  when  he  had  been  admirably  ac- 
quitting lumfelf  in  an  Undertaking  of  Great 
Confequence  to  the  Churches,  he  came  home, 
and  wrote  thefe  Words.  My  Spirit  was  carried 
out  in  tcomiicb  fonvardnefs :  I  fee  caufe  to  be  deeply 
aba  fed  and  loath  my  felf,  and  bang  down  my  Head 
before  God  and  Men.  How  do  1  marr  God's  Work, 
and  marr  ub.it  be  gives  me  therein,  by  my  own 
Tolly  !  !  Scmitiir.es  1  am  ready  to  rcfolve  to  put  forth 
my  felf  no  more  in  PuUick  Work,  but  keep  myfelffilent, 
and  unwgaged*  as  J  fee  others  do.  But  then  J  per- 
ceive, that  this  tafttth  of  Frowardnefs  and  Pride. 
Lord,  Give  me  mdre  Wifdom  to  manage  and  de- 
mean my  ft  If  !  But  if  thy  Service  and  Honour  may 
■b  ■  promoted  by  my  Weaknefs  and  Folly,  Let  me  be 
willing  to  be  Vile,  tb  it  God  may  be  exalted.  2  Sam. 
6.2i,  22.  Upon  the  whole,  he  was  unwilling 
to  affect  fuch  anZ'nJerviceable  Privacy,  that  they 
who  pafled    by  his  Houfe,  might  fay,  Hie  fitus 

eft  $&ittl)2\li\$- 

§.  14.      I   know  not  how  far  that   Learned 

e  cbr.an,  who  Writes,  The  Conformity  of  the  Con- 

;   tfalional  Church-Government  unto  that  of  the  Anci- 

■ent Primitive  Chrifiians,  hath  feen  verified  his  Ob- 

fervation,  All   Diftnterefted   Perfons    may  cafily  be 


'that  they  do  net  ffeak  of  them,  as  of  the  True  Churches 
of  Jeffs  Chrifi  :  Whereas  even  the  moft  Sober  and  Ho- 
neft  Party  of  the  Epifcopal  Men,  and  fame  of  the 
Tresbytenans,  are  fo  ftrongly  poffejfed  with  Prejudices 
'egainfi  thofe  of  Congregations,  that  they  are  in  thtir 
Recount,  no  better  than  Hypocrites,  Schifmatichs,  and 
Men  of  ftrange  Enthifufms.  If  any  of  the  Congre- 
gational Way  do  not  anfwer  this  Chara&er,  Let 
thefe  Words  condemn  them  ;  as  I  know  thofe 
of  the  Presbyterian  Way  in  this  Country  have  by 
their  Charitable  Temper  much  confuted  that  part 
of  the  Difcourfe,  by  which  they  are  here  Cha- 
racterized.    But  the  Obfervation  I  am  fure,  was  fie,  from  caufing  the  "Reverend    Old  Man   to 

fully  fa-  handle  his  Antagonift,   in  any  meafure  as  the 


npa 
ties  accompanied  withal,  that  Good  Men,  who 
otherwife  differed  from  him  would  ftill  fpeak  of 
him  with  Reverence.  To  give  one  particular 
Inftance :  'Tis  well  known  that  the  Reverend 
Charles  Cbancey,  Prefident  of  the  Colledge,  and  a 
Neighbour  in  the  Town  and  Church  with  our 
much  younger  ^tttiJCi,  at  the  Time  of  the  Sy- 
nod, zealoufly  and  publickly,  by  Ten  as  well  as 
by  Speech  oppofed  the  Synodalian  Principles 
whereof  Mr.  ^ttCljCf  was  no  fjnall  Defender : 
But  fo  far  was  the  Diffent  between  them,  in 
the  very  Heat  and  Heightb  of  all  the  Controver- 


verified  in  our  2©itc!)CU  who  was  one 
tisfied  and  eftablilhed  in  the  Congregational  Way 
of  Church  Government,  and  yet  had  a  Spirit  of 
Communion  for  all  Godly  Men  in  other  Forms,  and 
was  far  from  Confining  oiGodlinefs  unto  his  own. 
It  was  a  frequent  Speech  with  him,  The  Spirit  of 
thrift,  is  a  Spirit  of  Communion  !  And  I  can  tell, 
what  he  would  have  faid,  if  he  had  lived  to  fee 
the  Books  of  fo  Ridiculous  a  Schifmatick,  as  he  that 
has  made  himfelf  infamous  by  attempting  to  prove, 
That  where  there  is  no  Epifcopal  Ordination,  there  is 
no  True  Church,  Minifter,  Sacrament,  or  Salvation. 
His  Great  Worth  caufed  him  to  be  called  forth  fe- 
veral  times  with  an  Early  and  Special  Refpedt 
from  the  General  Court  of  the  Colony,  to  preach 
on  the  Greatefl  Solemnity  that  the  Colony  afford- 
ed •  Namely,  The  Anniverfary  Eleclion  ofGovernour 
and  Magif  rates  :  And  one  of  the  Sermons  which 
he  pveadied  on  thofe  Occafions,   was  after  his 


Angry  Diofcorus  did  the  Diffenting  Flavian,  in 
the  Council  of  Ephefus,  that  he  would  common- 
ly fay  of  him,  1  know  no  Man  in  this  World,  that 
I  could  envy  fo  much,  as  Worthy  Mr.  Mitchel, 
for  the  Great  Holinejs,  Learning,  Wifdom  and  Meek- 
nefs,  and  other  Qualities  of  an  Excellent  Spirit,  with 
which  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrifi  hath  adorned  him. 

§.15.  And  {hall  we  a  little  more  particularly 
Defcribe  that  Holinefs  of  this  Excellent  Man, 
which  we  have  fo  often  mentioned  ?  It  is  an 
Aphorifm  of  a  Macbiavel,  f_  and,  Reader,  was 
it  not  worthy  of  a  Macbiavel !  j  That  he  who 
writes  an  Hiftory,  muft  be  a  Man  of  no  Religion. 
By  that  profane  Rule,  the  firft  and  the  bell  Hi- 
florian  in  the  World,  the  moft  Religious  MOSES, 
was  ill  accomplilhed  for  a  Writer  of  Hiftory.  But 
the  Hiftory,  which  we  are  now  writing,  does  pro- 

feffedly 


Book  IV.  lije.Hifioryo/New-Enghnd. 


«83 


fefledly  intend  nothing  fo  much  as  the  Service  of 
Religion,  even  of  that  Religion  whereof  onr 
90ttCi}£l  made  an  Exemplary  Profeffion.  Where- 
fore we  go  on,  to  fay  ;  Know,  Rea<kr,  That  he 
was  a  Great  Example  of  a  Walk  with  God  ;  and 
of  Religion  he  was  much  in  Prayer,  much  in 
.F<i/2*'ȣ,fometimes  taking  his  Vertumvs Wife,  there- 
in to  make  a  Confort  with  him  •,  and/fometimes 
•alfo  he, kept  whole  Days  oiThankfgiving  privately 
with  his  Family,  befides  what  he  did  more  pub- 
lickly  5  Devoting  himfelf  as  a  Thank  Offering  to 
God  for  his  Mercies,  with  a  Rcafonable  Service. 
In  his  Diary,  He  betimes  laid  that  Rule  upon 
himfelf,  Oh  !  that  J  could  remember  this  Rule,ne-\ 
ver  to  go  to  Bed,  until  J  have  had  fome  feitede'dl 
[fecial  Communion  with  God  !  He  kept  a  ftridt. 
Watch,  over  not  only  his  Words,  but  alio  his  very 
Thoughts;  and  if  by  the  Refletfions,  which  he  was1 
continually  making  on  himfelf,  he  judged  that 
his  Mind  had  not  been  always  full  of  Heaven, 
and  his  Heart  had  been,  what  he  called,  hard 
and  flight,  that  he  had  been  Formal'  in  his  De- 
votions, that  he  had  not- profited  abundantly  by 
the  Sermons  of  other  Men,  that  he  had  not  made 
Confcience  of  Doing  all  the  Good  he  could,  when 
he  had  been  in  any  Company ;  he  would  put 
Stings  iato  his  Reflections,  and  rebuke  and  re- 
proach himfelf  with  an  Holy  Indignation.  Se- 
vere might  feem  the  Rule  of  R.  Hanina.  If  two 
fit  together  and  there  b;  no  Difcourfe  of  the  Law,  'tis 
the  Seat  of  the  Sarnful  :  Severe  might  feem  the 
Rule  of  R.  Simeon,  Jf  Three  do  Eat  at  one  Table, 
and  fay  nothing  about  the  Law,  they  are  as  if  they 
Eat  the  Sacrifices  of  the  Dead  -.  And  fevere  might 
be  the  Rule  of  R.  Hananiah,  He  that  wakes  in  the 
Night  or  walks  by  the  way,  and  let's  his  Heart  lie 
idle^  fins  againfl  his  own  Soul :  But  our  ^ItCfjCl 
reckoned  it  no  Severity  unto  himfelf,  to  impofe 
upon  himfelf  fuch  Rules  as  thefe  for  his  Conver- 
fation.  I  have  read,  That  Five  Devout  Perfons 
being  together,  there  was  this  Qjieftion  ftarted 
among  them,  How,  in  what  ways,  by  what  means, 
they  flrengthtned  themfelves  in  obtaining  from  Sin 
againfi  the  God  of  Heaven  ?  The  Firft  anfwered, 
/  frequently,  meditate  on  the  Certainty  of  Death, 
and  the  "Uncertainty  of  the  Tunc  fir  my  Death, 
and  this  makes  me  live  in  the  Fear  of  Sin  every 
Day  as  my  lafi.  The  Second  anfwered,  I  fre- 
quently meditate  on  the  fir  iff  Account  of  Sin  that  1 
am  to  give  at  the  Day  of  Judgment,  and  the  Ever- 
lasling  Torments  in  Hell,  to  he  infiiclcd  on  them  that 
can  give  no  Good  Account.  The  Third  anfwered, 
J  frequently  meditate  an  the  vilenefs,  and  filthinefs, 
and  loathfomenefs  of  Sin,  and  the  Excellency  of  Grace, 
which  is  contrary  unto  fo  vile  a  Thing.  The  Fourth 
anfwered,  /  frequently  meditate  on  the  Eternal  Re- 
wards and  Ilea  fur  es  refcrved  in  Heaven  for  them 
that  avoid  the  Pleafures  of  Sin,  which  are  but  for  a 
moment.  The  Fifth  anfwered,  /  frequently  medi- 
tate on  the  Lord  JESVS  CHRIST,  and  his  won- 
drous Love  to  miferable  Sinners,  in  dying  a  curfed 
and  a  bitter  Death  for  our  Sin;  and  this  helps  me  to 
abftatn  from  Sin,  more  than  any  other  conjider  ation 
whatfoever ;  And  the  Anfwer  of  this  laft  was  in- 
deed the  greateft  of  all.  Now  all  thefe  were 
the  Subjeds,  which  our  Holy  $)0i;tCf)?i>  obliged 


himfelf  to  an  affiduous  Meditation  upon  ;  and  by 
Meditating-  on  thefe  it  was,  that  he  became  very 
Holy.  Moreover,  he  was  as  Holy  Men  ufe  to  be, 
very  folicitous  to  make  a  due  Improvement  of 
all  Ajfitclions,  th3tthe  Providence  of  Heaven  dif- 
penfed  unto  him.  He  would  fay,  When  God  per  fo- 
nally  afflitls  a  Man,  it  is  as  if  He  called  unto  the 
Man  by  Name,  and  jogged  him,  and  faid,  Oh  ! 
Repent,  be  humbled,  be  fenous,  be  awakened  :  Yea, 
he  could  not  fo  much  as  be  kept  a  little  from  the 
Labours  of  his  Miniftry  by  an  Hoarfi  Cold  ar- 
rcfting  him,  without  writing  down  this  Improve- 
ment of  it  ;  My  Sin  is  legible  in  the  Ckaflifement  : 
cold  Duties,  cold  Prayers  (  my  Voice  in  Prayer, 
i.  e.  my  Spirit  of  Prayer  fearfully  gone  )  myCold- 
nefs  in  my  whole  Converfiition^  cbrffiifemerit  with  a 
Cold  ;  I  fear  that  I  have  not  improved  niy  voice 
for  God  formerly  as  1  might  have  done,  aid  there- 
fore He  now  takes  it  from  me.  But  the  Affi'.clion 
whieh  moft  of  all  Exercifed  him,  9. ems  to  have 
been  in  the  fucceffive  Death  of  many  and  Lovc'y 
Children,  though  all  of  them,  in  their  Infancy. 
'Tis  an  Obfervation  made  by  fome,  upon  feveral 
Paflages  in  the  Scripture  concerning  that  Gene- 
rous and  Gracious  Man,  David,  that  he  was  Li- 
berorum  Amantijfimus,  full  of  AfFsctions  to  his 
Children;  and  that  was  to  be  obferved  in  our 
Mr.  Jonathan  Mitchel ;  for  which  canfe,  when 
his  Children  were  Sick,  his  Paternal  Bowels  felt 
more  than  ordinary  Wounds  ;  and  when  they 
were  Dead,  his  Humiliations  thereupon  were  ex- 
traordinary. He  wrote  whole  Pages  of  Lamen- 
tations on  thefe  Occalions  •,  and  one  of  his  Infants 
particularly  expiring  before  it  could  be  broughn 
forth  to  an  orderly  Paptifm,  I  cannot  but  recite 
a  little  of  the  Meditations  then  written  by  him  : 
It  was  a  further  fad  Hand  of  the  Lord  (  fays  he  ) 
that  it  fhould  dye  unbaptifed.  Though  I  do  not  think 
they  are  Orthodox,  that  hang  Salvation  upon  Baptifm, 
and  not  rather  upon  the  Covenant,  yet  as  it  is  ap- 
pointed to  be  a  Confirming  Sign,  and  as  it  is  an  Or- 
dinance of  Grace,  fo  to  be  Deprived  of  it  is  a  great 
Frown,  and  a  fad  Intimation  of  the  Lord's  Anger  : 
And  though  it  may  be  well  with  the  Child  notwith- 
flanding  (  that  it  becomes  me  to  leave  unto  the  Lord !  ) 
yet  it  is  to  us  a  Token  of  Difpleafure.  And  what 
ConflruBion  or  Thoughts  tending  to  the  lord's  Difhc- 
nour  it  may  cccafion,  I  know  not :  That  after  my 
Labours  m  Publick  about  Infant-Baptifm,  the  Lord 
fhould  take  away  my  Child  without  and  before  BaD- 
tilm  !  Hereby  the  Lord  dots  again  and  again  make 
me  an  Example  of  His  Difpleafure  before  all  Men, 
as  if  He  did  fay  openly,  that  He  hath  a  fpecial  Con- 
trover  fie  with  me  ;  Thus  remarkably  taking  away  C  ne 
after  another.  The  Lord  brings  me  forth',  and  makes 
me  go  up  and  down,  as  one  Jmitten  of  God  :  The 
Lord  f pits  in  my  Face  by  this  thing.  See  2  Sam. 
12  12.  Numb.  12.  12.  Lent.  l8.  45,  46,  58,  59. 
Such,  and  many  more  were  the  Workings  of  his 
Tender  Soul  under  his  repeated  AffUffiovs.  And 
fuch  were  the  Vnf  arch able  Dealings  of  God,  that 
befides  the  Children  which  he  fent  unto  Heaven 
before  him,  when  he  went  unto  Heaven  himfelf, 
he  left  behind  Three  Sons,  and  Two  Daughters,  all 
of  which  lived  unto  fomewhat  of  Tov.th,  yet  they 
have  all  of  them  fince  dyed  in  their  Youth :  ex- 
cept 


'I he  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


Book 


; 


cept  only  a  Vertuous  Young  Gentlewoman,  marri- 
ed unco  Captain  Stephen  Sewal  of  Salem;  unto  whom 
(  wiih  her  Off-fpring,  the  only  Pofterity  of  this 
Great  Man  )  may  the  Lord  multiply  all  the  Blef- 
fings  of  that  Covenant,  for  which  their  Progeni- 
tor proved  fo  ferviceable  a  Pleader  in  his  Gene- 
ration .' 

The  laft  Thing  that  ever  he  wrote  in  hisRe- 
ferved  Papers,  after  he  had  bitterly  reproached 
The  Sinful  Deadnefs,  Straitnefs,  Enmity,  and  Vnfa- 
vguriiefs  (  as  he  called  it)  upon  his  own  Heart,  up- 
on which  he  added  this  Pathetical  Expreflion,  J 
feel  J  /hall  fdl,  and  tumble  down  into  the  Pit  of  Hell, 
if  left  unto 'my  p. If;  It  Was  Jaw  7.  1668.  To  quic- 
ken his  Cares  of  Daily  Meditation. 

1  Firft,  Far  younger  than  1,  fomeof  them  now 
1  got  to  Heaven, have  done  much  this  way.  Nulla 
'   Dies  fine  Linea. 

?  Secondly*,  Meditation,  yea,  Daily  Meditation, 
'  in  general,  is  an  indifpentible  Duty.  Pfal.  1.2. 
'  and  Pfal.  119.  97  And  becaufe  it  is  fo,  there 
1  may  be  fcmething  of  Meditation  in  Prayer,  in 
c  Reading  the  Word;  Jofti.  1.  8.  with  Dtut.  17. 
'  1 9.  a;;d  in  Gtcaftonal  Tranfient  Thoughts  ;  yet 
'  fuiely  fome/rft  Meditation  daily  belides  thefe, 
'  is  at  leaft  to  >vc  a  Duty,  who  am  fet  apart,  for 
'  the  Holy  Work  of  the  Miniftry,  wherein  it 
*  would  be  Helpful,  as  well  as  to  my  own 
1  Soul. 

4  Thirdly,  Heaven  is  here  begun  upon  Earth  .- 
'  (bail  I  be  Thinking  on,  and  Talking  with,  Cbrift, 
'  to  all  Eternity,  and  not  Difcomfe  with  Him, 
1  O;  e  quarter  of  an  Hour  in  a  Day  now  ? 

'  Icu-tbly,  Tie  Great  Enemies  of  all  Good, 
'  F!;(]j,  Satan  and  World,  do  of  all  other  things, 
1  molt  opyateMtditation,  which  (bows  that  there 
'  is  much  Good  in  it.  Flefh,  by  Awknefs,  Giddi- 
'n.efs-  World,  by  Dilbadions  ;  Satan,  by  ftir- 
1  ring  up  both.  Lord,  Awaken  me,  and  keep  me 
'   Awake  ! 


§.   1 6.     But  what  and  when,  was  the  End  of  this 

Holy  Walk?    The  Incongruities  and  Inconfiften- 

cies  of  Hiftorians,  are  not  more  notorious  in  any 

one  Article,  than   in  that  of  the  Deaths  of  the 

Heroes,  whofe  Lives  thty  have  Eternized.    With 

what  Varieties  aie  the  Deaths  of  Cyrus,  of  Antio- 

chus,  of  Alexander,  of  Hannibal,    of  Romulus,  ol 

Sctpio,  of  Plato,  of  Arijlotle,  repoited  ?    There 

is  hardly  any  Philofopher,  but  be  dies  Twice  or 

Thrice  over  in  Laertius  ;   and  there  is  hardly 

one  of  Plutarch's  Worthies,  but  he  dies  as  many 

Ways.     The  Death  of  our  3J3ttCf)el  remains  now 

to  be  related  with  more  of  Certainty.    Though 

Bodily  Exercife  does  profit  a  little,  as  the  Apoftle 

concedes,    namely,  to  the  Health  of  the  Body  ; 

and  Mr.  ^ItCljCl  had  from  a  Principle  of  God- 

linefs,    ufed  himfelf  to  Bodily  Exercif;   never- 

thelefs  he  found  it  would  not  wholly  free  him 

from  an  ill  Habit  of  Body.    Of  extream  Lean,  he 

ibon  grew  extream  Fat ;  and  at  laft,  in  an  extream 

hot  Seafon,  a  Fever  arretted   him,  juft  after  he 

had  been  Preaching  on  thofe  Words,  /  know  that 

thou  wilt  bring  me  to  Death,  and  unto  the  Houfe  ap- 

[oihted  for  all  the  Living.    The  Fever  did  not  feem 

to  threaten  his  Death ;  however  in  his  lllnefs,  to 


them  that  vifitcd  him,  he  faid,  If  the  Lord  JefHs 
Chrift  have  any  Service  forme,  to  do  for  Him,  and 
H'vs  Dear  People,  I  am  witiing  to  do  it;  buttfmv 
Work  be  done,  His  Will  be  done !  But  the  Diftem- 
per  fuddenly  aflaulting  him  with  a  Mortal  Ma- 
lignity, and  fummoning  him  to  the  Houfe  appointed 
for  all  the  Living,  he  fell  to  admiring  the  mani- 
fold Grace  of  God  unto  him,  and  broke  forth  in- 
to thefe  Words,  Lord,  Thou  calleft  me  away  to 
Thee  ;  I  know  not  why,  if  I  look  to  my  felf;  but  at 
thy  Bidding  I  come !  which  were  fome  of  the  laft 
Words,  which  he  fpoke  in  the  World  :  For  his 
Friends,  who  had  not  for  many  Hours,  enter- 
tained the  Expectation  of  any  fuch  difmal  Event 
were  compelled  in  Floods  of  Tears,  to  fee  him 
dye  on  July  9.  1668.  in  the  Forty  Third  Year 
ot  his  Age :  When  (  as  one  exprelTes  that  Mat- 
ter )  he  left  his  Body  to  be  dipped  in  the  River 
of  Jordan,  that  afterwards  in  it's  Refurre&ion 
palling  into  Canaan,  it  may,  beyond  the  Story 
of  Achilles,  become  impenetrable  and  invulne- 
rable. Wonderful  were  the  Lamentations,  which 
this  Deplorable  Death  fill'd  the  Churches  of 
New-England  withal ;  for  as  the  Jewilh  Rabbits 
lamented  the  Death  of  R.  Jofe,  with  faying 
That  after  his  Death>  Cejfarunt  Bom  i.  e.  Viri 
tales,  in  quibus  omnes,  turn  Eruditions,  cum  Vir- 
tut'vs,  cumuli  erant  :  So,  after  the  Departure  of 
our  (JJttCfjCl,  it  was  fear'd  there  would  be  few 
more  fuch  Rich  Grapes  to  be  feen  growing  in  this 
Unthankful  Wildernefs.  Yea,  they  Speak  of  this 
Great  Man  in  their  Lamentations  to  ih'vs  Day  •  and 
what  they  fpeak  is  briefly  the  fame,  that  One  of 
our  nioft  Eminent  Perlbns  has  Writ  in  thofe 
Terms,   311  New-England   fljcrjfc,   U)f)eit   that 

iSMat  fell  to  tlje  ^ouno, 

EPITAPH. 

AN  D  now,  Reader,  Let  us  go  to  the  beft  of 
Poets  in  the  Englifh  Natioi  for  thofe  Lines, 
which  may,  without  the  leaft  Wrong  to  Truth  be 
applied  as  an  EPITAPH  to  this  beft  of 
Preachers  in  our  little  New-Englifh  Nation.  The 
Incomparable  Dr.  Blackmore\  Orator  Tylon,  (hall 
now  be  our   MITCH  EL. 

TIS  the  Great  ^itC!)d,whofe  Immortal  worth 
Raifes  to  Heatfn  the  lfle  that  gave  him  Birth. 
A  Sacred  Man,  a  Venerable  Prieft, 
Who  never  fpake,  and  Admiration  mift. 
Of  Good  and  Kind,  he  the  juft  Standard  feem'd, 
Dear  to  the  Beft,  and  by  the  Worft  efteem'd. 
A  Gen'rous  Love,  diffus'd  to  Humane  Kind, 
Divine  Compajfion,  Mercy  unconfin'd, 
Still  reign'd  Triumphant,  in  his  Godlike  Mind. 
Greatnefs  and  Modefty  their  Wars  compofe, 
Between  them  here  a  perfect  Friendflnp  grows. 
His  Wit,  His  Judgment,   Learning,  equal  rife ; 
Divinely  Humble,  yet  Divinely  Wife : 
He  feem'd  Exprefs,  on  Heavns  High  Errand  fent, 
As  Mofes  Meek,  as  Aaron  Eloquent. 
Netlar  divine  flows  from  his  Heav'nly  Tongue, 
And  on  his  Lips,  charming  Perfwafwn  hung. 

When 


} 


Book    IV.  The  Hiftory  of.  New-  England 


«5 


Wheu  he  the  Sacred  Oracies  roveal'd, 
Our  Ravifh'd  Souls  in  bleft  Enchantments  held, 
Seem'd  loft  in  Tranfports  of  Immortal  Elifs ; 
No  Simple  Man  could  ever  fpeak  like  This  !j 
Arm'd  with  Cseleftial  Fire,  his  Sacred  Darts    :- 
Glide thro' our  Breafls, hmdt  oaryielding Hearts. 
So  Southern  Breeze?,  and  the  Springs  mild  Ray, 
Unbind  the  Glebe,  and  thaw  the  Frozen  Clay. 
'He  Triumph'd  o'er  our  Souls,  and  at  his  Will, 
Bid  this  Touch'd  Pajfion  rife,  and  that  be  ftill. 
Lord  of  our  Paffiitts,  he,  with  wondrous  Art, 
Could  fhike  the  Secret  Movements  of  our  Heart; 
Keleafe  our  Souls,  and  make  them  foar  above, 
Wing'd    with    Divine    Defires,    and    Flames  of 
Heavenly  Love. 

But  what  need  I  travel,  as  far  as  Europe  for  an 
Elegy  upon  this  Worthy  Man  ?  Let  it  be  known, 
that  America  can  Embalm  Great  Perfons,  as  well 
as  Produce  them,  and  New-England  can  bellow 
an  Elegy,  as  well  as  an  Education  upon  its  Heroes. 
When  our  Mttchel  was  dying,  he  let  fall  fuch  a 
Speech  as  this  unto  a  young  Gentleman,  that 
lodg'd  in  his  Houfe,  and  now  Hood  by  his  Bed, 
My  Friend,  As  a  Dying  Man  1  not <  charge  you , 
that  yon  don't  meet  me  out  of  Chrijl  in  the  Day  oj 
Chrifl.  The  Speech  had  a  marvellous  Impreffion 
npon  the  Soul  of  that  Young  Gentleman ;  who 
then  compos'd  the  Enfuing  Lines. 


To  the  MEMORY  of  the 
REVEREND 

JONATHAN  M1TCHEL. 

Quicq.'iid    Agimus,    quicqiiid   Patimur, 
venit  ex  Alto. 

THE  Countries  Tears,  be  ye  my  Spring  ;my  Hill 
A  General  Grave ;\zt  Groans  infpire  my  Quill. 
By  a  warm  Sympathy,  let  Feaveri/J)  Heat 
Roam  thro'  my  Verfe  unfeen  :  And  a  Cold  Sweat 
LimningDe/p^V,  attend  me  :  Sighs  diffufe 
Convalfions  thro'  my  Language,  fuch  as  ufe 
To  Type  a  Gafping  Fancy  ;  laftly,  Shroud 
Religions  Splendor  in  a  Mourning  Cloud, 
Replete  with  Vengeance,  for  Succeeding  Times, 
Fertile  in  Woes,  more  Fertile  in  their  Crimes. 
Thefe  are  my  Mufts ;  Thefe  Infpire  the  Sails 
Of  Fancy,  with  their  Sighs,  inftead  of  Gales. 

Reader,  Read  Reverend  ^['tCfjel's  Life,&  then 
Confefs  the  World  a  Gordian  Knot  agen. 
Read  his  Tear-dclug'd  Grave,  and  then  decree, 
Our  prefent  Woe,  and  future  Mifery. 


Stars  falling  lpeaK  a  Mi><-m  ;  when  Samuel  dies, 
Saul  may  expect  Philiftia's  Cruelties, 
So  when  Jehovah'*  Brighter  Glory  fled 
The  Temple,  Ifrael  foon  was  Captive  led. 

Geneva's  Triple  Light  made  one  Divine  : 
But  here  .that  y ail  Triumvirate  combine 
By  a  bleft  Metempfycbofis  to  take 
One  Perfon  for  their  larger  Zodiack. 
In  Sacred  Cenfures,  Farels  dreadful  Scrol 
Of  Words,  broke  from  tho-  Pulpit  to  the  Soul. 
In  Balmy  Comforts,  f/m&feenius  came 
From  xh'lVrinkled  Alps, to  vvooe  the  Weftern  Dame  , 
And  Courting  Cambridge,  quickly  took  from  thence 
Her  Laft  Degrees  of  Rhetomk  and  Svnfe. 
Calvin's  Laconicks  thro'  his  Doctrine  Spred, 
And  Childre-is  Children  with  their  MannaitA. 
His  Expofition  Gene/is  begun, 
And  fatal  Exodus  eclips'd  his  Sun. 
Some  fay,  th^t  Souls  oft  fad  Prefages  give  : 
Death-lreathing  Sermons  taught  us  laft  to  Liv?* 
His  Syjlem  of  Religion,  half  unheard, 
Full  double,  in  his  Preaching  Life  appear'd. 

He's  gone,  to  whom  bhCourtry  owes  a  Lovef 
Worthy  the  Prudent  Serpent,  and  the  Dove. 
Religion's  Panoply,  the  Sinner's  Terrour, 
Death  fummon'd  hence ;  fure  by  a  Writ  of  Error ! 

The  Quaker  trembling  at  his  Thunder  fled; 
And  with  Caligula  rtfum'd  his  Bed. 
He,  by  the  Motions  of  a  Nobler  Spirit, 
Clear'd  Men,  and  made  their  Not  ions  Swine  inherit. 
The  Munfler  Goblin,  by  his  Fioly  Flood 
Exorcis'd,  like  a  Thin  Phantafma  flood. 
Brown's  Babel  fhatter'd  by  his  Lightning  fell, 
And  with  Qnfufed  Horror  pack'd  to  Hell. 
The  Scripture,  with  a  Commentary  bound, 
(  Like  a  Loft  Calais  )  in  his  Heart  was  found. 
When  he  was  Sick,  the  Air  a  Fcaver  took, 
And  Thirfty  Phoebus  quaff 'd  the  Silver-brook : 
When  Dead,  the  Spheres  in  Thunder,  Gouds,  &  Rain 
Groan'd  his  Elegium,  mourn'd  and  wept  our  pain. 
Let  not  the  Brazen  Schifmatick  afpire  i 
Lots  leaving  Sodom  left  them  to  the  Fire. 
'Tis  true,  the  Bee's  now  dead  •,  but  yet  his  Sting 
Death's  to  their  Dronifh  Doclrines  yet  may  bring. 

EPITAPHltlM. 

Here  Lies  within  this  Comprebenfive  Span, 
Tlie  Churches,  Courts,  and  Countrys  Jonathan. 
He  that  fpeaks  Mitchel  gives  the  Schools  the  Lie  j 
Friendfhip  in  him  gaind  an  Vbiquity. 

F.  Drake; 


F  i  N  I  Si 


CHAP. 


1 86  The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


Book  IV, 


CHAR    V. 

DRVSWS  NOV-ANGLICANVS. 

THE 

LIFE 

O    F 

Mr.  Urian  Oakes. 


0  Vtinam    plures    ftmiles    tibi   peilore    tiojjent, 
Aut  in  DottrinZ,  aut  Sedulitate  fares. 


I 


§.  i.  "fl"  Remember,  'tis  the  Report  given  by 
Sylvius  concerning  Rhodes,  That  it  is 
bleffed  with  a  perpetual  Shine  of  the  Sun ; 
imagine,  that  there  pafTes  not  a  Day 
in  the  Year,  wherein  the  Sun  fhines  not  upon  it. 
And  methinks  our  Cambridge,  had  not  been  much 
otherwife  privileged  for  more  than  Forty 
Years  together  •  being  fhined  upon  by  a  fuccef- 
five  Triumvirate  of  fuch  Eminent  and  Heavenly 
Lights,  as,  Firft,  Shepard,  then  Mitchel  ;  and  Laft- 
ly  our  Excellent  (Hrtatt  ©altfSf.  Thofe  three 
Golden  Men  and  very  Chryfofloms,  have  given  to 
Cambridge  its  Golden  Age  I  The  Church  of 
Cambridge  had  a  Succeffion  in  fome  fort  like  that 
in  the  Church  of  Ephefus,  a  Paul,  a  Timothy,  and 
a  lychicus. 

§.  2.    'Tis  Remarkable,  That  in  the  Sacred 
Story  at  leaft  Forty  Dukes  of  Edom  have  their 
whole  Story  crouded  into  one  fhort  piece  of  a 
Chapter ;  Three  or  Four  of  them  are  joftled  in- 
to a  Line,  Seven  or  Eight  of  them  into  Two  ; 
all  but  their  meer  Name  is  buried  in  a  Dark  Vault 
of  Eternal  Oblivion :  While  above  a  dozen  Chap- 
ters are  employ'd,  in  defcribing  the  Vertues,  and 
relating  the  Aftions  of  one  Younger  Son  of  Jf- 
rael, the  Son  of  a  Plain  Man  who  dwelt  in  Tents. 
If  the  Greateft  Perfonsof£dow  [  that  is  to  fay, 
of  Rome  3  have  their  Hiftory  loft,  the  Church  of 
God  would  have  no  great  Lofs  in  it ;  A  Son  of 
Jfrael  may  more  worthily,  and  more  ufefully  have 
his  Memory  preferved  in  Church- Hiftory  with  the 
molt  Extended  Paragraphs  :  Yea,   the  Son  of  a 
Plain  Man,  who  dsvclt  in  Tents,  may  deferve  an 
Everlajling  Remembrance  among  them,  who  moft 
confider  what  they  have  moft  Reafon  to  remem- 
ber.   Make   Room  then,  for  Vrian  Oakes,  Ye 
Records    of  New-England.      He    was    born  in 
England,  and  now  in  his  Childhood  brought  over 
to  New-England,  by  his  pious  Parents,  who  were 


blefled  with  feveral  Worthy  Sons,  the  Effe&s  of 
whofe  Liberal  Education  in  our  Colledge  have 
rendred  the  Family  not  the  Leaji  in  our  little 
Jfrael.  While  he  was  yet  a  Child,  he  was  de- 
livered from  anExtream  Hazard  of  Drowning  by 
a  Mir  able,  I  had  almoft  faid,  a  Miracle  of  Divine 
Providence  ;  God  referving  him  to  be  a  Mofes  a- 
mong  his  People.  And  the  fweet  Nature,  which 
accompanied  him  all  his  Days,  did  now  fo  remar- 
kably recommend  him,  that  Obfervers  have  made 
this  Reflection,  If  good  Nature  could  ever  carry  One 
to  Heaven,  this  Touth  has  enough  to  carry  him  thi- 
ther 

§,  3.  His  prompt  Parts  adorned  and  advan- 
ced with  the  Grace  of  God  at  fuch  a  Rate,  as 
to  make  the  Confiderate  fay  ot  him,  as  they  faid 
of  young  Ambrofe,  To  what  wiH  this  Child  grow  ? 
were  improved  in  our  Colledge  ;  where  he  took 
his  two  Degrees.  Being  here  yet  a  Lad  of  Fmall, 
as  he  never  was  of  great  Stature,  he  publifned  a 
little  parcel  of  Agronomical  Calculations  with  this 
appofite  Verfe  in  the  Title  Page, 

Parvum parva  decent,  fed  inejl  fua  Gratia  parv'vs. 

But  here,  being  furnifhed  with  the  /rmow,  and 
the  Treafure  of  the  Schools,  he  went  from  hence 
unto  the  Work  of  Building  the  Temple  of  God  j 
preaching  his  firft  Sermon  at  Roxbury. 

§.  4.  Returning  back  to  England,  he  there 
Grew  in  Favour  with  God  and  Man.  After  he  had 
been  a  while  Chaplain  to  One  of  the  moft  Noted 
Perfons  then  in  the  Nation,  Titchfield  was  the 
place,  where  this  Bright  Star  became  fixed ;  there 
'twas  that  he  fettled  in  the  Charge  of  Souls,  which 
he  difcharged  in  fuch  Lively  Preaching  and  fuch 
Holy  Living,  as  became  a  Aiinifler  of  the  New- 
Tejiatnat ;  there  'twas  that  like  a  Silkworm,  he 

fpent 


Book  IV.  The  Hiftory  0/ New-England 


fpent  his  own  Bowels  or  Spirits,  to  procure  the 
Garments  of  Righteoufiefs  for  his  Hearers  ;  there 
'twas,  that  he  might  challenge  the  Device  and 
Motto  of  the  Famous  Dr.  Sibs,  a  wafting  Lamp 
with  this  Inscription,  Pralucendo  pcreo,  or,  My 
Light  is  my  Death. 

§.  5.  But  the  Expenfive  Labours  of  his  Mi- 
niftry  did  not  fo  haften  a  Natural  Death  upon 
him,  as  to  anticipate  a  Civil  Death  by  the  Perft- 
cution,  that  lilenced  the  Non-conformift  Minifters 
throughout  the  Nation.  A  Civil  Death,  I  fay  ; 
becaufe  although  the  Authors  of  that  Aft,  XIV 
Car.  2.  would  not  be  reckoned  among  The  Slayers 
of  our  Lord's  Witneffes,  yet  it  may  furprize  the 
moft  attentive  Conlideration,  to  read  how  much 
oftner  than  Twice  or  Thrice  in  that  Aft,  the  fi- 
lenced  Minifters  are  pronounced  a&  Dead,  and, 
as  if  naturally  Dead  !  This  Aft  flew  the  Miniltry 
of  this  Faithful  Witnefs  to  the  Truths  of  the  Gof- 
pel,  whereof  he  was  a  Minifter  ;  but  that  Wor- 
thy andWell-known  Collonel  Norton,  proved  the 
Obadiah,  who  then  gave  this  Good  Man  a  Resi- 
dence in  his  Houfe  •,  where  his  Prefcnce  and 
Prayers  produced  a  Blejfwg,  like  that  on  the 
Houfe  of  Obed-Edom.  Nevertheless,  when  the 
Heac  of  the  Perfecution  was  a  little  abated,  he 
returned  unto  the  Exercife  of  his  Miniihy,  in  a 
Congregation,  where  Mr.  Symmons  was  his  Col- 
league. 

§.  6.  Our  Cambridge  deprived  of  their  Incom- 
parable Mitchely  and  lamenting,  that,  Of  all  her 
Sons,  there  vrere  fo  few  to  take  her  by  the  Hand  ;  af- 
ter folemn  Addrefl'es  unto  the  Great  Shepherd  of  the 
Sheep  for  His  Direction,  fent  over  their  Agents 
into  England^  with  an  Invitation  to  Mr.  Oakes, 
to  Come  over  and  Help  them.  A  Council,  upon 
that  Occafion,  called  approving  of  the  Invita- 
tion, the  Good  Stork  flew  over  the  Atlantick 
Ocean  to  feed  his  Dam.    Whereupon  One  wrote, 

Welcome,  Great  Prophet,  to  New-England  Shore, 
The  Fam'd  Utopia,  of  more  Famous  MORE, 
Unfabled,  for  New-England  is  by  thee, 
Now  Twifle's  Gucfs  too  muft  Accomplifht  be  ; 
That  for  the  New-Jerufalem,  there  may 
A  Seat  be  found  in  Wide  America. 

§.  7.  The  Church  of  Cambridge  could  now 
Ihow  this  Orient  Jewel  for  divers  Years,  before 
the  Almighty  would  have  it  made  up  Among  his 
Jewels ;  though  the  Troubles  and  Sorrows  of  a 
Quartan  Ague,  often  diverted  him  from  his  Pub- 
lick  Services.  And  here  he  had  the  Opportu- 
nity, for  which  Dr.  Prefton  chofe  rather  to  preach 
at  Cambridge,  than  any  other  place,  Dolare  non 
tantum  Lapides  fed  Artifices.  Of  the  Divine  Fa- 
vour to  them,  in  their  Enjoyment  of  fuch  a  P 'aft or, 
the  Church  was  now  fo  fenlible,  that  they  kept  a 
Day  of  Publick  Thankfgiving  for  it.  At  this 
Thanlfgiving  a  Sermon  being  expefted  from  him- 
felf,  he  took  for  his  Text  thofe  Words  in  2  Cor.  1 2. 
11.  I  be  nothing.  And  the  Holy  Endeavours  that 
he  ufed  in  the  Sermon,  to  take  off  the  Thoughts 
of  the  Faithful  from  any  thing  in  Man,  to  every 


187 

thing  in  Chrift  ;  were  very  agreeable  to  a  Man, 
whom  Chrijt  had  made  fomething  among  the  People. 
But  the  Colledge  in  Cambridge  languifhing  under 
fomewhat  worfe  than  an  Ague,  by  the  Want  of 
a  Przfident,  this  Accomplifhed  Man  was  invited 
unto  that  Place  :  For  divers  Years,  he  would  ad- 
mit no  other  Title  to  this  Place,  but  that  of  Pro 
Tempore,  which  indeed  feems  to  have  been  a  little 
Proleptical  and  Prophetical .  From  this  Time,  and 
But  for  a  Time,  he  was  the  Jerotn  of  our  Bethk- 
hem  ! 

§.  8.  Soon  afcer  he  had  accepted  his  Preftdent- 
fliip,  he  was  arretted  with  a  Malignant  Fever, 
which  prefently  put  an  End  unto  his  Days  in 
this  World.  The  Prayer  of  fome  Great  Saints 
has  been  contrary  to  that  in  the  Litany  for  a  Sud- 
den Death  •  and  fuch  was  the  Death  of  this  deil- 
rable  Perfon,  if  any  Death  may  be  accounted 
futtden  to  him,  that  was  always  prepared  for  it. 
When  he  had  lain  fick  about  a  Day  or  Two,  and 
not  fo  long  as  to  give  the  People  of  God  Oppor- 
tunity to  pray  for  his  Recovery,  his  Chuch  com- 
ing together  with  Expectation  to  have  the  Lord's- 
Supper  en  the  Lord's  Day  adminiftfed  unto  them, 
to  their  Horror,  found  the  Pangs  of  Death  feizing 
their  Paftor,  that  fhould  have  broken  to  them 
the  Bread  of  Life.  And,  indeed,  I  have  oiten 
Teen  the  Lord  of  Heaven,  taking  off  His  Mini- 
fters, perhaps  to  Heaven,  at  that  Sea  fori,  when 
the  Eucharifi  fhould  have  been  celebrated! 
which  is  a  thing  that  might  admit  of  fome  Ufe- 
ful  Refieftions. 

§.  9.  He  was  upon  all  Accounts  truly,  an 
Admirable  Perfon.  Confieter'd  as  a  Chrijtian,  he 
was  Full  of  all  Goodnefs,  and  like  a.  full  Ear  of 
Corn,  he  floop'd  with  a  molt  profound  Humility f 
adorning  all  his  other  Graces  ;  but  though  he 
were  Low  in  his  own  Opinion  or  nimfeif,  yet  he 
was  High  in  his  Attainments  •,  High  in  his  Prin- 
ciples. He  carried  Heaven  in  his  N'ame  Vrianus, 
q-  8£5si/of,  3  but  much  more  in  his  Heavenly 
Mind.  Confidered  as  a  Scholar^  he  was  a  Nota- 
ble Critick  in  all  the  Points  of  Learning  •,  and 
well  Verfed  in  every  Point  of  the  Great  Circle. 
Vaftthe  Treafures  lodged  in  the  Soul  of  fuch  a 
Scholar  I  Confider'd  as  a  Preach.r,  He  was  an 
Orpheus,  that  would  have  drawn  the  very  Stones 
to  Difcipline  •,  had  Auftin  been  here,  he  might: 
now  have  feen  Paul  in  the  Pulpit  ■.  indeed,  he  was, 
as  one  fiid,  An  Uncomfortable  Preacher  ;  Why? 
He  drove  us  to  Defpair,  namely,  Of  Jeeing  fuch 
another.  Finally,  I  cannot  fpeak  more  Compre- 
henlively  of  him,  than  Mr.  Increafa  Mather  does 
in  his  Preface  to  a  Difcourfe  of  this  Renowned 
Man's,  publilhed  juft  after  his  Deceafe. 

There  have  been  feveral  of  the  fame  Name, 
'  heretofore  Renowned  for  their  Rare  Accom- 
1  pliihments  in  fome  particular  Faculty,  where- 
in they  have  excelled.  Jcfephus  Oucrcetamts  was 
a  Learned  and  Famous  Ihyfuian.  Johannes 
'  Dri'fius  ( the  Greek  Word  for  Oakcs  )  was  a 
'  Great  Divine,  and  Eminent  for  his  Critical 
'  Genius.  But  an  Age  doth  feldom  produce  One 
'  fo  many  Wrays  excelling  as  this  Author  was. 
1  i  i  i  •  If 


i88 


cIbe  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


Book  IV. 


4  If  we  confider  him  as  a  Divine,  as  a  Scholar, 

*  as  a  Chrtftian,  it  is  hard  to  fay,  in  which  he 
4  did  molt  excel.  I  have  often  ia  my  Thoughts, 
1  compared  him  unto  Samuel  among  the  Prophets 

*  of  Old  }  in  as  much  as  he  did  truly  Fear  God 
4  from  bis  Toutb,  and  was  Betimes  improved  in 
1  Holy  Miniftrations,  and  was  at  laft  called  to  be 
'  Head  of  the  Sons  of  the  Prophets  in  this  New- 
'  Englifh  Ifrael,  as  Samuel  was  Prefident  of  the 
4  Colledgeat  Najotb.  And  in  many  other  Parti- 
4  culars,  I  might  enlarge  upon  the  Parallel,  bul 
4  that  it  is  inconvenient  to  extend  fuch  Inftances 
'  beyond  their  proportion. 

Hen,  tua  nobis 

Alorte  fimul   tecum   Solatia  rapta  ! 

4  It  may  without  Reflection  upon  any  be  faid, 
'  That  He  was  one  of  the  Great  eft  Lights,  that  ever 
4  (hone  in  this  Part  of  the  World,  or  that  is  ever 
4  like  to  arife  in  our  Horizon.  He  is  now  be- 
4  come  a  Royal  Diadem  in  the  Hand  of  the  Lord  ; 
4  being,  as  One  fpeaks  concerning  a  Great  Wor- 
c  thy,  An  Ornament  unto  Heaven  it  [elf. 

§.  ic.  As  for  his  Works,  'tis  an  Exceeding 
Pity,  that  the  Prcfs  has  given  to  the  Light  no 
more  of  them  ;  for  Quicquid  tarn  Doila  condidit 
Manus,  Caelum  eft  :  Neverthelefs,  Four  or  Five 
ot  his  Publifhed  Compofores  are  carried,  about 
.  among  us,  like  Paul's  Handkerchiefs,  for  the 
Healing  of  our  Sick  Land.  We  may  read  fome- 
thing  of  what  he  was,  in  a  Sermon,  called  The 
Conquering  and  Vnconquerable  Chriftian  Soldier,  on 
Rom.  8.  37.  preached  unto  the  Artillery-Com- 
pany in  Eofton,  on  their  Eleilion  :  And  in  a  Ser- 
mon preached  on  the  like  Occaliou  in  Cambridge, 
from  Ecclef.  9.  11.  (howing,  That  Chance  is  in- 
fallibly determined  by  God  :  And  in  a  Sermon 
upon  a  Faft,  which  from  lfa.  43.  22.  prefl'es  for 
Sincerity  and  Delight  in  the  Service  of  God  :  But 
moft  of  all  in  a  Sermon  on  Dent.  32.2,2.  preach- 
ed unto  the  General  Court  of  the  Maffacbufet-Colo- 
ny ;  wherein,  he  pleaded  with  his  Countrey,  to 
Confider  what  would  be  the  Latter  End  of  the 
Evils  then  growing  in  the  Country  ;  after  a 
Manner,  fo  Faithful,  fo  Solemn,  fo  Affectionate 
as  was  hardly  to  be  equalled.  Now,  that  the 
Reader  may  fee  fome  Account  of  this  Learned 
Man's  Judgment  in  the  Matters  of  Church-Difci- 
pline,  without  which  we  may  not  fay,  that  we 
have  written  his  Life,  we  will  from  that  Ser- 
mon only  Tranfcribe  the  few  following  Lines. 

4  1  profefs,  I  look  upon  the  Settlement  of 
4  the  Congregational  Way,  as  the  Boon,  the  Gra- 
4  tuity,  the  Largefs  of  Divine  Bounty,  which  the 
4  Lord  gracioufly  beftow'd  upon  His  People,  that 
4  followed  him  into  this  Wildernefs ;  and  a  great 
4  part  of  the  Blefling  on  the  Head  of  Jofeph,  and 
4  of  them  that  were  Separate  from  their  Brethren. 
4  Thofe  Good  People  that  came  over  hither  fhew- 
*  ed  more  Love  and  Zeal,  and  AfjFedtionate  De- 
4  fire  of  Communion  with  God  in  pure  Worfhip 
4  and  Ordinances,  and  did  more  in  Order  to  it 
4  than  ethers,  and  the  Lord  did  more  for  them, 
i  than  for  any  People  in  the  Woild,  in  fliewing 


them  the  Pattern  of  bis  Hoitfe,  and  the  true  5cm- 
tural  Way  of  Church-Government  and  Admini- 
ftrations,  I  do    not  think,  that  they    were  at 
a  Ni  plus  ultra,  and  that  nothing  was  left  unto 
the  Difcovery  of  after-times ;  but  the  Beginning- 
Work    was   fobftantially  done  by  them  ;  they 
were  fet  in  the  Right  Way,  wherein  we  are 
now  to  proceed,  and  make  a  Progrefs.    It  will 
be    our   Wifdom,  Intereft,  and  Duty  to  fol- 
low them,  as  they  followed  the  Guidance  of  the 
Spirit  of  Chrtft.  The  Reformation  in  K.  Edward's 
Days  was  then  a  Blefl'ed  Work  •,  and  the  Re- 
formation of  Geneva  and  Scotland  was  a  larger 
Step,  and  in  many  Refpects  purer  than  the  o- 
ther  ;  and  for  my  parr,  I  fully  believe,  that  the 
Congregational-Way  far  exceeds  both,  and  is 
the  higheft  Step  that  has  been  taken  towards 
Reformation,  and  for  the  Subfrance  of  it,  is  the 
very  way  that  was  elrablifhed  and  pradrifed  in 
the  Primitive  Times  according  to  the  Inftitu- 
tion  of  Jefus  Chrift.     There  is  a  Sweet  Tempera- 
ment in  the  Congregational-Way  ;  that  the  Liber- 
ties of  the  Peopie'may  not  be  overlaid  and  op- 
prefled,  as  in  the  Clajfical-Way,  nor   the  Rule 
and  Authority  of  the   Elders  rendred  an  infig- 
nificant  thing,  and  trampled  under  foot  as  in 
the  Way  of  the  Brovrnifts;  but  that  there  may 
be  a  Reconciliation  or  due  Concurrence  in  the 
Ballancing  of  the  One  jaftly  with  the  Other: 
And  herein,    the  Wifdom  of  our  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift  in  the  Frame  of  Church-Government  (for 
it  is  not  any  Politick  or  Prudential  Contrivance 
of  Man,  but  modell'd  by  the  great  Law  Giver , 
the  Lord  Jefus)  is  greatly  to  be  admired  by  us. 

§.  11.  The  Reft  of  the  Report  that  we  will  give 
of  this  Memorable  Terfon,  {hall  be  but  a  Tranfcript 
of  the  Epitaph  on  the  Tomb-ftone  in  the  Sleeping- 
place  at  Cambridge,  dedicated  unto  his  Aiemory. 
And  know,  Reader,  that  though  the  Stones  in  this 
Wildernefs  are  already  grown  fo  Witty  as  to  Speak, 
they  never  yet,  that  I  could  hear  of,  grew  fo  Wicked 
as  to  Lye. 

UFvIANI   OAKESII, 

C  11  jus,     Oiiod,     Reliquum     eft, 
clauditur  hoc  Tiimulo  ; 
Explorata  Integritate,  fumma  Morum  Gravitate, 

Omniutnq;  meliorum  Artium  inftgni  Pcriti*, 
SpeStatiffxmi,  Clarijftmiq;  omnibus   Aiodis   Viri, 
Tbeologi,  merito  fuo,  eeliberrime, 
Concionatoris  Vere  Aiellifiui, 
CdntabrigienfuEcclefia,DoiliJfimi  et  OrthodoxiP  aft  oris 

InColiegi')  Harvardino  Praftdis  Vigilantijfimi, 

Maximam  Pietaivs,  Eruditionis,  Facundice,  Laudem 

Adepti  ; 

Qui,     Repentina    Morte    fubhb    correptus, 

In   J  E  SV  finum  efftavit   Animam, 

Julii  XXV.    A.  D.  M.   DC.  LXXXI. 

Memoriae 
iEtatis  fox  L. 
Plurima  quid  Rcferam,  jatis  eft  (i  dixeris  Z'num, 
Hoc  Di(in  fatis  eft,  Hie  jacit  O  A  K  E SI  U  S. 


CHAP. 


Book  IV.  The  Hifiory  of  New-England. 


180 


CHAP.    VI. 


THE 


LIFE 


O  F 


Mr.  Thomas  Shepard 


§.  i. 


HEN  We  find  that  Pafiage  in 
the  Oracles  of  Heaven,  Behold, 
Philiftia,  and  Tyre,  with  Ethio- 
pia •,  this  Man  was  born  there  •, 
it  follows,  And  of  Sion,  it  /hall  be  [aid,  This  and 
That  Man  was  born  in  her  :  And  the  Meaning  and 
the  Reafon  of  this  different  Expreflion  hath  been 
a  Matter  of  fome  Enquiry.  It  feems,  that  of 
Rah  ah,  Babylon,  Philiftia,  Tyre  and  Ethiopia,  it 
was  faid,  Behold  (  as  being  almoft  a  Wonder!  ) 
that  This  Man,  fome  one  tingle  Man  of  Eminen- 
cy  a  Kara  Avis  in  Terris,  was  born  there.  But  of 
Zion,  it  might  be  faid,  £  «*»1  &**  ]  Man  and 
This  and  That  Man,  that  is  to  fay,  Very 
Eminent  Men,  Mulu  pietatc,  Dotlrina  In- 
Rerutn  Bellicarum  Gloria  aliisq;  Virtutibus 
"jn/ipmSj  were  Born  in  her.  That  little  Spot  of 
Ground,  where  God  planted  His  Church,  afford- 
ed more  Excellent  Men  for  Holinefs  and  other 
Noble  Accomplifhments,  in  proportion,  than  all 
the  World  beiides.  I  will  now  make  no  Odious 
Comparifons  between  Harvard-Colledge  and  other 
Univerfities,  for  the  proportion  of  Worthy  Men 
therein  educated  :  But  New-England,  compared 
with  other  Parts  of  America,  may  certainly 
boafl  of  having  brought  forth  Very  many  Emi- 
n.nt  Men,  in  proportion,  more  than  any  of  them; 
and  of  Harvard- CoHedge  (  herein  truly  a  Sion- 
Colled^e  )  it  may  be  (aid,  This  and  That  Man 
mas  bred  tbtre  ;  of  Whom,  not  the  leaft  was 
Mr.  Thomas  Shepard. 


Man, 
many 
genio% 


§,  2.  Reader,  Efteem  it  not  prapojlcous,  if  I 
begin  the  Life  of  this  Worthy  Man,  with  Rela- 
ting that  his  Death  fell  out,  on  Deeemb.  tl.  A.  D. 
1577.  When  the  Peftilence  raged  fo  much  in 
Alexandra  of  Old,  thnTbere  was  not  an  Hofe, 
wherein  there  were  not  many  Dead,  it  was  the  Ob 
fervation  of  Mankind,  that  while  the  Pagans  ait 
off  all  Humanity  and  inhumanely  forfook  their 
Dearefh  Friends,  in  the  Diftreffes  of  their  Sichiefs, 
the  Cbriftians  without  any  regard  unto  their  own 
Life,  boldly  ventured  into  the  Sick- Chambers, 
and  cheerfully  afiifted  and  relieved  their  Infefted 
Brethren,  and  very  often  dyed  that  they  might 
preferve  others  from  Death,  or  attend  them  in 
it.    Mr.  Thomas  Shepard  had  in  him  that  Spirit 


of  the  Primitive  Chriflians.  He  was  the  Pafror 
of  the  Church  in  Charlftown  ;  and  the  Small-Pox 
growing  as  Epidemically  Mortal  as  a  Great 
Plague  in  that  place,  this  Excellent  Man,  who 
had  for  many  Years  mod  faithfully  done  all  the 
Duties  of  a  P  aft  or  unto  his  Flock,  apprehended 
it  now  his  Duty  to  Fifit  One  of  his  Flock,  who 
lying  fick  of  this  Diftemper,  defired  a  Vifit  from 
him.  He  went  with  Hit  Life  in  his  Hand,  and 
which  he  couragioufly,  and  undauntedly  expect- 
ed, the  Contagious  Diftemper  arrefting  of  him, 
did  put  an  End  unto  his  Life,  and  therein,  fine- 
ly, after  feme  fort  entitle  him  unto  the  Crown 
of  Martyrdom.  Thus,  as  an  Elegy  upon  his 
Death  exprefled  it. 

Rather  than  run  fr orris  Work,  he  chofe  to  dye, 
Running  on  Death,  fooner  than  Duly  fiy. 

Behold,  a  Shepherd,  who  was  (  as>  the  Emperor 
Probus  had  it  faid  cf  him  )  Vvt  fui  Komixis  ! 

§.  3.  And  now,  that  the  Ponrtraiture  of  this 
Perfon,  who  was,  as  Great  a  Bleffwg  and  Glory 
as  ever  Charlftown  had,  may  be  dtawn  to  the 
Life,  it  is  fit,  that  other  Pencils,  than  fuch  poor 
ones  as  mine,  fhould  be  tmploy'd  ;  for  indeed  it 
was  very  truly  confeffed  in  an  Elegy,  made  upon 
him, 

Here's  Worth  enough' to  overmatch  the  Skill , 
Of  the  tr.oft  Stately  Poet  Laureats  Qhi.I. 

We  will  therefore  employ  Three  other  Tefii- 
monies  and  Defcriptions  to  give  Pofrerity  the 
Knowledge  of  him  •,  whereof  the  Firft  (hall  be  the 
Epitaph  engraved  on  his  Tomb-Jlone,  in  fuch  Terms 
as  thefe, 

D.   O.   M.    S. 
Repofita  fant  hie  Reliquia  Thomx  Shepard;, 
Vtri  Sunclijfimi, 
Eruditione.Virtute, Omnigena,  Moribuso^  fiavijfimis 
Ornattjfimi  ; 
Theologi    Qafuitijfimi, 
Ccncionatcris   Exunii  : 
Qui  Eiliusfuit  Thorns  Shepard i  r  !.vi/~mus, 
Memoratifjitvi  Paftoris  olifn  Ecclefia  Cant,atyri£ienjis  ■ 
1  ii  i  2  tt 


I 


9o 


1  be  tiiftory  of  New-iingland. 


Book  IV 


Et  in  Eccle/ia  Caolienfi  Presbyter  decern  } 

Fide  ac  Vita  Verm  Epifcopus  ; 

Opt'mh  dc  Re  Liter  aria  Meritus : 
Qua  Curator  Collegti  Harvardini  vigilant ijjitjms  ; 
Qua  Alunicipii  Acadcmici  Socius  Primarius. 

To.  7k  luffs  Xeirx,    n  7*  eetvlu    ZtiW. 

In  D.Jefu  placid*  obdormivit,  Anno  1677.  Dec.  2.2. 

jEtatis  fuse  43. 

Tot/"*  Novanglia   Lachrymis  Defletus  ; 

"L^i  6*  IV/h   Deflendus. 

Let  Fame  no  longer  bo.ijl  her  Antique  Things, 
Huge  Pyramids  and  Monuments  of  Kings : 
Tbts  Cabinet  that  locks  up  a  Rare  Gem, 
Without  Pnfumption  may  compare  with  them. 
The  Sacred  Reliques  of  that  Matchlefs  One 
Great  Shepard,  are  Enthrin'd  below  this  Stone. 
Here  lies  Entomtfd  an  Heavenly  Orator, 
To  the  Great  King  of  Kings  EmbalTador : 
Mirror  of  Virtues,  Magazjneof  Arts, 
Crown  to  our  Heads  and  Loadftone  of  our  Hearts  : 
Harvard'*  Great  Son,  and  Father  too  befide, 
Charlftown's7«/*  Glory  &  New-England's  Pride 
The  Church's  Jewel,  Colledge's  Overfcer, 
The  Clergy's  Diadem  without  a  Peer  : 
The  Poor  Man's  ready  Friend, the  Blind  Mans  Eyes. 
The  wandring  wildred  SouPs  Conductor  Wife : 
The  Widow's  Solace,  and  the  Orphan's  Father, 
The  Sick  Man's  Vtfitant,  or  Cordial  rather  : 
The  General  Benefactor,  and ytt  Rare 
Engroffer  of  all  Good  ;  rkMan  of  Prayer: 
The  Conflant  Friend,  and  the  mofl  Chetrful  Giver, 
Mojl  Orthodox  Divine  and  Pious  Liver  : 
An  Oracle  in  any  Doubtful  Cafe, 
A  Mafler-picce  of  Nature,  Art  and  Grace. 
In  this  Bed  lye  reposed  his  weary  Limbs  ; 
Hit  Soul's  Good  Company  for  Seraphims. 
Jf  Men  be  Dumb  in  Praifing  of  his  Worth, 
This  Stone  fhall  cry,  For  Shame  !  andfet  it  forth. 

Si  Sheparde  Tito,  nifi  qua  fint  Digna  Sepulchro, 
Carmina  nulla  forcnt,  Carmina  nulla  for ent. 

§.  4.  The  whole  Country  was  fill'd  with  La- 
mentations upon  the  Deceafe  of  the  Perfon  thus 
Entomb'd  ,  and  maay  beftowed  their  Elegies  up- 
on him  with  Refentmems  like  thofe,  which 
One  of  them  thus  uttered  ; 

Next  to  the  Tears  our  Sins  do  need  and  crave 4 
/  would  kjlow  my  Tears  on  Shcpard's  Grave. 

But  there  was  none  who  found  a  deeper  Wound 
at  this  Deceafe,  than  the  Reverend  Prefident  of 
the  Colledge,  Mr.  Vrian  Oakcs ;  who  was  his  Par- 
ticular friend.  For,  as  Auftin  had  his  Alipius,  as 
Bafil  had  his  Naz.ianz.en,  as  Jerom  had  his  Helio- 
dorus,  as  Eufebius  had  his  Pampbilus,  or,  if  you 
will,  as  Paul  had  his  Barnabas  -  even  fuch  was  the 
Friendfhip,  that  Vnanimated  our  Oa\es  and  our 
Shepard.  He  befides  other  ways  of  expreffing  his 
Value  for  this  his  Departed  Jonathan,  took  the 
Opportunity  of  the  next  Commencement,  with  no 
fuiall  part  of  his  Elegant  Oration,  thus  to  Embalm 
.his  Memory. 


Referunt  Hiftorici  Caium  Caligulam,  Monftrum 
illud  Homicis,  queri  palarr  de  Conditione  Tem- 
porum  fuorum  efle  folitum,quod  nullis  Calamita- 
tibus  publicis  inlignirentur.  Quod  II  nunc  in  Vivis, 
apud  nos   ageret,  nihil    effet   illi  Querela:  loci 
relidtum,   adeo  Calamitofa  funt  Omnia,  et  Fcelicj- 
tates,    bonas   nobis  adverfas  habemus.    Ecquid 
verb  Calamitofius,  quam  quod  Morbus  ille  Vario- 
lar urn  in  Vicinis  oppidis  paffim  gralfatus  fuerit. 
Heu!  Qua;  Funera  dedit !  Quas  Strages  edidit ! 
Miferum  me  !  Hxreo,  ftupeo,   vehementer  per- 
turbor  Animo ;  neque  Mens,  neque  Vox,  neque 
Lingua  confiftit,   quoties  fubit  Animum,  quam 
grave  Vulnus,  vel  ex  Unius  Viri,  Interritu,  non 
ita  pridem  accepimus.      Video    me,  Neceffitate 
coaftum,  Officii,  Auditores,  Infandum  renovare 
Dolorem,  Vulnusq;  recens  acceptum,  refricando, 
retradandoq;  exacerbare.    Amifimus,    Amifimus 
Memoratiflimum  ilium  Virum,  Reverendiflimum 
Thomam  Shepardum  :  Respublica  Civem  optimum; 
Ecclefia  Theologum  clariffimum  :  Academia  non 
Filium  tantum  &  Alumnumchariffimum.fedCura- 
torem  etiam  vigilantiffimum  •,  Municipium  Scho- 
hfticum,   Socium   fuum   pdmarium,  amiferunt; 
Amicum  ego  llngularem  &  integerrimum.    Heu 
Pietas !  Heu  prifca  Fides  !  Obiic,  proh  Dolor ! 
Ornatiffimus  Shepardus,  Vir  dignus,  fi  quis  alius, 
qui  nunquam    asgrotaret,    nunquam    moriretur. 
Dabicis  Veniam,   Auditores,  ut  mcelli  nos  Har- 
vardinates,  etiam  in  iplTs  Feriis  Academkis,  pien- 
tiffimi  Thoma  Shepardi  Manibus,  alieno  quidem, 
uti  videri  poteft  Tempore,  et  Exequialia  jufta, 
parentemus.     Dolemus  tanto  Reipubln.se  Vulnere, 
Mortemq-,  tanti  Viri,  jure  optimo,  Luctu  publico 
effe  Honorandam,  exiftimamus ;  qui  Fatalis  Morbi 
vi  ereptus,    non  Ecclefiam  folurn    Carolinienfem, 
fed  totam  etiam  Novangliam,  Orbam  ac  Debili- 
tatam    reliquit  ;   quocum    defun&o,  Respublica 
Ecclefia,  Academia  vacillare  certe,  fi  non  Corru- 
iffe  videantur.     Cum  Caius  Cafar  fatis  fediu,  vel 
Naturae  vixiffe,   vel  Gloria;  dixiffet  •  Satis,  i::'quit 
Cicero,  ft  ita  vis,   Natitra  fortaffe  •  addo  etiam,  ft 
placet  Gloria  •  at  quod  maximum  eft,  Patrice  certe 
parum :  Multo  profe&o  verius  &  iincerius  a  me 
dici   potcfr,    Clariffimum   Shepa'dum,    fatis    diu 
vixiffe  fibimetipft,  &  Gloria  ft  a,    cum    pie  adeo 
vixerit,  ut  ad  coeleftem  vere  vitalem  vitam  fin- 
cera  fide,  Virtutum  Chriftianarum  Exercitio,  viam 
aditumq;  fibi  munierit,  Nomen  fuum  immortali- 
tati    confecravit ;    at   Reipublica,     non  fatis  diu, 
at  Ecclcfict,    at  Academia,    parum    certe    vixit  ■ 
Quocum  occubente,  titubare  ac  nutare  videntur 
omnia,    Eft  et  illud  Ira;  Divinae  vehementer  in 
nos  excandefcentis  Argumentum  et  Indicium  in- 
figne,    quod  graviffimis  Reipublica;  Temporibus, 
Academia;    Neceffitatibus,    Ecclefiarum   Precibus 
&  Lachrymis    hujus  eximii  Viri  vitam  nolueric 
Deus  condonare.     Amifimus  Shepardum,  alieniffi- 
mo  Reipublica;  Tempore  extin&um  :   At  quern 
&  qualem    Virum  !    Theologum   profecto  non 
unum  e  multis,  Ted  inter  multos  prope  fingula- 
rem  ;  Neminem  cum  illo  conferendum  non  aufim 
dicere  :  neq^  detrahere  quidquam  ab  aliis  necef- 
fum  habeo,  cum  Encomia  defunfto  Shepardo  de- 
bita  perfolvo.    At  verb  inter  Gregarios  Theo- 

logos 


Book    IV.  The  Hiftory  of  New-England 


logos  (  quod  fine  cujusqaam  Injuria  did  velim  ) 
tantum  Caput  extulic 

Quantum  lenta  foknt  inter  Vibuma  Cupreffu 

Certabat  in  co,  cum  Pietate  minime  fucata,  Eru- 
ditio  minime  vulgaris ;  cum  Eruditioneverb  Pru- 
dentia,Modeftia,Humaniraset  Induftria  lingularis. 
Quanta  Gravitas  invultu?Quantum  pondus  in  Ver- 
bis? Quam  nihil  non  confideratum  exibat  ex  Ore  ? 
Quam  nihil  in  Geftu  affeftatum,  aut  indecorum  ? 
Fuic  quidem  h  ^t^  <!■.,>,  Animo  fedatiffimo,  candi- 
dillimo  Pe&ore,  feliciffimo  lngenio,  acerrimo  Ju- 
dicio,  fuaviffimis  deniq^  temperatillimisq^  Mori- 
bus  ornatiffimus.  Sic  autem  univerfam  yitam 
traduxit,  ut  aliis  illuftre  quoddam  verx  Pietatis 
ac  Virtutis  Exemplar,  ad  imuandum  propolicum^ 
in  eoqj  quafi  Exempli  caufa,  antiqni  Officii  vefti- 
gia  remanebant.  Non  ilk  inanem  occupatus  eft 
Rumorem,  neq^  ullus  umbra  falfe  Gloria  con- 
fectatus  eft,  aut  infolentius  extulit  fe ;  fed  a  Su- 
per cilio,  Faftuqi  omni  longe  longeq^  abfuic.  In 
fummis  ejus  Dotibus,  propter  quas,  Honoribus 
Automate,  Gvatia  floruit,  fumma  Animi  Demiffio 
&  Modeftia  lingularis  emicuerunt ;  Et  rara  qui- 
dem (  ut  did  iblet )  Virtus  eft  Humtlitas  Hono- 
rata.  Vetus  eft  Verbum  "Ett  'A^i?  Vw*  'A*«?, 
Vnus,  Fir,  Nullus  Fir.  Ego  verb  non  minus  vere 
pofTum  dicere  *£/«  e,«o»  imwv-  Vnm  mihi  fuit  in- 
fiar  decent  Millium.     Prorfus  aflcntior  Naz.ianz.mo 

dicentl    QiKirrvtlv  ix.   iiual  ' 'Avla.MO.yu*  lair    ov]av  \4\y, 

Amicitiam  unlearn  effe  vita  condimentum.  Mife- 
rum  me  !  Quam  trifte  nobis  fui  Defiderium  re- 
liquit .'  Qui  mihi  ita  Charus,  ita  luenndus  fuit, 
ut  ejus  Afpe&u  Dolor  omnis  fuerit  abfterfus,  et 
omnis,  quse  me  angebat,  cura  plane  confederit. 
Probe  memini,  quam  me  olim  frons  ejus  tran- 
quilla,  vultusq;  (ut  Ovidius  loquitur  )  Plows  Gra- 
vitate ferena,  inter  dicendum  animadvertit.  Ille 
horum  Comitiorum  (  ut  mea  tulit  Opinio  )  Pars 
adeo  magna  fuit,  ut  quemadmodum  (  Autore 
Cicerone )  Antomacbus  Clarius  Poeta,  cum  convo- 
catis  Auditoiibus  redtaret  iis  ingens  Volnmen, 
quod  conferipferat,  euoiq-,  legentem,  omnes  prae- 
ter  Platonem  reliquident.  Lcgam,  inquit,  Nibilo- 
tninus  ;  Plato  cnim  mihi  twits,  inftar  eft  Omnium : 
Ita  profeftb,  alter  Plato  (  abfit  verbo  lnvidi3  ) 
fuit  mihi  Sbepardus  et  inftar  omnium.  Did  non 
poteft,  quam  me  perorantem,  in  Comitiis,  con- 
lpectus  ejus,  multo  Jucundiffimus  recreant  &  re- 
feceiit.  At  non  comparet  hodie  Sbepardus  in 
his  Comitiis :  Oculos  hue  illuc  torqueo ;  quo- 
cunq;  tamen  inciderint,  Platonem  meum  in  tanta 
Vivorum  illuftrium  frequentia  requirunt ;  nuf- 
quam  Amicum  &  perneceffarium  meum,  in  hac 
folenni  Panegyri,  inter  hofce  Reverendos  Theo- 
logos,  Academix  Curatores,  reperire  aut  Oculis 
vtftigare  poiliim.     Amifimus  Virum  ilium  fanftif- 


fimum  ftrenuum,  Orthodoxy  Fidei  propugna" 
torem,  non  Hominibus  foliim,  gratum  &  accep- 
turn,  fed,  et  Deo  ipfi  Chariffimum,  Diving  Fa- 
miliar  it  at  is  Firum,iicat\  TertuManus  nuncupat  Atr'a-r 
bamum.  Quamobrem,  Honoratiffimi  Viii,  lugete 
amiffum  civem  plane  1§7**jpWr,  Optimarum  Tem- 
per, in  Republica,  partium  et  in  rebus  optimis, 
conftantiffimum  vii  urn  ;  Columen  atq-,  Ornamen- 
tum  Reipublicx  veflrx  •,  cujus  UniusFunere,prope 
dixeram,  elatam  efTe  Rempublicam.  Lugete, 
Reverendiffimi  Presbyteri,  amifium  chariffimum 
Fratrem,  et  Symmiftam  Ordinis  vefiri  Decus  & 
Lumen  fingulare.  Lugete,  Carolinenfes,  fubla- 
tum,  ex  Oculis  veftris,  eximium  Epifcopum  ve- 
ftrum,  Delicias  olim  &  Amores  veftros.  Lr- 
gete,  Academici  amifium  Curatorerri  vigilai.- 
tiffimum,  cujus  interritu,  Collegii  Dignitatem, 
immane  quantum  diminutam,  faiutem  ipfamperi- 
clitatam  efTe,  qnis  non  inteliigit?  Lugete,  quot- 
quot  adeftis,  Auditores,  amiflum  ilium  Virum, 
confummatifIimum,Currum&  Equites  [fra.elis,dig«!. 
niffimum  profeftb,  qd  Nov-AngIi»  Lachrymis 
ufq^  &  ufq-  defleatur.  Quod  fi  nimius  in  hoc 
Argumento,  et  longius,  quam  pir  eft  proveclus 
elfe  videor,  qusefo,  obteftorq;  ut  veniam  aliquam 
Dolori  meo,  et  Mcerori  Animi.  tribueudam  pu- 
tetis.  Videtis  me,  in  amplifiimas  Charifiimi 
Shepardi  Laudes,  tanqnam  in  Oceanum  defcendilie, 
et  difficile  quidem  elTe,  crjni  Laudandi,  turn 
Lugendi  Finem  reperire. 

This  was  one  Paragraph  in  a  Commencement- 
Oration  pronounced  by  the  La[i:mtiusi  of  New- 
England.  And  that  Stroke,  which  this  very 
Perfon  had  ia  an  Elegy,  by  him  compofed  on 
the  Death  of  his  Deareft  Sbepard. 

Tbey  that  can  Shep^rd'*  Goodnefs  well  d'fplayy 
Muft  be  as  Good  as  He :  but  who  are  They  ? 

He  did  himfelf  make  a  near  Ejfay  towards  the 
doing  of  it,  and  in  my  Thought,  he  was  accord- 
ing to  his  own  Rule,  well  qualified  for  the  do- 
ing of  it. 

§.  5.  But  if  the  Reader  muft  have  One  ia 
all  Things,  As  Good  as  He,  to  Dijplay  bis  Good- 
nefs, behold  then  He  fhall  effectually,  and  not 
improperly,  do  it  Himfelf.  Let  the  Reader  pe- 
rnfe  his  Elaborate  Sermon,  preached  at  the  An- 
niverfary  EleCiion  of  the  Governour  and  Magi- 
strates id  F  oft  on.  May  5.  1672.  arid  afterwards 
printed  ;  and  he  will  there  fee  Conftellated  fb 
much  Learning,  Wifdom,  Holinefs  and  Faith- 
fulnefs,  that  he  will  pronounce  the  Author  to 
have  been  a  Perfon  of  more  than  Common  Ta- 
lents for  the  Service  of  our  Churches. 


C  H  A  P. 


i92 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  Book  IV. 

CHAP.    VII. 

St.  Stephens  Reliques. 


MEDITATIONS,  Awakened  by  the  Death  of  the  Reverend 
Mr,  Jofhua  Moodey  ';  With  fame  Short  Chara&er  of  that 
Eminent  Perfon  :  Who  Slept  in  Jefus,  4*/.  50*.  1697. 
In  the  Sixty  Fifth  Tear  of  his  Age. 

By    COTTON     MATHER. 


C&e  ©ccont!  cm'ttem. 


JOSH.  XXIV.  22,  23  29. 

JOSHVA  faid  unto  the  People^  yt  have  chofen  you  the  Lord,  to  ferve  Him. 

Now   therefore,  incline  yonr  Heart  unto  the  Lord. 

And  it  came  to  pafs,  after  thefe  things,  that  Jofhua,   the  Servant  of  the   Lord  dyed. 


READER, 

JELL  me  not,  that  the  People's   being 
taken  with  Publicola's  Funeral  Oration 
in  Praife  of  the  Dead   Brutus,  or  the 
Decree  of  the  Roman  Senate,  That  it 
fhould  be  Lawful  to  make  a  Funeral  Oration  on 
fuch  as  deferved   well  of  the   Common-wealth, 
made  Poly  dor e   Virgil  fay,  Hinc  mortuos  Laud  Midi 
moi  f.uxit,  quern  nos  hodie  Servamus.     The  Book 
of  Lamentations,  on  the  Death  of  Jofiab,  is  of  an 
Elder  Date  ;    the  Roll  of  Lamentations  on  the 
Death  of  Jonathan,  is  of  yet  an  Elder  •  and  cer- 
tainly, to  be  imitated  among  the  Faithful  People 
of  God.    Tell  me  not,  that  foine  Eminent  Nok- 
confortnifl  shave  therefore  fcrupled,  the  Preaching 
of  any  Fumral  Sermons  :  That  in  fome  Reformed 
churches,  the  Practice  of  them  is  wholly  omitted 
that  in  the  Primitive  Churches  they  were  not  pra 
fticed  until  the  Apofiacy  began  •,  and  that  there 
have    been    Decrees  of  Councils  againft  them.     I 
readily  grant,  That  the  Cuftom   of  Fraifmg  the 
Dead,  has  been  fcandaloufly  abufed ;  but  I  can- 
not grant,  That  the  Abufe  is  beft  corrected,  by 
taking  away  all  Pullick  Meditations  on  the  Fune- 
rals of  thofe,  in  whofe  Deaths  God  from  Heaven 
fpeaks  Great  Things  unto  the  Living.     We  do 
but  wifely  fullfil  our   Miniftry  by  Watching,  to 
fuit  the  Words  of  God  unto  thofe .Worfo  ot  His, 
which  occur  to  our  Notice,  when  Men  of  Note 
are  taken    away.      Behold,    According    to  the 
Laudable  Ufage  in  the  Churches  of  New-England, 
the  Meditations   which  have  been    awakened  by 
the  falling  Afleep  of  an   Eminent  Perfon,  who 
was,  A  Memorable   Servant  of  thofe  Churches  !    I 
am  out  of  meafure  aftonifhed,  when  fread  in  an 


Author  as  Old,  and  as  great  as  Aufi'w,  the  Won- 
derful Effedfs    which  the  pretended    Reliques  of 
the  Martyr  Stephen  had  upon  thofe  who  repaired 
thereunto  for  the  Cure  of  Maladies.     Howbeir, 
When  I  find  that  Great  Man  in  his  Epiflle  to 
the  Clergy  of  Hippo,  denying  that  any  Miracles 
were  then  done  in  Africa  (  which  he  alfo  again 
faid,  in  his  Book,  De  VtiliLitc  Credendi  )  and  in 
his  Bock  of  True  Religion,    affirming  th3t  God 
permitted    not  Miracles  to  continue    until  then 
left  the  Minds  of  Men  fhould  be  too  much  taken 
up  with  Vifible  Matters,    I  perfwade   my   felf, 
that  the  Story  of  the  Reliques  of  Stephen  was  foifted 
into  his  Book,  De  Civitate  Dei  •  by  fome  later 
Hand .     The  beft  fort  of  Reliques  after  all  are  thofe 
which  we  have  here  preferved  and  propofed  ;  and 
it  will  be  no  Suptrflition,  to  hope,  that  a  Cure  of 
Spiritual  Maladies  too  generally  prevailingly  be 
promoted  by  repairing  unto  them.    And,  I  do  not 
more  qneftion  the  Opinion  of  a  very  Learned  Man 
concerning  the  Angels,  whom  we  find  mention'd 
in  the  Scriptures  as  doing  very  Humane  Aclions, 
Feros  Homines  fuiffe,  qui  a  Spiritu  Mc/Jia    et  a 
Spiritibus  Angelicis  ageb.wtur  •  ct  movehantur  ad  ea 
agenda,  qua  ipfi  non  inteUigcbant,  phan tafia  Eorum 
obfeffa,  et  a  Cogitatiotnbus  coufuetis    abduQa  :    Qui 
Homines,  Negotio  per  alio,    ad  quod  fuerant  a  Deo 
adhibit i,    difcuffo    veterno,    et    ceffanie  Ecjlafi,  ad 
Confneta  munera  rcvcrfi  funt,    immemores   eorum, 
qua:  Impulfore  Spiritu  Divino,  aut  Angelico  egerant : 
Than  I  do  believe,  That  in  our  Aclions,  there  is  an 
Imitation  of  the  Holy  Angels  to  be  endeavoured, 
by  which  a  Man  may  become  another  Stephen. 

rhc 


Book  IV-  The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


93 


The  Way  to   Excel 


Adls  VI.   15. 


Looking  (ledfaftly  on  him,   they  faiv  his  Face-,    as  it  had  been   the   Face  of  an 

ANGEL. 


had  in  the  Name  of  Stephen,  which  fignifies,  A 
Crown,  a  Notable  Specification  of  the  Event  and 
Reward,  which  will  attend  all  our  Sufferings  for 
the  Lord. 

It  was  then  an  Age  of  mnny  Miracles  wrought 
by  the  Spirit  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chriil ;  and  fjch 
a  meafure  of  that  Spirit  pofieffed  this  Excellent: 
Man,  that  by  the  Impulfe  of  that  Spirit,  He  could 
with  all  Aflu ranee  perceive,  when  the  Spirit  was 
going  co  work  Miracles,  and  apply  himfelf  to  ac- 
company the  Miracles  of  the  Spirit,  by  fome  won- 
derful Aclions  of  his  own.  This  illuftrious  Worker 
of  Miracles  was  accufed  before  the  Council  at  Je- 
rufalem,  for  faying,  That  it  was  the  Delign  of 
Jefus  to  deftroy  the  Temple  and  the  City,  and  alter 
the  Rites,  which  Mofes  had  from  God  co  v  manded 
unto  Jfrael.  When  he  appear'd  before  the  Coun- 
cil to  anfwer  this  Accufation,  'tis  here  faid,  They 
faw  his  Face,  as  it  had  been  the  Face  of  an  Angel. 

Concerning  the  Face  of  an  Angel,  we  have  a 
Remarkable  Acconnt,  in  what  we  read  about  one 
of  the  Angels,  \a  Alat.  28.3.  His   Countenance  was 
like  Lightning.     And  we  read  concerning  a  Greac 
Man,  who  had  got  the  Face  of  an  Aigcl,  by  be- 
ing much  with  the  Angels,  in  Exod.  34.10.   Be- 
hold, the  Skin  of  his  Face  fhone      If  we  C3rry  the 
PafTage  now  before  us  unto  the  Higheft  Senfe, 
which  it  would  lay  Claim  unto,  we  ai-e  to  fup- 
pofe,  That  fuch  a  Splendor  was  difcernible  upon 
the   Face  of  Stephen  :  And  furely,  if  they    who 
difcerned  ir,  had  not  the  Heart  of.  a  Devil  in  them, 
they  durft  not  have  gone   on,  to  abufe  a  Man, 
that  appeared  before  them  with  the  Face  of  an 
Angel.    A  hs,  the  more  of  an  Angel  there  is  in  any 
the  Angels  of\Man,  the  more  Stones  will  the  Devil  procure  to 
Earth,  as  far  [be  thrown  at  fuch  a  Man !  But  behold  the  Agree- 
is  we  are  able.     Every  Holy  Man  does  a  little  of  I  ablenefs  of  the  Matter  ;  Stephen  was   perfecuted 
This  •  and  how  rr.uch  of  it,  was  done  by   that  i  for  vilifying  of  Mofes;  and  behold,  at  this  very 
Holy  Man,  who  is  now  gone  to  live  and  praife,Time,  he  is  vindicated  with  a  Sk/we  upon  his  Face, 


Ince  the  Oracles  of  Heaven,  have  (with  a 
molt  Significant  Admonition! )  allow'd  a 
well  ferved  Church,  to  call  its  Pajlor  by 
the  Name  of  its  Angel,  we  may  now  fay, 
The  Angel  of  the  Church  of  Portfmouth  has  newly 
taken  Wing  !  Yea,  not  the  leaft  of  the  Angelical 
Chariots  and  Horfemen  of  New-England,  have  de- 
parted from  us,  in  the  Withdrawing  of  One,  after 
whom  that  bereaved  Church  is  crying,  My  Fa- 
ther, My  Father  ! 

To  preferve  the  Idea  and  Memory  of  his  Face, 
as  far  as  the  Infirmities  of  this  Mortal  State  per- 
mitted any  Approaches  to  the  Angelical  Character 
in  it,  is  that  whereto  not  only  Nature  does  in- 
vite us :  'Twill  be  but  a  Compliance  with  that 
Edict  of  Heaven,  Remember  them  who  have  fpoken 
to  you  the  Word  of  God;  whofe  Faith  follow,  corf- 
dering  the  End  of  their  Converfation. 

'Tis  well  known,  That  among  the  Chief  Works 
of  the  Molt  High,  Created  by  the  Son  of  God, 
at  the  Firffc  Beginning  of  Time,  there  were  His 
Good  ANGELS:  Angels,  which  are  Spiritual  and 
Rational  Subftances,  Created  by  the  Lord,  for 
His  own  Immediate  Service  and  Honour.  None 
deny,  none  difpute,  the  Exiftence  of  thofe  Good 
Angels,  but  Men  that  arc  under  a  more  than  or- 
dinary PofTeffion  of  Evil  Ones. 

Our  Lord  Jefus  Chriil  has  given  it,  as  a  De- 
fcription  of  that  Future  State,  wherein  He  will  make 
us  Happy  for  ever,  Mat.  22.  30.  They  are  as  the 
Angels  of  Gcd  in  Heaven  And  if  we  hope  to 
be  Happy  in  that  Future  State,  we  muff,  endea- 
vour to  anticipate  it,  by  being  very  Holy  in  our 
Prefent  State.  But  the  way  for  us,  to  be  very 
Holy,  is  to  refemble,  and  imitate, 
God  in  Heaven ,  while  we  are  on 


and  fee  CHRIST  among  the  Angels  for  ever,  may 
be  propofed  with  fom:  Advantage  unto  the  Ex- 
hortation, wherein  I  have  a  few  Things  to  preach 
unto  the  People. 

But  my  Exhortation  muff,  be  introduced  with 
a  Report  of  that  Glory,  which  the  Martyr  Ste- 
phen, while  he  was  yet  on  Earth,  attain'd  unto. 

There  being  occaiion  to  choofe  Deacons  in  the 
Primitive  Church,  that  fo  they  who  were  to  give 
themCeives  continually  unto  the  Miniflry  of  the 
Word,  might  be  releafed  by  the  faithful  Cares  of 
thofe  Deacons,  from  Secular  Encumbrances-,  One 
of  them  was  the  Bleffed  Stephen ;  who  being  the 
Firft  that  arriv'd  unto  the  Crown  of  Martyrdom 
for  our  Lord  jefus  Chrift  in  the  New-Teftament, 


ike  that  once  upon  the  Face  of  Mofes.  The  Things 
here  fpoken  by  Stephen,  were  thofe  very  Things, 
which  the  Angel  Gabriel,  had   formerly    fpoken 
unto  the  Prophet  Daniel  ;  and  behold,  the  Af- 
peft  of  an  Angel  adorns  him  in  his  Difcourfe. 
We  may  from  hence  take  Leave  to  Obferve, 
That  a  Saint"  on    Earth,  may  arrive  to  thofe 
Attainments,  that  (ball   make  him  look  like  an 
Angel  of  Heaven. 
There    are   Angelical     Excellencies,   a  Degree 
whereof,   poor    Man,    forry  Mant  linful  .Man, 
even  while  fuch,  may  very  much  attain  unto. 

But  now,  this  CASE  calls  for  our  Attention  •, 
What  are  thofe  Excellencies  that  would  tna'ie  a  Saint, 
Look  like  an  ANGEL? 

Aad 


194  The  Hiflory  of  New-England. 


Book  IV. 


And  the  General  Anf.ver   hereunto  is,   The 
Excellencies  of  Holinefs.     For, 

Firfl,  The  Angels  of  God  have  many  Excellen- 
cies, the  Imitation  whereof  cannot  by  Men  in 
this  Life,  be  reafonably  propofed.  The  Angeli- 
cal Majejiy,  as  a  Mortal  Eye  would  not  be*able 
fteadily  to  Behold  it,  much  lefs,  in  this  Mortal 
State  may  we  affett  it.  A  Man  may  not  wifh  to 
jfhine  like  Stephen  in  this  World,  and  have  a  Face 
that  may  dazzle  the  Spectators.  Or,  what  would 
it  avail,  if  a  Man  could  make  a  Glue  on  his  Face, 
by  fmearing  it  with  fome  of  the  Nocliluca's  in- 
vented by  the  Modern  Cbymijlry  ?  A  Devil  has 
before  now,  pretended  unto  fuch  a  Face.  'Tis 
not  the  Face,  but  the  Grace  of  an  Angel,  which  is 
here  to  be  afpired  after.  It  were  a  Foolifh,  and 
a  Faulty  Thing,  for  any  Man  to  be  ambitious 
of  wearing  in  this  World  fuch  a  Figure  as  that 
in  Dan.  10.6,  His  Body  like  the  Beryl,  and  his 
face  as  the  Appearance  of  Lightning,  and  his  Fyes 
as  Lamps  of  tire,  Immortality  it  felt  is  one  of 
the  Angelical  Excellencies.  But,  while  we  are/ 
amopg  Mortals  here,  we  muft  fubmit  unto  the 
Laws  ot  Mortality  and  be  willing  to  dye,  When 
and  How,  the  Sovereign  God  fhall  order  it. 
There  are  alfo  thofe  Flights  of  Wifdom,  and 
thofe  Heights  of  1'ower  among  the  Angelical  Ex- 
celltncies ,  wherein,  'tis  not  fc"  us,  to  Dream  of 
being  like  them,  until  we  are  become,  The  Chil- 
dren bf  the  Refurrecjjon.  It  was  the,  Ruine  of  our 
Ftrjl  Parents,  to  imagine  in  Gen.  3.  5.  They  might 
be  as  Elohtm  !  Nc,  this  canimt  be,  until  our 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift  has  by  a  New  Birth  brought 
us  into  that  World  to  come,  where  the  Wife  Con- 
verters of  many  to  Righteoufnefs,  will  be  thofe  who 
fhall  Shine  as  the  Brightnefs  of  the  Firmament,  and 
as  the  Stars  for  ever  and  ever !  Our  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift  will  make  us  the  Angels  of  the  New  World. 
Indeed  the  Angels  now  turn  and  move  all  the 
Wheels  of  the  Kingdoms  of  this  World,  but  ire  are 
they  that  fhall  Receive  the  Kingdom  that  cannot  be 
moved. 

But,  Secondly,  The  Excellencies  of  Holinefs  f_  For, 
the  Saints  are  the  Excellent !  ]  Thefe  are  They, 
wherein  the  Imitation  of  the  Angels  by  Men,  may 
be  very  far  proceeded  in.  The  Angels  of  God, 
are  ftyledin^Wrf*.  25.  31.  The  Holy  Angels;  and 
in  Dan.  4.  1 7.  The  Holy  Ones.  'Tis  not  as  they 
are  Mighty  Angels,  but  as  they  are  Holy  Angels, 
that  we  muft  propound  our  Coming  to  look  like 
unto  them.  Thefe  Holy  Angels  never  did,  and 
never  will  fin  againft  their  God ;  but  are  continu- 
ally ferving  ot  him  •,  They  ferve  Him  Day  and 
Night  in  his  Temple  !  And  it  may  be,  the  Bright 
Garments,  wherein  thefe  Angels  of  Light  have  ap- 
peared, may  be  an  Emblem  of  their  Holinefs  and 
their  Purity.  Now  it  hath  been  the  Will  ofGodin 
our  Lord  Jefus  Cbrijl  concerning  us,  that  there 
fhould  be  fet  before  us  the  Greateft  Examples  of 
Holinefs  for  our  Imitation.  And  hence,  as  we 
have  the  Greater  Example  of  our  Lord  JESUS 
CHRIST  Himfelf  given  unto  us,  to  Direft  and 
Excite  and  Promote  our  Holinefs,  with  a  Charge, 
To  be  Holy,  as  He  that  hath  called  us  is  Holy  ;  So, 
we  have  alfo  the  Example  of  the  Holy  Angels  given 
unto  us,  That  we  may  ftrive  as  far  as  may  be, 


to  be  like  unto  them  in  their  Holiwfs.  Hence 
when  tbePfalmift  of  old  faw  the  Angels  praifing 
of  God,  he  cryed  out,  0  my  Soul,  do  Thou  fo  too! 
Yea,  fome  Interpreters  judge,  That  when  the 
Face  of  Stephen  look'd  like  an  Angel,  it  was  no 
more  than  what  you  and  I  may  thro"  Chrifi  who 
flrengthens  us  reach  unto.  q.  d.  The  Cunfolations 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God  fo  filled  him,  that  he 
difcovered  not  the  leaft  Conflemations  in  his  Face  .- 
His  Face  was  as  Joyful  •and  Serene,  as  if  he  had 
ftood  free  from  all  the  Sorrows  of  this  World  a- 
mong  the  Angels  of  God. 

I  remember  the  Apoftle  enjoins  the  Woman  in 
the  Church  to  have  a  covering  on  her  Head  in 
Token  of  Subjedion  to  her  Husband ;  Becaufe  of 
the  Angels  [_2  Cor.  11.  10.  ~\  Why,  if  you  turn 
to  the  Beginning  of  the  fixth  Chapter  of  Ifaiah, 
you'll  find  the  Angels  before  their  Superiour,  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift  in  the  Temple  affuming  a  Cove- 
ring, out  of  the  Reverence  which  they  pay  unto 
Him.  Hence  then,  fays  the  Apoftle,  it  becomes 
Women  to  take  Example  by  the  Angels ;  let  them 
confider,  how  the  ngels  behave  themfelves  in  the 
Prefence  of  the  Son  of  God,  who  is  the  Grand 
Reprefentative  of  the  Image  and  Glory  of  God  • 
and  let  them  in  their  Habit  mow  fome  Analogy 
to  the  Habit  of  the  Angels, betokening  their  Sub- 
jection to  the  Man,  who  is  under  the  Lord  Je- 
fus Chrift,  the  Image  and  Glory  of  God,  while  They 
r,he  Women,  are  fo  of  the  Alan.  But  I  only  touch 
on  this  Glofs  by  the  by.  What  I  infifton,  is,  That 
the  Angdical  Example  is  to  be  imitated. 

Indeed,  we  fhall,  as  long  as  we  Live  in  this 
World,  come  far  fhort  of  the  Original,  when  we 
go  to  Write  after  the  Angelical  Example.  In  this 
Prefent  Evil  World,  we  candor,  approach  near  so 
the  Holinefs  of  the  Good  angels  :  Much  of  Sin,  and 
Fault,  and  Folly,  will  unavoidably  cleave  unto  us : 
That  Leprofie  will  never  wholly  out  of  the  Walls 
until  the  Clay-honfe  be  utterly  demolifhed  :  There 
will  be  as  much  Diftance  between  the  Bleffed  Spi- 
rits and  Vs,  as  between  Giants  and  Children,  as  be- 
tween Stars  and  Gloworms,  as  between  the  Cedars 
of  Lebanon  and  the  Hyfop  that  grows  out  of  the 
WaU  ;  Thus  it  will  be,  until  we  come  at  lergth 
to  dwell  [And,  Oh!  Why  do  we  no  more  long  for 
it  /]  with  the  Innumerable  Company  of  Angels,  in 
another  World. 

However,  to  Attempt  the  Imitation,  is  the  rea- 
dy way  to  be  Excellent.  Particularly  in  the  Enfu- 
inglnftances. 

/.  If  a  Man  could  have  his  Eye  upon  the  Face  of 
God  continually,  would  not  that  procure  the  Face 
of  an  Angel  for  him  ?  It  would  make  a  Man  look 
like  an  Angel,  if  he  were  looking  unto  God,  in 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  continually.  Of  the  Angels 
there  is  that  Account  given,  in  Mat.  18.  10.  In 
the  Heavens,  they  do  always  behold  the  Face  of  my 
Father  which  is  in  the  Heavens.  The  Angels  do 
converfe  with  GOD  continually.  And,  why 
may  not  we  prefs  after  a  Converfe  with  GOD,  a 
little  Emulating  the  Angelical  ?  To  be  Heavenly- 
minded,  by  having  the  God  of  Heaven  almoft  al- 
ways in  our  Minds,  and  by  being  in  the  Fear  of 
God  all  the  Day  long  ;  This  were  to  be  as  the  An- 
gels 


Book  IV.  The  tiijlory  of  New-England. 


x95 


gels  are  !  Oh .'  That  we  were  thus  Filled  with  the 
Fulnefs  of  God. 

Ftrfi,  We  may  have  a  continual  Apprehenfion  of 
GOD  in  our  Minds.  In  every  1'lace,  we  may 
Apprehend  GOD.  Wherever  we  are,  we  may 
mbfcribe  to  that  Article  of  the  Ancient  Faith,  in 
Pfal.  139.  7.  Lord,  Whither  [ha'd  I  flee  from  thy 
Trefence  ?  What  if  we  ftiould  never  be  from  un- 
der the  Awe  of  fuch  a  Thought  as  that,  The  Omni- 
prefent  Cod  obferves  all  my  Ways  I  And  we  may 
apprehend  GOD  in  every  Thing.  We  need  not 
ftay  at  any  Second  Caufes ;  but  we  may  with  a  Spi- 
ritualised Soul,  foar  up  to  fome  Notice  of  God  in 
all.  Upon  all  the  Works  of  Creation  we  may  fay, 
The  Finger  of  Cod  is  here  .'  And  we  may  make  the 
Portions  of  the  Pauline  Philofophy,  in  A<fts  17. 
24,  28.  God  made  the  World,  and  alllhings  therein  ; 
In  Him  ire  live  and  move  and  have  our  Being.  Up- 
on all  the  Works  of  Providence,  we  may  fay,  This 
comes  from  tba^fiod  vchofe  Kingdom  rulctb  over  all. 
An(j  we  may  make  the  Concluiions  once  taught 
by  our  Lord,  no  doubt  alluding  to  the  Two  Birds, 
whereof  one  was  to  be  killed,  the  other  to  be  Let 
loofe  into  the  Open  Field,  at  the  cleanling  of  the 
Leper  in  Mat.  10.  29.  Two  Sparrows,  one  of  them 
(liall  not  fall  to  the  Ground  without  our  Father.  To 
be  led  into  fome  Notice  of  GOD  continually, 
This,  O  This,  it  is  Angelical.  'Tis  Godlinefs. 
Wlm  is  Holinefs,  but  Godlinefs  >  This  were  a 
little  of  the  Angelical  Holinefs. 

Secondly,  Our  continual  Apprehenfion  of  GOD, 
may  bring  \  continual  Dedication  to  GOD,  upon 
all  that  we  PJavc, and  all  that  we  Do.  If  we  Glance 
at  Infcrtour  Ends,  yet  we  may  not  Stop  there:  All 
our  End',  are  to  be  fwallowed  up  in  GOD.  We 
Ihould  not,  with  any  patience  confent  unto  it,  that 
any  but  GOD,  fhould  have  our  Strength,  our 
Time,  our  All.  Whatever  P&ffejfions  are  beftow'd 
upon  us,  we  may  put  them  under  that  Confidera- 
tion,  which  the  Houfe  of  David  had,  in  Pfal.  30. 
Tit.  Dedicated  Things.  All  our  PojfeJJions,  all  the: 
Powers  of  our  Spirits,  all  the  Members  of  our  Bo- 
dies, our  Ejlates,  our  Credit,  our  Defirable  Friends-, 
we  may  contrive  with  our  felves,  What  Acknow- 
ledgments may  GOD  have  out  ofthefe  Things .'  And 
improve  them  no  farther,  than  as  Inflmmcnts, 
whereby  GOD  may  be  acknowledged.  Yea,  and 
our  daily  Atlions  ;  may  we  not  be  driving  a  Trade 
for  GOD  in  all?  As  'tis  faid  in  1  Cor.  10.  31. 
Whatever  ye  do,  do  all  to  the  Glory  of  God  .<  So, 
our  Eating,  our  Drinking,  our  Sleeping,  what  is  it 
for?  We  may  diftin&ly  fay,  I  do  This,  that  J  may 
be  fupported  in  the  Service  of  God,  Thus,  our  La- 
bours, our  Travels,  our  Vifits,  and  our  Exercifes 
of  Religion,  we  may  thus  Ennoble  them,  /  do  This, 
I  will  do  it  carefully  dnd  cheerfully,  becaufe  God  hath 
commanded  my  doing  of  it.  A  Dedication  to  GOD, 
is  the  proper  meaning  of  Holinefs'-  And  very  An- 
gelical would  be  our  Holinefs,  if  we  could  be  fre- 
quent, and  conftant  in  fuch  Acts  of  Dedication. 

Thirdly,  Our  continual  Apprehenfion  of  GOD, 
may  produce  our  continual  SatisfacJion  in  GOD, 
under  all  His  Difpenfations.  Whatever  Enjoyments 
are  by  God  conferred  upon  us,  where  lies  the  Re- 
lijh,  where  the  Sweetnefs  of  them  ?  Truly,  we  may 
come  to  relifh  our  Enjoyments,  only  fo  far  as  we 


have  fomething  of  GOD  in  them.  It  was  requi- 
red in  Pfal.  37.4.  Ddigbt  thy  fclfinthe  Lord.  Yea, 
And  what  if  we  Ihould  have  no  Delight,  but  the 
Lord  ?  Let  us  ponder  with  our  felves,  over  our 
Enjoyments ;  In  thefe  Enjoyments  I  fee  God,  and  by 
tbefe  Enjoyments  I  ferve  God!  And  now,  let  all  our 
Delight  in,  and  all  our  Value  and  Fondnefs  for  our 
Enjoyments,  be  Only,  or  Mainly,  upon  fuch  a  Di- 
vine Score  as  This.  As  far  as  any  of  our  Enjoyments 
lead  us  unto  GOD,  fo  far  let  us  relifti  it,  affect 
it,  embrace  it,  and  rejoyce  in  it ;  O  Tape,  and 
Feed  upon  God  in  all ;  and  ask  for  nothing,  no,  not 
for  Life  it  felt,  any  further  than  as  it  may  help  us, 
in  our  Seeing  and  our  Serving  of  our  GOD.  And. 
then,  whatever  AJjliclions  do  lay  Fetters  upon  us, 
let  us  not  only  remember,  that  we  are  concerned 
with  GOD  therein,  but  let  our  Concernment 
with  GOD  procure  a  very  profound  Submiffioa 
in  our  Souls.  Be  able  to  fay  with  him,  in  I'fal. 
39.  9.  I  opened  not  my  mouth,  becaufe,  thou  didfi  it. 
In  all  our  AjfiiQions,  let  us  remark  the  Jujltce  of 
that  GOD,  before  whom,  'Why  fhould  a  Living 
Man  complain  for  the  Punishment  of  bis  Sin  ?  The 
Wijdom  of  th3t  GOD,  rvbofe  judgments  are  right; 
the  Goodnefs  of  that  GOD,  who  Puiriflies  us 
Itfs  than  our  Iniquities  do  deferve.  Let  us  behave 
our  felves,  as  having  to  Do  with  none  but  GOD, 
in  our  Afflitlions :  And  let  cur  Afficlions  make  us 
more  conformable  unto  GOD ;  which  Conformi- 
ty being  effected,  Let  us  then  fay,  Tis  Good  for 
me  that  I  have  been  affiiled.  Sh.s,  what  were  this, 
but  a  pitch  of  Holme fs,  almoft  Angelical  !  Oh  ! 
Mount  up  as  with  thcHings  of  Eagles,  of  Angels; 
be  not  a  lorry,  puny,  mechanick  Sort  oiChriflians 
any  longer^  but  reach  forth  unto  thefe  things,  that 
are  thus  before  you  !  -,  . 

But,  in  fine,  'Tis  our  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST, 
who  is  The  Face  of  God.  That  is  His  Name,  fre- 
quently in  the  Old  Teffament ;  and  in  this  Hint, 
I  have  given  you  a  Golden  Key  to  come  at  the  fenfe 
of  many  Paff3ges  in  the  Sacred  P^ges,  about  The 
Face,  of  God,  and  The  Light  of  that  Face :  Twas 
the  Mejfxah.  'Tis  then  our  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST, 
who  is  to  be  the  more  Immediate  Objecl  of  our  Ap- 
prehcnfions,  when  we  would  become  Angelical ;  tis 
God  in  our  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST:  Whenever 
we  entertain  any  Thing  of  GOD  in  our  Minds, 
it  fhould  be  with  a  CHRlST.and  thro' a  CHRIST. 
Thole  who  do  all  they  can,  to  forge  a  CHRISTI- 
ANITY without  a  CHRIST,  are  fo  far  from  be- 
ing like  Angels  of  the  Lord,  that  they  are  Traitors 
to  the  King  of  Heaven  .' 

//.  We  may  render  our  felves  Angelical,  by  our 
Endeavours  of  a  prefent,  and  a  pleafant  and  an 
-Jniverfal  Obedience,  unto  the  Lord.  JESUS 
CHRIST,  the  Lord  of  Angels.  Whofe  are  the 
Angels,  but  the  Angels  of  the  Lord  ?  And  [  as  in 
1  Kings  i'8.  12.  and  Atis  8.  39.  3  TIk  Spirits  ef 
the  Lord.  Our  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST  is  the 
Lord  General  of  all  the  Angels ;  He  is  the  Lord  of 
Hojls;  and  all  thofe  Hofis  of  Heaven  are  under 
His  Command  ;  We  read  in  Pfal.  103.  20,  21. 
They  do  His  Commandments,  hearkening  unto  the 
Voice  of  His  Word:  They  are  His  Mimflers  which 
do  His  Pleafure.  The  very  Higheft  Angel  in 
Heaven  defires  and  ftudies  to  be  a  Servant  of  the 
K  k  k  k  Lord 


i$6 


The  Hifiory  of  New-England.  Book  IV. 


Lord  JESUS  CHRIST  :  The  Great -God  would 
foon  ftrike  him  down  from  Heaven,  with  Hot 
Thunder-bolts  if  he  did  fo.  Even  Michael  the 
Archangel  has  received  that  Charge  from  God, 
concerning  our  Lord  Redeemer,  Do  thou  Worjhip 
Him  !  Gabriel  himfelf  mult  give  this  Account  of 
himfelf,  I  ft  and  in  the  pnfence  of  the  Lord  J 'i fus 
Chriji  •  namely,as  a  Servant  ftandingin  the  Frefence 
of  his  Mailer. 

Come  then  •,  Let  every  one  of  us,  become  the 
Servants  of  our  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST.  By  con- 
fenting  to  the  Methods  of  Grace  in  the  Ntw  Co- 
venant, let  us  yield  our  felves  unto  our  Lord 
JESUS  CHRIST,  as  unto  our  LORD ;  and  fay 
with  him  in  Pfal.  I 19. 38.  Lord,  1  am  thy  Servant, 
devoted  unto  thy  Fear.  Let  us  reckon  it  the  Fligh- 
tft  Pleafure  unto  our  felves,  to  be  always  Pleajhg 


of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  :  Let  us  efleem  it  the 
higheft  Honour  unto  our  felves,  to  be  always  Ho- 
nouring of  Him.  To  be  A  Man  of  God,  is  to  be 
like  an  Angel,  an  Angel  was  called  in  Judg,  1 3.  8. 
The  Man  of  God.  We  are  Men  of  God,  when 
we  become  the  Devoted  Servants  of  our  Lord  Je- 
fus Chrift.  Sirs,  The  Bright  Angels  of  Heaven 
invite  us,  to  become  their  Fellow  Servants,  by 
giving  our  felves  up  unto  the  Work  of  Witnef- 
fing  to  the  Truth  and  Ways  of  their  Heavenly 
Lord.  When  we  have  folemnly  confecrated  our 
felves  unto  this  Work,  then,  whatever  Com- 
mands our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  lays  upon  us,  let  us 
readly,  joyfully,  univerfally  yield  Obedience  there- 
unto. Be  upon  the  Wing  as  the  Angels,  to  do 
every  thing,  that  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  would 
have  to  be  done.  Delay  none,  defpife  none,  re- 
fute none  of  the  Commandments,  which  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  fhall  give  unto  us ;  but  fay,  as  in 
1  jobg  5,3.  His  Commandments  are  not  grievous 
And  whatever  we  fhall  know  to  be  Acceptable  un* 
to  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  let  us  immediately  do 
what  we  know  :  Let  this  be  Argument  enough 
unto  us  for  any  thing,  though  Flefh  and  Blood 
[_  Body  and  Soul  ]  be  never  fo  much  againft  it 
My  Lord  JESVS  CHRIST  would  have  me  to  do 
this  thing  !  Thus  our  Labour  mould  be  according 
to  our  Prayer,  that  The  Will  of  God  may  be  done 
on  Earth,  as  it  is  in  Heaven. 

III.     To  be  very  Serviceable  is  to  be  Angelical  : 
To  do  Good  is  the  Difpofition  of  a  Good  Angel. 
Thofe  Men,  whofe  perpetual  Bufinefs  'tis,  To  go 
about  for  the  doing  of  Good,  as  they  are  like  the  Lord 
Jefus  "Chrift,  I  Ails  10.  38. 3  So  they  are  like  the 
Angels  that   wait  upon  our   Lord  Jefus  Chrift 
The  Angels  are  always  employ'd  in  tome  Service 
for  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  and  for  thofe  that  be- 
long unto  Him.     'Tis  faid  in  Heb.  1.  14.  Are 
they  not  all  miniftring  Spirits  ?    Oh  !  let  it  in  like 
fort,  be  our  Ambition  to  minifter  forhe  way  or 
other  for  the  Good  of  them,  that  are  to  be  the 
Heirs  of  Salvation  •  and  let  us  be  much  and  oft, 
in  ftudying  with  our  felves,  What  Good  may  I  do 
with  thoje  Talents,  wherewith  my  Lord  Jefus  Chrift 
has  bett -lifted  me  ?     How  many  Goood  Offices^  dees 
the  Bible  report,  as  done  by  the  AvgtU  of  God 
for  the  People  of  God  ?  And  how  many  fuch  Good 
Offices  are  ftill  done  for  the  People  of  God,  by .  he 
Angels  of  God,  which  Ercamp  as.an  H>ft  a&ut 


them  that  fear  Him  ?  Chrift  ians,  If  we  are  ad- 
vifed  ot  any  Opportunity  to  do  Good,  let  us  be  as 
ready  to  do,  as  the  Angel  that  came  down  to  the 
Pool  of  Bethefda,  was  to  help  the  Miferables  af- 
fembled  there.  Yea,  though  rhey  fhouid  be  ne- 
ver fo  poor,  never  fo  fmall,  never  fo  mean  Fecp'e, 
that  we  may  do  Good  unto,  let  us  be  ready  to  do 
it  with  all  our  Hearts.  The  firft  Apparition  of 
an  Angel  that  we  read  in  Scripture,  was  to  re- 
lieve a  poor  Maid  in  Trouble  of  Spirit.  The  Mar- 
tyr Bradford,  that  Man  had  the  Face  of  an  Angel, 
concerning  whom  it  was  noted,  Fie  was  always, 
either  with  Purfe,  or  Tongue,  or  Pen,  doing  of  Good. 
Whatever  Company  we  fall  into,  'tis  ealie  for  us 
ordinarily  to  think,  Wh.it  Good  may  I  do  in  this 
Company  before  I  leave  it  ?  That  Man  fpeaks  with 
the  Tongue  of  Angels,  who  will  never  difmifs  his 
Company,  without  fome  Confcientious  Eflay,  to 
[peak  what  (hall  be  profitable  unto  them.     And, 


Inventions  to  do  Good,  and  be  Bcne^ors  to  ail  that 
are  about  us,  the  more  "Upright  w^re,  the  more 
we  fhall  Seek  out  many  fuch  Inventions.  There  is 
3n  Angelical  Air  upon  them  ! 

IV.    Near  Approaches  to  God  in  Devotions  and 
Communions,  full  of  Intimacy  with  Him,  will  give 
a  Man,  if  not  the  Face,  yet  the  Heart  of  an  An- 
gel.   When  was  it,  that  the  Face  of  Mofes  had  an 
Angelical,  and  an  Extraordinary  F^uftre  upon  it  ? 
It  was,  when  he  had  been  with  God  in  the  Mount. 
We  read  in  Exod.  3+.  29.  When  Mofes  came  donn 
from  Mount  Sinai,  with  the  two  Tables  ofTcftimony 
the  Skin  of  his  Face  fhone.     They   that  are  very 
much  with  God  in  thofe  Exercifes,  wherein  the 
Forcer  of  Godlinefs  does  mainly  conlift,  will  con- 
tract a  Luftre  therefrom,  and  be  fomewli3t  like 
the  Angels,  made  Partakers  of  the  Divine  Nature. 
To  be  often  in  Secret  Prayers  and  Secret  Fraifes, 
with  raifed  Strains  of  Heavenly  Zeal  before  the 
Lord,  This  is  to  be  as  it  were,  of  the  Angelical 
Fraternity  !  Yea,  'Tis  a  Golden  PafTage  of  Chry- 
foftom,  That  the  very  Ange's  thew felves,  cannot  but 
honour  the  AFan,  whom  they  fee  Familiarly  and  Fre- 
quently admitted  unto  the  Audience,  and  as  it  were 
Difcourfe  with  the  Divine  Majejly.     Truly,  whe- 
ther the  Angels  may  reverence  thefe  Men  or  no, 
thefe  Men  do  referable  the  Angels.    It  becomes 
more  notably  thus,  when  Men  do  often  fet  apart 
whole  Days  for  their  Prayers  and  their  Fraifes,  and 
are  With  God  in  the  Mount  for  whole  Days  together. 
Great  Things  did  the  Angi\s  do  for  Mofes,  great 
Things  for  Elias,  who  often  fpent  whole  Days  a- 
ione  with  the  Lord  •,  and  what  faid  an  Angel  un- 
to Daniel,  when  he  had  been  fpending  whole  Days 
at  fuch  a  rate,  Thou  art  a  Man  of  Deftres,  and  an 
Angel  thinks  not  much  to  fly  down  from  Fleaven  unto 
thy  Converfation  !  Such  Days  do  leave  an  Angelical 
Savour  upon  the  Souls  of  Men  ;  they  leave  our 
Souls,  for   many   Days  afterward,   under  fuch  a. 
Gracious,  and  Generous,  and  Serious,  and  Watch- 
ful, and  Ufeful  Biafs,  as  has  the  Face  of  an  An- 
gel thereupon.  A  nd  therefore,the  JLQt02>  )DfiJ'£  '1 
Let  us  keep  them  with  a  peculiar  Sollicitude,  a  lin- 
gular Elevation  of  S anility.  It  was  the  Priviledge 
Of -John  in   Rev.  1.  10.   To  be  in  the.  Spirit  on  the 
Lord's  Day.    Sirs,  If  we  are  fo,  we  fhall  be  with 
the  Angels  on  the  Lord.;  F)ay,  and  if  with  them, 

thea 


Book    IV.  The  Hi ftory  of  New -England. 


91 


then  like  them.  To  be  wholly  under  the  Confine- 
ment f_I  miltook  the  Word,l  fhould  fay  Liberty  .'3 
of  Religious  applications,  throughout  our  whole 
Oiriftian  Sabbath,  let  us  not  count  it  as  a  Ceremo- 
nious Perfon  once  call'd  it,  A  being  on  the  Rack 
an  whole  Day  together.  Angels  have  llrangely  vifi- 
ted  and  comforted  fome  on  the  Rack  ;  but  never 
fuch  as  comphin'd,  that  a  ftridt  Lord's  Day  put 
'em  on  a  Rack.  During  the  whole  Day,  let  our 
Thoughts  be  full  of  God,  and  Chrift,  and  Heaven ; 
during  the  whole  Day,  let  our  Words  be  few, 
and/zf,  and  favoury,  and  fuch  as  may  minifter 
Grace  unto  the  Hearers  ;  during  the  whole  day,  let 
our  Earthly  Defilements  be  banifhed  from  us-,  let 
our  Hearts  be  every  Hour  rallying  forth  with 
numberlefs  Ejaculations  to  the  Lord.  Such  Lord's 
Days  will  ripen  Men  into  Angels  at  the  laft !  But 
on  the  Lord's  Day,  there  fometimes  does  recur 
a  moll  fpeci.il  and  lignal  Opportunity  to  Draw 
mar  unto  God  ,  namely,  "Cije  lOHD'-j  Clipper ; 
an  Ordinance  of  the  Neareft  Fellowfhip  with  Hea- 
ven ;  an  Ordinance  wherein  a  CHRIST  fuffering 
for  us,  is  by  the  Symbols  of  Bread  3nd  Wine  fo 
tendred  unto  the  Faithful,  that  in  their  Obeying 
His  Appointment  thereof,  they  do  with  ineffable 
Advantage  partake  of  Him.  Well  then,  let  our 
Preparations  for  this  Great  Ordinance  be  with 
as  much  of  Solemnity,  as  if  we  were  to  dye  our 
felves  at  the  Time,  when  we  do  annunciate  here 
the  Death  of  our  Lord.  Let  us  examine  our  felves 
and  fttpplicate  our  God,  before  we  come  to  the 
Table  of  the  Lord,  as  if  we  were  to  dye  when  we 
come.  And  at  this  Holy  Table,  where  Man  eats 
Angels  Food,  let  us  fix  our  Meditations  on  our 
Lord  JESUS  CHRIST,  with  all  pofiible  Attention, 
with  all  fuitable  Affctlion.  Thus,  Beholding,  as  in 
a  Gl.ifs,  the  Glory  of  the  Lord,  wc  fhall  be  changed  in- 
to the  fame  Image,  from  Glory  to  Glory,  as  by  the 
Sprit  of  the  Lord.  Now,  'tis  that  Glory  that  makes 
an  Angel ! 

V.  An  Heart  much  affe&ed  with  the  Lord 
JESUS  CHRIST  will  procure  the  Face  of  an  An- 
gel, unto  the  Man  who  hath  an  Heart  fo  affe&ed. 
Unto  the  Angels  there  ft  nothing  fo  precious,  and 
nothing  foglorious  as  the  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST-, 
yea,  'tis  our  CHRIST  that  makes  the  beft  part  of 
their  Heaven  for  them.  Our  Lord  JESUS 
CHRIST  is,  as  the  Apoftle  enumerates  it  among 
the  Mifteries  and  Evidences  of  our  Faith.,  in  i  Tim. 
3. 16.  Seen  of  Angels.  But  how  feen  ?  Truly,  feen 
with  Wonders,  and  ften  with  Raptures,  and  fecn 
with  Endlefs  Hallelujahs.  Would  we  be  like  the 
Angels  ?  Then  let  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  be  feen  by 
us,  as  the  Befl  Thing  in  Heaven  and  Earth,  and  as 
infinitely  Better  than  the  very  Angels  themfelves. 
At  the  Incarnation  of  our  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST, 
what  were  the  Songs  of  Angels?  in  Luke  2,  14. 
There  was  a  multitude  of  the  Heavenly  Hoft,  prai- 
ftng  of  God,  and  faying,  Glory  to  God  in  the  Higheft  ! 
Would  we  be  like  the  Angels  ?  Let  us  then  join 
in  a  Confort  with  thofe  Morning  Stars,  and  Sons 
ef  God.  It  was  with  Joy  unfpeakable  and  full  of 
Glory,  that  the  Angels  attended  upon  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift,  firft  throughout  His  Humiliation,  and 
then  unto  His  Exaltation.  Let  the  whole  of  That, 
be  the  moft  Ravifhing  Subject  of  our  Contempla- 
tion j  Let  us  love  to  fee  our    Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 


firit  Suffering  and  then  Entring  into  His  Glory. 
And  let  our  Acclamations  be  like  thofe  of  the 
Angels,  upon  thofe  marvellous  Difpenfations  of 
the  Grace  of  God  !  When  the  Angels  do  look  on 
Jefits  Chrift,  they  are  covered  with  Aftonifhment, 
and  cry  out,  O  Holy,  Holy,  Holy  Lord  of  H»fts,  all 
Hiaven  is  full  of  thy  Glory]  And  fhall  not  we  fo 
look  on  that  our  Lord  of  Glory  ?  When  the  Angels 
do  fpeak  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  they  make  a 
moft  Reverent  Mention  of  His  Holy  and  Reve- 
rend Name,  and  fay,  Oh  !  there  is  none  among  the 
Sons  of  the  Mighty,  that  may  be  compared  unto  this 
Lord.  And  fhall  not  we  lb  fpeak  of  that  Great 
King,  with  a  Tongue  like  the  Pen  of  a  ready  Writer  ? 
Something  of  Chrift  the  Angels  muft  have,  they 
would  think  themfelves  to  be  ftarved,  if  they  had 
not  this  Manna  to  feed  upon  !  Sirs,  Lei  the  Ale  at 
of  our  Souls  be  the  Fruit  growing  on  this  Tree 
of  Life  ;  and  let  the  Drink  of  our  Souls  be,  the 
Honey  of  this  Rock:  This  is  the  daily  Repaffc  of 
Angels;  this  Nourifhment  will  Angelifie  us  in  a 
little  while.  What  fhall  I  fay  ?  The  Myftery  of 
CHRIST  \%  the  moft  grateful  Contemplation  of 
the  Angels  :  Thofe  Cherubims  about  the  Ark  of 
God,  we  are  told  in  1  Pet.  1.  12.  They  de fire  to 
look  into  theft-  Things.  1  fay  then,  Go  and  do  like-' 
wife. 

VI.  If  we  would  always  behave  our  felves  as  be- 
fore the  Face  of  Angels,  we  fhould  at  length  ob- 
tain the  Face  of  an  Angel  by  the  Exaftnefs,  the 
Circumfpedtion,  the  Accuracy  of  our  Behaviour, 
It  was  a  Good   Memento  written  upon  a  Study- 
Wall,  Angeli  ad  ft  ant  j  or,  The  Angels  of  God  ft  and 
by  !  Did  Men  remember  the  Eye  of  the  Invifible 
Angels  upon  them  in  all  their  Ways,  how  grave, 
how  cautious,  how  pious  would  they  be  ?  and  ac 
laft,  how  like  unto  thofe  Angels !  If  a  Man  were 
as  bad  as  Balaam  himfelf,  yet  the  bare  Sufpicion 
of  having  the  Eye  of  fome  Angel  upon  him,  would 
be  enough  to  llop  him  from  ruining  on  to  Sin. 
Why  fhouldeft  thou  fin,  fays  the  Wife  Man,  in  Eccl. 
5.6.  before  the  Angel  ?  If  we  were  wife,  we  fhould 
often  think,  /  am  now  before  Come  Angel !  and  that 
Thought  would  make  us  wife.  The  Aged  Apoftle 
faid  unto  a  younger  Minilter,  I  charge  thee  before 
the  Eletl  Angels .-  From  whence  'tis  infallibly  fure, 
That  the  Eletl  Angels  take  notice,  how   we  ac- 
quit our  felves,  each  one  in  his  Charge.     Said  the 
Ffalmift,  in  Pfal.  238.  t.  Before  the  Gods  1  will  fwg 
praife  unto  thee:  The  LXX.  tranQate it,  lwillfmg 
praife  unto  thee,  before  the  Angels.  Chriftians,  The 
Angels   take  notice  of  us  in  all  our  Employments, 
ye3,    in   our    clofeft    Retirements.     We  give  no 
Pratjcs  to  God,  we  perform  no  Duties,  we  en- 
dure no  Troubles,  we  refill  no  Temptations,  but  the 
Angels  of  God  are  the  Witneffes  of  what  we  do  ; 
we  are  a  Speilaclc  to  Angels  in  all  of  our  Encoun- 
ters.    Well,  Now  let  our  Deportment  be  mightily 
under  the  Influence  of  this  Consideration  -,  The 
Angels  take  notice  ;  what   Report  will  the  Angels  of 
God  give  of  my  Behaviour !  It  has  been  propound- 
ed as  a  Rule  @f  Prudence,  for  a  Man  wherever   he 
comes,  to  imagine,    that  there  h  prefent  fome 
Eminent,  Wife,  and  Good  Man,  to  fee  and  hear 
all  that  paffes.  Man,  There  is  an  Angtl  to  fee  and 
hear  all  that  paffes,  wherever  thou  Cornell ;  this  is 
no  meet  Imagination.  Could  we,  like  theS:rv2i;c  of 
K  k  k  k  2  the 


.8 


Ibe  Hiftory  of  New- England. 


Book  IV. 


the  Prophet  in  the  Mount,  fee  the  unfeen  Regi- 
ment of  the  World  by  the  fubordinate  Govern- 
ment of  Angels,  what  an  Awe  would  it  ftrike  us 
with  !  The  Angels  of  the  Lord  fee  how  Men  are 
difpofed  and  employed  for  the  Service  of  their 
Lord,  and  gladly  contribute  their  unknown  Af- 
iiftances  unto  that  Service.  But  it  cannot  be  any 
other  than  a  Grief  unto  thofe  Angels  to  fee  Enor- 
mities in  thofe,  for  whofe  Welfare  they  are  con- 
cerned. If  they  have  Joy  over  a  Penitent,  they 
muft  needs  have  fome  fort  of  GY^/ over  a  Tranf- 
greffor.  Yea,  in  all  probability,  the  mifcarriages 
of  fuch  Offenders,  work  in  them  a  fort  of  Diftafte, 
which  inclines  them  on  many  Accounts,  to  with- 
draw from  the  Offenders,  until  they  have  wafhed 
themfelves  over  again,  In  the  Fountain  fet  open  for 
Sin  and  for  Vncleannefs.  Now,  let  this  Confide  - 
ration  accompany  us  in  all  our  Walk-,  and  let  the 
Eye  of  an  Angel  be  more  to  us,  than  the  Eye  of 
a  Cato,  could  be  to  any  Roman.  The  Face  of 
Angels  will  at  lair,  be  gain'd  by  fuch  a  Confidera- 

tion ! 

ni.  Let  us  beware  of  every  Sin;  for  Sin  will 
turn  a  Man  into  a  Devil.  Oh  !  Vile  SIN,  horrid 
SIN,  curfed  SIN  ;  or,  to  fpeak  a  more  pungent 
Word,  than  all  of  That ;  Oh,  SINFUL  Sin  •,  how 
pernicious  art  thou  unto  the  Souls  of  Men  .'  'Tis 
faid,  in  i  John  3.  8.  He  that  committetb  fin  is  of 
Devil.  Holinefs  will  make  Men  Incarnate  Angels  5 
but  Wickedntfs  will  make  them  Devils  Incarnate. 
An  impenitent  Sinner,  hath  he  the  Face  of  an  An- 
gel No,  but  the  Heart  of  a  Devil  in  him.  Let 
your  Zeal  againft  all  Sin  then  be  like  that  of  the 
Seraphim.  The  Angels  are  Seraphims,  or  burning 
Ones ;  they  bum  C  and  fo  let  us !  ]  againft  all  Sin, 
becaufeofits  being  fo  contrary  and  provoking  to 
their  moft  Holy  Lord.  Sirs,  Mark  it ;  if  any  of 
you  wittingly  and  willingly  fin  againft  God,  you 
do  as  the  Devils  do,  and  as  the  Devils  would  have 
you  to  do,  and  as  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  fpeaks, 
in  John  8.  44.  Te  are  of  jour  Father  the  Devil,  and 
the  Lufts  of  your  Father  ye  will  do.  Dreadful  words  ! 
There  is  the  Image  of  the  Devil,  and  there  is  the 
Praiiice  of  the  Devil  in  every  SIN.  To  commit 
SIN  is  Humane ;  to  indulge  it  will  be  Diabolical. 
But  efpecially,  there  is  much  of  the  Devil  in  Apo- 
fiacy  from  good  Beginnings.  Of  the  Devils,  we 
find  in  Jude  6.  They  kept  not  their  firfl  Eft  ate :  They 
once  joined,  it  feems,  in  praifing  of  God  with 
the  Angels  of  the  Bleffed  Regions  ;  but  they  left 
it  all.  You  that  have  left  the  Societies,  and  the 
Exercifcs  of  Chriftianity,  wherein  you  were  at 
firfl  engaged  ;  behold,  who  your  Leader  is!  The 
firft  and  great  Apojlate,  the  Devil  is  your  Leader 
in  this  Defertion  ;  and,  alas  whither  will  he  lead 
you?  There  is  much  of  the  Devil  alfo  in  Hypo- 
cri/ie  under  good  Profeflions.  When  there  was  a 
fecret,  rotten  Hypocrite  among  the  Difciples  of  our 
Lord.  Our  Lord  faid  in  John  6.  70.  He  is  a  Devil : 
Indeed,  the  Devil  is  never  fo  much  a  Devil,  as 
when  Transformed  into  an  Angel  of  Light.  When 
ftrift  Pretenders  and  Pleaders,  and  it  may  be 
Preachers  of  the  Gofpel  fhall  yet  Cloak  fome  Hid- 
den Pratlices  of  Difhonefty  under  their  fair  Preten- 
ces, Behold,  Men  playing  the  Devil  horribly. 
What  fhall  I  fay  more  ?  The  Devil  is  an  "Unclean 


Spirit,  a  Lying  Spirit,  a  Proud  Spirit,  a  Spirit  full 
of  Envy.  Oh  !  Take  heed  left  you  be  of  fuch  a 
Spirit,  and  fo,  left  you  perifh  with  the  Devil  and 
his  Angels  throughout  Eternal  Ages. 

Thus,  the  Rules   of  becoming  Angelical  have    ' 
been  fet  before  us. 

But  if  we  do  now  Humbly  reflect  upon  our 
felves,  for  our  not  living  up  to  thefe  Rules  ;  we 
cannot  eafily  be  more  Humble  in  fuch  Reflexions  1 
than  was  that  MAN  OF  GOD,  the  Reverend' 
JOSHUA  MOOIDEY,  who  from  his  Fffays,  to 
obtain  the  Face  of  Angels,  is  now  gone  unto' the 
Place  of  Angels. 

All  the  Churches  of  NEW- ENGLAND  con- 
fidered  him,  as  a  Perfon,  whom  an  Eminency  both 
in  Senfe  and  in  Grace,  had  made  confiderable.  All 
the  Churches  of  BOSTON  enjoy'd  and  admired 
his  Accomplifhments  for  the  Evangelical  Miniftry 
many  years  together.  The  Church  of  Portfmouth 
(a  part  of  the  Country  that  very  much  ow'd  its 
Life  unto  him  !  )  crys  out,  of  a  Deadly  Wound  in 
his  Death ;  and  is  ready  to  cry  out,  Our  Breach 
[«  great  like  the  Sea  ;  who  can  heal  it  ?  His  Labours 
in  the  Gofpel  were  frequent  and  fervent ;  whereof 
the  Prefs  hath  given  fome  Lafting,zs  the  Pulpit  gave 
many  Lively  Teftimonies:  Yea,  if  it  were  counted 
one  of  the  moft  Memorable  Things  in  St.  Francis 
de  Sales,  that  he  made  Four  Thoufand  Sermons  to 
the  People,  I  can  relate  as  Memorable  a  Thing  of 
our  Moodey  :  At  the  Beginning  of  his  Sermons 
he  ft  ill  wrote  in  his  Notes  (  which  were  fairly  and 
largely  written  )  how  the  Number  of  them  ad- 
vanced ;  and  before  he  died,  he  had  numbred 
fome  Hundreds  more  than  Four  Thoufand  o{ them. 
And  unto  his  Cares  to  edifiehis  Flock  by  Sermons, 
he  added  more  than  Ordinary  Cares  to  do  it  by 
Fifits :  No  Man  perhaps  being  a  kinder  Vifitant. 
He  was  not  only  ready  to  Do  good,  but  alfo  to 
Suffer  for  doing  it ;  and  as  he  was  Exemplarily 
zealous  for  a  Scriptural  Purity  in  the  Worfhip  of 
our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  fo  he  cheerfully  fubmitted 
unto  an  Imprifonment,  for  that  Caufe  of  God,  and  of 
this  Country ;  wherein,  like  Stephen,  he  had  the  Ho- 
nour to  be  the  Firft,  that  fuffered  in  that  way  for 
that  Caufe  in  thefe  parts  of  the  World.  Briefly, 
For  Piety,  for  Charity,  and  for  Faithfuhefs  to  the 
main  Interefts  of  our  Churches;  all  that  knew  him, 
and  know  the  Worth  of  thefe  Things,  wifh  that 
among  the  Survivors  he  may  have  many  Fol- 
lowers. 

He  was  of  a  very  Robuft  and  Hardy  Conftitu- 
tion,  and  a  notable  Exception  to  the  General  Re- 
mark, Rarofolent  Ingenia  inftgniter  fcelicia,  Robuft  a 
fortiri  Corpora  ;  and  it  may  be,  too  Prodigal  of  his 
Athletick  Strength,  in  doing  the  Service  whereto  a 
Good  Mafter  called  him.  Neverthelefs,  when  a 
Complication  of  Diftempers  was  divers  Months 
before  his  Difiblution  brought  thereby  upon  him, 
he  exceedingly  lamented  His  NegkCt  (as  he  ac- 
counted it  )  of  h'vs  paft  Opportunities  to  be  fervke- 
able.  At  length,  coming  to  Bofton  for  Advice  a- 
bout  the  Recovery  of  his  loft  Health,  his  Diftem- 
pers here  fo  grew  upon  him,  as  to  threaten  a  quick 
Period  unto  his  Pilgrimage.  His  diftrefTed  Church 
at  Portfmouth  now  importunately  made  their  Pray- 
er with  Fafting  before  the  Great  Shepard  of  the 

Sheepi 


Book  IV. 


The  Hijiory  of  New-England 


199 


Sheep,  that  they  might  not  ba  deprived  of  fo  RLh 
a  BlelTing^  and  he  was  himfelf  exceedingly  defi- 
rous  to  have  mured  unto  Portfmouth,  that  -he 
might  eltablilh  his  Flock  yet  further  againft  all 
Temptations  to  forfake  the  Right  Ways  of  the 
Lord.    But  Heaven  determines  otherwiie. 

When  the  Laft  Summons  of  Death  came  to  be 
ferved  upon  him,  he  had  neither  Time  not  Strength 
to  fpeak  very  much;  and  they  that  have  fpoken 
much  while  they  live,  fometimes  mult  not  fpeak 
very  much  at  their  Death.  His  Difcouifes  were 
generally  full  of  Self-condemnation ;  and  indeed, 
that  Man  knows  not  how  to  dye,  who  thinks  to 
dye  other  wife,  than  Condemning  of  himfelf  exceed- 
ingly. The  molt  of  what  he  faid  was,  1  fuppofe, 
cnto  a  Minilter  who  vifited  him  the  Day  before 
his  Expiration.  Unto  that  Minifter  he  lignified, 
That  he  was  Rejoycing  in  the  Hope  of  the  Glory  of 
God ;  That  he  was  Longing  to  go  to  the  Precious 
Chriji,  whom  he  had  cbofe  andferv'd;  That  the  Spi- 
rit of  Cbrijl  bad  com frt ably  taken  away  from  him 
the  Fear  of  DEATH.  When  that  Minifter  urged 
him,  to  leave  with  him  any  fpecul  Delire,  that 
he  mould  judge  proper  to  be  mentioned,  he  faid, 
The  Life  of  the  Churches  !  The  Life  of  the  Churches .' 
and  the  Dying  Tower  ofGodlinefs  in  them ;  J  hefeech 
you  to  look  after  that  ;  The  Minilter  at  laft  faid, 
The  Lordjefis  Qorift  is  now,  Sir,  going  to  do  foryptt, 
as  once  for  Jolhua  [_  your  Names- fake  I  3  He  is  ju/l 
going  to  take  from  you,  your  old,  forty,  ragged  Gar- 
ments, Tbofe  of  your  Flefb,  and  cloath  you  with  change 
of  Raiment,  with  the  Garments  of  Heavenly  Glory, 
and  give  you  a  place  among  His  Angels:  Whereto 
he  replied  with  fome  Tranfport,  /  believe  it !  / 
believe  it !  After  this,  he  faid  little,  but  lay  in  an 


uneahe  Drowiinefs  until  the  Afternoon  of  the  d2y 
following ;  which  was  The  Lord's  Day  ;  and  then, 
even  on  the  Day,  whereon  he  had  fo  often  been 
in  the  Spirit,  he  went  unto  the  Blelfed  World  of  Spi- 
rits ;  on  the  Day,  which  he  had  fo  often  fanclified 
in  a  Sacred  Reft,  he  went  unto  his  Eternal  Reft.  A 
Fatal  Day  was  this  unto  our  Land  !  It  is  an  Omen 
of  a  fad  Fate  unto  a  Land,  when  the  Angels  Ao  fay, 
Migremus  hinc;  Let  us  be  gone  !  How  far  he  had 
the  Face  of  an  Angel  while  he  fojourned  here,  no 
doubt  Envy  may  cavil ;  and  I  have  fometimes  with 
wonder  feen  it,  in  the  poor  Energumens  among 
us,  that  when  the  Minifter,  who  might  be  the  moft 
likely  to  do  them  good,came  unto  them,  the  Fiends 
that  polTefled  them,would  make  the  Minifter's  Face 
look  fo  dirty  and  fwarthy,  that  they  muft  by  no 
means  acknowledge  him.  This  I  may  venture  to 
fay  without  Flattery  :  It  is  long  ago,  that  in  ano- 
ther fenfe  than  Aquinas,  we  call'd  him  An  Ange- 
lical DoBor ;  and  he  has  now  attained  the  Face  of 
an  Angel,  without  the  lealt  Wrinkle  in  it.  He  is, 
with  Stephen,  and  the  Angels  of  God,  gone  to  be- 
hold the  Glory  of  the  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST, 
and  bear  a  part  with  the  Many  Angels  round  about 
the  Throne,  faying,  Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that  wasflain  ! 
I  cannot  but  recommend  him  to  you,  as  one  that 
was,  A  Candidate  of  the  Angelical  Life  -,  and  follicit 
you  to  remember,  not  only  the  Lcffons,  and  Coun- 
sels, and  Warnings,  which  you  have  had  from  him, 
in  private  or  publick  Difpenfations,  but  alfo  his 
Example,  to  follow  him  wherein  he  followed  f_  and 
in  many  things  he  followed  !  3  the  Lord  JESVS 
CHRIST. 

FINIS. 


CHAP.    VIII.     GEMINI. 


THE 


LIFE 


O  F    THE 


COLLIN  S's 


W 


§.  1 .  XX  T  ^  ^  ^  feveral  Sons  of  Diagorar, 
had  fo  acquitted  themfelves,  as 
to  merit  and  obtain  Applaufe 
in  their  publick  Anions,  he, 
that  brought  the  Old  Man  the  Report  of  it,  gave 
him  that  Salutation,  Dye  quickly,  or,  I  am  going 
to  tell  you  th.iy  which  will  keep  you  out  of  Heaven  ! 


There  was  a  good  Old  Man,  called  COLLINS, 
the  Deacon  of  the  Church  at  Cambridge,  who  is 
now  gone  to  Heaven  ;  but  before  he  went  thi- 
ther had  the  Satisfaction  to  fee  feveral  moft  Wor- 
thy Sons  become  very  Famous  Perfons  in  their 
Generation:  Sons,  that  having  worthily  ferved 
their  Generation,  are  now  gone  thither  as  well 

as 


2GO 


the.  tiijiory  of  New-England. 


Book  IV. 


as  he  ','  Two  of  them  are  found  among  the  Gradu- 
ates oi  HarvardColledge. 

§.  i.    Mr.  JOHN  COLLINS  in  his  Youth 
received  a  Wound  by  a  Fall,  which  had  like  to 
have  coft  him  his  Life ;  but  whilft  he  lay  gafping, 
the  Renowned  Mr.  Thomas  Shepard  came  to  him 
with  this  Confolation  •,  /  have  juft  now  hem  wreft- 
ling  with  the  Lord  for  thy  Life,  an  d  God  b.ith  granted 
me  my  Dcfire;  Toung  Man,  thou  /hah  not  dye  but 
live  ■  but  remember,  that  now  the  Lord  fays,  Surely, 
thou  wilt  now  fear  Him,  and  receive  Inftruclion.  The 
Life,  then  continued  unto  that  Young  Man,  after- 
wards  proved  fo  very  Confiderable  among  the 
Congregational  Divines  of  Great  Britain,  and  efpe- 
cially  in  the  Great  City  of  London;    where  he 
snoftly  fpent  his  Days  of  publick  Service,  that  it 
well  deferves  a  Room  in  our  Account  of  Worthies. 
His  Abilities  as  he  was  a  Preacher,  did  chiefly  fig- 
nalize  him  ;  for  fuch  was  the  Life  and   Charm, 
which  accompanied  his  Exercifes  in  the  Pulpit; 
th3t  none  but  Perfons  of  the  fame  Humour  with 
him    who  wrote  certain  Things  like  Booh,  to 
prove,  That  Cicero  wanted  Elquen:e,  went  aw3y 
Unmoved  or  Vnplcafcd  from  them.      Neverthe- 
lefs,  being  under  Difadvantages  to  come  at  the 
more  perfeft  Scory  of  his  Life,  my  Reader  fhall 
have  only  the  Contrallid  Report,  which  his  Epi- 
taph has  thus  given  of  it.     Reader,  The  Stones 
will  fpeak,  if  his  Friends  do  not  Celebrate  him  ! 

JOHANNES    COLLINS. 

Jndol'vs  Optima  Pneruh<s,  Patrem  Pietate  Infignem, 

Cafliorem  Dei  Cultum,  et  Limatiorem 

Ecclefia  DifcipUnam,  anhdantem, 

In  Americanum  Angiorum,  fecutus  eft  Colonium, 

Vbi,  qit*  Gymr.afiis,(\ua  Cantabrigienfi  ifthic  Collegio, 

(  Deo  indefejjis   adfpirante  Studivs  ) 

Scriba  failus  ad  Regnum  Qelorum    Inftrutlijfimus, 

Antique  cum  feenore,  rependitur  Anglise. 
Scotix  etiam  celebrium  Miniftrorum  Gens  fertility 
Et  audivit,  &  mirata  efl  Concionantem. 
Vtrobiq;  multos  Christo  lucrifecit  ; 
Plures  in  Chrifto  adificavit. 
Prtf/ertwihaciflMetropoli,  GregisgratiJfimiPaflor  \ 
Nil  fcgnvs   Otii  Gnavo  indulgens  Ammo ; 
Nee  Laboribus,  Morbisq;  frallo,  parcens  Corpori ; 
Mcditando,  Pradicando,  Confer  endo,Votaq;  faciendo, 
Pltam  infumpftt  fragikm, 
Vt  aterna:  aliorum  Vita  confuleret ; 
Ouo  Ecchfiarum  itaq;  nulla  Paflorem  Optimum, 
Aut  Fivum  mag'vs  Venerata  eft, 
Ant  tmgis  indoluit  morienti. 


thor,  but  N.  N.  on  that  Cafe,  How  the  Religious 
of  a  Nation  are  the  Strength  of  it  ?  Now  the  Au- 
thor of  that  Sermon  was  this  Mr.  John  Collins 
who  tho'  he  thus  reckoned  himfelf  a  No  Body,  yet 
was  by  Others  efteemed  fo  Confiderable  a  part 
of  the  Strength  of  the  Nation,  that  at  the  Affecti- 
onate Prayer  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Mead,  poured 
out  before  God  for  his  Recovery  when  he  lay  lick  • 
1  have  been  told,  there  was  hardly  one  dry  Eye 
to  be  feen  in  the  Great  Congregation  of  the 
Ledture  at  Pinners-Hall,  where  he  alfo  had  been 
a  Lefturer.  Let  the  Reader  but  make  the  Ap- 
plication of  that  Sermon  to  the  Author  of  it  • 
and  read  this  as  the  Running  Title,  The  Englifh 
Nation  weakned  by  the  Death  of  Mr.  JOHN 
COLLINS :  Thus  a  Funeral  Sermon  upon  him  will 
not  be  wanting .' 


M.  Dri$  Die  III0.   Anno  iEre  Chriftiana? 
M  DC  LXXXVII. 

This  is  the  Language  of  the  Epitaph,  the  Truth- 
Speaker. 

And  as  I  have  thus  found  the  Story  of  his 
Life,  fo  I  can  in  a  yet  more  unfufpefted  Quarter 
now  find  a  Sermon  on  his  Death.  In  the  Third 
Volume  of  the  Mormng-Exercifes  publifhed  by  that 
Good  Man,  the  very  Barnabas  of  London,  that  very 
Reverend  and  Excellent  Man,  Dr.  Annefley ;  there 
is  a  Sermon  wearing  the  Name  of  no  other  Au 


§.3.     A  Younger  Brother,  but  yet  a  Brother  to 
him,  was   Mr.  NATHANAEL  COLLINS,    at 
whofe  Death,  Dec.  28.  1684.  in  the  Forty  Third 
Year  of  his  Age  (  wherein  he  got  the  flare  for 
Heaven  !  )  there  were  more  Wounds  given  to  the 
whole  Colony  of  ConneLlicut  in  our  New-Eno]and 
than  the  Body  of  Cafar  did  receeive,  when  tie  fell 
wounded  in  the  Senate-Houfe.     Reader,  I  would 
have  made  an  Effay  to  have  lamented  the  Fate  of 
this  our  Collins  in  lrerfe,  were  it  not  for  Two  Dis- 
couragements :  Not  becaufe  Annatus  the  Jefuite 
rcckon'd  it  a  Thing  worthy  of  a  Scoff  in  our 
Dr.  Twifs,  to  be  guilty  of  a  little  Flight  at  Poetry ; 
for  the  Noblest-  Hands  have  fcann'd  Poetical  Mea  - 
fures  on  their  Fingers :  But  becaufe  my  Mean  Fa- 
culties would  not  carry  me  beyond  the  Performan- 
ces, whereof  the  Gentleman  in  Thuanus  was  afraid, 
when  he  made  it  a  Claufe  in  his  Laft  Will,  That 
they  fhould  not  burden  his  Hearfe  with  bad  Funeral 
Verfes  ;  and  becaufe  that  Sacred  Thing  Verfe  hath 
been  by  the  Licentious  Part  of  Mankind  fo  p'rofti- 
tuted,  that  now  thsTrutb  of  whatever  is  therein 
offered,  therefore  does  become  fufpe&ed.     Never- 
thelefs  his  Merits  were  fuch,  that  his  Life  mult  be 
written,  or  at  leaft  fo  much  of  it  as  this,  That  he 
merited  highly  to  have  his  Life  written.     But  our 
Hiftory  of  him  is  to  be  abridged  into  this  brief 
Account,  That  the  Church  of  Middletown  upon 
Connecticut- River  was  the  Golden  Candleflick  from 
whence  this  Excellent  Perfon  illuminated  more 
than  that  whole  Colony  •,  and  th3t  all  the  Quali- 
ties of  molt.  Exemplary  Piety,  Extraordinary  Inge- 
nuity, Obliging  Affability,  join'd  with  the  Accom- 
plifhments  of  an  Extraordinary  Preacher  did  ren- 
der him  truly  Excellent.     In  faying  this  of  him, 
I  may  confirm  what  I  fay,  in  Words  like  thofe  of 
Jerom  on  a  like  Occafion,  Teftor,    Chrtftianum  de 
Chriftiano,  vera  proferre  ;  and  for  his  Char3&er 
add  this  Epitaph. 

Ille  puis  Paflor,  quo  non  praftantior  Vnus, 
§>ui  faciendo  docet,  qua  facienda  docet. 

But  indeed,  as  the  Mother  of  Braftdas  bravely 
comforted  her  felf,  upon  the  Death  of  her  much 
lamented  Son ,  Vvt  bonus  eft  Brafidai  et  fortit,  fed 
habet  multos  Sparta  fimiles :  Even  fuch  was  the  Con- 
folation of  Convenient,  by  the  Special  Favour  of 
/  Hea- 


Book  IV. 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  2  o  1 


Heaven  to  the  Colony ;  That  though  tn  the  Death 
of  COLLINS  they  lojt  an  Excellent  Man,  yet  he 
teas  not  the  only  Excellent  Man  they  had  among 
them.  In  the  Acknowledgments  of  Worth,  there 
may  come  in  for  a  great  Share  with  him,  feveral 


moft  Worthy  Men,  wherewith  Connecticut  Co- 
lony has  been  finguliriv  favoured  Whiting. oi  Hart- 
ford, Woodbridge  oi  Wether sfleld,  Wakeman  of  Fair- 
field will  never  be  forgotten,  till  Connecticut  Co- 
lony, do  forget  it  felf,  and  all  Religion. 


CHAP.    IX. 


THE 


L 


F 


»  1 1.  - 

.  ... 

.  .■  • 


O    F 


r.  Thomas  Shepard 


Cur  pramaturvm,  Mortemque  queramar  Acerbam  ? 
Mors   Mat  ura  lrenit,    cum   Bona  Fit  a  fuit. 


S.I. 


F  it  were  accounted  a  Great  Honour 
to  the  Family  of  the  Curii  in  Rome, 
that  there  arofe  from  that  Stock  Three 
Excellent  Orators,  One  fucceeding  anor 
ther ;  we  may  account  it  a  greater  Honour  fignali- 
ziiig  the  Family  of  the  Shepards  of  New-England, 
that  no  lefs  than  Three  Excellent  Minifters  have 
fucceffively  illued  from  it.  The  Eldefl  Son  of 
Mr.  Tboma*  Shepard,  the  Ever  Memorable  Paftor 
to  the  Church  of  Cambridge,  was  Mr.  Tbomtit 
Shepard,  the  Paftor  to  the  Church  of  Charlflovon; 
■  and  the  Only  Son  of  Mr.  Thomas  Shepard  that  Paftor 
oi  Charlflovon,  was  our  laft  Mr.  Thomas  Shepard, 
Tatemx  Virtutis  ex  affe  Hares,  his  Grandfather's 
and  his  Father's  Genuine  Off-fpring.  The  Lives 
of  thofe  his  PredecefTors  make  a  Figure  in  our 
CIjUCClj-^iffCiL'P,  and  though  this  our  Third 
Mr.  Thomas  Shepard  muft  have  it  laid  of  him, 
That  he  did  not  attain  to  the  Days  of  the  Tears  of 
the  Life  of  his  Fathers  in  the  Days  of  their  Pilgri- 
mage ;  neverthelefs  his  Life  had  that  in  it,  which 
may  juftly  render  it  Obfervable  and  Exemplary, 
Yea,  fuch  a  Similitude  of  Spirit,  there  was  def- 
cending  from  the  Father  to  the  Son,  and  from  the ! 
Son  to  thzGrandfon  in  this  Holy  Generation,  that  al-  J 
beit,  they  were  all  of  them  feverally  Short-lived,* 
the  Two  Firft  not  living  much  more  than  Forty,  I 
and  the  laft  not  fo  much  as  Thirty  Years  in  the 
World,  yet  there  might  a  fort  of  Jointed  Lovgdi ' 
vity  be  afcribed  unto  the  Generation  ;  for  when 
the  Father  went  away,  Nontotus  receffit,  we  had 
him  ftill  furviving  to  the  Life  in  :  the  Pofterity. 
As  the  .Name  o\  Abntr  may  be  taken  both  ways, 
either  Pater  Luccma,  ox  Lucerna  Eatris  ;  either 
the  Father  was  the  Brightmfs  of  the  Son,  or  the 

1 


Son  was  the  Brightnefs  of  the  Father  1  Such  a  Lu- 
ftre  did  Father,  and  Son,  and  Grandfon,  mutually 
reflect  upon  One  another,  in  this  Happy  Family. 
It  might  be  laid  of  them  as  Naz.ianzen,  1.  remem- 
ber, fpeaks  about  the  Family  of  a  Bafil;  The  Pa- 
rents were  fuch,  that,  if  they  had  irot  fuch  blef- 
fedGjildren,  they  had  been  of  themf:lvesP.enown- 
ed  ;  and  the  Children  were  fuch,  that  if  the  Pa- 
rents had  not  been  fo  of  theinfejves,."'.yet  for  the 
fake  of  Thefe  they  had  been  Famous  in  the  Church 
of  God.  Of,  they  may  make  us  think  of  the 
Glory, with  which  the  moil  llluftrious  Family  in  the 
Oracles  of  God,  is  ufually  fee  off  when  Abraham, 
and  Jfaac,  and  Jacob,  are  fo  often  together  intro- 
duced, where  the  Root  gives  a  Verdure  to  the 
Branches,  and  the  Flourifhing  BrhtcbtitS  dgaitt 
commend  the  Root. 

§.  2.  When  Mr.  "Thomas  Shepard  the'  Second 
oi  New-England,  and  the  Firft  of  Charljiown,  died, 
he  left  behind  him  fuch  a  Picture,  as  that  which 
Tally  mentions  of  Sextus  Sulpicius ;  N/iUimi-tinqnam 
Monumentum  clarius.  S.  Svtbpk'ms  rclir/qu&e  pbtuit, 
quam  Effigiem  Morumfuonim,  Virtulis,  Conjlantia, 
Pietatis,  Ingenii  Filium  ;  A  Son  that  was  the  Lively 
Picture  oi  his  Virtues.  And  now  that  Son  alfo 
is  dead  without  any  Male-.Off-fpring,  we  will 
make  an  Efjay  at  the  Drawing  of  his  Figure  after 
another  maimer  ;  even  by;fuch'  a  Narrative  Of  his 
Life,  as  may  be  indeed  tas-ititfurt  to  the  Life  : 
In  the  Doing  whereof,  perlaps  the  Children  of 
Godly  and  Worthy  Anceftors,  may  find  the  En- 
couragement of  a  Confirmation  to  th3t  Obferva- 
tion,  That,  as  the  Snow-BdU,  the  further  it  rolls, 
the  greater  it  grows,  thus  the  further'  that  the 

Grace 


202 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  Book 


Grace  of  God  is  continued,  and  received,  and  va- 
lued in  any  Family,  the  Greater  Effecls  of  that 
Grace  will  be  ftill  appearing.  For  there  were 
fome  lingular  Circumftances  of  Early  Bleffednefs, 
attending  this  our  youngeft  and  lateft  Shepard, 
wherein  it  might  be  faid  of  him,  as  it  was  of  the 
Well-known  Grand/on,  of  whom  this  was  indeed 
a  True  Son,  His  Bleffwgs  exceeded  the  Blejjlngs  of  bis 
Progenitors.  And  we  may  the  rather  take  Notice 
of  this  Matter,  becaufe  there  was  hardly  One  Con- 
federation, which  oftner  pofTefTed  the  Mind  of  this 
our  Shepard,  or  more  powerfully  operated  upon 
him  to  make  him  Eminent,  than  The  Obligations  laid 
upon  him  from  his  Anceflors  to  do  worthily.  As  the 
Famous  Boleflaus  always  carried  about  with  him, 
the  Picture  of  his  Fathtr  in  his  Bofom,  upon  which 
often  looking,  he  would  fay,  Let  me  never  do  any 
thing  unworthy  the  Son  of  fitch  a  Father  :  This  was 
the  very  Spirit  of  our  Shepard,  who  always  bore 
about  with  him  the  Image  of  his  Father,  and  as 
often  as  perhaps  almoft  any  one  Thing,  thought 
on  this,  Hotq  he  might  approve  himfelf  the  Son  of 
J'ucb  a  Fatlnr, 

§.  3.  Defcended  from  fuch  Anceftors,  our 
Thomas  Shepard  was  born  at  Charljlown  in  A7fir- 
England  on  July  <;.  1658.  How  he  was  in  his 
Earlieft  Years  difpofed,  I  choofe  to  relate  by  re- 
citing fome  of  the  Word?,  afterwars  ufed  by  him- 
felf, when  he  addrefTed  the  Church  of  Charljlown 
for  Admiflion  to  their  Sacred  Communion.  '  As 
1  to  the  T)»ng  of  that  which  is  commonly  called 
'  Firfl  Conversion  or  Regeneration,  I  have  had  ma- 

*  ny  Thoughts  about  it  ;  but  have   beeri  afraid, 

*  and  am  ftill,  to  determine  it  unto  this  or  that 
t  particular.  What  1  have  found  ^y  my  felf, 
4  hath  made  me  oftentimes  to  queftion,  whether 
'  the  Former  Operations  of  the  Spirit  of  God  a- 

*  bout  me,  were  any  more  than  Common ;  or; 
4  whether  fuch  and  fuchS*'«j  were  con fiftent  with 
4  Saving  Grace ;  that  which  hath  helped  me  in 

*  this  Cafe,  hath  been  partly,  what  I  have  heard 
4  from  a  Reverend  Man  of  God,  '  That  fuch 
4  as  are  from  time  to  time  difquieted  with  fuch 

*  Thoughts,  the  best,  if  not  the  only  way  to  put 
4  it.  out  of  doubt,  that  they  have  True  Faith, 
'  is  by   Exerciftng  Faith,    to  convert  again  unto 

*  God.  And  putting  my  Soul  in  the  way  of  the 
'  Breathings  or  God's  Spirit,  and  then  ebferving 

*  the  Aftings  thereof,  1  have  by  the  Help  of  the 

*  fame  Spirit,  found  fomething  of  Relief  under 
1  thofe  Doubts.     On  my    Childhood  and  Toutb,  I 

*  have  too  much  caufe  to  fay  (  as  Solomon  of  the 

*  things  jof  this  World)  Vanity  of  Vanities ,  all  is 
1  Vanity'.     Yet   by  the  Blefling  of  God  on  the 

*  faithful  Endeavours^  and  fervent  Prayers  of  my 
4  Religious  Parents  ^  efpecially  of  my  Honoured, 
4  BlelTed,  and  moft  Exemplary  Father,  who  of 
1  all,  as  the  moft  Able  to  further,  fo  was  moft 
4  SolikitoHS,  Studious,  and  tenderly  Careful,  al- 
4  ways  about  the  Everlafting  Well-being  of  a 
!  Son,  from  the  very  Beginning  of  my  Days,  to 

*  the  End  of  bis,  I  do  think,  I  was  by  Precept  and 
1  Holy  Example,  imbued  with  a  Natural  Love 

*  and  Liking  to  the  Word  and  Ways  of  God  ; 
4  though  not  faving,  yet  fuch  as  whereby  a  Pre- 


'  judice  againft  Religion  was  prevented.  Now~as 
God  blefled  the  Religious  Cares  of  his  Father  to 
tinge  him  with  fuch  a  Savour  of  Religion  in  his 
Childhood  ;  and  he  would  not  only  on  the  Lord's 
Days,  while  he  was  yet  a  Boy,  fo  notably  repeat 
by  heart  in  his  Father's  Family,  all  the  Heads  of 
the  Longeft  Sermons  preached  in  the Publick,  that 
it  might  have  ferved  for  a  fufficient  Repethion,ia- 
ftead  of  ufing  the  Notes  ufually  produced  on  fuch 
Occafions,  but  alfo  his  Virtuous  Carriage  on  the 
Week  Days,  he  fhow'd,  that  the  Sermons  had  in- 
deed their  Impreflions  on  his  Heart :  So  his  Child- 
hood was  remarkable  for  the  Diligence  of  it,  and 
his  Love  of  his  Book.  And  fuch  was  the  Effect 
of  this  Diligence,  that  though  he  had  not  in  his 
Attainments  the  Precocity  of 'Jacobus  Martini,  the 
Venetian  Boy,  who  not  many  years  agoe  )  when 
he  was  hwx.  feven  years  old,  publickly  difputed 
at  Rome,  on  Thefes,  which  he  publifhed  of  Theolo- 
gy, Law,  Phyfick,  and  the  other  Difciplines,  unto 
the  Aftonifhment  of  all  the  Orders  there,  yet  he 
did  attain  unto  fuch  Learning,  as  gave 'him  an 
Early  Admiffm  into  the  CoHedge,  and  rais'd  great 
Hopes  in  good  Men  concerning  him- 

§.  4.  Being  admitted  into  the  Colledge,  ne- 
ver was  Father  more  Careful  of  his  Afcamus, 
than  the  Father  of  this  our  Shepard  was  of  this 
his  Only  Son.  And  the  Care  of  his  Father  for  his 
Welfare,  caufed  him  then,  in  imitation  of  what 
the  Grandfather  had  once  done  for  him,,  to  give  . 
him,  in  Writing  a  Paper  of  Golden  Inslmclions^ 
directing  his  Behaviour,  while  he  fhould  conti- 
nue a.  Student  in  that  Society. 

The  Sum  of  thofe  Inftructions  was, 
'  I.    To  remember   the  great   End   of  his    Life 

•  even  the  Glorifying  of  God  through  Chrifr,  and 
4  the  End  of  this  Turn  of  his  Life,  even  The  fit- 
4  ting  him  for  the  moft  Glorious  Work  of  the 
'  the  Holy  Miniftry.  For  this  End  (  wrote  that 
4  Excellent  Man )  Your  Father  hath  fet  you  a- 
4  part  with  many  Tears,  and  hath  given  you 
h  up  to  God  that  He  might  delight  in  you.  And 
:4  (  he  proceeded)  I  had  rather  fee  you  buried  in 
'  your  Grave,  than  grow  light,  loofe,  wanton 
4  or  profane :  God's  Secrets  in  the  Floly  Scrip- 
'  tures  are  never  made  known  to  common  and 
4  profane  Spirits  •,  and  (  added  he  )  therefore  be 
'  fure  you  begin  and  end  every  Day,  wherein 

•  you  ftudy  with  earneft  Prayer  to  God-,  read- 
1  ing  fome  part  of  the  Scripture  daily,  andfet- 
f  ting  apart  fome  time  ev'ry  Day  ( though  but  one 
1  Quarter  °f  a11  Hour )  for  Meditation  of  the 
'  Things  of  God. 

'  IF.  To  remember,  that  tbefe  are  Times  of  much 
4  Knowledge,  and  therefore  One  bad  almofl  as  good 
'  be  no  Scholar,  as  not  to  Excel  in  Knowledge ; 
4  Wherefore  {faid be  )  abhor  one  Hour  of  ldle- 
4  nefs,  as  you  would  be  afhamed  of  one  Hour 
'  of  Drunkennefs.  Though  (  as  he  alfo  [aid  )  I 
4  would  not  have  you  neglect  Seafons  for  Re- 
1  creation  a  little  before  and  after  Meals,  and 

•  though  I  would  not  have  you  ftudy  late  in  the 
4  Night  ufually,  yet  know,  that  God  will  curfe 

your 


Book  IV.  The  HiftoryofNew-Enghnd. 


102 


your  Soul,  while  the  Sin  of  Idlenefs  is  nonrifh- 
ed,  which  hath  fpoiled  fo  many  hopeful  Youths, 
in  their  firft  Bloflbming  in  the  Colledge.  Hence 
(  be  /aid  likewife  )  don't  content  your  felt  to 
do  as  much  as  your  Tutor  fets  you  about,  but 
know,  that  you  will  never  excel  in  Learning, 
unlefs  you  do  fomewhat  elfe  in  private  Hours, 
wherein  his  Care  cannot  reach  you. 
'  III.  To  make  bis  Studies  as  Pleafant,  and  as 
Fruitful  as  could  be,  Firft  by  fmgling  out  Two  or 
Three  Scholars,  the  moft  Godly,  Learned,  and 
Studious,  and  fucb  as  be  could  Love  beft,  and  fucb 
as  would  moft  Love  him,  of  any  that  he  could 
find  among  his  Equals,  as  alfo  fome  that  were 
Superiours,  and  often  manage  Difcourfes  with 
them  on  all  Subjects,  which  he  had  before  him; 
and  mark  diligently  what  occur'd  remarkable  in 
every  ones  Conferences,  Difputations  and  other 
Exercifts,  but,  by  no  means  letting  too  much 
leak  away  in  Viilts.  Next,  by  having  a  Variety 
of  Studies  before  him,  that  when  bejhouldbewcary 
of  one  Book  or  Theme,  he  might  have  recourfe  to 
another.  Then,  by  profecuting  o/Studies  in  fome 
Order  and  Method  ;  and  therefore,  every  Tear 
at  leaft,  if  not  oftner,  fixing  the  Gourfe  hereof, 
fo  as  he  might  not  allow  himfelf  to  be  Ordinarily 
therein  interrupted.  Fourthly,  By  giving  o/Dif- 
ficult  Studies  the  Flower  of  his  Thoughts,  and  not 
fitffering  any  Difficulty  to  pafs  him,  till  by  Indu- 
ftry  or  Inquiry  he  bad  majlered  it.  Fifthly,  By 
keeping  an  Appetite  for  Studies,  by  intermixing 
Medication,  and  at  fit  Seafons  Recreation,  but 
by  fuch  as  might  moderately  flit  the  Body,  and 
render  the  Spirit  more  lively  for  its  Duties. 
Sixthly,  By  making  of  Choice  Collections  from 
what  Authors  he  perufed,  and  having  proper  Indi- 
ces to  his  Colle&ions  ;  and  therewithal  contriving 
Jlill  how  to  reduce  all  unto  his  own  more  peculiar 
Service  in  his  Exercifes  or  otherwife.  Seventh- 
ly, By  taking  pains  in  preparing  for  his  Reci- 
tations, Declamations,  Difputations,  and  not  upon 
any  pretence  whatever  hurry  them  ojf  indigeftedly. 
(  Said  be )  Reading  without  Meditation  will  be 
ufelefs  -,  Meditation  without  Reading  will  be 
barren.  But  here  I  would  not  have  you  forget 
a  Speech  of  your  Blefled  Grandfather  to  a  Scho- 
lar, that  complained  to  him  of  a  bad  Memory, 
which  difcouraged  him  from  Reading,  Lege, 
Lege,  aliqutd  harebit.  That  Sentence  [_  he 
added  ~\  in  Frov.  14.  23.  deferves  to  be  writ- 
ten in  Letters  of  Gold  on  your  Study-Table, 
In  all  Labour,  there  is  Profit.  But,  Laftly,  By 
praying  much  not -.only  for  Heavenly,  but  alfo 
Humane  Learning  •  For  ( faid  he  )  Remember 
that  Prayer  at  Chrift's  Feet,  for  all  the  Learning 
you  want,  (hall  fetch  you  in  more  in  an  Hour, 
than  poffibly  you  may  get  by  all  the  Books, 
and  Helps  you  have  otherwife  in  many  Years. 
4  IV.  To  be  Grave  and  Kind  in  his  Carriage 
towards  all  the  Scholars  ;  but  be  Watchful  again/l 
the  Two  great  Sins  of  many  Scholars.  Whereof 
b'vs  Words  were  thefe.  The  firft  is  youthful  Lufts, 
fpecuhtive  Wantonnefs,  and  fecret  Filthincfs, 
tor  which  God  hardens  and  blinds  young  Men's 
Hearts,  his  Holy  Spirit  departing  from  fuch  un- 
clean Styes.     The  Second  is,   Malignancy  and 


fecret  Diftafte  of  Holinefs,  and  the  Power  of 
Godlinefs,  and  the  ProfefTors  of  it.  Both  of 
thefe  Sins  {faid  he  )  you  will  quickly  fall  in- 
to, unto  your  own  perdition,  if  you  be  nor 
careful  of  your  Company:  For  there  !are,  and 
will  be  fuch  in  every  Scholaftical  Society,  tor 
the  molt  part,  as  will  teach  you  how  to  be  fil- 
thy, and  how  to  jeft,  and  feoff,  arid  fcorn  at 
Godlinefs,  and  at  the  Profelfors  thereof ;  vvhofe 
Company,  I  charge  you  to  fly  as  from  the  '  DevV, 
'  and  abhor:  And  ti.it  you  may  be  kept  from 
thefe,  read  often  that  Scripture,  Frov.  2.  ,io, 
'   1 1 ,  1 2,  1 6. 

4  V.  Remember  (/>  wrote  he)  tointreatGod 
*  with  Tears,  before  you  come  to  hear  any  Si-r- 
4  mon,  that  thereby  God  would  powerfully  fpeak 
'  to  your  Heart,  and  make  His  Truth  precioin 
'  to  you.  Neglect  not  to  Write  after  the  Preacher 
'  always  in  handfom  Books,  and  be  careful  al- 
'  ways  to  preferve  and  perufe  the  fame.  And 
j*  upon  Sabbath  Days,  make  exceeding  Confcience 
'  of  Sandific3tion  •,  mix  not  your  other  Studies, 
4  much  lefs  vain  and  carnal  Difcourfes  with  the 
'  Duties  of  that  Holy  Day,  but  remember  that 
4  Command,  Lev.  19.  30.  Te  Jhali  keep  my  Sab' 
'  baths,  and  reverence  my  Sanctuary,  I  am  tlie  Lord. 

4  VI.  Remember  (/o  likewife  wrote  he  )  that 
4  whenfoever  you  hear,  read,  or  conceive  any 
'  Divine  Truth,  you  fhidy  to  affedt  your  Heart 
4  with  it,  and  the  Goo4nefs  of  it.  Take  heed 
4  of  receiving  Truth  into  your  Head,  without 
';the  Love  of  it  in  your  Heart,  left  God  give 
4  you  to  ftrong  Delufions.  If  God  reveal  any 
'  Truth  to  you,  be  fure  you  be  Humbly  and  dcep- 
4  ly  Thankful. 

Thefe  Excellent  Inftru&ions  hi;  Father  conclu- 
ded with  thefe  Words 

My  Son,  if  thine  Heart  be  wife,  my  Heart  (hall 
rejoyce  even  mine. 

And  I  may  now  abridge  the  whole  Academical 
Life  of  our  youngSbipard,  even  until  he  proceeded 
Mafler  of  Arts,  into  this  brief  Account  of  him, 
That  he  did  make  the  Heart  of  his  Worthy  Fa- 
ther  to  rejoice  by  his  Confcientious  and  Exemplary 
Attendance  unto  thefe  Infractions.  Yea,  when 
he  had  Occafion  to  mention  them,  it  was  in  thefe 
Terms,  My,  next-to  Chrijl,  moil  Beloved  Father's 
Advice  :  Nor  was  there  any  one  part  of  his  Cha- 
racter more  confpicuous  than  this,  A  Reverence 
for  the  Perfon  and  Advice  of  bis  Father. 

§.  5.  But  before  he  could  proceed  Mifttr  of 
Arts,  a  Terrible  Hand  of  God  upon  (  more 
than  )  Cbarlflown,  put  an  End  unto  the  Days  of 
his  Father  in  the  World.  And  albeit  that  very 
confiderable  Church,  under  this  Bereavement,  had 
now  a  profped  of  a  Supply  from  federal  Quar- 
ters, yet  after  much  Praying  and  Facing  before 
the  Great  Shepherd  of  the  Sheep  for  His  Direction, 
they  could  fix  no  where,  but  upon  this  Hopeful 
Son  of  their  former  Pastor.  Indeed,  for  the 
moft  part,  A  Prophet  is  without  Honour  in  his  own 
Country,  neverthelefs  in  this  Country,  as  well  as 
among  fome  of  the  Primitive  Churches,  there  hav* 
been  more  than  two  or  three  Inftances  of  Sons, 
that  have  happily  fucceeded  (  yea,  and  aJfiFbtd  ) 

LIU  their 


2o4  The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  Book 


their  Fathers  in  the  Evangelical   Proplxfic.     And 
Charlftown  particularly  (  not  altogether  unlike  the 
Magiftratcs  of  B.ifil,  who  from  their  Efceem  of 
the  Excellent  Buxtorf,  chofe  his  very  young  Son 
to  lucced  him  in  the  Hebrew  Profefforfhip  )  know- 
iag  the  Prayers,  the  Tears,  the  Faith,  which  their 
Firft   Sbepard  had    ufed  for  this  Only  Son,   con- 
cluded, that  like  the  Son  of  Monica,  It  teas  im- 
poffible,    that  he  jhould  not  be  bleffed,  and  made  a 
Blejfwg ;  and  feeing  alfo  the  Early  Difpofition  of 
our  Young  Sbepard,  in  all  things  to  imitate  his- 
Excellent  Father,   they  believed,   that   nothing 
would  more  continue  Day-light  after  Sunfctvin* 
to  them,  than  for  them  here  to  make  their  choice. 
Accordingly,  at  their  Defire,   he  preached  his 
Firjl  Sermon  among  them,  while  he  was  yet  little- 
more  than  twenty  Years  of  Age  ;  and  with  a  very 
Charming,  Solid  and  Serious  Gravity,  he  dif-- 
courfed  on  Exod.  i  5,  2.    He  is  my  Father's  God, 
and  I  witi  exalt  Htm. .    Upon  this,  and  other  fuch 
Experiments  of  his  Abilities  •,  his  Father's  Flock 
wet  eat  no  Reft,  until  they  had  obtained  his  Efta- 
bliQiment    with   Ordination,   to  be  their   Feeder; 
which  was  confummated  on  May  5.  1680,  And 
the  laft  Words  ufed  in  the  Sermon  by  a  Reve- 
rend PeiTon,  who  then  preached  on  that  PaiTage- 
in  Ezek,  33.7.  Son  of  Man,  J  have  fet  thee  a  Watch- 
man, will  by  being  here  tranfet  ib'd,  help  to  finifh 
the  Piclure,  which  we  have  undertaken. 
4  1  !  much  in  Prayerjor  your  Watchmen,  and 
particularly  for  him,  who  is  this  Day  to  be  efta- 
biifhed  in  the  Work  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift 
among  you  •,  You  have  honoured  Tour  felves  in 
thus  exprefling  the  Love  and  Honour  which 
you  had  for  his  Excellent  Father ;  and  as  it  was 
faid  in  Ruth  2.  20.  Bkffed  be  he  of  the  Lord, 
who  hath  not  left  off  his  Kindnefs  to  the   Living, 
and  to  the  Dead  ;    fo  I  will  fay  to  you,  Bleffed 
be  this  Cbitri  b  of  the  Lord,  that  you  flow  Kind- 
nefs  unto  your  Dead  Paflor,  and  to  his  Living  Son. 
As  for  him,  that  is  now  to  become  your  Watch 


many  he  ce:ds  your  Prayers  ;  I  may  fay  of  him 
as  David  of  Solomon,  My  Son  is  young  and  tender, 
and  the  Houfe  is  magnificent !  I  know  not  whe- 
ther any  fo  young  as  he,  was  ever  left  alone 
with  fuch  a  Charge.  Now  tho'  the  Work  be  great, 
yet  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  is  able  to  carry  him 
well  through  it  all ;  but  it  muft  be  through  the 
Help  of  your  Prayers^  that  he  comes  to  have 
fuch  a  Supply  of  the  Spirit,  pray  for  him  in  par- 
ticular, and  that  ev'ry  Day  !  Who  knows 
what  God  may  do  for  you,  in  him,  and  by 
him,  as  in  and  by  his  Father  before  him  ?  Let 
it  be  your  Prayer,  that  He  would  take  of  the 
Spirit,  that  was  in  his  Father  and  his  Grand- 
father ;  who  were  both  of  them  Great  Men  in 
their  Generation,  and  beftow  thereof  a  Double 
Portion  upon  him.  And  let  that  Word  encou- 
rage you,  My  Spirit  -which  is  upon  thee, and  my  Word 
which  I  have  put  in  thy  Mouth,  (hall  not  depart 
out  of  thy  Mouth,  nor  out  of  the  Mouth  of  thy 
Seed,  nor  out  of  the  Mouth  of  thy  Seed's  Seed  ; 
faith  the  Lord. 

Thus  did  he  become  the  Paftor  of  Char IJl own, 
and  herein  he  did  not  leap  from  a  vain,  lewd 
and  unfan&ified  Youth  into  the  Pulpit,,  as  into  a 


Shop,  where  to  am  a  Living,  and  these  fudden- 
ly  put  on  juft  fo  much  External  Devotion,  as  may 
ferve  to  recommend  one's  Performances  unto 
an  Auditory  of  the  Faithful.  Evan  the  Heathen 
Moralift,  obferved  the  great  Mifchief  done  in 
the  World  by  the  Mercenary  Matters  of  Precept 
who  endeavoured  more  to  talk  juft  Tilings,  tbaa' 

Our  Sbepard  was  none  of  thefc.  But  after  long 
Preparations  of  a  Renewed  Heart  and  a  Reli- 
gious Life,  and  with  Awful  Apprehenfions  of 
the  Account,  which  he  was  to  give  unto  the  Lord 
of  toe  Flock,  and  of  the  Worth  and  Oiarge  of  Im- 
mortal Souls  in  his  Flock,  he  was  thrujl  forth  in- 
to publick  Labours  And  the  Lord  encouraged 
his  Holy  Labours  by  making  of  fuch  Additions 
unto  hvs  Church,  as  few  Churches  in  the  Coun- 
try for  the  time  had  the  like  •  but  yet,  as  when 
Peter  had  a  mighty  Draught  of  Fiflns,  he  cryed 
uur,  Lord!  I am  a  ftnful  Man !  Thus  the  mighty 
.'Draught  of  Souls,  which  this  young  Difciple  found 
m  his  Gofpel- Net,  was  indeed  fo  far  from  Lifting 
of  him  up,  that  he  fenfibly  grew  in  his  Humility 
and  m  ins  low  and  vile  Thoughts  of  his  own  At- 
tainments. 


§.  6.  Although  he  were  a  Young  Man  yet 
might  be  applied  unto  him,  a  Stroke  in  the 'Epi- 
taph on  one  of  Mr.  Henries  Children,  Praterquam 
atatem,  mi  Puerile  fitit  ;  And  he  made  the  molt 
Judicious  of  his  People  pais  this  Judgment  on 
him,  that  he  was  no  Novice  :  And  fuch  an  Exam- 
ple wa$  he  In  Word,  in  Convey fat  ion,  in  Civility 
in  Spirit,  in  Faith,  in  Purity,  that  he  did  Let  no  Man 
difpife  his  Toutb.  Such  indeed  was  his  whole  Con- 
duct of  him,  that  he  made  one  think  of  thofe 
Words  of  Origen,  Sen  am  e(i  prophet  are;  etiamfi  vi- 
deas  aliqando  Juvenem  prophet  ant  em,  nen  dubites  di- 
cer e  de  eo,  quia  fecundnm  interior  cm  howinem  fenuit 
proptere*  Prophet  a  eft.  By  the  Gravity  by  his  De- 
portment he  kept  up  his  Authority  among  all 
forts,  of  Perfons,  and  by  the  0.„rtffic  of  it  he  won 
their  Affeiiion.  He  fet  himfclfto  Do  good  unto 
all  among  his  People,  and  the  Charity  of  his  lurfe, 
as  well  as  of  his  Tongue  and  Heart,  was  felt  on  al) 
juft  OccaOons.  But  there  were  none  dearer  to 
him  than  the  Good  Old  People;  thofe  Holy  Devout 
Aged  Souls,  who  had  grown  well  towards  Ripe  for 
Heaven  under  his  Bklted  Father's  Minifrry  :  He 
was  much  in  their  Company,  and  he  valued  their 
Prayers  for  him,  and  their  Serious  and  Savoury  and 
Heavenly  Communications  at  no  ordinary  Rate. 
Nor  (hall  I  ever  forget  the  Confolatkm,  which  he- 
told  me,  he  had  received  from  the  Words,  which 
one  of  thofe  plain,  old  Saints  ufed  unto  him,  when 
he  was  under  difcouraging  Fears,  how  he  fhould 
go  through  his  Work:  Sir  (  faid  he)  ]J you'll 
give  up  your  felf  to  do  the  Work  of  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift,  never  fear  but  He  will  help  you  to  do  yours. 
When  he  came  to  have  a  Family  of  his  own,  it  was 
a  Well-Ordered  One  :  He  Morning  and  Evening 
read  in  it  a  Portion  of  the  Scripture,  and  then  pray'd 
out  of  what  he  read :  But  on  the  Satur-day  Nights, 
he  chofe  to  Repeat  a  Sermon,  commonly  what  had 
been  preached  on  fome  Letturc  the  forgoing,  Wvci, 
or  Qne  of  his  deceafed  Father's  •  and  on  Lord's- 

Day 


Book  IV.  The  Hiftory  of  New-England 


2  O ' 


Day  Nights  he  Repeated  the  Sermon  of   the  Day 
foregoing.     And  while  he  made  his  Houfe  a  Be- 
thel, for  the  Devotion  therein  performed  ;    he 
made  it  a  Bethefda,  for  the  Hofpttable  Entertain- 
ment which  he  gave  untothofe  that  repaired  unto 
him:  And  Munerarius  Pauperum  et  Egentium,ca>i- 
didatmftc  fejlinavtt  ad  Ccelum    For  all  other  things  j 
heTo  made  the  Hundred  and  Firft  Ffalm  the  Ridel 
of  bis  Houfe,  as  to  give  therein  a  Demonftmion 
of  his  Ability  to  Rule  the  Church  of  God.     From 
hence,  if  we  follow  him  unto  his  Beloved  Study, 
there  we  (hall  find  him  affording  yec  a  more  Nota- 
ble, and  Eminent  lnftance  of  an  Holy  Walk.     Flerei 
betides  his  Daily  Supplications,  he  did  One  Thing,\ 
which  had  a  mighty  Tendency,  to  keep  his  owm 
Spirit  in  an  healthy,  vigorous,  thriving  Temper,| 
and  bring  down  the  manifold  Bkjfmgs  of  God  up- j 
on  all  the  Weighty  Concerns,  which  he  had  in  his1, 
Hands  •,    and  a   Thing  it   was,  without  which  j 
he   thought,    he  could    never   provce  either  a 
VVatchful  Cbrijlian,  or  a  very    Vfeful   Mtmfter  • 
This  was  that  he  fcarce  permitted  one  Month  to 
pafs  him,  without  fpending  at  leaft  One  Day  in  the 
Exercifes  of  zSecrtt-Fasl  before  the  Lord.  It  is  re- 
markable, that  ev'ry  Que  of  thofe  Three,  who  are 
famous  in  the  Book  of  God  for  Mi'acubus  Fatting, 
were  honoured  by  God  with  the  Miraculous  Feed- 
ing of  other  Men      Our  Sbepard  thought,  that  he 
fhould  never  do  any  great  Things  in  Feeding  of  his 
Flov.k,  if  he  did  not  great  Things  in  Falling  by 
hiaifelf.     The  Commendations  given  to  Fatting, 
by    Bajll  zwdCyprian,  in  their  Ovations  about  it, 
and  by  A.-nbrofe  in  his  Book  of  Elicus,  were  believed 
by  our  SLepard  ;  his  Hoi/   Heart  could  fubferibe 
unto  the  Words  of  Cbryfoftom  concerning  this 
Duty,  who  in  his  Homily  fays,  Rifting  is,  as  much 
as  lies  in  us,  an  Imitation  of  the  Angeh,  a  Contemn- 
ing of  Things  pre fent,  a  School  of  Pray tr,  a  Nourish- 
ing of  the  Soul,  a  Bridle  of  the  Month,  an  Abatement 
of  Cone  upi fence  :  It  modifies  Rage,  it  appeafts  Anger, 
tt  calms  the  Tcmpefts  of  Nature,  it  excites  Reafjn,  it 
clears  the  Mind,  it  disbu-  thens  the  Fitfh,  it  chafes  away 
Night-Foliations, it  frees  from  Head-ach.   By  F.ifting, 
a  Man  gets  compofed  Behaviour,  Free  Viterance  of  his 
Tongue,  Right  Apprehenfions  of  his  Aimd.    Where- 
fore he  ftill  would  fet  apart  a  Day  every  Month, 
wherein  he  would  firictly  examine  the  Error  of  his 
Heart  and  Life,  and  confefs  and  bewail  thofe  Er- 
rors, and  obtain  the  Sealed  Pardon  thereof,  by  a 
Renewed  Faith  in  the  Obedience  of  the  Lord  Jefus  | 
Chrift  ;  and  then  wreffle  with  Heaven  for  New  | 
Supplies  of  Grace,    to  carry  him  well  thro'  the 
whole    Service  iucumbent  on   him ;  and  there- 
withal  implore  the  Smiles  of  Heaven  on  all  the 
Souls  that  were  under  his  Charge,  and  on  the  Land 
and  World.     And  this  his  Piety  was  accompanied 
with  proportionable  Induftry,  wherein  he  devoured 
Books  even  to  a  Degree  of  Learned  Gluttony  ;  in- 
fomuch,  that  if  he  might  have  changed  his  Name, 
it  mutt  have  been  into  Bibliandcr.    Whence,  tho' 
he  had  a  fine,  and  large,  and  a  continually  grow- 
ing Library,  yet,  that  he  might  avoid  the  Difgrace 
of  that  Salutation,  Salvcte  Libri  fine  DoBore,  he 
took  a  very  particular  courfe,  to  make  himfelfMa- 
Iter  of  the  Learning,  which  was  lodg'd  in  fo  Rich 
a  Treafiuy  :  For  fo  little  did  he  defer  veto  be  num- 
bred  among  the   Chaplains  of  K.  Lewis  the  XL 


the  French  King,  who  feeing  their  Learning 
to  bear  no  proportion  unto  their  Libraries, 
wittily  faid  of  them,  They  were  like  fuch  as  had 
crooked  Backs,  carrying  a  Burden  about  with  them, 
which  they  never  fctw  in  their  Lives  ,  that  he  had 
hardly  left  a  Book  of  Confequence  »to  be  fo  ufer<„ 
in  his  Library  (  fhall  1  now  call  it,  or  his  Labora- 
tory )  which  he  had  not  fo  perufed  as  to  leave  wiih 
it  in  an  lnferted  Paptr,  a  Brief  Idea  of  the  whole 
Bcok,  with  Memorandum*  of  more  Notable  Paff- 
ges  occurring  in  it,  written  with  his  own  Diligent 
and  lb  Enriching  FJand.  He  might  fay  with  Stnc- 
ca,  Nullus  mihi  per  otium  e.xiit  Dies,  partem  etiam 
Nocliumftudiis  vendico  ;  and  it  is  well  if  he  were 
not  a  little  too  much  of  a  Seneca,  in  hurting  of  his" 
Health  by  fo  fpending  of  his  Life. 

§.  7.  He  faithfully  fet  hiaifelf  to  difcharge  the 
whole  Duty  of  a  Tafor;  and  as  he  walked  hum- 
bly under  the  Awe  of  that  Word  in  Heb.  13.17. 
They  watch  for  your  Souls,  as  thofe  that  muft  give 
an  Account;  fo  methinks,  1  hear  him  give  up  this 
Account  unto  the  Judge  of  aB, 

'  Gracious  Lord  ;I  watclSJjhzz  I  might  fee  what 
'  fpecial  Truths  from  time  to  time,  were  rnoftpro- 
'  per  to  be  inculcated  on  my  Flock,  and  I  throughly 
'  preached  thofe  Truths.  7  w.itcb'J,  that  I  might 
c  fee  what  fort  of  Temptations  did  mo  ft  threaten 
c  my  Flock,  and  I  fet  my  felf  to  ftrengthen  them 
'  againft  thofe  Temptations.  I  watch'J,  that  I 
'  might  fee  what  fou  of  Afjiiilions  did  moft  af- 
'  fault  my  Flock,  audi  fet  nvy  felf  to  comfort  them 
'  under  thofe  Afflidions.  I  did  watch,  to  Learn 
'  what  fort  of  Duties,  were  moft  fe a finable  to  be 
'  recommended  to  my  Flock,  and  I  vigoroufly  re- 
'  commended  them  in  the  Seafons  thereof.  I  did 
'  watch,  to  fee  what  Souls  of  my  Bock  did  call  for 
'  my  more  particular  Addreffes,  and  I  cf.en  ad- 
'  drefs'd  one  or  other  ot  them.  Yet  not  1,  but 
1  the  G'~acc  which  was  with  me  ! 

But  if  we  confider  him  yet  more  particularly,  as 
si  Preacher,  he  did  thus  acquit  tiimfelf.  In  the 
writing  of  his  Difcourfes  for  the  Pulpit,  he  did, 
as  they  fay,  Ariftotlsdid,  when  he  wrote  one  of 
his  Famous  Books,  Dip  h'vs  Pen  into  his  very  Soul  I 
When  he  was  going  to  compofe  a  Sermon,  he  be- 
gan with  Prayer  ;  ihinkirig,  Bene  orajfe  eft  bent  ftU- 
duijfe.  He  then  read  over  his  Tex:  in  the  Ori- 
ginal, and  weighed  the  Language  of  the  Holy  Ghoft. 
If  any  Difficulty  occur'd  in  the"  Interpretation,  he 
was  wary,  how  he  ran  againff  the  Stre.un  of  the 
moft  folid  Interpreters,  whom  he  frill  confulted. 
He  was  then  detirous  to  draw  forth  his  Dotlrtncs, 
and  perhaps  other  Heads  of  his  Difcom  fe  in  the 
Beginning  of  the  Week,  that  fo  his  Occaftonal  Thoughts, 
might  be  ufeful  thereunto.  And  he  would  ordi- 
narily improve  his  own  .Meditations  to  fhape  his 
Difcourfe,  before  he  would  confult  any.  other  Au- 
thors who  treated  on  the  Subjects,  that  fo  their 
Notions  might  ferve  only  to  Adorn  or  Correll  his 
own.  Laftly,  Having  finifiied  his  Compofure,  he 
concluded  with  a  Thank/giving  to  the  Lord,  bis 
Helper.  And  then  for  the'  "Utterance  of  the  Ser- 
mons thus  prepared,  though  his  pronunciation  were 
not  fet  off  with  all  the  Advantages,  that  Itching 
Ears  would  have  asked  for,  yet  he  had  the  Divine 
Rhetorick,  recommended  by  Dr.  Stougbton  in  that 
Speech  of  his,  This  1  know  and  dare  avouch,  that 
L 1  1  1  1  the 


. 


2o6  The  Hifiory  of  New-England. 


Book  IV. 


the  bigheft  Myftery  in  Divine  Rhetorick  is,  To  feel 
what  a  Man  /peaks,  and  then  to  /peak  what  be  felt'. 
In  tkus fulfilling  his  Mini/try,  he  went  through  a 
Variety  of  Subjects  -,  but  there  were  efpecially 
Two  Subjcils,  that  were  fingled  out  by  him  to- 
wards the  Clofe  of  it.  Firft,  It  being  a  Time, 
when  a  Conjun&ion  of  Iniquity  and  Calamity  made 
but  an  111  Afpeil  upon  the  Countrey,  he  did  in  One 
part  of  the  Lord's  Day  choofe  to  in  lift  upon  the 
Prayer  of  Jonas ;  which  he  handled  in  Forty  five 
Sermons,  whereof  the  laft  was  uttered  about  a 
Month  before  his  End.  Secondly,  A  Synod  of 
Churches  having  difcovered,  and  condemned  a 
Number  of  Provoking  Evils,  by  degenerating 
whereinto,  the  Land  was  expofed  unto  the  Judg- 
ments of  Heaven,  he  did  on  the  other  part  of  the 
Lord's  Days  infift  on  thole  Provocations  ;  and  hav- 
ing difpatch'd  what  he  intended  hereof  alfo,  he 
took  Two  Texts ;  the  One  to  awaken  the  Obfti- 
nate,  namely,  that  in  Jer.  13.  17.  If  you  will  not 
bear,  my  Soul  (hall  weep  in  fecret  places  for  your  Pride. 
The  Other  to  encourage  the  Penitent,  namely,  that 
in  Mai.  1 1.  28.  Come  to  me  all  ye  that  labour  and 
are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  Reft.  And  he 
was  never  afcer  heard  fpeaking  in  the  Name  of 
the  Lord. 

§.  8.  A  while  before  his  Death,  he  preached 
Thirteen  Sermons  on  that  Paffage  Ecclef  12.5.  Man 
goeth  to  bis  Long  Home.  And  he  had  a  flrange  and 
ltrong  Prafage  on  his  own  Mind,  that  he  was 
himfelf  to  be  not  long  from  that  Home. 

1  find  the  Patriarch  I/aac,  in  Gen.  if.  2.  fill'd 
with  many  Thoughts  about  the  Day  of  bis  Death 
at  hand,  and  enquiring  after  fome  fpecial  Reafon 
for  it,  I  find  that  I/aac  was  now  come  to  that  Age, 
at  which  his  Brother  Ifhmatl  died  fourteen  Years 
before.  This  probably  now,  above  any  other  time, 
awakened  him  to  think  of  his  own  Death  as  near 
unto  him.  It  may  be,  the  Fr  a/age  of  our  Sbepard, 
that  hefhould  not  outlive  the  Age  of  Twenty  (even, 
might  be  fomewhat  excited,  by  his  calling  to  Mind, 
the  Age  at  which  his  Uncle  expired. 

Our  Firft  Shepard  of  Cambridge  had  Three  Sons, 
whereof,  if  the  Eldeft,  pamely,  Thomas  (the  Fa- 
ther of  our  Thomas  of  Charl/lown  )  were  one  fin 
gularly  Enlarged  in  his  Endowments  and  Improve- 
ments ;  I  am  fure,  the  Second  was  one,  whofe 
Heart  was  a  Tent  in  which  the  Lord  remarkably 
chofe  to  Dwell :  It  was  Mr.  Samuel  Shepard,  of 
whofe  Holy  Life  and  Death  I  may  here  interweave 
a  diftinft  Account,  by  but  reciting  the  Words 
which  I  find  written  in  a  private  Manufcript  of 
our  Excellent  Mr.  Mitchel  concerning  him.  His 
Words  are  thefe, 

On  Aoril  7.  1668.  dyed  Mr.  Samuel  Shepard, 
'  Paftorof  the  Church  of  Rouly  ( juft  two  Months 
'  after  his  Wife)  a  very  Precious,  Holy,  Medi- 

*  tating,  Able  and  Choice  Young  Man  ;  Lite  of 

*  the  Firft  Three.   His  Attainments  in  Communion 

*  with  God,  and  in  daily  Meditation  and  Clofe 
'  Walking,  may  fhame  thofe  that  are  Elder  than 

*  he.    He  was  but  Twenty  fix  years  of  Age  in 

*  Otfober  laft.  He  was  an  Excellent  Preacher, 
'  moft  dearly  Beloved  at  Rowly,  and  of  all  that 
'  knew  him ;  but  juft  fettkd  among  them.  The 


'  People  would  have  Plucked  out  tbeiriiyes  for  him, 
'  to  have  faved  his  Life.  But  he  was  ripe  for 
1  Heaven,  and  God  took  him  thither  :  A  Gain  to 
c  him  but  an  invaluable  Lofs  to  us. 

Now  this  our  Thomas  had  an  almoft  unaccount- 
able Apprehenfion,  that  in  his  Early  Death  he 
fhould  be  like  his  Uncle  Samuel ;  and  under  the 
Influence  of  this  Apprehenfion,  he  fo  liv'd,  and 
fo  preach'd,  as  to  avoid  the  Danger  of  a  Sudden 
Death,  by  being  always  prepared  for  it.  Accord- 
ingly, it  came  to  pafs  that  about  "June  5.  1685. 
on  Friday  being  indifpofed  in  his  Bowels,  he  yet 
continued  his  Pains  and  Hopes,  all  the  Saturday 
following,  to  be  ready  for  the  Exercifes  of  the 
Lord's  Day,  When  the  Lord's-Snpper  alfo  was  to 
have  been  adminiftred.  But  on  the  Saturday 
Night  his  lllnefs  grew  fo  much  upon  him,  that 
he  faid  unto  his  Wife,  /  would  gladly  have  been, 
once  more,  at  the  Table  of  the  Lord,  but  I  now  ft] 
that  1  ft? all  no' more  partake  thereof,  until  I  do  it  af- 
ter a  new  Manner  in  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven.  Oil 
Lord's  Day  Noon  I  vifited  him,  and  at  my  part- 
ing with  him,  he  faid,  My  Hopes  are  built  on  the 
Fee  Mercy  of  God,  and  the  Rich  Merit  ofCmfi,  and 
I  do  believe,  that,  if  I  am  taken  out  of  the  World, 
IfhiH  only  change  my  Place  -,  1  fhall  neither  change 
my  Company,  nor  change  my  Communion  .-  And 
as  /or  yon,  Sir,  I  Leg  the  Lord  jefus  to  be  with  you 
unto  the  End  of  the  World!  After  this,  he  fpoke 
little  to  his  Attendants ;  but  was  often  over-heard 
pouring  out  Prayers,  efpecially  for  the  Widow- 
Church  ;  (  as  he  often  expreffed  it  )  which  he  wad 
to  leave  behind  him.  And  in  the  Night  follow- 
ing, to  the  extream  Surprize  of  his  Friends  on 
Earth,  he  went  away  to  thofe  in  Heaven  i  If  his 
Age  be  now  enquired  after,  it  is  remarked,  that 
altho"  the  Scripture  doth  mention  the  particular 
Age  of  many  Heroes  eternized  in  it's  Oracles,  ycc 
after  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  came,  and  continued 
in  this  lower  World,  no  longer  than  Thirty  tw« 
Tears  and  an  half,  the  Scripture  does  not  mention 
thereof  any  one  Perfon  whatfoever,  as  if  the 
time  of  any  one's  Continuance  in  this  World 
more  or  lefs,  were  not  worth  minding,  fince  the 
Son  of  the  Moft  High  Tabernacled  Co  little  a  while 
among  us.  However,  we  will  here  mention  the 
Age  ot  our  Shepard ;  it  was  a  Month  fhort  of  Twenty 
feven.     But, 

An  thiftrum  dices,  citd  \uH  Terrena  reliquit ! 
Fceliccm  cert?y  quod  meliora  tenet. 

§.  9.  Wifdom,  Gravity,  Prudence,  Temperance 
(  as  One  fpeaks  )  are  not  always  confined  unto  tbcm, 
that  have  wrinkled  Faces,  furrowed  Brows,  dim 
Lyes,  and  palfey  Hands,  leaning  on  a  Staff ;  nor  is 
a  Toung  Man  uncapable  of  being  a  Divine.  Al- 
though our  Shepard  had  not  outlived  the  Tears  of 
Touth,  when  he  went  from  hence,  yet  he  had 
o-utgrown  the  Airs  of  it  •,  and  among  all  the  Ver- 
mes of  an  Old  Man  which  adorn'd  him,  not  the 
leaft  of  his  Ornaments  was,  his  being  well  effa- 
blifhed  in  the  Study  of  Divinity.  To  accomplifh 
himfelf  in  that  Study,  he  did  not  apply  himfelf 
unto  the  Reading  of  thofe  Authors,  who,  pre- 
tending to  defenbe  unto  us,  The  Whole  Duty  of 

■Mar, 


Book    IV.  The  Hiftory  of  New-England 


2Q' 


Man,  and  the  Condition  of  our  Obtaining  the  Bene- 
fits purcbafed  by  Chrifl,  are   careful  to  infill   on 
"any  thing  rather,   than  that  a  Reliance  on  the 
gigbteOHJncfs  of  the  Obedience,  yielded  by   the 
Lord  Jefus  Chi  iff  as  our  Surety  unto  God  for  us, 
which  is  the  One  thing  needful,    or   that  Faith, 
whereby  we  come  to  have  the  Vnion  with  our 
Lord  Jefus  Chrifr,    from  which    alone  all  Good 
Works  arid' :  And  thofe,  whoamidft  their  Volu 
minons  Harangues  upon  Moral  Virtue,  are  very 
careful   to  avoid   the  leift   Infinuation,    that  a 
Man  cannot  be  truly  Virtuous,  until  the  Spirit  ot 
God  by  a  Supernatural  Operatiou,  infufing  a  New 
Principle  into  him  hath  regenerated  him,  and  that 
a  Man  can  do  nothing  truly  Vntuous  without  the 
Supernatural  Aids  of  that  Spirit.     He  look'd  upon 
many  lace  Books  written  to  undermine  the  Ortho- 
dox  Articles  of  the  Church   of  England,  in  thefe 
Matters,  by  Perfons,  who  perhaps  had  got  into 
Preferments  by  fufcribing  thofe  very  Articles,  as 
Books  that  indeed   betrayed  the  Chrifiian  Religion, 
under  the    Pretence  of  "Upholding   it.      And  the 
Mercy  of  God  having  preferved  the  Mind  of  this 
our  Young   Student   from  the    wrong  Schemes, 
which  might  have   afterwards  entailed  fuch  an 
Eternal  Vnfucccfsfulnefs  upon  his  Minifh  y,  as  ufes 
to  attend  the  Mini  ft  ry,  wherein  the  Grace  of  the 
.  Gofpcl  is  not  acknowledged,  he  chofe  to  read  thofe 
Authors,  Which  have  the  Truer  Spirit  of  the  Gufpel 
in  them.     1  find  therefore  under  his  own   Hand, 
a  Lift  of  fuch  Arthurs  as  thefe,  to  be  confidered 
by  him,    as  indeed  worthy  to   be  perufed    and 
confidered  •,  Mr.  Perkins,  Dv.Prefon,  Dr.  Vflier, 
Dr.  Manton,  Mr.  Jeans,  Mr.  Strong,    Mr.  Carylt 
Mr.  Svinnock,  Dr.  Jacomb,  Dr.  On>e»,  Mr.  Polhill. 
And  however  he  f.iw  a  Sherlock,  after  a  very  Vn- 
evangelical  Manner,  abufiug  the  Writings  of  his 
Grandfather  Shepard,  his  Value  for  thofe  Wri- 
tings, 2vA  the  Writings  of  fuch  Men  as  Mr.  Hooker 
or  Dr.  Goodwm,  was  thereby  not  abated  ;  but  his 
Deteftation  of  the  Nerv-Divmry,  wherein  he  law 
the  Myfteries  of  Vnwn  with    Chrifl  confounded, 
Acquaintance   with  Ckrifi  reproached,  and  Living 


by  Faith  on  Chrifl,  and  Coming  to  Cbrijl  with  no- 
thing for  all  things  made  a  Ridicule,  was  more  than, 
a  little  augmented.  And  as  it  was  a  Principal  En- 
deavour with  hi;n,  to  fettle  himfelf  in  the  True, 
Proteflant,  Ncw-Englifh  Anti- Arminian  Points. hi 
truth,  fo  on  all  Occafions  he  provM  himfelf  One 
able  to  maintain  the  Truth  againft  all  Oppofers : 
Whence,  the  Immature  Death  of  fo  Accomplifh'd. 
a  Divine,  cannot  but  be  a  fenfible  Wound  unto 
our  Churches.  But  He  that  Holds  the  Stars  in 
Ins  Right  Hand,  can,  if  we  addrefs  him  for  it,  up- 
on the  Setting  of  Jome,  caufe  others  to  rife ;  yea, 
it  is  pojfrble,  and  it  is  indeed  propofed,  that  by  wri- 
ting the  Lines  of  jome  fuch,  others  may  be  exci- 
ted and  afTifted,  in  frining  like  unto  them. 

This  was  the  Short  Life  of  my  Dear  Shepard.  I 
confefs  my  AfFedion  unto  him  to  have  been  fuch, 
that  if  I  might  ufe  the  Poet's  Expreffiou  of  his 
Friend,  Anima  dimidium  mete,  I  muft  fay,  /  am 
half  buried  fmce  he  vs  dead,  or.  He  is  hut  half 
dead  fmce  I  am  ij//Ve.Neverthe]eI's,  this  Affetiion 
hath  not  bribed  my  Veracity  in  any  part  of  the 
Character  which  1  have  given  of  him  \  for  as  on 
the  one  fide,  I  count  it  bafe  to  throw  Dirt  on  the 
Face,  which  Dnfl  hath  been  caff  upon  ;  fb,  on  the 
other  fide,  I  think,  that  Painting  becomes  Dead 
People  worfe  than  Living. 

A  Line  or  Two  of  Emanuel  Tbefwxs,  upon 
that  Firft  and  Young  Shepherd  ABEL,  we  may 
now  leave  upon  him  for  his 

EPITAPH. 

Conditur  fab  hoc  Ccfpite,  Virgineus  PASTOR, 
Qui  mortem,  omnibus,  vitam  ncminiflendam  traefegit. 

Or  This, 
Great  Minds  muft  like  New  Stars,  but  look  about, 
Be  wondred  at  a  little,  and  go  out. 

Or,  This. 
Dear  Shepard,  fure  we  dare  not  call  thee  Dead  ; 
Tho'^ow,  thou'rt  but  unto  thy  Kindred  fled. 


CHAP. 


10 


'  '  ... 

The  Hiflory  of  New-England. 


Book  IV. 


CHAP.    X. 

EARLT  PIETY,  Exemplified  in  the  Life  and  Death 
of  Mr.  Nathanael  Mather  •  Who  having  become  at  the 
Age  of  Nineteen y  an  Inflame  of  more  than  Common  Learning 

•     and  Virtue^  changed  Earth  for  Heaven 3  Odob.  17.  1688 

Si  fpe&cs    Annos,  Annis    Piter  ilk  viclctur  : 
Si    Mores  fpe&es,  Moribus  ejfe  Scnex. 


Cfje  JFourtfj  CDitioin 
With   a    Prefatory    Epiftle   by    Mr.    Matthew   Mead. 


To  the  READER. 


F  all  Reading,  Hiftory  hath  in  it  a  mofl 
taking  Delight,  and  no  Hiflory  more  de- 
lightful than  the  Lives  of  good  Men,  it 
king  not  only  pleafant  bat  profitable  ; 
and  fo  while  other  Plea/tires  become  a  Bait  to  tlce, 
this  becomes  a  Motive  to  Virtue.  It  way  be  [aid 
of  fuch  Lives,  as  that  Excellent  .M-.  Herbert /Iw/ 
of  Ferfes, 

A  Life  may  find  him  who  a  Sermon  flics, 
And  turn  Delight  into  a  Sacrifice. 

Thou  haft  here  a  rare  Hiflory  of  a  Touth,  that  may 
be  of  great  Vfe  and  advantage  both  to  Old  and 
Tonng  :  That  the  Aged  feting  themfelvcs  out-done 
by  Green  rears,  may  Gird  up  their  Loins,  and 
mend  thtir  Pace  for  Heaven  ;  and  that  Tonng  Ones 
may  be  fo  wrought  into  the  Love  of  Religion,  as  it 
is  Exemplified  in  this  Holy  Perfon,  as  to  endea- 
vour with  all  Diligence  to  write  after  his  Excellent 
Copy. 

it  is  a  great  Work  to  dye,  and  to  dye  well  is  a 
greater  ;  and  no  Work  calls  for  greater  Diligence  than 
this,  becaufe  the  Errours  of  the  fir  (I  Work  can  never 
be  correcled  in  a  fecond.  One  great  Reafun  why  this 
Duty  is  feldom  well  done,  is  becaufe  we  grudge  Time 
to  do  it  iny  and  leave  it  to  be  done  at  once.  It  is 
never  like  to  be  well  done,  unlefs  it  be  always  doing  • 
and  therefore  we  Jhould,  in  Conformity  to  that  great 
Apoflle,  die  daily. 

This  was  the  Fraclice  of  this  Young  Difciple, 
who  among  all  his  other  Learning  (  wherein  for  his  time 
he  excelled  mojl  )  bad  m  Nineteen  Years  fo  per- 
fectly learned  this  Lejfon,  that  the  Wife  Cod  f aw  it 
fit  he  Jhould  take  out. 

About  Fourteen  Years  old  he  did  dedicate  himfelj 
wholly  to  God  and  his  Service,  and  entred  into  a  So- 
lemn Covenant  with  God  to  that  purpofe  ;  which  as 
he  did  not  begin  rafhly,  and  without  great  delibe- 
ration ,  fo  he  did  not  tranfatt  it  /lightly,  but  with 
great  Scnfe  and  Serioufnefs ;  The  Matter  and  Form 


of  which  Covenant  you  have  in  this  enfuing  Narra- 
tive ftgned  with  his  own  Ha  id,  according  to  that 
Word  of  the  Prophet,  (  Ifa.  44  5.  )  One  fh all  far, 
I  am  the  Lord's,  and  another  (hall  call  himfelf  by 
the  Name  of  Jacob,  and  another  (hall  fubferibe 
with  his  Hand  to  the  Lord.  And  with  what  Care 
and  Confcience  he  performed  this  Covenant  in  Fafling 
in  Prayer,  in  Watcbings,  in  Self- Examination,  in 
Meditation,  in  Thanksgiving,  in  Walking  with  God 
in  all,  is  fully  witnejjed  in  what  follows,  "which  (l)ews 
that  he  was  a  true  Nathanael,  an  Ifvaelite  indeed  in 
whom  was  no  Guile.  Not  like  thofe  Ifraclites  which 
the  Prophet  reproveth,for  that  they  flattered  God  with 

their  Mouth, lied  to  him  with  their  Tongues, 

their  Hearts  not  being  right  with  him,  norfted- 
faft  in  his  Covenant.  For  having  once  given  up 
himfelf  to  God,  He  kept  the  Ways  of  the  Lord, 
and  did  not  wickedly  depart  from  his  God. 

When  his  Worthy  Father  (  my  Dear  Friend  )  was 
plea  fed  to  fend  this  Narrative  to  me,  1  confefs  1  could 
not  read  it  without  great  Rcflc&ion  and  Shame  : 
Thought  f,  God  will  not  gather  bis  Fruit  till  it  is 
ripe,  and  therefore  1  live  fo  long  -9  nor  will  he  let  it 
hang  till  it  is  rotten,  therefore  Nathanael  dyed  fo  for.. 
We  are  net  fent  into  the  World  mccrly  to  fill  up  a 
Number  of  Tears,  but  to  fill  up  our  meafnres  of  Grace, 
and  whenever  that  is  done,  our  Time  is  done,  and 
we  have  lived  to  Maturity,  and  fo  did  this  Touth, 
and  therefore  came  to  his  Grave  in  a  full  Age  ( the? 
at  Nineteen  )  like  as  a  Shock  of  Corn  comes  in  in. 
his  Sea  Ton. 

The  following  Hiflory  is  written  by  his  own  Brother, 
(  a  Worthy  Mmifler  )  the  fitteft  of  any  for  fuch  a 
Province,  the  Nearnefs  of  Relation  occafiouing  that 
Intimacy  which  others  could  not  eafily  have.  In  what 
be  hath  done  herein,  he  hath  dejerved  highly  of  all 
who  love  Goodncfs  and  Virtue,  having  ufed  great 
Faith]  ulnefs,  and  great  Modcfly :  Great  Faitbfulnejs, 
and  that  loth  to  the  Dead  and  to  the  IJv'wg',  to  the 
Dead,  in  rai/jng  up  the  Name  of  fitch  a  Er other  ■  and 
to  the  Living,  in  giving  us  a  Narration  of  his  laje, 

without, 


Book    IV.  The  Hiftory  of  New-England 


20 


9 


with Jiit  an  Oration  in  his  Praife  ;  which  indeed  was 
altogether  n  c'tiefs,  when  it  was  fo  fairly  written  by 
hitnfelf,  for  his  own  Works  praife  him  in  the  Gates. 
And  he  hath  ujed  great  Modefly,  in  fpeak'mg  for 
the  moft  fart  out  of  the  Journal  of  the  Deceafed,  fo 
that  it  is  the  Dead  who  freaks  wb\'e  the  Living  writes. 
And  ftnee  Wis  End  is  more  to  provoke  to  Imitation 
than  to  befpeah  Admiration,  How  greatly  doth  it  con- 
cern them  into  vhofe  Hands  this  Narrative  fball  hap- 


pily fall,  to  joyn  eamejt  Prayer  and  diligent  Endea- 
vour together  in  following  this  grert  Example,  other- 
wife  he  that  gave  it,  and  he  that  writiS  it,  will  both 
rife  up  in  Judgment  againjl  an  untcachable  Genera- 
tion. 

1 

LT7d0D,xlr       Matthew  Mead. 


. 


To  the   READER. 


IT  is  not  for  me  to  fay  much  of  the  Pcrfon  nhois  the 
Subjccl  of  the  Enfuing  Hiftory,  for  that  I  am 
his  younger  Brother.  1  have  read  a  Letter  (  da- 
ted October  2$.  1688.)  written  to  his  and  my 
Ever  Honoured  Father,  wherein  are  thefe  Expreffions. 

Never  could  Parent  have  caufe  of  more  Com- 
fort in  a  Child,  than  you  have  in  that  Son  of 
yours.  I  have  feen  his  private  Papers,  and  in 
them  fuch  an  Inftance  of  a  Walk  with  God,  as 
few  Ancient  Minifters  perhaps  have  Experience 
of,  efpecially  for  the  three  laft  years  of  his  Life, 
I  find  that  he  maintained  a  Courfe  of  wonder- 
ful Devotion,  Supplication  and  Meditation  eve- 
ry Day  ;  that  foleinn  Humiliations  and  Thankf- 
givings  in  fecret,  were  no  Strangers  to  his  Pra- 
ctice, that  he  would  be  often  thinking  with  him- 
felf,  What  fhall  1  do  for  God  1  And  in  a  Word, 
that  Dr.  Owen's  Book  about  Spiritual  Mindednefs, 
has  been  in  a  very  rare  Manner  tranferibed  into 
hisConverfation. 

He  has  bin  for  his  Years  a  great  Scholar,  but 
a  better  Chriftian.  The  Life  of  the  Famous 
Young  J.tneway,  I  think,  has  not  more  of  Holi- 
nefs  flluftiious  in  it,  than  that  of  your  Dear 
Nathanaci's. 

I  write  thefe  Things,  becaufe  I  judge  you 
have  no  greater  Joy.  Some  Eminent  Minifters 
here,  have  maintained  a  pleafant,  intimate,  fa- 
miliar Coiiverfation  with  him,  and  the  Chara- 


cter which  they  gave  of  him,  is  very  Extraor- 
dinary.   Thus  that  Letter. 

J  have  likewife  heard  my  Father  Jay,  that  he  was 
more  grieved  for  the  Lojs  which  the  Church  of  God 
has  fuftained  in  the  Death  of  that  my  Brother,  than 
for  his  own  Lofs  thereby. 

When  J  parted  from  hitn  not  a  Tear  a?o,  I  hoped 
that  would  not  have  been  my  llltimum  Vale  ;  but  J 
now  lament  my  Vnhappmcfs,  in  that  I  g.iin'd  no 
more  by  him  .-  And  yet  mu.fl  acknowledge,  that  the 
little  Vnderflanding  which  God  has  given  me  in  the 
Hebrew  or  Greek  Tongues,  was  by  that  my  Bro- 
ther as  the  Inftrument  :  So  that  I  have  caufe  irhilji 
I  fhall  live,  to  honour  his  Memory.  His  Death 
makes  me  remember  the  Poet's  Words. 

'Of     fJ>H     &>0f     &cff|MtfXH    »4t>f. 

/  cannot  but  know,  that  if  I  (hould  not  fear  and 
ferve  the  God  of  my  Brothers,  and  of  my  Fathers,  and 
of  my  Grand-Fathers,  the  neareft  Relations  I  ever 
had  in  the  World,  will  be  Witneffes  againfl  me  at  the 
Laft  Day.  The  Lord  give  us  a  joyful  Muting  in 
Day  ofChrift. 


London,  February, 
5th.  I6S?. 


Samuel  Mather. 


The   INTRODUCTION. 


"Y  Reader  will  quickly  difcern  what  it 
is  that  I  attempt  the  doing  of-,  and  I 
fuppofe  he  will  then  fee  no  Occafion 
of  enquiring  Why.  The  Apology's  wherewith 
Writers  ufually  fill  the  Prefaces  of  their  Books, 
Do  come  of  Evil ;  either  the  Vanity  of  the  Com- 
pofrs  is  difcovered,  or  the  Candor  of  the  Perufers 
queftioned  in  them.  That  1  write  the  Life  of  a 
Conftian,  cannot  bz  faulted  by  any  one  who  con- 
iiders,  Thai  ...e  Livts  of  Pious  Men  have 
been  juftly  efteemed  among  the  molt  ufeful  Hi- 
ftories  which  the  Church  of  God  enjoys  ;  or  that 
the  beji  Pens  in  the  World  have  been  employ 'd 
in  thus  helping  the  J«ft  unto  Eternal  Memory. 


Our  Lord  will  have  as  mean  a  Thing  as  one  Aft 
of  Devotion  and  Charity,  in  a  poor  Woman,  to 
be  mentioned  wherever  his  Gofpel  comes.  That 
I  write  the  Life  of  a  Brother,  will  not  be  recko- 
ned abfurd  by  them  who  underftand  what  Pat' 
terns  I  have,  both  Ancient  and  Modern,  for  mv 
doing  fo.  James  Janeway  among  the  reft4 has  had 
our  Thanks  for  what  an  Account  he  has  given  of 
his  Brother  John.  Indeed,  if  1  (hould  not  thus 
raife  up  for  my  Departed  Brother  a  Name  in  If* 
raely  1  were  not  worthy  to  wear  a  Shoo,  or  to 
have  a  Face  unfpit  upon.  My  Natural  Relation  xo 
him  doth  oblige  me  to  beftow  an  Epitaph  upon  his 
Grave ;  that  the  Suryivers  may  not  forget  vvhofe 

•  ©ftp 


lo 


The  Htftorj  bf  New-England. 


Duff:  they,  tread  upon  :  But  I  am  by.  (that  which 
Ambrofs  calls  )  a  Greater  and  Better  Fraternity ,  con- 
cerned to  Embalm  the  Memory  of  One,  who 
maintained  fuch  a  IValk.tvith  God^  as  he  did  until 
God  took  htm  to  Himfelf.  It  has  been  obferved, 
That  they  who  Live  in  Heaven  while  they  are  on 
Earth,  often  Live  on  Exfth  after  they  are  in  Hea- 
'Veti.~  It  were  lawful  for  me  to  defire  and  ftudy 
fuch  a  Thing  on  the  behalf  of  my  Brother,  whofe 
Early  titty  is  at  once  my  own  Shame  and  Joy. 
But  I  puri'ue  an  higher  End  than  this,  deiigning 
"rather  to  procure  Followers,  than  to  befpeak  Ad- 
mirers of  this  good  Example :  That  this  is  my 
Main  Scope,  in  what  1  am  now  doing  of,  I  de- 
clare lincerely  and  very  folemnly.  And  hence 
ITiave  riot  here  made  an  Oration  in  his  Praife, 
but  given  barely  a  Narrative  of  his  Life,  and  this 
mofrly  by  tranferibing  of  his  own  Memorials,  in 
all  affecTing  the  plain  Style  of  a  juft  Hiflorian.  I 
do  therefore  addrefs  this  Exemplary  Life  unto 
the  yonng  People  of  New-England,  and  efpecially 
unto  thofe  of  North- Boflon,  who  are  the  Lambs 
that  I  have  received  a  peculiar  Charge  from  the 
Lord  jefus  about  the  Feeding  of.  To  you  do  I 
prefent  this  Mirroar,  wherein  you  may  fee  the 
Exercifes  of  a  Firtuous  Tonth,  not  only  prefcribed, 
but  alfo  pra&ifcd  before  your  Eyes:  You  fhall 
fee,  as  what//jo«W  be  done,  fo  what  may  be  done 
by  a  Toang  Perfon,  in  order  to  Everlafting  Feli- 

-  city ;  fee  him  and  hear  him  as  One  come  from  the 
Dead,  faying,  Do  as  1  have  done.  The  Father  of 
him  whom  I  defcribe  has  laboured  exceedingly 
for  the  Converfion  of  the  Fifing  Generation  w  New- 
England  ;  and  his  CALL  to  them  has  been  printed 
and  reprinted  here  among  us.  Tho'  the  News  of 
a  Sons  Death  muft  needs  be  airli&ive  to  him,  when 
he  (ball  have  the  Report  of  it  arriving  to  him  in 
the  other  England,  yet  1  make  no  doubt,  but  his 

-  Parental  Griefs  will  be  not  a  little  mitigated, 
when  he  fhall  behold  that  Son  thus  renewing  his 
CALL  by  fpeakwg  after  he  is  dead.    This  young 


Man  did  pray  much  for  yon  whilT^waTaTTve 
that  70*  might  be  truly  converted  unto  God  ■  he 
does  preach  now  to  you  from  the  Grave,  or  rather 
from  the%,  that  you  would  Remember  yo"r  Crea 
tor  in  the  Days  of  your  Youth.  I  wifh  that  he  may 
( to  ufe  Chryfofloms  Phrafe  )  become  a  Brother  to 
you  by  Faith,  as  he  is  to  me  by  Blood  ■.  And  I  ex- 
tend tlvs  my  Wifh  with  a  moft  Affectionate  Ap- 
plication to  the  young  Gentlemen,  who  belorU 
to  the  Colledge  which  he  was  a  Member  of.  As 
you  have  had  in  his  Father  a  Reclor,  whofe  Gene- 
rous aad  Expenfive  Cares  have  not  been  for  your 
Difad vantage  •  fo  you  have  in  his  Diligence  and 
his  Devotion^  a  Copy  which  is  not  altogether  un- 
|  worthy  of  your  Imitation  :  I  am  fetting  before 
you  the  Exercifes  and  Accomplifhments  of  a  Scho- 
lar, whofe  Chief  Study  it  was,  to  be  wife  unto  Sal- 
vation ;  a  Scholar,  which  laboured  while  he  was 
learning  all  other  Things,  not  to  be  ignorant  of 
Him,  Whom  to  know  was  Life  Eternal.  I  am  not 
without  Hope,  that  fome  of  you  will  now  re- 
folve  as  Jerom  did  when  he  had  read  the  Life  of 
Hilarion,  fhutting  up  the  Book  and  faying,  Well 
here  (hall  be  the  Champion  whom  I  will  follow  Twheri 
you  come  to  d'ye,  you  will  certainly  commend 
luch  a  Life  as  his  -,  God  grant  that  none  of  you 
may  then  have  caufeto  figh  Qualis  Artifex  pereo! 
Or  to  complain,  Siirgmt  Indotli  &  rapikvt  Gxlum  ■ 
Nos  cum  noflris  Dotlrwis  mergimur  in  Infernum. 
That  Great  Man  Hugo  Grotius  near  his  End  pro- 
felfed,  That  he  would  gladly  give  all  his  Learn- 
ing and  Honour  for  the  Integrity  of  a  poor  Man 
in  his  Neighbourhood,  that  fpent  Eight  Hours 
of  his  Time  in  Prayer,  Eight  in  Labour,  and  Eight 
in  Sleep  and  other  Neceffaries ;  and  unto  fome  that 
applauded  his  marvellous  Jnduflry\  he  faid,  Ah, 
Vitam  perdidi  operofe  nihil  Agendo  !  But  unto 
fome  that  asked,  the  belt  Counfel  which  a  Man 
of  his  Attainment  could  give,  he  faid,  Be  ferious. 
'Tis  with  this  Counfel  that  I  humbly  offer  you  the 
Enfuing  Hiftory. 


THE 


LIFE   and    DEATH 

O  F 

Mr.  Nathanael  Mather. 


Write  the  Ufe  and  Death  of  a  Young  Man, 
whofe  Ornaments  will  awaken  in  the  Reader, 
an  Enquiry  like  that  which  the  Achievements 
of  David,  produced  concerning  him,  Whofe 
Son  is  this  Touth  ? 

To  Anticipate  that  Enquiry  : 

';     ■Nathanael  Mather  had  for  his'  Grand-Fathers 
'  Two  of  New- England's    Fathers,    the    Famous 


Richard  Mather,  and  the  not  lefs  Famous  John 
Cotton ;  whofe  Names  have  been  in  the  Church 
of  God,  as  an  Ointment  poured  forth,  and  whofe 
Lives  bear  no  little  Figure  in  the  Eccleftaflical 
Hi  [lories  of  our  Engli/h  Jfrael.  His  Parents  being  yet 
living,  it's  too  foon  to  give  them  their  Character; 
yet  I  may  venture  to  fay,  It's  no  Difgrace  unto 
him  in  the  Opinion  of  Men  that  love  Learning  and 
Firtite,  that  he  was  tbe  Son  cilnereafe  Mather, the 

well- 


Book  IV. 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


2  1  I 


well  known  Teacher  of  a  Church  in  Bofton,  and 
Rector  of  Flarvard-Colledge  in  Nw- England.  What 
Gregory  Naz.ianz.en  judged  not  improper  to  be 
faid  about  his  yet  furviving  Father,  in  his  Fune- 
ral Oration  upon  his  Deceafed  Brother,  I  may 
without  any  culpable  Adulation  on  this  Occafion, 
fay  of  him,  He  is  another  Aaron  or  Mofes  in  the 
Houfe  of  his  God. 

Our  Nathanael  was  born  on  July  6th.  1669. 
which  I  find  him  recording  in  his  Diary,  when 
he  was  fourteen  Years  old,  with  fuch  an  humble 
Reflection  thereupon,  Hoxo  little  have  I  improved 
this  time  to  the  Honour  of  God  as  1  fhould  have  done  ! 
He  wanced  not  the  Cares  of  his  Father  to  beftow 
a  good  Education  on  him,  which  God  bleffed  for 
the  Rejlraining  him  from  the  lewd  and  wild  Courfes 
by  which  too  miny  Children  are  betimes  refigned  j 
up  to  the  polfeffian  of  the  Devil,  and  for  the  Fur-  \ 
nifhing  him  with  fuch  Accomplifhments  as  give  an  1 
Ornament  of  Grace  unto  the  Head  of  Youth.  He  did 
Live  where  he  might  learn,  and  under  the  con- 
tinual Prayers  and  Pains  of  fome  that  lo)ked  af- 
ter him,  he  became  an  Inftance  of  unufual  hdujlry, 
and  no  Common  Piety  •  fo  that  when  he  dyed, 
which  was  Ottob.  i^.  1688.  he  was  become  in 
lefs  than  twenty  Years,  An  Old  Man  without  gray 
Hairs  upon  him. 

To  thofe  Two  Heads,  with  a  forrowful  Addition 
(~of  a  Third,  I  fhall  confine  my  Account  of  this 
Young  Man  ;  in  which  the  ficJiire  to  be  now 
drawn,  has  nothing  but  the  Truth,  and  at  leaft 
fo  much  of  Life  in  it,  as  to  look  upon  every  Rea- 
der, yea,  fpeak  unto  every  young  Reader,  faying, 
Go  and  Do  likewife. 

I.    His  INDUSTRY. 

He  was  an  hard  Student,  and  quickly  became  a 
good  Scholar.  From  his  very  Childhood,  his  Book 
was  perhaps  as  dear  to  him  as  his  Play,  and  hence 
he  grew  particularly  acqrainted  with  Church-Hi- 
ftory,  at  a  rate  not  ufual  in  thofe  that  were  above 
thrice  as  Old  as  He.  But  when  he  came  to  fome- 
what  more  of  Youth,  his  Tutor  (who  now  writes) 
was  forced  often  to  chide  him  to  his  Recreations, 
but  never  that  I  remember  for  them.  To  be  Book 
if}]  was  natural  unto  him,  and  to  be  plodding  eafie 
and  pleafant  rather  than  the  contrary.  Indeed  he 
afforded  not  fo  much  a  Pattern  as  a  Caution  to 
yotr.g  Students  ;  for  it  may  be  truly  written  on 
his  Grave,  Study  kili'dbim.  When  One  told  the 
Exc.ilent  Mr.  Chamock,  that  if  he  Studied  fo  much 
it  would  Coft  hhn  his  Life  ;  he  replied,  Why  ?  It 
cofi  Chriji  his  Life  tofave,  and  what  if  it  coft  me  my 
Life  to  fiudy  for  Him  .?  Our  Studious  Nathanael 
was  of  this  Diipofition.  The  Marks  and  Works  0  f 
a  Studious  Mind  were  to  be  difcerned  in  him, 
even  as  he  walked  in  the  Streets  ;  and  his  Candle 
would  burn  after  Midnight,  until,  as  his  own 
Phrafe  for  it  was,  He  thought  his  Bones  would  all 
fall  afundcr.  This  was  among  the  Paffages  once 
noted  in  his  Diary. 

10  M.  16  D.  three  quarters  of  an  Hour  after 
12  at  Night. 

'  After  the  many  wearifom  Hours,  Days, Months, 
1  nay,  Years,  that  I  have  fpent  in  humane  Litera- 


ture; and  after  my  many  toilfom  Studies  in  thofe 
Hours,  when  the  General  Silence  or  every  Houfe 
in  Town,  proclaimed  it  high  time  for  me  to 
put  a  lfop  unto  my  working  Mind,  and  urged 
me  to  afford  fome  Reft  unto  my  Eyes,  which  have 
been  almoft  put  by  my  Intenfenefs  on  my  Stu- 
dies •,  after  thefe,  I  fay,  and  when  I  am  ready 
to  do  it:  Oh!  how  unwilling  am  I  to  do  it, 
confidering  ;  Howtbttle  have  I  ferved  God  in  the 
Day  ! 

While  he  thus  devoured  B'.oks,  it  came  to  pafs 
that  Books  devoured  him.  His  weak  Body  would 
not  bear  the  Toils  and  Hours,  which  he  ufed  him- 
felfunto;  and  his  Neglect  of  Moderate  Exercife, 
joyned  with  his  Excefs  of  Immoderate  Lucubration, 
foon  deftroyed  the  Digeflicn  which  his  Blood  fhoulci 
have  had  in  the  Iaft  Elaboration  of  if,  by  thattim^ 
lixteen  Winters  had  fnow'd  upon  him,  he  began  to 
be  distempered,  with  many  Pains  and  Ails^  efpe- 
cially  in  fome  of  his  Joynts,  which  at  Iaft  were 
the  Gates  of  Death  unto  him  •,  not  without  fuch 
very  afflictive  Touches  of  Melancholy,  too,  as  made 
him  fometimes  to  write  hirafelf  Deodatus  Melan- 
cholicus.  This  was  his  Way  of  Living,  fhall  I  fay, 
or  of  Dying  ?  And  the  Succefs  of  this  Diligence 
was  according  to  the  Temper  of  it,  Great.  When 
he  was  but  twelve  Years  old  he  wa;  admitted  in- 
to the  CoUedge,  by  ftricr  Examiners:  And  many 
Months  after  this  pafl'ed  not,  before  he  had  accu- 
rately gone  over  jU  the  Old  Teflament  in  Hebrew, 
as  well  as  the  New  in  Greek,  befides  his  going 
through  all  the  Liberal  Sciences,  before  many  other 
Defigners  for  Philofophy  do  fo  much  as  begin  to 
look  into  them.  He  commenced  Batchelour  of  Arts 
at  the  Age  of  fixteen,  and  in  the  Aft  entertained 
the  Auditory  with  an  Hebrew  Oration,  which  gave 
a  good  Account  of  the  Academical  Affairs  among 
the  ancient  Jews.  Indeed  the  Hebrew  Language  was 
become  fo  Familiar  with  him,  as  if  (  to  ufe  the 
Exprelllon  which  one  had  in  an  Ingenious  Elegy  up- 
on his  Death)  he  had  apprehended,  k  mould  quick- 
ly become  the  only  Language,  which  he  fhould  have 
Occafion  for.  His  Secord  Degree,  after  feven 
Years  being  in  the  Colledge,  he  took  jufl  before 
Death  gave  W\maTbird,  which  Iaft  was  a  promo- 
tion infinitely  beyond  etcher  of  the  former.  He 
then  maintained  for  his  Polition,  Datur  vacuum  - 
and  by  his  Difcourfes  upon  it  (  as  well  as  by  other 
Memorials  and  Experiments  left  behind  him  in 
Manufcripts  )  he  gave  a  Specimen  of  his  Intimate 
Acquaintance  with  the  Corpufcularian  (  and  only 
right)  Philofophy.  By  this  time  he  had  informed 
himfelf  like  another  Miraidula,  and  was  admira- 
bly capable  of  arguing  about,  almoit  every  Sub- 
ject that  fell  within  the  Concernments  of  a  Learn- 
ed Mau.  The  Difficulties  of  the  Mathematkks  he 
had  particularly  overcome,  and  the  abft-rufe  parts 
both  of  Arithmetick  and  Afironemy,  were  grafped 
in  his  Knowledge. 

His  Early  Almanacks  and  Calculations  do  fome- 
thing,  but  the  MSS  /dverf.ina,  lefc  behind  him 
in  his  Clofet,  much  more,  fpeak  fuch  Attainments 
in  him.  His  Chronology  W3S  exact  unto  a  Wonder, 
and  the  State  of  Learning  with  the  Names  and 
Works  of  Learned  Men,  in  the  World,  this  Ame- 
rican Wilderircfs  hath  few  that  underftand  as  well 
M  m  ra  m  a- 


2*2 


[be  Hiftory  of  New-England.  Book  IV. 


as  he.  Belides  all  this,  for  the  vaft  Field  of  Tbeo- 
logy, -boih  Didatlkk  and  Polemic'*,  it  is  hardly 
credible  how  little  of  it  his  Travel  had  left  un- 
known. RMinick  Learning  he  had  likewife  no 
fmall  meafine  of  •,  and  the  Queftions  referring 
unto  the  Scriptures  which  Philology  is  converfanr 
about,  came  'under  a  very  Critical  Notice  with 
him.  Indeed  he  was  a  Perfon  of  but  few  Words 
ana  WinWords  with  1 L  Looks,  made  the  Trpafyre 
in  him  wholly  unfufpefted  by  Strangers  to  him  ■ 
yet  they  that  were  intimately  acquainted  with 
him,  cm  atteft  unto  the  Veracity  of  him  that 
givethtliis  Leflription  ^  and  thete  are  no  mean 
Performs  wh«  will  pi  ofd",  with  Admiration,  That 
they  »'(!  jc.-.rce  encounter  him  in  any  Theme  of  DtJ- 
QOurfe,  nbxb  be  was  not  very  notably  acquainted  with. 
But  thc.Bark  is  now  fplit  in  which  all  thefe 
Riches  were  flowed.  A  Spawfo  Wrack  hath  not 
more  Silver  than  the  Grave  of  fuch  a  Young  Man 
hath  Learning  buried  in  it.  Indeed  thefe  things, 
Mart's  Brim  ;  perhaps  they  dyed  with,  him  :  But 
there  is  a  more  Immortal  Thing  to  be  obferved  in 
him  ;  and  that  is, 

II.    His   PIETY. 


Tho'  a  fine  Carriage  was  the  leaft  thing  that 
ever  he  affeftc  d,  yet  a  Gpo4  Nature  made  him  dear 
to  thoie  that  were  familiar  with  him.  He  was  al- 
ways very  obliging  and  officious,  and  more  ready 
to  d?,  than  o:n- -.a  could  be  to  ask  a  good  r,urn  at 
his  Hands :  But  he  was  above  all  happy,  by  being 
Early  in  pure  Reugion. 

The  Common  Effeds  of  fuch  a  Pious  Education, 
as  the  Family  in  which  he  lived  afforded  unto  him, 
were  feen  even  in  his  Childhood  ;  and  fecrct  Prayer 
became  very  betimes  one  of  his  Infant  Exerciles. 
He  does  in  his  MSs.  particularly  take  notice  of  a 
Scripture  Copy  fetfor  him  when  he  learned  to  Write, 
as  a  thing  that  had  much  Effiracy  on  him  ;  bin 
whenha-was  Twelve  (or  more)  Years  old,  more 
powerful  Conviction  did  the  Spirit  of  God  fet 
home  upon  him  than  he  had  been  ufed  unto  •  fome 
Records  therefore  I  find  in  his  Papers,  with  this 
Claufe  in  the  Head  of  the  Account,  Rejoyce,  0  my 
Soul,  for  the  'Lo\  d  hath  dCalt  bountifully  with  thee. 
Now  it  was  that  he  allowed  his  Pen  to  write  thefe, 
among  other  Expreffions  of  his  Trouble  about  his 

Eltate. 

Feb.  19.  1682. 

*  What  [hall  I  do?  What  /hall  I  do  to  he  favHl 
4  Without  a  Chrift  I  am  undone,  undone,  undone 

for  Evermore  !  O  Lord,  let  me  have  Cbri(ly  tho' 


And  yet  again  there  were  thefe  Considerations 
in  his  Mind. 


Had  I  not  better  feek  the  Lord  Chrift,  whil 


and  I  n ill  j. , flam  thee:  Than  in  Affliction  to  cry 
and  not  be  heard  ?  when  he  ftretcheth  forth  his 
Hand  and  fays,  Believe  on  me  and  thou  Jhalt  be 
'  faved  ;  and  now  to  Day  he  offers  himfelf,  (hall 
'  1  refuie,  and  lay,  lord,  To  Morrow  )  No  fure- 
'  ly.  And  thefe  pathetical  Groans  then  likewife 
got  a  Room  in  his  Papers. 

'  O  that  I  fad  a  chnfi  !  Q  that  I  had  Him  who 
'  is  the  Deligbt  of  my  Soul !  Then,  O  then  I 
'  fhould  be  perteftiy  Bleiled,  and  wai.t  no  Food 
1  that  would  make  me  lb! 

This  is  a  Copy,  oi  the  Callages  then  recorded  in 
this  Young  Believers  Diary. 

Thus  did  he  now  labour  to  affeift  his  own  Soul 
with  his  own  State,  and  leave  things  no  more  ac 
peradventures  between  God  and  him.  He  read 
many  iavoury  Books  about  Faith,  and  Repentance 
and  Converfion,  and  he  tranferdxd  many  Notes 
therefrom,  not  refting  fatisfied  within  himfelf, 
until  he  had  fome  Experience  of  a  true  Regenera- 
Among  other  Workings  of  his  Hoartat  this 


tion. 


Age,  his  Papers  have  fuch  things  as  thefe. 

;'  Reafhns  for  my  fpeedy.  clofing   with  Jefus 
c  Chrift. 

I  Firfi,  It's  the  Command  of  Jefus  Chrift,  thaC 
\  I  fhould  come  unto  him. 

1  Secondly ,  Jefus  Chrift  Invites  me  alfo  in  Mat 
1   11.  28.  Come  unto  me. 

'  Thirdly,  He  hath  laid  me  under  many  Obliga- 
'•  tionsto  turn  unto  him,  in  that  he  hath  recovered 
1  me  from  Sicknefs  fo  often,  and  now  given  me  a 
k  curious  Study. 

1  Fourthly,  In  that  I  have  vow'd  unf>  the  Lord, 
;  if  he  would  do  fo  and  To  forme,  I  would  make 
;  a  Solemn  Covenant  with  him,  and  endeavour  to 
'  ferve  him. 

And  again  elfewhere. 

'.  O  that  God  would  help  me  to  feek  Him 
!  while  I  am  Young  !  O  that  he  would  give  un- 
'  to  me  me  His  Grace!  However,  I  will  iay  my 
'  felf  down  at  his  Feet.  If  he  Save  me,  1  (hall 
'  be  happy  for  ever  ;  if  he  Damn  me,  I  muft  ju- 
'  ftifie  him.  O  thou  Son  of  God,  have  mercy  on  me  ! 
'  I  know  not  wlmto  fay,  but  1  will  take  thee  at 
'  thy  Word :  Thou  fayft,  Come  unto  me ;  my  Soul 
'  anfwers,  Lord,  at  thy  Command  1 n  ill  come. I 

He  thus  continued  flowing  hard  after  God,  en- 
I  lye  in  the  Mire  for  ever  !    O  for  a  Chrift !  O  j  joying  and  anfwering  many  Strivings  of  his  Holy 


for  a  Chrift  .'  a  Chrift  !  Lord,  Give  me  a  Gjrijl 
or  I  dye  ! 

It  was  now  another  ofhisregiftred  Meditations. 
'  I  have  been  in  a  great  Hefitancy,  whether  1 
fhould  choofe  Jefus  Chrift  for  my  Prophet,  Prieft 
and  King,  with,  all  his  Inconveniencks,  to  take 
up  my  Crofs  and  fellow  him  :  Wherefore  I  do 
now  take  him  as  mine  ;  my  whole  Chrift,  and 
my  only  Chrift ;  and  I  am  refolved  to  feek  him. 


Spirit  until  he  was  about  Fourteen  Years  old. 

la  this  time  he  did  not  a  little  acquaint  himfelf 
with  profitable  God'.tnefs,  being  frequent  and  fer- 
vent in  his  Prayers  to  God  upon  all  Occafions,  and 
careful»no£  only  to  hear  Sermons,  but  alfo  to  con- 
fider  after  them  nh.it  Improvement  he  fhould  make  of 
what  he  heard.  Not  only  his  Prayers,  kit  his 
Praifes  too  now  took  Notice  of  even  the  fmalleft 
Affairs  before  him.     I  know  not  whether  you  can 


All  that  1  have  fhall  beat  his  Service,  and  all  my  fee  any  thing  Childifh,  1  am  fure  I  fee  fomething 
Members,  and  all  my  Poinr',  OnlS  endeavour  jferious,  in  a  paflage  or  two  that.  I  fhall  fetch  out  of 
his  Glory.  /  his  f>iary,  written  when  he  was  was  about  Thir- 


i 


teen 


Book  IV. 


The  tiijtcry  of  New-England. 


213 


uen  Years  old  :  On  March  i  3.  he  wrote,  This  day 
]  received  of  my  Father,  that  Famous  Work,  The 
Biblia  Polyglotta,  for  which  I  deftrc  to  praife  the 
Name  of  God:  Again  on  June  29.  he  wrote,  This 
day  my  Brother  gave  me  Schindlers  Lexicon,  a  Book 
for  which  I  had  not  only  longed  much,  but  alfo  prayed 
unto  God  :  Blejjed  be  the  Lord's  Name  for  it.  The 
Thoughts  of  Death  alfo  now  found  a  Lodging  in 
'his  Heart,  and  he  rebuked  himfelf  becaufe  he  had 
been  fo  much  without  them.  Tho'  at  this  Age 
for  the  mo  ft  part,Perfons  think  oiany  thing,  every 
thing  more  than  of  their  dying  Day.  And  his  Wri- 
tings difcovered  him  to  be  peculiarly  affected  with 
that  Ancient  Hiflory  (  or  Apologue  )  of  him  who 
after  a  diffolute  and  ungodly  Tenth,  going  to  re- 
pent in  Age,  heard  that  Voice  from  Heaven  to  him, 
Des  Hit  Fnrfurem  cut  dedijli  Farinam  :  The  Devil 
had  thy  Flower,  and  thou  (halt  not  bring  thy  Bran 
to  me. 

Self- Examination  was  alfo  become  one  of  his 
Employments  •,  and  once  particularly  in  one  of  his 
Diaries,  he  does  thus  exprefs  himfelf. 
April  8.   1683. 

'  This  Morning  I  was  much  caft  down  with  the 

*  Senfe  of  my  Vilenefs.    I  Examin'd, 

4  i.  What  Sins  1  had  that  were  not  mortified  : 
4  1 .  My  Sin  of  Pride.  2.  My  Sin  of  Vnthankful- 
4  nefs.     3.  My  not  improving  the  Means  of  Grace, 

*  as  I  ought  to  do. 

'  II.  What  Gracesi  find  need  of.  1.  Convert- 
4  ing  3nd  Regenerating  Grace.  2.  Humiliation  fox 
4  my  many  Sins  againft  fuch  a  good  God  as 
4  the  Lord  is. 

'  111.  \N\\3.t  Mercies  I  had  received,  for  which 
'  I  defireto  blefs  the  Lord's  Name.  1.  He  hath 
'  given  me  to  be  born  of  Godly  Parents.  2.  1 
1  have  always  had  the  Means  of  Grace  lengthened 
4  out  unto  me.  3.  The  Lord  Lord  hath  graci- 
c  oufly  pleafed  to  give  me  fome  Anfwers  of  Prayer 
'■  1.  As  to  the  lengthningoutofmy  Health,  a- As 
c  to  the  lncreafe  of  my  Litrary,  What  (ball  I  ren- 
'  der  to  the  Lord  for  all  his  Loving  Kindnefs  to- 

*  wards  me?  Irefolved  to  Dedicate  my  felf  wholly 
4  to  God  and  his  Service. 

And  he  did  accordingly. 

This  Year  did  not  roll  about,  before  he  had  in 
a  manner  very  folemn  entred  into  Covenant  with 
God.  This  weighty  and  awful  thing  was  not 
rafhly  done  by  him,  or  in  a  fudden  Flajh  and  Pang 
of  Devotion  :  He  Thought,  he  Read,  he  Wrote, 
and  he  Prayed  not  a  little  before  this  Glorious 
Tranfa&ion  between  God  and  him,  and  upon  ma- 
ture Deliberation,  he  judged  it  moft  advifeable 
for  him  to  make  his  Covenant  with  God  as  Explicit 
as  Writing  and  Signing  could  render  it ;  that  fo  it 
might  leave  the  more  Impreffion  upon  his  Heart 
and  Life,  and  be  an  Evidence  likewife,  which  in 
Temptation  or  Defertion  lie  might  have  recourfe 
unto  :  Wherefore  he  fet  apart  a  Time  for  (  1 
think  )  fecret  Fajling  and  Prayer  before  the  Lord, 
and  then  behold  how  this  Young  Man  counting  it 
high  time  for  him  to  be  bound  out  unto  fome  Ser- 
vice, took  a  courfe  for  it :  He  fubferibed  an  holy  Co- 
venant,of  which  this  was  the  Matter,  this  the  Form. 

4  The  Covenant  between  God  and  my  Soul,  re- 
c  newed,  confirmed  and  figned,  Nov.  22.  1683. 


4  Whereas  not  only  the  Commands  of  God  f_  wh° 
'  hath  often  called  upon  me,  by  his  Word  preach',  d? 
4  to  give  up  my  felf;  both  Body  and  Soul,  to  be 
'  at  his  Difpofal,  which  calls  by  the  publick  Mi- 
'  niftry,  were  enough  to  eng3ge  me  unto  this] 
'  but  alfo  the  Chrijlian  Religion  which  I  proiefs, 
'  and  my  B.:ptifm  in  which  I  took  the  Lord  to  be 
'  my  God,  and  promifed  to  renounce  the  World, 
4  the  Fle/b,  and  the  Devil,  and  to  dedicate  my  felf 
'  unto  the  Service,  F^ork  and  FT";//ofGod,dobind 
'  me  hereunto  ;  In  that  God  is  fuchrt  GWasde- 
4  ferves  this,  yea,  infinitely  more  than  this,  at  my 
'  hands;  my  Creator,  the  Fountain  of  my  Being; 
4  my  Preferver,  my  Benefactor,  my  Lord,  my  So- 
'  veraign,  my  Judge  •,  He  in  whofe  Hands  my  Life, 
'  my  Breath,  and  all  my  Concerns  are;  He  that 
•  doth  protetl  me  from  all  Dangers,  and  fupply  me 
'  in  all  Wants,  fupport  me  under  all  Burdens,  and. 
'  dii-ecl  me  in  all  Streights;  He  alone  that  can  male 
1  me  happy  or  mifcrable;  He  alone  that  can  five 
4  me  or  damn  me  ;  He  alone  tlm  can  give  inward, 
'  Peace  and  Joy,  that  is  my  Friend,  my  God  ;  In 
4  that,  Self- Dedication  is  the  Creatures  Advance- 
'  ment;  thefe  Fir fl- Fruits,  if  in  Sincerity,  putting 
'  upon  me  a  Glorioufaefs  and  Excellency. 

4  In  that  Felicity  hereafter  depends  upon  my 
'  dedicating  of  my  felf  unto  God  now. 

4  In  that  this  is  the  highefi  piece  of  Gratitude  I 
'  am  capable  of  exprefiing  unto  God,  and  I  know 
4  no  better  way  to  Obey  the  Will  of  God,  than 
4  firft  to  give  up  my  felf  unto  him. 

4  And  whereas  the  Mercies  which  the  Lord  hath 
4  been  pleafed  gracioully  to  beftow  upon  me,  are 
4  fo  many,  that  even  bare  Morality,  doth  fhew 
4  me  that  lean  never  enough  requite  one  that 
'  hath  done  fo  much  for  me,  except  by  Giving  up 
4  my  felf  wholly  to  him. 

4  Whereas  God  hath  given  rnc  a  Godly  Father 
and  Mother. 

[1674  3 
'  In  that  when  I  was  like  to  dye,  being  twice 
4  fiek  of  a  Feaver,  God  was  pleafed  to  blefs  mean; 
4  for  my  Recovery,  and  lengthen  out  the  Thread 
4  of  my  Life. 

t  '675  3 

4  Whereas,  when  I  by  an  Accident  fell  down, 
'  and  had  like  to  have  been  deprived  of  the  ufe  of 
4  my  Tongue,  God  was  in  his  good  Providence 
4  gracioully  pleafed  to  give  me  the  ufe  of  it. 
Ci6731 

4  Whereas,  when  I  was  fick  of  the  Small-Pox, 
4  God  was  pleafed  to  blefs  Means  for  my  Recovery. 

4  Whereas,  then  1  made  Promifes  unto  God,  that 
'  if  he  would  give  me  my  Health,  \  would  endea- 
4  vour  to  become  a  New-Creature,  and  he  hath 
4  done  fo  for  thefe  five  Tears:  And  whereas  God 
'  hath  of  late  been  bellowing  many  and  wonder* 
1  ful  Mercies  upon  me,  What  can  I  do  lefs  than  give 
4  up  tny  felf  wholly  to  him? 

4  Which  now  I  do. 

4  And,  O  Lord  God,  I  befee'cli  thee  to  accept 
e  of  thy  poor  Prodigal,  now  proftratiog  of  him- 
4  felf  before  thee.  1  confefs,  O  Lo;d,  I  have 
4  fallen  fro'ro  thee  by  my  Iniquity,  3nd  am  by 
'  Nature  a  Son  of  Hell ;  but  of  thy  Infinite  Grace 
1  )  M  rn  m  rn  2  4  thou 


2  14  tfa  thfiory  of  New- En  gland. 


thon  haft  prbmifed  Mercy  to  rr.e  in'  Chriit,  it 
I  will  but  torn  unto  thee  with  all  my  Heart: 
Therefore  upon  the  Call  of  thy  Gofpel,  J  come 
in  and  from  the  bottom  of  my  Heart  \  renounce 
all  thy  Emmies  ;  with  whom  I  confels  I  have 
wickedly  Tided  againft  thee,  firmly  Covenanting 
with  thee,  not  to  allow  my  felf  in  any  known 
bin,  but  confcientioufly  to  ufe  all  Means  which 
i  know  thou  haft  prefcribtd,  for  the  utter  De- 
ftruft'on  of  all  my  Corruptions.  And  where- 
as 1  have  inordinately  let  out  my  Affections  upon 
the  World,  I  here  refign-  my  Heart  unto  thee 
thatmadeit  •, humbly  protelting  before  thy  Glo- 
fiotis  Ma]'efty,'that  it  is  the  firm  Refvlution  of  ftiy 
Heart  (and  that  I  do  unfeignedly  delire  Grace 
from  thee,  that  when  thou  fnalt  call  me  there- 


Book  IV. 

Converfation  afterwards  •  and  fo  it  had,  producing 
Hi  him,   a  Converfation  nhkh  became  the  Gofpe!  of 
Chriji      He  kept  waiting  upon  God,  no:  only  ia 
the  Family,  but  alfo  under   the    Miniftry  of  t^o 
that  were  akin  unto  him-,  namely,  his  Fatkr  and 
his  Brother,  whereby  the  Grace  thus  begun  in  him 
was  not  little  chcrilhed  and  promoted  .-  And  un- 
to all  kno'xn  ■  Sins  he  now  kept:  faying,  as  1  find 
once  in  Short-hand  writren  by  him. 
To  my  Lufls. 
I  have  bad  Communion  with  you  all   this  while 
but  I  dare  not  have  fo  any  longer  :  [Therefore  J  re- 
nounce ail   Communion  with  you   any   more  ;   J  will 
oie'dve  to  the  God  that  made  me.     But  a  Year   or 
two  after  this,  it  was  with  him,   as  I  luve  ob- 
ferved 


it  is  too  commonly  with  fuch  as  are 
unto,  I  may  put  in  Pr  alike  my  Refolution  )'  Converted  betimes  unto  God.  And  unhappy  gra- 
tfirough  thine  Affiftaftce,  to  forfark-e  all  that  -is:  dual  Apojtacycankd  him  afide  from  thofe  De- 
d,  unto  me  in  the  World,  rather  than  to  i :um  'grees  of  Serioufnefs  and  Intenfenefs  in  Divine 
fiom  thee  to  the  Ways  of  Sm  •  and  that  I  wiii 
watch  againft  ail  its  Temptations^  whether  of 
Prof^nty  or  Aiveifiiy,  left  they  fhould  with 
draw  my  Heart  from  ihee,  befeeching  thee  to 
help  me. 

1  1  renounce  all  my  own  Righteaufmfs,  and  ac- 
knowledge that  of  my  felt  I  am  helplefs  and 
undone,  and  without  Righteoufnefs. 
1  And  whereas,  of  thy  bottomlefs  Mercy,  thou 
haft  offer'd  to  accept  of  me,  and  to  be  reconci- 
led to  me,  and  to  be  my  God  through  Chrtji,  if 
1  would  accept  of  thee,  I  do  this  Day  avouch 
tbee  ib  !e  the  Lord  my  God.  I  do  here  take  the 
Loid  jihovah,  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghoft, 
for  ir.y  Portion  and  Chief  Good,  and  do  give 
up  my  felt  Body  and  Soul  for  thy  Servant,  pro- 
mising to  endeavour  to  ferve  thee  in  Right  eouf- 


nefs  and  Holinefs.  I  do  here  alfo  o.:  the  bended 
Knees  of  my  Soul,  accept  of  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift  as  the  only  and  living  Way,  by  which 
Sinners  may  have  accefs  to  thee,  and  do  here 
joyn  my  felf  in  a  Marriage-Covenant  with  him. 
O  Loid  Jefus,  I  come  to  thee,  hungry,  poor, 
miferablc,  blind  and  naked,  and  a  moft  loath- 
fome  Creature,  a  condemned  i\  hi  era  ft  or:  Who 
am  /,  that  J  (hould  be  married  unto  the  King  of 
Glory  ! 

'  1  do  .accept  of  thee  for  my  Head  and  Husband, 
and  embrace  thee  in  all  thy  Offices.  I  renounce 
my  own  Worihinefs,  and  do  choofethee  the  Lord 
my  Righteoufnefs.  I  do  renounce  my  own  Wif- 
dom,  and  do  take  thine  for  my  Guide.  I  take 
thy  Wtd  for  my  Will,  and  thy  Word  for  my 
Law.  ,1  do  here  willingly  put  my  Neck  under 
thy  T^e ;  \  do  fubferibe  to  all  thy  Laws  as  Holy, 
Jitf!  and  Good  ;  and  do  promife  to,  take  them  [tofore 
j5  rj  :  Rule  of  my  Thoughts,  Words  and  Jttions  •, 
but  becaufe  i  am  fubje'ft  to  many  Failings  through 
Frailty.  •,  I  do  here  protcft,  here  before  thee, 
that  unallowed  Mifcarriages,  contrary  to  the 
conftant  bent  of  my  Heart,  fhall  not  difanull 
this  Lvedafting  C  '.ovenant. 

Nathanael  Mather. 


Things,  which  he  hid  been  ufed  unco  ■  'Tis  pof- 
fible  an  Entanglement  in  a  FainilLiity  with  fome 
that  were  no  better  than  they  ihould  be,  did 
mute  ot  the  good  Savour  which  had  been  upon 
him,  and  decoy  him  by  infehftble  Steps  to  foms 
Vanities  (tho'  not  to  ai>y  icandalous  Immorali- 
ties )  that  were  difudvantageous  to  him.  For 
divers  .Months  he  feemed  fofliewha^  yec  not  to- 
tally, much  lefs  faal!y>,  forfjken  of  that  VFifdom 
and  Vertite  which  he  had  before  been  an  Example 
of  ;  but  the  :_.ood  Spirit  of  God  will  not  let  go 
his  Intereji  in  a  Son!  of  which  he  hath  taken  a 
faving  Hold.  This  Young  Man  foon  entertained 
juft  Refentments  of  his  own  Declenfions,  and  ic 
was  impofiible  for  the  moft  Badgtr.tcotb'd  Malice 
in  the  World  to  aggravate  any  Of  his  Errors  half 
fo  much  as  he-did  himfelf  in  his  own  Repentance 
for  them.  In  the  Year  10S5.  God  vilited  him 
with  fore  Terrors  and  Horrors  in  his  wounded 
Soul,theangui(h  whereof  he  thought  intolerable - 
yet  he  made  not  his  Condition  known  to  any  Body 
all  the  while.  He  could  lay,  My  Complaint  is  not 
to  Mm,  but  he  made  it  unto  the  Lord  •,  7 his  poor 
Man  cryed  and  the  Lord  heard,  and  delivered  him 
out  of  Diflreffes.  He  arrived  in  time  unto  fettle- 
ment  and  renewal  of  his  Peace  with  God  .-  Fie 
confeflcd  and  bewailed  his  own  Sins  before  the 
Lord,  and  declared  his  Deteftation  of  them,  and 
applied  himfelf  unto  the  Lord  ]efus  Chrift  for 
Salvation  from  them  all.  Good  Terms  being  thus 
eftablifh'd  between  the  Almighty  Lord  and  this 
Immortal  Soul,  he  maintained,  I  think,  a  con- 
ftant and  an  even  FFalk  with  God,  until  he  dyed. 
I  find  now  that  Language  in  his  MSS :  Let  me  be 
as  adive  a  Servant  of  Corifi,  as  I  was  of  Satan  here- 
to? more  than  the  three  laft  years  of  his  ' 
Life,  he  lived  at  a  ftrange'rate  for  Holinefs  and 
Gravity,  arid  retired  Devotions.  He  read  Mr. 
Scudder's  Chriftians  daily  -Walk,  and  Dr.  Owen 
of  Spritual  Mindednefs,  a-nd  had  a  reftlefs  raging 
Agony  in  his  Mind  until  the  Methods  of  Reli- 
gion advifed  by  thofe  Worthy  Men,  were  Ex- 
emplified in  hi?  own  Behaviour.  'Tis  a  Note  id 
one  of  his  Diaries. 


O  my  great  Vnprofitabknefs  under  the  means 
It  may  be  juftly  taken  for  granted,-  that  fuch  a|  '  ht<  Grace  !  I  have  caufe  to  blefs  God  for  ever 

'  ler  the  Writings  of  that  never  enough  to  be  ad- 

c  mired 


Work  as  this, 'would  have  an  Influence  into  his  I 


Book    IV.  The  Hi 'ftory  of  New-England. 


mired  and  loved  by  me,  Dr.  Reynolds,  and  tor 

the  Light  I  have  received  thereby,  concerning 

the    Sinfulnefs  of  Sin;  as    alfo  that   Excellent 

Book  of  him  whom  I  mail  always  honour,  Dr. 

Owen  of  SpiritaaUMttdeinefs,  and  Mr.  Scudder''s 

Chriftians  daily  PTalk,  by  which  three  Books 

I  have  profited  more  than  by  any   other    (  5. 

Script?iris  excepts  )  in  the  World. 

He  was  at  firlt  furprized  at  the  meafure  of  Spi- 
rit nal-mindednefs,  without  which  that  Great  Saint 
Dr.  Owen,  apprehends  the  Life  and  Peace  of  Souls 
to  labour  under  Prejudices  j  and  he  thought  a 
Mind  fvV3!!owed  up  in  fuch  Heavenly  Frames  2nd 
Works  as  were  needful  thereunto,  almoft  wholly 
to  be  defpair'dof-,  until  (as  himfelf  a  few  Hours 
before  he  dyed  Did  unto  me  )  he  deem'd  he  faw 
an  Infhnce  of  fuch  a  Walk  with  Cod,  not  very 
tar  from  the  Place  of  his  Abode  :  To  which  pur- 
pofe  his  referv'd  Papers  have  a  large  Difcourfe, 
of  which  this  is  in  the  Conclullon  :  There  might 
be  a  greater  Progrefs  in  Religion ,  than  is  commonly 
thought  for.  Wbai  hai<e  1  Examples  for,  but  to  imi- 
tate them  f  Abraham  isfam\lfor  believing  fo  fir  ong- 
ly,  when  he  bad  no  Example  before  htm  :  Let  me  try 
and  fee,  whether  I  having  fuch  Opportunities  may  not 
arrive  to  a<s  high  a  pitch  in  Chrijlianity,  at  any  that 
1  have  known.  He  then  in  the  Strength  and  tfiro' 
the  Love  of  Gcd  let  himfelf  into  a  way  of  ftricf, 
fecret,  laborious  Devotion  •,  whereby  tho'  none 
but  God  and  He  fill'd  thzTbeatre,  which  he  acted 
upon,  he  would  be  in  the  Fear  of  the  Lord  all  the 
Day  lo*g.  He  withdrew  from  the  Delights  of 
this  World,  and  gave  himfelf  up  to  an  affUuous 
Contemplation  of  God  and  Chriit,  and  a  fedulous 
Endeavour  after  utmoft  Conformity  unto  him: 
Thus  he  kept  abounding  in  the  Work  of  the  Lord, 
until  three  Years  of  wonderful  Holinefs  had  ripen- 
ed him  for  eternal  Flapptnefs. 

My  Account  of  him  will  bcanVnfinifhed  Piece, 
unlefs  all  the  Enfuing  Strokes  go  to  make  it  up. 
Thefe  Things  he  was  Exemplary  for. 

Fir  ft,  He  was  one  that  walked  by  RVL.E.  He 
was  very  Studious  to  learn  ihzP'^ay  ofConvcr- 
fing  with  God  in  every  Duty,  and  there  was. a 
Rule  which  he  attended  Hill  unto. 

In  his  private  Pipers,  I  find  a  wife  Collection 
of  Rules,  by  which  he  governed  himfelf  in  the  fe- 
veral  Duties  of  Cbriltianity,  and  .in  all  the  Sea- 
fons  and  Stations  of  his  Life.  He  confulted  the 
beft  Authors  for  Inftruetion  in  the  Afnirs  r>i Pra- 
ctical Religion,  and  not  into  Paper  only,  but  into 
sltlion  to  be  tranferibed  what  he  moffc  approved  •, 
in  all  which  The  will  of  God  was  the  bright  Pole- 
Star  by  which  he  fteet'd  his  Courfe. 

The  Reader  fnall  enjoy  (  and  O  that  he  would 
follow')  two  of  this  Young  Man's  Directories,  One 
of  them  was  this. 

'  !.  O  that  1  might  lead  a  Spiritual  Life  .'  Where- 
*  fore  let  me  regulate  my  Life  by  the  Word  of 
'  God,  and  by  fuch  Scriptures  as  thefe. 

'  1.  For  regulating  my  Thoughts,  Jer.  4.  14. 
'  If  a.  5  5.  7.  Mai.  3  17.  Pfal.  104  34.  Phil.  4.  8. 
1  Prov.  23.  16.  Dent,  r  5.  9.  Ecclef.  10.  20.  Prov. 
'  24.9.  'Mat.  9.  4.  Zee.  8   17. 

4  2.  For  regulating  my  Jjfetfiens}  Col.  3.  2,  5. 
4  Gal.  5.  24. 


2  15 

'  For  my  Delight,  Pfal  1.2.  Pfal.  37.  5.    fot 

^  Joy,  Phil  4.4.  Pfal.  43.4.   My  Dtfire,   I  fa. 

25.  8,  9.    Ez.ek.  7.  \6.    My  Love,  Mat.  22.  37. 

Pfal.  119  y7.    My    Hatred,    Pfal.  97.  10.    Mv 

Fear,  Luke  1  2.  4j  5.    My  Hope,  Pfal.  30.  7.  My 

Trujt,   Pfal.  61.  8.  Jfa.zo.a.. 

3.  For  regulating  my  Speech,  Eph.4. 29.  Col. 

4.5.  Deut.6.6,7.   Pfal.  119.  46.  Pfal  7;j;  8, 

24.    Prov.  31.  25. 

'  4.  For  regulating  my  Vlror\,  Tit,  3.  8.  zTini. 
'   2.  12.    1  Tim.  5.  10,  Thus  2.  14.    Mat.  5.  47 
'   1  Tim.  6.  8.   Rev.  3.  2.  Rom.  13,.    12.  Mis  26' 

20. 

Another  of  them  was  form'd  into  an  Hymn, 
the  linging  of  which  might  produce  frelher  and 
ftronger  Efforts  of  Soul  towards  the  Thing  that  ic 
sood. 


It  fhall  be  here  inferted. 

II.  c  Lord,  wh3t  (hall  I  return  unto 
'  Him  from  whom  all  Mercies  flow  } 

'  (I.)  To  me  to  live,   it  Gmfl  fhall  be 
4  For  all  I  do  I'll  do  for  Thee. 

'  (II.)  My  Queftion  fhall  be  oft  befide, 
'  How  thou  may' ft  mojl  be  Glorify 'd  $ 

1  (III.)  Iwili  not  any  Creature  love, 
'  But  in  the  Love  of  Thee  above. 

'  (IV.)  Thv  mil  I  will  embrace  for  mine, 
'  And  every  Management  of  thine 
'  Shall  pleafe  me.     (V.)  A  Conformity 
'  To  thee  fliall  be  my \Atm  and  Eye. 

'  (VI.)  Ejaculations  fhall  afcend 
'  Not  feldom  from  me.    (VII.)  I'll  attend 
'  Occafional   Reficclions,  and 
'  Turn  all  to  Gold  that  comes  to  har.d. 

'  (VIII  )  And  in  particular  among 
'  My  Cares,  I'll  try  to  make  my  Tongue 
'  A  Tree  of  Life,  by  fpeaking  all 
'  As  be  accountable  who  fhall, 

'  (IX.)  But  lafi,  nay  fir  (I  of  all,  I  will 
'  Thy  Son  my  Surety  make,  and  Hill 
'  Implore  him,  that  he  would  me  blefs 
'  With  Strength  as  well  as  Ri^httoifnefs. 

Befides  thefe  Rules  which  concerned  his  whole- 
Walk,  he  treafur'd  up. many  more,  that  refer  r'd 
to  this  and  that  Step  in  it  ;  and  it  was  the  1  re- 
dominant  Care  and  Watch  of  his  Heart,  net  to 
tread  awry  f  Thus  one  might  fee  a  Skilful  Ckrifiian 
in  him.  And  as  he  was  defirous  to  live  by  Pre- 
cept, fo  he  was  to  live  by  Fromife  too. 

He  fell  into  a  particular  Coniideratlon,  how  to 
improve  the  Pru-.nifes  of  God  in  all  the  Occafiws 
of  Life  ;  which  is  indeed  one  of  the  molt  J 'tnQi* 
fying  Exerafes  in  the  World. 

It  was  a  Propeial  wliku  ||  find  he  made  unto 
himfelf. 

'  Let  me  ialute  thefe  Prosifies  once  a  Day. 

I  *.  For 


i6 


1'he  Hijtory  of  New-England. 


Book  IV. 


'  i.  For  fupplying  the  IV ants  of  the  Day,  Phil  • 

4-  19- 

'  2.  For  Growth  in  Grace,  Hof.  14.  5. 

*  3.  For  fubduing  my  Sins,  Mic.  7.19. 

For  Sticccfs  in  my  Undertakings,  Pfal.  1.3. 
For  turning  all  the  Events  of  the  Day  for 
Rom.  8.  28. 
For  Audience  of  my  Prayers,  Joh.  14.  1 


4> 

4  5- 

good, 

'  6. 


ji 


14. 

t 


7.  For  Strength  to  manage  all  the  Work  of 
4  the  Day,  Zecb.  10.  11. 

1  8.  For  Direction  in  Diffculty,  Pfal.  32.  8. 

4  9.  For  Life  Eternal,  Luke  12.  31.  Joh.  3.  16. 

Belides  thefe.  two,  Mat.  11.28.  and  1/a.  44..  3. 

Certainly  that  Man  muff  quickly  grow  another 
Enoch,  who  does  thus  Walk  with  God. 

Secondly,  He  was  one  that  lived  in  PRATER. 
He  was  oft  and  long  in  the  Mount  with  Gcd :  It 
was  his  Cuftom  every  Day  to  Enter  into  his  Clofet, 
and  fhut  his  Door,  and  pray  to  his  Father  in  fecret. 
And  I  guefs  from  fome  of  his  Writings,  that  he 
did  thus  no  lefs  than  thrice  a  Day,  when  he  met 
with  no  Obffrucrion  in  it :  Nor  did  he  (lubber 
over  his  Prayers  with  hafty  Amputations,  but 
wreftle  in  them  for  a  good  part  of  an  Hour  to- 
gether. 

It  was  a  mod  refrefhing  Communion  with  God, 
which  his  Devotions  brought  him  fometimes  un- 
to.    Thus  in  one  of  his  Diaxks. 

Dec.  10. 


hi  the  Mar- 
gin he  wrote, 

heraemher. 


4  I  prayed  earneflly  UHto  God, 
earneftly  petitioning  that  Jefus 
Chrift  might  be  my  Compltal 
Redeemer.  There  was  immedi- 
ately Something  that  did  as  it  were  perfwade  me 
it  jhould  be  fo. 

Again,  Jug.  19. 

4  My  "thoughts  were  fome  little  while  bufied  a- 
bout  the  Condefcenfion  ofChriJl  in  taking  of  humane 
Nature  on  him  ;  but  for  the  moll:  part  in  Ejacu- 
lations, and  Acts  of  Faith  on  a  Crucified  (  ah  ! 
fweet  Word  )  Jefus.  I  faw  1  gained  not  much 
bythofe:  Wherefore  I  addrefTed  my  felfto/o- 
lemn  Prayer,  and  had  fome  Affiance  in  it. 


Once  more,  Au?.  20. 


not  altogether  Extraordinary.     Tho'  he  were  a 
Bottle  that  feemed  incapable  of  holding  it,  yet 
this  Wine  agreed  with  him  very  well.     As  Young 
as  he  was,  he  knew  theMyflery  cf  a  Soul  fatting 
by  fafling,  and  thriving  by  bungritig  and  tbirfing 
after  Right eon fiefs.     He  was  very  inquifitive  after 
the  right  way  to  manage   a  Day  of  Fafling  and 
Prayer,  and  he  would  fometimes  keep  fuch  a  Day. 
On  fuch  a  Day  it  was  his  Cuftom  to  make  a  vet  y 
particular  and   penitent  ConfeJJion  of  all  the  Sins 
that  he  could  perceive  himfelf  guilty  of ;  and  re- 
new his  Covenant  with  the  Holy  One  of  Jfrael ; 
to  this  End,  he  had  by  him  in  writing  a  large 
Catalogue  of  Things  forbidden  and  requhed  in 
the  Commandments  oi  God,  which  was  the  Glafs 
in  which  he  then  viewed  his  Ways  ;  and  having 
found  what  Achans  might  procure  Trouble  to  him, 
he  then  fell  to  ftoning  of  them.     One  may  fhape 
fome  Conjecture  at  his  Humiliations,  by  the  In- 
dignation with  which  he  fpoke,  and  wrote  of  the 
Canities  which  his  Childhood  had.     '  I  came  into 
'  the  World  (  faith  he  in  one  of  the  Papers 
penn'd  by  him  on  a  Day  of  fecret  Fafling  and  Prayer, 
Oilober  the    17th.  1585.  )  without  the  Image  of 
'  the  Holy  God  on  my  Soul  ;  my  Underltand- 
1  ing,   my  Will,  my   Affections,    and  my  whole 
4  Soul  were  altogether  depraved,  and  wounded. 
1  When    very  Young  I  went  affray   from  God, 
1  and  my  mind  was  altogether  taken  with  Canities 
'  and  Follies  ;  fuch  as  the  remembrance  of  them 
1  doth  greatly  abafe  my  Soul  within  me.    Of  the 
1  manifold  Sins  which  then  I  was  guilty  of,  none  fo 
'  flicks  upon  me,  as  that  being  very  young,  1  was 
4  whitling  on  the  Sabbath-day  •  and  for  fear  of  be- 
'  ing  fecn,    I  did  it  behind  the  door.     A  great 
1  Reproach  of  God  !  A  Specimen  of  that  Atbeifm 
4  that  I  brought  into  the  World  with  me  ! 

This  was  more  than  the  more  meagre  and  feeble 
fort  of  Chriftians,  though  much  older  than  he, 
are  us'd  to  do.  But  paulo  major  a  !  There  was  a 
Sublimer  Way  of  Drawing  near  to  God,  which  he 
was  not  willing  to  leave  unattempted.  He  un- 
derftood  that  fecret  Days  ofYhankfgiving  had  not 
been  unpractifed  by  fome  whom  he  deligned  to 
imitate  ;  and  therefore  he  would  make  fome  Ef- 
fays  for  fuch  an  Intimate  Fruition  of  God,  and 
generous  Devotion  to  him,  as  would  fill  fuch  Days 
as  thefe. 

Hence  this  I  find  among  the  Records  of  his 
Soul  .-  


'  1  was  much  affected  in  Prayer,  and  exercifed  \ 
4  (1  hope)  many  Acts  of  Faith,  and  Love,  and 
*  Delight  in  God.  I  feveral  times  was  breaking 
1  off,  but  I  was  as  it  were  conflraind  to  go  on  in 
4  the  Duty  with  much  Enlargement.  Lord,  An- 
'  fwer  me  for  the  fake  of  Chrifl. 

Thus  under  the  Fig-tree  did  our  Lord  Jefus  of- 
ten behold  this  Natbanael;  yea,  unto  Prayer  he 
became  fo  habituated,  that  while  others  canfleep 
in  Prayer,  hz  fometimes  would  pray  in  Sleep.  He 
records  it  among  his  Experiences,  that  upon  Af- 
iaults  of  Imagined  Temptations,  when  he  has  been 
afleep,  he  has  quickly  been  at  Prayer ;  and  fo  cau- 
fed  the  Pbantafms  to  leave  annoying  of  him. 
And  Pxtraordinary  Prayer  was  alfo  with  him 


'  Refolved,  To  fet  apart  every  two  Months,  a 
:  Day  for  Solemn  Examination  and  Meditation, 
1  to  humble  my  felf ;  and  every  two  Months  to 
'  keep  a  Day  of  Private  Thank/giving. 

But  though  his  Prayers  were  chiefly  in,  yet  they 
were  not  confined  fo  his  Clofet.  There  were  di- 
vers private  Praying  Meetings  of  younger  People 
in  North-Boflon,  which  he  vilked  as  often  as  he 
could  ;  and  one  of  thefe  might  peculiarly  be  cal- 
led His.  Yea,  it  was  his  Defire,  though  with  as 
little  Aim  to  be  fecn  of  Men  as  could  be,  to  fup- 
port  all  fuch  Opportunities  of  Good  among  them, 
that  were  of  the  fame  Age  with  him. 

Wherefore  I  find  this  among  the  Notes  in  his 
Diary  : 


Qucfr.  What  (];aU 


God  ? 


Jnfp. 


Book    IV.  The  Hiflory  of  New-England. 


2  I 


<  A'fto.  It  was  luggelted  to  me,  to  get  fome 
4  of  my  Acquaintance  to  fpend  fome  while  every 
'  Biddy  night  in  Prayer,  for  the  Succefs  of  the 
1  Work  of  Grace  in  Neva-England,  efpecially  in 
4  Lofion,  on  the  Souls  of  the  Rifing  Generation. 

'  Let  me  propound  this  to  fome  ferious  devout 

*  young  Perfons. 

Thus  was  his  Prayer  as  it  were  his  Breath,  and 
thus  he  was  always  fetching  of  it,  until  at  laft  it 
expir'd  in  Eternal  Praife. 

Thirdly-,  He  was  one  that  Thought  much  of  his 
COD,  and  his  END.  There  was  a  fort  of  Hea- 
ven formed  in  the  juft  Soul  of  this  Young-imn, 
by  the  Thoughts  that  were  continually  fparkling 
there.  He  had  an  unpaciiiable  Dilf.it  Ufa  ft  ion  at 
himfelf  until  good  Thoughts  were  lodg'd  in  him, 
and  vain  ones  were  forced  to  gnafli  their  Teeth, 
and  melt  away  :  Nothing  would  content  him,  but 
the  bringing  of  his  Thoughts  into  a  Subjetfion  to  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chr'tfi.  Wherefore  he  chew'd  much 
on  the  Excellent  Sermon  of  Mr.  Charnock  about 
Thou^As  ;  which  he  wrote  out  not  only  with  his 
Hand,  but  in  his  Heart,  and  made  it  the  very 
Mo:dd  of  his  Gracious  Mind.  There  are  none, 
but  very  Renew'd  Souls,  that  are  at  great  Pains 
in  a  Gourfe  of  Meditation  on  the  Things  of  God. 
Yet  this  Young-man,  like  another  Ifaac,  was 
grown  very  expert  at  it,  and  frequent  in  it.  It 
was  his  manner  in  the  Morning  to  meditate  very 
feriouily  and  fixedly  upon  fome  Truth,  or  fome 
Text,  for  a  good  part  of  an  Hour  together.  He 
bad  collected  a  good  variety  of  Subjecls  and  Scrip- 
tures to  handle,  in  thus  communing  with  himfelf,  and 
went  over  more  than  a  little  Divinity  in  this  tranf- 
cendent  Exercife.  Sometimes,  when  thus  hefepa- 
rated  himfelf  to  intermeddle  with  all  Wifdom,  1  find 
him  committing  his  Thoughts,  or  fome  few/are  of 
them,  unto  the  durable  Guftody  of  his  Papers  ; 
from  which  Memoirs  1  will  produce  but  an  In- 
ftance  or  two  of  many. 

Juguft  1 6.    1 68$. 

'  Med.  about,  The  Reafon  I  have  to  love  God ; 
'  becaufe  of  what  he  has  been  to  me,  and  what 

*  he  is  in  himfelf.  And  1  thought,  is  not  God 
'  the  Be  ft  Good?  Snrely  then  he  is  worthy  to 
1  be  my  haft  End.  Has  he  not  been  (hewing 
'   many  Mercies  to  me  ?    and  what !  fhall  I  not 

*  give  up  my  felf  to  Live  unto  God,  becaufe  of 
'  his  Goodnefs  to  me  ?  Much  affetled  -with  the 
4  Thoughts  of  thefe  Things  :  And,  I  hope,  I  clofed 
1  with  the  Motion. 

Again,  Ofiober    i. 

'  I  Meditated  on  that ;  //  a  Man  does  intend  to  be 
'  truly  Religious,  he  muft  expecl  nothing  but  to  fave 
4  his  Soul .? 

'  But  how  can  this  be  true  ? 

'  Muft  I  lofe  my  Body  altogether  ? 

*  Mod  I  be  willing  that  theVwo*  between  my 
c  Body  and  Soul  fhould  for  evermore  be  loofed  f 

'  Muft  ,1  be  willing  to  be  for  ever  without  a 
Body  ?  No,  no. 

*  All  that  the  Lord  requires  of  me,  is,  to  have 


my  Body  tor  a  few  Days  or  Years  (  a  few  J  fay, 
for  they  cannot  be  many  )  to  be  wholly  at  the 
Service  of  my  Soul,  and  to  be  willing  that  the 
Vnwi  between  thofe  two  Mates,  then  (houlj  be 
diifolved \  the  Soul  firft  taking  its  progrefs  into 
everlafting  Blifs  •  the  Body  being  laid  in  the 
Duft,  to  rife  at  the  Refurree  ion,  accompany- 
ing the  Soul  into  its  Eternal  Felicity. 

'  My  prefent  Notion  of  this  Thing  is  this  : 
4  This  Diffolution  of  the  Union  between  the 
Soul  and  Body,  is  but  a  Difmijfwnof  the  Spirit 
into  its  Happinefs,  after  a  wearifom  Conflict: 
here.  And  as  long  as  it  ftiajl  be  bell  for  me  to 
be  here,  here  1  (hall  continue.  Infinite  Wifdom  is 
to  be  the  Orc.erer  of  this;  and  ir  will  be  a  grie- 
vous and  fhameful  Reflexion  thereupon,  for  me 
to  fay,  It  will  be  better  for  me  to  live,  than  to 
dye,  at  fnch  a  time  when  i  am  called  thereunto. 
4  With  my  Body  I  rrtuft  cxpe-1  to  lofe  all  the 
pleafant  Enjoyments  of  this  World,  Liberty, 
Library,  Study  and  Relations  But  ytr.  neither 
fhall  1  lofe  thofe.  As  for  my  Liberty,  by  True 
Religion,  and  by  Dying  for  it  too,  when  Need 
requires,  I  fhall  gain  the  only  Liberty,  even 
from  the  Body  of  Sin. 

4  As  for  my  Library,  if  I  dye  for  Chrift,  or/« 
the  Lord,  I  fhall  have  no  need  of  it.  My  lla- 
derlranding  fhall  be  enough  enlarged,  and  I  fli  '1 
not  need  to  turn  over  Bo  As  for  Learning, 
for  my  Study  (  my  Paradice)  I  fhall  have  a  bet- 
ter, a  larger,  and  a  more  compleat  than  this. 

'  As  for  my  Relations,  thofe  of  them  that  are 
truly  pious,  I  fhall  only  go  before  them  •  and  if 
there  fhould  be  any  of  them  not  pious,  the  lon- 
ger I  fhould  ftay  with  them  here  (if  they  con- 
tinue impenipent)  it  wruld  butimkemy  Grief 
more  intolerable,  to  think  when  I  leave  them, 
that  I  fliall  have  no  hr^es  to  fee  them  again  for 
ever. 

'  But  this  is  not  all  neither.  

'  My  Body  mult  be  vied  as  the  S<uls  Infimmer.t  ; 
and  here  all  that  Strength  and  Eafc  which  1  have, 
muft  be  ufed  for  the  Soul  :  And  rruly  there  is 
Reafon  enough  for  it,  that  ib  there  may  be  Eter- 
nal Happinefs  for  both  together. 

'  In  Marriage,  the  Husband  and  Wife  fhould 
have  the  fame  Defign.  Would  it  not  be  inhu- 
mane, for  the  one  to  have  a  Defign  which  tends 
to  the  Ruine  of  the  other  ?  Juft  fo  my  Sew/and 
Body  fhould  have  the  fame  Defign ;  and  the  Body 
being  the  more  vile  of  the  nro,  fhould  be  fub- 
ordinate  to  the  Soul.  And  it  is  a  neccfiary  Dif- 
jundtion,  either  the  Body,  the  Strength,  and  E./fi, 
and  Members  of  it,  mult  be  ufed  for  the  good, 
or  for  the  Hurt  of  the  Soul  j  for  there  is  no 
Medium  here. 

4  Let  me  then  herein  make  my  Body  ufeful  to 
my  Soul,  in  accomplifhing  all  the  good  De/lgns 
of  it,  which  it  is  capable  of  being  interefied  in. 

4  Let  me  then  herein  make  my  Body  ufeful  to 
my  Soul,  in  accompilhing  all  the  good  Defers 
of  it,  which  it  is  capable  of  being  lncenft.d 
in. 

'  Nor  is  there  is  any  thing  elfe  worth  fpeakir  g 
of,  that  muft  be  foregone,  except  Health,  ana 
the  Moment aneoufnefs  ot  all  bodily  Torments, 
will  make  them  very  tolerable.  My 


i8 


The  Hifiory  of  New-England 


Book  IV. 


'  My  Refolutions  be. 

'  That  t  will  not  expect,  by  devoting  my  felf 
'  unto  the  Fear  of  God,  to  gain  any  thing  as  to 
;  my  Body  in  this  World. 

'  That  through  the  Grace  of  Chrift,  I  will  ufe 
'  the  Strength,  Eafe,  and  Health  of  my  Body,  yea, 
'  my  nbole  Body  in  fubordination  to  my  Soul, in  the 
'  Service  of  the  Lord  Jefus. 

With'fuch  Meditations  as  thefe,  he  kept  mel- 
lowing of  his  own  Soul,  and  preparing  it  for  the  > 
ftate  wherein  Faith  is  ruined  into  Sight. 

But  there  was  yet  a  more  delightful  and  furpri- 
•/.ing  way  pf  Tbimi/ig,  after  wiiich  he  did  afpire. 
He  confidered,  that  the  whole  Creation  was  full  of 
God  ;  and  that  there  was  not  a  Leaf  of  Grafs  in 
the  Field,  which  might  not  make  an  Obferver  to 
be  fenfible  of  the  Lord.  He  apprehended  that 
the  idle  Mr.iitUi  of  our  Lives  were  many  more 
than  a  fhoit  Liver  fhould  allow  :  That  the  very 
Filings  of  Gold,  and  of  Time,  were  exceeding  pre- 
cious ;  and,  that  there  were  little  Fragments  of 
Hours  intervening  between  our  more  dated  Bu'.i- 
neffes,  wherein  Thoughts  pf  God  might  be  no  lefs 
plea  fact  than  frequent  with  us. 

The  Elegant  and  Excellent  Meditations  of 
Sir  William  WaV.tr  had  particularly  affected  him 
unto  a  commendable  Emulation  of  them  ;  and 
hence  he  did  attempt  to  make  even  tic  more  com- 
mon and  more  trivial  Occur  rents  of  humane  Life, 
the  Occalions  of  Great  Thoughts  within  him.  He 
would  with  the  Chymifry  of  Occafional  Reflections, 
diftill  fublime  Spirits  from  Earthly  Bodies  ;  and  from 
the  view  of  mean  things,  fill  his  nobly  employed 
Mind  wifh  Leffons  and  Prayers,  which  only  the 
Father  of  Spirits  wa?  a  Witnefs  to. 

Some  of  thefe«his  Occafional  Rtfi^ttionsl  find  in 
his  private  Papers ;  a::d  of  one  or  two  for  a  Tafc, 
I  will  befpeak  the  Reader's  Acceptance. 

Jan,  8.,,  A.  M. 

4  Being  about  to  rife,  I  felt  the  Cold  in  a  manner 
4  extraordinary  \  which  inclin'd  me  to  feek  more 
1  Warmth'xxx  my  Bed  before  I  rofe-,  butfoextream 
'  was  the  Cold,  that  this  was  not  feafible :  Where- 
4  fore  I  refolved  to  drefs  my  fclf  without  any  mote 
'  ado  ;  and  fo  going  to  the  Fire  in  my  Cloaths,  1 
'  foon  became  warm  enough. 

'  Turn  this,  O  my  Soul,  into  an  ufeful  Medita- 
'  tion.  There  is  a  neceflity  of  my  fifing  ouc  of  my 
'  Bed,  the  Bed  of  Security  which  lam  under  the 
'  Power  of,  and  to  live  unto  Chrift,  and  to  walk 
4  in  the  Light. 

'  In  order  hereunto,  I  muft  put  on  my  poor 
i  Soul  the  Garments  which  are  to  he  had  from  the 
'  Lord  jefus.  To  awaken  me  out  of  my  Sleep, 
4  and  my  Security,  I  am  to  fet  before  me  the  Sun, 
4  the  Gofpel  of  the  Sun  of  Rigbteoufnefs  doth  en- 
'  lighten  my  Mind,  and  tell  me,  that  I  was  before 
c  muffled  up  in  Darbiefs  ;  and  that  if  I  continued 
'  therein,  I  fhould  ftarve  and  perifh.  Iamalfo 
'  taught,  That  when  Men  are  convinced  of  their 
4  miserable  Condition,  they  will  rather  endeavour 
'  to  Eafb,  and  comfort  and  cheriih  themfelves  by 


tual  Garments  which  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  has 
provided  for  them.  An  Evil  to  be  by  me  a- 
vosded. 

Again,  another  time. 

1  Upon  Water  taken  from  the  Fire,  I  faw  a  Lithe 
warmnefs  quickly  feize ;  like  the  Frame  of  Spirit 
which  many  Pretenders  to  Religion  have  after 
a  glorious  and  affectionate  Profe/fton  of  it.  Of 
this  fort  were  fome  among  the  Laodice'ans  of 
old  ;  which  is  exceedingly  difpleafing  to  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chtilf  •  Whence  it  is  that  he  faith 
1  will  fpew  thee  out  of  my  Month.  Let  me  endea- 
vour to  beware  of  this  hatc'ul  and  odious  frame 
of  Spirit-  ?nd  let  the  contrary  thereto  be  my 
■  Delire,  my  Endeavour. 


Once 


more. 


'  Among  fome  Gentlemen  that  were  fitting  in 
;  a  Room  illuminated  with  a  Candle,  one  begin- 

■  ning  to  read  unto  us,  there  was  another  Candle 

■  brought  unto  him,  for  his  afQftancein  ic.  Which 
afforded  me  fuch  a  Meditation  as  this  : 

That  thofe  who  are  to  be  Teachers  of  others, 
1  have  need  of  as  much  Light  again  as  ordinary 
'  Chriftians  have.  They,  if  any,  need  a  double 
^  Portion  of  the  Gifts  that  are  in  other  Men  •,  and 
1  the  Helps  of  Knowledge  that  other  Perfons 
4  have,  they  much  more  fhould  be  furnilh'd 
*  withal. 

4  It  was  not  becaufe  they  had  better  Eyes  than 
4  him  whofe  Office  it  was  to  read,  that  they 
'  needed  but  One  Candle,  when  he  had  Two  pro- 
4  vided  for  him  ;but  the  Work  incumbent  on  him, 
4  and  expected  from  him  was  the  Occafion  of  it. 

But  I  defign  little  more  than  a  Confirmation  with 
an  llluftration  of  my  Hijlory,  for  which  a  touch  or 
two  upon  every  Article  will  ferve.  I  am  now 
to  add,  That  this  Young  Man  had  a  principal  Re- 
gard unto  the  Scriptures  for  the  Subjects  of  his  Me- 
ditations,^ he  was  very  expenfive  of  his  Thoughts 
on  the  Book  of  God.  He  was  daily  digging  in  the 
facred  Mines,  and  with  delight  he  fetched  thence 
Riches  better  than  thofe  of  both  the  India's  -,  and 
he  could  fay,  Ohoxv  1  love  thy  Law!  it  is  my  Me- 
diation every  Bay  '. 

Even  in  the  time  of  his  Mortal  Sicknefs,  he 
was  very  angry  at  himfelf,  if  he  had  not  heard  a 
Portion  of  the  Bible  read  unto  him  from  Day  to 
Day. 

Once  when  he  was  near  his  End,  a  good  part 
of  a  Day  having  pafs'd  before  he  had  enjoyed  his 
Meal  of  Scripture  ;  he  faid  unto  his  Sifter  with 
fome  impatience,  Alas !  what  an  ungodly  Life  do  I 
lead  !  pray  come  and  read  my  Bible  to  me ;  and  read 
me  the  forty  ninth  Pfalm.  Indeed  he  read  the 
Scripture  not  curforily,  but  very  deliberately  and 
conliderately  •,  and  as  an  Effect  of  his  doing  fo, 
he  could  give  fuch  an  Account  of  the  Difficulties 
in  it,  as  the  moft  not  only  of  Chriflians,  but  of 
Divines  too,  would  judge  an  Attainment  extraor- 
dinary. Not  long  before  he  dyed,  he  had  read  over 
all  the  large  and  great  Annotations  on  the  Bible, 
fomerhi'ng  in  themfelves,  than  put  on  the  Spiri- !  lately  publifhed  by  Mr.    Pool,    and  fome  other 


Book  IV.  The  Hiftory  of  New- England. 


219 


Non-conformift  Minifters  ;  but  having  difpatchcd 
•  thofe  two  Noble  Folio's,  he  faid  unto  one  that  was 
intimate  with  him,  Thus  have  I  read  the  Bible,  but 
1  have  now  learnt  a  better  way  !  And  that  way  was 
this.  He  would  oblige  himfelf  in  reading  to  fetch 
a  Note  and  a  Prayer  out  of  every  Verfe  in  all  the 
Bible  ;  to  dwell  upon  every  Verfe  until  it  had  af- 
forded atleaft  one  Obfavation,  and  one  Ejaculation 

to  him. 

He  imagined  that  an  incredible  deal  both  of 
Truth  and  Grace,  would  in  this  way  make  its  im- 
prefiion  upon  his  Mind  (  befides  what  Exercife 
of  Wit  it  mull  have  call'd  for  )  and  fo  moft  cer- 
tainly it  would  have  done-,  but  before  he  had 
made  much  Progrefe  in  it,  the  Chariots  of  God 
fetcht  him  away  to  that  place,  in  which  a  Jefus  is 
a  Bible  to  the  there  perfeil  Spirits  of  the  Righte- 
ous. 

Such  3  thinking  Perfon  was  he  •,  and  yet  after  fo 
many  kind  of  Thoughts  in  the  Day,  he  could  not 
relt  a  Night  quietly,  unlefs  he  compos'd  himfelf 
for  jleeping  by  thinking  a  little  more. 

He  knew  that  no  better  a  Mm  thin  one  of  the 
Moral  Heathens  propounded  a  NKlumal  Self-  Exa- 
mination, as  a  part  and  caufe  of  11 ->  little  Wifdom, 
and  that  much  more  ^  fiber  Chrifiiin  mould  endea- 
vour to  maintain  a  good  Vndtrfland'mg  of  him- 
felf, by  fuch  Nightly  Recolleclions.  Wherefore  be- 
fore the  Slumbers  of  the  Evening,  this  Young 
Man  would  put  three  General  Queflions  to  himfelf, 
with  divers  particular  ones  that  were  fubordinate 
thereunto.  The  Queflions  were, 
Queftion    1 . 

What  has  God's  Mercy  to  me  been  this  Day  ? 

Here  he  confidcred  what  Favours  God  had 
newly  fmiPd  upon  his  Inward,  or  his  Outward 
Man  withal. 

Queftion  2. 

What  has  my  Carriage  to  God  been  this  Day  ? 

Here  he  confidered  what  Frames,  and  Words 
and  Works,   and  what  Snares  and    Sins  he  had 
newly  been  concerned  with. 
Queftion  3. 

I]  J  dye  this  Night,  is  my  Immortal  Spirit  fafe? 

Of  this  he  judged  by  hisClofure  with  God,  as 
bis  bejl  good,  and'laft  end,  and  with  Cbrift  as  his 
Prophet,  and  his  Prieft,  and  his  King,  and  by  his 
Refoiution  always  to  be  a  Witnefs  for  the  Lord, 
and  an  Enemy  to  every  Sin  :  Tho'  fometimes  he 
would  with  a  more  large  and  long  Attention  Exa- 
mine his  own  Hopes  of  Eternal  Happinefs,  for 
which  p-jrpofe  he  had  in  Writing  by  him,  his 
Bundles  of  Marks  and  Signs  which  teftifie  a  Man  to 
be  born  of  God.  When  he  had  thought  on  thefe 
things,  he  was  able  to  lay  himfelf  down  tn  peace  and 
fltep  •  bur  this  was  a  way  to  keep  a  Soul  awake. 

1  begin  to  fufpedt  that  my  Reader's  patience  is 
almoit  expir'd  •,  and  therefore  1  fhall  caufe  the 
Remainder  of  this  Narrative  to  omit  where  it  can- 
not contrail,  what  is  yet  well  worthy  to  be  the 
Matter  of  it. 

Fourthly,    He  was   one  that  mortified  and  con 

querd  the  SlNS  which  were  a  Vexation  co  him. 

There  were  fome  Sins  which  gave  to  this  young 

■  Man  a  more  violent  and  outragious  difturbance 

than  he  could  w  ithout  much  paifion  bear  :  Thefe 


did  he  contrive  and  conflict  much  in  his  Oppofttiom 
to,  and  gave  not  over  till  he  had  a  certain  Prof- 
pedt  of  a  Vitlory. 

Of  all  the  things  which  ever  troubled  him,  I 
know  not  whether  any  were  more  grievous  than 
the  Blafpbemous  ln\etlions  which  like  fiery  venemous 
Darts  inflam'd  fometimes  his  very  Soul  within 
him.j 

It  may  be  fome  Teftimony  of  Sincerity,  when 
Perfons  are  not  a  little  afiiicled  for,  as  well  as  af- 
faulted  with,  Blafpbemous  Imaginations  about  God  , 
which  rife  within  us  in  contradiction  to  all  that 
Reverence  of  him,  which  we  know  not  how  to  lay 
afide. 

This  Perfon  on  his  Death-bed  complained  to  me, 
that  Horrenda  de  Deo,  Horrible  Conceptions  of 
God,  buzzing  absut  his  Mind,  had  been  one  of 
the  bittereft  of  all  his  Trials  •,  and  1  find  his  private 
Papers  making  fad  Lamentations  over  the  Mife- 
rics  of  this  Annoyance.  You  (hall  read  how  he 
did  encounter  thefe  Fiends,  as  one  that  was  no 
Stranger  to  the  Wars  of  the  Lord. 

Once  in  his  Diary,  he  fays  ; 

1  Troubled  exceedingly  with  Blafpbemous  Sug- 
'  geftions,  my  Soul  bleeds  at  the  Thoughts  of 
'  them. 

4  O  that  Chrift  would  deliver  me  from  them  ! 

they  make  my  Life  unpleafant,  I  do  believe 
1  th3t  Satan  never  fhuggled  fo  hard  to  keep  any 
'  one  from  Chrift,  as  he  has  done  to  keep  me .' 

4  From  heuce  I  learn,  1.  My  great  Enmity 
to,    2.  My  great  Need  of,  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift. 

At  another  time  : 

c  Troubled  with  Blafpbemous  Thoughts,  I  learn 
from  hence, 

'  x.   Seeing  thefe  would  have  me  to  entertain 
a  low  Ejieem  of  Chrift  and  God. 
'  I  will  endeavour  to  have  a  more  high  and 
eminent  Efleem  of  God  and  Chrift. 
2.  Seeing  thefe  do  fo  perplex  me  continually, 
1  I  learn  that  1  am  unable  of  my  felf  to  raife 
good  Thoughts,  much  lefs  to  perform  good  Alts 
of  Obedience.     I  would  be  deeply  humbled^ 
that  my  Soul  fhould  be  thus  dcfiled-l 
1  Seeing,  I  have  often  fo  much  Experience  and 
Stirrings  of  Enmity  in  my  Soul  to  God,  I  would 
be  excited  thereby  more  heartily  to  cleave  unto 
him. 

Once  more. 

1  I  hope  I  have  now  got  Strength  over  my 
1  Blafpbemous  Thoughts,  after  this  manner. 

c  1 .  Humblmg  my  felf  under  a  fenfe  of  my  own 
'  Vilenefsand  Wretchednefs. 

'  1.  Fraying  earneftly  for  the  removal  of  the 
'  Enmity  that  is  in  my  Soul  to  the  Things  of  God  j 
'  efpecially  as  to  this  matter. 

Thus  difcreetly  did  he  manage  the  Shield  of 
Faith  againft  thofe  barbed  Arrows  of  Hell :  Nor 
did  his  other  Corruptions  cfcape  the  Offenftvet 
as  well  as  the  Defenfive  Weapons  of  his  Soul. 

Under  the  moft  furious  of  their  AfTaults,  1  find 
this  to  be  one  of  his  Honourable  Retreats. 

'  For  the  Relief  of  my  Soul  under  the  Power 
N  n  n  n  'of 


220 


The  Hifiory  of  New-England. 


4  of  Corruption  ;  let  me  by  Faith  apply  thefe  Scrip- 
4  tuns.  ' 

4  Firft,  Rom,  6, 14. 

4  Secondly,  Ezek.  36.  26. 

4  Thirdly,  Mic.q.  19. 

*  Fourthly,  Zee.  13. 1. 

*  Befides  Zee.  9.  12.  ^/<*f.  16.  18.  John  12. 
•  31.  and  Rom.  16.  20.  and  thefe  Confiderations : 

4  Firfl,  Chrift  is  a  Compleat  Redeemer,  Heb.  7. 
'25.     i  Dfafcj  i-  7-     Heb.  9.  14. 

*  Secondly,  God's  /»/z»tf<?  Power  is  engaged  on 
1  my  behalf,  if  1  be  in  Covenant  with  him. 

4  Thirdly,  God  will  perfect  Holinefs  where  he 
'  hath  begun  it. 

In  fuch  Engagements  as  thefe  againft  his  lnvift- 
ble  Jdverfaries  he  continued,  until  he  is  now  a 
Conqueror,  and  more  than  a  Conqueror. 

Fifthly,  He  was  one  that  wifely  prepared  for 
the  CHANGES  that  were  before  him.  It  is  a 
Remark  in  one  of  his  Papers:  4  1  think  it  conve- 
4  nienX  for  me  to  obferve  the  Temptations,  1  am,  or 
4  (hall  be  obnoxious  mto,  and  get  fititable  Remedies 
1  againji  them. 

He  feem'd  indeed  to  have  a  ftrange  Prefage  of 
what  he  was  to  meet  withal,  and  O  how  he  laid 
in  that  he  might  not  be  unprovided  for  it !  A  Pru- 
dence rarely  feen  among  the  Children  of  Men, 
whofe  Mifery  is  great  upon  them  becaufe  they 
know  not  their  Time. 

There  were  efpecially  two  Calamities  which 
he  had  a  fore-boding  of,  Difmal  Pain  and  Early 
Death,  As  for  his  Pain,  he  was  it  feems  to  un- 
dergo exquifite  Anguifhes,  for  many  Months  be- 
fore his  Diffolution ;  but  before  ever  it  came  up- 
on him,  how  ftrangely  did  he  fortifie  himfclfa- 
gunft  it !  He  faid  in  his  Diary  fome  Years  before 
he  left  the  World, 

Sept.  2. 


4  I  had  not  in  the  Morning  time  enough  for/o- 
kmn  Meditation:  Great  Deadnefs  and  Dulnefs 
was  in  my  Heart,  as  to  Spiritual  Thoughts  after- 
wards  >  the  Reafon  was,  becaufe  /  did  not  per- 
form my  folemn  Meditation  as  1  fhould. 
1  I  had  now  Apprehenfions  that  I  muff  under- 
go fore  Tryals  and  Conflifts,  and  great  Afflift i- 
ons. 

4  Wherefore  it  highly  become  me  to  get  as 
great  a  meafure  of  Grace,  as  the  Opportunities 
which  I  enjoy  may  afford,  and  therefore  I  pur- 
pofe  to  be  more  ferious  in  my  Meditations,  not 
omitting  other  Duties  therewithal. 
4  1  fee  my  Refolutions,  rnuft  every  Day  be  re- 
newed, as  to  great  diligence  in  my  fervingGod. 
4  And  fince  I  muft  expeft  great  Jfflitlions,  1 
muft  make  it  my  daily  Work  by  folemn  Medi- 
tation to  go  over  the  whole  Body  of  Chriflianity, 
and  particularly  to  have  daily  Thoughts  on  the 
Condefcention  ofjefus  Chrift :  I  muft  alfo  endea- 
vour to  get  a  large  meafure  of  fundi fie d  Know- 
ledge ;  wherefore, 

4  Firfl,  There  is  need  of  Earneft  Prayer ;  and 
4  Secondly,  Of  very  Holy  Walking. 
4  Thirdly,  Of  Entertaining  the  Truth  with  great 
eft  Affection  ;  and 


Book  IV. 

\  rZuta)\  yokinS°°  it  «  *is  in  Jefrs  ;and 

Fifthly,  Solemn  Meditation  ;  and 
4  Sixthly,  Much  Reading ;  and 
4  Seventhly,  Living  upon  the  Truths   which  I 


know 
which 


and  Tbankfulnefs   for  the   Knowledge 
I  have  already. 


t 


. 


And  at  another  time  there  was  this  written 
in  his  Diary. 

4  This  Morning  I  meditated  about  a  part  of 
4  Self-denial  -  Namely,  the  denial  of  Bodilv 
4  Health,  and  of  Eafe  from  Torment. 

4  My  Refolution  was,  that  it  was  better  to  part 
herewithal,  than  to  fin.  I  hope  there  is  a  tho- 
rough purpofe  in  my  Heart  to  perform  according- 
ly, when  I  fhall  be  call'd  thereunto. 
4  I  do  feel  the  Stirrings  of  Self  in  my  felf  this 
day :  It  would  fain  be  in  the  Throne  of  God 
within  me ;  but  I  am  refolved  Chrift  fhall  be  mv 
4  King.  J 

And  as  he  thus  put  on  the  whole  Armour  of  God 
that  he  might  be  able  to  ftand  when  he  fhould  be' 
tryed,  fo  he  found  the  Benefit  of  it,  when  he 
came  into  the  Field.  Few  in  the  World  ever 
bore  fuch  Dolours  with  fuch  a  filent  and  a  quiet 
and  compofed  Temper  as  he.  Some  that  were  in- 
timate with  him,  would  fay,  He  was  one  of  an  Iron 
Patience,  and  they  had  rarely  if  ever  feen  fuch  a  Pati- 
ent Patient.  But  his  Death  he  feem'd  all  alon<* 
molt  careful  to  be  ready  for. 

/«  his  Papers. 

Meditations  on  the  four  laft  things,  was  3  Title 
mentioning  aSiibjett  of  his  molt  felicitous  Con- 
templations. Above  three  Tears  before  his  Tran- 
flation,  his  Diary  hath  fuch  a  Note  as  this. 

4  Speaking  to  Day  fomcthing  con- 
4  cerning  my  Commencement,  I  was      ?n  the  Mar' 
4  ftrangely  furprized,  and  had  many    gjJgjTO 
4  Thoughts,  yea,  Perfwafions,  That 
4  1  fhould  not  live  till  then. 

4  Reft.  What  may  be  the  Import  hereof  I  can- 
4  not  tell ;  yet  I  gather  thus  much :  That  is  incum- 
•  bent  on  me  without  further  delay,  to  ma'e  my  Call- 
'  ing  and  Elettion  fare. 

He  hath  alfo  left  behind  him,  Some  Meditations, 
tending  to  the  Exercife  of  Repentance,  and  Faith,  and 
Preparation  for  Death,  as  he  hath  himfclf  intitled 
them  ;  but  the  Reader  by  this  time  will  eafily 
pardon  my  forbearing  the  Communication  of  them. 

Indeed,  Preparation  for  Death,  in  one  word,  con- 
tains the  Subftance  of  what  he  had  been  doing  di- 
vers years  before  the  King  of  Terrors  took  his  Clay 
Houfe  away. 

And  as  he  was  defirous  to  prepare  for  what 
Pajfive  Obedience  he  might  be  put  upon,  fo  he  was- 
loath  to  have  his  Heart  not  well  ordered  or  fur- 
nilhed,  when  Attive  Obedience  might  be  called  for 
at  his  Hands.  Tho'  he  never  liv'd  to  preach  any 
other  than  fome  private  Sermons,  yet  lie  was  not 
unthoughtfulof  the  Time  when  publick  Ones  might 
be  expected  from  him.  It  may  not  be  nnufeful  for 
me  to  infertone  of  his  Mtditatmis  here  5  it  runs 
in  fuch  terms  as  thefe- 

8  Whether 


Book  IV. 


The  Hijlory  0/ New- England. 


221 


%  Whether  I  fhould  be  a  Mmifier  ? 

4  I  confidered  all  Objetlions  which  Eerfons  might 
4  make  agrinft  it,  and  anfwer'd  them  every  oue. 
'  Buc  one  Objeffion  ftartled  me  more  than  the  reft, 

*  to  wit,  Per  fun  al  Vnfitnefs,  from  my  Hebetude,  or 
c  want  of  Invention."  To  which  I  anfwer'd,  with 
4  minding  that  Promife  in  Exod.  3.  12.  Certainly 
4  /  will  be  with  thee.  And  the  beginning  of  ver. 
4   18.  They  [hull  hearten  to  thy  voice.     And  where 

*  God  finds  Work,  there  he  will  give  Strength.  I 
'  likewife  confidered  1  Chron.  28.  1  o,  20.  and  Mat. 
4  28.(9,20.  undjofh.i.  9.  and  Judg.  6.  12,14. 

4  And  then  1  thought  with  my  felt,  That  as  for 

*  living  in  a  remote  part  of  the  Country,  1  (hould  be 

*  willing  thereunto,  if  fo  I  might  do  Service  for 
4  God,  and  bring  Glory  to   his  Name.      And 

1  whilft  I  was  muling  on  thefe  Things,  I  was  melt- 1 
'  ed  into  a  Frame,  that  I  thought  heretofore  I. 
'  fhould  nevet  be  in,  namely,  Humble  Submi/Jicn 
4  to  the  Good  Pleafure  of  God,  however  he  (hould  dif- 
1  pofe  of  me.  1  knew,  that  though  1  were  reproached 
4  for  what  Meanncfs  1  fhould  this  w;y  be  expofed 

*  unto,  there  is  an  Anfwer  in  Rom.  1.  16.  and  in 
4  Mark  8.  38.  and  in  Pfal.  31.  19.  and  in  Prov. 
4  16.  7.  and  in  Pfal.  37.  5,  6.  So  were  the  Apo- 
4  files,  1  Cor.  4.  3,  9.  If  1  ferve  Chrift,  God  will 
4  honour  me,  John  1  2.  26. 

Every  one  muft  own,  that  however  fuch  things 
as  thefe,  in  an  old  Man,  m3y  be  below  our  Admira- 
tion ;  yet  in  a  young  Man,  that  out-lived  not  the 
Years  which  the  Nodes  of  the  Moon  take  tod  if 
patch  a  Revolution,  they  defervea  Memory  among 
them  that  may  be  edified  by  fuch  Exemplary  Pra- 
(iices.  Indeed,  he  was  himfelf  extreamly  unfenfi- 
bk  of  the  leaft  Worth  or  Shine  aborning  of  him  ; 
and  in  his  whole  Deportment  he  difcovered  a  mo- 
deft,  an  humble,  and  a  refcrved  Mein  ;  which 
might  be  reck'ned  -to  bear  little  proportion  with  his 
other  Accomplilhments,  were  it  not  that  the  more 
gracious  Men  are,  the  more  humble  they  always 
are;  and  they  are  the  Fullefl  and  Ficheft  Ears  of 
Corn,  which  molt  hang  down  towards  the  Ground. 
But  while  he  in  a  fort  wronged  himfelf, to  efcape 
the  Bane  and  Blame  of  Pride ;  it  is  a  piece  of  pure 
Juftice  in  the  Survivers,  to  Embalm  the  Name  of  a 
Perfon  thus  delirable,  lince  he  is  gone  thither 
where  he  has  no  Chaff 'to  take  fire  at  the  Sparks  of 
our  Praifes. 

Sic  oados,  fie  i'Je  manus,  fie  ora  ferebat  ? 

Such  a. young  Man  as  this  it  is,  that  the  Church 
of  God  is  now  deprived  of.'  What  a  Blejfmg  might 
his  Living  have  proved  unto  the  World  !  But  as 
the  Long-liv'd  Patriarchs,  before  the  Flood,  have 
ftill  th3t  Claufe  introduced  of  them,  And  he  dyed  ; 
which  Claufe  awakened  and  converted  a  Perfon 
of  Quality,  who  came  in  occafionally  while  the  Mi- 
nifter  was  reading  the  Fifth  Chapter  of  Gencfts  to 
the  Congregation  ;  fo  muft  I  now  fay  of  the  Short' 
livd  Perfon,  whom  we  have  been  paying  our  laft 
Refpeift  unto,  he  lived  thus  long  in  a  little  time, 
And  he  died. 

Before  1  break  off,   I  muft  relate, 


III.    His  DEATH: 

Too  foon  and  too  fad  a  thing  for  me  to  mention 
without  Sighing,  Ah  my  Brother,  in  my  Lamenta- 
tion over  it.  He  had  contracted  an  univeifal  111 
Habit  of  Body;  which  was  attended  with  a  par- 
ticular Generation  of  111  Humours,  where  the  Qs 
Ileon  and  Os  Sacrum  joyn;  from  whence  it  tell  in- 
to his  Thigh,  until  there  was  a  very  large  collefti- 
on  of  it  there. 

Thete  was  an  hcifio:i3  with  mature  Advice 
made  into  the  Tumour,  about  a  Month  before  his 
Expiration,  which  gave  good  hopes  of  his  Reco- 
very into  a  capacity  of  ferving  theChurch  of  God  ■, 
but  the  Circulation,  which  was  now  given  unto 
the  putrid  Juices  which  his  Blood,  through  his  con- 
tinual and  fedentary  Studies,  had  been  annoyed 
withal,  foon  enkindled  a  Fever,  which  burnt  afun- 
der  the  thread  of  this  pious  Life. 

One  ■  might  luppofe,  that  fuch  a  Walk  with  God 
as  the  Reader  has  newly  had  pourtrayed  before 
him,  fhould  end  in  Raptures  and  Extafies  of 
Ajfurance  ;  but  I  am  to  tell  him,  That  this 
Young  Perfon  had  them  not.  And  there 
wanted  not  Reafon  for  it.  For  his  Natural 
Dijlemper  difpofed  him  to  what  is  contrary  to  Joy  • 
but  his  deep  Humility  had  a  greater  fhare  in  the 
Jealoufies  and  Sufpicions  whkh  he  would  ftili  cherifh 
of  himfelf.  He  was  indeed  fo  afraid  of  beinp  an 
Hypocrite,  and  he  would  fcarce  allow  himfelf  to  be 
called  aCbripijn,  and  he  did  not  care  fo  much  as 
to  tell  any  of  his  own  Experiences,  no,  nor  his  In- 
clinations, unlefs  to  one  or  two  Divines,  who 
kindly  refrefhed  him  with  their  daily  Vifits  \  and 
with  them  too  he  would  uphold  his  Difcourfc  only 
in  Lati»t  if  any  one  elfe  were  by.     1 

Never  did  1  fee  more  Caution  againft  Hypocrifie, 
than  what  was  in  him  ;  and  a  certain  Self- abhorrence 
accompanying  of  it,  caufed  to  proceed  from  him 
no  Expreffions,  butthofeofan  Abafcd  Soul.  When 
his  Brother  having  recited  the  Terms  of  the  Gof- 
pel  to  him,  with  a  defign  to  obtain  from  him  a 
Renewal  of  his  Explicit  Conjent  thereunto,  asked 
him,  Whether  he  did  not  judge  himfelf  fwcere  in  that 
Confent  ?  He  only  replied,  ifhould  think  fo,  if  it  were 
not  for  the  Seventeenth  of  Jeremiah,  and  the  Ninth. 

He  was  Dejecled,  yet  not  Defpatring ;  and  he  dif- 
covered a  wonderfully  Gracious,  when  he  bad  not 
a  Joyful  Frame.  He  was  all  made  up  of  Longings 
and  Breathings  after  all  the  Fulnefs  of  God,  when 
he  could  not  or  would  not  pretend  unto  any  Con- 
fidence of  his  Acceptance  with  the  Lord. 

In  the  time  of  his  Health,  he  had  not  been  with- 
out the  comfortable  Perfwafions  for  which  he  fol- 
low A  hard  after  God.  In  one  place,  1  find  him 
faying  (  on  fuch  a  day  )  /  had  Fears  left  1  fhould  not 
love  the  Bleffed  God;  but  yet  I  was  fare  J  defiredto 
keep  his  Commandments.  Another  time  fo  •,  Ft* 
three  Quarters  of  an  Hour,  I  pleaded  earnefly  fo! 
ajfurance  of  the  Love  of  God  unto  me,  and  J  faia, 
As  many  as  received  Chrift  Jefus,  to  them  he  gave 
Power  to  become  the  Sons  of  God  ;  And  1  did  re- 
ceive Jefus  Chrifl,  as  the  the  Free  Gift  of  God ,  and 
received  him  to  fave  me  on  his  oirn  Terms  :  I  chefc 
him  to  be  my  Priefl,  and  Prophet,  and  King.    Now  / 

beggd 


2  2  2 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


Book  IV; 


bcggd  of  him  that  he  would  manifeft  bis  Acceptance 
of  me,  and  give  me  the  Spirit  of  Adoption  :  J  bad 
then,  J  hope,  fome  Affurance.  But  when  Siclnefs 
came,  he  was  loth  to  own  a  clear  Title  to  the 
Reft  of  God  :  Yet  before  he  died,  he  Coffered 
fome  fober  Intimations  of  his  Hopes  to  fall  from 
him.  There  was  a  good  Man  in  this  Land,  whofe 
laft  Words  yet  were,  It  had  been  good  for  me  that 
1  had  never  been  born.  The  Words  of  this  hum- 
ble Self-loathing  Young-Man  were  of  another 
ftrain.  In  the  laft  Night,  that  we  had  him  with 
us,  he  would  have  his  Watcher  to  read,  The  Song 
of  Simeon,  unto  him,  Now  lettefl  thou  thy  Servant 
depart  in  Peace :  And  in  the  Morning  after,  he 
fa  id,  /  have  now  been  with  Jefus  Chrifi  !  which, 
from  fuch  a  little  Speaker  as  he,  we  could  not 
have  his  Explication  of. 

In  one  of  his  laft  Minutes,  a  faithful  Minifter 
faid  unto  him,  Find  you  not  Comfort  in  the  Lord  Je- 
fus  Chrifi  >  To  which  he  made  only  this  difcreet 
and  humble  Anfwer,  1  endeavour  to  do  thofe  things 
which  will  iJJ'uc  in  Comfort  •  and  then  he  quickly 
furrendred  up  his  Redeemed  and  Renewed  Soul 
unto  him  who  had  loved  him,  and  wafhed  away  his 
Sins  in  bis  own  Blood. 

Thus  he  went  away  to  the  Heavenly  Society, 
where  he  is  beholding  the  Face  of  God  in  Righteouf- 
nefs  and  folacing  himfelf  in  the  Company  not  on- 
ly of  his  blefl'ed  Grandfathers  and  Uncles,  and  all  the 
Spirits  of  the  Jufl ;  but  of  the  amiable  Jefus  himfelf, 
which  is  by  far  the  befi  of  all.  His  Tear*  are  all 
dried  up,  his  Fears  vanifhed  away,  and  his  Hopes 
more  than  anfwered  in  Joys  unfpeakable,  and  full 

of  Glory. 

His  Fldtr  Brother  having  thus  written  of  him, 
now  fatisfies  himfelf  in  the  Duty  therein  done  to 
God  and  Man  ;  and  would  keep  waiting  for  his 
own  Change,  until  Thy  Free  Grace,  Omy  God,  (hall 
give  unto  the  moft  miferable  Sinner  in  the  World^ 
an  AdmiJJion  into  Emmanuel'*  Land. 

Cotton  Mather. 


One  that  had  an  Acquaintance  with  hira,  did  him 
the  Juftice  of  weeping  over  his  Grave  fuch  an 
Epitaph  as  this. 

INclofed  in  this  Sable  Chefr, 
The  Hofi  once  of  an  Heavenly  Guefi 
Here  lies  :  Upright  Nathanael, 
True  Offspring  of  God's  Ifrael. 
Him  Dead,  how  term  we,  from  his  Birth. 
Who  liv'd  in  Heaven  whilfl  on  Earth  ? 
His  Head  had  Learning's  Magazine, 
His  Heart  the  Altar,  whence  Divine 
Whole  Hecatombs,  which  Love  had  fir7 J 
Of'yigb  Praife,  and  warm  Pray'r  ajpir'd  .- 
His  Life,  the  Decalogue  unfolded; 
^Meat-Off'ring,  his  Speech  weti-mmUed-, 
His  rare  Devotion,  fuch  now  feen, 
A  Sign  of  Ninety  at  Nineteen. 
Years  but  in  bloom,  Grace  at  full  growth 
Angels,  you  Know  and  Think  his  Worth. 
Thus  Time,  Youth's  Glafs,  turnd  eYe  'twas  ran, 
And  Ages  too,   before  begun. 

Reft,  Glorious  Dofl,  and  let  thy  perfum'd  Name 
Sound  in  the  Trumpets  of  Immortal  Fame. 
For  tbo  Times  Teeth  Maufolazan  Monuments  deface, 
They'll  never  gnaw  thy  Name  which  with  the  Stars  has 
place. 

T  of  nit,  R.  H. 


Unto  which  we  will  add  another  borrowed  from 
another. 

Siccine,  Nathanael,  proper  as  ad  ccelica  .?  Mentis 
Cgelefles  traiiat  non  bene  Terra  ;  fap'vs* 

FINIS. 


A8s 


Ads  and  ^Monuments. 


The  Fifth    BOOK 

O  F    T  H  E 

New  Englifh  Hiftory : 

[  In  Four  PARTS.] 

CONTAINING 

The  FAITH  and  the  ORDER 

IN    THE 

C|mtrt)e0  of  $eto=€nglatitj : 

Agreed  by  the 

Elders  and  Meflengers  of  the  Churches 
Aflembled  inSYNODS. 

WITH 

HISTORICAL    REMARKS 

UPON 

All   thofe    VENERABLE     ASSEMBLIES. 

And  a  great  Variety  of  other  Church-Cases, 
Occurring  and  Refolved  in  thefe  American 
CHURCHES. 

Aurea  prfetua  femper  digniflima  vita. 

Compiled  by  Cotton   Mather. 

Non  debemus  nos  de  Regimine  Ecclefia  quicquam  ajferere  quod  ex  Humanis  Rationibus 
videretur  a/ferendumt  fed  id  quod  ipfofatto  eft  Z  Cbriflo  Inftitutum,  @"  inEcdefd 
ab  ip/ius  Fundattone  obfervatum.         A.  Spalatenfis,  de  R.  pub.  Ecclef. 


LONDON, 

Printed  for  Ibomat  Parkbtirft,  at  the  Bible  and  Three 

Crowns  in  Cbeafpde.     1702. 


• 


. 


-: 


■ 


. 


i 


• 


The  Fifth  BOOK. 


STNODICON    AMER1C  ANU  M. 


The  Firft   PART. 


THE 


FAITH 

ProfefTed  by  the 

CJutcijes  of  j&eto=€nglatiih 

Vericulofam  nobis  ac  miferabik  e(i,  tot  Fides  exiflere  quot  vo- 
luntates,  &  tot  nobis  Doffirinas  effe,  quot  mores.       Hilar. 

■  -  -  -  ■ ^ — — ° 

r 


§  i.  If  T  was  once  an  unrighteous  and  Injurious 
Afperfion  caft  upon  the  Churches  of 
New-England,  That  the  World  knew 
not  their  Principles  :  Whereas  they 
took  all  the  Occafions  imaginable  to  make  all 
the  World  know,  That  in  the  Dotfrinal  Part  of 
Religion,  they  have  agreed  entirely  with  the  Re- 
formed Churches  of  Europe  :  And  that  they  de- 
fired  mod  particularly  to  maintain  the  Faith  pro- 
felTed  by  the  Churches  of  Old  England,  the 
Country  whereto  was  owing  their  Original.  Few 
Pajiors  of  Mankind  ever  took  fuch  pains  at  Ca- 
techiftng,  as  have  been  taken  by  our  New  Englijh 
Divines :  Now  let  any  Man  living  read  the  moft 
;udiciousand  elaborate  Catechifms  publifhed,  a 
etfer  and  a  larger  by  Mr.  Norton,  a  leffer  and  a 
arger  by  Mr.  Mather,  feveral  by  Mr.  Cotton,  one 
>y  Mr.  Davenport,  one  by  Mr.  Stone,  one  by 
Mr.  Norris,  one  by  Mr.  Noyes,  one  by  Mr.  fisk, 
ieveral  by  Mr.  Eliot,  one  by  Mr.  Sea-born  Cotton, 
a  large  one  by  Mr.  Fitch  -,  and  fay,  whether  true 
Divinity  were  ever  better  handled  •,  or,  whether 
they  were  not  the  trueft  Sons  of  the  Church  of 
England,  who  thus  maintained  its  Fundamental 
Articles,  which  are  fo  many  of  them  firft  fub- 
fcribed,  and  then  denyed  and  confuted  by  fome 
that  would  monopolize  that  Name  unto  them- 


felves  :  But  as  a  further  Demonftration  hereof, 
when  there  was  a  SyW  afTembled  at  Cambridge, 
Sept.  30.  11548.  even  that  Synod  which  framed, 
agreed  and  publifhed,  The  Platform  of  Church 
Di/cipline,  there  was  a  moft  unanimous  Vote 
paifed  in  thefe  Words ;  This  Synod  having  per- 
ufed  and  confidered  (with  much  gladnefs  of  Heart 
and  Thankfulnefs  to  God)  the  Confeilion  of 
Faith,  publifljcd  by  the  late  Reverend  AJJ'emb/y  in 
England,  do  judge  it  to  be  very  Holy,  Orthodox 
and  Judicious,  in  all  Matters  of  Fait)\  and  do 
therefore  freely  and  fully  confent  thereunto  for 
the  Sub  fiance  thereof  Only  in  thofe  Things  which 
have  refpetl  to  Church-Government  and  Difci- 
pline,  we  refer  our  felves  to  the  Platform  of 
Church-Difcipline ,  agreed  upon  by  this  Prefent 
Ajjembly  :  And  we  do  therefore  think  it  ?neet,  that 
this  Confefjion  of  Faith,  jhould  be  commended  to 
the  Churches  of  Chriji  among  us,  and  to  the  Ho- 
noured Court,  as  worthy  of  their  due  Confidera- 
tion  and  Acceptance.  This  Vote  was  palled  by  the 
Minifters  and  McfTengers  of  the  Churches,  in 
that  Venerable  AfTembly,  when  the  Government 
recommended  unto  their  Confederation,  A  Con- 
fcjfion  of  Faith,  as  one  Thing,  which  the  Tranf- 
marine  Churches  expecfed  from  them.  And  they 
hoped,  that  this  Proof  of  them  being  Fellow  Heirs 
5  A  2  of 


4 


The  Hijlory  of  New-England.      Book  V. 


of  the  fame  Common  Salvation,  with  the  Churches 
beyond  Sea,  would  not  only  free  them  from  the 
Sufpicion  of  Herefie,  but  clear  them  from  the 
Character  of  Schijm  alfo  j  in  as  much  as  their 
DiiTent  from  thole  Churches,  was  now  evidently 
but  in  fome  leffer  Matters  of  Ecclefiaftical  Polity-, 
And  a  Diifent  not  managed  either  with  fuch  Ar- 
rogancy  or  Cenj'orioufnefs,'  as  are  the  Eifential 
Properties  of  Schifmaticks. 

kj  2.  As  to  make  a  Confejjion  of  Faith,  is  a  Duty 
wherein  all  Chriftians  are  to  be  made  Confejfors  • 
and  Multitudes  of 'em  have  been  made  Martyrs  -, 
thus  to  write  a  Confejjion  of  Faith,  is  a  Work 
which  the  Faithful  in  all  Ages  have  approved 
and  pracf  ifed,  as  moft  lingularly  profitable.  The 
Confejfions  thus  emitted  by  fuch  Worthies  as  Ire- 
nxus  and  Athanafius  formerly,  and  Beza,  as  well 
as  others  more  lately,  have  been  of  fignal  Ad- 
vantage to  the  Church  of  God  :  But  when  many 
Churches  do  join  together  in  fuch  Confejfions,  the 
Testimony  born  to  the  Troth  of  God,  is  yet  more 
glorious  and  effectual.  How  remarkably  the 
Confejfions  of  the  four  General  Councils,  were 
owned  for  the  Suppreflion  of  the  Herejies  then 
fpawned,  is  well  known  to  all  that  have  fet  foot 
but  as  far  as  the  Threfhold  of  Church-Hijlory  -, 
and  furely  the  fabulous  Mufick  of  the  Spheres, 
cannot  be  fuppofed  more  delicious  than  that  Har- 
mony, which  is  to  be  feen  in  the  Confefftons  of  f  he 
Reformed  Churches,  that  have  therefore  been  to- 
gether publifhed.  Wherefore,  befides  the  Vote 
of  the  New-England  Churches,  for  a  Concur- 
rence with  the  Confejjion  of  Faith  made  by  the 
Affembly  at  Wejlminfler,  a  Synod  affembled  at 
Bofton,May  12.  1680.  whereof  Mr.  Increafe  Ma- 
.ther  was  Moderator,  confalted  and  considered, 
what  was  further  to  be  done  for  fuch  a  Confef 
fwn.  Accordingly,  the  Confeffwnof  Faith  confen 
ted  by  the  Congregational  Churches  of  England 
in  a  Synod  met  at  the  Savoy  ;  which,  excepting 
a  few  Variations,  was  the  fame  with  what  was 
agreed  by  the  Reverend  Affembly  at  Wejlminfler, 
and  afterwards  by  the  General  Affembly  of  Scot- 
land; was  twice  publickly  read,  examined  and 
approved  •,  and  fome  fmall  Variations  made 
from  that  of  the  Savoy  in  compliance  with  that 
at  Wejlminfler  -,  and  fb,  after  fuch  Collations,  but 
no  Contentions,  voted  and  printed,  as  the  Faith 
of  New-England.  But  they  chofe  to  exprefs 
themfelves  in  the  Words  of  thofe  AiTemblies  -, 
That  fo  (as  they  fpeak  in  their  Preface)  we  ?night 
xot  only  with  one  Heart,  but  tvitb  one  Mouth, 
glorifie  God  and  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrifl. 
'  ^  3.  It  is  true,  that  particular  Churches  in  the 
Country  have  had  their  Confeffions by  themfelves 
dnwn  up  in  their  own  Form  ;  nor  indeed  were 
the  Symbols  in  the  moft  primitive  Times  always 
delivered  m  ipfifftmis  verbis.  It  is  alfo  true,  that 
few  Learned  Men  have  been  admitted  as  Mem- 


bers of  our  Churches,  but  what  have,  at  their 
AdmiJJions,  entertained  them  with  notable  Con- 
fejfions of  their  own  compofing  ;  infomuch,that 
if  the  Froteftants  have  been  by  the  Papifts  call'd 
Confeffionifis,  the  Proteftants  of  New-England 
have,  of  all,  given  the  moft  laudable  occafion 
to  be  called  fo.  Neverthelefs ,  all  this  Variety 
has  been  the  exacfeft  Unity ;  all  thofe  Confejfions 
have  been  but  fo  many  Derivations  from,  and 
Explications  and  Confirmations  oi\  that  Confejjion 
which  the  Synods  had  voted  for  them  all -,  for' 
Ut  plures  Rivuli,  ab  uno  Fonte,  ltd  plures  Fidei 
Confcffiones  ab  una  eademq-,  Fidei  Veritate,  manare 
poffunt.  Now  that  Good  Confejjion  remains  to  be 
exhibited. 

Reader,  'Tis  a  memorable  Paffage,  that  is  re- 
lated by  Ruffinus  in  his  Ecclefiaftical  Hijlory,  that 
a  Pagan  Philofopher,  in  a  publick  Difputation, 
evaded  and  rejected  the  moft  powerful  Argu- 
ments for  Cbrijlianityi,  brought  by  the  moft 
Learned  Chriftians  in  the  Affembly :  Until  an 
honeft  Elder  of  one  of  the  Churches,  but  of  A- 
bilities  which  were  fo  much  inferior  to  the  reft, 
that  the  reft  were  afraid  and  forry  to  fee  his  Un- 
dertaking, did  undertake  'to  filence  him.  This 
honeft  Man,  after  this  manner  addreffed  the  Ad- 
verfary :  '  In  the  Name  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
'  I  require  you  to  hear  the  Truth  :  There  is  but 
c  one  God,  who  made  the  Heavens  and  the  Earth, 
'  and  hath  formed  Man  of  the  Duft  thereof,with 
•  an  Immortal  Soul  infpired  into  him:  He,  by 
'  his  Word  and  Power  brought  forth  this  whole 
'  Creation,  and  fanftifies  us  by  his  Holy  Spirit ; 
'  And  He,  who  is  the  Word,  whom  we  own  to 
c  be  the  Son  of  God,  taking  Companion  on  fal- 
'  len  Man,  hath  become  a  Man  :  He  was  born 
'  of  a  Virgin,  and  by  fuffering,  even  to  death, 
c  for  us,  he  hath  delivered  us  from  Eternal 
'  Death,  and  by  his  Refurrecf  ion  he  hath  made 
'  fure  of  Life  Eternal  for  us.  Him  we  look  for 
'  again  to  be  the  Judge  of  the  World  :  Believeft 
'  thou  this,  O  Philofopher  ?  The  Man  found 
himfelf  Thunder-ftruck,  into  a  more  than  or- 
dinary Confternation  at  this  Difcourfe,  and  cry'd 
out,  I  believe  it,  I  confefs  it !  Whereupon  the 
holy  Man  faid,  Then  follow  me,  and  be  baptifed. 
He  did  fo,  and  unto  his  Party  then  prefent  he 
faid,  While  I  had  to  do  with  the  Words  oj  Men, 
I  could  oppofe  Words  unto  them  ;  but  when  I  felt 
a  Power  from  God,  I  could  not  refji  it.  I  find 
that  Man  cannot  oppofe  him/elf  to  God. 

Our  Ecclefiaflical  Hijlory  fhall  now  give  a 
plain  and  a  pure  Confejjion  of  our  Faith.  May  the 
Reader  now  find  an  irrefiftible  Power  oi  God,and 
:  of  Grace  irradiating  his  Mind,  with  all  Satif- 
fa&ion  in  it.  Tis  compofed  of  Things,  which 
as  Chryfeftom  fpeaks,  <rV  wm<*» v  aktIvw  ifan^Tt^, 
'Clearer  than  the  Beams  of  the  Sun. 


Book  V.        The  Hijiory  of  New-England.  5 

A 

Confeffion  of  Faith  5 

Owned,  and  confented  to,  by  the  Elders  and  Mef- 
fengers  of  the  Churches,  Aflembled  at  hofton  in 
New-England ,  May  12.  1680.  Being  the  Second 
Seffionofthat  ST  NOD. 


1 


A 


CHAP.    I. 

Of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 


Lthough  the  Light  of  Nature,  and 
the  Works  of  Creation  and  Provi- 
dence do  fo  far  manifeft  the  Good- 
nefs,  Wifdom  and  Power  of  God, 
as  to  leave  Men  inexcufable  -,  yet  are  they  not 
fufficient  to  give  that  knowledge  of  God  and  of 
his  Will,  which  is  neceflary  unto  Salvation  : 
Therefore  it  pleafed  the  Lord,  at  fundry  times, 
and  in  divers  manners  to  reveal  himfclf,  and  to 
declare  that  his  Will  unto  his  Church  ;  and  af- 
terwards for  the  better  Preferving  and  Propaga- 
ting of  the  Truth,  and  for  the  more  fure  Efta- 
blilhment  and  Comfort  of  the  Church  againft 
the  Corruption  of  the  Flefh,  and  the  Malice  of 
Satan,  and  of  the  World,  to  commit  the  fame 
wholly  to  Writing  :  Which  maketh  the  Holy 
Scripture  to  be  molt  neceffary  -,  thofe  former 
ways  of  God's  revealing  his  Will  unto  his  Peo- 
ple being  now  ceafed. 

II.  Under  the  Name  of  Holy  Scripture,  or 
the  Word  of  God  written,  are  now  contained 
all  the  Books  of  the  Old  and  New  Teflament, 
which  are  thefe  : 

Of  the  Old  Teftament. 


Qenefis,  Exodus,  Leviticus,  Numbers,  Deute- 
ronomy, Jojhua,  fudges,  Ruth,  i  Samuel,  2  Sa- 
muel, 1  Kings,  2  Kings ,  1  Chronicles,  2  Chro- 
nicles, Ezra,  Nehemiab,  Efther,  fob,  Pfalms, 
Proverbs,  Eccleftaftes,  The  Song  of  Songs,  Ifaiah, 
Jeremiah,  Lamentations,  Ezeluel,  Daniel,  Ho- 
fea,  Joel,  Amos,  Obadiah,  Jonah,  Micah,  Nahum, 
Habakkuk,  Zephaniah,  haggai,  Zcchartah,  Ma- 
lachi. 

Of  the  New  Teftament. 

Matthew,  Mark,  Luke,  John,  The  Mis  of  the 
Apofiles,  Paul's  Epifile  to  the  Romans,  1  Corin- 
thians, 2  Corinthians,  Galatians,  Ephefians,  Phi- 
lippians,  Colojfians,  1  Theffalonians ,  2  Thefjalo- 
mans ,  1  To  Timothy ,  2  To  Timothy  ,  To 
Titus,  To  Philemon,  The  Epifile  to  the  he- 
hem  ,  The  Epifile  of  James ,  The  firfi  and 
Jecond  Epiftles  of  Peter,  The  firfi,  fecond  and 


third  Epijiles  of  John,  The  Epifile  of  Jude,  Tlie 
Revelation. 

All  which  are  given  by  the  Infpiration  of  God 
to  be  the  Rule  of  Faith  and  Life. 

III.  The  Books  commonly  called  Apocrypha, 
not  being  of  Divine  Infpiration,  are  no  part  of 
the  Canon  of  Scripture  -,  and  therefore  are  of 
no  Authority  in  the  Church  of  God,  nor  to  be 
any  otherwife  approved  or  made  ufe  of  than 
other  Humane  Writings. 

IV.  The  Authority  of  the  Holy  Scripture,  for 
which  it  ought  to  be  believed  and  obeyed,  de- 
pendeth  not  upon  the  Teftimony  of  any  Man 
or  Church,  but  wholly  upon  God  (who  is  Truth 
it  felf )  the  Author  thereof -,  and  therefore,  it  is 
to  be  received  becaufe  it  is  the  Word  of  God. 

V.  We  may  be  moved  and  induced  by  the 
Teftimony  of  the  Church,  to  an  high  and  reve- 
rend Efteem  of  the  Holy  Scripture.  And  the 
Heavenlinefs  of  the  Matter,  the  Efficacy  of  the 
Doftrine,  the  Majefty  of  the  Style,  the  Confent 
of  all  the  Parts,  the  Scope  of  the  whole  (which 
is  to  give  all  Glory  to  God  )  the  full  Difcovery 
it  makes  of  the  only  way  of  Man's  Salvation, 
the  many  other  incomparable  Excellencies,  and 
the  entire  Perfe&ion  thereof,  are  Arguments, 
whereby  it  doth  abundantly  Evidence  it  felf  to  be 
the  Word  of  God ;  yet  notwithftanding  our  full 
Perfuahon  and  Aflurance  of  the  infallible  Truth 
and  Divine  Authority  thereof,  is  from  the  in- 
ward Work  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  bearing  Witnefs 
by  and  with  the  Word  in  our  Hearts. 

VI.  The  whole  Counfel  of  God  concerning 
all  things  neceflary  for  his  own  Glory,  Man's 
Salvation,  Faith  and  Life,  is  either  exprefly  fee 
down  in  Scripture,  or  by  good  and  neceflary 
Confequence  may  be  deduced  from  Scripture ; 
unto  which  nothing,  at  any  time,  is  to  be  added, 
whether  by  new  Revelations  of  the  Spirit,  or 
Traditions  of  Men.  Neverthelefs,  we  acknow- 
ledge the  inward  Illumination  of  the  Spirit  of 
God  to  be  neceflary  for  the  faving  undemand- 
ing of  fuch  rhings  as  are  revealed  in  the  Word ; 
And  that  there  are  fome  Circumftances  concern- 
ing the  Worfhip  of  God  and  Government  of  the 

Church, 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.       Book  V. 


Church,  common  to  humane  A£tions  and  Socie- 
ties, which  are  to  be  ordered  by  the  Light  of 
Nature  andChriftian  Prudence,  according  to  the 
general  Rules  of  the  Word,  which  are  always  to 
be  obferved. 

VII.  All  things  in  Scripture,  are  not  alike  plain 
in  themfelves,  nor  alike  clear  unto  all  •,  yet 
thofe  things  which  are  neceffary  to  be  known, 
believed  and  obferved  for  Salvation ,  are  fo 
clearly  propounded  and  opened  in  fome  place 
of  Scripture,  or  other,  that  not  only  the  learned, 
but  the  unlearned,  in  a  due  ufe  of  the  ordinary 
means,  may  attain  unto  a  iufficient  Underftand- 
ing  of  them. 

VIII.  The  O/dTeJlciment  \n  Hebrew,  (which 
was  the  Native  Language  of  the  People  of  God 
of  old)  and  the  New  Teftament  in  Greek, 
(  which  at  the  time  of  writing  of  it,  was  moil 
generally  known  to  the  Nations)  being  imme 
diately  infpired  by  God,  and  by  his  lingular  Care 
and  Providence  kept  pure  in  all  Ages,  are 
therefore  Authentical  -,  fo  as  in  all  Controver- 
fies  of  Religion  the  Church  is  finally  to  appeal 
unto  them.    But  becaufe  theie  Original  Tongues 


are  not  known  to  all  the  People  of  God,  who 
have  Right  unto,  and  Intereft  in  the  Scriptures, 
and  are  commanded  in  the  Fear  of  God  to  read 
and  fearch  them  •,  therefore  they  are  to  be  tran- 
flated  into  the  vulgar  Language  of  every  Na- 
tion into  which  they  come,  that  the  Word  of 
God  dwelling  plentifully  in  All,  they  may  wor- 
fhip  him  in  an  acceptable  manner,  and  through 
Patience  and  Comfort  of  the  Scripture  may 
have  help. 

IX.  The  infallible  Rule  of  Interprepation  of 
Scripture,  is  the  Scripture  it  felf ;  and  therefore 
when  theie  is  a  Queftion  about  the  true  and 
full  Senfe  of  any  Scripture  (  which  is  not  mani- 
fold, but  one )  it  mult  be  learched  and  known 
by  other  Places  that  fpeak  more  clearly. 

X.  The  Supreme  Judge,  by  which  all  Con- 
troverfies  of  Religion  are  to  be  determined,  and 
all  Decrees  of  Councils,  Opinions  of  ancient 
Writers,  Doclrines  of  Men,  and  private  Spirits, 
are  to  be  examined,  and  in  whofe  Sentence  we 
are  to  reft,  can  be  no  other,  but  the  Holy  Scri- 
pture delivered  by  the  Spirit ;  into  which  Scri- 
pture fo  delivered  our  Faith  is  finally  refolved. 


CHAP.    II. 
Of  God  and  the  Holy  Trinity. 


I.'T'Here  is  but  one  only  Living  and  True  God ; 

A  who  is  infinite  in  Being  and  Perfection,  a 
moft  pure  Spirit,  invifible,  without  Body,  Parts 
or  Paflions,  Immutable,  Immenfe,  Eternal,  In- 
comprehenfible,  Almighty,  moft  Wife,  moft  Ho- 
ly, moft  Free,  moft  Abfolute,  working  all  things 
according  to  the  Counfel  of  his  own  Immutable 
and  moft  Righteous  Will,  for  his  own  Glory  ^ 
moft  Loving,  Gracious,  Merciful,  Long-Buffer- 
ing, abundant  in  Goodnefs  and  Truth,  forgiving 
Iniquity,  Tranfgreflion  and  Sin ;  the  Rewarder 
of  them  that  diligently  feek  him  •,  and  withal 
moft  Juft  and  Terrible  in  his  Judgments,  hating 
all  Sin,  and  who  will  by  no  means  clear  the 
Guilty. 

II.  God  hath  all  Life,Glory,Goodnefs,Blefled- 
nefs,  in  and  of  himfelf  -,  and  is  alone  in  and 
unto  Himfelf, All-fufflcient ;  not  ftanding  in  need 
of  any  Creatures,  which  he  hath  made,  nor  de- 
riving any  Glory  from  them,  but  only  mani- 
fefting  his  own  Glory  in,  by,  unto,  and  upon 
them.  He  is  the  alone  Fountain  of  ail  Beings  -, 
of  whom,  through  whom,  and  to  whom  are  all 


Things  -,  and  hath  moft  Sovereign  Dominion 
over  them,  to  do  by  them,  for  them  and  upon 
them,  whatfoever  himfelf  pleafeth  :  In  his  fight 
all  things  are  open  ;and  manifeft  ^  his  Know- 
ledge is  Infinite,  Infallible  and  Independant  upon 
the  Creature,  fo  as  nothing  is  to  him  contin- 
gent or  uncertain.  He  is  moft  Holy  in  all  his 
Coiinfels,  in  all  his  Works,  and  in  all  hisCom- 
mands.  To  him  is  due  from  Angels,  and  Men, 
and  every  other  Creature,  whatfoever  Worfhip, 
Service  or  Obedience,  as  Creatures  they  owe 
unto  the 'Creator,  and  whatever  he  is  further 
pleafed  to  require  of  them. 

III.  In  the  Unity  of  the  God -head,  there  be 
Three  Perfbns,  of  one  Subftance,  Power  and  Eter- 
nity, God  the  Father^  God  the  Son,  and  God  the 
Holy  Ghoft :  The  Father  is  of  none,  neither 
begotten  nor  proceeding  -,  The  Son  is  eternally 
begotten  of  the  Father  -,  The  Holy  Ghoft  eter- 
nally proceeding  from  the  Father  and  the  Son. 
Which  Doftrine  of  the  Trinity  is  the  Foundation 
of  all  our  Communion  with  God  and  comforta- 
able  Dependence  upon  him. 


CHAP.    III. 
Of  God's  Eternal  Decree. 


I-/^"*»OD  from  all  Eternity  did  by  the  moft 


G 


Wife  and  Holy  Counfel  of  his  own  Will, 
freely,  and  unchangeably  ordain,  whatfoever 
comes  to  pafs  -,  yet  fo,  as  thereby  neither  is  God 
the  Author  of  Sin,  nor  is  Violence  offered  unto 


the  Will  of  the  Creatures,  nor  is  the  Liberty 
or  Contingency  of  fecond  Caufes  taken  away, 
but  rather  eftablifhed. 

II.   Although  God  knows  whatfoever  may 
or  can  come  to  pafs  upon  all  fuppofed  Condi- 
tions, 


Book  V.       The  Hiflory  of  New-England. 


tions,  yet  hath  he  not  decreed  any  thing  be- 
caufe  he  forefaw  it,  as  future,  or  as  that  which 
would  come  to  pais  upon  fuch  Conditions. 

III.  By  the  Decree  of  God,  for  the  manifefta- 
tion  of  his  Glory,  fome  Men  and  Angels  are 
predeftinated  unto  everlaffing  Life,  and  others 
fore-ordained  unto  everlafting  Death. 

IV.  Theie  Angels  and  Men,  thus  predeftina- 
ted and  fore-ordained,  are  particularly  and  un- 
changeably defigned,  and  their  Number  is  i« 
certain  and  definite,  that  it  cannot  be  either  in- 
creafed  or  diminifhed. 

V.  Thofe  of  Mankind  that  are  predeftinated 
unto  Life.  God  before  the  Foundation  of  the 
World  was  laid,  according  to  his  eternal  and 
immutable  Purpofe,  and  the  fecret  Counfel,  and 
good  Pleafure  of  his  Will,  hath  chofen  in 
Chrift  unto  everlafting  Glory,  out  of  his  meer 
Free-Grace  and  Love,  without  any  forefight  of 
Faith  or  good  Works,  or  Perfeverance  in  either 
of  them,  or  any  other  thing  in  the  Creature, 
as  Conditions  or  Caules  moving  him  thereunto, 
and  all  to  the  Praife  of  his  Glorious  Grace. 

VI.  As  God  hath  appointed  the  Ele£t  unto 
Glory,  fo  hath  he  by  the  eternal  and  molt  free 
Purpofe  of  his  Will,  fore-ordained  all  the  means 
thereunto :  Wherefore  they  who  are  elected  be- 


ing fallen  in  Adam,  are  redeemed  by  Chrift,  are 
effectually  called  unto  Faith  in  Chrift  by  his 
Spirit  working  in  due  feafon,  are  juftified,  adop- 
ted, fan£tified,  and  kept  by  his  Power  through. 
Faith  unto  Salvation.  Neither  are  any  other 
redeemed  by  Chrift,  or  eftecf  ually  called,  jufti- 
fied, adopted,  lan&ified  and  laved,  but  the  Elecf 
only. 

VII.  The  reft  of  Mankind,  God  was  pleafed 
according  to  the  unfearchable  Counfel  of  his 
own  Will,  whereby  he  extendeth  or  withholdeth 
Mercy,  as  he  pleafeth,  for  the  Glory  of  his  So- 
vereign Power  over  his  Creatures,  to  pafs  by, 
and  to  ordain  them  to  Diflionour  and  Wrath, 
for  their  Sin,  to  the  Praife  of  his  Glorious  Ju- 
ftice. 

VIII.  The  Doctrine  of  this  high  Myftery  of 
Predeftination,  is  to  be  handled  with  fpecial 
Prudence  and  Care,  that  Men  attending  the  Will 
of  God  revealed  in  his  Word,  and  yielding  Obe- 
dience thereunto,  may  from  the  certainty  of 
their  effectual  Vocation  be  allured  of  their  eter- 
nal Eleftion. 

So  fhall  this  Doctrine  afford  Matter  of  Praife, 
Reverence  and  Admiration  of  God,  and  of  Hu- 
mility, Diligence  and  abundant  Confolation  to 
all  that  fincerely  obey  the  GoipeL 


CHAP.    IV. 

Of  Creation. 


I TT  pleafed  God  the  Father,  Son  and  Holy 
•  JL  Gholf ,  for  the  manifeftation  of  the  Glory 
of  his  eternal  Power,  Witdom  and  Goodnefs  in 
the  Beginning,  to  create  or  make  of  Nothing  the 
World  and  all  things  therein,  whether  vifible  or 
invifible,  in  the  fpace  of  fix  Days,  and  all  very 
good. 

II.  After  God  had  made  all  other  Creatures, 
he  created  Man  Male  and  Female,  with  reafona»; 
ble  and  immortal  Souls,  endued  with  Know- 
ledge, Righteoufnefs  and  true  Holinefs, ,  aftet » 


his  ownjmage,  having  the  Law  of  God  written 
in  theii  Heart,  and  Power  to  fulfil  it  •,  and  yet 
under  a  poffibility  of  tranfgrefling,  being  left  to 
the  Liberty  of  their  own  Will,  which  was  fub- 
je&  to  change.  Befides  this  Law  written  in 
their  Hearts,  they  received  a  Command  not  to 
eat  of  the  Tree  of  the  Knowledge  of  Good  and 
Evil  •,  which  whiles  they  kept,  they  were  happy 
in  their  Communion  with  God,  and  had  Domi- 
nion over  the  Creatures. 


CHAP.     V. 
Of  Providence. 


Iv^iOD  the  Great  Creator  of  all  things,  doth 
Vj  uphold,  direct,  difpofe  and  govern  all 
Creatures,  Anions  and  Things,  from  thegreateft 
even  to  the  leaft.  by  his  raoft  Wife  and  Holy 
Providence  ,  according  to  his  infallible  Fore- 
knowledge, and  the  fiee  and  immutable  Coun- 
fel of  his  own  Will  to  the  Praife  of  the  Glory 
of  his  Wifdom,  Power,  Juftice  Goodnefs  and 
Mercy. 

II.  Although  in  relation  to  the  Fore  know- 
ledge and  Decree  of  God,  the  Firft  Caufe,  all 
things  come  to  pafs  immutably  and  infallibly, 
yet  by  the  fame  Providence  he  ordereth  them 
to  fall  out,  according  to  the  Nature  of  Second 
Caufes,  either  neceiTarily,  freely,  or  contin- 
gently. 


I      III.  God  in  his  ordinary  Providence,  maketh 
',  ufe  of  means,  yet  is  free  to  work  without,  above 
and  againft  them  at  his  Pleafure. 

IV.  The  Almighty  Power,  unfearchable  Wif- 
dom, and  the  infinite  Goodnefs  of  God,  fo  far 
rnanifeft  themfelves  in  his  Providence^  in  that 
his  determinate  Counfel  extendeth  it  felf"  even 
to  the  firft  Fall  and  all  other  Sins  of  Angels  and 
Men,  (  and  that  not  by  a  bare  permiflion ) 
which  alfo,  he  moft  wifely  and  powerfully 
boundeth,  and  otherwife  ordereth  and  govern- 
eth  in  a  manifold  Difpenfation,  to  his  own  moft 
Holy  Ends,  yet  fo  as  the  finfulnefs  thereof  pro- 
ceedeth  only  from  the  Creature,  and  not  from 
God,  who  being  moft  Holy  and  Righteous,  nei- 
ther is,nor  can  be  the  Author  or  Approver  of  Sin, 

V,  The 


8 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.       Book  V. 


V.  The  moft  wife,  righteous  and  gracious 
God  doth  oftentimes  leave  for  a  Seafon  his  own 
Children  to  manifold  Temptations,  and  the  Cor- 
ruption of  their  own  Hearts,  to  chaftife  them 
lor  their  former  Sins,  or  to  difcover  unto  them 
the  hidden  Strength  of  Corruption,  and  Deceit- 
fulnefs  of  their  Hearts,  that  they  may  be  hum- 
bled, and  to  raife  them  to  a  more  dole  and 
conftant  Dependance  for  their  Support  upon 
himfelf,  and  to  make  them  more  watchful  a- 
gainft  all  future  Occaiionsof  Sin,  and  for  fundry 
other  juft  and  holy  Ends. 

VI.  As  for  thofe  wicked  and  ungodly  Men, 
whom  God,  as  a  righteous  Judge,  for  former 
Sins,  doth  blind  and  harden,  from  them,    he 


not  only  with-holdeth  his  Grace,  whereby  they 
might  have  been  enlightned  in  their  Underftan- 
dings,  and  wrought  upon  in  their  Hearts ;  but 
fometimes  alfo  withdraweth  the  Gifts  which 
they  had,  and  expofeth  them  to  fuch  Objects, 
as  their  Corruption  makes  Occafions  of  Sin  j 
and  withul  gives  them  over  to  their  own  Lulls, 
the  Temptations  of  the  World,  and  the  Power 
of  Satan,  whereby  it  comes  to  pafs  that  they 
harden  themfelves,  even  under  thofe  Means, 
which  God  ufethfor  the  foftning  of  others. 

VII.  As  the  Providence  of  God  doth  in  Ge- 
neral reach  to  all  Creatures,  fo  after  a  moltfpe- 
cial  manner,  it  taketh  Care  of  his  Church,  and 
difpofeth  all  Things  for  the  Good  thereof. 


- 


CHAP.    VI. 

Of  the  FaH  of  Man  :  Of  Sin,  and  of  the  Punijhment  thereof 


I./"iOD  having  made  a  Covenant  of  Works 
VJ  and  Life  thereupon,  with  our  Firft  Pa- 
rents, and  all  their  Pollerity  in  them,  they  be- 
ing leduced  by  the  Subtilty  and  Temptation  of 
Satan,  did  wilfully  tranfgrefs  the  Law  of  their 
Creation,  and  break  the  Covenant,  in  eating  the 
forbidden  Fruit. 

II.  By  this  Sin,  they  and  we  in  them,  fell 
From  Original  Righteoufnefs  and  Communion 
with  God,and  fo  became  dead  in  Sin,  and  wholly 
defiled  in  all  the  Faculties  and  Parts  of  Soul  and 
Body. 

III.  They  being  the  Root,  and  by  God's  Ap- 
pointment Handing  in  the  room  and  Head  of  all 
Mankind,  the  Guilt  of  this  Sin  was  imputed, 'and 
corrupted  Nature  convey'd  to  all  thir*  Pollerity 
defending    from    them    by  ordinary   Genera- 


tion. 


IV.  From  this  Original  Corruption,  whereby 
we  are  utterly  indifpofed,  difabled  and  made 
oppofite  to  all  Good,  and  wholly  inclined  to  all 
Evil,  do  proceed  all  aftual  Tranfgrefiions. 

V.  This  Corruption  of  Nature,  during  this 
Life  doth  remain  in  thofe  that  are  regenerated  j 
and  altho'  it  be,  through  Chrift,  pardoned  and 
mortified,  yet  both  it  JelF  and  all  the  Motions 
thereof  are  truly  and  properly  Sin. 

VI.  Every  Sin  both  Original  and  AQual  being 
a  Tranfgreffion  of  the  righteous  Law  of  God, 
and  contrary  thereunto,  doth,  in  its  own  Nature, 
bring  Guilt  upon  the  Sinner,  whereby  he  is 
bound  over  to  the  Wrath  of  God,  and  Curie 
of  the  Law,  and  fo  made  fubjeft  to  Death, 
with  all  Miferies  Spiritual,  Temporal  and  Eter- 
nal. 


, — 

C  H  A  P     VII. 
Of  Gods  Covenant  with  Man. 


I.TpHE  Difta nee  between  God  and  the  Creature 
X  is  fo  great,  that  altho' reafonable  Crea- 
tures do  owe  Obedience  to  him  as  their  Creator, 
yet  they  could  never  have  attained  the  Reward 
of  Life,  but  by  fome  voluntary  Condefcenfion 
on  God's  Part,  which  he  hath  been  plealed  to 
exprefs  by  way  of  Covenant. 

II.  The  firft  Covenant  made  with  Man  was  a 
Covenant  of  Work's  ,  wherein  Life  was  promi- 
led  to  Adam,  and  in  him  to  his  Pollerity, 
upon  Condition  of  Perfect  and  Perfonal  Obe- 
dience. 

III.  Man  by  his  Fall  having  made  himfelf 
uncapable  of  Life  by  that  Covenant ,  the  Lord 
was  pleaied  to  make  a  Second,  commonly  calfd 
the  Covenant  of  Grace  ;  wherein  he  freely 
oftereth  unto  Sinners  Life  and  Salvation  by  Jefus 
Chrift,  requiring  of  them  Faith  in  him,    that 


they  may  be  faved,  and  promifing  to  give  unto 
all  thofe  that  are  ordained  unto  Life,  his  Holy 
Spirit  to  make  them  willing  and*  able  to  be- 
lieve. 

IV.  This  Covenant  of  Grace  is  frequently  fet 
forth  in  Scripture,  by  the  Name  of  a  Teftament, 
in  reference  to  the  Death  of  Jefus  Chrift,  the 
Teftator,  and  to  the  everlafting  Inheritance^  with 
all  things  belonging  to  it,  therein  bequeathed. 

V.  Although  this  Covenant  hath  been  differ- 
ently, and  varioufly  adminiftred  in  refpecf  of 
Ordinances  and  Inftitutions  in  the  time  of  the 
Law,  and  lince  the  coming  of  Chrift  in  the 
Flefh  -?  yet  for  the  Subftance  and  Efficacy  of  it, 
to  all  its  fpiritual  and  laving  Ends,  it  is  one  and 
the  lame  ;  upon  the  Account  of  which  various 
Difpenfations  it  is  called  the  Old  andNaoTefta- 
merit. 


CHAP. 


Book  V.       The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


CHAP.    VIII. 
Of  Chrift  the  Mediator. 


I.TT  pleafed  God  in  his  Eternal  Purpofe,  ro 
X  chufe  and  ordain  the  Lord  Jefus,  his  only 
begotten  Son,  according  to  a  Covenant  made 
between  them  both,  to  be  the  Mediator  between 
God  and  Man  :  The  Prophet ,  Prielt  and  King, 
the  Head  and  Saviour  of"  his  Church,  the  Heir 
of  all  things,  and  Judge  of  the  World,  unto 
whom  he  did  from  all  Eternity  give  a  People  to 
be  his  Seed,  and  to  be  by  him,  in  time,  redeem- 
ed, called,  juftiried,  fancfified  and  glorifyed. 

II.  The  Son  of  God,  the  fecond  Perfon  in 
the  Trinity,  being  very  and  eternal  God,  of  one 
Subftance,  and  equal  with  the  Father,  did,  when 
the  fulnefs  of  Time  was  come,  take  upon  him 
Man's  Nature  with  all  the  Eflential  Properties, 
and  common  Infirmities  thereof,  yet  without 
fin,  being  conceived  by  the  Power  of  the  Holy 
Ghoft  in  the  Womb  of  the  Virgin  Mary  of  her 
Subftance :  So  that  two  whole  perfect  and  diftinct 
Natures,  the  Godhead  and  the  Manhood  were 
Infeparably  joined  together  in  one  Perfon  without 
Converfion,  Competition  or  Confufion  ;  which 
Perfon  is  very  God  and  very  Man.yet  one  Chrift, 
the  only  Mediator  between  God  and  Man. 

III.  The  Lord  Jefus  in  his  humane  Nature, 
thus  united  to  the  Divine,  in  the  Perfon  of  the 
Son,  was  fanftified  and  anointed  with  the  Holy 
Spirit  above  Meafure,  having  in  him  all  the 
Treafures  of  Wifdomand  Knowledge,  in  whom 
it  pleafed  the  Father  that  all  fulnefs  fhould 
dwell,  to  the  end  that  being  holy,  harmlels,  tiff- 
defiled  and  full  of  Grace  and  Truth,  he  might 
be  throughly  furnifhed  to  execute  the  Office  of 
a  Mediator  and  Surety,  which  Office  he  took 
not  unto  himfelf ;  but  was  thereunto  called  by 
his  Father,  who  alfo  put  all  Power  and  Judg- 
ment into  his  Hand  ,  and  gave  him  Command- 
ment to  execute  the  fame. 

IV.  This  Office  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  did  moft 
willingly  undertake  -,  which  that  he  might  dif 
charge,  he  was  made  under  the  Law,  and  did 
perfectly  fulfil  it,  and  underwent  the  Punifh 
ment  due  to  us,  which  we  fhould  have  born  and 
fuffered,  being  made  fin  and  a  curie  for  us,  endu- 
ring moft  grievous  Torments  immediately  from 


God  in  hisSoufand  moft  painfulSufferings  in  his 
Body,  was  crucified  and  died,  was  buried,  and  re- 
main'd  under  the  Power  of  death,yet  faw  no  Cor- 
ruption^ the  3d  day  he  arofe  from  the  dead  with 
the  fame  Body,  in  which  he  fuffered,  with  which 
alfo  he  afcended  into  Heaven,  and  there  fitteth 
at  the  right  hand  of  his  Father,  making  Inter- 
ceffion,  and  fhall  return  to  judge  Men  and  An- 
gels at  the  end  of  the  World. 

V.  The  Lord  Jefus  by  his  perfect  Obedience, 
and  Sacrifice  of  himfelf  which  he,  through  the 
Eternal  Spirit,  once  offered  up  unto  God,  hath 
fully  fatisfied  the  Juftice  of  God,  and  purchaled 
not  only  Reconciliation  ,  but  an  everlafting  In- 
heritance in  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven,  for  all 
thofe  whom  the  Father  hath  given  unto  him. 
VI.  Altho'  the  Work  of  Redemption  was  not  actu- 
ally wrought  oy  Chrift,  till  after  his  Incarnation, 
yet  the  Virtue,Efficacy  and  Benefits  thereof,  were 
communicated  unto  the  Elect  in  all  Ages  fuccef- 
fively  from  the  beginning  of  the  World,  in  and 
by  thofe  Promifes,  Types  and  Sacrifices,  wherein 
he  was  revealed  and  fignified  to  be  the  Seed  of 
the  Woman,  which  Ihould  bruife  the  Serpent's 
Head,  and  the  Lamb  flain  from  the  beginning  of 
the  World,  being  yefterday  and  to  day  the  fame, 
and  for  ever. 

VII.  Chrift  in  the  Work  of  Mediation  aft eth 
according  to  both  Natures,  by  each  Nature  do- 
ing that  which  is  proper  to  it  felf ;  yet  by  reafou 
of  the  Unity  of  the  Perfon,  that  which  is  pro- 
per to  one  Nature  is  fometimes  in  Scripture,  at- 
tributed unto  the  Perfon  denominated  by  the 
other  Nature. 

VIII.  To  all  thofe  for  whom  Chrift,  has  pur- 
chafed  Redemption,  he  doth  certainly  and  ef- 
fectually apply  and  communicate  the  fame,  ma- 
king Interceffion  for  them,  and  revealing  unto 
them  in  and  by  the  Word,  the  Myfteries  of  Sal- 
vation, effectually  perfwading  them  by  his  Spirit 
to  believe  and  obey,  and  governing  their'Heart, 
by  his  Word  and  Spirit,  overcoming  all  their 
Enemies,  by  his  Almighty  Power  and  Wifdom, 
infuch  Manner  and  Ways,  as  are  molt  confonant 
to  his  wonderful  and  unfearchable  Difpenfation. 





n\ ■ 


CHAP.    IX. 
Of  Free-Will. 


I./^OD  hath  endued  the  Will  of  Man  with 
\J  that  Natural  Liberty  and  Power  of  Acting 
upon  Choice,  that  it  is  neither  forced,  nor,  by  any 
abfolute  Neceffity  of  Nature,  determined  to  do 
Good  or  Evil. 

II.  Man  in  his  State  of  Innocency  had  Freedom 
and  Power  to  Will  and  to  Do  that  which  was 
Good  and  well-pieafing  to  God  ■„  but  yet  mutably, 
fo  that  he  might  fall  from  it. 


• 


III.  Man  by  his  Fall  into  a  State  of  Sin,  hath 
wholly  loft  all  Ability  of  Will  to  any  Spiritual 
Good,  accompanying  Salvation,  fo  as  a. Natural 
Man  being  altogether  averfe  from  that  Good,  and 
dead  in  fin,  is  not  able  by  his  own  ftrength  to 
convert  himlelf  or  to  prepare  himlelf  there- 
unto. 

IV. 'When  God  converts  a  Sinner,  and  tran- 

llates   him  into  the  State  of  Grace,  he  freeth 

5  B  him 


io 


_____ 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.       Book  V. 


him  from  his  natural  Bondage  under  Sin,  and 
by  his  Grace  alone  enables  him  freely  to  Will 
and  to  Do  that  which  is  Spiritually  Good  j  yet 
fo,  as  that,  by  reafon  ol  his  remaining  Cor- 
ruption, he  doth  not  perfectly  nor  only  Will 


that  which  is  Good,    but  doth  that  which  is 
alfo  Evil. 

V.  The  Will  of  Man  is  made  Perfeaiy  and 
Immutably  Free  to  Good  alone,  in  the  State  of 
Glory  only. ' 


CHAP.     X. 
Of  Efie5lual  Calling. 


I.  \  LL  thofe  whom  God  hath  praedeftinated 
XJl  unto  Life,  and  thofe  only,  he  is  pleafed 
in  his  appointed  and  accepted  Time  effectually 
to  call  by  his  Word  aud  Spirit,   out  of  that 
State  of  Sin  and  Death,   in  which  they  are   by 
Nature,  to  Grace  and  Salvation  by  Jefus  Chrift, 
inligh ruing  their  Minds  Spiritually  and   Saving- 
ly to  underftahd  the  Things  of  God,taking  away 
t(ieir  Heart  of  Stone,  and  giving  unto  them  an 
Heart  of  Flelh,  renewing  their  Wills,  and  by 
his  Almighty  Power  determining  them  to  that 
which  is  Good,  and  effectually  drawing  them  to 
Jefus  Chrilf :  Yet  fo,  as  they  come  moft  Freely, 
being  made  willing  by  his  Grace. 

II.  This  effeaual  Call  is  of  God's  Free  and 
Special  Grace  alone,  not  from  any  thing  at  all 
forefeen  in  Man,  who  is  altogether  Paffive  there- 
in, until  being  quickned  and  renewed  by  the  Ho- 
ly Spirit,he  is  thereby  enabled  to  anfwer  this  Call 


and  to  embrace  the  Grace  offered  and  convey- 
ed in  it. 

III.  ElecT:  Infants  dying  in  Infancy,  are  Regene- 
rated and  Saved  by  Chrilf,  who  worketh  when, 
and  where,  and  how  he  pleafeth :  So  alfo  are 
all  other  Ele£t  Perfons,  who  are  uncapable  of 
being  outwardly  called  by  the  Miniftry  of  the 
Word. 

IV.  Others  not  elected,  altho'  they  may  be 
called  by  the  Miniftry  or  the  Word,  and  may 
have  fome  common  Operations  of  the  Spirit, 
yet  not  being  effectually  drawn  by  the  Father ; 
they  neither  do  nor  can  come  unto  Chrift,  and 
therefore  cannot  be  laved  ;  much  left  can  Men$ 
not  profeffing  the  Chriftian  Religion,  be  laved  in 
any  other  way  whatfoever,  be  they  never  Co  di- 
ligent to  frame  their  Lives  according  to  the 
Light  of  Nature,  and  the  Law  of  that  Religi- 
on they  do  profefs :  And  to  aflert  and  maintain 
that  they  may,is  very  pernicious  and  to  be  derefted. 


CHAP.    XI. 

Of  Juftification. 


i. 


THole  whom  God  effectually  calleth,   he 
alio  freely  Juftifieth,    not   by    infufing 
Righteoufnels  into  them,  but  by  pardoning  their 
Sins,and  by  accounting  and  accepting  theirPerfons, 
as  Righteous,    not  tor  any   thing  wrought  in 
them,   or  done  by  them,    but  for  Chrift's  fake 
alone  ;  nor  by  imputing  Faith  its  felf,    the  aft 
of  Believing,   or  any  other  Evangelical  Obedi- 
ence to  them,  as  their  Righteoufnels,  but  by  im 
Euting  Chrift's  ^cYive  -Obedience  unto  the  whole 
aw,  and  Paflive  Obedience  in  his  Sufferings  and 
Death,  for  their  whole  and  fole  Righteoufnefs, 
they  receiving  and  refting  on  him  and  his  Righte- 
oufnels by  Faith,  which  Faith  they  have  not  of 
fhemfelves,  it  is  the  Gift  of  God. 

II.  Faith  thus  receiving  and  refting  on  Chrift, 
and  his  Righteoufnefs  is  the  alone  Inftrument  of 
Juftification  ;  yet  it  is  not  alone  in  the  Perfon 
juftified,  but  is  ever  accompanied  with  all  other 
faving  Graces,  and  is  no  dead  Faith,  but  work- 
eth by  Love. 

III.  Chrift  by  his  'Obedience  and  Death  did 
fully  diicharge  the  Debt  of  all  thofe  that  are 
juftified,  and  did,  by  the  Sacrifice  of  himfelf  in 
the  Blood  of  his  Crofs,  undergoing  in  their 
ftead  the  Penalty  due  unto  them,make  a  proper, 
real,  and  full  Satjsfaftion  to  God's  Jultice  in 


their  Behalf :  Yet  inafmuch,  as  he  was  given 
by  the  Father  for  them,  and  his  Obedience  and 
Satisfaction  accepted  in  their  ftead,  and  both 
freely  ,not  for  anything  in  them,their  Juftification 
is  only  of  free  Grace,  that  both  the  exa£t  Juftice 
and  rich  Grace  of  God  might  be  glorified  in  the 
Juftification  of  Sinners. 

IV.  God  did  from  all  Eternity  decree  to  jufti- 
fie  all  the  Ele£f,  and  Chrift  did  in  the  fulnefs  of 
time  dye  for  their  Sins,  and  rile  again,  for  their 
Juftification  :  Nevertheleis  they  are  not  juftified 
perfbnally,  until  the  Holy  Spirit  doth  in  due 
time  actually  apply  Chrift  unto  them. 

V.  God  doth  continue  to  forgive  the  Sins  of 
thole  that  are  juftified,  and  altho'  they  .can  ne- 
ver fall  from  the  State  of  Juftification,  yet  they 
may  by  their  Sins  fall  under  God's  Fatherly  Dif- 
pleafure  :  And,  in  that  Condition,  they  have 
not  ufiially  the  Light  of  his  Countenance  reftor- 
ed  unto  them,  until  they  humble  themfelves, 
confefs  their  Sins,  beg  Pardon,  and  renew  their 
Faith  and  Repentance. 

VI.  The  Juftification  of  Believers  under  the 
OldTeftatnent  was  in  all  thefe  Refpe&s,  one  and 
the  fame  with  the  Juftification  of  Believers  un- 
der the  New  Teftament( 

■ 

C  H  A  P. 

■  . 


Book  V.        The  Hiflory  of  New-England. 


if 


CHAP.    XII. 

Of  Adoption. 


I.  \  LL  thofe  that  are  juftifled,  God  vouchfaf- 
J\.  eth  in  and  for  his  only  Son  Jefus  Chrift 
to  make  Partakers  of  the  Grace  of  Adoption,  by 
which  they  are  taken  into  the  number  and  enjoy 
the  Liberties  and  Priviledges  of  the  Children  of 
God,  have  his  Name  put  upon  them,  receive 
the  Spirit  of  Adoption,  have  Accels  to  the  Throne 


of  Grace  with  Boldnefs,  are  enabled  to  cry  Ab- 
ba Father,  are  pitied,  protected,  provided  for, 
and  chaftned  by  him,  as  by  a  Father  yet  never 
calf  off,  but  fealed  to  the  Day  of  Redemption, 
and  inherit  the  Promifes,  as  Heirs  of  Everlafting 
Salvation. 


CHAP.    XIII. 
Of  Santiifcation. 


I.'TpHey  that  are  effectually  called  and  regene- 
Jl  rated  being  united  to  Chrift,  having  a  new 
Heart,  and  a  new  Spirit  created  in  them,  thro' 
the  Virtue  of  Chrift's  Death  and  Refurreft ion, 
are  alio  further  Sancf  ified  really  and  perfonally, 
through  the  fame  Virtue,  by  his  Word  and  Spi- 
rit dwelling  in  them,  the  Dominion  of  the 
whole  Body  of  Sin  is  deltroy'd,  and  the  feveral 
Lulls  thereof  are  more  and  more  weakned  and 
mortified,  and  they  more  and  more  quickned  and 
ftrengthened  in  all  laving  Graces,  to  the  pract- 
ice of  all  true  Holineis,  without  which  no  Man 
(hall  fee  the  Lord. 


II.  This  Sanaification  is  throughout  in  the 
whole  Man,  yet  imperfect  in  this  Life  •  there 
abide  ftill  fome  Remnants  of  Corruption  in  eve- 
ry part,  whence  arifeth  a  continual  and  irrecon- 
cileable  War,  the  Flefh  luffing  againft  the  Spi- 
rit, and  the  Spirit  againft  the  Flefh. 

III.  In  which  War,  altho'  the  remaining  Cor- 
ruption, for  a  time,  may  much  prevail,  yet  thro' 
the  continual  fupply  of  Strength  from  the 
fanftifyng  Spirit  of  Chrift,  the  Regenerate  part 

j  doth  overcome,  and  fo  the  Saints  grow  in  Grace, 
I  perfecting  Holineis  in  the  fear  of  God. 


CHAP.    XIV. 
Of  Saving  Faith. 


I.'TpHE  Grace  of  Faith,  whereby  the  Ele£l  are 
A  enabled  to  believe  to  the  laving  of  their 
Souls,  is  the  Work  of  the  Spirit  of  Chiift  in 
their  Hearts,  and  is  ordinarily  wrought  by  the 
Minift ry  of  the  Word  ;  by  which  alio,  and  by 
the  Adminiftration  of  the  Seals,  Prayer  and  o- 
ther  Means,  it  is  increafed  and  ftrengthened. 

II.  By  this  Faith,  a  Chriftian  believeth  to  be 
true,  whatsoever  is  revealed  in  the  Word  -,  for 
the  Authority  of  God  himfelf  fpeaketh  therein, 
and  afteth  differently  upon  that  which  each 
particular  PalTage  thereof  containeth,  yielding 
Obedience  to  the  Commands,  trembling  at  the 
Threatnings,  and  embracing  the  Promiies  of 
God  for  this  Life,  and  that  which  is  to  come. 


But  the  principal  A£ls  of  favirig  Faith  are  ac* 
cepting,  receiving,  and  refting  upon  Chrift  alone 
for  Jutfification,  Sancf ihcation  and  eternal  Life, 
by  Virtue  of  the  Covenant  of  Grace. 

III.  This  Faith  altho'  it  be  different  in  De- 
grees, and  may  be  weak  or  ftrong,  yet  it  is  in  the 
leaft  Degree  of  it,  different  in  the  Kind  or  Na- 
ture of  it  (as  is  all  other  faving  Grace)  from 
the  Faith  and  common  Grace  of  temporary  Be- 
lievers ;  and,  therefore,  tho'  it  may  be  many 
times  alfailcd  and  weakned,  yet  it  gets  the  Vi- 
ctory, growing  up  in  many  to  the  attainment  of 
a  full  Affiirance  through  Chrift,  who  is  both 
the  Author  and  Finifher  of  our  Faith. 


C  H  A  P.    XV. 

Of  Repentance  unto  Life  and  Salvation. 


I-Otlch  of  the  Elecf  as  are  converted  at  riper 
\D  Years,  having  fometime  lived  in  the  ftate 
of  Nature,  and  therein  ferved  divers  Lufts  and 
Pleafures,  God  in  their  effectual  Calling  giveth 
them  Repentance  unto  Life. 

II.  Whereas  there  is  none  that  doth  Good 
and   fmneth   not ,   and  the  beft   of  Men  may 


through  .  the  power  and  deceitfulnefs  of  their 
Corruptions  dwelling  in  them,  with  the  preva- 
lency  of  Temptation,  fall  into  great  Sins  and 
Provocations  •,  God  hath  in  the  Covenant  of 
Grace  mercifully  provided  that  Believers  fo  fin- 
ning and  falling  be  renewed,  through  Repentance 
unto  Sal vari>;:i. 


5B 


III.  This 


12 


The  Hiflory  of  New-England.      Book  V. 


III.  This  faving  Repentance  is  an  Evangelical 
Grace,  whereby  a  Perfon  being  by  the  Holy 
Ghoft  made  fenfible  of  the  manifold  Evils  of 
his  Sin,  doth  by  Faith  in  Chrift  humble  him- 
felf  for  it  with  godly  lbrrow,  deteftation  of  it, 
and  felf-abhorrency ,  praying  for  Pardon  and 
ftrength  of  Grace,  with  a  purpofe  and  endea- 
vour by  fupplies  of  the  Spirit,  to  walk  before 
God  unto  all  well-pleafing  in  all  things. 

IV.  As  Repentance  is  to  be  continued  through 
the  whole  Courfe  of  our  Lives,  upon  the  account 


of  the  Body  of  Death  and  the  Motions  thereof? 
fo  'tis  every  Man's  Duty  to  repent  of  his  par- 
ticular known  Sins  particularly. 

V.  Such  is  the  Provifion  which  God  hath 
made,  through  Chrift,  in  the  Covenant  of  Grace, 
for  the  prefervation  of  Believers  unto  Salvation^ 
that  altho'  there  is  no  fin  fo  imall,  but  it  de- 
lerves  Damnation  ;  yet  there  is  no  fin  fo  great, 
that  it  (hall  bring  Damnation  on  them,  who 
truly  repent ;  which  makes  the  conftant  preach- 
ing of  Repentance  neceflary. 


CHAP.    XVI. 
Of  Good  Works. 


I  /^i  Ood  Works  are  only  fuch  as  God   hath 
V_I  commanded  in  his  holy  Word,  and  not 
fuch  as,  without  the  warrant  thereof,  ate  devi- 
fed  by  Men  out  of  blind  Zeal,  or  upon  any  pre 
tence  of  good  Intentions. 

II.  Thefe  good  Works  done  in  Obedieace  to 
God's  Commandments,  are  the  Fruits  and  Evi- 
dences of  a  true  and  lively  Faith;  and  by  them 
Believers  manireft  their  Thankfulnefs,  ftrengthen 
their  Aflurance,  edirie  their  Brethren,  adorn  the 
Profeflion  of  the  Gofpel,  flop  the  Mouths  of 
the  Adverfiries,  and  gloririe  God,  whofe  Work- 
rranfhip  they  are  created  in  Chrift  Jefus  there- 
unto, rhat  having  their  Fruit  unto  Holinefs,they 
may  have  the  End,  eternal  Life. 

III.  Their  Ability  to  do  good  Works,  is  not 
at  all  of  themfelves,  but  wholly  from  the  Spirit 
of  Chrift.  And  that  they  may  be  enabled  there- 
unto, befides  the  Graces  they  have  already  recei- 
ved, there  is  required  an  actual  Influence  of  the 
fame  Holy  Spirit,  to  work  in  them  to  will  and 
to  do  of  his  good  Pleafure  •,  yet  are  they  not 
hereupon  to  grow  negligent,  as  if  they  were  not 
bound  to  perform  any  Duty,  unlefs  upon  a  fpe- 
cial  Motion  of  the  Spirit,  but  the;/  ought  to  be 
diligent  in  ftirring  up  the  Grace  of  God  that  is 
in  them. 

IV.  They  who  in  their  Obedience  attain  to 
the  greatelt  height  which  is  poffible  in  this  Life, 
are  iofar  from  being  able  to  fupererogate,and  to 
do  more  than  God  requires,as  that  they  fall  fhort 
of  much  which  in  Duty  they  are  bound  to  do. 

V.  We  cannot  by  our  beft  Works  merit  Par- 


don of  Sin,  or  eternal  Life  at  the  Hand  of  God, 
by  reafon  of  the  great  difproportion  that  is  be- 
tween them  and  the  Glory  to  come,  and  the 
infinite  diftance  that  is  between  us  and  God, 
whom  by  them  we  can  neither  profit,  nor  fatisfie 
for  the  Debt  of  our  former  Sins  ;  but  when 
we  have  done  all  we  can,  we  have  done  but  our 
Duty,  and  are  unprofitable  Servants:  And  be- 
caule,  as  they  are  good  they  proceed  from  his 
Spirit,  and  as  they  are  wrought  by  us,  they  are 
defiled  and  mixed  with  fo  much  Weaknefs  and 
Imperfection,  that  they  cannot  endure  the  Se- 
verity of  God's  Judgment. 

VI.  Yet  notwithstanding,  the  Perfons  of  Be- 
lievers being  accepted  through  Chrift,  their  good 
Works-  alfo  are  accepted  in  him,  not  as  tho' 
they  were  in  this  Life  wholly  unblameable  and 
unreprovable  in  God's  fight,  but  that  he  looking 
upon  them  in  his  Son  is  pleafed  to  accept  and 
reward  that  which  is  fincere,  although  accom- 
panied with  many  Weakneiles  and  Imper- 
fections. 

VII.  Works  done  by  unregenerate  Men,  al- 
though, for  the  Matter  of  them,  they  may  be 
things,  which  God  commands,  and  ofgoodufe 
both  to  themfelves  and  to  others :  Yet  becaufe 
they  proceed  not  from  an  Heart  purified  by 
Faith,  nor  are  done  in  a  right  manner  according 
to  the  Word,  nor  to  a  right  End,  the  Glory  of 
God  ■,  they  are  therefore  finful  and  cannot  pleafe 
God,  nor  make  a  Man  meet  to  receive  Grace 
from  God ;  and  yet  their  neglect  of  them  is  more 
finful  and  difpleafing  to  God. 


CHAP.     XVII. 
Of  the  Perfeverance  of  the  Saints. 


I.T^Hey  whom  God  hath  accepted  in  his  Be 
1  loved,  eftecfually  called  and  fiincfified  by 
his  Spirit,  can  neither  totally  nor  finally  fall 
away  from  the  ftate  of  Grace,  but  fhall  certain 
ly  perfevere  therein  to  the  End,  and  be  eternally 
faved. 

II.  This  Perfeverance  of  the  Saints  depends 
not  upon  their  own  free  will,  but  upon  the  im- 
mutability of  the  Decree  of  Election,  from  the 
free  and  unchangeable  Love  of  God  the  Father 


upon  the  Efficacy  of  the  Merit  and  Interceflion 
of  Jefus  Chrift,  and  Union  with  him,  the  Oath 
of  God,  the  abiding  of  his  Spirit,  and  the  Seed 
of  God  within  them,  and  the  Nature  of  the 
Covenant  of  Grace ;  from  all  which  arifeth  alfo 
the  certainty  and  Infallibility  thereof. 

III.   And  although   they   may,  through  the 
temptation  of  Satan,  and  of  the  World,  the 
prevalency   of  Corruption  remaining  in  them, 
and  the  neglect  of  the  means  of  their  Prefer- 
vation 


Book  V.       The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


*3 


vationfall  into  grievous  Sins,  and  for  a  time  con- 
tinue therein,  whereby  they  incur  God's  Difplea- 
fure,  and  grieve  his  Holy  Spirit,  come  to  have 
their  Graces  and  Comforts  impaired,  have  their 
Hearts  hardened,    and  their  Confciences  woun- 


ded, hurt  and  fcandalize  others,  and  bring  tem- 
poral Judgments  upon  themfelves ;  yet  they  are 
and  fhall  be  kept  by  the  Power  of  God  through 
Faith  unto  Salvation. 


CHAP.    XVIII. 

Of  the  Ajfurance  of  Grace  and  Salvation, 


L  A  Lthough  Temporary  Believers  and  other 
x\  unregenerate  Men  may  vainly  deceive 
themfelves  with  falfe  Hopes,  and  carnal  Prefump- 
tionsof  being  in  the  Favour  of  God,  and  State 
of  Salvation,  which  hope  of  theirs  fhall  perifb, 
yet  fuch  as  truly  believe  in  the  Lord  Jefus  and 
love  him  in  Sincerity,  endeavouring  to  walk  in 
good  Confcience  before  him,  may,  in  this  Life, 
be  certainly  alfured ,  that  they  are  in  the  State 
of  Grace,  and  may  rejoyce  in  the  Hope  of  the 
Glory  of  God,  which  Hope  fhall  never  make 
rhem  afhamed. 

II.  This  Certainty  is  not  a  bare  conjectural 
and  probable  Perfwafion,  grounded  upon  a  falli- 
ble Hope,  but  an  infallible  affurance  of  Faith, 
founded  on  the  Blood  and  Righteoufnefs  of 
Chrift,  revealed  in  the  Gofpel }  and  alfo  upon 
the  inward  Evidence  of  thofe  Graces,  unto 
which  Promifes  are  made,  and  on  the  immedi- 
ate Witnels  of  the  Spirit,  teftifying  our  Adop- 
tion, and  as  a  Fruit  thereof,  leaving  the  Heart 
more  Humble  and  Holy. 

III.  This  infallible  Affurance  doth  not 
to  belong  to  the  ElTence  of  Faith  ,  but  that 
a  true  Believer  may  wait  long,  and  conflict 
with  many  Difficulties  before  he  be  Partaker  of 
it  5  yet  being  enabled  by  the  Spirit  to  know  the 


Things  which  are  freely  given  him  of  God,  he 
may  without  extraordinary  Revelation,  in  the 
right  ufe  of  ordinary  Means  attain  thereunto : 
And  therefore  it  is  the  Duty  of  every  one  to 
give  all  diligence  to  make  his  Calling  andEle£lion 
lure,  that  thereby  his  Heart  may  be  enlarged  in 
Peace  and  Joy  in  the  Holy  Ghoff,  in  Love  and 
Thankfulnefs  to  God ,  and  in  Strength  and 
Cheerfulnefs  in  the  Duties  of  Obedience,  the 
proper  Fruits  of  this  Alfurance;  fo  far  is  it  from 
inclining  Men  to  Loofenefs. 

IV.  True  Believers  may  have  the  AlTurance  of 
their  Salvation  diverfe  ways  fhaken,  diminifh'd, 
and  intermitted,  as  by  Negligence  in  preferving 
of  it,  by  falling  into  fome  fpecial  Sin,  which 
woundeth  the  Confcience  and  grieveth  the  Spi- 
rit, by  fome  fudden  or  vehement  Temptation, 
by  God's  withdrawing  the  Light  of  his  Counte- 
nance, fuftering  even  fuch  as  fear  him  to  walk 
in  Darknefs,  and  to  have  no  Light,  yet  are  they 
neither  utterly  deftitute  of  that  Seed  of  God, 
and  Life  of  Faith,  that  Love  of  Chrift  and  the 
Brethren,  that  Sincerity  of  Heart,  and  Confci- 
ence of  Duty,  out  of  which  by  the  Operation 
of  the  Spirit,  this  AlTurance  may,  in  due  time, 
be  revived,  and  by  the  which,  in  the  mean  time, 
they  are  fupported  from  utter  Defpair. 


CHAP.    XIX. 

Of  the  Law  of  God. 


lG 


OD  gave  to  Adam  a  Law  of  tlniverfal 
Obedience  written  in  his  Heart,  and  a 
particular  Precept  of  not  eating  the  Fruit  of  the 
Tree  of  Knowledge  of  Good  and  Evil,  as  a  Co- 
venant of  Works,  by  which  he  bound  him,  and 
all  his  Pofterity  to  perfbnal,  entire,  exact  and 
perpetual  Obedience,  promifed  Life  upon  the 
fulfilling  and  threatned  Death  upon  the  Breach 
of  it,  and  endued  him  with  Power  and  Ability 
to  keep  it. 

II.  This  Law,  fo  written  in  the  Heart,  conti- 
nued to  be  a  perfect  Rule  of  Righteoufnefs  af- 
ter the  Fall  of  Man,  and  was  delivered  by  God 
on  Mount  Sinai  in  Ten  Commandments,  and 
written  in  two  Tables  ;  the  four  firlt  Command- 
ments containing  our  Duty  towards  God, and  the 
other  fix  our  Duty  to  Man. 

III.  Be  fides  this  Law  commonly  called  Moral, 
God  was  pleafcd  to  give  to  the  People  of  Ifra- 
<■/,  as  a  Church  under  Age,  Ceremonial  Laws, 

lining  feveral  Typical  Ordinances,  partly  of 
rOiip,  prefiguring  Chrift,  his  Graces  Actions 


W 


Sufferings  and  Benefits,  arid  partly  holding  forth 
divers  Inft ructions  of  Moral  Duties  :  All  which 
Ceremonial  Laws  being  appointed  only  to  the 
time  of  Reformation,  are  by  Jefus  Chrift  the 
true  Mcjfuhy  and  only  Law-giver,  who  was 
furnifhed  with  Power  from  the  Father  for  that 
end,  abrogated  and  taken  away. 

IV.  To  them  alfo  he  gave  fundry  Judicial  Laws, 
which  expired  together  with  the  State  of  that 
People,  not  obliging  any  now  by  Virtue  of  that 
Inftitution ,  their  general  Equity  only  being 
ftill  of  Moral  uie. 

V.  The  Moral  Law  doth  for  ever  bind  all,  as 
well  juffified  Per  fens,  as  others,  to  the  Obedience 
th'ereof^and  that  not  only  in  regard  of  the  Matter 
contained  in  it,  but  alfo  in  refpect  of  the  Au- 
thority of  God  the  Creator,  who  gave  it  •,  nei- 
thet  doth  Chrift  in  the  Gofpel,  any  ways  dif- 
folve,  but  much  ftrengthen  this  Obligation. 

VI.  Altho'  true  Believers  be  not  under  the 
Law  as  a  Covenant  of  Works,  to  be  thereby 
juftified,  or  condemned  3  yet  it  is  of  great  life 

ig 


H 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.       Book  V. 


to  them  as  well  as  to  others,  in  that,  as  a  Rule 
of  Life,  informing  them  of  the  Will  of  God 
and  their  Duty,  and  dire&s  and  binds  them  to 
walk  accordingly,  difcovering  alfo  the  finful  Pol- 
lutions of  their  Natures,  Hearts  and  Lives,  fo 
as  examining  themfelves  thereby,  they  may 
come  to  farther  Conviftion  of,  Humiliation  for, 
and  Hatred  againft  Sin,  together  with  a  clearer 
fight  of  the  need  they  have  of  Chrift  and  the 
Perfection  of  his  Obedience.  It  is  likewife  of 
ufe  to  the  Regenerate,  to  reftrain  their  Corrup 
tions,in  that  it  forbids  Sin,andthethreatnings  of 
it  ferve  to  (hew  what  even  their  Sins  deferve,and 
what  Afflictions  in  this  Life  they  may  expect 
for  them,  altho'  freed  from  the  Curfe  thereof 
threatned  in  the   Law.    The  Promifes  of  it  in 


like  manner  fhews  them  God's  Approbation  of 
Obedience,  and  what  Bleflings  they  may  expe£t 
upon  performance  thereof,  altho'  not  as  due  to 
them  by  the  Law  as  a  Covenant  of  Works ;  fo 
as  a  Man's  doing  Good  ,  and  refraining  from 
Evil,  becaufe  the  Law  encourageth  to  the  one, 
and  deterreth  from  the  other,  is  no  Evidence  of 
his  being  under  the  Law,  and  not  under  Grace; 
VII.  Neither  are  the  fore-mentioned  Ufes  of 
the  Law,  contrary  to  the  Graces  of  the  Gofpel, 
but  do  fweetly  comply  with  it,  the  Spirit  of 
Chrift  fubduing  and  enabling  the  Will  of  Man 
to  do  that  Freely  and  Cheerfully,  which  the 
Will  of  God  revealed  in  the  Law  requireth  to 
be  done. 


CHAP.     XX. 

Of  the  Gofpel  and  of  the  Extent  of  the  Grace  thereof. 


I.'T'HE  Covenant  of  Works,  being  broken  by 
X  Sin,  and  made  unprofitable  unto  Life, 
God  was  pleafed  to  give  unto  the  Ele£t  the  Pro- 
mife of  Chrift  the  Seed  of  the  Woman,  as  the 
msans  of  calling  them ,  and  begetting  in  them 
Faith  and  Repentance :  In  this  Promife,  the  Gof 
pel,  as  to  the  Subftance  of  it  was  revealed,  and 
was  therein  effectual  for  the  Converfion  and  Sal- 
vation of  Sinners. 

II.  This  Promife  of  Chrift  and  Salvation  by 
him,  is  revealed  only  in  and  by  the  Word  of 
God  •,  neither  do  the  Works  of  Creation  or  Pro- 
vidence, with  the  Light  of  Nature,  make  difco- 
very  of  Chrift,  or  of  Grace  by  him,  fo  much 
as  in  a  general  or  obfcure  way  \  much  lefs,  that 
Men  deftitute  of  the  Revelation  of  him  by  the 
Promife  or  Gofpel,  fhould  be  enabled  thereby  to 
attain  faving  Faith  or  Repentance. 

III.  The  Revelation  of  the  Gofpel  unto  Sin- 
ners, made  in  diverfe  Times,  and  by  fundry 
Parts,  with  the  Addition  of  Promifes  and  Pre- 
cepts,  for  the  Obedience  required  therein,  as  to 


the  Nations  and  Perfons  to  whom  it  is  granted^ 
is  meerly  of  the  Sovereign  Will  and  Good  Plea- 
fure  of  God,  not  being  annexed  by  Virtue  of 
any  Promife  to  the  due  improvement  of  Mens 
Natural  Abilities ,  by  Vertue  of  Common 
Light  received  without  it,  which  none  ever  did 
make  or  can  fo  do.  And  therefore,  in  all  Ages, 
the  preaching  of  the  Gofpel  hath  been  granted 
unto  Perfons  and  Nations,  as  to  the  extent  or 
ftraitning  of  it  in  great  Variety  according  to  the 
Council  of  the  Will  of  God. 

IV.  Altho'  the  Gofpel  be  the  only  outward 
Means  of  revealing  Chrift  and  faving  Grace,  and 
is,  as  fuch,  abundantly  fufficient  thereunto  -0  yet 
that  Men,  who  are  dead  in  Trefpaffes,  may  be 
born  again,  quickned  or  regenerated,  there  is, 
moreover  neceffary  an  effectual,  irrefiftible  work 
of  die  Holy  Gholt  upon  the  whole  Soul  for  the 
producing  in  them  a  Spiritual  Life  ,  without 
which  no  other  Means  are  fufficient  for  their 
Converfion  unto  God. 


CHAP.    XXI. 
Of  Chriftian  Liberty,  and  Liberty  of  Confcience. 


I.npH  E  Liberty  which  Chrift  hath  purchafed 
JL  for  Believers  under  the  Gofpel,  coniifts 
in  their  Freedom  from  the  Guilt  of  Sin,  the  con- 
demning Wrath  of  God,  the  Rigour  and  Curfe 
of  the  Law,  and  in  their  being  delivered  from 
this  prefent  Evil  World,  Bondage  to  Satan,  and 
Dominion  of  Sin,  from  the  Evil  of  Afflictions, 
the  Fear  and  Sting  of  Death,  the  Victory  of  the 
Grave,  and  everlafting  Damnation,  as  alfo  in 
their  free  Accefs  toGod,  and  their  yielding  Obe- 
dience unto  him  not  out  of  flavifh  Fear,  but  a 
Child-like  Love,  and  willing  Mind  :  All  which 
were  common  alfo  to  Believers  under  the  Law, 
for  the  Subftance  of  them,  but  under  the  New 
Te flame  nt  the  Liberty  of  Chriftians  is  further 
enlarged  in  their  Freedom  from  the  Yoke  of 


the  Ceremonial  Law,  the  whole  legal  Admini- 
ftration  of  the  Covenant  of  Grace  to  which 
the  Jewifh  Church  was  fubjecfed,  and  in  greater 
boldnefs  of  Accefs  to  the  Throne  of  Grace,  and 
in  fuller  Communications  of  the  free  Spirit 
of  God,  than  Believers  under  the  Law  did  ordi- 
narily partake  of. 

II.  God  alone  is  Lord  of  the  Confcience,  and 
hath  left  it  free  from  the  Doctrines  and  Com- 
mandments of  Men,  which  are,  in  any  thing 
contrary  unto  his  Word  $  or  not  contained  in  it ; 
fo  that  to  believe  fuch  Doctrines,  or  ro  obey 
fuch  Commands,  out  of  Confcience,  is  to  betray 
true  Liberry  of  Confcience,  and  the  requiring  of 
an  implicit  Faith-,and  an  abfolute  blind  Obedience, 
is  to  deftroy  Liberty  of  Confcience  andReafon  alfo. 

III.  They 


Book  V.        The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  15 


III.  They  who  upon  pretence  of  Chriftian  Li- 
berty do  prattife  any  Sin,  or  cherifh  any  Luft, 
as  they  do  thereby  pervert  the  main  defign  of 
the  Grace  of  the  Gofpel  to  their  own  Deftru- 
ftion,  fo  they  wholly  deftroy  the  End  of  Chri- 


ftian Liberty,  which  is,  that  being  delivered  out 
of  the  hands  of  our  Enemies,  we  might  ferve 
the  Lord  without  fear  in  Holinefs  and  Rights 
oufnefs  before  him  all  the  Days  of  our  Life. 


CHAP.    XXII. 


Of  Religious  Worfloip,  and  of  the  Sabbath-day, 


L»-pH  E  Light  of  Nature  iheweth  that  there  is 
X  aGod,who  hath  Lord! hip  and  Sovereignty 
over  all,  is  juft,  good  and  doth  good  unto  all, 
and  is  therelbre  to  be  feared,  loved,  prais'd,caU'd 
upoa,  trufted  in,  and  ferved  with  all  the  Heart, 
and  all  the  Soul,  and  with  all  the  Might  :  But 
the  acceptable  way  of  worihipping  the  true  God 
is  inftituted  by  himfelf,  and  fo  limited  by  his 
own  revealed  Will,  that  he  may  not  be  worfhip- 
ped  according  to  the  Imaginations  and  Devices 
of  Men,  or  the  Suggestions  of  Satan,  under  any 
vifible  Reprefentations,  or  any  other  way  not 
prefcribed  in  the  Holy  Scripture. 

II.  Religious  Worfhip  is  to  be  given  to  God 
the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghoft,  and  to  him 
alone,  not  to  Angels,  Saints  or  any  other  Crea- 
tures, and  fince  the  Fall  not  without  a  Mediator, 
nor  in  rhe  Mediation  of  any  ocher  but  of  Chrilt 
alone. 

III.  Prayer  with  Thankfgiving  being  one  fpe- 
cial  part  of  Natural  Worfhip,  is  by  God  requir'd 
ef  all  Men  •,  but  that  it  may  be  accepted,'  it  is 
to  be  made  in  the  name  of  the  Son,  by  the  help 
of  his  Spirit,  according  to  his  Will,  with 
Understanding,  Reverence,  Humility,  Fervency, 
Faith,  Love  and  Perfeverance :  and  when  with 
others,  in  a  known  Tongue. 

IV.  Prayer  is  to  be  made  for  Things  Lawful, 
and  for  all  forts  of  Men  living,  or  that  fhall 
live  hereafter,  but  not  for  the  dead,  nor  for 
thofe,  of  whom,  it  may  be  known,  that  they 
have  finned  the  Sin  unto  Death. 

V.  The  reading  of  the  Scriptures,preaching  and 
hearing  of  the  Word  of  God,  finging  of  Pfalms, 
as  alfo  the  Adminiftration  of  Baptifm,  and  the 
Lord's  Supper,  are  all  parts  of  Religious  Wor- 
fhip of  God,  to  be  performed  in  Obedience  unto 
God  with  Understanding,  Faith,  Reverence  and 
Godly  Fear.    Solemn  Humiliations,  with  Fall- 


ings and  Thankfgiving  upon  ipecial  Occafions 
are,  in  their  feveral  Times  and  Seafbns  to  be 
ufed  in  an  Holy  and  Religious  manner. 

VI.  Neither  Prayer,  nor  any  other  part  of  Re- 
ligious Worfhip,  is  now  under  the  Gofpel,  ei- 
ther tyed  unto,  or  made  more  acceptable  by  any 
Place,in  which  it  is  performed,  or  towards  which 
it  is  directed:  But  God  is  to  be  worfhipped 
every  where  in  Spirit  and  in  Truth,  as  in  private 
Families  daily,  and  in  fecret,  each  one  by  him« 
felf,  fo  more  folemnly  in  the  publick  Ailemblies, 
which  are  not  carelefly  nor  wilfully  to  be  neg- 
lected, or  forfaken,  when  God  by  his  Word  or 
Providence  calleth  thereunto. 

VII.  As  it  is  of  the  Law  of  Nature,  that  in 
general  a  Proportion  of  time  by  God's  Appoint- 
ment be  fet  apart  for  the  Worfhip  of  God  ^  fo 
by  his  Word  in  a  pofitive,  moral,  and  perpetual 
Commandment,  binding  all  Men  in  all  Ages,  he 
hath  particularly  appointed  one  Day  in  feven 
for  a  Sabbath  to  be  kept  holy  unto  him,  which 
from  the  beginning  of  the  World  to  the  Refur- 
reftion  of  Chrilt,  was  the  laft  Day  of  the 
Week,  and  from  the  Refurre&ion  of  Chrift  was 
changed  into  the  firft  Day  of  the  Week,  which 
in  Scripture  is  called  the  Lord's  Day,  and  is  to 
be  continued  unto  the  end  of  the  World,  as  a 
Chrittian  Sabbath,  the  obfervation  of  the  laft 
Day  of  the  Week  being  abffilifhed. 

VIII.  This  Sabbath  is  then  kept  Holy  unto 
the  Lord,  when  Men  after  a  due  preparing  of 
their  Hearts,  and  ordering  their  common  Affairs 
before-hand,  do  not  only  obferve  an  holy  Reft 
all  the  day  from  their  own  Works,  Words,  and 
Thoughts  about  their  worldly  Employments  and 
Recreations,  but  alfo  are  taken  up  the  whole 
time,  in  the  publick  and  private  Exercifes  of  his 
Worfhip,  and  in  the  Duties  of  Neceflity  and 
Mercy. 


CHAP.    XXIII. 
Of  havpful  Oaths  and  Vows. 


I.  A  Lawful  Oath,  is  a  part  of  Religious 
jlV  Worfhip,  wherein  the  Perfon  fwearing 
in  Truth,  Righteoufnefs  and  Judgment,  folemn- 
ly calleth  God  to  witnefs  what  he  aflerteth,  or 
promifeth,  and  to  judge  him  according  to  the 
Truth  or  Falfhood  of  what  he  fweareth. 

■II.  The  name  of  God  only  is  that  by  which 
Men  ought  to  fwear,  and  therein  it  is  to  be 
ufed  with  all  Holy  Fear  and  Reverence :  There- 


fore to  fwear  vainly  or  rafhly  by  that  Glorious 
and  Dreadful  Name,  or  to  fwear  at  ali,  by  any- 
other  thing,  is  finful  and  to  be  abhorred.  Yer, 
as  in  matters  of  Weight  and  Moment  an  Oath  is 
warranted  by  the  Word  of  God  •,  under  the 
New  Teftament,  as  well  as  under  the  Old ;  fo 
a  Lawful  Oath  being  impofed  by  Lawful  Au- 
thority in  fuch  Matters  ought  to  be  taken. 

III.  Whofc- 


16 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.      Book  V. 


III.  Whofoever  uketh  an  Oath  warranted  by 
the  Word  of  God,  ought  duly  to  confider  the 
weightineis  of  fo  folemn  an  Aft,  and  therein  to 
avouch  nothing,  but  what  he  is  fully  perfuaded 
is  the  Truth  ;  neither  may  any  Man  bind  him 
felf  by  Oath  to  any  thing,  but  what  is  good 
and  juft,  and  what  he  believeth  fb  to  be,  and 
what  he  is  able  and  refolved  to  perform.  Yet 
it  is  a  fin  to  refufe  an  Oath  touching  any  thing 
that  is  good  and  juft,  being  lawfully  impofed 
by  Authority. 

IV.  An  Oath  is  to  be  taken  in  the  plain  and 
common  Senfe  of  the  Words,  without  Equivo- 
cation, or  mental  Refervation  :  It  cannot  obl'ge 
to  fin  ^  but  in  any  thing,  not  finful,  being  taken, 


it  binds  to  performance,  although  to  a  Man's 
own  hurt ;  nor  is  it  to  be  violated,  although 
made  to  Hereticks  or  Infidels. 

V.  A  Vow,  which  is  not  to  be  made  to  any 
Creature,  but  God  alone,  is  of  the  like  nature 
with  a  Promiflbry  Oath,  and  ought  to  be  made 
with  the  like  Religious  Care,  and  to  be  per- 
formed with  the  like  Faithfulnefs. 

VI.  Popifh  Monaftical  Vows  of  perpetual  fin- 
gle  Life,  profefled  Poverty,  and  regular  Obedi- 
ence, are  fo  far  from  being  Degrees  of  higher 
Perfection,  that  they  are  fuperftitious  and  finful 
Snares,  in  which  no  Chriftian  may  intangle 
himielf. 


CHAP.     XXIV. 


Of  the  Civil 

hf^GD  the  Supreme  Lord  and  King  of  all 
VJI  the  World,  hath  ordained  Civil  Magi- 
ftrates  to  be  under  him,  over  the  People  for  his 
own  Glory  and  the  publick  Good  :  And  to  this 
End  has  armed  them  with  the  Power  of  the 
Sword  for  the  Defence  and  Encouragement  of 
them  that  do  good,  and  for  the  Punifhment  of 
evil  Doers. 

II.  It  is  lawful  for  Chriftians  to  accept,  and 
execute  the  Office  of  a  Magiftrate,  when  cal- 
led thereunto  :  In  the  management  whereof,  as  i 
they  ought  eipecially  to  maintain  Piety,  Juflice 
and  Peace,  according  to  the  wholfom  Laws  of 
each  Common- wealth,  fo  for  that  End,  they 
may  lawfully  now  under  the  New  Tejlament  i 
wage  War  upon  juft  and  necelTary  Occafion. 

III.  They  who  upon  pretence  of  Chriftian  Li- 
berty (hall  oppofe  any  lawful  Power,  or  the 
lawful  Exercices  of  it,  refill  the  Ordinance  of 
God  ;  and  for  their  publiming  of  fuch  Opinions, 
or  maintaining  of  fuch  Practices,  as  are  contra 
ry  to  the  Light  of  Nature,  or  to  the  known 
Principles  of  Chriftianity,  whether  concerning 
Faith,  Worfhip ,  or  Converiation  ,  or  to  the 
Power  of  Godlinefs,  or  fuch  erronious  Opinions 
or  Practices,  as  either  in  their  own  nature,  or 
in  the  manner  of  publifhing  or  maintaining 
them,  are  deftructive  to  the  external  Peace  and 

.. 


Magiftrate. 

Order  which  Chrift  hath  eftablifhed  in  the 
Church,  they  may  lawfully  be  called  to  Account 
and  proceeded  againft  by  the  Cenfures  of  the 
Church,  and  by  the  Power  of  the  Civil  Magi- 
ftrate ■,  yet  in  fuch  Differences  about  the  Do- 
ctrines of  the  Gofpel,  or  Ways  of  the  Worfhip 
of  Gcd,  as  may  befal  Men,  exercifing  a  good 
Confcience,  manifeff  ing  it  in  their  Converfation, 
and  holding  the  foundation,  and  duly  obferving 
the  Rules  of  Peace  and  Order,  there  is  no  War- 
rant for  the  Magiftrate  to  abridge  them  of  their 
Liberty. 

IV.  It  is  the  Duty  of  People  to  pray  for  Ma- 
giftrates,  to  honour  their  Perfons,  to  pay  them 
Tribute  and  other  Dues,  to  obey  their  lawful 
Commands,  and  to  be  fubjecf  to  their  Authority 
for  Confcience  fake.  Infidelity  or  Difference  in 
Religion  doth  not  make  void  the  Magiftrates  juft 
and  legal  Authority,  nor  free  the  People  from 
their  due  Obedience  to  him  :  From  which  Ec- 
clefiaftical  Perfons  are  not  exempted,  much  lels 
has  the  Pope  any  Power  or  Jurifdiftion  over 
them  in  their  Dominions,  or  over  any  of  their 
People,  and  lealt  of  all  to  deprive  them  of  their 
Dominions  or  Lives,  if  he  fhall  judge  them  to 
be  Hetcticks,  or  upon  any  other  Pretence  what- 
foever. 


CHAP.    XXV. 


l.XJf  Arriage  is  to  be  between  one  Man  and 


_^one  Woman :  Neither  is  it  lawful  for  any 
Man  to  have  more  than  one  Wife,  nor  for  any 
Woman  to  have  more  than  one  Husband  at  the 
fame  time. 

II.  Marriage  was  ordained  for  the  mutual 
help  of  Husband  and  Wife,  for  the  increafe  of 
Mankind  with  a  legitimate  IlTue,  and  of  the 
Church  with  an  holy  Seed,  and  for  preventing 
of  Uncleannefs. 

III.  It  is  lawful  for  all  forts  of  People  to 
marry,  who  are  able  with  Judgment  to  give 
their  Confent.    Yet  it  is  the  Duty  of  Chriftians 


Of  Marriage. 

to  marry  in  the  Lord  ;  and,  therefore,  fuch  as 
profeis  the  true  Reformed  Religion  ftiould  not 
marry  with  Infidels,  Papifts,  or  other  Idolaters: 
Neither  fhould  fuch  as  are  godly  be  unequally. 
yoaked,  by  marrying  fuch  as  are  wicked  in  their 
Life,  or  maintain  damnable  Herefie. 

IV.  Marriage  ought  not  to  be  within  the  De- 
grees of  Confanguinity  or  Affinity  forbidden  in 
the  Word-,  nor  can  fuch  inceftuous  Marriages 
ever  be  made  lawful  by  any  Law  of  Man  or 
Confent  of  Parties,  fo,  as  thofe  Peifons  may 
live  together,  as  Man  and  Wife. 


GHAP 


Book~V.        Tbe  Hiflory  of  New-England. 


17 


CHAP.    XXVI. 

Of  the  Church. 


I.-T'HE  Catholick  or  Univerfal  Church,which 
i.  is  invisible,  confitts  of  the  whole  Number 
of  the  Eleft,  that  have  been,  are  or  (hall  be  ga- 
thered inro  One  under  Chriit  the  Head  thereof, 
and  is  the  Spoufe,  the  Body,  the  Fulnefs  of 
him  that  filleth  All  in  All. 

II.  The  whole  Body  of  Men,  throughout  the 
World,  profefling  the  Faith  of  the  Gofpel,  and 
Obedience  unto  God  by  Chrift,  according  unto 
it,  not  deftroying  their  own  Profeflion,  by  any 
Errors  everting  the  Foundation,  or  Unholinefs 
of  Converfation,  they  and  their  Children  with 
them  are  and  may  be  called  the  Vifible  Catho 
lick  Church  of  Chrift,  although,  as  fuch,  it 
is  not  intrufted  with  any  Officers,  to  rule  or 
govern  over  the  whole  Body. 

III.  The  pureft  Churches  under  Heaven,  are 
fubjeft  both  to  Mixture  and  Error,  and  fome 
have  fo  degenerated,  as  to  become  no  Churches 
of  Chrift,  but  Synagogues  of  Satan:  Neverthe- 
lefs,  Chrift  always  hath  had,  and  ever  (hall ' 
have  a  vifible  Kingdom  in  this  World,  to  the  I 


end  thereof,  of  fuch  as  believe  in  him,  and  make 
ProfelTion  of  his  Name. 

IV.  There  is  no  other  Head  of  the  Church 
but  the  Lord  Jefus Chrift;  nor  can  the  Pope  of 
Rome  in  any  Senie  be  Head  thereof,  but  is  that 
Antichrift,  that  Man  of  Sin,  and  Son  of  Perdi- 
tion that  exalteth  himfelf  in  the  Church  againft 
Chrift,  and  all  that  is  called  God,  whom  the 
Lord  (hall  deftroy  with  the  Brightaefs  of  his 
coming. 

V.  As  the  Lord,  in  his  Care  and  Love  to- 
wards his  Church,  hath  in  his  infinite  wile  Pro- 
vidence exerciied  it  with  gteat  variety  in  all 
Ages,  for  the  good  of  them  that  love  him  and 
his  own  Glory  :  So,  according  to  his  Promife, 
we  expecf  that  in  the  latter  Days,  Antichrift 
being  deftroyed,  the  Jews  called,  and  the  Ad- 
verfaries  of  the  Kingdom  of  his  dear  Son  bro- 
ken, the  Churches  of  Chrift  being  enlarged, 
and  edified  through  a  free  and  plentiful  Com- 
munication of  Light  and  Grace,  (hall  enjoy  in 
this  World  a  more  quiet,  peaceable,and  glorious 
Condition  than  they  have  enjoyed. 


CHAP.    XXVII. 

Of  the  Communion  of  Saints. 


ALL  Saints  that  are  united  to  Jefus  Chrift 
their  Head  by  his  Spirit  and  Faith,  al- 
though they  are  not  made  thereby  one  Perfon 
with  him,  have  Fellowihip  in  his  Graces,  Suf- 
ferings, Death,  Refurreftion  and  Glory:  And 
being  united  to  one  another  in  Love,  they  have 
Communion  in  each  others  Gifts  and  Graces, 
and  are  obliged  to  the  performance  of  fuch  Du- 
ties, publick  and  private,  as  do  conduce  to  their 
mutual  good  both  in  the  inward  and  outward 
Man. 

II.  All  Saints  are  bound  to  mention  an  Holy 


Fellowfhip  and  Communion  in  the  Worfhip  of 
God,  and  in  performing  fuch  other  Spiritual  Ser- 
vices, as  tend  to  their  mutual  Edification,  as 
alfo  in  relieving  each  other  in  outward  things 
according  to  their  feveral  Abilities  and  Necef- 
fities ;  which  Communion,  though  especially 
to  be  exercifed  by  rhem  in  the  Relations,  where- 
in they  ftand,  whether  in  Families  or  Churches, 
yet  as  God  offereth  Opportunity,  is  to  be  ex- 
tended unto  all  thofe,  who,  in  every  Place,  call 
upon  the  Name  of  the  Lord  Jefus. 


CHAP.    XXVIII. 
Of  the  Sacraments. 


I.Q  Acraments  are  Holy  Signs  and  Seals  of  the 
«3  Covenant  of  Grace,  immediately  inftituted 
by  Chrift,  to  reprelent  him  and  his  Benefits,  and 
to  confirm  our  Intereft  in  him,  and  folemnly  to 
engage  us  to  the  Service  of  God  in  Chrift,  ac- 
cording to  his  Word. 

II.  There  is  in  every  Sacrament  a  Spiritual 
Relation,  or  Sacramental  Union  between  the 
Sign  and  the  Thing  fignified  -,  whence  it  comes 
to  pafs  that  the  Names  and  Eftefts  of  the  one 
are  attributed  to  the  other. 

HI.  The  Grace  which  is  exhibited  in  or  by 
the  Sacraments,  rightly  uled,  is  not  conferred  by 
any  Power  in  them,  neither  doth  the  Efficacy  of 


a  Sacrament  depend  upon  the  Piety  or  Intention 
of  him  that  doth  adminifter  it,  but  upon  the 


Work  of  the  Spirit  and  the  Word  of  Inftitution, 
which  contains,  together  wirh  a  Precept  autho- 
rizing the  Uie  thereof,  a  Promife  of  Benefit  to 
worthy  Receivers. 

IV.  There  be  only  two  Sacraments  ordained 
by  Chrift  our  Lord  in  the  Gofpel  -,  that  is  to  fay 
Baptifm  and  the  Lord's  Supper ;  neither  of 
which  may  he  difpenfed  by  any  but  by  a  Mini- 
fter  of  the  Word  lawfully  called. 

V.  The  Sacraments  of  the  Old  Tejltitxent,  in 
regard  of  the  Spiritual  Things  thereby  fignified 
and  exhibited,  were  for  fubftance  the  (ame  with 
thofe  of  the  New.  5  C  CHAP. 


j8 


The  Hiftory  of  New-Eagland.      Book  V. 


CHAP.    XXIX. 
Of  Baptifm. 


I.T> Aptifm  is  a  Sacrament  of  the  NewTefta- 
11  merit,  ordained  by  Jefus  Chrift,  to  be  unto 
the  Party  baptized  a  Sign  and  Seal  of  the  Co- 
venant of  Grace,  of  his  ingrafting  into  Chrift, 
of  Regeneration,  of  Remiffion  of  Sins,  and  of 
his  giving  up  unto  God  thro'  Jefus  Chriit,  to  walk 
in  newnefs  of  Life ;  which  Ordinance  is  by 
Chrift's  own  Appointment  to  be  continued  in  his 
Church  until  the  end  of  the  World. 

II.  The  outward  Element  to  be  us'd  in  this 
Ordinance  is  Water,  wherewith  the  Party  is  to 
be  baptized  in  the  Name  of  the  Father,  and 
of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  by  a  Mini- 
fter  of  the  Gofpel  lawfully  called  thereunto. 

III.  Dipping  of  the  Perfon  into  the  Water  is 
not  necelTary,  but  Baptifm  is  rightly  adminiftred 
by  pouring  or  fprinkling  Water  upon  the  Per- 
fon. 

IV.  Not  only  thofe  that  do  a&ually  profefs 
Faith  in ,  and  Obedience  unto  Chrift,  but  alfo 


the  Infants  of  one  or  both  believing  Parents  are 
to  be  baptized  and  thofe  only. 

V.  Altho'  it  be  a  great  Sin  to  contemn  or  neg- 
lect this  Ordinance,'  yet  Grace  and  Salvation  are 
not  fo  infeparably  annexed  to  it,  as  that  no  Per- 
ion  can  be  regenerated  or  faved  without  it ;  or 
that  all  that  are  baptized,  are  undoubtedly  re- 
generated. 

VI.  The  Efficacy  of  Baptifm  is  not  tyed  to 
that  moment  of  Time,wherein  it  is  adminiftred  ; 
yet  notwithftarading  by  the  right  ufe  of  this  Or- 
dinance, the  Grace  promifed  is  not  only  offered, 
but  really  exhibited  and  conferred  by  the  Holy 
Ghoft  to  fuch  (whether  of  Age  or  Infants)  as 
that  Grace  belongeth  unto,  according  to  the 
Counfel  of  God's  own  Will,  in  his  appointed 
time. 

VII.  Baptifm  is  but  once  to  be  adminiftred  to 
any  Perfon. 


CHAP.    XXX. 

Of  the  Lord's  Supper. 


I. /"\U  R  Lord  Jefus  in  the  Night  when  he  was 
\J  betray'd,  inftituted  the  Sacrament  of  his 
Body  and  Blood  ,  call'd  the  Lord's  Supper,  to 
be  obferved  in -his  Churches  to  the  end  of  the 
World,  for  the  perpetual  Remembrance  and 
fhewing  forth  of  the  Sacrifice  of  himlelf  in  his 
Death,  the  fealing  of  all  Benefits  thereof  unto 
true  Believers,  their  Spiritual  Nourifhment,  and 
Growth  in  him,  their  further  Engagement  in  and 
to  all  Duties,which  they  owe  unto  him,and  to  be 
a  Bond  and  Pledge  of  their  Communion  with 
him,   3nd  with  each  other.  , 

II.  In  this  Sacrament  Chrift  is  not  offered  up 
to  his  Father,  nor  any  real  Sacrifice  made  at  all 
for  Remilhon  of  Sin  of  the  Quick  or  Dead,  but 
only  a  Memorial  of  that  one  offering  up  of  him- 
lelf upon  the  Crofs,  once  for  all,  and  a  Spiritual 
Oblation  of  all  potlible  Praife  unto  God  for  the 
fame  -,  fo  that  the  Popifti  Sacrifice  of  the  Mafs 
(as  they  call  it)  is  moft  abominably  injurious  to 
Chrift's  own  only  Sacrifice,  the  alone  Propitiation 
for  all  the  Sins  of  the  ElecL 

III.  The  Lord  Jefus  hath  in  this  Ordinance 
appointed  his  Minifters  to  declare  his  Word  of 
Inftitution  to  the  People,  to  pray  and  blefs  the 
Elements  of  Bread  and  Wine,  and  thereby  to  fet 
them  apart  from  a  Common,to  an  Holy  Ufe,  and 
to  take  and  break  the  Bread,  to  take  the  Cup 
and  (  they  communicating  alio  themfelves  )  to 
give  both  to  the  Communicants,  but  to  none,who 
are  not  then  prefent  in  rhe  Congregation. 

IV.  Private  MalTes,  or  receiving  the  Sacrament 
by  a  Prieft,  or  any  other  alone,  as  likewife  the 
denyal  of  the  Cup  to  the  People,  worfhipping 
the  Elements,  the  lifting  them  up,  or  carrying 


them  about  for  Adoration,  and  the  relerving  them 
for  any  pretended  Religious  Ufe,  aie  all  contrary 
unto  the  Nature  of  this  Sacrament  and  to  the 
Inftitution  of  Chrift. 

V.  The  outward  Elements  in  this  Sacrament 
duly  fet  apart  to  the  Ufes  ordained  by  Chrift, 
have  fuch  Relation  to  him  crucified,  as  that  truly 
yet  Sacramentally  only,they  are  lometimes  call'd 
by  the  Name  of  the  things  they  repreient,  to  wit, 
The  Body  and  Blood  of  Chrift  ;  albeit  in  Sub- 
ftance  and  Nature  they  ftill  remain  truly  and 
only  Bread  and  Wine,  as  they  were  before. 

VI.  The  DoQtine  which  maintains  a  Change 
of  the  Subftance  of  Bread  and  Wine  into  the 
Subftance  of  Chrift's  Body  and  Blood  (common- 
ly called  Tranfubftanriation)  by  Confecration  of 
a  Prieft,  or  by  any  other  way,  is  repugnant  not 
to  the  Scripture  alone,but  even  to  common  Senie 
and  Reafon,  overthroweth  the  Nature  of  a  Sa- 
crament, and  hath  been,  and  is  the  Caufe  of  ma- 
nifold Superftitions,  yea,  of  grofs  Idolatries. 

VII.  Worthy  Receivers  outwardly  partaking  of 
the  vifibte  Elements  in  this  Sacramenr,  do,  then, 
alfo,  inwardly  by  Faith,  really  and  indeed,  yet 
not  carnally  and  corporally ,  but  fpiritually  re- 
ceive and  feed  upon  Chrift  crucified,  and  all 
Benefits  of  his  Death  ■,  the  Body  and  Blood  of 
Chrift  being  then  not  corporally  or  carnally  in, 
with,  or  under  the  Bread  and  Wine,yet  asreally, 
but  fpiritually  prefent  to  the  Faith  of  Believers 
in  that  Ordinance,  as  the  Elements  themfelves  are 
to  their  outward  Senies. 

VIII.  AH  ignorant  and  ungodly  Perfons,  as 
they  are  unfit  to  enjoy  Communion  with  Chrift, 
fo  are  they  unworthy  of  the  Lord's  Table,  and 

cannot 


Book  V.        Tbe  Hijlory  of  New-England. 


19 


cannot  without  gteat  Sin  againft  him,  wliilft 
they  remain  iuch,  partake  of  thefe  Holy  My- 
fteries,  or  be  admitted  thereunto ;  yea,  whom- 


ever (hall  receive  unworthily,  are  guilty  of  the 
Body  and  Blood  of  the  Lord^  eating  and  drinking 
Judgment  unto  themfelves. 


CHAP.    XXXI. 

Of  the  State  of  Man  after  Death,  and  of  the  Refurrettion  of  the  Dead. 


I.»TpH  E  Bodies  of  Men,  after  death,  return  to 
X  Duft,  and  fee  Corruption,  but  their  Souls 
(which  neither  dye  nor  fleep)  having  an  Immor- 
tal Subfiltence,  immediately  return  to  God,  who 
gave  them ;  the  Souls  of  the  Righteous-  being 
then  made  perfecf  in  Holinefs,  are  received  into 
thehigheft  Heavens,  where  they  behold  the  Face 
of  God  in  Light  and  Glory,  waiting  for  the  full 
Redemption  of  their  Bodies  :  And  the  Souls  of 
the  wicked  are  caft  into  Hell,  where  they  re- 
main in  Torment  and  utter  Darknefs,  relerved 
to  the  Judgment  of  the  Great  Day  :    Beiides 


thefe  two  Places  of  Souls  feperated  from  theii 
Bodies,  the  Scripture  acknowledgeth  none. 

II.  At  the  laft  Day,  fuch  as  are  found  alive 
fliall  not  dye  but  be  changed  ;  and  all  the  dead 
(hall  be  railed  up  with  the  fell- fame  Bodies,  and 
none  other,  altho'  with  different  Qualities,which 
fliall  be  united  again  to  their  Souls  for  ever. 

III.  The  Bodies  of  the  unjuft  fhall  by  the 
Power  of  Chrift  be  raifed  to  difhonour  •,  the 
Bodies  of  the  Juft  by  his  Spirit  unto  Honour, 
and  be  made  conformable  unto  his  own  glorious 
Body. 


CHAP.     XXXIL 

Of  the  haft  Judgment. 


I 


GOD  hath  appointed  a  Day  wherein  he  will 
judge  the  World  in  Righteoufnefs  by 
Jelus  Chrift,  to  whom  all  Power  and  Judgment 
is  given  of  the  Father  -,  in  which  Day,  not  only 
the  Apoftate  Angels  fliall  be  judged,  but  like- 
wife  all  Perfons  that  have  lived  upon  Earth, 
fliall  appear  before  the  Tribunal  of*  Chrift  to 
give  an  Account  of  their  Thoughts,  Words  and 
Deeds,  and  to  receive  according  to  what  they 
have  done  in  the  Body,  whether  Good  or  Evil. 

II.  The  end  of  God's  appointing  this  Day,  is 
for  the  manifeftation  of  the  Glory  of  his  Mercy 
in  the  Eternal  Salvation  of  the  Ele£t,  and  of 
his  Juffice  in  the  Damnation  of  the  Reprobate, 
who  are  wicked  and  difobedient :  For,  then  fliall 
the  Righteous  go  into  everlafting  Life,  and  re- 
ceive that  fulnefs  of  Joy  and  Glory,  with  ever- 


lafting Reward  in  the  Prefence  of  the  Lord  •  but 
the  wicked,  who  know  not  God,  and  obey  not 
the  Gofpel  of  Jefus  Chrift,  fliall  be  caft  into 
eternal  Torments,  and  be  puniflied  with  ever- 
lafting Deftru&ion  from  the  Prefence  of  the 
Lord,  and  from  the  Glory  of  his  Power. 

III.  As  Chrift  would  have  us  to  be  certainly 
perfwaded,  that  there  fliall  be  a  Judgment, 
both  to  deter  all  Men  from  Sin,and  for  the  greater 
Confolation  of  the  godly  in  their  Adverfity  -,  lb 
will  he  have  that  Day  unknown  to  Men,  that 
they  may  (hake  off  all  carnal  Security,  and  be 
always  watchful,  becaufe  they  know  not  at 
what  hour  the  Lord  will  come,  and  may  be 
ever  prepared  to  fay,  Come  herd  Jefus,  come 
quickly*    Amen, 


5  C  i 


The 


20 


Book  V, 


The  Second  PART. 


, 


THE 


DISCIPLINE 


Pra&ifed  in  the 


Cjjurc|je0  of  j&eto=€n0lami. 


— 


Nihil  fine, nihil  contra,  nihil  prater,  nihil  ultra,  divinam  Scrip- 
taram,  Admittendum.  P.  Martyr. 


§  i  ■  ^^jS""*^,  H  E  Churches  of  New-England 
enjoying ib  much  Reft  an&G?-oivtb 
as  they  had  now  ieen,  for  fome 
Sevens  of  Yeais,  it  was,  upon 
many  Accounts,  neceflary  for  them  tomakefuch 
a  DecMfafion  of  the  Church-Order,  wherein  the 
gocd  hand  of  God 'had  moulded* evaji.% might  con- 
vey and  fecure  the  like  Order  unto  the  following 
Generations.  Next  unto  the  Bible,  which  was 
the  profeflfed ,  perpetual   and  only  Diretlory  of 


wen  and  Children  from  enjoying  any  Part  of 
this  Power,  he  finds  only  Elders  and  Brethren  to 
be  the  Conflituent  Members,  who  may  act  in 
fuch  a  Sacred  Corporation  ;  the  Elders,  he  finds 
the  Jirft  Subjetl  enttuRcd  with  Government,  the 
Brethren  endowed  with  Privilcdgc,  infomuch 
that  tho'  the  Elders  only  are  to  rule  the  Church, 
and  without  them,  there  can  be  no  Elettions, 
Admijjions,  or  Excommunications,  and  they  have 
a  Negative  upon  the  Acfs  of  the  Fraternity,  as 


thefe  Churches,   they  had  no  Platform  of  their   well  as  'ris  they  only  that  have  the  Power  of 
Church-Government,  more  exa£t,  than  their  fa-   Authoritative  Preaching  and  Adminiftring  the 


mous  John  Cotton's  well-known  Book  of,  The 
Keys  ■,  which  Book  endeavours  to  lay  out  the 
jult  Lines  and  Bounds  of  all  Church  Power,  and 
Jo  defines  the  Matter  •,  That  as  in  the  State  there 
is  a  Difperfion  of  Powers  into  feveral  Hands, 
which  are  to  concur  in  all  A£ls  of  Common 
Concernment  -,  from  whence  ariieth  the  healthy 
Conftitution  of  a  Common-wealth  :  In  like  fort,  he 
affjgns  the  Powers  in  the  Church  unto  feveral 
Subjects,  wherein  the  united  Light  of  Scripture 
and  of  Nature  have  placed  them,  with  a  very 
Satisfactory  Dilfribution.  He  afferts,  That  a 
PresbyteratedSocicty  of  the  Faithful,  hath  within 
its  felf  a  compleat  Power  of  Self  Reformation, 
or,  if  you  will,  of  Self-Prejervation,  and  may 
within  its  felf  manage  its  own  Choices  of 'Officers, 
and  Conjures  of  Delinquents.  Now  a  lpecial 
Statute-Law  of  our  Lord,  having  excepted  Wo- 


Sacraments  -,  yet  the  Brethren  have  fuch  a  Liber- 
ty, that  without  their  Confent  nothing  of  com- 
mon Concernment  may  be  impofed  upon  them. 
Neverthelefs   becaufe   particular  Churches  of 
Elders  and  Brethren  may  abufe  their  Power 
with  manifold  Mifcarriages,  he  Aflerts  the  ne- 
ceffary  Communion  of  Churches  in  Synods,  who 
have  Authoiity  to  determine,  declare  and  injoin, 
fuch  Things  as  may  reftifie  the  Male-Admini- 
ftrations,    or  any  Diforders,    Diflentiohs   and 
Confufions  of  the  Congregations,    which  fall 
under   their  Cognizance  :   But  ftill  fo,    as  to 
leave  unto  the  Particular  Churches  themielves 
the  formal  Alls,  which  are  to  be  done  purfuant 
unto  the  Advice  of  the  Council;  upon  thefcan- 
dalous  and   obftinate    Refufal   whereof,    rhe 
Council  may    determine,  to  withdraw  Commu- 
nion from  them,  as  from  thofe  who  will  not  be 

coun- 


Book  V.      The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


2r 


counfelled  againft  a  notorious  M'tfmdnagentent  of 
the  Juriidiftion  which  the  Lord  Jelus  Chrift  has 
given  them.    This  was  the  Dejign  of  that  judici- 
ous Treatile,wherein  was  contained  thefubftance 
of  our  Church-Difcipline  -,  and  whereof  I  have  one 
remarkable  thing  to  relate,  as  I  go  along.     That 
great  Perfon,  who  afterwards  proved  one  of  the 
greateit  Scholars,  Divines  and  Writers  in  this 
Age,  then  under  the  prejudices  of  Converfation, 
fet  himielf  to  write  a  Confutation  of  this  ve 
ry  Treatile,  Of  the  Keys  -,   but  having  made  a 
confiderable  Progrefs  in  his  Undertaking,  luch 
was  the  Strength  of   this  unanfwerablc  Book, 
that  inftead  of  his  confuting  it;   it  conquered 
him  5  and  the  Book  of,  The  Keys  was  happily 
fo  bit-fled  of  God  ior  the  conveyance  of  Congre- 
gational Principles  into  the  now  opened  Mind 
of  this  learned  Man,  that  he  not  only  wrote  in 
Defence  of  Mr.  Cotton  againft  Mr.  Gawdry,  but 
alio   expos'd   himfelf    to  more  than   a   little 
Sorrow    and    Labour,    all  his  Days,    for  the 
maintaining  of  thofe  Principles.    Upon  which 
occafion,    the   words    of  the   Doctor  [  l 
in  his  Review  of  the  true  Nature  of   Sehifm] 
are  -,  ibis  toay  of  impartial  examining  all  Things 
by   the  Word,  and   Lying  afide  all  prejttdicate 
Refpetis  -unto  Perfons  or  prefent  Traditions,  is 
a  Ccurje  that  I  vaculd  admomfh  all  to  beware  of, 
•mho  would  avoia  rbe  Danger  of  being  made  (what 
they   call)  InDtpcntieritjS.     Having  laid  thus 
much  of  that  Book,    all  that  I  fhall  add  con- 
cerning it  is,  That  the  famous  Mr.  Rutherford 
himfelf,  in  his  Treatife  intituled,  A  Survey  of 
the  Spiritual  Antichrift,  has  thefe  Words  ;  Mr. 
COTTON  in  his  Treatife   of  the  Keys  of 
the  Kingdom   of  Heaven,  is  well  found  in  our 
way,  if  he  had  given  fome  more  power  to  Affem- 
bites  and  in  fome  leffer  points.    But  it  was  con- 
venient, the  Churches  of  'New-England  fhould 
have  a   Syftem  of   their  Difciplinc,   extracted 
from  the  Word  of  God,    and  exhibited  unto 
them,    with  a  more  effectual,  acknowledged 
and  eftablifhed  Recommendation  :  And  nothing 
but  a.  Council  was  proper  to  compofe  the  Syftem, 
The  Reader  is  now  to  expeft,  a  Council  at  Cam- 
bridge :  And  in  truth,  another  fort  of  Council, 
than  that  fham  Council  of  Trent,  whereof  one 
that  was  prefent,  wrote  this  Account  unto  the 
Emperor  Maximilian  II.    We  daily  f aw  hungry 
and  needy  Bifhops  come  to  Trent .    Youths,  for 
the  mo  ft  part,  given  to  Luxury  and  Riot,  hired 
only   to  give  their  Voice,   as  the  People  plea  fed. 
They  were  both  unlearn  d  and  fun  pic,  yet  fit  for 
the  purpfe,  in  regard  of  their  impudent  Bold- 
nefs.    When  thefe  were  added  unto  the  Pope's 
cldilatterers,  Iniquity  triumph 'd ;   it  was  impoffi- 
ble  to  determine  any  thing,  but  as  they  f  leafed. 
The  Council  feemecl  not  to  confift  of  Bifhops,  but 
°f  dif guifed  Mafjuers  -,  not  oj  Men,  but  of  Im 
ages,fuch  as  Dardalus  made,  moved  by  Nerves 
none  of  their  own.     They  were  hireling  Bifhops 
which  as  Country  Bag-pipes,  could  notjfeak.,  but 
as  Breath  was  put  into  them.    The  Difference  be- 
tween the  Bifhops  now  to  aflemble  at  Cambridge, 
and  the  Biftwps  which  then  made  fuch  a  noife 


by  their    Conventicle  at  Trent,  was  in  truth 
not  much  lels  than  that  between  Angels  and 
Is. 

kj  2.  Wherefore,  a  Bill  was  preferred  unto 
the  general  Court  in  the  Year  1646.  for  the 
calling  of  a  Synod,  whereby,  a  Platform  of 
h  Difcipline,  according  to  theDttection  of 
our  Lord  Jelus  Chrift  in  his  bleffed  Word,  might 
moft  advantagioufly  be  compofed  and  publifhed. 
The  Magiftrates  in  the  general  Court,  palled 
the  Bill,  but  the  Deputies  had  their  little  Scru- 
ples, how  far  the  Civil  Authority  might  inter- 
pofe  in  matters  of  fuch  Religious  and  Ecclefiafti- 
cal  Cognizance ;  and  whether  Scaffolds  might 
not  now  be  railed,  by  the  means  whereof  the 
Civil  Authority  fhould  pretend  hereafter  to  im- 
pofe  an  Uniformity,  in  fuch  Inftances  which  had 
better  be  left  at  Liberty  and  Variety.  It  was 
reply'd,  that  it  belonged  unto  Magiftrates,  by 
all  rational  ways  to  encourage  Truth  and  Peace 
among  their  People  •,  and  that  the  Council  now 
called  by  the  Magiftrates  was  to  proceed  but  by 
way  of  Council,  with  the  belt  Light  which 
could  be  fetched  from  the  Word  of  God ,  but 
the  Court  would  be  after  all  free,  as  they  faw 
caufe  to  approve  or  to  rejeft  what  fhould  be 
offered. 

After  all,  tho'  the  Objections  of  the  Depu- 
ties were  thus  anfwered,  yet  in  Compliance 
with  fuch  as  were  not  yet  fatisfied,  the  Order 
for  the  calling  of  the  intended  Affembly  was  di- 
rected only  in  the  form  of  a  Motion,  and  not 
of  a  Command,  unto  the  Churches.  But  cer- 
tain Perfons  come  lately  from  England,  fo  in- 
flamed the  Zeal  for  Liberty  of  Confcience  among 
the  People,  that  all  this  Compliance  of  the  Au- 
thority could  not  remove  the  Fear  of  fome 
Churches,  left  fome  Invafion  of  that  Liberty 
were  threatned,  by  a  Clauie  in  the  order  of  the 
Court  which  intimated  -,  That  what  fhould  be 
prefented  by  the  Synod,  the  Court  would  give 
fuch  allowance,  as  would  be  meet,  unto  it.  The 
famous  and  leading  Church  of  Bofion  particu- 
larly, was  enfnarcd  fo  much  by  this  Fear,  that 
upon  the  Lord's  Day,  when  the  Order  of  the 
Court  was  firrt  communicated  unto  them,  they 
conld  not  come  unto  an  immediate  Refolution 
of  fending  any  Delegates  unto  the  Synod;  but 
Mr.  Norton,  then  of  Ipfwich,  at  Bofton  Lefture 
the  Thurfdqy  following,  preached  an  elaborate 
Sermon  unto  a  vaft  Auditory,  on  Mofes  and 
Aaron  kiffing  each  other  in  the  Mount  of  God: 
And  in  that  Sermc^,  he  io  reprefented  the  Na- 
ture and  Power  of 'Synods,and  theRefpecf.  owing 
from  Churches  to  Rulers  calling  for  Synods,\hzt  on 
the  msaLord \r  Day.thc  Church  voted  the  fending 
of  three  Meffengers,  with  their  Elders  unto  this 
Affembly.  Indeed  the  happy  Experience  of 
New-England  has  taken  away  from  its  Chur- 
ches, all  occafion  for  any  Complaint,  like  that 
of  Luther's ;  Mibi  ccnciliorum  nomen,  pene  tarn 
fufpellum  &  invifum,  qudm  nomen  Libert  Ar- 
bitrii. 

§  3.  It  being  fo  near  Winter  before  the  Sy- 
nod could  convene,  that  few  of  the  Minifte'rs 

invited 


22 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.       Book  V. 


invited  from  the  other  Colonies  could  be  pre- 
ient  at  it,  they  now  fat  but  fourteen  Days  ;  and 
then  adjourned  unto  the  eighth  of  June,  in  the 
Year  enfuirig.  Neverthelefs  at  their  firft  Seffi- 
on,  there  was  an  occafion  which  they  took  to 
confider  and  examine  an  important  Cafe  ;  and 
it  came  to  this  Refult. 


A  Proposition  about 
the  Magiflrates  Fower  in 
Matters  of  Keligon. 

THE  Civil  Magijiratc  in  matters  of  Religi- 
on, or  of  the  firft  Table,  hath  Power, 
civilly  to  command  or  iorbid  things  refpecling 
the  outward  Man  which  are  clearly  command- 
ed or  forbidden  in  the  Word,  and  to  in- 
flift  fuitable  Puniflments,  according  to  the 
Nature  of  the  Tranlgreffions  againft  the 
lame. 

Several  Arguments  with  Teflimonies  for  the 
Confirmation  of  this  Pofition,  annexed  thereunto 
were,  afterwards  printed  at  London  in  the  Year 
1 654.  accompanied  with  a  Difcourfe  of  Mr.  Tho. 
Allen,  wherein  this  Docfrine  was  further  ex- 
plained, and  I  would  hope  fo  explained,  that 
if  fo  renowned  a  Saint,  as  the  famous  Martin, 
who,  to  the  Death  renounced  Communion  with 
the  Synods,  which  had  periwaded  the  Emperor 


to  employ  the  Civil  Sword  againft  the  Gnoftick 
Prifallianifts,  had  been  alive,  even  be  would 
not  have  altogether  difallowed  the  Defires  of 
thefe  good  Men,  to  fee  the  Civil  Magiftrate 
employing  his  Power  to  difcountenance  Pro- 
fane and  Wicked  Herefies. 

But  the  Platform  of  Church-Difcipline  to  be 
commended  unto  the  Churches,  was  the  main 
Chance  which  the  Affembly  was  to  mind  -,  in  or- 
der whereunto  they  directed  three  eminent  Per- 
fons,  namely,  Mr.  John  Cotton,  Mr.  Richard 
Mather  and  Mr.  Ralph  Parr  ridge,  each  of  them 
to  draw  up  a  Scriptural  Model  of  Church-Go- 
vernment; unto  the  end,  that  out  of  thofe, 
there  might  be  one  educed,  which  the  Synod 
might  after  the  moft  filing  thoughts  upon  it, 
fend  abroad.  When  the  Synod  met,  at  the 
time  to  which  they  had  adjourned,  the  Sum- 
mer proved  fo  fickly  that  a  delay  of  one  Year 
more  was  given  to  their  Undertaking ;  but  at 
laft  the  defired  Platform  of  Church-Difci- 
pline  was  agreed  upon,  and  the  Synod  broke  up, 
with  finging  the  Song  ef  Mofes  and  the  Lamb, 
in  the  fifteenth  Chapter  of  the  Revelation.  Ad- 
ding another  facred  Song  from  the  nineteenth 
Chapter  of  that  Book ,  which  is  to  be  found 
metrically  paraphrafed  in  the  New-England 
Pfalm-Book  :  So  it  was  prefented  unto  the 
General  Court,  in  the  Month  of  Qttober 
1648. 

And  the  Court  moft  thankfully   Accepted 
and  Approved  of  it.    It  now  follows. 


A 


Book  V. 


23 


A 


PLATFORM 


O    F 


Church  -  Difcipline : 

Gathered  out  of  the  Word  of  G  O  D,  and 
agreed  upon  by  the  Elders  and  Mes- 
sengers of  the  Churches  aflembled  in  the 
SYNOD,  at  Cambridge,  in  blew-England.  To 
be  prefented  to  the  Churches  and  General 
Court  for  their  Confideration  and  Accep- 
tance in  the  Lord,  the  Eighth  Month, 
Anno  1649. 


CHAP.    I. 

Of  the  Form  of  Church-Government  5  and  that  it  is  One,  Immutable  and  Prefcri- 

bed  in  the  Word. 


ECclefiaftical  Polity,  or  Church- 
Government  or  Difcipline,  is 
nothing  elfe  but  that  Form 
and  Order  that  is  to  be  ob- 
ferved  in  the  Church  of  Chrift  upon 
Earth,  both  for  the  Conftitution  of 
it,  and  all  the  Adminiffrations,  that 
therein  are  to  be  performed. 

2.  Church-Government  is  confidered 

in  a  double  refpeft,  either  in  regard  of 

the  Parts  of  Government  themfelves, 

.  or  neceflary    Circumftances    thereof. 

Heb.?.5,6.  The  Parts  of  Government  are  prefcrib- 

Exo.i  jr.40.  ed  in  the  Word,   becaufe  the  Lord  Je- 

zTim.j.r*  fus  Chrift3   th£  King  and  Lawgiver  in 

his  Church,  is  no  lefs  faithful  in  the 
Houfe  of  God,  than  was  Mofes,  who 
from  the  Lord  delivered  a  Form  a  ad 
Pattern  of  Government  to  the  Child- 
ren of  Ifrae/'m  the  Old  Teftament ;  and 
the  Holy  Scriptures  are  now  alfo  fo 
perfeft,  as  they  are  able  to  make  the 
Man  of  God  Perfccf,  and  throughly 
furnifhed  unto  every  good  Work ;  and 
therefore  doubtlefs  to  the' well-order- 
ing of  the  Houfe  of  God. 


3.  The    Parts  of    Church-Govern-  iTim.j.ij. 
ment,  are  all  of  them  exactly  del-  lchjIJ,Is 
cribed   in  the   Word"  of  God,   being  f^"a-°4* 
parts  or  means  of  lnltituted  Worlhip  1^  I(j. 
according   to   the  fecond  Command-  Heb.  ». 
ment,   and  therefore  to  continue  one'  27>28, 
!  and  the  fame  unto  the  Appearing  of  *    or"  iy" 
]  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,   as  a  Kingdom  Deu.1a.3s 
j  that  cannot  be  fhaken,  until  he  fhall  Ezek.43.8. 
deliver  it   up  unto  God,  even  to  the  * Kin 


it 
Father.  So  that  it  is  not  left  in  the  3I'32'53, 
I  Power  of  Men,  Officers,  Churches,  or 
any  State  in  the  World  to  add,  or  di- 
minifh  or  alter  any  thing  in  the  leaft 
meafure  therein. 

4.  The  neceflary  Circumftances,  as 
Time  and  Place,  &c.  belonging  unto 
Order  and  Decency,  are  notfo  left  un-  *  Kin.  til 
to  Men,  as  that  under  pretence  of  them,  Exo.20.1y. 
they  may  thruft  their  own  Inventions  ££j  *8*** 
upon  the  Churches,  being  circumfcrib-  ZJ_ ' 
ed  in  the  Word  with  many  general  Li-  A<fts  i?.*8. 
mitations,  where  they  are  determined  Mat.  1 
with  refpeQ:  of  the  Matter  to  be  nei- ' 
ther  worfhip  it  felf,  nor  Circumftan- 
ces feperable  from  worfhip.    In  ref- 

fpe& 


i  Cor.  11. 


24 


The  Hifiory  of  New-England.       Book  V 


pe£t  of  their  End,  they  muft  be  done 
unto  Edification-,  in  refpecf  of  the 
Manner,  decently  and  in  order,  ac- 
cording to  the  Nature  of  the  Things 
themfelves,  and  Civil  'and  Church 
Cuftom.  Doth  not  even  Nature  its 
1  elf  teach  you  ?  Yea,  they  are  in  fome 
ibrt  determined  particularly,  namely, 


that  they  be  done  in  fuch  a  manner  as,  i  Cor.  i4, 
all  circumstances  confidered,  is  moft  ^&I+4o 
expedient  for  Edification:  So,  as  if&j1-'*'16 
there  be  no  Error  of  Man  concerning  Aat/j.'^ 
their  Determination,  the  determining 
of  them  is  to  be  accounted,  as  if  k 
were  Divine. 


CHAP.    II. 

Of  the  Nature  of  the  Catholick.  Church  in  general,  and  in  [fecial  of  a  parti- 
cular vifible  Church. 


i.hp 


2Tim.i.i9 
Rev.  2.  i/. 
i  Cor.6.17. 
Eph.3. 17. 
Rom.  1.  8. 
iThef.  1.8. 
Ifa.  2.  2. 
iTim.6.12 


Afts  1  9."  1. 
Col.  2.  ?. 
Mat.  18.17 
iCer.f.12. 


HE  Catholick  Church  is  the 
whole  Company  of  thofe,  that 
ate  elected,  redeemed,  and  in  time 
eiTL'&ualty  called  from  the  State  of 
Sin  and  Death,  unto  a  State  of  Grace 
and  Salvation  in  Jefus  Chriit. 

2.  This  Church  is  either  Triumphant 
or  Militant.  Triumphant,the  number  of 
them,who  are  glorified  in  Heaven  :  Mi- 
litant,the  number  of  them,who  are  con- 
flicting with  their  Enemies  upon  Earth. 

3.  This  Militant  Church  is  to  be 
confider'd  as  invifible  and  vifible.  In- 
vifible  in  refpe£t  of  their  Relation, 
wherein  they  ftand  to  Quilt,  as  a 
Body  unto  the  Head,  being  united  un- 
to him  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  and 
Faith  in  their  Hearts.  Vifible,  in  ref- 
pecf  of  the  Profeffion  of  their  Faith, 
in  their  Perfons,  and  in  particular 
Churches.  And  fo,  there  may  be  ac- 
knowledged an  univerfal  vifible  Church. 

4.  The  Members  of  the  Militant 
vifible  Church,  confidered  either,  as 
not  yet  in  Church-Order,  or  walking 
according  to  the  Church  Order  of  the 
Gofpel. 


In  order,  and  fo  befides  the  Spiritu- 
al Union  and  Communion  common  to 
all  Believers,  they  enjoy  moreover  an 
Union  and  Communion  Ecclefiaftical 
Political. 

So  we  deny  an  Univerfal  vifible 
Church. 

5.  The  State  of  the  Members  of 

the  Militant  vifible  Church,  walking  Gen.18.19; 
in  order,  was  either  before  the  Law,  Exod.19.6. 
Oeconomial,  that  is,  in  Families  \  or 
under  the  Law,  National ;  or  fince  the 
coming  of  Chrift,  only  Congregational. 
(The  Term  Independent,  we  approve 
notj  therefore  neither  National,  Pro- 
vincial, nor  Claffical. 

6.  A  Congregational-Church  is  by 

the  Inftitution  of  Chrift  a  part  of  the  1  Cor.  14: 
Militant  vifible  Church,  confifting  of  ^'l^&- 
a  company  of  Saints  by  calling,  unl-  *'7>2" 
ted  into  one  Body  by  an  Holy  Cove-  Ex.19.  %■£. 
nant,  for  the  Publique  Wotfhip  ofDeut.29.r. 
God,  and  the  mutual  Edification  of  \^°  *[' 
one  another  in  the  Fellowfhip  of  the  ,  cor!  4!" 
Lord  Jefus.  26. 


CHAP.    III. 
Of  the  Matter  of  the  vifible  Church,  both  in  refpeU  of  Quality  and  Quantity. 


1  Cor.  1.2. 
Enh.  r.  1. 
Heb.  6.  1, 
i  Cor.  1.  j. 
Ro.  15. 14. 
Pfalm  Jo. 
16,  17. 
Ads  8.  57. 
Mat.  3.  6. 
Ro.  6.    17. 
iCor.  1.  2. 
PhiJ.  r.  2. 
CoJ.  1.  2. 
Eph.  r.   1. 
1  Cor.  s. 
2.,  13. 
Rev.  2. 14, 
15,  20. 
Ezek.  44. 

7,  9-  8c  23. 

Numb.  19. 
20. 


i.npHE  Matter  of  the  vifible  Church 

A    are  Saints  by  calling. 

2.  By  Saints,  we  underftand,  i.Such 
as  have  not  only  attained  the  Know- 
ledge of  the  Principles  of  Religion, 
and  are  free  from  grofs  and  open  Scan- 
dals, but  alfo  do,  together  with  the 
Profeffion  of  their  Faith  and  Repen- 
tance walk  in  blamelefs  Obedience  to 
the  Word,  fo  as  that  in  charitable  Dif- 
cretion  they  may  be  accounted  Saints 
by  calling,  (tho',  perhaps,  fome  or 
more  of  them  be  unfound  and  Hypo- 
crites inwardly)  becaufe  the  Members 
of  fuch  particular  Churches,  are  com- 
monly by  the  Holy  Ghoft  called  Saints 
and  faithful  Brethren  in  Chrift,  and 
fundry  Churches  have  been  reproved 


for  receiving  and  fuffering  fuch  Perfons  H     2_ 
to  continue  in  Fellowfhip  among  them,  H, 
as  have  been  offenfive  and  fcandalous;  1  Cor.  n, 
the  name  of  God  alfo,   by  this  means,  *J?  2?- 
is  blafphemed,  and  the  Holy  Things  ^.7;*J 
of  God   defiled    and    profaned,    the  2Cor.7.W 
Hearts  of  the  Godly  grieved,  and  the 
Wicked  themfelves  hardened,&  holpen 
forward  to  Damnation.     The  Example 
of  fuch  doth  endanger  the  San£tity  of 
others,   a  little  Leaven  leaveneth  the 
whole  Lump.     2.   The  Children   of 
fuch  who  are  alfo  Holy. 

3.  The  Members  of  Churches,  tho'  Jer.  2. 21. 
orderly  conltituted  may  in  time  dege-  *Coi.j.x*. 
nerate  and  grow  corrupt,  and  fcanda-  ^  *"  44' 
lous,  which  tho'  they  ought  not  to  be  a  Cor.  i». 
tollerated  in  the  Church,  yet  their «. 
1  con- 


Book  V.        Tbe  Riflory  of  New-England. 


25 


Rev.  1. 14, 


1  Cor.  14. 
Mat.18.17 


Rom.16. 1. 
iThef.i.r. 
KeV.  1.28. 
&  3.  7. 


iCor.16.1, 

Gal.  1.  2. 
2  Cor.  8. 1. 
Thef.2.14. 


continuance  therein,  thro'  the  defect  of 
the  Execution  of  Dilcipline  and  juft 
Cenlures,  doth  not  immediately  dif 
folve  the  Being  of  a  Church,  as  appears 
in  the  Church  of  Ifrael,  and  the  Chur- 
ches of  Galatia  and  Corinth,  Pergamus 
and  Thy  at  ir  a. 

4.  The  Matter  of  the  Church,  in 
refpefl:  of  its  Quantity,  ought  not  to 
be  of  greater  Number,  than  may  ordi- 
narily meet  together  conveniently  in 
one  place  ;  nor  ordinarily  fewer  than 
may  conveniently  carry  on  Church- 
work.  Hence  when  the  Holy  Scripture 
makes  mention  of  the  Saints  combi- 
ned into  a  Church  Eftate  in  a  Town  or 
City,  where  was  but  one  Congregati- 
on, it  ufually  calleth  thofe  Saints 
[the  Church]  in  the  lingular  Number, 
as  the  Church  of  the  Theffalonians, 
the  Church  of  Smyrna,  Philadelphia, 
iffc.  but  when  it  fpeaketh  of  the 
Saints  in  a  Nation  or  Province,  where- 
in there  were  fundry  Congregations,  it 
frequently  and  ufually  calleth  them  by 
the  name  of  [Churches]  in  the  plural 
Number,  as  the  Churches  of  Afia,  Ga- 
latia, Macedonia,  and  the  like:  Which 
is  further  confirmed  by  what  is  writ- 


ten of  fundry  of  thole  Churches  in 
particular,  how  they  were  aifembled 
and  met  together  the  whole  Church  in 
one  place,  as  the  Church  at   Jerufa- 
lem,  the  Church  at  Antioch,  the  Church  A<5b  2. 46. 
at  Corinth  and  Cenchrea,  tho'  it  were  fS  *• I2, 
more  near  to  Corinth,  it  being  the  Port  &  *'  2* 
thereof,  and  anfwerable  to   a  Village,  t\  if. \%. 
yet  being  a  diftin£l  Congregation  from  *  Cor.  j.  4. 
Corinth,  it  had  a  Church  of  its  own  as&  l*-  23- 
well  as  Corinth  had.  Rom.16.1, 

5.  Nor  can  it  with  Reafon  be 
thought  but  that  every  Church  appoint- 
ed and  ordained  by  Chrift,  had  a  Mi- 
niftry  appointed  and  ordained  for  the 
fame,  and  yet  plain  it  is  that  there 
were  no  ordinary  Officers  appointed  by  ^  „ 
Quilt  for  any  other  than  Congregatio- 
nal Churches^  Elders  being  appointed 
to  feed  not  all  Flocks,  but  the  particu- 
lar Flock  of  God,  over  which  the  Ho- 
ly Ghoft  had  made  them  Overfeers, 
and  that  Flock  they  muff  attend  even 
the  whole  Flock :  And  one  Congrega- 
tion being  as  much  as  any  ordinary  El- 
ders can  attend,  therefore  there  is  no 
greater  Cnurch  than  a  Congregation, 
which  may  ordinarily  meet  in  one 
place. 


CHAP.    IV. 

Of  the  Form  of  thevifible  Church,  and  of  Church  Covenant. 


i.QAintsby  calling  mull  have  a  vifi- 


1  Cor.  12 

17-.  O  ble  Political  Union  among  them 

iTim.5.1?  fdves,   ot  elfe  they  are  not  yet  a  par- 
jPC(^'"'ticular  Church,    as  thole  Similitudes 
15,  16, 17'.  hold  forth,  which  the  Scripture  makes 
ufe  of  to  Ihew  the  Nature  of  particular 
Churches  ;  as  a  Body,  a  Buildmg,Houfc, 
Hands,  Eyes,  feet  and  other  Members, 
mulf  be  united,  or  elfe  (remaining  fe- 
perate)  are  not  a  Body.    Stones,  Tim- 
ber, tho'  iquared,  hewen  and  polifhed, 
are  not  an  Houfe,  until  they  are  corn- 
Rev.  2.     pa^ed,  and  united :  So  Saints  or  Be- 
lievers  in  Judgment  of  Charity  ,  are 
not  a  Church  ,  unlefs  orderly  knit  to- 
gether. 

2.  Particular  Churches  cannot  be 
diftinguifhed  one  from  another,  but  by 
their  Forms.  Ephefus  is  not  Smyrna, 
nor  Pergamus  Thyatira ,  but  each  one 
a  diftintt  Society  of  it  felf,  having  Of- 
ficers of  their  own,  which  had  not  the 
Charge  of  others :  Virtues  of  their 
own,  for  which  others  are  not  praifed  : 
Corruptions  of  their  own,  for  which 
others  are  not  blamed. 

3.  This  Form  is  thevifible  Covenant, 
Ex.19. 5,8.  Agreement  or  Confent,  whereby  they 
Deut.29.  give  op  themfelves  unto  the  Lord,  to 
2^c.In.I4r}ie  observing  of  the  Ordinances  of 
8c9.1L    Chrift  together  in  the  fame  Society, 


which   is   ufually  calfd   the  Church- 
Covenant  :  For   we  fee  not  otherwife 
how   Members    can    have    Church- 
Power  over  one  another  mutually.  The 
comparing  of  each  particular  Church  E  h  z 
to  a  City,   and  unto  a  Spoufe,  feemeth  zCot.'n.i- 
to  conclude  not  only  a  Form,  but  that 
that  Form,  is  by   way  of  Covenant. 
The  Covenant,  as  it  was  that  which 
made    the   Family    of  Abraham  and  Gen  I7  7, 
Children  of  Ifrael  to  be  a  Church  and  Eph.  2. 
People  unto  God,  fo  is  it  that  which  ri3  l8- 
now  makes  the  ieveral  Societies  of  Gen- 
tile Believers  to  be  Churches  in  thefe 
Days. 

4.  This  voluntary  Agreement,  Con- 
fent or  Covenant  (for  all  thele  are  here 
taken  for  the  fame)  altho5  the  more 
exprefs  and  plain  it  is,  the  more  fully 
it  puts  us  in  mind  of  our  mutual  Duty  ; 
and  ftirreth  us  up  to  it,  and  leaveth 
lefs  room  for  the  queifioning  of  the 
Truth  of  the  Church-Eftate  of  a  Com-  * 
pany  of  Profelfors,  and  the  Truth  of 
Memberfliip  of  particular  Perfons  $ 
yet  we  conceive  the  Subftance  of  it  is 
kept,  where  there  is  a  real  Agreement 
and  Conient  of  a  Company  of  Faith- 
ful Perfons  to  meet  conftantly  together 
in  one  Congregation,  for  the  Publick 
Worfhip  of  God,  and  their  mutual 
5  D  Edifica- 


26 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.      Book  V. 


Neh.o^8 

Sc  10. i. 
Tien.  17. 
Deut.  29 


Edification :  Which  real  Agreement 
and  Content  they  do  exprefs  by  their 
conftant  Practice  in  coming  together 
for  the  publick  Worfhip  of  God,  and 
Exod.i;M.by  their  religious  fubieftion  unto  the 
&20.  8.&  Ordinances  of  God  there  :  The  rather, 

Tohi  '24?  x<i  we  ^°  confi^er  now  Scripture  Cove- 
18,  to  24.  nants  have  been  entred  into,  not  only 
Pfa.  50.  %.  expreily  by  word  of  Mouth,  but  by  Sa- 
crifice, by  Hand-writing  and  Seal ;  and 
alio  fometimes  by  filent  Confent,  with- 
out any  Writing  or  Expreflion  of  Words 
at  all. 

5.  This  Form  being  by  mutual  Co- 
venant, it  followeth,  it  is  not  Faith  in 
the  Heart,  nor  the  Profeffion  of  that 
Faith,  nor  Cohabitation,  nor  Baptilm. 
1.  Not  Faith  ih  the  Hearty  becaufe  that 
is  invifible.  3..  Not  a  bare  Profcjfitm, 
becaufe  that  declareth  them  no  more 
to  be  Members  of  one  Church  than 
another.  3.  NotG?/;^/V<z/Kw,Atheifts 
or  Infidels  may  dwell  together  with 
Believers.  4.  Not  Baptifm,  becaule 
it  prefuppofeth  a  Church-Eltate ,  as 
Circumcihon  in  the  Old  Tejlament, 
which  gave  no  Being  to  the  Church, 
the  Church  being  before  it,  and  in  the 
Wildernefs  without  it.  Seals  prefup- 
pofe  a  Covenant  already  in  being.  One 
Perfon  is  a  compleat  Subjett  of  Bap- 
tifm,  but  one  Perfon  is  uncapable  of 
being  a  Church. 


6.  All  Believers  ought,  as  God  gi-  Afts  2.  47. 
veth  them  Opportunity  thereunto,  to?^-26- 
endeavour  to  join  themfelves  unto  a  I4at|3<'&' 
particular  Church,  and  that  in  refpeft  28.'  19,  i0. 
of  the  Honour  of  Jefus  Chrift,  in  hisPia.  133.2, 
Example   and  Inftitution,  by  the  pro-  *;&87,  7> 
felTed  acknowledgment  of,  and   fub-  SJ"*° 
jett ion  unto  the  Order  and  Ordinances 
of  the  Gofpel :  As  alfo  in  refpeft  of 
their  good  of  Communion  founded  up- 
on their  vifible  Union,  and  contained 
in  the  Promifes  of  Chrift's  fpecial  Pre- 
tence in   the  Church  ^  whence  they 
have  Fellowship  with  him,  and  in  him, 
one  with  another  :  Alfo  in  the  keep- 
ing of  them  in  the  way  of  God's  Com- 
mandments, and  recovering  of  them 
in    cafe   of   wandering,    (  which  all 
Chriff  s  Sheep  are  fubjecf  to  in  this 
Life)  being  unable  to  return  of  them- Pfa.  119. 
felves^  together  with  the  Benefit  of  176. 
their  mutual  Edification,  and  of  their  ^P^'1'\s6 
Potterity,  that  they   may  not  be  cut  j^,  z* 
off  irom  the  Privilege  of  the  Covenant.  24, 1%. 
1  Other  wife,  if  a  Believer  offends,  he  Mat.  18. 
remains  deftitute  of  the  Remedy  pro-  X/Mtf*$s 
vided  in  that  behalf.    And  fhould  all 
Believers  neglecf  this  Duty  of  joining 
to  all    particular  Congregations ,  it 
might  follow  thereupon,  that  Chrift 
fhould    have    no    Vifible ,    Political 
Churches  upon  Earth. 


Matth. 
18.  18. 
Rev.  3.  7. 
Ifa.  9.  6. 
Joh.  20. 
21,  2J. 
1  Cor.  14. 
32. 

Tit.  1.  <f. 
iCor.5.12. 


CHAP.    V. 

Of  the  firft  Subjeft  of Church-Power  ;  or,  to  whom  Church-Power  doth 

firfi  belong. 


i.-pHe  firft  Subjea  of  Church-Power 
1  is  either  Supreme,  or  Subordi 
nate  and  Minifterial.  The  Supreme 
(  by  way  of  gift  from  the  Father )  is 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift.  The  Minifterial 
is  either  extraordinary,  as  the  Apo- 
ftles ,  Prophets  and  Evangelifts  ;  or 
ordinary,  as  every  particular  Congre- 
gational Church. 

2.  Ordinary  Church  Power,  is  ei- 
ther Power  of  Office,  that  is,  fuch  as 
is  proper  to  the  Elderftiip ;  or  Power 


of  Privilege,  fuch  as  belongs   to  the  Rom.  12. 
Brotherhood.    The  latter  is   in   the  4, 8. 
Bretheren  formally  and  immediately  &  J?!" **■ 
from  Chrift,  that  is,  fo  as  it  may  be  &  I4.  \s\ 
afted    or    exercifed   immediately  by  1  Cor.  10. 
themfelves:  The  former  is  not  in  them  z?>  3°- 
formally  or  immediately,  and  there- 
fore cannot  be  acf  ed  or  exercifed  im- 
mediately by  them,  but  is  faid  to  be  in 
them,  in  that  they  defign  the  Perfons 
unto  Office,  who  only  are  to  acf  or  to 
exercife  this  Power. 


CHAP.     VI. 
Of  the  Officers  of  the  Church,  and  efpeciaUy  ofPa/lors  and  teachers. 


1.  \  Church  being  a  Company  of 
XJL  People  combined  together  by 
Covenant  for  the  Worfhip  of  God,  it 
appeareth  thereby,  that  there  may  be 
the  Eflence  and  Being  of  a  Church 
without  any  Officers,  feeing  there  is 
both  the  Form  and  Matter  of  a  Churchy 
which  is  implied  when  it  a  faid,  The 


Apoftles    Ordained   Elders    in    every  Aft.14^ 
Church. 

2.  Neverthelefs,  tho'  Officers  be  not 
abfolutely  necelTary  to  the  fimple  Be-  Rom. 
ingof  Churches, when  they  be  called;  10. 17. 
yet  ordinarily  to  their  Calling  they  Jc^-  V° 
are ,  and  to  their  well-being :    And  \t>  2rj# 
therefore  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  out  of 

his 


Book  V.        The  Hijlory  of  New-England. 


27 


Eph.4.11. 
pfa.68.18. 

Eph.  4. 
8,  u. 


Eph.  4. 
n,  13. 


1  Cor. 
11.  28. 
Eph-4.11- 
Ads  8. 
6,  16,  19. 
&u.  28. 
Rom.  n. 

1  Cor.  4?. 


1  Tim.  3. 
1,2,8,1013 
Tit.  1.  5. 
Ads  20. 
17,  18. 
i  Pet.  f . 

1  Tim.2.3 
Phil.  1.  1. 
Ads  20. 
»7,  18. 


his  tender  Compafiion,  hath  appointed 
and  ordained  Officers,  which  he  would 
not  have  done,  if  they  had  not  been 
ufeful  and  needful  for  the  Church ; 
yea,  being  afcended  up  to  Heaven,  he 
received  Gifts  lor  Men,  and  gave  Gifts 
to  Men  •,  whereof  Officers  for  the 
Church  are  juftly  accounted  no  fmall 
Parts,  they  being  to  continue  to  the 
end  of  the  World,  and  for  the  perfect- 
ing of  all  the  Saints. 

3.  Thefe  Officets  were  either  Extra- 
ordinary or  Ordinary  :  Extraordinary, 
as  Apoftles,  Prophets,  Evangelifts  j  Or- 
dinary, as  Elders  and  Deacons.  The 
Apoftles,  Prophets,  and  Evangelifts,  as 
they  were  called  extraordinarily  by 
Chrift,  fo  their  Office  ended  with 
themfelves:  Whence  it  is  that  Paul  di- 
recting Timothy,  how  to  carry  along 
6hurch-Adminiftration,  giveth  no  Di- 
rection about  the  Choice  or  Courfe  of 
Apoftles,  Prophets  or  Evangelifts,  but 
only  of  Elders  and  Deacons  ^  and 
when  Paul  was  to  take  his  laft  leave 
of  the  Church  of  Epbefus ,  he  com- 
mitted the  Care  of  feeding  the  Church 
to  no  other,  but  unto  the  Elders  of  that 
Church.  The  like  Charge  does  Peter 
commit  to  the  Elders. 

4.  Of  Elders  ( who  are  alfo  in  Scri- 
pture called  Biflops)  fome  attend 
chiefly  to  the  Miniftry  of  the  Word, 
as  the  Paftors  and  Teachers  i  others 


attend  efpecially  unto  Rule,  who  are,  1  Tim. 
therefore,  called  Ruling-Elders.  *• lt-. 

5.  The  Office  of  Paltor  and  Teacher, 
appears  to  be  diftincL    The  Pallor's  Eph.  4-  u 
fpecial  Work  is,  to  attend  to  Exborta-  RQm-  **• 
tion,  and  therein  to  Adminifter  a  Word  i'coi.u.8. 
of  Wifdom  :  The  Teacher  is  to  attend 

to  DoUrine,  and  therein  to  Adminifter 
a  Word  of  Knowledge  :  And  either  oft  Tim.  4. 
them  to  Adminifter,  the  Seals  of  that  £**• 
Covenant,unto  the  Difpenfation  where-      '  "  9' 
of  they  are  alike  called  •,  as  alfo  to 
execute  the  Cenfures,  being  but  a  kind 
of  Application    of  the  Word :  The 
preaching  of  which,  together  with  the 
Application   thereof,    they  are  alike 
charged  withall. 

6.  Foralmuch  as  both  Paftors  and 
Teachers  are  given  by  Chrift,  for  the  Eph.  4: 
perfecting  of  the  Saints,  and  edifying  n,  12. 
of  his  Body  ;  which  Saints  and  Body  of  &  *-2*»*J 
Chrift  is  his  Church  :  And  therefore 

we  account  Paftors  and  Teachers  to  be 
both  of  thertiChurch-Officers,  and  not 
the  Paftor  for  the  Church,  and  the 
Teacher  only  for  the  Schools:  Tho' 
this  we  gladly  acknowledge,  that 
Schools  are  both  lawful,  profitable, 
and  neceffary,  for  the  training  up  of 
fuch  in  good  Literature  or  Learning,  *•  *> x* 
as  may  afterwards  be  called  forth  un- 
to Office  of  Paftor  or  Teacher  in  the 
Church. 


xSam.  10, 

I* 


is 


20. 


Kings 


CHAP.    VII. 
Of  Ruling  Elders  and  Deadbns. 


Rom.  12. 
7,  8,  ?. 
1  Tim. 
5-  17. 
1  Cr>r. 
12.  28. 
Heb.13.17. 
1  Tim. 
5.  17. 

1  Tim. 
5-  17. 

i  Chron. 

»3-  I?- 
Rev.n.i2, 

1  Tim. 
4.  14. 
Matth. 
18.  17. 

2  Cor.  2. 
7,8. 

A6ts  2.  6. 
Ads  21. 
18,22,23 


Ads  6.2,3 
&  13.  ij 


THE  Ruling  Elders  Office  is  di- 
ftina  from  the  Office  of  Paftor 
and  Teacher  -,  the  Ruling  Elders  are 
not  fo  called  to  exclude  the  Paftors 
and  Teachers  from  Ruling,  becaufe  Ru 
ling  and  Governing  is  common  to  theie 
with  the  other  -,  whereas  attending  to 
teach  and  preach  the  Word  is  peculiar 
unto  the  former. 

2.  The  Ruling  Elder's  Work  is  to 
join  with  the  Paftor  and  Teacher  in 
thofe  A£ts  of  Spiritual  Rule,  which 
are  diftincf  from  the  Miniftry  of  the 
Word  and  Sacraments  committed  to 
them  :  Of  which  fort  thefe  be  as  fol- 
loweth.  1.  To  open  and  ftiut  the 
Doors  of  God's  Houfe,  by  the  admif 
lion  of  Members  approved  by  the 
Church ;  by  Ordination  of  Officers 
chofen  by  the  Church,  and  by  Ex- 
communication of  notorious  and  obfti- 
nate  Offenders  renounced  by  the 
Church,  and  by  reltoring,  or  Penitents 
forgiven  by  the  Church.  2.  To  call 
■  the  Church  together  when  there  is  oc- 
cafion,  and  feaibnably  to  difmifs  them 


again.     3.  To  prepare  Matters  in  pri- 
vate, that  in  publick  they  may  be  car- 
ried an  end  with  lefs  trouble,  and  more  Hdf'f '*" 
ipeedy  difpatch.     4.  To  moderate  the  7)  i7*3' 
carriage  of  all  Matters  in  the  Church  z'Thefl".  2. 
aflembled,  as  to  propound  Matters  to  I0>11>  »• 
the  Church.    To  order   the  feafon  of 
Speech  and  Silence,  and  to  pronounce 
Sentence  according  to  the   Mind  of 
Chrift,with  the  Confent  of  the  Church. 
5.  To  be  Guides  and  Leaders  to  the 
Church  in  all  Matters  whatfoever  par- 
taining    to    Church  -  Adminiftrations 
and  Aftions.     6.  To  fee  that  none  in    „ 
the  Church  live  inordinately  ^  out  of  2g  s  **' 
Rank  and  Place  without  a  Calling,  or  1  Thefl". 
idlely  in  their  Calling.    7.  To  prevent  %•  "• 
and   heal  fuch   Offences  in  Life  or  in  Jam\5,  H' 
Do£frine,as  might  corrupt  the  Church. 
8.  To  feed  the  Flock  of  God  with  a 
Word     of  Admonition.    9.    And  as 
they  (hall  be  fent  for,  to  vifit  and  pray 
over  their   fick  Bretheren.     10.  And 
at  other  times,  as  opportunity  fhall 
lerve  thereunto. 


Ad.  20.20. 


D  2 


The 


28 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.      Book  V. 


Aft.  6.1-6 
Phil.  I.  i. 
I  Tim. 3. 8 
1  Cor. 
12.  28. 
1  Tim.  3. 
8,l9. 

Atts4-3S 
8c  6.1,3. 


Rom.  12.8 


1  Cor. 

7-  17. 


1  Cor.  if 
i>  a>  3> 


3.  The  Office  of  a  Deacon  is  infti  1 
tuted  in  the  Church  hy  the  Lord  Je- 
fus  :  Sometimes  they  are  tailed  Helps. 
The  Scripture    telleth  us   how  they 
fhould   be  qualified.     Grave,  not  dou- 
ble-tongued, not  given   to  much  Wine, 
not  given  to  filthy  Lucre.     They  muft 
firft  be  proved,  and  then  ufe  the  Office 
of  a  Deacon,  being  found   blam-.lefs. 
The  Office  and  Work  of  a  Deacon  is 
to  receive  the  Offerings  of  the  Church, 
Gifts  given  .  to  the  Church  ,  and  to 
keep  the  Treafury  of  the  Church,  and 
therewith  to  ferve  the  Tables,  which 
the  Church  is  to  provide  for  ;  as  the 
Lord's-Table,  the  Table  of  the  Mini- 
fters,  and  of  fuch  as  are  in  Neceflity, 
to  whom  they  are  to  diftribute  in  fim- 
plicity. 

4.  The  Office  ,  therefore,  being  li- 
mited unto  the  care  of  the  temporal 
good  things  of  the  Church,  it  extends 
not  to  the  Attendance  upon,  and  Ad- 
miniffration  of  the  fpiritual  thing* 
thereof,  as  the  Word,  and  Sacraments, 
and  the  like. 

5.  The  Ordinance  of  the  Apoftle, 
and  Practice  of  the  Church, commends 


the  Lord's-Day  as  a  fit  time  for  the 
Contributions  of  the  Saints. 

6.  The  inftituting  of  all  there  Offi- 
cers in  the  Church,  is  the  Work  of  ^g  or' "'  ^ 
God  himfelf,  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  Eph.  4. 
of  the  Holy  Ghoft :  And  therefore  fuch  8,  n. 
Officers,  as  he  hath  not  appointed,  are  A-t-10-28- 
altogether  unlawful  either  to  be  placed 
in  the  Church,  or  to  be  retained  there- 
in, and  are  to  be  looked  at  as  humane 
Creatures,    meer  Inventions  and  Ap- 
pointments of  Man,  to  the  great  dif- 
bonour  of  Chrift  Jefus,  the  Lord  of  his, 
rhe  King  of  his  Church,whether  Popes, 
Cardinals  ,   Patriarchs,  Arch-Bifhops, 
Lord-Bifhops,  Arch  Deacons,  Officials, 
CommhTaries ,  and   the  like.    Thefe 
and  the  reft  of  that  Hierarchy  and  Re- 
tinue, not  being  Plants  of  the  Lord's  Matt, 
planting,  fhall  all  be  certainly  rooted  15.  l}\ 
out  and  calf  forth. 

7.  The  Lord  hath  appointed  ancient  u  Tim.f, 
Widows    (where  they  may   be  had)?,  10. 
to  minifter  in  the  Church,  in  giving 
Attendance  to  the  Sick,  and  to  gWe 
•Succour  unto  them,  and  others  in  the 
like  Neceihties. 


CHAP.    VIII. 

Of  the  Ele&ion  of  Church  Officers. 


Heb.5-4- 


Gal.  1.  1. 
Ad.  14.13 
&c  6.3. 


1  Tim.  5- 
22. 

&7.  10. 
Ads.  16.1 
&  6.3. 


Aft.  14.23 
&  i.itf. 


NO  Man  may  take  the  Honour  of 
a  Church-Officer  unto  himfelf, 
but  he  that  was  called  of  God,  as  was 
Aaron. 

2.  Calling  unto  Office  is  either  im- 
mediate, by  Chrift  himfelf,  fuch  was 
the  Call  of  the  Apoftles  and  Prophets  ■, 
this  manner  of  Calling  ended  with 
them,  as  hath  been  faid,  or  mediate,  by 
the  Church. 

3.  It  is  meet,  that  before  any  be  or 
dained,  or  chofen  Officers,  they  fhould 
firft  be  tried  and  proved,  becaufe.  Hands 
are  not  fuddenly  to  be  laid  upon  any, 
and  both  Elders  and  Deacons  muft  be 
of  both  honeft  and  good  Report. 

4.  The  things  in  refpecf  of  which 
they  are  to  be  tried,  are  thofe  Gifts 
and  Vertues,  which  the  Scripture  re- 
quireth,  in  Men  that  are  to  be  elecfed 
unto  fuch  Places,  viz.  That  Elders 
muft  be  blamelefs,Jober,  apt  to  teach, 
and  endued  with  fuch  other  Qualifi 
cations  as  are  laid  down,  1  Tim.  3.  2. 
Tit.  1.  6.  to  9.  Deacons  to  be  fitted, 
as  is  directed,  Atts  6.3.  1  Tim.  3.  8, 
to  11. 

5.  Officers  are  to  be  called  by  fuch 
'  Churches,  whereunto  they  are  to  mi- 
■  nifter.    Of  fuch  moment  is  the  prefer- 

vation  of  this  Power,that  the  Churches 


exercifed  it  in  the  Prefence  of  the  Apo- 
ftles. 

6.  A  Church  being  free,  cannot  be- 
come fubjecf  to  any,  but  by  a  free  E- 
lect ion  •,  yet  when  fuch  a  People  do 

chufe  any  to  be  over  them  in  the  Lord,  ^a{-  ?•  l3' 
then  do  they  become  fubje£f,  and  moft    eb,I3-I7* 
willingly  fubmit  to  their  Miniftry  in 
the  Lord,  whom  they  have  fo  chofen. 

7.  And  if  the  Church  have  Power 

to  chufe  their  Officers  and  Minifters,  R  g 
then  in  cafe  of  manifeft  Unwotthinefs  I7. 
and  Delinquency  they  have  Power  alfo 
to  depofe  them  :  For  to  open  and  fhut, 
to  chufe  and  refufe,  to  conftitute  in 
Office,  and  to  remove  from  Office,  are 
A£ts  belonging  to  the  fame  Power. 

8.  We  judge  it  much  conducing  to  Cant  8. 
the  well-being,  and  Communion  of  the  8,9. 
Churches,  that  where  it  may  conve- 
niently  be  done,  neighbour  Churches 

be  advifed  withal,  and  their  Help  be 
made  ufe  of  in  trial  of  Church-Of- 
ficers, in  order  to  their  choice. 

9.  The  choice  of  fuch  Church-Of- 
ficers belongeth  not  to  the  civil  Magi- 
ftrate  as  fuch,  or  Diocefan  Bifhops,  or 
Patrons :  For  of  thefe,  or  any  fuch 
like,  the  Scripture  is  wholly  filent,  as 
having  any  Power  therein. 


CHAP. 


Vook  V.       Tbe  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


0 

it 


9 


CHAP.    IX. 

Of  Ordination  and  Impofition  of  Hands. 


Afts  13.3. 
&  14-13- 

1  Tim.  ?. 

Numb.  8. 

10. 

Afts  6.1,6 

&i3.i,3, 


A£ts6.i,6 
&  14.  23,. 


1  Tim.  4. 
10. 

Ads  13. 3 
1  Tim.  j. 

li. 

Numb.  3. 
10. 


i.f^lHurch-Officers  are  not  only  to  be 
VX  cholen  by  the  Church ,  but 
alio  to  be  ordained  by  impofition  of 
Hands  and  Prayer,  with  which  at  the 
Ordination  of  Elders,  fatting  alto  is  to 
be  joined. 

2.  This  Ordination,  we  account  no- 
thing elfe,  but  the   folemn  putting  a 

1  Man  into  his  Place  and  Office  in  the 
Church,  whereunto  he  had  Right  be- 
fore by  Election  :  Being  like  the  Inttal 
ling  of  a  Magiftrate  in  the  Common- 
Wealth.  Ordination  •  therefore  is  not 
to  go  before,  but  to  follow  Election. 
The  Eflence  and  Subftance  of  the  out- 
ward calling  of  an  ordinary  Officer  in 
the  Church,  does  not  confift  in  his  Or- 
dination, but  in  his  voluntary  and  free 
Election  by  the  Church,  and  his  ac- 
cepting of  that  Eleftion  :  Whereupon 
is  founded  that  Relation,  between  Pa- 
ftor  and  Flock,  between  fuch  a  Mini- 
fter  and  fuch  a  People.  Ordination 
does  not  conftitute  an  Officer ,  nor. 
give  him  the  Eflentials  of  his  Office. 
The  Apoftles  were  Elders,  without 
impofition  of  Hands  by  Men.  :  Paul 
and  Barnabas  were  Officers  before  that 
Impofition  of  Hands,  Atts  13.  3.  The 
Pofterity  of  Levi  were  Prielts  and  Le- 
vites,  before  Hands  were  laid  on  them 
by  the  Children  of  Ijrael. 

3.  In  fuch  Churches  where  there 
are  Elders,  Impofition  of  Hands  in  Or- 

'  dination,  is  to  be  performed  by  thofe 
Elders. 

4.  In  fuch  Churches  where  there 
are  no  Elders,  Impofition  of  Hands 
may  be  performed  by  fome  of  the 
Bretheren  orderly  choien  by  the  Church 
thereunto.  For,  if  the  People  may 
ele£f.  Officers,  which  is  the  greater, 
and  wherein  the  Subftance  of  the  Of- 
fice doth  confift,  they  may  much  more 


( occafion  and  need  fo  requiring )  im- 
pofe  Hands  in  Ordination  -,  which  is 
lels,  and  but  the  accomplishment  of 
the  other. 

5.  Neverthelefs,  in  fuch  Churches 
where    there  are  no  Elders,  and  the 
Church  fo  defire,  we  fee  not  why  Im- 
pofition  of  Hands  may  not  be  per- 
formed by  the  Elders  of  other  Churches. 
Ordinary  Officers  laid  Hands  upon  the 
Officers  of  many  Churches :  The  Pref-  iTim.4. 
bytery  at  Ephejus  laid  Hands  upon  17-  *4- 
mothy  an  Evangelift  ;  the  Presbytery  A<^s  l*'  $* 
at  Antioch  laid  Hands  upon  Paul  and 
Barnabas. 

6.  Church-Officers  are  Officers  to 
one  Church,  even  that  Particular  over 
which  the  Holy  Ghoft  hath  made 
them  Overfeets.  Infomuch  as  Elders  are 
commanded  to  teed  not  all  flocks, 
bu,  the  Flock,  whicn  is  committed  to 
their  Faich  and  Tiuit,  and  dependeth 
upon  them.  Nor  can  conftant  refi- 
'dence  at  one  Congiegation  be  neceflary 
for  a  Minilter,  no  nor  yet  lawful,  if 
he  be  not  a  Minifter  to  one  Congre- 
gation only,  but  to  the  Church  univer-  x  Pet#  -  % 
tal ;  becaufe  he  may  not  attend  one  Aft.  10.2L 
part  only  of  the  Church,  to  which  he 

is  a  Minifter,  but  he  is  called  to  attend 
unto  all  the  Flock. 

7.  He  that  is  clearly  releaiedfrom 
his  Office  relation  unto  that  Church, 
whereof  he  was  a  Minifter,  cannot  be 
looked  at,  as  an  Officer,  nor  perform 
any  aft  of  Office  in  any  other  Church, 
unlefs  he  be  again  orderly  called  unto 
Office  :  Which,  when  it  ftiall  be,  we 
know  nothing  to  hinder  -,  but  Impofi- 
tion of  Hands  alfo  in  his  Ordination  Aft.  zo.zf?, 
ought  to  be  ufed  towards  him  again  : 

For  fo  Paul  the  Apoftle  received  Im- 
pofition of  Hands  twice  at  leaft  from 
Ananias,   Ails  9.  17.  &  13.  3. 


CHAP.    X. 


Of  the  Power  of  the  Church  and  its  Presbytery. 


QUpreme  and  Lordly  Power  overall 
Ech '  1'  t'ie  Churches  upon  Earth  doth  on- 

ii,  ii.'     ly  belong  to  Jefus  Chrift,  who  is  King 
Ifa'.  9.  6.    of  the  Church,  and  the  Head  thereof. 
Mat.18.18.  He  hath   the  Government   upon  his 
Shoulders,  and  hath  all  Power  given 
to  him  both  in  Heaven  and  Earth. 

2.  A  Company  of  profeiTed  Belie- 
vers, Ecclefiaftically  confederate,  as 
they  are  a  Church  before  they  have  Of- 
ficers, and  without  them  ;  fo  even  in 


1  Cor.  f . 
4,  S- 


that  Eftate  fubordinate  Church-Power  Afts  r.  23, 
under  Chrift    delegated  to  them  by  &  14.23. 
him,    doth   belong  to  them  in  fuch  a  ^i6'3, 4' 
manner  as  is  before  exprefled,  Chap.  5.   ' 
Setf.  2.  and  as  flowing  from  the  very 
Nature  and   Eflence  of  a  Church  -,  it 
being  natural  unto  all  Bodies,  and  fo 
unto  a  Church-Body,  to  be  f  urnifhed 
with  fufficient  Power  for  its  own  Pre- 
fervation  and  Subfiftence. 

3.  This 


3° 


The  Hifiory  of  New-Englaod.       Book  V 


Rev.  3.  7. 
1C0M.12, 


5- 


iTim.f.27 


Oal.   I 

4- 

Rev.?. 

8.9. 

Mat.iS 

.10. 

Eph.  4 

8,   n. 

Jam.  4 

12. 

11.*?. 

22. 

iTim. 

I-If 

*  Cor. 

10. 

4,  5- 

If.  31. 

2. 

Luk.  1 

71. 

Aits  6.3,?. 
&  14.   23. 
&  9.  2^. 
Mat.   18. 
i53  i6,  17. 


Tit.  3.  10. 
Col.  4.  17. 
Mat.18.17 
aCor.2.7,8 


Col.  4.  17. 
Ro.  16.  17. 
Mat.  1 8. 1 7. 


iTim.f.17 
Heb.13. 17 
iThef.   s. 


This  Government  of  the  Church 
is  a  mixt  Government  (and  lb  has  been 
acknowledged,  Long  before  the  Term 
of  Independency  was  heard  of)  in  re 
fpecr.  ot  Chrift  the  Head  and  King  of 
the  Church,  and  the  Sovereign  Power 
refiding  in  him,  and  exerciied  by  him, 
it  is  a  Mormrcb}\  in  refpect  of  the  Body 
or  Brotherhood  of  the  Church  ,  and 
Power  from  Chrift  granted  unto  them 
it  reiembles  a  Democracy  •,  in  refpecf. 
of  the  Presbytery  and  Power  commit- 
ted unto  them,  it  is  an  Ariflocracy. 

4.  The  Sovereign  Power,  which  is 
peculiar  unto  Chrift  isexercifed,  1.  In 
calling  the  Church  out  of  the  World 
into  an  holy  Fellowfhip  with  himfelh 

2.  In  inftituting  the  Ordinances  of  his 
Worfhip,  and  appointing  his  Minifters 
and  Officers  for  the  difpenfing  oi  them. 

3.  In  giving  Laws  for  the  ordering  of 
all  our  ways,and  the  ways  of  his  Houfe. 

4.  In  giving  Power  and  Life  to  all  his 
lnftitutions,  and  to  his  People  by  them. 

5.  In  protecting  and  delivering  his 
Church  againft  and  from  all  the  Ene- 
mies of  their  Peace. 

5.  The  Power  granted  by  Chrift  unto 
the  Body  of  the  Church  and  Brother- 
hood, is  a  Prerogative  or  Priviledge 
which  the  Church  doth  exercife.  1.  In 
choojing  their  own  Officers,  whether 
Elders  or  Deacons.  2.  In  admiffion  of 
thele  Members  ;  and  therefore  there  is 
great  Reafon  they  fhould  have  power 
to  remove  any  from  their  Fellowfhip 
again.  Hence,  in  cafe  of  offence,  any 
Brother  hath  power  to  convince  and 
admonifh  an  offending  Brother  :  And, 
in  cafe  of  not  hearing  him,  to  take  one 
or  two  more  to  let  on  the  Admonition : 
And  in  cafe  of  not  hearing  them,  to 
proceed  to  tell  the  Church  :  And  as  his 
Offence  may  require,  the  whole  Church 
has  power  to  proceed  to  the  cenfute  of 
him,  whether  by  Admonition  or  Ex- 
communication :  And  upon  his  Repen- 
tance to  reftore  him  again  unto  his  for- 
mer Communion. 

6.  In  cafe  an  Elder  offend  incor- 
rigibly, the  Matter  fo  requiring,  as  the 
Church  had  Power  to  call  him  ro  Office, 
fo  they  have  Power  according  to  order 
(the  Counfel  of  other  Churches,  where 
it  may  be  had,  directing  thereto)  to  re- 
move him  from  his  Office,  and  being 
now  but  a  Member ,  in  cafe  he  add 
Contumacy  to  his  Sin,  the  Chutch,that 
had  Power  to  receive  him  into  their 
Fellowfhip,  hath  alfo  the  fame  Power 
to  call:  him  out,  that  they  have  con- 
cerning any  other  Member. 

7.  ChHrch-Governmenr  or  Rule  is 
placed  by  Chrift  in  the  Officers  of  the 
Church,whoare  therefore,call'd  Rulers, 
while  they  rule  with  God  :  yet  in  cafe 


Rom.12.8, 
iTim.5.17 
1  Cor.  i2. 
28,  z9. 
Heb.  13. 
7-  17- 


A&S20.28. 
&  6.  2. 
Numb.  1 6. 
12. 

Ezek.    4$. 
10. 

Adb^.if. 
Hof.  .4.  4. 


of  Male-Adminiftration,  they  are  fub- 
ject  to  the  Power  of  the  Church,  as 
hath  been  faid  before.  The  Holy  Ghoft 
frequently,  yea,  always,  where  it  men- 
tioneth  Church-Rule,  and  Church  Go- 
vernmenr,afcribeth  it  to  Elders  :  where- 
as the  work  and  duty  of  the  People  is 
exprefled  in  the  Phrafe  of  obeying  their 
Elders,  and  Jubmitting  them/elves  unto 
them  in  the  Lord.  So  as  it  is  manifeft 
that  an  Organick  or  compleat  Church, 
is  a  Body  Politick,  confilting  of  fome 
that  are  Governours,  and  fome  that  are 
govern'd  in  the  Lord. 

8.  the  Power  which  Chrift  hah 
committed  to  the  Elders,  is  to  feed  and 
rule  the  Church  of  God,  and  accor- 
dingly to  call  the  Church  together  upon 
any  weighty  occafion  -,  when  the  Mem 
bers  fo  calfd  without  juft  caule,  may 
not  refufe  to  come,  nor  when  they  are 
come,  depart  before  they  are  dilmifled, 
nor  fpeak  in  the  Church,  before  they 
have  leave  from  the  Elders,nor  continue 
fo  doing  when  they  require  filence  -, 
nor  may  they  oppofe  or  contradict  the 
Judgment  or  Sentence  of  the  Elders, 
without  fufficient  and  weighty  Caufe, 
becaufe  fuch  Practices  are  manifeftly 
contrary  unto  Order  and  Government, 
and  Inlets  of  Difturbance  and  tend  to 
Confufion. 

p.  It  belongs  alfo  unto  the  Elders  be- 
fore to  examine  any  Officers  orMembers, 
before  they  be  received  of  the  Church, 
to  receive  the  Accufations  brought 
to  the  Church,  and  to  prepare  them 
for  the  Churches  hearing.  In  handling 
of  Offences  and  other  Matters  before 
the  Church,  they  have  Power  to  de- 
clare and  publifh  the  Will  of  God 
touching  the  fame,  and  to  pronounce 
Sentence  with  the  confent  of  the  Church. 
Laft ly,  They  have  Power,  when  they 
difmifs  the  People,  to  blefs  them  in  the 
Name  of  the  Lord. 

10.  This  Power  of  Government  in 
the  Elders  doth  not  any  wife  prejudice 
the  Power  of  Priviledge  in  the  Brother- 
hood -,  as  neither  the  Power  of  Privilege 
in  the  Brethren,  doth  prejudice  the 
Power  of  Government  in  the  Elders, 
but  they  may  fweetly  agtee  together  ; 
as  we  may  fee  in  the  Example  of  the 
Apoftles,  furnifh'd  with  the  greateft 
Church-Pozver,  who  took  in  the  Con- 
currence and  Confent  of  the  Brethren 
in  Church- Admimjlrations.  Alfo  that 
Scripture  ,  2  Cor.  2.  p.  &  10.  6.  do 
declare  that  what  the  Churches  were  to 
all  and  to  do  in  thefe  Matters,  they 
were  to  do  in  a  way  of  Obedience,  and 
that  not  only  to  the  direction  of  the  Heb.13. 17 
Apoftles.  but  alfo  of  their  ordinary 
Flders. 

11.  From 


Rev.  2.  il 
1  Tim.  y.  19 
Ails  21. 
18,  22,  23. 
iCor.s.45f 


Numb.  6. 
23  to  16. 


Ads  14, 

if,  *3- 
and  6.  2. 
1  Cor.  J.  4.' 
2Cor.2.6,7 


Book  V.       The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


3* 


11.  From  the  Promifes,  namely, 
that  the  ordinary  Power  of  Govern- 
ment belonging  only  to  the  Elders, 
Power  of  Pjiviledge  remaining  with 
the  Brotherhood  (as  the  Power  of  Judg- 
ment in  Matters  of  Cenfure,and  Power, 
of  Liberty  in  Matters  of  Liberty)  it 


followeth,  ThatinanOrganick  Church 
and  Right  Adminiftration,  all  Church - 
A£ls  proceed  after  the  manner  of  a  mixt 
Adminiftration,  fo  as  no  Church-Aft 
can  be  confummated,or  perfected  with- 
out the  confent  of  both. 


CHAP.    XL 

Of  the  Maintenance  of  Church-Officers, 


'HE  Apoftle  concludes,    that  ne- 


ceflary  and  fufficient  Mainte 


nance  is  due  unto  the  Minifters  of  the 
Word  from  the  Law  of  Nature  and 
Nations,  from  the  Law  of  Mofes,  the 
Equity  thereof,as  alfo  the  Rule  of  com- 
mon Reafon.    Moreover  the  Scripture 
doth  not  only  call  Elders  Labourers 
Gal  6.  6.  and  Workmen,    but  alfo  fpeaking  of 
them  doth   fay  that   the  Labourer  is 
1  Cor.  ?.  worthy  of  bis  hire  :  And  requires  that 
9^J^i•       he  which  is  taught  in  the  Word,  mould 
ur'5'1  communicate  to  him  in  all  good  Things, 
and  mention  it,  as  an  Ordinance  of  the 
Lord,  that  they  which  preach  the  Gof- 
pel,  fhould  live  of  the  Gofpel,  and 
forbiddeth  the  muzling  of  the  Mouth 
of  the  Ox,  that  treadeth  out  the  Corn. 

2.  The  Scriptures  alledged,  requir- 
ing this  Maintenance  as  a  bounden  Du- 
ty, and  due  Debt,  and  not  as  a  matter 
of  Alms  and  free  Gift,  therefore  Peo- 
ple are  not  at  Liberty,  to  do  or  not  to 
do,  what  and  when  they  pleafe  in  this 
Matter,  no  more  than  in  any  other 
commanded  Duty,  and  Ordinance  of 

Rom.1y.17  the  Lord  -,   but  ought  of  Duty  to  Mi- 
iCor.9.n.nifter  of  their  Carnal  Things,  to  them 
that  labour  among  them  in  Word  and 
Doclrine,  as  well  as  they  ought  to  pay  j 
any  other  Workmen  their  Wages,  and  J 
to  difcharge  and  fatisfie  their  Debts,  | 
or  to  fubmit  themielves  to  obferve  any  j 
other  Ordinance  of  the  Lord. 

3.  The  Apoftle  (Gal.  6.  6.)  enjoy n- ! 


ing  that  he  which  is  taught  communi- 
cate to  him  that  teacheth  in  all  good 
Things,  doth  not  leave  it  Arbitrary,  tCot.i6.il 
what  or  how  much  a  Man  (hall  give, 
or  in  what  proportion,  but  even  the 
latter,  as  well  as  the  former  is  pref- 
cribed  and  appointed  by  the  Lord. 

4.  Not  only  Membets  of  Curches 
but  all  that  are  taught  in  the  Word,  are 
to  contribute  unto  him  that  teacheth  in 
all  good  Things.    In   cafe  that  Con- 
gregations  are  defective  in  their  Con-  A"s  *-M* 
tributions,  the  Deacons  are  to  call  up- 
on them  to  do  their  Duty  :  If  their 
Call,  fufficeth  not,  the  Church  by  her 
Power  is  to  require  it  of  their  Mem- 
bers ;  and  where  Church  Power  thro5 
the  Corruption  of  Men  doth  not,  or 
cannot  attain  the  End,  the  Magiftrate 
is  to  fee  that  the  Miniftry  be  duly  pro- 
vided for,  as  appears  from  the  com- 
mended Example  of  Nehemiah.    TheNeh.1j.1r. 
Magiftrates  are   Nurfing-Fathers  and  #•  44.  *j. 
Nurfing-Mothers,    and  ftand  charged  *  c°r-  *• 
with  the  Cuftody  of    both  Tables ;  h  I4' 
becaufe  it  is  better  to  prevent  a  Scan- 
dal, that  it  may  not  come,and  eafier  al- 
fo,than  to  remove  it,  when  it  is  given. 
It's  moil  fuitable  to  rule,  that  by  the 
Churche's  Care  each  Man  mould  know 
his  Proportion  according  to  rule,  what 
he  fhould  do  before  he  do  ir,  that  fb 
his  Judgment  and  Heart  may  be  fatisri- 
ed  in  what  he  doth  ,   and  juft  Offence 
prevented  in  what  is  done. 


CHAP.    XII. 
Of  the  Admijfion  of  Members  into  the  Church. 


i.'TpH  E  Doors  of  the  Churches  of 

X    Chrift  upon  Earth,    do  not  by 

God's  Appointment  ftand  fo  wide  open, 

a  Chr.  29.  that  all  forts  of  peopie Good  and  Bad, 

iv^  I5>  may  freely  enter  therein  at  their  Plea- 

fure,  but  fuch  as  are  admitted  thereto, 

as  Members,  ought  to  be  examin'd,and 

tryed  firft,  whether  they  be  fit  and  meet 

to  be  received  into  Church-Society  or 

nor.     The  Eunuch  of  Ethiopia  before 

his  Admiffion,  was  examined  by  Phi- 

Actss.37./^  Whether  he  did  believe  on  Jefus 


2?. 
12. 


& 


L3" 

22. 


Chrift  with  all  his  Heart.  The  Angel 
of  the  Church  at  Ephefus,  is  com-  ^  1"i*' 
mended  for  trying  fuch  as  faid  they 
were  Apoftles  and  were  not.  There  is 
like  reafon  for  trying  of  them  that 
profefs  themielves  to  be  Believers.  The 
Officers  are  charged  with  the  keeping 
of  the  Doors  of  the  Church,and  there- 
fore are  in  a  fpecial  manner  to  make 
tryal  of  the  fitnefs  of  fuch,  who  en- 
ter. Twelve  Angels  are  let  at  the 
Gat«s  of  the  Temple,    left  fuch  BtffSg'Jj 

were  r* 


32 


Tbe  Hiftory  of  New-England.       Book  V; 


wers  Ccyer,:omdly  Unclean  fhould  en-   dy  upon  any  Occafion  to  declare  and 


Ads  2 
to  41. 

8.37. 


& 


Mat.  3.  6. 


t^r  thereinto. 

Things  xvhich  are  requifite 

to  hi  ijui.iin  all  Church-Members, 

38.  2XS.Rcpcnts.ncc  from  Sin,  nnd  Faith  in 

JefusChrift:  And  therefore  thole  are  the 

Things  whei  ;of  Men  are  to  be  exami- 

iirion  into  rhe Church, 

and  which  then  they  ma  ft  pfofeis  and 

hold  forth  in  fuch  fort,  as  may  fatisfie 

Rational  Charity  that  the  Things  are 

indeed.     John  Baptifi  admitted   Men 

Adsi^.is.to  Baptifm  conferring    and  bewailing 

their  Sins  :   And  of  others  it  is  ftid, 

that  they  came  and  confejjed,  and  JIkvo- 

. .      cd  their  Deeds. 

3.  The  weakeft  meafureof  Faith  is 
to  be  accepted  in  thofe  that  defire  ro 

Rom.14. 1.  be  admitted  into  the  Church,  if  Sin- 
cere, have  the  Subftance.of  that  Faith, 
Repentance  and  Holiriefs,  which  is  re- 
quired in  Church-Members^  and  fuch 
hive  moft  need  of  the  Ordinances  for 
their  Confirmation  and  Growth  in 
Grace.  The  Lord  Jefus  would  not 
Mat.iz.io.  quench  the  fmoaking  Flax,  nor  break 
Ifa.4°- 11.  tne  bruifed  Reed,  but  gather  the  ten- 
der Lambs  in  his  Arms  and  carry  them 
gently  in  his  Bofom. 

Such  Charity  and  Tendernefs  is  to 
be  ufed,  as  the  weakeft  Chriftian,  if 
Sincere,  may  not  be  excluded  nor  dif- 
couraged.  Severity  of  Examination  is 
to  be  avoided. 

4.  In  cafe  any  thro'  exceffive  Fear, 
or  other  Infirmity,   be  unable  to  make 
their  perianal  Relation  of  their  Spiri- 
tual ESate  in  Publick,  it  is  fufficient, 
that  the  Elders  having  received  private 
SitisfacFion,  make  Relation  thereof  in 
publick  before  the  Church,  they  tefti 
tying  their  Affents  thereunto  :  This  be 
ing  the  way  that  tendeth  molt  to  Edifi- 
cation.   But  whereas  Perfons  are  of 
greater  Abilities,  there  it  is  moft  expe- 
dient, that  they  make  their  Relations 
and  Confeffions  perfonally  with  their 
own  Mouth,  '  as  David  profeffeth  of 
himfelf. 

5.  A  perfonal  and  publick  Confeffi- 
on  and  Declaring  of  God's  manner  of 


fhew  our  Repentance  for  Sin,  Faith 
unfeigned,  and  effctlual  Calling,  hecaule 
thefe  are  the  Reafon  of  a^ell  ground- 
ed Hope.  1  have  not  hidden  thy  Right  e- 
oufnefs  jrom  the  great  Congregation. 
Pfalm  40.  10. 

6.  This  Profeflion  of  Faith  and  Re- 
pentance, as  it  muft  be  made  by  fuch 
at  their  Admiffion,  that  were  never  in 
Church  Society  before ;  fo  nothing 
hindereth  but  the  fame  way  alfo  be 
performed  by  fuch  as  have  formerly 
been  Members  of  fome  other  Church,  Matj.  ?,*. 


Pfal.  66.  6. 


working  upon  the  Soul,  is  both  Law- 
ful, Expedient  and  Ufeful,  in  fun- 
dry  Refpects  and  upon  fundry  Grounds. 
Thofe  three  thoufand,  Ms  2.  37,  4t. 
before  they  were  admitted  by  the 
Apoftles  did  manifeft  that  they  were 
pricked  at  the  Heart  by  Peter's  Ser- 
mon, together  with  earneft  Defire  to 
be  delivered  from  theit  Sins,which  now 
wounded  their  Confciences,  and  their 
ready  receiving  of  the  Word  of  Pro- 
mife  and  Exhortation.  We  are  to  be 
ready  to  render  a  Reafon  of  the  Hope 

Heb!ii!i!%?  lsin  us->  t0  every  one  $<*  askn^ 

Ef  h'.  7.  is',  us  1  therefore  we  muft  be  able  and  rea- 


and  the  Church  to   which  they  now  G^:  2-  4- 
join  themfelves  as  Members,  may  law-  lTun-*,l4 
fully  require  the  fame.    Thoft.  three 
thoufand,    Affs  2.   which  made  their 
ConfefTion  were  Members  of  the  Church 
of  the  Jews  before  -,  fo  were  thofe  that 
were   Baptifed   by    John.    Churches 
may  Err  in  their  Admiffion  •,  and  Per- 
fons regularly  admitted,  may   fall    in- 
to Offence.    Otherwiie,  if  Churches 
might  obtrude  their  Members,    or  if 
Church  Members  might  obtrude  them- 
felves upon  other  Churches  without 
due  trial,  the  matter  fo  requiring,  both 
the  Liberty  of  Churches  would  there- 
by be  infringed  in  that  they  might  not 
examine  thofe,   concerning  whofe  fit- 
nefs  for  Communion  they  were  unfa- 
tisfied  :   And  befides  the  infringing  of 
their  Liberty  the  Churches  themfelves 
would  unavoidably  be  corrupt  .d,  and 
the  Ordinances  defiled,    whiht    they 
might  not  refufe,  but  muft  receive  the 
Unworthy  :    Which  is   contrary   unto 
the  Scripture,  teaching  that  all  Chur-  Cant  8  8; 
ches  are  Sifters,   and  therefore  equal. 
7.  The  like  Trial  is  to  be  required 
from  fuch  Members  of  the  Church  as 
were  born  in  rhe  fame,  or  received 
their  Memberfhip,  or  were  baptized 
in  their  Infancy,  or  Minority  by  Vir- 
tue of  the  Covenant  of  their  Parents, 
when  being  grown  up   into  Years  of 
Difcretion,  they  (hall  defire  to  be  made 
Partakers  of  the  Lord's  Supper :   Un- 
to which  becaufe  Holy  Things  muft 
not  be  given  unto  theUnworthy,there- 
fore  it  is  requifite,    that  thefe  as  well  Math. 7. 6. 
as  others,  fhould  come  to  their  Trial 
and  Examination,  and  manifeft  their 
Faith  and  Repentance  by  an  open  Pro- 
feffion  thereof,   before  they  are  recei- 
ved to  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  other- 
wife  not  to  be  admitted  thereunto.  Yet 
theie  Church  Members  that  were  fo 
born,  or  received  in  their  Childhood, 
before  they  are  capable  of  being  made 
Partakers  of   full  Communion,   have 
many  Priviledges  which  others,  (not 
Church-Members)  have  not  5  they  are 
in  Covenant  with  God,  have  the  Seal 
thereof    upon  them,    vis.  Baptifm  s 

and 


1  Cor.  11. 

27. 


Book  V.        The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


33 


and  fo,  if  not  Regenerated,  yet  are  in 
a  more  hopeful  way  of  attaining  Rege- 
nerating Grace,  and  all  the  Spiritual 
BlefTings  both  of  the  Covenant  and 
Seal :    They  are  alfo  under  Church- 


Watch,  and  confequently  ^abjeft  to 
the  Reprehenfions,  Admonitions,  and 
Cenfures  thereof,  for  their  Healing  and 
Amendment,  as  need  fhall  require. 


CHAP.    XIII. 

Of  Church-Members,  their  removal  from  one  Church  to  another, 
Recommendation  and  Difmijjion. 


and  of 


i.^^Hurch-Members  may  not  remove 
\^j  or  depart  from  the  Church,and 
fo  one  from  another  as  they  pleafe,nor 
without  juft  and  weighty  caufe,  but 
Heb.io.i  f.  .ought  to  live  and  dwell  together,  for- 
afmuch  as  they  are  commanded  not 
to  forfake  the  aifembling  of  themfelves 
together.  Such  Departure  tends  to 
the  Diffblutionand  Ruine  of  the  Body, 
as  the  pulling  of  Stones  and  pieces  ol 
Timber  from  the  Building,  and  of 
Members  from  the  Natural  Body  tend 
to  the  DeftrucYion  of  the  whole. 

2.  It  is,  therefore,  the  Duty  ol 
Church-Members,  in  fuch  Times  and 
Places,  where  Counfel  may  be  had  to 
coniult  with  the  Church  whereof  they 

Pro.  1 1, 16  are  Members,  about  their  removal, 
that,  accordingly,  they  having  their 
Approbation,  may  be  encouraged,  or 
otherwife  defift.  They  who  are  join'd 
with  Confent,  fhould  not  depart  with- 
out confent,  except  forced  thereunto. 

3 .  If  a  Member's  departure  be  ma- 
nifeftly  unfafe  and  finful,  the  Church 
may  not  confent  thereunto  5  for,  in  fo 

■Ro.  14.23.  doing,  they  fhould  not  a£l  in  Faith,and 

1  Tim.  5.  (hemic!  partake  with  him  in  his  fin.     If 

Aft.  z  1. 14.  the  Cafe  be  doubtful  and  the  Perfon 

not  to  be  perfwaded,  it  feemethbeft  to 

leave  the  Matter  unto  God,   and  not 

forcibly  to  detain  him. 

4.  Juft  Reafons  for  a  Member's  Re- 
moval of  himfelf  from  the  Church,  are, 
1.  If  a  Man  cannot  continue  without 

1 1.  partaking  in  Sin.  2.  In  cafe  of  Per 
**j  fonal  Perfecution  :  So  Paul,  departed 
from  the  Difciplesat  Dakafcus,  alfo  in 
cafe  of  general  Perfecution,  when  all 
are  fcattered.  3.  In  cafe  of  Real, and 
not  only  pretended  want  of  compe- 
tent Subfiftence,  a  Door,  being  opened 
0  for  better  fupply  in  another  place,  to- 
gether with  the  means  of  Spiritual 
Education.  In  thefe,  or  like  Cafes, 
a  Member  may  lawfully  remove,  and 
the  Church  cannot  lawfully  detain 
him. 

5.  To  feparare  from  a  Church  either 
out  of  Contempt  of  their  Holy  Fel- 
stfitiM-io  lowfhip,  or  out  of  Covetoufnefs,  or 
for  greater  Enlargements,  with  juft 
Grief  to  the  Church ,  or  out  of 
Schifm,  or  want  of  Love,  and  out  of 


Eph.  f : 
Ads  9. 
*?.  5°- 

&  8.  1. 


Neh.15.: 


a  Spirit  of  Contention  in  refpecf  of 
fome  Unkindnefs,  or  fome  Evil  on- 
ly conceived  or  indeed  in  the  Church, 
which  might  and  fhould  be  tolerated 
and  healed  with  a  Spirit  of  Meeknefs, 
and  of  which  Evil  the  Church  is  not 
yet  convinced  (tho' perhaps  himfelf  be) 
nor  admonifhed :  For  thefe  or  the  like 
Reafons  to  withdraw  from  publique 
Communion  in  Word  or  Seals,  or  Cen- 
fures, is  Unlawful  and  Sinful. 

6.  Such  Members  as  have  orderly 
removed  their  Habitation,  ought  to 
join  themfelves  unto  the  Church  in  or-  Ifa.  *  *.  8. 
der,  where  they  do  inhabit,  if  it  may  A&s  ?• i6' 
be  ;  otherwife  they  can  neither  per- 
form the  Duties,  nor  receive  the  Pri- 
viledges  of  Members.  Such  an  Ex- 
ample tolerated  in  fome,  is  apt  to  cor- 
rupt others,  which  if  many  fhould 
follow  would  threaten  the  Diffolution 
and  Confufion  of  Churches  contrary 
to  the  Scripture.  x,Cor-  X4> 

7.  Order  requires  that  a  Member33' 
thus  removing,  have  Letters  Teftimo- 
nial  and  of  Difmiflion  from  the  Church,  Aft.  18.27, 
whereof  he  yet  is  -,  unto  the  Church 
whereunto  he  defireth  to  be  joined, 
left  the  Church  fhould  be  deluded  -, 
that  the  Church  may  receive  him  in 
Faith,  and'not  be  corrupted  in  recei- 
ving Deceivers,and  falfe  Brethren.  Un- 
til the  Perfon  difmifled  be  received  in- 
to another'Church,  he  ceafeth  not  by 
his  Letters  of  Difmiflion  to  be  a  Mem- 
ber of  the  Church  whereof  he  was. 
The  Church  cannot  make  a  Member, 
no  Member ,but  by  Excommunication. 

8.  If  a  Member  be  called  to  remove 
only  for  a  time,  where  a  Church  is, 
Letters  of  Recommendation  are  re- 
quifite  and  fufficient  for  Communion 
with  that  Church,  in  the  Ordinances, 
and  in  their  Watch ;  as  Phxbe  a  Ser- 
vant of  the  Church  at  Cenchrea,  had  a 
Letter  written  for  her  to  the  Church 
at  Rome,  that  fhe  might  be  received  as 
becometh  Saints. 

9.  Such  Letters  of  Recommendation 
and  Difniflion,were  written  for  Apol/os,  Act.  18.27 
for  Marcus  to  the  ColoJJians,  for  Pb#be  c°l-  4-  I0- 
to  theRmansfor  fundry  other  Churches.  ?^;xf 
And  the  Apoftle  tells  us  that  fome  Per- 
fons,  not  fufficiently  known  otherwifej 

5  E  have 


RO.ltf.  1,2. 

2  Cor.  3. 1. 


Cor.3.5. 


34 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.      Book  V. 


have  fpecial  need  of  fuch  Letters,  tho' 
he,  for  his  part,  had  no  need  thereof. 
The  life  of  them  is  to  be  a  Benefit  and 
Help  to  the  Party  for  whom  they  are 
written,  and  for  the  furthering  of  his 


receiving  among  the  Saints,  in  the 
place  whereto  he  goeth,  and  the  due 
Satisfa&ion  of  them  in  their  receiving 
of  him. 


CHAP.    XIV. 
Of  Excommunication  and  other  Cenfures. 


iTim.f.io 


i.'T^HE  Cenfures  of  the  Church  are 
X    appointed  by  Chrift.for  the  Pre- 
Jude  19.    venting,  Removing  and  Healing  of  Of- 
7^'r?j.".  fences  in  tne  Church  ^  for  the  Reclaim- 
Kom.i.24.  ing  and  Gaining  of  offending  Brethren, 
Rev.  2. 14,  for  the  deterring  others  from  the  like 
1  j,  16, 20.  Offences,   for  purging  out  the  Leaven, 
which  may  infecf  the  whole  Lump  ; 
for  vindicating  the  Honour  of  Chrift 
and  of  his  Church,  and  the  Holy  Pro- 
feflion   of   the  Gofpel  -,   and  for  pre- 
venting of  the  Wrath  of  God,  that 
may  juftly  fall  upon  the  Church,  if 
they  fhould  fuffer  his  Covenant,    and 
the  Seals  thereof  to  be  profaned  by 
notorious  and  obff  inate  Offenders. 
Matth.  y.      2.  If  an  Offence  be  private  (one 
*3>.a*      Brother  offending  another)    the  Offen- 
Luke  17.    ^er  js  tQ  gQ  an(j  acknowiedge  his  Re- 
pentance for  it  unto  his  offended  Bro- 
ther, who  is  then  to  forgive  him  ;  but 
if  the  Offender  neglecf  or  refufe  to  do 
Mat  18  if  **>  the  Brother  offended  is  to  go,  and 
convince  and  admonifh  bim  of  it,   be- 
tween themfelves  privately :  If  there- 
fore the  Offender  be  brought  to  repent 
of  his  Offence,   the  Admonifher  has 
won  his  Brother  h  but  if  the  Offender 
hear  not  his  Brother,  the  Brother  of 
Verfe  \6.  fended  is  to  take  with  him  one  or  two 
more,  that  in  the  Mouth  of  two  or 
three  Witneffes  every  Word  may  be 
eftablifhed,    (whether  the  Word  of 
Admonition,    if  the  Offender  receive 
it  z,  or  the  Word  of  Complaint  if  he 
Verfe  17.   refufe  it)  for  if  he  refufe  it,    the  of- 
fended Brother  is  by  the  Mouth  of  the 
Elders  to  tell  the  Church,  and  if  he 
hear  the  Church,  and  declare  the  fame 
by  penitent  ConfefTion,  he  is  recovered 
and  gained  :  And  if  the  Church  dif- 
cern  him  to  be  willing  to  hear,   yet 
not  fully  convinced  of  his  Offence,  as 
in  cafe  of  Herefie,  they  are  to  diipence 
to  him  a  publick  Admonition ;  which 
declaring  the  Offender  to  lye  under 
the  publick  Offence  of    the  Church, 
doth    thereby    withhold  or    fufpend 
him  from  the  Holy  Fellowfhip  of  the 
Lord's  Supper,  till  his  Offence  be  re- 
moved by  penitent  ConfefTion.    If  he 
ftiil  continue  obftinate,  they  are  to  call 
him  out  by  Excommunication. 

3.  But  if  the  Offence  be  more  pub- 
lick at  firft,  and  of  a  more  hainous 


and  criminal  Nature,  to  wit,  fuch  as  1  Cor:  '{• 
are  condemned  by  the  Light  of  Nature  •,  4, 8,  «• 
then  the  Church  without  fuch  gradual 
Proceeding,  is  to  caft  out  the  Offen- 
der from  their  Holy  Communion,  for 
the  further  mortifying  of  his  Sin,  and 
the  healing  of  his  Soul  in  the  Day  of 
the  Lord  Jefus. 

4.  In  dealing  with  an  Offender, 
great  Care  is  to  be  taken,  that  we  be 
neither  over-frricf  or  rigorous,  nor  too 
indulgent  or  remifs  :  Our  Proceeding 
herein  ought  to  be  with  a  Spirit  of 
Meeknefs,  confidering  our  felves,   left 

we  alfo  be  tempted,  and  that  the  beft        6'  '' 
of  us  have  need  of  much  Forgivenefs  Matth.  it. 
from  the  Lord.    Yet  the  winning  and  34,  31- 
healing  of  the  Offender's  Soul  being Ezek* I5> 
the  end  of  thefe  Endeavours ;  we  rrruft 
not   daub  with  untempered  Morter, 
flor  heal  the  Wounds  of  our  Bretheren 
flightly.    On  fome  have  Companion, 
others  fave  with  Fear. 

5.  While  the  Offender  remains  Ex- 
communicate, the  Church  is  to  refrain  Mat.  18.17 
from    all   Member  like    Communion  iCor.j.n, 
with  him  in  Spiritual  Things,  and  al-  *  Thef*  3° 
fo  from  all  familiar  Communion  wirh  1 14° 
him  in  civil  Things,    farther  than  the 
neceflity  of  Natural  or  Domeftical  or 

Civil  Relations  do  require  ;  and  are 
therefore  to  forbear  to  eat  and  drink 
with  him,  that  he  may  be  afhamed. 

6.  Excommunication  being  a  Spiri- 
tual Punifhment,  it  doth  not  prejudice 
the  Excommunicate  in,  or  deprive  him 
of  his  Civil  Rights,and  therefore  touch- 
eth  not  Princes  or  Magiftrates  in  refpecl: 

of  their  Civil  Dignity  or  Authority  -,  l  cor<  I4; 
and  the  Excommunicate  being  but  as  a  24,  ij. 
Publican,   and  a  Heathen,  Heathens  2  Thef.  3. 
being  lawfully  permitted  to  hear  the  14- 
Word  in  Church- AfTemblies, we  acknow- 
ledge therefore  the  like  Liberty  of  hear- 
ing the  Word,   may  be  permitted  to 
Perfons  excommunicate,  that  is  permit- 
ted unto  Heathen.  And  becaufe  we  are 
not  without  hope  of  his  Recovery,  we 
are  not  to  account  him  as  an  Enemy,  but 
to  admonifh  him  as  a  Brother. 

7.  If  the  Lord  fan£Hfie  the  Cenfure 
to  the  Offender,  fo  as  by  the  Grace  of 
Chrift  he  doth  teftifie  his  Repentance 
with  humble  ConfefTion  of  his  Sin,  and 
judging  of  himfelf,  giving  Glory  unto 

God, 


Book  V.         The  Hifiorj  of  New-England. 


35 


IJ,   10. 


zCor.z.7,8God,  the  Church  is  then  to  forgive 
him,and  to  comfort  him,and  to  reitore 
him  to  the  wonted  Brotherly  Communi- 
on, which  formerly  he  enjoyed  with  'em. 

8.  Thefuffering  of  prophane  or  fcan- 
dalous  Livers,  to  continue  in  Fellow- 
fhip,  and  partake  in  the  Sacraments,  is 

Rev.  1. 14,  doubtlefs  a  great  Sin  in  thofe  that  have 

power  in  their  Hands  to  redrefsit,  and 

do  it  not :  Neverthelefs,   infomuch  as 

Chriff,  and  his  Apoltles  in  their  times, 

and  the  Prophets  and  other  godly  Men  in 

tf&A.v  theirs,  ^id  13Wft>Uy  partake  of  the 

Aft.  j.'x."  Lord's  commanded  Ordinances  in  the 

Jewifh  Church,  and  neither  taught  nor 

pracf  ifed  feparation  from  the  fame,tho' 

unworthy  ones  were  permitted  therein  : 

and  inafmuch  as  the  Faithful  in  the 

Church  of  Corinth,  wherein  were  many 

i  Cor.  6.  unworthy  Perfons  and   Pra&ices  ,  are 

8c  15. iz.  never  commanded  to  abfent  themfelves 

from  the  Sacraments,  becaufe  of  the 

fame  -,  therefore  the  Godly ,    in  like 

Cafes,  are  not  to  feparate. 

9.  As  feparation  from  fuch  a  Church 
wherein  profane  and  fcandalous  Per- 
fons are  tollerated,  is  not  prefently  He- 
ceffary  ;  fo  for  the  Members  thereof, 
otherwife  unworthy,  hereupon  to  ab- 


ftain  from  communicating  with  fuch  zChr.30.18 
a  Church  in  the  Participation  of  theGen,l8,J* 
Srcraments,  is  unlawful.  For  as  it 
were  unreafonable  for  an  innocent  Per- 
fon  to  be  punifhed  for  the  Faults  of 
others,  wherein  he  hath  no  hand,  and 
whereunto  he  gave  no  Confent :  So  is 
it  more  unreafonable,  that  a  Godly 
Man  fhould  neglect  Duty,  and  punifh 
himfelf,  in  not  coming  for  his  Portion 
in  the  Bleffingof  the  Seals,  as  he  ought, 
becaufe  others  are  fuffered  to  come  that 
ought  not  •,  efpecially  confidering  that 
himfelf  doth  neither  confent  to  their 
fin,  nor  to  their  approaching  to  the 
Ordinance  in  their  fin,  nor  to  the  neg- 
lect of  others,  who  fhould  put  them 
away,  and  do  not,  but,  on  the  contrary, 
doth  heartily  mourn  for  thefe  things, 
modeftly  and  feafonably  ftir  up  others  E  *' 4" 
to  do  their  Duty.  If  the  Church 
cannot  be  reformed ,  they  may  ufe 
their  Liberty,  as  is  fpecified,  Chap.  13. 
Se8.$.  But  this  all  the  Godly  are  bound 
unto,  even  every  one  to  his  endeavour, 
according  to  his  Power  and  Place,  that 
the  Unworthy  may  be  duly  proceeded 
againit  by  the  Church,  to  whom  this 
Matter  doth  pertain. 


CHAP.    XV. 

Of  the  Communion  of  Churches  one  with  another. 


Ltho'  Churches  be  diifin£t,  and 
therefore  may  not  be  confounded 
Rev.  1.  4.  one  with  another,and  equal,  and  there- 
in1" 6  16  ^ore  ^ave  noX-dominion  one  over  another: 
i°Cor.  16.  Yet  all  the  Churches  ought  to  preferve 
13.  Church-Communion  one  with  another, 

A&i*.  25.  becaufe  they  are  all  united  unto  Chrift, 
Kev.  z.  1.  nQt  onjy  as  a  Myftical,but  as  a  Political 
Head  :    Whence  is  derived  a  Commu- 
nion fuitable  thereunto. 

2.  The  Communion  of  Churches  is  ex- 
ercis'd  feveral  ways.     1.  By  of  mutual 
Cant.  8.  8.  Care  in  taking  thought  for  one  another's 
Welfare.  2 .  By  way  of  Confutation  one 
with  another,when  we  have  occafion  to 
require  the  Judgment  and  Counfel  of 
other  Churches,  touching  any  Perfon  or 
Caufe,  wherewith  they  may  be  better 
acquainted  than  our  felves.     As  the 
•  Adts  15.  z.  Church  of  Antioch  confulted  with  the 
Apoftles  and  Elders  of  the  Church  at 
Jerufalem,  about  the  Queftion  of  Cir- 
cumcifion  of  the  Gentiles,and  about  the 
falfe  Teachers  that  broached  that  Doft ■ 
rine.  In  which  Cafe  when  any  Church 
wanteth  Light  or  Peace  among  them- 
felves, it  is  a  way  of  Communion  of 
Churches,  according  to  the  Word,  to 
meet  together  by  their  Elders  and  other 
Ver.z1.23.  MelTengersin  a  Synod,  to  confider  and 
argue  the  point  in  Doubt  or  Difference : 


And  having  found  out  the  way  of  Truth 
and   Peace  to  commend  the  fame  by 
their   Letters  and  Meffengers  to  the 
Churches,  whom  the  fame  may  concern. 
But  if  a  Church  be  rent  with  Divifions 
among  themfelves ;  or  lye  under  any 
open  Scandal,  and  yet  refufe  to  confult 
with  other  Churches,  for  healing  or  re- 
moving of  the  fame,  it  is  matter  of  juft 
Offence  both  to  the  Lord  Jefus,  and  to 
other  Churches,  as  bewraying  too  much  Ezek  34. 4; 
want  of  Mercy  and  Faithfulneis,  not 
to  feek  to  bind  up  the  Breaches  and 
Wounds  of  the  Church  and  Bretheren : 
And  therefore   the  State  of  fuch  a 
Church  calleth  aloud  upon  other  Chur- 
ches, to  exercife  a  fuller  Aft  of  Bro- 
therly Communion,  to  wit,  by  way  of 
Admonition.    3.  A  way,  then,  of  Com- 
munion of  Churches  is  by  way  of  Ad- 
monition -,  to  wit,  in  cafe  any  publick 
Offence  be  found  in  a  Church,    which 
they  either  difcern  not,  or  are  flow  in 
proceeding  to  ufe  the  Means  for  the 
removing  and  healing  of.     Paul  had 
no    Authority  over  Peter,  yet  whenGaIlII 
he  faw  Peter  not  walking  with  a  right  t0  14.' 
Foot,  he  publickly  rebuked  him  before 
the  Church. 

Tho'  Churches  have  no  more  Au- 
thority one  over  another,  than  one  A- 
5  E  2  poftle 


^ 


The  Hifioty  of  Nevv-Fngland.      Book  V. 


Matth 
if,  16,17 

by  propor- 
tion. 


poftle  had  over  another,  yet  as  one 
Apoifle  might  admonifh  another,  fo 
may  one  Church  admonifh  another,  and 
yet  without  Ufurpation.  In  which 
s.  call*,  if  the  Church,  that  lieth  under 
Offence,  do  not  hearken  to  the  Church 
that  doth  admonith  her,  the  Church  is 
to  acquaint  other  neighbour  Churches, 
with  that  Offence,  which  the  offending 
Church  (till  lieth  under,  together  with 
the  negleft  of  their  Brotherly  Admo- 
i/nion  given  unto  them  :  Whereupon 
thofe  other  Churches  are  to  join  in  fe- 
conding  the  Admonition  formerly  gi- 
ven 5  and  if  (till  the  offending  Church 
continue  in  Obftinacy  and  Impenitency, 
they  may  forbear  Communion  with 
them,  and  are  to  proceed  to  make  ufe 
oi  the  help  of  a  Synod,  or  Counfei  of 
neighbour  Churches,  walking  orderly 
(  if  a  greater  cannot  conveniently  be 
had  )  for  their  Convicfion.  If  they 
hear  not  the  Synod,  the  Synod  having 
declared  them  to  be  Obftinate, particu- 
lar Churches  accepting  and  approving 
of  the  Judgment  of  the  Synod,  are  to 
declare  the  Sentence  of  Non-Communion 
refpe&ively  concerning  them :  And 
thereupon  out  of  religious  Care  to  keep 
their  own  Communion  pure,  they  may 
jufrly  withdraw  themfelves  from  par- 
ticipation with  them  at  the  Lord's-Ta- 
ble,  and  from  fuch  other  Acf  s  of  Holy 
Communion,  as  the  Communion  of 
Churches  doth  otherwife  allow  and 
require.  Neverthelefs,  if  any  Members 
of  fuch  a  Church,  as  live  under  pub- 
lick  Offence  do  not  confent  to  the  Of- 
fence of  thcChurch,  but  do  in  due  fort 
Gen.18.2?.  bear  Witnefsagainft  it,  they  are  ftill  to 
be  received  to  wonted  Communion,  for 
it  is  not  equal  that  the  Innocent  fhould 
fuffer  with  the  Offenfive.  Yea,  fur- 
thermore, if  fuch  innocent  Members, 
after  due  waiting  in  the  ufe  of  all  due 
means  for  the  healing  of  the  Offence 
of  their  own  Church,  fhall  at  laft  (with 
the  Allowance  of  the  Counfei  of  Neigh- 
bour ■  Churches )  withdraw  from  the 
Fellowfhip  of  their  own  Church,  and 
offer  themfelves  to  the  Fellowfhip  of 
another,  we  judge  it  lawful  for  the  o- 
ther  Church  to  receive  them  (  being 
otherwife  fit)  as  if  they  had  been  or- 
derly difmifled  to  them  from  their  own 
Church.  4.  A  fourth  way  of  Commu- 
nion with  Churches  is  by  way  of  parti- 
cipation ;  the  Members  of  one  Church 
occafionally  coming  to  another,  we 
willingly  admit  them  to  partake  with 
them  at  the  Lord's-Table,  it  being  the 
5  Cor.  ii.  Seal  of  our  Communion  not  only  with 
**•  Chrift,  nor  only  with  the  Members  of 


our  own  Church,  but  alfo  of  all  the 
Churches  of  the  Saints  :  In  which  re- 
gard we  refufe  not  to  Baptize  their 
Children  prefented  to  us,  if  either  their 
own  Minifter  be  abfent,  or  fuch  a  fruit 
of  holy  Fellowfhip  be  defired  with  us. 
In  like  cafes  fuch  Churches  as  are  fur- 
nifhed  with  more  Minifters  than  one, 
do  willingly  afford  one  of  their  own 
Miniffers  to  fupply  theabfence  or  place 
of  a  lick  Minifter  of  another  Church 
for  a  needful  feafon.    5.  A  fifth  way 
of  Church  Communion  is  by  Recommen-  Rora.itf.i; 
dation,when  the  Member  of  one  Church 
hath    occafion  to  refide  in  another 
Church,  if  but  for  a  feafon,  we  com- 
mend him  to  their  watchful  Fellow- 
fhip by  Letters  of  Recommendation  : 
But  if  he  be  called  to  fettle  his  Abode 
there,  we  commit  him  according  to  his 
Defire  to  the  Fellowfhip  of  their  Co- 
venant by  Letters  of  Difmiffion.    6.  A 
fixth  way  of  Church  Communion,  is  in  A(ftsi8.27„ 
cafe  of  need  to  minifter  Succour  one 
unto  another,  either  of  able  Members  Aftsnaz. 
to  furnifh  them  with  Officers,  or  of 
outward  Support  to  the  Necefhties  of  Verfe  15.; 
of  poorer  Churches,  as  did  the  Churches 
of  the  Gentiles  contribute  liberally  to  Rom.  if. 
the  poor  Saints  at  Jerufalem.  16, 27. 

3.  When  a  Company  of  Believers 
purpofe  to  gather  into  Church-Fellow- 
fhip,  it  is  requifite  for  their  fafer 
proceeding  and  the  mentioning  of  the 
Communion  of  Churches,  that  they  fig- 
nifie  their  fntent  unto  the  Neighbour- 
Churches,  walking  according  to  the 
Order  of  the  Goipel,  and  defire  their 
Prefence,  and  Help,  and  right-hand  of  ^aI-  2,I>** 
Fellowlhip  5  which  they  ought  readily  yy  9p'r^or. 
to  give  unto  them,  when  there  is  no  Hon. 

juft  caufe  to  except  againlt  their  Pro- 
ceedings. 

4.  Befides  thefe  feveral  ways  of 
Communion,  there  is  alfo  a  way  of 
Propagation  of  Churches  :  When  a 
Church  fhall  grow  too  Numerous,  it  is 
a  way,  and  fit  feafon  to  propagate  one 
Church  out  of  another ,  by  fending 
forth  fuch  of  their  Members,  as  are 
willing  to  remove,  and  to  procure  fome  . 
Officers  to  them,  as  may  enter  with  q^s  1°' 
them  into  Church-Eftate  among  them- 
felves. 

As  Bees,  when  the  Hive  is  too  full, 
iffue  out  by  Swarms,  and  are  gathered 
into  other  Hives,  fo  the  Churches  of 
Chrift  may  do  the  fame  upon  the  lifre 
Neceflity;  and  therein  hold  forth  to 
them  the  Right-hand  of  Fellowfhip, 
both  in  their  Gathering  into  a  Church 
and  in  the  Ordination  of  their  Of- 
ficers. 


CHAP. 


jfook  V.       The  Hiftorj  of  New-England. 


37 


CHAP.    XVI. 
Of  Synods. 


A<3s  if. 2, 
to  If. 


Afts  if. 

Verfe  6. 
Ver.  7,  to 

Verfe  3 1. 

Atts  1^. 
4,  I*- 


2  Chron. 
to  II. 


Ads  if. 


Ads  if. 
*,  *>  6,  7. 

1  Chron. 
if.  ij. 

2  Chron. 
z<>-  6,  7. 
Ads  if. 
24,18,2?. 


SYnods  orderly  aiTembled,  and  right- 
ly proceeding  according  to  thePat-g 
tern,  Affs  1 5.  we  acknowledge  as  the?1 
Ordinance  of  Chrift :  And  tho'  not, 
abiblutely  necelTary  to  the  Being,  yet 
many  times,  thro'  the  Iniquity  of  Men, 
and  Perverfnefs  of  Times,  necelTary  to 
the  well-being  of  Churches  ,  for  the 
eftablifhment  of  Truth  and  Peace 
therein. 

2.  Synods  being  Spiritual  and  Eccle- 
fiaftical  AiTemblies,  are  therefore  made 
up  of  Spiritual  andEcclefiaftical  Caufes. 
The  next  efficient  cauie  of  them  under 
Chrift,  is  the  Power  of  the  Churches 
fending  forth  their  Elders  and  other 
MeiTengers,  who  being  met  together 
in  the  Name  of  Chrift,  are  the  Matter 
of  a  Synod  ;  and  they  in  arguing  and 
debating  and  determining  Matters  of 
Religion,  according  to  the  Word  and 
Publifhing  the  fame  to  the  Churches 
it  concerneth,  do  put  forth  the  pro- 
per and  formal  A£ls  of  a  Synod,  to 
the  Conviction  and  Errors,  and  Here- 
fies,  and  the  Eftablifhment  of  Truth 
and  Peace  in  the  Churches,  which  is 
the  End  of  a  Synod. 
(  3.  Magiftrates  have  Power  to  call 
a  Synod,  by  calling  to  the  Churches 
to  fend  forth  their  Elders  and  other 
MeiTengers  to  counfel  and  affift  them 
in  Matters  of  Religion  ■,  but  yet  the 
conftituting  of  a  Synod  is  a  Church- 
Acf,  and  may  be  tranfacfed  by  the 
Churches,  even  when  civil  Magiftrates 
may  be  Enemies  to  Churches  and  to 
Church-AiTemblies. 

4.  It  belongeth  unto  Synods  and 
Councils  to  debate  and  determine  Con- 
troverfies  of  Faith,  and  Cafes  of  Con- 
fcience :  to  clear  from  the  Word  ho- 
ly Directions,  for  the  holy  Worfbip  of 
God  and  good  Government  of  the 
Church :  To  bear  Witnefs  againft  Mal- 
Adminiftration  and  Corruption  in  Do- 


ctrine or  Manners,  in  any  particular 
Church ;  and  to  give  Directions  for 
the  Reformation  thereof :  Not  to  ex- 
ercife  Church-Cenfures  in  way  of  Dif- 
cipline,  nor  any  other  A£l:  of  Church- 
Authority  or  Jutifdiction,  which  that 
Prefidential  Synod  did  forbear. 

5.  The  Synods  Directions  and  De- 
terminations, fo  far  as  confonant  to 
the  Word  of  God,  are  to  be  received 
with  Reverence  and  Submiffion  ;  not 

only  for  their  Agreement  therewith  ^  , 
(  which  is  the  principal  ground  there- 
of, and  without  which  they  bind  not 
at  all)  but  alfo  fecondarily,  for  the 
Power,  whereby  they  are  made,  as  be- 
ing an  Ordinance  of  God  appointed 
thereunto  in  his  Word. 

6.  Becaufe  it  is  difficult,  if  not  im- 
poffible  for  many  Churches  to  come 
together  in  one  Place,in  their  Members 
univerfally  ;  therefore  they  may  af- 
lemble  by  their  Delegates  or  MeiTen- 
gers, as  the  Church  at  Antioch  went 

not  all  to  Jerujalem,  but  fome  lelecf  a&s  if. ; 
Men  for  that  purpofe.  Becaufe  none 
are,  or  fhould  be  more  fit  to  know 
the  ftate  of  the  Churches,  nor  to  ad- 
vile  of  ways  for  rhe  Good  thereof, 
than  Elders  :  Therefore  it  is  fit,  that 
in  the  choice  of  the  MeiTengers  for 
fuch  AiTemblies,  they  have  fpecial  re- 
Ipecf  unto  fuch :  Yet,  inafmuch,  as  not 
only  Paul  and  Barnabas,  but  certain  A<5b  if. j 
others  alfo ,  were  fent  to  Jerujalem  22,  2j. 
from  Antioch,  Atts  15.  and  when  they 
were  come  to  Jerujalem,  not  only  the 
Apoftles  and  Elders,  but  other  Bre- 
theren ,  alfo  do  alienable  and  meet 
about  the  Matter:  Therefore  Synods 
are  ro  confift  both  of  Elders  and  other 
Church-Members,  endued  with  Gifts, 
and  fent  by  the  Churches,  not  exclu- 
ding the  Prefence  of  any  Bretheren  in 
the  Churches. 


CHAP.    XVII. 
Of  the  Civil  Magiftrates  Power  in  Matters  Ecckjiaftical. 


r 


[T  is  lawful,  profitable  and  necelTary 
for  Chriftians  to  gather  themfelves 
together  into  Church-Eftate,  and  There- 
in to  exercife  all  the  Ordinances  of 
47.&4?1'  Chrift,  according  unto  the  Word,  al- 
tho'  the  content  of  the  Magiftiate 
could  not  be  had  thereunto  •,  becaufe 
the  Apoftles  and  Chriftians  in  their 
time ,  did    frequently  thus  practife, 


Ads 


Ia2, 


when  the  Magiftrates  being  all  of  them 
Jew'ijb  and  Pagan,  and  moft  perfec- 
ting Enemies,  would  give  'no  counte- 
nance or  confent  to  fuch  Matters. 

2.  Church-Government  ftands  in  no 
Opposition  to  Civil  Government  of 
Commonwealths,  nor  any  way  in- 
trencheth  upon  the  Authority  of  Civil 
Magiftrates  in  their  Jurifdictions  ■■>  nor 

any 


38 


The  Hijlory  of  New-England.       Book  V. 


any  whit  weakneth  their  Hands  in  go- 
verning, but  rather  ftrengtheneth  them, 
and  furthereth   the  People  in  yielding 
more   hearty  and  confcionable  Obedi- 
ence to  them  ,  whatfoever  fome  ill- 
affected  Perfons  to  the  ways  of  Chrift 
have  fuggefted,  to  alienate  the  Aftefti- 
ons  of  "Kings  and  Princes  from  the  Or- 
dinances of  Chrift-,  as  if  the  Kingdom 
of  Chriit  in  his  Church,  could  not 
rii^  c:nd  ftand,  without  the  falling  and 
weakening  of  their  Government,  which 
Ha.  49. 23.  is  alio  of  Chrift  :  Whereas  the  con- 
trary is  moft  true,  that  they  may  both 
ftand  together  and  flourifh,  the  one 
being  helpful  unto  the  other,  in  their 
diftinct:  and  due  Adminiftrations. 
3.    The   Power  and    Authority  of 
Rom.  134- Magiftrates  is  not  for  the  reftraining 
1  Tim.1.2.  Of(jhurches,or  any  other  good  Works, 
-but  for    helping    in    and   furtheting 
thereof;  and  therefore  the  confent  and 
countenance  of  Magiftrates,  when  it 


of  the  Subject:  in    Matters  of  Righte- 
oufnefs  and  Honefty,  but  alfo  in  Mat-  1  Tim.  z. 
ters  ofGodlinefs,  yea,  ofallGodlinefs.  x>z- 
Mofes,   Jojhua,  David,  Solomon,  A/a  lKl£f-  J*; 
Jebojhaphat,  Hezekiab     Jofiah\  are  ^         ' 
much  commended  by  the  Holy  Ghoft,'  zKin.  it.^ 
for  the  putting  forth  their  Authority  &  h-  4- 
in  Matters  of  Religion:  On  the  con-&  I5'if' 
trary,  fuch  Kings  as  have  been  failing 
this  way,  are  frequently  taxed  and  re- 1  Kin« 
proved  by  the  Lord.     And  not  only  20.  J?. 
the  Kings  of  Juda,  but  alfo  Job,  Ne-  Job  *?-2f." 
bemidh,  the  King  of  Nineveh,  Darius,  ^ *•  z6> 
Artaxerxcs,    Nebuchadnezzar,  whom  Neh  r? 
none  looked  at,  as  Types  of  Chrift,  Jonah  j.7: 
( tho3  were  it  fo,   there  were  no  place  Ezra  7- 
for  any  juft  Objection  )  are  commended  Dan<  1,Z9' 
in  the  Books  of  God,  for  exercifing 
their  Authority  this  way. 

7.  The  Objefts  of  the  Power  of  the 
Magiftrate  are  not  things  meerly  in- 
ward, and  fo  not  fubjecf  to  his  cog- 
nizance   and    view  ,     as    Unbelief, 


may  be  had,  is  not  to  be  flighted,  or  hardnefs  of  Heart,  erroneous  Opinions 


Ezek.44 

7,9- 


lightly  efteemed :  But,  on  the  con 
trary,  it  is  part  of  that  Honour  due 
to  Chriftian  Magiftrates,  to  defire  and 
crave  their  Confent  and  Approbation 
therein  •,  which  being  obtained ,  the 
Churches  may  then  proceed  in  their 
way,  with  much  more  Encouragement 
and  Comfott. 

4.  It  is  not  in  the  Power  of  Magi- 
ftrates to  compel  their  Subjects  to  be- 
come Church-Members,and  to  partake 
of  the  Lord's  Supper ;  for  the  Priefts 
are  reproved,  that  brought  unworthy 
iCor.j.n. Onesinto  the  SanQuary  :  Then  it  was 
unlawful  for  the  Priefts,  fo  it  is  as  un- 
lawful tobedone  by  Civil  Magifl rates, 
thole  whom  the  Church  is  to  caft  out, 
if  they  were  in,  the  Magiftrate  ought 
not  to  thruft  them  into  the  Church, 
nor  to  hold  them  therein. 

5.  As  it  is  unlawful  for  Church- 
Officcis  to  meddle  with  the  Sword  of 
the  Magiftrate ,  fo  it  is  unlawful  for 
the  Magiftrate  to  meddle  with  the 
Work  proper  to  Church-Officers.  The 
Acts  of  Mofcs  and  David,  who  were 
not  only  Princes  but  Prophets,  were 
extraordinary,  therefore  not  imitable. 
Againft  fuch  Ufurpation  the  Lord  wit- 

■  nefled  by  fmiting  Uzziah  with  Lepro- 
fie,  for  prefuming  to  offer  Incenfe. 

6.  It  is  the  Duty  of  the  Magiftrate 
to  take  care  of  Matters  of  Religion, 
and  to  improve  his  civil  Authority  for 
the  obferving  of  the  Duties  command- 
ed in  the  firft,  as  well  as  for  obferving 
of  the  Duties   commanded  in  the  fe- 

cond    Table.    They  are  called  Gods. 
PfM.88.  S.The  End  of  the  Magiftrates  office  is 

not  only  the  quiet  and  peaceable  Life 


Matth. 

25,  z6. 


2  Chrcn. 
16.  16,  17 


not  vented,  but  only  fuch  things  as 
are  a£ted  by  the  outward  Man  :  Nei- 
ther their  Power  to  be  exercifed  in 
commanding  fuch  acts  of  the  outward 
Man,and  punifhing  the  neglecf  thereof, 
as  are  but  meer  Inventions  and  De- r  K^ 
vices  of  Men,  but  about  fuch  a&s  as 20*  i8'4*° 
are  commanded  and  forbidden  in  the 
Word  :  Yea,  fuch  as  the  Word  doth 
clearly  determine,  tho'  not  always 
clearly  to  the  Judgment  of  the  Ma- 
giftrate or  others,  yet  clearly  in  its 
felf.  In  thefe  he,  of  Right,  ought  to 
put  forth  his  Authority,  tho'  oft-times 
actually  he  doth  it  not. 

8.  Idolatry,   Blafphemy ,    Herefie,  Deut.  ij. 
venting  corrupt  and  pernicious  Opi- r  Kings 
nions,  that    deftroy  the  Foundation,  ff'18,'42' 
open  contempt  of  the  Word  preached,  Zechfi^fi 
prophanation  of  the  Lord's-Day,  di-Neh.i3.j1: 
Ifurbing  the  peaceable  Adminiftration 

and  Exercife  of  the  Worfhip  and  Holy  x  Tim.2.2. 
Things  of  God,  and  the  like,  are  to  be  Rom-IJ-4- 
reftrained  and  punifhed  by  Civil  Au- 
thority. 

9.  If  any  Church,  one  or  more,  fhall 
grow  Schifmatical,rending  it  felf,  from 
the  Communion  of  other  Churches,  or 
fhall  walk  incorrigibly  and  obftinately 
in  any  corrupt  way  of  their  own,  con- 
trary to  the  Rule   of  the  Word  ;  in 

fuch  cafe  the  Magiftrate  ,  is  to  put  Jofli.  22. 
forth  his  coercive  Power,  as  the  Mat- 
ter fhall  require.  The  Tribes  on  this 
fide  Jordan  intended  to  make  War  a- 
gainft  the  other  Tribes,  for  building 
the  Altar  of  Witnefs,  whom  they 
fufpe£ted  to  have  turned  away  therein, 
from  following  of  the  Lord. 


FINIS. 


Book  V. 


39 


Hiftorical  Remarks 


UPON    THE 


DISCIPLINE 


Pra&ifed  in  the 


Cfmtcl)e0  of  j£eto=€nslattuu 


vv 


^  I.  "W"  'W  7  Hen  the  Platform  of  Church- 
Difcipline  had  been  pre- 
fented.  by  the  Synod  unto 
the  General  Court  which 
called  it,  feveral  Perfons  ftom  feveral  Churches 
gave  into  the  Court  fome  Ob/effions  againft  fun- 
dry  Paflages  and  Paragraphs  of  this  Platform. 
The  Secretary  did,  by  Order,  lay  thefe  written 
Objections,  before  the  Chief  and  moft  of  the 
Minifters  in  the  CO  LONT,  who  appointed 
Mr,  Richard  Mather  to  draw  up  an  Anfwer  to 
them  :  The  Anfwer  by  him  compofedj  and  by 
the  Reft  approved  was  given  in  •,  and  the  Refult 
of  all  was,  that  the  Ecclefiaftical  Model  thus 
fortified ,  obtained  a  more  abundant  Recom- 
mendation unto  and  among  this  People  of  God. 
The  Churches  have  cheerfully  embraced  it, 
pra&ifed  it,  and  been  profpered  in  it,  unto  this 
very  Day.  And  fome  have  imagined  that  there 
has  been  herein  fulfilled  the  Obfervation,  if  not 
Infpirationofihe  Holy  Brigbtman  (in  Apoc.17.3.) 
That  fome  Faithful  People  in  a  wildernefs  fhould 
have  the  mofi  clear  Difcoveries  of  the  Abomina- 
tions of  the  Man  of  Sin. 

§  2.  More  than  thirty  Years  after  this,  there 
was  a  Synod  of  all  the  Churches  in  the  Colony, 
aflembled  at  Bofion,  wherein  a  Vote  was  pro 
pounded,  Whether  the  Platform  of  Church- 
Difcipline  mere  approved  by  that  Affembly?  Upon 
which  both  the£.'A/t>\rand  £r^/-£//,unanimoufly 
lifted  up  their  Hands  in  the  Affirmative,  in  the 
Negative  not  one  appearing.  The  Vote  was  pafled 
in  thefe  Words. 

1  A  Synod  of  the  Churches  in  the  Colony  of 
c  the  Mafjachufets  being  called  by  the  honour'd 
s  General  Court,  to  convene  at  Bofion,  the  10th 
I  of  September,  1679.  having  read  and  confider- 

*  ed  the  Platform  of  Church-Difcipline,  agreed 
1  upon  by  the  Synod  aflembled  at  Cambridge, 
'  Anno  1648.  do  unanimouily  approve  of  the 
c  faid  Platform,  for  the  Subfiance  of  it ;  defiring 

*  that  the  Churches  may  continue  fteadfaft,  in 


c  the  Order  of  the  Go/pel,  according  to  what  is 
'  therein  declared  from  the  Word  of  God. 

Now  in  this  Vote  there  is  that  Claufe,  [For 
the  Subfiance  of  it]  which  muft  be  explain'd  by 
my  Acknowledgment,  That  there  are  feveral 
Circumfiantials  in  the  Platform,  which  are  difpu- 
tcd  by  many  judicious  Minifters  of  the  preient 
Generation  :  who  upon  long  Enquiry  and  Expe- 
rience think  that  in  thole  Points  the  Platform 
indeed  is  not  Subjiantial.  Reader,  We  will  for 
a  while  entertain  our  felves  with  the  Particulars. 

§  y.  It  is  very  true,  that  the  Platform  denies 
not,    the  Power  of  a  Paftor,  to  adminifter  the 
Sacraments  unto  other  Congregations  be  fides  his 
own,  upon  their  Defires  to  have  their  Necelfities 
thus  relieved  ;  by  the  fame  Token  that  in  the 
firft  Copy  of   the   Anfwer  to  the  Objections 
brought  into  the  General  Court ,    againft   the 
Platform,  there-  were  thefe  Words  inlerted,   As 
we  receive  the  Members  of  other   Churches  to 
Communion  in  our  Churches,  fo  we  know  no  jufl 
Re of  on,  why  in  the  want  or  abfence  of  the  Mini- 
Jier  of  another  Church,  we  may  not  at  their  re- 
qucfl,  adminifter  an  All  of  our  Office  unto  them, 
by  virtue  of  Church-Communion  ;  yet  the  Platform, 
in  a  Complaiiance  unto  the  many  Brethren  which 
were  otherwife  perfwaded,    afterts  not  fuch  a 
Power,  fo  fully  as  has  been  by  many  wifhed. 
The  fulleft  Words  ufed  by  the  Synod  unto  this 
purpofe  are  thofe  in  the  Second  Setlion  of  the 
fifteenth  Chapter  -,  but  they  were  not  ib  full,   as 
to  have  hitherto  encouraged  (that  I  can  learn) 
any  one  Paftor  in  the  Country  to  adminifter  the 
Supper  (tho'  fome  do  the  Baptifm)  of  our  Lord, 
in  any  other  Affembly  but  his  own  ,  only  Mr. 
Philips  the  Paftor  of  Watertown ,  did,  as  I  have 
been  inform'd,  adminifter  that,  as  well  as  the 
other  Sacrament  unto  the  Church   of  Bo/ion, 
when  Mr.  Wiljon,   the  Paftor  of  that  Church 
was  gone  for  England.    However,  as  'tis  well 
known  that  in  the  primitive  times  of  the  New- 
Teft  anient,  the  Power  of  a  ?  aft  or  to  difpence 

the 


4° 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England,       Book  V. 


the  Seals  of  the  New-Covenant,  as  well  as  to 
preach  and  blcfs  Authoritatively,  in  other  Churches, 
befides  his  own,  calling  for  it,  was  notqueftioh'd  ; 
when  fome  Difference  in  Opinion  happened  be- 
tween Anicetus,  the  Paftor  of  the  Church  at 
Rome,  and  Polycarpus,  the  Paftor  of  the  Church 
ztSmyrna,  the  latter  took  a  long  Journey,  even 
from  Symrna  unto  Rome,  to  vifit  the  former,  for 
the  better  comprehending  and  compofing  of  the 
Difference :  Anicetus  there,  to  teftifie  his  Re- 1 
fpeft  unto  Tolycarpus,  requefted  him  to  admini- 
fter  the  Eucharift  unto  that  pure  and  great 
drrarcji,  with  which  he  was  now  but  fojourning  | 
as  a  Vifitant,  and  the  Thing  was  done  by  this  ! 
excellent  Man,  of  whom  Irenms  teftifies,  That  \ 
he  always  taught  the  Churches  to  obfervc  thofe 
things  which  he  had  learned  of  the  Apojlles  -,  and 
of  whom  other  Interpreters  judge,  that,  as  he 
was  the  Scholar  of  John,  lb  he  was  the  un- 
blameable  Angel,  addreffed  by  the  Second  of 
the  Seven  Epiltles  in  Johns  Revelation.    Thus, 
in  the  primitive  Times  of  our  New-England, 
the  molt  Eminent  of  our  Divines,  acknowledged 
this  Power,    defended  it,  and  maintained  it. 
There  is  now  publiiffd,  A  Letter  of  Mr.  Richard 
Mather  unto  Mr.  Thomas  Hooker,    which  de- 
monftrates,  that  it  is  altogether  as  lawful  for  an 
Officer  of  a  Church  to  adminifter  the  Sacra- 
ments to  another  Congregation,  at  their  entrea- 
ty, as  it  would  be  to  accept  a  Member  of  ano- 
ther Congregation,  unto  an  occafional  Commu- 
nion in  the  Sacraments  with  his  own  ;  and  that 
the  Prefence  of  his  own  Church  is  not  at  all 
more  neceffary  unto  fuch  an  Adminiftration,  than 
the  Prefence  of  the  other  Congregation  would 
be  to  the  Tranlient  Communion  of  that  parti- 
cular Member.     Mr.  Norton,  in  his  Anfwer  to 
Apollonius,  affirms,  A  Paftor  may  charitably  per- 
form the  Minijierial  Alls  of  his  Office  in  another 
Church.      Mr.  Shepard,  in  the  Defence  of  the 
Nine  Pojitwns,  affirms,  (tho'  Mr.  Davenport,  in 
the  Pofitions  themfelves,  does  deny  itj  That  a 
Minifter,  occafiondly  called  thereto,  by  the  defuc 
of  the  Church,  may  lawfully  adminifter  the  Seals 
to  another  Congregation.     And  I  fuppofe  there 
are  now  few  Miniiters  in   the  Country,   bur 
what  Confent  unto  the  Words  of  Dr.  Owen. 
Altho'  we  have  no  Concernment  in  the  figment  oj 
an  indelible  Character,  accompanying  Sacred  Or- 
ders, yet  we  do  not  think  the  Paftor  al  Office  is 
fuch  a  thing,  as  a  Man  muft  leave  behind  him 
every  time  he  goes  from  Home.   For  my  own  part, 
if  I  did  not  think  my  felj  bound  to  preach  as  a 
Miniltci  authorized  in  all  Places,   and  on  ail 
Occafwns,  when  I  am  called  thereunto,  I  think 
I  fhould  never  preach more  in  this  World. 

Nor  are  there  many  that  would  withold  their 
Confent  from  the  Thoughts  of  Dr.  Goodwin  : 
An  Elder,  one  Jet  apart  for  that  Office  in  any 
Church,  is  truly  a  Minifter,  occafwnally  to  exer- 
cife  Minifterial  Ads,  as  he  is  called  thereunto. 
Every  true  Minifter,  aQually  fuch  to  his  own 
Church,  is  Medium  Applicable :  A  Means  and 
Inftrument  that  may  apply  any  Minijierial  Aff, 
out  of  his  own  Church  in  any  other  Church,  if  he 
be  called  thereunto. 


Wherefore,  for  the  fuller  Explanation  of  the 
Platform,  in  this  Article,  there  was  this  Vote 
patted,  in  a  Meeting  of  the  Neighbouring  Mi- 
niiters at  Cambridge. 

5T  Inafmuch  as  the  Paftors  of  any  Evangelical 
Churches,  are,  tho'  not  having  a  Paftoral  Charge 
of  more  than  One,  to  be  acknowledged  in  All 
of  them,  as  Ordained  Mimfters  of  our  Lord  Je- 
fus  Chrift,  and  are  a£lually  acknowledged,  as 
Preaching  in  that  Capacity,  when  they  are  oc- 
casionally put  upon  preaching  of  the  Gpipel 
abroad. 

Inafmuch  alfo  as  the  Communion  of  Churches, 
which  makes  the  Members  of  any  capable  of  ad- 
miffion  to  the  Special  Ordinances  of  the  Lord  Je- 
fus  Chrift  in  All  of  them,  doth  likewife  render 
it  reafonable,  for  the  Paftors  of  any  to  be  ca- 
pable of  adminiftring  thofe  Ordinances  in  All. 

It  is  therefore  our  Judgment,  That  the  Paftor 
of  a  Neighbouring  Church,  may,  upon  the  Rq- 
queft  of  a  deftitute  Church,  occafionally  admi- 
nifter the  Sacraments  unto  them. 

And  it  is  our  further  Judgment,  That  the  Se- 
cond Article  in  the  Fifteenth  Chapter  of  our 
Platform  of  Church-Difciplme,  is  to  be  under- 
flood  as  approving  of  it. 

Nor  is  it  unknown,  That  Eminent  Congrega- 
tional Churches,  have,  by  their  Praclice,  mani- 
fefted  themfelves  to  have  been  of  this  Judgment 
before  us. 

And  itfeems  in  the  pureft  andearlieft  of  the 
Primitive  Times  to  have  been  allowed. 

Neverthelefs,  we  think  it  convenient,  that  as 
the  deftitute  Churches  do,  by  their  Vote,  call  the 
Neighbouring  Paftors  to  that  Occafional  Service, 
before  they  attend  it,  fo  that  the  Confent  of  the 
Churches,  whereto  thofe  Paftors  belong,  be  not 
left  unconfidered  in  it. 

We  do  moreover  think,  That  nothing  fhould 
be  done  in  this  Matter,  that  may,  in  any  wife, 
obftrucf  the  Welfare  of  any  bereaved  Churches, 
in  their  fpeedy  fee  king  of  a  fettled  Supply,  for 
all  Ordinances  among  them ;  or  otherwife  inter- 
rupt and  incommode  Common  Edification. 

4.  Another  Point  in  the  Platform,  not  urriver- 
fally  received,  is,  The  diftintt  Office  of  Ruling 
Elders,  to  join  with  the  Paftors,  in  thofe  AQs 
of  Church-Rule,  which  are  dftintl  from  the  Mi- 
ni ftry  of  the  Word  and  Sacraments,  or  to  watch 
over  the  Converfation  of  the  Church-Members 
with  Authority.  There  are  fome  who  cannot 
fee  any  fuch  Officer  as  what  we  call  a  Ruling 
Elder,  directed  and  appointed  in  the  Word  of 
God;  and  the Inconveniencies,  whereuntomany 
Churches  have  been  plunged  by  Elders,  not  ox 
fuch  a  Number,  or  not  of  fuch  a  Wifdom,  as 
were  defirable,  have  much  increafed  a  Prejudice 
againft  the  Office  it  felf  ■,  be  fure,  partly  through 
a  Prejudice  againft  the  Office,  and  partly,  indeed 
chiefly,  through  a  penury  of  Men  well  qualified 
for  the  Difcharge  of  it,  as  it  has  been  heretofore 
underftood  and  applied,  Our  Churches  are  now 
generally  deftitute  of  fuch  Helps  in  Government: 
On  the  other  fide  ;  there  are  others,  who,  if 
they  asked,  What  Order  for  Lay-Elders  in  the 

Word 


Book  V.         The  Hi  ft  or y  of  New-England. 


4* 


Word  of  God?  Anfwer,  That  properly,  the 
only  hay-Elders  known  to  be;  in  any  Church, 
are  the  Cbahcellours  in  the  Church  of  England ; 
Perfons  Entrufted  with  the  Rules  of  the  Church, 
and  yet  not  Ordained  unto  any  Oifice  in  it.  But, 
that  unlefs  a  Church  have  Divers  Elders,  the 
Church-Government  mull  needs  become  either 
Prelatic  or  Popular  -,  and  that  a  Church's  need- 
ing but  one  Elder,  is  an  Opinion  contrary  not 
only  to  the  Senie  of  the  Faithful  in  all  Ages, 
but  alfo  to  the  Law  of  the  Scriptures,  where 
there  can  be  nothing  plainer,  than,  Elders,  who 
Rule  well,  and  are  war  thy  of  Double  Honour, 
though  they  do  not  labour  in  U  'ord  and  DoSr'tne  -. 
whereas,  if  there  were  any  Teaching  Elders, 
who  do  not  Labour  in  Word  and  Doilrine,  they 
would  be  fo  fir  from  loorthy  oj  Double  Ho- 
nour, that  they  would  not  be  Worthy  of  any  Ho- 
nour at  all.  Towards  the  adjuliing  of  the  Dif- 
ference, which  has  thus  been  in  the  Judgments 
of  Judicious  Men,  fome  Effays  have  been  made ; 
and  one  particularly  in  iuch  Terms  as  thefe ; 
'  Let  it  be  hrit  Recognized,  That  all  the  other 
'  Church-Officers  are  the  Ajjiftants  of  the  Paftor ; 
'  who  was  himfelf  (as  you  find,  even  about 
'  what  the  Deacon  has  now  to  do, )  entruffed 
'  with  the  Whole  care  of  all,  until  the  further 
'  Pity  and  Kindnefs  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
'  joined  other  Officers  unto  him,  for  his  AiTilf- 
'  ance  in  ir.  I  iuppofe,  none  will  be  16  abfurd 
'  as  to  Deny  This  at  leaft  ;  That  all  the  Church- 
'  Officers  ate  to  take  the  Advice  of  the  Paftor 
'  with  them.  Upon  which  I  fubjoin,  that  a 
'  Man  may  be  a  Diftintt  Officer  from  his  Paftor, 
'  and  yet  not  have  a  DiftinQ.  Office  from  hirn  ■. 
'  the  Paftor  may  be  the  Ruling  Elder,  and  yet 
'  he  may  have  Elders  to  aliilt  him  in  Ruling, 
1  and  in  the  ailual  Dij charge  of  fome  Things, 
'  which  They  are  able  and  proper  to  be  fervice- 
c  able  to  him  in.  This  Conlideration  being  laid, 
'  I  will  perfwade  my  felf   Every  Paftor  among 

*  us  will  allow  me,  That  there  is  much  Work 
'  to  be  done  for  God,  in  preparing  of  what  be- 
'  longs  to  the  Admijjicn  and  Exclufwn  of  Church- 
'  Members  -,  in  carefully  Infpe£t ing  the  way  and 
'  walk  of  them  all,  and  the  firft  Appearance  of 
'  Evil  with  them^  in  preventing  the  very  be- 
'  ginnings  of  III  Blood  among  them,  and  inlfrucf- 
'  ing  of  all  from  Houfe  to  Houfe  more  privately, 
'  and  warning  of  all  Perfons  unto  the  Things 
'  more  peculiarly  incumbent  on  them  ;  in  Vifit- 
4  ing  all  the  Afflicted,  and  Informing  of  and  Con- 
c  jutting  with,  the  Minitlers,  tor  the  welfare  of 

*  the  whole  flock.  And  they  muft  allow  me, 
'  That  this  Wok  is  too  heavy  for  any  one  Alan  -, 
'and  that  more  than  one  Alan,  yea,  all  our 
'  Churches,  do  fufFei  beyond  mcalure,  becaufeno 
'  more  of  this  Work  is  thoroughly  performed. 
'  Moreover,  They  will  Acknowledge  to  me,  that 
'  it  is  an  uiual  Thing,  with  a  Prudent  and  Faith 
'  ful  Paftor,  himfelf  to  fingle  out  fome  of  the 
'  more  Grave,  Solid,  Aged  Brethren  in  his  Con- 
'  gregation,  to  AJJift  him  in  manv  parts  of  this 
'  Work,  on  many  occafionsin  a  Year;  nor  will 
'  fuch  a  Paftor  ordinarily  do  any  Important 
'  thing  in  his  Government,  without  having  riiff 


i  the  Counlel  of  fuch  Bretheren.  In  fhort, 
'There  are  few  Difcreet  Paftors,  but  what 
'make  many  Occkfional  Ruling  Elders,  every 
'  Year.  I  fay  then,  Suppofe  the  Church  by  a 
'  Vote  Recommend  fome  fuch  Bretheren,  the 
'  Fitteji  they  have,  and  always  more  than 
'  One,  unto  the  more  ftated  Afjiftance  of  their 
'  Paftor,  in  the  Church  Rule,  wherein  they  may 
'  be  helps  unto  him  ;  I  do  not  propofe,  that 
'  they  fhould  be  Biennial  or  Triennial  only  ; 
'  tho'  I  know,  very  famous  Churches  through- 
'  out  Europe  have  them  fo  !  Yea,  and  what,  if 
'  they  fhould  by  folemn  lifting  and  Prayer,  be 
'  commended  unto  the  Benediction  of  God,  in 
'  what  fervice  they  have  to  do  ?  What  Obje8:i- 
'  on  can  be  made  againft  the  Lawfulnejs  ?  I 
'  think  none  can  be  made  againlt  the  Ufefulnefs 
'  of  fuch  a  thing.  Truly,  for  my  part,  if  the  Fifth 
'  Chapter  of  the  Firff  F.piQlo  to  Timothy,  would 
'  not  bear  me  out  when  Confcience  both  of  my 
'  Duty  and  my  weahnefs  made  me  defire  fuch 
'  AJjiftance,  I  would  fee  whether  the  Firft  Chap- 
'  ter  of  Deuteronomy  would  not.  Such  things 
as  thefe  have  been  offered  unto  the  Conlidera- 
tion of  the  Diver jly-Perjwaded ■,  and  accordingly 
in  a  Meeting  of  Minilters,  that  had  been  Di- 
ver Jly-Perjvoaded  in  this  Matter,  at  Cambridge, 
an  Unanimous  Vote  was  palled  for  thefe  Con- 
cluiions. 


Pro 


POSITIONS 


Concerning  the  Office  of  Ruling-Elders. 

I.  TpHough  the  Paftcrs  of  Churches  are  0- 
j_  riginally  Entruffed  with  the  whole  Care 
of  what  is  to  be  done,  in  the  Feeding  and  Ruling 
of  the  Societies,  whereof  rhe  Holy  Spirit  hath 
maae  them  Overfeers,  yet  the  W  ifdom  and  Good- 
nefs  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  has  made  Provifion 
for  their  AJjiftance  in  the  Management  of  thole 
Church-Affairs,  which  would  otherwile  too  much 
Incumber  them,  in  Devoting  themielves  unto  the 
Word  and  Prayer. 

II.  Ruling-Elders  are  appointed  for  the  Af 
fifhmce  of  their  Paftor s  in  the  Government  of 
their  Churches,  and  the  Inffetlion  of  the  Flocks. 
And  although  thefe  Officers  may  not  be  furnifh- 
ed  with  all  trWe  Attainments  which  are  ne- 
ceflary  to  a  Paftor,  yet  if  they  are  fo  accom- 
pli I hed,  as  that  they  may  be  Helps  to  rheir 
Paftor  in  the  Management  of  their  Church  Rule, 
rhey  may  be  Chofen  thereunto  with  much  Bene- 
fit and  Advantage  to  the  People  of  God. 

III.  Whereas  'tis  the  Bulinefs  of  a  Ruling- 
Elder  to  A  (fill  his  Paftor,  in  Vijiting  of  the 
Diffrefled,  htftruiling  of  the  Ignorant,  Reducing 
of  the  Erroneous,  Comforting  of  the  Afflifcted, 
Advifing  of  rhe  Defective,  Rebuking  of  rhe  Un- 
ruly, Difcovenng  the  State  of  the  whole  Flock, 
Exercifing  the  Dijapline  of  the  Gofpel  upon  Or- 
tendeis,  and  Promoting  the  defirahle  Growth  of 
the  Church  5  'tis  necefiary  that  he  be  a  Perion  of  a 
Wifdom,  Courage,  Leifure,  and  Exemplary  Holi- 
nefs  and  Gravity,  agreeable  to  fuch  Employments. 

5  F  §  5.  Oiie 


42 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.      Book  V. 


§  5.  One  more  PaiTage  in  the  Platform,  which 
hath  been  but  rarely  praftifed,  and  as  little  ap- 
proved, is,  That  in  Churches  where  there  are  no 
Elders,  Impofition  of  Hands  for  the  Ordination  of 
Elders  may  be  performed  by  fame  of  the  Brethren, 
orderly  chofen  by  the  Church  thereunto  -,  which 
is  indeed  mollified  with  a  Conceflion,  That  in 
Churches  where  there  are  no  Elders,  and  the 
Church  fo  defire,  the  impofition  of  Hands,  may 
be  performed  by  the  Elders  of  other  Churches. 
It  was  the  Opinion  of  thefe  worthy  Men,  that 
the  Call  and  Power  whereof  a  Pajlor  becomes 
[indeed  the  FirjT]  Recipient  Subjecf,  is  derived 
unto  him  from  the  Lord  Jefus  thrift,  by  the 
choice  of  a  Church,  inviting  him  to  the  Paftoral 
Care  of  their  Souls.  The  Ejfence  of  his  Voca- 
tion, they  judged  was  in  an  Elcttion  by  the 
Multitude  of  the  faithful,  agreeing  to  fubmit 
themfelves  unto  his  Conduct  in  the  Lord,  and 
^lis  Acceptance  of,  his  Compliance  with,  that 
Eleffion.  Ordination  they  look'd  upon,  but  as 
a  Ceremony,  whereby  a  called  Minifter,  was  de- 
clared by  Impofition  of  Hands,  to  be  folemnly 
let  apart  for  his  Miniftry,  and  in  the  fame  Rite, 
the  Affiftances  and  Protections  and  manifold 
Blefhngs  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  in  the  Exercifes  of 
his  Miniftry  were  folemnly  implored  for  him. 

Briefly,  They  reckoned  not  Ordination  to  be 
Effential  unto  the  Vocation  of  a  Minifter,  any 
more  than  Coronation  to  the  Being  of  a  King  •, 
but  that  it  is  only  a  confequent  and  convenient 
Adjunct  of  his  Vocation  ;  and  a  folemn  Acknow- 
ledgment of  it,  with  an  ufeful  and  proper  Bene- 
diction of  him  in  it. 

Now  in  as  much  as  the  ^e?*""'*,  Lifting  up 
of  the  Hands  of  the  Fraternity,  was  that  which 
performed  the  greater  thing ;  even,  to  apply 
the  Vocation  of  a  Pajlor ;  faid  they,  why  may 
not  the  w&"r">'A  laying  on  of  the  Hands  of  the 
fraternity  alfo  perform  the  leffer  thing ;  the 
thing  which,  indeed,  is  but  the  Accomplifhment 
of  what  they  have  already  begun,  even  to  pub- 
liln,  proclaim  and  pray  over  that  Vocation? 
To  countenance  this  Liberty  of  the  Fraternity, 
they  brought  the  Example  of  what  was  done  in 
the  Church  of  Ifrael, ,  when  certain  Principal 
Members  of  the  Congregation,  which  were  cer- 
tainly no  Eccleftaftical  Officers,  did  in  the  Name 
of  the  reft,  impofe  Hands  upon  the  Levitcs  ■, 
and  afterwards,  when  all  the  Congregation,  in 
the  like  manner,  anointed  'Zadok,  to  be  the 
Priejl :  and  they  further  considered,  that  there 
were  feveral  Cafes,  wherein  an  Ordination  by 
the  Hands  of  Elders,  could  not  be  obtained  in 
any  tollerable  Circumftances  ;  perhaps  America 
had  more  than  once  afforded  fuch}  in  which 
Cafes  they  faid,  Why  may  not  the  People  of  the 
Land  novo  take  a  Alan  of  their  Coafls,  and, 
then,  do  all  that  is  neceffary  to  fet  him  up  for 
their  Watchman  ?  But  whereas  it  was  objected 
unto  our  New-Englifb  Divines,  by  fuch  Writers 
as  the  fweet-fpirited  Herle,  and  warm-fpirited 
Rutherford,  That  the  New-Tejiament  affords  no 
Example  of  Impofition  of  Hands  by  the  People, 
it  was  anfwered,  That  the  New-TeJ}ame?it  in- 
ftances  not  the  Impofition  of  Hands  on  Ordinary 


Paftors,  by  any  Ordinary  Paftors  at  all. 
the  Examples,   there,   concerning  this  matter 
either  the  Perfons  by  whom,   or  the  Perfons  on 
whom,  Hands  were  impofed,   were  Extraordi- 
nary-Officers .-  and  thus  the  Objeftors  will  find 
as  much  Diflbnancy  from  the  Scriptural  Example 
in  their  own  Practice  as  they  could  in  ours  • 
Befides,  the  Example  in  the  Old  Teftament  was 
of  3.  Moral  and  of  a  Lofting  Equity.    And  in 
fine,  they  fuppofed  that  they  had  on  their  fide 
a  thoufand  Conceffions,  in  the  chief  Defenders 
and  Principles  of  the  Reformation-,  particularly 
the  Words  of  the  incomparable  Wlritaker  (De 
Ecclefi  Qua*  5.  Cap.  6.)  If  they  grant  the  Call- 
ing of  our  Minifters  to  be  Lawful,  we  care  the 
lefsfor  Ordination,  for  they  that  have  Authority 
to  Call,  have  alfo  Authority  to  Ordain,  //  Law- 
ful Ordination  cannot  otherwife  be  gotten  ;  For 
Ordination  doth  follow  Calling  ;  he  that  is  called 
is,  as  it  were,  thereby  put  into  Pojfeffion  of  his 
Office.    And  it  was  the  Learned  Calderwood,  who 
taught  them  to  dhtinguifh,  between  what  was 
received  by  (fti)  and  what  was  received  only 
with  (tf<£)  the   laying  on  of  the  Hands  of  the 
Presbytery;  the  former  notes  a  Caufal  Virtue  in 
the  Rite,  which  accordingly  is  not  affirmed  in 
the  Text }  the  latter  notes  only  the  Concurring 
and   Approving  of  them  that  ufed  the  Rite ; 
and  accordingly  our  good  Men  were  defirous  to 
have  theConient  of  a  Neighbouring  Presbytery 
unto  their  Eleclions  teftified,  in  their  Ordinations, 
where  it  could  be  comfortably  procured.    On 
the  other  fide  •,  Becaufe  the  Scripture  fo  exprefly 
mentions,    the  laying  on  of  the  Hands  of  the 
Presbytery,  very  Judicious  Men,  throughout  the 
Country,  were  altogether  averfe  to,  The  laying  on 
of  the  Hands  of  the  Fraternity.    They  reckoned, 
that  in  the  Impofition  of  Hands,  there  was  their 
Confecration  to  their  Miniftry,  and  by  this  Con- 
fecration  they  were  to  be  owned,   as  admitted 
into  the  Order  of  Paftors,   through  the  whole 
Church  of  God ;  but  they  could  not  allow  the 
Rites  of  this  Order  to  be  Regularly  and  Con- 
veniently performed  by  any  but  fuch  as  were 
themfelves  of  the  fame  Order ;  which  Perfwa- 
iion  has  been  fo  general,  that  fetting  afide  a  few 
plebeian  Ordinations,  in  the  beginning   of  the 
World  here  among  us,   there  have  been  rarely, 
any  Ordinations  managed  in  our  Churches  but 
by  the  Hands  of  Presbyters :   yea,  any  Ordina- 
tions, but  fuch,  would  be  but  matters  of  Dif- 
courie  and  Wonder.    The  Cuftom  of  New-Eng- 
land cannot  be  better  defcribed,    than  in  the 
terms  which  defcribe  the  Modes  of  the  African 
Churches    [Synod.  African,  apud  Cyprian.  Epift. 
6%.  §.  6. p.  202.]    Apud  nos,    &  fere  per  Pro- 
vinces univerfas  tenetur,    ut  ad  Ordinationes, 
riti  telebrandas,    ad  earn  plebem,  cui  Fr<epefitus 
Ordinatur,  Epifcopi  Ejufdem  Provincial  proximi 
quia-,  conveniant,    &  Epifcopus  deligatur,  plebe 
prafente,  qua  fingulorum  vham  pleniffmi  novit, 
iff  unius  cuftfi;  Affum  de  ejus  Converfatione 
p  erf p  exit ;  ^uod  faSum  videmus  in  Sabini  Ordi- 
natione,  ut  de  Ijniverfe  Fraternitatis  J'uffragio, 
&  de  Epifcoporum  Judicto,  Epifcopatus  Ei  De- 
feratur. 

And 


Book  V.        The  Hijiory  of  iSew-England. 


43 


And  fo  much  Re(pe£l  have  our  Churches  had 
unto  the  Interclts  of  the  Presbytery  in  this  Point 
of  Ordination^  that  altho'  upon  the  tranflation 
of  Pallors  from  one  Church  unto  another  among 
us,  few  of  the  Pallors  thus  tranflated,  havefcru- 
pled  being  reordained,  yet  upon  the  arrival  of 
lbme  defirable  Pallors  formerly  ordained  in  Eng- 
land,  who  fcrupled  at  it,  our  dellituted  Churches 
have  gladly  defied  them,  and  embraced  them, 
and  fo  folemnizing  the  TranfaOion  with  Fa- 
lling and  Prayer,  have  enjoyed  them  to  all  E- 
vangelical  Intents  and  Purpofes,  without  their 
being  re-ordained  at  all, 

§  6.  If  I  have  reported  three  Difficulties  in 
our  flat  form  of  Church-Difcipline,  I  can  add  a 
a  fourth,  which  hath  been  as  Difficult  as  any  of 
the  reft. 

The  Direction  given  by  the  Synod  about  the 
Admiffion  of  Members  into  the  Church,  amounts 
to  thus  much.  '  Repentance  towards  God  and 
'  Faith  towards  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  are  the 
'  things  whereof  Men  are  to  be  examined  at  their 
c  admiffion  into  the  Church,  and  which,  then, 
'  they1  mult  profefs  and  hold  forth  in  fuch  fort 
c  as  may  facisfie  Rational  Charity  that  the 
1  things  are  there  indeed.  The  weakeft  meafure 
'  of  Faith  is  to  be  accepted  in  thofe  that  defire1 
'  to  be  admitted  into  the  Church  :  Such  Chari- 
'  ty  and  Tendernefs  is  to  be  ufed,  as  the  weakeft 
c  Chriftian,  if  fincere,  may  not  be  excluded  or 
c  difcouraged.  Severity  of  Examination  is  to 
4  be  avoided;  in  cafe  any  thro' exceffive  Fear, 
'  or  other  Infirmity  be  unable  to  make  their  per- 
'  fonal  Relation  of  their  Spiritual  Ettate  in  pub- 
'  lick,  it  is  fufficient,  that  the  Elders  having  re- 
'  ceived  private  fatisfaction,  make  Relation 
■  thereof  in  publick  before  the  Church,  they 
'  teftifying  their  AlTents  thereunto:  This  being 
'  the  way  that  tends  moft  to  Edification.  But 
'  where  Perfons  are  of  greater  Abilities,  there  it 
'  is  moft  expedient  that  they  make  their  Rela- 
'  tions  and  Confeffions,  perfonally  with  their 
c  own  Mouth,  as  David  profeffeLh  of  himlelf. 
c  A  perfonal  and  publick  Confefiion,  and  decla- 
'  ring  of  God's  manner  of  working  upon  the 
'  Soul,  is  both  lawful,  expedient  and  ufcful. 
And  the  flatjorm  in  Chap.  12,  §  5.  gives  the 
Grounds  of  this  Direction.  Tne  Jews  tell  us 
of  N'^D  or  a  Scare-Crow  upon  the  top  of  the 
Temple,  which  kept  off"  the  Fowls  from  defiling 
of  it ;  and  it  has  been  the  Opinion  of  many 
that  this  Cujlom  of  Relations,  to  be  made  by 
Candidates  for  Admiffion  to  the  Church,  of  what 
Operations  of  the  Regenerating  Spirit  have  been 
upon  their  Souls,  is  as  a  ScareCrow  to  keep 
Men  out  of  the  Temple  ;  but,  it  may  be,  it  has 
been  the  Opinion  of  as  many,  that  ncne  but 
the  Defile  is  of  the  Temple  would  be  kept  out  by 
fuch  a  Scare  Crow. 

On  the  one  fide,  The  Churches  demanding  an 
Account  of  Experiences,  from  thofe  which  they 
recei"e  to  ftated  Church- fellpwjhip,  has  been  by 
fome  '■-■■  .yed  as  an  humane  Invention:  And  they 
tell  us,  that,  indeed,  according  to  the  Report 
oiCdfar-.us,  there  have  been  fopifh  Monafteries 
which  have  demanded  fuch  an  Account  from 


thofe  that  entred  thereinto ;  but  that  few  fro- 
teftant  Societies  have,  till  of  late,  obferved  fuch 
an  Llfage.    Yea,  they  lay,  that  inttead  of  having 
any  Divine  frecept  for  the  bottom  of  this  fra- 
flice,  there  is  no  bottom  at  all  for  it,  but  this, 
that  it  has  been  a  frattice.    The  firft  Churches 
of  New *  England  began  only  with  a   Profeflion 
of  AfTent  and  Confent    unto  the  Confeffbn  of 
faith,  and  the  Covenant  of  Communion.     After- 
wards, they  that  fought  for   the  Communion, 
were  but  privately  examined  about  a  Work  of 
Grace  in  their  Souls,  by    the  Elders,  and  then 
publickly  propounded   unto  the  Congregation, 
only  that  fo,  if  there  were  any  fcandal  in  their 
Lives,  it  might  be  objected  and  confidered.    But 
in  the  Year  1634,  one  of  the  Brethren  having 
leave  to  hear   the  Examinations  of  the  Elders, 
magnified  fo  much  the  Advantage  of  being  pre- 
fent  at  fuch   an  Exercife,  that  many  others  de- 
fired  and  obtained  the  like  leave  to  be  prefent 
at  it  ■,  until,  at  length,  to  gratifie  this  ufeful  Cu- 
riofity,   the  whole  Church  always  expected  the 
Liberty  of  being  thus  particularly  acquainted 
with  the    Religious  Tufpofiridns,   of  thole  with 
whom  they  were  aftcrwaids  to  fit  at  the  Table 
of  the  Lord  •,  and  that  Church  which  began  this 
way  was  quickly  imitated  by  moft  of  the  reft, 
who,  when  all  come  to,  have  little  elle  to  plead 
for  it,  but  that   the  good  Men  .find  themielves 
exceedingly  edified,  when  they  hear  other  good 
Men  defer ibing  the  Means  ixibich  the  Lord  has 
devifed,  for  the  bringing  back  of  their  banifhe'd 
Souls. 

On  the  other  fide,  It  has  been  argued  by-o- 
thers,  That  nothing  lefs  than  a  probable  and  a 
credible  profeffion  of  a  f living  faith  muji  be  made 
by  a  Man,  be j ore  the  Supper  of  the  ford  may  be 
admimftred  unto  him.  The  Churches  to  whom 
the  Apoftles  directed  their  Epiftles,  were  ftill  vi- 
libly  Saints,  and  fuch  as  were  made  meet  to  be 
fartakers  of  the  Inheritance  of  the  Saints  in 
Light :  How  many  fcores  of Tallages  to  this  pur- 
pole  have  we  concerning  thofe  Churches,  about 
the  underftanding  whereof  we  may  ■  ule  the 
words  of  Calvin,  §>uod  exponunt  qui  Jam  de  fold 
profeffiom  mihi  frigidum  videtur,  &  ab  ufu  Scri- 
ptur.e  eji  alienum  ?  It  is  on  all  hands  agreed, 
rhat  the  LordVSupper  is  an  Ordinance  commu- 
nicable unto  none  but  Penitents  :  Now  the  Pri- 
mitive Churches ,  if  Dionyjius  of  Alexandria 
may  be  credited,  would  not  accept  a  Penitent, 
until  having  examined  him,  they  difcermd  his 
Converfwn  and  Repentance  to  be  fuch  as  would 
be'  accepted  by  Gcd.  And  the  Council  of  Nice 
gave  this  lor  a  general  Rule,1  That  the  inward 
ft  ate  of  fenitents  be  obferved  in  order  to  ihei'r 
admiffion  to  the  Communion.  .  Whereupon  'tis  ar- 
gued, If  they  that  are  impenitent  for  this  or  that 
particular  Sin,  may  not  come  to  the  Table  of 
the  Lord,  furely,  they  that  may  be  thought  im- 
penitent for  an  whole  courfe  of  Sin,  are  alfo  to 
be  kept  out  of  doors  ;  which  is  to  be  efteemed 
the  Cafe  of  all  them,  whom  we  may  not  reafo- 
nably  as  well  as  charitably,  judge  renewed  by 
the  Holy  Ghoji.  Accordingly  Origen  Writes  , 
'  That  the  Chrillians  of  the  firft  Churches  did 


5  F 


moft 


44 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.      Book  V. 


moft  exquifitely  fearch  the  Souls  of  them  that 
1  asked  a  full  Communion  with  them  ;  and 

*  fays,  When  Men  have  made  fuch  a  profici- 

*  ency,  that  they  appear  fan£tified  by  the  Di- 
c  vine  Word,  then  we  call  them  up  to  our  My- 
c  fteries.  Tertullian,  among  others,  doth  advife 
us  of  the  ftric"t  Scrutiny  ufed  in  his  Days,  upon 
the  Hearts  of  the  Catechumens ;  Whether  they 
did,  indeed,  renounce  all  their  former  Vani- 
ties. 

It  was  the  Order,  Yiant  fcrutinia,  an  verba 
Videiradicttus  Corde  defxerint.  Cyprian  reports, 
Vix  plebi  perfuadeo  ;  He  could  not  eafily  per- 
fuade  the  Fraternity  of  his  Flock  to  confent  unto 
the  receiving  of  fuch  in  whom  Sincerity  was 
queflionable.  Aujlin  affirms,  That  according  to 
the  ancient  Cuftom,  grounded  on  the  mofl  evident 
Truth,  none  were  admitted  into  the  Church  on 
Earth,  who  were  vifibly  fuch  as  the  Scripture  ex 
eludes  from  the  Kingdom  of  God  in  Heaven. 
And  the  Agreement  of  the  Paftors  in  the  Days 
of  Conftance,  about  the  difcerning  of  the  fin- 
cere,  is  very  memorable.  If  the  Queftion  be 
put,  What  it  is,  that  we  may  fafely  judge,  a 
probable  and  a  credible  Profeflion  of  a  faving 
Faith  ?  It  has  been  anfwered,  That  Scripture 
rauft  be  followed  and  applied  by  Reafon  in  this 
matter :  If  the  Scripture  affert  fuch  and  fuch 
Marks  to  be  in  the  Experiences  of  all  the  Rege- 
nerate,  then  Reafon  is  in  this  Cafe  to  make  an 
Humane  Enquiry,  Whether  our  Neighbours  have 
thofe  Marks  in  their  Experiences  ?  'Tis  not  e- 
nough  to  reftore  a  Man  under  Church-Cenfure, 
for  the  Man  barely  to  fay  I  repent ;  no,  but  for 
us  to  proceed  rationally  in  obferving,  whether 
the  likely  Symptoms  of  Repenting  do  appear 
upon  him,  is  to  proceed  Scripturally  :  Even 
fo,  'tis  not  enough  to  qualifie  a  Man  under 
Church-Trial,  for  the  Man  to  fay  J  believe  ; 
while  there  may  be  difcovered  in  him  fuch  an 
ignorant  or  infipid  ft  ate  of  Soul,  as  may  render 
it  juftly  fufpicious,  that  he  is  yet  a  ftranger  to 
the  New  Birth.  Briefly  the  thing  has  been  thus 
difcourfed. 

We  muft  beware  of  unfcriptural  Impofitwns 
in  this  Affair ;  we  mulf  not  impofe  any  Modes 
of  Profeffion,  which  we  have  no  Warrant  for. 
'Tis  a  Tyranny  to  enjoin  upon  every  Man,  A 
relation  about  the  precife  time  and  way  of  their 
Converfion  unto  God.  Few  that  have  been  re- 
ftrained  by  a  religious  Education,  can  give  fuch 
an  one.  Nor  is  it  any  other  than  a  Cruelty,  to 
enjoy n  upon  every  Man,  an  Oral  and  a  publick 
relation  of  their  Experiences.  Every  good  Man 
has  not  iuch  a  Courage  and  Pretence  of  Mind, 
as  can  fpeak  pertinently  before  a  Congregation 
of  many  hundreds.  But  ftill,  as  the  Probatio- 
ners for  our  Communion  are  to  make  a  Profef- 
&  ,.  of  their  Faith  in  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  as 
that  Redeemer  in  whom  allfulnejs  dwels,  and  on 
whom  they  rely  for  Communications  from  that 
fulnefs  to  their  own  Souls :  Thus  we  muft  look 
for  fome  juftifying  Circumftance  of  that  Pro 
feffion.  Our  Charity  towards  all  Men,  of  whom 
we  know  nothing  amifs,  is  to  hope  all  things, 
and  believe  the  belt :  But  when  we  come  to 


make  a  Judgment  of  them,  that  lay  claim  to 
Privileges  with  us,  'tis  but  reafon  that  our  Cha- 
rity fhould  require  a  more  pofitive  Evidence  of 
the  Qualification,  on  which  the  claim  is  made. 
In  the  Primitive  Times  they  made  fuch  a  Pro- 
feflion, at  their  being  added  unto  the  Church  -, 
and  the  Profeflion  had  this  juftifying  Circum- 
ftance in  it,  that  they  made  it,  when  they  en- 
dangered their  very  Lives  to  make  it.  I  make 
no  doubt,  but  in  fuch  a  time  of  Perfecution,  the 
like  Profeflion  ought  to  be  efteemed  fufficient. 
But  in  Places  where  the  true  Religion  is  in  re- 
pute and  fafhion,  then  to  look  for  fome  other 
juftifying  Circumftance  of  a  Profeflion,  is  but 
a  reafonable  Conformity  to  the  cuftom  and 
manner  of  the  Apoftles.  Now,  Reafon  cannot 
readily  dictate  an  eafier,  a  fairer,  a  fitter  Method 
for  this,  than  that  a  Man  of  a  blameleis  and 
fruitful  Converjation,  fhould  either  by  Tongue 
or  Pen  exprefs,  what  Imprejfons  the  Word  of 
God  has  made  upon  him.  The  favour  of  fuch  a 
Relation,  will  ufually  very  much  Bianifeift  the 
Spirit  of  him  that  makes  it  5  and  befides,  no- 
thing is  more  for  the  Honour  of  God,  or  for 
the  Comfort  of  his  People,  than  to  hear  good 
Chriftians ,  thus  making  that  Invitation,  Come 
and  hear  all  ye  that  fear  God,  and  I  will  declare 
what  he  hath  done  for  my  Soul.  It  is  true,  that 
after  all,  we  cannot  be  infallibly  fure,  that  we 
do  not  admit  an  Hypocrite  in  Heart,  into  our 
Communion  ■,  nor  indeed  after  the  diftintteft 
Profeflion  of  a  Dogmatical  and  Hifiorical  Faith, 
can  we  be  fure  that  the  Perfbn,  whom  we  ad- 
mit, is  not  an  Heretick  in  Heart.  Neverthelefs, 
no  Man  fcarce  ever  doubted,  that  Communicants 
muft  be  examined  about  their  Orthodoxy.  But 
we  fhould  go,  as  far  as  we  realbnably  can  to 
prevent  the  pollution  of  Holy  Things  by  the  Un- 
regenerate. 

Well,  the  refult  of  thefe  various  Apprehen- 
fions  has  been  this :  That  fome  unfcriptural  Se- 
verities urged  in  this  matter  by  feveral  of  our 
Churches,  in  the  beginning  of  the  Plantation, 
are  now  generally  laid  afide  ;  but  ftill,  for  the 
moft  part,  there  is  expected  from  thofe  that 
would  join  unto  'em,  a  brief  Addrejs,  in  the* 
Language  of  an  experimental  Chriftian,  intima- 
ting fomething  of  what  the  eternal  Spirit  of 
God  has  done  to  conform  their  Hearts  and  Lives 
unto  thole  Principles  of  Chriftianity,  whereof 
they  then  make  a  Profeflion.  'Tis  true,in  fome 
Churches,  if  the  Elders  declare  their  fatisfatti- 
on  about  the  Qualifications  of  thofe  that  offer 
themfelves,  the  People  are,  without  any  further 
Inquiry,  fatisfied:  But  in  moft  Churches,  the 
People  do  defire  the  Elders  to  entertain  them 
with  a  more  particular  Account  of  fuch  things, 
as  the  Perfons  have  to  prelent  for  their  own 
more  thorough  Recommendation  unto  the  good 
Affection  of  thofe,  with  whom  they  are  to  eat 
Bread  in  the  Kingdom  of  God.  Neverthelefs, 
there  feems  to  have  been  thought  needful  on 
both  fides  a  Conceflion  to  what  has  been  fbme- 
times  propounded  in  fuch  Terms  as  theie. 

'  Our  Churches  do  ordinarily  expect  from 
'  thofe,  whom  they  admit  unto  conftant  and 

compkat 


Book  V.       Xbe  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


45 


compleut  Communion  with  them,  lome  tew 
favoury  Expreflions  \_vsfittea,  if  not  oral  ]  of 
what  Regenerating  Influence s  the  Ordinances  or 
the  Providences  of  God,  have  had  upon  their 
Souls.     There  arc  fome  who  demand  this,  as 
a  thing  required  by  the  Word  of  God,  when 
a  Conjejjjon  with  the  Mouth,  and  a  Profejjion 
of  Repentance   as  well  as  Faith,  and  a  giving  a 
Reajun  of  the  Hope  that  is  in  us  is  required  : 
And  they  look  upon  this  as  a  juftifying  Circum- 
fiance,  which  a  reafonable  Charity  is  to  feek, 
before  it  pronounce   upon  the  Credibility  of 
thatConfeflion  and  Profeffion,  whereupon  Men 
lay    claim  to  Privileges.    Others  can't  fee 
thro1  this  ;  they  rather  decry  it,  as  an  humane 
Invention ,    yet,    rather    than  CnurchWork 
fhould  be  at  any  flay,  both  fides  may  grant, 
that   it  is  but  a  piece  of  reafonable  Civility, 
for  any  that  would  be  accepted  as  Members  of 
any  Society  whatfoever,  to  addrefs  that  Socie- 
ty for  their  acceptance  -,    and  that  whoever 
doth  addrefs  a  Church  of  the  Lord  Jefus  for 
their  Fellow/hip,  fhould  endeavour  to  do  it 
with  fuch  Language  and  Matter,  as  may  be 
like  that  of  one  returning  unto  God.    If  there 
be  any  further  Conteft  whether  the  Brethren, 
of  right,  are  to  have  an  Acquaintance  with,  or 
Intereft  in,  the  management  of  this  Matter,  I 
am  confident,  that  as  the  Paftors,  who  are  the 
Porters  to  the  Houfe  of  God,  will  generally 
examine  what  Experiences  their  Communi- 
cants have  attained  unto  ;  fo,the  Paftors  will 
as  generally  grant,  that  it  is  not  unlawful  for 
them  to  communicate  unto  the  Brethren  of 
the  Church,  the  tajie  which  they  have  had  of 
the  Graces,  in  fuch  as  they  now  propound  un- 
to them,  to  be  received  as  Brethren-,  yea, that 
it  is  many  ways  comfortable  and  profitable,  if 
not  altogether  ncceffary.    Behold  then  a  Tem- 
per, wherein  we  may,  as  hitherto  we  do  in  this 
thing  unite.    I  have  been  concerned  with  fome 
godly  People  of  the  Scotch  Nation,  who  have 
at  firlt  fhewn  much  and  hot  Antipathy  againlt 
this  way  of  our  Churches,  and  yet   asked  ad- 
mittance   to  the  Table  of  the  Lord.    Thefe 
have  confented  unto  me,  that  I  fhould  put 
what  i>ueflions  I  pleafed,  in  my   Trials  of 
them  •,  that  I  fhould  herewithal  take  in  Wri- 
ting what  Minutes  1  pleafed  of  their  Anfwers 
to  mej  that  being  my  felf  now  fatisfied  con- 
cerning them,  I  might,  if  I  pleafed,  otter  that 
fatisfadion  unto  any  or  all  of  the  Church,who 
looked   for   it ,    at   our   ufual  Opportunity. 
Thefe  Conceflions  immediately  opened  their 
way  in  ours,  unto  the  Table  of  the  Lord,  with- 
out any  Difficulty  unto  either  of  us* 

§  7.  I  think  I  have  now  reported  the  moft 
contefted  PalTages  of  our  Platform  ;  neverthe- 
'  lefs,  to  give  a  further  Elucidation  of  fome 
other  Paflages  in  that  Platform,  I  will  fubjoin 
the  Determination  given  by  a  late  Aflembly 
of  our  Minifters  at  Cambridge,  upon  thefe  two 
Points  •,  The  Power  of  Synods,  and  the  Power 
of  Elders. 


%    PROPOSIT  IONS 

[  Concerning  the  Tower  of  Synods,  with  refpefl 
unto  particular  Churches. 

I.  ~Y)  Articular  Churches,  having  the  fame  Ori- 
JL  ginal  Ends  and  Interetts,  and  being  mu- 
tually concerned  in  the  Good  and  Evil  of  each 

I  other,  there  is  the  Light  of  Nature  as  well  as  of 
Scripture,  to  direO:  the  Meeting  of  Churches  by 

\  their  Delegates,  to  confult  and  conclude  things 
of  common  Concernment  unto  them. 

II.  Synods,  duly  compofed  of  Meflengers  cho- 
fen  by  them  whom  they  are  to  reprelent,  and 
proceeding  with  a  due  regard  unto  the  Will  of 
God  in  his  Word,  are  to  be  reverenced,  as  de- 

!  terminingxhe  Mind  of  the  Holy  Spirit  concerning 
things  neceflary  to  be  received  and  prailifed,  in 
order  to  the  Edification  of  the  Churches  therein 
reprefented. 

III.  All  the  Commands  of  God,  which  bid  us 
to  be  well-advifed,  and  regard  a  multitude  ofCoun- 

fellors,  do  particularly  oblige  us  with  Reverence 
to  entertain  the  Advice  of  Synods  aflembling  in 
the  Name  and  Fear  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
for  an  enquiry  after  his  Directions.  And  if  one 
Church  be  to  be  heard,  much  more  are  many 
Churches  to  be  fo,  in  things  that  properly  fall 
under  the  Cognifance  thereof. 

IV.  Synods  being  of  Apojlolical  example,  re- 
commended as  a  neceflary  Ordinance,  it  is  but 
reafonable,  that  their  Judgment  be  acknow- 
ledged as  decifwe,  in  the  Affairs  for  which  they 
are  ordained  ^  and  to  deny  them  the  Power 
of  fuch  a  Judgment,  is  to  render  a  neceflary  Or- 
dinance of  none  effect. 

V.  The  Power  of  Synods,  is  not  to  abate,  much 
lefs  to  deflroythe  Liberties  of  particular  Churches, 
but  to  ftrengthen  and  to  dircil  thofe  Churches, 
in  the  right  ufe  of  the  Powers  given  by  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  unto  them.  And  fuch  Afjemblies 
are  therefore  to  be  ufed  as  a  Relief  ordained  by- 
God  for  thofe  Difficulties,  for  which  the  Care  and 
State  of  a  particular  Church  affords  not  a  iuf- 
ficient  Remedy. 

The  Rights  allowed  unto  Synods,  in  the  Ireni- 
cum,of  the  excellent  Jeremiah  Burroughs ,Chap./ '. 
we  fully  confent  and  fubferibe  unto. 

f   Propositions 

Concerning  the  Power  of  Elders  in  the  Go- 
vernment of  the  Ghurch. 

I.  r"r",He  Power  of  Church  Government  belongs 
A    only  to  the  Elders  of  the  Church. 

The  Names  of  the  Elders,  in  the  Scriptures 
are  but  infignificant,  and  unintelligible  Meta- 
phors, if  the  Rule  of  the  Church  be  not  only 
in  the  Hands  of  its  Elders. 

The  Word  of  God  hath  ordered  the  People  to 
obey  the  Elders  of  the  Church,  as  having  the 
rule  over  them,  and  a  watch  over  their  Souls. 

An 


4^ 


Tbe  Hiftory  of  New-England.       Book  V. 


An  Ability  to  Rule  well  is  a  Qualification  par- 
ticularly required  in  the  Elders  of  the  Church, 
that  they  may  be  able  to  take  a  due  Care 
of  it. 

Governments  are  enumerated  among  thofe 
things  in  the  Church,  which  all  are  not,  but 
which  are  compatible  to  fome  only  :  Now,  who 
but  the  Elders  ? 

Were  the  Government  of  the  Church,  as  much 
in  the  Brethren  as  in  the  Elders  ,  then  the 
whole  Body  were  all  Eye  -,  which  it  is  not. 

II.  There  are  yet  certain  Cafes,  wherein  the 
Elders  in  the  management  of  their  Church  Go- 
vernment are  to  take  the  Concurrence  of  the 
Fraternity. 

Tis  to  be  done  in  thofe  AUs,  to  attain  the 
ends  whereof,  there  are  to  follow  certain  Du- 
ties of  the  Fraternity,  namely  EleSions,  and  Ad- 
mifjions  and  Cenfures. 

Hence,  in  fuch  things,  we  find  the  Injunctions 
of  the  Scripture  addreffed  unto  the  whole 
Church. 

Hence,  all  Antiquity  affures  us,  that  fuch  Mat- 
ters were  in  the  Primitive  Church,  done  ltill 
Confentiente  pie  be. 

And  the  Brethren  of  the  Church  might 
otherwife  be  obliged  unto  the  doing  of  things, 
wherein  they  cannot  all  in  Faith,  or  be  confeien- 
tioufly  fatisjied  that  fuch  things  are  to  be 
done. 

III.  Neverthelefs,  the  Paftor  of  a  Church  may 
by  himfelf  Authoritatively  fufpend  from  the 
Lord's  Table,  a  Brother  accufed  or  fufpe&ed  of 
a  Scandal,  till  the  Matter  may,  and  fhould  be 
regularly  examined. 

Our  Lord  forbids  the  coming  of  fuch  an  Of- 
fender to  his  Altar,  if  even  one  of  lefs,  of  no 
Authority  in  the  Church,  do  fignifie  a  reafonable 
diiTatisfaftion.  . 

,  The  Paftors  of  the  Church  are  the  Porters  of 
the  Temple,  empowered  fufficiently  to  detain 
fuch,  as  they  fee  with  moral  uncleannefs  upon 
them. 

And  its  belonging  unto  the  Porters  of  the 
Church  to  direct  the  Brethren  in  the  Applicati- 
on of  the  neceffary  Difcipline ;  it  is  not  reafona- 
ble  that  they  ihould  be  bound  in  the  mean  time, 
to  declare  pratlically,  what  (hall  be  contrary  to 
fuch  Direction,  by  adminiftring  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per unto  a  Perfon  againft  whom  the  Difcipline 
is  to  be  urged. 

IV.  But  the  Elders  of  the  Church,  have  a 
Negative  on  the  Votes  of  the  Brethren  ;  who, 
indeed,  in  the  Exercife  of  their  Liberty  and 
Privilege  are  under  the  Conduct  of  the  Elders. 

To  take  away  the  Negative  of  the  Elders,  or 
the  Neceflity  of  their  Confent  unto  luch  A£ts, 
indeed  is  to  take  away  all  Government  what- 
foever,  and  it  is  to  turn  the  whole  Regimen  of 
the  Church  into  a  pure  Democracy. 

And,  if  the  Pofitivc  of  the  Brethren  can  fuper- 
fede  a  Negative  of  the  Elders,  either  the  Elders 
may  be  driven  to  do  things  quite  contrary  unto 
the  Li^ht  of  their  Confcience,  or  elfe  the  Bre- 
thren may  prefume  to  do  things  which  belong 
not  unto  them. 


§  8.  Becaufe  there  are  feveral  Church-Cafes 
of  a  very  general  Importance,  which  out  Flat- 
form  has  not  refolved  fo  particularly,  as  hath 
been  defired  by  them,  that  have  been  more  im- 
mediately concerned  in  thofe  Cafes,  an  AfTembly 
of  Minifters,  meeting  at  Cambridge  hath  taken 
Cognizance  of  them  -,  from  whofe  Regijiers  I 
have  taken  leave  to  tranferibe  the  following  Me- 
morials. Reader,  allow  the  general  Title  of 
them  to  be  PILLULM  SINE  gUIBUS. 


f  Propositi  ons. 

Concerning  the  Obligation  lying  upon  Mini- 
fters  of  the  Gofpel,  to  vifit  the  Sick,  in 
Times  of  Epidemical  and  Contagious  Di- 
fiempers. 

I.  \JT  Inifters  of  the  Gofpel,  are  to  have  a 
iVJL  great  concern  for  the  Sick,  under  their 
Pafioral  Charge,  and  endeavour  the  fulfilling  of 
their  Miniftry,  not  only  by  fining  the  Necefli- 
ties  of  their  Sick,  with  their  Prayers,  but  alio 
by  leaving  them  unacquainted  with  none  of 
thole  Counfels,  which  may  prepare  them  for 
their  End. 

II.  Neverthelefs,  in  times  of  epidemical  Con- 
tagion, the  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel  may,  by  va- 
rious Methods,  attend  what  is  neceffary  thus  to 
be  attended,  without  the  ordinary  Vifitations  of 
the  infefted  Chambers. 

III.  A  Minifter  follicitous  about  his  Duty  in 
vifiting  the  Sick  of  his  Flock,  when  Peftilential 
Contagions  are  prevailing,  may  receive  much 
Direction  from  the  Courage  wherewith  he  may 
find  the  God  of  Heaven  fortifying  his  Heart  un- 
to fuch  an  Undertaking. 

IV.  The  bare  defires  of  the  Sick,  to  be  vifited 
by  a  Minijler,  have  often  fo  much  of  evident 
unfeafonablenefs ,  unreafonablenefs,  and  perhaps 
of  worfe  Caufes  in  them,  that  it  is  no  ways 
fitting  a  Life  fhould  be  facrificed  meerly  there- 
unro. 

V.  When  a  Minifier  is  well  affured,  that  the 
Sick  of  his  own  Flock ,  are  labouring  under 
fuch  Loads  upon  their  Confciences^  as  cannot  fit- 
ly be  unburdened  unto  any  but  himfelf,  he  has 
a  Call  from  Heaven  to  venture  himfelf  unto 
the  utmoft,  for  the  fervice  of  fuch  a  Soul,  and 
may  expe£t  the  Protection  of  Heaven  according- 
ly to  be  a  Shield  unto  him. 

VI.  A  Minifier  in  times  of  general  Mortali- 
ties may  do  well,  before  he  expofe  himfelf  un- 
to the  evident  Hazards  of  thofe  Mortalities,  to 
take  the  Advice  and  Confent  of  that  Church, 
unto  whofe  Edification  the  Labours  of  his  Life 
are  dedicated  ;  whether  they  are  willing;,  that 
he  fhould  lacrifice  his  Life  unto  the  private  Ser-. 
vice  of  the  Sick.  And  the  Opinion  of  a  Peo- 
ple thus  asked,  will  afford  much  fatisfacfion 
unto  a  Minifter,  as  to  what  may  be,  in  this  cafe 
incumbent  upon  him. 

VII.  In  times  extraordinarily  Peftilential,  if 
the  neighbouring  Minifters,  do  by  a  Lott  fo- 

lemnly 


Book  V.       Tbe  Hiftorj  of  New-England. 


47 


lemnly  fingle  out  One  of  their  Number,  to  de- 
vote himfelf,  with  the  exemption  of'  the  reft, 
unto  the  help  of  the  Sick,  it  were  a  Courfe  not 
to  be  difapproved  :  But  a  Minifter,  fo  devoted, 
may  cheerlully  commend  himfelf  unto  the  at 


ceptance 
ftrefled. 


of  God ,  in  the  Service  of  the  di- 


€[  Propositions. 

Concerning  the  Cafes,  -wherein  a  Minifter 
may  leave  his  People. 

I.  A  Paftor  fettled  in  the  Service  of  a  People, 
J\.  is  to  be  fo  fenfible  of  his  Defignation  by 
the  Spirit  and  the  Providence  of  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift,  for  that  Service,  and  of  the  Account  that 
he  mult  give  unto  God  about  his  Behaviour  in 
it,  that  his  removal  mult  not  be  rafhly  attempted, 
but  with  much  Confideration ,  Confultation, 
Supplication  and  fincere  Defire  to  follow  the 
Condu£t  of  Heaven  in  it.  The  frowns  of  God, 
life  to  follow  Removes,  that  have  not  fo  been 
regulated. 

II.  That  the  Will  of  our  Lord,  about  the  re- 
moval of  any  Paftor  from  his  People  may  be 
underftood,  it  is  requifite,  that  the  Minifter  do 
not  entirely  qjfume  to  himfelf  the  Judgment  of 
his  own  Call  to  remove,  but  a  great  Regard 
muft  be  had  unto  the  Direction  of  the  Churches 
of.  our  Lord  in  the  Neighbourhood. 

III.  They  unto  whom  the  Judgment  of  a  Pa- 
ftor's  removal  from  his  People  is  to  be  referred, 
fhould  exa&ly  weigh  both  the  prefent  and  fu- 
ture Circumstances  of  both  ;  and  endeavour  a 
Provifion,  that  neither  Party  may  fuffer  in  rhe 
removal 'of a  Minifter  from  his  Flock. 

IV.  In  cafe  there  be  arifen  thofe  incurable  Pre- 
judices, Diflentions,  Animofities,  and  implacable 
Offences  between  a  Paftor  and  his  People,  that 
all  Reverence  for,  and  Benefit  by,  his  Miniltry 
is  utterly  to  be  defpaired,  he  may  be  removed. 
The  want  of  fuccefs,  otherwife,  is  not  a  fuffici- 
ent  Caule  of  removal,  but  it  is  to  be  endured, 
with  all  humble  Patience  by  the  Minifter,  as  a 
great  Affliclion  -,  and,  yet  with  this  Encourage- 
ment, that  God  will  reward  him,  Secundum  la- 
berem,  non  Jecundum  prove ntum. 

V.  A  Paftor  may  be  removed  from  his  People, 
in  cafe  his  Tranflation  be  found  neceflary  for 
the  Common-Good.  The  welfare  of  the  Catholick 
Church  in  the  general  Edification  of  a  Commu- 
nity, fhould  be  of  fuch  weight,  as  to  make  any 
particular  Churches,  give  way  thereunto.  But, 
yet,  it  becomes  not  any  Minifter,  to  fee k  hi* 
own  Tranflation^  by  flrft  offering  himfelf  un- 
to ir. 

VI.  There  are  fome  things,  which  diffolve  the 
Vinculum  Paftorale  between  a  Pajior  and  his 
People ;  and  in  cafe  thofe  Difafters  happen,  he 
may  be  removed.  Thus  if  a  Minifter  have  a 
tolerable  Subfftence,  wherewith  he  may,  after  a 
Chriftian  manner  provide  for  his  own,  deny'd 
him  •,  or,  if  a  Minifter  have  no  way  to  avoid 
a  Storm  of  Perfecution,  purely   Perfonal,  but 


by  fleeing  from  one  City   to  another  .  a 
may  be  pftified.  And  the  trch, 

gives  the  like  Liberty,  to  hin,i 
Shepherd  of  the  nowjeattered  Hock. 

VII.  Although  a  Paftor  lhould  be  willing  to 
encounter  many  Difficulties  and  Infirmities  with 
his  People^  yet,  in  cafe  that  CI  Difeafes, 
which  evidently  threaten  his  Life,  might  hope- 
fully be  relieved  by  his  removal,  it  fhould  then, 
on  all  Hands,  be  allowed  and  ad  vifed.  Mercy  is 
here  to  be  preferred  before  Sacrifice,  and  fo  we 
find,  it  was  in  the  Primitive  Churches  accord- 
ingly. 

VIII.  If  much  of  Scandal  will  certainly  enfue, 
upon  the  removal  of  a  Paftor  from  his  People, 
That  fhould  weigh  down  many  Circumftances, 
that  would  rather  invite  fuch  a  removal. 


Qi 


UESTION, 


Whether  it  be  lawful  for  a  Man  to  Marry 
£«  Wife's  Sifter? 

I.  A  Marriage  between  a  Man  and  his  Wife's 
XJL  own  Sifter ,  is  pofitively  prohibited  in 
that  Law  of  God,  Lev.  18.  16.  That  a  Man  may 
not  marry  his  Brother's  Wife.  By  the  plaineft 
Confequence,  a  Woman  may  not  marry  her  Si- 
fters Husband.  The  Degree  prohibited,  is  ex- 
actly the  fame. 

II.  The  haw  that  has  prohibited  the  Marri- 
age of  a  Man  to  his  Wife's  own  Sifter  has  an 
Authority  and  an  Obligation  reaching  even  to 
the  Gentiles,  upon  whom  the  Ends  of  the  World 
are  come.  'Tis  evident,  that  the  Violation  -of 
this  Law,  is  declared  one  of  thofe  Abominations, 
tor  which  the  ancient  Canaanites  were  fpued 'out 
of  their  Land.  And  we  find  the  New  Te fla- 
me nt  in  divers  places,  infifting  upon  thofe  Pro- 
hibitions, among  which  this  Law,  is  one.  The 
good  Order  which  God  has  by  this  Law  eftablifh- 
ed  in  humane  Society,  is  that  which  the  Light 
of  Nature,  in  Mankind,  as  now  increafed,  does 
abundantly  teftifie  unto.  The  Difpenfation  which 
the  Sovereign  Lawgiver  once  gave,  in  one  In- 
ftance,  hereunto,  was  extraordinary.  The  Ex- 
ample of  Jacob,  in  this  Matter,  is  to  be  difap- 
proved by  all  that  would  be  efteemed  his  Chil- 
dren, as  well  as  that  of  his  Polygamy. 

III.  Tis  the  Law  of  our  God,  in  Lev.  18.  <5. 
None  of you  fhall  approach  (in  a  Marriage)  unto 
any  that  is  near  of  kin  to  him.  Now  the  Kin- 
dred betwixt  a  Man  and  his  Wife's  own  Sifter, 
is  of  the  neareftfort :  For,  Inter  Virum  iff  Mu- 
lierem  non  comrahitur  affinitas,  fed  ipfifunt  affi- 
nitatis  caufa  :  So  then  this  Affinity  is  not  lefs 
than  in  Primo  Gcnere,  and  therefore  unlawful. 
It  is  likewife  the  concurrent  Senfe  of  the greateft 
Divines  (  particularly  afferted  in  the  Afiemblies 
Confeffion  of  Faith,  )  that  of  what  degree  any 
one  is  of  Confanguinity  to  his  Wife,  in  the  fame 
degree  of  Affinity  is  that  Perfon  to  the  Husband. 
And  that  an  Hmbandxs  forbidden  to  marry  with 
the  Confanguines  of  his  Wife,  by  the  fame  Rule 
that  Confanguines  are  forbidden  to  marry  among 

themfelves. 


48 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.       Book  V. 


themielves.  And  this  Aflertion  may  be  demon- 
lirated  from  the  Rules  given,  in  the  18th  Chap- 
ter of  Leviticus.  Wherefore  as  a  Man  may 
rot  marry  his  own  Sifter,  fo  not  the  Sifter  of  his 
Wife,  which  is  one  i'lejh  with  him. 

IV.  The  Marriage  in  the  Queftion,  has  been 
fo  fcandalous  among  the  whole  People  of  God, 
that  whofoever  is  guilty  of  it,  is  therein  wor- 
thy to  he  cut  off  from  the  Communion  of  the 
Catholick  Church  ;  yea,  it  hath  been  one  of  the 
Imperial  Laws,  Duabus  Sororibus  Conjungendi, 
peniius  Licentiam  fubmovemus.  Much  lefs  may 
fuch  an  Iniquity  be  countenanced  among  the 
People  of  our  Prtrfejfion. 


QjU  E  S  T  I  O  N. 

Whether,  and  how  far,  the  Difcipline  of  our 
Lord  in  our  Churches ,  is  to  be  extended  to 
the  Children  therein  Baptized  ? 

'\A7^  Juc*&e>  tnat  ^e  Difcipline  of* our 
V  V  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  in  our  Churches 
ought  to  be  extended  unto  the  Children  baptifed 
in  them  :  In  as  much  as  thefe  Perfons  are  cer- 
tainly thofe,  which  the  Scripture  calls  within, 
and  not  without  •,  and  the  Lambs  as  well  as  o- 
thers  in  the  flocks  of  our  Lord  are  to  be  fed  • 
And  the  Pr -alike  of  the  pureft  Churches  has  been 
agreeable  to  this  Principle,  as  well  the  Primi- 
tive before,  as  the  Bohemian  and  others  lince 
the  Reformation:  Reafon  alfo  fays,  that  where 
a  Erivi  ledge  is  expected,  a  Difcipline  is  to  be  ac- 
knowledged. 

II.  Although  it  is  a  Memberfhip  in  the  Ca- 
tholick  Church,  that  gives  Right  unto  Baptijm, 
yet  particular  Churches,  as  well  as  the  Paftors 
of  thofe  Churches,  owe  a  Duty  to  the  Catholic/: 
Church,  part  of  which  Duty  is  the  Application 
of  Difcipline,  unto  vhofe  Baptifed  Peribns,whom 
the  Providence  of  God  ihall  calf  under  their 
Inlpection. 

III.  The  Difcipline,  which  we  count  owing 
unto  thefe  Perions,  is,  an  InftruClwn  in  the  Laws 
of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  an  Admonition  upon 
a  fcandalous  violation  of  thofe  LawSj  and  upon 
lncorrigiblenefs  in  Evil,  an  open  rejeltion  from 
all  Ecclejiaftical  Privileges  :  And  although  Per- 
fons are  moft  clearly  liable  to  this  Procefs,  when 
they  have  actually  renewed  their  Baptifmal  Co- 
venant, and  recognized  tneir  fubje&ion  to  the 
Government  of  our  Lord,  in  his  Church,  and 
the  Children  of  the  Church  are  to  be  accordingly 
laboured  withal,  that  they  may  be  brought 
hereunto,  yet  we  do  not  think,  that  any  of  the 
faid  ?<zvibns,rejufing,  or  neglelling  thus  to  do.are 
thereby  exempted  from  fuch  a  Care  of  the 
Church,  to  bring  them  unto  Repentance. 


U  E  S  T  I  O  N. 

In  what  Cafes  is  a  Divorce  of  the  Married 
jujlly  to  be  purfued,  and  obtained  ? 

I.'TPO  judge,  determine  and  accomplifh  a  Di- 
A     vorce,  of  any  married  Perfons,  the  Civil 
Magiftrate  is  to  be  addreffed  or  concerned. 

II.  In  cafe  any  married  Perfons  be  found  un- 
der natural  Incapacities,  and  Infufficiencies, 
which  utterly  difappoint  the  confefTed  Ends  of 
Marriage,  the  Marriage  is  to  be  declared  a 
Nullity. 

III.  In  cafe  any  married  Perfon ,  be  found  al- 
ready bound  in  a  Marriage  to  another  yet  li- 
ving, a  Divorce  is  to  be  granted  unto  the  ag- 
grieved Party. 

III.  In  cafe  any  married  Perfon  be  convicted 
of  fuch  Criminal  Uncleanneftes,  as  render  them 
one  Flejh,  with  another  Object  than  that  unto 
which  their  Marriage  has  united  them,  the  in- 
jured Party  may  fue  and  have  their  Divorce 
from  the  Offending ;  which  is  the  plain  Seme 
of  the  Sentence,  palled  by  our  Lord,  Matth. 
19.  9. 

V.  In  cafe  there  be  found  Inceft  in  a  Marri- 
age, a  Divorce  is  to  command  xhefeparation  of 
the  married. 

VI.  In  cafe  it  be  found,  that  a  Perfon  mar- 
ried, had  by  fornication  before  Marriage,  been 
made  One  with  a  Perfon,  related  unto  the  Per- 
fon with  whom  they  are  now  married,  within 
the  Degrees  made  Inceftuous  by  the  Law  of  God, 
it  is  a  julf  Plea  for  a  Divorce. 

VII.  In  cafe  of  a  malicious  Defertion  by  a 
married  Perfon,  who  is  obliged  and  invited  to 
return,  a  Divorce  may  be  granted  by  lawful  Au- 
thority unto  the  forfaken.  For  the  Word  of 
God  is  plain,  That  a  Chriftian  is  not  bound  in 
fuch  Cafes,  by  the  Marriage  unto  One,  which 
has  thus  wilfully  violated  the  Covenant  ■,  and 
tho'  our  Saviour  forbids  a  Man's  putting  away  his 
Wife,  except  it  be  for  Fornication,  yet  he  forbids 
not  Rulers  to  refcue  an  innocent  Perfon  from 
the  enthralling  Difadvantages  of  another,  that 
(hall  finfully  go  away. 

VIII.  As  for  married  Perfons  long  abfent  from 
each  other,  and  not  heard  of,  by  each  other,  the 
Government  may  ftate  what  length  of  time  in 
this  cafe,  may  give  fuch  a  prefumption  of  Death 
in  the  Perfon  abroad,  as  may  reckon  a  Second 
Marriage  free  from  fcandal. 

IX.  A  Divorce  being  legally  purfued ,  and 
obtained,  the  innocent  Petfon  that  is  releajed 
may  proceed  unto  a  Second  'Marriage  in  the 
Lord:  Otherwife  the  ftate  of  Believers  under 
the  New  Teftament,  would  in  fome  of  thefe 
Cafes,  be  worle  than  what  the  God  of  Heaven 
directed  for  his  People  under  the  Old. 


Pro- 


BookV.        The  Hijiory  of  New-England. 


4-9 


f  Propositions. 

Concerning  Ordination. 

I.   A    folemn  Reparation  to  the  Service  of  our 
J\.  Lord  Jelus  Cririft   in  his  Church,  is  EC 
rential  to  the  Call  of  a  Church  Officer. 

II.  The  Election  of  the  Church,  and  a  Com- 
pliance with,  and  an  Acceptance  of  that  Election, 
by  a  Perfon  coming  under  a  Reparation,  is  that 
wherein  lies  the  Effence  of  his  Call  to  minilter 
unto  that  particular  Church. 

III.  The  hnpofition  of  Hands ,'m  the  Ordination 
of  zChurch-Officer,  is  a  R/7r,  not  only  lawful  to 
be  retained,  but  it  feems  by  a  Divine  Inftitution 
directed  and  required  ■,  lb  that  although  the 
Call  of  a  Perfon  to  Church-Office  may  not  be- 
come null  and  void,  where  that  Rite  may  have 
been  omitted,  as  it  is  to  the  Seniors  and  Dea- 
cons in  molt  of  the  Reformed  Churches  :  Yet 
we  cannot  approve  the  omiffion  or  it.  A  Cere- 
monial defecl  may  be  blameworthy. 

IV.  When  it  is  enjoyned,  hay 'Hands Sudden- 
ly on  no  Man  ;  there  feems  a  plain  Pofitive,  in 
that  Negative  ;  and  it  is  implied,  that  Hands 
are  to  be  laid  on  fome.  Now  when,  or  where, 
but  in  Ordination  ? 

V.  The  whole  Ordination  to  a  Miniftry,  feems 
intended  in  the  Apoltles  Expreflion,  of  a  Gift 
given  with  the  laying  on  of  Hands  ;  yea,  nothing 
lefs  than  the  whole  Miniftry,  under  that  Ordi- 
nation, feems  comprifed  in  the  Apoltles  Expref- 
lion of  the  Doilnne  oj  laying  on  of  Hands :  And 
fuch  a"  Synecdoche  intimates  that  this  Rite  is  no 
inconfiderable  Part  of  that,  whereof 'tis  put  for 
the  Whole. 

VI.  The  Church  of  God,  in  all  Ages,  has 
ufed  an  hnpofition  of  Hands,  as  a  Rite,  many 
ways  agreeable  to  the  Will  of  God-,  and  be- 
fides  the  Uie  of  this  Rite,  fometimes  on  mira- 
culous Accounts,  there  has  itill  been  a  more 
conltant  life  of  it,  on  Ecclefiajiical  Accounts  •, 
not  conje.  ring  but  confejfing  of  Qualifications,  in 
the  Subj'-ci-".  ■  iiat  received  it;  which  one  Reafon 
has  in  it  many  and  weighty  Considerations. 

VII.  The  Impofition  of  Hands,  being  a  Rite 
ufed  by  the  Primitive  Churches  in  the  confirm- 
ing and  reftoring  ot  Church-Members,  and  this 
not  altogether  without  the  countenance  of  Scri- 
pture, it  iecms  very  much  to  take  away  all 
Pretence  for  laying  it  afide  in  the  Ordination  of 
Church  Officers. 

VIII.  Tis  well  known,  that  the  Jews  even  in 
their  Schools,  and  in  almolt  every  J  fecial  Work 
for  God,  whereto  Men  were  let  apart,  tiled  hn 
pojuion  of  Hands,  as  a  Rite  accompanying  fuch 
a  Dedication. 

IX.  The  hnpofition  of  Hands,  having  been  a 
Rite,  which  the  People  of  God  under  the  Old 
Teji intent  in  his  Name  applied  unto  fuch  pur- 
poi'  ;,  as  a  Benedillion  of  a  Perfon,  a  Defigna- 
tion  to  a  Eunclion,  an  Oblation  of  what  was  to 
beprefented  unto  God,  aid  a  Devolution  of  cer- 
tain Burdens,  on  the  Heads  of  fuch,  as  were 


treated  with  ir  :  The  Lord  has  continued  this 
Rite  in  the  Ordaining  of  Church-Officers,  with 
fome  to  fuch  Intents  and  Purpofes. 

X.  Molt  unexceptionable  is  the  hnpofition  of 
Hands,  by  a  Presbytery  -,  but  more  exceptiona- 
ble by  a  Fraternity.  The  Word  of  God  menti- 
ons the  former  exprefly,but  not  the  latter,  in  the 
New  Teftam'ent.  They  were  fuch  Hands  as  TV- 
tits\  that  were  left  to  ordain  Elders  :  What 
need  of  that,  if  the  Hands  of  common  Believers 
were  fufficient  ?  They  were  fuch  Hands  as  Ti- 
mothy's that  were  to  make  over  Church  Betruft- 
ments,  unto  faithful  Men,  able  to  teach  others. 
Who  fitter  to  fignifie  the  needed  Approbation  of 
other  Churches  ?  And  inafmuch  as  in  Ordina- 
tion, there  is  an  acknowledgment  of  Admiffion 
into  an  Order,  it  is  but  reafonable,  that  fome 
who  are  iri  fome  Order  of  Church-Power  Should 


give  it. 


f  Propositions. 

touching  the  Power  of  chufing  a  Pa/lor. 

A  Society  of  Believers  ,  combined  for  the 
Worfhip  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  in  all 
his  Ordinances,  have  the  Right  of  chufing  the 
P  aft  or,  that  is  to  administer,  unto  them  thole 
Ordinances. 

The  Scriptures  do  Still  call  for  the  Suffrages 
of  the  Brethren,  in  the  Churches,  for  all  EleQi- 
ons  in  thofe  Churches,  and  particularly  that  of 
Elders. 

In  the  oldeft  and  pureft  of  its  Times,  we 
ft  ill  find  the  Brethren  of  the  Church,  poffcSTcd 
of  a  Power  to  chufe  for  its  J elf;  and  the  de- 
struction of  the  Power  was  amongft  none  of  the 
earlieSt  Encroachments  of  Antichrifi. 

The  jus  Patronal'us  in  fome  Churches  pre- 
tended unto,  is  an  tlfurpation  upon  the  Ylock  of 
GW,juftly  to  be  exploded. 

The  Pretences  of  the  Civil  Magijtrate  unto 
the  like  Difpofal,  for  the  fame  Caufes,  were 
for  many  Ages  no  lefs  juftly  than  fharply  de- 
nied. 

A  particular  Church,  owing  a  great  Regard 
unto  the  Church  Catholick,  in  the  ufing  of  its 
own  Right,  is  bound.in  Duty  to  Confult  the  Sa- 
tisfaction and  Edification  of  others,  in  their  Ele- 
fl-ion  of  a  Pa  (tor. 

Minijicrs  and  Meffengets ,  of  neighbouring 
Churches,  have  Power  to  except  againft  any 
Election  of  a  Paftor,  who  by  Errors  or  Scan- 
dals, rsay  be  rendred  unfit  for  the  common  Ser- 
vice of  the  Gofpel. 

Churches  in  the  Election  of  a  Paftor  are  to 
conlider  the  Benefit  of  all  rhat  are  to  be  his 
Hearers  ■,  and  more  particularly  the  Concurrence 
of  fuch  as  are  by  the  Covenant  and  Appointment 
of  God,  undet  the  Church-watch  among  them. 

The  Refpe£t  that  Churches  do  fhew  to  others 
in  the  Election  of  a  Paftor,  ought  fo  to  be  man- 
aged, as  that  they  do  not  permit  their  own  juft 
Privileges  to  be  extinguished,  by  anticipating 
Impofitwns  upon  them. 

5  G  Churches 


5° 


The  Hifiory  of  New-England.      Book  V. 


Churches  may  fuller  their  Elections  to  be  di- 
retted,  yea,  and  be  diverted  by  Confederations, 
which  they  owe  to  others  in  the  Vicinity,  with- 
out furrendring  their  Liberties  to  be  fmothered 
by  any  ,  that  would  unjuftly  impofe  there- 
upon. 

QjJ  E  S  T  I  O  N. 

Whether  there  are  any  Cafes ,  wherein  a  Mi" 
nifter  of  the  Gofpel,  may  lay  down  his 
Miniftry  ? 

NO  Man  can  rightly,  wifely,  or  fafely  be 
come  a  Minifter  of  the  Gofpel,  without 
a  Call  of  God,  which  Call  is  mediate,  and  ma 
nifeftedby  Minifterial  Gifts,  with  fome  Inclina- 
tion and  Opportunity  to  exercife  thofe  Gifts. 

When  a  Minifter  of  the  Gofpel  does  by  the 
compelling  Providence  of  God,  become  deprived 
of  thofe  effential  things,  whereby  his  Call  was 
difcovered,without  any  rational  Profpe£t  of  reco- 
vering them,he  may  then  lay  down  his  Miniftry. 

But  before  one  called  unto  the  Miniftry,  do 
relmquifh  it,  there  fhould  be  fuch  a  Concurrence 
of  Incapacities,  that  a  Perfon's  own  Arbitrary 
Inclinations,  a£f,ed  by  Temptations,  may  not  be 
the  things,  that  fhall  difmifs  him.  One  con 
fecrated  unto  the  Miniftry,  is  thus,  pro  Termino 
vita  i  nor  may  a  Man  fetting  his  Hand  unto  this 
Plough,  at  his  own  Pleafure  look  back. 

For  one  in  the  Sacred  Miniftry  to  leave  it,  for 
the  fake  of  Riches  or  Honours,  more  likely  to 
be  acquired  in  another  way  of  living,  or  for  the 
lake  of  difcoiiragements,  ar>ifing  from  Unfuccefs- 
fulnefs,  or  Perfection,  or  other  Difficulties,  is 
no  ways  allowable. 

A  Perfon  difabled  by  the  Infirmities  of  old 
Age  for  the  Labour  of  the  Miniftry,  ftill  retain- 
ing his  Office,  is  to  be  ftill  coniidered,  in  the 
dutiful  Regards  of  the  Church,  as  their  Pallor 
notwithftanding. 

A  Cenjure,  though  an  unjuft  one  of  a  Civil 
Magiftrare,  filencing  a  particular  Minifter,  may 
in  fome  Cafes  be  a  fufficient  Reafon  for  his 
forbearing  to  do  his  Work,  fox  fome  time,  or  in 
this  place,  though  it  releafe  him  not  from  the 
Obligation  of  his  Holy  Calling. 

The  Difafters,  which  have  been  obferved,  as 
frequently  following  thofe,  who  have  deferted 
ther  Spiritual  Warfare,  without  the  leave  of  the 
Lord,  are  juft  Admonitions  unto  all  Minifters  of 
our  Lord,  againft  any  undue  De/ertion  of  the 
Service  wherein  they  have  been  lifted. 

QjJ  ESTION. 

Whether  the  Paftor  of  a  Church,  upon  a  com- 
mon Fame  of  a  Scandal,  committed  by  any 
in  his  Church,  be  not  hound  in  Duty  to 
enquire  into  that  Scandal,  although  there 
Jbould  not  be  brought  any  formal  Complaint 
unto  him  of  it  * 

I.  A  Ccording  to  the  Apoftolical  Direction,  an 
i\,  Enquiry  into  an  Offence,  was  ordered 


upon  this   Confederation ,  i  Cor.  5.  i.|Ir  is  re- 
ported commonly. 

II.  The  Elders  of  Jfrael  were  to  make  Enqui- 
ry into  an  Offence  after  this  manner,  Deut.  13. 
12,  14.  If  thoujhalt  hear  fay —  Then  fh  tit  thoa 
enquire  and  make  fear ch,  and  ask  diligently. 

III.  The  Commendation  of  a  Civil  Ruler, &ozs 
by  proportion  and  parity  of  Reafon  belong  to 
an  Ecclcfiaftical  One,  Job  26.  16.  The  caufe 
which  I  knew  not,  I  feat  chea  out. 

IV.  The  fame  that  may  move  others  to  com- 
plain of  a  Scandal,  ui.ru  the  Pjitor,  fhould  move 
the  Paftor  to  enquire  .ifter  a  lepurted  Scandal-^ 
namely,  the  Glory  of  the  Lord,  the  Defence  of 
the  Church,  and  the  Welfare  ol  the  erring  Per- 
fon ;  every  one  of  whicn  will  fuffer,  if  iuch  En- 
quiry be  not  made. 

V.  The  Neighbours  may  be  fo  far  under  the 
Power  oi  Temptation,  as  to  forbear  making  or- 
derly Delations  of  Scandals  committed  ;  and  it 
is  therefore  neceffary,  mat  iuch  things  fall  un- 
der the  Enquiry  of  the  Paftor,  thereto  by  common 
tame  alarmed. 

VI.  The  Paftor  of  a  Church,  is  by  Office,  to 
watch  over  the  Converjatwn  of  the  People,  and 
a  Noile  of  Scandal  arifen  in  rhe  Converfation  of 
thofe  under  his  Watch,  is  a  fufficient  provocation 
for  his  Enquiry  after  it. 

VII.  Finally,  a  rumour  of  a  Scandal  in  a 
Church-Member,  is  that  wherein  the  Name  of 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  is  concerned,  and  for  the 
vindication  of  that  worthy  Name,  an  Enquiry 
being  made  into  it,  there  may  appear  fuch  pow- 
erful Prefumptions,  while  there  are  not  yet  fuf- 
ficient Conviclions  of  Guilt  in  the  Party  concern- 
ed, that  the  Perfon  fhall  be  bound  (  except  in  a 
Capital  Cafe  )  either  to  give  a  pofitive  Denial, 
or  to  make  a  penitent  Confeffion,  of  the  Matter 
commonly  famed  of  him. 


<k 


UESTION. 


How  far  the  Confeflions  of  a  guilty  and  a  trott' 
bled  Confcience,  are  to  be  kgpt  fecret  by 
the  Minifter  or  Chriftian,  to  whom  the 
Confeflions  have  been  made  f 

I. '"TpIS  very  certain,  that  ordinarily  the  Con- 
A  feffions  of  a  guilty  and  a  troubled  Con- 
fcience, are  to  be  kept  fecret  by  thofe,  to  whom 
they  are  made.  The  Ends  for  which  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  has  directed  unto  fuch  Confeflions, 
would  be  all  ffuftrated,  if  they  fhould  not  be 
moft  religioufly  concealed ;  and  they  are  made3 
at  unto  the  Lord. 

II.  Neverthelefs,  when  evident  Mifchief  will 
arife,  general  or  perfonal,  either  in  point  of 
Safety  or  of  Jujlice,  by  the  concealment  of  a 
fecret  Confeffion,  it  is  no  longer  to  be  kept  fecret. 
In  fuch  Cafes  the  confeffing  Perfon  hfnfelf  can 
have  no  eafe  in  his  own  Confcience  (  which  is 
the  Defign  of  Confeffion  )  without  publifhing 
his  own  Crime;  and  therefore  there  can  be  no 
Obligation  upon  any  other  to  affift  him  in  coj 
vering  of  it. 

III.  When 


Book  V.        tbe  Hiftorj  of  New-England. 


5* 


III.  When  the  endangered  Safety  or  htetefts  of 
others,  make  it  neceiTary  for  the  Confeffion  ot 
a  Secret  Sin,  to  be  expoled,  it  is  fit  for  the  Per- 
fon,  who  has  heard  this  Confeffion,  to  advife  the 
Perfon  himfelf,  that  within  a  Time  limited  and 
convenient,  he  do  himfelf  make  it  known  unto 
the  Perfons  concerned  5  which  if  he  fail  to  do, 
Then  is  the  Time  for  the  firft  Hearer  of  the 
Confrffon  to  do  his  Duty. 

IV.  In  the  Great  Capitals,  if  there  be  no  other 
ways,a  Divulgation  theteofHe  that  hath  had  the 
Confeffion  of  fuch  a  Secret  Sin,  may  come  in 
as  a  Second  Witnefs,  to  reveal  the  Secret,  for 
the  CbnvicVton  of  the  Malefactor  under  Judicial 
Procefs. 

V.  Where  the  Confeffion  of  a  Secret  Sin  is  to 
be  further  divulged,  it  is  to  be  examined,  Whe- 
ther the  Sin  may  not  be  told,  without  the  Name 
of  the  Perfon,  that  has  committed  and  confeffed 
it. 

VI.  A  Minifter  of  the  Gofpel,  receiving  a 
Confeffion,  often  times  has  Caufe  to  coniider, 
whether  the  Ferfon  that  makes  it,  may  not  make 
his  Knowledge  thereof,  many  ways  injurious  to 
himfelf-,  and  if  lb,  he  may  with  his  beft  Pru- 
dence provide  againft  fuch  Injuries. 

VII.  In  thofe  Land defiling  S\ns,  where  a  Per- 
fon is  not  bound  by  a  Confeffion,  to  deliver  him- 
felf tip  to  the  Hazard  of  the  Law,  no  Minifter 
is  bound,  from  the  meer  Nature  of  the  Crimes, 
to  betray  the  Confeffion  that  has  been  made  unto 
him. 

QjJ  E  S  T  I  0  N« 

What  is  the  Duty  owing  from  the  Church,  to 
Perfons  who  upon  private  Prejudices,  with- 
draw from  the  Communion  of  it  ? 

i.T)Erfons  that  have  taken  up  any  private  Prc- 
_L  judiccs  againlt  any  in  the  Communion  of 
the  Church,whereto  they  do  belong,are  directed 
by  the  Commandment  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
and  are  engaged  by  the  Covenant,  of  Watchful- 
nets,  to  endeavour  the  Repentance  of  the  Per- 
fons under  fuppofed  Offence  by  a  perfonal  Ap- 
plication. 

II.  They  that  upon  Offence s  taken,  do  neglect 
this  way  of  proceeding,  are  guilty  of  Sin  againft 
the  Lord's  Commandment,  and  their  own  Co- 
venant ;  and  by  their  withdrawing  from  the 
Table  of  the  Lord,  their  Sin  is  aggravated. 

III.  The  withdrawing  of  Perfons  thus  irregu- 
larly from  the  Communion  of  the  Church  at  the 
Lord's  Table,  does  carry  an  hard  and  high  Im- 
putation upon  the  Church  it  felf,  which  adds 
more  of  a  Fault  unto  fo  finful  a  Schijm. 

IV.  If  the  Perfon  that  hath  been  offended, 
hath  done  his  Duty,  and  eithet  the  Paftor  do  re- 
fufe  to  lay  the  Matter  before  the  Church,  for 
the  Infignificancy  of  it,  or  the  Church  upon  the 
Hearing  of  it,  do  pronounce  it  finished  ,  the 
Perfon  is" obliged  ftill  to  continue  his  Communion 
with  the  Church,  untill  a  Council  of  Churches 
declare  the  contrary. 


V.  Such  a  finful  Separation  from  the  Commu- 
nion of  the  Church,  being  a  Moral  Evil,  the 
Scandal  is  to  be  by  the  Difcipline  of  the  Church 
proceeded  againft,  as.  other  cenfurable  Scandals. 
The  Paftor  upon  Obfervation  and  Information  of 
the  Sin,  is  to  fend  for  the  Perfon  withdrawing, 
and  inftrucf,  and  convince  and  admonifh  him  -, 
and  upon  Contumacious  O'oftinacy,  the  Church 
is  to  deal  with  him,  as  one  unruly,  and  walking 
difbrderly. 

VI.  Neverthelefs,  Compajfion  towards  the  Ig- 
norant, or  Injured,  is  very  much  to  determine 
the  more  or  lefsF7^^r,wherewithfuch  Offences 
are  to  be  profecuted. 

Q^U  E  S  T  I  O  NJ 

What  Loan  of  Money,  upon  Ufury,  may  he 
praBifed. 

1.1  1  Sury,  being  an  Advance  on  anything  lent 
U.  by  Contrail,  it  is  not  reftrained  unto 
Money  only  ;  Yitluals  or  any  other  Thing  fas 
the  Oracles  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures  declare  unto 
us)  are  capable  of  being  lent  upon  Ujury.  The 
main  Difference  of  Ujury  from  other  ways  of 
Dealing,  is  the  Owners  not  running  the  Rifque 
of  the  Principal. 

II.  That  there  is  an  Ujury  lawful  to  be  taken, 
is  from  feveral  Paffages  in  the  Divine  Law,  fuf- 
ficiently  fignified  unto  us.  For  Firft,  under  the 
Old  Teftament,  God  allowed  unto  his  People 
the  Practice  of  Ujury  •,  he  exprefly  faid-,  Deut. 
23.  20.  Unto  a  Stranger  thou  mayjt  lend  upon 
Ujury.  And  the  Allowance  of  Lfury  upon  a 
Stranger,  had  never  been  given,  if  Ujury  had  in 
it  any  intrifick  Turpitude.  Yea,  in  all  the  Places 
of  the  Old  Teftament,  prohibiting  unto  the 
hrihiitcs  the  Demand  of  Ujury  upon  a  Brother, 
there  are  Claufesinthe  Context,  which  feem  to 
intimate,  as  if  the  poor  brother  only  were  in- 
tended, in  the  Prohibition.  However,  the  pe- 
culiar Conftirution  of  the  Jfraeinifh  Common- 
wealth, is  enough  to  releale  us  Gentiles,  from 
the  Obligation  of  the  Edi£ts  againft  Ujury, 
given  thereunto.  And  the  Words  of  the  Pjalmiji 
and  Prophet,  that  feem  to  reproach  Ujury,  mull 
accordingly  be  expounded  with  a  Limitation,  to 
the  Ujury,  which  the  Law  had  countermanded. 
Hence  alio  in  the  New  Teftament,  our  Saviour 
has  a  Paifage  of  fuch  Importance,  as  to  give 
Countenance,  in  Matth.  25.  27.  unto  a  Man's 
receiving  his  own  with  Ujury  ,  and  in  the  New 
Teftament  alfo,  John  Baptiji,  in  Luke  13.  3.  for- 
bad not  unto  the  Publicans,  that  Ujury  which 
their  Condition  of  Life  led  them  unto. 

III.  There  is  every  fort  of  Law,  except  the 
Popifh,  to  juftifie  a  Regulated  Ujury.  Tis 
juftified  by  the  Law  of  Neceffity  and  Utility  -, 
Humane  Society,  as  now  circumftanced,  would 
fink,  if  all  Ujury  were  impracticable.  Tis  jufti- 
fied by  the  Law  of  Equity  -,  it  is  very  equal  that 
a  Man  fhould  partake  in  the  Benefits  which  his 
Eftate  procures  for  another  Man.  Yea,  it  may 
be  the  Duty  of  another  Man  to  give  meaUfury^ 

5  G  2  namely 


52 


the  Hiftory  of  New-England.      Book  V. 


namely  when  he  gains  by  my  poffeffions -,  it 
would  be  Iniquity  in  him  to  do  otherwile :  and 
certainly  then  it  cannot  be  a  Sin,  for  me  to  take, 
that  which  'tis  his  duty  to  give.  Tis  juftified 
by  the  Law  of  Parity-,  there  is  no  manner  of 
Reaibn,  why  the  Ufury  of  Money,  fhould  be 
more  faulty,  than  that  of  any  other  things 
for  Money  is  as  really  Improveable  a  thing,  as 
any  other  Commodity  vvhatfoever :  nor  can  a 
Contract  in  this  Cafe,  be  more  blameable,  than 
in  any  other.  Nor  is  it  contrary  to  the  Law  of 
Charity,  that  a  Man  fhould  expecf  fomething, 
for  the  fupport  and  Comfort  of  his  own  Family, 
for  the  profitable  ufe,  which  other  Men  make  of 
thofe  things  whereof  he  is  himfelf  the  Pro- 
prietor. 

IV.  Neverthelefs  the  Law  of  Chanty,  is  to 
Regulate  our  Ufury,  that  it  may  not  become  un- 
lawful, by  the  Biting  Extremity,  into  which 
it  may  otherwile  be  carried.  ,  It  is  an  Eternal 
and  a'Glorious  Rule  of  Charity,  that  in  Dealing 
with  a  Neighbour,  a  Man  moif  propofe  his 
Neighbour's  Advantage,  as  well  as  his  own,  and 
he  i'hould  not  propole  to  make  his  own  Advan- 
tage by  adding  to  his  Neighbours  Mifery. 
Moreover,  when  the  General  Rules  of  Charity 
oblige  a  Man  to  Relieve  the  NeceJJities  of  a 
Neighbour,  or  to  remit  of  what  he  might  have 
exatled  from  a  Neighbour,  if  it  had  not  been 
for  thofe  Neceffities,  Vfury  muff  not  fuperfede 
that  Charity.  Whence  alfo,  to  Demand  Ufury 
from  the  Poor,  when  we  Accommodate  them 
for  their  mere  neceffary  Suftenance  and  Subfift- 
ence,  is  a  Sin.  'Tis  a  Sin  likewife,  to  Refufe 
helping  the  Poor  becaufe  we  would  Keep  all 
that  we  have  to  ferve  the  Defigns  of  Ufury. 
Nor  can  it  be  any  other  than  a  Sin  to  require 
as  much  for  Ufury,  as  for  Hire,  which  are  Care- 
fully to  be  DifUnguilhed.  And  an  Idle  Ufury, 
which  is,  when  Men  fo  confine  themfclves  to 
the  way  of  Living  upon  Ufury,  as  to  render 
themfelves  otherwife  Unufeful  unto  the  Publick. 
This  is  juftly  become  a  thing  of  an  Evil  Cha- 
racter. But  yet  in  all  thefe  things,  the  Appli- 
cation of  the  Rules  of  Charity,  is  to  be  left  unto 
a  Man's  own  Confcience,  which  is  to  be  Advifed 
from  the  FfWof  God,  with  the  Belt  Helps  of 
Underftanding  that  Word. 

All  thefe  things  being  thus  Confidered,  the 
fevere  Declamations  of  the  Ancient  s^xmii  Ufury, 
muft  be  of  no  further  Account  with  us,  than 
their  Difcourfes  againft  Limning,  or  Swearing, 
or  Fighting,  or  Sitting  and  Acfing,  in  a  Court 
of  Civil  Judicature. 


Ql 


UESTION, 

Whether  it  he  in  the  Power  of  Men  to  State 
any  Days  of  PuWick  Worfhip  ? 

I.  VTO  Time  is  to  be  made  Holy  to  the  Lord, 
l\|  but  what  is  made  Holy  by  the  Lord  -, 
and  if  there  be  no  Inffitution  of  God,  the  Great 
Lord  of  Time,  for  zftatcd  time  to  be  made  Holy 
to  himfelf,  'tis  a  Superftition  in  any  Man  to 
make  it  fo. 


II.  Very  fenfible  is  the  Difference,  between 
taking  a  Time  to  do  a  Sacred  Work,  and  Doing 
a  Work  to  keep  a  ft  ate  d  Time.  The  Light  of 
Nature  tells  us  there  muft  be  a  Time  for  every 
Work  -,  but  it  is  only  the  Fourth  Commandment 
of  God,  that  feparates  one  time  from  the  reft, 
for  the  conftant  Performance  of  Religious  Work 
upon  it. 

III.  To  efteem  any  Good  Work  the  Better, 
for  it's  being  done  on  fuch  or  fuch  a  Return  of 
Time,  which  God  hath  not,  in  his  Word,  fet  a- 
part  for  it,  is  to  make  the  Time  it  felf  a  part  of 
the  Worfhip ;  and  it  is  an  unwarrantable  Impo- 
fing  upon  Heaven  with  our  own  Inventions. 

IV.  Solemn  Humiliations  and  Thankfgivings, 
are  Moral  Duties  to  be  obfcrved  pro  Caufis  & 
Temporibus.  And  the  Direcf  ion  of  Divine  Pro- 
vidence in  laying  before  us  frefh  Occafwns  of 
them,  is  to  be  Regarded  •  which  cannot  be  done, 
if  they  be  made  perpetual. 

V.  The  Church  of  Ifrael,  kept  no  Days  of 
Religious  Worfhip,  except  what  were  of  Divine 
lnftitution.  The  Days  of  Purim,  are  by  a  Dif- 
ferent Hebrew  Word  for  them  plainly  intimated 
to  have  been  of  no  other  Character  than  Politi- 
cal Commemorations  i  and  befides,  Mordechai  who 
ordered  them,  was  a  Prophet.  The  Feaft  of 
Dedication  among  the  Jews,  can  have  nothing 
pleaded  for  it,  from  the  prefence  of  our  Lord, 
at  it. ;  nor  were  the  former  Dedications  of  the 
Temple,  under  any  Anniverfary  Commemora- 
tions. 

■  VI.  Tis  not  a  Work,  but  a  Word,  that  muft 
SanUifie  a  Day ;  and  if  an  Extraordinary  Work 
of  God,  were  enough  to  prefer  one  Day  before 
another  for  the  Devotions  of  Chriftianity,  the 
Proteftant  Kalender  muft  foon  be  as  full  as  the 
Popijh. 

VII.  When  the  Apoftle  blamed  the  Galatians, 
for  obferving  the  Days,  which  God  himfelf  had 
Inftituted,  much  more  does  he  blame  us,  if  we 
Celebrate  fuch  Days,  as  only  Men  have  devifed. 
And  when  the  Apoftle  forbad  the  Coloffians  to 
let  any  Man  judge  them  in  refpetl  of  an  Holy 
Day,  he  fuffers  not  us  to  Sacrifice  our  Chriftian 
Liberty,  unto  Humane  Impofitions  of  Jiated  Holy 
Days  upon  us,  nor  a  private  Perfon  to  Impofe 
it  upon  himfelf. 

QjJ  E  S  T  I  O  N. 

Whether  it  be  Lawful  to  Eat  Blood,   and 
Things  Strangled? 

1.  "pLain  are  the  Words  of  the  Apoftle,  in  Rom. 

J.  1 4.  1 4..  I  know  and  am  perf waded  by  the 
Lord  Jefus,  that  there  is  nothing  unclean  of  it 
felf.  In  which  Paffige  there  may  be  relpeft 
unto  thofe  Words  of  our  Lord  Jefus,  in  Math. 
15.  11.  Not  that  which  goeth  into  the  mouth,  de- 
fileth  the  Man. 

II.  The  Scriptures  of  the  New  Teftament 
give  an  Allowance  for  Eating  all  forts  of  Meat, 
wherein  Blood  is  included.  The  Apoftle  fpeaks 
of  him  as  an  Orthodox  Man,  in  Rom.  14.  2. 

who 


Book  V.       Tbe  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


53 


who  beheveih  he  may" eat  all  things-,  intimating 
that  it  was  from  weaknefs  in  Faith,  and  Igno- 
rance in  the  L}o£trine  of  the  Goipel,  to  doubt 
about  it.  The  Scripture  condemns  the  Super- 
ftition  of  thole,  in  i  Tim.  4.  3,  4.  Who  abfiain 
from  Meats,  zvhicb  God  bad  created  to  be  received 
with  Thank/giving,  for  nothing  is  to  be  refufed: 
If  Nothing,  then  fure,  not  Blood..  The  Scrip- 
ture permits  us  that  Liberty,  in  1  Cor.  10.  25. 
What/over  is  fold  in  the  Shambles,  that  Eat, 
asking  no  ghicfiicnfor  Confcu 'nee  fake.  Now  it 
was  ufual  to  fell  Blood  in  the  Shambles. 

III.  The  ufe  of  Blood,  in  Medicine,  is  not 
queftioned:  The  Spirit  and  the  'Powder  of  Blood, 
is,  by  the  Warrant  of  the  Sixth  Commandment, 
freely  ufed,  for  our  Health  :  Why  then  fhould 
the  ufe  of  Blood in  Diet,  be  any  Queftion  > 

IV.  If  a  thing  ft r angled  may  be  eaten,  then 
Blood  may  be  fo  too.  Chriftians  do  not  ordina- 
rily fcruple  to  Eat  a  thing  lirangled;  and  the 
Eating  of  a  thing  which  Dies  of  it  felf  (which 
is  the  lame  cafe)  was  never  unlawful  for  the 
Gentiles. 

V.  The  Reafon  of  the  Precept  forbidding 
Blood,  unto  the  Jews  was  metely  Ceremonial : 
Namely,  becaufe  Blood  was  Typical  of  that 
Great  Blood,  which  makes  Attonement  for  our 
Sins,  and  becaufe,  being  the  Organ  of  Life,  it 
muft  be  facred  unto  God  the  Author  of  Life. 
Now  fince  the  Blood  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift 
has  been  filed ;  every  Precept,  which  is  only 
Ceremonial,  is  Abrogated. 

VI.  The  forbidding  of  Blood  unto  Noah,  in 
Gen.  p.  4  feems  to  have  been  living  Blood,  and 
for  the  prevention  of  that  Bloody,  Ferocious, 
Inhumane  Dilpofition,  which  was  then  prevail- 
ing in  the  World.  And  all  the  Commandments 
given  to  Noah,  were  not  Moral. 

VII.  The  forbidding  of  Blood  unto  the  Pri- 
mitive Churches,  in  Ails  15.  20.  was  a  Tem- 
porary Advice,  for  the  avoiding  of  Scandal.  It 
would  not  only  have  prejudiced  the  Jevos  againft 
all  Chriltianity,  but  alfo  it  would  have  confirm- 
ed the  Pagans,  in  their  Idolatry  ;  For  the  Prin- 
cipal Entanglements  of  their  Idolatry,  lay  in 
thefe  four  things,  of  Idolathytes,  Icrnication, 
Blood  and  Strangulates,  which '  are  elfewhere 
fummed  up  in  two,  'The  eating  of  things  Sacra- 
ficed  unto  Idols,  and,  committing  Fornication. 
To  forbear  thele  Things,  was  to  teftifie  a  Re- 
nunciation of  heaihemfm.  To  ufe  any  of  thele 
things  among  the  heathens,  was  to  jullifie  their 
Devil-Worflnp.  Now  the  World  is  in  other 
Circumffances,  and,  Cefjatio  Caufe  efficit,  ut 
ceffaret  Obfcrvatio.  Fornication  yet  remains  up 
on  other,  and  farther,  and  moral,  and  more 
general  Accounts,  a  Sin. 


Question. 

Wketbev   Significant    Ceremonies,   in 
Worfhip  of  God,  not  Inftituted  by 
are  Lawful  to  be  ufed  ? 


the 
him. 


L  T""1  H  E  Sign  of  Internal,    are  Parts 
Jl    ternal  Worfhip 


of  Ex- 

in  both  whereof,  the 


Great  God  hath  commanded  us  to  giorijic  him  : 
Even,  with  our  Spirits,  and  with  our  Bodies, 
which  are  his. 

II.  There  are  Natural  Ceremonies,  with 
which  the  Light  of  Nature  does  direO:  Men  to 
the  worfhip  of  God  :  And  thefe  are  to  be  ufed  in 
the  worfhip  of  God,  as  far  as  we  have  the 
Word  of  God,  reinforcing  and  countenancing  of 
them. 

III.  Some  Ceremonies  of  Refpeft  among  Men, 
are  ufed  in  Exercifes  of  Religion,  but  as  Ex- 
preffions  of  Civility  to  the  People  of  God,  with 
whom  we  AfTemble,  for  the  Worfhip  of  God-, 
and  thefe  are  to  be  diftinguifhed  from  thofe 
Aclions,  which  we  apply  to  the  Lord  him  felf 
immediately. 

IV.  There  are  Ceremonies  appointed,  for  lbme 
fignification  of  Inward  Graces  and  Moral  Duties, 
in  the  Worfhip  of  God  ;  which,  without  that 
Appointment,  would  not  fignifie  what  they  do  : 
And  it  is  the  Prerogative  of  God  alone,  to  or- 
dain all  fuch  Rights  as  thefe. 

V.  For  Men  to  take  upon  them,  to  Declare, 
what  Ceremonies  of  Worfhip,  the  God  of  Hea- 
ven ffiall  Accept,  and  Reward,  and  Blefs,  other- 
wife  than  he  hath  himfelf,  in  his  Holy  Laws 
declared,  is  a  very  Criminal  Prefumption  :  And 
this  Pride  of  Man  has  generally  been  Chaftized, 
with  a  manifold  Curfe  of  God. 

VI.  The  Second  Commandment,  forbids  not  all 
Images  (or  fignificant  Ceremonies)  in  the  Wor- 
fhip of  God,    bur,   Thy  making  them  for  thy 

felf. 

VII.  The  Authority  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
as  the  glorious  King  and  Prophet,  of  his  Church, 
is  profanely  invaded,  when  the  Worfhip  of 
God,  with  the  Significant  Ceremonies  of  it,  is 
taught  by  the  Inventions  of  Men. 

VIII.  The  Sacred  Scriptures  pronounce  it,  an 
Argument  fufficient,  for  the  Rejetlmg  and  Con- 
demning of  any  thing,  in  the  Worfhip  of  God,  if 
God  himfelf  hath  not  prefcribed  it.  Thus,  Jer.  7. 
3  1.  They  did  that  which  I  commanded  them  not, 
neither  came  it  into  my  tic  art.  Thus,  Heb.  7. 14. 
Of  that  Mofesfpake  nothing.  Thus,  Lev.  10.  1. 
They  offered  firange  Fire,  before  the  Lord,  which 
he  commanded  them  not. 

IX.  'Tis  very  certain,  That  under  the  Old 
Tefiament,  there  was  not  any  one  fignificant 
Ceremony  allow'd,  in  the  Worfhip  of  God, 
but  what  God  himfelf  had  inftituted.  If  the 
Churches  of  the  New  Tefiament  will  proceed 
in  this  matter,  without  a  Divine  Infiitution,  let 
them  then  produce  their  Charter. 

X.  The  Apoftolical  Writings  to  the  Galatians 
and  the  Coloffians,  forbid  us  to  pra&ife  any 
fignificant  Ceremony  in  the  Worfhip  of  God  which 
God  himfelf  had  once  Appointed,  but  now  Abol- 
ifhed.  Much  lefs  may  we  now  pra&ife  any 
which  God  never  appointed  at  all. 


Quest- 


5+ 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.       Book  V. 


Qj 


U  E  S  T  I  O  N. 


Whether  the  Games  of  Cards  or  Dice,  he 
Lawful  to  be  ufed,  among  the  Frofejfors  of 
the  Gbriftian  Religion  ? 

I.  '"p'Here  is,  at  the  Ieaft,  a  great  fufpidon 
Jl  brought  on  the  Lawfulnefs  of  thefe 
Games,  by  the  Lottery,  which  they  turn  upon. 
Lot s  being  mentioned  in  the  facred  Oracles  of 
the  Scripture,  as  ufed  only  in  weighty  Cajes,and  as 
an  Acknowledgment  of  God 'fitting  in  Judgment, 
with  a  defireol  his  Power  and  Providence  to  be 
manifefted,  and  not  without  an  Invocation  of 
God,  for  the  end  of  Strife,  therein  implied : 
They  cannot  be  made  the  Tools  and  Parts  of  our 
common  Sports,  without,  at  leaft,  fuch  an  ap- 
pearance of  Evi/,  as  is  forbidden  in  the  word  of 
God. 

II.  The  General  Rules,  which  in  all  Recrea- 
tions are  to  be  obferved,  are  fo  generally  tranf- 
grefled  in  thefe  Games,  that  ordinarily  it  can  be 
no  other  than  a  Sin  to  ufe  them. 

Thefe  Diverfions  Yafcinatc  the  Minds  of  thofe 
that  pracfife  them,  at  fuch  a  rate,  that  if  ever 
thofe  Perfons  come  to  be  converted  unto  God, 
they  bitterly  lament  the  lofs  of  time  in  which 
that  practice  hath  involved  them.  And  the 
many  other  PaJJions  and  Follies  almolt  infepa- 
rable  from  thefe  Diverfions,render  the  Diverfions 
themfelves  to  be,  Sins  againlt  the  Commandments, 
which  prohibit  the  Evils  thereby  occafioned. 

III.  The  Scandal  of  thefe  Game s,  declares  it  a 
Scandalous  thing  for  Cbrifiians  to  meddle  with 
them. 

The  fit  Charatter  given  to  thefe  ufages,  not 
only  by  Cbrifiians  of  all  forts  and  ranks,  and 
in  all  Ages,  whofe,  juft  invcllives  againft  them 
would  fill  Volumes,  but  by  the  Sober  and  Moral 
Pagans  alio,  has  brought  them  among  the 
things  of  Evil  Report,  which  by  Cbrifiians  are 
to  be  avoided.  ThatMan's  Heart  is  inordinately 
fet  upon  Play,  who  had  rather  do  things  under 
fuch  an  univerfal  condemnation,  than  forbear  a 
little  Play,  that  may  certainly  be  forborn  with- 
out any  Damage. 

IV.  Gains  of  Money  or  Eftate,  by  Games,  be 
the  Games  what  they  will,  are  a  finful  Violati- 
on  of  the  Law  of  Honefty  and  Induftry,  which 
God  has  given  us. 


Qj 


UESTI  ON, 


What 


Refpefl  is  due  to  Places  of  Vublick. 
Worjbip  ? 


HOly  Places  were  appointed  under  the  Law 
of  old,  by  the  great  Lawgiver  of  Ifrael, 
partly  to  prevent  Idolatry  among  the  People,  but  I 
chiefly  to  dire£f.  the  Thoughts  of  the  Faithful 
unto  rhe  Mejjiah,  wherein  God  was  refolved  for 
to  dwell  for  ever.      Notwithltanding, 


I.  There  is  now  no  Place  which  renders  the 
Worfhip  of  God,  more  acceptable  for  its  being 
there  performed  :  It's  foretold  concerning  the 
Times  of  the  Gofpel,  in  Zeph.  2.  u.  Menjball 
worfirip  him,  every  one  from  Ins  place.  Tis  fore- 
told in  Mai.  1.  n.  In  every  place  incenfie  fhall 
be  offered  to  my  Name,  and  a  pure  offering. 

Tis  foretold  in  John  4.  24.  That  the  Spiri. 
tual  Worfhip  of  God,  fhall  now  be  accepted 
with  him,  in  other  Places  as  well  as  in  Jeru- 
Jalem. 

We  are  commanded,  in  1  Tim.  2.  8.  That  Men 
pray  in  everyplace. 

There  is  a  Truth,  in  the  famous  Dr.  Ufijer's 
Obfervation :  '  In  Times  of  Pcrfecution,  the 
'  Godly  did  often  meet  in  Bains,  and  iuch  ob- 
s  fcure  Places ;  which  were  indeed  publick  be- 
\  caufe  of  the  Church  of  God  there  -,  as  where- 
'  ever  the  Prince  is,  there  is  the  Court,  tho'  it 
e  were  in  a  poor  Cottage. 

There  were  Parts  of  Worfhip  in  the  Mofaick 
Pedagogy,  which  could  not  be  performed  any 
where  but  at  the  Holy  Places,  appointed.  There 
are  no  Parts  of  the  Worfhip  confined  unto  any 
Pi .  ^s  under  the  New  Tefiament. 

They  who  expecl:  the  Divine  regard  for  what 
they  do  in  the  Worfhip  of  God,  becaufe  'tis  done 
in  this  or  that  Place,  do  not  pray  looking  to- 
wards the  Temple  ;  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  the 
true  Temple  ofGod,  is  therein  overlooked.' 

II.  To  prepare  and  repair  Places  for  the  Pub- 
lick  Worfhip  of  God,  and  keep  thofe  Places  in 
fuch  a  Condition,  that  they  be  not  unfit  for  the 
folemn  Exercifes  of  Religion :  This  is  but  an 
A£t,  of  Obedience  to  him,  who,  when  he  requires 
Worfhip  from  us,  doth  alfo  fuppofe  that  there 
muff  be  Places  for  it.  But  the  fetting  of  thefe 
Places  off,  with  a  Theatrical  Gaudinefs,  does 
not  favour  of  the  Spirit  of  a  true  Chriftian  So- 
ciety. 

III.  While  the  Duties  of  Divine  Worfnip,  are 
performing  in  any  Places,  an  agreeable  Reve- 
rence is  to  be  maintained  in  thofe  Places  •,  not 
fo  much  out  of  Refpe£f  unto  the  Places,  as  unto 
the  Duties  therein  performed,  and  the  Perfons 
concerned  with  us  in  the  Duties.  Neverthelefs, 
the  Synagogues  alfo  are  to  be  confidered,  as  the 
lioujes  of  God. 

IV.  To  offer  Affronts  to  Places  built  for  the 
Worfhip  of  God,  withdefign  therein  to  affront 
the  Worfhip  for  which  they  are  built,  is  a  vile 
Impiety.  Nor  will  the  great  God  hold  them 
guiltlels,  who  fo  take  his  Name  in  vain. 

V.  Places  intended  for  the  Sacred  Worfhip 
of  God,  may  lawfully  be  put  unto  any  civil  Ser- 
vice, for  which  they  may  be  accommodated,  at 
the  Times  when  the  Sacred  Worfhip  is  not  there 
to  be  attended  •,  fo  far  as  Contempt  of  God  and 
his  Ordinances  doth  not  naturally  and  necelfari- 
ly  follow  thereupon  •,  even  as  Courts  were  kept 
in  the  Synagogues  among  the  Jews. 


Que  st- 


Book  V.       Tbe  Hifiory  of  New-England. 


55 


Qj 


U  E  S  T  I  O  N. 


Whether,  to  drink  Healths,  be  a  thing  fit  to 
be  pra&ifed,  by  the  Profejfors  of  the  Chri- 
jitun  Religion  ? 

Anfweredin  the  following  Propofitions. 

I.TT  is  too  notorious  to  be  denied,  That  it  was 
J.  originally  an  Heathen  Cuftom  to  drink 
thole  which  were  called,  The  Cups  of  Health, 
in  token  ot  Refpeft  to  the  Object  mentioned  in 
their  Cups.  The  great  Auftin  truly  fays,  Dc 
pagano/um  obfervatione  reman  fit.  It  is  a  Relique 
of  Pagamfm.  And  inalmuch  as  it  is  not  a  na- 
tural Attion,  but  an  Aftion  of  a  religious  Na- 
ture, and  as  themfelves  called  it,  a  Devotion,  it 
is  now  reached  by  thofe  Oracles  of  God,  which 
forbid  our  learning  the  Ways  and  the  Works  of 
the  Heathen,  and  our  walking  as  the  Gentiles 
in  the  Vanity  of  their  Minds,  and  our  keeping 
the  vain  Converfation  received  by  Tradition 
from  our  Fathers. 

II.  That  which  very  much  adds  to  the  Obli- 
gations lying  upon  Christians  to  abandon  this 
Relique  of  Pagamfm,  is  the  Idolatrous  and  Dia- 
bolical Intentions  that  gave  the  firft  rife  unto 
it.  We  are  allured  from  all  the  Monuments  of 
Antiquity,  that  the  Healths  drunk  by  the  Pagans 
were  firft  of  all  Drink -Offerings  to  their  Demons, 
they  were  a  Cup  of  Devils  -,  and  then  fufficient- 
ly  to  Compliment  their  Princes  and  Patrons  they 
carried  on  the  Offerings  to  thole  Mortals  alfo  -, 
and  laftly,  the  Compliment  proceeded  fo  far 
as  to  take  in  any  Friends,  whom  they  law  caufe 
to  treat  with  fuch  Flouriihes  of  Affection.  It 
becomes  Chriftians  to  beware  of  having  any  pel- 
lowfhip  with  fuch  unfruitful  Works  of  Dark- 
nefs. 

III.  To  drink  a  Cup,  as  a  Part,  or  Sign,  of  our 
Invocation  upon  the  blelTed  God,  for  the  Health 
of  any  Perion,  is  a  Superflitwn  dire&ly  forbid- 
den by  the  Second  Commandment :  Nor  is  it  or- 
dinarily free  from  a  violation  of  the  Third. 
And  that  the  drinking  of  an  Health  is  thus  de 
ligned,  and  ib  becomes  no  other  than  a  prophane 
Sacrament,  was  the  Judgment  of  Ambr  of e,  when 
he  wrote  thofe  words,  §>uid  memo* em  Sacra- 
menta  I  Bibamus  pro  falute  Imperatorum.  To 
drink  an  Health  implies  an  Application  to  fome 
Objecf  for  that  Health:  This  way  of  it  is  un- 
warrantable. 

IV.  To  begin  or  follow  Healths,  which  bind' 
Perfbns  to  drink  off  their  Cups,  is  a  manifold 
Offence againlt  Charity  Juftice  and  Reafon.  Such 
Healths  being  as  the  ancients  truly  called  them, 
The  Devils  Shooing-Horns  to  draw  on  Drunken- 
nefs,  are  Scandals  wherein  much  brutifh  Folly 
is  committed,  and  more  occafioned.  The  Pri- 
mitive Chriftians  therefore  juftlv  refufed  them, 
and  condemned  them.  Great  Emperors  have 
made  Edifts  againft  them.  Pagan  Writers  have 
latyrically  lafhed  them.    And  even  Popiih  Wri- 


ters have  reproached  the  Proreftant  Profeifion 
tor  their  being  fo  much  practifed  under  ir. 

V.  Not  only  the  numberlefs,  and  prodigious 
Exorbitancies  of  health- drinking,  are  to  be  a- 
voided  by  every  Chrilfian,  but  the  very  propo- 
fing  our  Cups  to  the  Profperity  of  what  is 
therein  remembred.  'Tisavain  Plea,  that  we 
drink  no  more  than  a  civil  Remembrance  of  the 
Perion,  or  Affairs  mentioned  in  our  Cups.  Why 
is  the  AcTaon  of  drinking  fingled  out,  rather 
than  any  other  for  the  token  of  the  Remem- 
brance ?  And  why  is  there  fuch  ftreis  laid  upon 
a  Concurrence  in  the  A£fion  ?  It  is  but  a  conti- 
nuation of  the  old  Paganifm,  which  had  better 
be  utterly  abolifhed,  than  thus  refined  and  pre- 
ferved.  Every  thing  that  ferves  either  to  revive, 
or  to  maintain  the  old  Pagan  Follies,  and  har- 
den Men  in  them,  fhould  be  declined  by  them, 
that  would  adorn  the  Do&rine  of  God  our 
Saviour. 

Question. 

Whether  Inflrumental  Mufick  may  lawfully 
be  introduced  into  the  Worfhip  of  God,  in 
the  Churches  of  the  New  Teftament  ? 

Conftdered  and  anfwered  in  the  following 
Conclufions. 

I.'T'HE  Inflrumental  Mufick  ufed  in  the  old 
Jl  Church  of  Ifrael,  was  an  Inftitution  of 
God:  It  was  \_2Chr0n.  29.  25.]  the  Com- 
mandment of  the  Lord  by  the  Prophets.  And 
the  Inftruments  are  called  God's  Inftruments, 
[  iChron.  16.  42.]  and  Inftruments  of  the 
Lord,  [  2  Chron.  7.  6.  ]  Now  there  is  not  one 
word  of  Inftitution  in  the  New  Teftament,  for 
Inflrumental  Mufick  in  the  Worfhip  of  God. 
And  becaufe  the  Holy  God  rejefts  all  he  does 
not  command  in  his  Worfhip,  he  now  therefore 
in  effect  fays  unto  us,  I  will  not  hear  the  Melody 
of  thy  Organs.  But,  on  the  other  fide,  the  Rule 
given  doth  abundantly  Intimate,  that  no  Voice 
is  now  to  be  heard  in  the  Church,  but  what  is 
figniricant  and  edifying,  by  fignification  -,  which 
the  Voice  of  Inftruments  is  not. 

II.  Tho'  Inflrumental  Mufick  were  admitted 
and  appointed  in  the  Worfhip  of  God  under  the 
Old  Teftament,  yet  we  do  not  find  it  pra£Hfed 
in  the  Synagogue  of  the  Jews,  but  only  in  the 
Te?nple.  It  thence  appears  to  have  been  a  part 
of  rhe  Ceremonial  Pedagogy,  which  is  now  abo- 
lifhed  -?  nor  can  any  fay  it  was  a  part  of  Moral 
Worfhip.  And,  whereas  the  common  Ufage 
now  hath  confined  Inflrumental  Mufick  to  Ca- 
thedrals, it  ieems  therein  too  much  to  Judaize ; 
which  to  do  is  a  part  of  the  Anti-Chriftian  Apo- 

fhiey,  as  well  as  to  Paganize. 

III.  In  our  afferting,  a  Matter  oftheOldTefta- 
ment,  to  have  been  Typical,  'tis  not  needful, 
that  we  be  always  able  to  particularize  any 
future  Myftcries  of  the  New  Teftament  therein 
referred  unto  -,  Truths  which  were  then  of  a 
prcfent  Confideration,  were  fometimes  repre- 

iented 


s* 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.       Book  V. 


fented  in  the  Types  then  ufed  among  the  People 
of  God,  which  helps  to  underltand  the  Cafe  of 
Inftrumental  Mufick. 

IV.  Inftrumental  Mufick  in  the  Worfhip  of 
God,  is  but  a  very  late  Invention  and  Corruption 
in  the  Church  of  the  New  Teftament.  The 
Writings  that  go  under  the  name  oijuftm  Mar- 
tyr deny  it  and  decry  it.  Chryfoftom  fpeaks 
meanly  of  it.  Even  Aquinas  himfelf,  about 
400  Years  ago,  determines  againft  it,  as  Jewifh 
and  Carnal.  Bellarmine  himfelf  confeiTcs,  that 
it  was  but  late  received  in  the  Church. 

V.  If  we  admit  Inftrumental  Mufick,  in  the 
Worfhip  of  God,  how  can  we  refill  the  Impofi- 
tion  of  all  the  Inftruments  ufed  among  the  an- 
cient Jews  ?  Yea,  Dancing  as  well  as  Playing, 
and  feveral  other  Judaic  Atlions  ?  •  Or,  how 
can  we  decline  a  whole  Rabble  of  Church-Of- 
ficers, neceffary  to  be  introduced  for  Inftrumental 
Mufick,  whereof  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  hath  left 
us,  no  manner  of  Direction  ? 


Cb 


UESTION. 


Whether  Baptifm  it  to  be  adminiftred  by  any 
but  the  Ordained  Minifters  of  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  I 

I  \  /f  7"E  find*  no  CommbTion  or  PermifTion 

V  V  fr°m  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  for  any 
to  be  the  Adminiftrators  of  Baptifm,  except  thofe 
whole  Work  it  is  by  his  Commiffion  top-each  the 
Gofpel,  Mattb.  28.  9.  And  none  have  a  Com- 
mijjion,  to  make  the  preaching  of  the  Gofpel 
their  Work,  but  fuch  as  are,  with  the  Call  of 
the  Faithful  thereunto,  fet  apart  for  that  Work, 
Rom.  10.  15. 

Baptifm  is  a  Seal  of  the  Covenant  •,  for  any 
but  an  Officer  to  apply  the  Seal,  in  the  Name 
of  the  Great  King  of  Heaven,  is  a  prefumptuous 
Arrogance. 

Baptifm  is  one  of  the  Evangelical  Myfteries, 
and  none  but  Stewards  in  the  Houfe  of  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift,  may  pretend  unto  the  DifpeniatioH 
ot  thofe  Myfteries. 

The  Apoitolical  Writings  intimate,  that  fome 
are  fent  to  Baptife.  Hence  none  are  to  Baptije, 
but  thofe  that  aiefent. 

II.  As  both  the  Primitive  and  Prctejiant 
Churches,  have  fignifitd  their  dlflike  of  Baptifm 
adminiftred  by  common  Hands:  Thus  the  Dif- 
order,  and  Contuiion,  and  the  Contempt  of  the 
Inftitutions  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrilt,  which 
weald  be  thereby  introduced,  is  u  fufticient  pre- 
judice  againft  it. 

[II  The  Original  of  the  Allowance  and 
.  renance,  given  in  fome  Churches,  unto 
undue  Adminiftrators  of  Baptifm  has  been  from 
g  >Js  Errors  in  the  Minds  of  Men,  about  the 
3  .cefhty  and  Operation  of  that  Sacrament, 
whereof,  non  Prwatio  fed  Contcmptus  dam- 
nat. 


f  Propositions. 

Concerning  the  Marriage  of  Coufin-Germans. 

I.  nT  H  O'  in  thefirft  Propagation  of  Mankind 
X  from  one  Head,  by  the  Great  God  re- 
folved  and  required,  it  was  nectflary  for  Bro- 
thers, to  Marry  their  Sifters,  yet  that  fo  the 
Bonds  of  Amity  in  Humane  Society  might  be  the 
better  increaied,  the  Lord  afterwards  prohibit- 
ed feveral  Marriages,  under  the  Title  of  Inceft- 
and  fome  were  now  too  near  akin  to  be  united : 
there  were  degrees  of  Confanguimty,  and  ib  of 
Affinity,  wherein  Marriages  might  not  be  con- 
tracted. 

II.  Albeit  the  Light  of  Nature  teaches  Men 
to  preferve  a  Diftance,  and  Honour,  for  fome 
that  are  very  nearly  related,  and  Natural  Con- 
fcience  relucls  with  Horror  at  fome  Conjunctions  -, 

like,  what  the  Apofile  calls,  a  Fornication  that 
is  not  fo  much  as  named  among  the  Gentiles,  and 
thofe  which  the  Poets  themfelves  call,  Vetitos 
Hymcnxos,  and  Impieties ;  yet  it  is  a  Moral 
Law  of  God,  pofitively  given,  or  a  Law,  the 
general  reafon  whereof,  is  in  the  Nature  of  the 
thing,  but  the  particular  Limitation  of  it  is  by 
Revelation  from  God,  that  is  to  determine  the 
Degrees,  wherein  Marriages  are  to  be  judged 
Unlawful  and  Inceftuous. 

III.  In  the  Eighteenth  Chapter  of  Leviticus^ 
there  is  a  Law  of  Heaven,  declaring  the  De- 
grees, wherein  Marriages  are  forbidden ;  and 
there  is  no  doubt,  that  all  that  come  within 
thofe  Degrees,  are  as  much  forbidden,  tho'  they 
be  not  exprefly  mentioned. 

What  is  pronounced  a  Sin,  by  that  Law,  is 
to  be  efteemed  a  Sin,  by  the  Gentiles,  as  well  as 
Jews,  (which  the  Conclufion  of  it,  abundantly 
intimates :)  But  what  falls  not  within  the  reach 
of  that  Law,  is  no  Sin  :  and  the  Canon-Law, 
which  for  fome  Covetous  and  Enflaving  ends, 
hath  made  vaft  additions  to  this  Law  of  God, 
is  to  be  rejected,  as  full  of  Superftitious  Im- 
politions. 

IV.  If  we  exaftly  confider  the  Line  in  the 
Eighteenth  Chapter  of  Leviticus,  we  fhall  find, 
that  the  mod  remote  Relations  forbidden  to 
Many,  (which  are,  the  Brother,  and  the  Bro- 
thers Daughter)  ftand  one  Degree  nearer  to  the 
root,  than  Coufin  Germans  do.  An  Uncle  or  an 
Aunt  therefore  -,  being  the  furtheft,  with  whom 
a  Marriage  is  interdicted,  it  ieems  plain,  that 
the   Marriage  of  Coujtn-Germans  is  not  Inceftu- 

QUS. 

V.  Altho'  Coufin-Germans,  that  are  Married 
unto  each  other,  now  may  and  Ihould,  with  all 
Peace  of  Mind,  live  together  in  the  fear  ot  God, 
and  not  give  way  to  diftrefling  temples  ;  or 
queftion  the  Lawfulnefs  of  their  Marriage  any 
more  than  the  Famous  Holoman  would  have 
done,  who  has  written  to  prove  it,  pium  & 
Chriftianum  ejje.  Neverthelefs,  there  is  much 
to  be  laid  for  the  difTuading  of  Coufin-Germans^ 
from  coming  together  in  Marriage.    Inexpedi- 

ence 


Book  V.        Tbe  Hijlory  of  New-England. 


57 


ence  we  know  fometimes  does  produce  unlaw- 
fulnefs.  This  Marriage  may  be  very  Inexpedient, 
it  borders  as  near,  as  is  poflible,  to  what  is  un- 
lawful. There  is  no  need  of  coming  lo  near, 
while  we  have  fuch  a  wide..  World  before  us. 
One  end  of  Marriage,  namely  to  promote,  and 
extend  alliances,  is  damnified  herein.  Some 
Wife  and  Good  Men  have  been  fo  troubled  in 
their  Minds,  concerning  thefe  Marriages,  that 
it  is  an  eafier  thing  to  abftain  here  from,  than 
to  extirpate  fuch  a  trouble  from  the  Minds  of 
the  Faithful. 

Some  of  the  moil  confiderable  among  the 
Ancients,  elpecially  Ambroje,  and  Auftm,  be- 
fides  Five  feveral  Councils,  have  feverly  cenfured 
them*  and  the  Churches  of  the  Augufian  On 
fejjion,  do  to  this  Day  prohibit  them.  So  that 
upon  the  whole,  the  advice  of  the  renowned 
Ames  may  feem  noj  amiis,  Tut'ws  rji  abfii- 
nere. 

QjJ  E  ST  I  O  N. 

Whether,  or  how  far  the  DifcipHne  of  our 
Churches  upon  offences  in  them,  is  to  de- 
fend upon  tbe  LonviBion  of  thrfe  Offences 
in  the  courts  of  Civil  Judicature  ? 

I.  *-pO  bring  the  DifcipHne  of  tbe  Church,  in- 
1  to  a  dependance  on  the  Direction  of  the 
Civil  Magi  ft  raie,  is  to  put  it  under  undue,  and 
unlafe  diiadvantages.  The  mutual  dependance 
of  thole,  on  each  other,  as  'tis  not  founded  in 
the  Oracles  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  fo  it  has 
been  the  occafion  of  no  little  Confufion  in  the 
World. 

II.  Some  things  may  be  cenfured  in  the  Court, 
for  Tianigrefrions  of  the  Laws,  which  may 
fcarce  delerye  the  Cenfures  of  the  Church. 

III.  Some  things  may  be  cenfured  in  the 
Church  foi  OfTences,  againft  which,  the  Court 
has  no  Cento)  es  by  any  Law  provided. 

IV.  Pel  Ions  may  be  io  defective  in  their  de 
fence  of  themfelves  by  Legal  formalities,  as  to 
fal  ider  the  Cenfures  of  the  Court  -,  and  yer 
t  church  may  lee  caufe,  and  do  well,  to  ac- 
c  ..it  them. 

V.  Pe>  Pons  may  be  acquired  in  the  Court  oi 
Crimes  lard  to  .their  Charge,  for  want  of  Gw- 
vittion,  and  yet  the  Evidence  may  be  16  Con- 
vicTive,  that  a  Church  may  Condemn  item 
thereup 

VI.  ' '■  hen  a  Church  paffes  a  Cenfure  on  any 
Delinquent,  it  is  convenient  and  advifable,  thar 
the  CirCfcmftanc.es  of  it  be  fo  managed,  as  to 
expoie  as  little  as  may  be,  the  cenfured  Perfon 
unto  the  Sentence  or  the  Court. 

VII.  A  Q  ■ .  h  may  do  well  fometimes,  to  ex 
prel-  ir'  iithfulnds  urj.to  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrilt, 
by  i  iurfpg  'oiiic  Evils,  which  a  Court  may 
fa      Ij  i  eg]  ct  to  Animadvert  upon- 

.  Lid  ■  'ironies  a  G_afe  may  be  lo  dark,  that 
a  C  <  may  hope  to  be  cated  of  Labour,  and 
\  d  ti  m  Error,  bv  a  Court  rirlf  lifting  of  it, 
and  then  Cbrifiian  Prudence  would  make  ufe  of 


that  help,   to  come  at  the  knowledge  of  the 
Truth. 

IX.  When  a  SefTion  of  a  Court  is  very  near, 
a  Church  may  prudently  fbtbear  for  a  little 
while,  a  Procefs,  which  the  necclTuy  of  a  Soul 
fallen  into  Sin,  and  the  Vindication  of  the  Name 
of  the  Lord,  makes  not  proper  to  be  forborn  tor 
a  greater  while. 

X.  When  things  are  not  very  Apparent,  or, 
very  Important,  it  is  prudently  done  of  a  Church, 
to  defer  the  early  decilion  of  a  Matter,  vhich 
will  produce  between  it,  and  the  Court,  a  Con- 
troverfie  of  dangerous  Confequence. 

XI.  As  'tis  the  Duty  of  a  Church  to  fee  that 
the  WitnelTes  of  a  Crime,  to  be  judged  by  it,  be 
obliged  to  fpeak,  as  in  the  fpecial  prefence  of 
the  Great  God,  fo  if  it  be  feared  that  the  Wit- 
nelTes will  not  be  Faithful,  unlefs  they  be  upon 
Oath,  it  is  Prudence  to  defer  'till  the  Civil  Ala- 
giftrate  have  examined  them. 

XII.  Or,  if  Witnejjes  refufe  to  come  at  all 
unto  the  Church,  which  the  Civil  Magiftrate 
m  ay  and  will  compel  to  give  in  their  Tettimo- 
nies,  a  Church  can  in  Prudence  do  no  other  than 
defer,  'till  thol'e  WitnelTes  can  be  brought  to 
teltirie  what  is  expected  from  them. 


The  Judgment  of  the  Mini/Jers,  met  4*Boffon, 
May,  ii.  j6vS>.  upon  a  Caje  Addreffed 
unto  them,  concerning  Lotteries. 

I.  y^iReat  is  the  Difference,  between,  a  Lot- 
Vj  tery  fet  up,  by  Perlons  a£fing  in  a  pri- 
vate Capacity ;  and  a  Lottery  fet  up,  bv  the  Go- 
vernment ,  who  have  Power  to  lay  a  Tax  upon 
the  People,  but  choofe  to  leave  auto  the  more 
eafie  Determination  of  a  Lotteiy,  the  Perfons 
who  fh.ill  pay  the  Summ  which  the  Neceflkies  • 
of  the  Publick  require.  A  Parliamentary  Lot- 
tery takes  only  from  the  Voluntary,  what  the 
Government  might  have  Demanded,  with  a 
more  general  bnpofition  ;  and  only  when  the 
People  ate  plunged  into  fuch  diftrefs,  that  a 
more  general  Impofnion  would  be  grievous  to 
them  •,  and  it  employs  for  the  welfare  of  the 
Publick,  all  that  is  thus  railed  by  the  Lottery. 
Whereas  a  more  private  Lottery,  is  managed, 
by  thole  that  have  no  Antecedent  claim  unto 
any  thing  of  their  Neighbours,  and  it  is  defign- 
ed  merely  for  private  advantage. 

II.  It  is  a  Principle  embraced  among  all  well- 
informed  Chriftians,  That  no  calling  is  Lawful, 
r>ut  what  is  ufeful  unto  Humane  Society,  in  lome 
of  it's  Interells,  except  there  be  in  a  Calling,  fome 
Tendency,  to  make  an  addition  unto  the  Enjoy- 
ments and  Interells  of  humane  Society,  no 
Chriitians  may  fet  it  up.  The  Oracles  of  Hea- 
ven, tell  us,  Chriftians  muff  Learn  to  poffefs 
honcfl  Trades  for  necejfa>y  ufes.  To  fet  up  a 
Lottery  is  to  fet  up  a  Calling.  But  tho'  this  or 
that  particular  Man  may  be  a  Gainer-,  yet  it 
would  puzle  any  Man  to  tell,  what  necelTary,  or 
convenient  ufes,  of  Humane  Society,  where  the 
Lottery  is  opened,  are  at  all  ferved.  The  Minds, 
the  Bodies,    the  Riches,    the  Defence,    or  the 

5  H  regular 


58 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.      Book  V. 


regular  Velights,  of  Humane  Society,  have  by 
this  Lottery,  no  addition  made  unto  them. 

III.  Not  only  the  Undertakers  of  a  Lottery, 
have  a  certain  gain  unto  themielves,  from  Hu- 
mane Society  ;  but  fo  likewiie  have  they,  who 
in  the  Lottery,  draw  the  Tickets  of  Benefit  : 
and  every  one  that  Ventures,  doth  it  with  a  de- 
fire  to  fall  upon  thofe  Tickets  in  the  Drawing. 
Tis  very  certain,  that  for  this  Benefit,  none  of 
thofe,  can  pretend,  that  they  do  any  one  thing 
Beneficial  to  Humane  Society.  They  only  Hire 
the  Undertakers,  to  ttansfer  the  Eftates  of  others 
unto  them,  without  any  fervice  done  by  them, 
to  the  Interefts  of  any  others  under  Heaven. 
But  we  do  not  judge  this  pleafing  unto  God, 
that  Mens  Rights  be  ordinarily  transferred  from 
one  to  another,  merely  in  a  way  of  Reference 
to  Divuie  Providence,  without  confidering  any 
fervice  therein  intended  unto  the  Community, 
or  any  help  to  Mankind  in  its  true  Interelts. 
Nor  is  ventring  in  a  Lottery  on  Shore,  of  the 
fame  Nature  with  venturing  in  a  Merchandife 
at  Sea. 

IV.  In  a  Lottery  fo  contrived,  that  when  all 
the  frizes  be  drawn,  they  do  not  make  up, 
and  letch  out,  near  the  whole  Summ  that  was 
depofued  by  the  Adventurers,  there  is  a  plain 
Cheat  upon  the  People.  The  Undertakers  in 
fuch  a  Lottery,  only  refolve  to  Pillage  the 
People  of  fuch  a  Confidetable  Summ  ;  and  in 
vite.a  number  to  a  flirt  them  in  their  A£tion, 
with  hopes  of  going  fhares  with  them  in  the 
Advantage  ;  and  luch  is  the  Corruption  of  Man- 
kind, thar  the  mere  hopes  of  getting  the  Riches 
of  other  Men,  without  the  doing  of  any  fer- 
vice to  them  for  it,  will  engage  Men  to  run  the 
hazzard  of  being  Lofers. 

Upon  the  whole;  we  cannot  approve  it, 
that  any  particular  Perlbns  do  either  under- 
take, or  countenance  any  fuch  Lotteries,  as 
have  been  fometimes  praftifed  in  other  places, 
and  the  Danger  which  there  is,  left  the  Lufts 
of  Men,  once  engaged  in  thefe  Lotteries,  pro- 
ceed unto  a  multitude  of  other  Diforders,  to 
the  ruine  of  their  Employments  and  their  Fa- 
milies, does  further  move  us,  to  withold  our 
approuation  from  them. 

$>  9.  Having  fo  often  produced  the  Propofiti- 
ons  voted  by  an  AlTembly  of  Minifters  at  Cam- 
bridge, tor  the  Explanation  of  our  Platform,  'tis 
not,  here,  amils,  on  this  occafion  to  give  lome 
Hiftory  of  that  Affcmbly. 

Know  then,  that  according  to  the  Advice  of 
Mr.  Hooker,  who  about  a  Week  before  he  fell 
lick  of  his  laft,  let  fall  thefe  words,  We  muji 
Agree  upon  conjiant  Meetings  of  Alimfiers,  and 
fettle  the  Confociation  of  Churches,  or  eife  we  are 
utterly  undone !  It  has  been  the  care  of  the 
Minifters,  in  the  leveral  Vicinages  throughout 
the  muft  part  of  me  Countrey,  to  eflj  ,ii(h 
fuch  conjiant  Meetings,  whereat  they  have  in 
formed  one  another  or  their  various  Exercifes, 
and  a/jJfted one  another  in  the  Work  of  our  Lord : 
bolides  a  general  Appearance  of  all  the  Minifters 
in  each  Colony,   once  a  Year,    at  the  Town, 


and  the  Time  of  the  General  Court  for  EleQions 
of  Magtftrates  in  the  Colonies.  Thefe  Meet- 
ings have  not  all  obliged  themfelves  to  one 
Method  of  Proceeding,  in  purfuing  of  mutual 
Edification  -,  feme  do  ftill  Fa  ft  and  Pray  toge- 
gether,  and  fpeak  in  theit  rurn  to  a  propojej 
SubjeB,  much  atrer  the  manner  of  the  Great 
GrmdaPs  Le&uies  :  Others  do  only  after  the 
publick  Le&ures,  then,  held  in  the  •'  'ongrega- 
tion  of  that  Paftor,  10  whole  Houfe  chev  Ad- 
journ, Confer  a  wuile  together  upou  meters  of 
Concernment :  but  one  of  thele  Meetings  ts  regu- 
lated by  the  following  Orders. 


It  is  agreed  by  us  whofe  Names  are  under- 
written, that  rve  do  ^floridfe  our  ft  foes 
for  the  promoting  of  the  GofpA,  and  our 
mutual  afjijtance  and  Hither  ance  tn  that 
great   Woik.: 


In  order  thereunto, 


1. 


THAT  we  meet  conftantly,  at  the 
'  College  in  Cambridge,  on  a  Monday 
'  at  Nine  or  Ten  of  the  Clock  in  the  Morn- 
'  ing,  once  in  fix  Weeks,  or  oltner,  if  need 
'be. 

II.  '  That  in  fuch  Meetings,  one  (hall  be 
'  chofen  Moderator  pro  Tempore,  for  the  better 
'Order  and  Decency  of  our  Proceedings,  which 
'  Moderator  is  to  be  chofen,  at  the  end  of  every 
c  Meeting. 

III.  '  That  the  Moderator's  Work  be, 

1.  '  To  End  the  Meeting,  wherein  he  is 
'  Chofen,  and  to  begin  the  next  with 
'  Prayer. 

2.  '  To  propofe  Matters  to  be  Debated, 
'  and  Receive  the  Suffrages    of  the 

*  Bretheren. 

3.  '  To  Receive  with  the  Confent  of  the 
'  Bretheren,  the  Subfcriptions  of  iuch 

*  as  fhall  join  with  us  ;  and  keep  all 

'  Papers  belonging  to  the  Affociation.     , 

1  4.  '  To  give  and  receive  Notices,  and  ap» 
'  point  Meetings,  upon  Emergent  Oc- 
'  cations. 

IV.  '  That  we  fhall  fubmit  unto  the  Counfils, 
'  Reproofs  and  Cenfures  of  the  Bretheren  fo 
'  Affociated  and  AlTembled,  in  all  things  in  the 
'Lord  [E/A.5.  21.] 

V.  'That  none  of  us  fhall  relinquifh  this  Af 
'■fociation,  nor  forfake  the  appointed  Meet- 
'  ings,  without  giving  lufficient  Reajon  for  the 
'  fame. 

VI.  '  That 


Book  V.         The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


$9 


VI.  '  That  our  Work,  in  the  faid  Meeting 
«  fhall  be ; 

i.  '  To  Debate  any  Matter  referring  to 
•  our  f elves. 

2.  '  To  Hear  and  Confider  any  Cafes  that 
'  fhall  be  propofed  unto  us,  from 
'  Churches  or  private  Perlbns. 

3.  '  To  Anfwer  any  Letters  directed  un- 
'  to  us,  from  any  other  AJfociations  or 
c  Perfons. 

4.  '  To  Difcourfe  of  any  ^ueftion  pro 
'  poled  at  the  former  Meeting. 

§  10.  Such  and  fo  hath  been  our  Platjorm 
of  Church  Di/cipline :  If  our  Bretheren  of  the 
Presbyterian  Perfwafion  be  ftill  uneafie  in  any 
Article  of  it,  let  thefe  things  be  offered  for  a 
Clole. 

firft,  The  Presbyterian  Minifters  of  this 
Country  do  find  it  no  Difficulty  to  Prallife 
the  fubllance  of  it,  in  and  with  their  feveral 
Congregations  ;  and  when  it  comes  to  the 
practice  they  do  not  find  fo  much  of  Difficulty, 
as,  at  firft,  appear'd  in  the  Notion. 

Secondly,  The  Reverend  Perfons  of  the  Pref- 
byterian  way,  who  wrote  the  Jus  Divinum 
Mimfterii  Evangelici,  as  long  fince  as  the  Year 
1654.  declared, 

'  As  we  agree  wholly  in  the  fame  Confeffion 
'  of  iaith,  fo  we  agree  in  many  things  or  great- 


'  eft  Concernment,  in  the  matters  of  Ch.ir.b 
'  Difciplme.  And  thole  things  wherein  we  dif- 
6  fer,  are  not  of  fuch  Coniequence  as  to  caufe  a 
'  Schifm  between  us,  either  in  Worfhip,  or  in 
'  Love  and  Affeclion. 

c  Our  Debates  are  (as  it  was  faid  of  the  Dif- 
'  futcs  of  the  Ancient  Fathers,  one  with  another 
'  about  lefler  differences^)  not  Contentiones  but 
'  Collationes.  We  can  truly  fay,  as  our  Bre- 
'  theren  do  in  their  Preface,  That  it  is  far  from 
'  usfo  to  Arreft  the  Difcipline  of  thrift  as  to 
'  Deleft  the  Difciples  of  Chrift  ■,  Jo  to  Com  eft 
'  for  the  Seam-lefs  Coat  oj  Chrift,  as  to  Crucifie 
'  the  Living  Members  of  Chrift ;  fo  to  divide 
'  our  f elves  about  Church-Communion,  as  thro' 
c  breaches  to  open  a  wide  Gap,  for  a  deluge  of 
'  Antichnfiian  and  profane  Malignity,  to  /wallow 
1  up  both  Church  and  Civil  State. 

Thirdly,  The  Bretheren  of  the  Presbyterian 
way  in  England,  are  lately  come  unto  fuch  an 
Happy  Union,  with  thofe  of  the  Congregational, 
that  all  former  Names  of  Diftincfion,  are  now 
fwallowed  up  in  that  BlelTed  one  of  United 
Bretheren.  And  now  partly  becaule  one  of 
New-England,  namely  Mr.  Increafe  Mather, 
then  Refident  at  London,  was  very  Angularly 
Inftrumental  in  Effecting  of  that  Union  -,  but 
more  becaufe  that'Union,  hath  been  for  many 
Luftres,  yea,  many  Decads  of  Years  Exemplified 
in  the  Churches  of  New-England,  fo  far,  that 
I  believe,  'tis  not  ponTole  for  me  to  give  a  truer 
Defcription  of  our  Ecclefiaftical  Conftitution, 
than  by  Tranfcribing  thereof  The  Articles  of 
that  Union  fhall  here  be  Repeated. 


Heads  of  Agreement 


AfTented  to  by  the 

United  Ministers,  formerly  call'd  Vresbyterian 

and  Congregational, 


I.  Of  Churches  and  Church-Members. 


vv 


E  acknowledge  our  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift  to  have  One  Catholick 
Church  ,  or  Kingdom ,  com- 
prehending all  that  are  united 
to  him,  whether  in  Heaven  or  Earth.  And  do 
conceive  the  whole  Multitude  of  Vifible  Believers, 
and  rheir  Infant-Seed  (commonly  calfd  the  Ca- 
tholick Vifible  Church)  to  belong  to  Chrift's  Spi- 
ritual Kingdom  in  this  World.  But  for  the 
Notion  of  a  Catholick  Vifible  Church  here,  as 
it  fignifies  it's  having  been  colle&ed  into  any 
formed  Society,  under  a  vifible  Humane  Head 
on  Earth,  whether  One  Pcrfon  fingly,  or  Many 
Colleftively,  we,  with  the  reft  of  Proteftants, 
unanimoufly  difclaim  it 


2.  We  agree,  that  particular  Societies  of  vi- 
fible Saints,  who,  under  Chrift  their  Head,  are 
ifatedly  joined  together,  for  ordinary  Commu- 
nion with  one  Author  in  all  the  Ordinances  of 
Chrift,  are  particular  Churches,  and  are  to  be 
owned  by  each  other,  as  inftituted  Churches  of 
Chrift,  though  differing  in  Apprchenjions  and 
PraUice  in  fome  lefler  Things. 

3.  That  none  (hall  be  admitted  as  Members, 
in  order  to  Communion  in  all  the  fpecial  Ordi- 
nances of  the  Gofpel,  but  fuch  Perfons  as  are 
knowing,  and  found  in  the  Fundamental  Doll- 
rines  of  the  Chriftian  Religion,  without  lcandal 
in  their  Lives ;  and  to  a  Judgment  regulated  by 
the  Word  of  God,  are  Perfons  of  vifible  Holi- 
nefs  and  Honefty  ;  credibly  profeffing  Cordial 
Subjection  to  Jefus  Chrift.  5  H  2       4.  A 


6o 


Ibe  Hiflory  of  New-England.      Book  V. 


4.  A  competent  number  of  fuch  vifible  Saints, 
(as  before  defcribed)  do  become  the  capable 
Subjects  of  Mated  Communion  in  all  the  Jpecial 
P,  finances  of  Chrift  upon  their  mutual  declared 
Confent  and  Agreement  to  walk  together  th  rein 
according  to  Go/pel  Ride.  In  which  Declara- 
tion, different  degrees  of  Explicit 'encf,  lhall  no 
ways  hinder  fuch  Churches  from  owning  each 
other,  as  inftituted  Chard 

5.  Tho' parochial.  Pounds^  be  not  of  Divine 
Right,  yet  tor  common  Edification,  the  Mem- 
bers of  a  '  ch  ought  (as  much  as 
coveniently  may  be)  to  live  near  one  another. 

6.  That  each  particular  Church  hath  right  to 
ale  their  own  Officers;  and  being  furnifhed 
with  fuch  as  are  duly  qualified  and  ordained 'ac- 
cording to  the  Gofpel  Rule,  hath  Authority  from 
Chrift  for  exercifing  Government,  and  of  enjoy- 
ing all  ^Ordinances  of  Worfbip  within  it  felf. 

7.  In  the  Adminiftration  oi  Church  Power,  it 
belongs  to  the  Pajiors  and  other  Elders  of  every 
particular  Church,  if  fuch  there  be  to  rule  and 
govern,  and  to  the  Brotherhood  to  confent  ac- 
cording to  the  Rule  of  the  Go/pel. 

8.  That  all  Prolefiors  as  before  defcribed,  are 
bound  in  Duty,  as  they  have  opportunity  to 
join  themfelves  as  fixed  Members  of  ibme  parti- 
cular Church  ■,  their  thus  joining  being  part  of 
their  profelTed  Subjection  to  the  Go/pel  of  Chrift, 
and  an  inftituted  Means  of  their  Eftablifhment 
and  Edification;  whereby  they  are  under  the 
P j floral  Cwr,andin  cafe  oifcandalous  or  offenfive 
Walking,  may  be  Authoritatively  admonifhed 
or  cenfured  for  their  Recovery,   and  for  Vindi- 

>n  of  the  Tr,        •  I  the  CWcfrprofeffingit. 
p.  That  a  I  ifil  le  Profeffor  thus  joined  to  a  par- 
ticular Church  ought  to  continue  ftedfaft  with 
the  laid  Church;   and  not   forfake   the  Mini- 
ftry,  and  Ordinances  there  d  ,    without 

an  orderly  fecking  a  Recommendation  unto  ano- 
ther Church,  which  ought  to  be  given,  when 
the  Caie  of  the  Perfon  apparently  requires  it. 

II.  Of  the  Miniftry. 

I.T7T7E  agree  that  the  Minifterial Office  is 

V    V    inftituted  by  Jefus  "Chrift  for  the 

gathering,  guiding,  edifying  and  governing  of  his 

Church ;  and  to  continue  to  the  end  of  the  World. 

2.  They  who  are  called  to  this  Office  ought  to 
be  endued  with  competent  Learning  and  minifte- 
rial Gifts,  as  alfo  with  the  Grace  of  God,  found 
in  Judgment,not  Novices  in  the  Faith  and  Know- 
ledge of  the  Gofpel ;  without  fcandal,  of  Holy 
Conversion,  and  fuch  as  devote  themfelves  to 
the  Work,  and  Service  thereof 

3.  That  ordinarily  none  fhall  be  ordained  to 
the  Work  of  this  Miniftry,  but  fuch  as  are  called 
and  chef  en  thereunto  by  a  particular  Church. 

4.  That  in  fo  great  and  weighty  a  Matter  as 
the  calling  and  chufing  a  Paftor,  we  judge  it  or- 
dinarily requifite,  that  every  fuch  Church  con- 
fult  and  advife  with  the  P after s  of  neighbour- 
ing Congregations. 

5.  Thac  after  fuch  Advice  the  Perfon  con- 
futed about,  being  chofen  by  the  Brotherhood 


j  of  that  particular  Church  over  which  he  is  to 
be  fet,  and  he  accepting,  be  duly  ordained  and 
\fet  apart  to  his  Office  over  them ;  wherein  'tis 
j  ordinarily  requifite  that  the  Paftors  of  A'eigh- 
l  beuring  Congregations  concur  with  the  preaching 
Elder  or  Elders,  if  fuch  there  be. 

6.  That  whereas  fuch  Ordination  is  only  in- 
tended for  fuch  as  never  before  had  been  ordain- 
ed to  the  minifterial  Office -,    if  any  judge,    that 

I  in  the  cafe  alfo  of  the  removal  of  one  formerly 
ordained,  to  a  new  Station,  or  pa  floral  Charge 

_  there  ought  to  be  a  like,  folemn  recommending 
him  and  his  Labours  to  the  Grace  and  Bleffing  of 

I  God;  no  different  Sentiments  or  Practice  herein, 
fhall  be  any  occafion  of  Contention  or  Breach  of 
'■union  among  us. 

7.  It  is  expedient,  that  they  who  enter  on  the 
work  of  preaching  the  Gofpel j)e  not  only  qualified 
for  Communion  of  Saints ;  but  alfo,  that  ex- 
cept in  Cafes  extraordinary,  they  give  proof  of 
their  Gifts  and  iitnefs  for  the  fiid  Work,  unto 
the  Pajiors  of  Churches,  of  known  Abilities  to 
difcern  and  judge  of  their  Salifications  •,  that 
they  may  be  fent  forth  with  fulemn  Approbation 
and  Prayer  -,  which  we  judge  needful,  that  no 
Doubt  may  remain  concerning  their  being  called 
unto  the  Work ;  and  tor  preventing  (as  much  as 
in  us  lyeth)  ignorant  and  rath  Intruders. 

III.  Of  Cenfures. 

1.  \  S  it  cannot  be  avoided,  but  that  in  the 
l\.  pureft  Churches  on  Earth,  there  will 
fometimes Offences  and  Scandals  arife  by  reafon  of 
Hypocrifie  and  prevailing  Corruption  ;  16  Chrift 
hath  made  it  the  Duty  of  every  Church,  to  re- 
form it  felf  by  Spiritual  Remedies  appointed  by 
him  to  be  applyed  in  all  fuch  Cafes,  viz.  Ad- 
ion  and  Excommunication. 

2.  Admonition,  being  the  rebuking  of  an  Of- 
fending Member  in  order  to  Convicl ion,  is  in 
cafe  of  private  Offences  to  be  performed  ac- 
cording to  the  Rule  in  Matth.  18.  15,  16,  17. 
and  in  cafe  of  publick  Offences  openly  before 
the  Church,  as  the  Honour  of  the  Gofpel,  and 
the  nature  of  the  Scandal  thall  require  :  And,  if 
either  of  the  Admonitions  take  place  for  the 
recovery  ofthe  fallen  Perfon^W  further  Proceed- 
ings in  a  way  of  Cenfure  are  thereon  to  ceafe, 
and  fa  tisfaftton  to  be  declared  accordingly. 

3.  When  all  due  Means  are  ufed,  according 
to  the  Order  of  the  Gofpel  for  the  reftoring  an 
offending  and  fcandalous  Brother,  and  he,  not 
withftanding  remains  impenitent,  the  Cenfure  of 
Excommunication  is  to  be  proceeded  unto;  where- 
in the  Paftor  and  other  Elders  (if  there  be  fuch) 
are  to  lead  and  go  before  the  Church ;  and  the 
Brotherhood  to  give  their  Confent  in  a  way  of 
Obedience  unto  Chrift,  and  to  the  Elders,  as 
over  them  in  the  Lord. 

4.  It  may  fometimes  come  to  pals,  that  a 
Church-Member,  not  otherwife  fcandalous  may 
fitfully  withdraw,  and  divide  himfelf  from  the 
Communion  ofthe  Church  to  which  he  belongeth  : 
In  which  cafe,  when  all  due  Means  for  the  re- 
ducing him,  prove  ineffectual,  he  having  there- 
by 


Book  V.        Tbe  Hijlory  of  New-England. 


61 


.by  cut  himfelf  offfrom  that  Churches 

on-,  the  Church  may  jultly  efteemaai  declare  it 
felf  difcharged  of  any  further  Inflection  over  him. 

IV.  Of  Communion  of  Churches. 

i,\A7^  a§ree  that  particular  Churches  ought 
V  V  not  to  walk  io  diltinct  and  feparate  from 
each  other,  as  not  to  have  Care  and  Tendernefs 
towards  one  another.  But  their  Pallors  ought 
to  have  frequent  Meetings  together,that  by  mutu- 
al Advice,  Support,Encouragement,and  Brotherly 
Intercourfe,  they  may  ftrengthen  the  Hearts  and 
Hands  of  each  other  in  the  Ways  of  the  Lord. 

2.  That  none  of  our  particular  Churches  fliall 
be  fubordinate  to  one  another,  each  being  endu- 
ed with  equality  of  Power  from  Jefus  Chriit. 
And  that*  none  of  the  faid  particular  Churches, 
their  Officer  or  Officers,  (hall  exercife  any  Pow- 
er, or  have  any  Superiority,  over  any  other 
Church  or  their  Officers. 

3.  That  known  Members  of  particular  Chur- 
ches conltituted  as  aforefaid,  may  have  occafi- 
onal  Communion  with  one  another  in  the  Ordi 
nances  ol"  the  Goipel,  viz.  the  Wore/,  Prayer, 
Sacraments,  finging  of  Pfa/ms,  difpenfed  accord- 
ing to  the  mind  ot  Quift :  Unlefs  that  Church, 
with  which  they  defire  Communion,  hath  any 
juit  Exception  againll  them. 

4.  That  we  ought  not  admit  any  One  to  be  a 
Member  of  our  refpective  Congregations,  that 
hathjoin'd  himfelf  to  another,  without  Endea- 
vours ol  mutual  Satisfaction  of  the  Congregations 
concerned. 

5.  That  One  Church  ought  not  to  blame  the 
Proceedings  of  another,  until  it  hath  heard, 
what  that  Chuich  charged,  its  Elders  or  Meilen- 
gers,can  fay  in  vindication  of  themfelves  from 
any  charge  of  Irregular  or  injurious  Proceedings. 

6.  That  we  are  molt  willing  and  ready  to 
give  an  Account  of  other  Church-Proceedings  to 
each  other,  when  defired  -,  for  preventing  or 
removing  any  Offences,  that  may  arile  among 
us.  Likewife  we  (hall  be  ready  to  give  the  Right 
Hand  of  Fellow(hip,and  walk  together  according 
to  the  Gofpel  Rules  of  Communion  of  Churches. 

V.  Of  Deacons  and  Ruling-Elders. 

WE  agree,  the  Office  of  a  Deacon  is  of  Di- 
vine Appointment,  and  that  it  belongs  to 
their  Office  to  receive,  lay  out,  and  diftribute 
the  Churches  Stock  to  its  proper  Ufes,  by  the 
direction  of  the  Paftor,  and,  Bretheren,  if  need 
be.  And  whereas  diverfe  are  of  Opinion,  That 
there  is  alfo  the  Office  of  Ruling-Elders,  who 
labour  not  in  Word  and  Doctrine  •,  and  others 
think  otherwife ;  we  agree  that  this  Difference 
make  no  Breach  among  us. 

VI.  Of  occafional  Meeting  of  Minifiers,  &c. 

i."\K7E  agree  that  in  order  to  Concord,  and  in 
^  V    other  weighty  and  difficult  Cafes,  it  is 


needful  and  according  to  the  mind  of  Chrifh 
that  the  Minifters  of  feveral  Churches  be  con- 
fultul  and  advifed  with  about  fuch  Matters. 

2.  That  fuch  Meetings  may  confift  of  fmaller 
or  greater  Numbers,  as  the  Matter  (hall  require. 

3.  That  particular  Churches,  their  refpecfive 
Elders  and  Members,ought  to  have  a  reverential 
Regard  to  their  Judgment,  fo  given,  and  not  dif 
fent  there  from  without  apparent  Grounds  from 
the  Word  of  God. 

Vll.  Of  our  Demeanour  towards  tbe  Civil 
Magiftrate. 

I-Y/17E  do  reckon  our  felves  obliged  continual- 
*  *    ly   to  pray  for  God's  Protection,  Gui- 
dance and  Bleffing.  upon  the  Rulers  fet  over  us. 

2.  That  we  ought  to  yield  unto  them  not  only 
Subjection  in  the  Lord,  but  Support,  according 
to  our  Station  and  Abilities. 

3.  That  if  at  any  time,  it  fhall  be  their  Plea- 
fure  to  call  together  any  number  of  us,  to  re- 
quire an  Account  of  our  Affairs,  and  the  State 
of  our  Congregations,  we  fhall  moil:  readily 
exprefs  all  dutiful  Regard  to  them  herein.- 

VIII.  Of  a  Confeflion  of  Faith. 

AS  to  what  appertains  to  foundnefs  of  Judg- 
ment in  Matters  of  Faith,  we  efteem  it 
fufficient  that  a  Church  acknowledge  the  Scrip- 
tures to  be  the  Word  of  God,  the  perfect  and 
only  rule  of  Faith  and  Practice,  and  own  either 
the  Doctrinal  part  of  thofe  commonly  called 
the  Articles  of  the  Church  of  England,  or  the 
Confeflion  or  Catechilms,  fhorter  or  larger 
compiled  by  the  Aifembly  at  Weflminftcr,  or 
the  Confeffion  agreed  on  at  the  Savoy,  to  be 
agreeable  to  the  laid  Rule. 

IX.  Of  oar  Duty  and  Deportment  towards 
them  that  are  not  in  Communion  with  us. 

i-\/V7E  judge  it  our  Duty  to  bear  a  Chriftian 
*  '    Refpect  to  all  Chriltians,  according  to 
their  feveral  Ranks  and  Stations,  that  are  not 
of  our  Perflation  or  Communion. 

2.  As  for  fuch  as  may  be  ignorant  of  the  Prin- 
ciples of  the  Chriftian  Religion,  or  of  Vicious 
Convocation,  we  fhall  in  our  refpective  Places, 
as  they  give  Opportunity,  endeavour  to  explain 
to  them  the  Doctrine  of  Life  and  Salvation,  and 
to  our  utmoft  perfwade  them  to  be  reconciled 
to  God. 

3.  That  fuch  who  appear  to  have  the  EiTen- 
tial  Requifites  to  Church  Communion,  we  fhall 
willingly  receive  them  in  the  Lord,  not  trou- 
bling them  with  Difputes  about  leifer  Matters. 

As  we  alTent  to  the  fore-mentioned  Heads 
of  Agreement,  16  we  unanimonfly  relolve 
as  the  Lord  fhall  enable  us  to  Praliife 
according  to  them. 


The 


62 


Book  V. 


The  Third  PART. 


THE 


PRINCIPLES  owned, 

AND    THE 

ENDEAVOURS  ufed, 

BY    THE 

€bmtyt$  of  jfteto = Cnglantj  t 

Concerning  the 

Church -State  of  Their  Pofterity. 


Si  Ecclefa  debet  unqaam  Reforefcere,necejfe  eft,at  apuerorm 
lnjlitutione  Exordium  fiat.  Luther. 


S  the  Englijh  Nation  has  been  ho- 1 
noured  above  molt  of  the  Proteft- 
ant  and  Reformed  World,  with 
clearer  Difcoveries  of  feveral  molt 
confiderable  Points  in  our  Chriltian  Religion ; 
particularly  the  Points  of  a  true  Evangelical 
Church-Order  ;  fo  the  NewEngliJh  part  of  this 
Nation  hath  had  a  lingular  lhare  in  receiving 
and  imparting  the  Illuminations,  which  the  Light 
fhining  in  a  dark  Place  hath  given  thereabout. 
Very  true  and  jult  are  the  printed  Words  of 
the  well  known  Mr.  Natbanaei Mather,  on  this 
Occafion. 

i  Amongft  all  that  have  fuffered  for,  and 
'  fearched  into  thefe  Truths,  they  of  New- 
'  England,  jultly  delerve  and  will  have  a  Name 
4  and  a  Glory,as  long  as  the  Earth  (hall  have  any 
'  Remembrance  of  an  Englilh  Nation.  After- 
'  Ages  will  honour  them  for  that  great  and 
'  high  Adventure  of  Theirs,  in  tranfporting 
1  themfelves,  their  Wives  and  little  Ones,   up 


'  on  the  rude  Waves  of  the  vaft  Ocean  into  a 
'  remote,  defolate  and  howling  Wildernefs,  and 
'  there  encountring  by  Faith  and  Patience,  with 
'  a  World  of  Temptations  and  Streights  and 
'  prefling  Wants  and  Difficulties,  and  this  upon 
'  no  other  Inducements,  but  that  they  might 
'  meet  with  him  whom  their  Souls  loved,  in 
'  the  midlt  of  his  Golden  Candlelticks,  and  fee 
'  him,  as  they  have  there  feen  him  in  his 
'  Sanctuary.  It  might  rationally  be  now  ex- 
pected, that  out  companionate  Lord  Jefus  Chrift 
would  gracioufly  gratifie  the  Defires  and  Labours 
of  fuch  an  Holy  Generation  with  as  full  an 
Underitanding  of  his  revealed  Will  about  his 
inftituted  Worfhip,  as  he  has  at  any  time  grant- 
ed unto  any  of  his  People;  and  that  efpecial- 
ly  the  Officers  of  inftituted  Churches  humbly, 
prayerfully  and  carefully  engaged  in  Studies  for 
their  Service,  would  lye  under  as  dire£t  an  In- 
fluence of  his  Holy  Spirit,  as  any  Inquirers 
whatfoever.    But  there  is  one  very  important 

Article 


^ _~— — . —     —  — — 

Book  V.       'I  be  Hijtorj  of  New-fcogknd. 


*3 


Article  io£  Ecclefiajlical  Difciphne  whereabout^ 
the  Churches  of  Neva-England  have  had  a  moftj 
peculiar  Exercile  and  Concernment 5  and  that  is! 
the  Eccleftaftical State  of  their  Poftmty. 

2.  When  our  Churches  were  come  to  between 
'twenty  and  thirty  Years  pf  Age,  a  numerous 
Toflerity  was  advanced  fo  far  into  the  World,: 
that  the  lirft-Planters  began  apace  in-their  fe- 
veral  Families,  to  be  diflinguilhed  by  the  name 
of  Grand-pathers :   But  among  .the  immediate 
Parents  of  the  Grand-Children,  there  were  mul- 
titudes of  welldifpofed  Perfons,    who  partly 
through  their  own  Doubts  and  Fears,   and  part- 
ly thro'  other  culpable  Negle&s,  had  not  acFu-. 
ally  come  up  to  the  covenanting  Srate  of   Com- 
municants at  the  Table  of  the  Lord.     The  good 
old  Generation  could  not  without  many  uncom- 
fortable Apprehenfions,  behold  their  Offfpring 
excluded  irom  the  Baftifm  of  Chriitianity,  and 
from  the  Ecclefiaftical  InfpecYion  which  is  to  ac 
company  that  Baptilm  ;   indeed  it  was  to  leave 
their-GrHpring  under   the  Shepherdly  Govern- 
ment of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrilt  in  his  Ordinan- 
ces, that  they   had   brought  their  Lambs  into 
this  W  ildernefs.    When'the  Apoftle  bids  Chur- 
ches to  Look-  diligently,  left  any  Alan  fail  of  the 
Grace  of  God,    there  is  an  Ecdefiaitic-al  Word 
ufed  for  that  looking  diligently-,  intimating  that 
God  will  ordinarily  blefs  a  regular  Church  watch, 
to  maintain  the  Interefts  of  G/vk?  among  his  Peo- 
ple :    And  it  was  therefore  the  Study  of  thoL 
prudent  Men,   who  mighr  be  caU'd  our  Seers, 
that  the  Children  of  the  Faithful  maybe  kept 
as  far  as  may  be,  under  a  Church-watch,  in  ex  - 
pe£fation  that  they  might  be  in  the  fairer  way 
to  receive  the  Grace  of  God  :  thus  they  were 
looking  diligently,  that  the  proiperous  and  pre- 
vailing Condition  of  Religion  in  our  Churches, 
might  not  be  Res  unius  atatis,  a  matter  of  one 
Age  alone.     Moreover,    among  the  next  Sons 
or  Daughters  defcending  from  that  Generation, 
there  was  a  numerous  Appearance  of  lober  Per- 
fons, who  profeffed  thtmiclves  defirous  to  renew 
their  Baptijmai-Covenant,  and  iubmit  unto  the 
ChurchDiJapline,  and  lb  have  their  Houfesalfo 
marked  for  the  Lord's  •,  but  yet  they  could  not 
come  up  to  that  experimental  Account  of  their 
own  Regeneration,    which  would    fufficiently 
embolden  their  Accefs  to  the  other  Sacrament. 
Whertrore,  for  our  Churches  now  to  make  no 
Ecclefiaftical  Difference  between  thefe  hopeful 
Candidates  and  Competents  for  thole  our  further 
Myfteries  •,  and  Pagans,who  might  happen  to  hear 
the  Word  of  God  in  our  Aifemblies ;    was  judg 
ed  a  molt  unwarrantable  Suiftnefs,  which  would 
quickly  abandon  the  biggelf  pjrt  of  our  Coun- 
try unto  Heathenilm.    Ai;d  on  the  other  fide,  it 
was  feared,  that  if  all  fuch,  as  had  not  yet  ex 
poled  themfelves  by  cenfuiable  Scandals  found 
upon  them,  lhould  be  admitted  unto  all  the  Pri 
viledges  in   our   Churches,    a  wordly  part  of 
Mankind  might,  before  we  are  aware,  carry  all 
Thirds  into  luch  a  courlc  of  Proceeding,   as 
would  be  very  diiagreeable  unco  the  Kingdom 
of  Heaven. 

§  3.  The  guejlions  railed  about  thefe  Mat- 


ters, came  to  feme  Figure  hrii,  in  tl  e  Crild'riV 
of  Connelticut ;  where  thepbus  M 
ferving  the  be^un  Dangers  of  P<iroxy//h>.  <■ 
might  affecF  the  State  as  well  as  the  &  "c'\  ; 
this  Occafion,  procured  a  Diaught  of  riheUfglta- 
ted  £>ucflions,  and  fent  them  to  the  Magiitiau;; 
of  the  MajfavheJeFs  Colony,  with  a  Ren 
that  feveral  of  tneablett  Mi  filters,  in  bo'h Co- 
lonies might  upon  mature  Deliberation,  give  in 
their  Anfwers  thereunto.  Accordingly,  the  Let- 
ters of  the  Government,  procured  an  Alferribly 
of  our  principal  Minifters  at  Bofton  oh  June  4. 
1657.  who  by  the  ipth  of  that  Month  prepared 
and  prefented  an  elaborate /nlwer  to  twenty  one 
'?jtrft/cns  •,  which  was  afterwards  printed  in 
London,  under  the  Title  of,  A  Difputation  con- 
cerning Church-Members  and  their  Children.  Be- 
fides,other  Cafes  referring  to  the  Church  State  of 
Children  born  in  the  Boiom  of  the  Church,  it 
is  in  this  Difputation  aliened  and  maintained, 
'  That  it  is  the  Duty  of  Infants,  who  Sonfede- 
'  rate  in  their  Parents,  when  grown  '  up  unto 
'  Years  of  Difcretion,  tho'  not  yet  fit,  for  the 
'  Lord's  Supper,  to  own  the  Covenant,  they 
'  made  with  their  Parents,  by  entering  thereinto, 
'in  their  own  Perfons:  And  it  is  the  Duty  of 
'  the  Church,  to  call  upon  them  for  the  perfor- 
'  mance  thereof  ^  and,  if  being  called  upon, 
c  they  fhall  refuie  the  Performance  of  this  great 
'  Duty,  or  otherwife  to  continue  Scandalous, 
'  they  are  liable  to  be  cenfured  for  the  fam^ 
1  by  the  Church.  And  in  cafe  they  underltand 
'  the  Grounds  of  Religion,  and  are  not  Scanda- 
'  loas,  and  folemnly  own  the  Covenant  in  their 
'  own  Perfons,  wherein  they  give  up  both  them- 
'  felves  and  their  Children  unto  the  Lord, 
'  and  defire  Baptifm  for  them,  we  fee  not  fuf- 
'  ficient  ciufe  to  deny  Baptifm  unto  their 
c  Children. 

§  4.  The  Prallice  of  Church  Care,  about  the 
Children  of  our  Churches   thus  directed  and 
commended,  was  but  gradually  introduced  -,  yea, 
it  met  with  fuch  Oppolition  as  could  not  be  en- 
countred  with  any  thing  lels  than   a  Synod  of 
Elders  and  Mefjengers,   from   all  the  Churches 
in  the  Maffachufet  Colony.     Accordingly,  the 
general  Court,  having  the  heceflity  of  the  Mat- 
ter laid  before  them,  at  their  fecond  Scdion  in 
the  Year  idol.  ilTued  out  their  Defire  and  Or- 
der for  the  convening  of  fuch  a  Synod  at  Bofon 
in  the  Spring  of    the  Year  enluing.     And  for 
the  Deliberations  of  that  Synod,    befides   the 
grand  Queftion,    about  the  Subjetl  of  Baptifm, 
there  was  another  Queflion  propounded  about 
the  Confociation  of  Churches,  which  was   of  no 
fmall  Confequence  to  the  Inrerelfs  of  Chrifiia- 
nity  in  the  Country.     As  the  Divines  of   New- 
England  were  Sollicitous  that  the  Propagation  of 
our  Churches  might  hold  pace  with  that  of  our 
Ofr-fpring,    ib  they  were    indulfrious  for   the 
Combination  of  our  Churches  into  fuch  a  Bun- 
dle of  Arrowes,  as  might  not  eafily  be  broken. 
However,    they  had  by  their  Adverlaries  been 
termed  Independents,  neverthelcls  they  folemn- 
ly, on  this  Occafion,  repeated   and  iublcribed, 
that  Profeifion  of  their  famous  Brethererun  rlie 

Lngiifh 


$4 


The  Hiftory  of  New-Fngland        Book  V. 


Engl  if  h  Nation  ;  '  That  it  is  the  moft  to  be  ab 
'  horred  Maxim,  that  any  Religion  hath  made 
'  Profeffion  of,  and  therefore  of  all  other  the 
'  moft  contradi£f.ory,  and  difhonourable  unto 
c  that  of  Chriftianity,  that  a  iingle  and  particu 
c  lar  Society  of  Men,  profeffing  the  name  of 
*  Chrift,  and  pretending  to  be  endowed  with  a 
1  Power  from  Chrift,  to  judge  them  that  are  of 
4  the  fame  Body  and  Society  with  themfelves, 
'  fhould  further  arrogate  unto  themfelves  an 
'  Exemption  from  giving  Account,  or  being 
'  cenfurable  by  any  other,  either  Chriftian  Ma- 


'  giftrate  above  them,  or  Neighbour  Churches 
'  about  them.  Under  the  Influence  of  thefe 
Concernments,  the  Elders  and  Meffengers  of  the 
Churches  affemblcd  at  Br  ft  on,  in  the  Year  1662 
who  under  the  Conduct  of  feveral  fucceflive 
Moderators,  at  length  agreed  upon  certain  Pro- 
portions j  which  being  tendred  unto  the  general 
Court,  there  was  an  Order  there  palled  on  0#. 
8.  1662.  for  the  Publication  and  Commendati- 
on thereof  unn  all  the  Churches  in  the  jurif 
dtdion.    They  were  as  iolloweth. 


THE 

ANSWER 

O  F    T  H  E 

Elders  and  other  Messengers  of  the  Churches, 
aflembled  at  Bofton,  in  the  Year  1662. 

TO    THE 

Qju  estions  propounded  to  them,  by  Order  of 
the  Honoured  General  Court. 


QjJ  E  S  T  I  O  N     I. 

Who  are  the  SubjeEts  of  Baptifm  ? 

Answer. 

-^HE  Anfwer may  be  given  in  the  fol- 
lowing Propqjitwns ,  briefly  confir- 
med from  the  Scriptures. 

1.  '  They  that,  according  to  Scrip- 
ture, are  Members  of  the  Vifible  Church,  are 
tne  Subjects  of  Baptifm. 

2.  '  The  Members  of  the  Vifible  Church,  ac- 
cording to  Scripture,  are  Confederate  Vifible 
Believers,  in  particular  Churches,  and  their 
Infant-Seed,  i.  e.  Children  in  Minority,  whofe 
next  Parents,  one  or  both,  are  in  Covenant. 

3.  '  The  Infant-Seed  of  Confederate  Vifible 
Believers,  are  Members  of  the  fame  Church 
with  their  Parencs,and  when  grown  up  are  per 
ioii<dly  under  the  Watch,  Difcipline  and  Go- 
vernment of  that  Church. 

4.  '  Thefe  adult  Perfons,  are  not  therefore  to 
be  admitted  to  full  Communion,  meerly  be- 
caufe  they  are,  and  continue  Members,  with- 
out fuch  further  Qualifications  as  the  Word 
of  God  requireth  thereunto. 

<5   c  Church  Members  who  were  admitted  in 
Minority,  undeiltanding  the  Dottrine  of  Faith, 


and  publickly  profeffing  their  AiTent'  thereto, 
not  fcandalous  in  Life,  and  folemnly  owning 
the  Covenant  before  the  Church,  wherein  they 
give  up  themfelves  and  their  Children  to  the 
Lord,  and  fubjeft  themfelves  to  the  Govern- 
ment of  Chrift  in  the  Church,  their  Children 
are  to  be  baptiled. 

6.  c  Such  Church  Members,  who  either  by 
Death,  or  fome  other  extraordinary  Provi- 
dence,have  been  inevitably  hindred  from  publick 
Afting  as  afbrefaid,  yet  have  given  the  Church 
caufe  in  Judgment  of  Charity,  to  look  at 
them  as  fo  qualified,  and  fuch  as  had  thef 
been  called  thereunto,  would  have  fo  a£fed, 
their  Children  are  to  be  baptifed. 

7.  '  The  Members  of  Oxthodox  Churches, 
being  found  in  the  Faith  and  not  fcandalous  in 
Life,  and  prefehting  due  Teftimony  thereof; 
thefe  occafionally  coming  from  one  Church  to 
another  may  have  their  Children  baptiled  in 
the  Church,  whither  they  come,  by  virtue 
of  Communion  of  Churches  :  But  if  they  re- 
move their  Habitation,  they  ought  orderly  to 
Covenant  and  Subject  themfelves  to  the  Go- 
vernment of  Chrift  in  the  Church,  where  they 
fettle  their  abode,  and  lo  their  Children  to  be 
baptifed.  It  being  the  Churuie's  Duty  to  re- 
ceive fuch  into  Communion,  4o  far,  as  they 
are  regularly  fit  tor  the  lame.  - 

The 


Book  V.         Tfo  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


The  Confirmation  of  theie  Proportions  from 
the  Scripture,  followeth. 

Proposition    I. 

Theft  *hat  *ccord?ng  *°  Scripture,  are  Mem- 
bers of  the  Vifible  Church }  are  the  Subjects 
of  Baptifm. 

The  Truth  hereof  may  appear  by  the  following 
Evidences  from  the  Word  of  God. 

i.TKTHen  Chrift  faith,  Go  ye  therefore  and 
V  V  teach,  or  (as  the  Greek  is)  difciple  all 
Nation:,  Baptifing  them,  Matth.  28.  19.  Heex- 
preffeth  the  Adequate  Subject  of  Baptifm,  to  be 
Difciples  or  difcipled  Ones.  But  Difciples  there, 
is  the  fame  with  Members  of  the  Vifible  Church. 
For  the  Vifible  Church  is  Chrift's  School,  where- 
.  in  all  the  Members  ftand  related  and  fubjecled 
to  him,  as  their  Matter  and  Teacher,  and  fo  are 
his  Scholars  or  Difciples,  and  under  his  teaching, 
as  ver.  20.  Arid  it  is  that  vifible  Spiritual  King- 
dom of  Chrift,  which  he,  there,  from  his  kingly 
Power,  v.  18.  fendeth  them  to  fetupand  admi- 
nifrer,  in  v.  1 9.  The  Subjects  whereof  are  under 
his  Laws  and  Government;  v.  20.  Which  Sub- 
jects (or  Members  of  that  Kingdom,  i.  e.  of  the 
vifible  Church)  are  termed  Difciples,  v.  19.  Alfo 
in  the  Ails  of  the  Apoftles,  (the  Story  of  their 
Accomplifhment  of  that  Commiflion)  Difciples 
are  ufually  put  for  Members  of  the  Vifible 
Church,  Alls  1.  15.  In  the  midft  of  the  Difciples, 
who,  with  others  added  to  them,  are  called  the 
Church,  Ah.  2.  47.  The  Members  whereof  are 
again  called  Difciples  ,  A£ts  6.  1,  2.  A£ts  9. 1. 
Againft  the  Difciples  of  the  Lord;  i.  e.  againft 
the  Church  of  God,  1  Cor.  15.  p.  Galat.  1.  13. 
A&s  9.  26.  He  a  flayed  to  join  himfclf  to  the  Di- 
ciples.  The  Difciples  of  Lyjira ,  Iconium  and 
Antioch,  Alls  14.  21,  22.  are  cali'd  the  Church 
in  each  of  thofe  Places,  v.  23.  fo  the  Church, 
v.2j.  the  Difciples,  v.  28-  Alls  18.  22.  The 
Church  at  Gefarea  ;  A£ls  2  1.  16.  The  Difciples  of 
Gefarea  :  So  Alls  18.  23.  with  Chap.  15.  41.  & 
Gal.  1.  2.  Atls  18.  27.  &  Chap.  20.  1.  From 
all  which  it  appeareth,  that  Difciples  in  Matth. 
28.  19.  and  Members  of  the  Vifible  Church,  are 
Terms  equivalent-,  and  Difciples  being,  there,  by 
Chrift  himfelf  made  the  Subjects  of  Baptifm,  it 
followeth  that  the  Members  of  the  Vifible 
Church  are  the  Subjecls  of  Baptifm. 

2.  Baptifm  is  the  Seal  of  the  fir  ft  Entrance  or 
AdmiJJion  into  the  Vifible  Church  -,  as  appeareth 
from  thofe  Texts,  1  Cor.  12.  13.  Bapttfed  into 
one  Body,  i.  e.  our  Entrance  into  the  Body  or 
Church  of  Chrift,  is  fealed  by  Baptifm  :  And 
Rom.  6.  3,  5.  Gal.  3.  27.  where 'tis  fhewed  that 
Baptifm  is  the  Sacrament  of  Union,  or  of  in- 
grafting into  Chrift  the  Head,  and  confequently 
into  the  Church  his  Body,  and  from  the  Apoftle's 
conftant  practice  of  baptifing  Perfons  upon  their 
firft  coming  in,  or  firft  giving  up  themfelves  to 
the  Lord  and  them.  Ms  8.  1 2.  and  1 6,  1 5.  3  3. 
and  18.  8.  and  Alls  2.  41.  42.  they  were  bap- 
tifed at  their  firft  Adding  to  the  Church,  or  Ad- 


% 


million  into  the  Apoftle's  Eellowfhip,  wherein 
they,  afterward,  continued.  And  from  its  an- 
fvvering  unto  Circumcifion,  which  was  a  Seal 
of  Initiation  or  Admiflion  into  the  Church ; 
hence  it  belongs- to  all,  and  only  thofe  that  are' 
entred  into,  that  are  within  or  that  are  Mem- 
bers of  the  Vifible  Church. 

3.  They  that  according  to  Scripture  are  Mem- 
bers of  the  Vifible  Church,  are  in  Covenant.  For 
it  is  the  Covenant,  that  conftituteth  the  Church, 
Dent.  29.  12,  13.  They  muft  enter  into  Cove- 
nant, that  they  might  be  eflabiifhed  the  People 
or  Church  of  God.  Now  the  initiatory  Seal  is 
affixed  to  the  Covenant,  and  appointed  to  run 
parallel  therewith,  Gen.  17.  7,  9,  10,  11.  fo  Cir- 
cumcifion was,  and  hence  called  the  Covenant, 
Gen.  17.  13.  Alls'].  8.  And  fo  Baptifm  is  be- 
ing in  like  manner  annexed  to  the  Promife  or 
Covenant,  Alls  2.  38,  39.  and  being  the  Seal 
that  anfwereth  to  Circumcifion,  Col.  2.  n,  12. 

4.  Chrift  doth  fanllifie  and  cleanfe  the  Church 
by  the  wafhing  of  Water,  i.  e.  by  Baptifm,  Eph. 
5.  25,  26.  Therefore  the  whole  Church,  and 
and  fo  all  the  Members  thereof  (who  are  alfo 
laid  in  Scripture  to  hefanllified  in  Chrift  Jefus, 
l  Cor.  1.  2.)  are  the  Subjecls  of  Baptilm.  And 
altho1  it  is  the  Invifible  Church,  unto  the  Spiri- 
tual and  Eternal  Good  whereof,thisand  all  other 
Ordinances  lalfly,  have  refpecl,  and  which 
the  place  mentioned  in  Eph.  5.  may  in  a  fpecial 
manner  look  unto,  yet  it  is  the  Vifible  Church 
that  is  the  next  and  immediate  Subjecl  of  the 
Adminilfration  thereof.  For  the  Subject  of  vi- 
fible external  Ordinances  to  be  adminiftred  by 
Men,  muft  needs  be  vifible.  And  fo  the  Apoftle 
baptized  fundry  Perfons,  who  were  of  the  vifi- 
ble, but  not  of  the  invifible  Church,  as  Simon 
Magus,  Ananias  and  Saphira,  and  others.  And 
there  are  vifibly  purchafed  and  faniiijied  by  the 
Blood  of  Chrift,  the  Blood  of  the  Covenant, 
Ails  20.  28.  Ueb.  10.  29..  Therefore  the  Vifi- 
ble Seal  of  the  Covenant  and  of  cleanfing  by 
Chrilf  s  Blood  belongs  to  them. 

5 .  The  Circumcifion  is  often  put  for  the  whole 
Jevoifb  Church,  or  for  the  Members  of  the  Vifible 
Church  under  the  Old  Teftament.  Thofe  within 
are  exprefled  by  [the  circumcifed']  and  thofe 
without  by  [theVncircumcifetf]  Rom.  15.  S.  and 
3.  30.  Eph.  2.  n.  fudges  14.  3.  and  15.  18. 
1  Sam.  14.  6.  and  17.  26,  36.  Jer.  9.  25,  26. 
Hence  by  proportion  Baptifm  (which  is  our  Gof- 
pel  Circumcifion,  Col.  2.  11.  12.)  belongs  to  the 
whole  Vifible  Church  under  thsNew  Teftament. 
Acf  ual  and  perfonal  Circumcifion,  was  indeed 
proper  to  the  Males  of  old,  Females  being  but 
inclufively  and  virtually  circumcifed  and  fo 
counted  of  the  Circumcifion :  But  the  Lord 
has  taken  away  that  Difference  now,  and  ap- 
pointed Baptifm  to  be  perfonally  applied  to  both 
Sexes.  Alls  8.  12.  and  16.  15.  Gal.  3.  28.  So 
that  every  particular  Member  of  the  Vifible 
Church  is  now  a  Subject  of  Baptifm.  We  con- 
clude, therefore,  that  Baptifm  pertains  to  the 
whole  Vifible  Church,  and  to  all  and  every  one 
therein,  and  to  no  other, 


5  I 


Pro- 


66 


Ihe  Hiftorj  of  New-England.      Book  V. 


Proposition    II. 

Ihe  Members  of  theVifibleCharch  according 
to  Scripture)  are  confederate  Vifible  Be- 
lievers, in  particular  Churches,  and  their 
Infant-feed,  i.  e.  Children  in  Minority, 
whofe  next  Parents,  one  or  both  are  in 
Covenant. 

Sundry  Particulars  are  comprifed  in  this  Propofi- 
tion,which  we  may  confider  and  confirm  diftin£Uy . 

Partic.  i.  A  Dult  Perfons,  who  are  Members  of 
JLjL  the  Vifible  Church,  are  by  Rule 
confederate  Vifible  Believers,  Alls  5.  14.  Belie- 
vers were  added  to  the  Lord.  The  Believing 
Corinthians  were  Members  of  the  Church  there, 
Ails  18.  8.  with  1  Cor.  1.  2.  and  12.  27.  The 
Infcription  of  the  Epiftles  written  to  Churches, 
and  calling  the  Members  thereof  Saints  and 
Faithful,  (hew  the  fame  thing,  Eph.  1.  1.  Phil. 
1.  1.  Col.  1.  2.  And  that  confideration,  i.e.  Co- 
venanting explicite  or  implicite  (the  latter  pre- 
ierveth  the  Eflence  of  Confederation,  the  former 
is  Duty  and  moft  defirable)  is  neceffary  to  make 
one  a  Member  of  the  Vifible  Church,  appears, 

I.  Becaufe  the  Church  is  conftituted  by  Cove- 
venant^  for  there  is  between  Chrilt  and  the 
Church,  the  mutual  Engagement  and  Relation 
of  King  and  Subjecls,  Husband  and  Spoufe  -, 
this  cannot  be,  but  by  Covenant  (internal  if 
you  fpeak  of  the  Invifible  Church,  external  of 
the  Vifible)  a  Church  is  a  Company  that  can 
lay,  God  is  our  God  and  we  are  his  People, 
this  is  from  the  Covenant  between  God  and 
them.  Deut.  29.  12,  13.  Ezek.  16.  8.  2.  The 
Church  of  the  Old  Teftamcnt  was  the  Church 
of  God  by  Covenant,  Gen.  17.  Deut.  29-  and 
was  reformed  Hill  by  the  renewing  of  the  Co- 
venant, 2  Chron.  15.  i<5.  and  23. 12.  and  34.  3 1. 
32.  ]S> eh.  9.  38.  Now  the  Churches  or  the 
Gentiles  under  the  New  Teflament  Hand  upon 
the  fame  Bafis  or  Root,  with  the  Church  of  the 
Old  Teflament,  and  therefore  are  conflituted  by 
Covenant,  as  that  was,  Rom.  11.  17,  18.  Eph.  2. 

II,  12,  ip.  and  3.  6.  Heb.  8.  10.  3.  Baptifm 
enters  us  into  the  Church  Sacramentally,  ;.  e. 
by  fealing  the  Covenant.  The  Covenant,  there 
fore,  is  that  which  conftitutes  the  Church, 
and  infers  Memberfhip,  and  is  the  Vow  in  Bap- 
tifm commonly  fpoken  of 

Partic.  2.  The  Members  of  the  Vifible  Church 
arefuch  as  are  confederate  in  particular  Churches. 
It  may  be  minded  that  we  are  here  fpeaking  of 
Members,fo  ftated  in  the  Vifible  Church,  as  that 
they  are  Subjects,  to  whom  Church  Ordinances 
may  regularly  be  adminiftred,and  that  according 
to  ordinary  Difpenfation.  For  were  it  granted, 
that  the  Apoflles  and Evangelifls  did  ibmetimes 
baptife  fuch,  as  were  not  Members  of  any  par- 
ticular Church,  yet  theit  extraordinary  Office 
large  Power  and  Commiflion  renders  them  not 
imitable  therein  by  ordinary  Officers.  For  then 
they  might  baptife  in  private,  without  the  Pre- 
sence of  a  Chriftian  afferribly,  as  Philip  did  the 


Eunuch.  But  that  in  ordinary  Difpenfation  the 
Members  of  the  Vifible  Church,  according  to 
the  Scripture,  are,  fuch  as  are  Members  of  fome 
particular  Church,  appears,.  1.  Becaufe  the 
Vifible  Believer  that  profeffedly  Covenants  with 
God  doth  therein  give  up  himlelf  to  wait  on 
God  in  all  his  Ordinances,  Deut.  26.  17,  18. 
Matt.  28.  19,  20.  But  all  the  Ordinances  of 
God  are  to  be  enjoyed  only  in  a  particular  Church. 
For  how  often  do  we  find  in  the  Scripture  that 
they  came  together  into  one  place,  (or  met  as  a 
Congregational  particular  Church)  for  the  Ob- 
fervation  and  Enjoyment  of  the  Ordinances, 
Alls  2.  1,  44,  46.  and  4.  31.  and  11.  26.  and 
20.  7.  1  Cor.  5^4.  and  n.  18.  and  20.  33.  and 
14.  23.  -2.  The  Apoftle  in  his  Epiftles  writing 
to  Saints  or  Believe  rewrites  to  them  as  in  parti- 
cular Churches^i  Cor.  1,  2.  Eph.  1.  1.  Phil.  1.  1. 
Col.  1.  2.  And  when  the  Story  of  the  Atfs  fpeaks 
of  Difciples,  other  places  lnew  that  thofe  are 
underftood  to  be  Members  of  particular  Churches^ 
Airs  18.  23.  with  Gal.  1.  2.  Afls  21.  id.  with 
18.  22.  and  11.  26.  and  14.  22,  23,  27,  28. 
All  which  mews  that  the  Scripture  acknowledg- 
ed no  fettled  orderly  Eftate  of  Vifible  Belie- 
vers in  Covenant,  with  God,  but  only  in  parti- 
cular Churches.  3.  The  Members  of  the  Vifi- 
ble Church  are  Dilciples,  as  was  above  cleared, 
now  Difciples  are  under  Difcipline,  and  liable 
to  Church  Cenfures :  For  they  are  ftated  Sub- 
jects of  Chrift's  Laws  and  Government,  Matt. 
28.  19,  20.  but  Church-Government  and  Cen- 
fures are  extant  now  in  ordinary  Difpenfation 
only  in  a  particular  Church,  Matt.  18.  17. 
1  Cor.  5.  4. 

Partic.  3.  The  Infant-feed  of  confederate  Vifible 
Believers  are  alfo  Members  of  the  Vifible  Church. 
The  truth  of  this  is  evident  Irom  the  Scriptures 
and  Reafons  following. 

Argum.  1.  The  Covenant  of  Abraham,  as  to 
the  Subftance  thereof,  viz.  That  whereby  God  de- 
clares him/elf  to  be  the  God  of  the  Faithful  and 
their  Seed,  Gen.  17.  7.  continues  under  the  Gof- 
pel,  as  appears.  1.  Becaufe  the  Believing  in- 
churched  Gentiles  under  the  New  Teflament,  do 
(land  upon  the  fame  Root  of  covenanting  Abra- 
ham ^  which  the  Jews  were  broken  off  from. 
Rom.  11.  i<5,  17,  18.  2.  Becaufe  Abraham  in  re- 
gard of  that  Covenant  was  made  a  Father  of 
many  Nations,  Gen.  17.  4,  f.  even  of  Gentiles 
as  well  as  Jews,  under  New  Teflament  as  well 
as  Old.  Rom.  4.  16,  17.  Gal.  3.  29.  i.  e.  in 
Abraham  as  a  Pattern  and  Root,  God  not  only 
fbeweth  how  he  juftifies  the  Believer,Gd/.  3.  6.  9. 
Rom.  4.  but  alfo  conveyed  that  Covenant  to  the 
Faith,  and  their  Seed  in  all  Nations,  Luke  19. 
9.  If  a  Son  of  Abraham,  then  Salvation,  i.  e. 
the  Covenant-Difpenfation  of  Salvation  is  come 
to  his  houfe.  3.  As  that  Covenant  was  com- 
municated to  proielyte  Gentiles  under  the  New 
Teftament,  lb  its  Communication  to  the  inchur- 
ched  Gentiles  under  the  New  Teflament  is  clearly 
held  forth  in  diverfe  Places,  Gal.  3.  14.  The 
Bleffing  of  Abraham  comprifeth  both  the  inter- 
nal Benefits  of  Juftification  by  Faith,  0V.  which 
the  Apoftle  is  there  treating  of ;  and  the  exter- 
nal 


Book  V.        'Ibe  Hijlory  of  New-England. 


6l 


nal  Dilpenfation  of  Grace  in  the  vifible  Church 
to  the  Faithful  and  their  Seed,  Gen.  28.  4.  but 
the   whole  Bleifing  of  Abraham  (  and  fo  the 
whole  Covenant)  is  come  upon  the  Gentiles  thro' 
Jef.s  Chrijk  Eph.  2.  12,  1 9.    They  had  been 
Sti..;  >:.jrs,  but  now  were  no  more  Strangers  from 
the  Covenants  of  Promife,  i.  e.  from  the  Cove- 
nant of  Grace,  which  had  often  been  renewed,ef 
Serially  with  Abraham,an&  the  Houfe  of  fftdel] 
and  had  been  in  the  External  Difpenlkion  of  it, 
then  peculiar   Portion,  fo  that   the  Ephefuns, 
who  were  afar  off,  being  now  called  and  made 
nigh,   vl    13,  17-  they  have  the  Promife  or  the 
Covenant  of  Promife  to  them  and  to  their  Chil- 
dren, according  to  Affs  2.  39.  and  fo  are  Par- 
takers of  that  Covenant  of  Abraham,  that  we 
are  f peaking  of,  Eph.  3.6.  The  Inchurched  Gen- 
tiles are  put  into  the  lame  Inheritance  for  Sub- 
fiance  (both  as  to  invifible  and  vifible  Benefits, 
according  to  their  refpe&ive  Conditions)  are  of 
the  fame  Body,  and  Partakers  of  the  fame  Pro- 
mife with  the  Jews,   the  Children  of  Abraham-, 
of  old.    The  fame  may  be  gathered  from  Gen. 
9.  27.  Mat.  S.  11.  8t  21.  43.     4.  Sundry  Scrip 
tures  which  extend  to  Golpel-times  do  confirm 
the  fame  Inter eitxo  the  Seed  of  the  Faithful 
which  is  held  forth  in  the  Covenant  of  Abraham, 
and  confequently  do  confirm  the  Continuance  of 
that   Covenanr,  as  Exod.  20.  6.    there   in  the 
Sanation  of  a  Moral  and  Perpetual  Command- 
ment, and  that  refpe&ing  Ordinances,  the  Por- 
tion of  the  Church,  God  declareth  himfelf  to 
be  a  God  of  Mercy  to  them  that  love  him,  and 
to  their  Seed  after  them  in  their  Generations,con- 
fonantto  Gen.  17.  7.  compare  herewith,   Pfalm 
305.8,51.  and  Deut.  7.9.      Deut.  30.  6.   The 
Grace  tignified  by  Circumcifwn  is  there  promifed 
to  Parents  and  Children,  importing  the  Covenant 
to  both,  which  Circumcifion  lealed,  Gen.  17. 
and  that  is  a  Gofpel  Promife,  as  the   Apoffles 
citMg  part  of  that  Context,  as  the  Voice  of  the 
Gofpel  {hews  Rom.  10.6,8.  with  Deut.20. 11,14. 
and  it  reacheth  to  the  Jews  in  the  latter  Days, 
v.  1,  5     lf'i-6-).  23.  In  the  moft  glorious  Go- 
fpel State  ot  the  Church,  v.  17,  19.     TheBlef 
fang  of  the  Lord  is  the  promifed  Portion  of  the 
Ofi  spring  or  Children  as  well  as  of  the  Faith- 
ful   Parents,  fo  Jfa.  44.  3,  4-   I/a.  59.  20,  21. 
Ezck.  37.  25,  26.  at  the  future  calling  of  the 
Jews,   which  thofe  Texts  have   Reference  to 
(Rom.ix.  26.  Ezek.  37.19,22,23,24.)  their  Chil- 
dren fhill  be  under  the  Promileor  Covenant  of 
fpecial  Grace  to  be  conveyed  to  them  in  the  Or 
dinances,  If  a.  59.  21.  and  be  Subjects  of  David, 
i.  e.  Chrilf  their  King,  Ezek.  37.  25.  and  have  a 
Portion  in  his  SanQuary,  v.  26.  and  this  accor 
ding  to  the  Tenor  of  the  Ancient  Covenant  of 
Abraham,  whereby  God  will  be  their  God  (viz. 
both  of  Parents  and  Children)  and  they  fliall  be 
his  People,  v.  16,  27.     Now  altho'  more  abun- 
dant Fruits  of  the  Covenant  may  befeen  in  thofe 
times,  and  the  Jews  then  may  have  more  abun 
dant  Grace  given  to  the  Body  of  them  to  con- 
tinue in  the  Covenanr,  yet  the  Tenor  and  Frame 
of  the  Covenant  it  lelfis  one  and  the  fame  both 
to  Jews  and  Gentiles  under  the  NewTeftament, 


Gal.  3.  28.  Col.  3.  n. Heb.  8.  10.  The  Houfe  of 
Ifrael,  i.  e.  the  Church  of  God  both  among 
Jews  and  Gentiles  under  the  Nevo-Tcfiament 
have  that  Covenant  made  with  them,  theSumm 
whereof  is,  I  will  be  their  God,  and  ihcyfJjall 
be  my  People,  which  is  a  renewing  of  that  Co- 
venant of  Abraham  in  Gen.  17.  (as  the  fame  is 
very  often  over  in  thofe  Terms  renewed  in  Scrip- 
ture,, and  isdiftinguifhed  from  the  Law,  Gal.  3. 
i(5,  17.  Heb.  8.  9.)  wherein  is  implied  God's  be- 
ing a  God  to  the  Seed,  as  well  as  Parents,  and 
taking  both  to  be  his  People,  tho'  it  be  not  ex- 
preiTed  :  even  as  it  is  often  plainly  implied  in  that 
Expreflion  of  the  Covenant  in  other  places  of 
the  Covenant  in  other  places  of  Scripture,  Deut. 
29.  13-  Jer.  31.  1.  and  32.  38,  39.  and  30.  22., 
20.  Ezek.  37.  27,  25.  Alfo  the  writing  of  the 
Law  in  the  Heart  in  Heb.  8.  10.  is  that  Heart 
Circumcifion,  which  Deut.  30.  6.  extends  both 
to  Parents  and  Seed.  And  the  term  Houfe  of 
Ifrael  doih  according  to  Scripture  life  fitly  ex- 
prefs  and  take  in  (efpecially  as  to  the  eternal 
Adminiftration  of  the  Covenant)  both  Patents 
and  Children :  Among  both  which  are  found 
that  ElecF  and  faved  Number ;  that  make  up 
the  invifible  Ifrael,  compare  Jer.  13.  11.  and  9. 
26.  Ifaiah  5.  7.  Hof.  1.  6.  Ezek.  39.  25.  Nei- 
ther may  we  exclude  the  leaf  in  Age  from  the 
Good  of  that  Promife,  Heb.  8.  1  r.  (they  being 
lbmetimes  pointed  to  by  that  Phrafe,  from  the 
leaft  to  the  great  eft,  Jer.  4$.  12.  with  v.  7.)  no 
more  than  the  leaft  in  other  Refpe£ts,  compare 
Ifaiah  54.  13.  In  Ms  2.  39.  At  the  paffing  of 
thofe  Jews  into  New-Teftament  Church-State, 
the  Lord  is  fo  far  from  repealing  the  Covenant 
Interejl,  that  was  granted  unto  Children  in  the 
former  Teftamenr,  or  from  making  the  Children 
there  lofers  by  their  Parents  Faith,  that  he 
doth  exprefly  renew  the  old  Grant,  and  tells 
them,  that  the  Promife  or  Covenant  (for  the 
Promife  and  the  Covenant  are  Terms  that 
do  mutually  infer  each  ether,  compare  AUs 
3.  25.  Gal.  3.  16,  17,18,  29.  Rom.  4.  16. 
Heb.  6.  17.)  is  to  them  and  their  Children^ 
the  fame  is  alTerted  to  be  the  appointed  Portion 
of  the  jar  off  Gentiles,  when  they  fhould  be 
called.  By  all  which  it  appears  that  the  Cove- 
nant of  Abraham,  Gen.  17.  7.  whereby  God  is 
the  God  of  the  Faithful  and  their  Seed,  conti- 
nues under  the  Gofpel. 

Now  if  the  Seed  of  the  Faithful  be  ftill  in 
the  Covenant  of  Abraham,  then  they  are  Mem- 
bers of  the  Vifible  Church.  1.  Becaufe  that 
Covenant  of  Abraham,  Gen.  17.  7.  was  proper-' 
ly  Church  Covenant,  or  the  Covenant  which  God 
makes  with  his  Vifible  Church,  i.  e.  The  Cove- 
nant of  Grace  confidered  in  the  external  Dif- 
penfation  of  it,  and  in  the  Promifes  and  Privi- 
ledges  that  belong  to  that  Difpenfation.  For 
many  were  taken  into  that  Covenant,  that  were 
never  ot  the  Invifible  Church,  and  by  that 
Covenant  the  Family  of  Abraham,  as  alio  by 
the  renewing  thereof  the  Houfe  of  Ifrael  after- 
wards were  eftablifhed  the  Vifible  Church  of 
God,  Gen.  17.  and  Deut.  29.12,  13.  and  from 
5  I  2  that 


68 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.      Book  V. 


that  Covenant  Men  might  be  broken  off,  Gen. 
17.  l^.Rom.  11.  17,  1  p.  and  to  thatCovenanr, 
Circumci/ion,  the  Badg  of  Church-Memberfhip, 
was  annexed.  Theretore  the  Covenantees  there- 
in, were  and  are  Church-Members.  2.  Becaufe 
in  that  Covenant  the  Seed  are  fpoken  of  in 
Terms  defcribing  or  inferring  Church-Member- 
fhip, as  well  as  their  Parents :  For  they  have 
God  for  their  God  and  are  his  People  as  well  as 
the  Parents,  Gen.  17.  7,  8.  with  Deut.  29.  11, 
13.  They  have  the  Covenant  made  with  them, 
Deut.  29. 14,  15.  and  the  Covenant  is  faid  to 
be  between  God  and  them,  (between  me  and  thee 
and  between  thy  Seed  after  thee  :  So  the  Hebrew 
runs)  Gen.  17.7.  They  are  alfo  in  that  Cove- 
nant appointed  to  be  the  Subjects  of  the  Initia- 
tory Seal  of  the  Covenant,  the  Seal  of  Mem- 
berfhip,  Gen.  17,  9,  10,  11.  Thefbre  the  Seed 
are  according  to  that  Covenant,  Members  of 
the  Vifible  Church  as  well  as  their  Parents. 

Argum.  2.  Such  Seed  or  Children  are  fede- 
rally Holy,  1  Cor.  7.  14.  the  Word  [Holy]  as 
applied  to  any  fort  of  Peribns,  is  never  in  Scrip- 
ture ufed  in  a  lower  Senfe,  than  for  federal  or 
Covenant  Holinejs  (the  Covenant  Holinefs  of 
the  Vifible  Church)  but  very  often  in  that  Senfe, 
Ezr.  9.  2.  Deut.  7.  6.  arid  14.  2,  21.  and  26.  19. 
and  28.  9.  Exod.  19.  6.  Dan.  8.24.  and  12.  7. 
Rom.  11.  16.  So  that  to  fay,  they  are  Holy  in 
this  Senfe,  viz.  by  Covenant  Relation  and  Sepe- 
ration  to  God  in  his  Church,  is  as  much  as  to 
fay,  They  are  in  the  Covenant  of  the  Vifible 
Church,  or  Members  of  it. 

Argum.  3.  YxoxnMark  10.  14, 15,  16. Matt. 
19.  14.  Children's  Memberfhip  in  rhe  Vifible 
Church,  is  either  the  next  and  immediate  Senle 
of  thofe  Words  of  Chriff,  Of  Juch  is  the  King- 
dom of  Heaven-,  and  fb  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven, 
or  of  God,  is,  not  rarely,  ufed  in  other  Scrip- 
tures to  exprefs  the  Vifible  Church,  or  Church 
Eftate,  Matth.  25.1.  and  21.  43.  and  8.  11,  12. 
or  it  evidently  follows  from  any  other  Senfe, 
that  can  rationally  be  given  of  the  Words.  For 
thofe  may  not  be  denied  a  place  or  portion  in 
the  Vifible  Church,  whom  Chrift  affirms  to  have 
a  Portion  in  the  Kingdom  either  of  Invifible 
Grace  or  of  eternal  Glory  :  Nor  do  any  in  ordi- 
nary Courfe  pals  into  the  Kingdom  of  Glory 
hereafter,  but  thro1  the  Kingdom  of  Grace  in 
the  Vifible  Church  here.  And  alfo,  that  Chrift, 
there,  gracioufly  invites  and  calls  little  Children 
to  him,  is  greatly  difpleafed  with  thofe  that 
would  hinder  them,  afferts  them,  notwithftand- 
ing  their  Infancy,  to  be  exemplary  in  their  re- 
ceiving the  Kingdom  of  God,  embraoeth  them 
in  his  Arms  and  blefleth  them  :  All  which  fhews 
Chrift's  dear  Affe&ion  to,and  owning  of  the  Chil- 
dren of  the  Church,  as  a  part  of  his  Kingdom ; 
whom  we,  therefore,  may  not  difbwn,  lelt  we 
incur  his  Difpleafure,  as  the  Difciples  did. 

Argum.  4.  Such  Seed  or  Children  are  Difci- 
ples,  according  to  Matth.  28.  19.  as  appears. 
1.  Becaufe  SubjeSs  of  Chrift's  Kingdom  are 
equivalenr  with  Difciples  there,  as  the  frame 
of  rhat  Text  fhews,  v.  18.  19,  20.  but  fuch 
Children  are  Subjects  of  Chrift's  Kingdom,  or 


;  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven,   Matth.  9.  14.    In 
the  difcipling  of  all  Nations  intended  in  Matth. 
j  28.  15?.   the  Kingdom  of  God,  which  had  been 
j  the  Portion  of  the  Jews,  was  communicated  to 
J  the  Gentiles  according  to  Matth.  2 1. 43.    But 
!  in  the  Kingdom  of  God  thefe  Children  have  an 
Intereft  or  Potx\or\,Mark  10.  14.  2.  The  Apoftles 
in  accomplifhing  rhat  Commifiion,yWa///;.  28. 19. 
didDifciplefomi  Children,  viz.  the  Children  of 
difcipled  Parents,  Ails  2.  39. and  15.  10..    They 
are  there  called  and  accounted  Difciples,  whom 
the  falfe  Teachers  would  have  brought  under 
,  the  Yoke  of  Circumcifion  after  the  manner  of 
1  Mofes,  v.  1.5.   But  many  of  thofe  were  Child- 
ren ;   Exod.  12.48.  Atls  21.  21.  Lydia  and  her 
Houftiold,  the  Jaylor  and  all  his  were  difcipled 
and  baptifed,  Afls  16. 1 5,  3  1,  33.    Paul  at  Co- 
rinth took  in  the  Children  into  the  Holy  School 
of  Chrift,  1  Cor.  7.  14.    3.  Such  Children  be- 
long unto  Chrift ;  for  he  calls  them  unto  him, as 
his,  to  receive  his  Bleffing,  Mark  10.  13,  16. 
They  are  to  be  received  in  his  Name,  Mark  9. 
37.    Luke  9.  48.    They  have  a  part  in  the  Lord, 
Jofl).  22.  24,  25.   therefore  they  are  his  Difci- 
pies  :    For  to  belong  to  Chrift,   is  to  be  a  Dif- 
cipleof  Chrift,  Mark  9.  41.  with  Matth.  10. 
42.    Now  if  they  be  Difciples,  then  they  are 
Members  of  the  Vifible  Church,  as  from  the 
equivalency  of  thofe  Terms  was  before  fhewed. 
Argum.  5.     The  whole  Current  and  Harmony 
of  Scripture  fhews,  that  ever  jince  there  was  a 
Vifible  Church  on  Earth,  the  Children  thereof 
have  by  the  Lord's  Appointment  been  a  part  of 
it.    So  it  was  in  the  Old,and  it  is  and  (hall  be  fo 
in  the  New  Left  am  em.     Eve,  the  Mother  of  all 
Living  hath  a  Promife  made,  Gen.  3.  15.  not 
only  of  Chrift  the  Head-Seed,  but  thro'  him  al- 
fo of  a  Church-Seed,  to  proceed  from  her  in  a 
continued  lineal  Succeffion,  which  fhould  conti- 
nually be  at  vifible  Enmity  with,  and  ftand  at  a 
diftance,  or  be  fepa  rated  from  the  Seed  of  the 
Serpent.    Under  that  Promife  made  to  Eve  and 
her  Seed  the  Children  of  Adam  are  born,    and 
are  a  part  of  the  Church  in  Adam's  Family  : 
Even  Cain  was   fo,    Gen.  4.  1,  3.  till  cafi  out 
of  the  Prefence  of  God  therein,  v.  14.  being 
now  manifeitly  one  of  the  Seed  of  the  Serpent, 
1  John  3.  12.  and  fo  becoming  the  Father  of  a 
wicked   unchurched  Race.    But,  then  God  ap- 
pointed unto  Eve,  another,  viz.  Seth,  in  whom 
to  continue  the  Line  of  her  Church-Seed,  Gen. 
4.  25.    How  it  did  continue  in  his  Seed  in  their 
Generations,  Gen.  5.  fheweth.  Hence  the  Child- 
ren of  the  Church  are   called  Sons  of  God, 
(which  is  as  much  as  Members  of  the  Vifible 
Church)  in  contradiltinclion    to  the  Daughters 
of  Men,  Gen.  6.  2.  If  righteous  Noah  be  taken 
into  the  Ark  (then  the  only  preferving  place  of 
the  Church)  his  Children  are  taken  in  with  him, 
Gen.  7.  1.  tho5  one  of  them,  viz.  Ham,  after 
proved  degenerate  and  wicked  -,  but  till  he  fo 
appears,  he  is  continued  in  the  Church  with  his 
Brethereo  :  So  Gen.  9.  25,  26,  27.  as  the  Race 
of  Hamot  his  Son  Canaan  (Parents  and  Children) 
are  curfed  ;  fo  Shem  (Parent  and  Children)  is 
blelTed,  and  continued  in  the  place  of  Bleffing,  the 

Church 


Book  V.       Tbe  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


69 


Church,  as  Japhct  alfo,  or  Japhefs  Poiferity 
(ffill  Parent  and  Children)  fhall  in  time  be 
brought  in.  The  Holy  Line  mentioned  in  Gen 
11.  10,  26.  fhewshow  the  Church  continued  in 
the  Seed  of  Shem^  from  him  unto  Abraham. 
When  that  Race  grew  degenerate,  Jofh,  24.  2. 
Then  God  called  Abraham  out  or'  his  Country, 
and  from  his  Kindred,  and  ejlablijhed  his  Cove- 
nant with  him,  which  ftill  took  in  Parents  and 
Children,  Genk  17.  7,  9-  fo  it  did  after  in  the 
Houfe  of  Ifrael,  Deut.  19.  11,  12,  13.  and 
when  any  Eminent  Reftoration  or  Eftablifhment, 
is  promiied  to  the  Church,  the  Children  thereof 
are  ftill  taken  in  as  fharers  in  the  fame,  Pfal. 
io2.  16,  28.  and  69.  35,  3d.  Jer.  32.  38,  39. 
1/a.  65.  18,  19,  23.  Now  when  Chrift  comes 
to  fet  up  the  Gofpel  Adminiftration  of  his 
Church  in  the  New  Teftament,  under  the  term 
of  the  King  of  Heaven,  Mat.  3.2.  and  11.  n. 
He  is  fo  far  from  taking  away  Children's  Por- 
tion and  Memberfhip  therein,  that  himfelf  af- 
ferts  ir,  Mat.  19.  14.  The  Children  of  the 
Gentile,  but  now  Believing  Corinthians,  are  Holy, 
1  Cor.  7.  14.  The  Apoftle  writing  to  the 
Church  of  Ephefus  and  Coloffe,  fpeaks  to 
Children,  as  a  part  thereof,  Eph.  6.  1.  Col.  3.  20. 
The  Inghurched  Romans  and  other  Gentiles  ftand 
on  the  Root  of  Covenanting  Abraham,  and  in 
the  Olive  or  Vifible  Church,  they  and  their 
Children,  till  broken  off  (as  the  Jews  were)  by 
politive  Unbelief,  or  Rejection  of  Chrift,  his 
Truth  or  Government,  Rom.  n.  13,  16,  17.  22. 
The  Children  of  the  Jews  when  they  fhall  be 
called,  fhall  be  as  aforetime  in  Church-Eftate, 
Jer.  30.  20.  with  31.  1.  Ezek.  37.  25.  28. 
from  all  which  it  appears,  that  the  Series,  or 
whole  Frame  and  Current  of  Scripture  Expref1 
fions  doth  hold  forth  the  continuance  oj  Children's 
Member/hip  in  the  Vifible  Church,  from  the  Be- 
ginning to  the  End  of  the  World. 

Partic.  4.  The  Seed  or  Children,  who  become 
Members  together  with  their  Parents  (i.  e.  by 
means  of  their  Parents  Covenanting)  are  Chil- 
dren in  Minority.  This  appears,  1.  Becaufe 
fuch  Children  are  Holy  by  their  Parents  Cove- 
nanting, who  would  elfe  be  unclean,  1  Cor.  7. 
14;  but  they  would  not  elfe  necelfatily  be  un 
clean,  if  they  were  Adult ;  for  then  they  might 
Acf  for  themfelves,  and  fo  be  Holy  by  their 
perfonal  Covenanting ;  neither,on  the  other  Hand 
would  they  neceffarily  be  Holy,  if  Adulr,  (as  he 
Afferts  the  Children  there  to  be,  for  they  might 
continue  Pagans.  Therefore  the  Apoft le  intends 
only  Infants,  or  Children  in  Minority.  2.  It  is 
a  Principle,  that  carries  Evidence  of  Light  and 
Reafon  with  it,  as  to  all  Tranfattions  Civil  and 
Ecclefiaft  ical,  that  if  a  Man  be  of  Age,  hejhould 
anfwer  for  himfelf,  Joh.  9.  21.  They  that  are 
come  to  Years  of  Dilcretion,  fo  as  to  have  Know- 
ledge and  Undcrftanding  fit  to  a£t  in  a  matter  of 
that  nature,  are  to  Covenant  by  their  own  Per- 
fonal Aft.  Neh.  10.  28,  29.  Ifa.  44.  5.  3. They 
that  are  regularly  taken  in  with  their  Parents, 
are  reputed  to  be  vifible  Entertainers  of  the  Co- 
venant, and  Avouchcrs  of  God  to  be  their  God, 
Deut.  2(5.7,  J8.  with  Dm.  29.  11,  12.    But  if 


Adult  Children  fhould  without  regard  to  their 
own  perfonal  A£t,  be  taken  in  with  their  Parents 
then  fome  might  be  reputed  Entertainers,  that 
are  manifeft  RejeSors  of  the  Covenant,  for  10 
an  Adult  Son  or  Daughter  of  a  Godly  Parent 
may  be. 

Partic.  5.  It  mi  requifite  unto  the  Memberfhip 
of  Children,  that  the  next  Parents,  one  or  both, 
be  in  Covenant.  For  altho'  After-Generations 
have  no  fmall  Benefit  by  their  Pious  Anceftors, 
who  derive  federal  Holinefs  to  their  fucceeding 
Generations  in  cafe  they  keep  their  ftanding  in 
the  Covenant,  and  be  not  Apoftates  from  it  j 
yet  the  Piety  of  Anceftors  fufficeth  not,  unlets 
the  next  Par«nt  continue  in  Covenant,  Rom.  1 1. 
22. 

1.  Becaufe  if  the  next  Parent  be  cut  or  broken 
off,  the  following  Seed  are  broken  off  alfo, 
Exod.  20.  5.  Rom.  1 1.  17,  19,  20.  as  the  Gen- 
tile believing  Parents  and  Children  were  taken 
in  ;  fo  the  Jews,  Parents  and  Children,  were 
then  broken  off. 

2.  One  of  the  Parents  muft  be  a  Believer,  or 
elje  the  Children  are  unclean,   1  Cor.  7.  14. 

3.  If  Children  may  be  accounted  Members 
and  Baptifed,  though  the  next  Parents  be  not 
in  Covenant,  then  the  Church  fhould  be  bound 
to  Baptife  thofe,  whom  fhe  can  have  no  power 
over  nor  hope  concerning,  to  fee  them  brought 
up  in  the  true  Chriftian  Religion,  and  under  the 
Ordinances :  For  the  next  Parents  being  wicked, 
and  not  in  Covenant,  may  carry  away  and 
bring  up  their  Children  to  ferve  other  Gods. 

4.  If  we  ftop  not  at  the  next  Parent,  but 
grant  that  Anceftors  may,  notwithftanding  the 
Apoftacy  of  the  next  Parents  convey  Member- 
fhip unto  Children,  then  we  fhould  want  a 
ground  where  to  ftop,  and  then  all  the  Chil- 
dren on  Earth  fhould  have  right  to  Memberfhip 
and  Baptifm. 

Proposition.   HI. 

the  Infant-Seed  of  Confederate  vifible  Belie- 
vers, are  Members  of  tbe  fame  Church 
with  their  Parents,  and  when  grown  up 
are  perfonally  under  the  Watch,  Difcipline, 
and  Government  of  that  Church. 


T 


HAT  they  are  Members  of  the  fame 
Church  with  their  Parents,  appears  ■, 
r.  Becaufe,  fo  were  Ifaac  and  Iflvmel  of  Abra- 
ham's Family-Church,  and  the  Children  of  Jezvs, 
and  Profclyics  of  IJiaePs  National-Church  :  and 
there  is  the  fame  Reafon,  for  Children  now  to 
be  of  the  fame  CongrcgationaLChurch  with  their 
Parents  ■,  Chriff  s  Care  for  Children  and  the 
fcope  of  the  Covenant,  as  to  Obligation  unto 
Order  and  Government  is  as  great  now,  as 
then.  2.  Either  they  are  Members  of  the  fame 
Church  with  their  Parents,  or  of  fome  other 
Church,  or  Non  Members  :  But  neither  of  the 
latter  -,  therefore  the  former.  That  they  are  not 
Non-Members  was  before  proved  in  Propof.  2. 
Particul.  3.  and  if  not  Members  of  the  fame 

Church 


70 


ThHiftory  of  New-England.       Book  Vh 


■Church --with  their  Parents,    then  of®  other. 
For  if  there  be  not  Reafon  fufficient  to  ftate 
them  Members  of  that  Church,    where  their 
Parents. have  covenanted  for  them,  ^and  where 
ordinal rk-  they  are  Baptifed  and  do  Inhabit, 
then  much  lels  is  there  Reafon  to  make  them 
Members   of  any-  other  -.    and  ib  they  will  be 
Members  of  no  particular  Church  at  all,  and  it 
was  before  fhewed  that   there  is  no  Ordinary, 
and  Orderly  ftandvngeftateof  Church  Members, 
but  in  fome  particular  Church.    5 zltbe- ftmii 
Covenant- Ail  is  account sd  the  Att  of  Parent  and 
Child':-   but  the  Parents   covenanting  rendered 
'himfelf  "a  Member  of  this  particular  Church \ 
therefore  fo  it  renders  the  Child--  alfo.    How 
can  Children  come  in,  with  and  by  their  Parents, 
and  yet  come  into  a  Church  wherein  and  whereof 
their  Parents  are  not,   fo  that  as  they  f hould  be 
of  dire  Church,  and  their  Parents  of  another. 
4.  Children  are  in  an  orderly  and  regular  ftate  •- 
for  they  are  in  that  (fate,   wherein  the  Order  of 
God's  Covenanr,  and  his  Inftitution  therein  hath 
placed  them  |  they  being  Members  by  virtue  of 
the  Covenant  of  God,    To  fay  their  tfanding  is 
diforderly,   would  be  to  impute  diforder  to  the 
Order  of  God's  Covenant,  or  Irregularity  to  the 
Rule.    Now  all  will  grant  it  to  be  rnoft  orderly 
and  regular,  that  every  Chriif  ian  be  a  Member 
in  fome  particular  Church,  (and  in  that  par- 
ticular Church)  where  his  regular  Habitation  is, 
which  to  Children  rtfually  is,  where  their  Pa- 
rents are.    If  the  Rule  call  them  to  remove, 
then  their   Memberfhip  ought  orderly   to  be 
tranflated  to  the  Church,  whither  they  remove. 
Again,  Order  requires,  that  the  Child,   and  the 
power  of  Government  ever  the  Child,  (hould  go 
together.     It  would  bring  Jhame  and  Confufion, 
for  the  Child  to  be  from  under  Government, 
Prov.  29.  15.   and  Parental  and  Ecclefiaftical 
Government  concurring  do  mutually  help  and 
itrengthen  each  other.     Hence  the  Parent  and 
the  Child  muff  be  Members  ot  the  fame  Church, 
unlefs  the  Child  be  by  fome  fpecial  Providence 
fo  removed,  as  that  fome  other  Perfon  hath  the 
power  over  him. 

2.  That  when  thefe  Children  are  grown  up, 
they  are  per/on ally  under  the  Watch,  Difcipline 
and  Government  of  that  Church,  is  manifelt ; 
for  1.  Children  were  under  Patriarchal  and 
Mojaical  Difcipline  of  old,  Gen.  18.  19.  and 
21.  9,  10,  12.  Gal.  5.  3.  and,  therefore,  under 
Congregational  Difcipline  now.  2.  They  are 
within  the  Church,  or  Members  thereof;  (as 
hath  been,  and  after  will  be  further  proved) 
and  therefore  fubjeft  to  Church  Judicature, 
1  Cor.  5.  12.  3.  They  are  Difciples,  and, 
therefore,  under  Difcipline  in  Chrift's  School, 
Mat.  28.  19,  20.  4.  They  are  in  Church-Cove 
nam,  and,  therefore,  fubjecf  to  Church  Power, 
Gen.  17.  7-  with  Chap.  18.  19.  5.  They  are 
jubjecls  of  the  Kingdom  of  U7-//?,_and  therefore 
under  the  Laws  and  Government  of  his  Kingdom, 
Esefa  37-  25,  26.  6.  Baptijm  leaves  the  Bap- 
tiled  (of  which  number  thefe  Children  are)  in 
a  ftate  of  fuhjeftion  to  the  Authoritative  leach 
tng  of  ChriiYs  Mioiiters,  and  to  the  ohfervauon 


of  alibis  Commandments,  Mat.  28.  ip,  20.  and 
therefore  in  a  ftate  of  fubjecVion  unto  Difcipline, 
7.  hlders  are  charged  to  take  heed  unto,  and  to 
feed,  (chat  is,  both  to  Teach  and  Rule,  •  com- 
pare Ezek.  34.  3,  4.)  all  the  flock,  or  Church 
over  which  the  Holy  Ghoft  hath  made  them  Over- 
feers,  Alls  20.  28.  That  Children  are  a  part 
of  the  Flock,  was  before  proved  :  and  fo  Paul 
accounts  them,  writing  to  the  fame  Flock  or 
Church  of  Ephejm,  Eph.  6.  1.  8.  otherwile 
Irreligion  and  Apoftacy  would  Inevitably  break 
into  Churches  and  no  Church  way  left  by  Chrift 
to  prevent  or  heal  the  fame :  which  would  alfo 
bring  many  Church  Members  under  that  dread-- 
ful  Judgment  of  being  let  alone  in  their  wicked- 
nefs,  Hoz.  4.  16.  17. 

Proposition    IV. 

thefe  Adult  Perfons  are  not  therefore  to  be 
admitted  to  full  Communion,  meerly  becaufe 
they  are  and  continue  Members,  without 
fuch  further  Qualifications  as  the  Word  of 
of  God  requireth  thereunto. 


1. 


The  Truth  hereof  is  plain.     - 
'ROM    1  Cor.  11.  28,  29.  where  it  is 

J/    required  that  fuch  as  come  to  the  Lord's 
Supper,  be  able  to  examine  thetnf elves,    and  to 
difcern  the  Lord's  Body  ;  elfe  rhey  will  Eat  and 
Drink  unworthily,   and  Eat  and  Drink  Damna- 
tion,   or  Judgment,   to  them/elves,   when  they 
partake  of  this  Ordinance,   but  mere  Member- 
fhip is  feparable  from  fuch  Ability  to  examine 
One's  felf;  and  difcern  the  Lord's  Body  :   as  in 
the  Children  of  the  Covenant  that  grow  up  to 
Years  is  too  often  feen.     2.  In  the  Old  Tefta- 
ment,  though  Men  did  continue  Members  of 
the  Church,yet  for  Ceremonial  Uncleannefs  they 
were  to  be  kept  from  full  Communion  in  the 
Holy  Things,  Levit.  7.  20,  21.  Numb.  9.  6,  7. 
and  1  p.  13,  20.  yea  and  the  Priefts  and  Porters 
in  the  Old  Teftament,   had  fpecial  charge  com- 
mitted to  them,  that  Men  /hould  not  partake  in 
all  the  Holy  things,    unlefs  duly  qualified  for 
the  fame,  notwithftanding  their  Memberfhip, 
2  Chr.  23.  19.  Ezek,  22.  26.  and  44.7,  8,p,  23! 
and  therefore  much  more  in  thefe  times,  where 
Moral  fitnefs  and    fpiritual  Qualifications  are 
wanting,  Memberfhip  alone,  is  not  fufficient  for 
full  Communion.    More  was  required  to  Adult 
Perfons  Eating  the  Paffover,  than  mere  Member- 
fhip,  thefore  fo  there  is  now   to  the  Lord's 
Supper. 

For  they  were  to  Eat  to  the  Lord,  Ex.  12. 14. 

which  is  expounded  in  2  Chro,  30.  where  keep'- 

ing  the  Paffover  to  the  Lord,    Ver.  5.  imports, 

and  requires  exercifing  Repentance,   ver.  6,  7  . 

their  actual  gieing  up  themfelves  to  the  Lord, 

ver.  8.   Heart  preparation  for  it,  ver.  19.  and 

Holy  rejoycing  before  the  Lord,    ver.  21,25. 

See  the  like  in  Ezra  6.  21,  22.     3.  Tho'  all 

Members  of  the  Church  are  liibjecfs  of  Baptifm, 

they  and  their  Children,  yet  all  Members  may 

not  partake  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  as  is  further 

manifeft 


Book  V.       The  Wjiory  of  New-England. 


7i 


manifeft  from  the  different  Nature  of  Baptifm 
and  the  Lord's  Supper.  Baptifm  fairly  and  pro 
perly  leals  Covenant-Holinefs  -,  as  Circumcifion 
did,  Gen.  17.  CburcbMembcrfJnp,  Rom,  15.  8. 
Wanting  into  Cbrift,  Rom.  6.  and  fo  Members, 
asfucb,  are  the  fubje&s  of  Baptifm,  Mat.  28. 
19.  But  the  Lord's  Supper  is  the  Sacrament  of 
growth  in  Cbrift,  and  of  j 'feci al  Communion  with 
him,  1  Cor.  io.  16.  which  fuppofeth  a  fpecial 
Renewing  and  Exercife  of  Faith  and  Repentance, 
in  thofe  that  partake  of  that  Ordinance.  Now 
if  Perfons  even  when  Adult  may  be  and;  continue 
Members,  and  yet  be  debarred  from  the  Lord's 
Supper,  until  meet  Qualifications  for  the  fame 
do  appear  in  them  •,  then  may  they  alfo  (until 
like  Qualifications)  be  debarred  from  that  Power 
of  Voting  in  the  Church,  which  pertains  to 
Males  in  full  Communion.  It  feems  not  Ra- 
tional, that  thofe,  who  are  not  themfelves  fit 
for  all  Ordinances,  fhould  have  fuch  an  Influ- 
ence referring  to  all  Ordinances,  as  Voting  in 
Election  of  Officers,  Admiflion  and  Cenfures  of 
Members  doth  import.  For  how  can  they,  that 
are  not  able  to  Examine  and  Judge  themfelves, 
be  thought  able  and  fit  to  Difcern  and  Judge 
in  the  weighty  Affairs  of  the  Houfe  of  God, 
1  Cor.  11.  28,  31.  with  1  Cor.  5.  12. 

Proposition    V. 

Church- Members  who  were  admitted  in  Mi- 
nority, underftanding  the  Do5lrine  of  Faith, 
and  publicity  profeffing  their  -Affent  thereto  5 
not  Jcandalous  in  Life,  and  folemnly  owning 
the  Covenant  before  the  Church,  wherein 
they  give  up  themfelves  and  Children  to 
the  Lord,  and  fubjeSl  themfelves  to  the 
Government  of  Chrifl  in  the  Church,  their 
Children  are  to  be  Baptifed. 

This  is  Evident  from  the  Arguments  following. 

Arg.  1.  *-T*Hefe  Children  are  partakers  of  that 
jL  which  is  the  main  ground  of  Bap- 
tifing  any  Children  wbatfoever ,  and  neither  the 
Parents  nor  the  Children  do  put  in  any  Bar  to 
binder  it. 

1.  That  they  partake  of  that,  which  is  the 
main  ground  of  Baptifing  any,  is  clear ;  Becaufe 
Interefl  in  the  Covenant  is  the  main  ground  of 
Title  to  Baptifm,  and  this  thefe  Children  have. 
i.  Interefl  in  the  Covenant  is  the  main  ground 
of  Title  to  Baptifm  -,  for  fo  in  the  Old  Teftament, 
this  was  the  ground  of  Title  to  Circumcifion, 
Gen.  17.  7,  9,  10,  11.  to  which  Baptifm. now 
anfwers,  Col.  2.  11,  12.  and  Ails  2,  38,  3P. 
they  are  on  this  ground  exhorted  to  be  Baptifed, 
becaufe  the  promife  or  Covenant  was  to  them, 
and  to  their  Children.  That  a  Member,  or  one 
in  Covenant,  as  fuch,  is  the  fubjeft  of  Baptifm, 
was  further  cleared  before,  Propof  i„  2.  That 
thefe  Children  have  Interefl  in  the  Covenant  ap- 
pears ■,  Becaufe  if  the  Parent  be  in  Covenant,  the 
Child  is  alfo  :  for  the  Covenant  is  to  Parents  and 
their  Seed  in  their  Generations,   Gen.  17.7,  9- 


The  promife  is  to  you,  a/id  to  your  Children, 
Atts  2.  3 9.  If  the  Parent  ffands  in  the  Church, 
fo  doth  the  Child  among  the  Gentiles  now,  as 
well  as  among  the  Jews  of  old,  Rom.  it.  16, 
20,  21,  22.  It  is  unheard  of  in  Scripture  that 
the  Progiefs  of  the  Covenant  flops  at  the  In- 
fant-Child. But  the  Parents  in  queftion  are  in 
Covenant  as  appears.  1.  Becaufe  they  were 
once  in  Covenant,  and  never  fince  Difcovenanted. 
If  they  had  not  once  been  in  Covenant,  they 
had  not  warrantably  been  Baptifed  -,  and  they 
are  lb  ffill,  except  in  fome  way  of  God  they 
have  been  Difcovenanted,  caft  out,  or  cut  off 
from  their  Covenant  Relation,  which  thefe  have 
not  been  :  neither  are  Perfons  once  in  Covenant, 
broken  off  from  ir,  according  to  Scripture,  fave 
for  notorious  Sin  and  Incorrigiblenefs  therein, 
Rom.  1 1.  20.  which  is  not  the  cafe  of  thefe  Pa- 
rents. 2.  Becaufe  the  Tenor  of  the  Covenant 
is  to  the  Faithful,  and  their  Seed  after  them,  in 
their  Generations,  Gen.  17.  7.  even  to  a  Tbou- 
fand  Generations,  i.  e.  conditionally,  provided 
that  the  Parents  fucceffively  do  continue  to  be 
keepers  of  the  Covenant,  Exod.  20.  6.  Deut.  7/ 
9,  1 1.  Pjal,  105.  8.  which  the  Parents  in  quefti- 
on are,  becaufe  they  are  not  (in  Scripture  Ac- 
count in  this  Cafe)  f  brfakers  or  rejecters  of  the 
God  and  Covenant  of  their  Fathers:  See  Deut. 
20.  25,  26.  2  Kings  17.  15,  20.  2  Chro,  7.  22. 
Deut.  7.  10. 

2.  That  thefe  Parents,  in  queftion,  do  not  put 
any  Bar  to  hinder  their  Children  from  Baptifm, 
is  plain  from  the  Words  of  the  Propofition, 
wherein  they  are  defcribed  to  be  fuch  as  under- 
Jland  the  Dollrine  of  Paitb,  and  publickly  pro- 
fefs  their  Affent  thereto :  Therefore,  they  put 
not  fn  any  Bar  of  grofs  Ignorance,  Atheifrri 
Herefie  or  Infidelity :  Alfo  they  are  not  fcanda- 
lous  in  Life,  but  folemnly  own  the  Covenant, 
before  the  Church,  therefore  they  put  not  in  any 
Bar  of  Prophanefs,  or  Wickednefs,  or  Apoftacy 
from  the  Covenant,  whereinto  they  entred  in 
Minority:  That  the  Infant  Children,  in  quefti- 
on do  themfelves  put  any  Bar,  none  will 
imagine. 

Arg.  2,  The  Children  of  the  Parents  in 
queftion,  are  either  Children  of  the  Covenant, 
or  Strangers  from  the  Covenant,  Eph.  2.  12.  ei- 
ther Holy  or  Unclean,  1  Cor.  7,  14.  either  within 
the  Church  or  without,  1  Cor.  5.  12.  either  fuch 
as  have  God  for  their  God,  or  without  God  in 
the  World,  Eph.  2.  12.  But  he  that  confiders 
the  Propofition,  will  not  affirm  the  latter  con- 
cerning thefe  Children  :  and  the  former  being 
granted,  infers  their  Right  to  Baptifm. 

Arg.  3.  To  deny  the  Propofition   would  be, 

I  1.  Toftraiten  the  Grace  of  Chrift  in  theGofpei- 

!  Difpenfation,  and  to  make  the  Church  in  New- 

|  Teftament  times  in  a  worfe  Cafe,   relating  to 

their  Children  fucceffively,   than  were  the  Jews 

of  old.    2.  To  render  the  Children  of  the  Jews, 

when  they  fhall  be  called,  in  a  worfe  Condition, 

than  under  the  Legal  Adminiftration  ;  contrary 

to  Jer.  30.  10.  Ezek.  37.  25,  26.     3.  To  deny 

the  Application  of  the  Initiatory-Seal  to  fuch  as 

regularly  ftand  in  the  Church  and  Covenant,  to 

whom 


72 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.       Book  V. 


whom  the  /iI^/w/Dtfpenfation,  nay,  the  firft 
Institution  in  the  Covenant  of  Abraham,  appoin- 
ted it  to  be  applied,  Gen.  17.  9,  10.  Job.  7.  22, 
23.  4.  To  break  God's  Covenant  by  denying 
the  initiatory  Seal  to  thole  that  are  in  Covenant, 
Gen.  17.  p,  10,  14. 

Arg.  4.  Confedetate  vifible  Believers.tho'  but  in 
the  loweft  degree  fuch,  are  to  have  their  Chil- 
dren baptized  ;  witnefs  the  Practice  of  John  Bap- 
tijt  and  the  Apoftles,  who  baptized  Perfons  upon 
the  firft  beginning  of  their  Chriftianity.     But 
the  Parents  in  Queftion  are  confederate  vifible 
Believers,  at  leaft  in  lome  degree.    For,  1.  Cha- 
rity may  obfetve  in  them  fundry  pofitive  Argu- 
ments for  it  ;  witnefs  the  Terms  of  the  Propo- 
rtion, and-  nothing  evident  againft  it.     2.  Chil- 
dren of  the-f godly  qualified  but  as  the  Perions  in 
thePropofition,  are  laid  to  be  faithful,  Tit.  1.  6. 
3.  Children  of  the  Covenant  (as  the  Parents  in 
queftion  are)  have  frequently  the  beginning  of 
Grace  wrought   in   them  in  younger  years,  as 
Scripture   and  Experience  fhews.    Inltance  Jo- 
fepb,  Samuel,  David,  Solomon ,  Abijsh,  J  of  a,  Da- 
niel, John  Bdptift  and  Timothy.    Hence  this  fort 
of  Perfonslhewing  nothing  to  the  contrary,  are 
in  Charity,  or  to  Ecclefiafticai  Reputation  Vi- 
iible  Believers.    4.  They  that  are  regularly  in 
the  Church  fas  the  Parents  in  queftion  be)  are 
Vifible  Saints  in  the  Account  of  Scripture  (which 
is  the  Account  of  Truth)  for  the  Church  is,  in 
Scripture-Accounr,  A  Company  of  Saints,  1  Cor. 
14.  33.  8c  1.  2.     5.  Being  in  Covenant  and  Bap 
tized,  they  have  Faith  and   Repentance  indeji 
■nitely  given  xoilvtm  in  the  Promile,  andfealed 
up  in  Baptifm,   Dent.  30.  6.  which  continues 
valid,   and  fo  a  valid  Teitimony  for  them  while 
they  do  not  rejea  it.     Yet  it  does  not  necef- 
larily  follow,  that  thefe  Perfons  are  immediately 
fit  for  the  Lord's  Supper,  becaufe,  rho'  they  are 
in  a  Latitude  of  Exprcffion,   ro  be  accounted  \  i- 
fible  Belivers,  or  in  Numero  Eidchum,  as  even 
Infants  in  Covenant  are,  yet  they  may  want  that 
Ability  to  examine  themfelves,  and  that  fpecial 
Exercife  of  Faith,   which  is  requifite  to  that 
Ordinance  •,  as  was  laid  upon  Propo/it.  4. 

Arg.  5.  The  denial  of  Baptifm  to  the  Children 
in  Qu'cflwn,  hath  a  dangerous  Tendency  to  Irre- 
ligion  and  Apoftacy  ;  becaufe  it  denies  them,  and 
fo  the  Children  of  the  Church  fuccefiively,  to 
have  any  part  in  the  Lord  •,  which  is  the  way  to 
make  them  ceafe  from  fearing  the  Lord,  Jof.  22. 
24,  25,  27.  For  if  they  have  a  Pert  in  the  Lord, 
i.  e.  a 'Portion  in  1/rael,  and  fo  in  the  Lord  the 
God  of  Ifrael,  then  they  are  in  the  Church,  or 
Members  of  it,and  fo  to  bebaptized,according  to 
Propof.  1.  The  owning  of  the  Children  of  thofe 
that  iucceffively  continue  in  Covenant  to  be  a  part 
of  the  Church,  is  fo  far  from  being  deftruftive  to 
the  purity  8c  profperity  of  the  Church  8c  of  Reli- 
gion therein  (as  fbme  conceive)  that  this  Imputa- 
tion belongs  to  the  contrary  Tenet.  To  leek  to  be 
more  pure  than  the  Rule, will  ever  end  in  Impuri- 
ty in  thelffue.  God  hathfo  framed  his  Covenant, 
and  confequently  the  Conltitution  of  his  Church 
thereby,  as  to  defign  a  Continuation  and  Propa- 
gation of  his  Kingdom  therein,  from  one  Gene- 


ration to  another.    Hence  the  Covenant  runs,  To 
us;  and  to  our  Seed  after  us  in  their  Generations. 
To_  keep  in  the  Line,  and  under  the  Influence  and" 
Efficacy  of  this  Covenant  of  God,  is  the  true 
way  to  the  Church's  Glory  :  To  cut  it  off  and 
difavow  ir,  cuts  off  the  Pofterity  of  Zion,    and 
hinders  it  from  being  (as  in  the  moft  glorious 
Times  it  lhall  be)  an  eternal  Excellency  and  the 
Joy  of  many  Generations,     This  Progrefs  of  the 
Covenant  etfablifheth  the  Church,  Deut.29.  13. 
Jer.  30.  20.    The  contrary  therefore  doth  dif- 
eftablifh  if.    This  obligeth  and  advantageth  to 
the  Conveyance  of  Religion  down  to  after  Ge- 
nerations ;  the  care  whereof  is    ftri£tly  com- 
manded, and  highly  approved  by  the  Loid,Pfalm 
78.4,  5,  6,7.   Gen.  18.  19.    This  continues  a 
Nurlery  ftill  in  Chrift's  Orchard  or  Vineyard,  If  a. 
5.  1,7.  the  contrary  neglefts  Thar,  and  fo'lets 
the  whole  run  fo  ruine.     Surely  God    was  an 
Holy  God,  and  loved  the  Purity  and  Glory  of 
the  Church  in  rheOld  Teltament  -,  but  when  he 
went  in  this  way  of  a  fucceflive  Progrefs  of  the 
Covenant  to  that  End,  Jer.  13.  n.  If  fome  did 
then,  or  do  now,  decline  ro  Unbelief  and  Apo- 
ftacy, that  doth  not  make  the  faith  of  God  in 
his  Covenant  of  none  effell,  or  the  Advantage 
of  Intereft  therein,  inconfiderable ;  yea,  the  more 
Holy,  Reforming  and  Glorious  that  the  Times 
are,  or  fhall  be,  the  more  eminently  is  a  fuccef- 
live Continuation  and  Propagation  of  the  Church 
therein  defigned,  promifed  and  intended,  lfa.  60. 

15.  &  5p.  21.    Ezek.  37.  25,  28.   Pfalm  102. 

16,  28.    Jer.  32.39. 
Arg.  6.  The  Parents,  in  Queflion,  areperfonal, 

immediate,  and  yet  continuing  Members  of  the 
Church. 

1.  That  they  are  perfonal  Members,  or  Mem- 
bers in  their  own  Perfons,  appears,  1,  Becaufe 
they  are  perfonally  Holy,  1  Cor.  7.  14.  not  Pa- 
rents only,but  [your  Children]  are  Holy.  2.  They 
are  perfonally  baptized,  or  have  had  Baptifm, 
the  Seal  of  Memberfhip  applied  to  their  own 
Perfons ;  which  being  regularly  done,  is  a 
Divine  Teftimony,  that  they  are  in  their  own 
Perfons  Members  of  the  Church.  3.  They  are 
perfonally  under  Difcipline,and  liable  toChurch- 
Cenfures  in  their  own  Perfons ;  vide  Propof.  3. 
4.  They  are  perfonally  (by  means  of  the  Cove- 
venant)  in  a  vifible  State  of  Salvation.  To  fay 
they  are  not  Members  in  their  own  Perfons,  but 
in  their  own  Parents,  would  be  as  if  one  Ihould 
fay,  They  are  laved  in  their  Parents,  and  not  in 
their  Perfons.  5.  When  they  commit  Iniquity, 
they  perfonally  break  the  Covenant,therefore 
are  perfonally  in  ir,  Jerem.  ir.  2,  10.  Ezek.  16. 

2.  By  the  like  Reafons,  it  appears,  that  Chil- 
dren are  immediate  Members,  as  to  the  Effence 
of  Memberfhip  (j.  e.  tbar  they  themlelves  in 
their  own  Perfons,  are  the  immediate  Subjects 
of  this  adjuncf  of  Church-Memberlhip)  though 
they  come  to  it  by  Means  of  their  Parents  cove- 
nanting. For  as  touching  that  Diftin£tion  of 
Mediate  and  Immediate,  as  applied  to  Member- 
fhip (which  fome  urge)  we  are  to  diftinguifh- 
r.  Between  the  Efficient  and  Eflence  of  Member, 
flip.    2.  Between  the  Inltrumental  Efficient,  or 

Means 


Book  V.         T/;*  Hijlory  of  New-England. 


73 


Means  thereof,  which  is  the  Barents  Profejfion 
and  Covenanting  ;  and  the  Principal  Efficient, 
which  is  Divine  Inltitution.  They  may  be  faid 
to  be  mediate  (or  rather  mediately)  Members, 
as  they  become  Members  by  means  of  their  Pa- 
rents Covenanting,  as  an  Inlhumental  caufe 
thereof:  but  rhat  doth  nothing  vary  or  diminifh 
the  Effence  of  their  Memberfhip.  For  Divine 
Inltitution  giveth  or  granteth  a  real  and  perfonal 
Memberfhip  unto  them,  as  well  as  unto  their 
Parents,  and  maketh  the  Parent  a  publick  Per- 
fon,  and  fo  his  Aft  theirs  to  that  end. 

Hence  the  ElTence  of  Memberfhip,   that  is, 
Covenant -lnt  ere  ft,   or  a  place  and  portion  within 
ibe  V "ifible Church  is  really,   properly,  perfonally 
and  immediately  the  Portion  of  the  Child,   by 
Divine  Gift  and  Grant,  Jof.  2  2»  25,  27.  their 
Children  have  a  part  in  the  Lord  as  well  as  them- 
ielves.     Apart  in  the  Lord,  there,  and  Cburch- 
Memberjhip  (or  Memberflnp  in  IJrael)  are  terms 
equivalent.    Now  the  Children  there,  and  a  part 
in  the  Lord,  are  Jubjeli  and  adjunil,   which  no- 
thing comes  between,  fo  as  to  fever  the  Adjunct 
from  the  Subject  ;  therefore  they  are  immediate 
Subjetls  of  that  Adjuncf  of  immediate  Members, 
Again,their  vifible  Ingrafting  into  Chriff  the  Head, 
and  fo  into  the  Chutch  his  Body,  rs  fealed  in  their 
Baptifm :   but  in  Ingrafting  nothing  comes  be- 
twixt the  Graft  and  the  Stock  -.  Their  Union 
is  immediate  -,  hence  they  are  immediately  in- 
ferted  into  the  Vifible  Church,    or  immediate 
Members  thereof.     The  Little  Children  in  Dent. 
29.  11.  were  perfonally  and  immediately  apait 
of  the  People  of  God,  or  Members  of  the  Church 
of  IJrael,  as  well   as  their  Parents.    To  be  in 
Covenant,  or  to  be  a  Covenantee  is  the  formalis 
Ratio  of  a  Chutch  Member.    If  one  come  to  be 
in  Covenant  one  way,  and  another  in  another, 
but  both  are  in  Covenant  or  Covenantees  (/'.  e. 
patties  with  whom  the  Covenant  is  made,  and 
whom  God  takes  into  Covenant)  as  Children 
here  are,  Gen.  17.  7,  8.  then  both  are  in  their 
own  Perfons  the  immediate  Subjects  of  the  for- 
malis Ratio  of  Membeilhip,  and  fo  immediate 
Members.    To  Ail  in  covenanting  is  but  the 
Inlhumental  means  of  Memberfhip,  and  yet 
Children  are  not  without  this  neither.    For 
the  AcF  of  the  Parent  (their  publick  perfon)  is 
accounted  their's,  and  they  are  laid  to  enter  in- 
to Covenant,   Deut.  2p.  11,  12.    So  that  what 
is  it  that  Children  want  uruo  an  Actual,  Com- 
pleat,  Proper,  Abfolute  and  Immediate  Mem- 
berfhip ?   (fo  far  as  thefe  terms  may  with  any 
propriety  or  pertinency  be  applied  to  the  matter 
in  hand)    Is  it  Covenant -Inter eft  which  is  the 
formalis  Ratio  of  Memberfhip  ?   No,   they  are 
in  Covenant.    Is  it  Divine  Grant  and Infiitution, 
which  is  the  Principal  Efficient  ?    No,  he  hath 
clearly  declared  himfelf,    that  he  grants  unto 
the  Children  of  his  People  a  portion  in  his 
Church,  and  appoints  them   to  be  Members 
thereof.     Is  it  an  Ail  of  Covenanting,  which  is 
the  Injirumental  means  ?     No,  they  have  this 
alfo  reputatively  by  Divine  Appointment,  making 
the  Parent  a  publick  Perfon,   and  accounting 
them  to  Covenant  in  his  Covenanting.    A  dif1 


ferent  manner  and  means  of  conveying  the  Co- 
venant to  us,  or  of  making  us  Members,  doth 
not  make  a  different  fort  ot  the  Memberfhip, 
We  now  are  as  truly  perfonally  and  immediate 
Members  of  the  Body  of  fallen  Mankind,  and, 
by  Nature  Heirs  of  the  Condemnation  pertain- 
ing thereto  as  Adam  was,  though  he  cam;;  to  be 
fo  by  his  own  perfonal  Ail,  and  we  by  the  Ail  of 
our  publick  Perfon.  If  a  Prince  give  fuch  Lands 
to  a  Man  and  his  Heirs  tiicceffively,  while  they 
continue  Loyal ;  the  following  Heir  is  a  true 
and  immediate  Owner  of  that  Land,  and  may 
be  perfonally  difinherited  if  Difloyal,  as  well 
as  his  Father  before  him.  A  Member  is  one, 
that  is  according  to  Rule,  (or  according  to  Di- 
vine Inltitution)  within  the  Vifible  Church. 

Thug  the  Child  is  properly  and  perfonally,  or 
immediately.  Paul  calls  all  Men  into  two  forts, 
thofe  within,  and  thofe  without,  i.  e.  Members 
and  Non-Members,  1  Cor.  5.  12.  It  feems  he 
knew  of  no  fuch  diftin&ion  of  mediate  and  im- 
mediate as  purs  a  medium  between  thefe  two. 
Objeff,  If  Children  be  compleat  and  immediate 
Memters  as  their  Parents  are,  then  they  fhall 
immediately  have  all  Church  Privileges,  as 
their  Parents  have,  without  any  further  A8:  or 
Qualification,  Anfw.  It  follows  not.  All  Pri- 
vileges that  belong  to  Members,  as  fuch,  do  be- 
long to  the  Children  as  well  as  the  Parents : 
But  all  Church  Privileges  do  not  fo.  A  Mem- 
ber as  fuch  (or  all  Members)  may  nor  partake 
of  allPriviledgeSi  butthey  aretomake  progrefs 
both  in  Memberly  duties  and  privileges,  as  their 
Age,  Capacity  and  Qualifications  do  fit  themfor 
the  fame. 

3.  That  their  Memberfhip  Jlill  continues  in 
Adult  Age,  and  ceafe th  not  with  their  Infancy, 
appears^  1.  Becaufe  in  Scripture  Perfons  are 
broken  off  only  for  notorious  Sin,  or  incorrigible 
Impenitency  and  Unbelief,  not  for  growing  up 
to  Adult  Age,  Rom.  ii.  20.  2.  The  Jew  Chil- 
dren Circumcifed  did  not  ceafe  to  be  Members 
by  growing  up,  but  continued  in  the  Church, 
and  were  by  virtue  of  their  Memberfhip,  rel 
ceived  in  Infancy,  bound  unto  various  duties,  and 
in  fpecial  unto  thofe  folemn  perfonal  profelfions 
that  pertained  to  Adult  Members,  not,  as  then, 
entring  into  a  new  Memberfhip,  but  as  making 
a  ptogrefsin  Memberly  Duties,  Deut.  26.  2,  10. 
and  16.  id,  17.  with  Gal.  5.  3.  3.  Thofe  Re- 
lations of  Born-Servants  and  Subjeils,  which 
the  Scripture  makes  ufe  of  to  fct  forth  the  ffate 
of  Children  in  the  Church  by  Lev.  25.  41,  42, 
Ezek.  37.  25.  do  not  (as  all  Men  know)  ceafe 
with  Infancy,  bur  continue  in  Adult  Age.  Whence 
alfo  it  follows,  that  one  fpecial  end  of  Member- 
fhip received  in  Infancy,  is  to  leave  Perfons  un- 
der Engagement,  to  Service  and  Subjection  ro 
Chrift  in  his  Church,  when  grown  up,  when 
they  are  fitteft  for  it,  and  have  molt  need  of 
it.  4.  There  is  no  ordinary  way  of  CeiTation 
of  Memberfhip,  but  by  Death,  Difmiifion,  Ex- 
communication, or  Diflolution  of  the  Society  : 
None  of  which  is  the  Cafe  of  the  Perfons  in 
queftion.  5.  Either  they  are,  when  Adulr, 
Members  or  Non- Members:  if  Non-Members, 

5  K  then 


74 


Tbe  Hiftory  of  New-England.      Book  V. 


then  a  Perfon  admitted  a  Member,  and  fealed 
by  Baptifm,  not  caff  out,  nor  deferving  fo  to  be, 
may  (the  Church  whereof  he  was  (till  remain- 
ing) become  a  Non- Member  and  out  of  the 
Church,  and  of  the  Unclean  World  •,  which 
the  Scripture  acknowledgeth  not.  Now  if  the 
Parent  ftand  Member  of  the  Church,  the  Child 
is  a  Member  alfo :  For  now  the  Root  is  Holy, 
therefore  fo  are  the  Branches,  Rom.  n.  \6. 
i  Cor.  7.  14.  The  Parent  is  in  Covenant,  there- 
fore fo  is  the  Child,  Gen.  17.  7.  and  if  the 
Child  be  a  Member  of  the  Vifible  Church,  then 
he  is  a  Subject  of  Baptifm,  according  to 
Propof.  I. 

Proposition   VI. 

Such  Church-Members,  ivho  either  by  Death, 
or  fome  other  extraordinary  Providence^ 
have  been  inevitably  hindred  from  publicly 
atting  as  afore/aid,  yet  have  given  the 
Church  caufe,  in  judgment  of  Charity,  to 
look,  at  them,  as  Jo  qualified,  and  fuch,  as 
bad  they  been  called  thereunto  would  have 
fo  a&edy  their  Children  are  to  be  Bap- 
tifed. 

This  manifeft. 

t.  T>EcauIe  the  main  Foundation  of  the  right 
JO  of  the  Child  to  privilege  remains,  viz. 
God's  Inltitution,  and  the  Force  of  his  Covenant 
carrying  it  to  the  Generations  of  fuch  as  con- 
tinue keepers  of  the  Covenant,  i.  e.  not  vifibly 
breakers  of  it.  By  virtue  of  which  Inftitution 
and  Covenant  the  Children  in  queftion,  are 
Members,  and  their  Memberfhip  being  diftincf 
from  the  Patents  Memberfhip,  ceafeth  not,  but 
continues,  notwithltanding  the  Parent's  Deceafe 
or  necefTary  Abfence :  and,  if  Members,  then 
Subjects  of  Baptifm.  2.  Becaufe  the  Parent's 
not  doing  what  is  required  in  the  Fifth  Propo- 
rtion, is  through  want  of  opportunity  ;  which 
is  not  to  be  imputed  as  their  guilt,  fo  as  to  be  a 
bar  to  the  Chifd's  Privilege.  3.  God  reckoneth 
that  as  done  in  his  Service,  to  which  thete  was 
a  manifeft  Defire  and  Endeavour,  albeit  the  act- 
ing of  it,  wete  hindred  ;  as  in  David  to  Build 
the  Temple,  1  King.  8.  18.  15?.  In  Abraham  to 
Sacrifice  his  Son,  Heb.  n.  17.  according  to  that 
in  2  Cor.  8.  12.  Where  there  is  a  willing  mind, 
it  is  accepted  according  to  what  a  Man  hath,  and 
not  according  to  what  he  hath  not :  which  is  true 
of  this  Church-Duty,  as  well  as  of  that  of  Alms. 
It  is  a  ufual  Phrafe  with  the  Ancients  to  ftile 
fuch  and  fuch  Martyrs  in  Voto,  and  Baptifed 
in  Voto,  becaufe  there  was  no  want  of  defire 
that  way,  though  their  defire  was  not  actually 
accomplifhed.  4.  The  terms  of  the  Proposition 
import  that  in  Charity,  that  is  here  done  inter- 
peratively,  which  is  mentioned  to  be  done  in 
the  Fifth  Propofition  exprefly. 


Proposition  VII. 

the  Members  of  Orthodox  Churches,  being 
found  in  the  Faith,  and  not  fcandalous  in 
Life,  and  prefenting  due  lefiimony  thereof '• 
thefe  occafionally  coming  from  one  Church 
to  another,  may  have  their  Children  Bap- 
tized in  the  Church,  whither  they  come  by 
virtue  of  Communion  of  Churches  :  but  if 
they  remove  their  Habitation,  they  ought 
orderly  to  Covenant  and  Subject  them/elves 
to  the  Government  of  Chrijl  in  the  Church, 
where  they  fettle  their  abode,  and  fo  their 
Children  to  be  Baptifed.  It  being  the 
Churches  duty  to  receive  fuch  unto  Com- 
munion, fo  far,  as  they  are  Regularly  fit 
for  the  fame. 

1.  QUch  Members  of  other  Churches,  as  are 
"  O  here  defcribed,  occafionally  coming  from 
one  Church  to  another,  their  Children  are  to  be 
Baptifed  in  the  Church  whither  they  come,  by  vir- 
tue of  Communion  of  Churches. 

1.  Becaufe  he  that  is  regularly  a  Member  of 
a  true  particular  Church,  is  a  fubje£t  of  Baptifm 
according  to  Propof.  firff  and  fecond.  But  the 
Children  of  the  Parents  here  defcribed  are  fuch, 
according  to  Propof.  fifth  and  fixth  -,  Therefore 
they  are  meet  and  Lawful  Subjects  of  Baptifm, 
or  have  right  to  he  Baptifed.  And  Communion 
of  Churches,  infers  fuch  A£ts  as  this  is,  vie.  To 
Baptize  a  fit  Subjecl  of  Baptifm,  tho'  a  Member 
of  another  Church,  when  the  fame  is  orderly 
defired.  (fee  Platform  of  Difcipline,  Chap.  1 5. 
Secf.  4.)  For  look  as  every  Church,  hath  a 
double  Confideration,  viz.  1.  Of  it's  own  Con- 
ltitution  and  Communion  within  it  felf :  2.  Of 
that  Communion  which  it  holds,  and  ought  to 
maintain  with  other  Churches.  So  the  Officer 
(the  Paftor  or  Teacher)  thereof,  is  there  fet. 
(1.)  To  Adminiffer  to  this  Church  conftantly  •, 
(2.)  To  do  Afts  of  Communion  occafionally,  viz. 
Such  as  belong  to  his  Office  as  Baptifmg  doth, 
refpecfing  the  Members  of  other  Churches,  with 
whom  this  Church  holds,  or  ought  £to  hold 
Communion. 

2.  To  refufe  Communion  with  a  true  Church 
in  Lawful  and  Pious  Affions,  is  unlawful,  and 
juftly  accounted  Schifmatical.  For,  if  the 
Church  be  true  Chrift  holdeth  fome  Com- 
munion with  it;  and  therefore  fo  muff  we: 
but  if  we  will  not  have  Communion  with  it  in 
thofe  Atts  that  are  Good  and  Pious,  then  in 
none  at  all.  Totalfeparation  from  a  true  Church 
is  unlawful :  But  to  deny  a  Communion  in  good 
Aft  ions  is  to  make  a  Total  feparation.  Now 
to  Baptize  a  fit  fubjeft,  as  is  the  Child  in  quefti- 
011,  is  a  Lawful  and  a  Pious  Adion,  and  there- 
fore by  virtue  of  Communion  of  Churches,  in  the 
Cafe  mentioned  to  be  attended. 

And  if  Baptifm  Lawfully  Adminiftred,  may 
and  ought  to  be  received  by  us,  for  our  Chil- 
dren, in  another  true  Church,  where  Providence 

fo 


Book  V.         The  Hiftorj  of  New-England. 


7S 


fo  cafls  us,  as  that  we  cannot  have  it  in  our 
own,  (as  doubtleis  it  may  and  ought  to  he) 
then'alfo  we  may  and  ought  in  like  cafe  to  dii1 
penfe  Baptifm,  when  defired  to  a  meet  and 
Lawful  SubjeQ,  being  a  Member  of  another 
Church.  To  deny  or  refufe  either  of  thefe, 
would  be  an  unjuftifiable  refufing  of  Com- 
munion of  Churches,  and  tending  to  finful 
Reparation. 

2.  Such  as  remove-  their  Habitation,  ought  or- 
derly to  Covenant  and  fubjcll  themf elves  to  the 
Government  of  Chrifl  in  the  Church,  where  they 
fettle  their  Abode,  and  fo  their  Children  to  be 
Baptifed.  i.  Becaufe  the  Regularly  Baptifed 
are  Difciples,  and  under  the  Difcipline  and  Go- 
vernment of  Chrift :  but  they  that  are  abfo- 
lutely  removed  from  the  Church,  whereof  they 
were,  ft>  as  to  be  uncapable  of  being  under  Dif 
cipline  there,  fhall  be  under  it,,  no  where,  if 
not  in  the  Church  where  they  inhabit.  They 
that  would  have  Churchprivileges  ought  to  be 
under  Church-power:  but  thefe  will  be  under 
no  Church-power,  but  as  Lambs  in  a  large  place, 
if  not  under  it  there,  where  their  fettled  abode 
is.  2.  Every  Chriftian  ought  to  Covenant  for 
himfelf  and  for  his  Children,  or  profeffedly  to 
give  up  himfelf,  and  his  to  the  Lord,  and  that 
in  the  way  of  his  Ordinances,  Deut.  26.  17  and 
12.  5.  and  Explicits  Covenanting  is  a  Duty, 
efpecially  where  we  are  called  to  it,  and  have 
opportunity  for  it :  nor  can  they  well  be  faid 
to  Covenant  Implicitly,  that  do  Explicitly  refufe 
a  profelTed  Covenanting,  when  called  thereunto. 
And  efpecially  this  Covenanting  is  a  Duty, 
when  we  would  partake  of  fuch  Church-privi- 
ledge,  as  Baptifm  for  our  Children  is.  But  the 
Parents,  in  queflion,  will  now  be  profeffed  Co- 
venanters no  where,  if  not  in  the  Church,  where 
their  fixed  Habitation  is.  Therefore  they  ought 
orderly  to  Covenant,  there,  and  Jo  their  Children 
to  be  baptifed.  3.  To  refufe  Covenanting  and 
fubje£tion  to  Chrifl' s  Government  in  the  Church 
where  they  live,  being  fo  removed  as  to  be  ut- 
terly uncapable  of  it  elfewhere,  would  be  a 
walking  disorderly,  and  would  too  much  favour 
of  Profanefs  and  Separation ;  and  hence  to  Ad- 
minifter  Baptifm  to  the  Children  of  fuch  as 
ftand  in  that  way,  would  be  to  Adminifter 
Chrift's  Ordinances  to  fuch  as  are  in  a  way  of 
Sin  and  Diforder;  which  ought  not  to  be, 
2  Thef.  3.  6.  1  Chron.  15.  13.  and  would  be 
contrary  to  that  Rule,  1  Cor.  14.  40.  Let  all 
things  be  done  decently  and  in  order. 

QjJ  E  S  T  I  O  N   IL 

Whether  according  to  the  Word  of  God  there 
ought  to  be  a  Confociation  of  Churches, 
and  what  Jhould  be  the  manner  of  it  ? 


Answer. 

THE  Anfwer  may  be  briefly  given  in  the 
Propofitions  following. 


1.  Every  Church  or  particular  Congregation  of 
vifible  Saints  in  Gojpcl-Ordcr,  I  >ng  furnifhed 
with  a  Presbytery,  at  leaf}  vditb  a  Teaching 
Elder,  and  walking  together  in  Truth,  and  Peace, 
hath  received  from  the  Lord  Jefus  full  Power 
and  Authority  Ecclefiaftical  within  it  f elf,  regu- 
larly to  Adminifter  all  the  Ordinances  of  Chrift^ 
and  is  not  under  any  other  Ecclefiaftical  Jurif- 
ddtwn  whatfoever.  For  to  fuch  a  Church  Chrift 
hath  given  the  Keys  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven^ 
that  what  they  bind  or  locfe  on  Earth,  fhall  be 
bound  or  loofed  in  heaven,  Mat.  16.  19.  and  18. 
17,  18.  Elders  are  ordained  in  every  Churchy 
Alts  14.  23.  Tit.  1.  5.  and  are  therein  Autho- 
rifed  Officially  to  Adminifler  in  the  Word,  Prayer, 
Sacraments  and  Cenfures,  Mat.  28.  19,  20.  Att's. 
6.  4.  1  Cor.  4.  1.  and  5.  4,  12.  Ails  20.  28. 
1  Tim.  5.  17.  and  3.  5.  The  reproving  of  the 
Church  of  Corinth,  and  of  the  Afian  Churches 
feverally,  imports  they  had  Power  each  of 
them  within  themfelves  to  Reform  the  Abufes 
that  were  amongft  them,  1  Cor.  5.  Rev.  2.  14, 
20.  Hence  it  follows,  that  Confociation  of 
Churches  is  not  to  hinder  the  Exercife  of  this 
Power  ■,  but  by  Counfel  from  the  Word  of 
God  to  direcf,  and  ftrengthen  the  fame  upon  all 
juft  occafions. 

2.  The  Churches  of  Chrift  doftandin  a  Sifterly 
Relation  each  to  other,  Cant.  8.  8.  being  united 
in  the  fame  faith  and  Order,  Eph.  4.  5.  Col.  2.  5. 
To  walk  by  the  fame  Rule,  Phil.  3.  16.  In  the 
Exercife  of  the  fame  Ordinances  for  the  fame 
end,  Eph.  4.  11,  12,  13.  1  Cor  id.  1.  under 
one  and  the  fame  political  Head,  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift,  Eph.  I.  22,  23.  and  4.  5.  Rev.  2.  i, 
which  Union  infers  a  Communion  fuitable  there- 
unto. 

3.  '  Communion  of  Churches  is  the.  Faithful 
c  Improvement  of  the  Gifts  of  Chrift  beftowed 
'  upon  them,  for  his  Service  and  Glory,  and 
c  their  mutual  Good  and  Edification,  according 
'  to  Capacity  and  Opportunity,  i  Pet.  4.  10,  1 1. 
6  1  Cor.  12.  4,  7.  and  10.  24.  1  Cor.  3.  21,  22. 
c  Cant.  8.  9.  Rom.  r.  15.  Gal.  6.  10. 

4.  '  Afts  of  Communion  of  Churches  are 
'  fuch  as  thefe. 

r.  '  Hearty  Care  and  Prayer  one  for  ano- 
'  ther,  2  Cor.  ii.  28.  Cant.  8.  8.  Rom. 
'  1.  9-  Col.  1.  9.  Eph.  6.  18. 

2.  '  To  afford  Relief  by  Communication 
'  of  their  Gifts  in  Temporal  or  Spiritual 
'  Neceifiities,  Rom.  15.26,  27.  Ms  1 1. 
c  22,  29.   2  Cor.  8.  1,4,  14. 

3.  c  To  maintain  Unity  and  Peace,  by 
'  giving  account  one  to  another  of  their 
'  publick  A&ions,  when  it  is  orderly 
'  defired,  Ails  it.  2,  3,  4-  18.  Jcfh.  22. 
'  13,  21,  30.  1  Cor.  10.  32.  and  to 
'  ftrengthen  one  another  in  their  Regu- 
*  lar  Adminiftrations ;  as  in  fpecial  by 
c  a  Concurrent  Teftimony  againft  Per- 
'  fons  juftly  Cenfured,  Alls  5.  41.  and 
c  16.   4,  5.    2  B».  4.    15.    zThef.-},. 


5K2 


*«  To 


76 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.      Book  V. 


k     4.  '  To  feek  and  accept  help  from,  and 
'  give  help  unto  each  other. 

1.  'In  cafe  of  Divifions  and  Contentions 
'  whereby  the  Peace  of  any  Church 
L  is  difturbed,  Alls  15.  2. 

2.  '  In  matters  of  more  than  ordinary 
'Importance,  [Prcv.  24.  6.  and  15. 
'  22.]  as  Ordination,  Translation  and 
'  Depofition  of  Elders  and  fuch  like, 
4  1  Tim.  5.  22. 

3.  '  In  Doubtful  and  Difficult  Queftions 
'  and  Controverfies ,  Doctrinal  or 
'Practical  that  may  arife,  Alls  15. 
<  2,  6. 

4.  '  For  the  rectifying  of  MaleAdmini- 
'  '    '  ftrations,  and  healing  of  Errors  and 

'Scandals,  that  are  unhealed  among 
'  themlelves,  3  Job.  v.  p,  10.  2  Cor.  2. 
6,  11.  1  Cor.  15.  Rev.  2.  14,  15,  16. 
1  Cor.  12.  20, 21.  and  13.  2.  Churches 
now  have  need  of  help  in  like  cafes, 
as  well  as  Churches  then^  Chrift's 
care  is  ftill  for  whole  Churches,  as 
well  as  for  particular  Perfons  -,  And 
Apoftles  being  now  ceafed,  there  re- 
mains the  Duty  of  Brotherly  Love, 
and  mutual  Care,  and  Helpiulnels 
incumbent  upon  Churches,  efpecially 
Elders  tor  that  end. 

5.  '  In  Love  and  Faithfulnefs  to  take 
'  notice  of  the  Troubles  and  Difficulties, 

*  Errors  and  Scandals  of  another  Church, 

*  and  to  Adminifter  help,  (when  the  cafe 

*  necelTarily  calls  for  ir)  tho'  they  fhould 
'  fo  neglect  their  own  Good  and  Duty, 
'  as  not  to  feek  it,  Exod.  23.  4,  5.  Prov. 
'  24.  11,  12. 

6.  '  To  Admonifh  one  another,  when  there 
1  is  need  and  caufe  for  it,  and  after  due 
1  means  with  Patience  ufed,to  withdraw 
'  from  a  Church, or  peccant  party  therein, 
'  obltinately  perfifting  in  Error  or  Scan- 
4  dal  -,  as  in  the  Platform  of  Difcipline 
'  (Cap.  15.  Self.  2.  Partic.  3. J  is  more 
'at  large  declared,  Gal.  2.  11,  14. 
'  2Tbef.  3.  6.  Rom.  \6.  17. 

5.  Confociation  of  Churches  is  their  Mutual 
and  folemn  Agreement  to  exercife  Communion 
in  fuch  Acts,  as  aforefaid,  amongft  themfelves, 
with  fpecial  reference  to  thofe  Churches,  which 
by  Providence  are  planted  in  a  convenient  vi- 
cinity, though  with  Liberty  reierved  without 
Offence,  to  make  ufe  of  others,  as  the  Na- 


'  ture  of  the  Cafe,  or  the  Advantage  of  Oppor- 
'  tunity  may  lead  thereunto. 

6.  '  The  Churches  of  Chriff  in  this  Country 
'  having  fb  good  opportunity  fc  r  it,  it  is  meet 
c  to  be  commended  to  them,  as  their  Duty  thus 
'  to  Confociate.  For  1.  Communion  of  Churches 
being  commanded,  and  Confociation  being  but 
an  Agreement  to  practile  it,  this  muft  needs  be 
a  Duty  alio,  Pjal.  up.  106.  Neb.  28.  29. 
2.  Paul  an  Apoltle  fought  with  much  Labour 
the  Conference,  Concurrence,  and  Right  Hand 
of  Fellowfhip  of  other  Apoftles :  and  Ordinary 
Elders  and  Churches  have  not  lefs  need  each  of 
other,  to  prevent  their  Running  in  Vain,  Gal.  2. 
2,  <5,  p.  3.  Thofe  General  Scripture  Rules, 
touching  the  need  and  ufe  of  Counfel,  and  help 
in  weighty  Cafes,  concern  all  Societies  and 
Polities,  Ecclefiaftical  as  well  as  Civil,  P/'ov.  1 1. 
14.  and  15.  22.  and  20.  18.  and  24.  6.  Ecclef. 
4. 5?,  10,  14.  4.  The  Pattern  in  Ads  15.  holds 
forth  a  Warrant  for  Councils,  which  may  be 
greater  or  leiTer,  as  the  matter  fhall  require: 
5.  Concurrence  and  Communion  of  Churches 
in  Gofpel  times,  is  not  obfeurely  held  forth 
in  Ifa.  \p.  23,  24,  25.  'Zepb.  3.  p.  1  Cor.  11, 
id.  and  14.  32,  36.  6,  There  has  conftantly 
been  in  thefe  Churches  a  polTeffion  of  Com- 
munion, in  giving  the  Right  Hand  of  Fellow- 
fhip in  the  gathering  of  Churches,  and  Ordina- 
tion of  Elders ;  which  imporrerh  a  Confociation, 
and  obligeth  to  the  practice  thereof.  Without 
which  we  fhould  alio  want  an  expedient,  and 
fufficient  Cure  for  Emergent  Church  Difficulties 
and  Differences :  with  the  want  whereof  our 
way  is  charged,  but  unjuftly,  ifthispartof 
the  Doctrine  thereof  were  duly  practiled. 

7.  '  The  manner  of  the  Church's  Agreement 
'  herein,  or  entring  into  this  Confociation,  may 
'  be  by  each  Church's  open  confenting  unto 
'  the  Things,  here,  declared  in  Anfwer  to  the 
'  fecoud  Queltion,  as  alfo  to  what  is  faid  there- 
'  about,  in  Chap.  1 5.  and  1 6.  of  the  Platform 
'  of  Difcipline,  with  reference  to  other  Churches 
'  in  this  Colony  and  Countrey,  as  in  Propof.  5. 
'  is  before  expreffed. 

8.  '  The  manner  of  Exercifing  and  Practifing 
'  that  Communion,  which  this  Confent  or 
'  Agreement  fpecially  tendeth  unto,  may  be, 
'  by  making  ufe  occafionally  of  Elders  or  able 
6  Bretheren  of  other  Churches  j  or  by  the  more 
'  folemn  Meetings  of  both  Elders  and  Meflen- 
'  gers  in  LeiTer  or  Greater  Councils,  as  the  mat- 
'  ter  (hall  require. 


RE- 


Book  V.        The  Hijtory  of  New-Engknd. 


77 


REMARKS 


UPON    THE 


Synodical  Propofitions. 


H  E  Proportions  thus  voted  by 
the  Major  Part,  more  than  Seven 
to  One,  in  the  Synod,  were  clog'd 
by  the  DifTent  of  feveral  Reve- 
rend and  Judicious  Perfons,  in  that  Venerable 
Aflembly  -,  who  were  jealous  left  the  Sacred  Or- 
dinance of  Baptifm,  Ihould  come  to  be  applied 
unto  iuch  unmeet  Subjects,  as  would  in  a  while 
put  an  End  unto  New  England's  Primitive  and 
Peculiar  Glory  of  undcfiled Admimftrations.  Tho1 
we  cannot  fay,  that  in  this  our  Synod,  the  Ob 
iervation  ot  Thuanus  was  verified,  Colloquia,  qua 
ut  Theologicis  controverfiis  Finis  imponatur,  infii- 
tuuntur,  major  urn  excitandarum  f#pe  initium  exi- 
ftunt  •,   yet  the  Reciprocations  of  Argument, 
which  eniued  on  this  Difference,  quickly  became 
fenfible  to  Mankind,  as  by  fome  other  Common 
Effects  of  Controverjie,    lb  efpecially   by   the 
Dilquifitions  which  were,  on  this  Occafion,  pub- 
lished unto  the  World.    Here,  not  concerning 
our   felves  with   the   Antifynodalia  Americana, 
compoled  by  Mr.  Char les  Cbauncey,  the  Prefident 
of  the  College,  and  anfwered  by  Mr.  John  Allen, 
Paftor  of  Dedham,  we  fhall  only  take  Notice 
of  the  two  Twin-Difcourfes,  which  made  moft 
Figure  in  the  Management  of  This  Difputation. 
Firft,  Mr.  John  Davenport  in  Oppofition  to  the 
Synod,  emitted  a  Treatile,  under  the  Title  of, 
Another  Effay  for  Inveftigation  of  the  Truth  : 
whereto  there  was  by  another  Hand  prefixed, /£<# 
which   the  Eldets  of  the  Synod  judged  the  di- 
ftincteft  and  exact  eft  Thing,  that  has  been  writ- 
ten on  that  fide,  under  the  Title  of,  An  Apolo- 
getical  Preface  for  the  Defence  of  the  Synod. 
Mr.  Rich.  Mather,  being  thereunto  appointed, 
wrote  a  full  Anfwer  to  the  Effay ;  and  Mr.  Jo- 
nathan Mitchel  wrote  a  fuller  Anfwer  to  the 
"Preface  5    both  of  which    quickly   faw    the 
Light. 

§  2.  The  true  State  of  the  Difference  cannot 


On  the  one  fide,  thus  reafoned  the  learned 
Apologift. 

I.  The  Synod  did  acknowledge,  that  there 
ought  to  be  true  faving  Faith  in  the  Parent,  ac- 
cording to  the  Judgment  of  rational  Charity,  or 
elfe  the  Child  ought  not  to  be  baptized.  We  en- 
treated and  urged  again  and  again,  that  this, 
which  they  themfelves  acknowledged  was  a 
Principle  of  Truth,  might  be  fet  down  for  a 
Conclufwn,  and  then  we  fhould  all  agree.  But 
thofe  reverend  Perfons  would  not  content  to 
this. 

On  the  other  fide,  thus  replied  the  Excellent 
Anfwerer. 

We  are  to  diftinguifh  betweeen  Faith  in  the 
hopeful  beginning  of  it,  the  charitable  Judgment 
whereof  runs  upon  a  great  Latitude  ;  and  Faith 
in  the  fpecial  exercife  of  it,  unto  the  vifible 
Difcovery  whereof,  more  experienced  Operati- 
ons are  to  be  enquired  after.  The  Words  of 
Dr.  Ames  are,  Children  are  not  to  be  admitted 
to  partake  of  all  Church  Priviledges,  till  firft 
increafe  of  Faith  do  appear  ;  but  from  thofe  which 
belong  to  the  beginning  of  Faith,  and  entrance 
into  the  Church,  they  are  not  to  be  excluded. 

The  Apoftles  conltantly  baptifed  Perfons  upon 
the  firft  beginning  of  their  Chriftianity,  but  the 
Lord's  Supper  followed  after,  as  annexed  unto 
fome  Progrefs  in  Chriftianity.  The  fame  ftrict- 
neis  as  to  outward  Signs,  is  not  neceflary  unto 
a  charitable  Judgment  of  that  Initial  Faith, 
which  entitles  unto  Baptifm,  as  there  is  unto 
the  like  Judgment  of  that  exercifed  Faith, 
which  is  requifite  unto  the  Supper  of  the  Lord. 
We  all  own,  that  only  Vifible  Believers,  are  to 
have  their  Children  baptized;  and  it  is  expref- 
fed  ib  in  the  Synod's  Refult  -,  but  the  Queftion 
is,   Who  are  Vifible  Believers?    Our  Brethren 


be  better  given  than  by  Epitomizing  the  Pofitions  ftrove  fo  to  fcrue  up  the  Exprelfions  for  Baptifm, 
and  Arguments  in  the  clofe  of  the  Apologetical  that  all  that  have  their  Children  baptifed  muft 
Preface  on  the  one  part,  and  the  Anfwer s  to  thofe j  vnavoidably  be  brought  unto  the  Lord's  Table, 
■Pofitions  and  Arguments,  on  the  other.  And  I  \  and  unto  a  Power  of  voting  in  the  Churches, 
am  the  more  willing  to  give  it,  becaufe  the  Ec- 1  This  we  fay.  will  prove  a  Church-corrupting 
clefiaftical  Affairs  of  this  Country  have  fomuch  I  Principle, 
turned  upon  it.  '  A  P  0- 


78 


The  Hiftorj  of  New-England.       Book  V. 


APOLOGY. 
II.  We  have  no  warrant  in  all  the  Scripture 
to  apply  the  Seal  of  Baptifm  unto  thofe  ChiU 
dren,  whole  Parents  are  in  a  ftate  of  Unfitnels 
for  the  Lord's  Supper.  Thofe  Ms  2.  41.  who 
were  baptized,  continued  breaking  Bread  alio, 
unlets  the  Father  were  in  a  ftate  of  fitnefs  for 
the  Paffover,  his  Child  might  not  be  circumci- 
fed.  Neither  do  we  read  that  in  the  primitive 
Times,  Baptifm  was  of  a  greater  Latitude,  as 
to  the  Subject  thereof,  than  the  Lord's  Supper. 
Catechumeni  ad  Baptifierium  nunquam  admitten- 
difunt.  Concil  Am,  Chap.  19.  In  the  Dawnings 
ol  Reformation  in  England,  our  fuel  could 
plead  againft  Harding,  That  Baptifm  was  as 
much  to  be  reverenced,  as  the  Body  and  Blood  oj 
Chrift.  Nay,  a  grievous  Error  has  therefore, 
been  committed  in  former  Ages,  and  other 
Churches,  to  adminifier  the  Lord's  Supper  unto 
Infants. 


ANS  W  E  R. 

By  a  ftate  of  Unfitnefs,  muft  be  meant  either, 
Non -Memberfhip  :     But   the  Parents,    in   the 
Queftion,  are  Members  of  the  Church  -,  and  io 
to  them  do  belong  all  Church  Priviledges,  ac- 
cording as  they  fhall  be  capable  thereof,  and  ap- 
pear duly  qualified  for  the  fame  ;    They  have  a 
Jus  ad  rem,  tho'  not  Jus  in  re-,  as  a  Child  has 
a  right  unto  his  Fathers  Eftate,  however  he  have 
not  the  actual  Fruition  of  it,  until  he  be  quali- 
fied with  fuch  and  luch  Abilities.    Or  elfe  is 
meant,    a  want  of  aitual  gratifications  fitting, 
whereby  a  Perlbn  is  either  in  himfelf  fhort  of 
aftual  Fitnels  for  the  Lord's  Table,  or  wanteth 
a  Church-Approbation  of    his   Fitnefs     Now 
we  conceive  there  is  a  Warrant  in  Scripture  for 
the  applying  of  Baptifm  to  Children,   whofe 
Parents  do  want  actual   Qualifications,  fitting 
them  for  the  Lord's  Supper.    The  Parent  might 
want  aclual  Fitnefs  for  the  PaiTover  by  mani- 
fold ceremonial  LlncleannefTes,    and    yet  that 
hindered  not  the  Circumcifion  of  the  Child.  He 
muft  be  judged  clean  by  the  Prieftof  the  Church 
whereof  he  was  a  Member,  and  fo,  free  to  par- 
take of  the  Holy  Things.    Thus  the  Parents  in 
the  Queftion  muft  have  their  Fitnefs  f©r  the 
Lord's  Table  judged  by  thofe,  to  whom  the 
Judgment  belongs.    But  what  Fitnefs  for  the 
Lord's  Supper,  had  thofe  that  were  baptized  by 
John  Baptijf,   and  by  Chrift's  Difciples  at  his 
Appointment,   in  the  beginning  of  his  publick 
Miniftry  >  What  Fitnefs  had  the  Jaylor,  when 
himfelf  and  all  his  were  baptized  after  an  hours 
Inftru&ion,   wherein  probably  he  had  not  fo 
much  as  heard  any  thing  of  the  Lord's  Supper  ? 
The  teaching  of  which,  followed  after  difci- 
pling  and  baptizing,  as  is  hinted  by  that  Order 
in  Matth.  28.  19,  20.  and  by  the  antient  Pract- 
ice of  not  teaching  the  Catechumeni  any  thing 
about  the  Lord's  Supper,   till  after  they  were 
baptized,  as  is  affirmed  by  Hanmer  and  Baxter, 
out  of  Albafpintus.    We  conftantly  read  in  the 
Ms,  that  Perfons  were  baptized,  immediately 
upon  their  firft  entrance  into  Memberfhip  •,  but 


we  never  do  read,  that  they  did  immediately 
upon  their  firft  Memberfhip,  receive  the  Lord's 
Supper.  Yea,  fo  far  is  Baptifm  from  being  in- 
feparable  from  immediate  Admiflion  to  the 
Lord's  Supper,  that  we  read  of  no  one,  (no 
not  of  the  Adult)  in  all  the  Neva  Tefiament, 
that  was  admitted  to  the  Lord's  Supper,  imme- 
diately  upon  his  Baptifm. 

The  only  place  that  founds,   as  if  it  were 
quickly  after,  viz.  Alls  2.  41,  42.  is  alledged  by 
our  Brethren.    But  it  is  here  faid,  they  (after 
their  being  added  and  baptized)  continued  in  (or 
gavefedulous  attendance  to)  the  Apoftles  Doct- 
rine [Firft]  and  then  breaking  of  Bread.    There 
was  a  time  of  gaining  further  acquaintance  with 
Chrift,  and  with  his  Ways  and  Ordinances,    by 
the  ^pottle's  InftrucYion,  between  their  baptizing 
and  their   Participation  of    the  Lord's  Supper. 
And  the  Churches  of  Chrift  in  all,  efpecially 
in  the  beft  Ages,  and  the  choiceft  Lights  therein, 
both  Antient  and  Modern,  have  concurred  in  this 
Principle,  That  Baptifm  is  of  larger  Extent, than 
the  Lord's  Supper,  and  that  many  that  are  within 
the  Vifible  Church,    may  have  Baptifm  for  them- 
f elves,  at  leaji  for  their  Children,  who  yet  at  pre- 
Jent  want  aitual  fitnefs  for  the  Lord's  Supper. 
The  Authors,  that  write  of  Confirmation  do  abun- 
dantly prove  this  AfTertion.    Here  is  not  room 
to  infert  the  Evidences,  that  in  the  firft  Ages  of 
the  Church,  there  were  many  within  the  Church, 
who  were  debarred  from  the  Lord's  Supper,  and 
yet  had  their  Children  Baptized.     And  iince  the 
Reformation,    the  reforming  Divines  have  in 
their    Doftrine   unanimoufly   taught,     and   in 
their  Practice  many  of  them  endeavoured,   a 
ftri£t  Selection  of  thofe  that  fhould  be  admitted 
unto  the  Lord's  Supper ;    when  yet  they  have 
been  more  large  in  Point  of  Baptiim.    Plentiful 
Teftimonies  are  cited,  firft  from  Calvin,    from 
Crotius,  from  Bucan,  from  Beza,  from  Polanus, 
from  Urfin  and  Partus,  and  from  the  Harmony 
of  Confejfions  -,  and  then  from  Ames,  from  Hook- 
er, and  from  Hilderfham,  to  this  purpofe. 


APOLOGY. 
III.  The  Parents  of  the  Children  in  Queftion, 
are  not  Members  of  any  inftituted  Church,  ac- 
cording to  Gofpel-Rules ;  becaufethey  were  never 
under  any  explicit  andperfonal  Covenant.  If  this 
fecond  Generation  do  retain  their  Memberfhip  by 
Virtue  of  their  Parents  Covenant,  made  for 
them  in  Minority  ;  then  in  cafe  all  the  Pro-Pa- 
rents were  dead,  this  fecond  Generation  would 
be  a  true  Church  of  Chrift  5  without  any  fur- 
ther A£t  of  Covenanting.  But  this  they  ate 
not.  For,  then,  they  would  have  the  Power  to 
manage  alt  Church-Affairs,  as  every  true  Church 
hath  j  which  the  Synod  will  not  gtant  unto  them. 

ANSWER. 
We  doubt  not  to  affirm  with  Dr.  Ames,  that 
Children  are  Members  of  an  inftituted  Church, 
according  to  Gofpel-Rules  ;  and  that  they  are 
under  perfonal  Covenant,  or,  perlbnally  taken 
into  Covenant  by  God,  according  to  his  Gofpel- 
Rules,  tho'  they  have  not  performed  the  A£t  of 

Cove- 


Book  V.        The  Hiftory  of  New-tngJand. 


19 


Member,  yea,  a  Perfonal  Member,  in  our  Bre- 
thren's Account,  and  yet  is  not  in  Full-Com- 
munion -,  It  is  clear  then  that  Membership  and 
Hill  Communion,  are  feparable  things.  Befides, 
'tis  a  Memberfhip  dc  jure,  and  not  only  defallo, 
whereof  we  lpeak,  when  we  fpeak  of  mere 
Memberfhip.  Now  fuch  a  Memberfhip  implies 
a  Qualification,  that  a  Perfon  being  a  Church 
Member,  is  not  under  fuch  Grofs  and  Incorrigible 
Ignorance,  Herefie,  Scandal  or  Apoftacy,  as 
renders  him  an  immediate  fubjecl  of  Excommu- 
nication. Hence  mere  Memberfhip  is  not  fo  to 
Even,  as  the  Ifraelites,  that  were  |  be  oppofed  unto  qualified  Memberfhip,  as  if  it 

were  deftitute  ot  all  Qualifications.    Underftand 


Covenanting  in  their  own  Perfons-,  yea,  under 
the  Explicit  Covenant  alfo,  if  the  Parent's  Co- 
venanting was  Explicit.  Though  we  take  it  for 
a  Principle  granted  by  Congregational  Men, 
with  one  Confent,  That  an  Implicit  Covenant, 
preferves  the  Being  of  a  true  Church,  and  fo  of 
true  Church-Memberfhip.  We  alfo  fay,  The 
fecond  Generation,  continuing  in  a  vifible  Pro- 
feffion  of  the  Covenant,  Faith  and  Religion  of 
their  Fathers,  are  a  true  Church  of  Chrift, 
though  they  have  not  yet  made  any  Explicit 
perfonal  Expreffion  of  their  Engagement,  as  their 
Fathers  did. 

Numbred  in  the  Plains  of  Moab,  were  a  true 
Church,  and  under  the  Covenant  of  God,  made 
with  them  in  Horeb,  though  their  Parents,  with 
whom  it  was  firft  made,  in  Hereby  were  all 
Dead -,  and  that  before  the  folemn  Renewal  of 
the  Covenant  with  them  in  the  Plains  of  Moab. 
Our  denial  of  Liberty  unto  thefe  to  Vote  in 
Church-Affairs,  till  they  be  Qualified  for,  and 
Admitted  to  the  Lord's  Supper,  is  no  prejudice 
to  our  Grant  of  their  being  a  true  Church.  For 
the  cafe  of  a  true  Church  may  be  fuch,  as  that 
they  may  be,  at  prefent,  unfit  to  Exercile  a 
Power  of  afiting  in  Church-Affairs,  which  yet 
may  be  Radically  in  them  -,  even,  till,  by  the 
ufe  of  needful  means,  They,  or  a  feledt  Number 
among  them,  be  brought  up  unto  a  better  Ca- 
pacity for  it.  We  might  alfo  ask  whether  it 
would  prove  Women  to  be  no  Members  of  an 
Inlfituted  Church,  becaufe  if  all  the  Men  were 
Dead,  they  could  not  then  be  a  Church  ?  We 
may  add  -,  if  Difcipline,  and  other  Ordinances 
be  kept  up,  we  may  hope  God  will  fo  blefs  his 
Ordinances,  that  a  confiderable  number  fhall, 
from  time  to  time,  have  luch  Grace  given  them, 
as  to  be  fit  for  full  Communion,  and  carry  on 
the  things  of  his  Houfe  with  competent  Strength, 
Beauty  and  Edification. 


A P 0 L 0 GX 

IV.  It  is  not  mere  Memberfhip,  but  qualified 
Memberfhip  that  gives  Right  unto  Baptifm. 
John's  Baptifm,  which  was  Chriffian,  might  not 
be  applied  to  fome,  who  were  Members  of 
the  Vifible  Church,  becaufe  they  were  not 
qualified  with  Repentance,  Luke^.%.  and  7.30. 
This  feems  to  cut  the  Sinews  of  the  ftrongeft 
Argument  brought  by  the  Synod,  for  the  Enlarge- 
ment of  Baptifm  ;  which  is  the  Memberfhip  of 
the  Children  in  Controverfie. 

ANSWER. 

Some  Privileges  in  the  Church  belong  to 
Perfons,  merely  becaufe  they  are  Members  of 
it:  fo  doth  Baptifm  and  Church-watch.  But 
other  Privileges  belong  to  them  as  cloathed  with 
fuch  and  fuch  Qualifications :  thus  the  Lord's 
Supper  now,  as  the  Paflbver  of  Old.  If  Chil- 
dren in  their  Minority  are  Members,  as  our 
Bretheren  acknowledge  them  to  be,  then  there 
are  Members  that  are  not  yet  fit  for  Full-Com- 
munion. And  for  the  Adult,  when  a  Man  is  by 
Admonition  debarred  from  the  Lord's  Table, 
and  yet  nor.  Excommunicated  -,  he  continues  a 


mere  Member/hip,  tor  [merely  this,  that  a  Man 
is  regularly  a  Member,  or,  that  the  Church  ailing 
regularly,  may  own  him  as  accepted  by  Rule  inta 
Covenant^  and  then  the  Aflertion,  That  it  is  not 
fufficient  to  give  a  Perfon  a  Right  unto  Baptifm^ 
that  he  be  regularly  a  Member  of  the  Vifible 
Church,  but  he  mufi  have  fome  further  ^ualifwa- 
tion  than/0,  or  elfe  he  hath  not  a  Right  there- 
unto :  This  is  indeed  an  Antifynodalian  Affertion, 
and  we  doubt  not  to  affirm,  that  it  is  Anti- 
fcriptural. 

The  Synod  builds  upon  Covenant-Interefi,   or 
Federal-HolineJs,    or  Vifible  ChurchMemberflvp, 
as  that  which  gives  Right  unto  Baptifm:    and 
accordingly  in  their  fifty  Propofition,  they  have 
comprifed,  both  the  Right  to  Baptifm,  and  the 
manner  of  Adminiftration-,  which  manner  is  not 
therefore  to  be  neglefted,  becaufe  Membership 
alone  gives  Right  -,  for  God  hath  made  it  One 
Commandment  of  'Four,  to  provide  for  the  man- 
ner of  his  Worfbip,   that   it  be  attended  in  a 
Solemn,  Humble,  Reverent  and  Profitable  man- 
ner.   Hence  all  Reformed  Churches  do  in  their 
Direffories  require  Prefcjjions  and  Promifes,  from 
thofewho  prefent  the  Child  unto  Baptifm-,  tho5 
they  unanimoufly  grant  the  Child's  Right  unto 
Baptifm,by  i  ts  being  Born  within  the  viJiblcCharch. 
Befides,  what  have  Infants  more  than  mere  Mem- 
berfhip,  to  give  them   Right   unto  Baptifm  ? 
We  know  no  ftronger  Argument  for  Infant  Bap- 
tifm, than  this,  that  Church- Members,  or  Fcede- 
rati  arc  to  be  Baptifcd.    At  the  Tranfition  from 
Old  to  New  Teflament  Church  Memberfhip, 
fomething  more  might  well  be  required,  than  a 
mere  Memberflrip  in  the  JewifJ)  Church,  which 
was  then  alfo  under  an  extream  Degeneracy : 
It  was  necefiary  that  the  Reformed  Adminiftra- 
tion fhould  penitently  be  embraced.    And  much 
of  what  was  required  by  John,  may  be  referred 
unto  the  manner  of  Adminiftration,  which   the 
general   Scandals  then  fallen   into  called  for. 
Nor  will  he  that  Reads  the  Scriptures,   think 
that  the  Perfons  Baptifcd  by  John,    did  excel 
thofe,   who  are  deicribed  in  the  Synods  Propo- 
fitions.    While  the  Parent  that  was  Born  in  the 
Church,  regularly  continues  in  it  without  Scandal, 
he  is  Ecclcfiaftically  accounted  to  have  the  Being 
of  Repentance-,  and  fo  to  have  the  thing  rhat 
John  required.    But  if  any  ftand  Guilty  of  open 
Scandals,   we  know  not  why  they  fhould  not 
make    a    particular    ConjeJJion    of  their    Sin 
therein. 

i  AP- 


8o 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.       Book  V. 


A  P  0  L  0  G  r. 

V.  That  which  will  not  make  a  Man  capable 
of  receiving  Baptifm  himfelf,  in  cafe  he  were 
Unbapfifed,  doth  not  make  him  capable  of 
Tranfmitting  Right  of  Baptifm  unto  his  Child. 
But  a  Man  maybe  an  Unbeliever,  and  yet  come 
up  to  all  that  the  Synod  hath  faid  in  their  fifth 
Propofition.  Bucer  is  accounted  by  Parker, 
juftly  to  mention.  That  none  ought  to  be  con- 
firmed Members  of  the  Church,  befides  thofe  who 
do  hold  forth  not  only  Verbal  Profejfion  of  Faith, 
but  apparent  figns  of  Regeneration. 

AN  S  W  E  R. 

Tis  true,  that  which  doth  not  put  a  Man  in- 
to a  State  of  Right  of  Baptifm  for  himfelf,  (that 
is,  into  a  State  of  Church  Member/hip)  will  not 
enable    him  to  give  Baptifm  Right   unto  his 
Child.    Bat  it  is  pofiible  for  an  Adult  Perfon 
in  fuch  a  State  ncverthelefs  to  have  fomething 
fall  in,  which  may  hinder  the  A£tual  Applica- 
tion of  Baptifm  to  hiinielf,  or  his  Aftual  Fitnefs 
for  Baptifm,  in  cafe  he  were  Unbaptifed.    And 
yet  the  fame  thing  may  not  hinder  a  Perfon  al- 
ready  Baptifed,    and   ftanding  in  a  Covenant 
State,  from  Conveying  Bjptifm  right  unto  his 
Child.    Befides,  the  Synods  Propofition  fpeaks 
of  Church  Members.    Yea,  and  he  will  have  an 
hard  task  of  it,   who  fhall  undertake  to  prove, 
That  Adult    Perfons,  underftanding,    believing 
and  projejfing  publickly,  the  Dollrine  of  Faith, 
not  fcandalous  in  Life,  and  now  folemnly  entring 
into  that  Covenant,   voherein  they  give  up  them- 
j elves  and  theirs,  to  the  Lord  in  his  Church,  and 
fubjecf  the mf elves  to  the  Government  of  the  Lord 
therein,  may  be  denied  Baptifm  upon  their  defire 
thereof.    Tis  not  eafie  to  Believe,  that  Multi- 
tudes Baptifed,  in  the  Scriptures  had  more  to 
render  them  Vifible  Believers,  than  the  Perfons 
defcribed  by  the  Synod.    It  is  argued,   a  Man 
[may  bi\  an  Unbeliever,  and  yet  come  up  to  all 
this  ?   Simon  Magus  and  Ananias  and  Sapphira, 
not  only  might  be,    but  were  Unbelievers,  and 
yet  Regularly  Baptifed.    But  if  it  be  faid,  that 
a  Man  may  come  up  to  all  that  the  Synod  harh 
faid,  and  yet  be  Ec clef iajlic ally  Judged  an  Unbe- 
liever, lhew  us  any  ground  for  fuch  a  Judgment! 
As  for  Bucer  and  Parker,  they  plainly  fpeak  of 
fuch  a  Confirmation,  or  owning  Men  for  con- 
firmed Members,  as  imports  their  Admijfion  to 
'the  Lord's  'Table.    But  if  the  Judgment  of  Bucer 
and  Parker  may  be  taken  in  this  Controverfie, 
it  will  foon  be  at  an  end ,  for  it  is  evident 
enough  [by  Quotations  too  many  for  this  place] 
that  Bucer  and  Parker  fully  concur  with  the 
Synod,  in  the  extent  of  Baptifm. 

APOLOGY. 
VI.  The  Application  of  the  Seal  of  Baptifm 
unto  thofe,  who  are  not  true  Believers  (we 
mean,  vifibly,  for  De  Occultis  non  Judicat  Ec- 
clefu)  is  a  Profanation  thereof,  and  as  Dreadful 
a  Sin,  as  if  a  Man  mould  Adminifter  the  Lord's 
Supper  unto  Untnorthy  Receivers  -,  which  is  (as 
Calvin  faith.)  as  Sacrilegious  Impiety ,  as  if  a  Man 


fliould  take  the  Blood  or  Body  of  Chrift  and 
proftitute  it  unto  Dogs.  We  marvel  that  any 
fhould  think,  that  the  Blood  of  Chrift,  is  not  as 
much  profaned  and  vilified  by  undue'  Admini- 
ftration  of  Baptifm,  as  by  undue  Adminillration 
of  the  Lordis  Supper.  Yea,  that  faying  of 
Auftin's  is  folemn  and  ferious  ;  Qui  Indigne  at- 
cipit  Baptifma,  Judicium  accipit,  non  falutem  h 
and  the  fame  Auftin  in  his  Book,  De  Fide  & 
Openbus,  pleads  for  ftri£tnefs  in  the  Adminillra- 
tion of  Baptifm,  and  fo  did  Tertullian  before 
him. 

ANSWER. 
We  readily  grant,  that  Baptifm  is  not  to  be 
applied  to  any  but  Vifible  Believers.  We  mar- 
vel, that  any  fhould  fpeak,  as  if  any  of  us  did 
think  that  the  Blood  of  Chrift,  is  not  profaned 
by  the  undue  Adminiftration  of  Baptifm,  as  well 
as  by  undue  Obfervation  of  the  Lord's  Supper : 
though  we  fuppole  the  Degree  of  finful  Pro- 
fanation of  the  Lord's  Name  in  any  Ordinance 
will  be  intended  by  the  Degree  of  fpecial  Com- 
munion that  we  have  with  the  Lord  in  that  Or- 
dinance j  and  by  the  Danger  that  fuch  Profana- 
tion infers  unto  the  whole  Church,  and  unto 
the  particular  partaker.  But  where  is  there  any 
thing  to  fhew  that  the  Adminiftration  of  Bap- 
tifm extended  by  the  Synod,  is  undue?  The 
Rule  concerning  the  two  Sacraments,  appoints 
Baptifm  to  all  Dilciples ;  but  the  Lord's  Supper 
only  for  felf  examining  Dilciples:  hence  the 
one  may  be  extended  further  than  the  other • 
without  undue  Adminiftration.  Neither  did 
Calvin  conceive  it  a  Profanation  to  extend  Bap- 
tifm further  than  the  Lord's  Supper.  Nor  did 
ever  Auftin  or  Tertullian  plead  for  greater 
ftri&nefs  in  Baptifm  than  the  Synod;  except 
where  Tertullian  Erroneoufly  plead  for  the 
delay  of  Baptifm  :  whereas  Auftin  requires  not 
more  of  Adult  Converts  from  Heathenifm, 
than  is  in  the  Parents,  who  are  defcribed  by 
the  Synod. 

APOLOGY 
VII.  It  hath  in  it  a  Natural  Tendency,  to 
the  hardning  of  Unregenerates  in  their  finful 
Condition,  when  Life  is  not  only  promifed  but 
fealed  unto  them,  by  the  precious  Blood  of 
Jcfus  Chrift.  Baptifm  is  a  Seal  of  the  whole 
Covenant  of  Grace,  as  well  as  the  Lord's-Supper  5 
and  therefore  thofe  that  are  not  Interefted  in 
this  Covenant  by  Faith,  ought  not  to  have  the 
Seal  thereof  applied  unto  them.  We  might 
add  unto  all  this,  that  there  is  danger  of  great 
Corruption,  and  Pollution,  creeping  into  the 
Churches  by  the  Enlargement  of  the  fubjeft  of 
Baptifm. 

ANSWER. 
The  Lord's  Truth  and  Grace,  however  it  may  be 
abufed,  by  the  Corruption  of  Man's  perverfe  and 
finful  Nature,  hath  not  in  its  felf  any  natural  Ten- 
dency to  harden  any,  bur  the  contrary.  And  how 
can  our  Doftrine  have  any  fuch  natural  Tendency, 
when  as  Men  are  told  over  and  over,  that  only 

outward 


Book  V.        The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


8 1 


outward  Advantages  are  more  absolutely  fealed 
unto  them  in  Baptifm  ;  but  the  laving  Benefits 
of  the  Covenant,  conditionally  -,  fo  that  if  they 
fail  of  the  Condition,  which  is  effectual  and  un- 
feigned Faith,    they   mils  of  Salvation,    not- 
withltanding  their  Baptifm  ?    The  outward  Pri- 
viledges  muft  not  be  relied  in,  but  improved  as 
Incouragements  to  the  obtaining  of  internal  and 
fpecial  Grace.    On  the  othet  fide,  the  Scriptures 
tell  us,  that  Mens  denying  the  Children  of  the 
Church  to  have  any  part  in  the  Lord,    hath  a 
ltrong  Tendency  in  it  to  make  them  ceafe  from 
fearing  the  Lord,  and  harden  their  Hearts  from 
his  Fear.    But  the  awful  Obligations  of  Cove- 
nant-Interelt,    have  a  great  Tendency  to  foften 
the  Heart,  and  break  it,  and  draw  it  home  to 
God.    Hence  when  the  Lord  would  powerfully 
win  Men  to  Obedience,    he  often  begins  with 
this,  that  he  is  their  God.    The  natural  Tenden- 
cies of  Man's  corrupt  Heart,   are  no  Argument 
againft  any  Ordinance  of  God.    'Tis  true,  Bap- 
tifm is  a  Seal  of  the  whole  Covenant  of  Grace ; 
but  it  is  by  way  of  Initiation.    Hence  it  belongs 
to  All  that  are  within  the  Covenant,  or  have  but 
a  firft  entrance  thereinto.     And  is  there  no  dan- 
ger of  Corruption  by  overtraining  the  SubjcEl  of 
Baptifm?  Certainly,  it  is  a  Corruption  to  take 
from  the  Rule,  as  well  as  add  to  it.    Mofes 
found  danger  in  not  applying  the  initiating  Seal, 
to  fuch  for  whom   it  was  appointed.    Is  there 
no  Danger  of  putting  thefe  out  of  the  Vifible 
Church,  whom  our  Lord  would  have  kept  in  ? 
Our  Lord's  own  Difciples  may  be  in  Danger  of 
his  Difpleafure  by  keeping  poor  little  Ones  away 
from  him.    To  pluck  up  all  the  Tares,  was  a 
zealous  Motion  5  but  there  was  Danger  in  ir. 
Betides  if  the  enlargment  be  beyond  the  Bounds 
of  the  Rule,  it  will  bring  in  Corruption  ;  elfe 
not.    Our  Work  is  therefore  to  keep  clofe  unto 
the  Rule,  as  the  only  true  way  unto  the  Chur- 
ches Purity  and  Glory.    The  way  of   the  Ana- 
baptifts  to  admit  none   unto  Memberfhip  and 
Baptifm,  but  adult  ProfeiTors,   is  the  ftraiteft 
way  -,  one  would  think  it  fhould  be  a  way  of 
great  Purity  -,  but  Experience  hath  fhew'd,  that 
it  has  been  an  inlet  unto  great  Corruption,  and 
a  troublefome,  dangerous  underminer  of  Refor- 
mation.   If  we  do  not  keep  in  the  way  of   a 
converting,   Grace-giving   Covenant,   and  keep 
Perfons  under  thofe  Church-Dilpenfations,where- 
in  Grace  is  given,  the  Church  will  die  of"  a  Ling- 
ring,    though   not  violent,    Death.     The  Loid 
hath  not  fet  up  Churches  only,  that  a  few  old 
Chriftians,  may  keep  one  another  warm   while 
they  live,  and  then  carry  away  the  Church  into 
the  cold  Grave  with  them,when  they  die  ;  r.o,but 
that  they  might  with  all  care,  and  with  all  the 
Obligations  and    Advantages  to  that  Care,  that 
may  be,  nurfe  up  ftill  fucceffively  another  Gene 
ration  of  Subjects  to  our  Lord,    that  may  ftand 
up  in   his   Kingdom,     when    they    are  gone. 
In  Church  Refo?~mation,    'tis  an  obfe'rvable  Truth, 
(faith  Partus)  that  thofe  that  are  for  too  much 
ftriclnefts,    do  more  hurt  than  profit  the  Church. 
finally,  there  is  apparently  a  greater  Danger  of 
Corruption  to  the  Churches,  by  enlarging  the 


Subjects  of  full  Communion,  and  admitting 
unqualified,  or  meanly  qualified  Perfons,  to  the 
Lord's  Table,  and  voting  in  the  Church  ;  where- 
by the  Intereft  of  the  Power  of  Godlinefs,  will 
foon  be  prejudiced,  and  Elections,  Admifiions, 
Cenfures,  16  carried,  as  will  be  hazardous  there- 
unto. Now  'tis  evident,  that  this  will  be  the 
Temptation,  even,  to  overlarge  full  Communion 
if  Baptifm  be  limited  unto  the  Children  of  fuch 
as  are  admitted  thereunto. 

\  3.  Thefe  were  the  Summa  Capita  of  the 
Deputation  between  thofe  two  reverend  Perfons  -, 
but  the  remarkable  Event  and  EffecT:  of  this  Dii- 
putation  is  now  to  be  related.  Know  then,  that 
Mr.  Michael  partly  by  the  Light  of  Truth 
fairly  offered,  and  partly  by  the  force  of  Prayer 
for  the  good  Succefs  of  the  Offer,  was  too  hard 
for  the  moft  learned  Apologifi-,  who  after  he 
had  written  fo  exacfly  on  the  Antifynodalian  fide, 
that. 


•nt 


>  Si  per  gam  Dextrtl 

Defendi  poterant,  etiam  hdc  dcfenfafuife. 

finding  that  Scripture,  and  Reafon  lay  moft  on 
the  other  fide,  not  only  furrendred  himfelf  a 
glad  Captive  thereunto,  but  alfo  obliged  the 
Church  of  God,  by  publifhing  unto  the  World 
a  couple  of  moft  nervous  Treatifes,  in  defence 
of  the  Sy  nodical  Proportions.  The  former  of 
thefe  Treatifes,  was  entituled.  The  firft  Princi- 
ples of  New-England  concerning  the  Subjeil  of 
Baptifm,  and  Communion  of  Churches :  Wherein, 
becaufe  the  Antifynodifls  commonly  reproached' 
the  Doctrine  of  the  Synod,  as  being  no  Ieis 
new,  than  the  Practice  of  it,  he  anfwers  this 
popular  Imputation  of  Innovation  and  Apoilacy, 
by  demonftrating  from  the  unqueftionable  Wri- 
tings of  the  chief  and  firft  Fathers  in  our  Chur- 
ches, that  the  DoQrine  of  the  Synod  was  then 
generally  believed  by  them;  albeit  the  Practice 
thereof  had  been  buried  in  the  Circumftances  of 
the  New-Plantation.  Together  with  this  EiTay, 
he  (hews  his  inexprefiible  Value,  for  his  excel- 
lent Opponent  and  Conqueror,  not  only  by  pro- 
feffing  a  deep  refpe£t  for  that  bleffed  Man,  and 
uling  about  him  the  Words  of  Beza  about  Cal- 
vin, Now  he  is  dead,  Life  is  Icjs  Jweet,  and 
Death  will  be  lefts  bitter  to  me  -,  but  alfo  by  in- 
ferring an  elaborate  Letter,  which  that  worthy 
Man  had  written  to  him,  wherein  among  other 
Paffages  there  are  thefe  Words  •,  Pleafe  to  conji- 
der,  which  of  thefe  three  Vropqfit  ions  you  would 
deny.  1.  'Ike  whole  Vifible  Church  under  the 
New  Teftament  is  to  be  baptized.  2.  If  a  Man 
be  once  in  the  Church,  nothing  lefts  than  cenfu- 
rable  Evil  can  put  him  out.  3.  Jj  the  P.; rent 
be  in  the  Vifible  Church,  his  Infant  Child  isfo  too. 
And  he  adds,  Whether  they  fhould  be  baptized, 
as  in  a  Catholic k,  or  in  a  particular  Church,  is 
another  Queftion,  and  I  confefs  my  J elf  not  alto- 
gether fo  peremptory  ^in  this  latter,  as  I  am  in 
the  thing  its  f elf,  that  they  ought  to  be  baptized. 
Jet  ft  ill  I  think,  that  when  all  Stones  are  turned, 
it  will  come  to  this  that  all  the  baptized  are, 

5  L  and 


82 


The  Hiflory  of  New-England.      Book  V. 


and  ought  to  be  under  Difcipline  in  particular 
Churches. 

The  other  of  thefe  Treadles  was  intituled, 
A  Difcourfe  concerning  the  Subjell  of  Baptijm ; 
wherein  having  elaboratly  proved,  That  the 
Qualifications  exfrejfed  in  the  fifth  Proposition  of 
the  Synod  give  right  to  Baptifm  ;  and  that  Per- 
fons,  thus  qualified  are  Church-Members,  and 
Vifible  Believers,  and  of  old  had  a  right  unto 
Circumcilion,  and  have  Church-Difcipline  be- 
longing to  them ;  and  that  the  Apoltles  did  bap- 
tize Perl'ons,  who  were  no  further  qualified: 
He  then  diltinguifhes  between  a  particular  Church, 
as  it  is  more  fitrictiy  taken  for  a  particular  Compa- 
ny of  Covenanting  Believers  entrufted  by  our 
Lord  with  the  Keys  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven, 
and  as  it  is  mere  largely  taken  tor  that  Jpecial 'part 
of  our  Lord's  Vifible  Church,  which  doth  fubfiji 
in  this  or  that  particular  Place  :  And  he  fhews 
that  a  Memberlhip  of  the  Catholick  Church, 
difcovered  by  a  relation  to  a  particular  Church, 
not  in  the  former  but  in  the  latter  Senfe,  is  the 
formal  Reafon  of  Baptifm  :  Concluding  with 
a  full  Anlwer  to  all  Objections.  Indeed  the 
learned  Author  of  the  Book,  was  not  the  lealt 
Argument  in  the  Book.  This  alone  might  have 
palfed  as  no  inconiiderable  Argument,  for  the 
Sy nodical  Propofitions,  that  befides  diverfe 
others  who  did  the  like,  fo  confederate  a  Perfon 
as  the  Apologift  after  he  had  fo  openly  and  fo 
folidly  appeared  againft  them,  fhould  at  lalf  as 
publickly  declare  ir,  That  Study  and  Prayer 
and  mud)  Aflillion  had  brought  him  to  be  of 
another  Belief.  It  was  a  notable  obfervation  of 
Mr.  Cotton,  once  in  his  Letter  to  Mr.  Williams, 
That  one  might  fufpeff  the  way  of  the  liligtD  &l- 
natation  to  be  not  of  God,  becaufe  thofe,  -who  in 
tendernefs  of  Conjcience  had  been  drawn  into  the 
Error  of  that  way,  yet  when  they  have  grown  in 
Grace,  they  have  aljo  grown  to  difcern  the  Error 
<-///;<?  Separation.  Thus  it  was  obietved,  that 
feveral  very  excellent  Men,  who  did  according 
to  their  prefent  light  conicientioufly  diifent  from 
the  Synod,  yet,  as  they  grew  in  the  manifold 
Grace  of  God,  and  in  ripenels  for  Heaven,  they 
came  to  fee  that  the  Rigidity  of  their  former 
Principles,  had  been  a  failing  in  them.  And  if 
the  Apologiit  we're  one,  who  lo  fignalized,  a 
model!  Senle  of  fecond  Thoughts  unto  the 
World,  it  can  be  reckoned  no  difparage- 
ment  unto  him  ;  until  the  Humility  of  Aufi'in 
in  his  Retractations,  or  the  ingenuity  of  Bellar- 
minc  in  his  Recognitions  come  to  be  accounted 
their  Blemifhes ;  or  until  Bucer's,  yea,  and  Lu- 
ther's, change  of  their  Opinions  about  Confub- 
tfantiation,  and  the  recovery  of  TLinglius  from 
Inclinations  to  Antipxdobaptijm,  fhall  be  efteem- 
ed  the  Diigrace  of  thofe  renowned  Men  ;  or,un- 
lil  Mr.  Robinfon  fhall  be  blamed  for  compofing 
his  weighty  Arguments,    againlt  the  Rigid  Se- 

Faration  which  once  he  had  zealoully  defended, 
fhall  to  this  Occafion,  but  apply  the  Words  of 
Dr.  Owen  unto  Mr.  Cawdry,  to  take  oft  the 
charge  of  Inconltancy  laid  upon  him,  for  his  ap- 

Saring  on  behalf  of  the  Congregational  Church- 
ilcipline,  lie  that  can  glory  that  in  fourteen 


Years,  he  hath  not  altered  nor  'unproved  his  Con- 
ceptions of  fame  Things,  of  no  greater  Impor- 
tance than  that  mentioned,  fhall  not  have  me  for 


his  Rival. 


§  4  Very  gradual  was  the  Procedure  of  the 
Churches  to  exercife  that  Church-Care  of  their 
Children,  which  the  Syncdical  Propofitions  had 
recommended  :  For,  though  the  Pallors  were 
generally  principled  for  it,  yet  in  very  many  of 
the  Churches,  a  number  of  Bretheren  were  fo 
fliffly  and  fiercely  fet  the  other  way,  that  the 
Paltors  did  forbear  to  extend  their  Practice,  un- 
to the  length  of  their  Judgment,  thro1  the  fear 
of  uncomfortable  Schifms,  which  might  there- 
upon enfue.  And  thete  fell  out  one  lingular 
Temptation  which  had  a  great  Influence  upon 
this  Matter !  that  famous  and  faithful  Society 
of  Chriltians,  the  firlt  Church  in  Boflon,  had, 
after  much  agitation,  fo  far  begun  to  attend  the' 
Difcipline  directed  in  the  Doctrine  of  the  Synod, 
that  they  proceeded  ecclefiaftically  to  Cenfure 
the  adult  Children  of  feveral  Communicants 
for  Scandals,  whereinto  they  had  fallen.  But 
that  Church,  for  a  Supply  of  their  Vacancy 
upon  the  Death  of  their  former"  more  Synodali- 
al  Minillers,  applying  themfelves  unto  Mr.  John 
Davenport,  the  greateft  of  the  Amtifynodifls,  all 
the  Interefts  of  the  Synod  came  to  be  laid  afide, 
therein,  on  that  Occafion.  Hereupon,  thirty 
Bretheren  of  that  eminent  Church,  offered  fe- 
veral Reafons  of  their  Dillent,  from  their  call 
of  that  worthy  Perfon  ;  whereof  one  was  in 
thefe  Terms,  '  We  fhould  walk  contrary  to 
'  Rev.  3.  3.  not  holding  faft  what  we  have  recei- 
'  ved;  nor  fhould  we,  as  we  have  received  Chrifi 
'  J  ejus  the  Lcrd,fo  walk  in  him.  [The  Doctiine 
'  or  the  Synod]  it  having  been  a  received  and  a 
'  pro  felled  Truth,  by  the  Body  of  the  Church, 
'  who  have  voted  it  in  the  affirmative,  and  thatj 
'  after  much  Patience  with,  and  Candor  towards' 
c  thofe  that  were  other  wife  minded  -,  diverfe 
'•  Days  having  been  fpent  about  this  great  Gene- 
'  ration-Truth,whkh  fince  hath  been  confirmed  by 
1  the  Synod.  Full  Liberty  hath  alfo  been  granted, 
c  unto  thofe  who  fcrupled,  to  propofe  their  Qut- 

■  itions  ;  and  they  wereanfwered,with  fuch  pub- 

■  lick  fatisfaction,  that  thofe  Few,  who  remain- 
1  ed  unfatisfied,  promifed  to  fit  down  and  leave 
'  the  Body  to  acf,  excepting  one  or  two.  Ac- 
'  cordingly  there  was  an  entrance  upon  the 
'  Work  -,  but  the  Lord  lay  it  not  to  The  Charge 
'  of  thole  that  hindred  Progrels  therein  ^  which 
6  with  great  Bleffing  and  Succefs  has  been,  and 
•  is  practifed  in  Neighbour  Churches.  But 
the  Difference  produced  16  much  Divifion,  rhat 
the  Major  part  of  the  Church,  by  tar,  proceed- 
ing to  their  Election  of  that  great  Man,  this 
Lelfer  part  nevertheless  carefully  and  exactiy 
following  the  Advice  of  Councils,  fetched  from 
other  Churches  in  the  Neighbourhood,  ibt  up 
another  Church  in  the  Town  of  Boflon,  which 
hath  fince  been  one  of  the  moft  coniiderable  in 
the  Country.  Very  uncomfortable  were  the  Pa- 
roxims,  which  were  the  Confequents  of  this 
Ferment  ^ 

•>Long  a 


Book  V.         The  Hijlory  of  Nevv-Fngknd. 


Long.i  eft  Injuria,  Longa 

Ambages  — — — ■ —  • > 

and  the  whole  People  of  God  throughout  the 
Colony,  were  too  much  diftinguilhed  into  fuch 
as  favoured  the  Old  Church,  and  iuch  as  fa- 
voured the  New  Church ;  whereof,  the  former, 
were  againft  the  Synod,  and  the  latter  were  for 
it.  Indeed,  for  a  confiderable  while,  tho'  the 
good  Men  on  both  lides  really  Loved,  Refpecfed 
and  Honoured  one  another,  yet  thro'  ibme  un- 
happy mifunderftandings  in  certain  particular 
Perlons,  the  Communicants  of  thefe  two  par- 
ticular Churches  in  Bofton,  like  the  two  dittin- 
guifh'd  Rivers,  not  mixing,  tho3  running  be- 
tween the  lame  Bank?,  held  not  Communion 
with  one  another  at  the  Table  of  the  Lord : 
but  in  two  fevens  of  Years,  that  Breach  was 
healed,  and  unto  the  general  Joy  of  the  Chrifti- 
ans  in  the  Neighbourhood,  both  the  Churches 
kept  a  folemn  Day  together,  wherein,  Lament- 
ing the  Infirmities  that  had  attended  their  for- 
mer Contentions,  they  gave  Thanks  to  the 
Great  Peace-Maker  for  effecting  this  Joyful 
Reconciliation.  The  Schifm  was  not  fb  long 
lived,  as  that  which  happened  at  Antioch, 
about  the  Ordination  of  a  Minifter ^  whereof, 
Theodora  fays,  nitfs  it,  iyJiiiKovra.  Jlfo&u.  sb,  it 
endured  Fourlcore  and  live  Years.  However, 
the  two  Churches  continued  Itill  their  various 
Difpofitions  to  the  Propolitions  of  the  Synod  • 
and  it  is  well  known,  that  the  Example  of 
Bofton,  has  Irom  the  beginning,  as  the  Prophets 
once  intimated  of  Jerufalem,  had  no  fmall 
Efficacy  upon  all  the  Land. 

§  5.  But  it  is,  at  laft,  come  to  this  ^  that 
tho'  fome  of  our  Churches  yet  Baptife  the  Chil- 
dren of  none  but  their  Communicants,  and  ex- 
iend  their  Church-watch  to  none  but  the  Per- 
fons  of  their  Communicants,  and  thoD  fome  of 
the  Churches  go  a  Itep  further,  and  extend 
their  Church  watch  to  the  Children  of  their 
Communicants,  but  yet  moll  unaccountably  will 
not  Baptife  the  Off  fpring  of  thefe,  till  thefe 
Parents  become  themfelves  Communicants  -, 
neverthelefs,  the  molt  of  the  Minift ers  in  the 
Countrey,  have  obtained  of  their  Churches,  not 
only  to  forbear  all  expreffions  of  DhTatisfacticm 
at  the  Baptifm  of  fuch  as  the  Synod  has  declar'd 
the  Subject  of  it,  but  to  concur  with  them, 
when  theUmnes  are  upon  occalion  demanded  for 
fuch  a  Difcipline,  as  the  Synod  has  from  the 
Eighteenth  of  yMj///jra,dire£ted  for  the  Baptifed. 

Very  various,  have  been  the  Methods  of  the 
Paftors,  to  bring  their  Churches  into  the  defired 
Order  •,  many  the  Meetings,  the  Debates,  the 
Prayers  and  the  Faffs,  with  which  this  matter 
has  been  accomplifhed  :  and  much  more  many 
the  Difficulties,  where  the  matter  had  been  lo 
long  delayed,  that  the  Retrieval  was  well  nigh 
to  be  defpaired.  Yea,  it  was  as  late,  as  the 
Year  1692,  that  the  laft  Church,  which  after  a 
long  Omiilion  thereof,  did  effecf ually  let  upon 
the  Church*Care  of  the  Difciples  formerly  neg- 


85 

lecfed,  came  to  their  Duty  :  and  they  did  ic  with 
fuch  a  further  Explanation  of  their  Principles, 
as  diverfe  great  Oppofers  of  the  Synod,  profi- 
led themfelves,  at  laft,  able  to  comply  withal. 
Now  becauie  the  particular  Hiflory  of  the  Pro- 
ceedings ufed,  when  things  had  run  on  thus  far 
into  an  inveterate  negletl,  may  be  very  fubfervi- 
ent  unto  one  main  Defign  of  our  Church-Hifio/y, 
which  is  to  give  an  experimental  Direclion,  for 
more  arduous  CbupchCafes,  I  lhall,  here  o[Vi: 
it  unto  my  Reader. 

Know  then,  that  the  Paftor  of  the  Church 
after  folemn  Supplications  for  the  Direction  of 
Heaven  about  it,  having  previoufly/>ra?cro-a'and 
print  cd,the  State  of  the  Truth,  which  he  was  now 
reducing  into  practice,  and  having  privately  with 
perfonal  Conferences,  endeavoured  the  fatisf action 
ofi'uch  Dijfenterfis  he  counted  more  fignificant,he 
then,  avoiding  all  publick  Meetings  or  Debates 
drew  up  the  following  Inflrument,  which  by 
the  Hands  of  two  or  three  chofen  Perfons,  hg 
fent  about  unto  the  Bretheren. 

Yerfwafwns  and  Vropofals,  laid 
before  the  Cburcb,  in  - — 

I.TT  is    my  Perfuafion,   that  our  Lord  Jefus 
X  Chrilt  hath  in  the  World,a  Catholic-Church 
which  is  his  Myrtical  Body,   and  hath  all  his 
Elect-called  People  belonging  thereunto. 

II.  It  is  my  Perfuafion,  that  the  Catholick 
Church  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  becomes,  in 
various  Degrees,  vifibleunto  us;  and  according 
to  the  Degrees  of  its  Vifibility,lt  becomes  capable 
of  a  vifible  Communion,  with  its  glorious  Head. 

III.  It  is  my  Perfuafion,  rhat  when  Men  pro- 
fels  the  Faith  of  the  Gofpel,  with  Obedience 
unto  the  Lotd  Jefus  Chrilt,  according  to  that 
Gofpel,  and  overthrow  not  that  Profeffion  by  a 
fcandalous  Converfation,  they  are  to  be  looked 
upon  as  Members  of  the  Vifible  Catholick 
Church  of  our  Lord  ;  they  are  to  be  treated  as 
Chriltians  ;  to  call  them,  or  count  them  Hea- 
then, is  to  do  them  a  grievous  Injury. 

IV.  It  is  my  Perfuafion,  that  when  fuch  Pro- 
feiTors,  regularly  combine  into  a  Society,  for 
the  Evangelical  Worfhip  and  Service  of  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrilt,  and  furnifh  themfelves  with  Officers 
of  his  Appointment,  they  then  become  a  part 
of  the  Catholick  Church,-  fo  vifible,  as  to  be  a 
Body  Politick,  entrufted  with  the  Adminiftrati- 
on  of  thofe  Ordinances,  which  are  the  Priviled- 
ges  in  that  Kingdom  of  Heaven. 

V.  It  is  my  Perfuafion,  thzt  a  particalar  Church 
thus  betrulted  with  the  Ordinances  of  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift,  is  to  be  concerned  for  the  apply- 
ing  fome  of  thofe  Ordinances,unto  Subjects,  that 
have  not  yet  arrived  fofar  in  vifible  Chriifianiry, 
as  to  be  conftituent  parts  of  that  Holy  Society! 

VI.  It  is  my  Perfuafion,  That  Baptifm  is  an 
Ordinance  to  be  adminiitredunto  them,  thatare 
in  the  vifible  Catholick  Church,  while  thofe 
Chriltians  have  not  yet  joined  themfelves  unto  a 
particular  Church  ,  but  are  only  in  a  State  of 

5  L  2  Initia- 


'* 


84 


The  Hifiory  of  New-England.      Book  V. 


^ 


Initiation  and  Preparation  for  it.  In  the  Scrip- 
ture we  do  not  read  of  any  that  were  baptized 
after  their  joining  to  full  Communion  in  a  par- 
ticular Church  of  the  New-Teftamenr,  but  of 
many  that  were  fo  before. 

Under  the  Influence  of  thefe  Perfwajionsjhete 
are  now  thefe  Propojalsy  which  I  would 
make  unto  that  particular  Church  of  God, 
whereof  I  am  an  unworthy  Overfeer  in  the 
Lord. 

I.  It  is  my  P7'<T/wp/,that  if  any  Perfoninftrucf- 
ed  and  Orthodox  in  our  Chriitian  Religion,  do 
bring  Teftimonials  of  a  fober  and  blamelefs  Con- 
verlation,  and  publickly  fubmit  themfelves  unto 
the  Bonds  of  fuch  a  Sacred  Covenant,  as  now 
followeth  : 

'  You  now  from  your  Heart  profeffing  a  feri- 
ous  Belief  of  the  Chrifiian  Religion,  as  it 
has  been  generally  declared  and  embraced  by 
the  Faithful  in  this  Place,  do  here  give  up 
your  felf  to  God  in  Chrift ;  promiling  with  his 
Help  to  endeavour  a  Walk,  according  to  the 
Rules  of  that  Holy  Religion,  all  your  Days  ; 
Choofing  of  God  as  your  beft  Good,  and  your 
laft  End,  and  Chrift  as  the  Prophet,  and  Prieft, 
and  King  of  your  Soul  for  ever.  You  do  there- 
fore fubmit  unto  the  Laws  of  his  Kingdom, 
as  they  are  adminiftred  in  this  Church  of  his  ; 
and  you  will  alfo  carefully  and  fincerely  labour 
after  thofe  more  pofitive  and  increafed  Evi- 
dences of  Regeneration,  which  may  further 
encourage  you  to  feek  an  Admitlion  unto  the 
Table  of  the  Lord. 

I  fay,  I  propound,  That  I  may  without  Of- 
fence baptize  this  Perfon  and  his  Houfe,  and  that 
iuch  Perfons  may  be  watched  over,  if  not  as 
Brethren,  yet  as  Difciples,  in  the  Porch  of  the 
Lord's  Temple  ,  of  whom  we  have  Caufe  to 
hope,  that  they  will  fhortly  exprefs  their  De- 
fires  after  the  Lord's  Supper,  with  fuch  Tokens 
of  Growth  in  Grace  upon  them,  as  that  we  may 
chearfully  receive  them  thereunto. 

II.  It  is  my  Propofa/,  that  as  for  the  Chil- 
dren thus  baptized  in  their  Minority,  the  Elders 
of  the  Church  may  be  inquilitive  and  induftrious 
about  their  being  brought  up  in  the  Nurture  and 
Admonition  of  the  Lord.  But  that  when  they 
come  to  be  adult,  the  Elders  of  the  Church  may, 
to  confirm  them  in  their  Church  -irate,  put  them 
upon  the  open  Renewal  of  their  Baptifmal  Co- 
venant, with  a  Subjection  of  themfelves,  unto 
the  Watch  of  the  Church  ;  and  if  any  of  them 
do  upon  Examination  appear  to  have  more  fen- 
fible  and  plenary  Symptoms  of  Converfion  unto 
God,  they  may  be  exhorted  immediately  to  make 
regular  Approaches  unto  the  Table  of  the  Lord-, 
and  that  if  any  of  them  contumacioull/  defpife 


and  refufe  their  Duty  of  Renewing  their  Cove- 
nant, and  owning  the  Government  of  the  Lord 
over  them,  they  may  after  proper  Admonitions 
be  debarred  from  that  ftanding' among  the  Peo- 
ple of  God,  which  otherwife  they  might  lay 
claim  unto. 

I,  therefore,  propound,  that  the  Church  may 
feafonably  look  after  a  full  fupply  of  Of 
fi:ers,  whereby  this  work  may  be  fully 
profecuted.  In  the  mean  time,  I  am  wil- 
ling to  attend  as  much  of  this  Work,  as 
God  fhall enable  me  unto:  Asking  of  you, 
That  none  of  you  would  objecl:  about  my 
giving  of  Meat  indue  Seafon,  to  any  part 
of  my  Bleffed  Matter's  Family,  which  he 
hath  made  me  a  Steward  of;  but  that  all 
of  you  would  help  me  with  your  daily 
Prayers,  and  whatever  other  Afliftances 
may  be  ufeful  unto, 

Tour  felicitous  Pajior  and  Servant. 

This  Inftrument  was  within  a  few  Days 
brought  back  unto  the  Paftor,  with  fuch  a  Re- 
turn at  the  Clofe  of  ir. 

'  We,  the  Brethren  of  the Church  in 


confidering  how  fully  thofe  Reverend 
Perfons  that  have  the  Rule  over  us,  and  watch 
for  our  Souls,  have  declared  what  they  judge 
to  be  the  Mind  of  God,  about  the  Subjecf  of 
Baptifm,  and  apprehending,  that  we  may  have 
lain  too  long,  in  an  Omiflion  of  Duty  there- 
abouts ;  do  now  fignifie,  that  we  are  not  un- 
willing to  have  ths  Perfwafions  and  Propofals, 
which  our  Paftor  hath  here  laid  before  us,  care- 
fully put  into  Practice ;  and  that    we  would 
have  no  Obftrudion  given  to  any  Holy  Endea- 
'  vours,  which  may  be  ufed  this  Way,    to  ad- 
'  vance  the  Intereft  of  Religion  in  the  midft  of 
.'  us. 

Hereunto  the  Generality  of  the  Brethren,  per- 

!  haps  twenty  to  one,  had  fubferibed  their  Names. 

And  thofe  Few  that  were  not  yet  ib  wholly 

refcued  from  their  Antijynodalian  Scruples,  yet 

verbally  figniried  their  Chriftian  and  Peaceable 

i  Affurances,  that  it  fhould  give  no  Uneafinefs  unto 

!  their  Minds,   to  fee  the  Defires  of  their  Paftor 

accomplifhed  :,  which  was  done  accordingly. 

But  thus  much  concerning  the  Proceedings  in 
a  Synod  of  New-England  Churches,  for  the 
Church-Care  of  their  Poflerity.  We'll  conclude 
all,  with  an  agreeable  Speech  of  the  Great 
Ramus  (in  Comment,  dc  Relig.  /.  4.  c.6.)  Liberi 
Yidclium.  Baptizantui\  ut  participes  fint,  &  Ha- 
redes  Divinorum  Benefiaorutn  Ecclefit  Promif- 
forum,  uta-,  atate  prsveffi  parentum  Religionem 
ifpietatem,  profiteantur. 


The 


Book  V. 


85 


The  Fourth  PART. 


THE 


Reforming  Synod 


O  F 


NEW-ENGLAND; 

WITH 

Subfequent  ESSAYS  of  Reformation  in  the 

CHURCHES. 


0  vera  pcenitentia,  quid  de  te  Novi  refer  am  I  Omnia  ligata  tu 
folvu,  omnia  claufa  tw  refer  as,  omnia  adverfa  tu,  mitigas, 
omnia  contrita  tw  fanas,  omnia  confwfa  tw  Iwcidas,  omnia 
defperata  twanimas.  Cyprian. 


§  1.  P"g  ""*!  HE  fettlement  of  the  jVevo-EngliJh 
Churches,  with  a  \ox\gferies  ot 
preferving  and  profperous  Smiles 
from  Heaven  upon  them  ,  is 
doubtlefs  to  be  reckoned  amongft  the  more  won- 
derful Works  of  God,  in  this  Age  ;  the  true  Glo- 
ries of  the  young  Plantation  had  not  upon  the 
Face  of  God's  Earth  a  Parallel,  our  Adverfaries 
themfehcs  being  fudges.  But  when  People  be- 
gan more  notorioufly  to  forget  the  Errand  into 
the  Wi/dc'rncj}.flnd.  when  the  Enchantments  of  this 
World  caufed  the  riling  Generation  more  fenfibly 
to  negleft  the  Primitive  Defigns  and  Interefts 
of  Religion  propounded  by  their  Fathers ;  a 
change  in  the  Tenour  of  the  Divine  Diipenfati- 
ons  towards  this  Country,  was  quickly  the  mat- 
ter of  every  Body's  Obfervation.  By  Land,fome 
of  the  principal  Grains,  elpecially  our  Wheat 
and  our  Peafc,k\\  under  an  unaccountable Bhfi, 
from  which  we  are  not,  even  unto  this  Day  de- 
livered i  and  befides  that  conftant  Frown  of  Hea- 
ven upon  our  Husbandly,  recurring  every  Year, 


few  Years  have  paffed,  wherein  either  Worms 
or  Droughts,  or  fome  confuming  Difafters  have 
not  befallen  the  Labour  oj  the  Husbandman.   By 
Sea, we  were  vifited  with  multiplied  Shipivrec/cs, 
Enemies  prey'd  on  our  Veffels  and  our  Sailors, 
and  the  Affairs  of  the  Merchant  were  clogged 
with  LoJJes  abroad  ;  or  Fires,  breaking  forth  in 
the  chief  Seats  of  Trade  at  home,  wafted  their 
Subftance  with  yet  more    coftly  Defolations. 
Nor  did  the  Land  and  the  Sea,  more  proclaim 
the  Controverfie  of  our  God  againfl:  us,  than  that 
other  Element  of  the  Air,  by  the  contagious 
Vapours  whereof  leveral  Peftilential  Sickn^lTes 
did  fometimes   become  epidemical  among  us. 
Yea,  the  Judgments  of  God  having  done  rirft 
the  part  of  the  Moth  upon  us,  proceeded  then  to 
do  the  part  of  a  Lion ,  in  lamentable  Wars, 
wherein  the  barbarous  Indians  cruelly  butchered, 
many    hundreds  of  our  Inhabitants,  and  Mat- 
tered  whole    Towns    with   miferable    Ruins. 
When    difmal  Calamities  befel  the  Primitive 
Chrifiians,  as  acknowledged  by  the  gteat  Cy- 
prian, 


86 


The  Hiftorj  of  New-England.       Book  V. 


prlan,  That  the  caufe  thereof  was,  becaufe  they 
were  Patrimonii)  &  Lucro  ftudentes,  too  much 
minding  target  Eftates  and- Riches  ;  Superbiam 
SeBantes,  too  Proud  ;  aijttdationi  &  dijjentioni 
vacant  es,  given  to  Contention ;  funplkitatis  Fi- 
del negligcntes,  negligent  of  the  plain  Faith  of 
the  Gofpel  •,  S&culo  verbis  foils,  &  nonfallis, 
yenunciantes,  worldly-,  unuj'quifque  fibi  placentes 
&  omnibus  di/plicentes,  pleafing  themfelves  and 
vexing  others.  Thefe  were  the  Sins,  which,  he 
faid,  brought  them  into  Sufferings  -,  for  thefe, 
he  laid,  Vapulamus  itaque  ut  merentur.  Truly, 
if  New-England  had  not  abounded  with  the  like 
Offences,  it  "may  be  fuppofed,  fuch  Calamities 
had  not  befallen  it.  It  intimated  a  mOre  than 
ordinary  Difpleafure  of  God  for  fome  Offences, 
when  he  proceeded  fo  far,  as  to  put  over  his 
poor  People  into  the  Hands  of  tawny  and  bloo- 
dy Salvages  :  And  the  whole  Army  had  caule  to 
enquire  into  their  own  Rebellions,  when  they 
faw  the  Lord  of  Hofts,  with  a  dreadful  Decolla- 
tion, taking  oft' fo  many  of  our  Brethren  by  the 
worft  of  Executioners.  The  Cry  of  thelaft  of 
the  Britijb  Kings,  then  was  the  Cry  of  the  New- 
Englifh  Chriftians,  V<e  nobis  peccatonbus  ob  im- 
mania  feeler  a  nojira ! 

§  2.  The  ferious  People  throughout  the 
Country,  were  awakened  by  thefe  Intimations 
of  Divine  Difpleafure,  to  enquire  into  theCaufes 
and  Matters  of  the  Controverjie.  And  befides 
the  Self-reforming  Effects  of  thefe  Calamities  on 
the  Hearts  and  Lives  of  many  particular  Chri- 
ftians, who  were  hereby  brought  unto  an  exatter 
Walk  with  God, particular  Churches  exerted  their 
Power  of  Self-reformat'wn,  efpecially  in  the  time 
of  the  Indian  War  ;  wherein  with  much  folemn 
Faffing  and  Prayer,  they  renewed  their  Cove- 
nants with  God  and  one  another.  Moreover, 
the  General  Courts  enacted  what  Laws  were 
judged  proper  for  the  extinction  of  thofc  pro- 
voking Evils,  which  might  expofe  the  Land  un- 
to the  Anger  of  Heaven :  and  the  Minifters  in 
their  feveral  Congregations,  by  their  Miniftry, 
fet  themfelves  to  teftifie  againft  thole  Evils.  Nov 
is  it  a  thing  unworthy  of  a  great  Remark,  That 
great  Succeffes  againft  the  Enemy  accompanied 
lome  notable  TranfacYions  both  in  Church  and 
in  Court,  for  the  Reformation  of  our  provoking 
Evils.  Indeed,  the  People  of  God  in  this  Land 
were  not  gone  fo  far  in  Degeneracy,  but  that 
there  were  further  degrees  of  Diforder  and  Cor- 
ruption to  be  found,  I  muft  freely  fpeak  it,  in 
othet,  yea,  in  all  other  Places,  where  the  Pro- 
iefiant  'Religion  is  profeffed :  And  the  mod  im- 
partial Oblervers  muft  have  acknowledged,  that 
there  was  proportionably  ftill  more  of  true  Re- 
ligion, and  a  larger  Number  of  the  Jiriffejl  Saints 
in  this  Country,  than  in  any  other  on  the  Face 
of  the  Earth.  But  it  was  to  be  confefTed,  that 
the  degeneracy  of  New-England,  in  any  meafure, 
into  the  Spirit  of  the  World,  was  a  thing  ex- 
treamly  aggravated,  by  thegreatnefs  of  our  Obli- 
gations to  the  conttary,  and  even  finful  Omiffions 
in  this,  were  no  lefs  Criminal,  than  the  molt  odi- 
ous Commijfons,\xx  fome  other  Countries. 


§  3.  After  Peace  was  rcftored  unto  the  Coun- 
try, the  evil  Spirit  of  Apoffacy  from  the  Power 
of  Godlinefs,  and  the  various  Difcoveries  and 
Confluences"  of  fuch  an  Apoffafte,  became  ftill 
more  ienfible  to  them,  that  feared  God.  Where- 
fore, that  there  might  be  made  a  more  exact 
fcrutiny  into  the  Caufes  of  the  Divine  Difplea- 
fure againft  the  Land,  and  into  the  Methods  of 
removing  and  preventing  the  Matter  of  Lamen- 
tation, and  that  the  Effays  of  Reformation,m\ght 
be  as  well  more  extenfwe  as  more  effectual,  than 
they  had  been  hitherto,  the  General  Court  of  the 
MaJJachuJel  Colony  were  prevailed  withal,  to  call 
upon  the  Churches,  that  they  would  fend  their 
Elders  and  other  Meffngers,  to  meet  in  a  Sy- 
nod, for  the  folemn  Difcuffion  of  thofe  two 
Queftions,  What  are  the  provoking  Evils  ofNew- 
England  ?  and,  What  is  to  be  done,  thatfo  thofe 
Evils  may  be  reformed  ?  It  is  very  certain,  That 
the  Controverfie  which  the  God  of  Heaven  had 
(and  ftill  hath  I )  with  New-England,  was  a 
Matter,  about  which,  many  did  not  enquire  wife- 
ly. As  of  old^leveral  of  our  Ancients  complain- 
ed, That  the  Pagans  looked  upon  the  Chriftians 
(in  their  way  of  Worfhip)  as  the  Caufes  of  all 
the  Plagues  on  the  Roman  Empire :  Whatever 
Mifchiefcame,  forthwith,  Chriftianos  ad Leones  .- 
Thus,  among  the  People  of  New-England,  many 
afligned  the  Plagues  upon  the  Country,  unto 
very  ftrange  Cauies,  as  their  feveral  Interefts  and 
Affecfions  led  them.  A  Synod  was  convened 
therefore,  to  enquire  more  wifely  of  that  Mat- 
ter :  It  would  aftonifli  one,  to  be  told,  That  an 
AfTembly  of  Lutherans  coming  together  to  en- 
quire after  the  caufe  of  the  Judgments,  which 
God  had  brought  upon  their  Churches,  moft 
unhappily  determined  ,  That  their  not  paying 
Refpell  enough  unto  Images  in  their  Churches, wax 
one  Caufe  of  the  Lord's  Controverfie  with  them. 
Unhappy  Enquirers  !  Inftead  of  their  Dream,' 
that  they  had  not  finned  enough  againft  the 
Second  Commandment,  they  fhould  have  though  r, 
whether  they  had  not  iinned  too  much  againft 
the  Fourth.  But  we  hear  not  a  word  of  their 
bewailing  their  univerfal  Prophanations  of"  the 
Lord's-Day  to  this  Day.  Our  New-Engliff  Af- 
fembly  did  enquire  to  better  purpofe.  The 
Churches,  having  firft  kept  a  general  Faff,  that 
the  gracious  Preience  and  Spirit  of  God  might 
be  obtained,  for  the  Direction  of  the  approach- 
ing Synod,  the  Synod  convened  at  Bojion,  Sept. 
10.  16-9.  chufing  Mr.  John  Shermon ,  and 
Mr.  Urian  Oakes,  for  Joint  Moderators,  during 
the  biggeft  part  of  the  Seifion.  There  was  at 
firft,  fome  Agitation  in  this  Reverend  AfTembly, 
about  the  Matter  of  a  regular  Synod,  raifed  upon 
this  Occafion,  that  fome  of  the  Churches,  not- 
withftanding  the  Defires  of  their  Elders  to  be 
accompanied  with  other  Meffengers,  would  fend 
nc  Meffengers,  but  their  Elders  to  the  AfTembly. 
Upon  the  Debate,  it  was  refolved,  That  noc 
only  Elders,  but  other  Meffengers  alio,  were  to 
be  delegated  by  Churches,  and  have  their  Suf- 
frage in  a  Synod,  reprefenting  thofe  Cburches  ; 
the  Primitive  Pattern  of  a  Synod  in  the  fifteenth 
Chapter  of  the  Atis,  and  the  Primitive  Practice 

of 


Book  V.  Tbe  Hijlory  of  New-England. 


87 


of  the  Churches  in  the  Ages  next:  following  the 
Apoftles-,  and  the  Arguments  ol  iuch  eminent 
Writers  as  Juel^  Whitaker,  Parker,  and  others, 
againft  thole,  who  mention  that  Laicks  are  no 
fit  Matter  for  fuch  AiTemblies  ;  being  judicioufly 
confidered,  as  countenancing  of  this  Alfertion. 
The  Atfembly  kept  a  Day  of  Prayer  with  Fafi- 
ing  before  the  Lord,  and  fpenc  fev^ral  Days  in 
difcourfing  upon  the  two  Grand  §>uejlions  laid 
before  them,  with  utmoft  Liberty  granted  unto 
every  Perfon,  to  exprels  his  Thoughts  thereupon. 
A  Committee  was  appointed,  then  to  draw  up 
the  Mind  of  the  Allembly  -,  which  being  done, 
it  was  read  over  once  and  again,  and  each  Para- 
graph diffmcfly  weighed,  and  then  upon  a  ma- 
ture Deliberation,  the  whole  was  unanimoufy 
voted,  as  to  the  Subfiance,  End  and  Scope  thereof. 
So,  'twas  prefented  unt«  the  General  Court,  who 
by  an  Act  of  OUober  15.  1679.  "  Commended 
"  it  unto  the  ierious  Confideration  of  all  the 
"  Churches  and  People  in"  the  Jurifdiclion,  en- 
"  joining  and  requiring  all  Perfons  in  their  re- 
's fpecfive  Capacities  to  a  careful  and  diligent 
"  Reformation  ,  of  all  thofe  provoking  Evils 
"  mentioned  therein,  according  to  the  true  In- 
"  tent  thereof,  that  fo  the  Anger  and  Diiplea- 
"  fure  of  God  many  ways  manifefted,  might 
"  be  averted,  and  his  Favour  and  Bleiting  ob- 
"  tained. 

§.  4.  When  the  punifhmenc  of  Jcourging  was 
ufed  upon  a  Criminal  in  Ijrael,  it  was  the  Order 
andUlage,  that  while  the  Executioner  was  lay- 
ing on  his  Blows,  with  an  Inltrument,  every 
ftrcke  whereof,  gave  three  Laflies  to  the  Delin-  j 
quent,  there  were  ltill  prefent  three  Judges  • 
whereof,  while  one  did  number  the  Blows,  and 
another  kept  crying  out,  Smite  him;  a  Third 
read  three  Scriptures,  during  the  Time  of  the 
Scourging,  and  the  Scourging  ended  with  the 
reading  oi  them.  The  firlt  Scripture  was  that 
in  Deui.  2b.  58.  If  thou  wilt  not  objerve  to  do 
all  the  words  of  this  Law,  then  the  Lord  will 
make  thy  Plagues  wonderful.  The  iecond  Scri- 
pture was  that  in  Veut.  29.  9.  Keep  therefore 
the  .cords  of  this  Covenant,  that  ye  may  pro/per 
in  all  that  ye  do.  The  third  Scripture  was  that 
in  Pfaliii  78.  38.  But  he,  beingjull of  compajjhn, 


forgave  their  Iniquity  and  deftroyed  them  nou 
This  was  done  partly  for  the  Admonition,  partly 
for  the  Confolation,  of  the  Criminal.  Truly, 
when  the  Scourges  of  Heaven  were  imploy'd 
upon  the  Churches  of  New-England  for  their 
Mifcarriages,  and  they  were  forely  ladled  with 
one  Blow  after  another,  not  only  particular  Mi- 
nifters,  but  a  whole  Synod  of  them,  took  upon 
themlelves  the  Office  of  Reading  to  the  whole 
Country,  thole  Words  of  God  which  were 
judged  agreeable  to  the  Condition  of  fuch  a 
fcourged  People. 

Nothing  fhall  detain  my  Reader  from  the  Ad- 
monitions of  this  Reforming  Synod,  when  I  have 
recited  the  iblemn  Woids  in  the  Preface  to  thole 
Admonitions.  "  The  Things  infilled  on  (fay  they) 
"  have,  at  ieaft  many  of  them,  been  often  men- 
"  tioned  and  inculcated  by  thofe,    whom  the 
u  Lord  hath  fet  as  Watchmen  to  the  Houfe  of 
"  Ifrael;  tho'  alas !  not  with  that  Succefs,  which 
"  their  Souls  have  defired.  It  is  not  a  fmall  Mat- 
"  ter,  nor  ought  it  to  feem  little  in  our  Eyes, 
"  that  the  Churches  have  in  this  way  confelTed 
"  and  declared  the  Truth,  which  coming  from  a 
"  STAOD,  as  their  Joint  Concurring  Tellimony 
"  will  carry  more  Authority  with  it,  than  if 
"  one  Man  only,  or  many  in  their  fingle  Capa- 
"  cities  mould  fpeak  the  fame  things.    And  un- 
"  doubtedly  the  IlTue  of  this  Undertaking,  will 
"  be  molt  Signal,  either  as  to  Mercy  or  Mifery. 
"  If  New-England  remember  whence  me  is  fal- 
"  len,  and  do  the  Firil-works,  there's  Reafon 
"  to  hope,  that  it  fhall  be  better  with  us  than 
"  at  our  Beginnings.    But  if  this,  after  all  other 
"  Means  in  and  by  which  the  Lord  hath  been 
"  ftriving  to  reclaim  us,  fhall  be  defpifed,  or  be- 
"  come  ineffectual,  we  may  dread  what  is  like 
c:  to  follow.      'Tis  a  folemn  Thought  that  the 
'■  Jewilh  Church  had,  as  the  Churches  in  New- 
"  England  have  this  Day,  an  opportunity  to  re- 
"  form,  if  they  would  in  Jofiah\  Time  ;  butbe- 
"  caufe  they  had  no  Heart  unto  it,  the  Lord  quick- 
w  ly  removed  them  out  of  his  fight.     What  God 
"  out  of  his  Sovereignty  may  do  for  us,  no  Man 
"  can  fay  •,  but  according  to  his  wonted  Difpen- 
:'  fations,  we  are  a  perifhing  People,  if  now  we 
■'  reform  not. 
And  now  therefore  hear  the  S  IN  0  D. 


THE 


88 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.       Book  V- 


THE 


Neceffity  of  Reformation, 


WITH 

The  Expedients  fubfervient  thereunto,  afferted,  in 
Anfwer  to  Two  Queftions. 

QjJ  E  S  T  I  O  N    I. 

What  are  the  Evils  that  have  provoked  the 
Lord  to  bring  his  Judgments  on  New-Eng- 
land ? 


A  N 


SWER. 


THat  fometimes  God  hath  had ;  and 
pleaded  a  Controverfie  with  his 
People,  is  clear  from  the  Scripture, 
Hof.  4.  1.  8t  12,  2.  Mich.  6.  1,  2. 
Where  God  doth  plainly,  aod  fully  propofe, 
ftate  and  plead  his  Controverfie  in  all  the  Parts 
and  Caufes  of  it,  wherein  he  doth  juftifie  him- 
felf  by  the  Declaration  of  his  own  infinite  Mer- 
cy,Grace,  Goodnels,  Juftice,  Righteoufnefs,  Truth 
and  Faithfulnefs  in  all  his  Proceedings  with  them  ; 
and  judge  his  People,  charging  them  with  all 
thofe  provoking  Evils,  which  had  been  the 
Caufes  of  that  Controverfie,  and  that  with  the 
moil  high  and  heavy  Aggravation  of  their  Sins, 
and  exaggeration  of  the  Guilt  and  Punifhment, 
whence  he  fhould  have  been  molt  juft,  in  plead- 
ing out  his  Controverfie  with  them  unto  the  ut- 
moft  Extremity  of  Juftice  and  Judgment. 

That  God  hath  a  Controverfie  with  his  New- 
England  People  is  undeniable,  the  Lord  having 
written  his  Difpleafure  in  dilmal  Characters 
againft  us.  Though  perfonal  Afflictions,  do  of 
tentimes  come  only  or  chiefly  for  Probation, 
yet  as  to  oublick  Judgments,  it  is  not  wont  to 
be  fo  ;  eipecially  when  by  a  continued  Series  of 
Providence,  the  Lord  doth  appear  and  plead 
againlt  his  People,  2  Sam.  21.  1.  As  with  us  it 
hath  bee  horn  Year  to  Year.  Would  the  Lord 
have  w  he  Lied  his  glittering  Sword,  and  his  Hand 
have  taken  bold  on  Judgment  ?  Would  he  have 
fei  c  iuch  a  mortal  Contagion,  like  a  Befom  or' 
deftru&ion  in  the  rcidft  of  us  ?  Would  he  have 
laid,  Swoid  !  Go  through  the  Land,  and  cutoff 
Man  and  Beaft.  Or  would  he  have  kindled  fuch 
devouring  Fires,  and  made  iucli  fearful  Defla- 
tions in  the  Earth,  if  he  had  not  been  angry  ? 
It  is  not  for  nothing  that  the  Merciful  God, who 
doth  not  willingly  afflicl  nor  gi  if  ve  the  Children 
of  Men,  hath  done  all  thole  Things  unto  us  ; 
yea,  and  fometimes  with  a  Cloud  hath  covered 


himfelf,thit  our  Prayer  fhould  not  pafs  thorough, 
And  although  'tis  poffible  that  the  Lord  may 
contend  with  us  partly  on  the  Account  of  lecret 
unobferved  Sins,  Jojh.  7.  u,  12.  2  Kings  17. 
9.  Pfa/m  90.  8.  In  which  refpeft,  a  deep  and 
mod  ferious  enquiry  into  the  Caufes  of  his  Con- 
troverfie ought  to  be  attended :  Nevertheleis  it 
is  fadly  evident,  that  there  are  vifible,  rnanifeft 
Evils,  which  without  doubt  the  Lord  is  provok- 
ed by.    For, 

I.  There  is  a  great  and  vifible  decay  of  the 
Power  of  Godlinefs  amongft  many  ProfefforS 
in  thefe  Churches.  It  may  be  feared  that  there 
is  in  too  many  Spiritual,  and  Heart  Apoftacy 
from  God,  whence  Communion  with  him  in  the 
ways  of  his  Worfhip,  efpecially  in  lecret  is 
much  neglected,  and  whereby  Men  ceafe  to 
know  and  fear,  and  love,  and  truft  in  him  ;  but 
take  up  their  Contentment  and  Satisfaction 
in  fomething  elfe  :  This  was  the  ground  and 
bottom  of  the  Lord's  Controverfie  with  his  Peo- 
pleof  Old,  Pfa/m  78.  8.  37.  &  81.1 1.  Jer.i.  5, 
11,  13.  and  with  his  People  under  the  New- 
Tcfiiimcnt  alfo,  Rev.  2.  4,  5. 

II.  The  Pride  that  doth  abound  in  NewEng- 
land  teftifies  againft  us,  Hoj.  5.  5.  Ezek.  7.  10. 
both  fpiritual  Pride,  Zepb.  3.  11.  Whence  two 
great  Evils  and  Provocations  have  proceeded,and 
prevailed  among  us. 

1 .  A  refufing  to  be  fubjecT:  to  Order,  according 
to  Divine  Appointment,  Numb.  16.  3.  1  Pet. 
5-  5- 

•2.  Contention,  Prey.  13.  10.  An  Evil  thatis, 
moil  eminently  againft  the  folemn  Charge  of 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  JoJJ).  13.  34,  35.  And 
that  for  which  God  hath  by  fevere  Judgments 
punifhed  his  People,  both  in  former  and  latter 
Ages.  This  Malady  hath  been  very  general  in 
the  Country  h  we  have,  therefore,  caufe  to  fear, 
that  the  Wolves,  which  God  in  his  holy  Pro- 
vidence hath  let  loofe  upon  us,  have  been  fent 
to  chaftife  his  Sheep  for  Dividings  and  Strayings 
one  from  another  -,  and  that  the  Wars  and  Fight- 
ings, which  have  proceeded  from  the  luft  of 
Pride  in  fpecial,  have  been  punifhed  with  the 
Sword,  Jam.  4.  1.    Job  19.19. 

Yea,  and  Pride  in  refpect  of  Apparel  hath 
greatly  abounded  ;  Servants  and  the  poorer  fort 
of  People  are  notorioufly  guilty  in  this  matter, 

who 


Book  V.  The  Hijtory  of  New-England. 


8? 


who  (too  generally)  go  above  their  Ellates  and 
Degrees,  thereby  tranlgrefiing  the  Laws  both  of 
God  and  Mzn^Maiib.  1 1.  8.  Yea,it  is  a  Sin  that 
even  the  Light  of  Nature  and  Laws  of  Civil 
Nations  have  condemned,  i  Cor.  n.  14.  Alfo, 
many,  not  of  the  meaner  fort  have  offended 
God  by  flrange  Apparel,  not  becoming  ferious 
Chriftians,  efpecially  in  thefe  Da;  s  of  Afflicti- 
on and  Mifery,  wherein  the  Lord  calls  upon 
Men  to  put  off  their  Ornaments,  ExoJ.  33.  5. 
Jer.  4.  30.  A  Sin  which  brings  Wrath  upon 
the  greateft  that  fhall  be  found  guilty  of  it, 
'Zepb.  1.8.  with  Jer.  52.  jj.  Particularly  the 
Lord  hath  threatned  to  vifit  with  Sword  and 
Sicknefs,  and  with  loathfome  Dileafes  for  this 
very  Sin,  If  a.  3.  id. 

III.  Inalmuch  as  it  was  in  a  more  peculiar 
manner  with  refpecL  to  the  fecond  Command- 
ment, that  our  Fathers  did  follow  the  Lord  into 
this  Wildcrnefs,  whilft  it  was  a  Land  not  .fown, 
we  may  fear  that  the  Breaches  of  that  Com- 
mandment are  fome  part  of  the  Lord's  Conrro- 
verfie  with  New-E/iglapd.     Church-Fellowfhip 
and  orher  Divine  Inftitutions  are  greatly  neg- 
lected.   Many  of  the  riling  Generation  are  not 
mindful  of  that,  which  their  Baptifm  doth  en- 
gage them  unto,    viz.  to  ufe  ufmoft  Endeavours 
that  they  may  be  fit  for,  and  fo  partake  in  all 
the  Holy  Ordinances  of  the  Lord  Jefus,  Mattb. 
28.20.    There  are  too  many  that  with  profane 
Efau  flight  Ipiritual  Priviledges.    Nor  is  there 
fo  much  of  Difcipline   exrended  towards  the 
Childien  of  the  Covenant,  as  we  are  generally 
agreed  ought  to  be  done.    On  the  other  hand 
humane  Inventions,  and  will-worfhip  have  been 
let  up  even   in  Jerufalem.    Men  have  let  up 
their  Threfholds  by  God's  Threfbold,   and  their 
Polls  by  his  Poll.    Quakers  are  falfe  Worfhip 
pers  -,    and   fuch   Anabapujls  as  have  rifen  up 
among  us,  in  oppofition  to  the  Churches  of  the 
Lord  Jefus,  receiving  into  their  Society  thofe, 
that  have  been  for  Scandal  delivered  unto  Satan  ; 
yea,   and  improving  thole  as  Adminillrators  of 
Holy  Things,  who  have  been  (as  dorh  appear) 
juffly,  under  Church-Cenlures,  do  no  better  than 
fet  up  an  Altar  againft  the  Lord's  Altar.  Where- 
fore it  mult  needs  be  provoking  to  God  if  thefe 
Things  be  not  duly  and  fully  telfified  againft,  by 
every  one  in  their  leveralCapacities  relpe£tively, 
Jo f. 22.1 9.2X1.2  $.\^.  Eze.43.%.Pf.9p.%.hof.ii.6. 
IV.  The  holy  and  glorious  name  of  God  harh 
been  polluted  and  profaned  amongft  us,  more 
efpecially. 

1.  By  Oaths  and  Imprecations  in  ordinary 
Difcourfe  -,  yea,  and  it  is  too  common  a  thing 
for  Men  in  a  more  folemn  way  to  fwear  unne- 
ceffary  Oaths  -,  when  as  it  is  a  Breach  of  the 
third  Commandment,  lo  to  ufe  the  blelTed  Name 
of  God.  And  many  (if  not  the  mod)  of  thofe 
that  fwear,  confider  not  the  Rule  of  an  Oath, 
Jer.  4.  2.  So  that  we  may  jullly  fear  that  be 
caufe  of  f wearing  the  Land  mourns,  Jer.  23.  10. 
2.  There  is  great  Prophanenefs ,  in  refpeft  of 
irreverent  Behaviour  in  the.  folemn.  Worfhip  of 
God.  It  is  a  frequent  thing  for  Men  (though 
notnecenitated  thereunto  by  any  Infirmity)  to  fit 


in  Prayer  time,  and  fome  wirh  their  Heads  al- 
moft  covered,  and  to  give  way  to  rlHr  own 
Sloth  and  Sleepinefs,  when  they  fhould  be  Ser- 
ving God  with  Attention  and  Intention,  under 
the  lolemn  Difpenfation  of  his  Ordinances.  We 
read  but  of  one  Man  in  Scripture,  thai  if 
a  Sermon,  and  that  Sin  had  like  to  have  coii  inm 
his  Life,  Ails  20.  9. 

V.  There  is  much  Sabbath  breaking  -,  fince 
there  are  Multitudes  that  do  profanely  abfent 
themfelves  or  theirs  from  the  publick  Worfhip 
of  God,  on  his  Holy  Diy,  efpecially  in  the 
moft  populous  Places  of  the  Land  ;  and  many 
under  pretence  of  differing  Apprehenfions  about 
the  beginning  of  the  Sabbath,  do  not  keep  a  fe- 
venth  part  of  time  holy  unto  the  Lord,  as  the 
fourth  Commandment  requireth,walking abroad, 
and  travelling  (not  meerly  on  the  Account  of 
worfhipping  God  in  the  folemn  AfTemblies  of  his 
People,  or  to  attend  Works  of  Neceffiry  or  Mer- 
cy) being  a  common  pra&ice  on  the  Sabbath  Day, 
which  is  contrary  unto  that  Reft  enjoyned  by 
the  Commandment.  Yea,  fome  that  attend  their 
particular  fervile  Callings  and  Employments  af- 
ter the  Sabbath  is  begun,  or  before  it  is  ended. 
Wordly,  unfuitable  Difcourfes  are  very  common 
upon  rhe  Lord's  Day,  contrary  to  the  Scripture, 
which  requireth  that  Men  fhould  not  on  holy 
Times  find  their  own  Pleaiure,  nor  ipeak  their 
own  Wotdsjfa.  58.  13.  Many  that  do  not  take 
care  fo  to  dilpatch  rhcir  wordly  Bufineffes,  that 
they  may  be  free  and  fit  for  the  Duties  of  the  Sab- 
bath, and  that  do  (if  not  wholly  neglect)  after  a 
carelefs,  heartlefs  manner,  perform  the  Duties 
that  concern  the  Sanclification  of  the  Sabbath. 
This  brings  Wrath,  Fires  and  other  Judgments 
upon  a  profelfing  People,  Neb.  3.  17,  iS.  Jer. 
17.27. 

VI.  As  to  what  concerns  Families  and  Govern- 
ment thereof,  there  is  much  amifs.    There  are 
many  Families  that  do  not  pray  to  God  conftant- 
ly  Morning  and  Evening,  and  many  more, where- 
in the  Scriptures  are  not  daily  read,  that  fo  the 
Word  of  Chrift  might  dwell  richly  with  them. 
Some,and  too  many  Houfes,  that  are  full  of  Ig- 
norance and  Profanenefs,  and  thefe  not  duly  in- 
ipecled,  for  which  caufe  Wrath  may  come  upon 
others  round  about  them,  as  well  as  upon  them- 
felves, Jof.  22.  20.  Jer  em.  5.  7.  &  10.  25.  And 
many   Houfholders  who  profefs  Religion,    do 
nor  caufe  all  that  are  within  their  Gates  to  be- 
come Subjects  unto  good  Order  as  ought  to  be, 
Exod.  20.  10.  Nay,  Children  and  Servants,  that 
are  not  kept  in  due  Subjection,    their  Mailers 
and  Parents  efpecially  being  finfuliy  indulgent 
towards  them.    This  is  a  Sin  which  brings  great 
Judgmenrs,  as  we  fee  in  Effs,  and  David's  Fa- 
mily.   In  this  refpeft  Chriftians  in   this  Land, 
have  become  too  like  unto  the  Indians,  and  then 
we  need  not  wonder,  if  the  Lord  hath  afflicted 
us  by  them.    Sometimes  a  Sin  is  dilcerned  by 
rhe  Inftrument  that  Providence  doth  punifh  with. 
Moft  of  the  Evils  that  abound  amongft  us,  pro- 
ceed from  Detects  as  to  Family-Government. 


M 


VII.  In- 


9o 


Tbe  Htftory  of  New-Fngland        Book  V. 


VII.    Inordinate  PafiVons.    Sinful  Heats    and   which  brought  ruinating  Judgment  upon  Sodom 
Hatreds,  and  that  among  Church- ^ ■  <;mbe:s  them    and  much  more  upon  Jcrujalcm.  Ezek.  16.4^ 


felves.  who  abound  with  evil  Semirings,  unchari- 
table and  unrighteous  Ceaiiatts,  Back-biting*, 
hearing  and  relling  Tales,  lew  that  remember 
and  duly  obferve  the  Rme,  with  an  angry  Conn 


and  doth  lorely  threaten  New  England,  unlets 
ericdual  Remedies  be  thoroughly  and  timouily 
applied. 

X.  There  is  much  want  of  Truth  amongft 


tenance  to  drive  away  the  Tale-Bearer:  Reproach-   Men.     Piomile-brcaking  is  a  common  Sin,  tor 

which  New-England  doth  hear  Hi  abroad  in  the 
Woild.  And  the  Lord  hath  threatned  ior  that 
Tranlgreffion  to  give  his  People  into  the  Hands 
of  their  Enemies,  and  that  their  Dead  Bodies 
ihould  be  tor  Meat  unto  rhe  Fowls  of  Heaven 
and  to  the  Beafts  of  the  Earth,  which  Judgments 
havebeen  verified  upon  us,7«v-34.i8,20.And  raHe 
Reports  have  been  too  common, yea, walking  with 
Reproaches  and  Slanders,  and  that  fbmetimes 
aguinlt  the  molt  Faithful  and  Eminent  Servanrs  of 
God.  The  Lord  is  not  wunt  to  fuller  fuch  Ini- 
quity to  pats  unpuniftied,  Jer.  9.  4,  5.  Numb. 
\6.  41. 

X.  Inordinate  Affeftion  unto  the  World. 
Idolatry  is  a  God-provoking,  Judgment-procuring 
Sin.  And  Covetoufnels  is  Idolatry,  Epb.  5.  5. 
There  hath  been  in  many  Proteifors  an  Infatiable 
defire after  Land,  and  Worldly  Accommodations  - 
yea,  fo  as  to  forfake  Churches  and  Ordinances^ 
and  to  live  like  Heathen,  only  that  io  they  might 
have  Elbow-room  enough  in  the  World.  Farms 
and  Merchandifings  have  been  preferred  before 
the  things  of  God.  In  this  refpeft  the  Intereft 
of  New-England  feemeth  to  be  changed.  We 
differ  from  other  out-goings  of  out  Nation,  in 
that  it  was  not  any  Worldiy  Conliderations  that 
brought  our  Fathers  into  this  Wildernefs,  but 
Religion,  even  that  lb  they  might  build  a 
Sancf  uary  unto  the  Lord's  Name ;  whereas  now 
Religion  is  made  fubfervient  unto  Worldly  In- 
tereits.  Such  Iniquity  cauieth  War  to  be  in  the 
Gates,  and  Cities  to  be  burnt  up,  Judg.  8.  5. 
Mat.  22.  5,  7.  Wherefore,  we  cannot  but 
lolemnly  bear  witnefs  againft  that  Practice  of 
lettling  Plantations  without  any  Miniftry  a- 
monglt  rhem,  which  is  to  prefer  the  World  be- 
fore the  Golpel :  When  hot  did  forfake  the  Land 
of  Canaan,  and  the  Church,  which  wds  in  Abra- 
ham's Family,  that  fo  he  might  have  better 
Worldly  Accommodations  in  Sodom,  God  fired 
him  out  of  all,  and  he  was  constrained  to  leave 
his  goodly  Paftures,  which  his  Heart  (though 
otherwife  a  good  Man)  was  too  much  fet  upon. 
Moreover  rhat  many  are  under  the  prevailing 
Power  of  the  Sin  of  Worldlinefs  is  evident. 

1.  Ftom  that  oppreffion  which  the  Land 
groaneth  under.  There  are  ibme  Traders,  who 
fell  their  Goods  at  exceflive  Rates,  Day-La- 
bourers  and  Mechanicks  are  unreasonable  in 
their  Demands  -,  yea,  there  have  been  thofe  that 
have  dealt  Deceitfully  and  oppreflively  towards 
the  Heathen,  among  whom  we  live,  whereby 
they  have  been  fcandalized  and  prejudiced  againft 
[he  Name  of  Chrift.  The  Scripture  doth  fre- 
quently threaten  Judgments  for  the  Sin  of  Op- 
preflion,  and  in  ipecial  the  Oppreffing  Sword 
cometh  as  a  punifhment  of  that  Evil,  Ezek.  7. 
11.  and  22.  15.  Prov.  28.8.  If.  5.  7. 


ful  and  Reviling  Expreffions,  ibrrieiimes  to  or 
of  one  another.  Hence  Law  Suites  ite  ftsquent, 
Brother  going  to  Law  with  Brother,  and  pro- 
voking and  abuting  one  another  in  publick  Courts 
of  Judicature,  to  the  fcandal  of  their  holy  Pro- 
feilion,  //./•  58.  4.  1  Cor.  6.  6,  7.  And  in  man 
aging  the  Difcipline  of  Chrift,  feme  (and  too 
manv)  are  acfed  Ivy  their  Paflions,  and  Prejudi- 
ce?, 'more  than  by  a  Spirit  of  Love  and  Faith 
iulnefs  towards  their  Brother's  Soul  which  things 
ate,  as  againft  the  Law  of  Chrift,  fo  dreadful 
Violations  of  the  Church  Covenant,  made  in 
the  pretence  of  God. 

VII!.  There  is  much  Intemperance.  That  Hea- 
theniih  and  Idolatrous  practice  of  Health-drink 
ing  is  too  frv  quent.That  ffcamefnl  Iniquity  of  fin- 
ful Drinking  is  become  too  general  a  Provocation. 
Days  of  Training,  and  other  publick  Solemnities, 
have  been  abuled  in  this  refpect :    And  not  only 
Englifh,    but   Indians  have  been  debauched  by 
thole  that  call  themtelves  Chtiftians,  who  have 
put  their  Bottles  to  them  and  made  them  drunk 
alfb.     This  is  a  crying  Sin,    and  the  more  ag- 
gravated in  that  the  rirlt  Planters  of  this  Colo- 
ny did  (as-  is  in  the  Patent  exjweSed)  come  into 
this  Laud  with  .1  Dciign  to  convert  the  Heathen 
unto  (  In'riV,  but  d  inftead  of  that  they  be  taught 
Wickedneis,  which  before  they  were  never  guil- 
ty of,  the  Lord  may  well  punifh   us  by  them. 
Moteover  the  Sword,   Sicknels,  Poverty,   and 
almolt  all  th*  Judgments  which  have  been  upon 
New-England  are  mentioned  in  the  Scripture,  as 
the  woiul  r  mil  of  that  Sin,  Jer.  5.  11,  12.  &  28. 
1,  2.  8t  56.  9,  12.  Prov.  23.  21,  2£,  30,  S£  21. 
17.  H'j.  7.  5.  &  28,  9.     There  are  more  Temp- 
tations and  Occaiions  unto  thai  Sin,    publickly 
allowed  of,    than  any  Neceflity  doth  require ; 
the  proper  end  of  Taverns,   i5c  being  tor  the 
Entertainment  of  Strangers,  which  it  they  were 
improved  to  that  end  only,   a  tar  lets  nombei 
would  iuifice :    But  it  is  a  common  practice  for 
Town-Dwellers,  yea,  and  Chuich  Members  to 
frequent  publick  Houfes,  and  there"  to  mifpend 
precious  Time,  unto  the  dishonour  of  the  Gof 
pel,  and  the  fcandalizing  of  others,   who  are 
by  fuch  Examples  induced  to  fin   againft  God. 
In  which  reipect  tor  Church-Members  to  be  un- 
neceflarily  in  fuch  Houfes,  is  finful,   fcandalous 
and  provoking  to  God,  1  Cor.  8.  9,  10.  Rom.  14. 
21.  Mattb.  17.  27.  &  18.  7. 

And  there  are  other  hainous  Breaches  of  the 
feventh  Commandment.  Temptations  thereun- 
to are  become  too  common,  viz.  fuch  as  immo- 
delt  Apparel,  Prov.  7.  10.  laying  out  of  Hair, 
Borders,  naked  Necks,  and  Arms,  or  which  is 
more  abominable  naked  Breafts,  and  mixed 
Dancings,  light  Behaviour, and  Expreifions,  finful 
Company-keeping  with  light  and  vain  Pertbns, 
unlawful  Gaming,    an  abundance  of  Idlenefs, 


2. 


It 


Book  V.  The  Hifiory  of  New-Fng]and. 


9* 


2.  It  is  alfo  evident,  that  Men  are  under  the 
prevailing  Power  of  a  Worldly  Spirit,  by  their 
Strait-handednefs,   as  to  Publick  Concernments. 
God  by  a  continued  Series  of  Providence,  for 
many  Years,  one  after  another,  hath  been  Malt- 
ing rhe  Fruits  of  the  Earth  in  a  great  meilare-, 
and  this  Year  more  abundantly :    Now,  it  we 
iearch  the  Scriptures,  we  (full  find  that  when 
the  Lord  hath  been  provoked  to  deltroy   the 
Fruits  of  the  Earth,  either  by  noxious  Creatures, 
or  by  his  own  immediate  Hand  in  Blaftings,  or 
Droughts,  or  Exceflive  Rains  (all  which  Judg- 
ments we  have  Experience  of)    it  hath  been 
moftly  for  this  Sin  of  Strait-handednefs  with 
Reference  unto  publick  and  Pious  Concerns,ii^. 
1.  9.  Mai.  3.  8,  9,  1 1.    As  when  Peoples  Hearts 
and  Hands  are  enlarged  upon  thefe  Accounts, 
God  hath  promifed  (and  is  wont  in  his  Faithful 
Providence  to  do  accordinply)  to  Blefs  with  out- 
ward Plenty  and   Profperity,  Prov.  3.  p,   10. 
Mai.  3.  10.    1  Cor.  9.  d,  8,  10.    zCbron.  31.  10. 
fo  on  the  other  Hand,  when  Men  withold  more 
than   is   meet,   the   Lord  fends   impoverifhing 
Judgments  upon  them,  Prov.  1 1.  24. 

XI.  There  hath  been  oppofition  to  the  work 
of  Reformation.     Although  the  Lord  hath  been 
calling  upon  us,    not  only  by  the  Voice  of  his 
Servants,    but  by  awful  Judgments,    that   we 
fhould  return  unto  him,  who  hath  been  imiting 
of  us,  and  notwithlfanding  all  the  good  Laws, 
that  are  eftablifhed  for  the  fupprcflion  of  grow- 
ing Evils,  yet  Men  will  not  return  every  one 
from  his  Evil  way.    There  hath  been  great  In- 
corrigiblenefs  under  lelTer  Judgments;  Sin  and 
Sinners  have  many  Advocates.  They  that  have 
been  Zealous  in  bearing  witnefs  againft  the  Sins 
of  the  Times,  have  been  reproached,  and  othei 
ways  Difcouraged  ;  which  argueth  an  Heart  un 
willing  to  Reform.    Hence  the  Lord's  Contro- 
verfie  is  not  yet  done,  but  his  Hand  is  ftretched 
out  {fill,  Lev.  26.  23,  24.  If  a,  12.  13. 

XII.  A  publick  Spirit  is  greatly  wanting  in 
the  moft  of  Men.  Few  that  are  of  Nehemiab's 
Spirit,  Keh.  515.  all  feek  their  own,  nor  the 
things  that  are  Jefus  Chrift's  ^  ferving  themielves 
upon  Chrift  and  his  Holy  Ordinances.  Matters 
appertaining  tc  the  Kingdom  of  God,  are  either 
not  at  all  regarded,  or  not  in  the  firft  place. 
Hence  Schools  of  Learning  and  other  publick 
concerns  are  in  a  languifhing  ftate.  Hence  alfo 
are  unreafonable  Complaints  and  Mufmurings 
becaufe  of  publick  Charges,  which  is  a  great 
Sin  5  and  a  private  felf  feeking  Spirit,  is  one  of 
thofe  Evils  that  renders  the  laft  times  perilous, 
2  Tim.  3.  r. 

XIII.  There  are  Sins  againft  the  Gofpel, 
whereby  the  Lord  has  been  provoked.  Chrift 
is  not  prifed  and  embraced  in  all  his  Offices  and 
Ordinances  as  ought  to  be.  Manna  hath  been 
loathed,  the  plealant  Land  defpifed,  Pfal.  106. 
24.  Though  the  Gofpel  and  Covenant  of  Grace 
call  upon  Men  to  Repent,  yet  there  are  Multi- 
tudes that  refufe  to  Repent,  when  the  Lord 
doth  vouchfafe  them  time  and  means.  No  Sins 
provoke  the  Lord  more  than  Impenitency  and 
Unbelief,  Jer.  8.  6.  Zecb.  7.  11,  12,  13.  ticb. 


3.  17,  18.  Rev.  2.  21,  22.  There  is  great  Un- 
truitiulnefs  under  the  means  of  Grace,  and  that 
brings  the  moft  defolating  Judgments,  l/ac.  5.  4, 
5.  Mat.  3-  10.  and  21.  43. 

Finally ;  there  ar  e  ieveral  Confederations, 
which  feem  to  Evi  dence,  that  the  Evils  men- 
tioned are  the  matters  of  the  Lord's  Contro- 
verfie. 

1.  In  that  ("though  not  as  to  all)  as  to  moft 
of  them,  they  are  Sins  which  many  are  guilty 
of. 

2.  Sins  which  have  been  acknowledged  before 
the  Lord  on  Days  of  Humiliation  appointed  by 
Authority,  and  yet  not  reformed. 

3.  Many  of  them  not  punifhed  (and  fome  of 
them  not  punifhable)  by  Men,  therefore  the 
Lord  himielf  doth  punifh  for  them. 

QjJ  E  S  T  I  O  N    IL 

What  is  to  be  done>  that  fo  thefe  Evils  may 
;      be  reformed  ? 

Answer. 

I.  TT  would  tend  much  to  promote  the  In* 
X  tereft  of  Reformation,  if  all  that  are,  in 
place,  above  others,  do  as  to  themfelves  and 
Families,  become  every  way  Exemplary.  Mofes 
being  to  Reform  others,  began  with  what  con- 
cerned himfelf  and  his.  People  are  apt  to  fol- 
low the  Example  of  thofe,  that  are  above  them, 
2  Cbron.  12.  1.  Gal.  2.  14.  If  then,  there  be  a 
div  ided  Heart,  or  any  other  of  the  Sins  of  the 
Ti  mes,  found  in  any  Degree  among  thofe  (or 
any  of  them)  that  are  Leaders,  either  as  to 
Civil  or  Ecclefiafficai  Order,  Reformation  there 
would  have  a  great  and  happy  Influence  upon 
many. 

II.  In  as  much  as  the  prefent  Handing  Gene- 
ration (both  as  to  Leaders  and  People)  is  for 
the  greater  part  another  Generation,  than  what 
was  in  New-England  Forty  Years  ago,  for  us  to 
declare  our  adherence  to  the  Faith  and  Order  of 
the  Gofpel,  according  to  what  is  in  the  Scripture 
exprefled  in  the  Platform  of  Difcipline,  may  be 
likewife  a  good  means  both  to  recover  thofe 
that  have  erred  from  the  Truth,  and  to  prevent 
Apoftacy  for  the  future. 

III.  It  is  requifite  that  Perfons  be  not  admit- 
ted unto  Communion  in  the  Lord's  Supper  with- 
out making  a  petfonal  and  publick  Profeflion 
of  their  Faith  and  Repentance,  either  Orally, 
or  in  fome  other  way,  fo  as  fhall  be  to  the  juft 
fatisfa&ion  of  the  Church  •,  and  that  theretore 
both  Elders  and  Churches  be  duly  watchful  and 
circumfpe£t  in  this  matter,  1  Cor.  n.  28,  29. 
Alls  2.  41,  42.  Ezek.  44.  7,  8,  9. 

IV.  In  order  to  Reformation,  it  is  neceflary 
that  the  Difcipline  of  Chrift  in  the  Power  of  it 
fhould  be  upheld  in  the  Churches.  It  is  evident 
from  Chritt's  Epiftles  to  the  Churches  in  the 
lefler  AJia,  that  the  Evils  and  Degeneracies  then 
prevailing  among  Chriftians,  proceeded  chiefly 

5  M  2  from 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England        Book  V. 


92. 

from  the  neglect  of  Difcipline.  It  is  a  known 
and  true  Obfefvation,  that  Remlflhefs  in  the 
Exercife  of  Difcipline,  was  attended  with  Cor- 
ruption of  Manners,  and  that  did  provoke  the 
to  give  Men  up  to  iirong  Delufions  in  mat- 
ters of  Faith.  Difcipline  is  Chri  Is  Ordinance, 
both  for  the  prevention  of  Apoftacy  in  Churches, 
and  to  recover  them,  when  collapfed.  And 
thefe  'Nezv-Enelifk  Churches  are  Ui.ier  peculiar 
Engagements  to  be  Faithful  unto  Chrift,  and 
unto  his  Truth  in  this  matter,  by  virtue  of  the 
Church  Covenant,  as  alio  that  the  management 
oi  Difcipline  according  to  the  Scripture,  was 
the  fpecial  Deiign  of  our  Fathers  in  coming  in 
to  this  Wildernels.  The  Degeneracy  of  the 
Riling  Generation  (  lb  much  complained  of) 
is  in  a  great  meafure  to  be  attributed  unto  neg- 
lects of  this  nature.  If  all  Church  Difcipline, 
in  thefe  refpe&s,  were  Faithfully  and  Dili 
gently  attended,  not  only  towards  Parents,  but 
alio  towards  the  Children  of  the  Church,  ac- 
cording to  the  Rules  oi  Chrift,  we  may  hope 
that  the  funk  and  dying  Intereft  of  Religion  will 
be  revived,  and  a  world  of  Sin  prevented  for 
the  future-,  and  that  Difputes  reflecting  the 
Subjects  of  Baptifm,  would  be  comfortably 
ilfued. 

V.  It  is  requifite  that  utmoft  endeavours 
fhould  be  uied,  in  order  unto  a  full  fupply  of 
Officers  in  the  Churches,  according  to  Chrift's 
Inltitution.  The  detect,  of  thefe  Churches,  on 
this  account,  is  very  lamentable,  there  being  in 
molt  of  the  Churches  only  one  teaching  Officer, 
for  the  Burden  ot  the  whole  Congregation  to 
lye  upon.  The  Lord  Chrift  would  nor  have  in 
ftituted  Paftors,  Teachers,  Ruling-Elders  (nor 
the  Apoftles  have  ordained  Elders  in 
Church,  Ath  14.  23.  Titus  1.  5.)  if  he  had 
not  feen  thete  was  need  of  them  for  the  good 
of  his  People  ;  and  therefore  for  Men  to  think, 
they  can  do  well  enough  without  them,  is  both 
to  break  the  fecond  Commandment,  and  to  re 
fleet  upon  the  Wifdom  of  Chrift,   as  if  he  did 

ceffary  Officers  in  his  Church.  Ex- 
perience hath  evinced,  that  perfonal  IrrftruSlion 
and  Difcipline,  hath  been  an  happy  means  to 
reform  degenerated  Congregations  j  yea,  and 
owned  by  the  Lord  for  the  Converfion  of  many 
Souls :  but  where  there  are  great  Congregations, 
it  is  impoffible  for  one  Man,  befides  his  Labours 
in  publick  fully  to  attend  thefe  other  things  of 
great  Importance,  and  necellary  to  be  done  in 
order  to  an  effectual  Reformation  of  Families 
and  Congregations. 

VI.  It  is  incumbent  on  the  Magiftrate  to  take 
care  that  thefe  Officers  have  due  encouragen 
and  maintenance  afforded  to  them.  It  is  high 
Injufticeand  Oppreflion,  yea  a  Sin,  that  cries  in 
the  Lord's  Ears  for  Judgment,  when  Wages  are 
witheld  from  Faithful  and  Diligent  Labours, 
Jam.  j.  4.  And  if  it  befo  to  thole  that  labour 
about  carnal  things,  much  more  as  to  thole 
who  labour  Day  and  Night,  about  the  fpiritual, 
and  eternal  welfare  of  Souls,  1  Cor.  9.  11,  13, 
14.  And  the  Scripture  is  exprefs,  that  not  only 
the  Members  of  Churches,  but  all  that  are 


taught  in  the  Word  are  bound  to  Communicate 
to  him  that  Teacheth  in  all  good  1  ,  :,'/ 

6  6.  LAe  10.  7 .  1  Tim.  5.  17,  x%.  if  th 
tore  reople  be  unwilling,  to  do  whar  Tuftice 
and  Reafon  calls  for,  the  Magiftrate  is  to  ice 
them  do  their  Duty  in  this  m  itter.  W  heref  >re 
Magiftrates,  and  that  in  Scriprures  re  errirg  to 
the  Days  of  the  New-Teftament,  are  raid  to  be 
the  Churches  Nurfing  r  ithers,  {/.  +c.  23.  \,nt 
that  it  concerns  them  to  take  Care,  that  the 
Churches  be  ted  with  the  I  Water  of 

Life.  The  Magiftrate  is  to  I  e  a  keeper  oi  both 
Tables,  which  as  a  Magiftrate  he  cannot  he,  if 
he  do  not  promote  the  Intereft  or  Religion/  by 
all  thole  means,  which  are  of  the  Lord's' ap- 
pointment. And  we  find  in  Scripture, 
when  the  Lord's  Minifters  have  been  forced  to 
neglect  the  Houle  ot  God,  and  go  every  one  in- 
to the  field  (as  too  much  ot  that  harh  been 
amongft  us)  becaufe  the  People  did  not  allow 
them  that  maintenance,  which  was  neceflary, 
the  Magiftrate  did  look  upon  himfeif  as  con- 
cerned to  effect  a  Reformation,  Neb.  13.  10. 

VII.  Due  Care  and  Faithfulnefs  with  reipecl 
unto  the  Eftabliftiment  and  Execution  of 
wholfomeLaws,  would  very  much  promote  the 
Intereft  of  Reformation.  If  there  be  no  Laws 
eftablifhed  in  the  Common- wealth,  but  what 
there  is  Scripture  warrant  for,  and  thole  Laws 
fo  worded,  as  that  they  may  not  become  a  Snare 
unto  any  mat  are  bound  to  animadvert  upon  the 
violateis  of  them,  and  rhat  then  they  be  impar- 
tially executed;  Profaneis,  Herefie.  Schifm,  Dif- 
orders  in  Families,  Towns,  Churches  would  be 
happily  prevented  and  reformed.  In  ipecial  it 
is  neceflary  rhac  tboie  Laws  for  Reformation  of 
provoking  Evils  enacted  and  emitted  by  the  ge- 
neral Co; :rt,  in  the  Day  of  our  Calamity  (houid 
be  dulvr  confidered,  left  we  become  guilty  of 
diffembling  and  dallying  with  the  Almighty, 
and  thereby  Sin  and  Wrath  be  augmented  upon 
us:  1 1  particular  thofe Laws,  which  reipect  the 
Regulation  of  Houfes  for  p.iblick  Entertainment, 
that  the  number  of  fuch  Houfes  do  not  exceed 
what  is  neceflary,  nor  any  fo  entrufted  but  Per- 
fons  of  known  approved  Piety  and  Fidelity, 
and  that  Inhabitants  be  prohibited  Drinking  in 
fuch  Houfes,  and  thofe  that  ih  ill  without  Li- 
cenfe  from  Authority  fell  any  fort  of  Strong 
Drink,  beexemplarilypunifhed.  And  if  withal 
Inferior  Officers,   Conftables  and  Tithing  Men, 

fen  conltantly  of  the  Ablelt  and  moft 
Prudent  in  the  place,  Authorized  and  Sworn  ro 
lithful  Diicharge  of  their  Refpective  Trufts, 
and  duly  ei  ;ed  in  their  juft  Inforlnations 

igainft  any,  that  thill  Tranfgrefs  the  Laws  fo 
eftablifhed,  we  may  hope  that  much  of  rfaat 
Profanenefs  which  doth  threaten  me  Ruine  of 
rhe  uprifing  Generation  will  be  prevented. 

VIII.  Solemn  and  explicit  Renewal  of  Cove- 
nant is  a  Scripture  expedient  forReformation.We 
feldom  read  of  any  fblemn  Reformation,  but  it 
was  accomplished  in  this  way,  as  the  Scripture 
doth  abundantly  Declare  and  Teftifie-  And  as  the 
Judgments  which  befel  the  Lord's  People  ot  Old 
are  Recorded  for  our  Admonition,  1  Cor.  10. 1 1. 

So 


Book  V.        Ibe  Hijtory  of  1  -ew-Fngland. 


So  the  Couvfe,  which  they  did  (according  to 
God)  ■ '-'-     c  brmatfon,    and 

averting  thofe  Judgments,  is  Recorded  for  our 
Imitation,  am  vas  an  Explicit  Renov 

of  Covenant  And  that  the  Lord  dcth  call  us 
to  this  Work,  thefe  Confiderations  feem  to 
Evince,     i.  If  In  v4  °f  Covenant 

I  .  formation,  and  to  divert 

,    the  i  much 
more  an  cxpl  mewal  is  lb  ^  but  the  tiift  of 

thefe  b        ■  ■         er,  and  more  efpe- 

i        r,  on   Days  of  folemn  Humiliation  b 
the  Lord,  there  is  an  Implicit  Renewal  of  Cove 
n  i  yet  the  very  dictates  of  Natural  Con- 

fcier,  '  lert  upon  luch  Duties,  when  they 

nfive  of  a  Day  of  Wrath  Approach 
ing.  If  we  may  not  renew  our  Covenants  with 
i  r  fear  lelt  Men  Ihould  not  be  True  and 
I  iful  in  Doing  what  they  Promife,  rhen  we 
mult  nor  obferve  Days  of  Falling  and  Prayer  5 
which  none  will  lay.  2.  When  the  Church  was 
ovei  tun  with  Idolatry  and  Superftition,  thoie 
whom  the  Lord  railed  up  as  Reformers,  put 
them  upon  folemn  Renewal  of  Covenant.  So 
Afa,  >bat,   Hezekiah,  Jofiab.    By  a  Pa- 

nt* ofRealon,  when  Churches  are  overgrown 
with  Worldlinefs,  (which  is  Spiritual  Idolatry) 
and  othei  Corruptions,  the  lame  Courfe  may 
and  Ihould  b<  rved  in  order  to  Reformation, 

Nay,  rind  in  Scripture,  that  when  Cor- 

igh  not  in  Worffiip) 
hath  prevailed  in  the  Church,   Renovation    oi 
nant  hath  been   the   Expedient,  whereby 
Rel  rmation  hath  been  attempted,  and  in  iome 
;re  attained. 
The  Jews  have  dreaded  the  Sin  of  Idolatry, 
ever  iince  the  Babylonian  Captivity,  John  8.  41. 
Rut  in  Ezras  and  Nehemiab's  Time,  too  much 
Senfuality    and  Sabbath-breaking,    Oppreifion, 
Strait handednels  relpcQing  the  publick  Wor- 
lhip  ot  God  (the  very  lame  Sins  that  are  found 
1   us)    were  common   prevailing  Iniquities. 
r    retore  did  thofe  Reformers  put  them  upon 
renewing  their  Covenant,   and  folemnly  to  pro- 
mile  God  that  they  would  endeavour  not  to 
offend  by  thofe  Evils,  as  formerly,  Ezr.  10.  3. 
J\ch.  5.  t2,  13.  and  10.  per  tot um,  and  13.  15. 

4.  The  things  which  ate  mentioned  in  the  Scrip 
ture,  as  grounds  of  renewing  Covenant,  are 
plicable  unto  us,  e.g.    The  averting  of  Divine 
Wrath  is  exprelTed,  as  a  furlicient  Reaion  for 
attendance  unto  this  Duty,   iCbron.  29.   10. 

10.  14.  Again  being  circumftanced  with 
Difficulties  and  DilfrelTes  is  mentioned  as  the 
Ground  of  Explicit  Renovation  of  Covenant, 
.  9.  38.  Hence  the  Lord's  Servants,  when 
lo  circumftancea  have  been  wont  to  make  folemn 
Vows  (and  that  is  an  exprefs  Covenanting) 
Gen.  28.  20,  21.  Judg.  n.  30-  Kumb.  21,  1,  2. 
Now  that  Clouds  ot  Wrath  are  hanging  over 
thele  Churches  every  one  fseth^  and  that  we 
axe  circumstanced  with  fome  difttefiing  difficul- 
ties is  fufficiently  known.  This  conlideration 
alone  might  be  enough  to  put  us  upon  more 
folemn  Engagements  unto  the  Lord  our  God. 

5.  Men  are  hereby  brought  under  a  ftronger  Ob- 


__93 

ligation   unto  better  Obedience.     There  is  an 
of  God  up  faiences'   of  Men 

when  fo  obliged.  As  it  is  in  refpe£l  of  Oaths' 
'-hey  that  have  any  Confcience  in  them,  when 
'  fuch  Bonds  are  afraid  to  violate  them. 
Some  that  are  but  Legalifts  and  Hypocrites,  yet 
lblemn  Covenants  with  God  have  fuch  an'awe 
upon  Confcience,  as  to  enforce  them  unto  an 
outward  Reformation,  and  that  doth  divert 
temporal  Judgments.  And  they  that  are  fin- 
cere,  will  thereby  be  engaged  unto  a  more  dole 
and  Holy  walking  before  the  Lord,  and  fo  be- 
come more  eminently  Bleflings  unto  the  Societies, 
and  places,  whereto  they  do  belong.  6.  This 
way  is  rd prevent  (and  therefore  alio  to  recover 
out  of)  Apoftacy.  In  this  refpeft,  although 
there  were  no  vifible  Degeneracy  amongft  us, 
yet  this  Renovation  of  Covenant  might  be  of 
fingular  Advantage.  There  was  no  publick 
Idolatry  (or  other  Tranlgrellion)  allowed  of  in 
the  Days  of  Jq/bua,  Judg.  2.  7.  Jqfb.  23.  8. 
yet  did  Jojhua  perfwade  the  Children  of  Ifrael 
to  renew  their  Covenant  *  douhtleis  that  fo  he 
might  thereby  reltrain  them  from  future  Idolatry 
and  Apoitacy,  Jojh.  24.  25. 

Laftly,  The  Churches,  which  have  lately  and 
folemnly  attended  this  Scriptme  Expedient  tor 
Reformation,  have  experienced  the  Pretence  of 
God  with  them,  fignally  owning  them  therein; 
how  much  more  might  a  Blefimg  be  expected' 
Ihould  there  be  a  general  Concurrence  in  this 
matter  ? 

IX.  In  Renewing  of  Covenant,  it  is  need- 
ful that  the  Sins  of  the  Times  Ihould  be  engaged 
againlt,  and  Reformation  thereof  (in  rhe  Mime 
and  by  the  help  Oi  Chritf)  promiled  before  the 
Lord,  Ezra  10.  3.  Neb.  5.  12,  13.  and  Chap 
ro. 

X.  It  leems  to  be  moil  Conducive  unto  Edi- 
fication and  Reformation,  that  in  Renewing  Co- 
venant fuch  things  as  are  clear  and  indifputable 
be  exprefled,  that  io  all  the  Churches  may  agree 
in  Covenanting  to  pr  »mote  the  Intereft  of  Ho- 
linei's,  and  1  lole  walking  with  God. 

XL  As  an  Expedient  tor  Reformation,  it  is 
good,  that  effe&ual  care  ihould  be  taken,  re- 
ichools  ot  Learning.  The  Intereft  of 
Religion  and  good  Literature  have  been  wont  to 
Rile  and  Fall  t  .  alter.  We  read  in  Scripture 
of  Matters  and  Scholars,  and  of  Schools  and 
Colleges,  1  Cbron.25.  8.  Mai.  2.  12.  AQs  1^.9. 
and  22.  3.  And  the  moft  Eminent  Rerormers 
amongft  the  Lord's  People  of  old,  thought  it 
their  concern  to  elect  and  uph  Id  them.  Was 
not  Samuel  (that  great  Reformer)  Prefident  of 
the  College,  at  l\iayoth,  1  Saw.  19.  18,  19.  and 
is  thought  to  be  one  or  the  Firlt  founders  of 
Colleges.  Did  not  Elijah  and  Eli/ha,  reiiore 
the  Schools  Erected  in  the  Land  of  Ifrael?  And 
Jofiab  (another great  Reformer)  lfcewed  reipeel 
to  the  College  at  Jerufalem,  2  Kings  22. 14. 
Ecclefiaftictl  Story  informs  that  great  care  was 
taken  by  the  Apoltles,  and  their  immediate S\,c- 
ceffbrs,  for  the  fettling  of  Schools  in  all  places, 
where  the  Golpel  had  been  preached,  that  fo  the 
Inteiett  ot  Religion  might  be  preferved,  and  the 

Trtuh 


5>4- 


The  Hiftory  of  New-Fngland.      Book  V, 


Truth  propagated   to  fucceeding  Generations. 
It  is  mentioned  as  one  of  the  greateft  Mercies, 
that  ever  God  beftowed  upon  his  People  Ifrae /, 
that  he  raifed  up  their  Sons  for  Prophets,  Amos 
$.  i  r.  which  hath  refpe£t  to  their  Education  in 
Schools  of  Learning.    And  we  have  all  caufe  to 
Blefs  God,  that  put  it  into  the  Hearts  of  our 
Fathers  to   take  care  concerning  this  matter. 
For  thefe  Churches  had  been  in  a  ftate  moft  de- 
plorable, if  the  Lord  had  not  blelTed  the  College, 
fo  as  from  thence  to  fupply  moft  of  the  Churches, 
as  at  this  Day.    When  New-England  was  poor, 
and  we  were  but  few  in  Number  Comparatively, 
there  was  a  Spirit  to  encourage  Learning,   and 
the  College  was  full  of  Students,  whom  God 
hath  made  Bleflings,  not  only  in  this,  but  in 
other  Lands  ^   but  it  is  deeply  to  be  lamented 
that  now  when  we  are  become  many,  and  more 


able  than  at  our  Beginnings,  that  Sociery,  and 
other  Inferior  Schools  are  in  fuch  a  Low  and 
Languishing  ftate.  Wherefore,  as  we  defire 
that  Reformation  and  Religion  mould  flourim, 
it  concerns  us  to  endeavour  that  both  the  Col- 
lege, and  all  other  Senools  ot  Learning  in  every 
place,  be  duly  infpefted  and  encouraged. 

XII.  In  as  much  as  a  thorough  and  hearty 
Reformation  is  neceflary,  in  order  to  obtaining 
Peace  with  God,  Je>.  3.  10.  and  ^11  outward 
means  will  be  ineffectual  unto  that  end,  except 
the  Lord  pour  down  his  Spirit  from  on  High  -, 
it  doth,  therefore,  concern  us  to  cry  mightily 
unto  God,  both  in  ordinary  and  extraordinary 
manner,  that  he  would  be  pleaied  to  Rain 
down  Righteoufnels  upon  us,  If  a.  32.  15.  tio/l 
ro.  12.  Esek.  3$.  29.  Luke  11.  13.  Amen! 


RE- 


Book  V.        The  Hiftoij  of  New-Fngland. 


?5 


REMARKS 


UPON    THE 


Reforming  Synod. 


"***  Hat  a  Reforming  Synod  could  not 
accomplish  an  Univerfal  ItUtci- 
mattCHl  of  Provoking  Evils  in  tlic 
Country,  has  been  acknowledged 
as  a  Matter  of  molt  ienlible  Obfervation  ;  and 
the  increafed  Frowns  of  Heaven  upon  the  Coun 
try,  fince  that  Synod,  have  been  but  agreeable 
toiuch  an  increale  of  Provocation.  Alas!  how 
many  Inftances  have  we  leen,  upon  which-  our 
God  might  fay  unto  us,  When  Iwouldhave  heal- 
ed New-England,  then  it's  Iniquities  were  but 
the  more  difcovered  !  Neverthelefs,  it  mult  be 
mentioned  unto  the  Glory  of  God,  that  the  Ad- 
monitions of  the  Synod,  were  not  without  very 
defirable  Eftefts,  upon  many  of  his  People. 
Faithful  Minilters  were  thereby  Strengthened  in 
Lilting  up  their  Voices  like  Trumpers  to  (hew  us 
our  Tranjgrcjfions  and  our  Sins,  and  private 
Christians  were  awakned  unto  an  exacler  Walk 
with  God.  But  of  all  the  Efte&s  that  followed 
upon  the  Synod,  there  was  nbne  more  compre- 
hensive and  fignincant  than  the  Renewal  of  Cove- 
riant,  which  was  attended  by  many  of  our 
Churches,  in  purfuance  ot  the  largelt  Article  of 
the  Reforming  Expedients,  which  had  been  re- 
commended. In  this  Renewal  of  Covenant,  there 
were  ibme  Churches,  who,  from  I  know  not 
what  Objections,  of  there  being  no  exprefs  war- 
rant for  it  in  the  New-  ['((lament,  and,  their  do- 
ing it,  implicitly  in  every  act  of  Divine  Wor- 
Jhip,  andj  the  imaginary  danger  of  Innovations, 
would  not  comply  with  the  Advice  of the  Synod : 
But  all  the  Virgins  were  not  fo  fleepy,  and  very 
remarkable  was  the  Bleiting  of  God  upon  the 
Churches,  which  did  not  lo  flcep,  not  only  by  a 
great  Advancement  of  Holinefs  in  the  People,who 
irt  their  lefler  Societies  tor  the  Exerciies  of 
Religion ,  as  well  as  i  n  their  Privacies  and  Retire- 
ments ofren  perufed  the  Copies  of  their  Cove- 
vants  -,  but  alfo  by  a  great  Addition  of  Converts, 
unto  their  holy  lellowftrip.  In  fhort,  many  of 
the  Churches,  under  the  Conduct  of  their  holy 
Pallors,  having  on  previous  Days  of  fifing  and 
Prayer  let  apart  for  that  purpole,  confidered  the 
expectations  of  God  concerning  them,  they  were 
willing  anew,  to  declare  their  molt  explicit 
Conjent  unto  the  Covenant  of  Grace,  and  molt 
explicitly  to  engage  a  growing  watelfulnejs  in 
fuch  Duties  of  the  Covenant,  as  were  more  pe- 
culiarly accommodated  unto  their  prefent  Cir 
cumftances.  When  their  preparatory  Church- 
Meetings,  had  produced  a  Concurrence  in  this 


Refolution,  they  publickly  devoted  another  Day 
co  Falling  and  Prayer,  whereat  a  vatt  Conflu- 
ence ot  other  Neighbours  were  ulually  prefent  ; 
and  on  this  Day  the  Minilter  of  the  Place  ha- 
ving in  the  Forenoon  pruy'd  andpreach'diiritably 
to  the  Occafion,  he  proceeded  then  to  read  the 
Covenant ;  whereunto  the  AfLntot  theChurches 
was  then  exprefled,  by  the  Brethren  lifting  up 
their  Hands,  and  by  the  Women  only  Handing 
up$  and  tho' in  fome  Churches  none  but  the 
Communicants  ,  yet  in  others  thofe  alfo,  which 
we  call  the  Children  oj  the  Church,  were  actively 
concerned  in  thele  TranfaStions.  But  ordinarily 
in  the  Afternoon,  ibme  other  Minilter  prayed 
and  preached  and  inculcated  the  Covenant  Obli- 
gations :  And  many  thoufandsof  Spectators  will 
teltifie,  that  they  never  faw  the  fpectal  Prefence 
ot  the  Great  God  our  Saviour,  more  notably  di- 
fcoveied,  than  in  the  Solemnities  of  thefe  Op- 
portunities. 

§  2.  The  Forms  ufed  by  the  feveral  Churches 
in  the  Renewal  of  Covenant,  were  not  in  all 
Points  the  fame,  nor  did  our  Churches  at  all  rind 
chat  this  Variformity  was  an  Inconvenience  -,  but 
that  it-gave  them  a  Liberty&nd  Advantage  to  con- 
fuk  their  own  Edification,  by  adapting  their 
Forms  unto  their  own  fpecial  Ch  cumftances. 
However  the  form  which,  with  little  Variation, 
was  molt  uled  Hull  be  new  recited. 

'  We,  who  thro'  the  exceeding  Riches  of  the 
'  Grace  and  Patience  of  Gcd,  do  continue  to  be  a 
'  Church  of  Chrift,  being  now  affembled  in  the  holy 
'  Prefence  of  God,  in  the  Name  of  the  Lord  Jejus 
'  Chrift,  after  humble  Confejjion  of  our  manifold 
'  Breaches  oj  the  Covenant,  before  the  Lord  our 
'  God,  and  earneji  Supplication  of  Pardoning 
'  Mercy  thro'1  the  Blood  of  Chrift,  and  deep  ac- 
c  knowledgcment  of  our  great  Unworthinefs  to  be 
'  own'd  to  be  the  Lord's  Covenant-People  ;  alfo 
acknowledging  our  own  Inability  to  keep  Cove- 
nant with  God  or  to  perform  any  fpiritual  Duty 
unlejs  the  Lord  J  ejus  do  enable^  us  thereto  by 
'  his  Spirit  dwelling  in  us  -,  And  being  awfully 
'  jenfible,  that  it  is  a  dreadful  Thing  for  finful 
'  Duft  and  Afhes  perfonally  to  tranfacl  with  the 
1  infinitely  glorious  Majefty  of  Heaven  and  Earth ; 
We  do  i(i  humble  Confidence  of  his  gracious  Af~ 
'  fiftance  and  Acceptance  thro'  Chrift,  each  one  of 
'  us,  for  our/elves,  and  jointly  as  a  Church  of  the 
'  living  God,  and  one  with  another,  in  manner 
c  following,  i.  e. 

c  we 


9* 


The  Hiftory  of  New-Fngland.      Book  V. 


v '  We  do  give  up  our  felves  to  that  God,  whofe 
8  Name  alone  is  Jeoovah,  Father,  Son,  and  Holy 

*  Ghoft,the  One  only  True  and  Living  God,and  to 

*  out  Blefied  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  as  our  only 
4  Blefied  Saviour,  Prophet,  Priefi  and  King, 
'  over  our  Souls,  and  only  Mediator  of  the  Co- 
'  venant  of  Grace,  promifing  (by  the  help  of 
'  his  Spirit  and  Grace)  to  cleave  unto  God,  as 
'  our  chief  Good,  and  to  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
4  by  Faith,  and  Gofpel-Obedience,  as  becometh 

*  his  Covenant-People  for  ever.  We  do  alfo 
4  give  up  our  Off/pring  unto  God  in  Jefus  Chrift, 
4  avouching  the  Lord  to  be  our  God,  and  the  God 
4  of  our  Children,  and  our  felves  with  our  Chil- 
'  dren  to  be  bis  People ;  humbly  Adoring  the 
'Gtace  of  God,  that  we  and  our  OfFlpring 
'  with  us  may  be  looked  upon  to  be  the  Lords. 

'  We  do,  alfo,  give  up  our  felves  one  to  ano- 
4  thcr  in  the  Lord,  and  according  to  the  Will  of 
'  God  •  freely  Covenanting  and  Binding  our  felves 
4  to  walk  together  as  a  right  ordered  Congrega- 
4  twn  and  Church  df  Chrift,  in  all  the  ways  of 
4  his  Worfhip,  according  to  the  Holy  Rules  of 
4  the  Word  of  God  ;  promifing  in  Brotherly  Love 
4  to  Watch  over  one  anothers  Souls  Faithfully, 
4  and  to  fubmit  our  felves  unto  the  Ptifciptine 

*  and  Government  of  Chrift  in  his  Church,  and 

*  duly  to  attend  all  thole  Ordinances,  which 
4  Chrift  hath  Inftituted  in  his  Church,  and  com- 
4  manded  to  be  attended  by  his  People,  accord 
4  ing  to  the  Order  of  the  Gofpel,  and  Degtees 
4  of  Communion,  unto  which  we  have  attained  •, 
4  not  refting  in  meafures  attained,  but  preffmg 
4  after  all.  And  whereas  the  Meffengcrs  of  thefe 
4  Churches,  who  have  met  together  in  the  Name 
4  of  Chrift,  to  enquire  into  the  Reafon  of  God's 
4  Controverfie  with  his  People,  have  taken  notice 
4  of  many  -provoking  Evils,  as  the  procuring 
4  Caufes  of  the  Judgments  of  God  upon  New- 
4  England;  fo  far  as  we  or  any  of  us  have  been 
'  Guilty  of  Provoking  God  by  any  Sin  therein  dif 
4  covered  to  us,  We  defire  from  our  Hearts  to  be 
'  wail  it  before  the  Lord,  and  humbly  to  entreat 

.  4  for  pardoning  Mercy,  for  the  lake  of  the  Blood 
4  of  the  Everlafting  Covenant.  And  as  an  Exfe 
4  dtent  to  the  Reformation  of  thofe  Evils,  or  vvhat- 
4  foever  elfe,  have  provoked  the  Eyes  of  God's 
4  Glory  amonglt  us,  We  do  freely  Engage  and 
4  Promife,  as  in  the  Prefence  of  God; 

'  Firft,  That  we  will  (Chrift  helping)  endea- 
4  vour  every  one  of  us  to  Reform  our  Heart  and 
4  Life,  by  feeking  to  mortifie  all  our  Sins,  and 
4  labouring  to  walk  moreclofely  with  God,  than 
4  ever  yet  we  have  done;  and  will  continue  to 
4  worfhip  God  in  Publick,Private,Secret  -,  and  this 
'without  Fotmality  or  Hypocrifie:  and  more 
4  fully  and  faithfully  than  heretofore,  to  dif- 
4  charge  all  Covenant  Duties,  one  to  another  in 
4  Church  Communion. 

4  Secondly,  To  walk  before  God  in  our  Houfes, 
4  with  a  perfell  Heart,  and  that  we  will  uphold 
4  the  Worfhip  of  God  therein  continually,  ac- 
4  cording  as  he  in  his  Word  doth  require  -,  boch 
4  in  refpeft  of  Prayer  and  Reading  the  Scriptures, 
'  that  fo  the  Word  of  God  may  dwell  richly  in 
4  us  :    And  we  will  do  what  in  us  lies,  to  bring 


up  our  Children  for  Chrift,  that  they  may  be 
fuch  as  have  the  Lord's  Name  put  upon  them 
by  a  folemn  Dedication  to  God  in  Chrift, 
ought  to  be.  And  will  thetefore  vas  need  (hall 
be)  Catechife,  Exhort,  and  Charge  them  to  the 
Fear  of  the  Lord;  and  endeavour  to  fet  an 
Holy  Example  before  them,  and  be  much  in 
Prayer  for  their  Converfion  and  Salvarion. 
'  Thirdly,  To  endeavour  to  be  pute  from  the 
Sins  of  the  Times,  eipecially  thofe  Sins,  which 
have  been  by  the  late  Synod  folemnly  Declared 
and  Evidenced  to  be  the  Evils,  that  have  brought 
the  Judgments  of  God  upon  New-England ; 
and  in  our  places  to  endeavour  the  iupprefiion 
thereof,  and  be  careful  fb  to  walk,  as  that  we 
may  not  give  occafion  to  others  to  Sin,  orfpeak 
Evil  of  our  Holy  Profefiion. 
4  Now  that  we  may  obferve  and  keep  thisfa- 
cred  Covenant  and  all  the  Branches  of  it  invio- 
lable for  ever,  We  defire  to  deny  our  felves 
and  to  depend  wholly  upon  the  Power  of  the 
Eternal  Spirit  of  Grace,  and  on  the  free  Mercy 
of  God,  and  Merit  of  Chrift  Jefus:  And  where 
we  fhall  fail,  there  to  wait  upon  the  Lord  Jefus 

4  for  Pardon,   Acceptance,  and  Healing  for  his 

'  Name's  fake. 

§  3.  The  Majfachufett  Colony  was  not  alone, 
in  tuch  Effays  of  Rejormation:  but  the  Colonies 
of  Plymouth  and  Connecticut  {hewed  themfelvesin 
like  manner  concerned ;  that  they  might  avert 
the  Tokens  of  the  Divine  Difpleafure,  whereat 
they  who  dwelt  in  thefe  uttermojl  parts  were 
■fraid.  The  Rulers,  both  in  Church  and  State, 
had  their  ierious  Deliberations  with  one  another, 
and  they  together  enquired  of  the  Lord,  at  the 
Oracle  of  his  Written  Word,  what  might  be  the 
grounds  of  the  Divine  Controverfie.  The  Mini- 
fters  drew  up  the  Refults  of  their  Deliberations, 
which  the  Magijirates  recommended  unto  the 
Confideration  of  the  Inhabitants  in  the  feveral 
Jurifdi&ions  The  Paftors  of  the  dutches, 
hence  took  occafion,  in  their  lively  Sermons,  to 
profeciite  the  ends  of  thefe  Admonitions  -,  and 
fome  of  them,  reduced  their  Inftructicns  into  a 
Catechetical  Method,  that  fo  the  Young  People 
in  their  Congregations,  might  Echo  back,  upon 
fit  Queltions,  thofe  things  which  were  needful 
to  be  known,  and  to  be  done,  relating  to  the  Re- 
formation of  the  Land.  Thus  particulary,  did 
that  moll  worthy  Man,  Mr.  James  Pitch,  at 
Norwich  ;  who  has  obliged  more  than  his  wnole 
Colony,  by  fuffering  to  be  publifhed  (as  well  as 
another  Elaborate  Catechifm,  containing,  a  Body 
of  Divinity)  in  form  of  a.  Catechifm,  an  Expla- 
nation of  the  folemn  Advice,  recommended  by  the 
Council  of  the  Colony  to  the  Inhabitants,  reJpeQ- 
ing  ■  the  Reformation  of  thofe  Evils,  which  have 
been  the  procuring  caufe  of  the  late  Judgments 
upon  New-England. 

§  4.  Our  manifold  Indifpofitions  to  recover 
the  dying  Power  of  Godlinefs,  were  punifhed 
with  fucceflive  Calamities ;  under  all  of  which 
our  Apojiacies  from  that  Godlinefs  have  rather 
proceeded  than  abated.    Although  there  hath 

been 


Book  V.        T-be  Hiftory  of  New-Fngland.  97 


been  a  Glorious  profeffkn  of  Religion  made  by  j 
the  Body  of  this  People  unto  this  Day  ;  yea,  j 
and  although  there  be  Thoufands  which  by  keep- 1 
ing  their  Hearts  with  all  diligence,  and  by  order-  \ 
ing  their  Conventions  aright,  juftifie  their  Pro- 1 
fcffion,  yet  the  Number  of  them  that  fo  ftriclly 
walk  toitb  God,  his  been  wofully  decaying.  The  I 
Old  Spirit  of  \& ess-England  hath  been    ienfibly  j 
going  out  of  the  World,  as  the  old  Saints  in 
whom  it  was,  have  gone  -,  and  inftead  thereof 
the  Spirit  of  the  World  with  a  lamentable  neg 
left  of  ft/id  Piety,  has  crept  in  upon  the  rifing 
Generation.     At    hft,    the   Country  by    fome 
Changes  palling  over  it,  was  thrown  into  a  Con- 
dition, in  which  not  only  the  Paflors,  without 
whom  no  Reformation  is  to  be  hoped,  were  mi- 
ferably  cripled  as  to  the  doing  of  any  notable 
thing  in  Reforming,    but  alfo  the  Churches  were 
many  ways  uncapable  of  doing  any  general  thing 
to  retrieve  our  growing  Dcfeilwns.    However, 
when  the  companion  of  God  by  ftrange  Provi- 
dences, fetched  the  Country  out  of  that  Condi- 
tion, the  General  Court,  returning  to  the  Exer- 
cife  of  their  former  Authority,    were  willing  to 
fhew  their  Senfe  of  the  prelent  Circumftances, 
by  publifhing  the  following  Inltrument. 

By  the  Governour  and  General  Court  of  the 
Colony  of  the  Maflachufetts-Bay  in  New- 
England. 

IT  having  been  a  thing  too  fenfible  and  ob- 
vious,  to  eicape  the  obfervation  of  all,  who 
are  not  wholly  fttangers  in  our  Jfrael ;  that  this 
poor  Land  hath  lahoured  under  a  long  Series  of 
Afflictions,  and  Calamities,  whereby  we  have 
futfered  fucceflively  in  all  our  precious  and  plea 
fant  things,    and  have  feen  the  Anger  of  the 
Righteous  God  againft  us,   expreffed  in  Cha- 
racters, which  ought  to  be  as  terrible,   as  they 
muft  needs  be  vifible  unto  us  ;  it  having  alfo 
both  by  the  Tc  ft  monies  of  thofe  that  after  the 
moft  humble  and  exaft  enquiries  into  the  Mind 
of  God,  have  dilcovered  the  fame  unto  us,  and 
by  their  own  general  and  repeated  Confeffions, 
become  undeniable  ;  that  a  Corruption  of  Man- 
ners,  attended  with  inexcufable   Degeneracies 
and  Apofiacies,  found  in  too  many  of  this  People. 
is  thecaule  of  that  Controverfie,  which  the  God 
of  our  Fatheis  has,  tor  many  Years  been  main 
taining  with  us:  It  being  likewife  at  this  Day. 
fuch  a  Probation-time  with  all  A em-England  as 
this  Country  has  never  before  feen  from  thefirlt 
foundation  of  it,   and  the  Judgments  of  that 
Holy  God,  who  hath  beheld,  how  Incorrigible 
we  have  hitherto  been,  under  all  his  Difpenla- 
tions,  now  arriving  to  luch  an  Extremity,  that 
the  Ax  is  laid  to  the  Root  of  the  Trees,    and  we 
are  in  eminent  Danger  of  perilhing,  if  a  fpeedy 
Kxfojraation  of  our  Provoking  Evils  prevent  it 
not:  1  his  Cottrt  have  therefore  thought  it  need 
ful  to  Pretace  their  other  Endeavours  for  the 
publick  welfare,  with  a  very  iolemn  Admonition 
unto  this  whole  People,  that  they  every  where 
give  Demonttrations  of  a  thorough  Repentance, 


without  which  we  have  little  Reafon  to  hope 
for  any  Good  fuccefs  in  our  Affairs. 

Wherefore,  it  is  ordered  that  the  Laws  of 
this  Colony  againft  Vice,  and  all  forts  of  De- 
bauchery and  Profanenefs  (which  Laws  have  too 
much  loft  their  Edge  by  the  late  Interruption  of 
the  Government)  be  now  Faithfully  and  vigo- 
roufly  put  in  Execution  ;  particularly  the  HatfljS 
againft  Blafphemy,  Curfing,  Prophane-Swearing, 
Lying,  Unlawful-Gaming,  Sabbath-breaking,  Idle- 
nefs,  Drunkennefs,  Unclcannefs,  and  all  the 
Enticements  and  Nuiferies  of  fuch  Impieties: 
Together  with  all  other  the  wholfome  Laws 
and  Orders  agreeable  to  the  prefent  Circumftances 
of  the  Country  -,  by  the  Execution  whereof  we 
may  approve  our  felves,  a  peculiar  People,  zea- 
lous of  good  Works. 

And  as  all  Perfons  are  hereby  warned  to  avoid 
thole  Vices,  which  thefe  Laws  are  defigned  tor 
the  Prevention  and  Chaftifement  of,  (the  Lovers 
of  and  Pleaders  for  fuch  Iniquities,  being  among 
the  Principal  Troublers  of  their  Country :)  fo  all 
Inferiour  Officers  are  enjoined  to  perform  their 
Duty  in  hnding  and  bringing  out  Offenders  a- 
gainft  the  afbrefaid  Laws,  and  withal  to  give 
notice  to  fuch  Offenders,  that  they  muft  expect 
the  Juftice  of  an  Exemplary  Punifhment. 

And  that  no  attempt  towards  Reformation 
may  want  that  AtTiftance  which  all  good  Men 
will  be  willing  to  give  thereunto,  'tis  hoped 
that  the  Minifters  of  God  will,  to  the  publick 
Reading  of  this  Proclamation,  adjoin  their  own 
fervent  Labours,  not  only  for  the  rebuking  and 
fupprefiing  of  thofe  provoking  Evils,  which  are 
marked  for  Common  hatred:  but  alio  to  Witneis 
againft  more  Spiritual  Sins,  which  fall  not  fo 
much  under  the  Cognizance  of  Humane  Laws, 
namely,  fuch  as  Unbelief,  Worldlinefs,  Herefie, 
Pride,  Wrath,  Strife,  Envy,  and  neglect  of 
Communion  with  God  in  both  Natural  and  In- 
itituted  Worfhip,  and  the  Contempt  of  the  Ever- 
lafting  Gofpcl,  with  a  fhametul  want  of  due 
i'amilylnftruflion,  which  are  the  Roots  of  Bit  ter- 
nefs  in  the  midft  of  us. 

Moreover,  after  the  Example  of  Pious  Rulers 
commended  in  facrtd  Wrir,  the  Churches  are 
every  where  hereby  adviled  to  give  utmoft  En- 
couragement unto  the  Faithful,  and  Watchful 
Paftors  of  their  Souls ;  to  feek  (where  they 
lack)  a  tull  iettlement  and  enjoyment  of  fuch 
Officers,  as  the  Lord  JetusChriit  hath  appointed 
tot  their  edification  -,  to  reflect  ferioully  and  fre- 
quently on  their  Covenants  -,  to  iharpen  their 
Difcipline  againft  thofe  that  walk  Disorderly ; 
and  immediately  to  compote  their  Differences 
and  Contentions  (if  fuch  there  be)  whereby  any 
of  them  may  be  diltempered  and  enfeebled,  that 
fo  they  may  become  Terrible  as  an  Army  with 
.  tanners. 

furthermore,  it  is  expe&ed  that  the  feveral 
Towns  within  this  Jurifdiction,  do  fpeedily 
Hirnilh  themfelves  with  the  means  for  the  good 
tducation  of  Louth,  and  take  ipecial  care  to 
avoid  Eatlions  and  Quarrels  in  their  other  Town- 
affairs  -,  and  all  Plantations  are  ftri&ly  forbidden 
to  continue  without  the  Advantages  of  having 
5  N  the 


*8 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.      Book  V 


the  Word  of  God  eonftantly  preached  unto  them,  I 
or  without  a  fincere  and  a£Kve  Induftry,  to  ob- ! 
tain  the  Prefence  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  in  all 
his  BleiTed  Ordinances. 

And  Finally,  this  whole  People  are  hereby 
advertifed,  that  if  thefe  Effays  for  an  Univerfal 
Reformation  fhall  be  obftructed  (as  thofe  in  the 
Days  of  the  Reforming  Jofiab  were)  by  Mens 
being  fettled  on  their  Lees,  and  bating  to  be 
reformed  ■,  they  can  reafonably  look  for  no  other 
IiTue  than  this,  That  the  Jealous  God  will  pump) 
them  yet  feven  times  more  for  their  Iniquities  : 
But  if  the  God  of  Heaven  fhall  grant  unto  them 
the  Grace  to  Remember  whence  they  arc  fallen, 
and  Repent,  and  do  the  firf  Works,  it  will  give 
a  greater  Profpecl  of  Pr'ofperity,  than  can  arife 
from  the  beft  Conn f els  and  biggeft  Armies. 

The  Work  of  Reformation,  thus  endeavoured, 
is  now  recommended  unto  the  Bleifwg  of  the 
Almighty,  with  whom  alone  it  is  to  recover  a 
-backfliding  People ;  perfuading  our  felves,  that 
the  event  thereof  would  be  Salvation  nigh  unto 
us,  and  Glory  dwelling  in  our  Lord. 


March  13. 


\6%ta. 


Ifaac  Addington,  Seer. 


§  5.  The  lamentable  Difafters,  wherewith 
our  God  prefently  after  punifhed  us  for  our  not 
being  Reformed  by  all  thefe  things,  rendred  this 
Inltrument  worthy  to  be  called  a  Prophcfie,  ra- 
ther than  a  Proclamation.  A  War  made  againft 
the  Country  by  both  Pagan  and  Popifh  Adver- 
saries in  the  Eaji  -,  and  an  almoft  univerfal  Mif- 
cariage  of  our  Affairs  both  by  Sea  and  Land, 
and  efpecially  of  the  moft  important  Expedition 
ever  made  by  this  People,  even  that  againlt 
Canada;  together  with  Epidemical  Difeafcs  which 
fwept  away  near  a  Thoufand  Perfons  within  a 
few  Months,  in  one  Town  -,  thefe  Teftimonies 
from  Heaven  againlt  the  Land,  kept  alive  the 
follicitous  enquities  of  good  Men,  how  all  that 
was  amifs  might  be  amended?  Many  things 
this  way  were  propounded  and  attended  by  good 
Men  in  all  Orders ;  but  among  other  things, 
there  was  efpecially  one  voted  by  an  Aflembly 
of  Miniflers7  met  at  Cambi  uige,  in  fuch  Terms 
as  thefe. 


'  Whereas  the  moft  heavy  and  wafting  Judg- 
'  ments  of  Heaven  upon  our  diftrelTed  Land, 
'loudly  call  upon  us,  no  longer  to  delay  the 
'  taking  of  fome  hitherto-untaken  fteps  towards 
'  the  Reformation  of  our  provoking  Evils,  and 
'  the  Recovery  of  Practical  Religion  in  our  Hearts, 
'  and  Lives  -, 

1  Among  other  Expedients  in  order  hereunto, 
'  We  cannot  but  recommend  it,  as  very  advile- 
'  able,  that  the  icveral  Churches,  having  in  an 
'  lnftrument  proper  for  that  purpofe,  made  a 
'  Catalogue  of  fuch  things,  as  can  Indifputably 
'  be  found  amifs  among  them,  do  with  all  feri- 
c  oufnefs  and  fblemnity  pafs  their  Votes,  that 
'  they  count  fuch  things  to  be  very  Offenfive 
'  Evils,  and  that  renouncing  all  dependance  up- 
c  on  their  own  ftrength,  to  avoid  fuch  Evils,  they 
'  humbly  ask  the  help  of  the  Divine  Grace  to 
'  aifift  them,  in  watching  againft  the  faid  Evils 
'  both  in  themfelves,  and  in  one  another.  And 
'  that  the  Communicants  do  often  reflet  ijpon 
'  thofe  their  Acknowledgments  and  Protections, 
'  as  perpetual  Monitors  unto  them,  to  prevent 
'  the  Mifcarriages,  wherewith  too  many  Pro- 
'  felTors,  are  fo  eafily  overtaken. 

Copies  of  this  Vote;  were  communicated  unto 
many  parts  of  the  Country ;  in  purfuance  where- 
of, there  were  feveral  Churches  which  did  in 
the  Year  1692,  fblemnly  make  the  recommend- 
ed  Recognitions  of  Duty :  Hoping,  that  God 
would  accept  fuch  Acknowledgments  of  Duty, 
their  Declarations  for  him,  whereupon  he  would 
alfo  declare  for  them ;  and  thinking  that  fuch 
humble  Acknowledgments  were  the  New-Cove- 
nant-way  for  the  obtaining  of  help  from  Heaven, 
for  the  doing  of  Duty.  Particulary,  to  avoid 
the  length  of  tedious  varieties ;  There  was  one 
Church,  amongft  the  reft,  that  voted,  That  they 
did  accept  of  the  following  Inflrument,  as  con- 
taining the  ferious  Acknowledgments  and  Prote- 
stations of  their  Souls  ;  whereupon  they  would 
often  Reflefr,  for  the  difcovering  of  what  may 
be  amifs  in  their  Hearts  and  Lives  -,  as  alio,  for 
the  directing  of  the  Prayers,  and  ftrengthening 
of  the  Cares,  which  they  would  ufe  in  their 
more  watchful  walk  with  God.  And  a  Printed 
Copy  thereof,  was  accordingly  put  into  the 
Hands  of  the  Communicants. 


Acknow- 


Book  V.  The  Hiftory  0/  New-fcngland. 


99 


Acknowledgments  and  Proteftations  voted,  as  explain- 
ing the  Obligations  laid  upon  tts  by  our  moft  Holy 
Covenant. 


F,  that  through  the  Goodnefsof  God  :  cities,  attend  and  fupport  the  Inflitutions  of God, 


have  been  combined,  and  are  itill 
continued,  a  Church  of  his;  having 
heretofore  confented  unto  the  dToucnant  of 
dSjace,  according  to  the  gracious  Terms  whereof, 
we  have  made  choice  of  the  Lord  Jehovah,  Fa- 
ther,Son  and  Spirit,  as  our  God,  and  of  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift,  as  the  glorious  Mediator,  upon 
whofe  Fulnefs  of  Merit  and  Power  we  rely,  as 
well  to  he  jircngtbened  for  the  Duties,  as  to  be 
invefled  with  the  BlcJJings,  of  that  well-ordered 
Covenant;  and  have,  therefore,  according  to  his 
Will,  incorporated  our  felves  into  that  Evange- 
lical Chufchjlate,  wherein  our  Defires  after  the 
fare  Mercies  of  that  Covenant,  are  to  be  expref- 
fed,  maintained  and  anfwered  :  Being  herewith- 
al  ienfible,  that  our  Juf  if  cation,  only  by  Faith 
in  the  Rightcoufnefs  of  him,  who  is  a  Saviour 
and  a  Surety  for  us,  does  very  ftrongly  oblige  us 
to  clofe  with  all  the  Commandments  of  God,  as 
Holy,  and  Jujl,  and  Good;  and  as  thofe  Rules,  in 
Conformity  to  which  alone  our  Peace  can  be 
lengthened  out :  And,  being  alio  awakened  by 
the  moft  heavy  Judgments  of  Heaven,  under 
which  the  Country  hath  been  weltring  and  wa- 
fting for  many  later  Years,  to  fufpecf ,  left  in  the 
Hearts,  and  Lives  of  Wis  in  particular,  there 
may  be  found  fome  of  thole  acewfed  Things, 
which  have  brought  upon  the  Land,  fuch  a  long 
Variety  of  fore  Calamity. 

Do  therefore  acknowledge,  That  we  are  under 
peculiar  Bonds  to  walk  circumfpetlly,  not  only 
by  avoiding  the grojjer  Mi/carriages  of  Llngod- 
linefs,  but  alio  by  guarding  againft,  whatever 
Corruptions  do  fomerimes  more  eafily  obtain 
among  the  profelfing  People  of  God  ;  behaving 
our  felves,  not  ax  Fools  but  as  Wife,  and  redeem- 
ing the  time,  becnufe  the  days  are  evil. 

And  in  fpecial  manner,  to  revive  the  Senfe  of 
the  Tyes,  which  are  laid  upon  us  by  the  Cove- 
nant of  God,  that  has  not  only  been  accepted,  but 
alfo  renewed  amongrt  us. 

I.  We  acknowledge,  It  would  be  a  great  Evil 
in  us,  if  our  Love  to  the  World  fhould  make  us 
omit  our  Communion  with  God,  and  abate  of  that 
Zeal  and  Watch,  which  we  fhould  always  keep 
alive  in  our  Souls  •,  or  hinder  us  from  the  molt 
affectionate  reading  of  his  Word,  and  feeking  of 
his  Face,  every  Day  in  our  Houfes,  or  from  the 
daily  ufe  of  Meditation  and  Supplication  in  our 
Clofets. 

II.  It  would  be  a  great  Evil  in  us,  If,  while 
on  the  one  hand  we  proteji  againft  any  thing  in 
Divine  Worfhip,  for  which  we  have  not  a  Divine 
Warrant,  and  againft  the  Ufage  of  all  Papal  and 
Pagan  Superjiitions :  On  the  other  fide,  we 
fhould  not,  according  to  the  beft  of  our  Capa- 


iri  the  midft  of  us,"  with  Endeavours  that  there 
may  be  nothing  wanting  thereunto. 

III.  It  would  be  a  great  Evil  in  us,  If  when 
we  draw  near  to  God  in  his  Ordinances,  we 
fhould  allow  our  felves  to  be  Formal,  Carnal,  or 
Sleepy  in  what  we  do ;  efpecially,  if  we  fhould 
ordinarily  come  to  the  Table  of  the  Lord,  with- 
out ferious  Examinations  and  Humiliations  pre- 
paratory thereunto  •,  or,  if  in  managing  of  Church- 
Difcipline,  we  fhould  vent  our  own  PaJJions,  and 
ierveour  own  Humoursjuftead.  of  a£ting  entirely 
for  the  Lord. 

IV.  It  would  be  a  great  Evil  in  us,  If  we 
fhould  abufe  the  good  Creatures  of  God  by  Sen- 
fualities  in  Eating,  Drinking  and  Recreation  -, 
or,  by  Extravagancies  in  our  Apparel :  And,  if 
whenever  we  ufe  the  Title j,and  the  Scriptures  of 
our  God,  it  fhould  not  be  with  much  Reverence 
in  our  Souls. 

V.  It  would  be  a  great  Evil  in  us,  If  we  fhoul  J 
not  keep  a  ftricf  Guard  both  on  our  own  Thoughts 
as  well  as  Words  and  Works  on  the  Lord'sDay, 
and  alfo  on  all  that  are  under  our  Influence,  to 
relfrain  them  from  the  violations  of  that  Sacred 
Reft. 

VI.  It  would  be  a  great  Evil  in  us,  If  we 
fhould  not  make  it  our  careful  ftudy  to  have 
our  Families  well  inftrucled,  and  well  governed, 
and  in  fuch  a  Condition  as  is  agreeable  to  the 
Fear  of  God. 

VII.  It  would  be  a  great  Evil  in  us,  If  by  the 
prevalency  of  a  private  Spirit,  we  fhould  be 
backward  unto  any  pubiick  Service,  wherein  God 
(hall   call  us,  with  our  Perfons  or  EJiates  to 

jcrve  our  Generation-,  or,  if  we  fhould  with 
unj  Lift  Krglell  and  Cenfure,  iil  requite  fuch  as 
have  been  ferviceable  ;  more  efpecially  fuch  as 
in  Government  are  the  Minijiers  of  God  unto  us 
for  our  Good. 

VIII.  It  would  be  a  great  Evil  in  us,  If  we 
fhould  put  off  a  Patient,  Peaceable,  Forgiving- 
Temper  towards  our  Neighbours  ;  or,  not  with 
Meeknejs  of  Wifdom  decline  and  fmother  all 
Caufes  of  Contention. 

IX.  It  would  be  a  great  Evil  in  us,  If  we  fhould 
fpend  our  Days  in  Idlencfs,  and  not  be  Diligent 
in  fuch  Employments,  as  may  adorn  the  Dotlrine 
of  God,  by  rendering  us  ufeful  unto  thofe  that 
are  round  about  us. 

X.  It  would  be  a  great  Evil  in  us,Ifwe  fhould 
in  any  of  our  Carriage,  or  fb  much  as  in  our 
Difcourfe,  admit  any  thing  that  may  favour  of 
a  Lafcivious  of  a  Licentious  Difpofition  in  our 
Souls. 

XI.  It  would  be  a  great  Evil  in  us,If  we  fhould 
ufe  any  Difhonefly  in  our  Dealings,  and  either 

by 


100 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.       Book  V. 


by  Fraud  or  force,  exaft:  unreafonably  upon  thofe 
with  whom  we  are  concerned. 

XII.  It   would  be  a  great  Evil  in  us,  malici 
oufly  to  make,  or  injurioufly  xofpreaJ  any  falfc 
Ullepo^ttf,   or  too  eafily  to  receive  Slanders  a 
gainft   the    Innocent,   or  to   Countenance   the 
Broachers  or"  them. 

XIII.  It  would  be  a  great  Evil  in  us,  If  we 
fhould  not  confcicntiouily  oblerve  and  fulfil 
what  Promifes  we  have  lawfully  given  one  unto 
another. 

XIV.  It  would  be  a  great  Evil  in  us.  To  be 
difcontented  either  at  the  Profpenty  which  God 
would  have  others  enjoy ,  or  at  the  Advcrfuy 
wherein  the  Providence  of  God  has  at  any  time 
confined  our  felves. 

XV.  It  would  be  a  great  Evil  in  us,  If  we 
fhould  not  be  ready  Charitably  and  Liberally  to 
relieve  the  Neceflities  of  the  Poor  that  call  for 
our  Bounties. 

XVI.  It  would  be  a  great  Evil  in  us,  If  we 
fhould  not  with  a  molt  Brotherly  AfFe£tion  ei 
ttizx  give  or  take  Reproofs,  when  there  is  a  caule 
for  them  ;  or,  if  we  fhould  with-hold  any  due 
Teftimony  againft  whatever  may  fall  out  among 
us,  difpleafing  unto  God. 

Wherefore  by  a  folemn  <Kote,  we  Declare 
againff  all  thefe  Evils,  as  abominable  Things-, 
and,  utterly  defpairing  of  any  ftrength  in  our 
felves  to  keep  clear  thereof,  we  do  moft  hum- 
bly ask  the  All-fufflcient  Grace  of  God  in  Chrift, 
that  neither  thefe,  nor  any  fuch  Iniquities  may 
have  Dominion  over  us  -,  but  that  we  watch  againft 
them  all,  both  in  our  felves,  and  in  one  ano- 
ther. 

§  6.  Many  and  various  are  the  Deliberations 
continued  by  good  Men,  unto  this  Day,  con- 
cerning the  Methods  of  preventing  our  Apofta- 
fies.  But  I  fhall  fuperfede  the  mention  of  them 
all,  with  a  Copy  of  certain  Expedient  s,zn&  Pro- 
pofals  about  Reformation  lately  agreed  by  an  Af 
fembly  of  Minifters  at  Cambridge. 

I.  There  is  a  large  number  of  People  in  this 
Country,  which  not  lying  within  the  reach  of 
our  Ecclefiaftical  Difcipline,  do  from  thence  en- 
courage themfelves  in  the  Liberty,  which  they 
take  to  do  the  things,  for  which  the  Wrath  of 
God  comes  upon  the  Land.  It  would  very  much 
promote  the  Defign  of  Reformation  among  us, 
if  all  due  means  were  ufed,  tor  the  bringing  of 
more  than  there  are,  and  as  many  as  may  be,  to 
fubmit  unto  the  Church-watch;  'twere  highly 
defirable  that  the  Body  of  this  profefling  People 


fhould  thus  be  brought  into  the  way  of  Refor- 
mation. It  hath  been  by  an  happy  Experience 
found,  that  God  has  given  a  lingular  Succefs  unto 
the  Admonitions  of  our  Churches,  applied  unto 
fuch  as  have  by  their  Mifcarriages  thereto  ex- 
pofed  themfelves-,  many  have  been  thereby  fa- 
vingly  brought  home  to  God. 

II.  The  Expedients  for  the  Reformation  of  our 
Land,  offered  by  the  Synod  in  the  Year  i6yp, 
ought  not  to  be  forgotten  ±  but  the  Remem- 
brance and  Confederation  thereof  fhould  be  re- 
vived. 

III.  The  Concurrence  of  fuch  as  do  fuftain 
Place  in  the  Civil  Government,  is  of  great  im- 
portance in  the  Profecution  of  our  defired  Re- 
formation :  And  rhat  we  may  enjoy  this,  it  mull: 

be  endeavoured,  that  there  fhould  be  no  mif- 
underftanding  between  any  in  the  Government 
and  the  Miniftry.  This  being  obferved,  a  gene- 
ral Confutation  upon  the  Methods  of  Reforma- 
tion is  to  be  asked  for. 

IV.  For  the  Paflors  of  our  Churches  in  vifi- 
ting  of  their  Flocks,  to  inform  themfelves,  about 
the  Morals  of  their  People  in  every  Quarter, 
and  thereupon  both  publickly  and  privately,  let 
themfelves  to  Cure  what  fhall  be  found  amife, 
would  fignifie  very  much  in  a  Glorious  Refor- 
mation. 

V.  Particular  Churches  have  a  Power  of  Self- 
Reformation;  and  they  would  contribute  more 
than  a  little  to  an  umverfal  one,  if  they  would 
be  Exemplary  unto  one  another  in  Deliberations 
upon  their  own  Circumftances,  and  in  renewing, 
explaining  and  enforcing  of  their  Covenants. 

VI.  It  would  be  well,  if  the  Minifters  in  this 
(as  well  as  any  other)  Affocizition,  would  fingle 
out  the  more  obfervable  Iniquities  in  the  Coun- 
try, and  fucceiTively  at  fie  Seafons  publifh  brie£ 
but  full,  Teftimonies  againft  thofe;  Iniquities.  A 
manifold  Advantage  might  accrue  to  the  At- 
tempts of  Reformation  by  thofe  Teftimonies. 

VII.  Solemn  Days  of  Prayer  with  Fafting  ce- 
lebrated in  our  Churches,  to  implore  the  Grace 
of  God  for  the  riling  Generation,  would  proba- 
bly be  of  bleffed  Conlequence,  for  the  turning 
of  our  young  People  unto  the  God  of  our  Fa- 
thers. The  more  there  is  this  way  afcribed  unto 
Grace,  the  more  is  the  Grace  of  God  like  to  be 
communicated  ;  and  there  is  in  this  way  a  natu- 
ral and  plentiful  Tendency  to  awaken  our  uncon- 
verted Youth  unto  a  Senfe  of  their  everlafting 
Interefts.  Which,  were  it  generally  accomplifh- 
ed,  a  marvellous  Reformation  were  therein  ef- 
feaed. 


FINIS. 


THAUMATURGUS: 

V    E    L 

"'•X1??  "^P.   i.  e.    Liber  Memorabtlium. 


The  SIXTH  Book 

OF    THE 

NEW-ENGLISH   Hiftory; 

WHEREIN 

Very  many  Illuftrious 

Discoveries    and , Demonstrations 

O  f    t  H  e 
Divine    PROVIDENCE 

I    N 
Remarkable 

MERCIES  and  JUDGMENTS 

O  N 
Many  Particular  Perfons  among  che  People 

O   F 

NEW-ENGLAND 

ARE 
OBSERV'D,  COLLECTED  and    RELATED: 


By   COTTON  MATHER. 


PSAL.  107.  4;. 

Wlwjo  is  wife—  will  obferVe  tbe/e  Tilings 


L  0  N  D  0  N,    Printed  in  the  Year    1702. 


The  SIXTH   BOOK. 


EMARKABLES 


OF     THE 


Divine   Providence 


Among  the 


People   of   NEW-ENGLAND, 


O  Regard  the  illuftrious  Difplays 
of  that  PROVIDENCE,  where- 
with our  Lord  CHRIST  go- 
verns the  World,  is  a  Work, 
than  which  there  is  none  more  Needful,  or  Ufe- 
ful,  for  a  Chrifiian  :  To  Record  them  is  a  Work, 
than  which,  none  more  proper  for  a  Minifter  : 
And  perhaps  the  Great  Governour  of  the 
World  will  ordinarily  do  the  moft  Notable 
Things  for  thofe  who  are  moft  ready  to  take  a 
wife  Notice  of  what  He  does.  Unaccountable 
therefore  and  inexculable,  is  the  Sleepinefs,  even 
upon  the  moft  or  Good  Men  throughout  the 
World,  which  indifpoles  them  to  obferve,  and 
much  more  to  prejerve  the  Remarkable  Vifpenfa- 
lions  ot  Divine  Providence,  towards  themielves 
or  others.  Neverthelefs  there  have  been  raifed 
up  now  and  then  thole  Perfors  who  have  ren- 
dred  themielves  worthy  of  Everlafiing  Remem- 
brance, by  their  Wahful  Zeal  to  have  the  Memo- 
rable Providence'  of  God  remembred  through  all 
Generations.  Among  thole  Worthy  Men,  a 
moft  Embalmed  Memory  is  particulary  due  unto 
the  Reverend  MATTHEW  POOL,  who  about 
the  Year  1658,  let  afoot  a  Glorious  Vejign  a- 
mong  fome  Divines  of  no  little  Figure  through- 
out England  and  Ireland,  lor  the  faithful  Regi- 
Itring  of  Remarkable  Providences.  But  alas,  it 
came  to  nothing  that  was  Remarkable-  The 
like  Holy  Vefign  was,  by  the  Reverend  IN- 
CREASE MATHER,  propofed  among  the  Di- 
vines of  New-England,  in  the  Year  1681,  at  a 
General  Meeting  of  them  >  who  thereupon  de- 
fired  him  to  begin,  and  publilhan  Eflay  i  which 
he  did  in  a  little  while  >  but  therewithal  decla- 
red, That  be  did  it  only  as  a  Specimen  of  a  larger 
Volume,  in  hopes  that  this  Work  being  fo  jet  on  foot, 
Poferity  ■would go  on  with  it. 

#.2.  But  as  the  National  Synods  in  France  could 
not,  by  their  frequent  Admonitions  unto  the 
Churches  to  procure  a  good  Regifier  of  Remarka- 
ble Providences ,    effe&ually    rouze   their  Good 


Men  out  oftheir  Stupidity .-  So  the  Paflors  in  the 
Churches  of  New- England  have  moftly  been  too 
much  under  thePower  of  a  like  Indifpofition,  to 
Regard  the  Works  of  the  Lord,  and  the  Operation  of 
his  Hands.That  this  Indifpofition  might,if  it  were 
poffible,be  fhaken  off,there  were  Propofals  again 
made  and  fent  thro'  the  Country  :  Whereof  I  will 
here  annex  the  Copy ;  and  yet  I  muft  complain 
of  it,  that  unto  this  Hour  there  have  not  half7<?» 
Confiderable  Hifiories  been  tranfmitted  unto  us 
in  anfwer  unto  thefe  Propofals. 


Certain  tPropojah  made  by  the  Prefident 
and  Fellows  of  Harvard  College,  to 
the  Reverend  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel 
in  the  federal  Churches  of  New-Eng- 
land. 

I. 
'  HpO  Obferve  and  Record  the  more  Illuftri- 
c  JL  ous  Difcoveriesof  the  Divine  Providence, 
'in  the  Government  of  the  World,  is  a  Defign  fo 
'  Holy,  foUfeful,  fojuftly  approved,  that  the 
'too  general  Negleci  of  it  in  the  Churches  ot 
'  God,  is  as  juftly  to  be  lamented. 

II. 

'For  theRedrefs  of  thas  Negleci,  although  all 
'  Chrifiians  have  a  Duty  incumbent  on  them,  yet 
1  it  is  in  a  peculiar  manner  to  be  recommended 
'  unto  the  Mmifters  of  the  Gofpel,  to  improve  the 
'  Ipecial  Advantages  which  are  in  their  Hands, 
'  to  Obtain  and  Preferve  the  Knowledge  of  fuch 
'  notable  Occurrents,  as  are  fought  out  by  all 
'  that  have  Pleafure  in  the  Great  Works  of  the 
'  Lord. 

III. 

'  The  Things  to  be  efteemed  Memorable,  are 

'  efpecially  aWUnufual  Accidents,  in  the  Heaven 

Aaaaaa2  'or 


7  he   hitroduUion. 


c  or  Earth,  or  Water:  All  wonderful  Deliver  an' 
'  ces  of  the  DiftrefTed  :  Mercies  to  the  Godly  : 
'  judgments  on  the  Wicked  j  and  more  Glorious 
'  Fulfilments  of' either  the  Promifes  or  the  J'oreat- 
1  nin^s,  in  the  Scriptures  of  Truth i°;  with  Appari- 
'  ttons,  Poffefjions ,  lnchantments,  and  all  Extra- 
'  ordinary  Things  wherein  the  Exiliertce  and  A- 
1  gency  of  the  Invifible  Uorld,  is  morefenfibly  de- 
'  monftrated. 

IV. 
*  It  if  therefore  propofed,  That  the   Minifiers 
4  throughout  this  L.:nd  would  manifeft  their  Pi 
'  ous  Regards  unto  the  Works  of  the   Lor  J,    and  the 
'  Operation  of  his  Hands,  by  reviving  their  Cares 
'  to  take  Written  Accounts  of  fuch  Remarkahles ; 

*  but  Hill  well  attefted  with  Credible  and  Sum 
'  cient  Witnejles. 

V. 
c  It  isdefired,  that  the  Accounts  thus  taken  of 
'  thefe  Remarkahles,  may  be  lent  in,  unto  the 
■  PRESIDENT,  or  the  FELLOWS  of  the  Col- 
'  lege  i  by  whom  they  (hall  be  carefully  referved 
'  for  fuch  an  Ufe  to  be  made  of  them,  as  may  by 

*  feme  fit  AlTembly  of  Mimfiers,  be  judged  moll 
'  conducing  to  the  Glory  of  GOD,  and  the  Ser 
'  vice  of  his  People. 

VI. 
cTho'  we  doubt  not,  that,  Love  to  the  Name  of 

*  GOD,  will  be  motive  enough  unto  all  Good 
'  Men,  to  contribute  what  Affiftance  they  can, 
'  unto  this  Undertaking  ;  yet  for  further  Encou- 
'  ragement,  fome  Singular  Marks  ofRejpeB,  (hall 
'  be  ftudied  for  fuch  Good  Men  as  will  actually 
'affillitby  taking  Pains  to  communicate  any 
1  important  PaiTages  proper  to  be  inferted  in  this 
<  Collection. 

Increafe  Mather,       Prefident 
James  Allen 
Charles  Morton 
Samuel  Willard 
Cambridge  Cotton  Mather    ,r"FellowS. 

mrch  5>  John  Leverett     j 

l6?\-  William  Brattle 

Nehent.  Walter  j 


§.  ;.  Tho'  we  have  been  too  flack  in  doing 
what  hath  been  defired  and  dire&ed  in  thefe 
Propofals ;  yet  our  Church  Hijlcry  is  become  able 
to  entertain  the  World  with  a  Coile&ion  of  Re- 
markable Providences  that  have  occurr'd  among 
the  Inhabitants  of  New- England.  Befides  a  con- 
liderable  Number  of  Memorables,  which  lie  fcat- 
ter'd  here  and  there  in  every  part  of  our  Church' 
Htfiory,  there  is  a  Number  of  them  enough  to 
make  an  intire  Book  by  themfelves;  whereof 
having  received  furficient  Attentions,  I  (hall  now 
invite  the  Reader  to  confider  them. 

A  certain  Critick  fo  admired  thofe  Verfes  of 
the  Poet  Claudian, 

S£pe  mihi  dubiam  traxit  fententia  Mentem, 
Curarent  Juperi  terras,  an  ullus  inejjet 
Reiior,  an  wcerto  fitter ent  mortalia  curfu, 

that  he  (aid,  whoever  would  be  a  Poet,  muft  per- 
fe&ly  fettle  them  in  his  Memory.  This  Critick 
might  perhaps  be  lbmething  of  a  Dei/?.  But, 
Reader,  if  any  Doubts  like  thefe  of  Claudian 's, 
about  the  Exigence  and  Providence  of  God  begin 
to  poifon  thy  Soul,  there  are  fix  or  feven  Chap- 
ters of  Htfiory  now  before  thee,  that  may  be  thy 
Antidote. 

Itisobferv'd  that  the  Name  rojp,  (or  Fortune) 
is  not  once  ufed  in  all  the  Works  of  Homer.  We 
will  now  write  a  Book  of  rare  Occurrences,  where- 
in a  blind  Fortune  (hall  not  be  once  acknowledg- 
ed. Aufiin'm  his  Retraclations  complains  of  him- 
felf,  that  he  had  ufed  the  Word  Fortune  too  much  j 
but  the  Ule  of  it  fliall  be  confuted  as  well  as  a- 
voided,  in  the  Book  now  before  us,  wherein  all 
the  Rare  Occurrences  will  be  the  evident  Operati- 
ons of  the  Almighty  God,  whofe  Kingdom  ruletb 
over  all. 


CHAP. 


Book  VI.  The  Hiftory  of  New-England 


CHAP.     I. 

Chrijlus  fuper  Ajuas ;  (Relating  wonderful  Sea-Deliverances. 


Vela  damus,  vafiumque  cava  trabe  currimus  £qucr. 

THey  that  go  down  to  the  Sea  in  Ships,  thefe 
do  fee  the  Works  of  the  Lord,  and  his  Won- 
ders m  the  Deep.  And  what  if  our 
Collection  of  Remarkable  Vrcvidenccs  do  begin 
with  a  Relation  of  the  Wonderful  Works  which 
have  been  done  for  them  that  go  down  to  the  Sea 
in  Ships,  by  that  Great  Lord  whofe  is  the  Sea,  for 
he  made  it?  I  will  carry  my  Reader  abroad  up- 
on the  huge  Atlantic,  and  without  fo  much  as 
the  Danger  of  being  made  Sea-fick,  he  (hall  fee 
Wonders  in  the  Veep.  • 

I.  A  Vious  Anchorite. 

Let  Mandelflne  tell  of  his  poor  Fleming,  who 
lived  an  bifulary  Anchorite  upon  a  defolate  Ifland 
many  Months  together  i  1  have  a  Story  that 
(hall  in  moft  things  Equal  jr,  and  in  fome  Ex- 
ceed it. 

On  Aug.  25.  1675.    Mr.  Ephraim  How  with 
his  two  Sons,  did  (et  Sail  from  New-Haven  for 
Bo/lon,  in  a  fmall  Ketch  of  about  feventeen  Tun  » 
and  returning  from  Bofion  for  New  Haven,  Sept. 
10.  contrary  Winds  detain'd  him  for  ibme  time, 
and  then  llnefs  and  Sicknefs  till  a    Month  expi- 
red.    He  then  renewed  his  Voyage  as  far  as  Cape- 
Cod  >  but  fiiddenly  the  Weather  became  fo  tem- 
peftuous,  that  it  forced  them  off  to  Sea,  where 
the  outragious  Winds  and  Seas  did   ofcen  almoft 
overwhelm  them;   and   here  in  about    eleven 
Days  his  Elder  Son  died,  and  in  a  few    Days 
more  his  Younger.    It  is  noted  in  1  Chron.-j.22. 
that  when  the  Sons  of  Ephraim    viere  dead,    E- 
phraim  their  Father  mourned  many  days,   and  his 
Brethren  came  to  comfort  him.     This  our  mourning 
Ephraim  could  not  have  any  Comfort  from  his 
Friends  on  (hoar,  when  his  Two  Sons  were  thus 
dead  ;  but  they  died  after  fo  Holy  and  Hopeful 
a  manner,  that  their  Father  was  not  without  his 
Conizations.     However,  their  Straits  and  Fears 
were  now  increafed,  as  their  Hands  were  dimi- 
nifhed  ;  and  another  of  the  Company  foon  after 
died  like  the  former.     Half  the  Company  was 
now  gone  ;  and  Mr.  How,  tho'  in  a  very  weak 
State  of  Health,  now  (lands  at  the  Helm  twenty 
four  Hours,  and  thirty  fix  Hours  at  a  time,  with 
the  Rude  Waves  flying  over  the  Veffel  at  luch  a 
rate,  that  if  he  had  not  been  lafh'd  faff,  he  muff 
have  been  wafh'd  overboard.     In  this  Extremi- 
ty he  was  at  a  lofs  whether  he  (hould  perfift  in 
driving  for  the  New  England  Shore,  or  bear   a- 
way  to  the  Southern  Iflands  ;  and   propofing  the 
Matter  to  one  Mr.  Augur  (who,  with  a  Boy,was 
ail  that  were  left  for  his  HelpJ  they  firft  fought 
unto  God  by  earned  Prayer  in  thisdifficult  Cafe, 
and  then  determined  the  Difficulty  by  cafting  a 
Lot.     The  Lot  fell  for  New  England,  and  'ere  a 
Month  was  expired,  they  loft  the  Rudder  of  their 


Veffel,  with  which  they  loft  all  Hope  of  being 
(aved.     In  this  deplorable  Condition  they  con- 
tinued a  Fortnight:   And  thus  for  fix  Weeks  to- 
gether, Mr.  Howe,  tho'  labouring  under  much  In- 
firmity, was  hardly  ever  dry  :  Nor  had  they  in 
all  this  while  the  Benefit  of  warm  Food,   more 
than  thrice,  or  thereabouts.     When  the  feventh 
Week  dawned  upon  them,  the  Veffel  was  driven 
on  the  Tailings  of  a  Ledge  of  Recks ,  where  the 
Sea  broke  with  no  little  Violence  s    and  looking 
out,  they  fpied  a  difmal  doleful  Rocky  ifland  unto 
the  Lee  ward  ;  upon  which,  if  the  Providenceot 
God  had  not  by  the  Breakers  given  'em  timely- 
Notice,  they  had  been  dafh'd  in   pieces.     This 
Extremity  was  Heavens  Opportunity  .'  They  im- 
mediately let  go  an  Anchor,    and  got    out  the 
Boat,  and  God  made  that   Storm  a  Calm  ;  fo  that 
the  Waves  were  ft  ill.     Being  under  the  Aftonifh- 
ments  of  theCircumftances  now  uponthcm.they 
took   little  out  of  the  Veffel;  but  when  they 
came  a  (hoar,  they  found  themfelves  on  a  defo- 
late Ifland  (near  Cape  Sables')    which  had  not 
either  Man  or  Beaft  upon  it  i  and  a  ProfpecT-  of 
being   therefore  itarved  quickly  to  death,  now 
ftared  upon  them.     While  they  were  under  this 
deadly  Profpe<$,  a  Storm  arofe  that  (laved  their 
Veflel  to  pieces,  from  whence  a  Cask  of  Powder 
was  brought  a  (hoar,  a  Ban  el  of  Wine,  and  half 
a  Barrel  of  MoHoJJa's,  together  with  (everaJ  orher 
Things  which  affifted  them  in  making  a  fort  of 
a  Tent,  for  thtirPrefervation  from  the  terrible 
Cold.    However,  new  and  fore  DiftrefTes  now 
attended  them  :  for  tho'  they  had  Powder,   with 
other  Neceffaries  for  Fowling,  there  were  (eidom 
any  Fowls  to  be  feen  upon  this  forlorn  Ifland,  ex- 
cept a  few  Gulls,  Crows  and  Ravens ;  and  these 
were  iokw,  that  there  could  be  rarely  more  than 
One  (hot  at  a  time.     Oftentimes  half  a  one  of 
thefe  Fowls,  with  the  Liquor,  made  a   Meal  for 
Three:  Once  they  lived  five    Days  without  any 
Sudenance  at  all  ;  during  all  which  Space,  they 
did  not  feel  themfelves  pinch'd  with   Hunger  as 
at  other  times,  which  they  elleemed  a  ipedal  Fa- 
vour of  Heaven  unto  them.  When  they  had  been 
twelve  Weeks  in  this  ionelbme  Condition,    Mr. 
Howe's  dear  Friend  Mr.  Augur,  died  i    and  the 
Lad  alio  died  in  the  April  following  :  So  that   his 
Lonefomenefs    was  now  become  as  much  as  any 
Hermit  could.have  wifhed  for.For  a  long  and  a  fad 
Quarter  of  a  Year  together  now,  he  faw  Fiihing 
VeiTels  ever  now  and  then  (ailing  by;   but  tho' 
heiiled  all  poffible  Means  to  acquaint  them  with 
hisDiff  reifes,either  they  faw  him  noc,or  they  fea- 
red led  fome  of  the  Indians  then  in  Hofliliry  a- 
gainrt  xhsEnglifli,  might  be  quartered  there. 

The  good  Man,  while  thus  deferted,  kept  ma- 
ny Days  mVrayer,  with  Faftmg,  wherein  hecon- 
fefied  and  bewailed  the  many  Sins  which  had  ren- 
dred  him  worthy  of  thefe  Calamities,  and  cried 
unto  God  for  his  Deliverance.  But  at  laftitcama 

into 


4 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  Book  V^ 


into  his  Mind,  that  he  ought  very  folemnly  to 
■  Thanks  unto  God  for  the  marvellous  Preter- 
ms which  he  had  hitherto  experienc'd  ;  and 
accordingly  he  let  a- part  a  Day  tor  folemn 
Thanksgiving  unto  God  his  gracious  Preferver,  for 
the  Divine  Favouts  which  had  been  intermixed 
with  all  his  Ti  oubles.  IMMEDIATELY  after 
ibis,  a  VelTel  belonging  to  Salem,  did  pafs  by  that 
Jfland  ;  and  feeing  this  poor  Servant  of  God 
there,  they  took  him  in.  So  he  arriv'd  at  Salem 
Julyi%.  \6--j.  and  returned  unto  his  Family  at 
Newbaven. 

II .  A  Man  (Irangcly   yreferv'd  on  the  Keel  of  a 
Boat  at  Sea. 

A  Ship's  Long-boat  having  Five  Men  in  her, 
was  by  a  violent  Guff  of  Wind  over-fer.  The> 
Men  all  got  upon  the  Keel,  upon  which  being  dri  - 
ven  toSea,  they  were  four  Bays  floating  there. 
In  this  time  three  of  them  drop'd  off,  and  pei  idl- 
ed in  the  Deep  :  On  the  Fifth  Day  the  Fourth  Man 
being fore'.y  pain'd  with  Hunger,  and  fadly  brui- 
led  with  the  boifterous  and  furious  Waves,  wil- 
fully fell  off  into  the  Sea,  and  wasdrown'd  after 
the  reft  of  his  Companions.  Quickly  after  this 
the  Wind  coming  up  at  South  Ea(t,  carried  the 
Boat  with  the  Fifth  Man  into  Leng-Ifland,  where 
being  fear ce  able  to  creep  a  (hoar,  the  Indians 
found  him,  cherifh'd  him,  and  preferv'd  him. 
With  Fa/ling,  and  Watching  and  Cold,  he  muft, 
according  to  Realon  in  this  time  have  periflied  i 
but  he  conftantly  affirmed,  That  he  [aw  certain 
Perfons  come  and  put  Meat  into  hi  <  Mouth  when  he 
tvas  ready  to  perijh  for  want  of  Sujienanct. 

III.  The  Wonderful  Story  of  Major  Gibbons. 

Among  Remarkable  Sea-Deliverances,  nolefs 
than  three  feveral  Writers  have  publhh'd  that, 
wherein  Major  Edward  Gibbons  of  Bofron'm  New- 
England,  wasconcern'd.  A  Vefiel  bound  from 
Boffrn  to  fome  other  Parts  of  America,  was  thro' 
the  Continuanceof  contrary  Winds,  kept  fo  long 
at  Sea,  that  the  People  aboard,  were  in  extream 
Straits  for  want  of  Provifion  ;  and  feeing  that 
nothing  here  below  could  afford  them  any  Re- 
lief, they  look'd  upwards  unto  Heaven  in  humble 
and  fervent  Supplica:ions.  The  Winds  continu- 
ing ftill  as  they  were, one  of  the  Company  made 
a  (orrowful  Motion,  that  they  fhculd  by  a  Lot 
fingle  out  One  to  diet  and  by  Death  to  fatisfie  the 
Ravenous  Hunger  of  the  reft.  After  many  a 
doleful  and  fearful  Debate  upon  this  Motion,they 
come  to  a  Rcfult,  thu  it  muft  be  done  !  The  Lot  is 
caft;  one  of  the  Company  is  taken  ;  but  where 
is  the  F.xecutioner  that  (hail  do  the  terrible  Office 
upon  a  poor  Innocent  ?  It  is  a  Death  now  to 
think  who  fhallad  this  bloody  Part  in  the  Tra 
gedy  :  But  before  they  fall  upon  this  involuntary 
and.  unnatural  Execution,  they  once  more  went 
unto  their  zealous  Prayers  ;  and  behold,  while1  they 
were  calling  upon  God,  heanfwer'dthem :  For 
there  leap'd  a  mighty  Fifli  into  their  Boat,  which, 
to  their  double  Joy,  not  only  quieted  their  Out 
ragioii?  Hunger,  butalfb  gave  them  fome   Token 


of  a  further  Deliverance.      However,  the  Fifli  is 
quickly  eaten  >  the  horrible  Famine  returns,  the 
horrible    Diftrefs  is  renew'd  ;  a  black  Defpaira- 
gain  feizes  their  Spirits :  For  another  Morfel  they 
come  to  a  fecond  Lot,  which  fell  upon  another 
Perfon;  but  ftilhhey  cannot  find  an  Executio- 
ner :  They  once  again  fall  to  their  importunate 
Prayers ;  and  behold,    a  fecond  Anlwer  from  a- 
bove !  A  great  Bird  lights  and  fixes  it  lelf  upon 
the  Malt :  Oneof  the  Men  Ipies  it ;  and  there  it 
ftands  until  he  took  it  by  the  Wing  with  his  Hand. 
This  was  a  fecond  Life  from  the  Dead.  This  Fowl 
with  the  Omen  of  a    further    Deliverance  in  it, 
was  a  fweet  Feaft  unto  them.    Still  their  Difap- 
pointments  follow  them  j  they  can  lee  no  Land, 
they  know  not  where  they  are  :  Irrefiftible  Hun- 
ger once  more  pinchss^hen?  i  they  have  no  Hope 
to  be  faved,  but  by  a  Third  Miracle  :  they  return 
to  another  Lot ;  but  before  they  go  to  the  Heart- 
breaking Task  of  flaying  the  Perfon  under  De- 
fignat ion, they  repeat  their  Addreftes  unto  the  God 
of  Heaven,    their  former    Frnnd  m  Adverfity. 
And  now  they  look,  and  look  again,  but  there  is 
nothing  ;  Their  Devotions  are  concluded,    and 
nothing  appears :  Yet  they  hoped,  yet  they  flay- 
ed, yet  they  lingred.     At  laft  oneof 'em  lpies  a 
Ship.which  putanewHope  and  Life  into 'em  all. 
They  bear  up  with  their  Ship ,  they  Man  their 
Long-Boat,  they  beg  to  board  the  Veffel,  andare 
admitted.     It   proves    a    French  Pirate.     Major 
Gibbons  petitions  for  a  little  Bread,  and  offers  all 
for  it ;  but  the  Commander  was  one  who  had  for- 
merly receiv'd  confiderable  Kindnefles  of  Major 
Gibbons  at  Bofton,  and  now  replied  chearfully ,  Ma- 
jor Gibbon?,  Not  an  Hair  if  Tou  or  your  Company 
jJ>aH  perifh,  if  it  lies  in  my  Power    to  preferve  you. 
Accordingly  he  fupplied  their  Neceflities,  and 
!  they  made  a  comfortable  End    of  their  Voy- 
iage. 

IV.    Twelve  Men  living  Five  Weeks  for  Five 
hundred  Leagues  in  a  little  Boat. 

A  frnall  Veflel,  whofe  Matter's  Name  was  Phi- 
lip Hungare,  coming  upon  the  Coaft  of  New  Eng- 
land, luddenly  iprang  a  Leak  and  founder'd. 
Eighteen  Perlons  were  in  the  Veffel,  whereof 
Twelve  got  into  the  Long-Boat,  into  which  they 
threw  fome  little  matter  of  Provifion;  but  of  that 
neceftary  thing  Fire,  they  were  wholly  unprovi- 
ded. Thefe  twelve  Men  went  five  hundred 
Leagues  in  this  poor  Long- Boat,  and  were  therein 
miraculoufly  preferved  five  Weeks  together;  foe 
the  God  of  Heaven  fent  them  a  ftrange  Relief, 
by  caufing  fome  flying  Fifh  to  fly  and  fall  among 
them,  which  being  eaten  raw,  were  a  pleafant 
Food  unto  them  •.  and  once,  when  they  muft  o- 
therwife  have  perifrrd  for  Thiift,  they  caught  a 
Shark,  whofe  Blood  being  fuck'd  by  them,  wasas 
Cool  Waters  to  their  thirfty  Souls  >  but  that  which 
was  more  fo,  was  their  fafe  Arrival  then  at  the 
Weft  Indies. 


V.  Sim* 


Book  VI. 


T 
i 


he  Hifiory  of  New- England. 


5 


ven  Barrels  ot  Water,  three  of  them  leak'd  away. 

When  their  Victuals  fail'd  them,  the  merciful  God 

I  whoje  is  the  Sea,  for  he  made  it,  lint  them  aSupply, 

Mr.  John  Grafton  being  bound  from  New-Eng-  \  by  czul'mgDolphins  ever  now.ind  then  to  come  fo 


V.  Some  Shipwrack'd  Folks  happily  re/cued. 


land  for  the  Weft- Indies  in  a  Ketch  call'd  the  Pro 
videnee,  the  Veflel  fuddenly  ftruck  upon  a  Rock, 
in  a  dark,  rainy,  ftormy  Night ;    and  the  Force 
of  the  Wind  and  the  Sea  broke  the  Veflel  imme- 
diately to  Pieces.     Six  of  the  Ten  Men,  whereof 
the^Company  did  confift,   were  drown'd  ;  but 
the  Mafter  and   the  Mate   were  left  upon  the 
Rock,  where  the  Sea  came  up  unto  their  Wafte, 
and  there  they  embrac'deach  other,  looking  for 
Death  every  Moment ;  which,  if  the  Sea  had 
rifen  higher,  mull  have   been  unavoidable.     By 
the  Rock  was  one    of  the    Seamen  grievoully 
wounded,  and  groaning :   But  in  the   Morning 
they  law  an  Ifland  about  half  a  mile  from  them. 
The  Rocks  were  fo  cragged,  that  thele   Perfons, 
who  were  bare-footed,    were  not  able  to  tread 
thereupon;  but  they  found  a  Piece  of  Tarpoling 
which  they    wrapp'd  and  faftned    about  their 
Feet  with  Rope-Tarns  ;   and  fo  getting  each  of 
them  a  Stick,  they  fometimes  walk'd,  and  lbmc 
times  they  crept,  until  at  laft  they  came  unco  the 
Ifland,  where  they  found  another  of  their  Crew, 
carried  a  more  by  a  piece  of  the  Veflel.     Eight 
Days  they  continu'd  on  the  Ifland,    and  Four  of 
them  without  any  Fire.  Salt-Fifh  wastheirFood, 
and  Rain- Water  found  in  the  Holes  of  the  Rocks 
their  Drink.    They   then    found    a    piece  of 
Touchwood   which  had   been  in   the    Mate's 
Cheft ;  and  a  Flint,  with  a  Knife,  being  in  like 
manner  brought  'em,   they  ftruck  Fire  ;  and  a 
Barrel    of  their    Flower  being  alfo  caft  alhore, 
they  made  Cakes  thereof.     But  there  muft  be  no 
long    Scay    made    upon  this    defolate   Ifland. 
Wherefore  finding  a  piece  of  the  Mam-Sail,  and 
fome  Hoops  of  a  Cask,  and  a    Fragment  of  a 
Board,  with  fome  Nails,  and  a  Box  wherein  was 
a  Bolt  rope  Needle  and  aTarr- Barrel,   with  which 
they  Tarr'd  their  Canvas.     Out  of  thele  wretch- 
ed Materials  they  patch'd  up  a  pitiful,  unlikely, 
dangerous  Tool,  which  they  calfd  a  Boat  ;  and 
meeting  with  Ibme  thin  Boards  which   came 
out  of  the    Cabin,    of  thefe  they   made  their 
Paddles.     In  this  odd  Vehicle  they  made  a  Voy- 
age of  ten  Leagues,  even  until  they  came  to  An 
guilia,  where  the  People  entertain'd  them    with 
Courtefie  and  Wtmderment. 

VI.  Sore  Calamities  at  Sea  furvived. 


A  fmall  Veflel  fet  fail  from  Bnfiol  to  New 
England,  Sept.  2i.  16B i.  wich  the  Mafier,  whole 
Name  was  William  Dutttn  ;  there  were  feven 
Men  a  board,  having  Provifions  for  three  Months-, 
but  by  contrary  Winds,  they  were  twenty  Weeks 
before  they  could  make  any  Land;  and  by  o 
ther  Dilalters  and  Diftrcffes,  it  wasrendred  very 
unlikely  that  ever  they  ftiould  make  any  Land 
at  all.  The  fierce  Winds  upon  the  Coafts  of 
New-England,  made  them  conclr.de  on  Dec.  12. 
that  they  would  bear  away  for  Barbadoes ;  but 
before  this  they  loft  One  Barrel  of  their  Beer,  by 
the  Head  being  broken  out  j  and  having  but  ie- 


near  their  Veflel  as  to  bz  catch' d  ;  yet  it  was  ob- 
fervable,  that  they  could  never  catch  any,  but  in 
anextream  rsecefiity  ;  nor  any  more  than  would 
ferve  their  prefent  Neajfity.     But   their  Mifery, 
thro' the  Want  or  Water,    was  very   fore  upon 
them  :  For  tho'they  tried  much  to  take  the  Rain 
Water,  when  any  tell,  the  Winds  were  ulually  fo 
furious,  that  they  could  fa ve  little,  if  any  of  it. 
However,  when  they  came  near  the  Latitude  of 
Rermudaz,  they  did,  unto  their  great  Joy,  lave 
two  Barrels  of  Ram  Water  \  but  then,    the  Rats 
unexpe&edly  eating  Holes  in  the  Barrels,  all  that 
Water  was  loft  again.     Once  when  a  Shower  of 
Rain  fell,  they  fav'd  a  Pint ;  which,  tho'  i:  were 
made  very  hitter  by  the  Tar,  yet  ic  was   a  fweet 
Water  unto  their  Thirjiy  Souls  ;  and  they  divided  it 
among  feven,  drinking  a  Thimble-fall  at  a  time^ 
which  went  five  times  about.     On  Jan.  27.  a 
good  Shower  of  Ra:n  fell  >  and  that  they  might 
preferve  it,  they  laid  their  Linnens  open  to  the 
Rain ;  and  wringing  them  dry,  they  obtain'd  fe- 
ven Gallons  of  Warer.which  being  Bottl'd  up,was 
a  great  and  a  long  Refrefhmentunto  them.  New 
Straits  then  came  upon   them.    They  catch'd, 
with  much  ado,  three  or  four  of  the  Rats,   that 
had  cheated  them  of  theirDrink,and  made  of 'em 
aMeat, which  to  their  famifiVd  Souls  did  leem  ve- 
ry delicate.     But  the  Torment  of  their  Drought 
grew  infupportable ;    for   fometimes  they  had 
not  a  Drop  of  any  frefh  Water  for  a  whole  Week 
together.     When  they  killed    a  Dolphin,    they 
would  fuck  his    Blood  for  the   Relief  of  their 
Thirfl,  yea,  their    Thtrji  caufed   them  to  drink 
large  Quantities  of  Salt  Water,   which  yet  they 
found  allay'd  it  not.    They  would  go  over  board 
with  a  Rope  faftned  about  them,  that  by  drench- 
ing ihemfelves  a  while  in  the  Sea,   they  might 
eale  the  internal  Heat  which  parched  them  ; 
and  when  they  flood  any  of  them  to  fteer  the 
Veifel,  they  would  have  their  Feet  in  a  Pail  of 
Sea  Water  to  refrigerate  em.      In  this  Calamity 
fome  of  the  Seamen  penitently  confefled,  howjufi 
it  ii'iis  with  God  thus  to  punijh  them,  who  had  intern' 
perately  abufed  ihemfelves  with  Drink,  Jo  often  in 
their  former  Converfation.     But  at  length  on  Febr. 
7.  they  met  with  a  Guinea  Man,  who   fupplicd 
'em  with  Neceifaries,    and  io  they  got  fafe  in 
unto    Barbados,  from  whence  they   afterwards 
made  their  Voyage  to  New- England. 


VII.   Seafonable  Succours, 

A  Ship  of  Dublin,  whereof  Andrew  Bennet  was 
Mafter,  being  bound  from  thence  unto  Virginia, 
and  got  as  far  as  the  Latirude  of  ly,  about  an 
hundred  and  fifty  Leagues  from  Cape  Cud  in  New- 
England  {on  April  18.  1681 .)  in  a  very  ftormy 
time,  fuddenly  there  fprang  a  Plank  in  the  fore- 
part of  the  Ship.  Whereupon  the  bea  broke  in 
io  faft,  that  they  could  not  by  all  their  Endea- 
vours keep  the  Ship  from  finking  above  half  an 
Hour.     Wherefore,  when  the  Ship  wae  \vfojmk- 

ing 


The  kiiftory  of  New- England.  Book  VI. 


ing,  lbme  of  the  Company  relblved  that  they 

would  launch  out  the  Boat,    which   was  a   very 

iinall  one  >  and  in  this  A&ion   the  Mafter }  the 

Mate,  the  Boatfwam,  the  Cook,  two  Fore  mafl  Men 

and  a  Boy,  kept  fuch  hold  of  it,  when  a  Caft  of 

the  Sea  luddenly  help'd  them  off  with  it,   that 

they  got  into  it-     The  Heaving  of  the  Sea  now 

fuddenly  thruft  them  from  the    Ship,    in  which 

there  were  lefc  Nineteen  Perfons,  namely,  Sixteen 

Men  and  Three  Women,    who  all   perilh'd  in  the 

Deep,  while  they  were  trying  to  make  Rafters, 

by  cutting  down  the  Malts  for  the   Prefervation 

of  their  Lives  as  long  as  they  could.  The  Seven 

in  the  Boat  apprehended  themlelves  to  be  in  a 

Condition  little  better  than  that  of  them  in  the 

Ship  ;  for  they  had  neither  Sails,  noi  Oan,  nor 

Bread,  nor  Water,  nor  any   fort  of  Inftrument, 

except  a  Knife  and  a  Piece  of  a  Deal- Board,  with 

which  they  madi  Sticks,  and  fet  them  up  in  the 

Sides  of  the  Boat,   covering  them  with  ibme  of 

their  own  Garments  to  keep  off  the  Spray  of  the 

Sea.     In  this  Condition  they  drove  with  an  hard 

Wind  and  an  high  Sea  all  this  Dav,    with  the 

Night  following:    but  the  next  Morning  their 

dilmal  Diltrefs  met  with  an  happy  Relief;  when 

they  faw  a  Ketch   (whereof  Edmund  Henfield  of 

Salem  \nNew  England,  was  Mafter)  under  Sail ; 

which  Ketch  coming  right  with  them,  took  'em 

up,  and  brought  'em  fafeto  New-England.    Now 

none  of  the  leaft  remarkable  Circumftances  in 

this  matter,  was,  that  when  the   Ship  foundered, 

the  Ketch  was  many  Leagues  to  the  Me(lv>ard  of 

her;  but  a  contrary  Wind  caufed  her  to  ftand 

back  again  unto  the  Eaftward,  where  thefe  poor 

Men  were  met  and  laved. 

VIII.  Diftreff-.d  People  at  Sea,  happily  meeting, 
and  helping  one  another. 

A  Ship  whereof  William  Laitcn  was  Mafter, 
bound  from  Ptfcataquam  New-England,  to  Bar- 
badoes,  being  two  hundred  and  fifty  Leagues  off 
the  Coafl,  fprang  a  Leak  ;  which,  notwT.hltand- 
ing  their  conftant  plying  of  the  Pump  tor  four- 
teen Hours  together,  lo  fill'd  the  Vcflel  with  Wa- 
ter, that  all  the  Eight  Perlons  aboard  betook 
themlelves  to  their  Boat,  with  a  good  Supply  of 
Bread  for  them  there  to  live  upon.  The  Mafter 
would  utter  a  ftrange  Perfwation,  that  they 
mould  meet  with  a  Ship  at  Sea,  whereby  they 
fhouldbereliev'd:  But  before  they  did  lo,  they 
had  lb  far  fpent  their  fmall  Supply  of  Water,that 
they  were  come  to  the  Allowance  of  each  Man  a 
Spoonful  a  Day.  In  this  Boat  they  continu'd 
upon  the  Atlantick  Ocean  for  Nineteen  Days  toge- 
ther; after  Twelve  of  which  they  met  with  a 
Storm  which  did  much  endanger  their  Lives; 
but  God  preferv'd  them.  At  the  End  of  Eighteen 
Days  a  Flying  Fifli  fell  into  their  Boat  i  and  hav- 
ing with  them  an  Hook  and  Line,  they  made  ufe 
of  that  Fi(l)  for  Bait,  whereby  they  caught  a  cou- 
ple of  Dolphins.  A  Ship  then  at  Sea,  whereof 
Mr.  Samuel  Scarlet  was  Commander,  apprehen- 
ding a  Storm  to  be  near,  they  fuffer'd  their  Veffel 
to  drive  before  the  Wind,  while  they  were  fitting 
of  the  Rigging  to  entertain  that  approaching 


Storm  ;  and  by  this  means  they  met  with  a  Boat 
full  of  their  dilfrefs'd  Brethren.  Captain  Scar- 
let's  Veffel  was  then  deftitute  of  Provificns ;  only 
they  had  Water  enough,  and  to  fpare  .-  For 
which  caufe  the  Mariners  delir'd  him  that  he 
would  notgo  to  take  the  Men  in,  left  they  fhould 
all  die  by  Famine.  But  the  Captain  was  a  Man 
of  too  generous  a  Charity  to  follow  the  Selffl 
Propofals,  thus  made  unto  him.  Hereply'd,  It 
may  he,  thefe  diflrefs'd  Creatures  are  our  own  Coun- 
trey  men  :  Or,  however,  (hey  are  diftrefs'd  Creatures. 
1  am  refolved  I  will  take  thtm  in ;  and  I'll  truft  in 
God,  -who  U  able  to  delivtr  us  all.  Nor  was  he  a 
Loler  by  this  Charitable  Relolution  i  for  Cap- 
tain Scarlet  had  the  Water  which  Laiton  wanted, 
and  Mr.  Laitcn  had  the  Bread  and  Fifli  that  Scar- 
let wanted  :  So  they  reirefh'd  one  another,  and 
in  a  few  Days  arriv'd  lafe  to  Niw-  England.  But 
it  was  remark'd,  That  the  chief  of  the  Mariners 
who  urg'd  Captain  Scarlet  againlt  his  taking  in 
thefe  diftrefs'd  People,  did  afterwards  in  his  Di- 
flrels  at  Sea,  perilh  without  any  to  take  him  in. 
In  another  Voyage  he  periuVd  at  Sea,  and  was 
never  heard  of. 

IX.  Wonderful  DiftreffcS,  and  more  wonderful 
Deliverances. 

A  Number  of  Mariners,  in  a  fmall  Pink,  be- 
longing to  Boftcn  (czU'dThe  BleJJtng)  were  taken 
by  an  Half-Galley  of  Cruel  Spaniards,  on  April 
i.  i<58;,who  put  them  all  immediately  into  their 
Hold,  except  the  Mafter  and  Mate,  the  latter  of 
which  they  tormented  by  twifting  a  Piece  of 
Sea-  Net  about  his  Head,  until  his  Eyes  were  rea- 
dy to  ftart  out :  And  then  hanging  him  up  by  the 
two  Thumbs  to  make  him  confefs  what  Money 
they  had  aboard  i  but  when  they  law  he  would 
confefs  nothing,  they  made  faft  a  Rope  about  his 
Neck,  and  ask'd  their  Commander  whether  they 
fnould  hoife  him  up  or  not  :  They  con  fid  ted  alio 
whether  they  fhouki  not  hang  all  the  Men  i  but 
not  agreeing  on  that  Point,  they  concluded  on 
lomewhat  no  lels  truculent  and  barbarous.  They 
kept  one  of  the  Men  on  board,  on  whom  they 
afterwards  exercis'd  bloody  Cruelties ;  and  the 
other  Six  belonging  to  the  Veffel,  they  thus  di£ 
poled  of.  They  carry'd  the  poor  Men  among 
<he  Mangrove  Trees,  that  grew  upon  an  adjacent 
Iflandi  and  ftripping  them  ftarknaked,  they 
caus'd  each  of  'em  to  turn  the'r  Backs  unto  the 
Branch  of  a  Tree,  and  Ipread  their  Arms  a- 
broad  ;  in  which  Pofture  they  bound  the  Arms 
of  each  Man  to  the  Branches  two  by  two,  about 
a  quarter  of  a  Miles  distance  between  the  feveral 
Couples,  thus  leaving  them  to  perifh  without  any 
Pity.  They  ftood  up  to  the  mid- Leg  in  Water, 
their  Feet  contiguous,  and  their  Faces  turn'd  fb, 
that  they  might  behold  each  others  Miferies. 
But  about  three  Hours  after,  one  of  thele  Men 
elpy'd  a  Stick  with  a  Crook  at  one  End,  not  far 
from  him  i  whereupon  he  laid  unco  his  Compa. 
nion,  If  it  pleafe  God  that  we  might  get  that  Stick 
into  our  Hands,  it  might  be  a  Means  to  work  our  De- 
liverance, and  thereupon  trying  to  bring  the 
Stick  towards  them  with  their  Feet,    in  a  little 

time 


Book  VI.  The  Hijlory  of  [Vew-£ngland. 


7 


time  they  happily  effe&ed  it,  and  lb  bore  it  up 
with  their  Feet,  that  at  laft  the  Man  got  hold  of 
it  with  his  Hand*  and  herewith  by  degrees  they 
loos'd  the  Knot  that  was  upon  the  Bowing  oi 
their  Arms ;  and  (hitting  it  into  their  Fingers, 
did  by  little  and  little  get  io  far  in  looting  it,  that 
they  quite  undid  it,  fetting  themfelves  at  liberty. 
Now  returning  their  Thanks  to  the  God  of  Hea- 
ven for  helping  them  thus  far,  they  haffned  unto 
the  Help  of  their  dsipairing  Friends.  But  their 
next  Care  was  how  to  keep  themfelves  out  of 
the  Sight  of  thole  barbarous  Wretches,  from 
whom  they  had  received  this  Ufage:  Yet  they 
had  not  gone  above  a  Mile,  before  they  fpy'd 
lbme  of  'em  got  upon  an  high  Tree  to  difeover 
Ships  that  pals'd  that  way.  Upon  this  they  were 
Jo  affrighed,  that  they  ran  among  the  Thickets 
and  loft  one  another,  and  met  not  again  till  the 
Third  Night  after  ;  in  all  which  time  they  found 
no  Water,  but  lick'd  the  Dew  from  the  Leaves  of 
the  Plants  thereabout :  At  which  Bufinefs,  while 
they  were  imploy'd,  an^/^forfuddeniy  got  the 
Arm  of  the  Mafter  into  his  Mouth  ;  but  he  with 
the  reft,  crying  out,  the  Alligator  let  go  his  Hold, 
therewithal  tearing  away  a  great  piece  of  the 
Flefli.  After  this,  they  got  upon  an  High  Tree, 
and  fate  there  till  it  was  Day ;  but  within  a  Day 
or  two  they  kill'd  a  wild  Coney,  which  they 
flay 'd  with  the  Flelpofa  (harp  Stone;  and  ap- 
plying the  Inlide  of  it  unto  the  Mafter  s  Arm, 
they  eat  the  Flefh  raw  with  no  little  Satisfaction. 
The  Night  following  they  got  upon  an  High 
Rock,  thinking  there  to  be  fecure  from  the  Alliga- 
tors ;  yet  even  there,  one  of  thofe  terrible  Crea- 
tures came  upon  'em,  and  hall'd  one  of  the  Men 
off  the  Rock  s  at  which  they  all  crying  out, 
the  Monfler  let  go  his  Hold,  and  the  Alan  was 
recover'd.  However,  this  made  'em  retire  into 
the  Trees  for  Safety.  Their  Drink  all  this  while 
was  the  Rain  Water,  found  in  Holes  among  the 
Rocks.  At  length  alfo  they  rais'd  a  little  Wall 
Two  Yards  high,  to  keep  off  the  numerous  Alli- 
gators :  And  Whilks  and  Crabs  were  their  beft 
Food,  whilft  they  had  much  ado  to  preferve 
themfelves  from  being  Food  to  thofe  Devourers. 
But  anon  they  found  a  Well  with  a  Barrel  in  it, 
where  they  reiolv'd  they  would  wait  for  Help  or 
Death.  On  Apr.  1 5.  the  Mate  (namely  Charles 
Cretchet)  with  two  more  (namely  Robert  Fierce 
and  Peter  Clement)  of  thefe  diftrefs'd  People, 
made  a  Raft  with  liich  Wood  as  they  found  on 
the  Ifland,  and  put  to  Sea.  The  Mafter  (whofe 
Name  was  David  Ea(l)  with  two  more  (whole 
Names  were  John  Bath  and  Peter  Rowla  nd)  being 
left  behind,  were  extreamly  hungry  and  feeble, 
and  had  not  the  leaft  Garment  to  cover  them 
from  the  Sun,  while  they  were  at  the  fame  time 
io  grievoufly  infefted  with  Mojcheto's,  that  they 
could  not  go  to  the  Rocks  for  Whilks,  but  mult 
content  themfelves  with  gnawing  fuch  dry  Bones 
of  Turtles  as  had  been  half  a  Year  lying  there. 
In  this  Extremity  Heaven  fent  them  fome  Sup- 
ply ;  for  they  found  a  dead  Eel,  which  they  fup- 
pos'd  had  been  dropt  by  an  Hern  :  This  they 
took,  theyskinn'd,  they  divided,  and  it  feem'd 
an  incomparable  Feaft  unco  them.    On  Apr.  19. 


the  Mafter  and  the  Two  lefc  with  him,  follow'd 
the  Example  of  the  Mate,  and  his  Two,  in  m  i  • 
king  a  Raf:  for  a  Voyage  to  Sea:  But  as  chey 
were  going  to  put  off,  they  eipy'd  a  couple  of 
Sails;  upon  which  they  betook  themfelves  unto 
the  Water,  that  they  might  get  unto  thefe  Vef- 
fels,  which  at  length  took  them  up.  Thefe  two 
Veffels  were  a  couple  of  Canoos,  having  three 
Men  apiece,  who  kept  em  thirty  two  D.iys,  and 
then  carry 'd  'em  into  Havana ;  where  the  Go- 
vernour,  noewkhftanding  they  fairly  related  un- 
him  their  Circumftances,  kept  'em  in  Prifon 
Eighteen  Days,  without  allowing  'em  any  food. 
So  that  if  they  had  not  receiv'dfome  Suften.ance 
from  a  few  poor  Engh[h  Prifoners  who  had  been 
there  before  'em,  they  had  been  perfectly  ftarv- 
ed.  At  laft  they  underftood  that  their  Ship  was 
in  that  Harbour,  and  the  Perfbns  who  took  her : 
Whereupon  they  petition'd  the  Governour  that 
they  might  have  their  Ship  again;  inafmuch  as 
they  could  make  no  legal  Prize  of  her ;  for  fne 
had  no  Spanif.j  Goods  aboard.  Their  Petition 
was  granted  ;  and  their  Ship  (tho'  empty'd  of 
every  thing  but  her  Ballaftj  was  reftor'd  unto 
'em :  Nor  could  they  by  a  new  Petition  obtain 
any  thing  but  her  Sails,  and  fome  finall  part  of 
her  Lading  that  had  not  been  difpos'd  of. 

On  June  10.  the  Hunters  having  taken  up  Ro- 
bert Pierce  and  Peter  Clement,  and  brought  'em  in- 
to Havana,  the  Governour  examin'd  'em  what 
was  become  of  their  Mates  >  and  they  told  him, 
That  they  were  five  Days  at  Sea  upon  the  Raft , 
and  had  only  two  Crabs  all  this  while  to  fubfift 
upon  >  and  then  by  the  Wind  they  were  driven 
upon  the  fame  Ifland  which  they  had  left,  where 
they  wander'd  up  and  down  for  a  Month  toge- 
ther ;  and  in  their  Travels  loft  their  Mate,  who 
was,  thro'  Weaknefi  unable  to  travel.  Hereup- 
on the  Governour  fent  'em  aboard  alio;  and 
the  Night  before  they  fail'd,  the  Hunters  infor- 
med the  Governour,  That  they  had  likewife  ta- 
ken up  the  Mate  alive.  But  the  Governour  hur- 
ry'd  '"em  away  in  fuch  hafte,  that  they  could 
not  know  the  Certainty  thereof;  and  fo  they 
profecuted  their  Voyage  for  Boften,  whither  they 
came,  well  nigh  ftarv'd  with  Cold,  not  having 
any  more  Clothes  than  a  Canvas  Frock  for  each 
Man,  which  the  Turtlers  had  beftow'd  upon 
them. 

X.  A  Notable   Story  of  one  fav'd  from    the 
Hands  of  the  Turks. 

A  Becad  of  Remarkable  Sea  Deliverances  may 
befufficient  for  theprefcnt  Entertainment. 

One  of  my  honeft  Neighbours,  whofe  Name 
is  Chrifiopher  Monk,  brought  me  this  Account  of 
what  had  befallen  himfelf. 

*  In  a  Ship  of  Bermudas,  call'd  The  Johns  Ad- 
'  vent ure,  whereof  I  was  Mafter,  July  2tt.  168  j. 
'  we  departed  from  Torbay  in  the  Weft  o\  Eng- 
land. Eight  Days  after  this  we  faw  a  Ship  a- 
cboit8\  A.M.  that  gave  us  Chafe  :  And  tho' 
'  we  madewhat  Sail  we  could  to  run  lion  it,  by 


2h  P.M.  it  came  up  with  us. 
Bbbbbb 


It  prov'd  to  be 
the 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


Book  yi; 


'  the  Half  Moon  oi  Algitr^ho  fent  tbeirLanch  on 
'  board  of  us,  and  carry'd  us  all  on  board  the 
'  Turks  Ship,  except  One,  whom  they  left,  to  help 
* 'em  in  failing  of  ours.  The  Captain  having 
'  examin'd  us  of  divers  things,  and  robb'd  us  of 
'  what  Silver  or  Gold  we  had  about  us,  lent  us 
'  forward  among  theocher  Chnfiians,  that  were 
'  there  before  us,  who  entertain'd  us  with  fonow- 
'ful  Lamentations, 

8 1  have  fince  reflec"ted  on  it, that  tho'  formerly 
'  I  us'd  Morning  and  Evening  Prayers  with  my 
'  Company  ;  yet  in  the  time  of  our  Chafe,  my 
'  Fears  and  Cares  made  me  have  no  Heart  for 
*  the  Duty.  But  our  Application  of  our  felves 
'  unto  Out-ward  Reliefs  and  Second  Caufes,  prov'd 
'all  in  vain. 

'However  now,  being  in  Turkifl)  and  cruel 
'  Hands,  I  thought  it  fit  to  pray  with  rhein  that 
'  weie  formerly  of  my  Family,  that  is  to  {ay,  my 
'Company;  and  I  wasenabfdto  do  it  in  the 
'  Prefence  of  my  Enemies,  without  receiving  Di- 
'  fturbance  from  'em.  /  inecurag'd  my  felf  m  the 
'  Lord  my  Gcd,  whtn  I  heard  'em  rejoicing  with 
'  Shouts  at  the  Prey  taken  by  them. 

'One  of  the  Moors  took  away  my  Bible  ,which 
'  I  thought  was  a  lore  Judgment  on  me,  becaufe 
'  of  my  neglecting  to  read  it  while  I  had  it.  But, 
'  thro'  the  Mercy  of  God,  I  had  foon  afcer  an  old 
'Bible,  which  the  Turks  reckon'dof  little  value, 
'  given  to  me.  This  was  my  fweeteft  Compa- 
'  nion  and  my  greateft  Conlblation  in  my  Dif- 
'  trcfs.  I  alio  met  with  Two  other  Books,  one 
'  entitul'd  The  Godly  Man's  Ark  ,  the  other  The 
c  Hiftory  of  the  Sufferings  of Jeliis  Chriif  ;  which 
'  were  very  beneficial  to  me.  From  the  Suffer- 
'  ings  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  I  was  incourag'd 
'  tofubmit  my  Will  unto  the  Will  of  God  in  all 
'  things ;  knowing  that  Jefus  Chrift  had  fuffer'd 
'  more  than  I  was  able  to  undergo,  and  had 
'  fweeten'd  all  to  thofe  who  are  His.  1  was 
'  likewife  made  willing  to  undergo  Slavery  from 
'  thole  Confiderationsin  Lam.  3.22,39.  It  u  of  the 
'  Lord's  Mercies  that  we  are  not  confum'd :  Wherefore 

*  doth  a  Living  Man  complain,  a  Man  for  the 
'  Pumfhment  of  his  Sin  i  being  convinc'd  that  my 
'  Sins  had  deferv'dfar  more  than  could  be  infli- 
'  cted  upon  me  in  this  Life.  1  thought  with  my 
'  felf,  that  if  I  met  with  a  good  Mafter,  my  Life 

*  would  be  the  more  comfortable  >  but  that,  if  I 
'  met  with  a  Bad  Mafter,  the  Time  which  I  had 
'  hereto  live,  was  but  fhort,  compar'd  with  £• 
'  ternity:  And  if  I  could  but  fecure  my  Eternal 

*  Happinefs,  it  would  make  amends  for  all;  and 
'  why  could  not  I  endure  Slavery  as  well  as  the 
'  Negroes  in  my  own  Nation)  ?  1  uf bally  read 
'  thofe  Places,  which  at  my  opening  of  the  Bible 
'  firft  offer'd  themfelves  unto  me  ;  and  often 
'  they  would  happen  to  be  exceedingly  pertinent 
1  unto  my  prefent  Condition  >  efpecially  many 
'  Paflages  in  the  37th  Pfalm  very  much  afFeded 
'me.  Oncecoming  upon  the  Dec  kin  the  Mor- 
'  ning,   and  finding  moft  of  all  the  Turks  and 

*  Moors  afleep,  I  thought,  that  if  I  had  been  Own- 
<  er  of  a  fharp  Knife,  i  could  have  cut  the  Throats 
'of  a  great  many,  without  making  any    Node, 

*  and  withal,  communicated  the  Notion  to  (on;e 


'  ot  the  Enghfh  aboard  ,  how  eafily  we  might 
'  conquer  our  Adversaries,  and  mafter  the  Ship. 
'  Some  conlented,  and  prefcrib'd  a  Way  ;  but 
1  one  more  fearful  than  the  reif,  bid  me  have  a 
'  care  what  1  faid  ;  for  fbme  among  us,  he  affir- 
'  med,  would  willingly  betray  our  Defign,  unco 
'  the  lofs  of  our  own  Lives.  Hereupon  I  fpoke 
'  no  more  of  it,  but  went  down  between  Decks 
'  to  advife  with  my  Bible  i  and  this  was  the  Scri- 
'  pture  which  then  occurr'd  unto  me  :  Ccafefrom 
'  Singer,  and  ft  ake  Wrath  ;  fret  not  thy  felf  in 
c  any  wife  to  do  Evil  >  for  Evil-doers  (ImII  be  cut 
'  off  $  but  they  that  wait  on  the  Lord,  foal!,  inherit 
'  the  Earth  ;  for  yet  a  little  while,  and  the  wicked 
cj}>aU  not  be.  Upon  this  I  wholly  debited  from 
'  my  evil  Intent ;  and  relolving  to  take  the  Ad- 
'  vice  of  the  Pfalm,  I  alio  apply'd  unto  my  felf 
'that  Scriptuie  in  Lam.  3.  26.  It  is  good  that  a 
'  Man  jliould  both  hope  and  quietly  wait  for  the  Sal- 
'  vat  ion  of  the  Lord.  And  that  in  If  a.  49.  24,15. 
'  and  that  inlfa.  53.  ;,  4. 

'  One  Mornir  g  as  I  flept  upon  fome  old  Sails 
'  between  Decks,  I  dream' J,  That  I  was  upon  an 
'  HiU,  where  was  a  little  lore  of  a  Log-hcufe,  like 
'  ibme  Houfes  that  I  have  feen  in  Virginia  s  That 
c  lbme  who  were  with  me  had  young  Eagles  in 
'  their  Hands,  bruiling  and  Squeezing  'em  in  their 
'Hands  tiii  they  made 'em  cry  ;  That  there  ap- 
'  peard  at  length  Two  great  White  Eagles  upon 
'  the  Top  of  another  Hill  coming  towards  us,  ac 
'  the  Cry  of  the Tcung Ones, to  releafe  'em:  That 
'  for  fear,  left  the  Old  Eagles  nvght  kill  us,  I 
'  with  leveral  others,  were  put  into  the  little 
'  Houfe  to  lecure  us :  And,  that  hereupon  the 
1  Young  Ones  were  let  at  liberty  ;  and  fomebody 
'  laid  unto  me,  For  toe  Crying  of  the  Poor,  for  the 
'  Sighing  if  the  Needy,  mw  will  I  arife,  faith  the 
'  Lord  ;  and  I  will  fet  him  at  liberty  from  him  that 
*  fuff'eth  at  him.  1  thought  alio  that  I  heard 
'  iomebody  cry  ouc,  A  Sail,  a  Sail .'  And  I  thought 
'  my  felf  upon  the  Upper  Deck  :  imagining 
'  that  there  Ifaw  a  Ship  or  Two.  With  this,  I 
'  awoke,  and  went  upon  the  Deck  ;  hue  feeing. 
c  no  other  Ship,  I  confider'd  a  little  upon  my 
'Dream,  telling,  it  unto  my  Mate,  and  adding 
c  That  I  expelled  a  fpeedy  Redemption. 

'  I  continu'd  thus  with  the  Turks  until  the  s?h 
fof  September  ;  all  which  time  they  never  of- 
c  fer'd  me  any  Abule,  tho'  chcy  did  beat  other 
'  Chrifiians  very  much.  On  that  Day,  about  8 
'  in  the  Morning,  a  Chriftian  at  the  Fore  top- 
'  mail  Head,  law  Three  Ships  >  one  of  which 
'  was  a  Frenchman,  which  had  been  in  our  Com- 
'  pany  the  Night  before  ;  and  now  told  die  other 
'  two  Ships  that  they  had  ieen  a  Turk  the  prece- 
'  ding  Evening.  The  two  Ships  weie  two  l'mail 
'.  Enghfl)  Frigacs,  iheJamcs-GalLy,&ru.\  the  Seaface. 
'  TheSeaface  having  aMan  at  theTop  ma  ft -head, 
'elpy'd  us,  and  made  Sail  towards  us.  and  lodid 
'  the  James-Galley.  We  lay  ftillumil  1  few  their 
'Sails  above  the  Water,  like  my  two  White 
'  Eagles,  as  white  as  Snow,  thro'  the  Sun  fhining 
'  on  them.  The  Turks  made  Sail  to  run  from 
'  'em  ;  yet  at  Night  the  James  Galley  came  up 
'  with  us  ;  whereupon  I,  wich  the  reft  of  the 
«  Chriltians,    was  chain'd  down  in   the  Hold. 

Alter 


Book  VI.  7 be  Hijiory  of  New- England. 


After  a  little  Difcourfe,  they  fired  on  our  Turks 
a  Volley  of  Small  Shot,  and  a  Broad-fide.  The 
Sea  Face  feeing  that,  boarded  us :  but  in  lefs 
than  an  Hours  time  (he  loft  her  Fore-maft,  and 
Boltfprit,  and  Head,  and  about  fiveand  twenty 
Men,  and  fell  a-ftern.  Yet  the  other,  which 
was  lefs  than  (he,  (hot  all  her  Maft  away  by  2 
in  the  Morning  >  and  when  it  was  Day,  the 
lurks  yielded  their  Ship.  Then  they  that  were 
leading  us  Captive,  were  them  ielves  carry'd 
into  Captivity,  Sept.  10.  16*61. 

Cbrijlopher  Monk. 


MJN71SSJ. 

Over  and  above  the  Number  of  Sea  Deliver- 
ances intended  for  this  Chapter,  we  will  add 
One  more,  which  is  a  late  and  a  frefla 
Inftance,  and  auefted  beyond  all  Con- 
tradiction. 

On  the  i<5th  of  Q&ober,  in  this  prefent  Year 
i6y~.  there  arriv'd  at  blew- Haven  a  Sloop  of 
about  50  Tuns,  whereof  Mr.  William  Trowbridge 
was  Mafter :  The  Veffel  belong'd  unto  New- 
Haven,  the  Perfons  on  board  were  Seven  ;  and 


17  long  Weeks  had  they  now  fpent,  fince  they 
came  from  their  Port,  which  was  Fajal.  By  io 
unufually  tedious  a  Paffage  a  Terrible  Famine 
unavoidably  came  upon  them  ;  and  for  the  five 
laft  Weeks  of  their  Voyage  they  were  fo  defti- 
tute  of  all  Food,  that  thro5  Faintnefs  they  would 
have  chofen  Death  rather  than  Life.  But  they 
were  a  praying  and  a  pious  Company  :  And 
when  theft  po,r  Men  crfd  unto  the  Lord,  be  heard 
and  fav'd  them.  God  fent  His  Dolphins  to 
attend  'em  ;  and  of  thefe  they  caught  ftill  One 
every  Day,  which  was  enough  to  ferve  'em  : 
only  on  Saturdays  they  ftill  catch'd  a  Couple ; 
and  on  the  Lord's  Days  ihey  could  catch  none  at 
all.  With  all  pofltble  Skill  and  Care  they  could 
not  fupply  themfolves  with  the  Fi(h  in  any  other 
Numbe:  or  Older  ;  And  indeed  with  an  Holy 
Blufh  at  laft  theyleit  off  oying  10  do  any  thing" 
on  the  Lord's  Days,  when  they  were  fo  well 
fuppiy'd  on  the  Saturdays.  Thus  the  Lord  kept 
feeding  a  Company  that  put  their  Truft  in  Him, 
asHc  did  His  IJrael  with  hisManna  ;And  this  they 
continu'd  until  the  Dolphins  came  to  that  Change 
ot  Water,  where  they  us'd  to  leave  the  Veflels. 
Then  they  fo  ftrangely  furrendred  themielves, 
that  the  Company  took  Twenty  feven  of 'em  ; 
which  not  only  fuffie'd  them  until  they  came 
aftiore,  but  alfo  fome  of  'em  were  brought  aftiore 
dry'd  ,  as  a  Monument  of  the  Divine 
Benignity. 


CHAP.     II.      Hofta. 

Relating  Remarkable  Salvations  experienced  by  others  be  fides  the  Seafaring. 

Pars  mihi  femper  erit,  fervari  Tjellefalutis 
Maxima 


THE  Good  People  of  New-England  may  tune 
their  Praifes  to  a  Confort,  with  thofe  of 
the  good  Pfalmift,  He  that  is  our  God,  ts  the  God 
of  Salvation,  and  unto  God  the  Lord  belong  the  IJfues 
from  Death.  How  many  Extraordinary  Salvati- 
ons, have  been  granted  unto  particular  Perfons, 
among  that  good  People,  a  fmall  Volume  could 
not  enumerate. 

Remarkable  Anfwersof  Prayer  have  been  re- 
ceiv'd  by  the  moft  of  thofe  who  have  experi- 
mentally known  the  Meaning  of  Wreftlings  in 
Prayer  among  us.  How  many  Thoufands  have 
upon  very  notable  Experiments  been  able  to  fay, 
This  Poor  Man  cried,  and  the  Lord  heard  and  favd 
htm;  One  very  furprizinglnftancehath  been  feen 
leveral  times  in  this  Land,  when  infinite  Swarms 
'  of  Caterpillars  have  devoured  our  Fields,  and  car- 
ry'd whole  Fields  before  them  :  Some  very  pious 
and  praying  Husbandmen  in  the  extream  Exi- 
gency, when  the  Devourers  have  juft  been 
entring  on  their  Fields,  have  poured  out  their 
fervent  Prayers  unto  the  God  of  Heaven  for  their 
Deliverance  ;  immediately  hereupon  Flocjis  of 
Birds  have  arriv'd  that  have  devoured  the  De- 
vourers, and  preierv'd  thofe  particular  Fields. 


when  others  have  been  horribly  wafted. 
Moreover,when  any  Neighbours  have  labour'd 
under  defperate  Maladies  i  or  been  tempted,  or 
diftra<5red,  or  poflefs'd,  it  hath  been  a  common 
thing  for  a  Knot  of  Godly  People  to  meet,  and 
faft,  and  pray,  and  fee  the  JffliEled  glorioufly 
deliver'd.  Furthermore,  when  any  Droughts,  or 
Floods  have  threatned  the  Ruins  of  our  Harvefts, 
thefe  and  thofe  Congregations  moftly  concern'd , 
have  pray-'d  with  Fafting  on  thofe  Occafions ; 
and  God  hath  wondroufly  deliver'd  them,  with 
a  Diftindion  from  others  that  have  not  fo  call'd 
upon  him.  The  very  Pagans  in  this  Wildernefs 
have  beenfometimes  amazed  at  what  they  have 
feen  of  this  nature  among  us,  and  cried  our, 
That  the  Englifhman's  God  was  a  Great  and  aGeod 
God!  It  may  be  added,  Some  of  our  Churches 
have  once  in  a  confiderable  while  kept  a  Day  of 
Prayer  for  the  Succefs  of  the  Word  of  CHRiST, 
upon  the  Souls  of  their  Children  in  rifing  Gene- 
ration among  them  :  And  the  Succefs  hath  been 
fochjthat  all  the  Churches  in  the  Land  have  took 
notice  of  it. 


Bbbbbb  2 


Again, 


IO 


The  Eiflory  of  New-England. 


Book  VI, 


Again,  Remarkable  Relcues  horn  Death  have 
been  receiv'd  by  ib  many  Thoufands  among  us, 
that  there  hath  been  fcarce  one  Devout  Family 
which  hath  not  been  able  to  bring  in  fomething 
unto  the  Heap  of  thele  Experiences.  Fallen 
Terfcns  that  have  had  Carts  and  Ploughs  juft  run- 
ning over  them,  the  Beafts  which  drew  them 
have  fuddenly  ftop'd,  unto  the  Surprize  of  the 
Spectators.  Perfons  on  the  very  Point  of  mortal 
Brui/ing  or  Drowning,  have  been  fnatch'd  out  of 
the  Jaws  of  Defirudion  in  Ways  that  arC  not  ac- 
countable: Even  Ejaculate-?  Prayers  have  had 
Aftonifhing  Anfwers.     Forinftance, 

An  honeft  Carpenter  being  at  work  upon  an 
Houle,  when  Eight  Children  were  fitting  in  a 
Ring  at  fome  childifli  Play  on  the  Floor  below  j 
he  let  fall  accidentally  from  an  upper  Story,  a 
bulky  Piece  of  Timber  juft  over  thele  little 
Children.  The  Good  Man,  with  inexpreffible 
Agony,  cry'd  out,  0  Lord  J  tree!  it,  and  the  Lord 
did  (o  direct  it,  that  it  fell  on  End  in  the  Midft  of 
the  licrle  Children,  and  then  canted  along  on  the 
Floor  between  two  of  the  Children,  without 
ever  touching  one  of  them  all.  But  the  Inftan- 
ces  of  fiich  Things  would  be  numberlefi.  And 
if  I  mould  with  a  molt  Religious  Veracity,  relate 
wha:  Wounds  many  Peribns  have  furviv'd,  I 
fiiould  puzzle  Vhilofofhy  and  make  her  have  fome 
Recourfe  unto  Divinity. 

One  Abigail  Eliot  had  an  Iron  ftruck  into  her 
Head,  which  drew  out  part  of  her  Brains  with 
it :  A  Silver  Plate  (he  afterwards  wore  on  her 
Skull  where  the   Orifice  remain'd  as  big  as  an 
Half  Crown.  The  Brains  left  in  the  Child's  Head 
would  fwell  and  (wage,  according  to  the  Tides  ; 
Her  Intellectuals  were  not  hurt,  by  this  Difafier  , 
and  (he  liv'd  to  be  a  Mother  of  feveral  Children. 
One  John  Symonds  about  the  Age  of  Ten  Years, 
had  fome  affrighted  Oxen  with  a  Plough,  running 
over  him  ;  the  Share  took  hold  of  his  Ribs  a  little 
below  the  left  Pap,  and  rent  an   Hole  in  his 
Breaft,  fo  large,  that  a  Man  might  have  put  in 
his  four  Fingers  :  His  very  Heart  became  vifible ; 
his  Lungs  would  fly  out  fundry  Inches,  as  often  as 
the  Place  was  dreft.     In  feven  or  eight  Weekshe 
recover'd  and  became  an  healthy  Man.    But 
an    Hi/lory  of  Rare  Cures   in  this    Countrey 
would  fill  more  Pages  than  may  here  be  allow'd. 
Yet  let  me  take  the  Leave  to  enquire  what  mail 
be- thought  of  the  Cafe  of  one  Sarah  Wilkmfon, 
whody'd  of  a  Dropjie.    For  a  long  while  before 
her  Death  (he  had  no  Evacuation  except  only  by 
a  frequent  and  fore'd  Vomit  of  Water  in  huge 
Quantities,  with  which  her  Dijfbfo'd  Bowels  came 
up  in  fucceffive  Potions  of  them.    When  (he  was 
open'd,  there  were  no  Bowels  to  be  found  inher, 
except  her  Heart,    which  was  exceeding  fmall, 
and  as  it  were  perboil'd  ;  and  her  Mill,  or  Spleen, 
one  End  whereof  ftuck  to  her  Back,   and  the  o 
ther  to  her  Ribs ;  as  alfo  a  fmall  part  of  her  Li 
ver  or  Lungs,  corrupted  fo  much,' that  they  knew 
not  which  of  the  Two  it  was,  and  this  no  bigger 
than  the  Palm  of  ones  Hand.     Other    Bowels, 
none  could  be  found  :  Yet  in  this  Condition  (he 
liv'd  a  long  while,  and  retain'd  her  Senies  to  the 
laft. 
But  we  will  content  our  felves  with  annexing 


to  thsfe  things,  a  Narrative  of  a  Woman  cele- 
brating the  wonderful  Difpenfations  of  Heaven. 

A    TSLA%%AT1VE     of    Hannah 
Swarton,    containing  Wonderful  Paf- 
fages,    relating   to  her   Captivity   and 
her  Deliverance. 
T  Was  taken  by  the  Indians  when   Cafco  Fort 
i  was  taken  ( May  1690.)  My  Husband  being 
(lain,  and  four  Children  taken  with  me.     The 
Eldeft  of  my   Sons   they    kill'd,    about  two 
Months  after  I  was  taken,  and  the  reft  fcatter'd 
from  me.     I  was  now  lefc  a  Widow,  and  as  be- 
reav'd  of  my  Children  ;  though,    I  had  them  a- 
live,  yet  it  was  very  (eldom  that  1  could  fee  'em, 
and  I  had  not    Liberty  to  dilcourfe  with  'em 
without  danger  either  of  my  own  Life, or  theirs; 
for  our  condoling  each  others  Condition,  and 
mewing  Natural  Affe&ion,  was  ibdiipleafingto 
our  Indian  Rulers,  unto  whole  (hare  we  fell,  that 
they    would  threaten  to   kill  us,  if  we  cry'd 
each  to  other,  or  difcourfed  much  together.    So 
that  my    Condition   was  like  what  the    Lord 
threatned  the  Jews  in   Ez,ek.  24. 12,  2;.     We 
durft  not  Mourn  or  Weep  in  the  Sight  of  our  Ene- 
mies, left  we  loft  our  own  Lives.     For  the  firft 
times,  while  the  Enemy  feafted  on  our  Engli(h 
Provifions,  I  might  have  had  fome  with  them  •, 
but  then  I  was  fb  fill'd  with  Sorrow  and  Tears, 
that  I  had  little  Stomach  to  eat ;    and  when  my 
Stomach  was  comea  our  Englifh  Food  was  (pent, 
the  Indians  wanted  themielves,  and  we  more  :  lb 
that  then  I  waspin'd  with  Want.     We  had  no 
Corn  or  Bread  ,  but  fometimes   Groundnuts,    A- 
corns,  Vurflain,  Hogweed,  Weeds,  Roots,  and  fome- 
times Dogs  Flejh,  but  not  fufficient  to  fatisfie  Hun- 
ger with  thefev  having  but  little  at  a  time.     We 
had  no  Succefs  at  hunting  ;  fave  that  one  Bear 
was  killed,    which  I  had  part  of ;    and  a  very 
fmall  part  of  a  Turtle  I  had  another  time,  and 
once  an  Indian  gave  me  piece  of  a  Moofe's  Liver, 
which  was  a  fweetMorlel  to  me  ;  and  Fiji)  if  we 
could  catch  it.     Thus  I  continued  with  them, 
hurry'd  up  and  down  the  Wildernefs,  from  May 
20.  till  the  middle  of  February  ;  carrying  conti- 
nually a  great  Burden  in  our  Travels ;  and  I 
mult  go  their  Pace,  orelfe  be  killed  prefently  5 
and  yet  was  pinch'd  with   Cold  for  want  of 
Cloathing,  being  put  by  them  into  an    Indian 
Drefs,  with  a  Height  Blanker,  no  Stockins,  and 
but  one  pair  of  Indian  Shooes,  and  of  their  Lea- 
ther Stockins  for  the    Winter :  My  Feet  were 
pricked  with  (harp    Stones  and  prickly   Bufhes 
ibmetimes ,  and  other  times  pinch'd  with  Snow, 
Cold,  and  Ice,  that  I  travell'd  upon,  ready  to  be 
frozen,    and  faint  for  want  of  Food  ;   fb  tha: 
many  times  I  thought  I  could  go  no  further,  but 
muft  lie  down,   and  if  they  would  kill  me,  let 
em  kill  me.  Yet  then  the  Lord  did  fo  renew  my 
Strength,  that  I  went  on  (fill  further  as  my   Ma- 
fter  would  have  me,    and  held  out  with  rhem. 
Though  many  Englifh  were  taken,    and  I  was 
brought  to  fome  of  'em  at  times,  while  ws  were 
about  Cafco   Bay  and    Kennsbeck  Rivtr,  yet   at 

Nor- 


Book  VI.  The  Hifiory  of  New-England. 


11 


Norr'J<?a-wcck  weweie  feparated,   and  no  Ergl'JIi 
were  in  our  Company,    but  one  John  York  and 
my  felf,    who    were   both  almoft  itarv'd    for 
Wane  ;  and  yet  fold,  that  if  we  could  not  hold 
up  to  travel  with  them,  they  would  kill  us.  And 
accordingly    John  York   growing  weak    by  his 
Wants,  they  killed  him,  and  threatned  me  with 
the  like.    One  time  my   Indian  Miitrefs  and  I. 
were  left  alone,  while  the  reft  went  to  look  for 
Eels  >    and  they   left  us  no  Food  from  Sabbath- 
Jay  Morning  till  the  next  Saturday,  fave  that  we 
had  a  Bladder  (of  Mcofe  I  think)  which  was  well 
fiU'd  with  Maggots,  and  we  boild  it,  and  drank 
the  Broth;   but  the   Bladder  was  io  tough  we 
we  could  not  eat  it.     On   the    Saturday   1   was 
fent  by  my  Miftrefs  to  that  part  or  the  Ifland 
moil  likely  to  ice  ibme  Canoo,  and  there  to  make 
Fire  and  Smoke,  to  invite  Ibme  Indians  if  I  could 
fpie  any,  to  coine  to  relieve  us;  and  I  eipy'd  a 
Canoo,  and  by  Signs  invited  'em  to  come  to  fhore. 
It  prov'd  to  be  lome  Squaws ;  who   underftand- 
ing  our  Wants,  one  ot   'em  gave  me  a  roafted 
Eel>  which  I  eat,    and  it  leem'd  unto  me  the 
moil  iavory  Food  I  ever  tafted  before.     Some- 
times we  liv'd  on  Worth  berries,  fometimes  on  a 
kind  of  Wild  Cherry,    which  grew  on  Bufhes, 
which  I  was  fent  to  gather   once  in  io  bitter  a 
cold  Sealbn,    that  I   was  not  able  to  bring  my 
Fingers  together  to  hold  them  faft  •'  Yet  under 
all  thele  Hardihips  the  Lord  kept  me  from  any 
Sickneh,  or   fuch  Weaknefs  as  to  difenable  me 
from  Travelling  when  they  put  us  upon  it. 

My  IW;awMiftrels  was  one  that  had  been  bred 
by  the  Engh[h  at  Black-Point ,  and  now  married  to 
&  Canada  Indian,    and  turned  Papift  >    and  (he 
would  lay,  That  had  the  Englifh  been  as  careful  to 
htfirttcl  her  m  our  Religion  as  the  French  -were,  to 
infimbt  her  in  theirs,   flie    might  hmve  been  of  cur 
our  Religion  :  and  fhe  would  fay  ,    That  God  de~ 
livcred  us  into  their  Hands  to  punifh  us  for  our  Sins  -, 
And  this  1  knew  was  true  as  to   my  felf.     And 
as  I  defired  to  coniider  of  all  my  Sins,  for  which 
the  Lord  did  punifh  me,  fo  this  lay  very  heavy 
upon  my  Spirit  many  a  time,  that  I  had  left  the 
Pubiick  Worfhip  and  Ordinances  of  God,  where 
I  formerly  lived  (viz,,  at  Beverley)  to  remove  to 
the  North  Part  ot  Cafco  Bay,  where  there  was  no 
Church  or  Minifter  of  the  Goipel ;  and  this  we 
did  for  large  Accommodations  in  the  World, 
thereby  expofing  our  Children,  to  be  bred  Igno- 
rantly  like  Indians,  and  ourielves  to  forget  what 
we  had  been  formerly  inftru&ed  in  i  and  fo  we 
turned  our  Backs  upon  God's  Ordinances  to  get 
this  World's  Goods.     But  now,  God  hath   ftript 
me  of  thefe  things  alfo ;  fo  that  1  muft  juftihe 
the  Lord  in  all  that  has  befallen  me,  and  acknow- 
ledged that  he  hath  punifh'd  me   lefs  than  my 
Iniquities  deferved.    I  was  now  bereav'd  of  Huf 
band,  Children,  Friends,  Neighbours,  Houfe,  E 
ftate,  Bread,  Cloaths,  or  Lodging  fuitable  j    and 
my  very  Life  did  hang  daily  in  doubt,  being  con- 
tinually in  danger  of  being  kill'd  by  the  Indians, 
or  pined  to  Death  with  Famine,    or  tired  to 
Death  with  hard  Travelling,    or  pinch'd  with 
Cold  till  I  died,  in  the  Winter  Seafon.     I  was  io 
amazed  with   many  Troubles,   and  hurry'd  in 
my  Spirit  from  one   Exercife  to  another,  how 


to  preierve    my  felf  in  Danger,    and  lupply 
my  felf  in  the  Want  that  was  prefent  ;  that  I 
had  not  time  or  Leifure  fo  compofedly  to  confi- 
der  of  the  great  Concernments  of  my  Soul,  as  1 
fhould  have  done ;  neither  had    I  any  Bible  ox: 
Good  Boch^to  look  into,  or  Chriftian  Friend  to  be 
my  Counfellour  in  thefe  Diftreffes :  But  I  may 
lay,  Ihe  Words  of  God,  which  I   had  formerly 
heard  or  read,  many  of  them  came  oft  into  my 
Mind,  and  kept  me  from  fencing  in  my  Afflicti- 
ons.   As  when  they  threatned  to  kill  me  many 
times,  I  often  thought  of  the  Words  of  our   Sa- 
viour to  Pilate, job.  19.  1 1.    Thou  couldeft  have  no 
Power  at  all  again/}  me,    except  it  were  given  thee 
from  above.     I   knew  they  had  no  Tower  to  kill 
me  but  what  the  Lord  gave  them  ;   and  I  had 
many  times  Hope,   that  the  Lord  would  not 
fuffer  them  to  flay  me,  but  deliver  me  out  of  their 
Hands  j  and  in  bis  time  I  hoped,  return  me  to 
my  Countrey  again.     When  they  told  me  that 
my  Elded  Son  was  kill'd  by  the  Indians,  I  thought 
of  that  in  Jer.  53.8.     IwiU  clcanfe  them  from  all 
their  Iniquities  whereby  they  have  finned  againft  me, 
and  I  will  pardon  all  their  Iniquities.     I  hoped,  thos 
the  Enemy  had  barbaroufly  killed  his  Body,  yet 
that  the  Lord  had  pardoned  his  Sins,  and  that  his 
Soul  wasfafe.     When  I  thought  upon  my  many 
Troubles,  1  thought  of  Job's  Complaint,  Chap. 
14.  16,   17.       Thou  numbreji    my     Steps ,     and 
watcheft  over  my  Sin  ;    my    Tranfgrejfion  is  fea- 
led  up  into  a  Bag  '■>  and  thou  fowefi  up  mine  Iniqui- 
ty.   This  was  for  my  Humiliation,  and  put  me 
upon  Prayer  to  God,  for  his  Pardoning  Mercy  in 
Chrift  i  and  I  thought  upon  David's  Complaint, 
Pfalm  1 3.  1, 2.  and  ufed  it  in  my  Prayers  to  the 
Lord  ;  How  long  wilt  thou  forget  me,  O  Lord,  for 
ever  .'  How  long  wilt  thou  hide  thy  Face  from  me  ? 
How  long  fliall  I  take  Counfel   in  my  Soul,    having 
Sorrow  in  my  Heart  I  How  long   (hall   my  Enemy 
be  exalted  over  me?    I  fometimes  bemoaned  my 
felf,  as  Job,  Chap.  19.  9,  10.      He  hath  ftripped 
me  of  my  Glory,  and  taken  my  Crown  from  my  Htad\ 
be  hath  deftroyed  mc  on  every  fide,  and  I  am  gone,  and 
my  hope  hath  he  removed  like  a  Tree.      Yet  fome- 
times encourag'd  from  Job  22.z-j.Thou  jhalt  make 
thy  Prayer  to  him,   and  he  flia/l  hear  thee,   and  thcu 
fljalt  pay  thy  Vows.     I  made  my  Vows  to  the  Lord 
that  I  would  give  up  my  felf  to  him,  if  he  would 
accept  me  in  Jefus  Chrift,  and  pardon  my  Sins ; 
and  I  defired  and  endeavour'd  to  pay  my  Vows 
unto  the  Lord.     I  pray'd  to  him,    Remember  not 
againft  me  the  Sins  of  my  Youth  ;   and  I  befbught 
him,  Judge  me,  O  God,  and  plead  my  caufe  again jt  an 
Ungodly  Nation  '■>  deliver  me  from  the  deceitful  and 
unjuft  Man.     Why  go  I  mourning  becaufe  of  the  Op- 
preffion  of  the  Enemy  i  And  by  many  other   Scrip- 
tures that  were  brought  to  my    Remembrance, 
wasl  infrruftedjdirededand  comforted- 

I  travell'd  over  fteep  and  h;dcous  Mountains 
one  while,  and  another  while  over  Swamps  and 
Thickets  of  fallen  Trees  lying  one,  two,  three 
Foot  from  the  Ground,  which  1  have  ftepp'd  on 
from  one  to  another,  nigh  a  thoufand  in  a  Day, 
carrying  a  great  Burden  on  my  Back.  Yet  I 
dreaded  going  to  Canada,  for  fear  left  I  (houlJ  bs 
overcome  by  thsm  to  yield  to  their   Religion  ; 

which 


12 


I  be  Hiftory  of  New-England.  Book  VI- 


which  I  hud  vowed  unto  God,  That- 1  would  not 
do.     But  the  Extremity  of  my  Sufferings  were 
fuch,  that  at  length  I  was  willing  to  go  to  pre- 
ierve  my  Life.     And  after  many  weary  Journies 
thro'  Froltand  Snow,  we  came  to  Canada  about 
the  middle  of  February  1690.  and  travelling  over 
the  River,  my  Ma^er  pirch'd    his    Wigwam  in 
fight  of  lome  French  Ffmfes  Weftwaid  of  us, 
and  then  lent  me  to  thole  Houfes  to  beg  Victuals 
for  them  :  which  I  did,  and  found  the    French 
very  kind  tome,  giving  me  Beef,  and  Pork,  and 
Biead,   which  I  had  been  wirhout  near  Nine 
Months  before  \  io  that  now  I  found  a  great 
Change  as  to  Diet.     But  the  Snow  being  Knee- 
deep,  and  my  Legs  and  Hams  very  fore,  I  found 
it  very  tedious  to  travel  i  and  my  Sores  bled  j  fo 
that  as  I  travell'd,   I  might  be  track'd  by  my 
Blood  that  I  left  behind  me  on  the  Snow.     1  af- 
ked  leave  10  ftay  all  Night  with  the  French  when 
I  went  to  beg  agun.  which  my  Matter  content- 
ed unto,  and  lent  meEaftward,toHoufes,which 
were  toward  Quebeck    ( though  then  I  knew  it 
not :)  So;  having  begg'd  Provisions  at  a  French 
Houie,  and  it  being  near  Night,  after  I  was  re 
frefli'd  my  felf,  and  had   Food  to  carry  to  the 
Indians,  I  fignified  as  well  isl  could,  to  make  the 
Frtnch  Woman  underftand,  that  I  defir'd  to  ftay 
by  he    Fi  e  that  Night.     Whereupon  (he  laid  a 
good  bed  on  tl'.e   Floor,    and  good   Coverings 
for  me,    and  there  I  lodg'd  comfortably ;  and 
thenext  Morning,   vvnen  I  had  breakfatfed  with 
the  Family,  and  the  Men-kind  were  gone  abroad, 
as  I  was  about  to  go  to  my  Indian  Mafter,   the 
French  Woman  ftept  out,  and  left  me  alone  in  her 
Houfe  ;  and  1  then  ft  aid  her  Return,  to  give  her 
Thanks  for  herKindnefsjand  while  I  waited,came 
in  twoMen,and  one  of 'em  fpake  to  me  in  Englijl) 
I  amgladtojeeyou,Countrey  Woman  \  This  was  ex- 
ceedingly reviving  to  heartheVoice  otanEnglifl) 
w><?»,and  upon  Inquiry  I  found  he  was  taken  at 
t  he  North-  Weft  Paffage  i  and  the  other  was  a  French 
Ordinary  Keeper.     After  lome  Difcourle,  he  ask'd 
me  to  go  with  him  to  Quebeck,  which  he  told  me, 
was  about  four  Miles  oft":  Lanfwer'd,   my  Indian 
Mafter  might  kill  me  for  it,   when  I  went  back. 
Then,  after  lome  Difcourfe  in  French  with  his 
Fellow-Traveller,  he  laid,   This  French  Man  en 


Hcre  was  a  great  and  comfortable  Charge  35 
to  my  Outward  Man,  in  my  Freedom  from  my 
former   Hardfhips,     and      Hard-hearted   Op- 
prelTours.     'But   here  began  a  greater     Snare 
and  Trouble  to  my    Soul  ,     and    Danger  to 
my  Inward  Man.    For  the  Lady  my  Miftrefs,the 
Nuns,  the  Priefts,  the  Friers,  and  the  reft,  fet'up- 
onme  with  all  the   Strength  of  Argument  they 
could  from  Scripture,  as  they  interpreted  it,  to 
perl  wade  me  to  turn  Papift  ;  which  they  prefs'd 
with  very  much  Zeal,  Love,  Intreaties  and  Pro- 
miles,  if  I  would  turn  to  'em  >  and   wit  h  many 
Threatnings,  and  fometimes  hard  Ulages,  becaufe 
i  did  not  turn  to  thtir   Religion.     Yea,  lome- 
times the  Pa  fills,  becaufe  I  would  not  turn  to 
them,  threat!        j  lend  me  to  France,  and  there 
I  mould  be  r  ^..a'd,  becaufe  I  would  not  turn  to 
them.     Then  was  I  comforted  from  that  in  2 
Cor.  i.  8,  j?,  10.     We   were  pre  ft  out  of  me  a  fur  e  a- 
bove  Strength,    inftmuch  that  we  defpaird  even  of 
Life;  but  we  had  the  fentence  of  Death  in  our  felves, 
that  wejhould  not  trujt  in  our  fehes,  but  in  God,who 
raijes  the  Dead,   who  delivered  us  from  fo  great  a 
Death,  and  doth  deliver  \  in  whom  we  trufl  that  he 
will  yet  deliver  us.     1  knew  God  was  able  to  de- 
liver me,  as  he  did  Paul,  and  as  he  did  the  Three 
Children  out  of  the  Fiery  Furnace  ;  And  I  be- 
liev'd he  would  either  deliver  me  from  them,  or 
fit  me  for  what  he  call'd  me  to  fuffer,    for  his 
Sake  and  Name.     For  their  praying  to  Angels, 
they  brought  the  Hiftory  of  the  Angel  that  was' 
lent  to  the  Virgin  Mary,  in  the  firft  of  Luke.     I 
anlwer'd  them  from  Rev.  19. 10.    and    22.9. 
They  brought  Exod.  17.  n.  oflfrael's  prevailing 
while  Mofes  held  up  his  Hands.     I  told  them,  we 
mutt  come  to  God  only  by  Chrift,  Job.  6.  37,44. 
For  Purgatory,  they  brought  Mat.  5.  15.     I  told 
them,  to  agree  with  God  while  here  on  Earth, 
was,  to  Agree  with  ot'-r  our  Adverfary  in  the  way  ; 
and  if  we  did  not ,    we  (hould  be  call  into  Helf] 
and  mould  not  come  out  until  we  paid  the  utmofi 
Farthing,  which  could  never  be  paid.    But  it's 
bootlels  for  me  a  poor  Woman,  to  acquaint  the 
World,  with  what  Arguments  1  uled,  if  I  could 
now  remember  them  >  and  many  of  them  are 
flipt  out  of  my  Memory. 
I  mail  proceed  to  relate  what  Trials  I  met  with 


gag'd,  that  if  I  would  go  with  them,   he  would  Sm  tnele  things.    I  was  put  upon  it,    either  to 
keepmefrom  returningto  the  Indians,a.nd Ifliould  j  ftand  to  the  Religion  I  was  brought  up  in,  and 


be  ranfbm'd  :  And  my  French  Holfefs  being  now 
return'din-a*doors,  perfwaded  me  to  go  with'em 
to  Quebeck  ;  which  i  did,  and  wasconvey'd  unto 
the  Houfe  of  the  Lord-Intendant,  Monfieur  le  To 
nant,  who  was  Chief  Judge,  and  the  Second  to 
the  Governour ;  and  I  was  kindly  entertain'd  by 
the  Lady  i  and  had  French  Cloathsgiven  me,with 
good  Diet  and  Lodging,  and  was  carry'd  thence 
unto  the  Hofpital,  where  I  was  Phylick'd  and. 
Blooded,  and  very  courteoufly  provided  for.' 
And  lome  time  after  my  Indian  Mafter  and  Mif 
trefs  coming  for  me,  the  Lady  Intendant  paid  a 
Ranlbm  for  me,  and  I  became  her  Servant.  And 
I  mult  fpeak  ic  to  the  Honour  of  the  French, 
they  were  exceeding*  kind  to  meat  firft;  even  as 
kind  as  I  could  expect  to  find  the  Englijh :  fo  that 
I  wanted  nothing  for  my  bodily  Comfort  which 
they  could  help  me  unto. 


believ'd  in  my  Conlcience  to  be  true ;  or  to 
turn  to  another,  which  I  believ'd  was  not  right. 
And  I  was  kept  from  turning,  by  that  Scripture, 
Mat.  10.  ;i,  33.  Whofoever  (hall  confefs  me  before 
Men,  him  will  I  confefs  before  my  Father  which  a 
in  Heaven  5  and  whofoever  denies  me  before  Men, 
him  alfo  will  I  deny  before  my  Father  which  is  in 
Heaven.  I  thought,  that  if  I  mould  deny  the 
Truth,  and  own  their  Religion,  I  mould  deny 
Chrift.  Yet,  upon  their  Perfwafions,  I  went  to 
fee  and  be  prefent  at  their  Worftrip  fometimes ; 
but  never  to  receive  their  Sacrament.  And  once 
when  I  was  at  their  Worfhip,  that  Sc  ifture 
1  Cor.  6. 14.  to  the  End,  came  into  my  Mind: 
What  Communion  hath  Light  with  Darknefa  I  what 
Concord  hath  Chrili  with  Belial  1  what  part  hath  he 
that  belteveth  with  an  Infidel !  and  what  Agreement 

hath 


Book 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


l? 


hath  the  Temple  of  God  with  Idols  i  Wherefore]  come 
out  from  among  them,  and  be  ye  Jcparate,  and  touch 
not  the  unclean  thing,  and  I  will  receive  you,  and  I 
will  be  a  father  unto  you,  and  ye  fliall  be  my  Sens  and 
"Daughters,  J  ait  h  the  Lord  Almighty.  This  Scrip- 
ture was  ib  ltrong  upon  my  Spiric,  that  I  thought 
I  was  out  of  my  way  to  be  prefent  at  the  Idola- 
trous Wotfhip,and  I  refolv'd  never  to  come  unto 
it  again.  Buc  when  the  time  drew  nigh,  that  1 
was  to  go  again,  i  was  ib  reltleis  that  Night, 
that  1  could  not  deep;  thinking  what  I  fhould 
lay  to  'em  when  they  urg'd  me  to  go  again,  and 
what  I  fhould  do.  And  lo  it  was  in  the  Morn- 
ing, that  a  French  Woman  of  my  Acquaintance, 
told  me,  if  I  would  not  be  of  their  Religion,  I 
did  but  mock  at  it,  to  go  to  their  Worihip,  and 
bid  me.that  if  I  would  not  be  of  their  Religion,! 
ftiould  go  no  more.  1  anfwer'd  her,  That  I  would 
7tot  be  of  their  Religion,  and  I  would  go  no  more  to 
their  Worflnp  :  And  accordingly  I  never  went 
more,  and  they  did  not  force  me  to  it. 

1  have  hid  many  Conflicts  in  my  own  Spirit, 
fearing  that  I  was  not  truly  converted  unto  God 
in  Chrift,   and  that  I  had  no  laving  Interelt  in 
Chrift.     1  could  not  be  of  a  Falie  Religion,  to 
pleale  Men  ;  for  it  was  againft  my  Conscience 
And  1  was  not  fit  to  ftiffer  for  the  True  Religion, 
and  for  Chrift  :  For  I  then  fear'd  I  had  no    ln- 
tereft  in  him.     I  was  neither  fit  to  live,  nor  fit  to 
die;  and  brought  once  to  the  very  Pit  of   Def- 
pair  about  what  would  become  of  my  Soul.    In 
this  time  I  had  gotten  an  Englijl)  Bible,  and  other 
good  Books  by  t:ie  help  of  my    Fellow  Captives. 
1  looked  over  the  Scripture,  and  fetled  on  the 
Prayer  of  'Jonah,  and  thofe  Words,  I  faid  I  am 
ca(i  out  of  thy  fight,  yet  will  Hook  again  towards  thy 
Holy  Temple.      1  refolv'd  1  would  do  as  Jonah 
did :  And  in  the  Meditation  upon  thisScripture 
the  Lord  was  pleaied  by  his  Spirit  to  come  into 
my  Soul,  and  ib  fill  me- with  raviihing  Comfort, 
that  1  cannot  expreis  it.    Then  came  to  mind 
the  Hiftory  of  the  Transfiguring  of  Chrift,  and 
Peter's  Saying,  Mattb.  17.  4.     Lord,  it  is  good  for 
us  to  be  here!     1  thought  it  was  good   for  me  to 
be  here  i  and  1  was  lo  full  of  Comfort  and  Joy, 
I  even  wifiVd  I  <£ould  be  lb  always,   and  never 
fleep  ;  or  elle  die  in  that   Rapture  of  Joy,    and 
never  live  to  fin  any  more  againft  the  Lord.  Now 
I  thought  God  was  my  God,  and  my  Sins  were 
pardoned  in  (thrift  ;  and  now  I  could  fuffer  for 
Chrift,  yea,  die  for  Chrift,  or  do  any  thing  for 
him.     My  Sins  had  been  a  Burden  to  me:  1  de 
fired  to  fee  all  my  Sins,  and  to  repent  of  them  all 
with  al!  my  Heart,    and  of  that  Sin  which  had 


things  of  God  and  Prayer  together  fomerimes ; 
efpecially  with  one  that  was  in  the  fame  Houfe 
with  me,  Margaret  Stilfen.  Then  was  the  Word 
of  Godpsecious  to  us,    and    they    that  feared 
the  Lord,  [fake  one  to  another  of  it,  as  we  had  Op- 
portunity. And  Col.  Tyng  and  Mr.  ^We»,asthey 
were  permitted,  did  ipeak  to  us  to  confirm  and 
rtrengthen    us  in  the  ways  of  the  Lord.       At 
length  the  French  debarr'd  our  coming  together 
for  Religious  Conference,  or  other  Duties :  And 
Word  was  fent  us  by   Mr.  Alden,  That  this  was 
one  kind  of  Perfection  that  we  muft  fuffcr  for  Chrift. 
Thefe  are  fome  of  the  Scriptures  which  have 
been  my  Support  and  Comfort  in  the  Affli&ion 
cf  my  Captivity  among  the    Papifts.      .That 
in    Ezek.  id.  6,-8.      Iapply'd  unto  my  felf, 
and  I  defir'd  to  Enter  into  Covenant  with  Go</,and 
fo  be  His ;  and  I  prayed  to  the  Lord,  and  hoped 
the  Lord  would  return  me  to  my  Countrey  a- 
gain,'    That  I    might  Enter  into  Covenant  with 
Hrm,  among  his  People,  and  enjoy  Communion 
with  Him  in  his  Churches  and  publick    Ordi- 
nances.   Which  Prayers  the  Lord  hath  now 
Heard,  and  gracioufly  anfver'cl  j  praifed  be  his 
Name !  The  Lord  enable  me  to  live  fuitably  to 
his  Mercy,  and  to  thofe  publick  and  precious 
Privileges  which  I  now  enjoy.   So,  that  in  Ezek. 
11. 16,17.  was  a  great  Comfort  unto  me  in  my 
Captivity  •,  Although   J.  have  cafi  them  far  off  a- 
mong  the  Hea  hen,  yet  will  1  be  a  little  SanUuary  to 

them  : 1  will  gather  you  from  the   People, 

where  you  have  been  Jcattered.     I  found  that  God 


was  a  Little  Sanduary  to  me  there,  and  hoped, 
that  the  Lord  would  bring  me  untothe  Countrey 
from  whence  I  had  been  icattered.     And  the 
Lord  hath  heard   the  Prayer  of  the  Deftitute, 
and  not  defpis'd  my  Prayer,  but  granted  me  the 
Defire  of  my  Soul,  in  bringing  me  to  his  Houfe, 
and  my  Relations  again.     I  often  thought  on 
the  Hiftory  of  the  Man  born  blind;  of  whom 
Chrift,  when  his  Difciples  asked,    Whether  this 
Man  had  finned,   or  his  Parents  ?    anfwercd,  Nei- 
ther this  Man  nor  his  Parents  >  but  this  was,  that  the 
Works  of  God  might  be  made  manifeji  in  hint.       So, 
tho3 1  had  delerved  all  this,  yet  I  knew  not  but 
one  Reafon  of  God's  banging  all  thefe  Affticfti- 
onsandMiferies  upon  me,  and  then  enablingme 
co  bear  them,  was,Tbat  the  Works  of  God  might  be 
made  manifefl.     And  in  my  great  Diftrefe  I  was 
revived  by  that  in   Pfal.  1 18.  17,  18.     /  pall  not 
die  but  live,  and  declare  the  Works  of  the  Lord:  The 
Lord  hath  cbapexed  me  fare,  but  he  hath  not  given 
me  over  to  Death.     I  had  very  often  a  fecret  Per- 
fwafion,  That  I  fhould  Live  to  declare  the  Works 
2 


been  efpecially  a  Burden  to  me,  namely,  That  I  of  the  Lord.  And  2  Chron.  6.  ;6, ;-,  38,  ;<?. 
Left  the  Publick  Worjhtp  and  Ordinances  of  was  a  precious  Scripture  to  me  in  the  Day  of 
God,  to  go  tp  live  in  a  remote  Place,  without  the  Pub-  \  Evil.  We  have  read  over,  and  prayed  over  this 
lick  Miniftry  ;  depriving  our  [elves  and  our  Chi  1-j  Scripture  together,  and  talk'd  together  of  this 
dren  of  fo  great  a  Benefit  for  our  Souls  ;  and  all  this  Scripture,  Margaret  and  I ;  how  the  Lord  had 
for  Worldly  Advantages.  1  found  an  Heart  to  promis'd,  Though  they  were  icattered  for  their 
repent  of- them  all ;  and  to  lay  hold  of  the  Blood  Sins,  yet  there  fhould  bea  Return,  if  they  did 
of  Chrift,  to  cleanfe  me  from  them  all.  I  bethink  themielves,  and  turn,  and  pray.     So  we 

I  founcl  much  Comfort,  while  1  was  among  did  bethink  our  felves  in  the  Land  where  we 
the  French,  by  the  Opportunities  I  had  fometimes!  were  carried  Captive,  did  turn,  did  pray,  and 
to  read  the  Scriptures  and  other  good  Books,  j  endeavour  to  Return  to  God  with  all  our 
and  pray  to  the  Lord  infeciet;  and  the  Confe-!  Hearts  .  And,  as  they  were  to  fray  towards  the 
rence  that  fome  of  usCaptives  had  together  about'  Tern- 


34 


TbeHiflory  of  New-England.  Book  VI. 


Temple,  I  took  it  that  I  fhould  pray  towards 
Chrifti  and  accordingly  did  ib,  and  hoped  the 
Lord  would  hear,  and  he  hath  heard  from  Hea- 
ven his  Dwelling-place,  my  Prayer  and  Suppli- 
Cuion,ar,d  maintained  my  Cauie,  and  not  reje- 
cted me,  but  returned  me.  And  Oh  !  how  affe- 
dionate  was  my  reading  of  the  84th  Pfalm  in 
this  Condition. 

The  means  of  my  Deliverance,  were  by  rea- 
fon  of  Letters  that  had  paffed  between  the  Go. 
vernments  of  New- England  and  of  Canada.  Mr. 
Cory  was  lent  with  a  Veffel,  to  fetch  Captives 
from  §>uebeck ;  and  when  he  came,  I  among  o- 
thers,  with  ray  youngeft  Son,  had  our  Liberty  to 


come  away  :  And  by  God's  Bleffing  upon  us, 
we  arrived  in  Safety,  at  Bofion  in  November  1695. 
our  defired  Haven.  And  I  defire  to  praife  the 
Lord  for  his  Goodnefs,  and  for  his  wonderful  oWorks  t 
me.  Yet  ftill  1  have  left  behind  Two  Children  ; 
a  Daughter  of  Twenty  Years  old  at  Mont  Royal, 
whom  I  had  not  feen  in  Two  Years  before  I 
came  away ;  and  a  Son  of  Nineteen  Years  old, 
whom  I  never  faw  fince  we  parted,  the  next 
Morning  after  we  were  taken.  I  earneftly  re- 
queft  the  Prayers  of  my  Chriftian  Friends  that 
the  Lord  will  deliver  them. 
What  fliall  I  render  to  the  Lord  for  all  his  Benefits  ? 


C  H  A  P.     III.       Ceraunius. 
Relating  <%emarUh\hy  done  by  THUlSl  V  E% 


THE  Remarkable  Effeds  of  THUN  V  E  R,- 
have  been  memorableSubjeds,  upon  which 
the  Pens  of  Hiftorians  in  all  Ages  have  been  im- 
ployed.  And  indeed,  tho'  the  Natural  Caufes 
of  the  THUNDER  are  known  unto  us  i  yet 
there  are  thofe  Notable  Voices  of  the  Almighty 
God,  often  fenfible  in  the  directing  thereof, 
which  it  becomes  Good  Men  to  oblerve  with 
devout  Refentments. 

'Tis  very  likely,  that  the  Evil  Angels  may  have 
a  particular  Energy  3nd  Employment,  often- 
times in  theMifchiefs  done  by  thsThunder.  When 
we  read  concerning  the  Fire  of  God  falling  on 
fome  of  Job's  Poffeffions,  our  Caryl  fays  upon  it, 
The  Fire  01  God  here  is  conceived  to  have  been  fome 
terrible  Fiafli  of  Lightning;  and  it  is  the  more  fro' 
bable,  becaufe  it  is  faid,  To  fall  from  Heaven  ; 
that  is,  out  oi  the  Air.  There  Satan  can  do  migh 
ty  things,  command  much  of  the  Magazine  of  Hea 
ven,  where  that  dreadful  Artillery,  which  makes 
Men  tremble,  thofe  Fiery  Meteors,  Thunder  and 
Lightnings  are  fiord  and  lodged.  Satan,  let 
loofe  by  God,  can  do  wonders  in  the  Air  :  He 
can  raije  Storms,  he  can  difcharge  he  Great 
Ordnance  of  Heaven,  Thunder  and  Lightning  ; 
and  by  his  Art  can  make  them  more  Terrible 
and  Dreadful  than  they  are  in  their  own  na- 
ture. 'Tis  no  Herefieor  Blafphemy  to  think 
that  the  Prince  of  the  Power  of  the  Air  hath  as 
good  Skill  in  Chymifiry  as  goes  to  the  making  of 
Aurum  Fulminans.  But  this  Conceflion  does  the 
more  powerfully  befpeak  our  Acknowledgment 
of  the  Great  GOD,  the  High  THUNDERER, 
who  limits  thoie  Deftroyers  from  all  Mil-appli- 
cations of  his  Thunderbolts,  and  who  hath 
Good  Angels  as  well  as  Evil  ones  to  be  the  Exe 
cutionersoi  his  Judgments  in  his  Thunders,  and 
who  will  have  none  but  his  own  Defigns  accom 
pliflied  by  thcThunders,  wherein  the  Clouds  do 
proclaim  his  Immortal  Strength. 

New- England  hath  been  a  Countrey  fignaliz'd 
with  Mifchiefs  done  by  Thunders,  as  much  asper- 
haps  moft  in  theWorld.  If  Things  that  arefmitten 
by  Lightning  were  to  be  efteemed  Sacred,  this 
were  a  Sacred  Countrey.  Rarely  a  Summer  partes 
without  ibme  Strokes  from  the  Thunders,  on  the 
Perfons,  or  Houfes,  or  Cattel  of  our  People. 


To  enumerate  the  Inftances  of  Damages  done 
iby  Thunders  in  this  Land,  Houles  fired,  Cattel 
iflain,  Trees  pull'd  a-pieces ,  Rocks  pulverized , 
JBricks  vitrify 'd,  and  Ships  mortify 'd,  would  be 
to  fill  a  Volume. 

Several  Perfons  have  been  kill'd  by  the  Thun- 
ders  ;  the.. Lightnings  have  ftrangely  lick'd  up 
their  Animal  Spirits,  and  left  them  dead  upon 
the  fpoa-  The  Punilhment  of  Burning  ufed 
lbmetimes  among  the  Jews  of  old,  fome  think 
was  inflided  By  pouring  Hot  Lead  into  the 
Mouths  of  the  Criminals.  This  Punilhment 
was  call'd  Ccmhtfiio  Animx,  and  ufed  in  imitati- 
on of  God's  deftroying  Men  with  Leghtning, 
whereby  the  Inward  Parts  are  Burnt ,  while  the 
Outward  are  not  hurt.  A  Combuflio  Anime  by 
the  Lightning  hath  .killed  many  of  our  People. 
Some  of  thefe  have  had  the  jult  Reputation  of 
Godly  Perfom,  who  yet  have  died  the  fame  Way 
chat  the  Learned  Zuinger  YUppoles  the  Sodomites, 
and  Corah's  Confpirators  to  have  perifh'd,  as  well 
as  Nadab  and  Abihu,  and  thsStmictnturions  that 
affronted  the  Prophet  Elm. 

In  Confutation  of  an  Opinion  mentioned  by 
Plutarc y&,That  Men  afleepare  never  ftrickenwith 
Lightning  ;  fome  among  us  havfc  been  killed  by 
the  Thunder  when  faft  afleep,  arid  had  that  Epi- 
taph, 

Trifie  jaces  luces  Evitandumq'i  Bidtintal. 

All  that  I  (hall  add,  is  this ;  It  hath  been  feen 
That  Thunders  oftner  fall  upon  Houfes  of  God,  than 
upon  any  other  Houles  i  New  England  can  fay  lb. 
Oar  Meeting  Houfes,  and  our  MinUhrs  Houles 
have  had  a  lingular  fhare  in  the  Strokes  of  Thun- 
ders. 

Now  becaufe  there  was  in  it  fomewhatRemar- 
kableand  Entertaining,  I  fhall  fuperfede  all  fur- 
ther Accounts  of  our  Thunders,  by  Vnnex'ng 
fome  Notes  of  a  Sermon  preached  by  orae  among 
us,  at  the  very  Inftant  when  the  ^Thunders 
were  falling  upon  his  own  Houfe,  with  fome  An- 
gular Circumftances. 


Brm- 


Book  VI.  I  be  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


s5 


fBrontohgia  Sacra:  The  Voice  of  the  Glorious  God  in  the  Thunder,  Ex- 
plained and  Applied,  in  a  Sermon,  uttered  by  a  Minifter  of  the  Gofpel, 
in  a  Lecture  unto  an  AfTembly  of  Chriftians  abroad,  at  the  very  fame  time 
when  the  Thunder  was,  by  the  Permiffion  and  Providence  of  God,  falling 
upon  his  own  Houfe.  A  Difcourfe  ufeful  for  all  Men  at  all  times  ;  buc 
especially  intended  for  an  Entertainment  in  the  Hours  of  Thunder. 


■Ctti  non  Conrepunt  membra  pavore 

y  r  •  f  *  t  •  -J        a  •    1  11 


Fulminis  Tlorrihlli  cumplaga  torricia  tellus 

Cont  remit,  &  magnum  per  cur  runt  murmur  a  Calum  ! 


Advertifement. 

THE  Author  vfthe  enfuing  Meditations,  is  wil 
ling  to  have  nothing  further  known  either  of 
him  or  of  them,  fave  thtsfthat  being  at  Prayer  before 
a  Sermon  in  an  Affembly  of  Chriftians,  the  Jud 
den  Rife  of  a  Thunder-Storm  -was  the  Occafion  of 
his  feeling  a  (irong  Impi  effion  upon  his  Mind  unto 
thts  purpofe ;  Lay  afide  what  you  had  prepar'd 
for  this  Auditory  :  Speak  to  them  in  the  Voice 
of  the  Glorious  God  in  the  Thunder  >  vou  (hall 
not  want  Affiftances.  He  could  not  with/land 
this  Impreffion,  but  -ventured  upon  an  extempora- 
neous Contemplation  of  the  Thunder.  Now, 
t<heThing  which  made  this  DignJJim  remarkable, 
was,  that  at  the  very  fame  Infiant  when  be  was  thus 
driven  to  this  Theme,  the  Thunder  was  dtretled 
by  the  God  of  Heaven  to  fall  with  very  tearing,  t ho' 
no  killing  Effects  upon  his  own  Houle.  The  Hear- 
ers, /  Juppofe,  found  a  fenfible  "Edge  given  to  thefe 
Meditations,  by  the  wondrous  tinting  of  them  ;  and 
although  no  doubt,  the  Author  would  have  digtfted 
them  with  more  Exailnefs,  had  they  not  been  altoge- 
ther like  the  Accidents  that  produced  them,  fudden  ; 
yet  thefe  Notes  taken  of  them,  are  perhaps  not  (o 
utterly  undigested  as  to  be  wholly  ufelefs  unto  a  well- 
difpos'd  Reader. 

The  Thunder  being  a  Thing  that  often  entertains 
US,  it  was  thought  that  it  would  be  no  Dif-fervice  un- 
to the  Church  of  God,  if  a  few  fucb  Reflections 
were  offer'd  unto  the  Vublickfor  the  Entertainment 
of  the  Serious,  When 

Ipfe  pater  media   Nimborum  in  no&e  co- 

rulca, 
Fulmina  molitur  dextra,  quo  maxima  motu 
Terra  tremit,  fugere  ferae,  &c  mortaliacorda 
Per  gences  humilis  ftravic  pavor.— 


Lucret.  1.  $. 


Meditations   upon  Thunder.     Uttered 
September  it.    1694. 

OBferving  that  by  the  Thunder- Storm  juft  .now 
begun,  you  are  many  of  you  thrown  into 
a  Confternation,  which  perhaps  may  indifoofe 
you  to  mind  any  thing  but  the  Thunder,  I  (hall 
altogether  lay  afide  the  Meditations  wherewith  I 
came  hither  purpofing  to  entertain  you;  and  I 
(hall  with  the  Leave  and  Help  of  Our  God,  who 
is  now  fpeaking,  treat  you  with  fome  fudden 
Meditations  upon  the  Thunder  it  felf. 

Chriftians,  You  (hall  now  go  along  with  me 
unto  the  29th  ?falm,  in  the  Third  Verfe,  whereof 
you  (hall  find  thefe  Words  : 

The  Voice  of  the  Lord  is  upon  the  Waters, 
the  God  of  Glory  Thundereth. 

And  now,  let  not  your  Attention  to  the  Thun- 
der at  this  Inffant  abroad,  interrupt  your  further 
Attention  to  the  Greater  and  Louder  Thunder 
here  within. 

The  Voice  of  God  in  this  Book,  is  far  beyond 
that  Voice  which  is  now  making  its  rapid  Peals 
in  the  Skie.  This  Voice  is  more  articulate  than 
that-,  yea,  by  this  Voice  that  becomes articul.it;. 
give  unto  both  yourearnelt  Heed. 

I  remember  that  when  Elihu  was,  as  I  now 
am,  fpeaking  at  a  Meeting  of  fome  Godly  M:n, 
at  that  very  time,  as  at  this,  'tis  by  fome  Inter- 
preters conceived,  it  Thundered;  and  at  the 
lame  time  that  Man  of  God  fell  into  a  Difcourfc 
upon  theVoice  of  God  in  the  Ihundir.  Then  'cwas 
that  he  laid,  in  Job  37.  beg.  At  this  my  Heart 
trcmbleth,  and  is  mov'd  out  of  his  place.  Hear  at- 
tentively the  noife  of  his  Voice-,  and  the  Sound  that 
goeth  cut  of  his  Mouth.  He  dire&eth  it  under 
the  whole  Heaven,  and  his  Lightning  unto  the  Ends 
of  the  Earth  :  after  it  a  Voice  rcareth ;  He  thun- 
dereth with  the  Voice  of  his  Excellency  >  and  he 
will  not  flay  them  whin  his  Voic?  is  heard  >  God 
C  C  c  c  c  c  thun- 


6 


'I he  Hiftory  of  New^ England.  Book  VI. 


;•':  under eih  marvellvufy  with  bit  Voice  ;  great  things 
d-jth  he  which  we  cannot  comprehend. 

You  then  will  not  count  it  improper,  and  I 
hope  our  common  Lord  will  make  it  not  unufe- 
ful,  if  I  to  far  imitate  the  Example,  as  to  offeryou 
in  this  Juncture,  an  EJJay  at  explaining  the  Voice 
oT  God  in  that  very  Thunder,  which  is  juftnow 
beginning  to  alarm  our  Thoughts  ;  and  this  the 
rather,  becaufe  the  Text  which  we  have,  now 
read,-leemsto  befetch'd  from  t'noie  very  Words 
of  Elihu. 

We  have  befo-e  us  a  Pfalm  compofed  by  a 
Great  Servant  and  Singer  of  the  Lord,  probably 
at  a  time  tempefiuous  by  Thunders,  and  compo- 
sed that  it  might  beimployed  among  the  People 
of  God  atluch  a  time.  You  fee  how  conveni- 
ently it  may  at  this  time  give  a  Text  un- 
to us. 

1  call  to  mind,  that  when  the  Prieft  went  into 
the  Sanctuary,  his  Habit  was  among  other  Cir- 
cumftance-,  to  be  attended  with  (Exod.  ^8.  34.) 
Golden  Bells  and  Pomegranates;  and  Jofepbus  thinks 
the  Clatter  of  Thunder  and  Colour  of  Lightning 
was  designed  therein  to  be  repreiented.  It  feeros 
Tbnndir  znd  Lightning  is  a  thing,  whereof  God 
would  have  Notice  to  be  taken  in  the  Sanctuary. 
In  the  Oracles  of  the  Sanctuary,  He  doth  Him- 
ielr  take  notice  of  it. 

The  Sons  of  fuch  Eminent  Patriarchs  as  Abra- 
ham, and  Jfaac,  and  Jacob,  are  here  calPd  upon  to 
give  Glory  unto  the  God  of  Heaven  >  and  this 
both  for  his  Works  of  Nature  in  the  World,  and 
tor  his  Works  of  Grace  in  the  Church  >  And  a- 
mong  his  works  of  Nature,  fome  done  in  the 
Lower  Heaven,  namely  the  Thunders,  are  fingled 
out  as  the  fpecial  Occafions  for  our  praifing  Him. 
But  If  Angels  may  be  meant  by  the  Sons  of  the 
Mighty,  thus  addrefted,  their  own  frequent  Con- 
cernment and  Improvement  in  the  producing  of 
Thunders,  gives  yet  a  further  Emphafis  unto  this 
Invitation. 

About  the  Thunder,  we  have  two  Remarks  in 
the  Words  now  read  unto  us. 

Fir/},  We  have  the  Place  of  it.  It  is  among 
the  Waters :  that  is,  in  the  Rainy  Clouds.  The 
Aqueous  Particles,  daily  fetch'd  up  from  the 
Earth  and  the  Sea,  into  the  Regions  of  the  Air, 
are  a  Vaft  Advantage  to  our  Quarters  of  the  Cre- 
ation. The  Emptying,  the  Refrefhing,  the  Pro- 
portioning of  many  Parts  in  the  Creation,  by 
their  perpetual  Diftillation,  is  juftly  to  be  reckon- 
ed among  Infallible  Demonftrations,  to  prove  as 
well  the  Providence  as  the  Exiftence  of  the  Great 
God,  who  formed  all  things.  For  this  Caufe,  this 
thing  is  well  worthy  of  the  Figure  which  it 
makes  in  the  Hiftory  of  the  Creation  ;  tho'ithad 
not  been  there  iimoduced,  as  probably  it  is,  as 
Figurative  of  that  Age  wherein  God  feparated 
from  the  reft  of  the  World,  a  Number  of  People 
in  the  Patriarchal  Families,  whom  he  called  up 
into  a  Church- St  ate  ;  but  fo  fmall  a  Number, 
that  in  companion  to  the  reft,  they  were  no  more 
than  the  Clouds  are  unto  the  Seas.  This  now  is 
the  Secret  Place  of  Thunder. 


Next  we  have  the  Caufe  of  it. 

This  is  The  Lord,  the  God  cfGhry;  Or  the 
Lord,  who  is  the  Glorious  God. 

It  is  the  Duty  of  a  Mmifier  to  watch  for  Sea- 
sons, wherein  and  whereby  the  Word  of  God 
which  he.  is  to  preach,  may  bead  vantag'd  with  a' 
lingular  Energy,  tor  the  Saving  of  Himfelf  and 
them  that  hear  him. 

'Twill  be  but  a  piece  of  Minifterial  Watchful- 
nefs,  for  me  to  bring  you  certain  Words  of  God 
this  Afternoon,  unto  which  the  Terrible  Thunder 
now  happening  maybe  fubfervient  with  a  more 
than  ordinary  Penetrancy. 

Sirs,  Be  not  now  Deaf  to  Thunder,  but  with  me 
make  this  Obiervation. 

In  the  THUNDER  there  is  the  Voice  of  the  Git- 
rious  GOD. 

There  is,' {The  Author  being  arrived  herea- 
bouts in  his  Difcourfe,  a  Meffenger  interrupted  him, 
■with  Tidings  that  a  Thunder-Clap  had  jufi  now 
fallen  upon  hts  ownHoufe  i  and  that  tho'  no  Per/on  had 
been  hurt,  yet  the  Houfe  had  been  much  torn,  and  filed 
with  the  Lightnings.  But,  -without  breaking  eff,  as 
had  been  defired,  he  thus  proceeded.^ 

Brethren,  I  am  juft  now  informed,  That  the 
Voice  of  the  Glorious  God  in  the  Thunder  has  been 
very  immediately  directed  unto  my  felf  by  a 
Fall  of  Thunder-bohs  upon  my  own  Houfe,  at  that 
very  Intrant,  as  far  as  I  can  judge,  that  I  felt  the 
powerful  Impreffions  of  Heaven  upon  my  own 
Soul ;  inclining  and  engaging  of  me  to  frame  a 
peculiar  Meditation  upon  the  Voice  of  the  gleriom 
God  in  the  Thunder,  among  J'OU. 

The  Pfalmift  here  mentioning  the  Great  Ef- 
fects of  the  Thunder,  adds,  In  his  Temple  doth  every 
one  fpeak  of  his  Glory.  As  I  remember,  there  is 
in  Aben  Ezra  thisobiervable  Pafiage  of  ft.  Mofeh, 
quoted  for  a  Glofs  upon  if,  The  Levites  there  praije 
God  for  keeping  them  from  Hurt  by  the  Thunder. 
WhatanOccafion  have  I  to  do  16  this  Day  ?  In- 
ftead  of  being  hereby  diverted  from  the  Work 
which  I  have  now  undertaken,  I  would  practi- 
cally teach  you,  That  with  a  Mind unconcer'd  about 
the  things  of  thi;  Lfc,  wefliould  never  be  unfurniflid 
with  devout  and  proper  Thoughts  en  the  Mind  of  God 
in  all  our  Trials  ;  and  I  would  hope  that  this  un- 
happy Accidenc  will  be  made  happy,  at  leaftby 
procuring  more  of  Edge  to  that  Attention  which 
the  Voice  of  God  is  to  have  with  you  :  To  day  if  ye 
will  he  or  his  Voice. 

There  is  in  this  an  Enquiry  which  I  did  but 
now  delign  to  make,  and  which  I  am  now  con- 
cerned more  than  I  was  before  to  make,  on  this 
Occafion. 


What  is  the  Voice  of  the 
Thunder  ? 


Glorious  God  in  the 


Firji,  It  is  to  be  premifed  as  herein  implied  and 
confefled,  that  the  Thunder  is  the  Work  of  the 
Glorious  God.  It  is  true,  that  the  Thunder  is  a 
Natural  Production,  and  by  the  Common  Laws 

of 


Book  VI.  The  Hiftory  of  New- England, 


17 


of  Matter  and  Motion  it  is  produced  j  there  is  in 
it  a  Concourfe  of  divers  weighty  C/<W/,  claming. 
and  breaking  one  againft  another,  from  whence 
arifes  a  mighty  Sound,  which  grows  yet  mor^ 
mighty  by  its  Refonancies.  The  Subtil  and  Sul- 
phurous Vapours  among  thefe  Clouds  take  Fire 
in  this  Combuftion,  and  Lightnings  are  thence 
darted  forth  >  which,  when  they  are  fbmewhat 
groifer,  are  fulminated  with  an  irrefiftible  Vio- 
lence upon  our  Territories. 

This  is  the  Carte/Ian  Account  i  tho  that  which 
I  rather  choofeis,  that  with  the  Vegetable  Matter 
protruded  by  the  Subterraneous  Fire,  and  exha- 
led alfo  by  the  Force  of  the  Sun,  in  the  Vapour 
that  makes  out  Shower  a  Mineral  Matter  of  Ni- 
ter and  Sulphur,  does  alfo  afcend  into  the  Atme- 
fpbere,  and  there  it  goes  off  with  fierce  Explofi- 
ons. 

But  ftil!,  who  is  the  Author  of  thofeLaws.ac 
cording  whereunto  things  are  thus  moved  into 
Thunder  ?  yea,  who  is  the  Firjt  Mover  of  them  ? 
Chrtfiians,  'tis  our   Glorious  God.     There  is  an 
Intimation  iomewhere,    ("'tis  in  Pfal.  104.  7 ) 
That  there  was  a  moft  early  and  wondrous  Ule 
of  the    Thunder  in  the  firlt    Creation  of    the 
World  >  but  ftill  the  Thunder  it  lelf,  and  the  To- 
mtruous  Dilpofition  and  Generation  with  which 
the  Air  is  impregnated,  was  a  part  of  that   Cre- 
ation.    Well;  and  whole  Workmanmip is  it  all? 
Ah !  Lord,  thou  hafi  created  all  thefe  things  >  and  for 
thy  Pleajure  they  are  and  were  created.     It  is  alio 
true,  that  Angels  may  be  reckoned  among  the 
Gaufes  of  Thunders ;  and  for  this  Caule,   in  the 
Sentence  of  the  Pfalms,  where  they  called  Flames 
of  Fire,  one  would  have  been  at  a  Lofs  whether 
Angels  or  Lightnings  were  intended,  if  the  Apo- 
ftolical  Accommodation  had  not  cleared  it.   But 
what  tho'  Angels  may  have  their  peculiar  Influ- 
ence upon  Thunders  I  It  is  but  the  Influence  of  an 
Inftrument ;  they  are  but  Inftruments  dire&ed, 
ordered,  limited  by  him,  who  is  the  God  of  Thun- 
ders and  the  Lord  of  Angels  J]  Hence  the  Thunder 
is  afcribed  unto  our  God  all  the  Bible  over  ;  in 
the  Scripture  of  Truth,  'tis  called  the  Thunder  of 
God,  oftenerthan  I  canprefently  quote  unto  you. 
And  hence  we  find  the   Thunder  ever  now  and 
then  executing  the  Purpofe  of  God  ;  whole  can 
it  be  but  the  Thunder  of  God,  when  the  Pleafure 
of  God  has  been  continually  thereby  accom- 
liflied  ? 

But  I  pray,  why  then  Ihould  we  be  favifhly  a- 
fraid  of  the  Thunder  ?  We  are  in  Covenant  with 
that  God  who  makes  the  Thunder,  and  it  is  a 
Covenant  of  Grace,  wherein  he  is  Our  God.  Well, 
and  fhall  we  not  now  make  that  Joyful  Concluii- 
on,He  is  our  own  God,  and  he  will  blefs  us  !  Whence 
then  our  amazing  Terrors,  when  we  hear  him 
him  Thundering  terribly  in  the  Heavens  over  us ! 
As  long  as  the  Almighty  Thundtrer  is  our  own 
God,  we  need  not  fear  that  he  will  do  us  any 
Hurt  by  any  of  his  Works :  No,  He  will  make 
All  things  work  together  for  our  Good.  A  Saint 
may  lay,  My  God  wiU  never  hurt  me !  Suppole  we 
Ihould  be  flainby  Thunder,  we  mail  but  in  that 
Thunder  of  Heaven,  have  a  great  Voice  from  Hea- 
ven faying  to  us,   Come  up  hither !  and  letting  a- 


W     IIS 

'e  r^^ 


fide  the  Unufualnefs  of  the  Stroke,  which  makes 
it  feem  horrid  and  uncouth,  it  were  theedieft 
Way  of  going  up  that  ever  was  gone.  I  lay 
then,  Be  not  afraid:  Ejus  eft  timere  qui  ncltt  ad 
Chrtfium  ire. 

Mr.  Ambrofe  in  his  Tseatife  of  Angels,  as  I  re- 
member, does  relate  this  Paifage; 

'  A  p  ofane  Perlecutor  dilcovered  much  Af- 
c  fiightment  at  the  Thunder  which  hapned  while 
l-  he  was  on  a  Journey,  hij  pious  and  holy  Wife 
'  then  wiih  him,  ?sked  him  the  Reafon  of  his  be- 
'  ing  fo  affrighted  ;  Why,  faid  he,  are  not  you  a- 
' fraid '?  bhe  replied,  No,  not  all ;  for  J  know  'tis 
'  the  Voice  of  my  Heavenly  Father  ;  and fhall  a( 
c  be  afraid  of  a  kind  Father's  Voice  I  The  Man  hi 
'  by  lurpriz'O,  made  this  Conclufion,  Sure , 
'  Puritans  have  a  Divine  Principle  inthem,  which 
'  the  World  fetibmt  ;  Fife  they  could  not  have  fur.h 
'  a  Serenity  in  thar  Stuls,  when  the  reft  of  the  World 
'  are  fill' d  with  dijmal  Horrors!  Hereupon  he  went 
'  to  Mr.  Bolton,  bewailing  the  Oppofition  which 
'  he  had  given  unto  the  Mmiftry  of  that  Rev?- 
'  rent  Man,  and  became  a  Godly  Man  ever 
-  after. 

You  know  what  uie  to  make  of  the  Story,  and 
fo  I  may  proceed. 

Secondly,  it  is  now  to  be  more  diftin&ly  aflert- 
ed,  That  Thunder  is  the  Voice  of  the  Glorious 
God.  There  is  a  Voice  of  his  in  this  Work  of 
his.  If  the  Thunder  were  ?«"'» <^©-,  The  Voice  of 
Jupiter,  in  the  Account  of  the  poor  Pagans,  I  am 
fure  it  Ihould  be  accounted  The  Voice  of  Jerjovah 
by  us  Chriftians.  One  of  the  Ways  wherebpRd 
revealed  himfelf  to  his  ancient  People,  was  a.  Beth 
Kol,  as  they  called  it,  there  was  a  Voice  of  Thun- 
der in  it.  Sirs,  we  have  what  is  equivalent  unto  a 
Beth  Ko/this  Afternoon,  in  the  Significancy  which 
we  (hall  now  hear  the  Scripture  give  unto  the 
Thunder. 


I.  One  Voice  of  the  Glorious  God  in  the  T£# 
der,  is,  that  he  u  a  Glorious  God,  who  makes  the 
Thunder.  There  is  the  Marvellous  Glory  of  God 
leen  in  it,  when  he  Thunders  MarveUoujly.  Thus 
do  thele  Inferiour  and  Meteorous  Heavens  declare 
the  Glory  of  God. 

The  Power  of  God  is  the  Glory  of  God  : 
Now  his  Thunder  does  proclaim  his  Power.  It 
is  laid,  The  Thunder  cf  his  Power  who  can  under' 
ftand?  that  is,  his  Powerful  Thunder;  iheThun- 
der  gives  us  to  underftand,  that  our  God  is  a  moft 
Powerful  One-  There  is  nothing  able  to  ftand 
before  thole  Lightnings,  which  are  liiled,  The  Ar- 
rows of  God:  Carries  tall,  Metals  melt;  all  flies, 
when  Hot  Thunder- bolf s  zis  iczttered  upon  them. 
The  vei  y  Mountains  are  torn  to  pieces,  when 


Fulmina  tnontet.> 


'Feriunt  fmr.mcs 


V 


Yea,  to  fpeak  in  the  Language  of  the  Prophets, 
fulfilled  in  the  Thunder  ftorm  that  routed  theAf- 
fyrian  Armies,  The  Mountains  quake,  the  Hills 
melt,  the  Earth  is  burnt  ;  who  can  ftand  before  his 
Indignation  r  and  who  can  abide  in  the  Fitrcenefs  of 
Cccccc  2  &» 


i8 


The  Hiftory  of  New- England,  Book  V  I"; 


his  Anger  ?  His  Fury  is  poured  out  like  Fire,  and\ 
the  Rocks  are  thrown  down  by  him.  Suetonius,  I 
think  'tis,  who  tells  us,  That  the  haughty  and 
profane  Emperour  Caligula  would  yet  flirink, 
and  (hake,  and  cover  his  Head  at  the  haft  Thun- 
der, and  run  to  hide  himfelf  under  a  Bed.  This 
truly  is  the  Voice  of  the  Thunder  :  Let  the  proud- 
eft  Sinners  tremble  to  rebel  any  more  againft  a  God, 
who  can  thus  difcemfit  them  with  (Ijoeting  cut  his 
Lightnings  upon  them  :  Sinners,  where  can  you  fliew 
your  Heads,  if  the  Uigheji  give  forth  his  Voice  with 
Hailjiones  and  Coals j^Ttre.  Methinks  there  is 
that  Song  of  Hannah  in  the  Thunder,   i  Sam.  2. 

tjo.  Talkno  more  fo exceeding  proudly  \  Let  not 
togancy  come  cut  of  your  Mouth.  For  the  Adver- 
tes  of  the  Lord  ftiall  be  broken  to  pieces »  cut  of 
Heaven fbaR  he  Thunder  upon  them.  The  Omni- 
potent God  in  the  Thunder  fpeaks  to  thofe  hardy 
Tjphons,  that  are  found  fighting  againft  him  ; 
and  lays,  Ob,  do  not  harden  your  felves  againft  fuch 
a  God  ;  You  are  not  ftronger  than  He  !  Yea,  the 
Great  God  is  propoledas  anObjed  for  our  Faith, 
as  well  as  for  our  Fear  in  his  Thunder. 

If  Nothing  be  too  hard  for  the  Thundtr,  we 
may  think  lurely  Nothing  is  too  hard  for  the 
Lord  !  The  Arm  that  can  wield  Thunder  bolts,  is 
a  very  mighty  Arm. 

From  hence  pafs  on,  and  admire  the  other 
Glorious  Attributes  of  God  which  he  doth  in  his 
Thunder  difplay  moft  Glorioufly  :  When  itThun- 
ders,  let  us  adore  the  Wifdom  of  that  God,  who 
thereby  many  Ways  does  coniiilt  the  Welfare  of 
theXJniverie  :  Let  us  adore  the  Juftice  of  that 
Gfl|  who  thereby  many  times  has  cut  off  his 
Adverfaries ;  and  let  us  adore  the  Goodnefs  of 
that  God  who  therein  preferves  us  from  immi. 
nent  and  impending  Deiblations,  and  is  not  (b 
ievere  as  he  would  be. 


Si  quoties  peccant  homines  fua  fulmina  mittat. 

(  ^II.  A  fecond  Voice  of  the  Glorious  God  in 
ihtThunder,  is,  Remember  the  Law  of  the  Glorious 
God  that  was  given  in  Thunder.  The  People  of 
God  were  once  gathered  about  a  Moun- 
tain, on  which,  From  his  Right  Hand  iffued 
a  Fiery  Law  for  them  »  or  a  Law  given  with 
Lightning.  At  the  Promulgation  of  the  Ten 
Commandments,  we  are  told  in  Ex.  20, 18.  All 
People  faw  the  Thunderings,  and  the  Lightnings, 
and  the  Mountain  fmoakwg.  Yea,  they  were 
fuch,  that  the  Apoftle  tells  us,  tho'  Mofes  himfelf 
fays  nothing  of  it,  they  made  Mofes  himfelf  Ex- 

4  ceedingly  to  fear  and  quake.  Well,  when  it  Thun- 
ders, let  us  call  to  mind  the  Commandments, 
which  were  once  thus  Thundered  unto  the 
World  i  and  bear  in  mind,  that  with  a  Voice  of 
Thunder,  the  Lord  ftill  fays  unto  us.  Thou  (halt 
love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  Heart,  and  all 
thy  Soul,  and  all  thy  Strength  ;  and  thouftialt  love  thy 
Neighbour  as  thy  felf.  But  when  the  Thunder 
caules  us  to  reflect  upon  the  Commandments  of 
our  God,  let  there  be  a  Self-Examination  in  that 
Reflection. 

Let  us  now  examine  our  felves,  what  is  requir'd 
and  whether  we  have  not  omitted  it  ?  what  is 


Forbidden,  and  whether  we  had  riot  committed 
it  ?  And  what  Provocation  we  have  given  unto 
the  God  of  Glory,  tofpeak  unto  usin  his  Wrath 
and  vex  us  in  his  Difpleafure.  Dleffed  the  Thun- 
der, that  fliall  Thunder  ftrike  us  into  the  Ac- 
knowledgments of  a  Convinced  and  a  Repenting 
Soul .' 

III.  A  Third  Voice  of  the  Glorious  God  in 
the  Thunder,  is,  Think  on  the  future  Coming  of  the 
Glorious  God  in  the  Thunder,  and  in  great  Glory. 
When  the  Day  of  Judgment  fhall  airive  unto  us, 
then  Our  God  (hall  come,  and  ft]  all  not  keep  fiknee ; 
a  Fire  fliall  devour  before  him,  and  it  fhall  be  very 
tempeftuotts  round  about  him.  The  Second  Com- 
ing of  our  Lord  will  be,  as  we  are  advifed  in  2 
Thef.  1.  7,8.  with  his  mighty  Angels  in  Flaming 
Fire ;  the  Clouds  will  be  his  Chai  riot,  but  there 
will  be  prodigious  Thunders  breaking  forth 
from  thofe  Cloud:. 

The  Redemption  of  the  Church,  for  which 
the  Lord  hath  long  been  cried  unto,  will  then  be 
accompliihed  >  but  at  what  Rate?  The  Lord - 
will  come  in  the  thick  Clouds  of  the  Skies  : 
at  the  Brightnefs  that  fliall  be  before  him  thick 
Clouds  will  pals,  Hail- Stones  and  Coals  ofFiiei 
the  Lord  alio  will  thunder  in  the  Heavens. 

I  fay  then,  does  it  thunder  ?  Let  us  now  realize 
unto  our  felves  that  Great  and  Notable  Day  of 
the  Loid,  which  will  be  indeed  a  Great  and 
and  Thundering  Bay  .l  But  how  far  fhould  we 
now  realize  it  r"  Realize  it  fb,  as  to  be  ready  for 
it.  Oh,  count  your  felves  not  fafe  till  you  get 
into  fuch  a  Condition  of  Soul,  that  your  Hearts 
would  even  Leap  and  Spring  within  you,  were 
you  fure  that  in  the  very  next  Thunders  our  pre- 
cious Lord  would  make  his  Defcent  unto  us. 
What  if  the  Hour  were  now  turned,  wherein 
the  Judge  of  the  whole  World  were  going  to 
break  in  upon  us  with  fierce  Thunders,  and 
make  the  Mountains  ro'fmoak  by  his  coming 
down  upon  them,  and  Reign  before  his  ancient 
People  Glorioufly.'*  Could  you  gladly  fay,  Lo 
this  ts  the  God  of  my  Salvation,  and  I  have  waited 
for  him'.  Hay,  let  the  Thunders  drive  you  on  to 
this  Attainment. 

IV.  A  Fourth  Voice  of  the  Glorious  GoJ  in 
the  Thunder,  is,  Make  your  Teace  with'  God  im- 
mediately, left  by  the  Stroke  of  his  Thunder  he  take 
you  away  in  bis  Wrath.  Why  is  it  that  Perfons 
are  ulually  in  fuch  a  Confternaticn  at  the  Thun- 
der r  Indeed  there  is  a  Oompled:ion2l  and  Con- 
stitutional '  Weaknefs  in  many  this  way,;  they 
have  fuch  a  Diiidvantantage  in  a  Frightful  Tem- 
per, that  no  ConilderatiOns  can  wholly  over- 
come it.  But  moft  ulually  the  Frights  of  Peo- 
pleat  the  Thunder,  arile  from  tbeTcrms  where- 
in they  may  iufpeft  their  own  Souls  to  itand  be- 
fore an  angry  God.  Their  Confc:ences  tell  'em 
that  their  Sins  are  yet  unpardoned,  that  their 
Hearts  are  yet  unrenewed,  that  their  Title  to 
Bleifednefs  is  yet  itnlctled,  and  thru  if  the  next 
Thunder-Clap  fhould  ftrike  them  dead,  it  had  been 
good  for  them  that  they  had  never  been  born. 


Hi 


l^Dok  VL  The  Hijlory  of  New-England. 


29 


Hi  funt  qui  trepidant,    ejr  ad  omnia  Fulgura  pal- 
lent  ; 

Cum   tcnat,    Exar.imes  prima    quoque   murmurs 
Cceli. 

Here  then  is  the  Voice  of  God  in  the  Thunder  : 
Art  thou  ready  ?  Soul,  art  thou  ready  ?  make  ready 
prefently,  left  I  call  for  thee  before  thou  art  aware. 
There  is  in  Thunder  a  vehement  Call  unto  that 
Regeneration,  unto  that  Repenting  of  Sin,  that 
Believing cnChrift, and  thatConfenting  unto  the 
Demands  of  the  New  Covenant,  without  which 
no  Man  in  his  Wits  can  comfortably  hold  up  his 
Face  before  the  Thunder.  1  have  now  in  my 
Houfe  a  Mariners  Compafs,  whereupon  a  Thun- 
der-Clap had  this  odd  Effe&,that  the  North  Point 
was  thereby  turned  clear  about  unto  the  South* 
and  foit  will  veer  and  Hand  ever  fince  umo  this 
Day,  tho}  the  thing  happened  above  thirteen 
Years  ago. 

1  would  to  God  that  the  next  Thunder-Claps 
would  give  as  effectual  a  Turn  unto  all  the  Un- 
converted Souls  among  us .'  May  the  7/6«WtT  a- 
wakenyouto  turn  from  every  Vanity  to  God  in 
Chi  ill  without  any  Delay,  left  by  the  Thunder  it 
{elf  it  come  quickly  to  be  too  late.  It  is  a  vulgar 
Error,  that  the  Thunder  never  kills  any  who  arc 
afleep :  Man,  what  if  the  Thunder  (hould  kill  thee 
in  the  dead  Sleep  of  thy  Unregeneracy  ? 

5.  A  fifth  Voice  of  the  Glorious  God  in  the 
Thunder,  is,  Let  this  Thunder  convicl  you  of  what  you 
may  juftly  reckon  your  own  Iniquity.  Every  Man 
has  his  own  peculiar  Sin,  a  Sin  whereby  the  Soul 
of  the  Man  is  more  expos'd  and  endanger'd  than 
by  any  other  Sin  >  his  Darling-fin,  his  Matter  fin, 
or  that  which  bids  faireft  10  to  be.  David  being 
deliver'd  from  Damage  by  the  Thunder,  afcribes 
it  unto  the  Favour  of  God,  (2  Sam.n.  24.)  Re- 
warding him  for  keeping  himjelf  from  his  own  Ini- 
quity. This  I  lay,  the  Thunder  may  do  us  the  fa- 
vour of  informing  us,  what  is  our  own  Iniqui- 
ty, and  that  would  be  a  Favour  indeed!  There 
are  iome  fort  of  Writings,  which  you  can't  read 
until  you  hold  them  againft  the  Fire :  Would 
you  read  the  worft  Guiltinefs  and  Wickednefsof 
your  own  Hearts  ?  Then  fay  I,  Hold  them  up  a~ 
gamfl  the  Lightning.  My  meaning  is  this :  when 
it  Thunders,  do  you  obferve  about  what  Mifcari- 
age  your  Hearts  do  firft  and  moft  of  all  then  mif- 
give  you  ;  obferve  which  of  all  your  Faults  then 
does  firft  of  all,  and  moft  of  all  (tare  you  in  the 
face  with  formidable  Criminations.  You  may 
now  take  it  for  granted,  this  is  Your  own  Iniquity. 
And  the  Voice  of  the  Thunder  is,  Do  you  keep  a 
fpecial  Watch  againft  that  Iniquity,  and  againfl  all 
the  Beginnings,  all  the  Occajions,  all  the  Incentives  of 
that  Iniquity. 

6.  A  fixth  Voice  of  the  Glorious  God  in  the 
Thunder,  is,  Take  heed  now,  take  heed  ever,  of  tboje 
groffer  Sins  which  have  fometimes  been  revenged  by 
Thunder.  There  have  been  the  Ireful  and  the 
Direful  Thunders  of  God,  fometimes  uled  for  the 
Executions  of  his  Vengeance  upon  fuch  and  fuch 
Enormities.  The  perpetual  Admonitions  of  the 
Thunders  are,  take  heed  of  fuch  Thunder --(truck  A- 


bominations.  As  now,  the  Cities  now  buried, 
(tho'they  fay  of  late  by  the  linking  of  the  Wa- 
ter growing  vifible  again)  in  the  Lake  of  Sodom. 
Tacitus  the  Roman  Hiftoi  ian,  truly  tells  us,  they 
perifiVd  Fulminum  jaclu,  by  Thunder-bolts;  God 
tent  an  extraordinary  1  bunder -ftorm  upon  them 
for  the  Lufts  of  Uncleannefs,  wherein  they  bur- 
ned. 

What  fays  the  Poet  ? 

Tu  parkm  caltis  inimica  mittes 
Fulmsna  Lucis. 

Wherefore,  when  it  Thunders,  the  Voice  of  God 
in  it  is,  Tut  out  the  unclean  Fires  of  Luft  in  'your 
Souls,  left  I  jet  you  on  fire,  by  my  dn  adful  Thunders .' 
tgain,  there  was  Nadaband  Abihu,  who  offered 
tfrange  Fire  to  Gcd,  and  God  punifhed  them 
wifh  a  killing  Fire  from  Heaven,  in  a  hideous 
Thunder-ftirm  \  fb  then,  when  it  Thunders,  the 
Voice  of  God  in  it  is,  Look,  well  to  all  your  Sacri- 
fices, left  my  Fire  make  you  a  Sacrifice :  See  that  you 
duly  attend  my  PForflupi  left  my  Thunder  fall  p.ponyou! 
Once  more,  there  was  Uzzah,  who  fell  into  an 
Error  in  his  Management  about  the  Arkof  God  ; 
and  itfeems  as  if  a  Thunder-Storm  fuddenly  com- 
ing up,  kill'd  him  for  it  :  Hence  then,  when  it 
Thunders,ths  Voice  of  God  in  it  is,  Look  to/:,  that 
my  Ark^  and  my  Word  find  no  contempt  with  you, 
left  my  Thunder  chaftife  you  for  your  Contempt.  What 
fluil  I  fay  more  \  Corah  was  deftroyed  by  Thun- 
der for  his  Rebellion  againft  God  and  Mofies ; 
Wherefore  the  Voice  of  the  Thunder  is,  Take  heed 
of  all  Kebellhn  againft  God  and  Jefus.  The  Egyp- 
tians, the  Vhiliftmes,  the  Affyrians,  were  confoun- 
ded with  Defblating  Thunders,  becaufe  they  in- 
vaded and  injured  the  People  of  God.  It  is  then 
the  Voice  of  the  Thunder,  See  that  you  do  no 
wrong  unto  an  holy  People,  that  have  this  Artillery 
of  Heaven  to  defend  them.  They  that  are  fuch 
WitnefTes  for  God  and  Reformation  as  Elijah 
was,  have,  as  he  had,  tha  Fires  of  Lightnings  to 
devour  thole  that  hurt  them. 

VII.  Afeventh  Voice  of  the  Glorious  God  in 
the  Thunder,  is,  Hear  the  Voice  of  my  Word,  left 
I  make  you  fear  the  Voice  of  my  Thunder.  When 
the  Inhabitants  of  Egypt  perliiTed  in  their  Difo- 
bedience  to  the  Word  of  God,  it  came  to  that  at 
laft,  in  Ex.  9.  23.  The  Lord  f tut  Thunder,  and  the 
Fire  ran  along  upon  the  Ground.  Thus  the  Eternal 
God  commands  Men  to  let  go  their  Sins,  and  go 
themfelves  to  ferve  him  ;  if  they  aredifobedi- 
ent,  they  lay  themfelves  open  to  fiery  Thunders. 
This,  you  miy  be  fure,  is  the  Voice  of  God  in 
the  Thunder,  Hear  my  ft  ill  Voite  in  my  Ordinances, 
left  you  put  me  upon  fpeah.ng  to  you  with  more  angry 
Thunder-bolts-  I  have  known  it  fometimes  re- 
marks, that  very  Notorious  and  Refolved  Sleep 
ers  at  Sermons,  often  have  ibme  remarkable  Sud- 
dennels  in  the  Circufnftances  of  their  Death. 
Truly,  if  you  are  fcandaloufly  given  to  flecp  un- 
der the  Word  of  God,  and  .much  more,  if  to  fin 
under  it ;  and  moft  01  all,  if  to  feoff  under  it,  ic 
may  be,  your  Deaths  will  be  rendred  fudden  by 
the  other  Thunders  of  Heaven  lighting  on  you, 

When 


ao 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  Book  VI. 


When  ic  Thunders,  God  faith  to  all  the  Hearers 
of  his  Word  ordinarily  preached,  Confutes  this, 
and  forget  not  God,  left  he  tear  you  in  pieces,  and  there 
be  none  to  deliver  you. 

Finally,  And  is  there  not  this  Voice  of  the  Glo- 
rious God  in  Thunder  after  all  r  O  be  thankful  to 
the  gracious  God,  that  the  Thunder  does  no  more  mif- 
chief  to  you  all. 

Whatever  the  Witch- Advocates  may  make  of 
ir,  it  is  a  Scriptui aland  a  Rational  AlTertion,That 
in  the  Thunder  there  is  oftentimes  by  the  Per- 
miflton  of  God,  the  Agency  of  the  Devil.  The 
Devil  is  the  Prince  of  the  Air,  and  when  God 
gives  him  leave,  be  has  a  vaft  Power  in  the  Air, 
and  Armies  that  can  make  Thunders  in  the  Air. 
We  are  certain  that  Satan  had  his  Efficiency  in 
if,  when  the  Fire  of  God  or  the  Lightning,  fell 
upon  part  of  Job's  Eftate  >  how  glad  would  he 
have  been,  if  the  good  Man  himfelf  had  been  in 
the  way,  to  have  been  torn  in  pieces  r  And  per- 
haps it  was  the  Hellifti  Policy  of  the  Wicked 
One,  thus  to  make  the  good  Man  fufpicious  that 
God  was  become  his  Enemy.  Topes  that  have 
been  Conjurers,  have  made  Fire  thus  come  from 
Heaven,  by  their  Confederacies  with  Evil  Spirits* 
and  we  have  in  our  own  Land  known  Evil  Spi- 


rits, plainly  dilcovering  their  Concurrence  in 
Difafters  thus  occasioned.  A  great  Man  has 
therefore  noted  ic,  that  Thunders  break  oftener 
on  Churches  than  any  other  Houles,  becaufe  the 
Damons  have  a  peculiar  ipite  at  Houfes  that  are 
fet  apart  for  the  peculiar  Service  of  God. 

1  iay  then,  Live  we  thus  in  the  midft  of  Thun- 
ders and  Devils  too  ;  and  yet  live  we  ?  Oh  !  let 
us  be  thankful  to  God  for  our  Lives.  Are  we 
not  fmitten  by  the  great  Ordnance  of  Heaven, 
difcharging  ever  now  and  then  on  every  fide  of 
us  ?  Let  us  be  thankful  to  the  great  Lord  of  Hea- 
ven, whomakeseven  the  Wrath  of  Hell  to  praile 
him,  and  the  Remainder  of  that  Wrath  does  he 
reftrain. 

Such  a  feriousThankfulnefs  manifefted  in  an 
anfwerable  Fruitfulnefs,  will  be  ftill  continu- 
ally a  better  Shelter  to  us  from  the  Mifchiefsof 
the  Thunder,  than  the  Growns  of  Laurels,  or 
the  Tents  of  5e<?/-Leather,  whereby  fome  Old 
Emperours  counted  themfelves  protected  ;  or 
than  all  the  Amulets  of  Superftition. 

To  the  Cufiody  of  Ifrael'i  Great  Keeper  I 
now  commend  you   all. 


CHAP.     IV.       The  Returning  Prodigal 
Relating  Remarkable    CONVERSIONS. 

Suis  perdita  nunquam  reverter  etur,  nifi  pli  Vafloris  mifericordiam  confequeretur.     Aug. 


THE  Subfiance  of  the  Church,  that  Myftical 
Body  of  our  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST,  was 
from  all  Eternity  under  the  Eye  of  God,  as  pro- 
pofed  in  the  Decree  of  Elettion.  The  Members 
of  that  Body  were  from  all  Eternity  written  in 
the  Book  of  Life  :  And,  in  pursuance  of  the 
Divine  Decide  concerning  it,  the  Holy  Spirit  in 
the  Continuance  of  Time,  thro'  feveral  Gene- 
rations,doesfafhion  it  into  theShape  defigned  for 
it.  Buthow?  We  are  told  in  f/»4|f?9.i4.  'Tu 
fearfully  and  wondroujly  made  ;  mmjKllous  are  the 
Works  of  God  about  it.  The  Marvellous  Works 
of  God  in  converting  and  uniting  of  Eledt  Sin- 
ners unto  the  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST,  will  make 
an  Hiftory  for  Heaven.  But  fomething  of  that 
Hiftory  has  thoufinds  of  times  been  given  to 
particular  Flocks  of  the  Faithful  throughout 
New-England,  in  the  Relations  which  Devout 
People  have  made  unto  them,  at  their  firft  Ad- 
million  into  their  Communion. 

Theie  marvellous  Works  of  God  were  very 
proper  Materials  for  a  Churcb-Hiftorj  :  But  Ours 
has  not  a  Room  for  them  ;  Nor  will  I  recite  in 
this  Place  more  than  Two  or  Three  Remark- 
ables. 

I.  It  was  a  Problem  among  the  ancient  Philo- 
fophers,  ll'hether  a  Child  may  not  confer  more  Bene- 


fits en  his  Father  than  he  has  recei'vd  from  him  ? 
This  hath  been  fometimes  bravely  determined  it| 
the  Affirmative  among  us,  when  Fathers  have  by 
the  Means  of  their  own  Children,  been  born  a- 
gain. 

One  of  my  Neighbours  had  a  Son  which  di 
ed  when  he  was  about  five  or  fix  Years  old. 
The  Man's  Religion  extended  no  further,  than 
to  Prayer  with  his  Family  on  the  Lord's 
Days.  All  the  reft  of  the  Week  his  Worldly- 
Heart  was  by  the  Cares  of  this  World  indifpofed 
for  Devotions.  The  Mother  of  the  Child 
therefore  pray'd  with  her  Children  every  Day , 
and  (he  law  the  good  Effects  of  it  upon  them, 
This  Child  lay  fick  for  divers  Weeks  »  in  which 
time  he  often  called  on  his  Mother  to  pray  for 
him,  never  on  his  Father.  And  when  the  Lords- 
Day  arrived,theChild  would  with  obfervablejoy, 
utter  that  Expreflion,  This  is  the  Day  on  -which  my 
Father  ufes  to  go  to  prayer.  TheWords  of  the  Dying 
Son  fo  ftuck  in  the  Mind  of  his  Father,  that  with 
many  Tears  he  not  only  bewailed  and  reformed 
this  his  NeglecT:  of  his  Family-Prayer »  but  alfo 
became,  as  far  as  could  be  judged,  a  fincerely  God- 
ly Man,  dying  afterwards  in  the  Fear  of  God. 

II.  Soins 


Book  VI.         J  be  Hiftvny  ofJtfzw-  England 


-: 


II.  Some  have  obferv'd  chat  for  the  Generality 
of  them  who  are  effectually  brought  home  un 
to  God  under  theconftant  Preaching  of  the  Go- 
Jpel,between  fifteen  and  7hirt?,h  the  Age  where- 
in mod  of  the  Elett  become  call'd.    Neverthelefs 


Things,  and  a  bale  Mocker  of  Church- Members 
in  particular.  The  Vices  of  Drunhr.r.efs ,  and 
Lying,  and  Swearing,  made  the  Characters  of  his 
Convention.  Sabbatb-breaktr.g  made  him  infa- 
mous among  Sober,  and  Vromije- breaking  among 
Honeft  People  ;  and  his  Z>//(<£a//f?;i;<?  to  his  Paretics 


New-England  hath  afforded  many  Examples  ofj  was  not  unequal  to  the  reft  of  his  Difordsrs. 
Children,  which  have  in  their  early  tyfancy  been'  Original  Sin  in  the  furtheft  Efforts  of  it,  filled  his 
marvelloufly  filled  with  the  Spirit  of  Chrift  ;i  whole  Walk  for  half  an  hundred  Years  i  ac 
and  fome  of  thefe  Examples  have  been  afterwards  I  which  Age  he  left  the  World  ;  and  had  faie  jun- 
publifh'd  unto  the  World.  Moreover,  That  the  der,  and  finn'd  againft  the  Means  of  Grace  all  this 
Grace  of  God,  may  be  difplay'd,  as  truly  Spve-  while. 

reign  ,  fome  among  us  that  have  liv'd  unto  Old  But  yet,  Reader,  prepare  thy  Admirations  \ 
Age,  poor,  gracelefs,  Godlefs,  Wretchleis.  have  |  This  Enormous  Liver  was  wonderfully  regenera- 
tion palled  under  changing  Operations  and  |  ted  before  he  died.  The  Great  God  fo  bleffed 
Renovations,  from  the  Word  of  the  Grace  of  God]  and  owned  the  Mtniftry  of  his  Word,  that  the  Effi- 
upon  their  Souls.  In  the  primitive  Times,  there!  cacy  thereof  upon  him,  did  become  confpi- 
was  one  Vittcrim,  a  very  Old  Man,  turned  unto,  cuous  to  Aftonifhraent.  He  became  an  Heart- 
Chriftianity;  the  Church  would  not  for  lbme|  broken  Penitent,  and  fo  devout,  lb  penfive, 
while  receive  him:  For,  thought  they,  Old  Sin-  lo    humble,     that    every    one   faw    a      t\Kw 


ners  do  not  ufe  thus  to  turn  and  live  j  but  he  evin 
ced  the  Reality  of  his  Turn  at  fuch  a  rate,  that 


Creature    in    him. 
former   Faults,  and 


He  mourned 
his  mournful 


for    all    his 
Complaints 


they  fang  Hymns  about  it  in  the  Chriftian  Af-  i  reached  unto  the  Plague  of  his  Heart,  as  the  Root 
femblies i  and  it  was  much  proclaim'd,  Vicrori-j  ol  all.    He  reformed  what  was  amifs  in  him,and 


us  is  become   a  Chriftian'.  Viftorius  ii  become  a 
Chriftian  ! 

Among  other  Inftances  of  fuch  a  matter,  in 
the  Churches  of  New  England,  One  was  a  Man 
of  Lascafier,  who  anived  in  .Age  to  fo  many 
Years  above  an  hundred,that  he  had  lived  in  Wed 


applied  himfelf  with  an  exceeding  Vigour  unto 
the  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST  our  only  Saviour,  for 
his  Great  Salvation.  While  the  Lord  was  thus 
beginning  his  heavenly  Imprellions  upon  him,  he 
fell  mortally  fick  ;  and  it  was  not  long  before  he 
palled  out  of  this  World  with  a  wonderful  AfTu- 


Jock  with  his  Wife  Sixty  three  Years ,    and  yet   ranee  of  his  Intereft  in  a  Better 


flie  wasTbirtyfive  Years  younger  than  himfelf; 
and  he  was  able  to  follow  his  Toils  at  Husbandry, 
very  livelily  about  a  Month  before  hisDeath.This 
Man  had  been  all  his  Days  a  poor,  ignorant,  un- 
godly Man,    and  after  he  had  heard  fo  many 
Thoufands  of  Sermons,  unacquainted  with  the 
vety  Principles  of  his  Catechilm.    Neverthelels 
when  he  was  about  an  hundred  years   old,    God 
bleffed  the  Miniftry  of  his  Word,  unto  this  Man's 
awakening  i  the  Man  became  a  diligent  Enqui- 
rer after  the  Things  of  the  Life  to  come,  and  a 
ferious  Attender  on  all  that  was  Religious.    He 
arrived  unto  fuch  Meafiues  of  a  well  informed 
Piety,  that  the  Church,  which  was  very  ftrift  in 
the  Terms  of  their  Communion,   yet  received 
him  into  their  Communion  fome  Years  before 
he  died  j  wherein  he  continu'd  under  a  good 
Character  fo   long    as    he   continu'd   in    the 
World. 

III.  When  a  Great  Sinner  cried  out,  My  Sin  is 
greater  than  can  be  forgiven,  it  was  by  Auiim  well 
replied,  Cain,  thou  lyefl  !  A  Malefactor  once 
going  to  his  Execution,  in  a  Tranfporting  Senle 
of  Great  Mercy  to  a.  Great  Sinner,  kept  crying  out, 
God  is  a  great  For  giver  !  Ged  is  a  great  Forgiver  J 
So  thought  one  who  died  at  our  S^/ews-Village  in 
December  i<S88.  This  Man,  ("whole  Name  was 
IVilhns)  had  fignalized  himfelf  by  a  bad  Life, 
until  he  had  fpent  fifty  Years,  on  the  lewd  and 
rude  Courles  of  Notorious  Ungodlinsfs.  Tho' 
he  had  enjoy'd  the  Benefits  of  a  Pious  Education, 
yet  he  fhook  off  all  the  Yokes  which  that  Educa- 
tion had  laid  upon  him.  He  became  a  foul- 
mcuth'd   Scoffer  at  all  good   Men  and  good 


It  were  endlefs  to  reckon  up  the  Extraordinary 

which  occurred  in  the    Sick  and    Laft 

but  fome  of  them  were  fuch 


apes 


Weeks  of  his  Life 
as  thefe : 


'Oh!  what  a  Wonder  of  Mercy  is  it  Cfaid  he) 
'  unto  my  Soul,  that  God  hath  not  caft  me  im- 
'  mediately  into  Hell,  and  given  me  no  Time  to 
'repent;  or  to  beg  for  an  Heart  to  repent!  But 
'  great  Mercy  hath  fpared  a  great  Sinner. 

'  ——The  ftouteft  Man  (faid  he)  that  ever 
'  lived, fhouid  he  bucferioufly  think  on  ETER- 
CNITY,  and  have  no  CHRIST  to  fly  unto,  ic 
'  would  fb  fink  the.Heart  of  him,  that  he  could 
'  never  bear  it ;  but  the  Lord  will  (hew  Mercy 
'  to  my  diitrelTed  Soul. 

He  gave  himfelf  wholly  to  Prayer,  and  would 
excufe  Watchers  from  fitting  with  him,  that 
might  beat  leifiue  for  Communion  \vith  God  3- 
bove.  Sometimes  he  would  give  a  Start  is  he  lay; 
and  being  asked  the  Reafcn  of  i:,  h-  laid,  Qb  j 
/  have  a  gnat  Work  to  do,  and  but  a  little  lime  to 
do  it. 

The  Conflicts  which  he  endured  in  his 
Mind,  were  intolerable  ;  under  which,  he  Day 
and  Night  kept  wreftlmg  with  God  for  his 
Mercy. ' 

One  Morning  his    Brother  enquiring  cf  him 

how  he  did,   he  replied,      'Oh!  1  have  had  as 

'  doleful  a  Night  as  ever  Man  had.     I  have  had 

'  Three  great  Enemies  this  Night  encountering 

j c  with  me;theFA/7;,the^rW  and  iheDevil.  i  have 

i' been  this   Night  btxh  in  Hell  and  in  Hewn  ; 

I  'and 


Tbe  Hiflory  of  New-England. 


Book  \'I. 


'and  I  can  truly  fjy  with  David,  All  this  Night 

*  long  i  have  Watered  my  Couch  -with  my  Tears. 
1  But,  as  the  Day  broke,  my  Saviour  came  and 
'  vanquifiiec!  the  Devil,  and  told  h\m,That  he  bad 
'  no  R  ight  in  me ;  for  he  had  redeemed  me  "with  his 
c  own  Blood. 

Unto  his   Aged  Father  he  faid,  '  Sir,  I  have 

*  felt  a  greatWo:  k  on  my  dilf  refs'd  Soul  -.This your 
'  Son  wa<  loft,  and  is  found ;  was  dead,  and  is  alive. 
1  Doleful  Nights  have  I  feen:  The  Thoughts  of 
'  my  Sins  did  foi  ely  opprefs  me.  When  I  would 
'  be  crying  to  my  dear  Saviour  for  hisMercy,  he 
'  would  leem  not  to  pity  me,  but  fay,    Thou  haft 

*  been  a  Servant  if  tbe  Devil,  and  of  thy  Luft,  and 
1  dofi  tbcu  vow  come  to  me  1  I  have  been  calling  to 
'  thee,  and  thou  haft  been  hardening  thy  Heart  at  my 
'  Calls^  and  deft  thou  expect  Mercy  after  all  ?  And 

*  then  the  Devil  would  put  in,  faying,  Thou 
'  haft  bun  my  VaJJal  fo  long,  thy  Cries  for  Mtrcy  are 
'  now  all  too  late.  I  have  alfb  feen  the  Face  of  an 
'  Angry  G:d,  and  that  is  the  Terribleft  Thing 
'  that  was  ever  feen.  I  then  found  no  Stay  for 
'  my  diff  relfed  Soul  v  but  Free  Mercy  !  Free  Mercy ! 
'  The  Lord  now  put  under  me  his  Everlafting 
'  Arms,  and  gave  me  an  Heart  itill  to  pray,  and 
'  lay,   Lord  Jefus,    Mercy  for  thy  Names  fake. 

*  Mercy  for  thy  Namesfake.'  My  Redeemer 
'  would  fay,  Thou  art  a  Great  Sinner  and  an  Old 

*  Sinner !  The  Anfwer  of  ray  Soul  was,  Truth, 
1  Lord;  but  even  fucb  Sinners  have  already  found 
'  Mercy  At  thy  Hands.  I  come  to  Thee  ;  for  with 
1  Thee  the  Fatherless  find  Mercy. 

He  would  fpeak  forth  into  very  high  Expref- 
fions.  His  great  Comfort  he  fetched  from  Mat. 
11.28.  Come  to  me,  and  I  will  give  you  Reft.  He 
would  now  cry  out,  '  O  the  Riches  of  Free- 
'Grace!  There  are  thouiands  of  thoufands,  and 
'  ten  thouland  times  ten  thoufand  in  the  Third 
'Heaven  rejoicing  over  a  Great  and  an  Old  Sin- 

*  ner  coming  to  Glory  .'  O  glorifie  FREE- 
«  GRACE  for  ever  ! 

He  would  fay,  *  O  bleffed  Sicknefs,  bleffed 
'  Sicknefs !  What  a  Friend  haft  thou  been  to  me ! 
'  and  now  welcome  Death,  or  Welcome  Life  ; 

*  what  my  Redeemer  pleafe.  O,  that  I  could 
'  declare  unto  my  Relations  and  Neighbours ; 
'  yea,  that  I  could  declare  unto  Kingsand  Worlds 
f  What  the  Lord  hath  done  for  my  Sou! .' 

He  w6iild  reflecT  on  the  Humiliation  of  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  with  an  amazed  and  a  tranf 
ported  Soul :  He  would  break  forth  into  a  great 
Adoration  of  it,  and  lay,  '  Oh  !  this  wonderful 
1  Mercy  to  undone  Sinners.'  He  would  alfo  make 
that  one  of  his  Admirations,  '  O,  the  glorious 
'  Work  of  Faith,  which  rolls  it  felf  on  Chrift  a- 
'  lone ! 

He  talked  in  Strains  that  were  furprifingly 
Prophetical,concerning  the  Changes  which  quick- 
ly after  came  on  our  Government;  and  of  the 
Succefs  which  God  would  give  unto  the  (then) 
Prince  of  Orange,  in  the  Delcent  which  we  then 
had  newly  heard,  that  he  was  intending  upon 
England. 

His  Counfel  toevery  one  was,  To  make  their 


Calling  and  Election  fure.     And  he  would  of- 
ten lay,  l  Oil !   lam  an  Old  Sinner,  and  but  a 

*  YoungConvert!  lam  fifty  Years  old,  and  have 
'  lived  butfeven  Weeks  all  this  while. 

To  his  Brethren  he  faid,  '  You  are  careful  a* 
'  bout  a  Garment  for  me,  under  my  Weaknels 
'  this  Winter :  But,  Brothers,  I  have  a  better 
'Garment  than  you  can  provide  for  me;  the 
'  long  white  Robe  of  the  Righteoufnels  of  Je- 
cfus  Chrift,  will  cover  me  all  over. 

He  kept  praying,  and  praifing,  and  finging  of 
Pfalms  till  his  End  came  ;  and  then  being  taken 
Speechlefs  and  Senfelefs,  his  Friends  apprehend- 
ed him  juft  come  in  a  manner  to  his  laft  Gafp. 
Thus  he  lay  for  divers  Hours  drawing  on  i  but 
at  length  he  ftrangely  revived  lb  far,  that  he 
fprang  up  in  his  Bed,  fpreading  his  Arms  abroad, 
as  tho'  going  to  leap  into  theArms  ofaRedeemer, 
and  fliouting,  '  O  my  Friends,  Heaven  rings  all 
'  over  at  this ;  a  Great  and  an  Old  Sinner  coming 
'  to  Heaven !  Behold  in  my  Father's  Houle 
c  are  many  Manfions :  If  it  had  not  been  fo,  my 

*  Saviour  would  not  have  faid  it.     But  he  is  gone 
'to  prepare  a  place  for  me.     O,  the  Riches  of 

'  Grace  I  O  glorifie  Free-Grace  for  evermore 

And  lb  he  lay  down,  he  expired,  he  went  away, 
to  the  Reft  of  God. 

IV.  Reader,  pafs  thy  Judgment  on  a  thing  that 
has  newly  hapned.  The  Story  is  publifhed  a- 
mong  us,  and  no  body  doth,  or  can  doubt  the 
Truth  of  it. 

In  Barzvick  of  our    'NetV'F.ngland  there  dwelt 
one  Ephraim  Joy,  as  infamous  a  Drunkard  as  per- 
haps any  in  the  World.    By  his  Drunkennefs  ha 
not  only  wafted  his  Eftate,    but  ruined  his  Body 
too.     At  laft,    being  both  poor  and  fick,    and 
therewithal  hurried  by  fore  Temptations,    a  Gen- 
tleman of  Tortfmcutb,  out  of  pure  Charity  and 
CompafGon  took  him  into  his  Houfe.     While  he 
lay  ill  there,  the  approaches  of    Death  and  Hell, 
under  his  Conviclions  of  his  debauch'd  Life  ex- 
ceedingly terrified  him.     Amidft  there  Terrours, 
he  dreamt  that  he  made  his  appearance  before 
the  Tribunal  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,the  Judge  of 
the  World,  by  whom  he  was  condemned ;  where- 
upon he  had  a  Sight  of  the  Horrors  in  the  State 
of  Damnation,  which  was  now  arreflingofhim. 
He  cried  with  an  Anguifh  of  Importunity  unto 
the  Judge  for  a  Pardon  i  but   his  Eternal  Judge 
anfwered  him,   that  lie  would  not  yet  give  him 
an  Abfolute  Pardon,  but  allow  him  14  Days  to  re- 
pent i  in  which  time,  if  he  did  repent,  he  mould 
have  a  Pardon.     He  dreamt  that  accordingly  he 
repented  and  wasp  irdon'd,  and  at  the   14  Days 
End  received  into  Heaven.     The  pcor  Man  de- 
clared his  Dream  to  the  People  of  the  Houfe,  and 
lent  for  the  Help  of  Minifters  and  other    Chri- 
ftians ;  and  exprefted  the  Humiliations  of  a  very 
deep  Repentance.    As  he  drew  near  his  End,  he 
grew  daily  more  lively  in  the  Excrcifes  of  his 
Faith  on  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  relying  on  him 
for  Salvation  ;  until  he  confidently  laid,  that  hi«= 
Peace  was  made  with  God.     But  behold  at  the 
Expiration  of  the  14  Days  precifcly  and  exactlv 

ac- 


Book  VI.  The  Htftory  of  New-England. 


u 


according  to  his  Dream,  he  died.  Yea,  and  he 
died  full  of  that  great  Joy  which  gave  no  little, 
to  the  Spectators. 


Nunquam  efl fa  a  Converfio  :  Latro  de  cruet  tran.' 
fit  ad  Paradifum.       llier. 


CHAP.     V.       Bfloria  Nemefios. 
plating  Remarkable  JUDGMENTS  of  God. 


THE  Reader  is  doubtlefs  waiting  for  an  Hi- 
ftory  of  REMARKABLE  JVDGMENTS, 
inflicted  by  the  evident  and  undoubted  Hand  of 
Heaven  on  feveral  forts  of  Sinners  in  this  Land. 
Now,  an  Hiffory  of  thofe  things  having  ^cen  in- 
terwoven into  two  Brief  SERMONS  lately  prea- 


ched among  us,  Reader,  take  it  under  the  Advan° 
tage  which  was  thereby  given  unto  ir.  Read  it 
with  the  Salutation  ufed  by  Maximilian  when  he 
parted  by  the  Place  of  Execution,  Salve  Juf- 
una. 


Jerribilia  D  E  I. 


Remarkable  Judgments  of  God,  on  federal  Sorts  of  Offenders,  m  federal  Scores  of 
In/iances  ;  among  the  People  of  New-England.  ObferVed,  Collected,  (Related, 
and  Improved  i  In  Two  Sermons,  at  Qofkon-Letlurc  in  the  Month  of  July  1 6<??. 


By   COTTON  MATHER 


Raro  antecedentem  Sceleftum  deferuit  pede  patna  Claudo.     Horat. 
Supplicia  Imprudent turn  prudentibus  conferunt  Sanitatem.     Cypr.  de  Zelo. 

The  Firft  SERMON. 

Pfal.  CXIX.  1 20.     My  Flejh  tremblethfor  fear  of  thee,  and  lam  afraid  of 

thy  JUDGMENTS. 


IT  cannot  be  faid  of  any  Man  as  it  is  faid  of 
the  Leviathan,  He  is  made -without  Fear  ;  but 
Fear  is  one  of  thofe  Natural  PaJJions,  which 
the  Maker  of  Man  hath  infufed  into  him  to 
move  him  in  the  Matters  of  his  Happinefs.  And 
indeed  if  the  Spirit  of  Man  were  defiitute  of 
all  Fear,  it  would  want  a  Sinew,  needful  to  ma 


thatfeareth  always.  And  he  had  the  Example  of 
his  Bleffed  Father,  to  inform  him  of,  and  con- 
firm him  in  ii;ch  a  Maxim.  David  was  as  great 
an  Inftance  of  undaunted  Valour  and  Courage, 
as  perhaps  any  that  ever  lived  :  His  Fortitude 
was  HeroicaS.  Yet  we  find  him  fearing  always: 
And  well  might  he  fear,  when  he  had  fuch  a  for- 
midable Object  for  his  Fear,    as  that  which  is 


nage  him   in  many  of  his  Motions.     But  this 

Affection  of  our  Fear,  by  which  we  have  fuch  i  propofed  in  the  Text  now  before  us. 
Apprehenfions  of  Evils  as  to  fly  from  them,  as]  The  Pfalmift  in  our  Context  is  making  his 
'tisufeful  tousinallourconcerns,thus'tisofmoft  Observations  upon  the  Dilpenfations  of  the 
eminent  Ufe  to  us  in  the  Concerns  of  Religi-  God    of   Heaven    towards   ungodly     len  on 


on.  Without  the  Exercife  of  fome  Fear,  no  real 
Religion  can  be  exerciled  :  If  we  would  ferve 
the  Lord,    it  muft  be  with  Fear  ;  If  we  would 


Earth.  Ungodly  Men  had  been  very  high 
in  their  worldly  Advancements  and  Advan- 
tages ;    but,    faith   he,    Lord,    I  fie  tbee  tread- 


keep  the  Commandments  of  God,  it  is  our  FearUngcf  them  duivn\  Ungodly  Men  had  cleaved 
of  Him  that  will  be  Cujios  utriufque  TabuU.  !  unto  the  People  of  God,  as  if  they  had  been  of 
In  the  Sacred  Oracle  now  before  us,  behold  ,  one  Metal  with  them,  and  their  Fate  and  Lo: 
fuch  a  Fear  exemplified  !  Solomon  the  W%<e  once  I  had  been  one  i  but,  lakh  he,  Lord.  I  fee  thee  pit. 
wrote  that  Maxim  of  Wifdom,  Happy  is  the  Man  D  d  d  d  d  d 


rme 


24 


f  km  Hiftory  of  N ew- England.  Book  VI. 


ting  them  away  like  I>ofs.  Now,  there  is  a  two- 
fold i,fe  whiduhe  Pfalmift  m<ikesof  thefe  Ob- 
lervarions. 

One  is  Love.     Therefore  I  love  thyTefl monies. 

Another  is  Fear.  My  Flejh  trembleth  for  fear 
of  Thee,  and  I  am  afraid  of  thy  Judgments. 

The  Degre  of  the  Fear  thus  expreffed, is  remar- 
kable. One  of  the  Ancients  who  underwood  He- 
brew, as  few  of  them  did,  renders  it,  Horripilavit 
Caro  mea  :  (<].  d.)  My  Hair  even  ftands  on  End 
with  Fear.  And  the  Sepiuagint  rendeisir,  My 
Flcfii  ts  piercd  with  Fear  as  with  Nails.  But  there 
is  no  need  of  evaporating  our  Difcourle  in  Cri- 
ticifms  on  the  Language  of  our  Text.  The 
plain  Language,  and  the  Do&iineof  it  is, 

That  a  very  Trembling  Fear  of  God  in  his  Judg- 
ments, is  what  all  Mm  (bould,  ami  what  Good 
Men  will,  have  their  Souls  exceedingly  s.wed 
withal. 

If  you  will  hear  the  Sum  of  the  matter,  there 
is  this 

CASE, 

To  hi  diftin&ly  with  all  due  Brevity  fpoken 
unto. 

What  is  the  trembling  Fear  of  Gad  in  his  Judg 
ments  which  is  to  be  entertain  d  in  our  Souls  ? 
And  fb,  What  are  thoje  Judgments  of  God, 
whereof  it  becomes  us  with  a  trembling  Fear 
to  be  Afraid  ? 

Behold  the  Steps,  by  which  we  fnall  arrive  to 
a  full  Anfwer  of  the  Important  Cafe  thus  be- 
fore us. 

I.  The  Fear  ef  God  comprehends  the  whole 
of  that  Religion,  whereto  the  Will  of  God  obli- 
geth  us.  Indeed  in  a  Natural  Fear,  we  are  car- 
ried from  what  we  Fear.  But  a  Gracious  Fear 
will  carry  us  to  the  God,  who  is  therein  our  Fear  ; 
To  fear  God,  is  to  choofe  him,  to  love  him,  to 
truft  him,  to  feek  him,  and  to  draw  near  unto 
him.  In  this  Fear  of  God  there  is  prefuppofed  a 
Senfe  of  God.  We  muft  be  none  of  thofe  Fools, 
who  fay,  There  is  no  God.  Our  Fear  of  God  muft 
not  be  as  of  an  Imaginary  Being,  or  of  the  fright- 
ful Non-  Entities  which  the  feeble  Spirits  of  Chil- 
dren are  feared  with  all.  We  are  to  be  well  fatif- 
fied,  and  we  have  all  poffible  Demonftra:ions,to 
latisfie  us,  That  there  is  a  God,  whofe  Kingdom  rul- 
etb  over  all. 

But  then, 

Firft,  There  is  in  the  Fear  of  God  a.  Reverent 
Refpeft  and  Regard,  unto  all  that  has  the  Name 
of  God  upon  it.  We  muft  have  fuch  a  Fear  of 
God  in  us,  that  our  God  may  fpeak  of  us,  in  that 
Stile  in  Mai.  4.  2.  You  fear  my  Name.  We 
fliould  have  none  but  Fir,  that  is  to  fay,  Holy  and 
Humble  Relentments  of  all  thofe  Things  where- 


by the  Great  God  makes  himfelf  known  unto  us. 
His  Titles  we  muft  mention  with  Honour  ■>  His 
Attributes  we  muft  adore,  with  all  Affection  : 
His  Appointments  we  muft  approach,  with  all  At- 
tention. We  fliould  be  follicitous  that  God  may 
be  glorified,  not  only  by  our  felves,  but  aifb 
by  all  the  World  about  us.  Hallow  d  be  thy  Name 
is  to  be  the  firft  Petition  of  our  Souls. 

Secondly,  There  is  in  the  Fear  of  God,  a  ftu- 
dious  Concern  and  Caution,  to  avoid  all  that  fin- 
fuj  Evil  by  which  the  Law  of  God  is  tranfgre/s'd. 
We  muft  have  trut  Fear  of  God,  whereto  we  are 
advifedin  Prov.  16.  6.  By  the  Fear  of  the  Lord 
Men  depart  from  Evil.  We  fliould  fly  from  every 
known  Sin,  as  from  a  deadly  Serpent,  or  Poifon, 
becaufe  of  the  Offence  thereby  given  to  that  God 
wo  hath  no  pleafureinWickednefs.  When  we  fee 
others  do  any  thing  that  is  forbidden  and  con- 
demn'd  in  the  Edids  of  God,  we  fhould  be  able 
to  fay  as  Nehemiaboi old,  Butfo  do  not  I,  becaufe  I 
have  the  Fear  of  God !  When  others  urge  us  todo 
any  thing  amifs,  we  fhould  reply  like  Jofeph,  I 
dare  not  commit  fuch  things,  for  I  fear  God  '.  And 
therefore  the  Anger  of  God  fhould  be  the  Ter- 
ror of  our  Souls:  We  fhould  rather  incur  any 
Miferies,  than  procure  that  Anger  which  the 
ftrongeft  Mountains  cannot  ftand  before  >  and 
count  it  a  Fearful  thing  to  fall  into  the  Hands  of 
the  Living  God. 

Thirdly,  In  the  Fear  of  God  there  is  a  Filial 
Care,  to  yield  him  that  Service  and  Worfhip, 
which  may  be  pleafing  unto  him.  In  the  Fear  of 
God  we  muft  obey  him  with  our  Service.  The 
Angels  of  Heaven.who  move  the  Wheels  in  the 
great  Changes  on  Earth,  when  they  flood  in 
their  Service  before  theThroneofGod  which  had 
the  appearance  of  Fire  round  about  him,  they  let 
down  their  Wings,  at  his  Voice,  in  the  Virton  of 
Ezekiel :  In  allufion  hereunto,  the  Apoftle,  ipeak- 
ing  unto  Believers,  that  are  to  be  as  the  Angels 
in  the  Kingdom  of  the  Lord  Jdiis  Chrift,  which 
cannot  be  moved,  fays  in  Heb.  12.  28,  29.  Serve 
God  with  Reverence  and  with  Godly  Fear :  For  our 
Go^wtfConfurning  Fire.  In  the  Fear  of  God 
we  muft  renounce  the  Service  of  all  our  IdoU  ; 
We  muft  no  more  Humour  the  Flefh,  no  more 
Follow  the  World,  no  more  Gratine  the  D^ri!. 
And  we  muft  now  ib  devote  our  felves  unto  the 
Service  of  God,  that  we  may  be  able  to  fey,  Lord 
lam  thy  Servant,  Devoted  unto  thy  Fear]  He  is  to 
be  our  Matter,  and  we  fhould  leave  no  room  for 
that  Expoftulation,  Where  is  my  Fear  ?  And,  in 
the  Fear  of  God,  we  muft  addrefshim  with  our 
Worfhip.  The  Profely  tes  which  came  in  to  em- 
brace the  true  Worfhip  of  God,  have  this  Dif- 
tindion  in  Pfal.  1 1  f .  1 1 .  Ye  that  fear  the  Lord. 
In  the  Fear  of  God  we  mult  worfhip  Him  who 
is  worthy  to  be  feared  :  and  both  the  Natural 
and  the  Inftituted  Worfhip  of  Gcd,  is  to  be  con- 
tinually performed  withus;  We  ought  to  be,  as  he 
once  was,  Devout  Perfons,  who  fear  God,  and 
pray  always  unto  him. 

All 


Book  VI.  The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


25 


All  this  iscomprifed  in  the  Fear  of  God.  And 
yet  you  have  no  right  Notion  of  it,  if  a  CHRIST 
be  left  out  of  the  Notion,  There  is  a  Faith  im- 
plied in  this  Fear.  The  Fear  of  God,  is,  after  all, 
to  be  thus  defcrib'd,  and  never  fully,  till  thusde 
fcribed,  unto  us:  'Tis  even /kc&  a  Dread  of  the 
Divine  Difpleafure  at  Sin,  as  drives  us  to  our 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift  for  Salvation  from  Sin,  end  from 
the  Difpleafure  of  God  again/}  us  for  it.  There  n^v- 
er  was  any  true  Fear  of  God  in  the  Days  of  the 
Old  Tefiament,  but  liich  as  thought  of  and  ran  to 
a  Meffiab,  as  the  Deliverer  from  the  Wrath  of 
God,  and  all  the  Fearof  God  in  the  Days  of  the 
New  Tefiament  acknowledges  our  Bleffed  Jefus  as 
that  Meffiah.  This  is  that  Fear  of  God  which  i< 
the  Beginning  of  Wifdem :  This  that  Fear  of  Goi 
wherein  all  Menfhould  be  all  the  Day  long.  This 
is  that  Fear  of  God,  wherein  we  fhould  continue 
all  the  Days  that  we  live  upon  the  Earth.  If  thou 
doft  not  walk  in  this  Fear  of  God,  O  Man,  let  thv 
Flefh  tremble  for  Fear,  and  be  afraid  of  the 
Judgments  whereto  thou  doft  make  thy  felf  ob- 
noxious. But  this  leads  us  to  a  further  Confide- 
ration. 

II.  Unto  the  Fear  of  God,  we  are  by  the  Con 
^deration  of  his  Judgments  to  be  awakened  ; 
and  we  fhould  thereto'  e  be  ftruck  with  a  very 
trembling  Fear  of  thoie  Judgments.  Now  the 
judgments  of  God  are  capable  of  a  Diftribution, 
into  Judicia  Judicantia,  and  Judicta  Judicata  ; 
Judgments  Denounced,  and  Judgments  Infitcled  : 
Judgments  in  the  Commination,  and  Judgments 
in  the  Accomplifhment  .■  the  Declaration  of  Di 
vine  Judgments,  and  the  Execution  of  Divine 
Judgments.  With  an  Eye  to  this  Diftribution, 
there  are  thefe  Counfels,  which  from  the  Great 
God  of  Judgment  are  to  be  given  you. 


'jW^tnfe~k- 


The  Fir\ 


Let  us  with  a  very  trembling  Fear  be  afraid  of 
of  the  Judgments  that  are  pronounced  againft 
the  Ungodly,  in  the  Book  of  God.  There  are 
ufed  in  our  longeft  and  fweeteft  Pfalm,  no  lefs 
ftian  Twelve  feveral  Words,  to  fignifie  the  Reve- 
lation which  God  had  made  of  his  purpofe,  to 
iave  Men  by  that  Son  of  a  Virgin,  who  was  to 
break  the  old  Serpent's  Head ;  And  one  of  thofe 
words  is,  JUDGMENTS.  This,  then  is  the  In- 
fluence, which  the  Judgments  of  God,  or  the 
Difcoveries  which  He  has  made  of  Himielf  in 
this  Book  oi  His,  mull  have  upon  us :  we  fhould 
be  able  to  fay,  as  in  Pf.  119. 161.  Lord,  my  heart 
{lands  in  awe  of  thy  Word.  Are  there  any  Pre- 
cepts in  this  Book  i  We  fhould  fear  the  Command' 
ment  :  Fear,  and  Cry,  Lord,  1  am  afraid  of  break- 
ing thy  Holy  Laws,  that  are  fo  Holy,  and  Jufiy  and 
Good!  Are  there  any  Promifes  in  this  Book r"  We 
(hould  fear,  left  we  fallfhortof  them.  Are  there 
any  Threatnings  in  this  Book  ?  We  fhould  fear, 
left  they  take  hold  of  us.  Before  every  thing  in 
the  Book  of  God,  we  fhould  have  the  fame  Dif 
pofition  that  Jofiah  had  when  the  Book  of  Deu- 
teronomy was  read  unto  him  ;  [The Jews  have  a 
Tradition,  that  by  thefpecialDifpolal  of  Divine 


Providence  the  firft  Place  which  the  Reader 
lit  upon,  was  Deut.zS.  ;6.]  That  it  may  be 
laid  unto  us,  Thy  Heart  -was  tender,  and  thou  didji 
Humble  thy  f< If  before  God,  -when  thou  didft  Hear 
hn  Words.  We  fhould  be  apprehenfive  of  the 
Almighty  God,  fpeaking  in  every  Line  of  this 
Book  j  and  then  be  afraid,  left  all  the  Plagues 
written  in  this  Book,  overtake  us  if  we  fin  againft 
(uch  a  God.  It  was  the  Chara&er  of  our  Lord 
JdusChrift  in  Ifa.  66.  2.  He  that  is  of  apoorand 
a  Contrite  Spirit,  and  who  trembleth  at  my  Word. 
When  we  lee  what  Judgments  the  Word  of  God 
'us  threatned  againft  the  Children  of  Difobedi- 
vnce,  we  fhould  even  fall  a  trembling  at  them. 
And  elpecially  they  that  areconfeiousto  a  courfe 
of  Difobedience  againft  God,  fhould  be  afraid  of 
hele  Judgments.  When  Beljhaz&ar  fa w  upon 
he  Wall  an  Hand-writing,  which  he  could  not 
read  (becauie  perhaps  the  Letters  were  <b  infol- 
ded one  among  another,  that  except  a  Man  had 
the  Key  of  the  Cypher,  the  Sentence  was  not 
e^fie  to  be  Uncypheredjhe  was  wonderfully  terri- 
fied at  what  he  f  iw.  Unbelievers  may  read  that 
Hand-writing  in  this  Book,  If  any  Man  believe  not 
the  Son,  the  Wrath  of  God  abidcth  on  him  :  and  will 
vou  not  be  afraid  of  that  Wrath  ?  Impenitents 
may  read  that  Hand-writing  in  this  Book.  The 
Lord  will  wound  fuch  an  one  as  goeth  on  fiill  in  his 
TrefpaJJes :  and  will  you  not  be  afraid  of  that 
Wound  ?  The  Prayerlefs  may  in  this  Book  read 
.hat  Hand-writing,  The  Wicked  (liallbe  turned  into 
Hell,  and  all  they  that  forget  God;  and  will  they 
not  be  afraid  of  that  Hell,  or  fear  him,  who  is 
able  to  cafi  Body  and  Soul  into  Hell  f  I  fay  unto  ycu, 
Fear  him ;  and  Oh,  be  afraid  of  thele  Judg- 
ments. 

The  Second  Counfel- 

Let  us  with  a  very  Trembling  Fear  be  afraid  of 
Judgments  that  fhall  be  pronounced  upon  the 
Ungodly  in  the  Day  of  God.  It  is  a  Truth  where- 
of we  are  very  fure,  The  God  of  Truth  has 
given  us  affurance  of  it,  That  he  hath  appointed 
a  Day  in  which  he  will  judge  the  World  in  Righ- 
teoufhels  by.our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift.  Now,  in  the 
Remembrance  of  this  Day,  when  the  Kingdom 
that  was  promiied  unto  the  Seed  o(Davidt  fhall 
be  erefted,  it  is  laid  in  Eccl.  12.15,14.  Fear 
God  >  for  God  will  bring  every  Work  into  Judg- 
ment. We  muft  exped  the  Approach  of  a  Day, 
wherein  the  Quickening  and  Wondrous  Voice  of 
our  Lord  Jetus  Chrift  will  raife  us  out  of  our 
Graves;  a  Day,  wherein  a  Doom  of  Everlafting 
Punifhmenr,  or  of  Life  Eternal  will  be  paffed  up- 
on us.  a  Day,  wherein,  as  the  Apoftle  fpeaks, 
We  muft  all  appear  before  the  Judgment- feat  of 
Chrifi,  that  every  one  may  receive  Jucb  things  in  the 
Body,  according  to  what  he  bath  done  :  £tor  thus  I 
choofe  to  render  it.]  Now,  let  us  fear  the  Judg- 
ments, which  on  this  Terrible  Day  of  Judgment 
our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  will  difpenle  unto  the 
World.  Of  thefe  Judgments  it  is,  that  a  Great 
Minifter  of  our  Lord  could  fay,  in  2  Cor.  5.  n. 
Knowing  the  Terror  of  the  Lord,  we  perfwade  Aden, 
There  is  a  Terror  in  thofe  Judgments;  Oh! 
Dddddd  2  Let 


q6 


The  Hiftory  of  New- England.  Book  VI. 


Let  this  Terror  now  perfwade  us  to  purfue  after 
an  Intereft  in  him  that  is  to  be  our  Judge  :  and 
let  ir  perl'wade  us  to  repent  of  the  Sins  which 
our  Judge  will  elfe  damn  us  to  Endlefs  Confufi- 
on  for.     When  a  Pagan  Foslix^  was  told  of  the 
Judgments  which  the  Notable  Day   of  God  will 
produce  upon  Mankind,    it  is  laid,  He  trembled. 
What ;  Shall  we  be  worfe  than  that  Unhappy 
Pagan  ?  When    God  was  only    publifhing  his 
Judgments  on  the  Burning  Mountain,  we  aie  told, 
So  terrible  was  the  Sight,  that  Mofes  faid,  1  excee- 
dingly Fear  and  Quake,     And  (hall  not  we  excee 
dingly  Fear  and  Quake,    when  we   think  on  the 
Day  when  our    Lord  Jefus  Chrift  will  defcend 
from  Heaven  in  Flaming  Fire,    to  pour  out  his 
Judgments  ;  and  Behold  the  Lord  comes  with  My 
riads  of  his   Saints  to  execute    Judgment  upon  all ! 
Certain  I  am,  all  this  Lower  World,  will  be  fur- 
prized  with  an  Horrible  Fright,  at  that  Great 
Revolution  :  An  Horrible  Tempeft   will  then   be 
Rain'd  from  Heaven  upon  this  World  :  The  Earth 
will  Jhake  and  tremble,  the   Foundations  of  the  Hills 
alfo  will  move  and  be  (haken,   when  our  Lord  (hail 
Bow  the  Heavens  and  come  down,   with  a  Devour- 
ing Fire  about  htm.     So  then,  Let  us  now  Shake 
and  Tremble  at  the   Contemplation  thereof.     Bel 
afraid,  left  we  be  found  among  the  Ungodly, 
that  [hall  not  (land  in  the    Judgment.     Be  afraid, 
left  our  Judgment  then  be,  that  of  the  Devil  and 
his  Angeis.    'Tisa  thing  which  I  have  given  me 
in  Charge,  Some  Save  with  Fear,  pulling  ihem  out 
of  the  Fire.     Wherefore  I  fay  unto  you,  Souls, 
Be  Afraid,  Left  we  be  adjudged  unto  the  Ven- 
geance of  Eternal  Fire,  even  to  the  Fire  of  the 
Vengeance  of  God  throughout  Eternal  Ages. 
The  Third  Counfel. 
There  are  aftonilhing  Judgments,  difpenfed 
by  the  Hand  of  God,  upon  others  in  this  World  ; 
and  with  a  very  Trembling  Fear,  we  fnould  be 
afraid  of  thofe  Judgments.     The  Difpenfations 
of  God  unto  a  finful  World,  are  fuch  as  give  us 
that  Invitation  in  Pfal.   66.    5.      Come  and  fee 
the  Works  of  Godt  for  he  is  Terrible  in  his  "Doing  to- 
wards the  Children  of  Men.     'Tis  our  Duty  now, 
to  be  Afraid  of  thofe  Judgments,   under  which 
we  fee  the  Children  of  Men  (uffering,   by  the 
Terrible  Difpenfations  of  God.    I  do  not  meanj 
that  we  (hould  live  in  a  Slavifh  Fear,  of  all  Fear- 
ful Accidents,  but  that  we  (hould  be  awakened 
unto  the  Fear  of  God,  by  what  we  fee.     Our  Du- 
ty it  defcribed  unto  us,  in  Ifa.  26.  9.     When  thy 
Judgments  are  in  the  "Earth,  the  Inhabitants  of  ths 
World  will  learn  Righteoufnefs.     And  now,  let  us 
proceed  by  thefe  Rules,  in  this  our  Duty. 
The  Fir(l  Rule. 
There  is  one  thing  in  the  Judgments  of  God, 
whereof  we  (hould  always  be  afraid  i   that  is, 
Left  we  do  make  an  Injudicious  Interpretation 
of  them.     It  is  a  Caution  given  to  us,  in  Pfal. 
%6.  6.     Thy  Judgments  ere  a  great  Deep,  O  Lord, 
And  we  (hould  be  very  cautious,    left  we  drown 
our  felves  in  fuch  a  Deep,  when  we  go  to  Fathom 
it.     The  Judgments  of  God  are  thofe  things, 
whereof  'tis  faid,  Whofo  u  wife  will  obferve  thofe 
things  i  but  then  we  muft  be  careful  to  proceed 
wifely  in  our  obferving  of  them.      JTis  a  dange- 
rous thing  for  us  to  indulge  our  own  Fancy,  and 


much  more  for  us  to  indulge  cur  own  Paffion 
in  making  of  Gloifes  upon  the  Judgments  of  God' 
God  will  not  hold  the  Man  guilders,  who  mall  fo 
take  his  Name  in   vain.      Very  fad  things  may 
befal  the  People  God,  which  if  we  (hould  call  'em 
the  Judgments   of  God,    upon  them,    for   fbrne 
Crime  or  orhe; ,  this  would  be  as  great  a  Crime  in 
us,  as  to  adulterate  the  Coin  of  the  Nation.  The 
Sovereign  God  has  made  a  Crofi,  to  be  neceiTary 
for  all  the  Difciples  of  Him,  who  dy'd  upon  the 
Crofsj  and  tie  will  in  his  Infinite   Sovereignty, 
make  choi  :eof  their  Crofi  for  them,  to  exercife 
their  Virtue, and  prepare  them  and  ripen  them, 
for  his  Heaveply  Kingdom.     If  we  (hould  befo 
wicked,  as  to  fuppoie  a  Curfe  of  God  upon  all 
that  we  fee  under  the  Crofs,    Behold,   we  fljould 
wickedly  offend  agamf  the  Generation  of  the  Children 
of  God.     When  the  Sons  of  that  Excellent  Mini' 
fter  of  God,  Aaron,  the  Priefi  of  the  Lord,  came  to 
an  untimely  End,  it  had  been  a  vile  Impiety  in 
the  Congregation  of  Ifrael  to  have  perfecuted 
their  Worthy  and  Aged  Father,  with  any  Cen- 
forious  Imputation'.     The  Judgments  of  God  are 
like  to  aneft  none  fooner  than  the  Rafh  Expofi- 
tors  of  his  Judgments  on  other  M*n.     The  jea- 
lous God  will  fbon  draw  near  in  Judgment  unto 
thofe  who  Perfecute  them  whom  he  hath  fmitten, 
and  who  talk  to  the  Grief  of  thofe  whom  he  hath 
wounded.     Our  Lord  has  given  us  a  molt  whol- 
fome  Admonition,   to  be  generally  made  ufe  of 
when  fore  Dif afters  happen  unto  any  of   our 
Neighbours,  in  Luk,  1 3.  4,  5.     Think  ye  that  thefe 
were  Sinners  above  all  others  ?  I  tell  you  Nay.     But 
what  fhall  we  then  do  to  determine  a  Judgment 
of  God  upon  a  Sinner  tor  his  doingfo?  I  anfvver, 
Firft,  the  Sin  of  the  Sinner  muft  be  evident  from 
the  Scripture  of  God,   before  we  may  dare  to  ap- 
ply a  Judgment  of  God,  unto  him.    3Tis  very 
prepofterous  for  us,  firft.-ftf  all  to  take  it  for  gran- 
ted,   This  or  that   GflSmity    is    a   Judgment 
of  God   forfome  Iniquity  ;  and  then  upon  this 
Preemption  to  fearch  out  that  Iniquity.     And, 
Secondly,    a   Judgment  of  God  for  Sin,    muft  be 
cloathed  with  fbrne  convincing    Ci  re  tin  ilia  nee 
and  Character  upon  ic  fair",  reaionabiy  to  (peak 
its  being fo,  before  we  may  venture  tocjsll  it  fb. 
There  muft  be  fomeching  in  the  Time  of  ir.or  in 
the  Place  of  it,  or  in  its  Refemblance  to  the  Fault 
for  which  it  comes,  orin  the  Confefiion  of  the 
Perfbn  chaff  iled,  that  (hall  make  the   Confci- 
encetofay,  There  are  che  plain  Signatures  of  3 
Judgment  for  fome  Sin  in  the  Stroke  now  given 
by  God  !  Having  firfllaid  in  this  Antidote  3gainft 
Rafh  Judgments  of  our  own,  about  the  Great 
Judgments  of  God,   we  may   fafely  go  on,  to 
fay  » 

The  Second  Rule. 
The  Judgments  of  God  in  Former  Ages,  they 
(hould  make  us  afraid  of  the  Sins  which  procu- 
red thofe  Judgments.  There  came  ^hejudgmenti 
of  God  upon  the  Murmurous  I/racl/les ;  :'c;s  laid 
in  I  Cor.  10.  1 1.  All  thefe  things  b.ippexccl  unto 
them  for  Examples,  and  they  a>e  written  tor  our 
Admonition;  Behold  thofe  Judgfl*ew»  the^u 
and  be  Afraid  of  all  Murmuring,  r,e  Afraid  of 
ail  Impatience,  be  Afraid  of  all    Difccnuct  u^f 


Book  VI.  J  be  Riftory  of  New- England  27 


derthe  Difficulties  of  a  Wildernefs,  left  we 
be  deftrofd  of  the  Deftroyer.  There  came  the Judg- 
merits  of  God  upon  the  debauch'd  Sodomites; 
'Tis  faid  in  2  Vet.  2.  6.  God  made  them  an  "Exam- 
ple unto  thofe  that  after  jlwild  live  Ungodly.  Behold 
thole  Judgments  then,  and  be  Afraid  of  all  De- 
bauchery ,Be  Afraid  c/all  Uncleannefs,  be  Afraid 
of  all  Intemperance,  left  God  condemn  us  with  a 
Fiery  and  an  Early  Overthrow.  Sirs,  the  Hi- 
ftory  which  the  Bible  hath  given  us  of  the  Judg 
ments  which  hive  come  from  God  upon  them 
that  finned  againft  him,  'tis  not  only  a  Chronicle 
of  what  is  part,  but  alfb  a  Calendar  of  what  is  to 
come.  We  have  the  Hiftory:  there  we  may 
confider  the  Days  of  Old,  the  Tears  of  Ancient 
times.  But  when  we  do  fb,  Let  us  be  Afraid, 
left  by  repeating  of  Old  Stns,  we  bring  a  Repe- 
tition of  Old  Tlagues  upon  our  felves.  When 
Thunder  and  Lightning  from  Heaven  fuddenly 
calcin'd  a  poor  Woman  into  a  Lump  of  Salt 
for  her  Covetoufnefs  near  three  thoufand  and 
eight  hundred  Years  ago,  that  Salt  was  to  feafon 
us  with  a  Fear,  left  near  the  Time  of  the  End, 
we  perifh  like  her,  by  fetting  our  Hearts  upon 
the  World.  Our  Lord  therefore  faid^  on  that 
Occafion,in  Luk.  17.  ;2.  Remember  Lot's  Wife. 
Thus  I  may  fay,  Remember  Judas,  and  be  A- 
fraid,  left  we  perifh  as  he  did  in  betraying  the 
the  Interefts  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  for  fome 
Worldly  Benefit.  Remember  Herod,  and  be 
Afraid,  left  we  perifh  as  he  did,  in  proud  Af- 
fectations of  what  belongs  not  unto  us.  Remem- 
ber all  the  reft. 

The  Third  Rule. 
The  Judgments  of  God  on  other  Places,  they 
mould  make  us  Afraid,  left  we  fall  within  the 
Circuit  of  thofe  Judgments.  When  the  Judg- 
ments of  God  have  begun  their  Walk,  we  have 
Caufe  to  be  Afraid,  left  we  fall  into  their  Walk  ; 
becaule  with  us,  even  -with  its  alfo,  there  are  Sins 
againft  the  Lord  our  God.  It  was  prophefied  in 
Jer.  35.  52.  Thus  faith  the  Lord  of  Hofls,  Behold, 
Evil  fhaU  go  forth  from  Nation  to  Nation.  Do  we 
behold  other  Nations,  grievoufly  fharing  in 
Diftrefsof  Nations,  and  great  Perplexity,  we 
mould  be  Afraid,  left  we  alfb  have  our  fhare  in 
the  Diftreffing  Judgments  of  God.  Have  the 
Judgments  of  God,  fent  War,  and1  Poverty,  and 
Scarcity,  upon  other  Nations?  We  have  Caufe 
to  be  Afraid  left  the  Evil  of  thofe  Judgments 
reach  unto  our  felves  i  and  left  we  drink  of  that 
Cup  of  Trembling,  which  God  feems  to  be  putting 
into  the  Hands  of  all  the  Nations.  A  Fire  on  one 
Houfe  alarms  all  the  Town.  The  Judgments  of 
God  havefet  all  Europe  on  Fire  ;  yea,  the  Sparks 
are  flown  over  into  America  ;  Lamentable  Def- 
lations have  been  made  both  Northward  and 
Southward  of  us  :Be  Afraid,  then,  O  poor  people 
of  God,  left  thou  alfo  become  Defolate.  When 
the  Judgments  of  God  were  in  their  courfe,  He 
faid  unto  hispeople  in  Zeph.  3.  6,  7.  1  have  cut 
off  the  Nations,  their  Towers  are  defolate,  their  Cities 
aredeftroyed.  I  faid,  Surely,  thou  wilt  fear  me. 
Thus,  do  we  fee  Deftru&ions  come  upon  other  J 
Countries.  Our  God  fays  thereupon,  Surely  this  I 


Country  toojhall  be  Afraid,  left  I  bring  the  like  upon 
them. 

The  Fourth  Rule. 

The  Judgments  of  God  feizing  upon  a  few  Per- 
fons  only,  before  our  Eyes,  they  mould  make  us 
Afraid,  left  we  be  the  next,  that  thofe  Judg- 
ments do  feize  upon.  When  one  Malefaftor  di- 
ed, it  was  faid,  Ail  the  People  fhallihear  and  fear. 
Thus,  if  the  Judgments  of  God  fingle  out  one  Ma- 
lefactor, to  punifh  him,  his  Voice  is,Let  all  bsA- 
fraidl  It  is  noted  of  a  miferable  Minifter,  who 
falling  into  a  Scandal,wasprefently  overwhelm'd 
by  the  Judgment  of  Gad,  in  Acts  5.  f.  Great  Fear 
came  upon  all  them  that  heard  thife  things.  When 
the  Judgments  of  God  had  fignalized  themfelves 
upon  any  fcandalous  Wretches,  we  fiiould  all  be 
ftruck  with  a  great  Fear,  left  our  €fns  expofe  us 
alfo  to  the  fignal  Rebukes  of  Heaven.  As,  if 
one  Drunkard  in  a  Town  be  drowned,  it  is  a 
Loud  Sermon  to  all  the  Bruits  about  the  Town, 
to  be  Afraid,  of  being  fo  cut  off  in  their  Bruitifh 
Follies.  Thus  in  all  the  Special  Judgments  of 
God  upon  any  Offenders  whatibever,  there  is 
that  Voice  from  Heaven  to  all  fuch  Offenders. 
Tremble  and  Repent,  left  all  of  you  likewife  perijli : 
Yea,  the  Judgments  of  God  upon  a  few,  often 
mould  beferioufly  pondered  by  the  whole  Body 
of  the  People,  whom  they  belong  unto,  as  a  De- 
cimation made  by  that  God,  who  gives  none  Ac- 
count of  his  Matters.  God  hath  a  Controverfie 
with  the  whole  Body  of  the  People-,  he  might 
have  pitch'd  upon  me  or  thee,  to  have  been  the 
Subjects  on  which  he  does  manage  this  Contro- 
verfie, as  well  as  any  other  of  our  Neighbours. 
Oh  !  what  caufe  have  we  now  to  be  afraid,  of 
what  we  alfo  have  to  meet  withal  !  When  the 
Judgments  of  God  followed  one  Man  aboard  the 
Veffel,  bound  for  Tarteffus,  'tis  faid  in  Jon.  1.  16. 
All  the  other  Men  feared  the  Lord  exceedingly, 
Truly,  if  any  one  Man  aboard  the  Veffel  of 
the  Publick,  be  followed  with  a  Storm  of  Judg- 
ments from  God,  it  becomes  us  all  to  Fear  exceed- 
ingly. 


The   Fifth  Rule. 


.. 


When  things  that  look  like  Judgments  of  God 
befal  the  dear  People  of  God,  it  highly  conce:  ns 
other  People  to  be  afraid  of  the  greater  Judg- 
ments which  they  may  reafonably  look  for.  Tis 
an  Inference  whereto  we  are  diredeJ  in  1  Pe,t.  4. 
?7-  Judgment  mtijl  begin  at  the  Houfe  of  GOP,  — 
And  if  the  Righteous  Jcarcely  befavd,  where  (lull 
tbeUngodly  and  the  Sinner  appear  i  Which  is  but 
the  Tranflation  of  what  we  have  in  Prov.  11.  51, 
Behold  the  Righteous  fltall  be  recompenced  in  the 
Earth,  much  more  the  Wicked  and  the  Sinner.Some- 
times  the  moft  eminent  ChriitiansinaLand,yea, 
and  whole  Churches  of  fuch  Chriftians,.  meet 
with  troublefome  Difficulties  in  their  way  to  Sal- 
vation ;  yea,  they  meet  with  Troubles  upon 
Earth,  that  feem  to  be  Recompences  from  Hea- 
ven upon  them  for  their  Miicarri.iges.  Come, 
let  all  Ungodly  Sinners  now  be  Afraid;.  I,  that 

never 


a8 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  Book  VI 


never  was  leconciled  unto  God  by  the  Blood  ot 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  »  what,  what  will  become 
of  me  throughout  the  Days  of  Eternity  .'  Our 
S.iviour  has  taught  us  to  argue  thus  upon  the  Af- 
flictions of  good  Men  >  If  theje  things  be  done  to 
the  green  Tree,  what  fliall  be  done  to  the  Dry  ?  Thofe 
Men  that  bring  forth  much  of  that  Fruit,  where- 
by God  is  glorified,  are  caft  into  a  Fire  of  many 
Afflictions.  Yea,  but  you  then  that  bring  forth 
No  Fruit,  or  HI  Fruit,  and  never  were  united  un- 
to the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  what  a  Formidable,  In- 
tolerable, Interminable  Fire,  is  referved  for  you ! 
Oh,  be  Afraidof  that  Fire  !  That  blefled  Pro- 
phet of  God,  even  Ezekiel,  muft  have  the  beft 
Thing  in  his  Family  Ihatch'd  out  of  it,  by  the 
Stroke  of  Death  :  Behold,  I  take  away  from  thee 
the  Dejtre  of  thine  Eyes  with  a  Stroke  J  yet  J] ball  not 
thy  Tears  run  down,  faith  the  Lord.  And  what  ? 
was  this  a  Judgment  on  the  Prophet?  It  feem'd 
ioi  but  it  was  indeed  a  Warning  to  the  People; 
of  whom  the  Lord  then  laid  in  Ez.ck.  24.14. 
Ezekiel  if  a  Sign  unto  you  :  According  to  all  that  he 
hath  dene,  (haUye  do. 

Sirs,  Thole  things  that  appear  like  Judgments 
rf  Gcd  upon  his  own  Faithful  Servants,  they  are 
awib!  Warnings  unto  thole  that  ferve  him 
not :  God  therein  fays  unto  Prophane,  Chriftlefs 
and  Graceiefs  Creatures:  If  I  do  thefe  things  to 
thoje,  whom  yet  I  pity  as  a  Father  does  his  Children 
that  ferve  him,  what  (hall  I  do  unto  you  that  are  my 
Enemies,  and  that  ferve  none  but  my  greateft  Ene- 
my ?  What  jhalll  do  unto  you  i  Wretches,  what  (I)  all 
I  do  unto  you!  If  God  has  fuch  Rods  for  his  Duti- 
ful Children,  what  Scourges,  what  Scorpions  hath 
he  for  his  Adverfaries  ? 

The  Sixth  Rule. 
Among  all  thejudgments  of  God,I  know  none 
more  Tremendous,  than  His  leaving  here  and 
there  fome  Famous  Profeflbrs  and  Pretenders  of 
Religion,  to  fome  Horribly  Irreligious  Adions. 
When  we  fee  thofe  Judgments,Then,then,  above 
all,fhould  ouiFlefh  tremble  for  fear  ofGod,and  we 
mould  be  afraid  of  his  Judgments.  'TisaThing, 
that  fometimes  does  happen  among  us.  Perfbns 
chat  have  been  exemplary  for  Piety  and  Charity 
all  their  Days,  yet  have  at  laft  grown  melancho- 
ly, and  God  hath  foleft  them  to  the  pofleflionof 
fome  Devil,  that  they  have  laid  violent  Hands 
upon  themfelves ;  they  have  ftarv'd  themfelves, 
hang'd  themiclves,drown'd  themfelves  i  yea,and 
had  a  preternatural  Affiftance  in  their  doing  of  it. 
Who  can  behold  thefe  unaccountable  Tragedies 
without  that  Outcry,  Lord,  I  am  afraid  of  thy 
Judgments !  What  uie  can  we  make  of  thefe  Tra- 
gical Things,  but  that  in  1  Pet.  1.  17.  To  pafs  the 
Time  ofcurfojourning  here  in  Fear?  What,  but  that 
in  Phil.  2.  12.  To  work  out  our  own  Salvation  with 
Fear  and  Trembling  ?  And,  alas,  what  mail  we  fay, 
of  thofe  prodigious  Falls  intoSin,which  the  Lives 
of  fome  that  were  counted  Firft-rate  Chriftians, 
have  been  reproach'd  withal  ?  What  (hall  we 
fay  !  O,  our  God,  what  fhall  we  fay  of  the  mon- 
ftrous  Crimes  which  we  have  feen  fome  that  have 
leem'd  Pillars  of  Chriftianity  among  us,  to  fall 
into?  This  I  will  fay,  that  the  burning  Wrath  of 


a  Righteous  and  a  Terrible  God,  has  never  been 
(b  much  difcovered  in  all  our  Loffes  by  Sea  and 
Land,  and  in  all  the  bloody  Depredations  of  our 
Adverlaries  as  in  this  One  Thing  ;  that  ever  now 
and  then  iome  one  or  other,  that  has  been  much 
noted  for  Zeal'mthe  Ways  of  God.  has  been 
found  in  fome  damnable  Ail  of 'Wickedness. .There 
is  the  very  Venom  and  Spirit  of  Hell,  in  thefe 
Judgments  of  God  upon  a  Land  >  God  would  ne- 
ver have  permittee,  thefe Judgments,if  there  were 
not  a  Generation  of  his  Wrath,  to  be  precipitated! 
down  into  the  fiery  bottom  of  Hell  by  hitWratb, 
fo  Darkning  of  the  Land.  Infinitely  better  had  it 
been  for  thofe  Wcful  Men,  to  have  dy'd  with 
Milftones  ahout  their  Necks,  many  Years  ago, 
than  thus  to  have  offended  and  poifon'd  the  Souls 
of  Multitudes ;  And,  Oh !  Wo,  Wo,  unto  Multi- 
tudes ot  Souls,  that  have  hence  taken  an  incura- 
ble and  an  Everl/ifiing  Offence  againft  the  blefled 
Ways  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift.  Sirs,  When  a 
provok'd  God,  fliall  permit  the  Dragon  to  /weep 
Stars  down  from  Heaven  with  his  Tail,  and  permit 
the  Devil  to  enter,  and  poflefs,and  befool,  and  be- 
fot,  and  confound  fuch  as  have  made  a  Shew  of 
a  more  Heavenly  Frame  than  other  Men,how  can 
we  forbear  crying  out,  Lord,  Jam  afraid  of  tbj 
Judgments!  What  fays  the  Apoftle  in  Rom. 
11.  20.  Thou  ftandefi  by  Faith:  Be  not  high- 
minded,  but  fear  ?  Oh  \  Be  Afraid,  Be  Afraid, 
left  by  fome  Secret  Sin,  we  grieve  the  Holy  Spi- 
rit of  God.  If  He  withdraw,  Ah,  Lord  !  who 
flullftand? 

The  Seventh  Rule. 

There  is  a  peculiar  Concernment  lying  upon 
the  young  People  among  us  to  be  Afraid  of  thofe 
Judgments,  in  which  they  fee  the  great  God  con- 
fuming  of  our  young  People,  with  hisfiery  Indig- 
nation. It  may  be  laid  about  the  young  Men  of 
N.  England,  as  it  was  of  old  faid  about  the  young 
Men  of  Ifrael  in  Pfal.  78.6;.  The  Fire  confumed 
their  young  Men.  And  as  when  the  Earth  fwallow- 
ed  up  Ibme  young  People  in  the  Wilderneis  of 
old,  it  is  faid,  The  refi  fled  at  the  cry  of  them,  faying. 
Left  the  Earth  fwallow  us  up  alfo.  Behold,  O  our 
young  Folks,  the  Earth,  and  the  Sea,  and  the  Pic, 
have  been  terribly  fwallowing  up  your  Brethren. 
Fly  then,  with  affrighted  Souls,  Fly  to  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift,  and  lay,  Lord,  I  am  afraid,  left  thy 
Judgments  do  fwallow  me  up  alfo.  Young  People, 
O  that  you  would  fuitably  lay  to  heart  the  dread- 
ful Judgments  of  God,  which  are  confirming  of 
your  Generation  among  us.  Behold,  Vain 
Youths,  Behold,  how  the  wafting  Judgments  of 
God  have  been  upon  you,  till  we  cry  out,  The 
Curfe  has  devour' 'd  our  Land,  and  few  young  Men 
are  left. 

Know  you  not,  that  when  our  young  Men 
have  been  prefs'd  into  the  Wars,  they  have  been 
but  Numbered  for  the  Slaughter,  and  brought  forth 
for  the  Murderer?  Know  you  not  thatour  young 
Men  hoping  to  mend  their  Condition  at  Sea, 
have  but  fail'd  the  fboner  to  their  long  Home,in 
running  abroad  ?  Know  you  not,  that  the  Angels 
of  Death  have  ftruck  our  young  Folks  with  the 

Ar- 


Book  VI.  The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


29 


Arrows  of  Death  in  Epidemical  Sicknefjes  ?  Know 
you  not,  that  one  ft  range  Cafualty  after  ano- 
ther, brings  many  of  our  molt  Hopeful  young  Folk 
to  an  untimely  End  ?  And  Oh!  how  doleful,  dole- 
ful Things  have  our  young  People  feen,  when 
they  have  been  Captives  in  the  Hands  of  barba- 
jous  Infidels  ?  The  Cannibals  of  the  Eaft  have  hi- 
deoufly  tormented  them  ;  and  as  far  off  as  the 
Scorching  Tents  of  Africa,  they  have  been 
iainting  under  the  bitter  Servitude  of  Maho- 
metans. 

Come  then,  Be  Afraid,  O  our  young  People ; 
Job  could  (ay,  Dijhuclicti  from  God  -was  a  Terror 
to  mt\  *Be  Terrified,  young  People,  with  a  Fear, 
left  a  Deftrutlion  from  God  come  upon  you,  in  and 


for  your  Sins.  Be  Afraid  of  continuing  effraeg'd 
from  the  flielrring  Wings  of  your  Lord  Red.-smer, 
left  you  lie  open  to  the  Storms  of  the  Judgments 
of  God.  Be  Afraid  of  neglecting  the  Great  Sal- 
vation, which  the  Lord  Jeius  Chrifr  hath  (b  often 
orfer'd  you,  left  the  Judgments  of  God  bring  a 
great  Deftru&ion  upon  you.  Be  Afraid  of  all 
Filthinefs  and  all  Prophanenefs,  and  all  Difbbe- 
dience,and  all  bad  Company,  and  all  the  Cour- 
ts of  Di(honefty,leftby  the  Judgments  of  God, 
you  die  before  your  time,  for  ycur  being  wicked 
over-much.  Oh!  Fear  and  Flee  Youthful Lufis  ; 
And  now  Remember  your  Creator  in  the  Days 
o  your  Youth,  left  the  Judgrnentsof  God'bring 
Evil  Days  upon  you. 


eco 


rx 


leraion. 


<$ 


BUT  I  intend  all  this  Difcourfe,  as  only 
an  Introduction  unto  a  more  Entertain- 
ing Recapitulation  01  the  Divine  Judg- 
ments, which  we  have  feen  executed  upon  leve- 
ral  Sorts  of  Sinners,  among  our  (elves.  It  can- 
not but  be  much  for  the  Glory  of  our  Lord 
JESUS  CHRIST,  who  from  his  Glorious  High 
Throne  difpenfed  thefe  Judgments :  It  cannot  but 
be  a  Satisfaction  unto  the  Good  Angels  of  the 
Lord,  who  are  oftentimes  the  Executioners  of 
thele Judgments:  It  is  an  Holy  Undertaking, 
and  it  cannot  but  ferve  the  Interefts  of  Holinels, 
tomakeour  modeft  Oblervations  upon  the  Judg 
merits  of  God,  which  have  been  executed  among 
us.  As  far  as  it  may  be  convenient  in  this 
pifeeurfe,  I  will  now  addrefs  my  felf  unto  thisUn- 
dertaking. 

Sirs,  Give  me  your  Attention. 

When  that  great  Man  the  Emperour.Mj«nr;«u 
beheld  his  Family  overwhelmed  in  terrible  Cala- 
mities, and  five  hopeful  Branches  of  his  Family 
flain  befoie  his  Eyes,  he  humbly  recited  thole 
Words  of  the  Plalmift  in  Pfal.  1 19. 137.  Righteous 
art  thou,  0  Lord,  and  right  are  thy  judgments.  My 
Neighbours,  we  have  ever  now  and  then  thole 
calamitous  Things  before  our  Eyes  in  our  Neigh- 
bourhood, which,  if  we  are  not  blind,  we  muft 
pronounce  Ibe  Right  Judgments  of  a  Righteous 
God.  And  1  muft  now  ask  you  to  take  ibme  no- 
tice of  thole  Judgments. 

I  do  molt  readily  grant,  that  Lubricus  hie  locus 
ac  difficilis,  'tis  no  eafie  matter  to  obferve  the 
Judgments  of  God  :  We  (hall  eafily  fall  into  the 
Extreams  of  being  either  too  Cenforious  and  Fanci 
ul,  or  elle  too  Negligent  in  our  Oblervaticn  of 
L  e  divine  Judgments. 

And  I  am  not  altogether  ignorant  of  the  Jew- 
ilh  Maxim  ,  Non  ejl  curiofe  <ju£rendum  pofi  Opera 
~Dei  j  omnia  enim  fapienter  fecit,  tamctfi  abfcoudita 
funt  ab  OculiA  Japientum. 

But  yet  the  judgments  of  God,  fometimes  are 
ib  circumftanced,  that  he  who  runs  may  tead 
them  i  and  our  "Duty  thereupon  is  defcribed,  in 


Pfal.  64.  9.  All  Men flail fear,  and  they  fliall  declare 
the  Work,  of  God,  for  they  fljall  wifely  ccnfider  of  his 
Doing.  Lecrned  Men  have  complained  of  it, 
as  a  Defect  in  the  Hiftorical  Part  of  Learning, 
that  there  is  not  extant  an  impartial  and  a  well 
attefted  Hiflona  Nemefcos,  or,  Account  of  Remar- 
kablejudgment*  on  fcandalousand  notorious  Of- 
fenders. Yea  the  God  of  Heaven  himfelf  com- 
plains of  it,  when  Men  do  not  regard  his  Works 
even  the  Operation  of  his  Hands. 

I  will  now  therefore,  with  all  Faithfulnefs,  lay 
before  you  (bme  of  thole  Remaks  which  I  have 
made  upon  the  Judgments  c/~GW  which  have  been 
Executed  in  this  Land.  Sirs,  the  Lord  has  been 
known  by  his  executing  of  thefe  Judgments'. 
Accompany  them  with  your  Meditations !  You 
(hall  hear  nothing  but  what  has  had  fufheient  E- 
vidence:  And  certainly,  I  mould  be  Afraid  of 
(peaking  wickedlv  for  God,  or  talking  deceitful- 
ly lor  Him ! 

The  Fir  (I  Remark. 

Take  a  due  and  a  deep  Notice,I  befeech  you. 
of  the  notablejudgments  with  which  we  have 
feenthe  Contempt  of  the  glorious Gofpel  reveng'd 
by  the  God  of  Glory.  We  have  leen  the  Golpe!, 
or  the  Tidings  of  Salvation  by  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrifr,  for  milerable  Sinners  gracioufly  offered  . 
We  have  ieen  the  Offer  of  this  Gofpel  moft  un- 
gratefully refus'd:  But  of  this  Refufal  what  Eytent 
have  we  leen  ?  Truly,  a  veiy  terrible  Event.  1 
remember  a  Paflage  of  Scripture,  which  1  uns  thus 
in  our  Tranllitionj  I  fa.  2.22.  Ceafe  ye  from  Man, 
whole  Breath  is  in  Lis  Noltnls;  for  wherein  is.  be 
to  be  accounted  of  I  But,  it  you  plea  fe,  you  may 
thus  underfhnd  ic.  The  Prophet  is  denouncing 
the  Judgments  of  God  upon  the  J  -ws,  forr 
delpillrgol  the  Mefliah  >  and  the  Dcnuna 
is  thus  concluded  :  Now  forbtar  as  to  that  Man  Lnr 
ceafe  from  Offending  and  Provoking  of  Him/' 
who  is  now  very  angry  [which  the  H.bnws  exprcis 
by  Breathe  in  the  Noftiils/1  For  none  is  able  to 

de- 


3° 


The  Hijlory  of  New-England. 


Book  VI. 


declare  how  high  an  Account  15  to  be  made  of 
Him.  Sirs,  We  have  ieen  the  God  of  Hcavtn 
very  Angry  ;  He  has  brearh'd  the  Hot  Light- 
nings of  Death  out  of  his  Ncjirih  >  when  Peo- 
ple have  made  no  account  of  the  Lord  Jelus 
Chrift,  and  of  his  Gofpel.  We  have  feen  thefe 
Four  or  Five  Eemarkables  amongft  the  reft. 

For  a  Firft  Inflame. 

The  Nation  of  the  Narraganfetts,  was  one  of 
the  mo  ft  populous  and  powerful  among  all  the 
Indians,  that  once  filled  this  mighty  Wildernefs. 
Unto  that  woful  Nation,  the  Gofpel  of  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift,  was  freely  tendered  ;  but  they  with 
much  Affront  and  Contempt,  re jeded  it.  An 
Holy  Man,  then  Famous  throughout  our  Chur- 
ches, hereupon  utter 'da  Speech  to  this  purpofe: 
I /peak  altogether  -without  the  Spirit  of  God,  if  this 
Ration  be  net  quickly  and  ftrangely  deftrojed.  It  was 
not  long  betoie  this  Nation,  much  againft  the 
Advice  of  the  more  aged  Men  among  them 
engaged  in  Acfrs  of  Hoftility  againft  our  people. 
Whereupon,  ours,  with  a  Force  much  inferiour 
unto  theirs,  hut  with  a  marvellous  Valour  and 
Succefs,  in  the  depth  of  Winter,  made  a  Defcent 
upon  'em.  The  Glorious  Lord  Jefus  Chrift.whom 
they  had  flighted,  was  with  our  Army,  and  the 
Day  was  wonderfully  carried  againft  the  tawny 
Infidels.  Their  City  was  laid  in  Afhes.  Above 
Twenty  of  their  chief  Captains  were  killed  .-  a 
proportionable  Defolation  cut  off  the  Inferiour 
Salvages :  Mortal  Sicknefs,  and  Horrid  Famine 
purfu'd  the  Remainders  of  'em  ,  So  that  we  can 
hardly  tell  where  any  of  'em  are  left  alive  upon 
the  Face  of  the  Earth.  Such  was  thy  fpeedy 
Vengeance,  O  Blejfed  JESUS,  on  the  Hea- 
then that  would  not  know  thee,  nor  call  upon 
thy  Name. 

For  a  Second  Inftance. 

That  Renowned  Evangelift  of  our  Indians,  the 
Reverend  ELIOT,  preached  the  Gofpel  of  our 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  unto  I'htltp,  the  Prince  of  the 
Wompanoags;  but  that  Monfter  pulling  offa  But- 
ton on  the  good  Man's  Coat,  faid,  He  did  not  va- 
lue what  he  preached,  any  more  than  that :  and  he 
hindered  his  abjecf  Subje&s  from  embracing  the 
Chriftian  Religion,  that  they  might  not  become 
the  Subjects  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift.  But  what 
is  become  of  'em  all  t  They  rafhly  precipitated 
themfelves  into  a  rebellious  War  againft  the  Eng- 
lijh  ;  and  at  laft  Philip  fell  into  all  the  Diftrefles 
that  could  be  imagined.  One  of  his  own  Vaffals 
then  ran  away  from  him,  and  informed  the  Eng- 
lifh  where  he  was.  They  came  upon  him  in  his 
Thicket  juft  as  he  was  telling  his  Counfellors 
his  Dream,  that  he  was  fallen  into  our  Hands. 
While  he  endeavoured  an  Efcape,  an  Indian  fhot 
him  thro'  the  Heart,  whereof  he  died  immedi- 
ately :  Nor  is  any  Number  of  his  People  now 
left  in  the  World.  So  do  the  Rejecters  of  thy 
Grace,  perifh,  O  Lord !    • 


For  a  Third  Inflame. 

But  the  Indian  Salvagesare  not  theonly  Inftan- 
ces  of  the  divine  Revenges,  which  have  enfued 
on  Mens  Undervaluing  the  Gofpel  of  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift,  among  us.  Travel  with  me,  Sirs, 
to  the  Eaftern  Parts  of  this  Province  :  O  come, 
and  beheld  the  Works  of  the  Lord,  the  Deflations 
he  has  made  m  thofe  Parts  of  the  Earth  !  Twice 
has  that  have  Countrey  been  occupied  with 
hopeful  Settlements.  Hopeful !  No,  no ;  call  them 
not  Hopeful,  inasmuch  as  the  Ordinances  of  the  Go- 
fpel of  our  Lon:  J-  las  Chrift,  were  not  fettled  a- 
mong  them.  Hence,  Twice  has  that  Countrey 
now  been  made  an  Aceldama;  and  the  Settle- 
ments have  all  been  broken  up  for  many  fcore 
Miles  together.  The  Jealoulie  of  the  negleft- 
ed  Lord  Jdus  Chrift,  has  broke  forth  like  an  Un- 
quenchable Fire  againft  thofe  Plantations  \  the 
Fiery  Wrath  of  Heaven  has  brought  a  Swift  De- 
(Iruclhn  upon  them.  A  barbarous  Enemy  has 
once  and  again  broke  in  upon  thofe  Towns,  like 
an  irreliftible  Torrent,  carrying  all  before  it,  un- 
til they  come  to  thofe  Towns,  where  the  Ordi- 
nances of  the  Gofpel  are  more  upheld ;  and  be- 
hold, there  they  find  a  Barrizre,  which  they  can- 
not yet  get  over ;  There  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  lifts 
up  a  Standard  againft  them.  In  one  of  thofe 
Plantations  there  had  newly  been  very  prodigi- 
ous Difcoveries  of  Enmity  againft  the  Gofpel  of 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  which  had  been  fometimes 
among  them  :  And  a  bloody  Adverfary  foonfur- 
prifed  them,  and  captiv'd,  and  flaughter'd  moil 
of  them,  and  laid  their  Habitations  in  Aflies,  and 
horribly  roafted  alive  fome  of  the  Inhabitants. 
Tremble,  0  ye  People  of  the  South,  when  ye  are  told 
of  this ! 

For  a  Fourth  Injiance. 

And  there  is  another  Contempt  of  the  Gofpel, 
which  we  have  often  feen  another  way  chaftiied 
among  us.  Our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  hath  laid  con- 
cerning the  Faithful  Mintflers  of  his  Gofpel,  in 
Luk.  10.  16.  He  that  Defpijeth  you,  defpifetb  me. 
When  the  Mimfters  of  the  Gofpel,  areFloly,Pray- 
erful,  Painful,  Watchful,  and  Fruitful  Servants  of 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  and  Men  filled  and  adted 
with  his  Holy  Spirit :  We  have  feen  the  Judg- 
ments of  God  many  a  time,  anefting  thole  that 
have  abufed  thefe  Ambajjadors  from  the  King  ef 
Heaven.  Thus  there  have  been  angry  Men  a- 
mong  us,  who  have  fat  over  their  Cups,  railing 
at  fuch  or  fucha  Minifter  of  God,  and  hoping  e're 
long,  to  fee  the  Death  of  him.  In  a  little  while 
they  themfelves  have  died  miferably,  and  on 
their  Death-Beds  they  have  cried  out  for  that  ve- 
ry Minifter  to  help  them  in  their  AnguiflT^ 
Yea,  you  may  fometimes  mark  it  in  our  Chur- 
ches :  A  Church  has  long  enjoy'd  an  excellent 
Minifter;  but  they  grow  at  length  full  of  unac- 
countable Prejudices  againft  him:  Ths Son  of 
God  feeing  this  their  Forward  Folly,  lends  for 
that  Minifter  away  to  Heaven  prefently ;  and 
let'em  fupply  themfelves  with  fuch  another  when 

they 


Book  VI.  7  be  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


they  can  fend  him.  And,  (hall  I  venture  to  fay 
one  thing  more  ?  I  will  lay  ic.  Let  the  Levitts 
of  the  Lord  keep  dole  to  their  Inftrudions,  and 
Cod  will  [mite  thro''  the  Loins  of  thefe  that  rife  up 
againft  them. 

I  will  report  unto  3  011  a  Thing  which  many 
Hundreds  among  us  know  to  be  true. 

The  Godly  MtniJIer  of  a  certain  Town  in  Con 
tiefttcut,  when  he  hai  occafion  to  be  ablent  on  a 
Lord's  Day  from  his  Flock,  employ'd  an  honeft 
Neighbour  of  leme  lmall  Talents  for  a  Mechanick, 
to  read  a  Sermon  out  of  ioms  good  Book  unto  'em. 
This  Honeft,  whom  they  ever  counted  alio  a 
Pious  Man,  had  fo  much  conceit  of  his  Talents, 
that,  inftead  of  Reading  a  Sermon  appointedj  he 
to  the  Surprize  of  the  People,  fell  to  preaching  one 
cf  his  own.  For  his  Text  he  t,ook  thefe  Words, 
JDefptfe  not  Prophecyings  i  and  in  his  Preachment 
he  betook  himielf  to  bewail  the  Envy  of  the  Chr 
gj  in  the  Land,  in  that  they  did  not  wifh  alt  the 
Lord's  People  to  he  Prophets,  and  call  forth  Private 
Brethren  publickly  to  frophefie.  While  he  was 
thus  in  the  midft  of  his  Exercife,  God  fmore  him 
•with  horrible  Madnefs »  he  was  taken  ravingly 
diftra&ed :  The  People  were  fore'd  with  vio- 
lent Hands  to  carry  him  home-  And  tho'  in  a 
few  Weeks  the  Phyfician  brought  him  to  fo  much 
Compofure,  that  he  could  jog  on  after  fome  fort 
in  an  obfeure  Privacy  the  reft  of  his  Days  i  yet 
if  any  one  began  a  Difcourfe  of  any  thing  in 
Religion  with  him,  he  would  ever  fly  out  into  a 
Fit  of  Madnefs,  which  would  continue  till  the 
Difcourie  were  laid  afide. 

I  will  not  mention  his  Name:  He  was  reputed 
a  Pious  Man. 

If  unto  thefe  things  I  fhould  add,  That  the 
Impoverifhing  Judgments  of  God  upon  our  Land, 
have  been  very  much  for  that  Abominable  Sacri- 
lege, wherein  the  Minifters  ofChrift  almoft  all  the 
Land  over,  have  been  as  much  defrauded  of  their 
Dues,  as  if  you  fhould  with-hold  the  Wages  of  your 
Servants,  f^which  is  a  Sin  that  cries  to  God  for 
Vengeance  !]  I  could  quote  Scripture  enough  to 
give  Authority  unto  that  Afjertion.  Scripture  ! 
yea,  and  Experience  too. 

A  Town  in  this  Countrey,  enrich'd  with  Two 
very  Eminent  Mtnifiers,  did  one  Year  pals  a 
Town  Vote,  That  they  could  not  allow  their  Mi- 
nifters above  Thirty  Pounds  a  piece  that  Year,  for 
their  Salaries;  and  behold,  the  God,  who  will 
not  be  mocked,  immediately  caufed  the  Town  to 
loic  Three  Hundred  Pounds,  in  that  Specie  of  their 
Cattle  by  one  Difatter.  But  I  forbear  it;  for 
though  the  Judgments  of  God  go  on  to  break 
People  in  a  Mortar  for  it,  this  Foolijlmcfs,  I  know 
will  never  depart  from  them. 

I  pafs  to 

The  Second  Remark. 

Men  had  need  beware  of  Rajh  Speeches,  efpa 
daily  of  Rafliffi[hes;Tcor  we  have  feenSoreJudg- 
ments  fall  out  molt  agreeably  thereunto.    It  was 
wholfome    Advice  once  given  by  the  Town 
Clerk  of  Ephefus,  Ye  ought  to  Do  nothing  Raflily. 


Truly,  Nor  fhould  we  Speak  any  thing  Rajhlj, 
much  lefs  wijli  any  thing  Rafoly.  Sirs,  The  An- 
gels cf  Death  over-hear  what  wc  fay,  and  God 
often  gives 'em  Commiffion  tofmite  a  Man,  Ex 
orefuo.  How  often  have  we  (ccn  it,  That  a 
Fool's  Alouth  is  his  Dtjiruilion,  and  his  Lips  are  the 
Snare  cf  his  Soul!  There  was  once  a  very  Godly 
Man,  of  whom 'tis  reported  in  Pfal.  106.  32. 
It  went  ill  with  him,  becaufe  they  provoked  his  Spi- 
rit, Jo  that  he  /poke  unadvifedly  with  his  Lips.  I'll 
tell  you  what  I  have  met  withal.  I  have  heard 
a  Vexed  Father  fay,  He  cured  not  whether  he 
ever  faw  Juch  a  Child  again.  That  Child  has 
gone  out  of  his  Prelence,  and  through  the  Di- 
ipatches  of  Death,  he  has  never  leen  that  Child 
again. 

I  have  known  a  weary  Mother  fay,  She  hopes 
this  is  the  laft  Child  fie  (hall  ever  have ;  and  multi- 
plied, and  unhappy  Miscarriages,  ever  after,  have 
given  'em  caufe  to  remind  what  they  laid,  with 
Eitterneis  of  Soul. 

Again,  There  was  a  Sailor  in  a  Boat  bound 
hither  from  the  Northward,  who  being  diffwa- 
ded  from  taking  a  Pipe  of  Tobacco,  becaufe  they 
had  a  Barrel  of  Powder  aboard,  reply'd,  I  will 
take  it,  though  the  Devil  carry  me  away  alive  .'  The 
Firelome  how  came  at  the  Powder,  which  tore 
the  Boat  in  pieces,  and  loft  all  the  Goods  that 
were  in  it.  All  the  Men,  were  to  admiration 
preferved;  except  that  one  Sailor,  whom  they 
long  after  found  in  the  Woods,  with  his  Body 
torn  to  pieces.  Who  carried  him  away,  think 
you^ 

Once  more  ;  A  Lewd  Young  Man,  being  dif- 
fatisfied,  with  the  Service  wherein  he  lived  ,  at 
the  Houfeof  an  honeft  Man,  in  a  Neighbouring 
Town,  when  they  told  him,  That  his  bad  Cour- 
fes  would  bring  him  to  Hell  at  the  laft,  he  wick- 
edly laid,  He  had  rather  be  in  Hell  than  in  his  Ma- 
fters  Houfe.  Immediately  after  this,  he  was  in  a 
very  ltrange  manner  drowned  off  a  Little 
Bank  in  the  River.  Take  one  Example 
more. 

There  was  an  Old  ProfejJ'vr  in  one  of  our 
Churches,  who  being  under  the  Admonition  of 
the  Church  for  fomeOffences,was  by  his  Friends 
calfd  upon,  to  Repent,  and  Reform,  and  Hum- 
ble himielf.  But  he  flew  into  this  outrageous 
Anfwer,  No,  I  will  Burn,  before  I  will  Twn.  And 
Behold  the  lifue  !  This  Man  fome  time  after  fell 
into  the  Fire,  and  was  Burnt  to  death.  Take 
yet  one  more  Example.  ;Tis  well  known  to  all 
the  Neighbours. 

A  Man  in  our  Narraganjett-Ccmnuy  having 
fit  his  Dog  to  ABfchief  his  Neighbours  Caere!,  dc- 
ny'd  the  Fa<5t  with  Imprecations  That  he  might 
never  Jlir  from  the  Place,  if  be  bad  fo  done.  The 
Neighbour,  to  whom  he  deny'd  it ,  expreffing 
himielf  troubled  at  his  Impudent  Lying,  this  A- 
theift  hereupon  ufed  the  Name  of  the  Great  Gcd 
in  his  Imprecations,  1'hat  Gcrf  would  never  let  him 
flir  out  of  that  place,if  hedul  the  Thing.  The  Words 
were  Icarce  out  of  his  Mouth,  but  he  funk  down 
dead  in  the  Place,  and  never  ftirr'd  any  mo;  z. 


Eee  eee 


Ge- 


32 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England,  Book  VI, 


Credible  Perlbns  in  this  Piace  have  been  able 
to  teftifie  unto  the  Truth  of  another  iuch  Pat- 
fage. 

A  Fellow  aboard  a  Vefiel  commanded  by  one 
Wollery,  being  charged  with  fome  Deceit,  horri- 
bly wi(h:d  That  the  Devil  might  put  out  his  Eyes, 
if  he  had  done  as  had  been  (ujpetted  concerning  him. 
That  very  Night  a  Rheum  fell  into  his  Eyes, 
with  which  in  a  few  Days,  to  the  Aftoniflhment 
of  his  Company,  he  became  ftark  blind,  even  as 
if  he  had  forfwoin  himfelf,  with  warning  his 
Eyes  in  the  Fountains  of  Sardinia.  And  the 
Phyfjcians  hearing  how  he  fell  into  his  Blindnefs 
dui  ft  not  undertake  the  Cure  of  it. 

And,  as  they  who  curie  themfelves,  often 
fmart  for  it,  [confider  of  this,  ye  hardy  Wretches, 
who  call  upon  the  Almighty  to  damny  ou,  which 
the  Devils  themlelves  are  not  lo  hardy,  as  to 
do !]  So  they  who  Curie  others,  do  horribly 
wound  themlelves  in  the  Recoil.  You  fhall  hear 
an  Example. 

A  debauch'd  Fellow  had  curs'd  that  Excel- 
lent Man,  Governour  Prince.  The  Governour 
laid  before  the  Tranfgrefibr,  the  great  Sin  he 
had  committed  i  and  with  a  Grave,  Holy,  Aw- 
ful Admonition,  befought  him  to  confider  of 
that  Scripture  in  Pfal.  109.  17, 18.  As  he  loved 
Curftng,  [0  let  it  come  unto  him,  as  he  delighted  not 
m  Blejfing,  Jo  let  it  be  far  from  him.  As  he  clothed 
himfelf  ■with  Curfng,  like  as  with  his  Garment,  fo 
let  it  come  into  his  Bowt's,  and  like  Oyl  into  his 
Bones.  Quickly  after  this,  a  direful  Cancer  fmote 
this  Man;  the  Cancer  appear'd  firft  in  his  Lip, 
and  fo  it  eat  away  his  Flefh,  aod  his  Jaw  down 
to  his  Throat,  where,  with  inexpreflible  Tor- 
ments it  kill'tl  him. 

Behold,  O  Man,  If  thou  defireft  Life,  keep  thy 
tongue  from  Evil .' 

The  Third  Remark. 

There  is  a  lying  Proverb,  A  Drunken  Man  gets 
no  harm.  We  have  leen  the  Judgments  of  God 
upon  Drunkards  moft  wofully  confuting  that 
Lye.  I  am  fure  'tis  not  a  Proverb  of  Solomon's  for 
he  lays  in  Prov.  25.29.  Who  hath  Wo  r*  They  who 
tarry  long  at  the  Wine.  Is  it  no  harm  for  a  Man 
to  bring  Sicknefs  on  his  Body  ?  We  have  feen 
Drwik&rds  often  perifhing  in  Vifeafcs  .contracted 
by  their  Debauches.  Is  it  no  harm,  for  a  Man 
to  bring  Difgracc  on  his  Efteem  ?  We  have  often 
feen  Drunkards  become  very  Abjects,  tho'  they 
once  were  Folks  of  lome  Fafhion  «'ind  Figure  in 
the  World.  Is  it  no  harm  for  a  Man  to  bring 
Poverty  on  his  Eftate  i  We  have  often  feen  the 
Judgments  of  God  fulfilling  that  Word,7i&e  Drun- 
kard fliall  come  to  Poverty.  Surely,  'tis  no  little 
Harm  for  Men  to  debafe  and  confound  their 
own  Souls,  and  lay  themlelves  open  unto  the 
worft  of  all  the  Temptations  of  the  Devil,  the 
worft  of  all  Impieties.  But  Sirs,  how  often  have 
we  feen  woful  Drunkards  doing  fo  ?  We  have 
feen  them  turn  Beafts,  yea,  turn  Devils !  But 
more  particularly, 


A  Drunken  Man  is  in  Old  Englifh  as  much  as 
to  lay,  a  Drowned  Man.  To  fee  then,  a  Drunker. 
Man  become  a  Drowned  Man,  is  to  fee  but  a  moft 
Retaliating  Hand  of  God.  Why,  we  have  feen 
this  very  Thing  more  than  Threefcore  times  in 
our  Land.  And  1  remember  the  drowning  of 
one  Drunkard,  fo  odly  circumftanced  •,  It  was  in 
the  Hold  of  a  Vefiel,  that  lay  full  of  Water  near 
the  Shore.  We  have  fcen  it  lb  often,  that  I  am 
amazed  at  you,  O  ye  Drunkards  of  New-England; 
I  am  amazed,  that  you  can  harden  your  Hearts  in 
your  Sin, ,  without  expecting  to  be  deftroyed  fud- 
denly,  and  without  Remedy.  Yea,  and  we  have 
feen  the  Devil  that  has  pofiefs'd  the  Drunkard, 
throwing  him  into  the  Fire  as  well  as  into  the 
Water.  They  have  tumbled  into  the  Fire,  and 
then  kept  fhrieking,  Fire !  Fire  !  till  they  have 
gone  down  to  the  Fire  that  never  fhall  be  quen- 
ched. Yea,  more  than  one  or  two  Drunken 
Women  in  this  very  Town,  have,  while  in  their 
Drink,  fallen  into  the  Fire,and  fothey  have  Tra- 
gically gone  roaring  out  of  one  Fire  into  ano- 
ther. O  ye  Daughters  of  Belial,  Hear,  and  Fear, 
and  do  wickedly  no  more. 

The  Fourth  Remark. 

It  was  a  Thing  once  charged  upon  Sabbath- 
breakers,  inNeh.  1 3.  18.  Ye  bring  Wrath  upon  Ilra- 
el  by  profaning  the  Sabbath.  And  have  not  we  feen 
the  Wrath  ol  God  correcting  Profanations  of  the 
Chriftian  Sabbath,  with  Rebukes  of  Thunder  and 
Lightning  ?  And  indeed  fome  intelligent  Per- 
fons  have  noted  it,  That  the  dreadful  Storms  of 
Thunder  and  Lightning,  which  have  kill'd  many  a- 
mong  us  from  Year  to  Year,  as  God  overthrew 
Sodom  and  Gomorrah  i  they  have  moflly  happen- 
ed on  or  near  the  Lord's-Day  ;  as  an  intimation, 
that  Breaches  of  the  Lord's-  Day  have  procured 
the  Firing  of  the  great  Artillery  of  Heaven  upon 
us.  However,  our  Land  lees  little  Reft  through 
the  Judgments  of  God  upon  us  for  the  Violations 
of  the  Sacred  Reft  which  he  has  appointed  for 
us.  And  the  many  Difafters  which  happen  on 
the  Lord's  day  among  us,  may  be  fo  many  Judg- 
ments upon  us  for  our  not  Sanctifying  the  Day 
unto  the  Lord.  But  all  the  more  lpecial  Exam- 
ples of  Judgments  coming  for  Sins  againft  the 
Sabbath,  I  will  wrap  up  in  this  one  piece  of  Hi- 
Itory. 

I  have  been  dented  by  many  Malefactors,  to 
be  with  them  at  their  Execution  ■■>  and  then,  in 
thole  laft  and  lad  Minutes  of  their  Lives.,  they 
have  fometimes  cried  out,  This,  this,  is  a  Judg- 
ment of  God  upon  -my  Sabbath-  breaking  ;  I  may 
thank  my  Sabbath-breaking  for  all  this ;  'Twas 
for  my  mif-fpandmg  of  the  Sabbath  with  vain 
Perfons,  and  in  vain  AHions.  that  God  has  left 
me  to  that  Wickednefs  which  has  brought  upon 
me  aU  of  this  horrible  Mifery  !  Think  of  this, 
you  that  ftill  fay  of  the  Lord's-Day,  What  a 
Wearinefs  is  it  ? 


The 


Book  VL  The  Hiflory  of  LVew-Engiand. 


35 


The  Fifth  Remark. 

Difobedient  Children  !  My  BeffiM  akesforyou; 
for  I  have  leen  the  Judgments  of  God,  making 
fuch  as  you  the  moft  aftonifhing  Monuments  of 
his  Indignation.  It  was  a  Cuftom  in  lfrael,  that 
once  a  Year  this  Proclamation  was  made,  from 
the  Top  ot  Mount  Ebal,  in  Deut.  27.  16.  Curfed 
be  he  that  fets  Light  by  his  Father,  or  his  Mother. 
And  all  the  People  fall  fay  Amen,  As  from  the  Top 
of  that  Mount,  i  do  this  Day  proclaim  it,  That 
I  have  feen  the  Curfe  of  God  making  a  Quick 
Work  with  IucItss  have  not  honoured  their  Pa- 
rents; while  I  have  alio  feen  thole Children,who 
have  honoured,  and  fupported,  and  comforted 
their  Parents,  wonderfully  profpering  under  the 
manifold  Bleffings  of  God.  And  I  pray  all  the 
People  to  mind  it. 

Very  few  have  died  on  the  Gallows  in  this 
place,  but  what  have  wrung  their  'Hnnds  upon 
the  Ladder,  with  this  Out-cry,  *  This  is  a  Judg- 
'ment  of  God  upon  me  for  my  Undutifuhiefsun- 
f  to  my  Parents.  My  Difobedience  m  my  Parents 
'has  brought  me  hither. 

But  this  Article  of  Difcourfe  may  not  be  dif- 
miffed  until  we  have  fingled  out  one  particular 
Example  of  the  ftrange  Punifiiments  which  Un- 
dutiful  Children  bring  upon  themfelves,  from  the 
Judgments  of  God. 

A  Reverend  Minifter  of  Chrift,  that  often 
ferved  him,  in  that  very  Pulpit,  where  thele 
Words  are  uttered,  once  obferved  a  Son,to  behave 
himfelf  undutifully  towards  his  Father,  in  the 
Ferryboat,  which  was  carrying  them  over  the 
River.  Whereupon  that  Man  of  Go d  faid  unto 
the  Young  Man,  '  Young  Man,  I  am  lorry  to  fee 
'  you fo  little  Regard  your  Father  j  1  would  feri- 
coufly  perfwade  you  to  repent  of  your  Unduti- 
'fulnels,  or  1  will  lblemnly  affure  you,  that  I  ex- 
'  pe£t,  the  killing  Judgments  of  God  will  over- 
'  take  you,  before  a  Year  come  to  an  End.  And 
behold,  before  that  Year  wasout,thisyoung  Man 
was  miferably  murthered. 

Hearken,  my  young  Folks ;  and  let  not  your 
Eye  mock  your  Fathers,  or  defpife  to  obey  your 
Mothers,  left  the  Ravens  of  the  Valley  do  pick 
it  out,  and  the  young  Eagles  do  eat  it ! 

The  Sixth  Remark. 

Unto  the  Contentious  we  have  feen  God  re- 
compence  Indignation  and  Wrath,  Tribulation 
and  Anguifh.  Said  the  Apofile  once  in  Rom.  1 6. 
17.7  befeech  you  Brethren,  Mark  them  which  cattfe 
Divifions.  And  I  now  fay,  1  befeech  you  Brethren, 
Mark  the  Places  and  the  Perfons,  which  by  TH'Oifions 
have  made  themfelves  Notoriom  :  Mark,  what 
Judgments  of  God  have  Signalized  them.  Some- 
thing of  what  I  have  marked,  I  will  freely  tell 
you. 

I  have  marked  it,That  thofe  Places  which  have 
kept  up  Divifions  and  Strifes,  and  Schifms,  have 
been  direfully  fmitten  with  Spiritual  Plagues,  the 
Plagues  which  are  of  all  the  direfulleft.  The  moft 
Lively  Saints  in  thofe  Places,  have  been  foon 


fnatchd  away  by  Death, one  after  another:  The 
Power  of  Godltnejs  hath  been  lament  ablj  ioft  a- 
mong  the  Suivivers,  and  a  Leanne's  hath  been 
lent  into  their  Souls :  The  Work  of  Converiion 
hath  been  at  a  deadly  ftand,  and  the  Rifing  Ge- 
neration hath  pined  away  m  their  Iniquities.  Yea, 
there  was  one  Church  among  us,  wherein  an 
uncomfortable  Rupture  happend;  and  a  young 
Man  in  the  Town  was  left  unto  an  horrid  Self- 
Murder  ;  hedrown'd  himfelf:  But  he  left  bei-,ind 
him  a  Writing  directed  unto  his  Father,  wl:  rein 
there  was  this  among  other  PalTages  i  FaiUr,  my 
Rum  was  the  Stubbornefs  and  Unfaithfulnejs  of  my 
tender  Tears ;  and  evil  Ccunfel  and  evil  Company  ; 
and  the  Differences  in  the  Church,  by  reafon  whereof 
I  grew  proud,  and  did  not  carry  it  in  my  Place,  as  1 
ought,  which  is  the  wide  way  to  Ruine.  God  make 
this  young  Man  our  Warner:  His  Name  was 
Warner. 

Again?  I  have  marked  it,  That  thofe  Perfons 
who  have  been  the  Grand  Incendiaries  in  Divi- 
sions, have  been  often  branded  with  fome  Symp- 
toms of  the  Difpleaf  are  of  God.  Thole  Perfons 
have  been  very  indufiriousto  blot  the  Names  of 
other  Men ;  and  at  laft  they  themfelves  have 
died  with  a  Blor.  This  indeed  isa  Point  where- 
in we  muft  be  fparing  ;  yet  I  may  not  forget,  that 
a  Goiinfel  fitting  at  a  Town,  for  the  Compoling 
fome  Ecclefiaffical  Differences,  our  Venerable 
Old  Mr.  Wtlfon  law  one  Man  to  be  extreamly 
perverle  above  the  reft,  and  moft  unrealonably 
to  difturb  the  Peace  of  the  Church.  Whereup- 
on, that  zealous  Man  told  the  Counfel,  he  was 
confident,  That  the  Jealoufie  of  God  would  let  a 
Mark  upon  that  Man,  and  that  the  ordinary 
Death  of  Men  fhould  not  befsl  him.  It  hap- 
pened a  little  while  after  this,  that  the  Man  was 
barbaroufly  murder'd  by  the  Salvages. 

Again,  There  was  a  quarrelfome  Woman  in  a 
Church  not  far  off;  who  having  accus'd  a  Man 
in  the  Church  of  a  Fault  that  (lie  could  not 
prove,  (he  yet  remain'd  fo  irreconcilable,  that 
(he  would  never  co:neto  the  Lord's  Table  as  long 
as  that  Man  liv*d.  He  dying,  fhe  bragg'd  unto 
her  Friends,  That  now  (he  would  go  to  the  Sa- 
crament at  the  Lord's  Table.  One  of  them  folemn- 
ly  told  her,  That  (lie  might  vet  fear  a  Teftimony 
of  the  Difpleafure  of  God  againft  her  for  her  un- 
chrifiiar.  abfenting  her  lelf  lb  long  from  that  Or- 
dinance. And,  !c,fhe  died  fiiddenly,  juft  betorc 
the  next  Sacrament  was  to  be  adminiftred  :  ftho' 
fhe  had  the  Repute  of  .1  Godly  Woman.]  Don't 
then,  don't  few  DiJcord  any  of  you,  left  you 
be  an  Abomination  to  the  Lord.  Be  not  upe.icea- 
ble,  or  implacable  :  God  is  not  plsafed  with  the 
Froward. 

The  Seventh  Remark. 

We  are  affured  in  2  Pet.  ^.  9,  10.    At  tin 

of  Judgment  pall  be  pumped,  chiefly  they  that  walk 
after  the  FleQ)  in  the  Lufl  of  Uncleannef.  And  it 
is  no  ra re  thing  among  us,  to  fee  Judgment  in 
this  Wo;  Id  alfo  overtaking  them.  Fatter  L«: 
mer  once  prelented  unto  a  Great  Man,  iiNew 
Teftament,  with  this  inlcription  eroboffed  on 
Eeeee  e  2 


34 


'I  be  Hiftory  of  New- England.  Book  VI 


rhe  Cover  of  it,  Wbcremongtrs  and  Adulterers  God 
will  judge.  And  indeed,  how  furprifingly,  how 
.imazingiy  may  we  fee  God  judging  that  fort  of 
Sinners ! 

A  Famous  Bolognian  Phyfician  in  Publiih'd 
Bills  profels'd  a  Sovereign  Antidote  againft  an 
horrible  Diftemper  which  Men  bring  upon  them 
felres  by  their  Unckannejs.  But  when  Multitudes 
flock'd  unto  him  for  his  Antidote,  he  only  gave 
'em  the  Piclure  ol  a  Gallant  with  his  Nofe  eaten 
off.  He  bid  'em,  that  when  they  were  going  to 
debauch  themfelves,  they  would  look  upon  that 
Picture;  and  if  that  would  not  pieferve  'em,no- 
thing  would. 

Not  much  unlike  to  That,  is  the  Courfe  which 
I  am  now  taking,  to  preferve  you  from  Un- 
chajiity. 

We  have  feen  many,  many,  many,  to  die  in  their 
Touth  ;  becaufe  their  Life  hds  been  among  the  un- 
clean. We  have  feen  'em  to  mourn  at  the  laft, 
when  their  F'.efh  and  their  Body  has  been  confu 
rned.  We  have  feen  Jem  getting  a  Wound,  and  a 
Difhonour,  and  a  Reproach  that  is  never  wip'da- 
way.  It  may  be,  the Juft  God  lays  upon  the  Un- 
clean, Write  ibis  Per/In  Cbildkfs.  Or,  it  may  be, 
the  Lord  lavs,  /  ivillkill  their  Children  with  Death. 
Or,  'tis  poiiible,  fbme  very  miierable  Dijafters 
have  attended  their  Offspring  ;  Peccatum  feminis 
punitur  in  ft  mine.  Why  ?  Becaufe  that  fome  old 
Acts  of  Unckannefs  have  not  been  enough  repen- 
ted of. 

'Tis  faid  ol  Unckannefs,  By  means  thereof  a  Man 
is  brought  unto  a  Piece  of  Bread.  Some  forlorn  Peo- 
ple have  cried  out  unto  me,  of  their  defperate 
Poverty  ;  and  anon,  they  have  confeffed,  That 
they  belie  v'd  the  Judgments  of  God  made 'em, 
and  kept 'em  fo  poor,  to  revenge  the  fecret,  cur- 
fed,  horrid  Adulteries  which  they  had  wallow- 
ed in. 

Yea,  how  many  have  Ripsn'd  themfelves  for 
the  moft  Capital  Strokes  of  the  Sword  ofjuftice, 
by  this  Wickednefs!  I  have  known  feveral  who 
under  a  Sentence  of  Death,  for  other  Crimes, 
wherein  they  thought  themfelves  hardly  dealt 
withal,  have  cried  out,  Oh  I  'tis  for  my  fecret  A- 
dulteries,  that  the  Holy  God  has  brought  all  this  upon 
me  !  And  how  many  Toung  Women  have  been 
executed  among  us  for  murdering  of  their  Ba- 
ftard-lnf ants I  But,  at  their  Execution,  this  has 
been  their  Exclamation;  Oh,  that  all  young  people 
would  beware  of  the  Snares  of  Unckannefs  .  By  con- 
tinmng  in  thofe  woful  Snares,  without  any  fpeedy  Re- 
pentance, we  have  been  ruined !  One  of  the  firft  in 
this  Land  that  came  to  fuch  an  End  [her  Name 
was  Mart  in  ff  had  yielded  unto  a  wicked  Man 
foliciting  her  Chaftity  ;  but  with  fuch  Reluct- 
ances of  Soul,  that  in  her  Prayers  to  God  for 
Help,  fiie  faid,  If  ever  fhe  were  overtaken  again, 
flic  would  leave  her  (elf  unto  hisjuftice  to  be  made  an 
Example.  She  remembred  not  her  Vows,  but 
was  again  overtaken.  She  Conceived,  fhe  Tra- 
vailed, (he  privately  Deftroyed  her  Child,  ufing 
Two  feveral  Attempts  before  fhe  could  wholly 
difpatch  it.  Afterwards,  upon  a  Removal  of  the 
Family,  the  Murder  ftrangely  came  to  light : 
God  made  the  Infant  bleed  afrefh  before  her, 


for  her  Confufion  ;  She  own'd  the  whole 
Truth,  and  fhe  dy'd  for  it :  But  fhe  was  Twice 
turn'd  off  before  her  Expiration.  Siy  then,  fay 
my  Friends,  to  all  the  Temptations  of  Unckan- 
nefs, How  (hall  I  do  this  Wickednefs,  and  fin  again (t 
God  r" 

The  Eighth  Remark. 

Let  us  a  little  Summ  up  the  Gains  of  thofe 
who  have  ufed  irregular  Methods  of  Oppreffion, 
or  of  Difhonefty,  to  gain  the  World.  I  have 
done  it ;  and  I'll  tell  you  what  I  have  feen  the 
Sum  Total  to  be.  Thejudgments  of  God  have 
brought  it  unto  that  injer.  17.  n.  He  gets  Rich- 
es, and  not  by  right ;  at  his  End  he  JhaH  be  a  Fool. 
Father  Latimer  would  fpeak  of  a  grievous  Cough 
which  would  come  upon  them  that  fwallow'd 
Unrighteous  Gains.  Truly,  Lojfes  have  dually 
follow'd  upon  fuch  Gains,  like  fb  many  Coughs, 
and  Men  have  cough'd  and  cough'd,  until  they 
vomited  up  all  that  they  had  got,  It  is  the  Charge 
of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  upon  us,  That  no  Man 
go  beyond,  or  opprefs  his  Brother  in  a  Matter  ; 
becaufe  that  the  Lord  is  the  Avenger  of  all  fuch. 
We  are  told,  //  thoufeeft  the  Oppreffion  of  the  Poor, 
He  that  is  higher  than  the  higbejt,  regards  it.  We 
are  told,  God  confders  all  the  Opprefflons  that  are 
done  under  the  Sun.  There  was  much  notice  taken 
of  this  in  the  Infancy  of  our  Plimoutb  Colony, 
when  the  poor  Planters  had  their  dependance  on 
certain  Adventurers  in  England.  The  Adven- 
turers taking  their  advantages  of  the  extream 
Straits  which  thofe  poor  Planters  were  in,  lent 
over  Supplies  unto  them  at  the  moft  extream 
Rates  imaginable.  The  poor  Planters  made  Re- 
turn in  Peltry,  but  the  Veffel  was  taken  by  a 
Turks  Man  of  War, and  carried  into  Salty,  where 
they  fold  the  Peltry  for  Groats  a-piece ;  as  much 
too  low,  as  the  Goods  for  which  they  had  been 
return'd,  were  too  high,  and  the  Men  were  made 
Prifoners  into  the  Bargain,  to  the  great  Lofs  of 
the  Adventurers.  But  it  would  fpend  many 
Hours  to  relate  the  Notice  which  might  have 
been  fince  taken  of  many  more  fuch  evident 
Judgments  of  God  on  the  Ways  of  the  Oppreifor. 
Oh .'  do  not  learn  his  Ways  ;  God  gives  unto 
all  fbi  ts  of  Devourers,  Letters  of  Repriial  to  take 
away  his  unjuft  Gains  from  him;  very  common- 
ly it  fb  falls  out. 

There  are  fbme  that  have  us'd  the  groffeft 
fort  of  Stealing  and  Robbing.  But,  have  they 
enrich'd  themfelves  ?  I  intreat  you  Sirs,  to  make 
our  New-  Englijh  Pirates  the  Subjects  of  your  Me- 
ditations.  That  Man  is  blind  unto  Sun-fhine, 
and  blind  before  Lightning,  who  fees  not  the 
Tremendous  Judgments  of  God  purliiing  of 
thofe  wicked  Men.  Let  no  Man  after  this,  run 
greedily  after  the  Error  of  thofe  Children  of  Per- 
dition. But  if  any  of  you  have  knowingly  been 
Sharers  with  them  in  their  Gains ;  for  God's  fake 
repent  of  what  you  have  done  :  You  have  car- 
ry'd  Burning  Coals  into  your  Feather'd  Nefte  ; 
don't  put  a  Farthing  of  that  Money,  among  the 
reft  of  your  Poffeffions ;  it  wiil  confume  all  the 

reft. 

O 


Book  VI. 


7  he  tiiftory  of  New-England 


55 


Others  have  had  their  finer  Ways  of  cheating; 
bur,  what  has  come  of  them  ?  The  Eftates  got- 
ten by  cheating,  have  been  butfo  many  Treajures 
of  Snow  >  the  Rains  of  the  Wrath  of  God  have 

wonderfully  melted  them  » at  leaft,  Vix  gau- 

det  Tertius  Hares. 

There  are  Perfons  that  hare  broken  by  their 
own  Extravagancies  i  not  meerly  by  fad  Trovi- 
dences,but  their  own  Extravagancies :  Thefehave 
ufed  more  Fraudulence  than  Fair  dealing,  in  their 
Compofithns  with  their  Creditors :  But  have  we 
not  feen  afterwards,  that  after  This  (as  we 
fay)  No  Butter  would  ever  flick  upon  their 
Bread. 

Widows,  When  the  Eftates  of  the  Deceas'd 
Husbands  have  been  Infblvent,  have  not  always 
given  in  true  Accounts  i  They  have  held  back  a 
part,  that  they  mould  not  have  with-held  :  God 
has  been  offended  at  'em »  they  have  gone  un- 
der the  Scourges  of  God  all  their  Days  for  that 
Offence. 

Defperate  Gamefters,  What  hand  have  they 
made  of  it?  I  can  tell  what  one  of 'em  did. 
He  had  play'd  away  about  Forty  Pounds  in  lewd 
Company,  and  then  he  fell  into  Horror  of  Con- 
icience,  wherein  he  often  cried  out,  I  am  all  on 
Fire  under  the  Wrath  of  God '.  I  am  all  on  Fire  un- 
der the  Wrath  of  God !  And  fo  he  went  and  hang- 
ed hinifelf, 

Make  all  the  Reftitution  you  can,  ye  Cheats ; 

or  exped  the  Judgments  of  God  upon  you. 

Difcite  Jufiitiam  Moviti. 


the  Ntnth  Remark. 

Methinks  the  Publick  Judgments,  under  which 
we  have  labour'd,  have  fbmetimes  very  convi- 
dively  inrimated  the  Sins  and  Faults  for  which 
thofe  Judgments  have  been  laid  upon  us.  I  will 
ufe  a  plain  Dealing  in  this  matter.  When  have 
the  Judgments  of  God  ever  depriv'd  us  of  any 
Good  Trvng,  but  we  firft  of  all  have  defpifed 
that  Good  ? 

We  have  been  Senfual,  Exceffive.Unthankful, 
in  our  Enjoyment  of  the  Fruits  of  our 
Harveft.  The  Judgments  of  God  have  blafted 
them.  ,„„ ^^. 

We  have  made  Idols  of  our  Laj*S?thd  for  ^he 
fake  thereof  neglefted  almoftall  that  is  Holy, 
and  juft  and  Good.  There  was  a  time,  when 
thro'  the  Judgments  of  God,  our  Titles  to  them 
all  were  cOntefted. 

Litigious  Law- Suits  were  fcandaloufty  mulci- 
ply'd  among  us.  The  Judgments  of  God  brought 
us  into  a  time,  when  the  Extortipj^  of  the  Law 
made  a  Cry  among  us.  ^N^_  _ 

Drinking  Houfes  have  been  a  moft  undoing 
Stumbling-block  of  Iniquity, in  the  midft  of  us. 
The  Judgments  of  God  brought  us  into  a  Time, 
when  Unfufferable  Villanies  were  perpetrated 
every  where  under  the  pretence  of  the  Ex- 
cife. 

Thofe  Time?  are  now  over  indeed.  But  our 
Indian  Wars  are  not  over  yet  :  We  have  too  far 
degenerated  into  Indian  Vices.  The  Vices  of 
the  Indians  are  thefe  i  They    are  very    lying 


Wretches,  and  they  are  very  lazy  Wretches  ; 
and  they  are  out  of  meafure  indulgent  unto 
their  Children  ;  there  is  no  Family-Government 
among  them.  We  have  fliamelully  Indianized 
in  all  thofe  Abominable  Things.  Now,  the 
Judgments  of  God  have  imploy'd  Indian  Hat- 
chets to  wound  us,  no  doubt,  for  thele  our  Indian 
Vices. 

A  Thoufand  more  fuch  things,  may  occur  to 
a  feriousObfervation.  Sirs,  Confider  the  won- 
drous Works  of  God. 

The  Tenth  Remark. 

ManyPeople  have  finned  horribly , upon  a  pre- 
fumption  that  they  finned  fecretly:hut  the  Judg- 
ments of  God,  have  been  wonchoufly  and  pro- 
digioufly,  and  ftupendoufly  difplay'd  in  the 
difcovering  of  fecret  Sinners  among  us.  "David 
no  doubt,  promifed  himfelf  an  everlafting  Se- 
crefie  of  hisTranfgreffion.  Thou  didfi  it  fecretly, 
faid  the  Prophet :  And  the  Pfalmift,  calling  to 
mind  that  Word,  own'd  in  Pfal.  51.  4.  Agamfl 
Thee,  Thee  only  have  I  finned ;  and  the  "Evil  1  have 
done  in  Thy  fight.  None  was  privy  to  the  Crime, 
except  one  Man,  who  was  a  Partner  in  it.  Yea, 
but  fays  the  Lord,  Til  make  all  Ifrael  bear  of  it  « 
The  Sin-Confounding  Judgments  of  God,  made 
all  the  Sin  to  come  out.  Sirs,  Thofe  Judgments 
of  God  have  been  fo  exemplified  among  our 
felves,  That  I  cannot  imagine  how  fome  guil- 
ty Wretches,  whofe  Crimes  are  hitherto  Se- 
cret, are  able  to  walk  about,  having  the  Terrors 
of  the  Shadow  of  Death  upon  their  Souls. 

How  many  fecret  Murders  have  ftrangely 
been  difcover'd  among  us!  And,  I  believe,  there 
are  yet  more  to  be  difcover'd. 

There  have  been  Vevilifh  EihhineJJes  commit- 
ted among  us :  But,  Oh,  how  ftrangely  have  the 
Sins  of  Men  found  thsm  out ! 

At  the  Southward  there  was  a  Beaft,  which 
brought  forth  a  Creature,  which  might  pretend 
unto  lbmething  of  an  Humane  Shape.  Now, 
the  People  minded  that  the  Monfter  had  9 
Blemifh  in  one  Eye,  much  like  what  a  profli- 
gate Fellow  in  the  Town  was  known  to  have. 
This  Fellow  was  hereupon  examin'd  >  and  up- 
pon  his  Examination,  confefs'd  his  infandous 
Beftialties ;  for  which  h«  was  defervedly  Exe- 
cuted. 

But,  I'll  never  confefs,  thinks  many  an  hard- 
hearted Sinner.  No  !  So  thought  another  Man, 
whole  Name  I  could  mention.  Hewas  one, who 
had  formerly  and  frequently  derided  other 
Perfons,  as  Fools,  for  confeffing  againft  them- 
felves.  ThisMjw  liv'd  in  Adultery,  efpecially 
with  one  »Yiie  Woman,  until  God  ftruck  him 
with  a  De*dFalfie,a.nd  a  Quick  Confcience.Then 
he  that  had  laugh'd  at  otfl&rs  for  not  concealing 
their  Sins,  could  not  conceal  his  own.  He  re- 
veal'dhis  Villanies  with  that  Woman  and  others, 
and  he  acknowledg'd  the  Juftice  of  God,  in 
compelling  him  to  reveal  them.  The  Woman 
alfo  made  an  Acknowledgment  of  her  Enormi- 
ties :  and  they  both  dy'd  for  their  Iniquities. 

What 


36 


The  Jtiiftory  oj  New-England.  Book  V  J. 


What  OiVil  I  iav  >  There   ha^  been  Church- 


Memhtrs  among  us,  who  have 


ProleiLonof  Rellgibfl, 
torn  year  to  year, in  a 


Thefs 


made  no  mean 
have  gone   on 


Trade  oj  Secret  Filthinefs. 


Even,  1  kmw./md  am  a  witnefs  cf  it,  fays  the  Lord. 
Som;  oi  thele  have  died  in  very  lad  Circum- 
ftanccs,and  the  World  has  never  heard  any  thing 
of  the  Lore's  Contrcverfic  with  them.  Yea,  biit 
many  of  them  bare  been  ftrangeiy  detected, 
before  they  have  dy'd.  They  have  been  left 
unto  ibme  foolifh  and  fottifft  A  °ilon  at  laft, 
which  has  occafion'd  the  Publifhing  of  their 
Viienels  unto  all  the  World.  The  Holy  Eyes 
of  the  Lord  jefus  Chrift,  which  are  like  a  Flame 
of  Fir:,  have  feen  their  damnable  Hypocrifie  and 
Impiety  »  and,  he  hath  made  all  the  Churches  to 
know,  that '  he  fear ches  the  ReVnt  hM  Hearts  of 
Men:  he  hath  made  their  Wickalv.cffes  to  be  decla- 
red before  the  while  Congregation  ;  he  Rath  brought 
the  Publick  Cenfures  of  his  Faithful  People  upon 
them.  He  hath  done  much  in  thele  awful  Judg- 
ments i  and-  /  fbtr,  1  fear,  he  hath  yet  more  to 
do  upon  ioine,  inthemidft  cf  thee,  O  Bofion, 
except  thy  ret. 

The  Eleventh  Remark. 

The  Judgments  of  God  among  uj,  have  not 
been  more  confpicuous  upon  any  Sinners,  than 
uponthofe  that  have  made  others  to  Jin.  There 
are  fome  whom  the  Scriptures  call  the  Chief  of 
Sinners :  Thole  who  are  Chief  in  drawing  others 
onto  be  Sinners.  Truly,  the  Judgments  of  God 
have  often  made  thele  as  Exemplary  in  their  Plagues, 
as  they  have  been  in  their  Sins. 

I  have  known  fomc  wretched  Young  Men  in 
ieveral  Societies,  who  have  been  the  Chief  De- 
bauchers  of  the  Societies  which  they  belong'd  un- 
to. But,  Oh  !  What  lad  things  could  I  tell  you, 
of  the  deadly  Judgments  that  God  hath  flwired 
from  Heaven  upon  the  Heads  of  thofe  i^Mnous 
Tenths!  God  hasmade  'em  the  Sons  of  Eolith 
his  Deadly  Judgments.  ( 

*  Under  this  Head  of  the  Divine  Judgments, 
why  fnould  I  not  mention  the  Condition  of  Ong 
whom  I  knew  in  this  Place  i  The  Man  deny'd 
the  Immortality  of  the  Soul ;  and  would  go  to  de- 
bauch other  Men  with  his.  Vile  Opinion,  That  we 
have  no  immortal  Soul  in  us.  This  poor  Man  came 
to  He  on  his  Death-bed,  and  then  the  Terrors  of 
God  fo  Thunder-ftruck  his  Confcience,  that  his 
dying  Out-cries  were,  Oh !  whatfl>all  I  do  for  my 
immortal  Soul :  What  xviU  become  of  my  immortal 
Soul  for  ever  ! 

And,  when,  alas,  when  will  our  Indian  ¥i& 
ders  apply  themfelves  to  that  Comminution  iri 
i&£.  2.  15.  Wo  to  him  that  pv0^Hf*Neigbbour 
drink; that  puttejl  thy  &ttfc[thy  Rhum- Bottle] to 
him,  and  makefi  him  drjfmt  alfo.  While  there  has 
been  a  moft  Obfervable  Blejjingof  God  upon  the 
Preachers  of  Truth  to  the  Indians,  all  the  World 
may  Obferve  a  Judgment  of  God  upon  the 
Sellers  of  Drink  to  the  Indians,  i  pray,  what 
have  the  Eftates  of  fuch  Men  generally  come 
to  r  Do  ;  Trade  on,  ye  Merchants  of  Souls,  or 
more  truly,  ye  Butchers  of  Souls;  Trade  on,  till 


the  Judgments  of  God  have  caufed  you  to  trade 
your  felves  into  Beggary  at  the  laft !  But  know, 
that  the  Blood  of  Souls  will  be  found  on  your 
Skirts.  It  is  not  very  long  ago,  that  an  unufua! 
Accident  in  a  Part  of  this  Province  did  affright 
the  Neighbours  into  fome  ferious  Thoughts  cf 
this  Matter.  Several  Indians  were  made  horri- 
bly Drunk  by  the  Drink  which  the  EngliJJj  hall 
fold  unto  them.  Returning  home  over  n. 
Little  Ferry  ,  eight  of  them  were  Drown'd  » 
and  three  Months  after  they  were  Drown'd 
[from  December  to  MarcF]  one  of  their  Dead 
Bodies  came  afhore,  very  near  the  Place, 
where  they  had  been  fupplied  with  their  Drink  ; 
and  lying  on  the  Shore,  it  bled  fo  plentifully, 
as  to  difcolour  the  Water  and  Sand  about  it. 
Upon  which  the  Gonfiderate  Spectators,  thought 
of  that  Scripture,  The  Stone  JhaO  cry  cut  cf  the 
Wall,  agaihft  him  that  gives  his  Neighbour 
Drink.  They  thought  there  was  a  loud  Cry 
of  Blood !  Blood !  againft  fome  wicked  Englijl> 
in  this  Matter. 

The  Twelfth  Remark. 

Finally,  We  have  feen,  we  have  feen,  That 
by  omitting  their  Prayers  to  God,  Men  befpeak 
for  themfelves  the  Judgments  of  God. 

How  many  ,  that  have  Iiv'd  Prayerlefs , 
have  we  feen  to  die  Prayerlefs,  or  to  die 
Ho  pel  els  ? 

We  often  mifcarry  in  our  Enterprizes ;  how, 
if  we  would  Search  and  try  our  Ways,  it  may 
be-,  we  fnould  find,  that  we  did  not  fuffidently 
Pray  over  our  Enterprizes  before  wc  refolved 
upon  them.  How  often,  how  often,  have  I 
feen  this  verify'd  in  the  Judgments  of  God  ! 

Yea,  by  a  Prayerlefs  Life  we  have  feen 
Men  pulling  down  the  moft  Confummate 
judgments  of  God ,  upon  their  own  Wofu! 
Heads. 

,was  a  pathetical   Palfage  in  the  laft  Prayer 
or  Murderer  that  was  executed  in    this 

long  ago. 
(faid  he)  If  I  had  gone  to  prayer  that  Mom- 
hen  I  committed  the  Sin  for  which  1  am  now  to 
die x&~&o£^fclftT*i  believe  thou  wouldjt  have  kept 

The  Day,wnereinM?»havegone  abroad  with- 
out Prayer  before  they  went,how  often  havethe 
Judgments  of  God  made  it  a  Day  of  thick  Dark- 
nefs  to  the  Prayerlefs  People  ? 

uT>iunarkably  has  that  Obfervation  been 
connrrnfid-W  the  Experience  of  Thoufands  a- 
mong  us,'Njjpgtn7iam  in  orando  femper  aliqua  no- 
'anjgrejfto fequilur.  Indeed  the  Inftance 
ofOrigens  Apoftacy  has  been  fo'metimes  brought 
with  this  Obfervation  :  But  1  do  from  the  Uni- 
verfal  Silence  of  the  more  ancient  Writers,  both 
before  and  after  that  fcandalous  Reporter  Epipba- 
nius,  believe  that  whole  Story  of  Origcn  to  be  a 
Sham,  in  After-ages  invented  by  the  Adverfaries 
of  that  excellent  Man  ;  and  as  falfe,  as  that  Origen 
wrote  the  Difcourle,  Entkul'd  Origen^s  Lamenta- 
tion. 

Yea, 


Book  VI.  The  Hiflory  of  lX7evv-£n8;land. 


97 


Yea,  There  was  an  aged  Profeffor,  belonging 
to  a  Church  in  this  Town, who  after  many  years 
of  good  repute,  with  good  People,  became  a 
Drunken  Sot,for  which  he  was  Excommunicated. 
After  his  Excommunication,  he  fell  into  bitter 
Anguifh  of  Soul,  and  at  length  dy'd  in  aftonifn- 
ing  Circumlfances.  But  ibme  of  his  Dying 
Words  were  ;  /  often  pray'd  unto  God  for  a  Mercy, 
■which  be  ft ill  deny' 'd  me.  At  length  1  grew  avgry 
at  God :  Whereupuii  1  grew  flack  m  my  Acquaintance 


with  the  Lord  :  Ever  fines  which,  He  hath  dread' 
fully  furfaken  me,  and  1  know,  that  now  he  hath  no 
Mercy  for  me.  Think  of  thefc  things  i  and  Oh  ! 
do  not  fo  reject  Fear,  as  to  reftrain  Prayer  before 
the  Lord. 

Thelearethe  moft  peculiar  Judgments  of  God, 
unto  which  I  have  accounted  it  not  amifs  to 
point  you  ;  That  ib  you  may  Tremble  for  fear  cf 
him,  and  be  afraid  of  his  Judgments. 


A   N 


A  P  P  E  N 


Containing  an  Hiftory  offome  Criminals  Executed  in  New- 
England  for  Capital  Crimes  •  with  fome  of  their  Dying 
Speeches. 


WF  find  in  Zmnger,  the  mention  of  a 
City  befieg'd  by  a  potent  Enemy ; 
where  the  Inhabitants  took  the-  dead 
Bodies  of  the  itarv'd  People,  and  fet  them  in  Ar- 
mour on  the  Walls  •■>  at  the  Sight  whereof  the  a- 
mazed  Enemy  fled.      •         " 

One  of  the  NewEngltfli  Mmifters,  beholding 
Vice  befieging  his  Countrey  as  an  Enemy,  fingl'd 
out  a  Company  of  dead  Wretches  to  fet  upon  the 
Walls,  in  hopes  that  the  horrible  Sight  would1 
caufe  that  worft  Enemy  to  fly  befo"" 
publifh'd  unto  the  Countrey  AnHifl 
nals ;  which  may  be  here  overag, " 
as  a  fit  Appendix  to  An  Hiftory 
Judgments:  For  indeed  in  thele 
Remarkable  Judgments  of  God  were 
'Exemplify' d. 


Miliars    of^SA 


IT  hath  been  thought,  that  the  dying  Speeches 
of  fuch  as .  have  been  Executed  among  us, 
might  be  oflingular  Ufe  to  correct  a^*d  reform 
the  Crimes,  wherein  too  many  do  live:  And  it 
has  been  wifh'd,  that  at  leaft  fome  Fragments  of 
thofe  dying  Speeches^  might  be  preferv'd  and  pub- 
lifh'd. Upon  this  Advice  from  fome  good  Pcr- 
fons,  I  have  ftollen  an  Hour  or  two,  wherein  1 
have  collected  fome  Accounts  of  feveral  I'd  Per- 
fons,  which  have  been  cut  off  by  the  Sword  of 
Civil  Juftice  in  this  Land  ;  and  this  Collection  I 
differ  to  go  abroad,  in  hopes,  that  among  many 
other  ElTays  to  fupprefsgmyiwg  Vice,  it  may  iigni- 
ne  fomething  with  the  Bleffing  of,  Heaven 
thereupon,  to  let  the  Vicious  underftand,  what 


have  been  the  Cries  of  our  Miferables,  when 
palling  into  another  World.  Behold,  an  Hiftory 
of  Criminals ,  whom  the  Terrible  Judg- 
ments of  God  have  Thunder- ftrook  into  Pillars  of 
of  Salt. 

■%*.( -I-  ) 

Bflln^the  Year   1646.  here  was  one  Marj 

f  Mart  in)  y&hofe  Father  going  from  hence  to 

J,\eh  her  in  the  Houleof  a  marry'd  Man, 

pame  fb  Enamour'd  on  her,  that  he 

2r  Chaftity. 

pas  her  Weaknefs  and  Folly,  that  (he 

/Temptations  of  thatHTrffe^ble 

with  .Inch '  horrible    Regret  ^of 

bagging  of  God,  for  Deliverance'" 

_  Ifemptations,  her  Plea  was,  That  if  e- 

\were}- overtaken    again,  jhe  would  leave  her 

'to  his    Juftice,  to  be  madeta   publifkr  Ex- 

Heaven  will  convince  the  finful  Children  of 
Men,  that  the  Vows  which  they  make?,  /efy- 
•ing  on  the  Stability  and  R.e(biution  of  their 
own  Hearts,  are  of  no  Significancy.  A  Chain 
of  Hell  was  upon  her,  and  the  forfeited  "Grace 
of  Fleaven  was  withheld  from  her;  She  fellfl 
Third  time  ,  into  the  Sin,  againf>  which  h*r 
Vows  had  been  uttcr'd.  P  % 

Afterwards  going  to  Service  in  Bofton,  fhe 
found  her  felf  to  have  tonceiv'd  :  But  flic  liv- 
ed with  a  Favourable  Miftrefs,  who  would 
admit  and  allow  no  Sufpiciori  of  her  Dif- 
honefty. 

A  Q^eftion  like  tlut  Convincing  One,  of 
our  Saviour'*,  unto  the  Woman  ot  Samaria,  wjs 
onceodly  put  unto  her;  Mary,  Where  is  thy 
Husband  ?    And  one    laid  alio,  Did  I  not  think 

thou 


The  Hifiory  of  New-England. 


Book  VI. 


& 


tbuti  wert  an  ben  eft  and  [metre  Creature,  I  jliould 
--  enly  think  tbou  wert  with  Child  \  Thefe  Pafla- 
ges,  which  were  Warnings  from  God  unto 
her  guilty  Soul,  did  ferve  only  to  firike  her 
with  Amazement,  not  with  any  true  Repen- 
tance. 

She  conceal'd  her  Crime,  till  the  time  of 
hzr  Delivery  ;  and  then  being  deliver'd  a- 
lone  by  her  ielfin  a  dark  Room,  (he  murder- 
ed the  haimlefs  and  helplels  Infant  j  hiding  it 
in  a  Cheli  Iron;  the  Eyes  of  all,  but  the  Jealous 
GOD. 

The  Blood  of  the  Child  cried,  when  the 
Cry  of  the  Child  it  feif  was  thus  cruelly  Ri- 
fled. Some  Circumftance  quickly  occurr'd , 
which  oblig'd  her  Friends  to  charge  her  with 
an  Unlaw  Jul  Birth.  She  deny'd  it  impudently. 
A  further  Search  confuted  her  Denial.  Shethen 
faid,  The  Child  was  dead  born,  and  (he  had 
burn'd  it  to  Afhes.  With  an  Hypocritical  Tear, 
(he  added,  Oh,  that  it  were  true,  that  the  poor 
Babe  were  any  where  to  be  jeen  .'  At  laft,  it  was 
found  in  her  Cheft  ;  and  when  (he  touch'd  the 
Face  of  it  before  the  Jury,  the  Blood  came  frefli 
into  it.  So  fhe  confelfed  the  whole  Truth  con- 
cerning it. 

Giea:  Endeavours  were  ufed  that  (he  might 
be  brought  unto  a  true  Faith  in  the  Blood  of 
the  Lord  jefus  Chrift  for  the  Pardon  of  her 
Blood- guiltinefs  i  and  it  may  be,  none  endea- 
voured it  more  than  that  Reverend  Man,  Old 
Mr.  Wil]\n,  who  wro:eieveraI  Sheets  of  patheti- 
cal  Inft ruftions  to  her  while  (he  was  in  Prifbn. 
That  Renown'd  Man,  Old  Mr.  Cotton  alfo,  did 
his  part  in  endeavouring  that  (he  might  be  Re- 
nevv'd  by  Repentance  i  and  preach'd  a  Sermon, 
on  E&ek.  16.  20,  21.  Is  this  of  thy  Whoredoms  a 
/wall  matter,  that  thou  haft  jlain  my  Children*! 
Whereof  great  Notice  was  taken.  It  was"  ho- 
ped,  that  thefe  Endeavours  were  ncij  loft :  Her 
Carriage  in  herlmprifonment,  and  a1 
cution,  was  very  Penitent.  But  there 
Remarkable  at  her  Execution :  She  ack 
ed  her  Twice  eilaying  to  kill  her  Chi 
(he  could  make  an  End  of  it  ;  A 
through  the  Unskilfulnefs  of  the*  E 
(he  was  turned  off  the  Ladder  Twice 
(he  died. 


THere  was  a  miferable  Man  at  Weymouth; 
who  fell  into  very  ungodly  Practices;  buc 
would  particularly  fignalize  his    Ungodlinefs, 
Ay  flouting  at  thofe  Fools  (as  he  call'd  'em)  who 
would  ever  confefs  any  Sins,    laid  unto  their 
Charge.  % 

This  Man  liv'd  in  abominable  Adulteries  i 
but  God  at  length  fmote  him  with  a  Palfie.  His 
Dead  Palfie  was  accompany'd  with  a  Quick 
Confcience,  which  compelfd  him  to  confels  his 
Crimes :  But,  he  confefs'd  them  fb  indifcreetly, 
that  by  their  Divulgation,  they  reach'd  the 
Ears  of  the  Authority:  And  in  this  Confeffion, 
there  was  involv'd  and  concerned,  the  Wretched 
Woman,  who  chiefly  had  been  concern'd  with 
him  in  the  Tranigreffion. 


By  the  Law  of  this  Countrey,  Adultery  was 
then  a  Capital  Tranfgreflion,  as  it  hath  been  in 
many  other  Countries :  And  this  poor  Adulterer 
could  notefcape  the  Punifhment  which  the  Law 
provided. 

C  HI.  ) 

ON  June  6.  1662.  at  New-haven  there  was 
a  moft  Unparallel'd  Wretch,  one  Potter, 
by  Name,  about  fixty  years  of  age,  Executed 
for  damnable  Beftialitiesi  although  this  Wretch 
had  been  for  now  Twenty  Years  a  Member  of 
the  Church  in  that  place,  and  kept  up  among 
the  Holy  People  of  God  there,  a  Reputation, 
for  ferious  Chriftianity.  It  feems  that  the  Un- 
clean Devil,  which  had  the  poffeflion  of  this 
Monfter,  had  carry'd  all  his  Lufts  with  fo  much 
Fury  into  this  one  Channel  of  Wickednefs,  that 
there  was  no  notice  taken  of  his  being  wicked 
in  any  other.  Hence  'twas,  that  he  was  De- 
vout in  Worfhip,  Gifted  in  Prayer,  Forward  in 
Edifying  Difcourfe  among  the  Religious,  and 
Zealous  in  Reproving  the  Sins  of  the  other  Peo- 
ple; Every  one  counted  him  a  Saint  :  And  he 
Enjoy'd  fuch  a  Peace  in  his  own  Mmd, '  that  in 
feveral  Fits  of  Sicknefs,  wherein  he  feem  d  Nigh 
unto  Death,  he  feem'd  Willing  to  die  ;  Yea,  Death 
(he  faid)  Smiled  on  him.  Neverthelefs,  this  Dia- 
bolical Creature,  had  liv'd  in  moft  infandous 
Buggeries  for  no  lefs  than  Fifty  Years  together ; 
and  now  at  the  Gallows  there  were  kill'd  before 
his  Eyes  a  Cow,  two  Heifers,  three  Sheep,  and 
two  Sows,  with  aft  of  which  he  had  committed 
his  Brutalities.  His  Wife  had  feen  him  confoun- 
ding himfelf  with  a  Bitch  Ten  Years  before ;  and 
he  then  excus'd  his  Filthinefs  as  well  as  he  could 
unto  her,  butconjur'd  her  to  keep  it  (ecret  :  buc 
he  afterwards  hang'd  that  Bitch  himfelf,  and 
ttien  return'd  unto  his  former  Villanies,  until 
at  laft  his  Son  law  him  hideoufly  converfing  with 
By  thefe  means  the  burning  Jealoufie  of 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  at  length  made  the 
isA  know,  that  he  had  all  this  while 
jCover'd  Filthinefs  of  this  Hellifh  Hy- 
and  expos'd  him  alfo  to  the  juft  Judg- 
~  eath,  from  the  Civil  Court  of  Judica- 
y  remarkable  had  been  the  Warnings 
ellhound  had  receiv'd  from  Heaven, 
his  Impieties*'-  Many  Years  before 
a  Daughter  who  dreamt  a  Dream, 
which  caus'd  her  in  her  Sleep,  to  cry  out  moft 
bitterly  j  and  her  Father  then  with  much 
ado,  obtaining  of  her  to  tell  her  Dream,  fhe  told 
him,  fhe  dreamt,  that  fhe  was  among  a  Great 
Multitude  of  People  to  fee  an  Execution,  ar.d 
it  prov'd  her  own  Father  that  was  to  be  hang'd, 
at  whole  Turning  over,  fhe  thus  cry'd  out. 

This  happen'd  before  the  time  that  any  of  his 
Curs'd  Practices  were  known  unto  her. 

At  another  time,  when  there  was  a  Malefa 
adjudg'd  in  thofe  Parts  to  die,  for  the  very  fame 
Tranfgreffions  which  this  Rotten  Fellow  was 
guilcy  of,  the  Governour,  with  lbme  of  the 
Miigjlirates,  moft  unaccountably,  without  any 
manner  of  Reafon  for  their  fo  doing,  turn'd  abouc 

unco 


Book  VI.  TheHijioryof  (Vew-£figla 


3v 


unto  this  Fellow,  and  (aid,  What  think  you}  is 
not  this  Man  worthy  to  die?  He  now  con  felted, 
Th.it  thefe  Warnings  did  ib  awaken  his  Cnnlci- 
ence,  as  to  make  him  for  a  time  leave  off  his 
Infernal  Debuicbes  ;  and  fo  he  laid,  He  thought 
ell  was  pardon d,  all  was  well  with  him.  Never- 
thelefs  he  return'd  unto  his  Vomit  ,  and  his 
Quagmire,  until  the  Sentence  of  Death  at  laft 
fell  upon  him  i  and  then  heacknowledg'd,  That 
he  had  liv'd  in  the  Sin  of  Befltality,  ever  fince  he 
was  Ten  Years  old,  but  had  (bmetimes  intermit- 
ted the  Perpetration  of  it  for  lome  Years 
together.  During  his  Imprifonment,  he  continu'd 
in  a  Sottifh  and  Stupid  Frame  ol  Spirit,  and 
tmrvelloufly  fecure  about  his  Everlafling  Pardon 
and  Welfare  ;  but  the  Church  whereto  he  belong- 
ed, kept  a  Solemn  Day  of  Humiliation  on  this 
Occafion,  wherein  Mr.  Davenport  preach'd  on 
Jcfl).  21.10.  Diet  not  Achan  commit  a  Tre[pafs  in 
the  Accurfed  Thing,  and  Wrath  fell  on  the  Congrega- 
tion of  Ifrael  ?  And  in  the  Cloie  of  the  Fa  ft,  that 
Faithful  People  of  God  Excommunicated  this 
Accurfed  Achan  from  their  own  Society.  But,  as 
1  have  feen  Bewitched  Self-Poifcncrs  under  a 
fingular  Energy  of  iome  Devil,  obftinately  refufe 
all  offer'd  Relief,  until  the  Poilons  had  prevail'd 
fo  far,  that  all  Relief  was  toohte,  and  then  with 
Roaring  Agonies  they  would  have  given  Ten 
Worlds  for  it;  So  this  Bewitched  Beajl,  that  had 
not  been  afraid  of  Dying  till  he  came  to  the  Place 
of  Execution,  when  he  came  there,  he  was  awa- 
ken d  into  a  moft  Unutterable  and  Intolerable 
Anguifh  of  Soul,  and  made  molt  lamentably 
defperate  Out  cries ;  among  which  Out-cries,  he 
warn'd  Mew  particularly  to  Take  heed  of  neglecting 
Secret  Prayer  ;  which,  he  faid  had  been  his  Bane. 
He  faid,  he  never  us'd  Secret  Prayer  in  his  Life, 
and  that  he  frequently  omitted  Family  Prayer  too  ; 
Yet,  he  faid,  he  had  Prafd  and  Sinn' J,  and  Sinn  d 
&n(\Prafd;  namely, by  Ejaculations,  with  which 
he  contented  himfelf,  throwing  Set  Prayer  afide. 
But  foheperifh'd  ! 

(  IV.  ) 

AN  Enghjh  Ship  fin  the  year  i6-t%,)  Sailing 
horn  iomewhere  about  the  Mouth  of  the 
Streights,  was  mann'd  with  ComeCruel  Mifcreants, 
who  quarrelling  with  the  Mafter  and  fome  of 
the  Officers,  turn'd  them  all  into  the  Long  Boat, 
with  a  fmall  Quantity  of  Provifions,  about  an 
Hundred  Leagues  to  the  Weftward  of  the  Spamfu 
Coafl. 

Thefe  Fellows,  in  the  mean  time  fet  Sail 
for  New  England  ;  where,  by  a  Surprizing 
Providence  of  God,  the  Mafter,  with  his  Affli- 
cted Company  in  the  Long  Boat,  alio  arriv'd  % 
all,  except  One,  who  died  of  the  Barbarous 
Ufage. 

The  Countenance  of  the  Mafler  was  now 
come  Terrible  to  the  Rebellious  Men,  who, 
though  they  had  Elcap'd  the  Sea,  yet  Vengeance 
would  not  fuffer  to  live-  a-ftwre.  At  his  Inftance 
and  Complaint,  they  were  Apprehended  ,  and 
the  Ringleaders  of  this  murderous  Piracy  had  a 
Sentence  of  Death  Executed  on  them  in  Bofton. 


Under  that  Sentence,  theie  was  heard  among 
them  a  grievous  Lamentation  for  this:  Their  E- 
ducat  ion  had  hem  und.r  the  Means  of  Grace.  «;-'.  i 
the  faithful  Preaching  of  the  Gofpel  ;n  England  ; 
but  they  bad  finned  agar-ff  that  Education. 

And  one  of  them  iUdK  cry'd  out,  O'j  .'  \t:i 
my  Drunkennefs,  'tis  my  Drunk  rme.'s,  that  hath 
brought  me  to  this  lami  viable  End ! 

The  Horrors  which  attended  the  Chief  of 
thefe  Malefadfors  (one  Forreft)  in  the  lafi  Hours 
of  his  fife,  were  fuch  as  exceedingly  aftbnifh'd 
the  Beholders.  Though  he  were  a  very  Trout 
Man  ;  yet  now  his  Tfembling  Agonies  and 
.-Ynguifhes  were  inexprefiible. 

One  Speech  let  fall  by  him,  was,  J  have  been 
anions  drawn  Swords,  fifing  Bullets,  roaring  Cannons 
amidft  all  which,  I  knew  not  what  Fen  meant  ;  but 
now  I  have,  dreadful  Apprehenflnns  of  the  dreadful 
Wrath  of  (Jo  1  in  the  other  Wm Id,  which  fymg  trig 
into,  my  Soul  within  me  is  amax,cd  at  it. 

(  v.  ; 

ON  March  i  8   1674.  two  Men,  whole  Names 
were  Nicholas  Flavour  and    Robert  Driver, 
were  ExecuteJ  at  Bofton. 

The  Crime  for  which  they  were  Executed, 
was  the  Murder  of  their  Mafler  ,  whom,  upon 
the  Provocation  of  fome  Chaftifement ,  which 
he  had  given  them,  they  knock'd  on  the  Head 
with  an  Ax,  in  their  bloody  Rage. 

Alter  they  were  condemnd,  they  bellowed 
their  Lamentations  not  only  on  the  Particular 
Crime,  which  hid  now  brought  them  to  their 
untimely  End,  but  alfo  on  fome  others,  for  which 
their  Confluences  told  them,  thatthe  Righteous 
God  had  left  'em  unto  This. 

One  of  'em  laid,  His  Pride  had  been  his  Bane  ; 
For,  he  thought  much  of  it,  that  lueh  a  oncishe, 
ihould  be  a  Servant  i  and  he  would  fometimes 
utter  fuch  Woi  ds  as  th:(e  »  lam  Fltfli  and  Blood  as 
well  as  my  Mafter  ;  and  therefore  I  huw  no  reafon, 
why  my  Mafler  Ihould  nut  obey  me,  as  Well  as  I  obey 
him.  And  now,  (aid  be,  See  what  my  Pride  has 
brought  me  to  ! 

Oneof  them  alio  laid,  That  his  Idlenefs  hid 
ruin'd  him  ;  He  would  rflrVt  Induftrioufly 
folio*/  his  Calling  ,  but  Ih'e  an  Idle,  Sloth- 
ful Vagrant  Life.  This  he  laid,  had  undone 
him. 

And  one  of  them  laid, That  his  Difobedi  .-nee 
to  his  Parents  bad  brought  this  Mifery  upon. 
him.  His  Father,  he  laid,  gave  him  good  ln- 
ftrudions  when  he  was  a  Child  :  But  he  re- 
garded them  not.  He  would  not  go  to  a  School, 
when  hisFather  would  have  tent  him  to  it.  He 
would  not  go  to  a  Trade,  when  his  Father 
would  have  put  him  to  one.  After  his  Father 
was  dead,  he  would  not  be  Subject  unto  them 
thachadthe  Charge  of  him  :  He  ran  away 
from  them  ;  and  after  that  he  ran  away  from 
fevcral  Mafters.  Thus  he  ran  into  the  jaws  of 
Death. 

Thefe  thirgs  are  patticulariz'd  in  the  S;rmon 
preach'd  jtft  bef  >re  their  Execution  ;  and  after- 
wards printed  under  the  Title  of,  The  Wicked 
Man's  Portion.  fffffj  VI. 


The  Hiftory  of  New- England.  Book  VI. 


(  vi. ) 

ON  Sept.  22.  1 68 1.  One  W.C.  was  Executed 
at  Bofion  for  a  Rape  committed  by  him,  on 
a  Girl  that  liv'd  with  him  >  though  he  had  then 
a  Wife  with  Child  by  him,  of  a  Nineteenth  or 
Twentieth  Child. 

This  Man  had  been  Wicked  overmuch.  His 
Parents,  were  godiy  Perfons ;  but  he  was  a  Child 
cf  Belial.  He  began  early  to  (hake  off  his  Obe- 
dience unto  them  ;  and  early  had  Fornication 
laid  unto  his  charge:  After  which,  he  fled  unto 
a  diffolute  Corner  of  the  Land,  a  Place  where- 
of it  might  be  faid,  Surely  t he  Fear  of  God  is  not 
in  this  Place  :  He  being  a  Youth  under  the  In- 
fpe&ion  of  the  Church  at  Roxbury,  they,  to 
win  him,  invited  him  to  return  unto  his  Friends, 
with  fuch  Expreflions  of  Lenity  towards  him, 
that  the  Reverend  Old  Man  their  Paftor,  in  a 
Sermon  on  the  Day  when  this  Man  was  Execu- 
ted, with  Tears  bewail'd  it. 

After  this,  he  liv'd  very  Diffolutely  in  the 
Town  of  Dorcbefier  ;  where,  in  a  Fit  of  Sick- 
nefs,  he  Vow'd,  That  if  God  would  fpare  his 
Life,  he  would  live  as  a  new  Man:  but  he  hor- 
ribly fogot  his  Vows.  The  Inftances  of  his  Im- 
piety grew  fo  Numerous  and  Prodigious,  that 
the  Wrath  of  God  could  bear  no  longer  with 
him  ;  he  was  ripen'd  for  the  Gallows. 

After  hisCondemnation,  he  Vehemently  pro- 
tefted  his  Inmcency  of  the  Fad,  for  which  he 
was  condemn'd  ;  but  he  confefs'd,  That  God  was 
Righteous,  thus  to  bring  Deftruftion  upon  him,  for 
fecret  Adulteries. 

A  Reprieve  would  have  been  obtain'd  for  him, 
if  his  foolifti  and  froward  Refufing  to  hear  a 
Sermon  on  the  Day  appointed  for  his  Executi- 
on had  not  hardned  the  Hearts  of  the  Judges 
againft  him.  He,  who  had  been  a  great  Scoffer 
at  the  Ordinances  of  God,  now  expos'd 
himfelf,  by  being  left  unto  fuch  a  Sottifli 
Adion ! 

He  had  horribly  flighted  all  Calls  to  Repen- 
tance, and  now,  through  fome  Wretches  over- 
perfwadingof  him  that  he  fhoald  not  die  ac- 
cording to  the  Sentence  and  Order  of  the  Court, 
he  hardened  himielf,  ftill  in  his  unrepentant 
Frame  of  Mind. 

When  he  came  to  the  Gallows,  and  faw 
Death  (and  a  Pitfture  of  Hell  too  in  a  Negro 
then  burnt  to  Death  at  the  Stake,  for  burning 
her  Makers  Houfe,  with  fome  that  were  in  it,) 
before  his  Face,  never  was  a  Cry  for  lime  ! 
Time  !  A  World  for  a  little  Time  !  Tht  InexpreJJible 
worth  of  Time !  utter'd  with  a  more  unutterable 
Anguifh. 

He  then  declar'd,  That  the  Greateft  Burden 
then  lying  upon  his  miserable  Soul,  was  his  having 
Uvea  fo  unprofitably  under  the  Preaching  of  the 
Gofpel. 


C  VII.  ) 

ON  March  i  r.  1686.  was  Executed  at  Bo- 
fion, one  James  Morgan,  for  an  Horrible 
Murther.  A  Man,  finding  it  neceflary  to 
come  into  his  Houfe,  he  fwore  he  would  run  a 
Spit  into  his  Bowels  >  and  he  was  as  bad  as  his 
Word. 

He  was  a  paffionate  Fellow ;  and  now,  af- 
ter his  Condemnation,  he  much  bewail'd 
his  having  been  given  to  Curfing  in  his  Paf- 
fions. 

The  Reverend  Perfon,  who  preach'd  unto  a 
great  Aflembly,  on  the  Day  of  this  poor  Man's 
Execution,  did  in  the  midft  of  his  Sermon, 
take  occafion  to  read  a  Paper  which  he  had  re- 
ceiv'd  from  the  Malefaclor  then  prefent  in  the  Af- 
embly.     It  was  as  followeth. 

I  James  Morgan ,  being  condemn'd  to  die, 
muft  needs  own,  to  the  Glory  of  God,  that 
'  He  is  Righteous,  and  that  I  have  by  my  Sins 
'  provok'd  him  to  deftroy  me  before  my  time. 
'  I  have  been  a  great  Sinner,  guilty  of  Sabbath- 
'  breaking,  of  Lying,  and  of  Uncleannels ;  but 
'  there  are  efpecially  two  Sins  whereby  1  have 
'  offended  the  Great  God  v  one  is  that  Sin  of 
'  Drunkennels,  which  has  caufed  me  to  commit 
'  many  other  Sins ;  for  when  in  Drink,  I  have 
1  been  often  guilty  of  Curfing  and  Swearing,  and 
1  Quarrelling,  and  ftriking  others.  But  the  Sin, 
'  which  lies  moft  heavy  upon  my  Confcience,  is 
'  That  I  have  defpifed  the  Word  of  God,  and 
'  many  a  time  refuted  to  hear  it  preach'd.  For 
'thefe  things,  I  believe  God  has  left  me  to  that, 
c  which  has  brought  me  to  a  fhameful  and  mi- 
'ferable  Death.  I  do  therefore  befeech  and 
1  warn  all  Perfons,young  Men  efpecially, to  take 
1  heed  of  thefe  Sins,  left  they  provoke  the  Lord 
'  to  do  to  them  as  he  has  juftly  done  by  me.  And, 
'  for  the  further  Peace  of  my  own  Confcience, 
'  I  think  my  ielf  oblig'd  to  add  this  unto  my 
'  foregoing  Confeffion,  That  I  own  the  Sentence 
'  which  the  Honour' d  Court  has  pafsd  upon  me,  to  be 
1  Exceeding  Juft:  inafmuch  as  ( though  I  had  no 
'  former  Grudge  and  Malice  againft  the  man 

*  whom  I  have  kill'd,yet)  my  Paffion  at  the  time 
'  of  the  Fad,  was  fo  outragious,  as  that  it  hurried 

*  me  on  to  the  doing  of  that  which  makes  me  now 
'  juftly  proceeded  againft  as  a  Murderer. 

After  the  Sermon,  a  Minifter,  at  his  Defire, 
went  unto  the  Place  01  Execution  with  him.  And 
of  what  patted  by  the  way,  there  was  a  Copy  ta- 
ken, which  here  enfueth. 


The  Difcourfe  of  the  Minilter  with   James 
Morgan,  on  the  way  to  his  Execution. 

Mm.  T'm  come  hither  to  anfwer  your  Deiires, 
J.  which  juft  now  you  exprefs'd  to  me  in 
the  Publick,  that  I  would  give  you  my  Company 
at  your  Execution. 

Mor" 


Book  V 1.  7  be  Hijlory  of  New-England. 


41 


Mor.  Dear  Sir,  how  much  am  I  beholden  to  you  ! 
Yin  have  already  dme  a  great  deal  for  me.  0,  who 
am  I,  that  I  have  been  Juch  a  vile  Wrttch,  thai  an) 
Servants  of  God  (liould  take  notice  of  me  ! 

Mm.  I  befeech  you  to  rruko  this  u(e  of  ic  ;  I 
believe  there  is  not  one  Chriftian  this  day  be 
holding  you,  who  would  not  willingly  be  at  the 
greateft  pains  they  could  devife  to  favc  your  pre- 
cious Soul  :  how  merciful  then  is  that  Mm,  who 
is  G<?^  as  Well  as  M.m\  how  unfpeakably  ready 
is  the  Lord  Chriit  to  fave  the  Souls  of  Sinners 
that  affe#ionatel>  look  unto  him  !  The  Good- 
nefs  and  Pitifulnefs  of  the  mo  ft  tender-hearted 
Man  in  the  World  is  but  a  Shadow  of  what  is 
in  Him.  Thi  Companions  of  any  Man  com 
par'd  with  the  Bowels  of  a  merciful  JESUS  are 
but  as  the  painted  Sun,  or  the  painted  Fire,  in 
comparifon  of  the  real. 

Mor.  Oh  that  I  could  now  look  unto  him  as  I 
ought  to  do  '.  Lord,  hrlp  me. 

Mm.  Well ;  you  are  now  a  dying  Man  ;  the 
laft  Hour  or  two  of  ycur  Life  is  now  running. 
You  know  your  felt  now  to  ftand  juft  on  the 
Brink  of  Eternity  >  You  (hall  prefently  be  in  a 
State  of  wonderful  Happinefs  or  of  horrible  Mi 
fery  which  mull  endure  forever:  Which  of  thole 
Eftates  do  you  now  count  your  fell  ftepping 
into  ? 

Mor.  Oh  Sir,  I  am  afraid,  but  I  am  not  without 
hope  that  God  may  have  mercy  on  me. 

Mm.  What's  your  ground  for  that  Hope  ?  O 
fee  that  your  Confidences  be  not  fuch  as  God 
will  by  and  by  reject. 

Mor.  J  dont  know  well  what  to  fay,  but  this  I 
hope  is  a  good  Sign,  I  have  lived  in  many  grievous 
Sins,  in  Lying,  Drinking,  Sabbath- breaking  and 
evil  Company-keeping  \  God  has  made  now 
thefefo  bitter  to  my  Soul,  that  I  would  not  commit 
them  again,  might  I  have  my  Life  this  afternoon  by 
doing  it. 

Mm.  That's  a  great  Word  i  God  grant  it  may 
not  be  a  Word  only,  the  good  Word  of  a  good 
Pang,  without  fuch  a  thorough  Change  of  Heart 
ai  you  muft  have  if  you  would  not  periih  ever- 
laltingly.  You  are  not  like  to  have  any  longer 
time  in  this  World  to  try  the  Sincerity  of  your 
Profeffion. ' 

Mor.  1  know  it,  and  I  befeech  ycu  Sir  to  help  me 
what  you  can  :  I  hope  the  Means  ufed  with  me  fince 
my  Condemnation  has  not  been  loft. 

Mm.  I  would  not  have  the  fenle  of  the  Pain 
and  Shame  which  your  Body  is  about  to  undergo 
any  ways  hinder  your  mind  from  being  taken  up 
about  the  Soul-matters  which  I  (hall  endeavour 
to  fet  before  you. 

Mor.  Sir,  as  for  the  Pain  that  my  Body  muft  pre 
fently  feel,  I  matter  it  not :  I  know  what  fain  is ; 
but  -what  (hall  I  do  for  my  poor  Soul  ?  Tm  terrified 
with  the  Wrath  of  God:  This,  this  terrifies  me,  HtU 
terrifies  me :  I  (twuld  not  mind  my  Death,  if  it  were 
not  for  that. 

Mm.  Now,  the  Lord  help  me  to  deal  faith 
fully  with  you,  and  the  Lord  help  you  to  receive 
what  he  (hall  enable   me  to  offer  unto  you. 
Mark  what  I  fay :  You  were  born  among  the 
Enemies  of  God  >  you  were  born  with  a  Soul  as 


as  a 
row, 


load 
how 


is  tul  I 
mary 


full  of  Enmity  againlt  God, 
ofPoilon.  You  have  liv'd 
Years  ? 

Morg.  T.  think  «b  nt  thirty. 

Mm.  Andallthele  Thirty  Years  have  ycu 
been  finning  againft  the  Holy  God.  Ever  fince 
you  knew  how  to  do  any  thing,  you  have  every 
day  been  guilty  of  innumerable  Sins;  You  de- 
ferve  the  dreadful  Wrath  and  Curfe  of  the  infi- 
nite God.  But  God  has  brought  you  here,  to  a 
place  where  you  have  enjoy 'd  the  means  of 
Grace.  And  here  you  have  added  urtto  your 
old  Sins  mod  fearful  Iniquities :  You  have  been 
fuch  a  matchlefs,  prodigious  Tranfgreffor,  that 
you  are  now  to  die  by  th;  Stroke  ot  Civil  Juft-. 
ice  >  to  die  before  your  time,  for  being  wicked  over- 
much. There  is  hardly  any  fort  of  Wickednefs 
which  you  have  not  wallow'd  in.  That  Sin 
particularly  which  ^ou  are  now  to  die  for,  is  a 
moft  monftrous  Crime.  1  can't  poflibly  defcribe 
or  declare  the  Sins  whereby  you  have  made  your 
felf  an  aftonifhing  Example  of  Impiety  and  Pu- 
niftiment. 

Mor.  O  Sir,  I  have  been  a  moft  hellijh  Sinner.  I 
am  forry  for  what  I  have  been. 

Mm.  Sorry,  you  lay  :  well,  tell  me  which  of 
all  your  Sins  you  are  now  moft  forry  for,  which 
lies  moft  heavy. 

Mor.  I  hope  lam  forry  for  at  my  Sins,  but  1  mu/i 
efpecially  bewail  my  Neglecl  of  the  means  of  Grace. 
On  Sabbath  days  I  us'd  to  lie  at  home,  or  be  ill  em- 
ploy d  elfewhere  when  1  (hould  have  been  at  Church, 
This  has  undone  me  ! 

Min.  And  let  me  ferioufly  tell  you,  your  de- 
fpifing  of  Ghrift  is  a  moft  dreadful  Sin  indeed; 
You  have  for  whole  Years  together  had  the  Call 
of  Jefus  Chrift  to  leek  an  Intereft  in  him  ;  and 
you  would  now  give  all  the  World  for  that  Inte= 
reft,  but  you  would  take  no  notice  of  him.  The 
Jews  of  old  put  him  to  a  wo  le  Death  than  yours 
will  be  this  Afternoon,  and  by  your  Contempt  of 
Chrift,  you  have  laid,  the  Jews  did  well  to  do 
foi  How  juftly  might  he  now  laugh  at  your 
Calamity  ?  And  for  thele  Sins  of  yours,  belides 
the  direful  Woes  and  Plagues  that  have  already 
come  upon  you,  you  are  now  expos'd  unto  the 
Vengeance  of  Eternal  Fire.  You  are  in  danger 
of  being  now  quickly  caft  into  thole  eKquilite 
amazing  Torments  J  in  companion  of  which* 
the  Anguifties  which  your  Body  ever  did  feel, or 
(hall  feel  before  Night,  or  can  ever  feel,  are  juft 
nothing  at  all:  Andthefe  dolorous  Torments 
are  fiich  as  never  have  an  End.  As  many  Sands 
ascould  lie  between  this  Earth  and  the  Stars  in 
Heaven,  would  not  be  near  fo  many  as  the  Agese 
the  endlefs  Ages  of  thefe  Torments. 

Morg.  But  is  there  not  Mercy  for  me  in 
Chrift? 

Mm.  Yes ;  and  it  is  a  wonderful  Thing,  that 
I  have  now  further  to  tell  you.  Mind,  I  entreat 
you.  The  Son  of  God  is  become  the  Son  of 
Man ;  the  Lord  Jcfus  Chrift  is  both  God  and  Mun 
in  one  Perlbn  ;  and  he  is  both  fufficiently  able 
and  willing  alio,  to  be  your  Saviour.  He  lived 
a  moft  Righteous  Life ;  and  this  was5  that  fuch  as 
you  and  1  might  be  able  to  fay  before  God,  Lord, 
Ffffffi  *uejf 


42 


The  Hiftory  of  New- England.  Book  VI. 


accept-of  me,  as  if  I  bad  lived  rigbteoujly.  He  di- 
ed at  length  \  molt  curfed  Death  5  and  this  was. 
that  we  might  be  able  to  lay  unto  God,  Lord,  let 
me  not  die  for  Sin,  finee  thy  Son  has  died  in  my  room. 
This  glorious  Redeemer  is  now  in  the  higheff 
Heaven,  pleading  with  God  tor  the  Salvation  oi 
His  chofen  Ones. — And  he  pours  out  his  Spirit 
continually  upon  them  that  do  believe  on  him  : 
might  you  then  be  enabled  by  His  Grace  to  car 
ry  your  poor,  guilty,  condemn'd,  enflav'd,  igno 
rant  Soul  unto  Jefus  Chrift,  and  humbly  put 
your  truft  in  him  for  Deliverance  from  the  whole 
bad  State  which  you  are  brought  into.  O  then 
his  Voice  is  to  you  the  fame  that  was  to  the  pe- 
nitent Thief,  This  day  jfo.lt  thou  be  with  me  in  Pa 
radife. 

Mor.  Oh !  that  I  might  be  fo  !  Sir,  I  would 
bear  more  of  tbeje  things  :  I  tbiuk  I  cent  better  fit 
my  f elf  for  my  Death,  than  by  hearkening  to  theje 
things. 

Mm.  Attend  then:  The  never  dying  Spirit 
that  lodges  within  you,  muft  now  within  a  few 
minutes  appear  before  the  Tribunal  of  the  Great 
GOD  ;  in  what,  or  in  whofe  Righteoufnels  will 
you  then  appear  i  Will  you  have  this  to  be  your 
Plea,  Lord,  I  experienced  many  good  Amotions  and 
De fires  in  my  Soul,  and  many  for  rows  for  my  Sin  be- 
fore 1  dy'd;  or,  will  you  expect  to  have  no  other 
Plea  but  this.  Lord,  I  am  vile,  but  thy  Son  is  a 
Surety  for  the  worS  ef  Sinners  that  believe 
en  Htm »  For  his  fake  alone,  have  MERCY 
on  me. 

Mor.  I  thank  God  for  what  be  has  wrought   in 

my  Soul. 

Mm.  But  be  very  careful  about  this  Matter  : 
If  you  build  on  your  own  good    Affections  in 
ftead  of  Jeiiis  Chrift  the  only  Rock,  if  you  think 
they  fhall  recommend  you  to  God,  He  that  made 
yon,  will  not  have  mercy  on  you. 

Mor.  /  would  be  cloathed  with  the  Rigbteoulnefs 
of  JESUS  CHRIST. 

Min.  But  you  can't  fincerely  defire  that  Chrift 
fiiould  juftifie  you,  if  you  don't  alfo  defire  that 
He  mould  fanctifie  you.-  Thole  Two  always  go 
together.  Is  every  Luft  that  has  hitherto  had 
poireffion  of  your  Heart  become  fo  loathibme  to 
you,  that  it  would  fill  your  Soul  with  Joy  to  hear 
Jefus  Chrift  fay,  7  will  fubdue  tboje  Iniquities  of 
thine  ;  I  will  make  a  holy,  an  heavenly,  afpiritually 
minded  Per fon  of  t bee. 

Mor.  I  would  not  Sin  againfi  God  any  more. 
Min.  But  1  muft  deal  plainly  with  you:  You 
have  made  it  fadly  fulpicious  that  your  Repen- 
tance is  not  yet  as  it  ought  to  be.  When  Men 
truly  and  thoroughly  repent  of  Sin,  they  ufe  to 
be  in  a  fpecial  manner  watchful  againft  that  Sin 
which  has  been  their  chief  Sin ;  One  of  your 
principal  Sins,  which  has  indeed  brought  you 
to  the  Death  of  a  Murderer,  is  Paffion,  unmor- 
tify'd  and  outragious  Paffionatenefs :  Now,  I 
have  been  this  Day  inform'd,  that  no  longer 
fince  than  the  lait  Night,  upon  fome  Dilfatisfa- 
ction  about  the  Place  which  the  Authority  hath 
order'd  you  by  and  by  to  be  bury'd  in,  you 
did  exprels  your  felf  with  a  ruoft  unruly  Paflio 
nitti 


Mor.  Sir,  Iconfejsit,  and  I  was  quickly  ferry  for 
it,  though  for  the  prejent  I  was  too  much  dijiurb'd- 
"Iwas  my  Folly  to  be  fo  careful  about  the  Place  where 
my  Body  (liould  be  laid,  when  my  precious  Soul  was  in 
fucb  a  Condition.' 

Mm.  Truly,  you  have  caufe  to  mourn  for  it. 
Secure  the  Welfare  of  your  Soul,  and  this  (now; 
pinion'd,  hang'd,  vile  Body  of  yours  will  fhortly 
be  rais'd  unco  Glory,  Glory  for  evermore.  And 
let  me  put  you  in  mind  of  one  thing  more;  I 
doubt  you  have  not  yet  laid  afide  your  unjuft 
Grudges  againft  the  Perfons  concern'd  in  your 
Conviction  and  Condemnation  :  You  have  no 
Caufe  to  complain  of  them  :  And  you  are  not 
fit  to  pray  ,  much  lefs  are  you  fit  to  die, 
till  you  heartily  wifh  them  as  well  as  your 
own  Soul :  If  you  die  malicious,  you  die  mi- 
ferable. 

Mor.  I  heartily  wifl)  them  all  well ;  I  bear  III- 
w  ill  to  none.  What  a  lament  able  thing  is  tbts  ?  Ah 
this  is  that  wbich  has  brought  me  hither  ! 

Min.  What  do  you  mean  ? 

Mor.  I  over-heard  a  Man  mocking  and  Scoffing 
at  me  when  I  flumbled  juft  now,  he  does  very  ill.  I 
have  done  fo  my/elf.  I  have  mock'd  and  feoff  'd  like 
that  Man,  and  fee  what  it  hath  brought  me  to  :  He 
may  come  to  the  like. 

Min.  The  Lord  forgive  that  foolifh  hard- 
hearted Creature.  But  be  not  too  much  di- 
fturb'd. 

Mor.  Yonder  !  /  am  now  come  in  fight  of  the 
Place  where  I  muft  immediately  end  my  "Days.  Ob, 
what  a  huge  Multitude  of  People  is  come  together  on 
this  occafwn.  O  Lord,  O  Lord,  I  pray  thee  to  make 
my  Death  profitable  to  all  this  Multitude  of  Peo- 
ple that  they  may  not  fin  againfi  thee  as  I  have 
done. 

Min.  Amen,  Amen,  ten  thoufand  times ;  the 
Lord  God  Almighty  fay  Amen  to  this  Prayer 
of  yours  !  It  would  indeed  be  an  Excellent 
Thing,  if  you  would  now  come  to  receive  your 
Death,  with  fome  Satisfaction  of  Soul  in  this 
Thought,  that  much  Glory  is  like  to  come  to 
God  by  it:  I  am  verily  perfwaded  God  intends 
to  do  Good  to  many  Souls  by  means  of  your  Exe- 
cution. This  is  a  greater  Honour  than  you  are 
worthy  of. 

[After  the  Difcourfe  had  been  intermitted 
about  a  Minute  or  Two  by  reafon  of  the  mirey 
Way.] 

Mor.  I  befeech  you,  Sir,  fpeak  to  me.  Do  me  all 
the  Good  you  can :  My  time  grows  very  fhort :  Your 
Difcourfe  Jits  me  for  my  Death  more  than  any 
thing. 

Mm.  I  am  forry  fo  fmall  a  thing  as  a  plafhy 
Street  (hould  make  me  lofe  One  minute  of  this 
more  than  ordinary  precious  time  ;  a  few  paces 
more  bring  you  to  the  Place  wbich  you  have 
now  in  your  Eye,  from  whence  you  (hall  not 
come  back  alive.  Do  you  find  your  felf  afraid 
to  die  there  ? 

Mor.  Sir,  if  it  were  not  fir  the  Condition  that  nay 
Soul  muft  by  and  by  be  in,  I  Jhculd  not  fear  my  death 
at  all ;  but  I  have  a  little  Comfort  from  feme  of  God's 
Premifes  about  that. 

Min. 


Book  VI. 


[he  Hi  ft  ory  of  New- England. 


45 


M.n  Arid  what  fhall  I  now  lay  ?  Thefe  are 
among  the  Lift  Words,  that  1  can  have  liberty  to 
leave  with  you.  Poor  11120,  thou  arc  now  going 
to  knock  at  the  Door  ot  Heaven,  and  to  b-g  and 
cry,  Lord,  Lord,  open  to  me'.  The  only  way  for 
thee  to  lpeed,  is  to  open  the  Door  of  thy  own 
Soul  now  unto  the  Lord  Jefus  Chiifr.  Do  this, 
and  thou  (bait  undoubtedly  be  admitted  into  the 
Glories  of  his  Heavenly  Kingdom:  You  (hall 
fare  as  well  as  Manoffeb  did  before  you;  Leave 
this  undone,  and  there  is  nothing  remains  lor 
you,  but  the  Worm  which  eliefh  not,  and  the  fire 
which  jliali  not  be  quench'' d. 

Mor.  Sir,  fiicw  we  then  again,  what  I  have 
to  do. 

Min.  The  Voice,  the  fweet  Voice  of  the  Lord 
Jeliis  Chtift  (who  was  once  hang'd  on  a  Tree, 
to  take  away  the  Sting  and  Curie  of  even  fuch 
a  Deaih  as  yours  J  unto  all  that  dole  with  him, 
His  heavenly  Voice  now  is,  Othat  I  and  my  fi- 
ring Work  might  be  entertained,  kindly  entrea- 
ted, in  that  poor  peiifhing  Soul  of  thine !  Aie 
you  willing  ? 

Mor.   /  hope  I  am. 

Mm.  His  Voice  further  is,  If  I  am  Iodg'd  in 
thy  Soul,  I'll  fprinkle  my  Blood  upon  it;  and  on 
my  account  thou  (halt  find  favour  with  God. 
Do  you  confenc  to  this? 

Mor.  Ibis  I  want. 

Min.  But  this  is  not  all  that  he  faith  j  his  Voice 
further  is,  If  I  come  in  to  thy  Soul,  I  will  change 
it,  1  will  make  all  Sin  bitter  to  it:  1  will  make  it 
an  holy  heavenly  Soul.  Do  you  value  this  above 
the  Proffers  of  all  the  World  ? 

Mor.  /  think  I  do, and  now  Sir,   I  muft  go  no 

further.     Look  here what  a  foltmn  fight  is  this ! 

Here  lies  the  Coffin  which  this  Body  of  mine  muft  pre- 
jtrttlj  be  laid  in.  1 thank  you, dear  Sir,  for  what  you 
have  already  done  for  me. 

Min.  When  you  are  gone  up  this  Ladder,  my 
laft  Service  with  you  before  you  are  gone  off, 
will  be  to  pray  with  you  :  But  I  would  here  take 
my  leave  of  you.  Oh,  that  1  might  meet  you  at 
the  Right  Hand  of  the  Lord  Jefus  in  the  laft  Day. 
Farewel,  poor  Heart,  Fare  thee  well.  The  Ever- 
laftingArms  receive  thee5  The  Lord  Jeliis,  the 
merciful  Saviour  of  Souls  take  polfeflion  of  thy 
Spirit  for  himfelf.  The  Great  God,  who isa great 
Forgiver,  grant  thee  Repentance  unto  Life  ;  and 
glorine  himlelf  in  the  Salvation  of  fuch  a  wound- 
ed Soul  as  thine  forever.  With  Him,  and  with 
his  Free,  Rich,Marvellous,Innnite  Grace,I  leave 
you. 

Farewel. 

Being  arrived  unto  the  Place  of  Execution, 
his  Laft  Speech  upon  the  Ladder,  then  ta- 
ken in  Short-Hand,  was  that  which  is  here 
inferted. 

'T  Pray  God  that  I  may  be  a  Warning  to  you  all, 
'JL  and  that  I  may  be  the  laft  that  ever  fhall  luf- 
1  ler  after  this  manner.  In  the  fear  of  God  I  warn 
'you  to  have  a  care  of  taking  the  Lord's  Name  in 
'vain.  Mind,  and  have  a  care  of  that  Sin  of 
'Drunkennels:  For  that  Sin  leads  to  all  manner 


c  of  Sins  and  Wickednef  :  (mind,  and  havea 
'care  of  breaking  the  lixth  Commandment, 
'  where  it  is  laid,  Thou  ft  alt  do  no  Murthcr)  for 
'  when  a  Man  is  in  Drink,  he  is  ready  to  commie 
'all  manner  of  Sin,  till  1  e  fill  up  the  Cup  of  the 
'  Wrath  of  God,  as  I  have  dons  by  committing 
c  that  Sin  of  Murder. 

'  I  beg  of  God,  as  1  am  a  dying  Man  ,  and  to 
'  appear  before  the  Lord  within  a  i'sw  Minutes , 
'  that  you  may  take  notice  of  what  1  fay  to  you. 
'  Have  a  care  of  Drunkennefs,  and  ill  Company, 
'and  mind  all  good  Inftruction  ;  and  don't  turn 
c  your  Back  upon  the  Word  of  God,  as  I  have 
"done.  When  I  have  been  at  Meeting,  1  have 
'  gone  out  of  the  Meeting-houfe  to  commit  Sin, 
'and  to  pleafe  the  Luft  of  my  Flefh.  Don't 
c  make  a  mock  at  any  poor  Object  of  Pity,  but 
'  blels  God  that  he  has  not  left  you  as  he  hasjult- 
'  ly  done  me,  to  commit  that  horrid  Sinof  Mur- 
'der. 

'Another  thing  that  I  have  to  fay  to  you,  if, 
c  to  have  a  care  of  that  Houfe  where  that  Wic- 
'  kednels  was  committed,  and  where  I  have  been 
'  partly  ruin'd  by.  But  here  I  am,  and  know  not 
'  what  will  become  of  my  poor  Soul,  which  is 
'  within  a  few  moments  of  Eternity.  1  have 
c  murder'd  a  poor  Man,  who  had  but  little  time 
c  to  repent,  and  1  know  not  what  is  become  of 
'his  poor  Soul.  O  that  I  may  make  tile  of  this 
'  Opportunity  that  I  have !  O,  that  1  may 
'  make  Improvement  of  this  little,  little  time, 
'  before  I  go  hence  and  be  no  more.  O,  let  alt 
'  mind  what  I  am  a  la)ing  now  I  am  going  out 
'  of  this  World.  O,  take  Warning  by  me,  and 
'  beg  of  God  to  keep  you  from  this  Sin>  which 
has  been  myRuine. 

[His  laft  Words  were,]  0  Lord  receive  my  Spi- 
'  rtt  :  I  come  unto  thee,0  Lord  %  I  come  unto  thee, 
'  O  Lord,  I  come,  I  come,  1  come. 

(  VIII   ) 

ONE  Hugh  Stone,  upon  a  Quarrel,  between 
himlelf  and  his  Wife,  about  felling  a  Piece 
of  Land,  having  lome  Words,  as  they  were  walk- 
ing together  on  a  certain  Evening,  very  barba- 
roufly  reach'd  a  ftrokeat  her  Throat,  with  a 
(harp  knife  ;  and  by  that  one  Stroke  fetch'd  away 
the  Soul  of  her,  who  had  made  him  a  Father  of 
feveral  Children,  and  would  have  brought  yet 
another  to  him  if  (be  had  liv'd  a  few  Weeks  lon- 
ger in  the  World. 

The  Wretched  Man  was  too  foon  furpriz'd 
by  his  Neigbours,  to  be  capable  of  denying  the 
Facft :  And  lo  he  pleaded  Guilty,  upon  his 
Tryal. 

There  was  a  Mmfiex  that  walk'd  with  him  to 
his  Execution  ;  and  I  (ball  infert  the  principal 
Palfagesof  the  Dilcourle between 'em  ;  in  which 
which  the  Reader  may  find  or  make  fomething 
Ufeful  to  himlelf,  what  ever  it  were  to  the  Poo; 
Man,  who  was  more  immediately  concerned 
in  it. 


Mm- 


44 


The  Hiftory  of  New-Fngland. 


Eook  VI. 


M»:fir.  lam  cf-me  to  give  you  what  Affift- 
ance  I  can  in  your  taking  of  the  Steps,  which 
)our  Eternal  Weal  or  Wo,  now  depends  upon  the 
well  or  ill  taking  of. 

Hugh  Stone.  Sir,  I  thank  you,  and  1  beg  you  to 
do  what  ycu  can  for  nte. 

Mm.  Within  a  very  few  Minutes  your  Im- 
mortal Soul  mu ft  appear  before  God,  the  Judge 
of  all.  I  am  heartily  forry  you  have  loft  fo 
much  time  fince  your  firft  Imprifonment :  You 
had  need  ufe  a  Wonderful  Husbandry  of  the 
little  piece  of  an  Inch  which  now  remains.  Are 
you  now  prepar'd  to  ftand  before  the  Tribunal 
of  God? 

H.S.  1  hope  lam. 

Mm.  And  what  Reafon  for  that  Hope  ? 

H  S.  I  find  all  my  Sins  made  fo  bitter  to  me,  that 
if  1  were  to  have  my  Life  given  me  this  Afternoon, 
to  livefuch  a  Life  as  I  have  liv'd  heretofore,  I  -would 
not  accept  of  it.     I  had  rather  die. 

Mm.  That  is  well,  if  it  be  True.  But  fuftV 
me  a  little  to  fearch  into  the  Condition  ot  your 
Soul.  Are  you  fenfible,  That  you  were  born  a 
Sinner  i  That  the  Guilt  of  the  Firft  Sin  commit 
ted  by  Adam,  is  jullly  charged  upon  you  ?  And, 
that  you  have  hereupon  a  Wicked  Nature  in 
you,  full  of  Enmity  againft  all  that  is  Holy,  and 
Juft,  and  Good  J  For  which  you  deferved  to  be 
deftroy'd  as  foon  as  you  firft  came  into  this 
World? 

H.  S.  I  am  fi  vfible  of  this. 

Mm.  Are  you  further  fenfible,  that  you  have 
Hv'd  a  very  ungodly  Life?  That  you  are  guilty 
of  thoufands  of  A&ual  Sins,  every  one  of  which 
deferves  the  IVrath  and  Curfe  of  God,  both  in  this 
Life,  and  that  which  is  to  come? 

H.  S.  I  am  fenfible  of  this  aljo. 

Mm.  But,  are  you  fenfible  that  you  have  bro- 
ken all  the  Laws  of  God  ?  You  know  the  Com 
mandments.     Ate  you  lenfible  that   you  have 
broken  every  one  of  them? 

H.  S.  /  cannot  well  anfiwer  to  that.  My  Anfwer 
may  be  liable  to  fome  Exceptions.  — —  this  1  own,  I 
have  broktn  every  Commandment  on  the  account  men- 
tion d  by  the  Apofile  James  ;  That  he  who  breaks 
one,  is  guilty  ot  all  >    but  not  ctherwife. 

Mm.  Alas,  That  you  know  your  felf  no  better 
than  fo  !  I  do  affirm  to  you,  that  you  have  parti- 
ticularly  broken  every  one  of  the  Command- 
ments »  and  you  muft  be  fenfible  of  it. 

H.  S-  I  cannot  fee  it. 

Mm.  But  you  muft  remember ,  That  the  Com- 
mandment is  exceeding  broad;  It  reaches  to  the 
Hen  t  as  well  as  the  Life  :  it  includes  Omiffions 
as  well  as  Commiflions;  and  it  at  once  both  re- 
quires and  forbids.  But  I  pray,  make  an  Expe- 
riment upon  any  one  Commandment,  in  which 
you  count  your  felf  moft  innocent :  and  fee  whe- 
ther yeu  do  not  prefently  confefs  your  felf  guil- 
ty thereabout.  I  may  not  leave  this  Point  (light- 
ly pafs'd  over  with  you. 

H.  S.  That  Commandment,  Thou  (halt  not 
maketoihy  felf  any  graven  I  mige  \  How  have 
I  broken  it  ? 


Mm.  Thus:  You  have  had  undue  Images  of 
God  in  your  Mind  a  thoufand  times.  But  more 
than  fo  •,  that  Commandment  not  only  forbids 
our  uling  the  Inventions  of  Men  in  the  Worfhip 
of  God,  but  it  alio  requires  our  ufing  all  thelnfti- 
tutions  of  God.  Now  have  not  you  many  and 
many  a  time  turn'd  your  Back  upon  fome  of 
thole  glorious  Inftitutions:1 

H.  S.  Indeed,  Sir,  I  confefs  it  :  1  fee  my  Sinful- 
nefs  greater  than  I  thought  it  was.  \ 

Mm.  You  ought  to  lee  it.  God  help  you  to 
fee  it !  There  is  a  boundiefs  Ocean  of  it.  And  then 
for  that  SIN,  which  has  now  brought  a  fhame- 
ful  Death  upon  you,  'tis  impoffible  to  declare  the 
Aggravations  of  it ;  hardly  an  Age  will  (hew 
the  like.  You  have  profefled  your  felf  forry 
for  it ! 

H  S.  I  am  heartily  fo. 

Mm.  But  your  Sorrows  muft  be  after  a  Godly 
fort.  Not  meerly  becaufeof  the  Miferies  which 
it  has  brought  on  your  Outward  Man,  but  chiefly 
for  the  Wrongs  and  Wounds  therein  given  to  your 
own  Soul  \  and  not  only  for  the  Miferies  you 
have  brought  on  your  felf,  but  chiefly  for  the 
Injuries  which  you  have  done  to  the  Bleffed 
God. 

H.  S.  /  hope  my  Sorrow  lies  there. 

Mm.  But  do  you  mourn  without  Hope  ? 

H.S./  thank  God  I  do  not. 

Mm.  Where  do  you  fee  a  Door  of  Hope? 

H.  S.  In  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrifi,  who  has  died  ta 
fave  Sinners. 

Mm.  Truly,  there  is  no  other  Name  by  which 
we  may  be  favedl  The  Righteoufnefs  of  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  is  that  alone,  in  which  you 
may  fafely  anon  appear  before  the  Judgment- 
feat  of  God.  And  that  Righteoufnels  is  by  the 
marvellous  and  infinite  Grace  of  GOD,  offered 
unto  you.  But  do  you  find,  that  as  you  have 
no  Righteoufnefs,  fo  you  have  no  Strength  ? 
that  you  cannot  of  your  felf  move  or  ftir,  to- 
wards the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  ;  though  you  juft- 
ly perifh  if  you  do  not  run  unto  Him  ?  That  it 
is  the  Grace  of  GOD  alone  which  muft  enable 
you  to  accept  of  Salvation  from  the  Great  Sa- 
viour ? 

H.  S.  Sir,  my  Cafe,  injhort,  is  This  j  I  have  laid 
my  felf  at  the  Feet  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrtjt  for  my 
Salvation  \  And,  had  it  not  been  for  his  meer  Grace 
and  Help,  I  had  never  been  able  to  do  That.  But 
there  I  have  laid  and  left  my  felfs  I  have  nothing  ta 
plead,  why  He  Jhould  accept  of  me.  If  He  wtll  do 
it,  I  am  happy  i  but  if  He  will  not,  I  am  undone 
for  ever  :  it  bad  been  good  for  me  that  I  had  ntverbetm 
born. 

Min.  And  you  muft  juftifie  Him,  if  re  fhouid 
rejedt  you.  You  furprize  me  with  at  once  giv- 
ing i*e  fo  much  of  the  Difcourfe,  which  all  this 
while  I  have  been  labouring  for.  1  can  add  but 
this :     The  good  Lord  make  you  fincere  in  what  yatt 

fay  ! Your  Crime  lay  in  Blood ;    and  your 

Help  alfo,  Thatlies  in  Blood.  1  am  to  offer  you 
the  Blood-fifths  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,asthat  in  which 
you  may  now  have  the  Pardon  of  all  your  Sins, 
Now  you  may  try  thefincerity  of  your  Faith  in 
the  Blood  of  the  Lord  Jefus  for  a  Pa;  don,  by  this. 


Book  VI.  J  he  Hiflory  of  New- England. 


45 


H.  S.  Vo  Sir. 

Mm.  The  Blood  of  the  Lord  Jefus  is  not  only 
Sin-pardoning  Blood,  butalfo  Soul-purifying  and 
Heart  foftening  Blood.  It  embitters  all  Sin  unto 
the  Soul,  that  it  is  applied  unto,  and  mortifies 
every  Luft  in  fuch  a  Soul :  Are  you  defirous  ot 
this? 

H.  S.  With  all  my  Heart. 
Min.  The  Lord  make  you  fo.  The  Lord  feal 
your  Pardon,  inthatB/<W,  which  is  worth  Ten 
Thou  (and  Worlds !  But  what  will  you  do  for 
that  GOD,  who  has  given  you  thefe  Hopes  of  a 
Vardon  \  You  muft  with  a  Holy  Ingenuity  now 
do  lomething  for  the  Honour  of  that  GOD  whom 
you  have  finned  (b  much  againft. 
H.S.  Wbat(l,allIdo? 

Mm.  Why  ;  Confefs  and  bewail  the  Sins  that 
have  undone  you, and  publickly  advife,  and  ex- 
hort, and  charge  all  that  you  can,  to  take  heed 
of  fuch  evil  Ways, 

H.  S.  /  will  endeavour  to  Jo  it,  as  GOD  fiall  help 
me. 

Min.  I  pray,  tell  me  plainly  what  fpecial  Sin, 
do  you  think  ic  was,  that  laid  the  firft  Foundati- 
on of  your  Deft ru&ion  r"  Where  did  you  begin 
to  leave  GOD,  and  ruineyour  felf? 

H.  S  It  was  Contention  in  my  Family.  I  had  been 
ufed  unto  fometbtng  of  Religion  :  And  I  was  once 
careful  about  the  Worjhip  of  God,  not  only  with  my 
Family,  but  in  fecret  alfo.  But  upon  Contention  be- 
tween me  and  myWife}  I  left  off  the  Ways  of  GOD, 
and  you  fee  what  I  am  come  to. 

Min.  I  would  pray  you  to  vomit  up  all  Sin  , 
with  a  very  hearty  Deteftation.  You  are  going 
(if  I  may  fo  fpeak)  to  difgorge  your  SOUL  ;  if 
you  do  not  firft  caft  up  your  Sin,  if  your  SOUL 
and  your  Sin  come  away  together,  you  cannot 
but  know  fomething  of  the  difmal  Condition 
which  it  muft  pafs  into.  O  what  Caufe  have  you 
to  fall  out  with  Sin  for  ever  ?  It  his  been  been 
your  only  Enemy.  Here  is  the  only  Revenge 
which  you  may  allow  in  your  felf.  You  muft 
not  now  bear  any  Malice  againft  anyone  Man 
in  the  World,  but  forgive  even  thofe  that  have 
done  you  thegreateft  Injuries.  Only  upon  Sin, 
be  as  revengeful  as  you  can  i  I  would  have  you 
like  Sampfon,  fo  to  die,  taking  of  a  Juft  Re- 
venge. 

H.  S.  7  hope  I  fall. 

Mm.  Well,  we  are  now  but  a  very  few  Paces 
from  the  Place  where  you  muft  breathe  your  laft. 
You  are  juft  going  to  take  a  mpft  Awful  Step, 
which  has  this  moft  Remarkable  in  it.  That  it 
cannot  be  twice  taken.  If  you  go  wrong  now,  it 
cannot  be  recalled  throughout  the  Days  of  Eter- 
nity. 1  can  but  commit  you  into  the  Arms  of  a 
Merciful  Redeemer,  that  he  may  keep  you  front 
a  Mifcarriage  which  cannot  be  recalled  and  re* 
drefled  throughout  Eternal  Ages.  The  Lord 
fliew  unto  you  the  Path  of  Life  :  Attend  unto 
thefe  as  the  laft  Words  that  I  may  fpeak  before 
the  Prayer,  with  which  I  am  immediately  to 
take  a  long  Farewel  of  you.  You  are  now 
juft  going  to  be  confirmed  for  ever.  If  the  great 
God  prelently  find  you  under  the  Power  of  Pre- 
judice againft  any  ot  his  Truths  and  Ways,  or 


of  "Enmity  againft  what  has  his  bleffed  Name  up- 
on it,  you  mall  be  fix'd,  and  fetd'd,  and  confirm- 
ed in  it,  until  thevery  Heavens  be  no  more.  But 
they  are  very  terrible  Plagues  and  Pains,  which 
you  may  be  fure  will  accompany  this  everlaft ing 
Difpofition  of  your  Soul.  On  the  other  fide, 
If  GOD  new  find  your  Soul  under  the  Power  of 
Inclination  to  Love  Him,  Fear  Him,  Serve  Him  ; 
and  to  efteem  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  above  a  thou- 
fand  Worlds ;  ¥ou  (hall  then  be  confirmed  in  the 
perfe&ion  of  fuch  a  Temper,  and  of  all  rhe  Jcy, 
that  muft  accompany  ir.  Which  of  thefe  is  the 
Condition  that  I  now  leave  you  in  ? 

H.  S.  Sir,  I  hope  the  latter  of  them. 

Min.  The  Good  GOD  make  it  fo  ;  and  grant 
that  I  may  find  you  at  the  Right  hand  of  the 
Lord  Jefus,  in  the  Day  of  his  Appearing.  May 
this  Ladder  prove  as  a  ^rcFsLadder  for  you,ard 
may  you  find  the  Angels  of  the  Lord  Jefus  ready 
here  to  convey  your  departing  Soul  into  the  Pre- 
fence  of  the  Lord. 

After  this  Dtfccurfe,  afcending  the  Ladder,  he 
made  the  following  Speech* 


Toung  Men  and  Maids, 

'/"\Bfervethe  Rule  of  Obedience  to  your  Pa- 
'V-/  rents  i  and  Servants  to  your  Mafters,   ac 


1  cording  to  the  Will  of  GOD  ,  and  to  do  the 
'  Will  of  your  Mafters :  If  you  take  up  wicked 
*  Ways,  you  fetopen  a  Gate  to  your  Sins,  to  lead 
'in  bigger/afterwards:  Thou  canft  not  do  any 
'  thing  but  God  will  fee  thee,  although  thou  think- 
f  eft  thou  (halt  not  be  catch'd,  thou  thir.keft 
1  to  hide  thy  felf  in  iecret,  when  as  GOD  in 
'  Heaven  can  fee  thee,  though  thou  haft  hid  ic 
'  from  Man,  And  when  thou  goeft  to  Thieve- 
'  ry,  thy  Wickednefs  is  difcoverd,  and  thou  art 
'  found  Guilty.  O  Young  Woman,  that  is  marri- 
'  ed,  and  Young  Man,  look  on  me  here  :  Be  fure 
'  in  that  folemn  Engagement  you  are  obliged  to 
1  one  another  >  Marriage  is  an  Ordinance  of  God, 
]  have  a  care  of  breaking  that  Bond  of  Marrlage- 
'  Union  ;  If  the  Husband  provoke  his  Wife,  and 
'  caufe  a  Difference,  he  (ins  againft  GOD  :  and 
'  fo  dees  (he,  in  fuch  Carriage  i  for  (he  is  bound 
'  to  be  an  Obedient  Wife.  O  you  Parents  that 
c  give  your  Children  in  Marriage,  remember 
'  what  I  have  to  fay,  you  muft  take  notice  when 
'  you  give  them  in  Marriage,  you  give  them  free- 
ly to  the  Lord  ;  and  free  them  from  that  Ser- 
vice and  Command  you  ought  to  have  i  yec  you 
'  ought  to  have'a.  tenderRegard  to  them. 

'  O  thou  that  takeft  no  care  to  lead  thy  Life 

civilly  and  honeftly,  and  then  committeft  that 

Abominable  Sin  of  Murder  ;   here  is  this  Murde- 

'  vQt,look  upon  him  i  and  fee  how  many  are  come, 

c  wit  h  their  Eyes  to  behold  this  Man,  that  abhois 

Vhimlelf  before,  GOD  ;  that  is  the  Sin  that  I  abhor 

1  my  felf  for,  and  defire  you,  take  Example  by 

'  me.     There  are  here  a  great  many  Young  Peojle, 

1  and  0  Lord,  that  they  may  9e  thy  Servants  ! 

■  . 


46 


The  Hifiory  of  New-England,  Book  Vi. 


'  Have  a  caie  »  don't  fin  ;  I  will  tell  you,  that 
'  I  wifh  I  never  had  had  the  Opportunity  to  do 
c  fuch  a  Murder.  If  you  fay, when  a  Perlbn  has 
'  provolid  you,  1  will  kill  him  ;  'tis  a  thousand  to  one 
'  but  the  next  time  you  will  do  it. 

'  Now  1  commit  my  [elf  into  the  Hands  of  Almigh  ■ 
'  ty  GOD. 


His  Grayer. 


'/^v  LP3P  °ut  good  GOD,  thou  art  ; 


merciful 
GOD,  and  a  gracious  and  loving  Father; 
c  Alas,  that  thou  fhouldeft  nourijl)  up  Children  that 
'  have  rebelled  againji  Thee  .'  O  Lord,  I  mult  con- 
'  fels,  thou  gavelt  me  Opportunity  to  read  thy 
'  Written  Word ;  Thou  art  alio  my  Creator  and 
'  Prelerver  :  But,  Lord  I  have  not  done  accord- 
1  ing  to  the  Offers  of  thy  Grace  ;  Thou  haft  not 
'  hid  from  me  the  Opportunities  of  the  Good  Things 
'  and  Liberty  of  thy  Houfe  and  Ordinances,  but  I 

*  have  waxed  wanton  under  the  Enjoyment  of 

*  them.  I  have  given  thee  juft  Caufe  to  provoke 
'  thee  to  Anger,  and  thou  haft  left  me  to  Shame, 
'  not  only  on  my  lelf,  hut  on  my  Relations.  O  Lord 
'  God,  I  do  confels,  that  I  have  finned  againft 
'  Thee,  and  done  all  thefe  Iniquities  againft 
'  Thee,  and  before  thine  Eyes.  Lord,  I  have  fin- 
'  ned  efpecially  againft  Thee  ;  pardon  mySinsof 
1  Touth  ;  Lord,  pardon  this  Bloody  Sin  I  ftand  here 

•  guilty  of.  O  Lord,  hide  not  thy  Face  from  me, 
1  1  humbly  beg  it  of  Thee  :  For  there  is  no  Man 
'  can  redeem  his  Brother's  Soul,  but  only  the  Bleofl 
'  of  Jefus  Chrift  mult  do  ir.  Let  it  be  fufficient 
'  to  latisfte  for  my  poor  Soul.  1  have  not  done  a- 
'  ny  thing  tpat  Thoufhould'ft  be  pleafed  to  fhew 
'  me  thy  LOVE  ior  that  I  fhould  have  any  thing 
c  from  thee,  but  only  Everla/ling  Mijery.  I  am 
'  unworthy  to  come  to  Thee;  yet  Lord,  for  thy 
'  Mercy's  fake  have  pity  on  me.  Nowlamcom- 
'  ing  to  Judgment,  Lord,  let  the  Arms  of  thy 
'  Mercy  receive  my  Soul,  and  let  my  Sin  be  re- 
'  mitted  :  Good  LOKD,  let  not  my  Sins  which 
1  condemn  me  here  in  this  Woild,  tile  up  tocon- 
'  demn  me  in  the  World  to  come;  though  they 
'  have  condemned  me  in  this  World,  (hew  mercy, 
'  Lord,  when  1  come  before  thy  Judgment  Seat. 
'  If  my  Soul  be  not  humbled,  Lord  humble  it  g 
'  Let  my  Petition  be  acceptable  in  Heaven,  thy 

•  Holy  Mountain.  I  am  unworthy  to  come  inrp 
'thy  Pretences  yet,  O  let  me  come  into  thy 
'Kingdom  ;  and  deliver  my  Soul  from  Blood- 
'  guiltmejs,  in  the  Blood  of  Jefus  Chrift.  O  let 
1  my  wounded  Soul  mourn  tor  my  Sin  that  hath 
'  brought  me  here.  Sin  brings  Ruin  to  the  poor 
(  Soul  i  Wo  is  unto  me  for  mine  Iniquity.  If]  bad 
'  gone  to  prayer  in  the  morn:ng  when  I  committed  this 
'  Sin,  Lord  God,  thcu  wouldeji  have  kept  hack  my 
'  hands  from Jliedding  innocent  Blood.O  graciotsGoi, 
1  remember  thou  me  in  Mercy ;  let  me.be  anObject 
'  of  thy  Pity,  and  not  of  thy  Wrath  uhe  Lord  hear 
c  me,  and  pardon  my  Sins.  Take  care  of  my 
'  poor  Childien.      I  have  fcattered  them  like 

*  ftragling  Sheep  flying   before  the  Wolf:  Pity 

•  the  poor  Children,  that  go  like  fo  many  Lambs 


'  that  have  loft  their  Keeper  •,  that  they  may  not 
'  come  to  iuch  a  Death  as  1  do  !  Lord,  for  the 
'  fake  of  Jefus  Chrift,  and  the  Righteoufnefs  of 
'  thy  Son,  accept  my  Soul,  and  receive  me  into 
'  the  Arms  of  thy  mercy,  that  I  may  enjoy  E- 
'  veilafting  Reft.  Pardon  all  my  Sins  i  and  let  the 
'  Prayers  or  all  thole  that  put  up  their  Petitions 
'  for  me,be  accepted,for  the  lake  of  Jefus  Chriit. 
'Now  I  am  coming,  now  I  am  coming  ;  Thou 
'  may  eft  lay,  1  called  to  thee,  and  thou  wouldeji  not 
\  come.  I  mult  lay,  my  Sin  brought  me  here  ;  O 
'  the  World,  and  the  corrupt  Nature  of  Man,  that 
'  has  proved  my  Ruine !  O  LORD,  good 
'  LORD,  let  me  enjoy  Reft  for  my  Soul.  The 
'  Defne  of  my  Soul,  is  to  be  with  thee  in  thy 
'  Kingdom  »  let  me  have  a  Share  in  that  King- 
'  dom.  Now  is  the  Time,  Lord  Jefus ;  the  Grave 
'  is  opening  its  mouth.  I  am  now  living,  tho5 
'  dead  in  Sin  ;  let  my  Prayers  be  heard  in  Hea- 
'  ven,  thy  Holy  Place :  Thy  Hands  have  made 
'  me,  and  I  know  thou  canft  lave  me  :  Hide  not 
'  thy  Face  from  me  ;  and  affect  the  Hearts  of 
'  thy  People  with  this  fad  Object,  that  they  may 
'  labour  to  ferve  thee  betimes,  and  may  not  give 
'  thtmlelves  up  to  Prophanenels  and  Wickednels, 
1  efpecially  that  Sin  of  Drunkennefs,  which  is  an 
'  |n- let  of  all  Abominations. 

'  [When  thou  haft  thy  Head  full  of  Drink,  the 
'Remembrance  of  GOD  is  out  of  thy  Heart* 
'  and  thou  art  unprepared  to  commit  thy  (elf 
'and  Family  unto  GOD;  thou  art  unfit  to 
'  come  into  GOD's  Pretence.  I  have  Gaule 
'  to  cry  out,  and  be  afham'd  of  it,  that  lam 
'  guilty  of  it,  beca'ufe  1  gave  way  to  that  Sin 
*  more  than  any  other,  and  then  God  did  leave 
'  me  to  pra&ite  Wickednels,  and  to  murder 
'thatdearWoman,whom  I  fhould  have  takena 

l  '  great  deal  of  Contentment  in,  which  if  I 
«  had  done,  I  had  not  been  here  to  luffer  this 
Death.] 

i 
'  Thou  art  Holy,  Juft,  and  Good,  and  there- 
'  fore,  O  Lord  ,-have  mercy  on  me,  for  the  fake 
'  of  thy  Son  pity  me,  now,  LORD,  I  am 
'coming.  O  that  1  could  do  thee  better  Ser- 
'  vice. 

[Many  of  you  that  behold  me,  I  know,  wiih 
you  never  had  leen  me  here. 
.   . 

!  Lord,  receive  my  Soul  into  a  better  Place  if 
'i$  be  tly  Blefled  Will :  'lis  a  Day  of  great 
'  Trouble  with  me;  my  Soul  isgready  troubled  ; 
.  give  me  one  Glimple  of  Comfort  in  thy  King- 
•  dom  ;  By  and  by  let  me  have  one  Dr-am  of  thy 
'  Grace.  Accepc  of  me  now  at  this  time  i  'Tis 
'the  Iaft  time:  Good  Lord,  deny  me  not  i  Give 
'  me,  as  the  Woman  ot  Samaria,  aTalte  of  that 
'  Living  Water,  that  my  Soul  may  Thirlt  no 
'  more.  I  beg  it  for  the  lake  of  Jefus  Chrift 
'  Amen. 

After  this,  he  was  by  the  Prayers  cf  a  Minifter 
then  prefent,   recommended    unto  the    Divine 
Mercy.     Which  being  done,  the  poor  man  pou- 
red 


Book  VI.         1  he  Hilary  of  New- England 


47 


ret!  out  a  few  broken  Ejaculations  in  the  midftof 
which  he  was  turned  over,  inro  that  Eternity, 
which  we  muft  leave  him  in. 


The  Speech  of  Hugh  Stone  in  the  Prifon,  the 
Morning  before  his  Execution. 

WHEN  Young  People  are  marry'd,  they 
make  ufe  of  Prayer  in  their  Fami!ies;and 
when  they  pray,  they  do  believe  there  is  Since- 
rity and  Affedtion  in  their  Prayer  ;  But  when 
Difference  between  a  Man  and  his  Wife  doth  a- 
rife,  then  that  doth  occifion  Hindrance  of 
Prayer  in  their  Family  :  And  when  Prayer  is 
wholly  omitted,  it  lets  in  all  Confufion,  and  eve- 
ry evil  Work.  He  faid  '  That  he  uled  to  pray 
c  in  his  Family  ;  but  when  he  did  pray,  ir  was  in 
*  a  formal  manner ;  but  now,  from  the  Confide- 
1  ration  of  Eternity  that  he  was  going  into,  he 
e  was  made  the  more  considerate  in  his  Prayers 
'  that  he  made,  and  did  hope,  that  now  he  had 
c  the  Spirit  of  Prayer  in  his  Praying. 

(ix.  ; 

ON  June?).  1693.  Two  Young  Women, 
(the  one  Englijli,  the  other  Negro)  were 
Executed  at  Bofton  for  murdering  their  Baitard- 
Children. 

The  Englijh  Young  Woman  gave  to  the  Mi- 
ni Iter  who  preach'd  that  Afternoon,  the  follow- 
ing Paper  of  Confeffions ;  whidr  he  took  occa- 
sion in  his  Sermon,  to  publifh  unto  the  Congre- 
gation, where  fhe  alfb  was  then  prefent  before 
the  Lord. 

I  Am  a  miferable  Sinner  i  and  I  have  juftly 
provok'd  the  Holy  GOD  to  leave  me  unto 
that  Folly  of  my  own  Heart,  for  which  I  am 
now  condemned  to  die.  I  cannot  but  fee  much 
of  the  Anger  of  GOD  againft  me,  in  the  Cir- 
cumftances  of  my  woful  Death.  He  hath  ful- 
filled upon  me,  that  Word  of  his,  EW  purfueth 
Sinners.  I  therefore  defire  humbly  to  confers 
my  many  Sins  before  GOD  and  the 
World  ;  but  moft  particularly  my  Blood  guilt  i- 
fiefs. 

Before  the  Birth  of  my  Twin-Infants,  I  too 
much  parlied  with  the  Temptations  of  the  De- 
vil, to  fmother  my  Wickednefs  by  murthering  of 
them.  At  length,  when  they  were  born,  I  was 
not  unfenfible,  that  at  leaft,  One  of  them  was 
alive  ;  but,  fuch  a  Wretch  was  I,  as  to  ufe  a  mur- 
derous Carriage  towards  them,  in  the  Place 
where  I  lay,  on  purpofe  to  difpatch  them  out  of 
the  World.  I  acknowledge  that  I  have  been 
more  hard  hearted  than  the  Sea-Monfters :  And 
yet  for  the  pardon  of  thefe  my  Sins,  I  would  fly 
to  the  Blood  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  which  is 
the  Only  Fount  am  fet  open  for  Sin  and  Uncleannejs. 
J  know  not  how  better  toglorifie GOD,  forgiving 
me  fuch  an  Opportunity  as  I  have  had,  to  make 
fure  of  his  Mercy,  than  by  advifing  and  entreat- 
ing the  Rifiog  Generation  hereto  rake  warning 


by  my  Example  ;  and  I  will  therefore  tell 
Sins  that  have  brought  me  to  my  mamefl.il  lindi 
I  do  warn  all  People,  and  efpeci  ill)  ;  <r)  <eeplti 
again!!  the  Sin  oiUncleannefs  in  particular  'jlU 
that  Sin  that  hath  been  my  Ruine.  Well  ;  id  it 
been  for  me,  if  I  had  aniweted  all  Temptations 
to  that  Sin,  as  Jofeph  did,  How  Ml  I  do  1 
kednefs,  and  fin  againft  God  ?  Bur,  \  fee,  bad  ( • 
pany  is  that  which  leads  to  that,  and  all  01 
Sins :  And  I  therefore  beg  all  chat  love  their 
to  be  familiar  with  none  but  fuch  as  rear  GOD. 
I  believe  thechief  thing  that  hath  brought  mc  in- 
to my  prelenr  Condition,  is  my  Difbbedience  to 
my  Parents  :  I  defpifed  all  their  Godly  Counfels 
and  Reproofs  ;  and  I  was  always  of  an  haughty 
ltubborn  Spirit.  So  that  now  I  am  become  a 
dreadful  Inlfance  of  the  Curie  of  GOD  belong- 
ing to  Difobedient  Children.  I  mult  bewail  this 
alio,  that  although  I  was  baptized,  yet  when  I 
grew  up,  I  forgot  the  Bonds  that  were  laid  upon 
me  to  be  the  Lord's.  Had  I  given  my  (elf  to 
GOD,  as  loon  as  I  was  capable  to  confider  that  I 
had  been  in  Baptifm  let  a-part  for  him,  How 
bappy  had  I  been.'  It  was  my  Delay  to  lepent  of 
my  Former  Sins,  that  provoked  God  to  leave 
me  unto  the  Crimes  for  which  I  am  now  to  die. 
Had  I  ferioufly  repented  of  my  Uncleannefi  the 
firft  timelfell  into  it,  I  dofuppofe  I  had  not  been 
left  unto  what  followed;  Let  all  take  it  from 
me  :  they  iictle  think  what  they  do,  when  they 
put  off  turning  from  Sin  to  God,  and  rehft  the 
Stagings  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  I  fear  'tis  for  this, 
that  I  have  been  given  up  to  fuch  Hardnefs  of 
Heart,  not  only  fince  my  long  Imprifonmenr,  but 
alio fince  my  juft  Condemnation.  I  now  know 
not  what  will  become  of  my  diftreffed  pe- 
rifhing  Soul.»  But  I  would  humbly  Commit 
it  unto  the  Mercy  of  GOV  in  Jefus  Chrift. 
Amen. 

(X   ) 

IN  the   Year  1 694.    a  miferable  Indian,  called 
Zachary,  was  Executed  for  Murder. 

He  underfiood  fo  very  littleEnglifh.that  it  put 
the  Englifh  Mimfter,  who  after  his  Condemnati- 
on,  viiited  him,  unto  an  inexpreffible  deal  of 
Trouble  to  convey  unto  him  the  Principles  and 
the  Di regions  of  our  Holy  Religion.     But  the 
Lord  lb  fucceeded  the  Endeavours  uled  upon  the 
wretched  Salvage,  that  within  a  little  while,  he 
could  give  a  ienfible,  tho'  a  fluttered  Account,of 
the  Fundamentals  in  Chriftianity.     And  luch  an 
Impreffionhad  iheVothmes  of  Grace  upon  him3 
that  he  profeffed  himlelr  delirous  rather  to  die, 
than  to  live  at  his  own  finful  rate.     He  ieemed  e- 
ven  to  long  for  his  Execution,  that  fo  he  might, 
he  delivered  from  all  difpofition  to  Sin  againlt 
God.     But  all  his  Hopes  of  Everlaiting  Salvation 
he  Ieemed  veiy  liiitably  to  place  on  the  Obedi- 
ence which  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  had  yielded 
unto  God  in  the  room  of  Sinners. 

Of  this  poor  Creature,  nothing  had  been  here 
mentioned,  if  it  had  not  ben  to  introduce  the 
mention  of  this  one  Pafiage 


Gggggg 


Hi 


48 


1  be  Hiftory  of  New- England.  Book  Vi- 


ne laid,  that  the  'i  hing  which  undid  him  was! 
this :  He  had  begun  to  come  and  hear  the  Prea- 
ching ot the  G  of  pel  among  thelndians  :buc  he  min- 
ded the  Indian  Preacher,  how  he  liv'd  ;  and  he 
law  plainly  that  the  Preacher  minded  his  Bottle, 
more  than  his  Bible  :  He  lov'd  Rhum  too  well  > 
and  when  his  Rhum  was  in  him,he  would  quarrel 
with  other  People,  and  with  hi mfelf  particularly. 
This  (he  laid.)  prejudic'd  him  againft  the  Gof 
pel.  So  he  liv'd  as  a  Pagan  ftill,  and  would  be 
drunk  ton;  and  his  Drunkennefs  had  brought  all 
this  Mif'eiy  upon  him. 

(  XI.  ) 

IN  the  Year  169%.    Was  Executed  at   Spring- 

field,  one  Sarah  Smith. 

Herdefpifing  the  continual  Counfels  and  War 
nings  of  her  godly  Father-in  law  laid  the  Foun- 
dation of  her  DeftrucYion.  When  (he  was  mar 
ried,  (he  added  unto  the  Crime  of  Adultery,  that 
of  Stealing;  which  latter  Crime  occafioned  her 
to  fly  unto  Newjtrfey.  Afterwards  coming  to  re- 
fide  in  Veerfield,her (  fecond)  Husband,  was  car 
ry'd  Captive  unto  Canada  :  But  the  Woman,  in 
grievous  Horror  of  mind  for  the  Breaches  of  the 
Seventh  and  Eighth  Commandment,  received 
many  moft  fuitable  Counlels  from  Mv. Williams, 
the  worthy  Minifter  of  that  Place.  In  Conformi- 
ty to  his  Counfels  and  Warning,  for  a  while,  (he 
led  a  reformed  Life,  and  feem'd  much  affected 
with  the  Word  of  God,  in  the  publick  Difpenfati 
on?  of  ic.  But,  e're  it  was  long,  (he  loft  her  Se- 
rioufnefs,  her  Tendernefs,  her  Convitlions  >  and  re- 
lapled  into  thatSinof  Adultery.  Her  firft  Relapfe 
into  that  Sin,  was  attended  with  a  Conception, 
which,  tho'  (he  endeavoui  'd  to  render  it  an Abor- 
tive, the  Holy  Providence  of  GOD  would  not  fuffer 
it  to  be  fo. 

She  did  with  much  Obftinacy  deny  and  con- 
ceal her  bsing  with  Child  :  And  when  the  Child 
was  born,  (he  Imother'd  it :  But  the  Neighbours 
found  it  out  immediately.  She  then  owned  the 
matter,  hut  made  the  ufual  Pretence,  That  the 
Child  ivai  dead  born  :  and  remain'd  apoor  Sinners 
undone  by  the  Sim  of  Unchafiity  ule  to  be,  under 
extream  Hardnefsof  Heait.  Mr.  Williams  rare- 
ly vifited  her,  but  found  her  guilty  of  New  Ltet; 
tho5  fomeiimes  violent  Pangs  of  Horror  would 
come  upon  her,  wherein  (lie  detected  her  own 
Lying,  and  leem'd  greatly  to  bewail  it.  The 
Honourable  Judges  defued  Mr.  Williams  to  go 
down  unto  Springfield  (which  was  the  Place,)  at 
the  time  of  her  Lxecution  ;  who  then  found  her 
under  an  aftonifhing  Stupidity  of  Soul;  and  yet 
not  pretending  to  Hopes  of  Happinefi  in  ano 
ther  World.  He  found  her  guilty  of  more  Lyes  1 
which  afterward  (he  confelfed  lo  to  be :  She  flept 
both  at  the  Prayer  zrui  the  Sermon,  in  the  publick 
Alfembly  on  the  Day  of  her  Execution:  And 
feem'd  the  moft  unconcern'd  of  any  in  the  Af 
lembly  ;  profeffing  therewithal,  That  (he  could 
not  but  wonder  at  tier  own  Uncovctrnednejs.  At  her 
Execution  (he  faid  but  little,  only,  Thatfhedefn'd 
to  give  Glory  unto  GOD,  and  to  take  Shame  unto 
her  lelf,  and  that  fine  would  wain  all  others  to  be- 


ware of  the  Sins  that  had  brought  her  unto  this 
miferable  End;  efpecially  Stealing,  Uncleannefs, 
Lying,  Neglecting  to  read  the  Sciiptures,  and 
Negleding  to  pray  unto  GOT).  She  had  absent- 
ed her  felf  much  from  the  Wordcf  GOD  on  Lords 
Days  and  Leilure  Days ;  and  (laid  at  home, till  (he 
had  fallen  into  this  capital  Tranlgreffion  :  Then 
(Tie  would  come  unto  the  Meetings,  with  fbnie 
teeming  Devotion.  She  had  finned  away  great: 
Convi&ionsand  Awakenings;  and  Satan  with  (e- 
ven  more  unclean  Spirits,  entred  into  her  j  and 
GOD  feemed  then  to  withhold  from  her,  the 
Efficacy  of  the  means  of  Grace  and  Good, which 
his  Faithful  Servants  in  the  Neighbourhood,  ufed 
with  her. 

(  xii.  ; 

ON  November  17.  169S.  there  was  Executed  in 
B»fto»,  a  miferable  Young  Woman,  whole 
Extraordinary  Circumftances  rung  throughout 
all  New  England.  On  this  day  of  her  Executi- 
on, was  preached  a  Semion:  And  becaufe  the 
laft  Palfages  of  that.  Sermon  gave  a  fummary 
Narrative,  of  what  it  is  fit  the  Publick  fhould 
knew  concerning  that  Criminal,  I  have  Tranf- 
ferr'd  'em  into  this  Place.  The  Sermon  conclu- 
ded in  thefe  Words: 

c  Be  aftonifh'd,  O  Congregation  of  GOD  i 
Stand  aflonifhed  at  the  horrible  Spectacle  that  is 
now  before  You.  This  Houfe,and  perhaps  this 
Land,  never  had  in  it  a  more  Aftonifhing  Spe- 
ctacle. 

'  Behold  a  Young  Woman,  but  an  Old  Sinner, 
going  this  Day  to  die  belore  her  time,  for  being 
wicked  ovet-much  !  Behold  .One  juftNinteen 
years  old,  and  yet  found  ripe  for  the  Venge-mce 
of  a  Capital  Execution.  Ah,  miferable  Soul, 
with  what  a  fwift  Progrefs  of  Sin  and  Folly, 
haft  thou  made  hafte  unto  the  Congregation  of 
the  Dead  !  Behold  a  tferfon,  whole  unchafte 
Converfation  appear'd  by  One  bafe  born  Child 
many  Months  sgo !  God  then  gave  her  a  Space 
to  repent,  and  (he  repented  not:  She  repeated 
her  Whoredoms,  and  by  an  Infatuation  from 
God  upon  her,  She  (b  managed  the  matter  of 
her  next  bile  born,  that  (he  is  found  Guilty  of 
its  Murder.  Thus  the  GOD,  whole  Eyes  are  like 
a  Flame  of  Fire,  is  now  caiiing  her  into  a  Bed 
of  burning  Tribulation  :  And, ah, Lord,  where 
wilt  thou  caft  thole  that  have  committed  Adul- 
tery with  her,  except  they  repent  !  Since  her 
Imprifonmenc.  (he  had  declared,  that  (he  be- 
lieves, God  hath  left  her  unto  this  undoing  Wic- 
kednef?,  partly  for  her  flaying  fo  prophanely 
at  home,  femetimes  on  Lords  Days,  when 
(lie  fhould  have  been  hearing  the  Word  of 
Chrift,and  much  more  for  her  not  minding  that 
Word,  whenfhe  heard  it. 

'And  (lie  has  confcfTeJ.  That  (he  w?.i  much 
given  to  Rafh  Wifbes,  in  her  mad  Paffions, par- 
ticularly uling  oiieii  that  ill  Form  of  ipeaking, 
/'//  be  hangd,  if  a  tting  be  not  thus  or  fb  >  and, 
III  be  havgd,\{  1  do  not  this  01  that  :  Which  E- 
yil  now,  to  lee  it.  corning  upon  her,   it 

'  !.- 


Book  Vi.  1  he  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


49 


her  !  But  this  Chief  Sin  of  which  this  Chief  of 
Sinners  now  cries  out,  is,  herundutiful  Carriage 
towards  her  Parents.  Her  Language  and  her 
Caniage  towards  her  Parents,  was  indeed  fuch 
that  they  hardly  dutft  fpeak  to  her;  but  when 
they  durft,  they  often  told  her,  It  would 
come  to  this.  They  indeed,  with  bleeding 
Hearts,  have  now  forgiven  thy  Rebellions.  Ah, 
Sarah,  mayeft  thou  cry  unto  the  God  of-  Heaven 
to  forgive  thee!  But  under  all  the  doleful  Cir- 
cumttances  of  her  Imprifonment,  and  her  Impiety, 
fhe  has  beenj^xw*  ever,  to  be  a  Prodigy  of  (till 
more  Impenitent  Impiety. 

*  A  little  before  her  Condemnation,  (he  renewed 
the  Crimes  of  her  Unchaftity  »  (he  gave  her 
felf  up  to  the  filthy  Debauchesofa  Villain,  that 
was  her  Fellow- Pi  ifoner  :  And  after  her  Con- 
demnation, her  Faljhoodi  and  her  Furies  have  been 
luch,  as  to  proclaim,  That  under  Condemnation  {lie 
has  net  feared  God.  Was  there  ever  leen  fuch 
an  Heighth  of  Wickednefs !  God  Teems  to  have 
hang'd  her  up  in  Chains,  for  all  the  Young  People 
in  theCounney  to  fee  what  Prodigies  of  Sin 
and  Wrathit  may  render  them,  if  once  they  fell 
themfelves  thereunto. 

'  Behold,  O  Tuung  People,  what  it  is  to  vex  the 
Holy  Spirit  of  God,  by  rebelling  againlr  Him. 
This,  this  'tis  to  be  given  over  of  Cd !  And  yet) 
after  all  this  Haid  hearted  WickedneG,  is  it  not 
portable  for  the  Grace  of  Heaven  to  be  trium- 
phantly Victorious  in  converting  and  pardoning 
io  unparalleFd  a  Criminal  ?  Be  aftonifh'd,  mi- 
ferable  Sarah,  and  let  it  now  break  that  Stony 
Heart  of  thine,  to  hear  it :  It  is  pojfible .'  it  ispof- 
fible !  But  Oh,  thou  almighty  Spirit  of  Grace,  do 
thou graciou fly  Touch,  and  melt  this  ohjlinate  Soul ; 
and  once  at  laft,  mould  ber  Heart  into  the  Form  of 
thy  Glorious  Gofpel.  The  Glorious  Gofpel  of  GOD, 
now  utters  unto  thee,  Undone  Sarah,  that  Invi 
ration,!^  thtu  haft  horribly  gone  a  whoring  ;  yet 
Return  unto  me,  faith  the  Lord,  and  I  will  not  caufe 
my  Angtr  to  fall  upon  thee.  The  LelTons  of  this 
Gofpel  have  been  both  privately  and  pubiick- 
ly  let  before  thee,  with  a  vail  Variety  of  Incul- 
cation. If  all  the  extraordinary  Pains  that 
have  been  taken  for  thefoften'ng  of  thy  Stony 
Heart,  be  loft,  God  will  difpenfe  the  more  terri- 
ble Rebukes  unto  thee,  when  he  anon  breaks  thee 
between  the  Milftones  of  his  Wrath. 

'  O,  give  now  a  great   Attention  to  fome  of 
the  laft  Words  that  can  be  fpoken  to  thee,  be 
fore  thy  palling  into  anaftonifhing  Eternity. 

'  The  Bleffed  Lordjelus  Chrifthath  been  nue'e 
a  Curie  for  us:  There  has  been  a  moft  accept 
able  Offering  and  Sacrifice,  prefented  by  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chriit  unto  God,  for  all  his  chofen  : 


There  is  a  Fountain  fee  open  tor  >in  and  io1' 
Unclemnafi:  And  thou,  O  bloody  Sinner,  art 
invited  unto  that  Open  Fountain.  Such  is  the  in- 
finite GiY.cc  of  God,  that  thou  mayeft  come  as 
freely  to  theB/Wof  the  Lord  Jefus  Chi  ill,  for 
the  Forgivencfs  of  thy  Sins,  as  they  that  have 
never  finned  with  a  thoufand'h  Part  of  (b  much 
Aggravation;  Come  and  Welcome  (fays  the 
Lord)  who  receiveth  Sinners.  It  God  enable 
thee  now  to  lay  hold  on  the  Righteoufnefs  of 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  ;  tho'thy  Faults  are  infi- 
nite, thou  wilt  yet  before  Sun- fee,  ftand  without 
Fault  before  the  Ihrone  if  GOD .  Thy  Soul  is  juft 
finking  down  into  the  fiery  Oce.in  ofthe  JPVarA 
of  GOD;  butthe  Righteoufnef  of  the  Loidje- 
fusChriff,  is  cart  forth  Unto  thee  once  more  for 
thee  to  lay  hold  upon.  O,  lay  lio'.d  upon  it  and 
live  !  If  Gcd  help  thee  to  do  fb,  then  (as  it  was 
laid)  The  Mary  whofe  bins  are  many,  has  them 
forgiven  her ;  So  it  fhall  be  faid,  The  Sarah 
whofe  Sins  are  many,  has  them  forgiven  her  .' 
Then  (as  it  was  laid  J  Rahab,the  Harlot  perifh- 
ed  not  i  fo  ir  fhall  be  fok\,  Sarah  the  Harlot  pe- 
rifhed  not !  Tho'  the  B.Wof  thy  murdered  In- 
fant, with  ail  thy  other  Bloody  Crimes,  honi- 
bly  cry  to  God  agair.lt  thee  ;  yet  a  louder  and 
better  Cry  horn  the  Blood  of  thy  Saviour,  fhall 
drown  that  Formidable  Cry.  Yea,  then  there 
will  be  Joy  in  Heaven  this  Afternoon  among 
the  Angels  of  God  ;  the  Angels  of  Heaven  will 
ftand  amazed  ?nd  lay,  Otbe  Infinite  Grace  that 
can  bring  fuch  a  Sinner  unto  Glory  .'  But  it  ever  the 
Blood  of  the  Lord  Jeius  Chrilt  be  applied  unto 
thy  Heart,  it  will  immediately  diffolve  that 
Heart  of  thine  ;  it  will  caule  thee  to  mourn 
for  every  Sin,  to  turn  from  every  Sin,  to  give 
thy  felf  entirely  unto  God.  Ir  writ  he  impolfi- 
ble  for  thee  to  go  on  in  any  Known  Sin,  or  to 
die  with  a  Lye  in  thy  Mouth  :  No,  thou  wiic 
rather  die  than  commit  any  Known  Sin  in  the 
World.  If  this  Diipofition  be  not  produced  in 
thee  before  three  or  four  fhort  Hours  more  are 
expii*d,thy  immortal  Spirit  will  ancn  pals  into 
Eternal  Torment.  Thou  wilt  before  to  morrow 
morning  be  a  Companion  of  the  Devils  and 
the  Damned.  The  Evei  Lifting  Cha.ns  of  Dark- 
nefs  will  hold  thee  for  the  Worm  that  never  t  ies, 
and  the  Fii e  that  never  fhall  be  quenched: 
Thou  malt  fell  into  the  Hands  of  the  Living 
God  ;  and  become  as  a  glowing  I:  on  poffefled 
by  his  Burning  Vengeance  throughout  E  ernal 
Ages ;  the  God  that  made  thte  will  not  have 
mercy  on  theej  and  he  that  Form'u  thee  will 
fhew  thee  no  Favour.  But  for  his  Mercy  and 
Favour,  while  there  is  yet  Hope,  we  will  yetcy 
unto  him. 


aaocrcr 

B3  B53 


A 


5° 


'1  be  Hiflory  of  New- England.  EookVL 


A 


Brief   Narrative 

O  F    T  H  E 
Succefs  which  the  Gofpel  hath  had  among 


THE 


1  N  D 


N 


O   F 


MA^THa's  VlNEKA^T),  and  the  Places  Adjacent,  in  New- England : 
With  fome  Remarkable  Curiofities,  concerning  the  Numbers,  the  Cu 
floms,  and  the  prefent  Circumftances  of  the  Indians  on  that  lfland  :  Fur* 
ther  Explaining  and  confirming  the  Account  given  of  thofe  Matters  by 
Mr-  Cotton  Mather  in  the  Life  of  the  Renowned  Mr.  John  Eliot.  Written  by 
an  Inhabitant  of  Marthas-Vineyard. 

Whereto  is  Ai'ded 

An  Account  concerning  the  Trejent  State  of  Chrijlianity  among  the  Indians  in 
the  other  Parts  of  New- England ;  exprelTed  in  the  Letters  of  feveral  Wor- 
thy Perfons  beft  acquainted  therewithal. 


CHAP.     VI.      SECT.     I. 

Tie  Triumphs  of  G^ACE. 


TO  fpeak  more  of  the  Original  of  this 
People,  than  that  they  are  defcended 
from  the  Loins  of  their  great  Grand- 
father Adam,  however  divers  worthy  Men  have 
their  Sentiments,  I  (hall  not  pretend  i  but  that 
L*npuge.  they  are  originally  of  one  Language  is 
molt  evident:  Nor  is  the  admired  Knowledge 
of  thole  Ancients  fo  admirable,  for  their  ready 
fpeaking  more  than  Twenty  Languages  which 
may  rationally  be  fuppoled  to  have  been  but 
One  originally  ;  though  fuffering  fome  Change, 
by  occafional  Accidents :  We  know  the  diverfe 
pronouncing  of  the  fame  Words,  without  diffe- 
rence in  Dialed,  may  render  the  Speaker  hardly 
intelligible  to  him  that  writes  alike  with  him  : 
Nor  do  1  think  the  Speech  of  thefe  Americans  (b 
divers,  but  that  an  Indian,  who  is  well  acquaint- 
ed with  His  own,  may  by  converfing  with  thole, 
fuppos'd  of  a  different  and  other  Speech,  prompt- 
ly exprefs  himlelf  in  very  few  Years,  foas  to  be 
well  underfiood  by  Forty  of  thefe  Nations ;  who 
by  reafon  of  Wars,  the  want  of  Traffick  and 
the  Advantage  other     Nations   have  had  by 


Literature;  have  feveraliy  fuffered  much  Altera- 
tion of  i  hit  Language,  at  fir  ft  ir>d:fferenrly  fpo- 
ken  by  all,  which  yet  is  not  more  differing  rhin 
the  prefent  Language  of  the  EngLjh,  from  their 
Speech  not  many  hundred  years  lince  ;  which 
alcho'  it  would  not  readily  he  underftood,  by  a 
prefent  Londoner,  if  he  fhould  fpeak  with  his 
great  Grandfather,  who  then  lived,  jet  hath  not 
lb  altered,  but  no  long  Gonverfe  might  render 
them  mutually  intelligible.  Or  Words  not  unlike 
in  the  Indian  Tongue  hardly  intelligible  without 
cufromary  Dilcourfe  of  Nation  with  Nation,  I 
might  inffance  in  above  an  hundred  ;  luch  as 
Nuppjw,  Duffifw,  Ruppaw,  the  Sun  i  Attik,  Ah- 
torque,  &c.  a  Deer ;  Winmt,  Wirrit,  Good  ;  and 
the  like  \  Pum,  Pum-me,  Pirn,  Oil  or  Far:  Thefe 
and  the  like,  were  doubtlels,  the  fame  Word* 
little  altered.  Befule  which,  the  alone  Dif- 
ference in  pronouncing  the  lame  Word, 
might  feem  a  grejt  Difference  in  the  Speech 
or  Language.  For  Example  \  Wirrit  pronour* 
ced  fhort,  founds  Writ,  and  might  be  not  lel>  rea- 
dily underftood,    by    differently  accenring  the 

lanw 


Book  VI.  The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


Government . 


fame  Word  >  To  which  I  might  add  Word*,  as 
fuch,  Exprefling  th-?  Mind  of  the  Speaker,  being 
compounded  of  other  Woids,  fuitable  for  fuch 
Coropofi  ion,  yet  as  fuch  might  be  called  new, 
ordiftincl:  from  a  Speech  in  fo  mer  Ufe:  Of 
which  Words,  near  the  one  Half  of  this  Peoples 
Language  is. 

lhavc  been  the  larger  concerning  their  Lan- 
guage, that  luch  Englifh  whole  Hearts  may  in- 
cline to  fo  e,ood  and  Great  a  Wo?k,  may  be  en- 
couraged to  go  among  thofe  who  yet  have  hard- 
ly hea;d  the  Name  cf  the  LORD  named  among 
them. 

Their  Government  wac  purely  Monarchical  ;and 
as  for  thofe,  whole  Dominions  expended  turther 
th^n  would  well  admit  the  Princes  perfonal  Gui 
dance,  it  was  committed  into  the 
Hands  of  Lieutenants,  who  governed 
with  no  left  Abfolutenefs  th  n  the  Prince  him 
felf  Notwithstanding  in  Matters  of  Difficulty, 
the  Prince  conlulted  with  his  Nobles,  and  luch 
whom  he  efteemed  for  W/fd»m  »  in  which  it  was 
admirable  to  fee  the  Majeftick  Deportment  of 
the  Prince,  h;s  Speech  to  his  Council,  wi.h  the 
molt  deliberate  Difcuflion  of  any  matter  prcpo- 
fed  for  their  Advice  :  After  which  what  was  by 
him  refblved,  without  the  leaft  Hefitation,  was 
applauded,  and  with  at  lead  a  feeming  Alacrity, 
attends.'. 

rl  he  Crown  (if  I  may  fo  term  it)  always  de- 
scended to  the  Eld,ft  S;n  (chough  Subject  to  u- 
furpat'en.)  not  to  the  Female,  unlefs  in  defedf  of 
M<*le  of  the  Blood  ;  the  Blood  Royalbz'mg  in 
*c"ffi»>-  ^c|1  veneration  among  this  People,  that 
if  a  Prince  had  IlTiie  by  divers  Wives,  fuchfuc- 
ceeded  as  Heir  who  was  Royally  detcended, 
by  the  Mother,  although  tfe  youngeft  elteem- 
ing  his  Ilfue  by  a  Venur  of  left  Quality  than  a 
Princeft,  not  other  wife  than  Sachims  or  Noble- 
men. 

Their  Nobles  were  either  fuch  wl  o  defcerided 
from  the  Blood  Royal,  or  luch  on  whom  the 
Pi  ince  bellowed  Part  of  his  Dominions 
*""'  with  the  Royalties,  or  fuch  whole  Delcent 
was  from  Anceftos,  who  had  time  out  of  mind 
been  efteemed  fuch. 

Their  Ttomen  were  fuch,  who  having  no  (lamp 
oi  Gentility,  were  yet  efteemed  as  having  a  na- 
tural R:ght  of  living  within  their  Prinees 
Dominion,  and  a  Common  Ule  of  the 
Land,  and  were  diftinguifhed  by  two  Names  or 
Titles,  the  one  fignify  ing  Subjtclton,  the  other, 
Tiller  of  the  Land. 

Although  this  People  retain'd  nothing  of  Re 
cord,  nor  Ule  of  Letters,  yet  theie  lived 
among  them  many  Families,  who  altho' 
the  time  of  their  Fore-Fathers  firft  inhabiting  a- 
monpthem,  was  beyond  the  Memoiy  of  Man, 
yet  were  known  to  be  Strangers  or  Foreigners, 
who  were  not  priviledged  with  common  flight, 
but  in  feme  meafure  iubject  to  the  Yeomanry  , 
nor  were  dignified,  in  attending  the  Prince  in 
Hunting  or  like  Exercile  •,  unlcft  called  by  par- 
ticular Favour. 


The  Princes,  as  they  had  not  other  Revenue, 
than  the  Preftnts  of  their  Subjects  (which  yet  was 
counted  Due  Debt)  Wrecks  of  the  Sea, 
with  the  Skins  of  Beads  killed  in  their  Do- 
minion, and  many  like  things,  a?  Fir/1} -fruits, Sec. 
fo  they  wanted  none  :  For  in  Cale  of  War, 
both  People  and  Eftate  was  wholly  at  their  Dif- 
pofe  >  therefore  none  demanded  nor  expected 
Pay.  If  we  relpccl  their  Court,  it  was  doubt- 
left  maintained  in  great  Magnificence,  in  diftin- 
ction  from  the  Subjecl,  which  is  the  umioft  can 
be  obtained  by  the  greateft  Monarch  ;  their  Fa- 
milies and  Attendants  being  well  cloathed,  with 
Skins  of  Moos,  Bear,  Deer,  Beaver  ,  and  the  like  : 
The  Provifions  for  their  Tables,  as  Fle/h,  Ftfls, 
Roots,  Fruits,  Berries,  Corn,  Beans,  in  great  abun- 
dance and  Variety,  was  always  brought  by  their 
Neighbouring  Subjects ;  of  all  which  they  were 
as  void  of  Care,  as  the  moll  potent  Pi  inces  in  the 
Univerfe. 

As  the  Prince  was  acknowledg'd,  Abfelute 
Lord  on  the  Land,  fo  he  had  no  lels  Sovereignty 
at  Sea  :  for  as  all  belonged  to  him 

,  .    .  n  ,      ,         °     .         r ,  Domint.n  en  bell. 

which  was  Itrar.ded  on  the  shore 
of  his  Sea-Coaft,  fo  whatever  Whales  or  other 
Wreck  of  Value,  floating  on  the  Sea,  taken  up, 
on  the  icas  wading  his  Shores,  or  brought  and 
Landed  from  any  Part  of  the  Sea,  was  no  left 
his  own. 

I  mail  conclude  this  b;ief  Account  of  the  In- 
dians in  general  with  what  long  (face  parted  be- 
tween the  late  much  Honour'd  ,  Mr.  Thomas 
Mayhew,  and  an  Indian  Prince,  who  ruled  a  large 
part  of  the  Main  land. 

This  Prince  coming  to  Martha's  Vineyard  with 
his  ufual  Attendants,  being  about  Eighty  Per- 
fons  well  Armed,  came  to  Mr.  Maybew's 
Houfe  j  and  being  admitted,  late  down  : 
Mr.Maybtw  ented  rheRoom,but  being  acquain- 
ted with  thtir  Cultoms,  took  no  notire  of  the 
Prince's  being  there  fit  being  with  'em  in  point  of 
Honour  incumbent  on  the  Interiour  to  falute  the 
Supeiicur.-)  A  confiderable  time  being  pa  ft  the 
Prince  broke  Silence,  and  laid  Sachem  (a  Woid 
importing  in  their  Language  net  more  than  No- 
ble or  Worfhiphil)  M'.  Mtybtw  are  you  well  ?  to 
which  having  a  Friendly  Reply*  And  treating 
of  leveral  things,  and  of  the  Illand  Martha's  Vine- 
yard, being  peopled  withEnghfhj  the  Prince  de 
firing  fomething  wherein  the  Englifh  were  con- 
cern'd,  Mr.  Mayhew  p:oniihng  to  effecT:  what  he 
defired  ;  immediately  fu'join'd,  That  he  mufti 
firft fpeakwith  the  Inhabitants.  The  Prince  de- 
manded why  he  recalled  his  Promife  ;  For,  /aid 
he,  What  I  promife  or  /peak,  is  always  true  ;  but 
you  Englijl)  Govanours  cannot  be  true  ;  for  ytu  can't 
make  your  Words  nor  Intentions  true  ;  but  mine  are 
always  true,  for  I  make  them  true :  greatly  diidain- 
ing  the  Popular  Govcrrurnr.t  of  the  Englifh  in  this 
Countrey. 


Ha- 


«p 


•r  jf 


The  Hiftory  of  New-r  r.o'Und.  Eook  V4 


Having  promifed  an  Account  of  the  Con- 
verfion  of  many  Indians  inhabiting  thefe  Parts 
of  America  ,  h  may  be  well  expected  I 
mould  fay  fomeching  of  their  Religion  while 
Heathen. 

They  generally  acknowledge  and  worfhip'd 
many  Gods ;  therefore  greatly  efteem'd  and  re- 
verene'd  their  Priefts,  Powaws,  or  Wizards,  who 
were  efteem'd  as  having  immediate  Con- 
verts with  the  Gods:  To  them  therefore 
they  addrefs'd  themfelves  in  all  difficult  Cafes ; 
yet  could  not  all  that  defire  that  Dignity  (as  they 
efteem'd  it)  obtain  Familiarity  with  the  infernal 
Spirits  ;  Nor  were  all  Powaws  alike  fuccefsful  in 
their  AddrelTes  i  but  they  become  fuch,  either 
by  immediate  Revelation,  or  in  the  Ufe  of  cer- 
tain Rites  and  Ceremonies,  Tradition  had  left  as 
means  conducing  to  that  end  :  Inibmuch  that 
Parents  often  out  of  Zeal,  dedicated  their  Chil 
dren  to  the  Gods,  and  educated  them  accord- 
ingly, oblerving  certain  Diet,  debaning  Sleep, 
&c.  yet  of  ihemany  thus  delign'd,  but  tew  ob 
tain'd  their  Deli.e. 

Suppofiiig  that  where  the  Practice  of  Witch- 
craft has  been  highly  efteemed,  there  may  be  gi- 
ven the  plaineft  Demonfrration  of  Mortals  ha- 
ving Familiarity  wich  infernal  Spirits.  I  am 
willing  to  let  my  Reader  know  that  not  many 
yeais  fince  died  here  one  of  the  Powaws,  who 
never  pretended  to  Jftrologwal  Knowledge,  yet 
could  precisely  inform  iuch  who  defire  his  Ai- 
fiftance,  from  whence  Goods  fiohn  from  them 
were  taken,  and  whither  carried  ;  with  many 
things  of  the  like  nature:  nor  was  he  ever  known 
toendeavour  the  concealing  his  Knowledge,  to 
be  immediately  from  a  godfubjervienttohim^  that 
the  Englijhworfiipped.  This  Powaw  being  by  an 
Englifh  man  worthy  of  Credit  (who  lately  in 
form'd  me  of  the  famej  defired  to  advife  him 
who  had  ftollen  certain  Goods  which  he  had 
loft,  having  formerly  been  an  Eye  witnefs  of  his 
Ability  :  The  Powaw,  after  a  little  paufing,  de- 
manded why  he  requefted  that  from  him,  fince 
himfelf  ferved  another  God,  that  therefore  he 
could  not  help  him  ;  but  added,  If  you  can  believe 
that  my  god  will  help  you,  I  will  try  what  I  can  do  ; 
which  diverted  the  Man  from  further  Inquiry. 
I  muft  a  little  digreis,  and  tell  my  Reader  that 
this  Powawh  Wife  was  accounted  a  Godly  Wo- 
man, and  liv'd  in  the  Practice  and  Profeffion  of 
the  Chrifiian  Religion,  not  only  by  the  Approba- 
tion, but  Encouragement  of  her  Husband  :  She 
conftantly  prayed  in  the  Family,  and  attended 
the  Publick  IVorfhtp  on  the  Lord's-Vays  :  He  de- 
clared that  he  could  not  blame  her,  tor  that  (he 
ferved  a  God  that  was  above  his:  But  that  as  to 
himfelf,  his  God's  continu'd  Kindnefs  oblig'd  him 
not  to  forfake  his  Service. 

That  the  P$waws,  by  the  infernal  Spirits,  often 
killed  Perfbns,  caufed  Lamenefs  and  Impotency, 
as  well  as  (hew'd  their  Art  in  performing  things, 
beyond  Humane,  by  Diabolick  Skill ;  iuch  who 
have  convcrfed  much  among  them  have  had  no 
reafon  to  queft'on. 


Their  Practice  was,  either  by  defiring  the  Spi- 
rit to  them  appearing  to  pejform,  what  miichici 
they  iriterie'ej  ;  or  to  form  a  piece  of  Leather 
like  an  rfrrvWrhead,  tying  an  Hair  thereto  ;  or  fi- 
ling lniucLu:e,  as  otFifhfthat  it  might  be  known 
Witchery  it,  to  the  bewitch'd)  over  which  they 
perfoi  m'd  certain  Ceremonies  i  and  difrniiftd  'em 
to  effect  their  Defire. 

Such  inchanted  things  have  mod  certainly,  ei- 
ther entred  the  Bodie-  of  the  intended  to  be  by 
them  wounded  :  Or  the  Devil  hith  formed  the 
like  within  their  Flefh,  without  any  outward 
Breach  of  the  Skin>  which  we  have  good  reaion 
to  believe  >  the  Powaws  acknowledging  that 
Practice  i  and  fuch  things  having  been  taken 
out  of  the  Fk(l),  of  the  fuppofed  to  be  bewitch'd. 
Or,  by  their  ieizing  fomeching  of  the  Spirit  (as 
the  Devil  made  them  think)  of  fuch  they  imen- 
ded  to  torment  or  kill,  while  it  wandred  in  their 
Sleep:  This  they  kept,  being  in  form  of  a  Fly, 
clolely  impiifon'd  •,  and  accordingly  as  they 
dealt  with  this,  lb  it  fared  with  the  Body  it  bo- 
long'd  to. 

Of  the  Cures  performed  by  them  on  the  Bewitch- 
ed I  could  give  many  lnflances.  I Jhall  briefly  hint  at 
Two. 

The  one,  of  an  Indian  on  Mart  hah  Vineyard, 
called  afterwaid  George  ;  who  having  been  tome- 
time  greatly  Toimented,  and  now  wholly  Im- 
potent ;  his  Friends  advife  him  to  the  Poviaws, 
concluding  him  to  be  Bewitched:  They  being 
met,  and  dancing  round  a  great  Fire,  the  Sick  ly- 
ing by  ;  fbme  of  the  Neighbours  entred  the 
Houfe,  being  perfwaded  that  a  great  Powaw,no\» 
call'd  to  cure,  had  bewitch'd  the  Sick  ;  They 
threaten  him,  that  as  he  had  bewitched,  unlefs 
he  would  cure  the  Sick  Man,  they  would  burn 
him  in  that  Fire.  After  many  Excufes^  too  long 
here  to  relate,  they  took  him  up,  refolvingat  Isaft 
to  a  little  finge  him ;  who  no  fooner  felt  the 
Heat  of  the  Fire  near  him,  but  the  Sick  im- 
mediately recoveied. 

This  was  a  Thing  puMickly  known  to  the  Eng- 
lifl),  as  well  as  Indians,  in  the  Neighbourhood  : 
There  can  be  no  doubt  of  it. 

The  other  I  (hall  inftance  in,  was  a  Relation 
from  Cap t.  Thomas  Dagget,  Efq;  now  deceated, 
and  Rtchard  Sarfon,  Etq,  Juftices  of  the  Peace  ; 
who  being  on  an  Ifland,  where  a  Bewitch'd  Wc- 
man  lay  in  great  Extremity,  and  wholly  impo- 
tent ;  the  Towaws  there  having  without  Succefs 
endeavour'd  the  Cure:  The  Related  fent  to  Mar- 
tha's- Vineyard  for  more  famous'd  Powaws  ;  the 
faid  Gentlemen  were  admitted  to  bepretent,  on 
certain  Conditions :  The  Powaws  go  to  dancing, 
who  with  the  Spectators,  ufed  certain  Ceremo- 
nies ufual  in  fuch  Cafes.  One  of  the  Powaws 
praying  to  his  god,  with  fuch  ardent  Defiesand 
Fervency,  that  Capt.  Vagget  told  me,  had  it 
been  to  the  True  God,  it  had  been  a  Prayer  ex- 
ceeding moft  that  he  had  heard  .-  The  iffue  was, 
they  in  a  Deer  Skin  caught  the  Spirit  (as  they  faid) 
which  entred  the  Woman.     This,  the}  (aid,  was 

the 


Book  VI.  7  be  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


' 


i 


ihe  Spirit  of  an  Enghjh-man  drown'd  in  the  ad- 
jacent Sound :  Yet  it  was  then  fuppos'd  the 
Powaw  was  by,  which  bewitch'd  her.  The  If 
fue  was,  fhe  immediately  rtcover'd  :  The  Powaw 


told  her,  Unlefs  (lie  remov'd  to  Martha's  Vineyard^ 
flie  would  again  befick  ;  for  being  an  Engl  < 
he  could  not  long  confine  it. 


SECT.     II. 

Of  the  Conner fion  of  the  Indians  inhabiting  certain  Iflands  near  adjoining  to  the 
Continent  of  New-England  ;  and  the  Propagation  of  the  Go/pel  by  fome  Jent  to 
the  Main  Land  from  thence. 


THE  Worfhipful  Thomas  Mayhew  in  the  year 
1641.  having  obtain'd  a  Grant  of  Mar 
that  Vineyard,  Naituket  and  Elizabeth  Ifles,  to 
make  a  Settlement  •,  his  Son  Mr.  Thomas  Mayhew 
in  the  year  1642,  iettl'd  at  Marthas  Vineyard, 
with  a  few  other  Inhabitants,  where  his  Repu 
tation  for  Piety,  his  Natural  Gilts  befide  the  ac- 
quir'd  by  his  Education  (having  attain'd  no  fmall 
Knowledge  in  the  Latin  and  Greek  Tongues  \ 
and  being  not  wholly  a  Stranger  to  the  Hebrew) 
foon  occalion'd  his  Call  to  the  Miniftry  among 
that  handful. 

Not  long  after,  viz,,  in  the  year  1644,  God 
who  had  ordain'd  him  an  Evangelift  tor  the 
Converfion  of  thele  Gentiles,  ftirr'd  him  up 
with  an  holy  Zeal  and  Refolution,co  affay  what 
Succefs  he  might  find  in  that  Work  ;  he  takes 
opportunity  to  inlinuate  the  Love  and  Good 
Will  he  bore  to  that  People;  and  foon  finds  oc 
calion  to  let  them  know  their  deplorable  Condition, 
under  Satan,  who  as  he  had  kept  them  in  Igno- 
rance of  thofe  Bodily  and  Earthly  Things,  which 
might  render  their  Lives  in  this  World  more  hap- 
py ;  lb  of  thole  that  related  to  their  Future  Hap- 
pmefs  in  that  to  come,  And  whereas  he  could 
not  be  in  hopes  of  being  heard  in  a  more  pub- 
lick,  he  treats  them  in  a  more  private  Way  ; 
ibmetimes  going  to  fbme  particular  Houfes,  of 
Perform  whom  he  efteem'd  moft  Rational  and 
well  qualified,  other  while  dilccu  fing  with  par- 
ticular Men. 

The  firft  Indian  imbracing  the  Motion  of  for 
faking  their  gods,  and  praying  to  the  true  God, 
was  called  la  coomesi  Efteemed  by  the  Indians 
as  a  contemptible  Perlon  among  themfelves : 
Unto  this  Man,  God  whoorderetli  all  things  for 
his  own  Glory,  gave  fo  great  a  Meafure  of  Faith 
and  Confidence  in  his  Power,  that  he  is  foon  be- 
\ond  the  Fear  of  concealing  his  Contempt  of 
their  Gods :  The  Sachems  and  Powaws  being  much 
inraged,  threaten  his  Lifej  the  Powaws  or  Giz- 
zards told  him  (a  thing  publickly  known)  that 
he  could  not  be  ignorant,  that  they  could  kill 
iuch  asdifpleas'd  them,  i>«a.  by  Witchcraft. 

He  anfwers  for  himlelf  before  the  Sachems, 
V/itches,  and  a  great  Affembly  ;  acknowledges 
the  god  they  worlliipp'd  had  great  Powr.t  but  li- 
mited, and  was  liiblervient  to  the  God  he  now 
bad  chofen  :  Therefore  although  by  their  means 
many  had  fuffer'd  much,  and  lome  were  killed, 


he  defpis'd  their  Power,  as  being  himfelf  a  Ser- 
vant of  Him,  whofe  Power  ever  ruled  all  Powers, 
and  ordered  all  things  :  The  Expeti  ing  Multitude 
wait  the  Event,  which  while  they  concluded  to 
be  Sicknefs  or  Death ;  the  good  Man  remains 
wholly  lound  to  their  Aftonifhmenr. 

Mr.  Mayhew  makes  uie  of  this  Advantage,  is 
unceffant  in  his  Labour,  and  Promifes,  now 
while  they  (tumbled  in  doubt  of  their  own,  to  fct 
them  in  the  right  Path  :  He  fpares  not  his  Body 
by  Night  nor  Day  ;  lodges  in  their  Houfes,  pro- 
poles  fuch  things  to  their  Confideration  he  thinks 
firftly  requifite,  folves  all  their  Scruples  and  Ob- 
jections, and  tells  them  they  mi^ht  plainly  fee,  it 
was  in  good  Will  for  their  Good,  from  whom  he 
expected  no  Reward  ;  that  he  liiftained  lo  much 
lofscf  time,  and  endur'd  Wet  and,  Cold. 

It  pleas'd  God  to  give  fuch  Succefs  tothefeEn- 
deavours,  that  it  was  not  long  before  he  obtain'd 
Publick  Audience  among  them,  when  generally 
he  fpent  more  time  after  Sermon'in  reafoning  with 
them  than  in  Sermon  i  whereby  I  muft  tell  my 
Reader,  it  came  to  pafsthat  their  Religion  was 
as  well  in  Head  as  Heart. 

This  worthy  Servant  of  the  Lotd  continued 
his  painful  Labours  among  them  until  the  Year 
1657.  in  which  time  God  was  pleas'd  to  give 
(iich  Succefs  to  his  faithful  and  unweai  y'd  Labour 
that  many  hundred  Men  and  Women  were  ad- 
ded to  the  Church,  fuch  who  might  truly  be 
faid  to  be  Holy  m  Conversation,  and  tor  Know- 
ledge fuch  who  needed  n.t  to  be  taught  the  fir  (I  Prin- 
ciples of  Religion  ;  befide  the  many  Hundred  of 
looler  Profeflbrs  of  which,  that  fuch  worthy 
Chriftians  whofe  godly  Zeal  for  propagating  the 
Gofpel,  to  fuch  who  fat;«  Varknefs,  and  faw  n.i 
Light,  provok'd  an  holy  Emulation  to  compais 
Sea  and  Land,  by  their  liberal  Contributions  for 
Profelyting  the  Heathen  to  the  Service  and  Wor- 
fhipof  theLord  Jefus  (who  yet  furvive)  might 
rejoice,  fince  that  God  gave  a  Blefling  to,  and 
caufed  a  plentiful  Harveft  to  fucceed  their  tow- 
ing in  thele  Waters :  And  that  the  Succeffors  and 
Children  of  thole  ever  to  be  honoured  deceas'd 
Chriftians  might  rejoice  that  their  Predeceilors 
Religious  Intent,  in  giving  freely  of  their  Worldly 
Goods,  to  advance  the  Work  for  Salvation  of 
Souls,  was  fofar  from  diminilhing  their  Eftates, 
that  they  thereby  left  an  Inheritance  Co  their 
Childrens  Children. 


«rj. 


The  kiiftory  of  New-England,  Book  V  I. 


I  ("hall  give  a  true  Relation  of  the  Progrels 
and  p-eisnt  State  of  the  Undertaking,  and 
God's  Bieffing  following  the  Endeavours  of 
thole  he  called,  for  converting  the  Indians,  on 
Martha's  Vineyard  and  adjacent  Iflands  :  by  let- 
ting the  World  know,  who,  and  how  quali- 
fied chefe  were,   who  were    eiteem'd    Chrifii- 


ins. 


When  fuch  a  Number  profeffed  the  Chriftian 
Religion,  as  gave  occafion  to  the  Indians  in  gene- 
ral to  Efteem  them  a  Sett  differing  from 
themfelves,and  by  the  Denomination  ot  Praying; 
Men,  to  fignalize  that  Difference;  and  that  their 
Number  was  (uch  as  to  Meet  publicly  to  worfhip 
God  :  Such  who  forfook  their  Heathenifh  Wor- 
fhip and  Idolatry,  profeffing  to  become  Chriftians, 
in  the  publick  Affembly  declar'd  the  Grounds 
and  Reafons  moving  them  to  embrace  the  one, 
and  forfakethe  other  Way,  with  their  Kefoluticn 
to  pray,  to  ierve,  and  endeavour  to  obey  the  true 
God  in  JefusChrift ;  how  this  Rejolation  was 
wrought  in  them  ;  what  Temptations  had 
obftru&ed,  what  Reafn,  Scripture  and  Strength 
from  God  had  encourag'd  them,  and  enabt'd  'em 
to  retain  iuch  Rejolution  ;  how,  they  hid  often 
pray'd  to  God,  and  yet  been  overcome  by  Dif- 
couragements,  and  Temptations,  &e.  Clofingall 
with  profeffing  a  Refolution,  by  God's  Affiftance 
to  pray  to,  and  ierve  Him,  and  Him  only  i 
Egging  £he  Prayers  of  the  Congregation  to 
God  in  their  Behalf  :  Which  faid,  many  of  the 
Congregation  took  them  by  the  hand,  in  token 
of  Love  and  good  Will. 

If  after  fuch  publick  Profeffion,  any  was 
obierved  not  to  perform  the  ufual  Worrtiipping 
of  God,  in  praying  with  their  Families,  defiring 
a  Bieffing  on  their  Food,  or  the  like  ('who  yet  in 
their  publick  Meeting  conftantly  attended^)  they 
were  publickly  examin'd  of  the  fame  :  Of  which 
lee  me  give  a  remarkable  Inftance. 

One,  who  after  his  Admiffion  (if  I  may  fo 
term  it)  into  the  Number  and  Society  of  the 
Praying  Indians,  being  prefent  at  a  great  Affembly 
alter  the  Exercife,  was  by  him  that  preach'd, 
informal  that  it  was  reported  he  had  ceafed  to 
pray,  defir'd  him  to  let  the  Congregation  know 
what  Grounds  and  Motives  occafion'd  luch  Neg- 
lect :  The  Man  anfwer'd,  It  was  true,  he  had 
not  lately  ufed  publickly  to  pray,  yet  did  fometimes 
pray  privately  :  That  he  did  not  in  his  Judgment 
dij 'approve  the  Service  of  God,  hut  acknowledged  it 
to  be  good  :  But  found  himfelf  weak ,  not  able  to  live 
up  to  the  Rules  of  that  Religion  :  But  when  God 
should  give  him  more  Strength,  he  hoped  he  (Iwuld  be 
again  a  praying  Man. 

Thus     Mr.  Mayhew    continu'd     his    almoft 

inexpreffible  Labour  and  vigilant  Care  for  the 

Good  of  the  Indians,  whom  he    juffly  efteemed 

his  Joy  and  Crown  :  And  having  feen  fo  great  a 

Bieffing  on  his  Faithful  Endeavours  inthe  making 

ah   the    Name    of  his  Lord    among  thele 

Gentiles,  with  indefatigable  Fains,  expecting  no 

ird  but  alone  from  him,  who  faid,  Go  teach 

;j  ;  Lo,  I  am  with  you:  God  moved  the 


Hearts  of  ibme  godly  Chriftians  in  England  to 
advance  a  confiderable  Sum  for  encouraging  the 
propagating,  and  preaching  the  Gofpd  to  the 
Indians  in  New  England  ;  and  feeing  the  Spiric 
given  to  fundry  of  the  Indian',  with  the  Gift  of 
Prophecying  ;  according  to  the  Promife  given  by 
him,  who  Ascended  and  gave  Gifts  unto  Men;  zx\ 
Able  Godly  Engltfoman,  nam'd  Peter  Foulger,  who 
was  implov'd  in  teaching  the  Youth  in  Reading, 
Writing,  and  the  Principles  of  Religion,  by  Oi- 
techiling  ;  and  being  well  Iearn'd  in  the  Scrip- 
ture, able  to  affift  them  in  what  might  be  need- 
ful, his  honour'd  Father  the  Governour}  well 
skilled  in  their  Language,  and  highly  honouring 
the  Work  for  their  Converfion  ;  whereby,  if  in 
his  Abfence  any  difficult  Matter  might  happen, 
they  might  find  iuitable  Affiftance.  In  the  year 
1647.  he  intended  a  fliort  Voyage  for  England; 
but  alas,  the  Ship  wherein  he  took  paffage  was 
never  heard  of. 

Thus  came  to  an  immature  Death  Mr.  May- 
hew,  who  was  fo  affectionately  effeem'd  of  by 
the  Indians,  that  many  years  after  he  was  feldom 
named  without  Tears. 

Mr.  Thomas  Mayhew,  after  the  lofs  of  his  Son 
asaforeiaidi  feeing  no  iuch  Salary,  probably  to 
be  obtain'd,  that  might  invite  a  Minifterto  Em- 
brace the  Work  among  the  Indians  ;  and  little 
hopes  of  finding  any  of  the  Spirit  of  his  Son,  or 
Mr.  Eliot,  to  bear  the  Burden,  attending,  and 
in  that  day  of  Necefltty  to  be  under- 
gone; without  a  profpect  of  more  than  could 
well  be  expected  for  incouraging  fb  fin  it  felf 
troublefome)  Employ ;  and  that  his  only  Son, 
had  (pent  his  Strength,  and  yet  rejoie'd  in  the 
midff  of  thofe  many  Aches,  Pains  and  Diftem- 
pers  contracted  by  his  often  lodging  in  their  cold 
Hotiles,  and  induring  Wet  and  Cold,  in  faith  of 
God's  accepting  of,  and  profpering  him  in  that, 
whereunto  he  could  fee  nothing  could  rationally 
move  him,  concludes  that  it  was  .Of  God  and  not 
of  Man  i  he  therefore  refolves  to  Vifit  and  En- 
courage them  often  :  He  goes  once  every  Week 
to  (bme  of  their  Plantations ;  and  with  the 
Affiffance  of  Godly  Indians,  who  taught  and 
inftructed  their  Neighbours  on  the  Lord's  Days, 
perfwaded  the  Indians  of  the  Gayhead,  who  many 
years  were  obit inately  relblved  not  to  admit  the 
Glad  Tidings  of  the  Gofpel  among  them  (being 
animated  by  the  Sachims  of  the  Continent,)  now 
toimbraceit:  So  that  now  the  Indians  on  the 
Iflans  of  Martha  s  Vineyard  and  JS'antuket,  might 
juftly  bear  the  Denomination  of  Chnflian  ;  the 
Number  of  Adult  Perfons  on  both  IJlands  being 
bout  Three  Thou/and ;  of  which  I  have  taken  the 
more  particular  Care  to  make  an  Exact  Compu- 
tation, that  I  might  vindicate  Mr.  Cotton  Mather 
from  the  Imputation  of  over-reckoning,  when 
in  the  Life  of  Mr.  ELIOT  he  reckons  the 
Number  fuppofed  on  Martha  s  Vineyard  pro- 
feffing the  Chriftian  Religion,  to  be  Sixteen 
Hundred. 

The  Indians  being  thus  brought  over  to  the 
Acknowledgment  and  Profeffion  of  the  Clriftian 
Religion  ;  and  many  of  them  defiring  to  joyn  in 

fuch 


Book  VI.  1  he   H i ft ory  of  New -England 


SS 


fuch  Communion,  vvherebv  they  might  enjoy  the 
Prefence  of  God  in  all  his  Ordinances :  Mr.  Mayheiv 
and  Mr.  John  Cotton,  now  Paftor  of  the  Church 
of  New  Pltmoutb,  who  having  been  fbmetime 
Preacher  to  the  Englim,  had  acrain'd  fome 
Knowledge  of  the  Indian  Tongue,  and  preach'd 
into  them  Two  Years  ;  being  well  fatisfy'd  with 
their  fui table  Qualifications,  after  mature  Confe- 
deration and  Advice,  concluded  to  give  their 
Hilp  and  Affiftance  thereto  :  which  was  happily 
jccomplifh'd  co  the  good  Satisfaction  of  the 
Englim  Church,  and  Godly  ProfciTors  of  the 
Jfland  i  who  by  Advantage  of  many  Years 
Acquaintance  with  them,  had  great  Experience 
of  their  Qualifications.  An  Indian  Church 
Confederated  at  Martha's  Vineyard,  siugufl  22. 
1670. 

Mr.  Mayhcw  by  Mr. Cotton\  Removing  from 
the  Ifland,  it  was  left  alone  as  to  any  Englim 
AHiflance:  But  Mr.  John  May b<iv  his  Grand 
fon,  being  call\J  to  preach  to  a  frh&H  People,  by 
the  urgent  and  ardent  Defires  of  the  Indians : 
and  being  well  skill'd  in  their  Language,  com- 
ply'd  with  them  ;  and  once  every  Week  preach- 
ed at  ibme  of  their  Plantations.  His  Diligence 
was  now  to  be  doubl'd,  elpecially  after  Mr. 
Mayhew  his  Grandfather's  Death  in  the  year 
168 1.  by  reafon  of  certain  Heterodox  Opinions, 
likely  to  take  root  among  them  ;  and  being  a 
Man  of  great  Natural  Parts,  he  ufed  todefire 
luch  who  had  imbib'd  any  of  thole  Principles,  to 
produce  their  Reafons ;  as  likewife  any  that  de- 
fir'd  to  be  refolv'd  in  any  Matter,  to  give  him 
Advantage  to  relblve  them  in  Publick  ;  that  o 
thers  might  receive  SatM.i&ion  and  Inftructton  > 
whereby  1  belisve  and  know,  that  they  receiv'd 
morsConviclion,  InfirucJion  and  Satisfaction  than  in 
the  ordinary  Way  of  Preaching  ;  which  always 
notwithstanding  preceded  that .-  Infomuch  that 
none  of  thofe  E&'ontous  Opinions  fpread  to  the 
Difturbance  or  Unfertlement  of  the  Church  nor 
Generality  of  ProfefFors  among  them  .-  But 
having  finifn'd  what  God  in  his  All-wife  Provi- 
dence faw  good  to  improve  him  in  :  He  deceas'd 
in  the  year  1688,  leaving  the  Indians  fif  I  might 
now  fo  term  them)  in  an  orderly  way  of  Religi- 
oufly  Congregating  in  their  Affemblieson  the 
Lord's  Day,  and  hearing  their  fcveral  Teachers, 
who  tifually  begin  with  Prayer,  fang  part  of  a 
Pfalm ;  then  from  fome  Portion  of  Scripture 
f  pake  for  the  Converfion  and  Edification  of  his 
Hearers'.  As  alfb  a  Church  which  then  or  foon 
after,  confifted  of  at  lead  One  hundred  Communi- 
cants, being  according  to  the  ruoft  ftricl:  Order 
of  the  Congregational  Way  :  Which  leads  me  to 
fay  fomething  of  the  Dijcipline  us'd  among 
them. 

The  Church  then  are  a  Selecled  Company  of 
Profeffing  Believers,  in  Covenant  according  to 
the  Congregational  Praclice,  having  Officers  accor- 
dingly ;  and  keeping  up  theExercife  of  afevere 
Vifciplme  by  publick  Admonition  in  cafe  of  the 
dilorderly  Walking  of  any  Member  of  their 
Society:  And  if  after  the  Reproof  and  Admo- 


nition of  the  Church,  any  proceed  in  their  Evil 
Courfes,  fuch  are  proceeded  with  by  Excommu- 
nication. 

I  would  then  willingly  know  of  thofe  De- 
tractors who  either  publickly  or  more  privately, 
have  endeavour'd  to  fcanddize  lo  great  a  Work  ■, 
what  kind  of  People  they  expect  to  fee  a  Church 
confi'fof :  O",  when  it  will  come  to  pals  that 
fome  fhall  not  be  retain'd  in  Churches  (who  yet 
may  be  deem'd  an  Holy  People)  whofe  Converfa- 
tion  may  be  grievous  to  the  Church,  ;ho'  the 
Church  can  find  no  Expedient  for  their  Exc  mmu- 
nication  ?  I  know  that  many  who  are  in  no  mea- 
lure  qualified  for  Church  Fellov(hip  ;  think  it  no 
fmall  Difparagement  to  themklves  that  Indians 
mould  be  accounted  worthy  of  what  themfelves, 
cannot  be  admitted  to:  How  it  is  in  other  Pla- 
ces I  know  not  :  Rut  here  fome  whofe  Religious 
Pretences  have  gain'd  Credit  abroad,  and  have 
not  fcrupl'd  to  Stigmatize  tho  Indians  with  greateft 
Oppobry,  in  particular  Cafes  of  their  Complaint 
the  Indians  have  b^en  found  wholly  innocent,  and 
them/elves  fordidly  Villainous;  But  when  (hill  it 
be,  that  the  Seed  of  the  Serpent  (full  ceafe  to  hifs 
at,  and  open  their  Mouths  againft  the  Seed  of  the 
Woman  ?  Which  yet  I  could  demonffrate,  hath 
in  fcveral  Cafe  which  haveoccurr'd  here  againft 
the  Indians  broken  the  Serpents  Head  in  his  Chil- 
dren, and    if  it  were  poflible  fill'd  them  with 

Shime  and  Confufion, however   the    Sober 

Religious  People  here  have  done  and  do  efteem  'cm 
as  Chriflians  indeed.  And  although  the  Build- 
ing be  not  all  of  Living  Stones,  yet  as  it  is  an 
Houfe,  is  lb  far  efteemed  an  Houfe  of  God  : 
Infomuch  that  I  have  heard  fome  Godly  Englim, 
their  Neighbours,  Members  of  Churches,  profefs 
they  were  troubl'tl,  that  their  Unacquaintednefs 
in  their  Language  was  fuch,  that  they  could 
not  well  (but  otherwife  would  gladly)  partake 
with  them,  in  the  Ordinance  of  the  Lord's 
Supper. 

I  mud  acknowledge,  that  as  the  Number  of 
the  Indians  are  greatly  decreas'd,  fo  elpecially  of 
the  Godly  and  Religious  ;  it  being  a  thing  fo  obvi- 
ous, that  in  the  year  1696.  of  the  Indians  of  Mar- 
tha's Vineyard  alone ;  of  the  Number  of  more 
than  One  hundred  adult  Pet  fons  that  died,  not 
lefs  than  Three  Fourths  were  of  the  fober  Religi- 
ous Profeffors:  That  it  was  by  the  Englim  Inha- 
bitants vulgarly  taken  notice  of:  The  which  not- 
withftanding in  the  year  1 692.  of  the  beforemen- 
tion'd  Church,  were  remaining  more  than  One 
Hundred'^  without  mentioning  thofe  many  Ccn- 
fefiors  before  mention'd,  whole  publick  Declara- 
tions of  their  feveral  ConviBtons,  Temptations  and 
Refoltttions  to  Endeavour  to  Serve  the  True  God, 
would  have  drawn  Tears  from  the  Eyes  of  any 
who  had  but  in  the  Serious  Retirements  of  Con- 
fideration  acknowledg'd  a  Deity. 

Imuft  not  conclude  before  I  tell  the  Reader, 

that  as  in  the  Apoftolick  Times  the  Chuich  fent 

forth  from  among  themfelves,  for  the  Conveifion 

of  the  Nations,  fo  the'e  Indians  on  Martha's  Vine- 

Hh  h  hhh  yard 


5* 


J  be  Hiftory  of  New-England.  Book  \"X 


yard  did ;  not  only  to  the  Ifland  of  Nantuket, 
being  about  1 500  Adult  Perfons;  butlikewife  to 
the  Main  Land. 

Of  thofe  of  Nantuket  I  (hall  fubjoin  a  Letter, 
from  Mr.  John  Gardner,  who  is  well  acquainted 
with  them,  having  divers  years  affifted  them  in 
their  Government,  by  inftru&ing  them  in  the 
Laws  of  England,  and  deciding  difficult  Cafes 
among  them. 


The  LETTER. 

WorfhipfulSir, 

I  Have  receivd  Tours  of  April  the  8th.  94.  "With 
your  Defire  to  be  informed  of  the  prefent  State  of 
of  our  Indians,  as  to  their  Number,  Worfhip  and 
Government;  an  Anjwer  to  your  Deflres,  take 
briefly. 

Their  Decay  is  Great,  chiefly  in  Number,  there 
being  now  but  about  Five  hundred  Grown  Perfons  : 
As  to  their  Worfhip,  there  are  Three  Societies  or 
Churches:  Two  Congregational,  One  of  the  Ba- 
ptifts,  but  their  Number  is  fmalli  but  there  are  Five 
Conftant  Affemblies  or  Meetings  i  Two  amongfi 
them  that  went  by  the  Name  of  the  Antepeatames 
or  Powatoms  ;  and  that  I  may  now  fay,  there  is 
not  known  a  Powaw  amongfi  them  ;  and  although  it 
is  true,  there  is  a  great  Decay  in  Religion  among  the 
Firfl"  Societies,  many  of  their  beft  Men,  and  I  may 
fay  Good  Men,  are  Dead :  Yet  amongfi  the  none 
Praying  Indians,  there  is  an  lncreafe  >  God  raifing 
up  feme  even  of  Themfelves,  Preachers  and  feri- 
cus  Men  too  fome  of  them  ;  which  is  Caufe  ofjhank- 
fulnefs :  But  that  there  is  a  Decay  with  many,  is  to 
be  lamented  >  the  Caufe  I  take  to  be  their  not  pre- 
ferring the  Truth  in  the  Love  of  it  i  their  Love 
to  Drink  ;  Their  being  more  mindful  of  Form  than 
Subftance,  which  puts  me  upon  Endeavour  to  make 
them  fenfi'ole,  That  it  is  neither  Circumcifion  nor 
Uncircumcifion  is  any  thing,  but  the  Keeping  the 
Commandments  of  God  ;  Faith  that  Works  by 
Love,  the  New  Creature,  and  things  of  that  Na- 
ture . 

At  to  their  Government,  they  are  wholly  m- 
da-  their  Majefiy's,  or  the   Englifh  Government  : 


The  Method  is,  they  have  Three  Difiincl  or  Town- 
Courts,  with  Tower  to  hear  and  determine  to  Forty 
Shillings  >  The  Magiflrates  they  chufe  themfelves 
Tearly  ;  and  when  Ch oj en  and  Approved  of,  they  have 
Commiflions  with  Liberty  cf  Appeal  to  the  Eng 
li(h,  which  they  make  much  u[e  of '.-  Greater  Matters 
come  to  the   Englifll.     This  in  fljort  is  the  Truth  of 


their  Prefent  State. 


I  am 


Nantuket 
May  17. 
1694. 


Your  Real  Friend  and  Servant, 

JOHN  GARDNER.. 


Here  we  muft  take  notice  of  God's  giving 
Succefs  to  the  Miniftry  of  the  Indians  ;  and 
acknowledge,  That  although  there  have  been 
fome  Decay,  yet  on  that  Ifland  there  is  not 
only  a  Form,  but  in  fome  meafure  the  Power 
of  Godlinels. 

So  likewife  on  the  Mainland;  by  the  alone 
Miniftry  of  the  Marthas  Vineyard  Indians,  was 
the  Civilizing  and  Converfion  of  the  Indians 
on  the  Main-land,  at  a  Place  call'd  Succonet, 
and  Parts  adjacent ;  who,  as  they  were  Con- 
verted by  the  Miniftry,  ientfi om  the  Church 
of  Martha's  Vineyard,  lb  the  Officers  were  by 
them,  (aslikewile  were  thofe  of  Nantuket)  Or- 
dain'd  by  laying  on  the  Hands  of  their  Presby- 
tery ;  Of  thele,  although  I  have  been  no  Eye- 
witnefs,  yet  I  have  receiv'd  Account  from 
even  fuch  who  bare  no  great  Refpeft  to  Re- 
ligion, that  they  are  as  beyond  Comparifon  > 
Exceeding  the  other  Indians  in  Moral  Vertue; 
So  likewiie  from  other  Judicious  Perfons,  their 
Neighbours,  of  whom  I  (hall  name  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Vobes,  a  Perfon  now  Keprefenttng  the  Free- 
holders of  thofe  Parts,  in  the  Great  and  Ge- 
neral Affembly  of  the  Province  of  the  Maf 
fachufet-Bay  in  New  England  :  Nor  have  th-Je 
People  as  yet  Dependance  on,  nor  Expectation  horn 
any  other,than  their  Mother,  the  Church  of  Mar- 
tha's Vineyard. 


I 


SECT 


Book  VI.  I he  tiiftory  of  New-England 


S7 


SECT.     III. 


Of  the  Indians  Government  when  Chriftians 


I  Have  already  told  my  Reader,  That  the 
Government  of  this  People  was  the  beft 
(of  all  Governments)  Monarchy  >  And  it  has 
been  judg'd,  not  without  Reafon,  that  a  main 
Obftruction  in  the  Progrefs  of  the  Gofpel  in 
the  American  Plantations,  was,  if  not  yet  is, 
the  J~aloufie  the  Princes  conceiv'd  of  the  In- 
vafion  of  their  Government  through  the  Pretcn* 
ces  of  Religion,  and  the  Eclipfing  their  Monar- 
chical Dignity. 

Mr.  Thomas  Mayhe-w  therefore  finding  that 
the  Princes  on  thefe  Iflands,  who  although  they 
maintain'd  their  Abiblute  Power  and  Juriidi- 
ction  as  Kings ;  were  yet  bound  to  do  certain 
Homage  to  a  Potent  Trince  on  the  Continent  >  and 
although  they  were  no  great  People,  yet  had 
been  wafted  by  Indian  Wars,  wherein  the  Great 
Princes  on  the  Continent  (not  unlike  European 
Princes  for  like  Reafbns  of  State)  were  not  un- 
affifting,  whereby  they  were  neceffitated  to 
make  thefe  Princes  the  Balance  to  decide  their 
Controverfies,  and  feveral  Jurifdidions,  by  Pre- 
fents  Annually  fent,  whereby  obliging  the  Prin- 
ces  to  give  their  feveral  Affiftance  as  Occafion 
requir'd  :  And  feeing  his  Son  as  aforefaid,  in  a 
Zealous  Endeavour  for  their  Converficn,  he  judg- 
ed it  meet  that  Mofes  and  Aaron  joyn  Hands  : 
He  therefore  prudently  lets  them  know,  that  by 
Order  from  his  Mafter  the  King  of  England,  he 
was  to  govern  the  E?iglijh  which  fhould  inhabit 
thefe  Iflands :  That  his  Mafter  was  in  Power  tar 
above  any  of  the  Indian  Monarchs ;  but  that,  as 
he  was  Powerful,  fo  was  he  a  great  Lover  of  Ju- 
ftice  :  That  therefore  he  would  in  no  mealure 
invade  their  Jurijdiclions  but  on  the  contrary,  af 
fift  them  as  Need  requir'd  :  That  Religion  and 
Government  were  diltinct  Things.  Thus  in  no 
long  time  they  conceiv'd  no  ill  Opinion  of  the 
Chrijlian  Religion- 

When  afterwards  the  Number  of  the  Cbrifitan 
Indians  were  increas'd  among  them,  he  perfwa- 
ded  them  to  admit  of  the  Counfels  of  the  Judi- 
cious Chriftians  among  themfelves>  and  in  cafes 
of  more  than  ordinary  Conference,  of  a  Jury  for 
Trial  ;  when  likewile  he  promis'd  his  Affiftance 
and  Direilton  with  the  Prince  ;  when  notwithjlan- 
ding  the  Prince's  Affient  was  to  be  obtain'd,  tho' 
he  were  no  Chriftian. 

Thus  within  a  few  Years  there  was  a  Happy 
Government  fetl'd  among  them,  and  Records  kept 
of  all  Anions  and  Afts  paffed  in  their  feveral 
Courts,  by  fuch  who  having  learn'd  to  write 
fairly,  were  appointed  thereto.  The  Princes 
with  their  Sachims  (or  Nobles)  made  publick  Ac- 
knowledgment of  their  Subje&ion  to  the  King 
of  England,  being  notwithftanding  mindful  to  be 
underftood  as   Subordinate  Princes,   to  Govern 


according  to  the  Laws  of  God  and  the  King. 
Here  I  (hall  take  leave  to  infert  Two  Remar- 
kables. 

During  the  late  unhappy  War  between  the 
Englitt)  and  the  Indians  in  New  England,  about 
Nineteen  Tears  fincei  an  Evil  Spirit  poffefi'd  too 
many  of  our  Enghfli ,  whereby  they  fuffer'd 
Ihemfelves  to  be  unreafonably  Exafperated  a- 
gainft  all  Indians:  Offuch,  there  were  fome  on 
thefe  Iflands  who  could  hardly  be  fo  moderated 
by  Mr.  Mayhew,  and  Others  jn  Government  with 
him,  as  to  bereftrain'd  from  rifing  to  affay  the 
Dilarming  of  the  Indians  i  for  whole  Satisfaction 
Captain  Richard  Sarfon,  Efq;  was  order'd  with  a 
fmall  Party  (the  Indians  being  on  thefe  Iflands 
Twenty  to  one,  having  Arms)  to  Treat  the  In- 
dianson  the  Weft  End  of  Martha's  Vineyard,  who 
were  moftly  to  be  doubted.  He  returns  with 
the  Enftttng  Anfwer ;  That  the  delivering  their 
Arms,  would  Expofe  them  to  the  Wiil  of  the 
Indians  ingag'd  in  the  prefent  War,  who  were  not 
iefs  theirs  than  the  Enemies  of  the  Englifli  :  That 
they  had  never  given  occllon  of  the  Diftruft 
intimated:  If  in  any  thing  not  hazarding  their 
Safety,  they  could  give  any  Satista&ion  for 
the  Proof  of  their  Fidelity,  they  would  willingly 
attend  what  fhould  reafonably  be  demanded  of 
them  .-  But  they  were  unwilling  to  deliver  their 
Arms,  unlefs  the  Englijli  would  propofe  fome 
Mean  for  their  Safety  and  Livelihood.  With 
this  Return,  they  drew  a  Writing  in  their  own 
Language,  which  I  have  often  read,  and  would 
have  Verbatim  inferted,  but  can't  at  prefent  find 
it.  The  Subftance  was,  That  as  they  had  fub- 
mitted  to  the  Crown  of  England,  fo  they  refblv- 
ed  to  Affi.fi  the  Englijli  on  thefe  I/lands  againft  their 
Enemies,  which  they  Efteem'd  in  the  lamerefpe<5l 
equally  their  own,  as  Subjects  to  the  fame  King  : 
which  was  fubferib'd  by  the  Perfonsof  the  grea- 
teft  Note  among  them. 

Having  this  Anfwer,the  Government  refblv'd^ 
and  accordingly  improv'd  them  as  a  Guard,  fur- 
nifhing  them  with  fuitable  Ammunition,  and 
found  them  ib  faithful,  that  even  fome  nearly 
related,  in  obfervance  of  General  Inftruclions  given 
them,fbfoon  as  they  landed  from  the  Continent, 
wereimmediately  brought  before  the  Governour 
to  attend  his  Pleafure  :  Infbmuch  that  the  Eng- 
lifti  (although  the  War,  with  relpecl:  to  the  Mul- 
titude of  Indians,  inhabiting  the  Continent,  and 
their  Advantage  by  the  Neamefs  to  the  French  had 
no  good  Afpect)  took  no  care,  but  left  the  whole 
tothe  Indians'.  Nothing  doubting  to  be  adverti- 
fed  by  them  of  any  Danger  from  the  Enemy, 
This  was  the  Effect  of  the  bringing  the  Gofpel 
of  Peace  amengthem,  viz.  a  Peace  bringing  Gofpel  i 
Hhhhhh  z  The 


5§ 


The  Hiftory  oj  New  England 


Book  VI. 


The  other  Obfervable  I  (hall  add  to  fhew  as 
their  Loyalty, (o  theii  Obftrvance  ot  the  Laws  o! 
England. 

In  the  time  of  the  late  Revolution,  when  mans 
in  hopes  there  was  no  King  in  IJrael,  Expected  to 
have  done  whatchev  law  good  in  their  own  eyes. 
Several  of  our  Enghjl)  threatning  to  fetch  certain 
Sheep  in  pcffdlion  of  the  Indians  inhabiting  i 
fma!l  lflmd  adpeent  to  Martha's  Vineyard'. 
Which  Sb.ep  they  afTerted  were  ftolen  from  'em, 
who  met  widi  RepuUe  :  The  Sachim,  left  there 
fbould  happen  any  Mijundirftandwg  ot  that  mat- 
ter, immediately  makes  his  Report  to  meinthefe 
Words,  viz. 

Stveral  of  Your  Enghfl)  have  been  on  my  Ifland, 
and  would  have  forcibly  taken  Sheep  from  thence  : 
and  we  are  much  threatned  therewith  :  I  am  duubtful 
if  they  perfjl  tn  that  Refulution,  it  may  cccajion 
Blucdjhed  :  You  know  that  while  your  Grandfather 
and  mj  Father  livd,  there  never  hapned  any  Diffe- 
rtnee  injuch  things,  nor  hope  will  be  cccajion  given 
by  me.  I  defire  the  Jame  Amity  may  be  ci  ntmued ; 
Nor  can  the  Englifh  fay  that  we  have  not  mamftfted 
our .  Allegiance  to  the  King  by  a  continued  Sub- 
jeffion. 

And  alt  ho*  'tis  true,  v>e  have  dtfird  your  Order 
(hould  come  to  us  rather  than  your  Officer,  which  hath 
generally  been  obfervd  ;  yet  we  are  willing  in  cafe  the 
Englilh  pretend  any  thing,  ours  have  injur  d  them 
in  ,  let  an  Officer  by  Writ  from  Authority  do  his  duty, 
then  we  f jail  know  how  in  an  orderly  way  to  be  re- 
lieved :  Yetjliall  the  leafi  Boy  bringing  your  Order,  as 
in  your  Grandfather's  time,  command  any  thing  ;  And 
if  you  fee  Caufe  on  any  Complaint  about  cur  Sheep, 
you  may  command  all  of  them  ■>  hoping  to  find  as  hi- 
therto, a  Vecifon  by  the  Rules  of  Jujiice  :  We  hope 
we  jhdll  not  fee  (as  is  too  much  practised  in  other 
"Places)  an  Englishman  pretending  an  Indian  to  be 
tn  his  debt,  to  come  to  our  Houfes  and  pay  himfelf  : 


Or,  in  other  Cafes,  beat  our  People  \  But  as  hitherto 
we  may  have  equal  Jnfice,  being  the  Kings  Sub- 
j<tls  ;  and  Violence,  and  Riot  committed  en  our 
People  by  the  Englifn  may  be  ejlcentd  of  the  fame 
nature  and  ojualvy  as  ours  again  ft  ibem  \  of  which, 
with  the  Jufiices,  weptayyou  would  ccnfider,  and 
take  f pie dy  Care. 

I  fhal!,  as  to  their  Government,  only  add,  that 
in  their  federal  Plantations  or  town  Ships,  they 
Elect  Three  or  more  to  joyn  wi;h  the  Sachims 
(or  Lords  of  the  Place,)  who  hold  Courts  for 
iffuing  fuch  Contioveiiies  as  happen  among 
ih;m,  the  Sachim  presiding  in  fuch  Courts  ;  or 
in  cafe  he  decline  that  Office,  another  is  Elected 
in  his  Place.  If  either  Party  diflike  the  Judg- 
ment given,  he  Appeal?  to  a  Supeiiour  Court, 
which  cor  lifts  of  (bme  of  the  moft  Efteem'd  of 
each  Place,  being  fome  of  their  Magiftrates, 
where  fome  Principal  Sachim  is  Elected  to 
prefide  lor  one  Year  :  And  from  this  Court  an 
Appeal  lies  to  the  Enghfh  Court. 

In  giving  Judgment,  they  obferve  fuch  Rules 
andOrdeis  made  and  recorded  among  them- 
felve«,  and  the  Englifli  Law,  the  Knowledge 
whereof  they  much  alpire  unto.  They  have 
likewife  fome  among  them,  whom  the  lefs  able 
to  declare  or  defend  their  own  Cafes,  improve 
as  Attomies;  fome  of  which  are,  to  admiration, 
Critical  in  their  Pleadings. 

I  (hall  clofe  the  Whole,  when  I  have  told  the 
Reader,  that  their  Children  are  generally 
taught  to  Read,  and  many  to  Write. 

In  one  of  their  Towns  the  laft  Winter,  viz. 
1693;  Thirty  Children  were  at  School,  Twen- 
ty more  of  the  fame  Place,  at  the  fame  time, 
accidentally,  being  not  fupplied  with  Books, 
could  not  attend  it.  Such  who  are  too  far 
diftant  from  any  School,  are  often  taught  by 
fome  of  their  Neighbours ;  in  divers  places 
are  lefler  Schools. 


THE 


Book  VI,  [be  Hiflory  of  New- England. 


59 


THE 


OS 


JL        JL  • 


HAving  among  many  thing?,  worthy  of 
Notice  in  the  Precedent  Difcourfe,  o- 
mitted  fome  Remaiki^les  of  the  Indian 
Convei Te  with  Infernal  Spirits ;  I  thought  meet 
to  briefly  touch  fome  things  therein  Remarkable, 
and  to  infert  a  Narrative  of  the  Deceafe  of  a 
Prince,  memorable  for  his  forftking  his  People 
for  the  fake  of  Chrift,  and  his  Return  with 
happy  Succefs  in  Profelyting  his  Subje&s  to  the 
Worfhip  of  God  in  Chrift. 

This  I  find  written  on  the  Out-fide  of  a  Book. 
in  the  Library  of  Mr.  John  Mayhew  deceafed  : 
Which  pleafe  to  take  as  followeth. 


'Mitark,  Sachim  (rather  Prince)  of  the  Gay  head, 
'on  Martha's  Vineyard,  Deceafed  January 
'l6Sj. 


<'T",H1S    Prince's  Subjects  being  refolv'd     to 
1  1     continue  in  Heathenifin,  notwithftanding 


'  his  Embracing  theGofpel  ,  grewfo  difaffefted 
'  to  him,  that  he  for  a  time  remov'd  to  the  Eaft 
1  End  of  Martha's  Vineyard  j  whither  after 
1  Three  Years  abode  at  the  faid  Place,  he  again 
'return'd,  having  perfwaded  his  People  into  a 
'  Willingnefs,  that  fuch  who  would,  might 
'  attend  the  Glad  Tidings  he  pretended  to  bring  $ 
'  whereupon  he  himfelf  open'd  to  them  the  My- 
'  fteries  of  the  Gofpel,  difpenfing   the  Word  to 

*  fuch  as  came  to  hear  him  ;  inibmuch  that  at 
1  this  Day  that  People  are  all  Chriftians  by  Pro- 

*  feffion. 

'  The  Day  before  his  Death,  I  being  with 
'  him,  inquired  of  him  concerning  his  Hope, 
'who  after  he  had  Treated  fome  time  of  the 
1  Mutability  of  an  Earthly  Life,  faid,  /  have 
'  bope  in  God,   that  when   my  Soul  departeth  out 

*  of  this  Body,  GOD  will  Jend  his  Mejfengers,  who 
1  (hall  conduct  it  to  Himfelf,  to  he  with  Jefus 
'Cbrift. 

'  And  then  with  great  Earneftnefs  pronoun- 
'  ced  thele  Words :  where  that  Everlafiing  Glory 
1  is  '.     At  for  my  Keafons   (faid  he)   1   my    felf 
1  have  bad  many  Wrongs  of  Enemies,   of  whom  I 


'  have  fought  no  Revenge  ,  ncr  retain  d  Evil  in 
'Thought,  Word  nor  Deed*  and  I  alfo  expect  the 
'  fame  from  God. 

'  But  ('faid  he)  I  proceed  no  further  '.for  God  is 
'  very  Merciful.  Then  I  ask'd  him  of  his  Wil- 
'  lingnels  to  die.  He  reply'd,  It  is  now  Seven 
'  Nights  fince  I  was  taken  Jick,  and  I  have  not 
'  yet  aik'd  of  God  to  live  longer  in  the   World. 

'  In  this  World  are  fome  Benefits  to  be  enjoy  d  J 
1  alfo  many  Troubles  to  be  endured  i  but  with  rejpect 
'  to  the  Hope  1  have  in-  God,  I  am  willing  to  die  : 
'  Here  I  am  in  pain,  there  1  fliall  be  freed  from  all 
'  Pain,  and  enjoy  that  Reft  that  never  endeth. 

'Then  pointing  to  his  Daughters,  faid,  There 
'  be  Three  of  my  Daughters  (relating  how  they 
'  were  difpos'd  of )  And  you,  my  Daughters,  if 
'  you  lofe  your  Father,  Mourn  not  for  me.  but 
'  Mourn  for  ycur  felves,  and  for  your  Sins  : 
'  Mourn  not  for  me  i  for  though  you  are  unwil- 
'  ling  to  fpare  me,  and  1  might  be  helpful  to  you  if 
'  I  [hould  live  longer  in  this  World,  yet  to  die,  is  better 
'for  me. 


Of  Powaws  or  Perfbns  improving  the  In- 
fernal Spirits  to  effed:  their  intended  Malicious 
Harms i  lean  inform  of  a  Converted  Sachim, 
who  in  his  publick  Protefta  tion,  faid  as  follow- 
eth, viz,. 

*  That  he  having  often  employ 'd  his  god, 
'which  appear'd  to  him  in  form  of  a  Snake,  to 
'  Kill,  Wound,  and  Lame  fuch  whom  he  intend- 
1  ed  Mifchief  to,  he  employ'd  the  faid  Snake  to 
'  Kill ;  and  that  failing,  to  Wound  or  Lame 
'  Hiacooms,  the  firft  Convert  on  Martha's  Vine- 
'yard ;all  which  prov'd  ineffectual :  And  having 
'  ierioufly  confider'd  the  laid  Hiacooms's  Afferti- 
'  on,  That  none  of  the  Powaws  could  hurt  him, 
'  fince  his  God  whom  he  now  ferv'd,  was  the 
'  Great  God,  to  whom  theirs  was  fubfervient : 
1  he  refolv'd  to  worfhip  the  True  God  :  From 
c  which  time,  during  Seven  Years,  the  faid  Snake 
1  gave  him  great  Dili urbance  :  But  that  he  never 
'  after  his  praying  to  God  in  Chrift,  imploy'd 
c  that  faid  Snake  in  any  thing,  which  about  that 
'  time  ceas'd  to  appear  to  him. 


A 


6o 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England,  Book  VI. 


A  Further  Account  concerning  the  prefent  State  of  Chrijli- 
anity  among  the  INDIANS  in  other  Parts  of  New- 
England. 


Oncerning  the  further  Progrefs  of  the 

C  Gofpel  among  the  Indians  in  America  , 
the  Reader  may  take  this  following  Ac 
count,  which  is  extracted  out  of  feveral  Letters 
fent  to  the  Reverend  Increafe  Mather,  Pre- 
fident  of  the  College  at  Cambridge  in  New- 
England. 

Mr.  Samuel  Treat,  Paftor  of  the  Church  in 
Fafiham,  in  a  Letter  bearing  Date  Auguft  15. 
1693.  writeth  as  folio weth. 


Reverend  and  Worthy,  Sir, 

I  Being  advertiled,  th.it  it  would  not  be  unfea- 
fonable  or  unlerviceable  at  this  Juncture,  to 
give  your  felf  a  true  and  impartial  Account 
both  of  the  Number,  as  alfo  of  the  prefent 
State  of  our  Indians,  and  Acceptation  and  En- 
tertainment of  the  Gofpel  among  them>  and 
their  profels'd  Subjection  thereunto.  Sir,  You 
may  be  affur'd  as  followeth, 

That  there  are  Five  hundred  and  five  Adult 
Perlons  of  Indians  within  the  Limits  of  our 
Townfliip,  unto  whom  thefe  many  years  paft, 
I  have  from  time  to  tirne  imparted  the  Gofpel 
of  our  Lord  Jefns  in  their  own  Language  fand  I 
truly  hope  not  without  Succefs)  and  yet  I  con- 
tinue in  the  fame  Service,  earneftly  imploring, 
and  not  without  Hopes,  expecting  and  waiting 
for  a  more  plentiful  down-pouring  of  the  Spirit 
from  on  high  among  them  :  And  1  verily  do  not 
know  of,  nor  can  I  learn  that  there  is  fo  much  as 
one  of  thefe  Five  Hundred  Indians  that  does  ob 
ftinately  abfent  from,  but  do  jointly  frequent 
and  attend  on  the  Preaching  of  the  Word,  and 
countenance  the  fame,  not  only  frequenting  and 
attending  Seafons  of  Worfhip  of  a  Divine  San- 
ction, but  alio  all  other  Occafional  Opportuni 
ties,  when  the  Gofpel  is  difpens'd  to  them ;  and 
when  our  Congregations  (blemnize  publick 
Days  of  Prayer  with  Fafttng,  or  of  Praifes  (I  ufu- 
ally  giving  them  Advertilement  thereof)  they 
readily  comply  therewith,  in  their  refpeCtive 
Affemblies. 

They  have  Four  diftinCt  AlTemblies  in  four 
Villages  belonging  to  our  Townfhip,  in  which 
Four  Affemblies  they  Wave  Four  Teachers  of 
their  own  Choice,  of  the  more  Sober,  Well- 
ajfe&ed  and  Vnder (landing  Perfons  among  them, 
who  do  duly  preach  to  them,  when  I  am  not 
with  them :  Thefe  Indian  Teachers  repair  to  my 
Houfe  once  a  Week,  to  be  further  inftruCted  (pro 
Modulo  meo)  in  the  Concernments  proper  for  their 
Service  and  Station. 


There  are  in  the  Four  abovefaid  Villages,  four 
Schoolmnfttrs  (of  the  beft  accomplifh'd  for  that 
ServiceJ  who  teach  their  Youth  to  Read  and 
Write  their  own  Language. 

There  are  alio  Six  Jutlices  of  the  Peace  (or 
MagiftratesJ  in  the  Four  abovefaid  Villages,who 
regulate  their  Civil  Affairs,  and  punifh  Crimi- 
nals and  Tr^.nfgrelTors  of  the  Civil  Law  \  they 
have  their  ftated  Courts  and  other  inferiour  Offi- 
cers in  a  Sublerviency  to  their  Civil  Good 
Order. 

There  are  among  them  many  of  a  Serious, 
Sober,  Civilzed  Convcrjation  and  Deportment,  who 
are  making  EfTays  towards  a  further  progreffive 
Step  of  Obedience  and  Conformity  to  the  Rules 
of  the  Gofpel,  viz.  an  Ecckfiaftical  Combination, 
having  a  great  Defire  to  be  Baptiz'd. 

They  are  very  Serviceable  by  their  Labour  to 
the  Englifli  Vicinity,  and  have  all  along  fince  our 
Wars  with  their  Nation,  been  very  Friendly  to 
the  Englifl),  and  forward  to  ferve  them  in  that 
Quarrel.  Their  Deportment,  and  Convcrfe,  and 
Garb,  being  more  Manly  and  Laudable  than  any 
other  Indians,  that  I  have  obferv'd  in  the  Pro- 
vince. 

Bur,  Sir,  I  would  not  be  Tedious,  only 
craving  your  Intcrefl  at  the  Throne  of  Grace 
for  us,  that  we  may  be  Serviceable  to  the  Name 
and  Kingdom  of  our  LORD  JESUS.  So  I 
fubferibe, 


Eafiham,  Aug. 
*3.l6?l. 


SIR, 
Yours  willingly, 

Samuel  Treat. 


Mr.  Jamts  Noyce  Pallor  of  the  Church  in  Sto- 
nington,  in  a  Letter  dated  the  Fifteenth  of  March 
laft,  wrireth  thus. 


Reverend  Sir, 

YOurs  Ireceiv'd,  and  rejoice  that  Gcd  hath 
flirr'd  up  any  th2t  doth  take  care  and  con- 
tribute towards  the  advancing  Chrift's  Kingdom 
amongft  the  poor  Heathen  ;  and  do  and  did  for- 
merly believe,  that  where  God  fends  Light,  He 
intends  Love  i  and  where,  God  gives  little,  He 
expeCts  lefs  i  and  therefore  the  Labours  of  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Eliot^  Mr.  Mayhew,  &c.  have  not 
been  loft,  they  have  not  Run  in  vain,  but  that 
many  are  gone  to  Heaven  of  their  deceased  Hear- 
ers. And  I  mould  count  it  my  Joy  and  Crown 
to  win  one  Soul  of  them  to  Chriit.     And  am  in 

hope 


Book VI.  The  Hiflory  of  EVew-England. 


61 


hope  that  fome  one  or  two  of  tha  Peqttots,  that 
were  my  Friends,  and  liv'd  on  my  Land,  upon 
my  Endeavour  have  obtain'd  Mercy  now  dead, 
who  dy'd  praying,  renounc'd  wholly  the  way  ot 
the  Heathen  W01  (hip,  &c. 

Alio  foine  of  our  Captive  Servants  profeffing 
the  Faith,  with  many  Tears,  are  baptiz'd,  and 
give  good  Teftimony  in  their  Knowledge,  Con- 
verfe  and  Converfation  of  a  real  gracious  Work 
upon  them. 

1  have  in  my  Houfe  a  witty  hopeful  Sachem's 
Son,  one  of  the  chiefeft  Quality  in  thefe  Parts, 
bound  faff  to  me  to  be  inftrufted  to  Read 
and  Write,  and  in  the  way  ot  Life,  which 
hitherto  gives  great  hopes  and  no  Difcourage 
ment ;  he  is  about  Thirteen  years  of  age.  And 
once  I  had  the  Advantage  to  aftonilh  many  of 
the  Heathen;  and  of  the  chief  of  them,  by  God's 
anfwering  Prayers  in  the  prefence  of  many  Hea- 
then,by  raifing  a  very  fick  Indian  Lad  (Engh(li  alfo 
prefent)  after  the  Lad  was  given  over  by  Indians 
and  EngUfli,  and  was  Speechlefs;  and  feveral 
Powaws  had  Pcwawed,  and  given  that  Sentence, 
that  the  Lad  would  die;  but  he  is  alive  to  this 
day .-  The  Story  is  too  large  to  write,  but  I  believe 
God  did  glorifie  Himfelf  in  the  fight  of  the  Hea- 
then, according  to  humble  and  earned  Petitions, 
made  in  the  Prefence  of  about  Thirty  Heathen  : 
All  feem'd  to  be  much  confounded  and  awaken- 
ed. One  very  Witty  and  Wife  Sachem  there 
prefent,  told  me,  he  would  be  a  Chriftian,  but  he 
was  afraid  his  Heart  would  not  be  right,  without 
which,  Profeflion  would  be  in  vain,  and  he  was 
afraid  Wme  and  Women  would  be  his  Ruine,  he 
(hould  not  forbear,  but  he  own'd  and  almoftall 
prefent,  when  I  pray'd,  our  God  was  the  Great 
and  True  God,  but  they  were  poor  Indians,  and 
they  did  not  know  him.  Of  thefe  things,  and 
much  more  many  Engltjh  Witneffes  are  alive,  but 
fome  are  dead. 

I  have  heard  alfo  the  Reverend  Mr.  fitch  did 
at  the  Requeft  of  the  Mohegs,  keep  a  Faft  for 
Bain,  in  the  time  of  a  great  Drought,  at  the 
Requeft  of  the  Heathen,  when  their  Powaws  had 
long  cried  for  Rain  ;  and  God  anfwer'd  by  fend- 
ing Rain  the  fame  Day,  to  the  great  Aftonifh- 
ment  of  the  Heathen. 


Stonington, 
Mar.  15,9}. 


Tours   to  ferve, 


JAMES  NOYCE. 


Mr.  Rowland  Cotton,  Miniffer  at  Sandwich,  in  a 
Letter  of  June  27.  1695.  writeththus: 


dred  and  Fourteen,  befides  (cvcral  Straglers  that 
have  no  fetled  Place  ;  derepiir  tbitbtr.  To  curry,,?) 
the  Work  of  the  Lord's  Day,  there  ts  appointed  cnc 
Simon  Papmonit:  And  at  other  times  I  fliall  di- 
ligently intend  their  Good  according  to  my  Capa- 
city. 


Sandwich,  June 

17.  1693. 


Reverend  Sir, 
I  defire  your  Bleffing  on 
Your  Servant, 
ROWL.  COTTON 


Mr.  Tbomat  Tupper  alfo  has  given  an  Account 
of  One  hundred  and  eighty  Indians,  unto  whom  he 
does  difpenfe  the  Word,  concerning  whom  he 
has  Charitable  Hopes  that  they  do  (and  that 
with  Zeal  and  Sincerity)  Embrace  the  Gofpel, 
There  are  moreover  in  Plimouth  Colony  about 
Five  hundred  Indians,  amongft  whom  Mr.  John 
Cotton  (Paftor  of  the  Church  in  Vlimouth,  and 
Son  to  the  Famous  Cotton  of  Bofton)  hath  and 
doth  preach  the  Gofpel. 

Likewife  Mr.  Peter  Thatcher,  Paftor  of  the 
Church  in  Milton,  is  a  Faithful  Labourer  among 
the  Indians  at  Putifypaog.  So  is  Mr.  Grindal  Raw 
fon,  Paftorof  the  Church  in  Mendham,  among 
the  Indians  in  thole  Parts ;  and  Mr.  Bondet,  who 
is  Miniffer  to  the  French  Congregation  at  Oxford, 
in  the  Nipmug  Country. 

The  Indian  Church  at  Nat-ick  (which  was  the 
firft  Indian  Church  in  America)  is  fince  blefied 
Eliot's  Death,  much  diminifh'd  and  dwindl'd  a- 
way.  But  Mr.  Daniel  Gookin,  bath  beftow'd  his 
pious  Cares  upon  jt. 

Befides  the  Labours  of  the  Englifli  in  New- 
England,  Mr.  Vellw  (a  Dutch  Minifter)  at  Albany 
has  leamM  the  Language  of  the  Indians  in  thole 
Parts ;  God  has  gracioufly  fmil'd  on  his  Endea- 
vours, fo  as  that  confiderable  Numbers  of  them 
are  converted  to  the  Faith  of  Chrift,  and  there 
isReafon  to  hope  that  what  is  done,  is;butthe 
Firft  Fruits  of  a  Great  Harveft  to  follow. 

Take  the  Account  which  himfelf  giveth  in  a 
Letter  bearing  date  the  it>th  of  January  laft.  His 
Words  are  thefe, 


_ ,— . 1 


— 


Reverend  Sir, 

I  Have  Endeavour  d  to  take  an  Exact  Account  of 
thoje  Indians,  Adult  Perfons,  who  do  constantly 
attend  upon  the  Difpenfation  of  the  Gofpel,  m  the 
Place  that  at  prefent  I  am  concern  d  for.  And  we 
do  find,  that  in  Mafhipau,  Sandtuit,  and  Cotuit 
Villages  bordering  on  each  other,  and  all  belonging  to 
the  fame  AJfembly,  there  are  no  lefs  than  Two  hun- 


Reverend.  Sir, 

[Have  this  to  add  to  my  former,  that  a  Jefuit 
call'd  Milet,  whom  the  Oneydes  took  Prifoner 
about  Four  years  ago,  and  who  is  now  in  that 
Caftle  a  Great  Man  among  them,  ufes  all  his 
Subtilty  to  fruftrate  my  Labours,   by  making 
falle  Impreffions  upon  the  Ivdians  concerning 
our  Religion ;   yet  Almighty  God  is  pleas'd  to 
ftrengthen  my    Profelytes  in  that  way  I  teach 
them,  more  and  more.     Sometimes  there  hap- 
pens Difference  and  Difputes  between  my  Pro- 
'  felytes  and  his  concerning  the  Points  ot  Reli- 
1  gion  ;  but  oursalledge  they  confute  the  others, 
:  This  I  muft  fay  for  them,  that  they  take  a  great 

'deal 


62 


The  tiiflory  of  New-England,  Book  VI. 


'  deal  of  pains,  and  are  very  zealous  to  learn, 
'  and  very  devout  in  their  Practice.  I  am,  under 
c  favour,  of  opinion,  that  the  Jefuit  Catecbifm, 
1  with  the  Cafes  of  ConfcLnce  added  thereto, 
'  writ  by  their  own  Hands,  which  they  learn  the 
{ Indians,  which  is  either  in  your  or  your  Reve 
'  rend  Son,  Mr.  Cotton  Mather's  pofleflion,  may  be 
4  fet  viceable  to  convince  our  Profelytes  and  o- 
'  thers,  French  that  come' here,  of  their  pernicious 
'  Principles ;  and  wi(h  the  fame  might  be  fent 
'  me. 

'  I  had  put  Six  or  Seven  Pfalms  in  their  native 
'  Language  upon  our  Notes,  but  were  not  perfe- 
'  <5ted  j  now  they  are  finiuYd,  and  the  Ten  Com- 
. (  mandments  alio. 

*  The  new  Infant  Church  amongthe  Heathen 
'  increafes,  there  bsing  Seventeen  lalt  Communi- 
'  on  day,  the  Thirty  firft  of   "December  laff,    who 


'took  the  Sacrament  with  us,  and  Four  others 
'  baptiz'd  the  fame  Day.  Thus  God  is  (ought  of 
'  them  that  asked  not  for  him,  and  is  found  of  them 
1  that  /ought  htm  not.  I  think  that  God  has  a 
'great  People  of  them  yet :  The  Lord  fend  a 
'  aBleffing  to  thole  means  that  are  us'd  for  the 
'  Enlargement  of  his  Kingdom  among  them  ; 
'  and  blefs  you,  and  all  that  labour  in  his  Vine 
'  yard  ;  which  (hall  ever  be  the  Praytrs  of  him, 
'  who  is, 

Reverend  Sir, 

Tour  mo  ft  Faithful  and  Obedient 

Servant  in  cur  Lord  Je fits, 
Albany,  Jan. 
16.  1^53,  4.  Godefr.  Dellius. 


A    N 


APPEND 


Relating  Things  greatly  Remarkable }  fete ti d  from  one  little  Ifland 
of  Cbrijl landed  INDIANS. 


IT  is  not  among  the  Engltfh  only,  but  among 
the  Www  alio,  that  our  Glorious  Lord  Je- 
fus  Cbrifi  hath  been  glorify'd  in  doing 
of  Wonders.  And  altho'  fome  of  thole  Wonders 
have  been  mention'd  elfewhere,  but  more  of  'em 
have  been  faultily  bury'd  in  fuch  Oblivion  that 
they  are  never  like  to  have  any  mention  at  all 
in  this  World,  yet  I  am  able  to  furnifh  one  con- 
fiderable  part  of  a  Chapter  in  our  Church  Hiftory, 
with  a  Colledion  of  Remarkables,  fetch'd  from 
no  more  than  one  little  Party  of  Chriftianiz'd 
Indians  >  even  thofe  upon  the  one  little  Ifland  of 
Martha's  Vineyard.  It  is  poflible  that  fome  of 
the  Americans  may  be  the  Pefleritj  of  thofe  Ca 
naanttes,who  after  theWars  of  Canaan,  fet  up  their 
Pillars  in  ^/r;V<*,  with  that  Infcription, 

We  are  of  thofe  that  fled  from  the  Face  of  Jolhua 
the  Robber. 
But  behold,  how  Jefus  the  Saviour  has  follow'd 
them,  and  conquer'd  them  with   his   Glorious 
Grace! 

Reader,  Stand  ftitt,  and  confider  the    U'ondrous 
Works  of  God  I 

(  I.  )    lie   UNKNOWN  GOD   wonderfully 
making  himfelf  known  to  a  poor  Pagan. 

How  far  ourSovereign  and  Gracious  God  may 
in  an  Extraordinary  Manner  difcover  of  himlelf 
unto  fome  among  the  poor  Pagans  that  have  not 
enjoy'd  the  preaching  of  the  Gofpel,  who  can 
particularly  determine?  Wonderful  is  the  Story 


which  we  have  in  Aquinas,  of  a  Corpfe  taken  up 
out  of  a  Sepulchre  in  the  Days  oiconftantine  and 
Irene,  which  had  on  it  a  Plate  of  Gold,  whereon 
thefe  Words  were  Engrav'd  : 

Chrifltu  nafcetur  ex   Virgine,  Ego  credo  in  ilium  : 
O  Sol,  (ub  Irenes  &  Conltantini  Tcmporibus 
iterum  me  videbis. 

A  Story  ib  wonderful  will  not  engage  me  to 
write  pro  Salute  Ariftctelu  \  or  to  defend  a  Prcb 
lem  advane'd  even  by  fome  of  our  own  great  Re- 
formers, De  s.nimabusP  aganerum  ;  Iftfl  I  incur  r  the 
Cenfure  palled  by  one  of  the  Ancients,  on  thofe 
who  endeavour  to  prove  Plato  a  Chriliian,  till 
they  prove  themlelves  little  better  than  Heathen. 
It  is  indeed  a  Principle  in  the  A  leer  an  of  Mahomet, 
That  Let  a  Man's  Religion  be  what  1:  v  ill,  ie  (hall 
be  fav"d,  if  he  conlciintioufly  live  up  to  the  Rules 
of  it.  And  it  is  fitter  for  Mahometans  than 
for  Chriftians  to  maintain  a  Principle  fo  deioga- 
tory  unto  the  Vertue  of  the  Gofpei,  which,  if  it 
be  Hid,  it  is  Hid  unto  them  that  be  left.  None  more 
fincerely  than  we  Non  Cenformijls,  do  fubferibe 
unto  that  Article  of  the  Church  of  England, 
They  are  to  be  held  Accurfed,  who  frejume  to  jay, 
That  every  Man  flail  be  fav'd  by  the  Law  or  Seel 
which  he  proftffeth,  fo  that  he  be  diligent  to  frame  his 
Life  according  to  that  Law  and  Light  of  Nature  : 
For  Holy  Scripture  djh  fet  out  unto  us  cr,l)  the  Name 
of  Jefus  Chrift,  whereby  Men  muff  be  Javd- 

But 


Book  VI.  The  Hiftory  of  New- England 


6? 


But  I  will  wholly  leave  my  Reader  to  his  own 
Judgment  on  another  Story  fomewhat  wonder- 
ful. 

Pammehanuit  an  Indian  of  prime  Quality,  on 
Martha's  Vineyard  ,  and  his  Wife    having  buried 
their  five  firft  Children  fucceffively,  every  one  of 
them  within  ten  Days  of  their  Birth,    notwith 
ftanding  all  their  Ule  of  Powaws  and  of  Medi- 
cines, to  preferve  them,  they  had  a  fixth  Child 
(a  Son  J  born  about  the  Year  1638,  which  was 
a  few  Years  before  the  Englifh  firlf  fetledon  that 
Vineyard.     The  Mother  was  greatly  perplexed 
with  Fear  that  (he  mould  lofe  this  Child,  like  the 
Former:  And  utterly  defpairing   of  any  Help 
from  fuch  means  as  had  been  formerly   tried 
with  lb  little  fucceff,  as  foon  as  the  was  able , 
(which  among  the  Indians  is  quickly  and  within 
lefs  than  Ten  Days)  with  a  forrowful  Heart,  (he 
took  up  her  Child,  and  went  out  into  the  Field, 
that    (he  might  there  weep  out    her   Sorrow^. 
While  (he  was  here  mufing  on  the   Infufii-iency 
of  all  Humane  Help,  (he  felt  it  powerfully  fug* 
gelled  unto  her  Mind,  That  there  is  one  Almighty 
God  who  is  to  be  prafd  unto  :  That    this   God  hath 
created  all  the  Things  that  we  fee :    and    That  the 
God  who  had  given  Being  to  her  felf^   and  all  othtr 


was 


eajily  abl 


People,  and  given  her  Child  unto  her 
to  continue  the  Life  of  her  Child. 

Hereupon  this  poor  blind  Pagan  refolv'd,  That 
(he  would  feek  unto  This  GOD  for  that  Mercy, 
and  (he  did  accordingly.  The  Iffue  was,  that 
her  Child  liv'd  ;  and  her  Faith  (fuch  as  it  was} 
in  Him,  who  thus  anfwer'd  her  Prayer,  was 
wonderfully  ftrengthen'd :  The  Confideration 
whereof  caib'd  her  to  Dedicate  this  Child  unto 
the  Service  of  that  God,  who  had  preferv'd  his 
Life ;  and  Educate  him  as  far  as  might  be,  to  be- 
come the  Servant  of  God. 

Not  long  after  this,  the  Englifo  came  to  fettle 
on  Martha's  Vine-far d  ;  and  the  Indians,  who  had 
been  prefent  at  (bme  of  the  Englifh  Devotions, 
reported,  That  they  affembled  frequently  toge- 
ther ;  and  that  the  Man  who  fpoke  among  'em, 
often  Iook'd  upwards.  This  Woman,  from  this 
Report,  prefently  concluded,  That  their  AlTem 
blies  were  for  Prayers ;  and  that  their  Prayers 
were  unto  that  very  God,  whom  (he  had  addref- 
fed  for  the  Life  of  her  Child.  She  was  confirm'd 
in  this,  when  the  Gofpel  was  not  long  after  prea- 
ched by  Mr.  Mayhew  to  the  Indians  there ;  which 
Gofpel  (he  readily,  and  cheat  fully,  and  heartily 
embrac'd.  And  in  theConfeffion  that  (he  made 
publickly  at  her  Admiflion  into  the  Church,  (he 
gave  a  Relation  of  the  preparation  tor  the  Know- 
lege  of  Chri(l ,  wherewith  God  in  this  wonderful 
Way  had  fa  vour'd  her.     But  that  which  adds  to 


His  Name  is  Japhet. 

(  If.  )    A  Miracle. 

AChriftian  Indian  living  at  Martha's  Vine- 
yard, had  his  Arm  fo  wither'd,  that  he  could 
make  no  ufe  of  it.  Upon  which  occifion  he 
went  unto  divers  of  his  Relations,  defiling  them 
to  join  with  him  in  Prayer  for  the  Recovery  of 
his  Arm.  He  could  find  no  Faith  in  any  of  'em 
lbout  the  matter,  except  fbme  little  in  his  Wife  ; 
■vith  whom  therefore  he  fet  apart  a  time  fblemn- 
ly  to  feek  after  Chrift,  in  the  Cafe  which  thus 
Jiffrefs'd  him  :  And  behold,  he  was  quickly  after 
his  perfectly  reftor'd,  unto  the  Aifonifhmsnc  of 
dl  his  Neighbours. 

It  is  a  remarkable  PafTage  which  Mr.Damd 
R'gers  hath  (in  his  Haaman)  abut  our  New-Eng- 
fh  Plantations,  Who  can  or  ddre  deny  but  that  the 
Calling  of  thofi  Americans  to  the  Knowledge  of  the 
Truth,  may  feem  a  weighty  Occafion  to  expect  from 
God  the  Gift  of  Miracles  ?  Behold,  Reader,  the 
Expectation  remarkably  accommodated  ! 

(III.  )  Wondrous   Anfwers  of  Devout  Prayers 
among  the  Chrift ian  Indians. 


Our  Chriftian  Indians  are  diftinguifh'd  by 
the  Name  of  Praying  Indians  :  And  when 
they  have  become  Chnfttan,  they  have  been  fa- 
vour'd  by  Heaven,  with  notable  SuccefTes  of  their 
Praying. 

There  liv'd  at  Martha's  Vineyard  a  Godly  Indi- 
an, call'd  William  Lay,  who  was  both  a  Magiilrate 
and  a  Mimfler  among  his  Countreymen.  This 
Man  was  in  the  year  1690.  vilited  with  a  fore 
Fit  of  Sicknefs,  which  prevaifd  upon  him  fo  far, 
that  he  lay  fpeechlefs,  in  the  laft  Conflicl:  with 
Death,  as  his  Friends  apprehended,  for  feveral 
Days  together.  At  length  his  Wife  fiippofing  his 
End  very  near,  delired  Japhet  the  Paflor  of  the 
Indian  Church  to  pray  with  him,  who  coming  to 
the  Houfe,  could  fcarce  perceive  any  Life  now 
left  in  him.  However,  Japhet  would  not  pray 
at  this  time  without  firft  finging  a  Pfalm  ;  and 
particularly,  the  Eleven  firft  Verfes  of  the  eighty 
eighth  Pfalm. 

Now  they  had  hardly  fang  two  Verfes  before 
;he  dying  Man  began  to  revive,  and  ftir  up  his 
Eyes,  and  move  his  Lips,  and  lift  his  Hands  > 
and  then  he  began  to  ling  with  them,  and  quick- 
ly his  Voice  was  as  high,  if  not  higher,  than  any 
of  theirs.  Thus  he  continu'd  finging,  with  his 
Hands  lifted  up  until  they  concluded  :  And  then 
laying  down  his  Hands,  he  feem'd  again  fallen 
into  his  dying  pofture.  Japhet  then  goes  to 
prayer,   and  loon  after  Prayer  was  begun,  the 


this  Wonder,  is,  that  this  very  Child  has  prov'd  |  lick  Man  began  once  more  to  revive  :  And  lift- 
an  Eminent  Preacher  of  Chrift  unto  the  other  ing  up  his  Hand,  he  got  Japhet  by  the  Hand, 
Indians.  He  is  living  at  this  time  [16961a  very  and  held  him  till  Prayer  was  ended  ;  and  then 
Religious  Chriftian,  and  a  Laborious  Miniftcr,  •  he  immediately  open'd  his  mouth  in  the  praifes 
and  one,  who  not  only  is  Paftor  to  an  Indian  of  God,  who,  he  faid,  had  heard  Prayer  on  his 
Church  on  Martha's  Vineyard,  confifting  of  behalf,  and gractoufly  reflor'd  him  from  the  Mouth 
fome  Scores  of  Regenerate  Souls,  but  alfb  of  the  Grave,  that  he  might  fee  his  Goodnefs  in  the 
has  taken  pains  to  carry  the  Gofpel  unto  \  World  ^  and  he  believ'd  would  be  few  Life  Eternal 
other  Indians  on  the  Main  Land  with  a  Notable  j  upon  him  in  the  World  to  come. 
EffecT:  thereof,  I  i  i  i  i  i  Tha 


64 


The  Hijlory  of  New-England.  Book  VI» 


The  Man  recover'd,  and  walk'd  abroad : 
But  about  half  a  Year  after  this,  he  fell  into  ano- 
ther Sicknefs,  whereof  he  dy'd. 

Another  veiy  notable  Anfwer  of  Prayer,  did 
Abel  AoJJbowe,  an  Elder  of  the  Www  Church  at 
Martha's  Vineyard,  count  himfelf  oblig'd  unto 
Heaven  for.  In  the  Month  of  January  1685, 
he  with  his  Wife,  undertook  to  pafs  over  Monu- 
ment Bay,  about  five  Leagues,  in  a  little  Canoo  ; 
but  when  they  were  got  a  little  more  than  half 
way,  the  Ice  came  lo  upon  them,  as  to  enclofe 
them  on  every  fide,  and  cover  the  Water  as  far 
as  ever  they  could  fee. 

They  were  now  in  extream  Diftref?,  and 
cry'd  unto  God  with  Eai  neft  Prayers  for  Deli- 
verance ;  but  efpecially  for  the  Salvation  of  their 
Soul?,  which  they  thought  was  all  they  had  now 
to  hope  for. 

In  this  Diflrefs  they  continu'd  for  feveral 
Hours ;  but  at  length,  immediately  after  one  of 
their  Prayers,  the  Ice  open 'd  juft  at  the  Head  of 
their  Canoo.,  and  went  on  opening  to  them  ;  fo 
that  they  had  a  Free,  tho'  a  (freight  PalTage  to 
the" Shore,  for  divers  Miles  together ;  the  Ice  do- 
ling (till  together  again  jult  as  the  Canoo  had  paf- 
fed  it.  Their  Friends  on  the  Shore  beholding 
fome  of  their  Diftrefs,  but  unable  to  help  them 
in  it,  beheld  alfo  with  Aftonifhment  the  Relief 
thus  granted  them,  and  gave  them  a  joyful  Wel- 
come. 

(IVJ    A  notable  Conversion  of  an  Objiinate 

Infidel. 

Reader,  Behold  one  faved  as  by  Fire  ! 

No  longer  ago  than  the  Year  i  695,  about  the 
beginning  of  Otlobcr,  the  Spirit  of  our  Loid  Jefus 
Chriff  mov'd  the  Heart  of  Japhet  for  to  carry 
his  Gofpel  unto  the  Indians  in  a  Plantation,  which 
hitherto  were  without  the  Knowledge  of  the 
Great  Salvation.  Thefe  Indians  were,  by  the 
Bleffing  of  Heaven,  on  the  Preaching  of  Ja- 
phet, brought  generally  to  iubjecT  themlelves  un- 
to the  Goipel.  Yet  there  was  One  Man  among 
them,  at  firft  very  obftinate  ;  who  nevertheleis 
after  much  Obftinacy,  promis'd  at  length  to  for- 
fake  hisHeatbenifm,  and  embrace  the  Religionof 
Chrifi.  But  when  Japhet  was  gone  off,  this 
Man  goes  to  his  Brother,  and  expreffes  his  Dif- 
likeof  theChrifHan  Religion,  and  fignifies  that 
"lie  would  return  to  his  old  Heathenish  Cu Horns. 
His  Brother  diifwaded  him  from  this  Apoftacy, 
and  reminded  him  of  his  Prorniles;  but  withal 
: old  him,  That  if  he  did  fcrjake  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift,  he  might  expect  fome  dreadjul  Judgment 
from  that  Glorious  Lord  upon  htm. 

He  took  not  his  Brothel's  Council  ;  and  with- 
in a  few  Days  the  awful  Judgment  of  God  over- 
took him.  His  Houie  was  confum'd  by  Fire; 
and  his  Three  Children,  which  were  all  he  had, 
confum'd  in  it  ;  but  by  what  means  the  Fire  was 
kindled,  it  could  never  be  known. 

The  Man  was  gone  from  home  ;  and  at  his 
Return,  feeing  Jo  horrid  a  Spectacle,  as  his  Fa 
milyin  Afhes,  he  fill  horribly  dittracted,  conti 


nuing  in  his  Diftra&ion  a  whole  Day  together- 
But  then  he  came  to  himfelf,  and  immediately 
acknowledged,  That  what  had  befallen  him,  -was  a 
juft  Hand  of  God  upon  him  for  his  Unbelief.  He 
profefied  his  unfeigned  Sorrow  for  his  Impiety, 
and  renewed  his  Promiies  to  yield  Obedience 
unto  the  Gofoel  >  and  hath  ever  fince conformed 
his  Life  according  to  thofe  Promifes. 

(V.;  An  horrid  MURDER  ftrangely  de- 

teiled  and  repented. 

The  moll  barbarous  People  in  the  World  can- 
not forbear  obferving,  That  ^Murderer,  Vengeance 
\fujferetb  not  to  live.  Thofe  Children  of  Cam  of- 
ten promife  to  themfelves  a  Concealment  of 
their  Villany :  But  a  BefJ'us  will  find  the  very 
Swallows  to  chirrup  out  his  Murder  of  his  Father. 
A  Barbarorss  People  become  Chnftian,  (hall  bring 
inone  toincreafe  the  Number  of  the  Examples 
which  verifie  that  Oblervation. 

About  the  Year  1668,  an  Indian  Squaw  was 
was  found  murdered  at  Martha's  Vineyard,  and 
the  Neighbourhood  fufpected  an  Indian  Man, 
whole  Name  was  Pamahtuk,  to  be  the  Author  of 
the  Murder.  Neverthelefs,  upon  his  Examina- 
tion, he  deny'd  that  Fact ;  and  becaufe  the  Fact 
could  not  be  proved  againft  him,  he  was  left  at 
liberty. 

More  than  twenty  years  after  this  there  was 
another  Indian  Squaw  found  murdered ,  and  this  I 
Pamahtuk,  with  fome  others,   were  thereupon 
queftioned,  who  all  denied  the  Murder  i  nor  was 
there  any  Evidence  to  convict  them  of  it. 

Hereupon  an  Indian  preient,  moved  that  Pa- 
mahtuk might  be  again  interrogated  concerning 
the  Murder  committed  fo  many  Years  ago ;  and 
behold  the  poor  Creature  immediately  confefled 
himfelf  Guilty  of  that  Old  Murder  ;  and  after  a 
fair  Trial,  was  executed  for  it. 

He  confelTed  that  he  killed  the  Squaw,  to  hide 
her  being  with  child  by  him  [AOiwe  feverely 
punifiied  among  the  Chrijlian  Indians.^  But  now, 
inffeadof  his  hiding  hisSin,  he  laid,  his  Sin  had 
found  him  out.  He  leemed  very  penitent  >  and 
when  he  came  to  the  place  of  Execution,  he  de- 
claredj  That  as  heju/lly  deferved,  fo  he  was  freely 
willing  to  die  »  and  that  he  had  enjoyed  more  Peace 
of  Confcience  in  a  few  days,  now  fince  he  confejftd  hit 
Crime,  than  he  had  for  many  years  before.  Seve- 
ral of  the  Indian  Preachers,  and  others,  did  feri- 
oufly  apply  themfelves  to  him  with  fuch  Advice, 
as  they  judg'd  fuitable  for  him  ;  and  particular- 
ly one  of  them  told  him,  That  though  he  had  been 
(landing  idle  till  the  Eleventh  Hour  ;  yet  if  he  would 
now  at  la  ft  believe  on  the  Lord  J  ejus  Chrifi ,  be 
(liould  certainly  be  accepted. 

Whereupon  heearneftly  deliredthe  Spectators 
to  take  fpecial  notice  of  his  End,  and  be  warn- 
ed thereby  to  take  heed  of  the  Sins  which  had 
brought  him  thereunto ;  befeeching  their  Pray- 
ers for  him,  and  profeffing  their  Hopes  of  Mercy 
from  God  through  our  Lord  Jefus  Civ  iff. 

In 


Book  VI,  f  be  Htflory  of  New- England. 

In  tine,  being  asked  concerning  the  tatter 
Murder,  he  anlwet'd,  That  he  was,  as  to  that, 
wholly  innocent  s  adding,  That  he  was  now  go 
ingrodie,  and  he  knew  no  Reafbn,  why  he 
fliould  not  confefs  That,  as  well  as  the  other,  if 
he  had  been  guilty  of  it. 


65 


(  VI.  )  Sadduci/rnus  Triumphatus. 

Come  hither,  ye  prophane  Sadducees,  that  will 
not  believe  the  Being  o*  a  Devil,  tor  fear  left  you 
irtu ft  thence  inter  the  Being  of  a  God.  We  will 
relate  tome  things  well  known  to  prudent  and 
honeft  Witnelfes :  And  when  you  have  read  this 
Relation,  Mock  on  ! 

The  Indians  of  Marthti  Vineyard,  who  are  now 
ierious  Chriffians,  will  upon  their  own  too  cei- 
tain  Knowledge,  abundance  of  their  acknow 
ledge  the  Witchcrafts  wherein  they  had  actual 
Conventions,  and  explicit  Confederacies  with 
Devils,  while  they  were  yet  Pagans.  They 
know,  That  many  Perfons  among  them  have 
been  bv  the  Zeal  of  their  Parents,  dedicated  un- 
to their  Infernal  Gods,  and  educated  for  the  fpe 
cial  Service  of  thole  Gods ;  but  that  the  Damons 
accept  only  fbme  here  and  there,  to  make 
dangerous  Pcwaws  or  Wizzards  of  them.  They 
know  that  thefe  Powaws  often  imploy  their  T>£ 
mons  to  fmite  their  Neighbours  with  Blindneis 
and  Lamenefs,  and  other  Mifchiefs ;  and  fome- 
times  to  kill  them,  and  fometimes  to  cure  their 
Maladies. 

They  know  that  their  manner  is,  to  form  a 
piece  of  Leather  like  an  Arrowhead,  and  then 
tie  an  Hair  unto  it ;  or  take  a  Bone  of  fome  dead 
Creature  :  Over  thefe  things  they  ufe  magical 
Ceremonies,  whereupon  a  Ditnon  prefentlyfhat- 
ches  them  away,  and  conveys  them  into  the 
Bodies  of  the  Perfbns  to  be  afflicted  :  Or,  fome- 
times the  T>£mon  pretends  unto  them,  that  he 
brings  a  Portion  of  the  Spiritof  the  Perfon  clofe- 
ly  imprifon'd  in  a  Fly  ;  and  as  they  deal  with 
the  Fly,  lo  it  fares  with  the  Body  of  the  Perfon 
intended. 

It  would  fill  a  Volume  to  recite  the  incontefta- 
ble  Inftances  which  that  Ifland  hath  had  of  thefe 
Witchcrafts ;  but  before  the  Go  (pel,  and  Power, 
and  Spiritof  CHRIST,  they  have  been  happily 
extinguifh'd. 


One  well-known  Voivaw,  whole  Faculty 
chiefly  lay  in  difcovering  and  recovering  of 
Stolen  Goods,  by  the  Help  of  a  God  (ubjtrvient 
(he  faid)  unto  him  whom  the  Englifo  worshipped  , 
had  a  Wife  who  was  a  Godly  Chriftian;  and 
this  not  only  with  the  Approbation,  but  by  the 
Encouragement  of  her  Husband.  She  conftant- 
ly  pray'd  in  her  Husband's  Family,  and  attended 
the  publick  Worfhipon  the  Lord's  Days:  He  de- 
claring, That  he  could  not  blame  her,  for  fl>e  fervd 
a  God  that  was  above  his  :  But  as  for  himfelf,  be 
could  not  forfake  the  Service  of  hts  own  lejfer  God,  be- 
ing Co  much  obligd  by  hu  Kmdnejjes. 

Another  well  known  Powaw  defigning  to  kill 
an  Indian  who  accidentally  lodg'd  in  the  Houfe 
with  him  and  his  Brother,  went  forth  toinGhant 
an  Hair.  While  he  was  abroad,  his  Brother  al- 
ter'd  his  Place  about  the  Fire,  where  they  flepc, 
and  the  ftrange  Indian  came  into  his  Place. 
The  Conjurer  coming  in  with  his  Dcvilifh  Im- 
plement, gave  it  a  Direction  to  the  Back  of 
his  Enemy,  which  by  his  Miftake,  prov'd  his 
Brother ;  and  the  Devil  therewith  immediately 
kill'd  him. 

Afterwards  he  would  on  all  Occafions  griev- 
oufly  lament  unto  the  Englilh  the  Difafter  of 
this  Mif-app'ication. 

There  was  a  Prince  on  this  Ifland,  who 
upon  his  Converfion  to  God,  made  this  Con- 
feffion  unto  the  Church  whereto  he  join'd 
himfelfi  That  being  a  Powaw,  he  had  often 
employ'd  his  God  ,  who  appear'd  unto  him 
ftill  in  the  Form  oi  a  Snake,  to  kill,  wound, 
and  lame,  fuch  as  he  defign'd  Mifchiet  unto 
But,  that  employing  the  laid  Snake  to  hurt  the 
firft  Indian  that  became  a  Chriftian  on  this 
Ifland,  all  prov'd  ineffectual,  according  to  the 
Affertion  of  that  memorable  Indian,  That  none 
of  the  Powaws  could  hurt  him  »  for  his  God  was 
greater  than  any  of  theirs. 

Hereupon  he  refblved  himfclf  to  become  a 
Chriftian,  and  worfliip  the  True  God  :  From 
which  time  for  Seven  Years  together,  that 
Snake  often  annoy'd  him  with  fore  Diftur- 
bances. 


I  i  iiii    2 


CHAP. 


66 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


Book  VI- 


HAP.     VII.      Thaumat  agraphia  (pneumatic  a. 


(Relating  the  Wonders  of  the  inlnftble  World  in  (preternatural  Occurrences. 


Miranda  cano,  fed  funt  creden  da.  ■ 


^X  7  HEN  Two  Goats  were  offered  unto  the  , 
VV  Lord  ('and  only  unto  the  Lord  J  on  the 
Day  of  Expiation,  among  the  Ancient  lfraelites, 
we  read  that  one  of  them  was  to  fall  by  Lot  un- 
to Az.az.el.  Az.av.el  cannot  without  fome  Hard- 
fhip  on  the  Senfe,  be  taken  for  the  Name  of 
the  Scape-Goat  it  (elf;  But  it  is  no  other  than  the 
Name  of  the  Devil  himfelf,as  might  ea  fily  be  pro- 
ved from  the  Monuments  of  the  greateft  both 
Jewifli  and  Chriftian  Antiquities. 

In  the  Signification  of  the  Word  Az.az.el 
there  is  indeed  a  notable  Declaration  of  thole 
Two  Properties  that  have  fignaliz'd  the  Devil ; 
his  being  firft  a  powerful,  and  than  an  Apolfate 
Spirit.  [W]  Fortis  ,  &  [ty]  Aliens,  Fugi- 
ens.  The  Scape-Goat,  prefented  as  a  Sacrifice  un- 
to the  Holy  God  j  was  order'd  by  him  to  be  de- 
livered up  unto  Az.az.el  upon  thefe  two  Intenti 
ons.  One  Defign  hereof  might  be  to  intimate 
unto  the  People  what  would  be  the  miferable 
Condition  of  them,  who  did  not  by  Faith  in 
the  Meffiah  get  the  Guilt  of  their  Sins  removed. 
They  that  have  their  Sins  lying  upon  them,  and 
are  led  forth  with  the  Workers  of  Iniquity,  muft  be- 
come a  prey  to  Az.az.el,  even  to  Satan,  unto 
whofe  Temptation  they  did  in  their  Sinning 
yield  Obedience.  And  indeed  our  Lord  has  ex- 
prefly  told  us  ("perhaps  not  without  fome  Allufion 
to  this  Levitical  Goat)  that  he  will  fend  the  Goats 
which  have  their  Sins  upon  them,  to  be  with  the 
Devil  and  his  Angels. 

But  another  and  a  greaterDefign  of  ir,mightbe 
to  reprefent  a  main  Article  in  the  dreadful  Suffer- 
ings which  were  to  befal  our  Lord  Meffiah  when 
he  fhould  come  to  fuffer  for  our  Sins.  When  our 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift  underwent  his  Humiliation  for 
us,  this  point  was  very  confiderable  in  it ;  he  was 
carried  into  the  Wildernefs,  and  there  he  was 
expos'd  unto  the  Buffetings  and  Outrages  of  A- 
zazel.  The  Affaults  that  Satan  then  and  after- 
wards made  on  our  Lord  Jelus  Chrift,  producing 
a  moft  horrible  Anguifh  in  his  Mind,  made  fuch 
a  Figure  in  his  Conflicts  for  us,  that  they  were 
well  worthy  of  a  moft  particular  Prefiguration. 
And  one  thing  in  the  Trefiguration  muft  be,  That 
the  Goat  for  Az.az.el  muft  be  fent  into  the  Defart. 
In  the  days  of  Mofes  it  feems  Defarts  were  coun- 
ted very  much  an  Habitation  of  Devils :  Yea, 
they  really  were  what  they  were  counted  :  And 
for  that  caule  the  Names  of  Shedim  and  Zijim, 
were  put  upon  them  ;  and  when  the  Scriptures 
foretel  Defolations  to  fuch  and  fuch  places,  they 
ftill  make  the  Devils  to  be  their  Inhabitants. 

Who  can  tell  whether  the  Envy  of  the  Devils 
at  the  Favour  of  God  unto  Men,  may  not  pro 
voke  them  to  affedi  Retirement  from  the  fight  of 


populous  and  profperous  Regions,  except  fo  far 
as  they  reckon  their  Work  of  Tempting  Man- 
kindneceffary  to  be  car ry'd  on?  Or,  perhaps,  it 
is  not  every  Countrey,  before  which  the  Devils 
prefer  the  Defarts.  Regions  in  which  the  Derils 
are  much  ferv'd  by  thofeUfages,  either  in  Wor- 
fhip  or  Manners,  which  are  plealing  tothem,  are 
by  thole  doleful  Creatures  enough  reforted  unto  : 
Yea,  if  Sin  much  abound  any  where,  fome  De- 
vils entreat  that  they  may  not  be  fent  from  thence 
into  the  TVtldanefs.  But  Regions,  like  the  Land 
of  Jfrael,  where  the  trueGod  is  continually  pray'd 
unto,  and  where  the  Word  of  God  is  continually 
founding,  are  filled  with  fuch  things  as  are  very 
uneafieunto  the  Devils :  The  Devils  often  recede 
much  from  thence  into  the  Wildernefs,  as  the 
Devil  of  Majcon  would  fay  to  Mr.  Perreaud  the 
Mimfler  that  hVd  in  the  haunted  Houfe  ,  While 
you  go  to  prayer,  I'll  go  lake  a  turn  in  the  Street. 

Thus  to  omit  what  Alexander  Hales  reports  of 
one  retiring  adloca  deftituta  cmnt  Habit  at  or  e,vi  neve 
Spirits  taught  him  the  things  which  he  wrote  in 
his  Book  de  Magic'u  >  we  know  that  in  Lucian  the 
famous  Ma.g\c\a.nMitbrobarzancs,w'uh  hisCompa- 
nions  betook  ihemfelves  «  7*  %oflov  'ipH/xov,  ^  uabJW, 
>@.i  aci'iA/or,  into  a  Defart,  woody,  jhady  Regton  for  a 
Conversion  withSpirits. 

Whatever  becomes  of  the  Obfervation  which 
we  have  hitherto  been  making,  there  has  been 
too  much  caufe  to  obferve,  that  the  Chrifiians 
who  were  driven  into  the  American  Defart,  which 
is  now  called  New  England,  have  to  their  fbrrow 
{eenAz.az.el  dwelling  and  raging  there  in  very 
Tragical  Inffances.  The  Devils  have  doubrleis 
felt  a  more  than  ordinary  Vexation  from  the  Ar- 
rival of  thofe  Chriftians  with  their  facred  Ex- 
ercifesof  Chrifiianity  in  this  Wildernefs:  But 
the  Sovereignty  of  Heaven  has  permitted  them 
ftill  to  remain  in  the  Wildernefs,  for  our  Vexa- 
tion as  well  as  their  own. 

Moleftations  from  Evil  Spirits,  in  more  fenfi- 
ble  and  furp;ifing  Operations  than  thofe  Finer 
Methods  wherein  they  commonly  work  upon 
the  Minds  of  all  Men,  but  efpecially  of  III  Men, 
have  fb  abounded  in  this  Countrey,  that  I  que- 
ftion  whether  any  one  Town  has  been  free  from 
fad  Examples  of  them.  The  Neighbours  have 
not  been  careful  enough  to  Record  and  At t eft  the 
prodigious  Occurrences  of  this  Importance, 
which  have  been  among  us.  Many  True  and 
Strange  Occurrences  from  the  invihble  World, 
in  thefe  parts  of  the  World,  are  faultily  buried 
inOblivion  Butfbmeof  thofe  very  ftup<  r,d'- 
ous  Thinp  had    •    ;    A4<mcry  prefen        n 

the  written  • 


Book  VI.  The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


67 


Faithful  Men  ;  whofe  Veracity  in  the  Relations 
cannot  without  great  Injury  be  queftion'd. 

Of  thefe  I  will  now  offer  the  Publick  fome 
Remarkable  Hiftories  ;  for  every  one  of  which 
we  have  had  fuch  a  fuffic'tent  Evidence,  that  no 
Reasonable  Man  in  this  whole  Counrrey  ever  did 
queftion  thsm  ;  and  it  will  be  unteafonable  to 
Jo  it  in  any  other.  For  my  own  part,  I  would 
be  as  exceedingly  afraid  of  writing  a  Falje  Thing, 
as  of  doing  an  linking:  But  have  my  Pen  al- 
ways move  in  the  Fear  of  God. 

The  Firjt  Example. 

Ann  Cole,  a  Perfon  of  ferious  Piety,  living  in 
the  Houle  of  her  Godly  Father  at   Hertford,  in 
the  year  1661,  was  taken  with  very  Orange  Fits 
wherein  her  Tongue  was  improv'd  by  a  Demon, 
to  exprefs  things  unknown  to  her  (elf.     The  ge- 
neral Purpofe  of   the   Dilcourfe,    which    held 
fbmetimes  for  a  confidsrable  while,  was,    that 
fuch  and  fuch  Perfons  named  in  the   Difcourfc, 
were  confulting  how  they  might  carry  on   mil 
chievousDefigns  againft  her  and  feveral  others, 
by  afflidHng  theii  Bodies  or  deftroying  their  good 
Names;  upon  all  which,    the  general     Anfwer 
heard  among  thefe  Invifible  Speakers,  was,  Ah  I 
/be  runs  to  the  Rock.  .'     After  fuch  an    Entertain 
ment   had   held  for  fome    Hours,  the  Damons 
were  heard  faying.  Let  as  confound  her    Language, 
thatflje  may  tell  no  more  Tales.     Whereupon   the 
Conference  became  unintelligible  to  the    Stand- 
ers  by  i  and  then  it  pafs'd  in  a  Dutch  Tone,  giv- 
ing therein  an    Account  of  Mifchiefs  that  had 
befallen  divers  Perfons,  and  amongft  the  reft, 
what  had  befallen  to  a  Woman  that    liv'd   next 
Neighbour  to  a  Dutch  Family  then  in  the  Town, 
which  Woman  had  been  preternatural!)'  indif 
pos'd.     Several    eminent    Minifters  wrote  the 
Speeches  of  the  Spirits,  thus  heard  in  the  mouth 
of  this  Ann  Cole ;  and  one  of  the  Perfons  there- 
in mention'd,  as  active  in  the  matter  then  fpoken 
of  f  whofe  Name  was  Greenfmith)  being  then  in 
Prifon  on  fufpicion  of  Witchcraft,   was  brought 
before  the    Magiftrates.     The    Minifters  now 
reading  to  her  what  they  had  written,  fhe  with 
Aftonifhment,  confefs'd  that  the  Things  were  fo, 
and  that  fhe  with  other  Perfons,   nam'd  in   the 
Papers,  had  Familiarity  with  a  Devil.    She  faid 
that  fhe  had  not    yet  made  a  Formal  Covenant 
with  her  Devil,  but  only  promis'd ,    That  (he 
would  go  with  him,  when  he  call'd  her,   which 
fhe  had  (undry  times  done  accordingly  :  And, 
that  he  told  her,    that  at    Chnjlmas  they  would 
have  a  merry  Meeting,    and  then  the  Agreement 
between  them  fhould    be    fubferibed.     She   ac- 
knowledge the  Day  following,  That  when  the 
Minifters  began  to  read  what  they  did,  fhe  was 
in  fuch  a  Rage,    that  (he  could  have  torn  them 
to  pieces ;  and  fhe  was  refolv'd  upon  the  Denial 
of  her  Guilt:  But  atter  they  had  read  a    while, 
fhe  was  as  if  herFlefh  were  pull'd  from  hei  Bones, 
and  (he  could  no  longer  deny  what  they  char- 
ged upon  her. 

She  declar'd  that  her  Devil  appear'd  unto  her 
firft  in  the   Shape  of  Deer,   skipping  about  her, 


and  at  laft  proceeded  fo  far  as  in  that  Shape  to 
talk  with  her :  And  that  the  Devil  had  frequent- 
ly carnal  Knowledge  of  her. 

Upon  this  Con feffion,  with  other  concurrent 
Evidence5  the  Woman  was  Executed^  and  other 
Perfons  accufed,  made  their  Efcape:  Whereup- 
on Ann  Cde  was  happily  dcliver'd  from  the  ex- 
traordinary Troubles  wherewith  fhe  had  been 
exercis'd. 

The  Second  Example. 

In  the  Town  of  Grotw,  one  Elizabeth  K»ap 
{October  1 67 1 ,)  was  taken  after  a  vcy  ftrange 
manner ;  fometimes  weeping,  fometimes  laugh- 
ing, lometimes  roaring,  with  violent  Agitations, 
crying  out  Meney  .'  Money]  Her  Tongue  would 
be  for  many  Hours  together  drawn  like  a  Semi- 
circle, up  to  the  Koof  of  her  mouth  »  fo  that  no 
Fingers  apply'd  unto  it,  could  remove  it.  Six 
Men  were  fcarce  able  to  hold  her  in  fomeof  her 
Fits ;  .but  fhe  would  skip  about  theHoufe  yelling 
and  howling,  and  looking  hideouily. 

OnDec.  17.  her  Tongue  being  drawn  oat  of 
her  mouth  to  an  extraordinary  Length,  a  Demon 
began  nia^riifelffy  to  (peak  in  her  ;' -for  many 
Words  were  diftin&ly  urtei'd,  wherein  are  the 
Labial  Letters,  without  any  motion  of  her  Lips 
at  all :  Words  alio  were  utte.'d  from  her  Throat 
fometimes  when  her,  mouth  was  wholly  (hut  i 
and  fometimes  Wo:ds  were  utter'd  when  her 
mouth  was  wide  open  >  but  no  Organs  of  Speech 
u's'd  therein.  The  chief  things  that  the  D&msn 
fpoke,  were  horrid  Railings  againft  the  Godly 
Minifier  of  the  Town  ;  but  (ometimes  he  like- 
wife  belch'd  out  moftnelandous  Blafphemies  a- 
gainft  the  God  of  Heaven.  And  one  thing  a- 
bout  this  young  Woman  was  yet  more  particu- 
larly remarkable  :  She  cry'd  out  in  her  Fits,  that 
a  certain  Woman  in  the  Neighbourhood  appear'd 
unto  her,  and  was  the  only  Caufe  oi  her  Afrli- 
<5tion. 

The  Woman  thus  cry'd  out  upon,  was  doubt- 
lefs  an  Holy,  a  Devout,  a  Vertuous  Perfon  >  and 
(he,  by  the  advice  of  her  Friends,  vifited  the  Af- 
flicted. The  polfefs'd  Creature,  tho'  fhe  was  in 
one  of  herFits,and  had  her  Eyes  wholly  fhut,yet 
when  this  innocent  Woman  was  coming,  (he 
difcover'd  her  (elf  wonderfully  fenfible  of  it,  and 
was  in  grievous  Agonies  at  her  Approaches  ■, 

But  this  InnocentWoman  thus acciis'd  and  abus'd. 
by  a  malicious  Devil,  pray'd  earneftly  -with  as 
well  as  for  this  polfefs'd  Creature  :  Whereupon 
coming  to  her  felf,  fhe  confefs'd,  That  Ihehad 
been  deluded  by  Satan,  and  compell'd  by  him 
unreafonably  to  think  andfpeak  Evil  of  a  good 
Neighbour  without  a  Caufe.  After  this,  there 
was  no  further  Complaint  of  fuch  an  ones  Ap- 
parition ;  but  fhe  faid,  fome  Devil  in  the  Shape 
i  of  divers,  did  very  diverfly  and  cruelly  torment 
her,  and  then  told  her,  it  was  not  He  but  They, 
that  were  her  Tormentors. 


Tht 


68 


JheHiftoryof  New  England.  Book  VI. 


The  Third  Exan-.ple. 


In  the  year  1679.  the  Houfe  of  William  M  rfe 
at  Newberry,  was  infefled  with  Demons  after  a 
moft  horrid  manner,  not  altogether  unlike  the 
Vsmons  or'  Tedivortb.  It  would  fill  many  Pages 
to  relate  ail  the  Infeftations  >  but  the  chief  of  'em 
were  fuch  asthefe: 

Bricks,  and  Sticks,  and  Stones,    were  often  by 
fome  invhlble  Hand,  thrown  at  the  Houfe  ,  and 
io  were  many    Pieces  of  Wood  :    A  Cat   was 
thrown  at  the  Woman  of  the  Houfe,  and  a  long 
Sr*/1  dane'd  up  and  downin  the  Chimney  i  and 
afterwards  the  fame  long  Staff  was   hang'd  by  a 
Line,    and  fwung  to  and   fro;    and  when  two 
Perfons  laid  it  on  the  Fire  to  burn  it,  it  was  as 
much  as  they  were  able  to  do  with   their   joint 
Strength  to  hold  it  there.     An  Iron  Crook    wis 
violently  by   an  invifible   Hand,    hurl'd  about; 
and  a  Chair  flew  about  the  Room  until  at  lafl  it 
litt  upon  the  Table,  where  the  Meat  flood  ready 
to  be  eaten,  and  had  fpoil'd  all,  if  the  people 
tad  not  with  much  ado  faved  a  little.     A  Cheft 
was  by  an  invifible  Hand  carry 'd  from  one  place 
to  another,  and  the  Doors  barricado'd,  and  the 
Keys  of  the  Family  taken,  fome  of  them  from 
the  Bunch  where  they  were  ty'd,  and  the  reft 
flying  about  with  a  loud  Noife  of  their  knock- 
ing againfl  one  another.     For    one   while  the 
Folks  of  the  Houfe  could  not  fup  quietly,  but 
Afhes  would  be  thrown  into  their  Suppers,  and 
on  their  Heads,    and  their  Cloaths  >     and  the 
Shooes  of  the  Man  being  left  below,  one  of  them 
was  fill'd  with  Afhes  and  Coals,    and    thrown 
up  after  him.     When  they  were  a-bed,  a   Stone 
weighing  above  three  pounds,  was  divers  times 
thrown  upon  them.     A  Box  and   a    Board  was 
likewife  thrown  upon  them  ;  and  a  Bag  ot  Hops 
being  taken  out  of  a    Cheft,  they  were  by  the 
Invifible  Hand  beaten  therewith,  till  fome  of  the 
Hops  were  fcattei 'd  on  the  Floor,  where  the  B?g 
was  then  laid  and  left.      The  Man    was  often 
ftruckby  that  Hand  with  feveral  Inflruments ; 
and  the  fame  Hand  caft  their,  good  things  into 
the  Fire:  Yea,while  the  Man  was  at  prayer  with 
his  Houfhold,  a  Beefom  gave  him  a  Blow  on  his 
Head  behind,    and  fell  down  before  his   Face. 
When  they  were  winnowing  their  Barley,  Dirt 
was  thrown  at  them;   and  allaying  to  fill  their 
Half  Bufhel  with  Corn,  the  Foul  Corn  would  be 
thrown  in  aith  the  Clean,  ib    irrefiflibly,  that 
they  were  fore'd  thereby  to  give  over  what  they 
were  about. 

While  the  Man  was  writing,  his  Inkborn  was 
by  the  Invifible  Hand  fnatch'd  from  him  j  and  be 
ing  able  no  whereto  find  it,  he  faw  it  at  length 
drop  out  of  the  Air  down  by  the  Fire.  A  Sbooe 
was  laid  upon  hisShoulden  but  when  he  would 
have  catch'd  it,  it  was  rapt  from  him  i  it  was  then 
clapt  upon  his  Head,  and  thei  e  he  held  it  fo  faff, 
that  the  unfeen  Fury  pull'd  him  with  it  backward 
on  the  Floor.  He  had  his  Cap  torn  off  his 
Head,and  in  the  Night  he  was  pull'd  by  theHair, 
and  pinch'd,  and  icratch'di  and  the  Invifible 
Hand  prick'd  him  with  fome  of  his  Avis,    and 


with  Needles,  and  Bodkins  ;and  Blows,  that  fetch- 
id  Blood,  were  fometimes  given  him.  Frozen 
Clods  ot  Cow  dung  were  often  thrown  at  the 
Man;  and  his  Wife  going  to  milk  the  Cows, 
they  could  by  no  means  preferve  the  Veffelsof 
MiLk  from  the  like  Anoyances,  which  made  it 
fit  only  for  the  Hogs. 

She  going  down  into  the  Cellar,  the  Trap-door 
was  immediately  by  an  Invifible  Hand  (hut  upon 
her,  and  a  Table  brought,  and  laid  upon  the 
Door,  which  kept  her  there  till  the  Man  remov'd 
it.  When  he  was  writing  another  time,  a  Difh 
went  and  leapt  into  a  Pail,  and  caft  Water  on 
the  Man,  and  on  all  the  Concerns  before  him,  (b 
as  to  defeat  what  he  was  then  upon.  His  Cap 
jump'd  off  his  Head,  and  on  again;  and  the 
Pot  lid  went  off  the  Pot  into  the  Kettle,  then  over 
the  Fire  together. 

A  little  Boy  belonging  to  the  Family,  was  a 
principal  Sufferer  in  thefe  Mole/latims ;  for  he 
was  flung -bout  at  fuch  a  rate,  that  they  fear'd  his 
Brains  would  have  been  beaten  cut :  Nor  did  they 
find  it  poflible  to  hold  him.  His  Bed  cloathes 
would  be  pull'd  from  him,  his  Bed  fbaken,  and 
his  Bed-ftaiT  leap  forward  and  backward.  The 
Man  took  him  to  keep  him  in  a  Chair;  but  the 
Chair  fell  a  d  incing,  and  both  of  them  were  ve- 
ry near  being  thrown  into  the  Fire. 

Thefe,and  a  thoufand  fiich  Vexatiom befalling 
the  Boy  ar  home,  theycarry'd  him  to  live  abroad 
at  a  Doftor's.  There  he  was  quiet ;  but  returning 
home  he  fuddenly  cry'd  our,  He  was  prick'd  on  tbe 
Back  ;  where  they  found  ftrangely  flicking,  a 
Three  tin' dF.rk,  which  belong'd  unto  the  Dodor 
and  had  been  teen  at  his  Houfe  after  the  Boy's 
Departure.  Afterwards  his  Troublers  found  him 
out  at  the  Doclor's  alio;  wherecrying  outagain 
He  -was  prick'd  on  the  Buck,  they  found  an  Iron 
Spindle  fluckiotohim  ;  and  on  thelike  Out  cry 
again,  they  found  Pinsina  Paper,  fluckintohim; 
and  once  more,  a  long  Iron,  a  Bowl  of  a  Spoon, 
and  a  piece  of  a  Pan-thred,  in  like  fart  {luck  up- 
on him. 

He  was  taken  out  of  his  Bed,  and  thrown  un- 
der it  iand  all  the  Knives  belonging  to  the  Houfe 
were  one  after  another  fluck  into  his  Back, which 
the  Spectators  pull'd  our  :  Only  one  of  them 
(eem'd  umo  the  Spectators  to  come  out  ot  his 
mouth.  The  poor  Boy  was  divers  times  thrown 
into  the  Fire,  and  preferv'd  fromlcorching  there 
with  much  ado.  For  a  long  while  he  bark'd  like 
a  Dog,  and  then  he  chreju'd  like  an#Hen;  and 
could  not  fpeak  rationally.  His  Tongue  would 
be  pull'd  out  of  his  mcuth  ;  but  when  he  coulJ 
recover  it  fo  far  asto  fpeak,    he  complain'd  that 

aMancall'dP /,  appear'd  unto  him  as  the 

Caufe  of  all. 

Once  in  the  Day-time  he  was  tranfpjrted 
where  none  could  find  him,  till  at  laft  they  found 
him  creeping  on  one  fide,  and  fcdly  dumb  and 
lame.     When  he  was  able  toexprefs  himfelf,   he 

ia'ui,Thal  P 1  had  carried  him  over  the    Top  of 

the  Houfe,  and  hurted  him  again  [I  aCart wheel  wtbe 
Bam  >  and  accordingly  they  found  lome  Re- 
mainders of  the  Threih'd  Ba.hv  which  was  on 
the  Barn  floor,  hanging  about  his  Garments. 

Tb 


Book VI.  The  Hijiory  of  New-England. 


69 


The  Sfettre  would  Make  all  his  mear,  when  he 
was  going  to  eat,  fly  out  of  his  mouth  ;  and  in- 
ftead  thereof,  make  him  fall  to  eating  of  Afhes, 
and  Sticks,  and  Yarn.  The  Man  and  his  Wife 
taking  the  Boy  to  Bed  with  them,  a  Chamber- 
pot with  its  Contents,  was  thrown  upon  them : 
They  were  feverely  pinch'd,  and  pulPd  out  of 
the  Bed  ;  and  many  other  Fruits  of  Vevilijli 
Spile  were  they  dogg'd  withal.until  it  pleas'd  God 
mercifully  to  fhorten  the  Chain  tfthe  Devil.  But 
before  the  Devil  was  chain'd  up,  the  Invifible 
Hand  which  did  all  thefe  things,  began  to  put  on 
an  affonifhing  Vtjibility. 

They  often  thought  they  felt  the  Hand  that 
fcratch'd  them,  while  yet  they  faw  it  not  v  but 
when  they  thought  they  had  hold  of  it,  it  would 
give  them  the  Slip. 

Once  the  Fift  beating  the  Man,  was  difcerni- 
ble,  but  they  could  not  carch  hold  of  it.  At 
length  an  Apparition  of  a  Blackamoor  Chil d  fhew d 
it  felf  plainly  to  them.  And  another  time  a 
Drumming  on  the  Boards  was  heard,  which  was 
follow'd  with  a  Voice  that  fang,  Revenge  '.Revenge! 
fwcet  is  Revenge  .'  At  this  the  People  being  terri- 
fy'd,  call'd  upon  God  :  Whereupon  there  fol- 
low'd a  mournful  Note,  feveral  times  uttering 
thefe  Expreffions,  Alas  I  Alas  I  we  knock  no  more, 
■we  knock  no  more !  And  there  was  an  End 
of  all. 

The  Fourth  Example, 

In  the  year  1683.  theHoufe  of  Nicholas  Deibo- 
rough  at  Hartford,  was  very  ftrangely  molefled  by 
Stones,  by  pieces  of  Earth,  by  Cobs  of  Indian 
Corn,  and  other  fuch  things,  from  an  Invifible 
Hand, thrown  at  him,  fometimes  thro'  the  Door, 
fometimes  thro' theWindow,fometimes  down  the 
Chimney,  and  fometimes  from  the  Floor  of  the 
Room  (tho'  very  clofej  over  his  Head  \  and 
fometimes  he  met  with  them  in  the  Shop,  the 
Yard,  the  Barn,  and  in  the  Field. 

There  was  no  Violence  in  the  Motion  of  the 
Things  thus  thrown  by  the  Invifible  Hand ;  and 
tho'  others  befides  the  Man,  happen 'd  fometimes 
to  be  hit,  they  were  never  hurt  with  them;  only 
the  Man  himlelf  once  had  Pain  given  to  his 
Arm,  and  once  Blood  fetch'd  from  his  Leg,  by 
thefe  Annoyances ;  and  a  Fire  in  an  unknown  way 
kindled,  confumd  no  little  part  of  his  Eftate. 

This  Trouble  began  upon  a  Controverfie  be- 
tween VesLroagh  and  another  Perfon  about  a 
Cheft  of  Cloaths  which  the  Man  apprehended  to 
be  unrighteoufly  detain'd  by  Deiborough ;  and  it 
endur'dfor  divers  months :  but  upon  the  refto- 
ring  of  the  Cloaths  thus  decain'd,  the  Trouble 
cealed. 

At  Brigh:l;ng  in  Suffix,  in  England,    there  hup 
ned  a  Tragedy  not  unlike  to  this,  in  the  year 
165?.     'Tis  recorded  by  Clark  in  the  fecond  Vo- 
lume of  his  Examples. 


The  Fifth  Example. 
On  June  11,  1682.  Showeis  of  Stones  were 
thrown  by  an  Invifible  Hand  n^on  the  Houfe  of 
George  Walton  at  Portfmouth.  Whereupon  the 
the  People  going  out,  found  the  Gate  wrung 
off  the  Hinges,  and  Stones  flying  and  falling 
thick  about  them,  and  ftriking  or  them  feem- 
ingly  with  a  great  Force  »  but  really  affe&ing  'em 
no  more  than  if  a  Soft  Touch  were  given  them. 
The  Glafs  Windows  were  broken  to  pieces  by 
Stones  that  came  not  from  .without,  but  from 
within  \  and  other  Inftruments  were  in  like  man- 
ner hurl'd  about.  Nine  of  the  Stones  they  took 
up,  whereof  fome  were  as  hot  as  if  they  came  out 
ot  the  Fire  ;  and  marking  them,  they  laid  them 
on  the  Table;  but  in  a  little  while  they  found 
fome  of  them  again  flying  about.  The  Spit  was 
carry'd  up  the  Chimney;  and  coming  down 
with  the  Point  forward,  ftuck  in  the  Back-log  ; 
from  whence  one  of  the  Company  removing  it, 
it  was  by  an  Invifible  Hand  thrown  out  at  the 
Window.  This  Difturbance  continu'd  from 
Day  to  Day  ;  and  fometimes  a  difmal  hollow 
Whiflling  would  be  heard,and  fometimes  the7n^ 
ting  and  Snorting  of  an  Horfe,  but  nothing  to  be 
feen.  The  Man  went  up  the  great  Bay  in  a  Boat 
unto  a  Farm  he  had  there  :  But  there  the  Stones 
found  him  out  ;and  carrying  from  theHoufe  to  the 
Boat  a  Stirrup- Iron,  the  Iron  came  jingling  after 
him  through  the  Woods  as  far  as  his  Houfe;  and 
at  laft  went  away,  and  was  heard  of  no  more. 
The  Anchor  leap'd  over  board  feveral  Times  and 
ftopt  the  Boat.  A  Cheefe  was  taken  out  of  the 
Prefs,  and  crumbl'd  all  over  the  Floor :  A  piece 
of  Iron  ftuck  into  the  Wall,  and  a  Kettle  hung 
thereupon.  Several  Cocks  of  Hay  mow'd  near 
the  Houfe,  were  taken  up,  and  hung  upon  Trees, 
and  others  made  into  fmall  Whifps,  and  fcatter- 
ed  about  the  Houfe.  The  Man  was  much  hurt 
by  fome  of  the  Stones  :  He  was  a  Quaker,  and 
fufpe&ed  thata  Woman,  who  charg'd  him  with 
Injuftice  in  detaining  fome  Land  from  her,  did 
by  Witchcraft  occafion  thefe  preternatural  Oc- 
currences. However,  at  laft,  they  came  unto 
an  End. 

The  Sixth  Example. 

In  June  i6$2.  Mary  the  Wife  of  Antonio  Hor* 
tado,  dwelling  near  the  Salmon-Falls,  heard  a 
Voice  at  the  Door  of  her  Houfe,  calling  What 
do  you  here  ?  And  about  an  Hour  after  had  a  Blow 
on  her  Eye,  that  almoft  fpoil'd  her.  Two  or  three 
Days  after  a  great  Stone  was  thrown  along  the 
Houfe  j  which  the  People  going  to  take  up,  was 
unaccountably  gone.  A  Frying  Van  then  in  the 
Chimney  rang  fo  loud,  that  the  People  at  an 
hundred  Rods  diltance  heard  it  >  and  the  faid 
Alary  with  her  Husband,  going  over  the  River 
in  a  Canoo,  they  law  the  Head  of  a  Man,  and  a- 
bout  three  Foot  off,  the  Tail  of  a  Cat,  fwirriming 
before  the  Canoo,  but  no  body  to  join  them  ;  and 
the  fame  Apparition  again  follow'd  the  Canoo 
when  they  return'd  :  But  at  their  Landing  it  rirft 
difappear'd.     A    Stone  thrown  by  an  Invifible 

Hani 


7° 


The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  BookVi' 


HW  after  this,  caus'd  &  Swelling  and  a  Sorenefs  in  I  judg'd)    in  various  Languages.      Hecry'dout, 


her  Head  >  and  fhe  was  bitten  on  both  Arms 
black  and  blue,  and  her  Breaft  fcratch'd  ;  the 
ImpreffionoftheTeeth,  which  were  like  a  Man's 
Teeth,  being  feen  by  many. 

They  deferted  their  Houfe  on  thefe  occafions, 
and  tho'  at  a  Neighbour's  Houfe,  they  were  at 
firft  haunted  with  Apparitions,  the  Satamcal  Mo- 
leftations  quickly  ceas'd.  When  Antonio  return 'd 
unto  his  own  Houfe,  at  his  Entrance  there,  he 
heard  one  walking  in  his  Chamber,  and  faw  the 
Boards  buckle  under  the  Feet  of  the  Walker  > 
and  yet  there  was  no  body  there.  For  this  caufe 
he  went  back  to  dwell  on  the  other  fide  of  the 
River  ;  but  thinking  he  might  plant  his  Ground, 
tho'  he  left  his  Houfe,  he  had  five  Rods  of  good 
Log-Fence  thrown  down  at  once,  and  the  Foot- 
ing of  Neat  Cattle  plainly  to  be  feen  almoft  be- 
tween every  Row  of  Corn  in  the  Field  »  yet  no 
Cattle  feen  there,  nor  any  damage  done  to  his 
Corn,  or  fo  much  as  a  Leaf  of  it  cropt. 

The  Sevtntb  Example. 


Mr.  Philip  Smith,  aged  about  fifty  Years,  a  Son 
of  eminently  Vertuous  Parents,  a  Deacon  of  the 
Church  in  Hadley,  a  Member  of  the  General 
Court,  a  JufHce  in  the  Countrey  Court,  a  feled 
Man  for  the  Affairs  of  the  Town,  a  Lieutenant  of 
the  Troop,  and  which  crowns  all,  a  Man  forDe- 
votion,  Sanctity,  Gravity,  and  all  that  was  honeft, 
exceeding  Exemplary.  Such  a  Man  was  in  the 
Winter  of  the  Year  1684,  murder'd  with  an  hi- 
deous Witchcr  aft,  that  filPd  all  thofe  Parts  of  New- 
England  with  Aftomfliment.  He  was,  by  his  Of- 
fice concerted  about  relieving  the  Indigences  of  a 
wretched  Woman  in  the  Town  ;  who  being  dif 
iatisfy'd  at  fome  of  his  juft  Cares  about  her,  ex- 
prefs'd  her  feif  unto  him  in  fitch  a  manner,  that  he 
declar'd  himfelf  thenceforward  apprehenfive  of 
receiving  Mifchief  at  her  hands. 

About  the  Beginning  of  January  he  began  to  be 
very  Valetudmarious,  labouring  under  Pains  that 
feem'd  Ifchiatick.  The  Standers  by  could  now 
fee  in  him,  one  ripening  apace  for  another  World, 
and  fill'd  with  G'ace  and  Joy  to  an  high  De- 
gree. He  fhew'd  fuch  tteanednefs  from  and 
fPearinefs  of  the  World,  that  he  knew  not  (he 
laid)  whether  he  might  pray  for  his  Continuance 
here  :  And  fiich  affurance  he  had  of  the  Divine 
Love  unto  him,  that  in  Raptures  he  would  cry 
out,  Lord,  fray  thy  hand  \  it-u  enough,  it  is  more  than 
thy  frail  Servant  can  bear.  But  in  the  midft  of 
rhele  things  he  ftill  uttei'd  an  hard  Sulpicion  that 
the  ill  Woman  who  had  tbreatnedhim,  had  made 
Impreffions  with  bichantmtnts  upon  him.  While 
he  remain'd  yet  of  a  found  Mind,  he  very  fe- 
datelv,  but  very  folemnly  charg'd  his  Brother,  to 
look  well  after  him.  Tho',  he  laid,  he  now  un- 
dei flood  himfelf,  yet  he  knew  not  how  he  might 
be.  But  be  Jure,  (faid  he)  to  have  a  care  of  me; 
for  ycufliall  fee  flrange  things.  Iherejliall  be  a  Won- 
der in  Hadley  !  I  fliallnot  be  dead,  when  'tis  thought 
lam!  He  pref'd  this  Charge  over  and  over  ; 
and  afterwards  became  Delirious;  upon  which 
he  had  a  Speech  tnctjjant  and  voluble,  and  (as  was  'all  to  work  out  our  own 

Trembling. 


( not  only  of  Tains,  but  alfo  of  Tins,  tormenting 
him  in  feveral  parts  of  his  Body  i  and  the  At- 
tendants found  one  of  them. 

In  his   DiftreiTes  he  exclaim'd  much  upon  the 
Woman  aforefaid,  and  others,   as  being  feen  by 
him  in  the  Room  ;  and  there  was  divers  times 
both  in  that  Room,    and  over  the  whole  Houfe, 
a  ftrong  Smell  of  ibmething  like  Musk,  which 
once  particularly  lb  fcented  an  Apple  roaftingat 
the  Fire,    that  it  forc'd  thefti  to  throw  it  away. 
Some  of  the  young    Men  in  the  Town  being 
out  of  their  Wits  at  the  ftrange  Calamities  thus 
upon  one  of  their  mod  belov'd  Neighbours,  went 
three  or  four  times  to  give  Difturbance  unto  the 
Woman  thus  complain'd  of :  And  all  the  while 
they  were  difturbing  of  her,  he  was  at  eak,  and 
flept  as  a  weary  Man  :  Yea,  thefe  were  the  only 
times  that  they  perceiv'd  him  to  take  any  Sleep 
in  all  his  Ilneis.     Gallypots  of  Medicines  provided 
for  the  fick  Man,  were  unaccountably  empty'd : 
Audible  Scr etchings  were  made  about  the  Bed, 
when  his  Hands  and   Feet  lay  wholly  flill,  and 
were  held  by  others.    They  beheld  Fiie  fome- 
times  on  the   Bed  i  and  when  the    Beholders 
began  to  difcourfe  of  it,    it  vanifh'd  away .     Di- 
vers People  actually  felt  fbmething  often  ftir  in 
the  Bed,    at  a  confiderable  diftance   from  the 
Man :  It  feem'd  as  big  as  a  Cat,    but  they  could 
never  grafp  it.     Several  trying  to  lean  on  the 
Bed's  head,    tho'  the  fick  Man  lay  wholly  ftill, 
the  Bed  would  (hake  fo,  as  to  knock  their  Heads 
uncomfortably.     A  very  ftrong  Man   could  not 
lift  the  fick  Man  to  make  him  lie  moreeafily,  tho' 
he  apply'd  his  utmoft  Strength  unto  it ;  and  yet 
he  could  go  prefently  and  lift  a    Bed-fted  and  a 
Bed,  and  a  Man  lying  on  it,  without  any  Strain 
to  himfelf  at  all.     Mr.  Smith  dies  :  The  'jury  that 
view'd  his   Corpfe,    found   a   Swelling  on  one 
Brtafl.  his  Trivities  wounded  or  burn'd,  his  Back 
full  of  Bruifes,   and  feveral  Holes  that  feem'd 
made  with  Awls.     After  the  Opinion  of  all  had 
pronounced  him  c'ead,    his  Countenance  continued 
as  Lively  as  if  he  had  been  Alive  \  his  Eyes  clo- 
fed  as  in  a  Slumber,    and  his  Nether  Jaw  not  fal- 
ling down. 

Thus  he  remain'd  from  Saturday  Morning  a* 
bout  Sun  rife,  till  Sabbath-day  in  the  Afternoon » 
when  thole  who  took  him  out  of  the  Bed,  found 
him  ftill  «arm,tho  the  Sealon  was  as  cold  as  had 
almoft  been  known  in  any  Age  :  And  a  New-Eng- 
hfli  Winter  does  not  want  for  Cold.  On  the 
Night  following  his  Countenance  was  yet  frefti  as 
betore  ;  but  on  Mnday  morning  they  found  the 
Face  extreamly  tumif/d  and  dilcoloui'd.  It 
was  black  and  blue,  and  fielh  Blood  leem'd  run- 
ning down  his  Cheek  upon  the  Hairs.  Divers 
Nodes  were  alio  heard  in  the  Room  where  the 
Corpfe  lay  ;  as  the  Clattering  of  Chairs  and 
Stools,  whereof  no  account  could  be  given. 
This  was  the  End  of  fo  good  a  Man. 
And  I  could  with  unqueftionable  Evidence  re- 
late the  Tragical  Deaths  of  ieveral  Good  Men 
in  this  Land,  attended  with  fiich  preternatural 
Circumftances,    which  have  loudly  call'd  upon  us 

Salvation  with  Fear  and 
The 


Book  VI.  The  Hiftory  of  New-England, 


Eighth  Example. 

There  was  one  Mary  Jobnfon  try'd  at  Hertford 
Inthis  Countrey,  upon  an  Indiftment  of  Familt- 
antywitbthe  Devil,3.nd  was  found  guilty  thereof, 
chiefly  upon  her  own  Confeffion.  Her  Contef 
fionwas  attended  with  fuchconvi&ive  Circum- 
(lances,  that  it  could  not  he  flighted.  Very  ma- 
ny material  Pafiages  relating  to  this  matter,  are 
now  loft  :  but  i'o  much  as  is  well  known,  and 
can  ftill  be  prov'd,  (hall  be  inferred. 

She  faid,  her  fir  ft  Familiarity  with  the  Devil, 
carne  through  Difcontcnt,  and  wifhing  the  Devil 
to  take  this  and  char,  and  the  Devil  to  do  ch.u 
arid  t'other  thing  :  Whereupon  a  Devil  appear  u 
unto  her,  tendring  her  what  Services  might  b:ft 
content  her.  A  Devil  accoidingly  did  for  her 
many  Services.  Her  Mafttr  blam'd  her  for  not 
carrying  out  the  A^es,  and  a  Devil  afterwards 
would  clear  the  Hearth  of  Ames  for  her.  Her 
Mafier  fending  her  to  drive  out  the  Hogs,  that 
(bmetimes  broke  intotheir  Field,  a  Devil  would 
fcowre  the  Hogs  away,  and  make  her  laugh  to 
fee  how  he  feaz'd  them.  She  confeh'd,  that  (Tie 
had  murdred  a  Child,  and  committed  Unclean- 
Kefs  both  with  Men  and  with  Devils.  In  the  time 
ot  her  Impnfonment ,  the  famous  Mr.  Stone  was  at 
great  pains  to  promote  her  Converlion  irom  the 
Devil  to  G.J  ;  and  (he  was  by  thebeft  Obfervers 
judg'd  very  penitent,  both  before  her  Execution 
2nd  at  it;  and  fhe  went  out  of  the  World  with 
comfortable  Hopes  of  Mercy  from  God  through 
the  merit  of  our  Saviour.  Being  asked  what  (he 
built  her  Hopes  upon,  fhe  anfwer'd,  Upon  thefe 
Words ;  Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  labour  and  are  hea 
iy  laden,  and  I  will  give  yen  Reft :  And  thefe  ; 
There  is  a  Fountain  ft  open  for  Sin  and  Uncleannefs. 
And  fhe  dy'd  in  a  Frame  extreamly  to  the 
Satisfaction  of  them  that  were  Spectators 
of  it. 

The  Ninth  Example 

Fi£c  ipfe  miferrima  vidi. 

Four  Children  of  John  Goodwin  in  Boftcn, 
which  had  enjoy'd  a  Religious  Education,  and 
anfwer'd  it  wich  a  towardly  Ingenuity  :  Children 
indeed  of  an  exemplaiy  Temper  and  Carriage, 
and  an  Example  to  all  about  them  for  Piety, 
Honcfly,  and  Indufh  y.  Thefe  were  in  the  year 
16S8.  arretted  by  a  very  ftupendous  Witchcraft. 
The  Eldeft  of  the  Children,  a  Daughter  of  about 
Thirteen  years  old,  law  caufe  to  examine  their 
I  aundrefs,  the  Daughter  of  a  icandalous  Irifli 
Woman  in  the  Neighbourhood,  about  fome  Li- 
nen that  was  miffing  ;  and  the  Woman  bsftowing 
very  bad  Language  on  the  Child,  in  her  Daugh- 
ter's Defence,  the  Child  was  immediately  taken 
with  odd  Fits,  that  carried  in  them  fomething 
Diabolical.  It  was  not  long  before  one  of  he; 
Sillers,  with  two  of  her  Brothers,  were  horribly 
.taken  with  the  like  Fits,  which  the  moil  Expert- 
er.cd  Fbyficiahs  pronounced  Extraoidinaiy  and 
p  reternatural  :  and  one  thing  that  the  more  con- 
tinued them  in  this  Opinion  was,  that  all  the 
Children  were  tormented  ftill  juft  the  fame  part 


7  [ 

of  their  Bodies,  at  the  fame  time,  though  their 
Pains  flew  likefwift  Lightning  from  one  part  un- 
to another,  and  they  were  kept  fo  far  afunder, 
that  they  neither  faw  nor  heard  one  anothers 
Complaints.  At  9  or  10  a-clock  at  Night,  they 
(till  had  a  Releafe  from  their  miferies,  and  flept 
all  Night  pretty  comfortably.  But  when  trie 
Day  came,  they  were  moft  miferably  handled. 
Sometimes  they  were  Deaf,  fometimes  Dumb, 
(ometimes  Blind,  and  often  all  this  at  once. 
fheir  Tongues  would  be  drawn  down  their  Throats, 
and  then  pull'd  out  upon  their  Chins,  to  a 
prodigious  Length.  Their  Mouths  were  Forc'd 
open  to  fich  a  Widenefs,  that  their  Jaws  went 
our  ot  Joint  ;  and  anon  clap  together  3gain,wuh 
a  Force  like  that  of  a  Spring  Lock;  and  the  like 
would  happen  to  their  Shoulder-blades  and  their 
Elbows,  and  Hand  wrifis,  and  icvcral  ot  their 
Joints.  They  would  lie  in  a  benummd  Condition, 
and  be  drawn  together  like  thofe  that  are  ty'd 
Neck  and  Heels;  and  prefently  be  ftretch'd  our, 
yea,  drawn  back  Enormoufly. 

They  made  piteous  Out  cries,  thit  they  were 
cut  with  Knives,  and  Ihuck  with  Blbib's  ;  and  the 
plain  Prints  of  the  Wcunds  were  feen  upon  them. 

Their  Necks  would  be  broken,  lb  that  their 
Neck-Bcne  would  feem  diiTolv'd  unto  them  that 
felt  after  it  ;  and  yet  on  the  hidden  it  would  be- 
come again  fb  ftifTj  that  there  was  noftirring  of 
their  Heads :  Yea,  their  Heads  would  be  twi- 
lled almoft  round:  And  if  the  main  Forceof  their 
Friends  at  any  time  obftrucled  a  dangerous  Mo- 
tion which  they  feem'd  upon,  they  would  roar 
exceedingly  :  And  when  Devotions  were  perfor- 
med with  them,  their  Hearing  was  utterly  taken 
from  them.  The  Minifters  of  Befton  and  Charhs- 
town,  keeping  a  Day  of  Prayer  with  Fafting,  on 
this  occafion,  at  the  trouhl'd  Floufe,  the  youngeft 
of  the  Four  Children  was  immediately,  happily, 
finally  deliver'd  from  all  its  Ttouble.  But  the 
Magiftrates  being  awakened  by  the  Noiie  of 
thefe  Grievous  and  Horrid  Occurrences,  exami- 
ned the  Perfbn  who  was  under  the  fufpicion  of- 
having  employ'd  thefe  Troublefome  Damons ; 
and  (he  gave  luch  a  Wretched  Account  of  her 
(elf,  that  fhe  was  committed  unto  the  Gaoler's 
Cuftody. 

It  was  not  long  before  this  Woman  (whole 
Name  was  Glover)  was  brought  upon  her  Tiial; 
But  then  the  Court  could  have  no  Anfwers  from 
her,  but  in  the  Infli,  which  washer  Native  Lan- 
guage, although  (he  underttood  Engli(hv€ty  well, 
and  had  accuitom'd  her  whole  Family  to  none 
but  Englifh  in  her  former  Converfatiffl,  When 
flie  pleaded  to  her  Indiilment,  it  was  with  owning 
and  Bragging,  rather  than  Denial  of  her  Guii.. 
And  the  Jnterpreteis,  by  whom  the  Communi- 
cation between  the  Bench  and  the  Barr  was  ma- 
naged, were  made  fenfible  that  a  Spell  had  been 
laid  by  another  Witch  on  This,  to  prevent  her 
telling  Tales,  by  confining  her  to  a  Language 
which  'twas  hoped,  no  body  would  underftand. 
The  Woman's  Boufe  being  fearched,  feveral  I- 
mapes,  or  Poppets,  or  Babies,  made  of  Raggs,  and 
fluffed  with  Gents  Hair,  were  thence  produced 
and  the  vile  Woman  confelied,  that  her  Way  to 
Kkkkkk  Tot- 


72 


The  Hifiory  of  New-England. 


Book  VI. 


Torment  the  Objeds  of  her  Malice,  was  by  I 
wetting  of  her  Finger  with  her  Spittle,  and 
ftroaking  of  thole  little  Images.  The  abus'd 
Children  were  then  prefent  in  the  Court,  and 
the  Woman  kept  ftill  (looping  and  Shrinking,  as 
one  that  was  almoft  preft  unto  death  with  a 
mighty  Weight  upon  her.  But  one  of  the  Ima- 
ges being  brought  unto  her,  (he  odly  and  fwiftly 
ftarted  up,  and  fnach'd  it*into  her  Hand  :  But 
(he  had  no  fooner  fnatch'd  it,  than  one  of  the 
Children  fell  into  fad  Fits  before  the-  whole 
Affembly.  The  Judges  had  their  juft  Appre- 
henfions  at  this,  and  carefully  caufing  a  Repe- 
tition of  the  Experiment,  they  (till  found  the 
fame  Event  of  it,  tho'  the  Children  faw  not 
when  the  Hand  of  the  Witch  was  laid  upon  the 
Images.  They  ask'd  her  -whether  foe  had  any  to 
(land  by  her  ?  She  reply'd,  She  had :  And  looking 
very  pertly  into  the  Air,  (he  added,  No,  he's 
gone',  and  (he  then  acknowledged  that  (he  had 
One,  who  was  her  Prince,  with  whom  (lie  men- 
tion'd  1  know  not  what  Communion.  For  which 
caule  the  Night  after,  (he  was  heard  expoftula- 
ting  with  a  Devil  for  his  thus  deferting  her,  tel- 
ling him,  that  becauje  he  had  ferved  htr  Jo  bafely 
andfalfely,  foe  had  confejjed  all. 

However,to  make  all  clear,  the  Court  appoint- 
ed five  or  fix  Phyficians  to  examine  her  very 
ftri&ly,  whether  (he  were  no  way  craz'd  in  her 
Intellectuals.  Divers  Hours  did  they  fpend  with 
her  ;  and  in  all  that  while  no  Difcourfe  came 
from  her,  but  what  was  agreeable  ;  particularly 
When  they  ask'd  her,  what  (he  thought  would 
become  of  her  Soul,  (he  reply'd,  You  ask  me  a 
very  folemn  Que jl  ion,  and  I  cannot  tell  what  to  Jay 
to  it.  She  profeft  her  (elf  a  Roman  Catholuk, 
and  could  recite  her  Pater-noftcr  in  Latin  very 
readily;  but  there  was  one  Claufe  or  two  al- 
ways too  hard  for  her,  whereof  (he  did,  foe  could 
not  repeat  it,  if  foe  might  have  all  the  World. 

In  the  Upfliot,  the  Do&ors  return'd  her  Com- 
pos mentis,  and  Sentence  of  Death  was  paft  upon 
her.  Divers  Days  paft  between  her  being  Ar- 
raign'd  and  Condemn'd  :  and  in  this  time 
one  Hughes  teftify'd,  That  her  Neighbour  (calPd 
Howen)  who  was  cruelly  bewiteb'd  unto  death  a- 
bout  fix  Years  before,  la;d  her  Death  to  the  charge 
of  this  Woman,  and  bid  her  (the  faid  Hughes) 
to  remember  this  i  for  within  fix  Years  there 
would  be  occafion  to  mention  it.  One  of 
Hughes's  Children  was  prefendy  taken  ill  in  the 
fame  woful  manner  that  Goodwin's ;  and  parti- 
cularly the  Boy,  in  the  Night  cry'd  our,  that 
a  Black  Perfon,  with  a  Blue  Cup  in  the  Room  tor- 
rur'd  him,  and  that  they  try'd  with  their  Hand 
in  the  Bed,  for  to  pull  out  his  Bowels.  The  Mo- 
tner  of  the  Boy  went  unto  Glover  the  day  follow- 
ing, and  asked  her,  Why  foe  tortured  htr  poor  Lad 
at  Juch  a  rate?  Glover  aniwered,  Becauje  of  the 
Wrong  foe  had  rtceivd  from  her;  and  boafted,  that 
jhe  had  come  at  him  as  a  Black  Perfon  with  a  blue 
Cap  ;  and  with  her  Hand  in  the  Bed,  would  have 
pulled  his  Bowels  out,  but  could  not.  Hughes  denied 
that  (he  had  wronged  her  ;  and  Glover  then  de- 
firing  to  lee  the  Boy,  wiflied  him  well;  upon 
which  he  had  no  more  of  his  Iadifpofitions.  Ai- 1 


ter  the  Condemnation  of  the    Woman,  I  did 

my  (elf  give  divert  Vilits  unto  her  >  wherein  (he 
to!d  me,  that  (he  did  ufe  to  be  at  Meetings, 
where  her  Prince  with  Four  more  were  prefent. 
She  told  me  who  the  Four  were,  and  plainly 
(aid,  That  her  Prince  was  the  Devil.  When  I 
told  her  That  and  How  her  Prince  had  cheated 
her,  (he  reply'd,  If 'it  be  fo,  I  am  forry  for  that  I 
And  when  (he  declin'd  aniwering  fome  things 
that  I  ask'd  her,  (he  told  me,  (lie  would  fain  give 
me  a  full  Anjwtr,  but  her  Spirits  would  not  give 
her  leave  ;  nor  could  (he  conlent,  (he  faid,  with- 
out their  Leave,  that  I  foouldpray  for  her.  At  her 
Execution,  (he  (aid,  the  afflicted  Children  mould 
not  be  reliev'd  by  her  Death,  for  others  befides 
fhe.had  a  hand  in  their  Affliction.  Accordingly 
the  Three  Children  continu'd  in  their  Furnace  as 
before  ;  and  it  grew  rather  feven  times  hotter  than 
it  was.  In  their  Fits  they  cry  d  out  of  [Tbey~] 
and  [jhem~\  as  the  Authors  of  all  their  Mileries; 
but  who  that  [They]  and  \Them\  were,  they  were 
notable  to  declare:  Yet,  at  laft  one  of  the 
Children  was  able  to  difcem  their  Shapes,  and 
utter  their  Names.  A  Blow  at  the  Place  where 
they  faw  the  Spectre,  was  always  felt  by  the  Boy 
himfelf,  in  that  part  of  his  Body  that  anfwei'd 
what  might  be  ftricken  at:  And  this,  tho' his 
Back  were  turn'd,  and  the  thing  lb  done,  that 
there  could  be  no  Collufion  in  it.  ButasaB/cw 
at  the  Speclre  always  hurt  him,  (bit  always 
help'd  him  too:  For  after  the  Agonies  to  which 
a  Pufh  or  Stab  at  that  had  put  him,  were  over 
(as  in  a  Minute  or  two  they  would  be)  he  would 
have  a  Refpite  from  his  Ails  a  conflderable  while, 
and  the  jpedre  would  be  gone :  Yea,  'twas  ve- 
ry credibly  affirmed,  that  a  dangerous  Woman 
or  two  in  the  Town  receiv'd  Wounds  by  the 
Blows  thus  given  to  their  Spectres.  The  Cala- 
mities of  the  Children  went  on  till  they  barked 
at  one  another  like  Dogs,  and  then  purred  like  (o 
many  Cats.  They  would  complain  ttat  they 
were  in  a  Red-Hot  Oven,  and  fweat  and  pant  as 
much  as  if  they  had  been  realiy  ib  Anon  they 
would  (ay  that  Cold  Warer  was  thrown  on  them, 
at  which  they  would  fhiver  very  much. 

They  would  complain  of  Blows  with  great 
Cudgels  laid  upon  them,  and  we  that  (food  by, 
though  we  could  fee  no  Cudgels,  yet  could  lee 
the  Marks  of  the  Blows  in  red  Streaks  upon  their 
Flefli. 

They  would  complain  of  being  roafted  on  an 
Invijible  Spit ;  and  lie  and  roll  and  groan  as  it  ic 
had  been  moil  (en-fiblv  (b  ;  and  by  and  by  (hiiek 
that  ILnives  were  cutting  of  them.  Ti  ey  would 
complain  that  their  Herds  were  nailed  unto  tr  e 
Floor,  and  it  was  beyond  an  ordinary  Strength 
to  pull  them  fiom  thence.  They  would  be  (b 
limber  fometimes,  that  it  was  judg'd  every  Bene 
they  had  might  be  bent  j  and  anon  (b  ft i IT,  that 
not  a  Joint  of  them  could  be  (iirr'd. 

One  of  them  dreamt  that  fomcthing  was 
growing  within  his  Skin,  crofs  one  ot  his  Ribs. 
An  Expert  Chirurgeon  fearcht  the  Place,  and 
found  there  a  Brais  Pin,  which  could  not  pcfli- 
bly  come  to  lie  there  as  it  did,  without  a  prefti- 
giousand  myiterious  Conveyance.     Sometimes 

they 


Book  VI.  I  be  Hi  ft  my  of  New-England. 


they  would  be  very  mad  ;  and  then  they 
would  climb  over  high  Femes ;  yea,  they  would 
fly  like  Geefe,  and  be  carry'd  with  an  incredible 
Swtftncfs  through  the  Air,  having  hut  juft  their 
Toes  now  and  chen  upon  the  Ground  (fometimes 
1,0  once  in  Twmty  Feet)  tod  theii  Aims  wav'd 
like  the  Wings  of  a  Bird.  I  hey  were  often  very 
n-ar  Drowning  or  Burning  til  rtoemlcl yes 3  afrd 
they  often  ftrangUJ  themlel.i  eg  w  ith  their  Neck 
clothes;  due  cbe  Providence  of  (1?'"1  HilJ.iOfder'd 
the  fealbnable  Su ti  I  eh  rn  chat  loojj'd  af- 
ter them.  If  there  hapned , any  Milehigf  0  be 
done  where  they  were,  as  '■■  dirtying  oi  a  G<*r- 
wfwr,  or  (pilling  of  a  Cup,  or  bieaking  of  aGlafs, 
they  would  laugh  cxr  fivcly. 

But  upon  the  leal!  Repiopf  of  theft  Parenrs, 
they  were  thrown  into  ina&pji  IlibleAnguifh,  and 
roar  as  exccflively.  It  uliully  took  up  abun- 
dance of  time  to  drejs  them  or  undre/s  them, 
thro'  the  itrange  Poihues  into  which  they  would 
be  twifted,  on  purpole  to  hinder  ir  ;  and  yet  the 
Demons  did  not  know  our  Thoughts:  lor  if  we 
us'd  a  Jargon,  and  laid,  untie  his  Neckcloth,  but  the 
Party  bidden  underflood  our  meaning  to  be  aw 
tie  his  Shooe  ;  the  Neckcloth,  and  not  the  Sbooe,has 
been  by  writhtn  Po/hres,  rendred  ftrangely  inac 
cejfible.  In  their  Beds  they  would  be  fometimes 
treated  fo,  that  no  Cloachs  could  for  an  Hour  or 
two  be  laid  uponthean.  If  they  were  bidden  to 
do  a  needlefs  thing  (as  to  rub  a  clean  Table)  they 
were  able  to  do  it  unmolefted  ;  but  if  to  do  any 
uftful  thing  (as  to  rub  a  dirty  Table)  they  would 
prefently,  with  many  Torments  be  made  unca- 
pable. 

They  were  fometimes  hindred   from  eating 
their  Meals,  by  having  their  Teeth  fet,  when  any 
thing  was  carrying  unto  their  Mouths.     If  there 
were  any  Dilcouife  of  God,  or  Cbrift,  or  any  of 
the  Things  which  are  not  feen,  and  are  Eternal,  they 
would   be   calt   into    intolerable  Anguine s.     All 
praying  to  God,  and  reading  of  his  Word,  would 
occafion  'em  a  very  terrible  Vexation.     Their  own 
Ears  would  then  beltoptwith  their  own  Hands, 
and  they  would  roar,  and  howl,  and  fhriek,  and 
hollow,  to<&w»theVoiceofthe  Devotions; yea, 
if  any  one  in  the  Room  took  up  a  Bible,  to  look 
into  it,  tho'  the  Children  could  fee  nothing  of  it, 
as  being  in  a  Crowd  of  Spectators,  or  having  their 
Faces  another  way,  yet  wotld  they  be  in  won- 
derful Torments   till    the    Bible  was   laid    afide. 
Briefly,  No  good  thing  might  then  be  endur'd  near 
thofe  Children,  which  while  they  wzrethemfehes 
lov'd  every  good  thing,    in  a  mealure  that  pro 
claim'd  in  them  the  Fear  of  God.     If  I  laid  unto 
them,  Child,    ay  to  the   Lord  Jefus  Chriji  >.   their 
Teeth  were  inftantly  let.      If  I  laid,  Yet,  Child, 
look  unto  him  !  their  Eyes  were  inftantly  pull'd  ib 
far  into  their  Heads,    that  we  fear'd  they  could 
never  have  us'd  them  any  more. 

It  was  the  Eldeft  of  rhele  Children  that  fell 
chiefly  under  my  own  Obfervation  :  For  1  took 
her  home  to  my  own  Family,  partly  out  of  com- 
panion to  her  Parents,  but  chiefly,  that  I  might 
be  a  critical  Eye-Witnels  ot  things  that  would 
enable  me  to  confute  the  Sadducifm  of  this  De- 
bauch'd  Age.    Here  fhecontinu'd  well  for  fome 


Days  ;  applying  her  /elf  to  Actions  of  Iuduftry 
and  Piety  :  But  Np<y.  20.  i6SS.  fhe  cry'd  out, 
Ah,  they  have  found  me  cut !  and  immediately  fhe 
fell  into  her  hits  ;  wherein  we  ofcen  obfsrv'd, 
that  (he  would  cough  up  a  Ball  as  big  as  a  froal) 
Egg,  into  the  fide  of  her  Windpipe,  that  would 
near  choak  her,  till  by  Stroakingand  by  Drinking 
it  was  again  carry'd  duwn. 

When  I  pray'd  in  tfte  Room,  fir  ft  her  Hands 
were  with  a  /hong,  tho'  not  even  Force,  clapt  up- 
on  her  Ears:  And  when  her  Hands  were  by  our 
Force  pull'd  away,  fhe  cry'd  out,  They  make  fuch 
a  Notfe,  1  cannot  hear  a  Word!  She  Complain'd 
that  Glover  $  Chain  was  upon  her  Leg;  and  al- 
laying togo,  her  Gate  was  t:<  icily  fuch  as  the 
chain  d  Witch  had  before  (he  dy'd.  When  her 
Tortures  pafs'd  over,  ftill  Fiolicks  would  fucceed, 
wherein  (Tie  would  continue  Hours,  yea,  Days  to- 
gether, talking  perhaps  never  wickfdly,  but  al- 
ways wittily  beyond  her  fell' :  And  at  certain  Pro- 
vocations her  Torments  would  renew  upon  her, 
till  we  had  left  off  to  Give  them  •,  yet  fhe  fre- 
quently told  us  in  thefe  Frplicks,  Thar  if  (lie  might 
but  (teal  cr  be  drunk,  jhe  Jhould  be-  well  immediately. 
She  told  us,  that  [he  mufl  go  down  to  the  bottom  of 
our  Well,  ("and  we  had  much  ad)  ro  hinder  it) 
for  they  [aid  there  was  ? late  there,  and  t  b> y  would 
bring  her  up  fafely  again. 

We  wonder  d  at  this :  For  the  had  never  hea:d 
of  any  Plate  there  ;  and  we  our  feives,  who  had 
newly  bought  the  Houle,  wc'.te  ignorant  of  it  ; 
but  the  former  Owner  of  the  Houfe  juft  then  com- 
ing in,  told  us  There  had  been  Plate  for  many  Yeart 
loft  at  the  Bottom  of  the  Wtll.  Moreover,  one  lin- 
gular Paffion  that  frequently  attended  her,  was 
chis  : 

An  invifible  Chain  would  be  clapt  about  her, 
and  (he  in  much  pain  and  Fear,  cry  out  when 
[They]  began  to  put  it  on.  Sometimes  we  could 
with  our  Hands  knock  it  off,  as  it  began  to  be 
falten'd  :  But  ordinarily,  when  ic  was  on,  fhe 
would  be  pull'd  out  of  her  Seat,  with  luch  Vio- 
lence, towards  the  Fire,  that  ic  was  as  much  as 
one  or  two  of  us  could  do  to  keep  her  our.  Her 
Eyes  were  not  brought  ro  be  perpendicular  to  her 
Feet,  when  fhe  role  out  of  her  Seat,  as  the  Mecha- 
wf/wofan  humane  Body  requires  in  them  chat 
rile  >  buc  (he  was  dragg'd  wholly  by  other  Hands. 
And  if  we  lfamp'don  the  Hearth,  juft  between 
her  and  che  Fire,  fhe  fcream'd  ouc,  That  by  jar- 
ring the  Chain,  we  hurt  her. 

1  may  add,  chac  [They]  put  an  unfeen  Rope, 
with  a  cruel  Noole,  about  her  Neck,  whereby  fhe 
was  choak'd  until  fhe  was  black  in  the  Face  : 
And  tho'  ic  was  got  off  before  ic  had  kill'd  her ; 
yec  there  were  the  Red  Marks  of  ic,  and  oi  a 
Finger  and  a  Thumb  near  it,'  remaining  to  be 
feen  for  lome  while  afterwards.  Furthermore, 
not  only  upon  her  own  looking  into  the  Bible , 
but  if  any  one  elfe  in  the  Room  did  it,  wholly 
unknown  to  her,  fhe  would  fall  into  uniutierable 
Torments. 

A  Quaker's  Look  being  brought  her,  fhe  could 
quietly  read  whole  P,iges  of  it  i  only  the  Name 
of  GOD  and  CHRIST,  fhe  ftill  skipped  over, 
being  unable  to  pronounce  ir,  except  lometimes, 

K  k  k  k  k  k  2  ihm- 


74 


The  Htftory  of  New-England  Boo! 


Hammering  a  Minute  or  two,  or  more  upon  it : 
And  when  we  urg'd  her  to  tell  what  the  Word 
was  that  (he  rhifs'd,  (he  would  fay,  /  mu/i  not 
fpeak  it  :  They  fry  1  tnu(i  not.  You  know  what 
it  is:  'Tis  G,  andO,  and  D.  But  a  Book  againft 
§hiaktrifm[They]  would  not  allow  her  to  meddle 
with.  Such  Books,  as  it  might  have  been  profi- 
table and  edifying  for  her  to  read,  and  efpecially 
her  Catechifms,  if  (he  did  but  offer  to  read  a 
Line  in  them,  (he  would  be  caff  into  hideous 
Convullions,  and  be  toft  about  the  Houfe  like  a 
Foot  ball :  Bur.  Books  of  Jells  being  (hewn  her, 
(he  could  read  them  well  enough,  and  have  cun 
ning  Defcants  upon  them.  Popifh  Books  [They'] 
would  not  hinder  her  from  reading  ;  but  [They] 
would  from  reading  Books  againft  Popery.  A 
Book  which  pretends  to  prove  That  there  are  no 
Witches,  was  eaiily  read  by  her ;  only  the  Name 
Devils  and  Witches  might  not  be  utter'd.  A  Book 
which  proves  That  there  are  Witches,  being  exhi- 
bited unto  her,  (he  might  not  read  it  :  And  that 
Expreffion  in  the  Story  of  Ann  Cole,  about  run- 
ning to  the  Rock,  always  threw  her  into  (ore 
Confufions. 

Divers  of  thefe   Trials  were  made  by  many 
Witneffes :  But  I  confidering  that  there  might 
be  a  Snare  in  it,    put  a  feafonable  Stop  to  this 
fanciful  Bufmels.     Only    i  could   not  but  be  a- 
maz'd  atone  thing  :    A   certain   Prayer  Book 
being  brought  her,  (he  not  only  could  read  it  ve 
ry  well,  but  alfo  did  read  a  large  Part  of  it  over, 
calling  it  her  Bible,  and  putting  a  more  than  ordi- 
nary Refped  upon  it.     If  (he  were  going  into 
her  Tortures,    at  the  Tender  of  this  Book,    (he 
would  recover  her  (elf  to  read  it :    Only  when 
fhe  came  to  the  Lord's  Prayer  now  and  then  oc- 
curring in  that  Book,  (he  would  have  her    Eyes 
put  out  ;  fo  that  (he  mull  turn  over  a  new  Leaf, 
and  then  (he  could  read  again-     Whereas  alfo 
there  are  Scriptures  in  that  Book,  (he  could  read  j 
them  there :  but  if  any  (he  w'd  her  the  very  fame  j 
Scriptures  in  the  Bible  it  felf,  (he  (hould  (boner  die ' 
than  read  them:    And  (he   was  likewife  madej 
unable  to  read  the  Pfalms  in  an  ancient  Metre, 
which  this  Prayer- Book  had  in  the  fame    Vo-| 
lume  with  it. 

Befides  thefe,  there  was  another  inexplicable 
Thing  in  her  Condition.  Ever  now  and  then, 
an  Invifible  Horfe  would  be  brought  unto  her  by 
thofe  whom  (he  only  calPd  [Them,']  and  [Her 
Company,]  upon  the  Approach  ot  which,  her 
Eyes  wou'd  be  ftill  clos'd  up  :  For  (faid  (he)They 
fay  I  am  a  Tell-  tale,  and  therefore  they  will  not  let 
me  fee  them.  Hereupon  (he  would  give  a  Spring 
as  one  mounting  an  Horfe,  and  fetling  her  felt 
in  a  riding  Pofture,(he  would  in  her  Chair  bea- 
gitated,  as  one  fometimes  Ambling  ,  fbme- 
times  Trotting,  and  fometimes  Galloping  very 
furioufly.  In  thefe  Motions  we  could  not  per- 
ceive that  (he  was  mov'd  by  the  Strefs  of  her 
Feet  upon  the  Ground,  for  often  (he  touch'd  it 
not.  When  (he  had  rode  a  Minute  or  two,  (lie 
would  feem  to  be  at  a  Rendezvous  with  [Them] 
that  were  [Her  Company,]  and  there  (he  would 
maintain  a  Difcourfe  with  them,  asking  them 
many  Queftions  concerning  her  (elf  [we  gave 


her  none  of  ours]  and  have  Anfwers  from  them 
which  indeed  none  but  her  (elf  pefcei^d. 
Then  would  (he  return  and  inform  us* How 
[  f  hey  j  did  intend  to  handle  her  for  a  Day  or  two  of- 
ter wards, and  fbme  other  things  that  (hejinquir'd. 
Her  Horfe  would  fometimes  throw  herewith 
much  Violence ;  efpecially  if  any  one  ftabb'd  or 
cut  the  Air  under  her.  But  (lie  would  briskly 
mount  again,  and  perform  her  Fantaftick  Jour- 
nies,  moflly  in  her  Chair ;  but  fometimes  alio  (he 
would  be  carry'd  from  her  Chair,  out  of  one 
Room  into  another,  very  odly,  in  the  Pollutes 
of  a  riding  Woman.  At  length,  (he  pretended ,  that 
her  Horle  could  ride  up  the  Stairs ;  and  unto  ad- 
miration (he  rode,  ('that  is,  was  tofs'd  as  one  that 
rode)  up  the  StausThere  then  ftood  open  theStu- 
dy  of  one  belonging  to  the  Family  :  Into  which 
entring,  (he  (lood  immediately  on  her  Feet,  and 
cry'd  out,  They  are  gone  I  They  are  gone  .'    They  fay 

thai  they  cannot, God  won't  let  'em  come  here  J 

Adding  a  Reafon  for  it,  which  the  Owner  of  the 
Study  thought  more  Ktnd*K?Am  True.  And  ibe 
prefently  and  perfeclly aaime  to  her  (elf ,  lb  that" 
her  whole  Diicourfc1  and  Carriage  was  altered 
untothe  greater!  meafare  of  Sobriety;  and  (he  (ate 
reading  of  the  Bible  and  other  good  Books,  for 
a  good  part  of  the  Afternoon.  Her  Affairs  cal- 
ling her  anon  to  go  down  again,  the  Demons 
were  in  a  quarter  of  a  Minute  as  bad  upon  her  as 
before ;  and  her  Horfe  wzs  waiting  for  her.  Some 
then  to  fee  whether  there  had  not  been  a  Fallacy 
in  what  had  newly  hapned,  re(olv'd  for  to  have 
her  up  unto  the  Study,  where  (he  had  been  ac 
eafe  before  ;  but  (he  was  then  fo  ftrangely  dis- 
torted, that  it  was  an  extream  Difficulty  to  drag 
her  up  (fairs.  The  Demons  would  pull  her  out 
of  the  Feoples  Hands,  and  make  her  heavier  than 
perhaps  Three  of  her  (elf.  With  incredible  Toil. 
(tho'  (he  kept  (creaming, They  fay  I  muji  notgoin.) 
She  was  pull'd  in  ;  where  (he  was  no  looner  got, 
but  (he  could  ftand  on  her  Feet,  and  with  an  al- 
tered Note,  (ay,  Now  lam  well. 

She  would  be  faint  at  firft,  and  fay,  She  felt 
fomething  to  go  out  of  btr  !  (the  Noi(es whereof 
we  fometimes  heard,  like  thofe  of  a  Moufe)  but 
in  a  Minute  or  two  (he  could  apply  her  (elf  to 
Devotion,  and  exprefs  her  (elf  with  Difcretivn,  as 
well  as  ever  in  her  Life. 

To  fatisfie  fbme  Strangers,  the  Experiment  was 
divers  times  with  the  fame  Succefs,  repeated »  un- 
til my  Lothnefs  to  have  any  thing  done  like  ma- 
king a  Charm  of  a  Room,  caus'd  me  to  forbid  the 
Repetition  of  it.  But  enough  ox  this.  The  Mi- 
nifter s  of  Bojlon  and  Charlfiown,  kept  another  Day 
of  Prayer  with  Faffing,  for  Goodwins  afflicted  Fa- 
mily :  After  which,  the  Children  had  a  Senfble, 
but  a  Gradual  abatement  of  their  Sorrows,  until 
Perfecl  Eafe  was  at  length  reftor'd  unto  them. 
The  young  Woman  dwelt  at  my  Houfe  the  reft 
of  the  Winter  ;  having  by  a  vertuous  Converfati- 
on  made  her  fel f  enough  welcome  totheFamily.But 
e're  long,I  thought  it  convenient  for  me  to  enter- 
tain my  Congregation  with  a  Sermon  on  the  me- 
morable Providences  wherein  thefe  Children  had 
been  concern'd,  [afterwards  pubhftd.]  When  I 
had  begun  to  ftudy  my  Sermon,   her  Tormentors 

a- 


BookVL  The  Hiftory  of  IVevv-Enghnd. 


again  (eiz'd  upon  her,  and  manag'd  her  with  a 
(pecial  Detign,  as  was  plain,  co  diflurb  me  in 
what  I  w.iS  then  about. 

In  the  woril  of  her  Extravagancies  formerly, 
(he  was  more  dutiful  to  my  felf  than  I  hadreafon 
to  expect  :  But  now  her  v>hole  Carriage  to  me 
was  with  a  Saweinefi,  which  I  was  not  us'd  any 
whae  to  be  treated  withal.  She  would  kno:kat 
my  Study  door,  afmming  That  fame  below  would 
beglad  to  fee  me>  tho'  there  was  none  that  ask'd  for 
me :  And  when  I  chid  htr  tor  tellng  what  was 
fill?.  ,bzr  yjnfwer  was  Mrs  Mather  is  always  glad  to 
feeyou.'bhn  would  call  tome  with  numbedefs  Im 
pertinencies:  And  when  I  came  down,  (he  would 
throw  things  at  me,  tho'none  of  them  could  ever 
hurt  me:  And  (he  would  Hector  me  it  a  frrange 
rate  lor  Something  I  was  doingabove,  and  threa- 
ten me  with  Mf chief  and  Reproach  that  (hould 
revenge  it.  Few  Tortures  no*  attended  her, 
but  mcli  as  were  provok'd.  Her  Frolicks  were 
numberleis ;  if  we  may  call  them  hers.  1  was  in 
Latin  telling  ibsne  young  Gentlemen,  That  if  J 
fliould  bid  her  look  to  God.,  her  Eyes  would  be 
put  out:  Upon  which  her  Eyes  were  prelently 
lerv'd  fb.  Perceiving  that  her  Troublers  under 
flood  Latin,  fome  Trials  were  thereupon  made 
whether  they  underfloodGree/fc  and  Hebrevj,vj\i\ch 
it  feems,  they  alio  did  ;  but  the  Indian  Languages 
they  did  feem  noc  fo  well  to  underftand. 

When  we  went  unto  prayer  ,  the  Demons 
would  throw  heron  the  Floor  at  the  Feet  of  him 
that  pray'd,  where  (he  would  whittle,  and  hng, 
and  yell,  to  drown  the  Voice  of  the  Prayer,  and 
flie  would  fetch  Blows  with  her  Fiff,  and  Kicks 
with  her  foot,  at  the  Man  that  pray'd  :  But  ftill 
herFiil  and  Foot  would  always  recoyl.whenthey 
came  within  an  Inch  or  two  of  him,  as  if  reboun- 
ding againft  a  Wall :  and  then  (he  would  beg 
hard  of  other  People  to  itrikehim,  which  (you 
may  be  hire.)  not  being  done,  (he  cry'd  out,  He 
has  wounded  me  in  the  Head.  But  before  the  Pray- 
er was  over,  (he  would  be  laid  for  dead,  wholly 
fenfelefs,  and  (umoappearance)  breathlefs,  with 
her  Belly  fwell'd  like  a  Drum  ;  And  fometimes 
with  croaking  Noifes  in  her.  Thus  wou'd  (he 
lie, moii  exactly  with  the  Stiffnefs  and  Poftureof 
one  that  had  been  two  Days  laid  out  for  dead. 
Once  lying  thus,  as  he  that  was  praying,  was  al- 
luding to  the  Words  of  the  Canaamtefs,  and  fay- 
ing, Lord,  have  mercy  on  a  Daughter  vex'd  with  a 
Devil,  there  came  a  big,  but  low  Voice  from  her, 
in  which  the  Spectators  did  not  fee  her  Mouth  to 
move,  There's  two  or  three  of  us.  When  Prayer 
was  ended,  (lie  would  revive  in  a  Minute  or  two, 
and  continue  as  frolicklbme  asbelore. 

She  thus  continued  until  Saturday  towards  the 
Evening  ;  when  (he  alTay'd  with  as  nimble,  and 
various,  and  pleafant  an  Application,  as  could 
eafily  be  us'd,  for  to  divert  the  young  Folks  in  the 
Family  from  liich  Exercifes,  as  it  was  proper  to 
meet  the  Sabbath  withal :  But  they  refufing  to  be 
diverted, (he  fell  faft  afleep,  and  in  two  or  three 
Hours  wak'd  perfectly  her  felf,  weeping  bitterly 
to  remember  what  had  befallen  her.  When 
Chrijimas  arriv'd,  both  (heat  my  Houfe,  and  her 
Sitter  at  home,  were  by  the   Demons  made  very 


drunk,    tho'  we  are  fully  fatisfied  they  had   no 
Strong  Drink  to'  make  chem  fo  ;  nor  would  they 
willingly .ba,ve  been  (b^  to  ha1         ..... 
When  (lie  began  10  feel  her  fen  Drunk,  (hecom- 
plain'd,   Oh  !  they    fay    they    will  have  we  to  keep 
Chriftmas    with    them.        They  will  difgrace    me,- 
when  they  can  do  notbmg.  elje.hnd  immediately  the 
ridiculous  Behaviours  of  onj  drunk,  were  with 
a  wondrous  Exactnels  reprefented  in  her  Speak- 
ing, and  Reeling  and  Spewing,  and  anon  Sleeping, 
till  (he  was  welhtgain.     At  laft  the  Demons  put 
her  upon  dying  that  (lie  was  dying,  and  the  mat- 
ter prov'd  fuch,    that  we  fear'd  (lie  really  was  > 
for  (lie  lay,  (he  tof 'd,  (he  pull'd,  jufr  like  one  dy- 
ing, and  urg'd  hard  for  (omeone  to  die  with  her, 
(eeming  loch  to  die  alone.     She  argu'd  concern- 
ing Death,  with    Paraphrafes  on  the    Thirty  fir  ft 
Pfalm,    in   Strains   that  quite  amaz'd  us:    And 
concluded,    that  tho'  (he  was  loth  to  die,  yet  if 
God  faid  (he  mult,  Jhe  muft  !  Adding,  that  the/«- 
dians  would  quickly  (lied   much    Blood   in  the 
Countrey,  and  horrible  Tragedies  would  be  acted 
in  the  Land.     Thus  the  Vexations  of  the  .Chil- 
dren ended. 

But  after  a  while,  they  began  again  ;  and  then 
one  particular  Minifter  taking  a  particular  Com- 
paffion  on  the  Family,  let  hirrifelf  to  (erve  them 
in  the  Methods  prefcrib'd  by  our  Lord  Jefus 
Chrilt.  Accordingly,  .the  Lord  being  befought 
thrice  in  Thee  Days  of  Prayer,  with  Fading  on 
thisoccahon,  the  Family  then  law  their  Delive- 
rance perfected  i  and  the  Children  afterwards 
all  of  them,  not  only  approv'd  themfelves  De- 
vout Chrtjlians  ;  but  unto  the  PraifeofGod  rec- 
kon'd  theie  their  Afflictions  among  the  Ipecial 
Incentives  of  their  Chriflianity. 

The  Minifters  of  Bofton  and  Charlftown,  -after- 
wards accompany'd  the  printed  Narrative  of 
thefe  things  with  their  Attention  to  the  Truth 
of  ir.  And  when  it  was  re-printed  at  London, 
the  famous  Mr.  Baxter  prefixed  a  Preface  unto 
if,  wherein  he  fays,  This  great  Inflame  comes  with 
fuch  convincing  Evidence,  that  he  muft  be  a  very  ob- 
durate Sadducee,  that  will  not  believe  it. 

The  Tenth  Example. 


William  Vavies  with  Nine  Sailers,  whereof  one 
was  a  Negro,  and  one  Boy,  and  one  Paffenger, 
fail'dout  of  Bofton,  Dec.  2I6.  1695..  in  the  Ship 
called  The  Margaret,  of 'about  Eighty  Tuns,  bound 
for  Barbadoes,  laden  with  Fifli,  Beef  and  a  (mall 
parcel  of  Lumber.  Within  a  few  Days,  one  of 
the  Sailers,  nam'd  Wtnlsck  Curtis,  being  at  the 
Helm,  about  8  a-clock  at  Night  call'd  unto  the 
Captain,  telling  him,  that  he  cou'd  fteer  no  lon- 
ger; whereof,  when  the  Captain  ask'd  him  the 
Reaibn,  he  bcibught  the  (aid  Captain  to  think 
him  neither  drunk  nor  mad,  and  then  added,  That 
he  had  but  a  little  time  to  tarry  here  ;  constantly 
affirming  therewithal,  That  a  Spiric  appearing  by 
the  Biddekel,  accus'd  him  of  killing  a  Woman, 
(which  the  Sailer  faid,  that  he  had  left  alive,)  and 
reported  unto  him  that  the  reft  of  the  Ships  Com- 
pany had  figned  The  BOOK,  which  he  was  from 
that  Argument  now  urg'd  alfo  to  fign.  The 
1  Sail 


'6 


The  Hiftory  of  New- Finland. 


Bookyl. 


Sailer  declared  his  Refolution,  that  he  would 
never  hearken  to  the  Devil,  and  requeued  that 
he  might  be  furnifh'd  with  a  Bible  ;  in  the  read- 
ing whereof  he  was  at  fiift  greatly  interrupted  ; 
but  at  length  he  was  able  diftin&ly  to  read  it. 
Ontheday  following  he  was  violently  and  fud- 
deflly  feiz'd  in  an  unaccountable  manrnr,  and  iuri- 
oufly  thrown  down  upon  the  Deck,  where  he  lay 
wallowing  in  a  great  Agon v,  and  foam'd  at  the 
Mouth,  and  grew  black  in  the  Face,  and  was 
near  ftrangled  with  a  Great  Lump  riling  in  his 
Neck  nigh  his  Throat, like  (hit  which  bnvitcb'J 
or  pojjefs'd People  ule  to  be  attendee!  withal.  In 
a /n^ days  he  came  a  little  to  himfelf  ;  but  dill 
behav'd  himfelf,  as  one  much  under  the  Power 
of  ibme  Devil  i  talking  of  the  Vifions  which  he 
faw  in  the  Air,  and  of  a  Spirit  coming  for  him 
with  a  Boat.  The  Ships  Compmy,  to  pievent 
his  going  over-board  to  that  Invtfible  Spint,wh\ch  j 
he  attempted  once  to  do,  confine!  him  to  his  Ca 
bin,  and  there  ty'd  him,  and  bound  him  fo  thai  ; 
they  thought  they  had  him  fa ft  enough  :  But  he ! 
loon  came  forth  without  Noife,  to  their  great  A-  i 
ftonimment.  He  then  fell  into  a  Sleep,  wherein 
he  continu'd  for  Twenty  four  Hows  ;  alter  which 
became  to  himfelf,  and  remain'd  vcrr  fenfible, 
giving  a  particular  Narrative  of  the  odd  Cir 
cumftances  which  he  had  been  in,  and  calling  for 
Ten,  and  Ink,  to  write  them  down.  But  he 
put  offdoingit  until  the  Ship,  then  under  a  frefh 
Gale,  fhould  be  a  little  quieter  ;  and  fo  it  came 
to  be  altogether  neglected. 

Upon  Jan.  17.  in  the  North  Lat.  ip.  failing 
S.W.  with  a  frefliGale  Eaft,and  E.and  byS.  about 
9  at  Night  a  (mall  White  Cloud  arofe  without 
Rain,  or  any  extraordinary  Jncreafeof  Wind  s 
Which  falling  upon  the  Ship,  immediately  pref 
fed  her  down  to  5tar  board  at  once:  And  the 
Hatches  flying  out,  flie  was  immediately  fo  full 
of  Water,  that  it  was  impoffible  to  recover  her. 
If  fhe  had  not  been  laden  with  Lumber,  fne 
muft  have  funk  to  the  Bottom  .-  Whereas  now 
being  full  of  Water,  which  drowned  the  Boy 
fleeping  in  the  Cabin,  She  loon  righted  ,  but 
floated  along  cvtrflvw'd  with  the  Sea,  after  this, 
for  Eleven  Weeks  together,  in  which  time  there 
hapned  the  Enju'mg  Parages. 

Firft,  Within  a  few  Dap,  one  Mr.  Dih,  the 
Pafienger,  who  formerly  had  been  very  undaun 
ted  and  couragious  ,  began  to  talk  odly  of 
feveral  Perfbns  in  Barbadoes  ;  adding,  That  one 
flood  at  the  Main  Mafi  who  came  for  him  with  a 
Wherry.  And  fbon after  this,  he  was  gone  infen 
fibly>  none  knowing  when  or  how .  About  a 
Fortnight  after  this,  one  John  Jones  was  in  the 
lame  infenfible  manner  carry'd  away,  and  fb  was 
the  above  mention'd  Wmlock  Curtis.  Within  a- 
bout  a  Fortnight  more,  one  of  their  Number 
dy'd,  thro'  the  unconquerable  Difficulties  of 
the  Voyage.  And  about  a  Fortnight  further, 
theNegro  fitting  as  not  in  his  right  Mmd,  and  an 
other  Sailer,  were  in  the  Night  injevfibly  carry'd 
away.  About  a  Week  after,  one  Sterry  Lien,  the 
Carpenter,  not  being  in  any  diforder  of  Mind  at 
all,  often  f  poke  of  his  End  being  at  hand,  and 
that  it  would  be  by  a  Wave  of  the  Sea,  fetching 


wm  away.     Hinvchey/aw  carry'd  by  a 

Wave  about  Nine  a- clock  in  the  Morning, 

All  this  while  their  Ft.od  wa^  on.'y  Flo!. 
they  eat  raw,  becaufe they  could  now  have  no 
Fire  ;  and  frefh  Fijli,  which  in  great  Quantities 
came  into  the  VeiFel  unto  them.  Ac  feveral 
time?,  and  efpecially  before  the  taking  away  of 
any  one  of  their  Number,  they  heard  vc: 
and  wondrous  Noiies  Gke  the  Vpice  of  Birds,  as 
Turkeys  and  other  Fowl.  While  they  were  i;i 
this  Condition,  they  faw  three  Ve.T  Is,  md  judg'd 
that  all  the  three  faw  them  :    Nevei  none 

came  a-near  them  to  relieve  them.  Their  Lodg- 
ing was  oh  two  Boards  plic'd  athwart  the  Rail, 
n  -ar  the  Taffnl,  cover'd  with  a  Sail  :  And  the 
fi;ft  Land  they  difcover'd,  was  Dt/iado  ;  but 
a  Northerly  Current  hinder'd  their  landing  there. 
The  next  LandwiS  Grand  Terra,  but  the  Wind 
in  the  North  hindered  their  landing  there  alio.  At 
laft,  with  a  lircieSaii,  being  redue'd  unto  Three 
in  Number,  they  ran  their  Shipafhore  at  Gua- 
dalupa,  rhe  lixth  of  April,  about  2  a-clock  on 
AJ.x'lay  mornini,  where  the  French  kindly  entLr- 
tain'dihem,  not  as  Prifaners  Due  as  Travellers. 
Thence  they  came  to  Barbadoes^  and  there  they 
m:dc  Oath  to  the  Truth  of  this  N.inatbe. 

The  Eleventh  Example. 

Reader,  into  this  Chapter,  with  tco  much  of 
Pieafbn,  may  be  tranferibd  a  PafTage,  which  I 
have  had  occafion  lormerly  to  publifti  in  a 
Book   about    the    Caufe    and  Cure  of  a   Wounded 

Stint. 

'  There  are  very  cruel  Self  Murders  whereto 
'  the  Wounds  on  Peoples  Consciences  have  driven 
'  them.  Such  a  Confiernativn  is  upon  them,  that 
c  they  can't  pitch  upon  any  other  ProjtcT;  for 
'  their  own  Repofe,  than  that  oi'  Hanging,  Vrown- 
'  mg,  Stabling,  Pryjonmg,  or  lome  fuch  Foaming 
c  piece  of  Madnefs.  But,  in  God's  Name,  think 
'  again,  before  you  do  fb  vile  a  thmg  1  Think,  by 
'  whoielmpulje'ns  that  you  are  dragg'd  into  this 
'  curs'd  Action.  Truly  'tisa  mo;e  than  ordinary 
1  Impulfe  of  the  Devi!,  whereof  i  have  ihen 
'  moil  p  odigious  Evi  Sencus. 

'One  that  came  to  me  with  a  wounded  Soul, 
'after  al!  that  1  could  plead  with  him,  left  me 
'  with  thefe  Words,  Will,  the  Devil  will  have  me 
1  after  all !  And  limie  Company  juft  then  hm- 
'  dring  me  from  going  after  him,  as  I  intended, 
'  e're  I  could  get  at  him,  he  was  tound  fitting  in 
'  his  Chamber,  chonk'd  unto  death  with  a  Rope, 
1  which  Rope  neverthelefs  was  found,  not  about 
c  his  Neck,  but  in  his  Hand  and  on  his  Knee. 

'Thefenfible  /ijfi fiance  which  the  Devil  has 
c  frequently  among  us,  given  to  thefe  unnatural 
'  Executions,  does  manifeftly  (hew,  that  They 
'  who  dogg'd  the  Swine  into  the  Deep  of  old,  are 
'  the  fame  that  compel  Perlons  to  be  fb  much 
'  worfe  than  Swine,  as  to  kill  themfelves.  Thefe 
'  doleful  Creatures  we  have  ken  fbrnetimes  hang 
'  themfelves  to  death,  while  their  Feet  are  yet 
'  upon  the  Ground:  Yea,  by  a  Line  which  hath 
c  prefently  broken,  and  yet  left  them  dead.    And, 


Book  VI.        x  The  Hiftory  of  New-England 


77 


I  think  fome  that  have  been  found  and  fetch'd 
before  their  Life  was  wholly  extinguiftYd  in 
them,  have  confefs'd  unto  me  to  this  purpofe  : 
That  they  had  no  fooner  given  the  fir ll  flop  unto  their 
Breath,  but  they  prefently  loft  all  fort  of  Senfe  :  On- 
ly they  felt  fuch  a  Load  immediately  upon  their 
Shoulders,  that  tbej  could  not  help  themf elves,  tbo* 
their  Knees  Wire  upon  the  Floor  all  the  while. 

'  Moreover,  the  ltrange  Obftru&ions  that  are 
given  to  Mens  coming  into  a  Probability  ot 
Deliverance  from  their  Hurries,  do  further  ma 
nifeit,  that  the  Armies  of  Hell  are  herein  be- 
leaguering of  them.  How  often  have  People 
been  at  a  Minilter's  door  to  have  fpoken  with 
him  ;  but  having  no  power  to  knock,  they 
have  gone  away  and  laid  violent  hands  upon 
themlelves !  People  at  the  Thrtfliold  of  this 
very  Meeting-houfe,  have  had  a  forcible  and 
furious  kind  of  Whifper  made  into  their  Minds 
that  they  muft  be  gone  to  fbme  other  Congre- 
gation :  But  at  length  overcoming  their  invi- 
sible Pull-backs ,  they  have  come  in;  and  a 
large  part  of  my  Sermon  hath  been  to  ditTwade 
any  hurry'd  Souls  from  the  murdering  of  them 
lelves:  which  God  has  blefc'd  unto  the  laving 
of  them.  It  feems  the  bloody  Demons  had 
unto  their  Vexation,  iome  way  learnt  what  1 
was  to  preach  about.  The  Refult  of  all  h  thus 
much,  fince  'tis  the  Devil  which  puts  you  upon 
thus  wronging  of  your  lelves,  don'c  rcfign  your 
fclves  unto  the  Conduct  of  that  hellifh  Murder 
er.  Are  the  Devil's  Hands,  I  pray,  lb  deura 
ble,  that  you  will  needs  throw  your  felves  into 
them,  while  the  Hands  of  the 'Saviour  are 
yet  open  to  receive  you,  to  relieve  you  I  Oh,  do 
thy  f elf  no  barm  ! 

The  Twelfth  Example. 

Strange    Premonitions  of  Death    approaching, 
are  matters  of  liich  a  frequent  occurrence  in  I  ii 
itory,  that  one  is  ready  now  to  look  upon  them 
as  no  more  than  matters  of   common    Occur 
rence.     The  Learned  know  that  Suetonius  hard 
ly  lets  one    of  his    Twelve    Cefars  die  without 
trr-m:  Ar.d  the  Vulgar  talk  of  them   as   things 
happening    every    day    amongll  their    fmaller 
Neighbours. 

Even  within  a  Fortnight  of  my  writing  this, 
there  was  a  Phyfician  who  ibjourn'd  within  a 
Furlong  of  my  own  Houfe.  This  Phylician 
for  three  Nights  together  was  miferably  diftieft 
with  Dreams  of  his  being  drown'd.  On  the 
third  of  thefe  Nights  his  Dreams  were  fa  trouble 
ibme,  that  he  was  caft  into  extream  Sweats,  by 
ftruggling  under  the  imaginary  Water.  With 
the  Sweats  yet  upon  him,  he  came  down  from 
his  Chamber,  telling  the  People  of  the  Family 
what  it  was  that  had  fo  difcompos'd  him.  Im- 
mediately there  came  in  two  Friends  that  ask'd 
him  to  go  a  little  way  with  them  in  a  Boat  upon 
the  Water.  He  W2S  at  firft  afraid  of  grati- 
fv  nr\  the  Defire  of  his  Friends,  becaufe  of  his 
late  Prefages.  But  it  being  a  very  calm  time,  he 
recollected  himielt,  •wbyjhculd  I  mind  my  Dreams, 
or  mifirufi  the  Divine  Vrcvidwce  ?  He  went  with 


them,  and  before  Night,  by  a  Thunder-ilorm 
fuddenly  coming  up,  they  were  all  three  of  them 
drown'd. 

I  have  juft  now  enquir'd  into  the  •  Truth  of 
what  1  have  thus  related  ,  and  I  canafTert  it. 

But    Apparitions  after  Death  are  things  which 

when  they  occurr,  have  more  of  Strangene/s  in 

them.     And  yet  they  have  been  often  ieen  in 

this  Land:  Particularly,  Perfons  that  have  died 

abroad  at  Sea,  have  w  thin  a  day  after  their  death 

oeen  teen  by  their    Friends  in  their    Houfis  at 

home.     The  Sights  have  occafion'd   much    No- 

rice  and  much    Dilcoui  fe  at  the    very  time  of 

hem ;  and  Records  have  b?en  kept  of  the  time, 

Reader,  1  write  but  what  hath  fallen  within  my 

own  Perfonal  Obfervation ;)  and  ic  hath  bjen 

ifcerwards  found  that  they  dy'd  near  that   very 

ime  when  they"  thus  appear'd. 

I  will,  from  feveral  Injiances,  which  Phuve 
<nown  of  this  thing,  (ingle  Out  one,  that  (hail 
h.ivc  in  it  much  of  Deirur.fr  at  in,  as  well  as  of 
Particularity. 

It  was  on  the  Second  of  Miy,  in  the  Year 
1687.  that  a  moft  ingenious,  accompli  ih'd, 
and  well-difpos'd  young  Gentleman,  Mr.  Jvjepb 
Beacon  by  Name,  about  5  a-clock  in  the  Morning 
as  he  lay,  whether  fleepjng  or  waking,  he  could 
not  fay,  (but  judg'd  the  latter  of  them, )  had  a 
View  of  his  Brasher  then  at  London, although  he 
was  now  himlelf  at  our  B.fl;n,  diftane'd  from 
htm  a  thouiind  Leagues.  This,  his  Brother  ap- 
pear'd to  him  in  the  Morning,  (i  lay)  about  five 
a-clock,  at  Boficn,  having  on  him  a  Bengale  Gown 
which  he  ufually  wore,  with  a  Napkin  ty'd  a- 
bout  his  Head  :  His  Countenance  was  very  pais, 
ghaitly,  deadly,  and  he  had  a  bloody  Wound  on 
one  fide  of  his  Forehead.  Brother !  fsys  the  af- 
frighted Jofcph.  Brother!  anlwer'd  the  Appa- 
rition. Said  Jo/epb,  whaPi  tic  matter  Brother! 
Hoiv  came  you  here  !  The  Apparition  reply'd, 
Brother  !  1  have  been  mod  barbaroufly  and  inhuman- 
ly murder  d  by  a  debauch' J  Fellow,  to  whom  I  ntver 
did  any  wrong  in  my  Life.  Whereupon  he  give  a 
particular  Delcription  of  the  Murderer  i  ad- 
ding, Brother,  this  Fellow,  changing  his  Name,  is 
attempting  to  come  over  unto  New  Lngland,  in  Foy 
urWijd:  I  would  pray  you  fin  the  firfl  Arrival  if  either 
ofthe(e\to  get  an  Order  from  thcGovernour  to  feize  the 
Per/on  whom  I  have  now  defcrtb'd  ;  and  then  do  you 
;ni'ud  him  for  the  Murder  of  me,  your  Brother  Vll 
(}and  by  you,  and  trove  the  hdictmtnt.  And  fo  he 
vaniuYd.  Mr.  Beacon  w,is  extreamly  aflonim'd 
at  what  he  had  feen  and  heard  :  And  the  People 
of  the  Family  not  only  obferv'd  an  Extraordina- 
ry Alteration  upon  him  for  the  Week  following, 
but  have  alio  given  me  under  their  Hands  a  full 
Teftimony  that  he  then  gave  them  an  Account 
of  this  Apparition.  All  this  while,  Mr.  Beacon 
had  no  Advice  of  any  thing  amiis  attending  his 
Btother  then  in  England:  But  about  the  latter 
End  of  June  following,  he  undei  flood  by  the 
common  ways  of  Communication,  that  the  A- 
pril  before  his  Brother  going  in  haft  e  by  Night  to 
call  a  Coach  for  a  Lady,  met  a  fellow  then  in 
j  Drink  with  his  Doxy  in  his  hand.     Some  way  or 

o- 


78 


The  Hiftory  of  New-  England.  Book  VI 


other  the  Fellow  thoughc  himlelt'  affronted  in  the 
hafty  Paffage  of  this  Beacon,  and  immediately 
ran  in  to  the  Fire  fide  of  a  neighbouring  Tavern, 
from  whence  hefetch'd  out  a  Fire- Fork,  where- 
with he  giievoufly  wounded  Beacon  on  the  Skull, 
even  in  that  very  part  where  the  Apparition 
fhew'd  his  Wound.  Of  this  Wound  he  languish- 
ed until  he  dy'd,  6n  the  2d  of  May,  about  5  of. 
the  clock  in  the  Morning,  at  London.  The  Mur- 
derer, it  feems,  wss  indeavouring  an  Efcape,  as 
the  Apparition  affirm'd  i  but  the  Friends  of  the 
Deceas'd  Beacon  ieiz'd  him  ;  and  profecuting  him 
at  Law,  he  found  the  Help  of  luch  Friends,  as 
brought  him  off  without  the  lofs  01  his  Life  : 
Sine;  which,  there  has  no  more  been  heard  of 
the  Bufineis. 

This  Hiftory  I  receiv'd  of  Mr.  Jofeph  Beacon 
him  (elf,  who,  a  little  before  his  own  pious  and 
hopeful  Death,  which  follow'd  not  long  after, 
gave  me  the  Story,  written  and  fign'd  with  his 
own  Hand,  and  attefted  with  the  Circumftances 
I  have  already  mentioned. 

I  know  not  how  far  the  Reader  will  judge  it 
ngrecible  unto  the  Matters  related  in  this  Article-, 

if  I  do  iniert, But  I  will  here  inferta  Paffage 

which  1  find  thus  enter'd  among  my  own  Ad- 
vcrfaria. 

14  d.  lm.   1684. 

'  Mr.  J.  C.  a  D-acon  of  the  Church  in 
'  Cbarlfiown,  told  me,  that  his  Wife  having  been 
'  fick  tor  divers  Months,  was  on  the  31/?  of  Au- 
lguif  laft,  feiz'd  with  the  Pangs  of  Death  ;  in 
'  which  being  deliiious,  and  asking  divers  times 
'  who  would  go  with  her,  whither  jlie  was  going  ?  At 
'length  (he  Laid,  Wells  my  Son  Robert  will  go. 
'  and  addreffing  her  Speech  thereupon  as  unto 
'him,  (he  exprefs'd  her  Satisfaction  that  they 
'  mould  go  together.  This  Son  of  hers  was  at 
'  that  time  in  Barbadoes ;  and  his  Friends  here 
'  have  fince  learn'd  that  he  alfo  dy'd  there,  and 
1  this  at  the  very  Hour  when  his  Mother  here  gave 
'  up  the  Ghoft  ;  and  (which  is  further  oddj  not 
'  without  the  like  Expreffions  concerning  his  Mo- 
'  ther,  that  his  Mother  had  concerning  him. 

Tbelbirteenth  Example. 

In  this  preient  Evil  World,  it  is  no  Wonder 
that  the  Operations  of  the  Evil  Angels  are 
more  fcniible  than  of  the  Good  ones.  Neverthe- 
Icls  'tis  very  certain,  that  the  Good  Angels 
continually  without  any  Defilement,  fly  about 
in  our  defii'd  Atmofphere,  to  minifter  for  the 
Good  of  them  that  are  to  be  the  Heirs  of 
Salvation. 

The  Natives  of  Heaven,  as  Dr.  Fuller  phra- 
Ferh  it,  grudge  not  to  guard  thole  who  are 
only  Free  Denizens  thereof.  The  Excellent 
Rivet  hath  well  exprels'd  what  is  to  believ'd  of 
this  matter,  That  every  one  of  them,  who  (liall 
be  Han  of  Salvation,  hath,  bejides  what  may  be 
htm  en  Extraoardinary  Occaficns  always 
cue  particular  Angel  with  him,  is  a  probable  Truth, 


and  not  againjl  the  Scripture.  Albeit,  we  cannot 
from  thence  infar  that  it  is  always  the  fame  Angel. 
Now,  tho'  the  Angelical  Mimjlrationis  ulually 
behind  the  Curtain  of  more  vtjible  Inflruments  and 
their  Actions ;  yet  ibmetimes  it  hath  been  with 
Extraordinary  Circum(lances  made  more  obvious  to 
the  Senfe  of  the  Faithful. 

Of  all  that  hath  occurr'd  in  this  Land,  this 
only  (hall  here  be  exprefs'd. 

I  find  in  the  Diary  of  my  Dear,  and  Reve- 
rend, and  Excellent  Friend  Mr.  John  Baily,  a 
wonderful  Paffage  concerning  his  Eminently  pi- 
ous Wife,  who  dy'd  at  our  Watertown;  which  I 
will  here  tranferibe. 

1  April  14.  1691.  (he  was  dying  all  day.  To- 
ward Sunfet  (he  faid  unto  me  efpecially,  and 
alfo  unto  others,  that  we  had  done  her  the 
greateft  Diskindnefs  thatever  (he  met  with  ftnee 
(he  was  born,  in  keeping  her  back,  and  not  de- 
livering her  up  to  God  in  Chrift,  whom  (he 
lov'd  above  all,  and  long'd  to  be  withal.  She 
begg'd  as  for  her  Life,  that  We  would,  and  / 
efpecially,  take  off  our  Love  wholly  from  her, 
and  give  our  All  to  the  Lord  Jeius  Chrift,  as  (he 
had  often  done,  and  was  now  willing  again  to 
do.  She  would  never  be  quiet,  until  1  promi- 
kd  before  all  thofe  Witneiies  preient  (which 
were  many,)  and  before  the  Holy  Angels,  who 
(he  delired  would  leal  to  it  with  their  Golden 
Seals,  that  I  would  be  willing  to  part  with  her 
and  let  her  go  j  and  that  I  would  give  my  All 
up  to  the  Lord  Jelus  Chrift  (even  Her  felf,  and 
every  thing  elfe :)  which  in  the  Name  of  Chrift, 
I  promis'd  to  labour  to  be  willing,  and  I  would 
be  willing  to  do. 

'  This  gave  her  fome  Content ;  and  (he  faid, 
that  God  had  appear'd  unto  her,  and  that  (he 
was  full  of  the  Joys  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  and 
that  (he  had  whole  Floods  of  the  Love  of  God 
in  her  Soul,  and  (lie  could  not  (land  under  it. 
She  often  laid,  that  (he had  Rivers  of  Joy,  and 
that  (he  could  fcatter  it  about  the  Town,  and 
that  all  this  was  to  her  the  worft  of  Sinners ; 
and  that  it  was  not  only  undeferv'd,  but  alfo 
unexpected.  She  defir'd  every  one  to  take  heed 
of  flighting  the  Lord  Jelus  Chrift  ;  and  (he  ai- 
(ur'd  them,  that  if  they  entertained  him,  they 
mould  be  as  full  of  Love  and  Joy  as  (he :  And 
(headvis'd  them  to  give  up  all  unto  God,  and 
make  much  of  him  ;  for  there  was  none  like 
him »  and  as  long  as  (he  had  a  Tongue  or  a 
Breath,  (he  would  praile  him:  And  (he  ask'd 
us  all,  that  if  we  would  not,  or  could  not  praife 
him  on  our  own  Accounts,  yet  we  would  do  it 
on  hers  ;  for  (he  was  Top-full,  Brim-full,  and 
running  over.  She  laid,  Death  had  no  Terror 
at  all  in  it ;  but  (he  could  as  freely  die  as  ever 
(he  went  to  deep.  She  (aid,  I  dejerve  none  of 
this  Love;  but  if  Chri/i  will  give  it,  who  can 
hinder  it  ?  Go  to  him  \  he  is  no  Niggard,  he  has 
Love  and  Grace  enough  for  you  all:  I  cannot 
bear  it,  it  is  Jo  heavy  !  Ay,  faid  (he,  my  pour  Huf- 
band,  tho'  a  difav  folate  Man,  J  ejus  Chrift  wiS 
fit  him  with  all  this  Love  before  he  dies  >  and  he 
will  fill  you  all,  if  it  be  not  your  own  Fault.  She 
laid  unto  me,  If  any  body  want  me,this  poor  Man 

will : 


Book  VI.  The  Hiftory  of  New-England, 


1  will:  Tet,  as  well  as  I  love  him,  and  I  now  love 
1  him  better  than  ever,  and  jhall  blefs  God  through 
'  aB  Eternity  for  htm  j  Yet  I  would  not  be  hir'd  by 
'  Miliums  of  Worlds  to  live  a  Day  or  an  Hour  with 
'  him  frr-m  Chrifi  :  And  yet,  if  God  would  have  me 
'  to  live,  1  would  live.  This  Hur  is  the  happiefl 
c  Hour  that  ever  I  had  fince  my  Mother  bound  my 
'  head.  Ih.re  was  never  Juch  an  Injtance  of  Free- 
'  Grace,  as  I  am  perfwaded,  fince  the   World  begun. 

*  Let  all  take  notice,  tothe  Ghryif  Free  Grace,  that 
'  I  Z°  '$  !^e  Stage  nobly!  and  honourably.  She  (aid, 
'  That  the  was  going  to  theLord,andifthouf*nds 
*of  Dev.is  ftiould  te!!  her  otherwife,  fhe  would 

*  not  believe  them.  God  had  now  made  her  a- 
'  mends  for  all  thcTroubles  flie  had  met  withal 
'  in  the  World.  She  then  defir'd  that  we  would 
1  fing  (bme  Pfalm  of  Praiie  to  the  Riches  of 
'  Free  Grace  :  But  our  Harps  were  hang'd  on 
'  the  Willows  we  did  it  not.  Yet  there  was  me- 
'looious  Singing  at  that  very  time.'  I  heard  it 
'  my  (elf,  but  intended  never  to  lpeak  of  it  until 
'  the  Nurii  B.  and  M.  S.  fpoke  of  it.  They 
'went  unto  the  Fire,  thinking  it  was  there ;  but 
c  they  heard  it  belt,  when  within  the  Curtains. 
'  God,  by  his  Holy  Angels,  put  an  Honour  upon 
'  my  dear  little  Woman »  and  by  it  reprov'd  us 
'that  teeirg  we  would  not  fing,  (being  bad  at 
'  it)  they  would  ! 

The  Fourteenth  Example. 

To  conclude  our  Wonders  of  the  Invifible 
World  there  will  doubclefs  be  expected  an  Ac- 
count of  the  Wonders  that  afflicted  New-Eng- 
land in  the  Year  1652.  Now  having  in  my 
Hands  a  moft  unexceptionable  Account  thereof 
written  by  Mr.  John  Hales,  I  will  here  content 
my  left  with  the  Tranfcribing  of  that.  And  I 
will  affure  the  Reader  that  he  hath  now  to  do 
with  a  Writer,  who  woald  not  for  a  World  be 
guilty  of  over-doing  the  Truth  in  an  Hiftory  of 
this  importance. 


Sadducifmus  debdhtus. 

£.i.TN  the  latter  end  of  the  Year  1691.  Mr. 
JL  Tarts,  Paftorofthe  Church  in  Salem- 
Village  had  a  Daughter  of  Nine,  and  a  Niece  of 
about  Eleven  Years  of  Age,  fadly  afflicted  of 
they  knew  not  what  Diftempers:  And  tho'  he 
made  his  Application  to  Phyllcians  i  yet  ftill 
they  gi  ew  worfe.  At  length  one  Phyfician  gave 
his  Opinion  Teat  they  were  under  an  Evil  Hand. 
This  the  Neighbours  took  up,  and  concluded, 
they,  were  btwitcVd.  He  had  alio  an  Indian 
Manfeivant,  and  his  Wife,  who  afterwards 
confeis'd  that  without  the  Knowledge  of  their 
Matter  or  Miftrefs,  they  had  taken  lome  of  the 
affli&ed  Perlbns  Urine,  and  mixing  it  with 
Meal,  had  made  a  Cake,  and  bak'd  it,  to  find 
out  the  Witch,  as  they  laid.  After  this,  the  af- 
flicted Perlbns  cry'd  ouc  of  the  Indian  Woman 
nam'd  Tituba,  that  fhe  did  pinch,  prick,  and 


79 

grievoufly  torment  them  ;  and  th.it  they  law 
her  here  and  tliere,  where  no  body  el/e  could  ; 
yea,  they  could  tell  where  (he  was,  and  what 
fhe  did  when  out  of  their  Humane  Sight. 
Thef;  Child:  en  were  bitten  and  pinch'd  by  in- 
vifible Agents  i  their  Arms,  Necks,  and  Backs 
turn'd  this  way  and  that  way,  and  return'd  back 
again  ;  fo  as  it  was  impodible  for  them  to  do  of 
themfelves,  and  beyond  the  power  of  any  £pi- 
leptick  Fits,  or  natural  Difeafesto  effect. 

Sometimes  they  were  taken  dumb,  their 
Mouths  ftopp'd,  their  Throats  choak'd,  their 
Limbs  rack'd  and  tormented,  (b  as  might  move 
an  Heart  of  Stone  to  fympithize  with  them, 
with  Bowels  of  Companion  for  them.  I  will 
not  enlarge  in  the  Defcription  of  their  cruel 
Sufferings,  becaufe  they  were  in  all  things  afflict- 
ed as  bad  as  John  Goodwin's  Children  at  Boflon'wx 
the  Year  1689.  So  that  he  that  will  read  Mr. 
Mathers  Book  of  Memorable  Providences,  may 
read  part  of  what  thefe  Children,  and  after- 
wards (iindry  grown  Perlbns  fuffjr'd  by  the 
Hand  of  Satan  at  Salem-Vtllage  and  Parts  adja- 
cent,^. \6$\.  Yet  there  was  more  in  thefe 
Sufferings  than  in  thole  at  Bcflen,  by  Pins  invi- 
fibly  ftuck  into  their  Flefh,  pricking  with  Irons, 
&c.  as  is  in  part  publiih'd  in  a  Book  printed 
1  ^9  ? » tfiz>     The  Wonders  of  the  Invfible  Wor 

Mr-  Paris  feeing  the  diftrels'd  Condition  of  his 
Family,  defir'd  the  Pretence  of  iome  worthy 
Gentlemen  of  Salem,  and  fome  Neighbour- 
Minifters,  to  confult  together  at  his  Houfe ; 
who,  when  they  came,  and  had  enquired  dili- 
gently into  the  Sufferings  of  the  afflided,  con- 
cluded they  were  preternatural,  and  fear'd  the 
Hand  of  Satan  was  in  them. 

jj.  2.  The  advice  given  to  Mr.  Paris  about 
them,  was,  That  he  fhould  fit  ftill  and  wait  upon 
the  Providence  of  God,  to  fee  what  Time  might 
difcover,  and  to  be  much  in  Prayer  for  the  Dil- 
covery  of  what  was  yet  fecret.  They  alio  exa- 
min'd  Tituba,  who  confels'd  the  making  a  Cake, 
as  is  above- mention'd,  and  (aid,  her  Miftrefs  in 
her  own  Countrey  was  a  Witch,  and  had  taught 
her  fome  means  to  be  us'd  for  the  Dilcovery  of  a 
Witch,  and  for  prevention  of  being  bewirch'd  : 
but  laid,  that  fhe  herlelf  was  not  a  Witch. 

§.  ;.  Soon  after  this,  there  were  two  or  three 
Private  Faffs  at  the  Minifter's  Houfe;  one  of 
which  was  kept  by  fundry  Neighbour  Minilfers ; 
and  after  this,  another  in  publick  at  the  Vilugei 
and  feveral  Days  afterwards  of  Publick  Humili- 
ation, during  thefe  Moleftations,  not  only  there, 
but  in  other  Congregations  (or  them:  and  one 
General  Faft,  by  o;c!er  of  the  General  Court,  ob- 
ferv'd  throughout  the  Colony,  to  leek  the  Lot  d, 
that  he  would  rebuke  Satan,  and  be  a  Light  unto 
his  People  in  this  Day  of  Darknefs.  But  I  return 
to  thefe  Troubles.  In  a  (hort  time  after,  other 
Perlbns  who  were  of  age  to  be  Witneffes,  were 
molefted  by  Satan,  and  in  their  Fits  cry'd 
out  upon  Tituba  ,  and  Goody  O.  and  S.  G. 
that  they  or  Speclres-  in  their  Shapes,  did 
grievoufly  torment  them.    Some  of  their    Vil- 

LIU  11  lage 


So 


The  Hiflory  of  New-Fngland. 


Book  VI 


lage-Neighbours  com  plain'd  unto  the  Magiltrates 
at  Sa'em, defuing  they  would  come  and  examine 
the  Affiled  and  the  Accus'd  together;  the 
which  they  did  :  The  effect  of  which  Examina- 
tion was,  that  Ittuba  confefs'd  fhe  was  a  Witch  ; 
and  that  me,  with  the  two  others  accus'd,  did 
torment  and  bewitch  the  Complainers  i  and 
that  thefe,  with  two  others,  whole  Names  fhe 
knew  not,  had  their  If  itch- meetings  together,  re- 
lating the  times  when,  and  places  where,  they 
met,  with  many  other  Circumftances  elfewhere 
to  be  feen  at  large.  Upon  this,  the  faid  Ittuba  and 
O.  ?nd  G.  were  committed  to  Prifbn  upon  fuipi- 
cion  of  aeting  Witchcraft.  After  this, the  laid  77- 
tuba  was  again  examin'd  in  Prifbn,  and  own'd 
herfirff  Ccnfeffion  in  all  points,  and  then  was 
her  felf  afflicted,  and  complain'd  of  her  Fellow- 
Witches  tormenting  of  her  for  her  Confeffion  , 
and  acciifing  them  ;  and  being  fearch'd  by  a 
Woman,  fhewasfourd  to  have  upon  her  Body 
the  Marks  of  the  Devil's  wounding  her. 

§.  4.  Here  were  thefe  things  rendred  her  Con- 
feffion credible : 

1.  Thatatthis  Examination  fhe  anfwer'd  e- 
very  Queftion'juft  as  fhe  did  at  the  fiifh  And 
it  was  thought,  that  if  fhe  had  feign'd  her  Con- 
feffion, fhe  could  not  have  remember'd  her  An- 
fwersfo  exactly.  A  Lyar,  we  fay,  had  need 
have  a  good  Memory  :  But  Truth  being  always 
confiftent  with  it  felf,  is  the  fame  to  day  as  it  was 
yefterday. 

a.  She  feem'd  very  penitent  for  her  Sin  in  co 
venanting  with  the  Devil. 

3.  She  became  a  Sufferer  her  felf,  and,  as  fhe 
faid,  for  her  Confeffion. 

4.  Her  Confeffion  agreed  exactly  (which  was 
afterwan'sverify'd  in  the  other  Confeffors)  with 
the  Acculations  of  the  Afflicted. 

Soon  after,  thele  afflicted  Perfons  complain'd 
of  other  Perfns  afflicting  of  them  in  their  Fits, 
and  the  Number  of  the  Afflicted  and  the  Accus'd 
began  to increafe.  And  the  Succefs  of  Tituba's 
Confeffion  encourag'd  thofein  Authority  to  ex 
amine  others  that  were  fufpected  ;  and  the  E 
vent  was,  that  more  confefs'd  themfelves  guilty 
of  the  Crimes  they  were  fufpected  for.  And 
thus  was  the  matter  driven  on. 

§.  5.  I  obferv'd  in  the  Profecution  of  thefe  Af- 
fairs, that  there  was  in  the  Juftices,  Judges,  and 
qthersconcern'd,  a  confcientious  Endeavour  to 
do  the  thing  that  was  right  i  and  to  that  end, 
they  confulted  the  Precedents  of  former  times, 
and  Precepts  laid  down  by  learn'd  Writers  about 
Witchcraft  ;  as,  Keeble  on  the  Common  Law, 
Chapt.  Conjuration,  fan  Author  approv'd  by  the 
Twelve  Judges  of  our  Nation :)  AHbSir  Matthew 
Hales's  Trials  of  Witches,  printed  An.idKz. 
Glanvil's  Collection  of  fundry  Trials  in  England 
and  Ireland  in  the  Year  1658,  61,  65,  64,  and 
81.  Bernard's  Guide  to  Jury  men  ;  Baxter's  and 
K.B.  their  Hiftories  about  Witches,  and  their 
Difcoveries;  C.  Mathers  Memorable  Providen- 
ces relating  co  Witchcrafts,  printed  1685. 


§  6.  But  thaO  which  chiefly  carry 'd  on  this 
matter  to  fuch  an  Height,  was  the  increafing  of 
Confeffors  rntil  they  amounted  to  near  upon 
fifty  v  and  Four  or  Six  of  them  upon  their  Tii- 
als  own'd  their  Guilt  of  this  Crime,  and  were 
condemn'd  for  the  fame,  but  not  executed.  And 
many  of  the  Confeffors  confirmM  cheir  Con'ef- 
lions  with  very  lhong  Circumfrances  ;  as  their 
exact  agreement  with  the  Accufaticns  of  the  •,/- 
flitted,  their  punctual  agreement  wi;h  their  Fcl-  . 
low-ConiefTois,  their  relating  the  Times  when 
they  covenanted  with  Satan,  and  the  Reafbns 
that  mov'd  'em  thereunto  ;  theirWitch-  meeting?, 
and  that  they  had  their  Mock-Sacraments  of 
Baptifm  and  the  Supper,  in  fome  of  them;  their 
figning  the  Devil's  Book,  and  lome  fhew'd  the 
Scars  of  the  Wounds  which  they  faid  were 
made  to  retch  B.'ood  with  to  fign  the  Devil's 
Book  ;  and  lome  faid  they  had  Imps  to  fuck  them, 
and  fhew'd  Sores  raw,  where  they  faid  they  were 
fuck'd  by  them. 

§.  7.  I  (hall  give  the  Reader  a  Tafle  of  thefe 
things  in  a  tcv  Inftances.  The  s.fflicled  com- 
plain'd that  the  Spectres  which  vex'u  them,  urg- 
ed them  to  fee  their  hands  to  a  Book,  reprefent- 
ed  to  them  (as  to  them  it  feem'd)  with  Threac- 
ningsrf  great  Torments  it  they  fign'd  not,  and 
Promif  sot  Eafe  ifthev  obey'd.  Among  thefe, 
D.  H.  as  (he  laid  fwhich  fundry  others  confefs'd 
afterwards)  beirg  ove;ton,e  by  the  Extremity 
of  her  pains,  did  fign  the  Book  prefented,  and 
had  thepromis'd  Eafe,  and  immediately  upon  ic 
a  Spectre  in  her  Shape  afflicted  another  Perlon, 
and  laid,  [have  fgr'd  the  Book,  and  have  Ea/e  : 
new  do  you  fign,  and  fo  pall  you  have  Eaje  .'  And 
one  day  this  afflicted  Pcrlon  pointed  at  a  certain 
place  in  the  Room,  and  faid  There  is  D.  H.  Up- 
on which,  a  Man  with  his  Rapier  fhuck  at  the 
Place,  tho' he  law  r.o  Shape  >  and  the  /ffitchd 
Call'd  out,  faying,  You  have  given  her  a  [mall  Prick 
about  the  Eye.  Soon  alter  this,  the  faid  D.  H. 
confefs'd  her  felf  to  be  made  a  Witch,  by  figning 
the  Devil's  Book,  as  abovefaid,  and  deciar'd  that 
fhe  had  afflicted  the  Maid  thac  complain'd  of 
her,  andin  doing  of  it,  had  receiv'd  Two  Wounds 
by  a  Sword  or  Rapier;  a  (mail  one  about  the  Eye, 
which  fhe  (hew'd  to  the  Magiltrates,  and  a  bigger 
on  the  Side,  ot  which  (he  was  iearch'd  by  a  dis- 
creet Woman,  who  reported  that  D.H.  had  on 
her  Side  the  Sign  of  a  Wound  newly  heal'd. 
This  P.  H.  confeffed  thac  fhe  was  at  a  Witch- 
meeting  at  Salem  Village,  where  were  many  Per- 
fons thatj/jenam'd,  lome  of  whom  were  in  Pri- 
fbn then,  or  foon  after,  upon  fufpicionof  Witch- 
crafc  ■,  and  fie  laid  G.  B.  preach'd  to  chem,  and 
fuch  a  Woman  was  their  Deacon,  and  there  they 
had  a  Sacrament. 

f>.  8.  Several  others  after  this,  confefs'd  the 
fame  things  with  V.  H.  In  particular,  Goody 
F.  faid,  that  fhe,  with  two  others,  (one  ot  whom 
acknowledge  the  fame)  rode  from  Avdovtr  to 
the  fame  VilEge  Witch-meeting,  uponaN  Stick  a- 
bove  the  Giound,and  that  in  the  Way  the  Stick 

brake, 


BookVJ. 


7 be  Hijlory  of  IVew- England. 


8* 


brake,  and  gave  the  (aid  F.  a  Fall,  whereby,  laid 
/he,  J  got  a  Fall  and  Hurt,  rf  which  1  am  ft  ill  fore. 
I  ha'pned  co  be  prefent  in  Prifbn  when  this  F. 
own'd  again  her  former  Confeflion  to  the   Ma- 

giflrates 1  asked  her  if  (lie  rode  to  the  Meet- 

ingon  a  Stick  ?  She  faid,  Tea.  I  inquired  what 
fieM  for  Victuals :  She  anfwered,  That/7;*  car- 
ried Bread  and  Cheefe  in  her  Pocket,  and  that 
fie  and  the  Andover  Company  came  to  the  Vil 
lage  before  the  Meeting  began,  and  lat  down  to 
get'her  under  a  Tree,  and  eat  their  Food  \  an;! 
that  fie  drank  Water  out  of  a  Brook  to  quench 
her  Thirfr  i  and  that  the  Meeting  was  upon  a 
plain  Graffy  Place,  by  which  was  a  Cart-path,in 
which  were  the  Tracks  of  Hoi  fes  Feet;  and  Hie 
alfotold  me  how  long  they  weie  going  and  re- 
turning, ai  d  fome  time  alec,  told  me  fie  had 
fome  Trouble  upon  her  Spirit  >  and  when  I  en- 
quired what,  (he  faid,/7;e  wasin  fear  that  G.  B.  and 
M.C.  would  kill  heritor  they  appeared  unto  her 
(in  Spectre,  for  their  Perfons  were  kepc  in  other 
Rooms  in  the  Prifbnjand  brought  a  Sharp-point- 
ed Iron,  like  a  Spindle,  but  four-fquare,  and 
Threatned  to  ftabb  her  to  death,  becaufe  //«had 
confeffed  her  Witchcraft,  and  told  of  them  that 
they  were  with  her  ;  and  M.  C.  above-named 
was  the  Perfon  that  made  her  a  Witch.  About  a 
Month  after,  the  faid  F.  tookoccafion  to  tell  me 
the  lame  Stoi  y  of  her  Fears  that  G.  B.  and  £.  C. 
would  kill  her  ;  fo  that  the  thing  was  much 
on  her  Spirit. 

§.  9.  It  was  not  long  before  M.  L.  Daughter  of 
the  faid  F.  confefs'd  that  She  rode  with  her  Mo 
ther  to  the  faid  Witch-meeting,  and  confirm'd 
the  Subffanceof  her  Mother's  Confeflion.  At 
another  time  M.  L.  junior,  the  Granddaughter, 
aged  about  17  Years,  confeffes  the  Subftance  of 
what  her  Grand-mother  and  Mother  had  rela- 
ted, and  declares  that  when  they,  with  E.  C.  rode 
on  a  Stick  or  Pole  in  the  Air,  fie  the  faid  Grand- 
daughter, with  K.  C-  rode  upon  another  (and  the 
faid  R.  C.  acknowledged  the  fame)  and  that  they 
fet  their  Hands  to  the  Devil's  Book:  and  (inter 
alia)  faid,  O  Mother,  why  didyou  give  me  to  the  De- 
vil? twice  or  thrice  over.  The  Mother  faid,  fie 
was  forry  at  the  heart  for  it ;  it  was  through  that 
wicked  one.  Her  Daughter  bad  her  repent  and 
call  upon  God,  and  faid,  Oh  Mther\  your  Wiflies 
erenow  come  to  jiafs  S  for  how  often  have  youwijhed 
that  the  Devil  would  fetch  me  away  alive !  and  then 
laid,  Oh,  my  Heart  will  break  within  me\  Then 
She  wept  bitterly,  crying  our,  O  Lord  comfort  me, 
and  bring  out  alltbe  Witches.  And  fie  faid  to  her 
Grandmother,  Oh  Grandmother,  why  didyou  give 
me  to  the  Devil  ?  Why  did  you  perfwade  me  ?  O 
Grandmother, do  not  deny  it.  Then  the  Grandmo- 
ther gave  account  of  feveral  things  about  their 
Confederates  and  Aclsol  Witchcraft,  too  long 
torehearfe.  Moreover,  another  declared,  that 
fie  with  Widow  S.  went  to  Captain  W.  S.  and 
the  faid  S.  gave  him  a  Blow  with  a  great  Stick, 
and  yet  was  to  him  invifible.  Captain  W.  de- 
clared he  had  a  fore  Blow,  as  if  with  a  great 
Siick,  but  faw  no  body.  The  Widow  S.  denied 
that  (lie  (truck  him.     Then  M.  P.  the  Confeffor 


very  boldly  look'd  up  into  her  Face,  and  (aid, 
'  S.  you  know  yea  did'ftrjke  him,  and  I  faw  you 
do  it,  and  then  told  the  manner  how  ic  was 
done,  and  how  they  came  to  him,  and  retur* 
red. 

§  10.  Nextly ,  I  will  ihfert  the  Confeflion  of  a 
Man,  about  forty  years  of  age,  W.  B.  which  ha 
wrote  himfelf  in  Prilbn,  and  (enr  to  the  Magi- 
ffrates,  to  confirm  lvs  former  Confeflion  to 
them. 

God  having  caWd  me  to  confefs  my  Sin  and  Apo- 
ftacy  in  that  Fall,  in  giving  the  Devil  Advantage  o~ 
ver  me,  appearing  to  me  like  a  Black,  in  the  Even- 
ing,to  fet  my  hand  to  bis  Bock,  as  I  have  own'd  to 
my  (Ijame.  He  told  me  that  Ifieuld  not  want,  fo  do- 
ing.  At  Salem-  Vil  lage,  there  being  a  little  off  the 
Meeting-houfe,  about  an  hundred  fine  Blades,  fome 
with  Rapiers  by  their  fides,  which  was  calf  J  (and 
might  be  more  for  ought  I  know)  by  B.  and  Bu.  and 
the  TRUMPET  founded,  and  Bread  and  Wine  which 
they  called  the  Sacramenc ;  but  1  had  nine  \  being 
carried  over  aU  upon  a  Stick,  never  being  at  any  0- 
ther  Meeting.  I  being  at  Cart  Saturday  laft  all 
the  Day,  of  Hay  and  Englifi  Corn,  the  Devil  brought 
my  Shape  to  Salem,  and  did  afflitl  M.  S.  and  R.  F. 
by  ditching  my  Hand  :  And  on  Sabbath  day  my 
Shape  ajfliiled  A.  M.  and  at  Night  afflicled  M.  S. 
and  A.M.  E.J.  and  A. F.  have  been  my  Enticers 
to  this  great  Abomination,  as  one  hath  owned  and 
charged  her  other  Sifter  with  the  fame.  And  the 
Deftgn  wastodejlroy  Salem  Village,  and  to  begin 
at  the  Mini/ler's  Heufe,  and  to  deftr  y  the  Churches  of 
God,  and  to  fet  up  Satan's  Rivga,  m,  and  then  all  will 
be  well.  And  now  1  hope  God  hath  made  me  in  fome 
meafure  fenfible  of  my  Stn  and  Apoftacy  ;  begging 
far  den  of  God,  and  of  the  honourable  Magiflrates, 
and  all  God^s  People  j  hoping,  and  promtfmg  by  the 
Help  of  God,  to  (et  to  my  Heart  and  Hand  to  do  what 
in  me  lieth  to  deftroy  fuch  wicked  Worfltip  ;  humbly 
begging  the  Prayers  of  God's  People  fr  me,  I  may 
walk  humbly  under  all  this  great  Afflttlion,  and  that 
I  may  procure  to  myfelf  the  fure  Maciesof  David. 

Concerning  this  Confeflion,  note,  1.  It  was 
his  own  Free  kdi  in  Pri(bn.  2.  He  (aid  [The  De- 
vil, like  a  black  Sheep.~\  This  he  had  before  ex- 
plain'd  to  be  like  a  Black  Man.  3.  That  on  a 
certain  day  was  heard  in  the  Air  the  Sound  of  a 
Trumpet  at  Salem-Village,  nigh  the  Meeting- 
houfe,  and  upon  all  Enquiry,  it  could  not  be 
found  that  any  mortal  Man  did  (bund  it.  4. 
The  Three  Perlons,  he  faith,  the  Devil  in  his 
Shape  affli<fted,  had  been,  as  to  the  time  and 
manner,  afflicted  as  he  confeffeth.  $.  That  E.J. 
confeffed  as  much  as  W.B.  chargeth  her  with. 
6.  Many  others  confefs'd  a  Witch  meeting  or 
Witch-meetings  at  the  Village  as  well  as  he. 

Note  alfo,  that  rhefe  Contellbrs  did  not  only 
witnefs  again!!  themfelves,  but  againfl  one  ano- 
ther, and  againft  many,  if  not  all  thole  that  fiif- 
fer'd  for  that  Crime.  As  for  Example :  When  . 
G.  B.  was  tried,  feven  or  eight  of  thefe  Con- 
feffors,  feverally  call'd,  faid  they  knew  the  (aid 
B.  and  law  him  at  a  Witch- meeting  at  the  Vil- 
lage, and  heard  him  exhort  the  Company  to  pull 
down  the  Kingdom  of  God,  and  fee  up  the 
Llll  11  a  King- 


82 


The  Hifiory  of  New- England.  EookVI 


Kingdom  of  the  Devil.      He    deny'd  all  i  yet 
faid  he  juftify'd  the  Judges  and  Jury  in  condem-  ' 
ning,ot   him  :  becaufe  there  were  fo  many  po 
Htive  Witneffes  againft  him  ;  but  faid  he  dy'd  by 
f  life  Witneffes.     M  C  had  to  witnefs  againft  her 
two  or  three  of  her  own  Children,  and   fever  a! 
Neighbours,  that  faid  they  were  in  Confederacy 
with  her  in  her  Wichcraft.     A.  F.  had  three  of 
her  Children,  and  fome  of  the  Neighbours,  her 
own  Sifter,  and  a  Servant,   who  confefs'd  them- 
felves  Witches,  and  faid,  fhe  was  in  Confedera- 
cy with  them.     But  alafs,  I  am  weary  with  re- 
lating Particulars :  Thofe  that  would  fee  more 
of  this  kind,  let    them    have  recourfe    to  the 
Records. 

§.  ii.  By  thefe  things  you  may  fee  how  this 
matter  was  carry'd  on,TO.  chiefly  by  the  Com- 
plaints and  Accufations  of  the  Afflicted  (Be- 
witch'd  ones,  as  it  was  fuppos'd)and  then  by  the 
Confeffions  of  the  Accus'd  condemning  tbem- 
felves  and  others.  Yet  Experience  fhew'd,  That 
the  more  there  were  apprehended,  the  more  were 
ftill  afnided  by  Satan ;  and  the  Number  of  Con- 
fcfforsincreafing,  did  but  increafe  the  Number 
of  the  Accufed  s  and  the  executing  of  fome, 
made  way  for  the  apprehending  of  others:  For 
ftill  thsAfflitted  complain'd  of  being  tormented 
by  new  Objeds,  as  the  former  were  remov'd. 
So  that  thofe  that  were  concern'd,  grew  amaz'd 
at  the  Number  and  Quality  of  the  Perfons  ac- 
cus'd, and  feared  that  Satan  by  his  Wiles  had 
enwrapped  Innocent  Perfons  under  the  Imputa- 
tion of  that  Crime.  And  at  laft,  it  was  .evi- 
dently feen,  that  there  muft  be  a  Stop  put,  or  the 
Generation  of  the  Children  of  God,  would  fall 
under  that  Condemnation.  Henceforth  there 
fore  the  Juries  generally  acquitted  fuchaswere 
tried,  fearing  they  had  gone  too  far  before. 
And  Sir  William  Phips  the  Governour,  reprieved 
r.ll  that  were  condemn'd,  even  the  Confeflbrs  as 
well  as  others.  And  the  Confeflbrs  generally 
fell  off  from  their  Confeffion,  fome  faying,  They 
remembred  nothing  if  what  they  had  faid ;  Others 
faid,  They  hud  belied  tbemjclvss  and  others.  Some 
broke  Prifon  and  ran  away,  and  were  not  ftrid- 
ly  fearched  after.  Some  acquitted,  fome  dil- 
mifled,  and  one  way  or  other,  all  that  had  been 
accufed,  were  fee  or  left  at  Liberty.  And,  altho' 
h.^d  the  Times  been  calm,  the  Condition  of  the 
Confellors  might  have  called  for  a  Melius  inqui- 
rendum i  yet,  coniidering  the  Combuftion  and 
Confufion  this  natter  had  brought  us  unto,  it 
was  thought  later  to  under-do  than  over-do,  e 
fpecial'y  in  matters  Capital,  where  what  is  once 
com  plea  ted,,  cannot  be  retrieved;  but  what  is 
lefc  atone  time,  may  be  corrected  at  another, 
upon  a  Review  and  clearer  Difcovery  of  the 
Scate  of  the  Cafe.  Thus  this  matter  iflued 
fbmewhat  abruptly. 

§■  ii.  It  may  bequeiied,  How  doth  it  appear 
that  there  was  a  going  too  far  in  this  Af- 
fair I 

A.  i.  By  the  Numbers  of  the  Perfons  accus'd, 
which  at  length  increas'd  to  about  an  hundred  j 


and  it  cannot  be  imagin'd  that  in  a  place  of  fo 
much  Knowledge,  fb  many  in  fofmall  a  com- 
pafs  of  Land,  mould  fo  abominably  leap  into 
the  Devil's  Lap  all  at  once. 

2.  The  Quality  of  feveral  of  the  Accus'd  was 
fuch,  as  did  befpeak  better  things,  and  things  that 
accompany  Salvation;  Perfons,  whofe  blamelefs 
and  holy  Lives  before  did  teftifie  for  them  ; 
Perfbns  that  had  taken  great  pains  to  bring  up 
their  Children  in  the  Nurture  and  Admonition 
of  the  Lord  ;  fuch  as  we  had  Charity  for,  as 
for  our  own  Souls :  And  Chanty  is  a  Chriftian 
Duty  commended  to  us. 

;.  The  Number  of  the  Afflicted  daily  increa- 
fed  until  about  fifty  Perfons  were  thus  vex'd  by 
the  Devil.  This  gave  juft  ground  to  ful'ped  fome 
Miilake,  which  gave  advantage  to  the  Aecufer 
of  the  Brethren  to  make  a  Breach  ucon  us. 

4.  It  was  conhderable,  That  Nineteen  were 
executed,  2nd  all  denied  the  Crime  to  the  death, 
and  fome  of  them  were  knowing  Perfons,  and 

>  had  before  this  been  accounted  blamelefs  Livers. 

I  And,  it  is  not  to  be  imagin'd,  but  that,  if  all  had 

I  been  guilty,    fome  would   have  had    fb  much 

JTendernefs,  as  to   feek  Mercy  for  their  Souls, 

in  the  way  of  Confeflion  arid  Sorrow  for  fuch  a 

Sin.     And  as  for  the  Condemn'd  Confeffors  ac  the 

Bar  (they  being  repriev'dj  we  had  no  Experience 

whether  they  would  ftand  to  their  felf-condem- 

ning  Confeffions  when  they  came  to  die. 

5.  When  this  Profecution  ceas'd,  the  Lord  fo 
chain  d  up  Satan,  that  the  Affliiled  grew  prefently 
well  ;  The  Accufed  are  generally  quiet  ;  and 
for  five  years  fince,  we  have  no  fuch  MolefUtion 
by  them. 

6.  It  fways  !«nuch  with  me,  which  I  have 
fince  heard  and  read,  of  the  like  Miilakes  in  o- 
ther  Places.  As  in  Suffolk  in  England,  about  the 
year  1645.  was  fuch  a  Profecution,  until  they 
faw,  that  unlefs  they  put  a  ftop,  it  would  bring 
all  into  Blood  and  Confufion.  The  like  hath 
been  in  France,  until  Nine  hundred  were  put  to 
death.  And  in  fome  other  places  the  l:ke.  So 
that  Mm/  England  is  not  the  only  place  circum- 
vented by  the  Wiles  of  the  wicked  and  wily  Serpent 
in  this  kind. 

Wierus  de  Trafli^iiA  D&mor.um,  pag.  678.  re- 
lates, That  an  I-nquilitor  in  the  Subalpine  Valleys, 
enquir'd  after  Women  witches,  and  confum'd  a- 
bove  an  hundred  in  the  Flames,  and  daily  made 
New  Offerings  to  Vulcan  of  thofe  (h  it  needed 
"Hellebore  more  than  Fire.     Until  the  Countrey* 


People 


rofe,  ana  by  force  of  Arms  hinUcr'd  him, 
and  refer'r'd  tie  matter  to  the  Bishop.  Their 
Husbands,  Men  of  good  Fai:h,  ..fhrnud,  that  in 
that  very  time  ,  they  laid  of  them,  th^t  they  had 
play'd  Aiv.l  dane'd  undz;  a  Tree,  they  were  in 
Bed  with  them. 

In  Chelmsfrd'm  Ejjex,  Anno  1^45.  there  were 
thirty  try'd  ac  once  before  Judge  Copiers,  and 
fourteen  of  them  hang'd,  and  an  hundred  more 
detain'd  in  feveral  Prilbnsin  Suffolk  and  Ejfex. 

As  to  our  Cafe  at  Salem,  1  conceive  ic  proceed- 
ed fiomfome  miftaken  Principles  :  As,  that  Sa- 
tan cannot  a  flu  me  the  Shape  of  an  lnrioceitt  Ter- 
fon,and  in  that  Shape  do  milchte'f  to  the  Bodies 

and 


Book  VI.  7  he  Hifiory  of  New- England, 


andEftatesof  Mankind  :  and  that  the  Devil 
when  he  doth  harm  to  Perlbns  in  their  Body 
or  Eftate,  it  is  (at  leaft,  moft  commonly,  ge 
nerally  and  frequently)  by  the  help  of  our  Neigh- 
bour, lbme  Witch  in  covenant  with  the  Devil ; 
and  that  when  the  Party  lufpected  looks  on  the 
Parties  fuppos'd  to  be  bewitch'd,  and  they  are 
thereupon  ftruck  down  into  a  Fit,  as  if  ftruck 
with  a  Cudgel,  it  is  a  Proof  of  fiich  a  Covenant. 
Cum  mttltis  aliis. 

The  worthy  Author,  fromwhofe  Mamifcript 
I  have  tranfcrib'd  this  Narrative,  does  there 
confute  thefe  miftaken  Principles ;  and  in  his  con- 
futing of  one,  Hfik.  That  if  the  Party  fitfpeclcd  ap- 
pear m  Spiilte  to  the  Afflitled,  and  the  Afflicted 
givs  a  Blow  with  Knife,  Sword,  &c.  (or  fome  0- 
ther  on  their  behalf  )  and  the  SpeUre  feems  woun 
ded  or  Bleeding,  or  to  have  their  Garment  torn  by 
the  Blow  reeeiv'd;  and  the  party  SpeilmUy  represent  ■ 
ed,  be  prefently  fearcbed,  and  there  is  found  upen  their 
Body  a  Wound  or  Blood,  even  on  the  fame  fart  cf 
their  Body,  or  a  Rent  en  the  fame  part  cf  the  Gar- 
ment  -which  appeared  on  the  Spectre  to  the  Afflicted, 
this  hath  bten  accounted  a  ftrong  "Evidence  to  prove 


'  kept  a  Light  burning,  and  a  Sword  by  him  as  he 
'  lay  in  Bed  i  for  he  lufpected  a  Widow-  Woman 
c  to  fend  thefe  Cus  or  Imps,  by  Witchcraft,  to 
;  bewitch  him.  And  one  Night  as  he  lay  in  Bed, 
'  a  Cat,  or  Imp,  came  within  his  Reach,  and  he 
'  ftruck  heron  the  Back:  and  upon  Enquiry,  he 
'  heard  this  Widow  had  a  fore  Back.  This  co  - 
'  firm'd  his  Sufpieion  of  the  Widow, he  liippoling 
'  it  came  from  the  Wound  he  gave  the  Car.  But 
'  Mr.  Day,  the  Widow's  Cnirurgeon,  e'ea;  \i  the 
'  matter  ;  laying,  this  Widow  came  to  him,  and 
'  complain'd  of  a  Sore  in  her  Back,  and  deli  r'd 
c  his  Help,  and  he  found  it  to  be  a  Boy!,  and  ri- 
'  pen'd  and  heal'd  it  as  he,  A!  o  lio  other  BoyI?. 
1  But  while  this  was  in  cute,  the  fupoos'd  Cat 
'  was  wounded,  as  is  already  rehears'd.  Again, 
'  I  knew  a  Woman  that  was  Spectrally  reprefen- 
'  ted  untoan  Afflicted  Maid,  who  complain'd  that 
'  (he  was  in  liich  a  part  of  the  Room  '-,  whereupon 
'one  ftruck  at  it  with  hisRapierin  die  Sea  board, 
'  and  the  afflicted  (aid,  Tou  have  rent  her  Gown  in 
' [uch  a  "Place,  and  her  Gown  is  green:  Afterwards 
'  this  Woman  was  obferv'd  when  apprehended, 
'  to  have  that  green  Gown  on  f  which  doubrleii 
'  me  would  not  have  worn  then,  if  me  had 
the  Party  fufpecled  to  be  a  Confederate  with  Satan  ;n\'  known    any    thing  of    its      being    rent,     by 


afflicting  the  Complainer.  He  hath  divers  notable 
Pailages.    One  of  them  is  this  ; 

c  The  Perfon  or   Garment  fo  reprefented  to 

*  the  Afflitled  by  the  Spectre,  was  wounded,  of 

*  bleeding,  or  cut,  or  rent  before  :  And  the  Devil 
'  knowing  this,  reprefents  to  the  Afflicted  that 
'partofthe  Speclre  which anfwers to  the  Body 
'wounded,   or    Garment  rent;  and  then    the 

*  Searchers  finding  fuch  Wounds  upon,  or  Reijxs 
'  about  the  Pei  ion  lufpected,  are  ready  to  con- 
'  elude  it  was  done  by  the  Stroke  at  the  Spectre, 

*  which  wasdbne  before.  There  was  at  Chelmj- 
'  ford  an  afflicted  Perfon,  that  in  her  Firs  cried 
'  out  againft  a  Woman,  a  Neighbour,  which  Mr. 
'  Clark,  the  Miniitcr  of  the  Goipe!  there,  could 
'  not  believe  to  be  guilty  of  fuch  a  Crime.  And 
'  it  hapned,  while  that  Woman  milked  her  Cow, 

*  the  Cow  ftruck  her  with  one   Horn  upon  the 

*  Forehead,  and  fetch'd  Blood :  And  while  (he 
'  was  thus  bleeding,  a  Spectre  in  her  Ukenefs 
'  sppear'd  to  the  Party  afflicted  i   who  pointing 

*  at  the  Spectre,  one  ftruck  at  the  place,  and  the 

.!  ia\ti,  7lu  have  wade  her  Forehead  bleed  I 
'  Hereupon  fome  went  unto  the  Woman,  and 
'  found  her  Forehead  bloody,  and  acquainted 
'  Mr.  Clark  with  it;  who  forthwith  went  to  the 
'  Woman,  and  ask  d,  How  h<.r  Forehead  became 
'bloody?  and  (he  anfwer'd,  By  a  Blow  of  the 
'  Cows  Horn,  as  abovefaid  :  Whereby  he  was  fa- 
'  tisfy'd,  Thar  it  was  a  Defign  of  Satan  to  render 
'  an  innocent  Perf  m  fufpecled. 

Another  Inftance  was  at  Cambridge  about  40 
years  lince.  '  There  was  a  Man  mueh  troubled 
'  in  the  Night  with  Cats,  or  the  Devil  in  their 
'  Likenefs,  haunting  of  him.      Whereupon  he 


'  /hiking  at  her  Spectre)  and  there  was  found  a 
'  Rent  fbw'd  up,  juft  in  the  place  the  Afflicted 
c  had  laid  it  was  torn  by  the  Seaboard  in  rl  e  fams 
1  manner.  I  afterward  ask'd  this  Woman  how 
'  her  Gown  came  fo  torn  :  Sheanfwe.'d,  by  go- 
'  into  fuch  a  Yard  about  a  Year  before,  and  fuc'i 
'  an  one  knew  it  to  be  lo. 

The  Author  elfewhere  freaking  of  another 
mifcaken  Principle,  takes.occaiion  to  mention  the 
following  P-Tiage. 

'  I  remember,  when  the  c  eat  Difccurfe 

!  about  Witches,  a  ve.ry  hjoly  Mm  heard  his ' 
'  fay,  me  defir'd  a    Sucking  Pig  :  arid  he   g 
■  to  a  Neighbour's  Houfe,  faw  a  Sow  wirh  a  lit- 
'  ter  of  Pigs,  and  took  a  Fancy  to  one  of  th 
;  particular  for  his  Wife,  and   asked  the  Owner 
latPig.  The  Owner  denied  him:  Hereupon 
'  he  wen: away  in  a  great  P.dliO!),very  uniu 
'  to  fuch  a  Peifbnjand  that  very  Pig  left  its  Dam 
'  and  Company,    and  followed  this   Man  to  his 
;  home.  This  was  obferved,  and  it  was  fuppofed 
'Satan  might  have  fome  hand  in  it :  taking  ad - 
'  vantage  upon  the  Paffion  of  lo  good  a  Man,  to 
'  render  him  liifpected  Ly  luch  an  Accident,  if  ho 
'.could. 

Upon  the  whole,  the  Author  fpends  whole 
Chapters  to  prove  that  there  yet  \s?.Wuch:  and 
he  gives  this  Definition  of  one,  viz,,  a  Pcifon, 
'that  having  the  fee  tile  cf  Reaion,  doth 
'  knowingly  and  willingly  feck  and  obtain  ofthe 
1  Devil,  or  of  any  other  God,  befiJcs  the  nue 
'  God  Jehovah,  an  Ability  to  do  or  know  ftrange 
'things,  or  things  which  he  cannot  by  hi;  own 
'  Humane  Abilities  arrive  unto.  ThJ  1'  1  fo  1  is  a 
'  Witch. 

But  thus  much  for  that  Manufcripr. 


AP- 


84 


The  Hiftory  of  New- England,  Book  V I 


A  N 


iar  -yr 


A  Token  for  the  Children  o£NEW- 

E  N  G  LAND. 

O  R, 

Some  Examples  of  Children  in  whom  the  Fear  of  God  was 
remarkably  Budding  before  they  died ;  in  feveral  Parrs  of 
N  e  w-E  n  g  l  a  n  d.  Preferved  and  Publifhed,  for  the  En- 
couragement of  PIETY  in  other  Children. 


IF  the  Children  of  New-England  fhould  not 
with  an  early  Piety,  fet  themfelves  to  know 
and  Serve  the  Lord  Jeius  Chrift,  the  God  of 
their  Fathers,  they  will  be  condemn'd,  not  only 
by  the  Examples  of  pious  Children  in  other 
parts  of  the  World,  the  publifh'd  and  printed 
Accounts  whereof  have  been  broughtover  hither; 
tut  there  have  been  Exemplary  Children  in  the 
midft  of  New  England  it  fell",  that  will  rife  up 
againft  them  for  their  Condemnation.  It  would 
be  a  very  profitable  thing  to  our  Children ,  and 
highly  acceptable  to  all  the  Godly  Parents  01 
the  Children,  it,  in  Imitation  of  the  Excellent 
Janoway's  Token  for  Children,  there  were  made  a 
true  Collection  of  Notable  Things,  Exemplified 
in  the  Lives  and  Deaths  of  many  amongft  us, 
whole  Childhood  have  been  fignaliz'd  for  what 
is  Vertuousand  Laudable. 

In  the  Church-Hiflory  of  New  England  there 
will  be  found  the  Lives  of  manyEminentPerlbns, 
among  whofe  Eminencies,  not  the  leaii,  was 
Their  fearing  of  the  Lord  from  their  youth,  and  their 
being  loved  by  the  Lord  when  they  were  Chil- 
dren. 

But  among  the  many  other  Inftances,  of  a 
Childhood  and  Youth  deliver'd  from  Vanity, 
by  ferioos  Religion,  which  New  England  has 
afforded,  there  few  have  particularly  been  pre- 
ferved. 


EXAMPLE     I. 

Little  more  than  Thirteen  Yearsold  was  Jcbn 
Clap  of  Satuate  when  he  dy'd  jbut  it  might 
very  truly  be  laid  of  him,  That  while  he  was  yet 
young,  he  began  to  ftek  after  the  God  of  his  Father. 
From  his  very  Infancy  he  diicoverd  a  lingular 
Delight  in  the  Holy  Scripture,  whereby  he  was 
made  wife  unto  Salvation;  and  he  alio  made 
himielf  yet  further  Amiable  by  his  Obedience 
to  his  Parents,  and  his  Courtefieto  ali  his  Neigh- 
bours. As  he  grew  up,  he  fignaliz'd  his  Con- 
cern for  Eternity,  not  only  by  his  diligent  At- 
tendance upon  both  Publick  and  Private  Cate- 
chifing,  but  alio  by  the  like  attendance  on  the 
Miniltryof  the  Word,  which  he  would  ponder, 
and  apply,  and  confer  about,  with  much  Dil- 
cretion  of  Soul,  and  pray  for  the  good  Elf l<ft 
thereof  upon  his  own  Soul.  Yea,  'twas  even 
from  his  Childhood  obfervable  in  him,  that  ever 
after  he  began  to  fpeak  reafonabiy,  he  would 
both  affectionately  regaid  the  Famil)  Prayers, 
and  likewife,  both  Morning  and  Evening,  vtich 
a  moft  unweary'd  Conftancy  recommend  him- 
felf  by  his  own  Piayers  unto  the  Meicies  of 
God. 

Arriving  higher  in  his  Age,  he  was  very  con- 
fcientiousot  his  Duty,  both  to  God  and  Man; 
and  particularly  cateUil  of  his  Fathei's  Bufioel.% 
which  now  became  his  own  Calling.  Ac  Wo;k 
with  his  Father  in  the  Field,  he  would  frequently 
be  propour.ding  cf  Queftions,   by  the  Answers 

whereof 


Book  VI.  1  be  tiiftory  of  New- England 


85 


whereof  fie  might  be  promoted  in  the  know- 
ledge of  God  :  and  at  the  fe.iions  which  others 
ufually  employ  to  vain  purpofes,  he  would  be  a- 
bounding  in  the  Exerciles  of  Devotion.  But  of 
all  the  imitable  things  to  be  feen  in  him,  he  was 
exemplary  for  nothing  mo  e  than  his  Endea 
vours  in  Preparation  lor,  and  Santtificaticn  or,  the 
Lord's  i-)ay.  Yea,  his  Parents  have  affirmed, 
that  for  a  year  or  two  before  he  dy'd  ,Tbcy  never 
beard  an  unprofitable  Word  come  out  if  his  Mjuth; 
but  he  would  often  bewail  the  Idle,  friflingjVain 
Dilcourfes  of  other  People. 

Aboura  Year  and  a  half  before  he  died, 
the  good  Spirit  of  God,  blefs'd  him  with  }era 
more  thorow  Conviction  of  hisMifery  by  rea 
Ion  or  Sin  both  Original  snd  Actual:  Where:, 
tho1  he  had  been  (uch  a  Pattei  n  of  Innocency,  yet 
he  would  aggravate  his  own  Stnfu'.nejs  with  Li 
mentations  truly  extraordinary.  And  for  his 
Relief  againft  the  Terrors  of  God,  wherewith 
he  was  now  did racted,  he  was  brought  unto  an 
utter  Delpair  of  his  own  Righteoulneis  and  A- 
bilities ;  but  in  this  condition  he  came  to  adore 
the  Grace  of  God,  offering  a  JESUS  who  is  able 
tofave  unto  the  uttermofi :  In  his  Longings  to  enjoy 
the  Love  ot  Gcd  thrcugh  Jefus,  he  was  like  the 
Hart  panting  after  the  Water  brooks .' 

The  Wounds  of  his  Spirit  were  accompanied 
with  a  Ldhguifijing  and  Confuming  of  his  Flefh  ; 
yet  with  great  Patience  he  enriur'dthe  Hand  of 
God,  and  he  follow'd  the  Lord  with  Prayers, 
with  Cries,  with  Tears,  for  the  Manifeftation  of 
the  Divine  Love  unto  him. 

It  wasalfo  obferv'd  and  admir'd,  that  when 
he  was  abroad  at  the  publick  Worfhip  in  thetime 
of  his  Weaknefs,  he  would  ftand  the  whole  time 
of  the  long  Exerciles,  and  be  lo  affectionately 
attentive,  that  one  might  lee  every  Sentence  ut- 
ter'd  in  thofe  Exercifes,  make  fome  Impreffion 
upon  him.  The  belt  Ghtiitians  in  the  place 
profefs'd  themfelves  made  afham'd  by  the  For 
vency  of  this  young  Difaple  J  And  in  Days  of 
Publick  Humiliations,  or  Thankfgtvings,  kept  with 
regard  unto  the  general  Circumltances  of  the 
Countrey,  he  would  bear  his  part  with  fuch  a 
fenfeof  the  publick  Troubles  or  Mercies,  asargu'd 
more  than  a  common  mealure  ot  a  publick  Spi- 
rit in  him. 

The  Minifter  of  the  Place  vifiting  of  him,  af 
ter  Sicknefs  had  conrin'd  him,  found  him  in  an 
ex.ream  Dejection  of  Soul  ;  his  very  Body  (hook 
thiough  his  Fear  left  the  Day  of  Grace  were 
over  with  him  ;  yet  juftifving  ot  God,  though 
hefhould  be  forever  caft  among  the  Damned. 
But  yet  his  Fears  were  accompany'd  with  Hopes 
in  the  all  -fufficient  Merits  of  the  Hefted  Jefus: 
in  which  Hopeshe  continu'd,ufing  all  the  means 
of  Grace  according  to  his  Capacity  and  La- 
menting after  thofe  whereof  he  was  not  Ca- 
pable. 

A  Month  before  he  dy'd,  he  kept  his  Bed  ; 
the  Firfi  Fortnight  whereof  he  was  very  com 
fortlefs,  and  yetvery  patient ;  abounding  all  this 
while  in  Gracious  Admonitions  unto  other  Young 
People,  that  they  would  be  concern'd  for  their 
own    Eternal  Salvation.     And  you  fhould  not 


now  have  heard  him  complain,  that  he  wanted 
Health  And  Eafe,  though  he  did  fo  ;  but  tfut  ha 
wanted  Faith,  and  Peace,  and  Chrifi :  Yet  expref 
fing  a  profound  Submitlion  to  the  Will  of  God. 
But  in  the  La/}  Fortnight  of  his  JJfc,  this  poor 
ChilJ  of  God  had  his  weary  Soal  moie  com- 
f  rrably  fatiated  with  thePromilcs  ofthe  newCo- 
venant.  God  fill'd  him  with  a  marvellous  Af- 
furanceof  his  Love,  and  fo  feal'd  him  with  his 
own  Spirit,  that  he  rejoie'd  with  Joy  unfpeaka- 
ble  and  lull  ot  Glory.  He  would  often  be  lay- 
ing,  Whom  have  1  in  Heaven  but  thte?  s.nd  there 
is  none  on  Earth  that  I  defire  be  fides  thee  :  My  Fleff) 
and  my  Heart  fatleth,  but  Gad  is  the  Strength  of  my 
Heart,  and  my  Portion  fcr  evtr.  Ard,  1  know  that 
my  Redeemer  lives,  and  that  he  jb.ill  fland  at  the 
Latter  day  upon  the  earth.  And,  If  I  live,  1  (hall 
live  unto  the  Lord  ,  if  I  die,  I  (l)all  die  unto  the  Lord  i 
and  whether  I  Live  or  Die,  1  am  the  hordes. 
And,  When  Chrifl,  -who  is  my  Life,  ftall  appear,  then 
jhaU  I  a! f u  appear  -with  him  in  Glory.  He  would 
profefs  that  his  Communion  with  the  Lordjjlus 
ChriiK  was  inexpreffible,  and  the  Spectators 
judg'd  Lis  Confolations  to  he  as  greatas could  be 
born  in  a  mortal  Body.  Being  now  asked,  whe- 
ther the  Thoughts  of  dying  troubled  him  or  not  ?  He 
reply'd,  No,  Death  is  no  Terrour  to  me,  becaufe 
Chrifi  has  taken  away  my  Sin,  which  is  the  Sting  of 
Death.  But  being  ask'd,  Whether  he  was  willing  to 
live  ?  He  anfwer'd,  /  am  willing  to  fubmit  unto 
the  Will  of  God  ;  but  if  God  hath  appointed  me  to 
Life,  I  defire  1  may  live  to  his  Glory.  And  being 
asked,  whether  God  had  put  out  of  doubt,  his 
Intereft  in  a  dying  and  riling  Jefus  ?  He  rsturn'd, 
Yes  ;  and  God  has  fully  anfwer'd  my  Di fires;  lam'' 
now  going  to  a  thouf and  times  bitter  World.  He  told 
his  Mother,  I  love  you  as  dearly  as  my  own  Life  ; 
yet  I  had  rather  die,  and  be  with  Chrifi. 

He  continu'd  Six  Days  with  his  Teeth  fo  (hut, 
as  that  they  could  not  be  open'd  :  and  for  the 
firft  Three  Days  and  Nights  he  took  no  Sufte- 
nance  »  afterwards,  though  this  but  feldom,  he 
fuck'd  in  between  his  Tteth  nothing  but  a  little 
Cold  Water  ;  in  which  time,  they  that  laid  their 
i  Ears  to  his  Lips  could  over  hear  him  continually 
expreffing  his  Comfort  in  God.  But  juft  before 
his  Death,  his  Teeth  were  open'd  ;  when  he 
would  often  fay,  Oh  J  how  precious  is  the  Blood  of 
Chrifi,  it  is  worth  more  than  a  thottjand  Worlds  !  and 
oftenpray,  Come,  Lord  Jefus,  come  quickly  !  and  at 
laft,  he  gave  uphimfelf  to  God  in  thofe  Words, 
Lord  Jefus, receive  my  Spirit.  Hedefired  his  Mo- 
ther to  turn  his  Face  unto  the  Wall  >  whereup- 
on (he  (aid,  John,  dofi  thou  now  remember  Heze- 
kiah'j  turning  his  Face  unto  the  Wall?  He  fiid,  Yes, 
I  dorememb.r  it  :  and  as  (he  turn'd  him  in  her 
Arms,  he  fo  quietly  breath'd  his  Soul  into  the 
Arms  of  his  blefled  Saviour. 

Extracted  out  of  the  Account  written  and 
printed  by  Mr.  Wit  her  al  and  Mr.  Baker, 
Minifters  of  Scituate  ;  and  Prefac'd  by  Mr.  Urian 
Oi\es,  who  takes  that  occalion  to  fay  of  this  John 
Clap,  He  was  a  young  old  Man,  full  of  Grace,  though 
not  full  of  Days. 

EX, 


98 


I  be  Hijlory  of  New-  England.  Book  VI. 


EXAMPLE.    II. 

MR.  Thomas  Thornton,  the  aged  and  faithful 
Paftor  of  Yarmouth,  was  blels'd  with  a 
Daughter  nam'd  Prifcilla,  which  at  the  Age  of 
Eleven, left  this  World,  having  firft  given  De- 
monftrations  of  an  Fximplary  Piety. 

She  was  one  remarkably  grave,  devout,  feri- 
ous ;  very  inquilkive  about  the  matters  oi  Eter- 
nity >  and  in  her  particular  Calling  very  dili- 
gent. She  was  neverthelefs  troubled  with  fore 
Temptations  and  Exercifcs  about  the  State  oi 
her  own  Soul  ;  the  Anguifh  of  her  Spirit,  about 
her  Body  if  Death,  caus'd  her  to  pour  out  many 
Tears  and  Prayers ;  and  (he  prefs'd,  That  lome 
other  pious  Children  of  her  acquaintance  might 
with  her  keep  a  D^y  of  Humiliation  together, 
That  (as  (he  exp:effed  it)  they  might  get  power  a 
gainfi  their  finful  Natures.  But  it  pleafed  Goc!  at 
length,  ro  blefs  the  Word?  of  her  Godly  Mothe;, 
for  the  quieting  of  her  Mind.  It  was  her  fingu 
larHm:vi  els,  that  (he  tad  fuch  Godly  Parenr 
but  it  was  her  Opinion  and  Expreflion,  We  truft 
too  much  to  the  Prayers  cf  our  Parents,  whereas  we 
fhouldfray  for  our  f elves. 

At  la  ft  (he  fell  mortally  fick.  In  the  begin- 
ning of  her  Sicknefs,  (he  was  afraid  of  dying  : 
For,  faid  (he,  I  know  of  no  Promife  to  encourage 
me.  She  could  not  but  own  that  (he  had  in  fome 
meafure  walked  with  God  ;  yet  (he  complained , 
That  foe  had  not  found  God  meeting  her  in  hir  Pray 
ers,  and  making  her  Heart  willing  to  be  at  his  Dif- 
pofi';  and  that  the  Pride  of  her  Heart  now  lay 
as  a  Load  upon  it.  She  own'd,  That  (he  had  ma- 
ny Thoughts  of  Jefus  Chrift,  and  that  it  grieved 
her  that  JJje  had  finned  againft  him,  who  had  Done 
and  Dy'd  for  her. 

But  many  Days  were  not  paft,  before  (he 
could  profefs  her  ielf  willing  to  die,  with  fbme 
AfTurance  of  her  then  going  to  Eternal  Bleffed- 
nefs.  Many  Thanks  and  Loves  did  (he  now 
render  to  one  of  herSuperiours,  declaring,  "'twas 
lecaufe  they  had  curbed  her  and  refirain'd  her  from 
finful  Vanities.  And  (lie  fiid,  Were  I  now  to  choofe 
my  C  .  :t  JJiould  be  among  the  People  of  God-, 

1  fee  *•■'.■.■>;  V  hat  they  are  the  only  Company.  She 
was  n.  't  without  her  Conflicts  in  this  time,  where- 
in one  of  her  Speeches  was,  '  Damnation,  that  is 
'  the  vorft  thing  of  all,  but  Chrift  is  of  all,  the 
'beft:  I  find  it  fo:   Chrift  is  to   me  Wifdom, 

*  Righ'er.ufnefs,  Sa notification  and  Redemption. 
She  told  her  Father,  (he  knew  (he  was  made 
upof  all  manner  of  Sin  ;  but,  fa!8  (lie,  '  I  hope 
'  God  has  humbled  me,  and  pardon'd  me  in  the 

*  Merits  cf  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift.  Unto  her  af- 
fectionate Mother  (he  faid,  '  Mother,  why  do 
'  you  weep,  when  I  am  well  in  my  Soul  ?  Well, 

*  Will  you  mourn,  when  I  am  lb  full  of  Joy  i  I 

*  pray  rejoice  with  me. 

When  (he  was  extreamly  fpenf,  (he  faid  unto 
her  Parent,  '  O  my  Father,  I  have  been  much 
•troubled  by  Satan,  but  1  find  Chrift  is  too  hard 
'  for  him,  and  Sin  and  all.    She  now  faid,  I  know 


now  that  IfcaU  die-  And  being  ask'd  whether  (he 
were  afraid  of  Death,  with  a  fweet  Smile  (he 
replied,  No,  not  h  Chrift  is  better  than  Life  '.  And 
fb  (he  continu'd  in  a  moft  joyful  frame  till  (he 
died  j  a  little  before  which,  it  being  the  Lord's 
D.;y,  (he  ask'd  what  time  of  the  day  \was,  and 
when  they  told  her,  'twas  Three  of  the  clock,  (he 
reply'd,  What  ?  Is  the  Sabbath  almefl  dune?  Will, 
my  Eternal  Sabbath  is  going  to  begin,  wherein  [  fiall 
enjoy  all  Felicity,  and  fing  Hallelujahs  to  all  Eternity. 
And  hereupon  (he  quickly  fell  afleep  in  the 
Lord. 


EXAMPLE.    III. 


MR.  Nathanael  Mather  dy'd  Oil.  17. 
at  the  age  of  Nineteen,    an    Inft; 


1688. 

ftance  of 
more  than  common  Learning  and  Vertue.  On 
his  Grave- ftone  at  Salem,  there  are  thefe  Words 
defervediy  inferibed,  The  s>fljes  of  an  hard  Stu- 
dent, a  good  Scholar,  and  a  great  Chrijlian. 

He  was  one  whoufedan  extraordinary  Dili- 
gence to  obtain  Skill  in  the  feveral  Arts  that 
made  an  accomplifiYd  Scholar ;  but  he  was  more 
diiigent  in  his  Endeavours  to  become  an  cxperi- 
ene'd  Chriftian. 

He  did  with  much  of  SoLlnnity  enter  into 
Covenant  wich  God  when  he  was  about  four- 
reen  years  old,  and  afterwards  he  renew  u  ths 
lemn  AAion  in  fuch  a  Form  as  this: 

c  I  do  renounce  all  the  Vanities  and  wretched 
c  Idols  and  evil  Courfes  of  the  World. 

el  do  choofe,  and  will  ever  have  the  Great 
'  God  for  my  beft  Good,  my  laft  End,  my  only 
c  Lord.  He  (hall  be  the  Only  One,  in  the  glori- 
'  tying  and  enjoying  of  whom  (hall  be  my  Wel- 
fare, and  in  the  lervingof  whom  (hall  be  mv 
Work.  * 

'I  will  ever  be  rendring  unto  the  Lord  Jefus 
'Chrift  my  proper  AckncvAedgements,  as  unto  my 
c  Prieft,  my  Prophet,  and  my  King  i  and  the 
'Phyfician  of  my  Soul. 

1 1  will  ever  be  ftudying  what  is  my  Duty  in 
'  thefe  things ;  and  wherein  1  find  my  felf  to  fall 
'  fhort,  I  will  ever  count  it  my  Griefand>hamei 
'  and  betake  my  felf  to  the  Blood  of  the  Evcr- 
'  lafting  Covenant. 

1  Now,  humbly  imploring  che  Grace  of  the 
'  Mediator  to  be  fiifficient  for  me,  I  do  as  a  fur- 
c  ther  Solemnity  hereunto  fubferibe  my  Name 
'  with  both  Fleart  and  Hand. 

Having  done  this,  he  did  for  the  reft  of  his 
Life,  walk  with  much  Watchfulnefs  and  Exact- 
nefs. 

One  of  the  Directories  which  he  drew  up  for 

himfelf,  was  This  : 

4  O  that  I  might  lead  a  Spiritual  Life !  Where- 
'  fore  let  me  regulate  my  Lite  by  the  Word  of  God 
'  and  by  fuch  Scriptures  as  thefe. 


1. 


Book  VI.  The  Hiftory  of  New- England. 


87 


'i.For   regulating    my    Thoughts,   Jer.  4. 
■'14.    Ifa.  55.7.    Mai.    ;.  17.     P/a/.   104.    34. 
4P/W.    4.    8.     Pwza  2;.    16.  Deut.  15.9.  Ecclef. 
4  10.  20.  Pnw.  24.  9.  Mat.  9.  4.  Z«ci&.  8.  1 7. 

'  2.  For  regulating  my  Affe&ions,  Col.  ;.  a,  5. 
lGal.  5.  24.     For  my  Delight,  Tfal.  1.  2.     Tfal. 
4  37.  5.    For  my  Joy,  Tbil.  4.  4-     PM  43  4- 
•  My  Defire,  //*.  26.  8,  p.      Esei.  7.  16.      My 
'Love,   Mat.  22.   37.    P/tf/.  119.97.     My  Ha. 
4  tred,   Tfal.  97.  10.     My  Fear,  Luke  12.  4,  5 
«  My  Hope,  Tfal.  39.  7.     My  Truft,  P/i/.  62. 8 
'  Ifa.  16.  4. 


c    - 

For 

regulating  my 

Speech,    Eph. 

4- 

29. 

lCol. 

4.   6. 

Deut.    6. 

6, 

7- 

P/a/.    11 

9. 

46. 

c  Tfal. 

71.8, 

24.       Prof. 

;i 

.26. 

'  4.  For  regulating  my  Work,  Tit.  ;.  8. 
'lTim.  2.  12.  1  7»».  5.  10.  Tit.  2.  14. 
'  Mat.  5.  47.  I  Tim.  6.  8.  Kex>.  2.2.  Rom.  12. 
4  12.     ^J?i  26.20. 

Another  of  his  Directories  wasform'd  into  an 
Hymn. 

'  Lord,  what  (hall  I  return  unto 
'  Him  from  whom  all  my  Mercies  flow? 

4  (I.;  To  me  to  live,  it  Chrift  mail  be  ; 
c  For  all  I  do,  I'll  do  for  Thee. 

c  CUO  My  QueftiSn  (hall  be  oft  befide, 
'  How  thou  may  ft  mofi  be  glorify' d  r" 

4  (IHO  I  will  not  any  creature  love ; 
4  But  in  the  Love  of  Thee  above. 

(IV.)  Thy  Will  I  will  embrace  for  mine, 
4  And  every  Management  of  thine 
4  Shall  pleafe  me.    (V.)  A  Conformity 
c  To  thee,  (hall  be  my  Aim  and  Eye. 

4  CVU  Ejaculations  mall  afcend 
'  Not  leldom  from  me.    ( VII..)  I'll  attend 
4  Occafional  Reflections,  and 
'  Turn  all  to  Gold  that  comes  to  hand. 

'  (VIIIJ  And  in  particular  among 
4  My  Cares,  Fll  try  to  make  my  Tongue 
4  A  Tree  of  Life,  by  fpeaking  all 
4  As  be  accountable  who  (hall. 

'(IX.)  Butlaft,nay,firftofallIwil!, 
4  Thy  Son  my  Surety  make,  and  ftill 
4  Implore  him  that  he  would  me  blefs 
4  With  Strength  as  well  as  Righteoufnefs. 

He  would  alfo  keep  whole  Days  of  Prayer 
and  Praife,  by  himfelf ;  And  he  would  fet  himfelf 
to  confider  much  on  that  Queftion,  What  jbaS  I 
do  for  God  ? 

He  was  much  in  Meditation,  and  often  wrote 
the  chief  Heads  of  his  Meditation.  He  would 
read  the  Scripture  with  a  Note,  and  a  Wifh 
fetched  out  of  every  Vcrfe.  And  at  Night  he 
would  ask, 

I.  What  has  God's  Mercy  to  me  been  this  day  ? 

II.  What  has  my  Carriage  to  God  been  this  day? 


III.  If  1  die  this  Nt°ht,  is  my  immortal Spiri: 
fafei 

Many  more  liich  imitable  things  are  in  the 
Hiftory  of  his  Life  (divers  times  printed  at  L»»- 
don)  reported  of  him. 


EXAMPLE.    IV. 

ANNE  GREENOUGH,  the  Daughter  of  Mr, 
William  Greenough,  left  the  World,  when  (he 
was  but  about  five  years  old,  and  yet  gave  afto- 
niftiing  Difcoveries  of  a  Regard  unto  God  and 
Chrift,  and  her  own  Soul,  before  (he  went  away. 
When  (he  heard  any  thing  abont  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift,  (he  would  beftrangely  tranfported,  and 
raviftied  in  her  Spirit  at  it ;  and  had  an  unspea- 
kable Delight  in  Catechifing.  She  would  put 
ftrange  Queftions  about  Eternal  Things,  and 
make  Anfwers  her  lelf  that  were  extreamly  per- 
tinent. Once  particularly  (he  asked,  Are  not  we 
dead  in  Sin  ■'  and  prefently  added,  But  I  will  take 
this  way  :  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  (hall  make  me  alive. 
She  was  very  frequent  and  conftant  in  Secret 
Prayer,, and  could  not  with  any  Patience  be  in- 
terrupted in  it.  She  told  her  gracious  Mother, 
That  Jhe  there  prayed  for  her  !  And  was  covetous 
of  being  with  her  Mother,  when  (he  imagin'd 
fiich  Duties  to  be  going  forward.  When  (he  fell 
(ick  at  laft  of  a  Conlumption,  (he  would  not  by 
Sports  be  diverted  from  the  Thoughts  of  Death, 
wherein  (he  took  fuch  pleafure,  that  (he  did 
not  care  to  hear  of  any  thing  elfe.  And  if  fhe 
were  asked,  Whether  jhe  -were  willing  to  die?  She 
would  ftill  chearfully  reply,  Ay,  by  all  means,  that 
I  may  go  to  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift. 


EXAMPLE    V. 


;  w.  1694..    there   died  one 
in  the  Eighteenth  year  of 


his 


AT  Bofton,  1 2  d. 
Daniel  Williams 
his  Age. 

There  wasaGolledion  made  of  fome  of 
dying  Speeches. 

Being  asked,  Whether  he  loved  God,  he  replied, 
Tes,  I  love  him  dearly ;  for,  Lord,  ■whom  have  I  in 
Heaven  but  thee  ? 

He  faid,  4  God  has  promis'd,  They  that  feck 
e  him  early,  (hall  find  him:  Ever  fince  I  was  a 
4  Child,  I  dedicated  my  (elf  to  feek  and  lerve 
4  the  Lord.  Though  I  have  not  had  fo  much 
4  timfias  fome  others,  yet  that  little  time  which 
4 1  had,  I  lpent  in  waiting  on,  and  wreftling  with 
4  God  by  Prayer :  and  I  faid,  I  will  not  let  thee 
4 go,  till  thou  haft  bUffed  me. 

Seeing  fome  of  his  Relations  weep,  he  faid, 
Why  do  you  cry,  when  I  am  ready  to  fing  for 
joy  ? 

They  faying,  Thgy   knew  not  how  to  part 

with  him,  he  reply'd,  Why?  are  you  not  willing  I 

(houldgo  to  my  heavenly  Father  ?  I  fliall  quickly  be 

M  m  m  m  m  m  witk 


88  "J  be   Hiftory  of  New-  England 


Book  VI. 


with  my  heavenly  Father,  and  -with  his  holy  An- 
eels,  "where  thiy  are  fo'gmg  of  Hallelujahs.  It  is 
better  being  there  than  here.  Hhen  I  am  there, 
ifoant  wijh  my  [elf  here  m  this  troublefcme  World 
again.  1  have  a  Dtfire  to  depart,  and  to  be  with 
Cbrifty  which  is  beji  of  all. 

He  was  much  concerned  for  poor  periling 
Souls.  He  would  fay,  *  Oh,  that  I  had  but 
'Strength  !  How  would  I  pray,  and  figh,  and 
*  cry  to  God  for  the  poor  World  that  lives  in  Sin 
'  and  Pride ! 

He  exprefled  himfelf  moft  pathetically 
to  his  Relations,  when  he  took  his  leave  of 
them. 


At  laft,  he  asked,  What  Angel  that  was  that 
be  faw  before  him  i  WeU,  laid  he,  I  Jhall  cjuickly  be 
with  him  ;  Come,  Lordjefus,  come  quickly! 

A  Friend  asking  him  how  he  did,  he  faid, 
'  /  am  one  bound  for  Heaven :  I  would  not 
c  have  you  pray  for  my  Life ;  I  am  afraid 
*  you  do. 

On  the  day  of  his  Death,  being  full  of  pain, 
he  faid,  'JelusGhrift  bore  more  than  this,  and 
'  he  died  tor  me  ;  and  (hall  I  be  afraid  to  die, 
1  and  go  to  him  ?  No,  I  am  not. 

Then  (aid  he,  O  Death,  where  is  thy  Sting !  O 
Grave,  where  is  thy  Vi&ory  I 


FINIS. 


"Ecclefmrum     T  radio 


o  R, 


A  Book  of  the  Wars  of  the  Lord. 


The  Seventh  BOOK 


O  F    T  H  E 


New  Englifh  Hiftory : 


RELATING    THE 


Affli&ive   Difturbances 


WHICH    THE 


Cfran$e0  of  jj£eto=€ugiami 

HAVE 

Suffered  from  their  Various  ADVERSARIES: 

AND 

The  Wonderful  M  E  T  H  O  D  S  and  MERCIES  where- 
by the  Churches  have  been  Delivered  out  of  their 
Difficulties. 


Compofed  by   Cotton  Mather. 


Nunquant  Bella  pits,  nunquant  Certamina  dejunt. 

Nunquant  Majori  Triumpho  Victims  quant 
Cum  Decern  Annorum  Strage  Vinci  non 
Votuimw.  Sulpic. 

Niteris  itrcaffum  Chrifli  Snbmergere  Navint  ; 
Flu&uat,    at   Nunquant  Mergitur  ilia  Ratis. 


LONDON: 

Printed  for  Thomas  Parkhurft,   at  the  Bible  and  Three 
Crowns  in  Cheap  fide.     1702. 


I   2 


■ 


\ 


Book  VII. 


The    INTRODUCTION. 


other  particular  Perfons  have  fometimes  fa- 
voured me  with  Memorable  Paiiagcs,  which 
tiivv  hied  concrrma  their  own  Relations  $ 
and  yet  I  fybw  thai  many  will  migrate  fully 
complain  of  me  for  not  Inserting  of  things 
r:hich  ( they  never  Jent  me,  thd  they  had 
an  early  Advertisement  of  my  Undertaking  : 
Yefc  the  Abjvrd  and  Brut  iff)  Treats  which  I 
have \ fometimes  had  from  the  Relations  of 
that  Pidture  oi  the  'Church  Exempl^ed  in  fume  whoje  Lives  and  Names  I  hade  here- 
the  Story  of  New-England,  and  now  Writ  t/fore,  unto  the  beji  of  my  Capacity,  Eterni- 
under  it,  Having  obtained  help 'from  Cod,  zed  in  Compofures  already  Publijhed,  have 
{he  continues  to  this  Day.  caufed  me  to  know  that  there  are  Bafe  Peo- 

But  before  I  have  done  my  1 1  ork,  Ifu,;uld  ,ple    defended  from  Good  ones.     But  every 


F  any  one  would  draw  the  Pi&ure  of 

of  the  Church,  ( faith  Lu.  ,,:•:  U;  him 
take  a  filly  poor  Maid,  •k't'ns,  m  MWil- 
dernefs,     compared    abor:  i '  hungry 

Lions,  Wolves,  Boars  and  Be;rs,  and  all 
manner  of  Cruel  and  Hurtful  Bcafts^  and 
in  the  mid  ft  cf  many  Furious  Men  ai- 
faulting  her  every  Moment  For  t;. is  is 
her    Condition    in    the    Wo:  lehM 


remember,  without  having  Pliny;  fn-y/yjlc 
membrancer,  Ing'enuum   eft   Cor*fiteri   per 
quos  profeceris.     Indeed   our   Hiftory    of 
New-England   is  as   little  to  be  compared 
with  Sir  Walter  Rawleigh'j  Famous  Hifto- 
ry of  the  World,   as  New- Ellwand  it  felf 
is  to  be  compared  with  the  Whole  World., 
Neverthelefs,  the  Incomparable  Colonel  Syd- 
ney affures  me,  He  was  fo  well  afiifted  in 
his  Hiftory  of  the  World,  That  an  ordinary 
Man  with  the  fame  Helps  might  have  per- 
formed the  fame  Things.     Whereas  I  mufl 
in  thefirfl  place  humbly  Complain  of  it,  that, 
I  believe,  fitch  a  Work.  <*s  *£>&   w^  never 
dene  with  fo  little  Affiftance  from  the  Com- 
munications   of   Inquifitive  and    Intelligent 
Friends.     Two  Reverend    Perfons,    indeed, 
namely,  Mr.  John  Higginfon  and  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Hubbard,  have  ajfijicd  me,  and  much 
obliged    me   with    Informations    for    many 
Parts  of  our  Hiftory  x,   and  I  have  a  Pa- 
rent alfo,   who  has  often,  to  full  Satisfacti- 
on, anfwered  many  things  that  I  have  there- 
in had   occafton    to  be   asking  after.     Some 


Undertaking  of  this  Nature  being  Expensive, 
'Us  highly  Reafonable  that  I  fould  make  a 
Publick  and  Thankful  mention  of  thofe  Wor- 
th) Perfons  who  have  generoufly  expreffed 
their  good  Will  to  my  Endeavours,  by  bear- 
ing fame  of  tbe  Expences  which  this  Wor\ 
hath  called  for.  Our  Honourable  Lieutenant 
Governor,  WILLIAM  STOUGHTON, 
Ffq-j  the  Worjkipful  Samuel  Sewal,  Efq?  the 
Worfiipful  John  Fofter,  Efifr  the  Worflnp- 
ful  Adam  Winthrop,  Efqx,  and  my  good 
Friends,  Mr.  Robert  Bronfdon,  and  Mr, 
Samuel  Lilly  ;  are  thofe  that  have  kindly 
Mecenated  theje  my  Labours  :  May  their 
Names  be  found  Written  in  the  Lamb's 
Book  of  Life,  as  well  as  ours ! 

After  all,  and  above  all,  I  mufl  not  incur 
that    Rebuke,   Deus  hie  nihil  fecit !    I  do 
the    Bended    Knees    of  my  Soul   give 


on 


Thanks  to  the  Lord  JESVS  CHRIST,  thro* 
whom  (lengthening  of  me,  I  have  done  all 
that  I  have  done.  Blefs  that  Lord,  O  my 
Soul,  and  all  that  is  within  me,  Blefs  bis 
Holy  Name  ! 


A 


a  a  a  a  a  a  2 


The 


Book  VIT 


The  Seventh  BOOK. 


TLccteJiarum  Trslia  : 

OR,     THE 

DISTURBANCES 

GIVEN     TO    THE 

Otttf|)e0  of  #eto=€nglatn)L 


CHAP.    I. 

Miile  Noeendi  Artes:  Or,  Some  General  Heads  of  TEMPTATION  with  which 
the  CHURCHES  of  NEW-ENGL  AND  have  been  Exerci fed. 


Habet  &  Ecclefa  Diet  Canicularet.     Tert. 


*• 


t. 


I 


;  is  Written  concerning  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift,  That  -he  was  led  into 
the  Wildernefs  to  be  Temped,  of  the 
Devil ;  and  the  People  of  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift,  led  into  the  Wildernefs  of  New- 
England,  have  not  only  met  with  a  continual 
Temptation  of  the  Devil  there  ;  the  Wildernefs 
having  always  had  Serpents  in  it  ;  but  alio 
they  have  had  in  almoft  every  new  Luftre  of 
Years,  a  new  Affault  of  Extraordinary'  Temp- 
tation upon  them  \  a  more  than  Common 
Hour  and  Power  of  Darknefs.  Befides  the  ge- 
neral Difturbances  which  were  given  unto  the 
Minds  of  Men,  when  the  Ecclejiaflical  Contro- 
verfies,  which  called  for  Synods  to  Compofe 
them,  were  generally  agitated ;  there  have 
been  lucceflive  Days  of  Temptation,  relating 
to  the  Polture  of  Things  in  the  Commonwealth. 
Sometimes  the  Conteitations  about  the  Negative, 
have  made  us  too  nigh  the  denying  of  Reafon 
to  one  another :  Sometimes  the  Meafures  of 
Compliance  with  Demands  from  the  other  Side 
of  the  Water,  have  occafioned  fbme  Fire  of 
Content'OH  among  us.  And  there  have  been 
fucceffively  many  Days  of  Temptation,  in  this 
and  that  particular  Plantation  throughont  the 
Country  :  One  while  the  Rebuilding  and  Re- 
moving of  Meeting  Houfes,  has  unfitted  the 
Neighbours  for  lifting  up  of  Pure  Hands  with- 
out Wrath  in  thole  Houfes  :  One  while  the 
Enclofing  of  Commons,  hath  made  Neighbours, 


that  fhould  have  been  like  Sh^ep,  to  Bite  and 
Devour  rne  another  •  and  one  while  the  Dif- 
poial  of  little  Matters  in  the  Militia,  has  made 
People  almoft  ready  to  fall  upon  one  another 
with  force  of  Arms.  It  is  to  be  added,  there 
fcarce  ever  was  any  One  Great  Man  engaged 
much  in  the  Service  of  this  People,  but  the 
People  have  at  fome  time  or  other  made  it  an 
Extraordinary  T>ay  of  Temptation  for  that  Man. 
And  fometimes  lictle  Piques  between  fbme 
Leading  Men  in  a  Town,  have  mi/led  all  the 
Neighbours  far  and  near  into  molt  unaccounta- 
ble Party-making.  Reader,  every  Claufe  that 
thou  haft  hitherto  read  in  this  Paragraph,  is  a 
Subjecl  upon  which  my  Obfervant  Country- 
men can  give  themfelves  an  Ample  Hiflory  •, 
and  unto  their  own  Reflect  ions  I  leave  it,  with 
the  Confeflions  which  the  Synods  in  the  Primi- 
tive Times  often  (and  I  think,  too  often)  made, 
Peccavimus  Omnes  ! 

§.  2.  There  have  been  in  the  Country,  on 
the  one  fide,  Rigid  and  High-flown  Presbyte- 
rians, on  the  other  fide,  Separating,  Morellian, 
and  Brownijlical  Independents  :  And  not  only 
have  both  of  thefe  had  fuch  a  Jealous  Eye 
upon  one  another,  as  has  produced  much 
Temptation  unco  both  but  alfo  the  true  Con- 
gregational Alan,  afferting  the  Authority  of  the 
Presbytery,  and  yet  not  rejecting  the  Liberty 
of  the  Fraternity,  maintaining  the  Decifive 
Power  of  Synods,  and  yet  leaving  to  Particu- 
lar 


Book  VII.  The  Hiftory  ^New-England. 


lar    Churches  the  management    of  their  own  J  fible  of  what  the  great  l&etius  Writes,  Homi- 


V articular  Affairs,  with  a  Power  of  Self-Prefer- 
vation  and  Self-Reformation  -,    thefe  have,  be- 
tween both,  met  with  fuch  things  as  have  had 
no   little  Temptation   in   them.     One  of  our 
Magi  urates,   namely,   Major-Genera  I   Denifon, 
has  written  an  Irenicum,   relating  to  thefe  Dif- 
ferences,  which    has  a  Good  Spirit  breathing 
in  it  ;   whereas  there  have  been  Perfons  among 
us  which  would  make  one  think  of  Dr.  Sibs's 
memorable  Words  ;   When  Blindnefs  and  Bold- 
nejs,   Ignorance  and  Arrogance,  Weaknefs  and 
Wiljulnefs  meet   together  in  One,    it  renders 
Men  Odious    to  God,    Burdenfome    in    Society, 
Dangerous  in  their  Counfels,  Tronblers  of  bet- 
ter Deftgns,  \3ntr affable  and  Uncapable  of  bet- 
ter Vireffion,  Mijerable  in  the  Iffuc.    Berwcen 


num  fxpc  tanta  eft  Injujiitia,    Fallacia,    Lic- 
bhcitas,    Profanitay,    at    cxpcdiat  Comradum 
interccdere,)    make    their    Contrails   with   the 
People  at  their  firft  coming  among  them,  or, 
perhaps,   from  Year  to  Year,  for  certain  Sti- 
pends -,  and  though  the  Stipends,   by  theft  Con- 
tracts  engaged,    are    ufually    fmall    enough ; 
yet  by  bad  Payments,  ('which  are  in  the  Coun- 
try known  by   the  Name  of  SWUCCDflitttCal 
jptW,   being  a   certain  Figure  in  our  Avariti- 
ous  and  Sacrilegious  Rhetoric,  by  which  there 
palTes,  pars  pro  Toto,)  they  are  ufually  made 
much  f mailer ;   neverthelefs,  if  any  f hoi; Id  go 
to  take   the   Remedy  which    the  Law   gives 
him   for  the  Recovery  of  his   Arrearages,  he 
would   find  the  Remedy  much  worfe  than  the 
Difeaje,  and  by  uling  the  Lazv,   wound  all  his 


fuch    Violent   Perfons  on  both    Extreams,   the 
truly  Moderate  have  fometimes  been  fo  crufht, 
that  they  have  thought  themfelves,  with  Igna- 
tius, between   the   Teeth  which  would   have 
Ground  thtm,  to  be  m3de  Manchet  for  Hea- 
ven :  For  it  has  not  at  all  times  been  the  Good 
Hap  of  all  Men  to   believe  with   Ambrqfe  of 
Old,   5/  Virtutum  Finis  ille  fit  maximm,  qui 
Plurimorum     jpectat    Profcffum,      Moderatio 
prope  Omnium  eft  Pulcherrima.     Yea,   fo  Vio- 
lent once  was  one  of  thefe  Faff  ions,   that  in  a 
General  Court  of  a  Colony  they  Exhibited  a 
certain  Instrument,  wherein  the  Minifters  of  the 
Churches   indefinitely   were  charged  with    A 
Declenfion    from    Primitive    Foundation-Work, 
Innovation  in  Doctrine   and  Worfhip,    Opinion 
and  Practice,    Invafion  of  the  Rights,    Liber- 
ties and  Priviledges  of  Churches,  Vfurpation  of 
a   Lordly  Prelatical  Power    over  God's  heri- 
tage, and  the  like  things,  which  are  the  Lea- 
ven, the  Corrupting  Gargreen,   the  Infecting, 
Spreading   Plague,    the   Provoking    Images    oj 
Jealoufie  Jet  up  before   the  Lord,  the   Ac  cur- 
fed  Thing  which  hath  provoked  Divine  Wrath, 
and  further  threatens  Deft  ruff  ion.     Even  Good 
Men  have   terribly    and   openly,  at  this  rate, 
charged  one  another : 

Tantx  ne  Animis  Geleftibt/s  Irx  ? 

$.  3.  If  the  Mimfters  in  this  Country, 
from  the  very  beginning  of  it,  might  have 
their  Complaints  heard,  they  would  complain 
of  extream  Temptation  attending  them  in  the 
Bufinets  of  their  Maintenance.  The  People 
being,  as  one  of  the  Ancients  exprtfies  it, 
•s-fof  t*  Ghcc  piK$o\oy*nsvot,  have  many  times 
been  content,  that  their  Paftors  be  accounted 
rather  the  Stars  than  the  Lamps  of  the 
Churches,  provided,  like  the  Stars,  they  would 

Shine  without  the  Supply  of  any  Earthly  Con-  ]ful  Wretches,  having  been  Jeveral  times  at- 
tributions unto  them.  AH  the  Provihon  hither-  monifbed  by  their  Confiftory,  do  perfiji  obfti- 
to  made  for  the  Maintenance  of  the  Miniftry, 
has  been  this  :  That  while  many  Mimfters 
chufe  to  leave  their  Salaries  unto  the  Volun- 
tary Contributions  of  the  People,  who  upon  the 
Firft  Day  of  the  Week  make  their  Collcffions, 
as  the  ApotTles  directed  the  Primitive  Churches 
to  do  ;    there  are  other  Minifters,  who  (Ten- 


future  Succefs  in  Preaching  the  Go/pel.  Rabbi 
Tarphon,  (who  was  probably  the  Trypbori, 
with  whom  J'uftin  Martyr  had  his  Famous 
Deputations,)  was  called,  "I  'tWI  TOn  The 
Wealthy  Pneft.  But  fuch  a  fight  has  been 
much  a  Stranger  in  any  of  our  Chriftiun  Syna- 
gogues. 

The  National  Synods,  in  the  French  Churches, 
were  often  put  upon  renewing  of  Declarations^ 
like  that  at  Poiffiers  ;    The  Confiftories  of  the 
Refpeffive  Churches  /hall  be  advised,  that  for 
the  time  to  come  they  do  better  dij "charge  their 
Duty   towards   their  Minifters,    by  Juccouring 
them  in  their  Neceffities,  and  raifwg  Mainte- 
nance for   them    and  their  Families,    becaufe 
Forreign  Countries  have  been  exceedingly  Scan- 
dalized at  the  Neglcff  and  Ingratitude  of  di- 
vers Churches,  even  in  this  particular  :  And 
like  that  at  Paris  ;  A  Minifter  complaining  of. 
his  Churches  Ingratitude,   the  Provincial  Synod 
/hall  take  Cognifance  thereof,  weighing  diligent- 
ly the  Poverty  of  the  Church,  and  the  Temporal 
Eftate  of  the  Minifter  ;  and  in  cafe  that  Church 
be  guilty  of  very  Great  and  'Notorious  Ingra- 
titude, the  Synod  fhall  have  full  Power  to  re- 
move  him  for   his  better   Accommodation  elfe- 
where  ;  and  all  the  Churches  fhall  be  dejired  to 
fhun  Ingratitude  unto  their   Minifters  (a  Sin 
too  rife   among   us)  and  to  take  fpecial  Care 
that  they  be  more  refpeffed,   and  their  Labours 
better  rewarded;  not  to  enrich  or  fatten  them, 
but  to  give  them  a  becoming   and  a  Juffiaent 
Maintenance :   And   like   that   at   Montauban  -, 
Forajmuch  cu  the  Ingratitude  of  divers  Perfons 
in  not    contributing    to   their   Mimficrs    Sub- 
fiftence,    is   more    Notorious    than    ever,    and 
that  this  crying  Sin  threatens  the  Churches  with 
a  Total  Difjipation  ;   after  Mature  Deliberati- 
on, we  do  Decree,  That  in  cafe  thefe  ungrate- 


nately  in  this  their  Sin,  their  Confiftory  fhatt 
deprive  them  of  Communion  with  the  Church 
in  the  Sacraments.  The  Crime  of  Ingratitude 
unto  their  Minifters  in  the  French  Churches,  has 
been  too  frequent  in  the  Nezc-Englifh  5  but 
with  this  Difference,  that  here  no  Synods  ever 
did,  as  there  the  Synods  often  did,   with  juft 

Gar-" 


Magnolia  Chrifti  Americana  : 


Book  VII. 


Corrections  Animadvert  upon  it.     The  beftMi- 
nifters  of  ?  •        nglani  have  generally  been  Cal- 
vinifis,  in  reipect  of  that  Contempt  of  Riches 
which  the  Gsc.it  Caifcin  expreffed,    when   he 
wrote,   C'nu    Voce  pronunciavimm,   Epifccpum 
Furcm  ejjk    qui    rx   0: •  ibus  Ecciefiafiicis  ;    plus 
inVjiirii.  jauiii  couvatit,  quams  quod  necefj'e  efi 
ad  Sobr'uw    fi'JtgaleinA\    viiam    Sufiinendum  : 
Tejlati  Junius.    Eccirjid/n  pejjimo  veneno  tenta- 
tam  ej)r,    dum  tarn  >   Opum  affuentia.  Oncrati 
funt  Pc'jhres.  qua  tpfot  /"lira  obrueret  ;  Con- 
filium  dedimus  ut  Mnvftr/s  tantum  erogaretur, 
quantum   ad   fc#ga£f£d&etn.  Ordme  fuo    Dignam 
fujfice'ret,.    non   quol   ad    Luxiim  rendundaret. 
But  they  have  not  all  enjoyed  the  Competent  and 
Moderate  Sublicence,  which  would  thus  have 
well  contented  them  ;    while  the  Law  has  ex- 
empted them  from  Taxcr,  they  have  in  Reali- 
ty been  Taxed  above   any  one  Rank  of  Men 
whatfoever ;   nor  does  any  but  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift  know  the  Temptation  thai  many  of  them 
have  endured,  when  they  have  been  cheated  of 
the  Dues  prom'ifed  unto  them,  and  when  a  Res 
Angufta  Domi  has  broken  their  Spirits,  and  hin- 
dred  their  Studies,  and  ruined  the  Liberal  E- 
ducation    of  their   Families.     Antigonus  won- 
dring  to  lee  that  Studious  Philofopher  Clean- 
tbes  grinding  his  own  Corn  at  the  Mill,  Clean- 
tbes  told  him,  /  mujl  either  Grinds  or  Starve  : 
Whereupon  Antigonus  noted  it  as  a  great  In- 
dignity,   That   the  Hands   whereby   Excellent 
things  had  been  Written,  (hould  be  galled  with 
Mechanick  Labours.     But   New-England  hath 
often  caufed  the  Hands  which  Baptized  its  Peo- 
ple, and  broke  the  Bread  of  Life  unto  them, 
to  be  Galled  with  Inferiour  Labours    for   the 
getting  of  Bread,  they  muft  either  Plough  or 
Starve.    The   People  have  ufually  pretended 
their  Poverty  as  the  Caufe  of  their  thus  with- 
holding more  than  is  meet  ;   but  it  would  be  a 
Scriptural,  and  therefore  a  Rational  Conclufion, 
if  they  ihould  conclude,  that  their  thus  with- 
holding more  than  is  meet  has  been  one  Moral 
Caufe  of  their  Poverty.    However,  there   has 
been  the  Wifdom  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  in 
thus  ordering  his  Minifters  to  Preach  under  the 
Crojs! 

§.  4.  Sometimes  in  this  Country  there  have 
been  Prodigious  and  Aftonifhing  Scandals  given, 
by  the  Extraordinary  Mifcarriages  of  dome 
that  have  made  a  more  than  ordinary  Profeffi- 
on  of  Religion  \  and  Incredible  Temptation  has 
hereby  been  laid  before  the  Minds  of  Multi- 
tudes. The  Wife  Man  fays,  A  Righteous  Man 
falling  before  the  Wicked,  is  an  a  Troubled 
fountain,  and  a  Corrupt  Spring.  There 
have,  been  among  us  thole  Perfons  who  have 
made  fuch  a  Profeffion  of  Right<eoufnefs  •  that 
much  notice  has  been  taken  of  them,  and  0- 
thers  have  been  ready  to  think,  Surely  Chrijli- 
»nity  if  jufi  fuch  a  thing  as  the  Lives  of  theje 


'men  do  reprejeut  it  :   Now  the  Fa/Is  of  thefe 
Men,  before  the  Wicked  among  us,    have  be'en 
it  a   Troubled  t  untain  and  a  Corrupt  Spring  ■ 
juft  as  if  one  had  thrown  Poifon  into  the  Well 
that  all  the  Town  was  to  retch  Water  at.  '  So 
were   the   Heathen    of  Old    Poifoned,    when 
they  faid,  Chrifiiam  SanQe  Vixijfem,  J?G;rip.us 
Santla   Docuiffet.     Alas,  How  often    have  we 
feen  this  Lamentable  thing  !  Satan,  who  is  of- 
ten the  Executioner  of  the  Wrath  oj  God  upon 
a  Sinful  World,   hath  defired  leave  to   fmgle 
out  fome   High    Profeffors  of  Religion,    and 
pufh.  them  on  to  fome  Scandalous  Enormities  • 
he  hath   defired  leave   to  do   the  Part  of  a. 
Devil,  it  may  be,  on  fome  one  Man,  that  he 
might  Poifon  all  the  Town  by  the  Falls  of  that 
Man.     The  Dreadful  Juftice  of  God,  Vvho  gives 
none  Account   oj  his  Matters,    has.  permitted 
the    Experiment  ;    and    lo,     upon    the     Ex- 
periment,    lbme    Striff,    and,     it     may     be 
fome  Old  Profeflbr,    that   had    been    formerly 
Troublefome   to   all  the  Sinners  in  the  Neigh- 
bourhood ;  he  has  not  only  proved  a   Covetous, 
and  a  Selffccking  fort  of  a  Perfon,  in  his  whole 
Conducf  of  himielf ;  but  fome  Unclean  Devil 
or  fome   Drinking  Devil,    or   fome  Cheating 
Devil,  or  fome  Lying  Devil,  has  drawn  him  to 
do  monftrous  things,  and  he  hath  played  the 
Devil  horribly  !  Such  Doleful  Inftances  hereof 
there  have  been  among  us,  as  would  Poifon  a 
whole  Neighbourhood,  yea,  a  whole  Colony 
with  Atheifm,  if  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  had  not 
an   Almighty  Arm  to  fecure  his  own  Religi- 
on.   Wo  hath   been  to  Hundreds  of  Souls  a- 
mong  us  for  the  Offences  that  have  thus  been 
given  !  The  Scandalous  Fall  of  David,  is  by  as 
Tranfcendent  a  Myftery  of  Divine  Sovereign- 
ty Recorded,  as  it  was  Ordered.     Some  of  the 
Pagans  in  the  Primitive  Times  would  not  be 
Chriflians,    becaufe   David  was    one    of  our 
greateft  Saints,   though  he  did  fuch  Damnable 
things ;  and  many  of  the  Chnftians  would  Sin 
as  Damnably  as  the  Pagans,  pleading,  Si  David 
cur  non  iff  ego  ?   Why   may'nt  I,   as  well  as 
David  ?  I  believe  there  are  a  Million  of  Men 
in   Hell  whole   Damnation   was  occafioned  by 
the  Fall  of  David,     though  David  himfelfbe 
gone  to  Heaven  after  all  :    But  perhaps  in  his 
Fall,  and  not  in  his  Rife  again,  David  has  been 
fometimes  too  much  fbllow'd  by  fome  Eminent 
Profeffors  of  Religion  in  this  Land  •    and  the 
Land  has  been    fill'd  with  Temptation  by   fo 
Venemous  a  Mifohief. 


$>uis  Talia  Tando 

Temperet  a  Lachrymis  ? 

.  Such  as  thefe  have  ail  along  been  the  more 
Comprehenfive  Temptations  that  have  exercifed 
the  Churches  of  New-England.  But  we  will 
proceed  unto  an  Hiftory  of  Troubles  more  par- 
ticular. 


CHAP, 


Book  VII.  Or,  The  Hiftory  0/ New-England, 


CHAP.    II. 


Little  Foxes :  Or,  The  Sprit  of  Rigid  Separation  in  one  Remarkable  Zealot,  vexing 
the  Churches  fl/NEVv'-ENGLANDj  and  the  Spirit  of  Giddy  Familiim  in 
mother.  And  fome  LelTer  Controveriies  arijwg  about  The  Crois  in  the  Banner, 
and  about  Swearing  on  the  Gofpels. 


Hie  fe   aperit    Diabolus . 


*■ 


1.  T  T  is  Remarkable,  that  in  the  Sacred 
J.  Annals  ot  that  Matchlels  and  Blelfed 
Churcb-Htjiory,  which  our  God  has  given  us 
in  our  Bible,  there  is  a  ipecial  Mark  otten  fet 
upon  the  tirjt  Perions  that  were  Eminent  in 
this  or  that  way  ot  binning,  and  were  upon 
that  lcore,  The  Qhief  oj  dinners  ;  and  they 
who  have  observed  this  Remarkable,  have  parti 
cularly  Marked 'the  Infamous  torab,  the  tirjt 
Rebel  againlt  the  Divine  Church-Order  eltabiilh- 
ed  in  the  VVilderncls,  as  one  lnitance  to  con- 
firm the  Obfervatiun.  There  are  lome,  not 
thoughtleis  Perions,    whu    lnnuraeraiiing   the 


Country,  would  fufter  by  employing  a  Mini- 
iter  ot  his  Character,  did  advile  them  to  delift 
trom  Laying  Hands  too  fuddemy  upon  bim. 
And  that  which  increaled  in  them  ihe  Sufpicion 
ot  his  III  Character,  was  partly,  indeed,  his  re* 
ruling  to  Communicate  with  the  Church  ot  Bo- 
fiun,  becaule  they  would  not  make  a  Publick 
and  Solemn  Declaration  of  Repentance,  tor 
their  Communicating  with  the  Church  ot  Eng- 
<uac/,  while  they  were  in  the  Realm  ot  Eng- 
land ■,  (which  the  hew-Enghjb  Rejormers 
thought  then  would  be  to  carry  the  Matter  as 
tar  beyond  their  Senfe,    as  the  V  uigar  Tranfla- 


Troublelome  ana  Scandalous  things  thai  haveltion  hath  done  to  the  IcxcinLtfto  15.  8.  Where, 
difturbed  us  in  our  hew-EngliJh  \\ llderncls,  I  lnltead  ot  cverrit  domum, She Swept  the  Houfe ; 
have  complained  of  a  Crime,  whLh  they  have  lit  reads,  hue/ tit  domum,  or,  She  Overjet  it:) 
diftinguilhcd    by   the    Name   ol    CO^ijttttl  ■>  'bui    partly   his  violent  urging,  that  the  Civil 


or  that  Ligitious  and  Levelling  spirit,  with 
which  the  Separation  has  been  iometmies 
Leavened.  Now  tho  1  would  chule  rather  to 
leave  a  Veil  than  a  Scar  upon  the  Memory  01 
any  Perfon,  that  by  his  Milcarnage  hath  made 
himfell'too  Memorable  ;  yet  our  Church  htjioryL 
will  be  but  an  Unfinijhed  Piece,  it  we  do  not 
fet  a  Mark  upon  that  Man  who  was  one  of 
the  Firft  that  made  themfelves  notable  by  their 
Opposition  to  the  Church-  Order  of  thefe  Planta- 
tions ;  and  this  we  may  the  more  freely  do, 
becaufe  of  an  Injunction  upon  us,  To  mark  them 
that  caufe  Divi/ions. 

$.  2.  In  the  Year  1654.  a  certain  Windmill 
in  the  Low  Countries,  whirling  round  with  Ex- 
traordinary Violence,    by  realon  of  a  Violent 
Storm  then  blowing ;  the  Stone  at  length  by  its 
Rapid  Motion  became   fo  intently  hot,   as  to 
Fire  the  Mill,  from  whence  the  Flames,  being 
difperfed  by  the  High  Winds,  did  fet  a  whole 
Town  on  lire.    But  i  can  tell  my  Reader,  that 
above  Twenty  Years  before  this,  there  was  a 
whole  Country  in  America  like  to  be  let  on 
fire  by  the  Rapid  Motion  of  a  Windmill,  in 
the  Head  of  one  particular  Man.    Know  then, 
that  about  the  Year  1630.  arrived  here  one 
Mr.  Roger  Williams ;  who  being  a  Preacher  that 
had  lels  Light  than  fire  in  him,   hath  by  his 
own  fad  Example,   Preached  unto  us  the  Dan- 
ger of  that  Evil  which  the  Apoftle  mentions 
in  Rom.   10.  2.  They  have  a  Zeal,  but  not  ac- 
cording to  Knowledge.    Upon  his  Arrival,   the 
Church  of  Salem  invited  him  to  afliit  Mr.  Skel- 
ton  in  the  Charge  of  their  Souls ;    but   the 
Governour  and  Council  fearing  leaft  not  only 
that  Church  would  ibon  come  to  have  nothing 
of  Salem  in  it,    but  alfo  that  the  whole  Politi- 
cal, as  well  as  Eccleftajiical  Conftitution  of  the 


Magijirate  might  not  punilh  Breaches  of  the 
tirjt  Table  m  the  Laws  ot  the  Ten  Command- 
menu  ;  which  Allen  ion,  be/.des  the  Door 
which  it  opened  unto  a  Thouland  Profanities, 
by  not  being  duly  Limited^  it  utterly  took  a- 
way  from  the  Authority  all  Capacity  to  pre- 
vent the  Land,  which  they  had  purchaled  on 
Purpole  for  their  own  Recejs  from  fuch  things  -, 
its  becoming  iuch  a  Sink  of  Abominations,  as 
would  have  been  the  Reproach  and  Ruin  ot 
Chriftianity  in  theie  Parts  of  the  World.  The 
Church  taking  the  Advice  of  their  Fathers  in 
the  State,  on  this  Occafion  Mr.  Williams  re- 
moved unto  Plymouth,  where  he  was  accepted 
as  a  Preacher  for  the  Two  Years  enfuing. 

§.  3.  But  at  Plymouth  his  Turbulent  and  Sin- 
gular Opinions,  not  finding  the  Entertainment 
which  he  expected,  he  deiired  a  Dilmiiiion 
back  to  Salem  from  them  ;  and  they  per- 
ceiving the  Giddy  Courfes  of  Separation, 
whereto  he  would  Abandon  himielf,  and 
whereby  he  might  Endanger  them,  wifely  hu- 
mourd  what  he  Defired.  Coming  to  Salem, 
in  the  Time  of  Mr.  Skelton'%  Illnefs,  the  Church, 
Aftefted  with  the  Fiercenefs  of  his  Talking  in 
Publick,  and  the  Starcbtnefs  of  his  Living  in 
Private,  fo  far  forgat  themfelves,  as  to  renew 
their  Invitations  unto  him  to  become  their 
Paftor  ;  and  tho'  the  Government  again  re- 
newed their  Advice  unto  the  People  to  forbear 
a  thing  of  fuch  III  Confequence,  yet  they  ralhly 
purfued  their  Motion,  and  he  quickly  accepted 
it.  It  happened  that  foon  after  this,  the 
Church  made  Suit  unto  the  Court  for  a  parcel 
of  Land,  which  lay  Commodious  lor  their 
Affairs  •,  but  the  Court  offended  at  the  Slight 
lately  put  upon  them,  delay'd  their  Grant  of 
what  the  Church  Petitioned  for  ;    whereupon, 

inccnlcd 


8 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Atheticana  : 


Book 


incenfed  Mr.  Williams  Enchants  the  Church  to 
join  with  him,  in  Writing  Letters  of  Admo- 
nition unto  all  the  Churches,  whereof  any  of 
the  Magiftrates  were  Members,  that  they  might 
Admonifh  the  Magiftrates  of  Scandalous  Inju- 
ftice  tor  denying  this  Petition.  The  Neigh- 
bouring Churches,  both  by  Petitions  and  Meffen- 
gers,  took  fuch  Happy  Pains  with  the  Church 
of  Salem,  as  prefently  recovered  that  Holy 
Flock  to  a  Senfe  of  his  Aberrations  ;  which 
Mr.  Williams  perceiving,  tho'  he  had  a  little 
before  bragg'd,  That  of  all  the  Churches  in  the 
World,  thoje  of  New-England  were  the  pur  eft ; 
and  of  all  in  New-England,  that  whereof  hi m- 
felf  was  the  Teacher  •,  yet  he  now  flaying  at 
Home,  fent  unto  the  Church  of  Salem,  then  Af- 
fembled,  a  Letter,  to  give  them  notice,  That  if 
they  would  not  feparate  as  well  from  the  Churches 
of  New-England,  at  of  Old,  he  would  fepa- 
rate from  them.  His  more  confiderate  Church 
not  yielding  to  thefe  lewd  Propoijls,  he  never 
would  come  to  their  Affemblies  any  more  ;  no, 
nor  hold  any  Communion  in  any  Exercife  ol 
Religion  with  any  Perfon,  fq  much  as  his  own 
Wife,  that  went  unto  their  Affemblies;  but  at 
the  fame  time  he  kept  a  Meeting  in  his  own 
Houfe,  whereto  reforted  loch  as  he  had  In- 
fected with  his  Extravagancies. 

§.  4.  Thefe  things  were,    indeed,  very  Di- 
fturbant  and  Orfenh've  ;  but  there  were  Two  o- 
ther  things  in  his  Qiixi  tifm,  that  made  it  noj 
longer  Convenient  for  the  Civil  Authority  to 
remain    unconcerned    about   him.    For,   Firft, 


the  Elders  of  it,  becaufe  he  was  himfelf  an 
Elder.  Mr.  Cotton,  with  the  Confent  of  the 
other  Minifters,  prefented  a  Requeft  unto  the 
Magiftrates,  that  they  would  pleafe  to  forbear 
Profecuting  of  him,  till  they  themfelves,  with 
their  Churches,  had  in  a  Church-way  Endea- 
voured his  Convi&ion  and  Repentance ;  for  they 
alledged,that  they  hoped  his  Violences  proceed- 
ed rather  from  a  Mifguided-Confcience,  than 
from  a  Seditious  Principle.  The  Governour 
foretold  unto  them,  Tou  are  deceived  in  the 
Man,  if  you  think  he  will  Condefcend  to  learn 
of  any  of  you  ;.  however  the  Propofal  of  the 
Minifters  was  approved  and  allowed.  But  fe- 
veralofthe  Churches  having  taken  the  beft 
Pains  they  could,  tho'  they  happily  brought 
the  Church  of.  Salem  to  join  with  them  in  deal- 
ing with  the  Man,  yet  the  EfMt  was,  that  he 
renounced  them  all,  as  no  Churches  of  our  Lord 
jefus  Chrift.  Whereupon  the  Court  Ordered  his 
Removal  out  of  the  Jurifdiffion. 

§.  6.  One  Pafiage  that  happened  at  his  Trial 
was  a  little  odd.  He  complained  in  open 
Court,  that  he  was  wronged  by  a  Slanderous 
Report,  as  if  he  held  it  unlawful  for  a  Fa- 
ther  to,  call  upon  his  Child  to  eat  his  Meat. 

Mr.  Hooker  then  prefenr,  being  moved  here- 
upon to  fpeak  fomething,  replied,  Why?  Tou 
will  fay  en  much  again,  if  you  ft  and  to  your 
own  Principles,  or  be  driven  to  fay  nothing  at 
all.  Mr.  Williams  expreffing  his  Confidence 
that  he  fhould  never  fay  it ;  Mr.  Hooker  pro- 
ceeded ,   If  it  be  Unlawful  to  call  an  Vnregc- 


W  hereas  the  King  of  England  had  granted  a    nerate  P erf  on  to  Pray,  fince  it  is  an  AS  ion  of 


Royal  Charter  unto  the  Governour  and  Compa- 
ny of  this  Colony  -,  which  Patent  was  indeed 
the  very  Life  of  the  Colony  ;  this  Hot  headed 
Man  publickly  and  furioufly  Preached  againft 
the  Patent,  as  an  Inftrument  of  Injuftice,  and 
preffed  both  Rulers  and  People  to  be  humbled 
for  their  Sin  in  taking  fuch  a  Patent,  and  ut- 
terly throw  it  up;  on  an  Infignificant  Pretence 
of  Wrong  thereby  done  unto  the  Indians,  which 
were  the  Natives  of  the  Country,  therein 
given  to  the  Subjects  of  the  Englijl)  Crown. 
Secondly,  An  Order  of  the  Court,  upon  fbme 
Juft  Occafion  had  been  made,  That  an  Oath  of 
Fidelity  lhould  be,  though  not  Impofed  upon, 
yet  Offered  unto  the  Freemen,  the  better  to  di- 
ltinguilh  thofe  whofe  Fidelity  might  render  them 
capable  of  Imployment  in  the  Government : 
Which  Order  this  Man  vehemently  withftood, 
on  a  Pernicious  Pretence,  that  it  was  the  Pre- 
rogative of  our  Lord  Chrift  alone  to  have  his 
Office  EfcablHhed  with  an  Oath ;  and  that  an 
Oath  being  the  Worfhip  of  God,  Carnal  Pcr- 
Jons,  whcr.oi  he  fuppoied  there  were  many  in 


God's  Worfhip,  then  it  is  Unlawful  for  your 
Unregeneratr  Child  to  pray  for  a  Bleffing  up- 
on his  own  Meat.  If  it  be  Unlawful  for  him 
to  Pray  for  a  Bleffing  upon  his  Meat,  it  is 
Unlawful  for  him  to  Eat  it,  for  it  is  San8i+ 
fed  by  Prayer,  and  without  Prayer,  Unfandifi- 
ed  :  Ci  Tim.  4.  4,  5.]  If  it  be  Unlawful  for 
him  to  Eat  it,  it  is  Unlawful  for  you  to  call 
upon  him  to  Fat  it;  for  it  is  Unlawful  for  you 
to  call  upon  bim  to  Sin.  Hereupon  Mi.  Willi- 
ams chofe  to  hold  his  Peace,  rather  than  make 
any  Anfwer  :  Such  the  Giddinefs,  the  Confu- 
fion,  the  Antocatacritie  of  that  Seclarian  Spi- 
rit. I  have  read  of  a  Gentleman  who  had 
an  Humour  of  making  Singular  and  Fanciful 
Expofitions  cf  Scripture  ;  bur  one  Doclor  Sim 
gave  him  a  Dofe  of  Phyfick,  which  when  it 
had  wrought,  the  Gentleman  became  Orthodox 
immediately,  and  expouiJea  at  the  old  rate 
no  more.  Pity  but  this  Dr.  Sim  had  under- 
taken the  Cure  of  our  Mr.  Williams. 

§.  7.  Upon  the  Sentence  of  the  Court,  Mr. 
Williams  with  his  Party  going  abroad  ("as  one 


the  Land,  might  not  be  put  urion  it.  Thefe  fays)  To  fee k  their  Providences,  removed  into 
Crimes  at  laft  procured  a  Sentence  of  Banifo-  the  Southern  Parts  of  New-England,  where  he, 
n:ent  upon  hi ;:.  with  a  few  of  his  own  Secb,  fettled  at  a  place 

^.  5.  The  Court,  about  a  Year  before  they  pro-  'called  Providence.  There  they  proceeded  not 
ceeded  unto  the  Banjjfbment  of  this  Incendiary,  j  only  unto  the  Gathering  of  a  thing  like  a 
fent    for    the  '  the     Neighbouring  Church,  but  unto  the  Renouncing  of  their  Infant- 


Churches,  to  Intimate  unto  them  lheir  Defign 
of  thus    proceeding  againft   him;    which  yet 


Baptifm  ;  and  at  this  further  Step  of  Separa- 
tion they  flopped  not,  but  Mr.  Williams  quick- 


they  vvjere  loth  to  do,  before  they  had  Adviled  ly  told  them,   That  being  himfelf  mifled,  he 

had 


Book  VII.  Or,  TbeHiftoryof  New-England. 


had  led  them  likewife  out  of  the  way  -,  he  was 
now  fatisfied,  that  there  was  none  upon  Earth 
that  could  Adminifter  Baptifm,  and  fo  that  their 
Lafi  Baptijm,  as  well  as  their  Firft,  was  a  Nul- 
lity, for  the  want  of  a  called  Adminiflration  -,  he 
advifed  them  therefore  to  Forego  all,  to  Diflike 
every  thing,  and  Wait  for  the  coming  of  New- 
Anoftles  -,  whereupon  they  diflblved  themfelves, 
and"  became  that  fort  of  Sett  which  we  term 
Seekers,  keeping  to  that  one  Principle,  That  e- 
vcry  one  jhould  have  Liberty  to  worfliip  God 
according  to  the  Light  of  his  own  Conjcience  ; 
but  owning  of  no  true  Churches  or  Ordinances 
now  in  the  World.  It  is  a  memorable  Reflecti- 
on made  on  this  Occafion  by  Mr.  Cotton,  in  a 
Book  which  he  Publithed  for  his  own  Vindi- 
cation from  the  Printed  Calumnies  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liams :  k  It  is  a  Wife  Proverb,  faith  he,  of  a 
'  wiier  than  Solomon  ;  The  Backflider  in  Heart 
i  (from  any  Truth  or  Way  of  God)  fhall  be  fil- 
k  led  with  his  own  ways.  They  that  feparate 
'  from  their  Brethren  further  than  they  have 
w  juji  Caufe,  (hall  at  length  find  Caufe,  or  at 
'leaf!  think  they  have  found  Caufe  juft  enough 
s  to  feparate  ftom  one  another.  I  never  yet 
'  heard  of  any  Inftance  to  the  contrary,  either 
'  in  England  or  Ho/land ;  and  for  New-England, 
'  there  is  no  fuch  Church  of  the  Separation  at 
'  all  that  I  know  of.  That  feparate  Church, 
'  fif  it  may  be  called  a  Church)  which  fepa- 
^  rated  with  Mr.  Williams,  firft  broke  into  a 
'  Divifton  about  a  fmall  Occafion  (as  I  have 
(  heard)  and  then  broke  forth  into  Anabaptifn, 
'  and  then  into  Antibaptifm  and  Familifm,  and 
'  now  finally  into  no  Church  at  all. 

§.  8.  Mr.  Williams  after  this  was  very  In- 
ftrumental  in  obtaining  a  Charter  for  the  Go- 
vernment of  Rhode-lfland,  which  lay  near  and 
with  his  Town  of  Providence,  and  was  by  the 
People  fometimes  chofen  Governour :  But  for 
the  moft  part  he  led  a  more  private  Life. 

It  was  more  than  Forty  Years  after  his  Exile 
that  he  lived  here,  and  in  many  things  ac- 
quitted himfelf  fo  laudably,  that  many  Judici- 
ous Perfons  judged  him  to  have  had  the  Root 
of  the  Matter  in  him,  during  the  long  Winter 
of  this  Retirement :  He  ufed  many  commenda- 
ble Endeavours  to  Chriftianize  the  Indians  in 
his  Neighbourhood,  of  whofe  Language,  Tem- 
pers and  Manners  he  printed  a  little  Relation, 
with  Obfervations,  wherein  he  Spiritualizes  the 
Curiofities  with  Two  and  Thirty  Chapters, 
whereof  he  entertains  his  Reader.  There  was 
alfo  a  good  Correfpondence  always  held  be- 
tween him  and  many  Worthy  and  Pious  People 
in  the  Colony, ftom  whence  he  had  been  Banifh'd ; 
tho'  his  keeping  ftill  fomany  of  his  Dangerous 
Principles,  kept  the  Government,  unto  whofe 
Favour  fome  of  the  Englifh  Nobility  had  by 
Letters  Recommended  him,  from  taking  off  the 
Sentence  of*  his  Banifhment.  And  againft  the 
Quakers,  he  afterward  maintained  the  main 
Principles  of  the  ?roteftant  Religion  with  much 
Vigour  in  fome  Difputations ;  whereof  he  after- 
wards Published  a  large  Account,  in  a  Book  a- 
gainft  George  Fox  and  Edward  Burrows,  which 


he  Entituled,  George  Fox  digg'd  out  of  his 
Burrowcs.  But  having  reported  thus,  much 
concerning  Mr.  Williams,  we  ihallnow  fuperfede 
further  mention  of  him,  with  the  mention  of 
another  difference  which .  happened  in  our  Pri- 
mitive Times,  wherein  he  was  indeed  ('but 
Obliquely  and  Remotely  J  concerned. 

§.  9.  It  was  about  the  Year  1635.  that  one 
in  fome  Authority,  under  the  Heat  of  fome 
Impreifions  from  the  Miniftry  of  Mr.  Williams^ 
did  by  his  own  Authority  cut* the  Red-Crofs out 
of  the  King's  Colours,  to  Teftifie  a  Zeal  againft 
the  Continuance  or  Appearance  of  a  Superfiition. 
This  Hot  Allion  met  with  a  Warm  Cenfure-, 
and  befides  the  Mifchiefs  hereby  occafioned  a- 
mong  the  Trained  Soldiers,  whereof  fome  were 
loth  to  follow  the  Colours  which  had  the  Crofs, 
leaft  they  ihould  put  Honour  upon  a  Popifh 
Idol ;  others  were  loth  to  follow  the  Colours 
which  had  not  the  Crofs,  left  they  fhould  feem 
to  caft  off  their  Allegiance  to  the  Crown  of 
England-^  the  Bufinefs  fell  under  Agitation  in 
the  General  Court.     . 

The  Freemen  of  the  Colony  fhow'd  their  Dif 
pleafure  at  the  Gentleman  chiefly  concerned  in 
this  Bufinefs,  by  Difcarding  him  from  his  Place 
in  the  Government  5  and  a  Committee  ©f  thofe 
Freemen,  chofen  by  both  Magiftrates  and  Peo- 
ple, judged  him  to  be  guilty  of  a  great  Of- 
fence, and  worthy  of  Admonition,  and  fb  to  be 
one  Year  difabled  for  bearing  any  Publick  Of- 
fice. An  Harder  Sentence  was  not  palled,  be- 
caufereal  Tendernefs  and  Perfwafion  ofConfci- 
ence,  and  not  any  \U~affeUed  Mind,  was  the  real 
Original  of  his  Offence  :  But  fo  hard  a  Sen- 
tence was  palTed,  as  a  Signification  of  the  De- 
fire  which  was  rooted  in  the  Heart  of  the 
Country,  to  approve  themfelves  in  all  Points 
thorough  Englifhmen  and  Good  SubjeQs.  Now 
though  the  Action  of  Defacing  the  Colours  was 
generally  difapproved,  yet  the  Rite  of  the  Crofs 
in  the  Banner  became  on  this  Occafion  a  Mat- 
ter of  Controverfie,  wherein  many  Pious  andA- 
ble  Men  were  differently  perfwaded  ;  and  fome 
of  our  Chief  Worthies  maintained  their  diffe- 
rent Perfwafions  with  Weapons  indeed  no  more 
dangerous  than  eafie  Tens,  and  Ejfeffs  no  worle 
than  a  little  Harmlefs  and  Learned  lnk-fhed, 
It  will  not  be  a  thing  Unufeful  or  Unpleafant 
unto  a  Curious  Reader,  to  have  a  brief  Difplay 
of  that  Controverfie. 

§.  10.  On  the  one  fide,  they  that  pleaded  a- 
gainft  the  Ufe  of  the  Crofs  in  the  Banner,  ar- 
gued after  this  manner.  The  Queftion  is  not, 
whether  a  Private  Man  may  not  march  after 
his  Colours,  which  have  the  Crofs  in  them  ? 
For  the  Chrifiian  Legions  never  fcrupled  fol- 
lowing the  Labarum  of  the  Roman  Emperor, 
which  was  an  Idolatrous  Enfign.  Yea,  the 
Jews  themfelves,  that  made  fuch  earneft  fuit, 
firft  unto  Pilate,  and  then  unto  Petronius,  to 
have  fuch  an  Idolatrous  Enfign  removed  from 
the  Walls  of  their  Temple,  yet  without  any 
fcruple  followed  it  in  the  Field.  Nor  is  it  the 
Queftion,  whether  the  Crofs  may  be  ufed  in 
our  Colours,  as  a  Charm  to  protect  us  from 
B  b  b  b  b  b  b  Enemies, 


IO 


Magnalia  Chrifli  Americana 


Book  VIL 


Enemies,  to  defend  us  from  Diftafters,   to  pro- 
cure  Victories  unto  us.     The  Faith  which  the 
Roman  Catholicks  have  in  it  mentioned  by  Hove- 
den  in  the  Reign  of  Henry  11.  when  England, 
France  and    Flanders  diftinguifhed   themfelves 
by   their  Varieties  of  it,  ever  fince  retained,  is 
abominable  to   all  real   V  rot  eft  ants.     But  the 
Queftion  is,  whether  the  Crofs,  as  reprefenting 
the  Crofts  oft  Chnft,  eretted  as  a  Badge  oft  Chri- 
ftianity,  and   a  Sign   of  Diftindtion   between 
Chriftians  and  Infidels,  may  by  any  Prince  or 
State  be   now  in  their  Banners  Referved  and 
Employed  ■   This  they  approved  not,  and  that 
fot  thefe  Reafons.     Firft,  That  which  God  hath 
Commanded  utterly  to  be  Deftroyed,  fhould  not 
be  Retained  tor   the  Important  Ufes  of  Men ; 
but  God  has  Commanded  the  Crojs  in  the  Ban- 
ner co  be  Dejiroycd.    This  may  be  thus  proved  ; 
Images  of  Idols  are  Commanded  utterly  to  be 
Deftroycd :  But  the  Crofts  in  the  Banner  is  the 
Image  of  an  Idol,    and  the  greateft  Idol  in  the 
Church  of  Rome.     The  Text   in  Deuteronomy, 
where  this  is  Commanded,  will  affeft  Chriftians  j 
as  well  as  Jem  ;  for  the  Moral  Rea/on  of  the 
Command    it  ill   continues.     If  it  be  objected, 
that  then  the  Temples  of  Idals  were  to  be  de- 
ftroycd, it  may  be  anfwered,  Theodcftuts  made 
a  Law  that  they  fhould  be  fo.    However,  we 
may  diftinguilh  between  Temples  Dedicated  un- 
to Idols,  and  fach  Temples  as  were  Dedicated 
unto  God  with  Creatures.     The  Papifts,  with 
Aquinas,  deny  their  Temples  to  have  been  De- 
dicated unto  Saints ;  but  affirm  them  Dedica- 
ted unto  the  Honour  and  Service  of  God,  for 
his   Bleffings   Communicated   by    the   Saints, 
whole  Names  are  ufed  on  this  Occafion.  Thefe 
Temples  being  purged   from  their  Superftlitious 
Dejignations ,  may  be  ftill  ufed  for  our  Chriftian 


AfTemblies,  as  our  Saviour  ufed  the  Jcwijh 
Water-Rets  to  turn  the  Water  into  Wine,  tho' 
they  were  Superftitiotts  Purifications  for  which 
they  were  placed  there.  -Again,  there  is  no  'Ci- 
vil Honour  to  be  given  unto  the  Image  of  an 
Idol;  the  Second  Commandment  forbids  all  fort 
of  Honour,  not  only  Sacred,  but  Civil  alio,  to 
fuch  an  Image  ;  yea,  and  elfewhere,  all  menti- 
on of  it  with  Honour  is  prohibited.  But  now 
to  advance  the  Crofs  into  the  Banner,  is  to  put 
a  Civil  and  no  little  Honour  upon  it  :  It  is  the 
Crofs  in  the  Enfign,  which  does  now  Inftignirc, 
and  render  it  Inftign ;  and  it  was  the  Intention 
of  Con  ft  amine  to  Honour  the  Crofts,  when  he 
Interdicted  all  Executions  of  Malefactors  upon 
it,  but  improved  it  for  his  Banner.  Further, 
if  the  Figure  of  the  Altar  in  Damafcus  might 
not  be  ufed  as  a  Badge  of  the  Religion  and 
Profeffion  of  the  Iftraeiaes,  then  the  Figure  of 
the  Crofs  may  not  be  ufed  as  a  Badge  of  the 
Religion  and  ProfefTion  of  the  Protejfants. 
For  there  is  a  like  Proportion ;  the  Papifts  re- 
gard the  Crofts  as  the  Altar  whereon  our  Lord 
was  offered  :  Now  fuch  a  Figure  of  an  Altar 
was  unlawful  to  the  People  of  God.  Once 
more,  that  which  was  Execrable  to  our  Lord, 
the  Sign  of  it  fhould  not  be  Honourable  to  us. 
Br-  fo  was  the  Croft':  of  our  Lord  •,   it  made 


his  Death  Accurfed  ;  nor  was  it  a  pure  Inftru- 
ment  of  meer  Martyrdom   unto  him.      More- 
over,  if  the  partaking    of  Idolothytes   in  the 
places  where  the   Idols   are    worf hipped,    ex- 
prefs    a  Communion  with   idols  and  Idolaters^ 
then    the  letting  up  of  the  Crofs  in  the  places 
where  Idolaters  do  Worfhip  it,  namely,  in  the 
Banner,  is  an  ExprefTion  of  Communion  in  their 
Idolatry.     'Tis  true,  fuch  Meats   when  fold  in 
the  Shambles,   might  be  Eaten  without  fcruple 
of  Confcience  ;    but  befides  this,  that   it  was 
only   a    Common  Place  where  thefe   might   be 
eaten ;  whereas  the  Crofts  in  the  Banner   is  in 
the  Temple,  where  the  Apocalyptic  Gentiles  do 
adore  it  ;   you  may   add,  they  were  Creatures 
of  God,  whereas  the  Crofts  in  the  Banner  is  on- 
ly   an  Humane   Contrivance.    It    it  had  been 
lawful  for  a  Man  to  have  bought  the  Silver- 
Shrines  of  Diana,  and  have  cau led  them  to  be 
worn  tor  the  Cognilance  of  his  Family,  or  his 
Attendants  ;  the  Q-ofs  might  perhaps  have  been 
lawfully  ufed  in  the  Banner  for  a  Cognifance. 
Finally,  if  the  firlr.  uie  of  the  Crofs  in  the  Ban- 
ner, by  Conftantine,  were  Superftitious ;   then 
the  Pi i ft  Fruits  being  unclean^  the  whole  Lump 
oj   the  following    ufe    is    dlfo   unclean.      But 
now  Eufebius   will  tell  you,  That   this  faving 
Sign  the  Emperor  ufed.  as  a  Protetlion  again\l 
all  Warlike  and  Hofiiie  Poners.     And  Sozomen 
will  tell  you,  That  the  Emperor  changed  the 
Image  in  the  Roman  Labarum  ftor  the  Sign  oft 
the   Crofts,  that  fo  the  Soldiers,  who  were  ac- 
cuftomed  to  Worfthip  the  Heathen  Imperial  En- 
fign, by  the  continual  Sight  andWorjhip  oft  the 
Crofs   might    be  weaned  from    their  Country- 
Rites,  a/id  brought  on  to   Worfinp  that  God  a« 
lone  whofte  Sign  it  teas.    Thefe  were  the  Chief 
of  the  Confiderations  then  urged    againft  the 
Crofts,  by  the  Faithful  that  were  themfelves  in 
a  Wilderntis,  now  Preaching  and  Suffering  un- 
der the  Crofs.     That  they  thus  argued,  was  not 
becaule  they  were  thofe  whom     the  Apoftle 
calls    Enemies   unto  the    Crojs  oft  our  Lord; 
they  knew,  they  felt,   they  confented,  that,  Om* 
nk  Chriftianus   eft  Crucianus,   every  Chriftian 
muft  be  a  Crofs-Bcarer.     Our  King  Edward  I. 
was  the  Comelieft  of  Men,  tho'  commonly  cal- 
led Crock-Back,   by  a   miftake  of  the  Name 
Crouch-Back^  [that  is,  Crofts-Back^  which  Name 
he  has  worn,  becaufe  of  his  wearing   a  Crofts 
on  his  Back.     Our  good  Old  Planters  had  the 
Crofs  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  laid  upon  their 
Back,  by  the  manifold  AfflicYiorrs  which  they 
underwent    fot    his    Truths  and  Ways  ;   but 
Mankind   will   be  miftaken,   if  they   imagine 
thole   BlefTed    Soldiers,  under  the  Banners  of 
their  Lord  Redeemer,  ro  have  been  of  a  De- 
ftellive  Stature  in  Chriftianity,  becaufe  of  their 
not  affecting  to  make  the  Crofs  in  their  Ban- 
ners  the  Mark    of   that  Chriftianity.     It  is 
Catholickly,  that  is  Ridieuloujly,  enough  given 
as   the  Anfwer  to  the  Second  Queftion  in  the 
Catechifm,  wherein  the  French  Aerc-Converts 
are   inltru£ted  ;    the   Queftion,   Whereby  jhall 
know  a  true  Chriftian  ?  The  Anfwer,  A 


one 


ce  quit  ftait  le  Signe  de  la  Croix  ■,    that 


is, 
By 


Book  VII.       Or,  The  Hiftory  ^New-England. 


ii 


By  this,  that  he  majkes   the  Sign  of  the  Crofs. 
Our  Kew-Englanders  were  Good  Chriftians,  but 
yec  were  loth  to  give  the  Crofs  tor  the  Sign  of 
their  being  ib;  they  chofe  a  better  Sign  of  it, 
by  being  themfelves  Crucified  unto  the  Vanities 
of  the  World  ■  that  which  made  the  Crofs  dif- 
agreeable  to  them,  was  its  being  the  great  Idol 
of  Popery,  which    is  but    revived  Paganifm  : 
And  as  the  Primitive  Chrifiians,  when  the  Pa- 
gans charged  them  with  the  Veneration  of  the 
Crofs,  anfwered,  Cruces  nee  Colimus,  nee  Opta- 
mus  \  this  might  a  Minutius  on  the  behalf  of 
our  Xnc-bnghjh  Chrifiians  have  given  for  their 
Anfwer  alio  :  If  Tcrtullian  reckoned  it  a  Scan- 
dal railed  upon  the  Primitive  Chrifiians,  that 
they  wete,  Crucis  Religiofi,  you  fee  the  Kew- 
Englifh  Chrifiians  took  an  EfYe&ual  Courfe  that 
they  might  not  on  that  part  be  Scandalized. 

6.  11.  On  the  other  fide,  they  that  pleaded 
for  the  life  of"  the  Crofs  in  the  Banner,  argued 
after  this  faihion.  To  ftate  the  Queftion,  we 
muft  know,  that  it  isneceffary  that  there  ihould 
he  a  Banner  dtlplayed :,  and  a  Banner  with  a 
Crofs  in  it,  ferves  the  end  of  a  Banner  z.%  much 
as  any  other.  Had  the  Crofs  never  been  Super- 
ftitioufly  abufed,  the  Civil  ufe  of  that  Figure 
could  not  be  queftioned  ;  but  the  Superfiitious 
Abufe  is  a  thing  that  is  added  unto  the  Civil  Ufe, 
and  accordingly  the  Superfiitious  Abufe  may  a- 
gain  be  removed  irom  it,  otherwife  what  a  De- 
legation of  Bells  muft  be  produced  by  a  juft 
Reformation  of  Superfiitions  ?  Wherefore,  if 
the  prefent  Authority  does  neither  appoint  nor 
declare  any  Superfiition  in  the  Obfervation  of 
any  Civil  Ufage,  the  Superfiition  of  that  Ufage 
is  at  an  end.  Thus,  tho'  it  be  notorioulTy 
known,  that  many  Perfons  in  Authority  have 
their  Superfiitious  Conceits  about  Churches  ; 
yet  inafmuch  as  there  is  no  Injunction  of  Au- 
thority upon  private  Perfons,  to  approve  any 
fuch  Conceits,  'tis  no  Superfiition  in  fuch  Per- 
fons to  ufe  thofe  Churches  unto  lawful  Purpo- 
fes.  The  Queftion  then  is,  whether  the  Civil 
Ufe  of  the  Crofs  in  the  Banner  may  not  be 
feparated  from  the  Superfiitious  Abufe  of  it  > 
It  feems  that  it  may  ;  for,  Firfi,  W  Karnes  that 
have  been  abufed  for  the  Honour  of  Idols,  may 
in  a  Civil  way  be  ftill  ufed,  then  things  that 
have  been  fb  abufed,  may  be  in  like  manner  ufed 
for  a  Civil  Diftiritlion.  But  we  find  the  Karnes 
of  Apollo  and  Phxbe,  and  the  like,  ufed  in  the 
Apoftolical  Salutations,  altho'  it  had  been  a  lefs 
difficulty  for  thofe  Perfons  to  have  changed  the 
Karnes  at  firft  finfully  impos'd  on  them,  than 
for  the  Crofs  in  the  Banner  to  be  now  wholly 
laid  afide.  If  any  Heathen  King  put  an  Ho- 
nour upon  his  Idol  Bel,  by  faying,  0  Beltefhaz- 
zar,  the  Spirit  of  God  may  fpeak  it  without 
any  Honour  to  that  Idol  at  all.  Again,  it  is  one 
thing  to  defcribe  a  Crofs,  as  an  Artificial  thing, 
by  way  of  Civil  Signification,  and  another 
thing  to  employ  a  Crojs,  as  a  Sacramental  thing, 
by  way  of  Sacred  Obfervation  ;  and  in  the  Ban- 
ner, 'tis  the  former,  not  the  latter  way,  that  it 
is  confidered  ;  when  I  am  relating  how  a  Papift 
Crojfes  himfelf,    1  may  lawfully  exprels  it  by 


making  an  Aerial  Crofs  like  his ;    whereas  it 
would  not  be  lawful  for  me  to  make  fuch  a  Crofs 
upon  the  fame  ends  with  him.     Add,   what  if 
the  Crofs,  as  hilt  ufed  by  Conftantine,  had  in 
it  fomewhat  unwarrantable  r  It  follows  not,  that 
the  jollowing  Ufe   of  it  is  of  the  lame  Lump 
with  the  Firfi  •     tot    if  it  now  be  ufed  upon 
another  Deiign,  the  Uncleannefs  is  taken  away. 
Befides,  Confiantine  brought  the  Crofs  with  as 
much  Unwarrantablenefs  inio  his  Coins,   as  in- 
to his  Colours  -,  but  it  is  believed,  that  moll:  Men, 
at  this  Day,  would  count  themfelves  very  forely 
crofiYd,  and  their  Purles  very  unhappy,    if  there 
were  none  of  thofe  Crojfes   in  them.     To  pro- 
ceed,  Meats  that   were    Sacrificed   unto  Idols 
might  be  eaten,  when  Sold  and  bought  in  the 
Market;  row  aCrof's,  as  an  HfiecF  of  Art,  is  a 
Creature  of  God's,  as  well  as  any  of  the  Meats 
Bred  and  Cooked  by   Men.     And  what  if  the 
Banner  be  like  the   Temple  to  the  Idol?  One 
might  have  eaten  the  Idolothytes  in  a  Chamber 
or  Corner  of  an  Idol  Temple,  if  there  had  been 
any  fuch,  where  Beholders  would  not  have  been 
lcandalized.     Such   were  the  Celours  of  Good 
and  Evil,  which  were  put  upon  the  Ufe  of  the 
Crofs  in  the  Colours,   at  the  firft  Settlement  of 
the  Militia  in  thefe  Hantations.    But  there  was 
nothing  like  a  War  appearing  in  the  Difputati- 
ons  of  the  good  Men,  that  thus  flourijhed  the 
Matter  on  both  fides.    All  the  Velitations  were 
peaceably  furled  up  in  this  Refult ;   that  the 
Crofs  was  kept  in  the  Banners  of  Cafiles  and 
Veffels  where   it  was  necelfary ;    and  in  the 
Banners  of  the  Trained  Bands  it    was  gene- 
rally omitted,    until  it  was  very  lately  intro- 
duced. 

§.  12.  It  will  be  now  not  Improper,  I  am 
fure  it  will  nor  be  Unchrifiian,  in  the  fame 
Chapter,  which  Reports  the  Difturbances  of 
Kew-England  railed  by  Mr.  Williams,  to  re- 
late fome  further  'Difturbances  of  the  Country, 
to  the  extinguilhing  whereof,  Mr.  Williams  ve- 
ry commendably  contributed  his  Ailiftances : 
For  I  freely  acknowledge  with  Tally,  Eli 
iniqua  in  omni  re  Accufanda,  pr<etermijjis 
Bovis,  ma  lor  urn  Enumeratio,  vitiorumq-,  Se- 
leflio. 

Know  then,  that  in  the  Year  1636.  arrived 
at  Bofton  one  Samuel  Gorton^  who  by  one  of 
the  beft  pens  in  thofe  Times  is  defcribed  as,  A 
moft  prodigious  Mtnter  of  Exorbitant  Ko- 
velties,  and  the  very  Dregs  of  Familifm.  This 
Gorton  continued  at  Brfton,  till  fome  Directi- 
ons were  fent  hither  to  Dencand  from  him 
confiderable  Sums  of  Money,  which  he  had 
Borrowed  as  London-,  and  then  he  removed 
out  of  the  Mojfachufet-Colony.  Coming  to 
Plymouth,  he  began  to  fpread  his  Blafphemous 
and  Enormous  Opinions  -,  but  being  upon  fome 
Civil  Controverfie  with  a  Neighbour  brought 
before  the  Court,  he  behaved  himfelf  fo  Mu- 
tinoufly,  Seditioufly  and  Outrageoufly,  that  he 
was  Fined  and  fent  out  of  that  Colony.  From 
thence  he  went  into  Rhode-Ifland,  where  he 
affronted  what  little  Government  they  hid, 
with  fuch  Intolerable  lufoiencies,  that  he  was 
Bbbbb  b  b  2  there 


12 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana 


Book  VIL 


there  Whipped,  and  fent  out  of  that  Colony. 
The  Knight  Errant  then  made  his  Progrefs  over 
to  Providence,  with  a  milled  Knot  of  Squires, 
where  the  Humanity  of  Mr.  Williams  to  them 
In   that    Winter  Scafon  was    requited,    Snake- 
falhion,  with  fuch  cruel  Siings,  as  made  the 
Inhabitants  implore  Aid  from  the  Maffachufet- 
Bay.    Thefe  wicked  Gortonians  began  to  leize 
the  Lands  of  certain  Indians^  which   had  iub- 
mitted   themfelves  unto  the  Protection  of  the 
King  ofFrgland,  and  fow  fuch  Difcords  among 
the  Englilh,  as  threatned  all  manner  of  bloody 
Confulion.     Wherefore   the  Authority   of  the 
Majfachufet-Bay  being  AddreiTed    by  the  Di 
ftrelfed  People,  fent  their  Agents  to  adjuft  the 
Differences  which  had  happened,  and  prevent 
the  Ruin  of  the  King's  Interefh,  not  meerly  in 
that  Fag-end  of  the  World,  but  in  all  thefe  Plan- 
tations.    In  the  mean  time,  this  Crew  of  Mif- 
creants  not    only   kept  blowing  up  a  Flame  oi 
War  between  the  Englifh  and  the  Indians,   but 
alfo  fent  unto  the  Engli/h  in  the  Bay  one  Libel 
upon  the  back  of  another,  Ituft'd  with  Scores  ot 
fuch  envenomed  Reproaches  againft  the  Rulers 
and  Churches,  Denials  of  all  Order,  and  Blaf- 
phcmies  againft  every  facred  thing,    that  the 
Maffachufet-Colaay  could  not  in  this  Extremity 
do  God  and  the  King  better  Service,  than  by 
going  out  of  their  Line,  f  if  it  were  a  going  out 
of  it,  for  to  fend  thus  unto  the  help    of  our 
Confederates,  under  whofe  weaker  Jurijdillion 
thofe  Wretches  were  fo  Obftreperous,  and  upon 
whofe   Earnefi  Application  it  was  undertaken) 
to  lay  hold  on  thefe  Malefa&ors  as  the  Ene- 
mies of  Mankind.     Accordingly,  _  being  by  a 


Baptifm,  they  called,  Vanity  and  Abomination ; 
The  Lord's  Supper,  they  called,  An  Abominati- 
on and  a  Spell ;  and  they  called,  Alinifiers, 
Magicians.  Now,  tho'  the  Miniflers,  whom 
they  Jo  called,  ufed  all  due  Pains  to  Charm 
thefe  Adders  with  convincing  Difputations, 
when  they  were  in  the  Bay,  and  indeed  often 
drove  them  to  a  Bay  with  Argument,  yet  they 
would  obftinately  maintain  their  unmaintainable 
Tenets.  By  the  iame  Token,  that  unto  that 
Nonfenfical  AiTertion  of  Gorton,  That  the 
Death  of  Chrifi,  win  the  Death  oj  God's  Image 
in  the  Fall  of  Adam ;  it  being  rcplv'd  by  Mr. 
Cotton,  That  the  Death  if  Chrifi  ims  the 
Price  of  our  Redemption  ;  whereas  the  Fall  of 
Adam  was  not  the  Price  of  cur  Redemption,  but 
the  Caufe  oj  our  Condemnation  ^  the  Man  by 
Silence  thereupon,  loudly  proclaimed  himfelf 
Confounded,  and  yet  ye  would  not  Revoke  or 
Diiclaim  his  Heretical  Nonfenfe.  Gorton  lived 
many  Years  after  this  ;  degenerated  into  fuch  a 
Beaff,  that  profeffedly  as  well  as  praliually  he 
declared,  That  there  k  no  Happinefs  to  be  ex- 
pected but  in  this  Life-,  and  he  would  advife 
his  Followers,  To  make  much  of  themfelves,  be- 
caufe  they  mufi  nave  no  more  tfmt  what  they 
fhould  enjoy  in  the  World.  But  it  pleafed  God 
thus. mercifully  to  deliver  this  his  New-Engltfh 
People  from  the  Troubles  with  which  thefe 
Pefiilences  did  endanger  them. 

^--  13.  Reader,  Be  content  that  the  fame 
Chapter  which  has  related  the  Controverfies 
that  have  fometimes  difturbed  the  Churches  of 
New-England  about  Matters,  the  Lawful nefs 
whereof  has  been  fcrupled,   fhould  leap  over 


Band    of  Men  brought  unto  Bofion,    whither  j  half  an  Hundred  Years  to  grafp  at  another  of 


Mr.  Williams  and  his  Fellow-Planters  had  re 
ferred  their  Caufe,  againlt  a  Knot  of  Incendi- 
aries that  had  exprelly  Declared,  All  Courts 
whatfoever  to  be  Idols  and  the  Devices  of  Sa- 
tan, and  all  pretended  Officers  and  Lieutenants 
of  Chrifi  to  be  Defiroycrs  of  the  Holy  One  of  If- 
rael :  The  Court  proceeded  unto  an  Examina- 
tion of  their  Mifdemeanours.  About  Six  of 
the  Chief  Ringleaders  received  Sentence  to  be 
kept  at  Work,  in  fo  many  feveral  Towns,  during 
the  Pleafure  of  the  Court ;  and  they  were  alio  re- 
quired, on  a  very  fevere  Penalty,  to  utter  none  of 
their  profane  tierefies,  except  in  Conference 
with  Minifters,  or  fuch  as  might  be  al- 
lowed thereupon  to  Confer  with  them  ; 
thus  they  were  Confined  for  one  Winter,  and 
then  Banifhed.  It  were  endlefs  to  reckon  up 
the  Frenfies  of  this  Exorbitant  and  Extravagant 
Generation  ;  but  they  held,  That  Chrifi  was  but 
a  Shadow,  and  Figure  of  what  is  done  in  every 


thole  Controverfies,  which  as  late  as  the  Year 
1 688.  was  an  Occafion  of  fome  further  Diftur- 
bance  ;  The  Affinity,  rather  than  the  Chronology 
of  the  thing  inviting  us,  in  this  Ylace  to  lodge 
the  Hillory  of  that  Controverfte. 

When  the  Charter  oi' New-England  were  ta- 
ken away,  the  Governour,  who  with  a  Trea- 
fonable  and  an  Arbitrary  Commiffion  then  Ty- 
rannized over  the  Colonies,  at  length  drove 
the  New-Englanders^  to  imitate  the  whole  Eng- 
lifh Nation,  in  an  happy  Revolution,  on  the 
Eighteenth  of  April,  1689.  And  in  the  De- 
claration, which  they  publifhed  at  and  for  this 
Revolution,  One  Article  was  this :  To  plunge 
the  poor  People  every  where  into  deeper  Incapa- 
cities, there  was  one  very  Comprehenfive  Abufe 
given  to  us  :  Multitudes  of  pious  andfoberMen 
thro  the  Land  fcrupled  the  Mode  of  fw earing 
on  the  Book,  defiring  that  they  might  Swear 
with  an  unlifted  Hand,  agreeable  to  the  ancient 


Chrifiian  \  they   held,    That  Chrifi  was  incur-    Cuftom   of  the    Colony  ;  and  tho'  we  think  we 


nate  in  Adam,  and  was  that  Image  of  God  where- 
in Adam  was  Created',  they  held,  That  our 
Lord's  being  Born  afterwards  of  the  Virgin,  and 
Suffering  war  but  a  Manifestation  of  his  Suffer- 
ing in  Adam ;  they  fa  id,  That  Mans  lofing  of 
God's  Image  was  the  Death  of Chrifi  •  they  laid, 
That  Faith  and  Chrifi  is  all  One ;  Sermons  they 
cauled  Lies,  Tales  and  Falfhoods ;  Clwrches,  their 
Name    for  them  was,    Devifed   Platforms; 


can  prove,  that  the  Common  Law  amongfi  us 
(m  well  as  in  fome  other  places  under  the 
Englilh  Crown)  does  not  only  Indulge,  b  t  even 
Command  and  Enjoin  the  Rite  of  lifting  the 
Hand  in  Swearing,  yet  they  that  had  this 
doubt  were  Jlill  put  by  from  Jerving  upon  any 
Juries,  and  many  of  ihem  were  mofi  unaccounta- 
bly Fined  and  Imprifoned.  This  one  Grie- 
vance is  a  Trojan  Horfe,  in  the  Belly  of  which 
4  'tis 


Book  VII.  0ry  The  Hiftory  of  'New-England. 


'tis  not  eafie  to  recount  how  many  infujferable  I  fucli  pretence  wherein  the  Oath  of  Supremacy 
Vexations  have  been  contained.  The  Chrifti-  concludes,  By  the  Contents  of  this  Book:  And. 
ans  of  New-England  were  not  the  only  Pertbns  [  befides,  there  is  no  Proportion  of  things  to  coun- 
that  have  icrupledrhe  Lawfulnefs  cf  Swearing,  tenance  that  Pretence  :  The  touching  of  a  Ta- 
Tatfis  Evangcliis,  on  and  by  the  Go/pels.  Thole-  A/r,  would  fignifie  this,  as  much  as  the  touch- 
famous  Divines,  Rivet,  Partus  and  Voetius,  ing  of  the  Bible.  The  Bible  is  a  Sacred  thing  ■ 
have  all  of  them  Written  againft  it;  Dr.  Good*  to  put  it  unto  a  met  Civil  Ufe,  is  a  Profane 
aw,  and  Mr.  Nye,  reckoned  it  the  morft  of  all  i  Abufc  of  it,  in  fuch  a  iblemn  and  fcrious  Bufi- 
the  EnglifJ?  Ceremonies  :  And  that  bleifed  J  nets,  as  the  difpenfing  of  Right  between  Man 
Martyr,  Mr.  William  Thorp,  did  refufe  ro  com-  and  Man:  Why:  It  leaves  out  a  refpett  unto 
ply  with  that  Mode  of  Swearing.  Declaring  j  the  Bible,  which  is  always  due  unto  it.  With 
that  Chryfofiom  long  before  him  was  againlt  a  a  Contingent  and  Overly  Ad,  1  may  perhaps 
Book-Oath,  as  well  as  he;  and  arguing,  If  /llook  on  the  Bible  only  as  a  Book  made  of  Pa- 
Touch  the  Book,  the  meaning  of  that  Ceremony  is  \per  and  Cover;  but  in  a  Stated.  Solemn,  Seri- 
nothihg  elfe,  but  that  1  Swear  by  it,  when  it  it  fous  Ail,  fuch  as  a  Proccfs  of  Law,  the  Bible 
not    Lawful  to  Swear  by  any  Creature.     It  is  Imay  not  hi  Jingled  out  for  a  lefs  ufe,  than  what 


well-known,  that  in  Scotland,  and  the  Refer 
med  Churches  abroad,  that  Ceremony  is  not 
ufed  ;  and  even  in  the  Engli/l)  Courts  of  Admi- 
ralty, another  form  of  Swearing  is  frequently 
pradifed  :  Yea,  there  was  once  an  Ordinance  of 
Parliament  in  England,  for  the  eafe  ofthofe  Con- 
fidences, which  doubted  iuch  a  Form  of  Swearing. 
The  varieties  among  the  Primitive  Qiriftians,  in 
the  M  ides  of  Swearing,zve  too  Many,  andfbme  oi 
them  too  faulty  to  be  recited  ;  but  this  1  am  fure 
of  Athanaftusof  old  would  ufe  no  Rite  in  Sioear- 
f^3  but  that  ol  lifting  up  the  Hand  unto  Hea- 
ve,-?. However,  it  may  be  the  Qiriftians  of 
Nevs+Engtand  are  the  only  Ones  in  the   World 


Wot 


tie  word  of  the  molt  High  God  is  to  be  pre- 
I erred  for.  Whereas,  if  we  rake  the  general 
Acknowledgment  of  them  that  Swear  ON  the 
Go/pel.  they  tell  us,  'tis  to  procure  Devotion, 
and  affect  them  with  the  Confederation  of  the 
Rules  they  are  to  ufe  in  Swearing,  and  the  Woes 
they  incurr  if  they  ufe  them  not.  Now  fay  we, 
our  Lord  hath  directed  us  to  do  this,  by  Hearing 
and  Reading  his  Word  ;  not  by  a  bare  Touching 
of  it :  Nor  may  a  Tranfient  Motive  to  Piety,  be 
made  a  Stated  Medium.  Or  elfe,  they  tell  us,  'tig 
to  exprefs  Devotion;  'tis  in  this  way  that  they 
make  their  Imprecation,  and  their  Invocation  ; 
'tis  their  external  Declaration,  That  they  Swear 


that  ever  fufterid  a  Formal  Perjccutwn,  by  j  by  the  God  mho  made  this  Book,  and  expel?  the 
Fines  and  Gaols,  for  bearing  their  Teftimony  !  Plagues  written  in  this  Book,  if  they  Swear 
unto  Purity  of  Worfhip,  in  that  great  Point  of  a  Falfhood :  Now  this  is  a  may  of  Worjhip 
Worfhip,  an  Oath :  And  perhaps  thefe  Chri- j  which  the  Lord  never  Inftituted.  In  fine,  'tis 
ftians  might  bear  a  part  in  Finifhing  the  Tefiimo-  |  a  mrong  Religious  Application  in  a  Prayer  •>  an 
ny  to  be  born  unto  the  Laws  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Oath  is  a  Prayer,  and  a  Creature  is  in  'this 
Chrilt  in  the  World,  by  patiently  Suffering  this  I  Mode  of  Swearing  applied  unto,  as  well  as  Al- 
Pcrfc  action,  while  the  Quakers,  who  refufed  j  mighty  God  ;  yea,  God  is  applied  unto  thro'  a 
all  Sicca  ring  at  all,  did  undergo  no  fuch  Hard-  j  Creature  :  And  Non-Conformifts  reckon  the  Se- 
fhips  from  the  Government.  Now  theReafons  \cond  Commandment  violated  by  fuch  Applicati- 
that  moved  thefe  Confeffors  hereunto  are  eafily  j  ons.  The  Religious  Forms  of  Addreffing  to  God, 
underftood.  They  were  of  this  old  Puritan !  we  fay,  are  to  be  appointed  by  none  but  God 
Principle-,  that  all  Religious  Worfhip,  not  Com-  \  himfelf :  Whereas  the  Elevation  of  the  Hand 
manded by  God,  is  Forbidden-,  and  that  all  Sym-  has  even  for  Sacred  as  well  as  for  Civil  Ules' 
helical  Ceremonies  enjoined  on  Men  in  Religious  j  and  in  an  Oath  particularly,  had  fuch  unexcep- 
Worfhip,  are  made  parts  of  it.  More  clofely  ;  |  tionable  Aprobation,  that  the  Faithful  of 
rhey  judged  that  our  Swearing  ON  the  Go/pel,  j  New-England  chofe  it,  and  chofe  rather  to 
is  a  Swearing  BY  the  Go/pel,  and  therefore  Ido-  \fuffer  AffliUion,  than  to  ufe  a  Rite  in  the  Wor- 


latrous.  That  this  Mode  of  Smearing  was  Ori- 
ginally a  fignification  of  Swearing  BT  the  Go- 
J'pcl,  is  evident  from  all  the  Interpretation, 
which  not  only  the  old  Canon-Law,  but  alfo  the 
old  Common-Lam,  explain'd  in  old  Precedents, 
has  given  of  it ;  and  no  particular  Magift rate 
has  power  to  put  any  other  Interpretation  upon 
the  Law,  than  what  the  Law  has  given  of  it 
fell':,  much  lefs  can  a  private  P  erf  on  do  fo. 
Yea,  the  Mode  is  Naturally  and  Neccffarily,  as 
well  as  Originally,  a  Smearing  BT  the  Gofpel ; 
for  elfe  it  mult  fignifie  only  the  Prefence  and 
Confcnt  of  the  Perfon  that  Swears.  But  firft, 
our  Statute-Lam  has  pofitively  Superfeded  any 


Ihip  of  God,  which  they  fufpeded  Sinful. 

Reader,  We  will  only  take  this  Occafion 
to  recite  a  good  Paffage  of  Dr.  Owen's.  If  in- 
(lead  of  driving  all  forts  of  P  erf  ons,  the  Worft, 
the  Vileji  cf  Men,  on  Slight,  or  Light,  or 
no  Occaftons  unto  Swearing,  none  might  be  in 
any  Caje  admitted  thereunto,  but  fuch  a*  Evi- 
dence in  their  Converfations  fuch  a  regard  unto 
the  Divine  Rule  and  Governmen  of  the  World, 
as  is  required  to  give  the  leafl  Credibility  to  an 
Oath,  it  mould  be  much  better  with  Humane  So- 
ciety. And  now  we'll  pafs  on  to  other  Mat- 
ters. 


C  H  A  F, 


i4 


Magnalia  Chrifli  Americana :  Book  VII. 


CHAP.     III. 

Hydra  Decapitata  :  Or,  The  Fir  (I  SYNOD  of  NEW-ENGLAND,  gelling 
a  Storm  of  Antinomian  Opinions,  and  many  remarl\able  Events  relating  there- 
unto. 

Sic  Deus  induUa  ttoflras  Caljgine  Terras 
Occuluit. 


§.  i .  t~T*  H  E  Church  of  God  had   not   long 
X     been  in  this  Wildernefs,  before  the 
Dragon  caft  forth  feveral  Floods  to  devour  it ; 
but  not  the  leaft  of  thofe    Floods   was   one  of 
Antinomian    and    Familifiical    Herefies,     with 
which  the  Country  began  betimes  to  be  infeft- 
ed.     That  which  was  then  the  moll:  confiden- 
ce of  our  Churches,   had  feveral  confidence 
Perfons  belonging  thereunto,  who  Broached  cer- 
tain Opinions  ;  firft  of  an  Antinomian,  and  then 
of  a  Familifiical  Tendency  ;  and  the  ftir  which 
they  made  about  thefe  Opinions  grew  fb  gent- 
ral.  that  they  quickly  affecled  all  the  Publick 
Aftairs  of  the  Country  ;   but  that  which  made 
the  whole  Bufinefs  to  be  the  more  perplexed, 
was,  that  as  that  horrid  Montanilt,  Wightman, 
profelTed  that  he  had  all  his  Grounds  from  the 
Great  Arthur  Hilderlham,  fo  the  Name  of  the 
no  lefs  Great  JjOfjlt    COttOlt    was   abufed  by 
thefe  bufie  Setlaries,  for  the  Patronage  of  their 
Whimfies.    'Tis  believed,  that   Multitudes  of 
Perfons,  who  took  in  with  both  Parties,   did 
never  to  their  dying  Hour   underftand   what 
their   Difference  was  ;   by  the  fame  Token,  in 
the  heighth  and  heat  of  all   the   Difference, 
when  fome  Ships  were  going  from  hence  to 
England,  Mr.  Cotton,  in  the  whole  Congregati- 
on, advifed  the  Paffengers  to  tell  our  Country 
men  at  Home,  That  all  the  ftrife  here   was 
about   magnifying   the  Grace  of  God;  the  one 
Perfon  fee  king  to   advance   the  Grace  of  God 
within  us,   a*  to  SanUification  \    and   another 
Perfon  feeking  to  advance  the  Grace  of  God  to 
wards  us,   an  to  Jufiification  -,  and  Mr.  Wilfon 
ftood  up  aftet  him,  declaring  on  the  other  fide, 
That  he  knew  none  that  did  not  Labour  to  ad- 
vance the  Grace  of  God  in  both.     Neverthelefs 
there  did  arife  in  the  Land  a  Diftintlion  be- 
tween   fuch   as  were  under  a  COOCnflllt  Of 
W.0$$,  and  fuch  as  were  under  a  CofeCIMllt 
Of  &ld.tZ  ■>    wherein  the  bigger  Part  of  the 
Country   in  the  management  of  that  Enquiry, 
By  what  Evidence  mu{l  a   Man  proceed  in   ta- 
king to  hi mf elf  the  Comforts  of  his  Jufiificati- 
on ?    Laid  upon  our  SanSification  the  firft  and 
main  Strefs  of  our  Comfortable  Evidence.    But 
the  Opinionijh  were  for   another  fort   of  Evi- 
dence as  their  Chief;    namely,  The  Spirit  oj 
God  by  a  powerful  Application  of  a    Promife^ 
begetting  in  us,  and  revealing  to  us  a  power- 
ful  Affurance   of  our    being   Jit  ft  i  fed.     Now 
the    the  Truth  might  eafily  have  United  both 
of  thefe  Perfwafions;   yet  they  that  were  of 
the  latter  way,  carried  the  Matter  on  to  a  very 
Pjerillous  Door,  opened  not  only  for  New   En- 


thufiaftical  Revelations,    but  alio  for  a  negleft 
of  fuch  Qjealijj 'cations  in  all  Godlinefs  and  Ho- 
nefty,  as  mult  be  found  in  all  that  would  be 
Profpered,  and  not  Rejetlcd  in  their  Confidences. 
Yea,  they  employed  their  Diftin&ions  "about  a 
Covenant  of  Works,    and  a  Covenant  of  Grace 
at  fo  Extravagant  a  rare,    as  threarned  a  Sub' 
verfion  to  all  the  peaceable  Order  in  the  Colo- 
nies.    They  drove  at  this,  that  the  moft  Vir- 
tuous Man  upon  Earth  might  not  be  admitted 
into    the    Churches,    without   profeiling     that 
Renouncing   of  Santfificatwn,  as  the  tvidence 
of  his  good  State,  he  waited  for  Immediate  Re- 
velations ro  aii'ure  him  of  it  ^  and  fuch  as  were 
already  in  Church-Communion,    unlets  they   be- 
came tond  of  the  New-Lights  in  this  thing  pre- 
tended unto,  were  prefently  branded  as  favour- 
ing   A    Covenant  of  Grace.     The  Contention 
fpread  it  felf  even  into  Families,  and  all  private 
and  fmaller  Societies,  who  were  to  be  accounted 
under  a  Covenant   of  Works,    and  fb  Enemies 
unto  the  Lord  jefus  Chrift  ;    and  who   were 
not  ?  Which  was  determined  among  the  bufie 
Sectaries,  by  a  Perfon's  accommodaring  him- 
felf  unto  their  Fine-Jpun   Speculations.     Ulic 
ipfum   effe  juit   promercri.     The  Dilturbance 
proceeded  from  rhence  into  all  the  General  Af- 
fairs of  the  publick :    The  Expedition  againft 
the   Peijitoi-lndians  was   moft  fhamefully   dif- 
cou raged,  becaufe  the  Army  was  too  much  un- 
der a  Covenant  of  Works  ;  and  the  Magi/trates 
began  to  be  concemned,  as  being  of  a  Legal  Spi- 
rit,   and   having  therewithal  a  tang  of  Anti- 
chrift  in  them-,  nor  could  the  ordering  of  Town- 
Lots,  or  Town-Rates,  or  any  Meetings  whatfo- 
ever,  efcape  the  Coniufions  of  this  Controver- 
fie.     'Tis  incredible  what  Alienations  of  Minis, 
and  what  a  very  Calenture  the  Devil  raifed  in 
the  Country    upon  this  Odd  Occafion :   But  it 
may  not  be  amifs  to  delcribe  a  little  more  parti- 
cularly the  Methods  whereof  the  Devil  therein 
ferved  his  Interefts.     The  Settarics  acquainted 
themfelves  with  as  many  as  poflibly  they  could, 
and  carried  on  their  Acquaintance  with  all  the 
Courtefies  and  Kindnejfcs  that  they  could  con- 
trive to  Ingratiate  themfelves  in  the  Hearts  of  o- 
thers,  efpecially  of  New  Comers  into  the  place. 
They    herewithal    appeared    wondrous    Holy, 
Humble,  Self-denying  and  Spiritual,  and  full  of 
the  moft  charming  Expreliions  imaginable.  Free 
Grace,  Go/pel  Truth,  Glorious  Light,  and  Hold- 
ing Forth  of  Chrift,  was   all  their  Tone  ;  and 
meeting  with  Chriftians  that   had  any  Doubts 
in  their  Minds  about  their  own  future   Happi- 
nefs,  they  would  infinuate  into  them,  that  ihey 

had 


Book  VII.  0r3  The  Hiftory  of  New-England  15 


hid  never  taken  a  Right  Courfe  for  Comfort,  by 
going  to  Evidence  their  good  Eltate  by   their 
Sanaijkation^  but  that  there  was  a  more  Evan- 
gelical way  to  peace,  by  which  they  themielves 
were  got  above  all  their  Fears  for  ever.    They 
began  ufually  to  ieduce  Women  into  their   No- 
tions, and  by  thefe  Women,  like  their  tirlt  Mo- 
ther, they  ibon  hook'd  in    the   Husbands  alio. 
Having  wrought  themfelves  any  where  into  a 
good  efteem,   they  let  themfdves  with  a  ma- 
nifold Subtilty  to  undermine  the  efteem  of  the 
Minifters,    and    intimate,  that  their  Teachers 
themfelves,  never  having  been  Taught  of  God, 
had  mil-taught  and  mif-led  the  People  ;  whence 
it  came  to  pals,  that  even  fome  who  had  follow'd 
thefe  Mjnifters  Three  Thoufand  Miles,   thro: 
Ten  Thoufand  Dea[ths3   yet  now  took  up  fuch 
Prejudices,  not  only  againft  their  D.flrines,  but 
againft  their  Pc/fons  alio,  that  they  did  never  i 
care  to  hear  them,  or  lee  them  any  more.     They  ; 
adminiihed  their  Poifons  in  fmallerD(?/t"x,and  not  I 
without  Preparatives,  wherein  if  any  made  a  | 
ny  Boggle,    they  would  prefently  retreat,  and ; 
lay,  A'  jy,  don't  mi/take  me,  for  I  mean    the ; 
fame  that  you  do ;    zve  differ   only  in   Words.  \ 
And  they   would  be  fure   ftill  to  Father  their  j 
Whimlies  upon  fuch  Perfons  as  were  held  in  ( 
raoft  Veneration  throughout  the  Country  •,    but  i 
iiihcy  were  brought  Face  to  Face,    they  would  \ 
Hill  winde   out   with   fbme  cunning  Evafions. 
Thus  they  went  on,  until  they   had  got   fome 
Noted  Perfons  in  all  Orders  to  Patronile  them  ; 
and  then  'tis  impoilible  to  delcribe  the  Cenfures. 
the  Contempts,  the  Affronts  caft  upon  the  belt 
Men  in  the  Law,  as  Men   Ignorant  of  Chrift  ■, 
and  the  Terrible  Diforder  and  Contention  that 
enfued  in  all  Societies. 

■£.  2.  The  Miniftry  of  the  Country  awakened 
by  thefe  Koifes  about  the  Temple,   had  feveral 
Meetings  that  they  might  let  Matters  to  Rights, 
all  which   were    ineffectual,  until  the  General 
Court  called  a  ^PUOU  of  all  the  Churches  in 
the  Country  to  meet  at  Cambridge,  in  the  Year 
1637.    1°    Preparation    whereunto  there   were 
Three  things   attended.     One   was   a   Solemn 
Fall  kept  in  all  the  Churches  for  the  good  Suc- 
cefs  of  the  Approaching  Synod.     Another  was  a 
Collection  of  all  the  Erroneous  and  Qffenfive  0- 
pinions,  which  called  for  the  Diiquifitions  that 
might  extinguifh  them.     A  Third  was  a  Confe- 
rence with  Mr.  Cotton  about  any  Pofitions  or 
Expreffions  of  his   that  might  have  Counte- 
nanced  any  of  thofe   Opinions.     But  that  my 
Reader  alfo  may  be  prepared  for  the  Actions  of 
the  Synod,  I  would  humbly   ask  him  what  he 
thinks  of   the  Relation  given    us  of  the  full 
J^'icene  Synod  by  Eutychius,  an  Author  of  the 
Firft  Ages,  recommended  by  Seldcn  and  Pocock 
as  one  of  Irreproachable   Fidelity  '-.  That  Au- 
thor, whofe  Hiftory  in  Arabic,  never   feen,  ] 
fuppole,  by    Sahnafius  or  Blonde/,    is  by  feme 
thought  in  this  Matter  much  more  probable  than 
that  of  Eufebius  and  Socrates,    does  relate  unto 
us,  that  upon  the  Letters  of  Conftantine  fum- 
rnoning  the  Synod,  there  were  no  lefs  than  Two 
Thoufand  and  Forty-eight  Bifhops   who  came 


to  Town ;  but  that  the  moft  by  far  of  them 
were  lb  grofly  Ignorant  and  Erroneous,  that  up- 
on the  ^ Recommendation  of  Alexander,  the  Bi- 
Ihop  of  Alexandria,  the  Emperor  fingled  out 
but  Three  Hundred  and  Eighteen,  who  were  all 
of  them  Orthodox  Children  of  Peace,  and  none 
of  thofe  Contentious  Blades  that  put  out  Libe/s 
of  Acculation  one  againft  another  •  and  that  by 
the  Emperor's  happy  chufing  and  heeding  of 
thefe  Three  Hundred  and  Eighteen  ;  [Reader, 
compare  Gen.  1 4.  1 4Q  ihe  Orthodox  Religion 
came  to  be  Efhblilhed.  Reader,  The  Govern-" 
ment  of  New-England  was  not  now  put  upon 
the  fingling  out  of  a  few  Bifhops  from  a  Mul- 
titude Conveened  in  a  Synod,  'tor  the  fecuring 
of  the  True  faith  ;  but  thou  Shalt  Ice  them  all 
pj  one  heart  in  contending  for  the  faith  once 
delivered  unto  ihe  Saints, 

§.  3.  Tho'  the  Faff  Prefatory  to  the  Synod 
were  not  for  Strife,  yet  there  happened  iome- 
thing  on  the  Fuji  which  did  but  more  increafe 
and  inflame  the  Strife.  A  Minifter  who  then 
Preached  at  Bufton,  where  was  then  the  Chief 
Audience  of  the  Country,  in  the  Sermon  let  fall 
many  Paffiges  which  amounted  unto  thus 
much,  That  the  Alagifl rates  and'  Miniflers  of 
the  Country  walked  in  fuch  a  Way  of  Salvation, 
and  the  Evidence  thereof  as  wot  a  Covenant  of 
Works  :  Which  Paffages  were  Aculeated  by  re- 
fembl'mg  fuch  as  were  under  that  Covenant^ 
unto  Jews,  and  Herods,  and  Philiftines,  and  An- 
tiehrijh  ;  and  exhorting  fuch  as  were  under  the 
Covenant  of  Grace,  to  Combate  thofe  as  their 
greatelt  Enemies,  and  quickening  thofe  who 
feared,  left  a  Combuftion  fhould  hence  arife  in 
the  Commonwealth,  by  telling  them  of  Michael 
and  the  Dragon,  and  the  Bur  nine  of  the 
Whore. 

For  thefe  things,  the  Court  proceeding  to  A- 
nimadvert  upon  this  Preacher  as  guilty  of 
great  Sedition  [having  for  this  rheir  Interpre- 
tation of  his  Mifdemeanour,  a  Warrant  of 
both  Cicero,  according  to  whom,  Seditio,  eft 
DifJ'entio  Omnium  inter  je,  cum  eur.t  alii,  in 
allied;  and  Ifidorc,  according  to  whom,  Sedi- 
tiofus  e(i,  qui  Dijjentionem  animorum  facit  C 
Vifcordias  gignit  .-]  he  was  under  fuch  En- 
chantment that  he  could  be  brought  by  no 
means  to  fee  his  Evil  ;  but  they  were  compel- 
led by  his  Obftinacy  to  order  his  Removal  out 
of  their  Jurijdichon.  However,  being  a  Man 
that  had  the  Root  of  the  Matter  in  him,  after 
Six  or  Seven  Years  he  awoke  out  of  a  Sleep, 
which  had  been  as  long  as  what  Cranzius  tells 
us  befel  a  Scholar  at  Lubee,  he  addrelfed  the 
Government,  with  acknowledging  ;  '  Upon  the 
'  Long  and  Mature  Confederation  of  things,  I 
c  perceive  that  the  main  difference  between 
'your  f elves,  and  fome  of  the  Reverend  Elders 
'  and  me,  in  point  of  Juftificaticn,  and  the  E- 
;  vidcnang  thereof,  is  not  of  that  Nature  as 
c  was  then  prefented  unto  me  in  the  falje  Glafs 
'  of  Satan's  Temptations,2nd  my  own  diftemper- 
,  "ed  Pafilons  ■  which  makes  me  unfeignedly 
I  '  lorry  that  1  had  fuch  an  Hand  in  thofe 
I c  fharp  and  vehement  Contentions  raifed  there- 

c  sbbuts. 


i6 


Magnalia  Cbrifti  Americana  :  Book  VII. 


abouts,to  the  great  Difturbance  of  theChurches 
ofChrift.     It  is  the  Grief  of  my  Soul  that 
I  ufed  fuch  Vehement,  Cenforiot/s  Speeches  in 
the  Application  of  my  Sermon,  or  in  any  other 
Writing,  whereby  I  reflected  any  Dilhonour 
on  your  Worfhips,  the  Reverend   Elders,   or 
any  of  the  contrary  Judgment  unto  my  felfi     I 
repent  me  that  I  did  16  much  adhere  to  Per- 
fons  of  Corrupt  Judgments,  to  the  Countenan- 
cing and  Encouraging  of  them  in  any  of  their 
Errors  or  Evil  Practices,    tho*  I  intended  no 
fuch  thing ;  and  that  in  the  Synod  I  ufed  fuch 
Unfafe  and  Obfcure  Expremons  falling  from 
me,  as  a  Man  Dazzled  with  the  Buffetings  of 
Satan.     I  confefs,  that  herein  I  have  done  fin- 
fully,  and  do  humbly  crave  Pardon  of  your 
Honoured  Selves  •,  and  if  it  (hall  appear  to 
me  by  Scripture  Light,  that  in  any  Carriage, 
Word  or  Writing,  I  have  walked  contrary  to 
Rule,  I  (hall  be  ready,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  to 
give  Satisfaction.    Upon  this  moil  Ingenious 
Acknowledgment  he    was    reftored    unto  his 
former  Liberty  and  Interefl  among  the  People 
of  God;  and  lived  almoft  Forty  Years  after   a 
valued  Servant  of  the  Church  in  his  Generation. 
But  that  I  may  in  all  things  do  the  part  of  an 
Impartial  Hiftorian,  I  muft  add,  that  this  good 
Man  being .  moved   by   Jerome's,   Maxim,    In 
Sufpicione  Hxrefeos  nolo  quenquam  effe  patien- 
tem ;  and  by  Auflin's,  Quifidens  Confcieritijefux 
negligit  famam  fuam,  crudelis  eft  ;  PublHhed  a 
Vindication  of  himfelf  againft  the  Wrongs  that 
by  Mr.  Weld,  and  by  Mr.  Rutherford,  had  been 
done  unto  him.    In  this  Vindication,  he  not  on- 
ly produces  a  Speech  of  Mr.  Cotton,  I  do  con- 
ceive and  profefs,    that   our   Brother    Wheel- 
wright'j  Dottrine   is  according  to  God  in   the 
Points  controverted  ;  but  alio  a   Declaration 
from  the  whole  General  Court  of  the  Colony, 
figned  by  the  Secretary,  Aug.  34.  16^4.  upon 
the  Petition  of  Mr.  Wheelwright's  Church  at 
Hampton  :  In  which  Declaration  they  profefs, 
That  hearing  that  Mr.  Wheelwright  is,  by  Mr. 
Rutherford  and  Mr.  Weld,   rendred  in  fome 
Books  Printed  by  them   as    Heretical  and  Cri- 
minous,they  newfignifie,  that  Mr.  Wheelwright 
hath  for  thefe  many  Tears  approved  himfelf  a 
Sound  Orthodox   and  Profitable  Minifter  of  the 
Go/pel  among  thefe  Churches  of  Chrijl. 

§.  4.  The  Synod  being  Affembled,  with  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Thomas  Hooker,  and  Mr.  Peter 
Bulkly,  chofen  its  Moderators  at  Cambridge 
(then  called  by  the  Name  of  ATew-Town)  on 
Aug.  30.  161 7.  there  were  produced  about 
Eighty  Two  Erroneous  Opinions  and  Exprelfions, 
which  had  been  uttered  in  the  Country  by  feve- 
ral  Men  at  feveral  times.  The  Authors  of  thofe 
Err  >rs  were  neither  Mentioned  nor  Enquired  •, 
but  the  Errors  themfelves  were  Coniidered, 
Confuted  and  Condemned  from  the  plain  Word 
of  God :  For,  indeed,  the  Defign  of  the  Synod 
was  not,  fits  Dare,  but  only,  fus  Dicere,  and 
to  exercife  only  a  Power  Veoftve  of  Dottrines, 
not  judicial,  on  Perfons ;  leaving  it  unto  parti- 
cular Churches  to  pais  their  Cenfures  on  the 
Perfons,  who  (hould  hold  the  Dottrines  by  the 


Determination  of  the  Synod,  found  fubverfive 
to  the  Punddmentals  of  Religion.  And  hence, 
when  fome  of  the  more  Hypocritical  Settaries 
began  to  grow  at  laft  pretty  clamorous,  in  demand- 
ing the  Karnes  of  fuch  as  held  the  Dogmes  then 
oppofed  ( for  the  true  Parents  of  the  Brats,  be- 
gan to  dilcover  themfelves  when  the  Synod  was 
going  to  employ  the  Sword  upon  them  ! )  fome 
of  the  Civil  Magistrates  then  prefent,  as  Mem- 
bers of  the  Allerhbly,  were  forced,  as  fuftices 
of  the  Peace,  to  preferve  the  Peace  ot  the  Affem- 
bly,  by  Commanding  Silence  to  thofe  Litigious 
Talkers.  What  thefe  Errors  were,  'tis  needlefs 
now  to  repear ;  they  are  Dead  and  Gone  ;  and, 
for  me,  beyond  hope  of  Refurrettipn  ;  'tis  pity 
to  rake  them  out  of  their  Graves  ■,  'tis  enough 
to  fay,  they  were  of  an  Antinomian  and  famz- 
liftical  Tendency.  All  that  needs  to  be  added, 
is,  that  the  Synod's  Refult  upon  thtfe  Hetero- 
doxies, was  not  formed  into  fuch  Arbitrary  and 
Hereticating  Anathema's,  as  were  practiced  in 
the  Councils  of  the  Ancients  ■,  but  the  Error  be- 
ing firft  fairly  recited,  there  was  only  a  (hort 
Reflection  made  upon  it  after  this  manner, 
This  is  contrary  to  fuch  and  fuch  a  Text  of 
Scripture,  (jhen  and  there  fuhjoined]  which  if) 
the  Quotation  thereof  being  briefly  applied  un- 
to the  Cafe,  did  unto  Reafonable  Men  immedi- 
ately finite  the  Error  under  the  fifth  Rib. 

The  Refult  of  the  Synod  was  Publifhed  ;  arfl 
tho'  the  Hydra  of  Error  were  now  Hiring  in  the 
Country  with  fuch  a  Virulent  and  Malignant 
Influence,  yet  that  Sword  of  the  Lord,  the 
Sacred  Scripture,  being  thus  wifely  employed, 
foon  difpatched  the  Apojiate  Serpent. 

§.  5.  The  Synod  then  thought  it  Convenient, 
nay,  Necefjary  for  them  to  come  into  a  good 
Underftanding  with  Mr.  Cotton,  who  was  him- 
felf not  the  Leaft  part  of  the  Country  ;  the  ra- 
ther, becaufe  the  Seffaries,  through  the  Coun- 
try, had  bafely  made  ufe  of  his  Name  to  Pa- 
tronize their  Opinions  •  and,  indeed,  his  Chari- 
ty, wherein  he  was  known  to  be  truly  Emi- 
nent, inclining  him  to  fufpect  no  more  Evil  of 
them,  than  what  they  would  profefs,  or  confels 
ro  him  in  their  Perfonal  Converfation  with  him, 
expofed  him  the  more  to  their  Pretences  of  his 
Patronage. 

There  were  Five  Queftions  offered  unto  that 
Great  Man,  unto  which  Queftions  he  gave  An- 
fwers  ■,  and  unto  thofe  Anfwers  the  Synod  gave 
Replies  ■,  and  unto  thofe  Replies  he  gave  Re- 
turns  ;  and  unto  thofe  Returns  the  Synod  gave 
Rejoinders  •  till  their  Collifwns  fetch'd  I  know 
not  whether  more  Light  or  Love  unto  one  a- 
ther.  Becaufe  'twill  not  be  eafie  to  give  a  fair 
and  full  Reprefentation  of  what  palled  on  both 
fides,  without  the  Trouble  of  Tranfcribing 
whole  Sheets  of  Paper,  I  fhall  not  now 
Trouble  the  World  with  the  Debated  Qjiefti- 
ons,  much  lefs  with  the  Debates  upon  the  Q  te- 
ftions  :  The  Reader  that  is  defirous  ro  fee  them, 
fhall  find  them  in  Mr.  Cotton's  Treatiie  about 
the  Way  of  Congregational  Churches :  Only  let 
it  be  remarked,  that  the  Nature  and  Import  of 
the  Queftions,  and  the  Zeal  with  which  they 

were 


Book  VII.  Or,  The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


were  handled,  intimate  fomething  of  the  Holy 
Temper,  then  prevailing  among  the  Body  of 
this  People.  The  $>ueftions  were  about  the 
Order  of  things,  in  our  Union  with  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift ;  about  the  Influence  of  our  faith, 
in  the  Application  of  his  Right eoufnefs  ;  about 
the  life  of  our  Sanilification,  in  Evidencing  of 
our  Jujiification  ;  and  about  the  Cor.fideration 
of  the  Lord  jefus  Chrift  by  Men,  yet  under  a 
Covenant  of  Works. 

Briefly,  they  were  the  Points  whereon  de- 
pend the  Grounds  of  our  AJjurance  for  Bleffed- 
nefs  in  another  and  a  better  World.  Now  I 
cannot  learn  that  Mr.  Cotton  ever  made  any  no- 
table Variation  of  his  Opinions  or  Expretfions 
in  thefe  Matters,  from  what  we  find  publilhed 
afterward  in  his  Treatife  of  The  New  Cove- 
nant ;  a  Treatife  whereof  1  need  fay  no  more, 
but  that  the  Famous  Mr.  Caryl  ufhered  it  into 
the  World  with  his  Recommendations.  Nor 
indeed  am  I  without  a  vehement  Sufpicion, 
that  Mr.  Cotton  was  really  One  with  his  Anta- 
gonifts,  whatever  Teeming  Difference  there  was 
between  them.  And  it  my  Reader  will,  as  1 
do  believe  Mr.  Baxter,  that  neither  Nejiorius 
nor  Cyril  were  Heretical  De  Re  ;  but  that  both 
of  them  were  ot  One  Mind,  the  one  fpeaking 
of  the  Ablhail,  the  other  fpeaking  of  the  Con- 
crete ;  and,  that  yet  Intereft,  Prejudice  and 
Faction  put  them  upon  fuch  Quarreliome  Herc- 
tications  one  againft  another,  as  enkindled  a 
lamentable  Flame  in  the  World,  which  is  not 
even  to  this  Day  extinguifhed ;  he  will  eafily 
believe,  that  thefe  good  Men  might  mifunder- 
itand  one  another.  However,  Mr.  Cotton  came 
to  fuch  an  Amiable  and  Amicable  Correfpon- 
dence  with  the  reft  of  the  Minifters,  that  altho" 
in  this  Time  0}  Temptation,  he  had  through 
out  thefe  churches  laboured  under  the  hard  Cha 
racier  of  being  the  Chief  Abettor  to  the  Errors 
whereby  the  Tranquility  of  the  Churches  had 
been  difturbed,  yet  he  now  moft  effectually 
joined  with  the  other  Minifters  in  Witneifing 
againft  thofe  Errors  ;  and  having,  like  the 
Moon  in  its  Edipfe,  with  an  Exemplary  Pati- 
ence held  on  his  Courfe  of  ferving  the  Church 
of  God,  until  the  ftrength  of  the  Enchantments 
attending  this  Hour  of  Temptation  was  a  little 
diflblved,  he  recovered  all  his  former  Splendor 
among  the  other  Stars, 

——Velut  inter  Ignes  Luna  Minores. 

Yea,  his  latter  Days  were  indeed  like  the 
clear /hi ning  of  the  Sun  after  the  Rain.  But  if 
my  Reader  will  not  be  fatisfied  without  a  more 
particular  Account  of  Mr.  Cotton's  Conducf  in 
the  Synod,  I  fhall  honeftly  tell  him,  that  albeit, 
when  the  Eighty-two  Errors  were  finally  Con- 
demned in  the  Synod,  Mr.  Cotton  did  (without 
fetting  his  Hand  unto  the  Condemnation )  free- 
ly declare,  That  he  difrelifked  all  thofe  Opini- 
ons and  Expreffions,  at  being  fome  of  them  He- 
retical, fome  of  them  Blafphemous,  fome  of 
them  Erroneous,  and  all  of  them  Incongruous. 
Neverthelefs  there  was  a  Dark  Day  in  the  Sy- 


nod, wherein  Mr.  Cotton  did,  with  the  great 
Chamins,  feem  to  alfert,  That  the  Habit  of  Faith 
in  us,  k  the  Efjctl  of  our  Jujiification  ;  and 
Solemn  Speeches  were  made  with  Tears,  la- 
menting it,  that  they  fhould  in  this  Important 
Matter  dilTent  from  a  Perfon  fo  Venerable  and 
Confiderable  in  the  Country.  Such  Arguments 
were  brought,  as  being  firft  Called,  and  then 
Jufificd :  And  Faith  being  in  our  Union  with 
Chrift,  but  our  Union  being  in  Order  to  our 
being  juftified,  and  our  being  under  the  Wrath 
nf  God,  while  yet  Unbelievers  •,  and  Abraham's 
Bditving,  and  fo  being  Juftified ;  and  that  o- 
thetwife,  a  Man  mult  feek  to  be  Juftified,  that 
fo  he  may  Believe ;  not  feek  to  Believe,  that  ib 
he  may  be  Juftified  ;  And  thac  the  Juflificati- 
on  handled  in  the  Ep'utle  to  the  Romans  is 
God's  Judicial  Aft,  and  not  our  bare  Apprehen- 
fion  thereof;  and  that  the  Place  which  the 
Falfe  Teachets  afligned  unto  Works  in  Juflifi- 
cation  was  before  it,  and  that  Faith  took  the 
place  of  thofe  Works.  But  after  forrowful  Dif- 
courfes,  Pro  and  Con,  upon  thefe  Arguments, 
Mr.  Cotton  the  next  Morning  made  an  Excel- 
lent Speech  unto  the  Affembly,  tending  towards 
an  Accommodation  of  the  Controverfie. 
This  Difpofition  in  Mr.  Cotton  was  very 
Nettling  to  the  Sectaries,  who  ftill  promifecl 
themfelves  great  Advantages  frorrfhis  remain- 
ing in  any  thing  a  Diflcnter  ■,  and  they  tried 
by  all  the  Obftreperous  Ways  imaginable  to 
hinder  the  Reconciliation.  But  the  Synod  gree- 
dily and  joyfully  laid  hold  on  the  Reconciling 
Offers  of  Mr.  Cotton  ;  and  they  at  length  agreed, 
That  we  are  not  United  and  Married  unto 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  without  Faith,  giving  an 
attual  ConJent  of  Soul  unto  it  :  That  God's  Ef- 
fectual calling  of  the  Soul  unto  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift,  and  the  Soul's  apprehending  by  an  A3 
of  Faith  the  offered  Right  eoufnefs  of  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift,  is  in  Order  of  Nature  before 
God's  All  of  Juftification  upon  the  Soul :  That 
in  the  Teftimony  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  which  is 
the  Evidence  of  our  good  Eft  ate  before  God, 
the  Qualifications  of  Inherent  Graces,  and  the 
Fruits  thereof,  proving  the  Sincerity  of  out- 
Faith  muft  ever  be  Co-exiftent,  Concurrent,  Co- 
apparent,  or  elfe  the  Conceived  Teftimony  of 
the  Spirit,  is  cither  a  Delufton  or  Doubtful.  An 
Happy  Conclufwn  of  the  whole  Matter. 

§.  6.  Mankind  has  heard  the  Doleful  and 
Woful  Complaints  of  the  Renowned  Gregory 
Nazianzen,  concerning  the  Councils  in  his  Days : 
'Tis  known  in  what  Epiftle  of  his  he  fays,  If 
I  muft  Write  the  very  Truth,  I  am  of  the  Mind 
to  fly  from  every  fuch  Meeting;  for  I  never  J ate 
a  joyful  and  happy  End  of  any  Council ;  nor 
any  that  procured  not  a  greater  Augmentation 
than  Reformation  of  Mi/chiefs  ;  and  in  what 
Oration  of  his,  he  fays,  Our  Votes  follow  either 
our  Hatred  or  our  Friendfhip  ;  we  are  not  con- 
ftant  to  our  felves,  but  even  like  the  waving 
Euripus ;  and  for  my  part  I  count  it  as  unfeem- 
ly  for  me  to  join  with  them  in  their  Councils,  at 
it  would  be  for  me  to  leave  my  Studies,  and  go  play 


with  the  Beys  in  the  Street. 
C  c  cc  c  c  c 


But 


Magnalia  Chrijli  Americana :  Book  VII. 


But  had  our  Gregory  feen  the  Blefisd  EfFecf  s 
of  this  Council,  he  would  not   have  expreffed 
his  Complaints  in  Terms  thus  Vniverfal.    The 
Minifters  returning  from  the  Synod  unto  their 
leveral  Churches,   applied  themfelves  with  a 
vigorous  Unanimity  in  their  Miniftry,  to  Root 
up  the  Errors  which  had  been  by  the  Synod 
Thunder-ftruck ;   and  the  good  Underftanding 
produced   among  the  Members  of  the  Synod, 
extended  its  influence  unto  all  the  Churches 
therein  reprefented.    But  before  the  breaking  up 
of  the  Synod,  there  were  Two  other  things  par 
ticularly  fpoken  to.    One  thing  was  this,  it  had 
been  a  Cuftom  in  many  Congregations,  that  the 
Minifters  allowed  their  People  the  Liberty  ft  ill, 
after  Sermon,   to  propofe  what  ^ueftions  they 
thought  fit  for  their  further  Satisiacf  ion,  about 
any  Points  which  had  been  delivered  ;   which 
Liberty  was  oftentimes  made  an  Occafion   of 
much  Contention,  Vexation  and  Folly  in  the 
AiTemblies :   But  this  Cuftom  now  underwent 
the  Condemnations  of  the  Synod.     Another  thing 
was   this.     The  Governour  knowing  that   the 
Country  had  been  exercifed  with  forr.e  Difficul- 
ties about  The  way  of  raijing   a  Maintenance 
for  the  Mini/fry,   now  delired   that  the  Synod 
would  propound  the  moft  Evangelical  way  for 
it,  which  the  General  Court  might  Fna£t.  into 
a  Law  :  But  they  one  and  all  laid,  That  they 
did  not  care  to  meddle   with  that  Matter,  le/i 
it  fhouli  be  refleUed  on  them,  that  they  were 
for  their  own  Ends  there  come  together.     At 
laft,  for   the  Clofe  of  all,  Mr.  Davenport,   at 
the  Requeft  of  the  Synod,  Preached  on  Phil.  3. 
1 6.   Neverthelefs,  whereto  we  have  already  at- 
tained, let  in  walk  by  the  fame  Rule,  let  m  mind 
the  f*me  Thing  ;    from  whence   laying  down 
the  true  Original  of  Differences  among  the  Peo 
pie  of  God,  he  Declared  the  Refult  oi  the  pre- 
sent Synod,  and  Exhorted  all  to  Endeavour  the 
Peace  of  the  Churches  in  the  Proiecution  of  that 
Refult.    And  from  this  time  accordingly  there 
was  Peace  with  Truth  Eftablilhed. 

§.  7.  Among  the  more  Memorable  Occurrents, 
which  were  the  Confcquents  of  this  molt  ufefbl 
Synod,  one  was  the  Difcipline  Exerciled  in  the 
Church  of  Bofton  upon  the  Principal  of  the 
SeBaries ;  but  I  muft  herewithal  put  my  Rea 


ith 


fpecial  Defign  upon  the  Weaker  Sex,  who  are 
more  eafily  Gained  themfelves,  and  then  are  fit 
Inftrumenrs  for  the  Gaining  of  their  Husbands 
unto  fuch  Errors  as  will  caufe  them  to  LoJ, 
their  Souls  at  laft.  Simon  Magus  Traded  witl. 
his  Helena,  and  Mont  anus  with  his  MaximilLi. 
for  the  more  Effe&ual  Propagation  of  their  He- 
relies,  as  Jerom  long  iince  obferved  ;  and  as  E- 
piphanius  tells  us,  Arius  promoted  hisBIafphe- 
mies  by  tuft  Prolelyting  Seven  Hundred  Virgins 
thereunto.  Indeed  a  Poyjbn  does  never  Infinu- 
ate  lo  quickly,  nor  Operate  Co  ftrongly,  as  when 
Womens  Milk  is  the  Vehicle  wherein  'tis  given. 
Whereas  the  Prime  Seducer  of  the  whole 
Faction,  which  now  began  to  threaten  the 
Country  with  fomething  like  a  Munfter  Trage- 
dy, was  a  Woman,  a  Gentlewoman  of  an  Haugh- 
ty Carriage,  Bufie  Spirit,  Competent  Wit,  and 
a  Voluble  Tongue  ;  among  whofe  Relations 
at  this  Day,  there  are  lb  many  Worthy  and 
Ufeful  Perfons,  that  for  their  fakes  I  would 
gladly  contrive  fome  Way  to  relate  fo  Impor- 
tant a  Story  as  that  of  her  Affairs,  without 
mentioning  of  Her  Name  ■  and  therefore  1  will 
coyer  it  with  a  Convenient  Periphrafts.  Be- 
hoid,  Reader, 

Nulla  fere  caufa  eft,  in  qua  non  Eemina  Litem 
Movent. 


§.  8.  This  our  Erroneous  Gentlewoman,  at 
her  coming  out  of  Lincolnfhire  in  England  un- 
to New-England,  upon  pretence  of  Religion, 
was  well  refpecfed  among  the  ProfelfoTs  of 
this  Religion  ;  and  this  the  more,  becauie  at  the 
Meetings  of  rhe  Women,  which  ufe  ro  be  cal- 
led Gojf pings,  it  was  her  manner  to  carry  on 
very  Pious  Difcourfes,  and  fo  put  rhe  Neigh- 
bourhood upon  Examining  their  Spiritual  E- 
ftates,  by  telling  them  how  far  a  Pcrfon  might 
go  in  Trouble  of  Mind ;  and  being  reftrained 
from  very  many  Evils,  and  con  ft  rained  unto  ve- 
ry many  ^  Duties,  by  none  but  a  Legal  Work 
upon  their  Souls,  without  ever  coming  to  a 
Saving  I  Tnion  with  the  Lord  Jefus  Chriji,  that 
many  of  them  were  convinced  of  a  very  great 
Defccf  in  the  Settlement  of  their  Everlafting 
Peace,  and  acquainted  more  with  the  Spirit  of 
der  upon  the  Wonder  of  beholding,  thac  as  for  I  the^   Gofpel,    than   ever    they    were    before. 


the  Seditious  Difturbance  raifed  in  the  Country 
by  the  Diftin£fion  between  People  under  the 
Covenant  of  Works,  and  People  under  the  Co- 
venant of  Grace,  whereby  People  were  fome- 
times  hurried  into  Works  that  fhew'd  little  of 
Grace  in  them,  Dux  Ermina  FaBi. 

The  whole  of  Tertullian's  Complaint  about 
the  Antient  Gnofiicks  was  inftanced,  and  in- 
deed overdone  in  our  Opinionilts,  Omncs  tu- 
ment,  Omnes  fcientiam  pollicentur,  ipfne  Muli- 
eres  tixreiictt  quum  funt  procaces  !  It  is  the 
Mark  of  Seducers,  that  they  lead  Captive  Silly 


This  mighty  Show  and  Noife  of  De- 
votion, procured  unto  our  Dame,  [  anagr.  1 
CfjC  J&tott-'fttCi),  the  Reputation  of 
a  Non-fuch  among  the  People  •,  until  at  length, 
under  the  Pretence  of  that  Warrant,  That  the 
Elder  Women  are  to  Teach  the  Lounger,  (he 
fet  up  weekly  Meetings  ar  her  Houfe,  where- 
to Threefcore  or  Fouricore  People  would  Re- 
fort,  that  they  might  hear  the  Sermons  of  Mr. 
Cotton  repeated,  but  in  fuch  a  fort,  that  after 
the  Repetition,  (be  would  make  her  Explica- 
tory and  Applicatory  Declamations,  wherein 
what  fhe  confirmed  of  the  Sermons  muft  be 


Women;    but  what  will  you   fay,   when  you 

hear  of  Subtil  Women  becoming  the  moft  Re-'  Canonical,  but  what  Ihe  omitted  all  Apocry- 

markable  of  the  Seducers  ?    Tis  noted  of  Se-  pha. 

Queers,  that  like   their  Father  the  Devil,  the!     It  was  not  long  before  'twas  found,    that 

Old,   the  Firft  Seducer,   they  ufually  have  a' moft  of  the  Errors,   then  crawling  like  Vipers 

:  DOUt 


Book  Vli.  Or,  The  Hijiory  ^f  New-England  lj| 


about  the  Country,  were  hatched  at  thefe  Meet- 
ings ;  where  this  notable  Woman,  who  called 
her  felf  another  Prif cilia,  to  Inftrutf others  trior e 
perfetfly,  did  fet  her  felf  moji  perfctlly  to  con- 
found all  the  Intereftsof  Chriflianity  with  Dam- 
nable DoUrines,  which  maintained  our  Perfe- 
nal  Union  with  the  Spirit  of  God;  and.  The  In- 
fignificancy  of  Sancltfication  to  be  any  Evidence 
of  our  good  Eftate  •  and,  The  Pertinency  of 
Commands  to  work  out  our  own  Salvation  with 
Fear  and  Trembling,  and  give  all  diligence  to 
make  our  Calling  and  Elefl ion  Jure,  unto  none 
but  fuch  as  were  in  a  Covenant  of  Works ;  and, 
The  fetting  up  of  Immediate  Revelation  about 
Future  Events,  to  be  believed  as  Equally  Infal- 
lible with  the  Scriptures :  And  it  was  wonderful 
to  fee  with  what  a  fpeedy  and  fpreading  Fafci- 
natton  thefe  DoSrines  did  bewitch  the  Minds  of 
People,  which  one  would  not  have  imagined 
Capable  of  being  fo  Befotted. 

She  was  all  this  while  fo  cunning,  that  Mr. 
Cotton  could  get  no  better  Evidences  of  her 
broaching  thefe  Opinions,  than  Ihe  had  of  her 
own  f unification ;  but  ftill  unto  him,  and  fuch 
as  came  from  him,  fhe  would  exprefs  her  felf 
with  a  fatisfying  Orthodoxy ,  however,  whilft 
Mr.  Cotton's  Candor  was  thus  abufed,  he  faith- 
fully told  her,  That  he  doubted  Ihe  would  at 
laft  be  found  Not  Right ,  and  this  for  Three 
Things  which  he  had  obferved  in  her  ;  one  was, 
that  her  Fiith  was  not  produced,  and  fcarce  ever 
ftreggihened,  according  to  her  own  Relation,  by 
the  publick  Minijlry  of  the  Word,  but  by  her 
own  private  Meditations  and  Revelations ;  ano- 
ther was,  that  fhe  clearly  difcerned  her  Jufti- 
ficaiion^  according  to  her  own  Confeiiion,  but 
little  or  nothing  at  all  her  Sanclification :  A 
third  was,  that  fhe  was  more  fharply  Cenfori- 
ous  about  the  States  and  Hearts  of 'other  People, 
than  the  Self- fudging  Servants  of  God  ufed  to 
be.     And  now  attend  the  ilfue ! 

§.  9.  At  laft  full  proof  was  obtained,  that 
this  Gentlewoman  was  not  the  Prifcilla  preten- 
ded, but  rather  deferving  the  Name  of  the 
Prophetefs  in  the  Church  of  Thyatira ;  it  was 
proved,  that  more  than  a  Score  of  Antinomian 
and  Eamiliftical  Etrors  had  been  held  forth  by 
her,  and  the  Church  was  Refolved  that  fhe 
lhould  no  morey educe  the  Servants  of  our  Lord. 
The  Admonitions  of  the  Church  were  by  the 
Elders,  according  to  the  Rule  of  the  Gofpel,  gi- 
ven unto  her  •,  and  after  many  Endeavours  of 
Mr.  Cotton  to  convince  her,  fhe  did  feem  to  be 
convinced  of  her  many  Erroneous  Ways,  both 
in  Judgment  and  Prattice ;  therewithal  preient- 
ing  under  her  own  Hand,  before  the  whole 
Church  of  Bofton,  yea,  before  many  Churches 
then  affembled  at  the  Le£ture  in  Bofton,  a  Re- 
cantation of  them.  NevertheleR  under  fuch 
an  Infatuation  of  Pride  the  was,  that  whilft  the 
Church  was  debating  about  this  Recantation, 
fhe  did  with  a  ftrange  Confidence  and  Impudence 
AfTert,  That  fhe  never  was  really  of  any  Opini 
on  contrary  to  the  Declaration  fhe  had  now 
made-,    however,  fbme  of  her  Expreffions  had 


arofe,  which  demonftrated  her  guilty  of  groft 
Lying  in  that  Alfertion :  And  that  caufed  Mr. 
Cotton  to  fay,  that  her  Cafe  was  now  altered  ■,  for 
being  now  Convi&ed  of 'Lying,  he  thought  ihe 
was  to  be  cafi  out  with  them  that  Love  and 
Make  a  Lie.  So,  with  the  full  confent  of  the 
Church,  the  Sentence  of  Excommunication  was 
paffed  upon  her. 

§.  10.  But  the  Seditions  raifed  in  the  Coun- 
tty  by  the  means  ©f  this  Virago,  procured  the 
Animadverfions  of  the  Court,  as  well  as  the 
Church,  upon  her  •  before  which  being  brought, 
fhe  made  a  canting  Harangue  about  her  im- 
mediate Revelations  •  concluding  her  Speech 
with  thefe  Wotds,  /  will  give  you  one  Place  more 
which  the  Lord  brought  to  me  by  immediate  Re- 
velation ;  and  that  doth  concern  you  all ;  it  is 
in  Dan.  6.  When  the  Prefidents  and  Princes 
could  find  nothing  againft  him,  becaufe  he  was 
faithful,  they  fought  Matter  againft  him  con- 
cerning the  Law  of  his  God,  to  caft  him  into  the 
Lion's  Den.  So  it  was  Revealed  unto  me,  that 
they  fhould  Plot  againft  me  ;  but  the  Lord  bid 
me  not  fear,  for  he  that  delivered  Daniel  and 
the  Three  Children,  his  Hand  was  not  fhortned. 
And  fee  this  Scripture  this  Day  fulfilled  in  mine 
Eyes  ;  therefore  take  heed  what  you  go  about  to 
do  unto  me  ;  for  you  have  no  Power  over  my  Bo- 
dy, neither  can  you  do  me  any  Harm  ;  for  I  am 
in  the  Hands  of  the  Eternal  Jehovah  my  Savi- 
our; lam  at  his  Appointment ;  the  Bounds  of 
my  Habitation  are  caft  in  Heaven;  1  fear  none 
but  the  great  Jehovah,  who  hath  foretold  me  of 
thefe  Things  •  and  I  do  verily  believe  that  he 
will  deliver  me,  and  this  by  Miracle,  out  of  your 
Hands.  Therefore  take  heed  how  you  proceed  a- 
gainft  me;  for  I  know,  that  for  this  you  go  about 
to  do  to  me,  God  will  Ruin  you,  and  your  Pofie- 
rity,  and  this  whole  State.  She  alfo  infilled 
much  upon  that  Scripture,  T/V  /  make  a  full 
End  of  all  Nations,  yet  will  I  not  make  a  full 
End  of  thee. 

But  the  Court  put  an  End  unro  her  vapour- 
ing Talk  ;  and  finding  no  hope  of  Reclaiming 
her  from  her  Scandalous,  Dangerous  and  En- 
chanting Extravagancies,  ordered  her  to  depart 
out  of  the  Colony  :  So  fhe  went  firft  unto 
Rhode  Jfland;  but  not  liking  to  flav  there,  fhe 
removed  with  her  Family  unto  a  Dutch  Planra- 
tion  called  Hebgate:  Where,  within  a  little 
while,  the  Indians  Treacheroufly  and  Barbaroufly 
Murthered  them,  to  the  Number  of  Sixteen 
Perfons,  on  the  Occafion  of  a  Quarrel  they  had 
with  the  Dutch  thereabouts;  and  made  an  End 
of  fcarce  any  but  her  Family  among  all  the 
Neighbour  Nations. 

§.  11.  While  thefe  things  were  managing, 
there  happened  fbme  very  furprizing  Prodigies, 
'  which  were  lookt  upon  as  Teftimonies  from  Hea- 
ven, againft  the  ways  of  thofe  greater  Prodigies, 
the  Setlaries.  The  Erroneous  Gentlewoman  her 
felf,  convi£led  of  holding  about  Thirty  Mon- 
ftrous  Opinions,  growing  Big  with  Child,  and 
at  length  coming  to  her  time  of  Travail,  was  de- 
livered of  about  Thirty  Monftrous    Bitths  at 


been  milconftrued  ;  whereupon  many  W  itneffes )  once  5  whereof  fome  were  Bigger,  fome  were 
t  Ccccccc  1  teller 


20 


Magnalia  Cbrifti  Americana  :  Book  VII. 


§.  1 2.  It  was  but  a  few  Years  after  thefe 
things,  namely  in  the  Year  1643.  that  the  Go- 
vernment of  Barbados  being  difturbed  by  fuch 
Turbulent  and  Tumultuous  Familijls,  as  thole 
which  now  peftered  New- England,  were  forced 
by  their  Outrages  to  fentence  them  wixhBanijb- 
ment.  Nor  muft  it  be  made  a  Reproach,  if 
New-England  alio  ordered  a  fort  of  Banifljment 
for  thete  intoxicated  Sectaries,  who  began  to 
Deny  or  Degrade  the  Magijlracy  of the  Country, 
and  call  the  King  of  England  the  King  of  Ba- 
Head;  the  Face  was  below  upon  the  Breaft-,  the\  by lo n  ;  but  you  ihall  hear  the  eflsdt  of  that 
Ears  were  like  an  Apes,  and  grew  upon  the  Procedure.  Beingadvifedof  an  Iflani  beyond 
Shoulders ;  the  Eyes  and  Mouth  flood  far  out ;  Cape-Cod,  and  near  the  Narraganjet-Bay,  they 
the  Nofe  was  hooking  upwards:,  the  Breaft  fairly  purchafed  it  of  the  Natives  ;  thither  they 
and  Back  were  full  of  ihort  Prickles,  like  a  Uranlplanted  themfelves  with  their"  Families; 
Thorn-back  •  the  Navel,  Belly,  and  the  Diitin-   in  this  TranipLintation,  accompanied  by  many 


LefTer;  of  feveral  Figures;  few  of  any  Perfefl, 
none  of  any  Humane  Shape.  This  was  a  thing 
generally  then  Afferted  and  Believed  ;  whereas, 
by  fbme  that  were  Eye-witneffes,  it  is  affirmed, 
that  thefe  were  no  more  Monjirous  Births, 
than  what  it  is  frequent  for  Women,  labouring 
whhfalfe  Conceptions,  to  produce.  Moreover, 
one  very  nearly  Related  unto  this  Gentlewoman, 
and  infe&ed  with  her  Herefies,  was  on  Ollober 
17,  1637.  delivered  of  as  hideous  a  Monger 
as  perhaps  the  Sun  ever  lookt  upon.     It  had  no 


£lion  of  Sex,  which  was  Female,  were  in  the 
place  of  the  Hips ;  and  thofe  Back-parts  were  on 
the  fame  fide  with  the  Face  ;  the  Arms,  Hands, 
Thighs  and  Legs,  were  as  other  Childrens ; 
but  inflead  of  Toes,  it  had  on  each  Foot  three 


others  of  their  own  Uncertainty  in  Religion  • 
who  yet  had  not  come  under  any  Cenfures  of 
either  the  Court  or  the  Church  for  their  Mis- 
demeanours. Having  peopled  this  liland,  now 
known  by    the  Name   of    Rhode   Ijland,    they 


Claws,  with  Talons  like  a  Fowl-,  upon  the  Back   'warmed  over  unto  the  Main,  where  they  alio 


above  the  Belly  it  had  a  Couple  of  great  Holes 
like  Mouths  i  and  in  each  of  them  flood  out  a 
Couple  of  pieces  of  Flelh  ;  it  had  no  Forehead, 
but  above  the  Eyes  it  had  Four  Horns  ',  Two  of 
above  an  Inch  Long,  Hard  and  Sharps  and  the 
othet  Two  fomewhat  Lefs.  The  Midwife  was 
one  flrongly  fufpefled  of  Witchcraft  -,    and   a 


purchafed  fome  T nets  of  Land,  now  covered 
with  the  Two  Towns  of  Providence  and 
Warwick  ;  for  all  of  which  they  obtained 
at  laft  a  Charter  from  King  Charles  II.  with 
ample  Priviledges.  I  cannot  learn  that  the 
Firil  planters  of  this  Colony  were  agreed  in  any 
one  Principle  16  much  as  this,    That  they  were 


prime  Familift :  Thro'  whofe  Witchcrafts  pro-  t0  give  one  another  no  dijiurbance  in  the  Exer- 
bably  it  came  to  pafs,  that  molt  of  the  Wo-  cife  of  Religion ;  and  tho'  they  have  fome- 
men  prefent  at  the  Travel  were  fuddenly  taken  1  times  had  fome  Difference  among  them,  as  to 
with  fuch  a  violent  Vomiting  and  Purging,  tho'  the  Exercife  of  that  Principle  alio,  I  believe 
they  hid  neither  Eaten  or  Drunken  any  thing  to!  there  never  was  held  fuch  a  variety  of  Religions 
Occafion  it,that  they  were  forced  immediately  to  i  together  on  fo  fmall  a  Spot  of  Ground  as  have 
go  Home;  others  had  their  Children  fo  taken  j  been  in  that  Colony.  It  has  been  a  Colluvies 
with  Convulfions,  which  they  never  had  before  i  of  Antino?nia/ts,  Fami  lifts,  Anabaptijfs,  Anti- 
ox  after,  that  they  alfo  were  fent  for  Home  \fabbatanans,  Arminians,  Sicinians,  Quakers, 
immediately;  whence  none  were  left  at  the  time  J  Ranters,  every  thing  in  the  World  but  Roman 
of  the  Monfter's  Birth,  but  the  Midwife  and  Two  \Catholicks,  and  Real  Chriftians,  tho'  of  the 
more,  whereof  one  was  fallen  afleep :  And  z-;  Latter,  I  hope,  there  have  been  more  than  of 
bout  the  time  of  the  Monfter's  Death  which  ■  the  Former  among  them  ;  fo  that  if  a  Alan  had 
was  Two  Hours  before  its  Birth,  fuch  an  odd  \loft  his  Religion,  he  might  find,  it  at  this  gene- 
Shake  was  by  invifible  Hands  given  to  the  Bed  ralMufter  of  Opiniomjls  !  'Tis  a  good  Peice  of 
as  terrify'd  the  Standers-by.  It  was  Buried  i  Antiquity  that  Jojephus  has  given  us,  when 
without  any  Noife  of  its  Monftrofity ;  but  it  I  he  tells  us  the  Coniequences  oi  Nehemiah's  cha- 
being  whifpered  a  few  Days  after  about  the  bng  away  a  Son  of  Jojada,   the  Son  of  Etiq/h 


Town,  the  Magiftrates  ordered  the  opening 
of  the  Grave,  whereby  there  was  difcovered 
this 

Monftrum,  Horrendum,  in  forme,  Ingens. 

But  of  this  Miw/rVr,  good  Reader,  let  us  talk 
no  further:  For  at  this  Inftant  I  find  an  odd 
Paffage  in  a  Letter  of  the  famous  Mr.  Thomas 
Hooker  about  this  Matter ;  namely  this,  While 
I  was  thus  Mujing,  and  thus  Writing,  my  Study 
where  I  was  Writing,  and  the  Chamber  where 
my  Wife  was  fitting,  (hook,  as  we  thought,  with 
an  Earthquake,  by  the /pace  of  half  a  quarter  of 
an  Hour.     We  both  perceived  it,  and  prefent  ly 


the  High-Prieft,  for  Marrying  the  Daughter  of 
Sanballat  the  Horonite,  the  chief  Ferfon  among 
the  Samaritans.  The  Father-in-law  of  this 
Menajfes  ffor  it  feems  that  was  his  Name) 
built  a  Temple  on  Gerizzim,  in  Oppofuion  to 
that  at  Jerufalem,  and  obtained  a  Charter  from 
the  Kings  of  Perfia  for  the  Encouragement  there- 
of, that  fo  his  Daughter  Nicajf>  (for  fo  fhe  was 
called)  might  not  lofe  her  Husband,  who  was 
thus  made  a  Metropolitan.  After  this  time,  all 
that  were  Indited  for  Crimes  at  Jerufalem 
would  fly  to  Gerizzim  and  Sichem  was  now 
the  common  Receptacle  and  San&uary  of 
Jewifh  Offendors:  This,  as  R.  Mr  ah.  Zac- 
cuth    tells    us,    This    was   the    beginning    0f 


went  down.  My  Maid  in  the  Kitchen  cbjcrved\  Herefie  !  And  now,  with  fome  Allufion  to 
the  fame.  My  Wife /aid,  it  wax  the  Devil  that  that  Piece  of  Antiquity,  1  may  venture  to  fay 
was  difpleafed  that  we  confer  about  this  Occafion.  1  That  Rhode  Ifland  has  ulually  been  the  Ger-ig- 


sim 


Book  VII.  Or,  The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  21 


sim  of  New-England.  The  Ifland  is  indeed, 
for  the  Fertility  of  the  Soil,  the  Temperatenefs  of 
the  Air,  the  Commodioufnefs  of  Situation, 
the  beft  Garden  of  all  the  Colonies  ;  and  were 
ic  tree  from  Serpents,  I  would  have  called  it, 
The  Paradife  (/New-England  -.  But  the  num- 
ber of  Senlible  and  Ingenious  Gentlemen,  where- 
of there  are  fome  upon  the  ifland,  will  find  it 
hard  enough  to  Refcue  it  from  an  extream 
Danger  of  that  Chara&er,  Bona  Terra,  Mala 
Gens.  The  Condition  of  the  Rifing  Generation 
upon  that  Ifland,  is  indeed  exceeding  Lamenta- 
ble! haSant'ms  complains  of  Arcefilaus,  that 
having  much  confidered  the  Contraditiions  of  the 
Philolophers  one  unto  another,  at  laft  he  con- 
temned them  all,  and  inftituted  a  Kezo  Philo- 
fopby,  of  Not  Philofopbifing  at  all.  The  for- 
mer Generation  of  Rhode  [/landers  is  now  gene- 
rally gone  off"  the  Stage;  and  all  the  Meffen- 
gers  which  the  Churches  of  the  Maffachufet- 
Colony,  whereto  any  of  them  did  belong,  fent 
with  Admonitions  after  them,  could  Reclaim  ve- 
ry few  of  them  :  The  Rifing  Generation,  con- 
founded bv  the  Contradictions  in  Religion  among 
their  Parents,  are  under  many  horrible  Tempta- 
tions and  under  fome  unhappy  Tendencies,  to 
be  of  no  Religion  at  all :  And  when  the  Mini- 
fters  of  this  Province  have  feveral  times,  at 
"their  own  united  Expences,employ'd  certain  Mi- 
ni flers  of  the  Gofpel,  to  make  a  Cbargelefs 
tender  of  Preaching  the  Word  among  them, 
this  Charitable  offer  of  Minifters  has  been  re- 
fufed  :  Tho'  it  leems  they  are  now  beginning 
to  embrace  it ;  the  Indefatigable,  and  Evangeli- 
cal, and  very  Laudable  rnduftry  of  Mr.  John 
Danfortb,  the  Minifter  of  Vorcbelier,  has,  with 
theBlelTingofour  Lord  thereupon,  overcome  a 
Number  of  them,  not  only  to  hear  the  Gofpel, 
from  a  worthy  young  Preacher,  Mr.  Natbanael 
Clap,  fent  thither,  but  alfo  to  build  a  Meeting- 


houfe  for  that  purpofe:    Yea,  and  the  liberal 
Merchants  of  Bojlon  have  in  this  prefent  Year 
1695.  been  exemplary,  by  their  bearing  the  Ex- 
pences  of  Minijlers  which  we  have  fent  forth 
to  make  Tenders    of  the  Gofpel    unto   other 
Paganizing  Plantations  on  the  Alain  belonging 
to  that  Colony  ;  albeit   fome  of   thofe  Tenders 
alfo    have  been  Scandaloufly  Rejected  by  the 
Inhabitants.     If  I  fhould  now  Launch  forth  into 
a  Narrative  of  the  Marvellous    lewd   Things 
which  have  been  done  and  faid  by  the  giddy 
Se&aries  of  this  Ifland,    I  confefs  the  Matter 
would  be  agreeable  enough  to  the  Nature  and 
the  Defign  of  a   Church  Hiftory,    and   for  a 
Warning  unto  all  to  take  heed,  how  they  for- 
fake  the  Word  of  God  and  His  Ordinances  in  the 
Societies  of  the  Faithful,  and  follow  the  conduft 
of  New  Lights,  that  are  no  more  than  fo  many 
Fools-Fires  in  the  Iflue  •,  but  the  /Merriment  a- 
rifing  from  the  Ridiculous  and  Extravagant  Oc- 
currences therein,  would  not  be  agreeable  to  the 
Gravity  of  fuch  an  Hiftory.     Wherefore  I  for- 
bear it ;  only  wilhing  that  the   People  of  this 
Ifland  may  effectually   feel  the  favourable  In- 
fluences and  Protections   of  the  Crown  of  Eng- 
land, extended  unto  them,  inafmuch  as  the  Ri- 
diculoufly  Comical  Expreflions  of  their    late 
Addrefs   to   the  Qiteen,     Jan.  30.    1689.   are> 
May  it  pleafe  Tour  Excellent  Maje/ly ;    We  hum- 
bly Petition  Tour  moji  Excellent  Majeflies  Grace 
and  Favour  towards  us  Tour  moji  humble  Sub- 
jects and  Supplicants,  that  Tou  would  pleafe,  be- 
ing Pater  Patriae  to  extend  your  Fatherly  Care, 
in  Granting  a  Confirmation  to    our    Charter. 
Whereupon  they  add,  Tour  Tranfcendent  hove 
and  Favour  extended  towards  «j-,    bath  fo  Radi- 
cated it  f elf  in  our  Hearts,  never  to  be  forgot  t  en  > 
that  it  obliges  us  to  offer  up  our  Selves,    hives 
J  and  Fortunes,  to  be  at  Tour  Majeflfs  Service 
I  beyond  the  power  of  any  Command. 


CHAP.     IV. 

IgnesFatni:  Or,  The  Moleflations  given  to  the  Churches  of  New-England  by  that  Odd 
Seel  of  People  called  Quakers.  And  fome  uncomfortable  Occnrrsnts  relating  U 
a  Set?  of  Other  and  Better  People. 

H<erefes  non  dolemm  venijfe,  quia  novimi0  ejfe 
Pr<edi3as.     Tertul. 


§..  i.TF  the  Churches  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift 
J.  muft  in  every  Age  be  aflaulted  by 
rperCtlCfeS}  acting  under  the  Energy  of  that 
old  Serpent,  who  knowing  that  as  the  Firfi 
Creation,  fo  the  New  Creation  begins  with 
highly  hath  ufed  Thoufands  of  Blinds  to  keep 
a  faving  Light  from  entring  into  the  Souls  of 
Men,  that  being  a  People  of  wrong  Undemand- 
ing, be  that  made  them  (hall  not  have  Mercy  on 
them  :  It  muft  be  Expecled  that  the  Churches  of 
New-England  fhould  undergo  fome  AfTaults 
from  the  worft  of  peutitkg  that  this  Age 
has  produced.    Now  I  know  not  whether  the 


Se£t,  which  hath  appeared  in  our  Days  under 
the  Name  of  Quakers,  be  not  upon  many 
Accounts  the  worft  of  Hereticks  ;  for  in  Qua- 
kerifm^  which  has  by  fome  been  called,  The 
Sink  of  all  Herefies,  we  lee  the  Vomit  call:  out 
in  the  By-paft  Ages,  by  whole  Kennels  of  Se- 
ducers, lick'd  up  again  for  a  New  Digefiion, 
and  once  more  expofed  for  the  Poifoning  of 
Mankind  ;  though  it  pretends  unto  higbt,  yet 
by  the  means  of  that  very  Pretence  it  leaves  the 
bewildred  Souls  of  Men  in  chains  under  Dark' 
nefs,  and  gives  them  up  to  the  Conducf  of  an 
Ignis  Fatuus  :  But  this  I  know,  they  have  been 

the 


22 


Magnolia  Chrifti  Americana :  Book  VII. 


the  moft  Venemous  of  all  to  the  Churches  of 
America.  The  beginning  of  this  Upftart  Sett 
has  been  declated,  by  one  who  was  a  Pillar  of 
it,  in  a  Pamphlet  written  in  the  Year  1659. 
where  thisPaflage  occurrs,  It  is  now  about  Se- 
ven Tears  Jince  the  Lord  raifed  us  up :  And 
the  North  of  England  was  reckon'd  the  Place 
of  its  Nativity.  Neverthelefs,  1  can  tell  the 
World  that  the  Firft  Quakers  that  ever  were  in 
the  World,  were  certain  Fanaticks  here  in  our 
Town  of  Salem,  who  held  jorth  almolt  all  the 
Fancies  and  Whimiies  which  a  few  Years  after 
were  broached  by  them  that  were  fo  called  in 
England,  with  whom  yet  none  of  ours  had  the 
lealt  Communication;  except  my  Reader  will 
rather  look  for  the  Fid!  Quakers  at  the  Del- 
phian Oracle  upon  Parnaffus,  [Originally  per- 
haps tyrWID  Parai-nahas,  i.  e.  Hiatus  Divi- 
nationis~\  where  the  Ufige  was,  for  a  certain 
Woman  fitting  upon  a  Tripos  over  a  Cave,  to  be 
poiTefled  with  a  Daemon,  in  the  Scripture  cal- 
led Ob,  which  entring  into  her,  Ihe  was  imme- 
diately taken  with  an  extraordinary  Trembling 
of  her  whole  Body,  and  Foaming  horribly,  there 
IlTued  from  her  the  Prophecies  which  Enchan- 
ted all  the  World  into  a  Veneration  of  them. 
Our  Salem  Quakers  indeed  of  them  (elves  died 
Childlefs ,  but  the  Numbers  of  thole  in  England 
increaling,  they  did  in  the  Year  1677.  find  a 
way  into  New-England,  where  they  Firlt  infefted 
Plymouth  Colony,  and  were  for  a  while  molt 
unhappily  fuceefsful  in  feducing  the  People, 
not  only  to  attend  unto  the  Myft/cal  Difpenfa- 
tions  of  the  Light  within-,  as  having  the  whole 
of  Religion  contained  therein,  but  alto  to  oppofe 
thegood  Order, both  Civil  and  Sacred,  ere£ted  in 
the  Colony.  Thofe  Per  Ions  in  the  Malfachufets- 
Colony,  whofe  Office  it  was  to  be  Watchman  of 
it,  were  much  Aiarumed  at  the  Approach  of  ib 
great  a  Plague,  and  were  at  lome  Lois  how  to 
prevent  it,  and  avoid  it.  Altho*  Quaker  ifm  has 
been  by  the  New-Turn,  that  fuch  ingenious  Men 
as  Mr.  Penn  have  given  to  ir,  become  quite  a 
New  Thing;  yet  the  old  Foxian  Quakerifm^ 
which  then  vifited  New-England^  was  the 
grofleft  Collection  of  Blafphemics  and  Confttfions 
that  ever  was  heard  of  The  Cf)?ItT  then  wit- 
nejfed  by  the  Quakers  was,  A  certain  Heavenly, 
Divine  Body,  conftituted  of  invifible  t'lefh, 
Blood  and  Bones,  in  which  Chrift  came  from  Hea- 
ven ;  and  he  put  that  Body  into  the  other  Body  of 
our  Nature,  which  he  look  of  the  Virgin,  and 
that  outer mofl  Body  he  left  behind,  when  he  a- 
fcended  into  Heaven,  no  Body  knows  where ;  and 
this  heavenly  and  f pi  ritual  Body,  (which  the 
Quakers  at  length  Evaporate  inro  a  mcer  My- 
flical  Vijpenfatton,  and  ar  laft  it  is  nothing 
but  that  Excufing  and  Condemning  Principle  in 
Man  which  we  call,  The  Natural  Confcience  I) 
n  the  Man  Chrift,  a  meajure  oj  which  is  in  the 
Quakers  -,  upon  which  Accounts  the  Quakers 
made  them/elves  to  be  Chrifls,  as  truly  an  ever 
wok  Jefus  the  Son  of  Mary.  There  is  in  every 
Man  a  certain  excufing  and  condemning  Prin- 
ciple ;  which  indeed  is  nothing  but  lbme  Re- 
mainder of  the  Divine  Image,  left  by  the  com- 


paffion  of  God  upon  the  Confcience  of  Man 
after  his  Fall  -,  and  this  Principle  the  Quakers 
called,  A  meafure  of  the  Man  Chrift,  the  Light , 
the  Seed,  the  Word.  The  whole  Hiftory  of  the 
Go/pel  they  therefore  beheld  as  A6ted  over  3- 
gain  every  Day  as  Literally  as  ever  it  was  in 
Paleftine  •  and  what  befals  this  Principle  in  us, 
they  advanced  as  the  Truth  of  Chrift  Sacrificed 
for  us,  Dying,  Rifing,  Sitting  at  the  Right 
Hand  of  God,  and  coming  in  Clouds  to  Judgment. 
They  let  themfelves  hereupon  to  extinguifh  our 
whole  Cbrifitan  Religion,  for  thefe  Airy  Noti- 
ons to  fucceed  in  the  Room  thereof ;  they 
fcofted  at  our  Imagined  God  beyond  the  Stars  ; 
and  fa  id.  Tour  Carnal  Chrift  is  utterly  denied 
by  the  Light ;  the  expreis  Words  in  the  Preach- 
ments of  thefe  Quaking  Holders-forth  (as  'tis 
in  Print  attelted  by  forre  of  themfelves  that 
had  fo  much  Chriftianity  as  to  leave  th.m  up- 
043  the  Scandal  of  it)  have  been  ;  it  is  the  Work 
of  the  Devil  to  caufe  People,  that  have  prof  eft 
the  Appearance  of  Chriji  in  the  Heart,  to  re- 
fpell  the  Per] on  without  them.  And,  it  is  a 
Delufwn  to  diretl  the  Minds  of  the  People  to  re- 
fpett  Chrift,  as  he  is  now  in  Heaven  above  the 
Clouds.  They  Stiled  thofe  Blind  Beajh  and  Li- 
ars, who  fhould  fay  that  the  Scriptures  reveal 
God;  and  affirmd  if,  The  great  eft  Error  in  the 
World,  and  the  Ground  of  all  Errors,  to  fay, 
The  Scriptures  are  a  Rule  for  CbrifVians.  They 
faid,  That  the  Scripture  does  not  tell  People  of 
a  Trinity,  nor  Three  Perjons  in  God,  but  that 
thofe  Three  Perjons  are  brought  in  by  the  Pope. 
They  held,  That  juftification  by  that  Righteouf- 
nefs,  which  Chrift  fulfilled  in  his  own  Per/on 
without  us,  is  a  Dollrine  of  Devils.  They 
held,  That  they  that  believe  in  Chrift  are  not 
m ifer able  Sinners,  nor  do  thofe  things  they 
ought  not  to  do.  They  faid,  If  the  Bodies  of 
Men  rife  again,  then  there  is  a  Preheminence 
in  the  Bodies  of  Men  above  the  Bodies  of  Beafts, 
which  is  to  give  Solomon  the  Lie.  They  (aid, 
They  are  like  10  be  deceived,  who  are  expelling 
that  Chrift 's  Jecond  coming  toil/  be  Perfonal. 
They  faid,  Thofe  1  kings  called  Ordinances,  as 
Baptifm,  Bread  and  Wine,  rqfefrom  the  Pope's 
Invention.  They  laid,  As  for  that  called,  The 
Lord's  Day,  People  do  not  underftand  what  they 
fay ;  every  Day  is  the  Lord's  Day.  And  for 
Prayer  it  felf,  they  faid,  Ail  muft  ceajt  from 
their  own  Words,  and  from  their  own  Time, 
and  learn  to  be  Silent,  until  the  Spirit  give 
them  Utterance.  The  faid —  But  it  would  be 
Endlefs  to  Enumerate  their  Herefies  ;  what  we 
have  already  Enumerated  is  enough  to  Aftoniih 
us ;  in  all  of  which  1  folemnly  proceft  untothe 
Reader,  that  I  have  not  wronged  them  at  all, 
but  kept  clofe  to  their  own  Printed  Words. 
Reader,  Thou  canft  not  behold  thefe  Herefies, 
without  the  Exclamation  Ordinarily  ufed  by 
the  Blefled  Polycarp,  when  he  heard  any  fuch 
Matters  uttered  ;  Good  Cod,  unto  what  Times 
haft  thou  referved  me  !  The  Zeal  of  the  Maffa- 
ch ufet -Colony ,  to  preferve  themfelves  from  the 
Annoyances  of  fuch  a  Blafphemous  and  Confu- 
fed  Generation  of  Men,  caufed  them  to  make 

Sharp 


Book  VII.      Or,  The  Hiftory  0/ New-England. 

Sharp  Laws  againft  them,    in  hopes  that  the  i  Satisfaction  of  the  People;  a  great,  part;  of 


Terror  thereby  given  to  thefe  Evil  Doers-,  would 
keep  them  from  any  Invafwn  upon  the  Colony. 
But  They  muft  needs  go  whom  the  Devil 
drives  ;  thefe  Devil-driven  Creatures  did  but 
the  more  furioufly  pufh  themfelves  upon  the 
Government,  for  the  Sharp  which  had  been 
turned  upon  them  ;  whereupon  the  Government 
unhappily  proceeded  unto  the  Execution  of  the 
Laws  in  Scourging,  and  then  Banifhing,  and 
(upon  their  Mad  return,)  Executing  Three  or 
Four  of  the  Chief  Offenders  :   But  they  confi- 


whom  were  much  diflatisfied  at  what  had  been 
done. 

'About  Three  Years  fince,  diverfe  Perfbris 
'  profeffing  themfelves  Quakers  (of  whofe  Per- 
'  nicious  Opinions  and  Practices  we  had  recei - 
'  ved  Intelligence  from  good  Hands)  both  from 
c  Barbados  and  England-,  arrived  at  Boflon, 
'  whofe  Perfons  were  only  fecured  to  be  fent  a- 
'  way  by  the  firft  Opportunity,  without  Cenfure 
'  or  Punifhment,  although  their  profelTed  Tenets 
'  Turbulent  and  Contemptuous  Behaviour  to  Au- 


dered  thele  Wretches,  IX on  qua  Errones,  fed y  thority,  would  have  j uft i fled  a  feverer  Ani- 
qua  Turbonrs,  in  thus  proceeding  againft  them.  | '  madverfion.—  —A  Law  was  made  and  Pub- 
If  the  Reader  enquiie  with  what  Spirit  they 
died,  1  mult  fincerely  fay,  that  as  far  as  J  can 
learn,  they  (how'd  little  enough  of  the  Spirit 
of  Martyrdom.  They  died  not  like  the  true 
Martyrs  of  Jefus  Chrift,  with  the  Glorious 
Spirit  of  God  refting  on  them.  A  Fierce,  a 
Raging,  a  Sullen,  and  a  Revengeful  Spirit,  and 
a  Degree  of  Madnrfs  rather  inipired  them  ;  nor 
is  the  Fallacious  Hiitory  of  Gerard Croeje  con- 
cerning thele  Matters  to  be  credited. 

§.  2.  A  great  Clamour  hath  been  raifed  againft 
New-England  ior  their  Perfecution  of  the  Qua- 
kers •  and  if  any  Man  will  appear  intheVindi- 
cation  of  it,  let  him  do  as  he  pleafe  ;  for  my 
Part  I  will  not.  1  am  verily  perlwaded  thefe 
miierable  Quakers  would  in  a  little  while  (as 
we  have  now  feen)  have  come  to  nothing,  if 
the  Civil  Mag ij Irate  had  not  infiicFed  any  Ci- 
vil Penalty  upon  them ;  nor  do  I  look  upon 
Utreticide  as  an  Evangelical  way,  for  the  extin- 
guilhing  of  Herefies  ;  but  rather  fay  with  the 
Judicious  Hommius,  Magiftratus,  propter  Solum 
tixrefeos  Crimen,  non  quenquam  occidat,  nifi 
forte  horrendte  atq-,  intolerands  in  Deum  Blaf- 
phemis,  vel  manifeftx  Scditwnis  Crimen  acce- 
dat.  Tis  true,  thefe  Quakers  did  manifeft  an 
Intolerable  Contempt  of  Authority,  and  needlef- 
ly  pull  upon  themfelves  a  Vengeance,  from 
which  the  Authority  would  gladly  have  releafed 
them,  if  they  would  have  accepted  of  a  Re- 
leale ;  but  it  is  alio  true,  that  they  were  Mad- 
men, a  fort  of  Lunaticks,  Dxmoniacks  and 
Energumens  :  He  was  a  Wife  and  a  Good 
Counfellor  in  P/ymouth-Colom  who  propounded, 
That  a  Law  might  be  made  for  the  Qitakers  to 
have  their  Heads  Shaved  ;  the  Pumjhmcnt,  1 
confefs,  was  in  fome  fort  Capital ;  but  it  would 
have  been  the  belt  Remedy  for  them ;  it  would 
have  both  Sham'd  and  Curd  them  :  Or  perhaps 
the  Punifhment  which  A.  Gellius  reports  the 
Romans  on  certain  Special  Occafions  ufed  up- 
on their  Soldiers,  namely,  To  let  'em  Blood, 
had  been  very  agreeable  ior  thele  Quakers.  A 
Bethlehem  leems  to  have  been  fitter  for  them 
than  a  Gallows.     Neverthelefs,    I  am  not  un- 


'  lifhed,  Prohibiting  all  Matters  of  Ships  to 
'  bring  any  Quakers  into  this  Jurifdiclion,  and 
'  themfelves  from  coming  in,  on  Penalty  of  the 
'  Houfe  of  Correction,  till  they  could  be  fent 
4  away.  Notwithftanding  which,  by  a  Back- 
-door they  found  Entrance;    and    the   Penalty 

•  infli£ted  on  them  proving  Inefficient  to  re- 
'  ftrain  their  Impudent  and  Infolent  Obtrufions, 
'  was  increafed — which  alfo  being  too  weak  a 
'  Defence  againft  their  Impetuous  and  Fanatick 
'  Fury,  neceffitated  us  to  Endeavour  our  Secu- 
c  rity  ;  and  upon  ferious  Confederation,  a  Law 
'  was  made  that  fuch  Perfons  fhould  be  Ba- 
'  nifl)ed  on  Pain  of  Death,  according  to  the 
'  Example  of  England,  in  their  Provifion  againft 
c  Jefuites ;  which  Sentence  being  regularly  pro-; 
'  nounced,  at  the  laft  Court  of  Ajfiflents  againft 
'  thefe  Parries,  and  they  either  returning,  or 
'  continuing  prefumptuoufly  in  this  Jurifdiftion 
'  after  the  time  limited,  were  apprehended,  and 
'owning  themfelves  to  be  the  Perfons Bantfhed^ 

'  were  fentenced  by  the  Court  to  Death 

'  which  hath  been  Executed  upon  Two  of 
'  them.  M.  D.  upon  the  Interceflion  of  a  Son, 
1  had  Liberty  to  depart,  acid  accepted  of  it. — ■ 
'  The  Confideration  of  our  Gradual  Proceedings, 
'  will  vindicate  us  from  the  Clamorous  Accu- 
'  fations  of  Severity.  Our  own  iuft  and  necef- 
'  fary  Defence  calling  upon  us  (other  Means 
'  failing)  to  offer  the  Point,  which  thefe  Perfons 
'have  violently  and  wilfully  ruihed  upon,  and 

•  thereby  became  Felones  de/e, —  as  well  as  the 
'  fparing  of  One  upon  an  Ineonfiderable  Inter- 

cefTion,  will  manifeftly  Evince  we  defire  their 
'  Lives  abj'ent,  rather  than  their  Deaths  pre- 
c/ent.     Thus  the  Declaration. 

Reader,  If  this  alfo  will  further  alleviate  the 
Bufinefs,  I  muft  not  conceal  it ;  that  it  was  ve- 
ry enraging  unto  the  Zeal  of  thofe  Godly  Men, 
who  then  governd  us,  to  hear  thele  Wretches 
ordinarily  faving  among  the  People,  We  deny 
thy  Chrift !  We  deny  thy  God,  which  thou  cal- 
lejl  Father,  Son  and  Spirit  !  Thy  Bible  is  the 
Word  of  the  Devil !  And  the  Spirit  of  that  Crew 
was  yet  more  Provoking,  Pernicious  and  Peril- 
willing  to  Tranfcribe  one  Paffage  on  this  Oc-|lous,  as  one  of  them  has  difcovered  itinaWri- 
cafion,  that  ib  my  Reader,  upon  the  whole,  may  ;  tingPubliihed,  Againft  all  Earthly  Fowers,Par' 
proceed  unto  what  Cenjure  he  lhall  pleafe  to  \liaments,  Laws,  Charters,  Magiftrates  and 
beftow  upon  the  Matter.  'Vrinces.    George   Fox,    who  of  a  Shoemaker^ 

It  fhall  be  a  few  Lines  of  A  Declaration  of  became  the  Grand  Apcftle  of  the  Quakers  j  tho* 
the  General  Court  of  the  Maflkhufets,  fo/</ihewere  unable  to  Write  Common  Senfe,  yet 
At  Boft'on,  Oftob.  18.  1659.  Publifhed  for  the I  wrote  feveral   Pamphlets  ;    in  one  of  which 

(Entituled, 


24 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana  :  Book  VIL 


(Entituled,  Voters  given  forth)  he  bitterly  in- 
veigh'd  againlt  thofe  who  domed  on  an  Earthly 
King;  and  added,  Neither  doycu  read  that  there 
voere  any  Kings  fince  the  Apofiles  Days,  but 
among  the  Apofiate  Chriftians  and  the  ialfe 
Church.  And  one,  who  yet  calls  himfelf  a 
Quaker,  hath  lately  fo  far  forfaken  them,  as 
to  Publifh  a  Difcovery  of  the  horrible  Doings 
that  he  hath  found  among  his  friends  ;  and  he 
particularly  proves,  that  they  do  not  own  any 
Government  for  God's  Ordinance,  but  that  of 
thofe  who  Witnels  to  their  Light  within  ;  and 
that  they  call  every  other  Government,  confut- 
ing of  Rulers,  Judges,  Jujiices,  Lawyers  and 
Confiables,  a  Tree  that  muji  be  cut  down,  for 
the  Light  alone  to  Rule.  I  appeal  to  all  the 
reafbnable  part  of  Mankind,  whether  the  In- 
fant Colonies  of  New-England  had  not  caufe 
to  guard  themfelves  againft  thefe  Dangerous 
Villains.  It  was  alfo  thought  that  the  very 
Quakers  themfelves  would  fay,  that  if  they  had 
got  into  a  Corner  of  the  World,  and  with  an 
Immenfe  Toyl  and  Charge  made  a  Wildernefs 
Habitable,  on  purpofe  there  to  be  undiltuibed 
in  the  Exercifes  of  their  Worfhip,  they  would 
never  bear  to  have  New-Englanders  come  a 
mong  them,  and  Interrupt  their  Publick  Wor- 
fhip, and  Endeavour  to  Seduce  their  Children 
from  it,  yea,  and  repeat  fuch  Endeavours  after 
mild  Entreaties  firft,  and  then  juft  Banijhments, 
to  oblige  their  departure.  What  (hall  I  fay  ? 
There  was  the  Phrenfie  of  the  Old  Circumcelli- 
ons  in  thofe  Quakers  ;  and  according  to  that 
Paflageof  the  Tragedian  in  his  Hercules  Fitrens, 
Solute  te  jam  praffare  potcft  Furor,  infontem, 
thus  I  muft  fay  upon  the  Mad  Subjects  of  thefe 
Tragedies  :  If  they  had  not  been  Mad,  they 
had  been  Worthy  to  die.  But  I  will  inform  the 
World  of  a  bettetVindication  for  my  Country  than 
all  this  i  namely,  that  they  did  by  a  Solemn 
Aft  afterwards  Renounce  whatever  Laws  arc 
againft  a  Juft  Liberty  of  Confcience.  I  would 
alfo  intreat  the  World,  that  they  would  not 
be  too  ready  to  receive  all  Stories  told  by  the 
Quakers  about  their  New-England-?  erf ccution ; 
becaufe  the  Quakers  have  in  Print  complained 
of  a  Neto-England-Perfecution  upon  Two  Wo- 
men of  their  Seft,  who  came  Stark  Naked  as 
ever  they  were  Born  into  our  Publick  AfTem- 
blies,  and  they  were  (Baggages  that  they  were !) 
adjudged  unto  the  Whipping-Pott  for  that  Peice 
oi~DeviUJm.  Their  Stories  about  the  Suffer- 
ings are  as  little  to  be  credited,  as  their  Sto- 
ries about  their  Miracles  ;  and  particularly  that 
of  George  Fox  having  the  Gift  of  Tongues  5 
becaufe  that  proud  Fool,  who  could  fcarce  Write 
his  Name,  hath  fet  his  Name  to  a  Book  of  above 
Thirty  Languages,  [called,  The  BatteldoorJ 
when  it  was  afterwards  found  that  certain 
Jews  were  hired  to  do  that  Work,  and  had 
Fourfcore  Pounds  for  their  Pains,  and  a  Dozen 
Bottles  of  Wine  over  and  above. 

§.  3.  The  more  fenfible  fort  of  Men,  that  go 
under  the  Name  of  £tUa&Ct#,  finding  the 
grofs  Hereftes  of  the  Old  Fox  tan-Quaker  if m 
to  be  fo  Indefenfible  and  Abominable  in  the 


Hefentments  of  reafonable  People,  have  of  later 
time  let  themfelves  to  refine  it  with  fuch  Con- 
cellions  and  ConfelTions  of  Truth,  as  that  in 
their  Syflem  it  is  quire  another  thing  than  what 
once  it  was.  But  the  New-England  Quakerifm^ 
in  thofe  Nooks  of  the  Country  where  this 
Choakwced  of  Chriftianity  yet  remains,  is,  as 
far  as  I  can  underftand,  Hill  that  01d'ftw'<w 
Quakerifm,  which  does  utterly  renounce  the 
Letter  of  every  thing,  that  the  Finer  fort  of 
New  Quakers  are  compelled  now  to  own  fbme- 
thing  of ;  neverthelefs  thefe  New  Quakers  cover 
their  Sentiments  with  fuch  Fallacious  and  Am- 
biguous Expreffions,  that  ail  Fox's  grofs  Qua- 
kerifm can  be  at  once  either  aliened  or  deni- 
ed, under  thofe  Modes  of  fpeaking,  which 
Penn,  Barclay  Whitehead.,  and  others  ufe  to 
ferve  their  Finer  Hypothecs  ;  and  in  our  Corn- 
bates  with  them,  Difficilius  ejl  l/wenire  quam 
Tincere.  There  was  one  Keith  particularly, 
who  differed  almoft  as  much  from  the  genera- 
lity of  the  New-Fnglijh  Quakers,  as  we  that 
Perfecuted  them ;  and  yet  he  did  fuch  an  ^In- 
accountable  thing,  as  to  appear  like  a  Champion 
for  them,  in  Oppofition  to  the  Churches  of 
Nets-England,  until  the  Minifters  of  Bqfton 
were  put  upon  Publilhing  of  divers  Bocks  to 
maintain  the  Religion  of  our  Churches  againft 
his  Impetuous  Batteries.  But  it  came  to  pafs, 
that  afterwards  this  very  Keith  appeared  pub- 
lickly  in  the  Confutation  of  thole  Qitakers, 
that  are  by  far  the  moft  numerous  of  any  fo 
Denominated,  not  only  in  New-England,  but 
alio  in  Penfylvania.  In  the  Year  1694.  he 
Printed  a  Quarto  Treatife,  in  Confutation  of  a- 
bove  Thirty  Grofs  Errors,  commonly  held  a- 
mong  them  ;  and  his  Teftimonies,  at  laft,  pro- 
cured him  and  his  few  Adherents  a  Storm  of 
Perjecutton  from  the  Friends  at  Penfylvania, 
who  had  formerly  made  fuch  Tragical  Out- 
cries againft  the  Perfection  which  New- 
England  had  heretofore  ufd  upon  tar  greater 
Provocation.  By  the  lame  Token  that  an  Al- 
manack for  the  Year  1694.  compofed  by  one 
of  them;  has  this  Article  of  Chronology. 

Since  the  Englifh  in  New  Fngland^ 

Hanged  their    Countrymen    fori- Years  36. 
Religion. ■ j 

Since  at  Philadelphia  feme   did  little' 
lefs,  by  taking  away  Goods,  and  Im- 
pr'foning  fome,    and  Condemning    0- 
thers   without    Trial,   for    Religious^ 
Dilfent.- . 

There  are  many  Grounds  of  Hope,  That 
the  Days  of  prevailing  Quakerifm  will  be  but 
Ihreefcore  Tears  and  Ten  ;  and  if  by  reafon 
of  Mens  weaknefs  they  be  Fourfcore  Tears, 
yet  the  Strength  of  it  will  then  be  wafted, 
it  will  foon  be  cut  off  and  fiy  away  :  And 
among  thofe  Grounds,  I  cannot  but  reckon  the 
Alterations  which  the  Seft  of  Quakers  do  ex- 
perience, net  only  in  the  Points  of  their  Faith, 
but  alfo  in   that  odd   Symptom  of  Quaking, 

which 


Book  VII.         Or,  TbeHiftoryof  New-England  25 


which  by  its  ufing  to  Arreft  the  Bodies  of  their 
Converts,  gave  Denomination  to  them ;  for  as  one 
of  their  own  exprelTes  it,  The  mighty  Motions 
of  the  Bodies  of  the  Friends  are  now  ceafed, 
and  Friends  are  fiill  cool  and  quiet ;  the  fhaking 
and  quaking  of  Friends  Bodies  were  to  purge  out 
Sin ;  but  the  Jh'/nefs  being  come,  the  Mind  is 
brought  into  a  Capacity  to  difcern  the  Voice  of 
the  Lord.  And  indeed,  as  the  'Quaking  which 
diftinguilhed  thele  poor  Creatures,  was  a  Symp- 
tom of  Diabolical  fojfejfion;  fo  e'er  I  difmils 
this  Matter,  I  muft  oblerve  to  my  Reader,  that 
there  could  be  nothing  lefs  than  a  Diabolical 
PojTtjfion.  in  many  other  things  that  attended 
and  advanced  Quakcrifm  at  its  firft  appearance 
in  the  Wotld,  and  that  are  in  fome  forts  of 
Quakers  unto  this  Day  to  be  Exemplified.  It 
was  no  rare  thing  for  the  Old  Set  of  Quakers 
to  Prolelyte  People  meetly  by  Stroaking  or  by 
Breathing  on  them  ;  they  had  no  (boner  ufed 
lbme  fuch  Attiori  toward  fuch  as  they  had  a 
Defign  upon  but  the  Bewitched  People  would 
behave  themielves  juft  as  if  a  Philtre  had  been 
given  them  and  would  follow  their  Conver- 
ters in  evety  thing,  without  being  able  to  ren- 
der any  Reajon  tor  it.  And  there  is,  even  at 
this  Day,  a  Crew  of  Quakers  called  Cafe's 
Crew,  the  Difciples  of  one  Tom  Cafe,  who  have 
been  foTroublelome  and  Vexatious,  even  to  the 
other  Quakers  themfcl  ves,  that  they  have  denied 
thele;  but  of  this  Prodigious  Tom  and  his 
Crew'  there  are  things  well  known  throughout 
this  Countrv  that  are  indeed  prodigioufly 
Diabolical.  Tis  well  known,  that  fome  of  thofe 
whom  this  Villain  had  led  Captive  at  his  Will, 
were  fo  much  under  his  Influence,  that  if  up- 
on their  coming  where  he  was  he  faftned  his 
Eye  upon  'em,  they  would  prefently  Tremble, 
and  Stagger,  and  Fall,  and  Foam  like  Epilepti- 
cal  Perlons,  and  roul  about  upon  the  Ground, 
until  they  had  rouFd  themfelves  unto  his  Feet, 
where  he  did  what  he  pleafed  unto  them.  I 
am  well  acquainted  with  one  very  Devout  Gen- 
tleman, recovered  happily  from  the  Captivity 
wherein  this  Fellow  lor  many  Years  had  held 
the  Soul  of  him,  who  has  allured  mc,  that  he 
was  himfelf  thus  Epileptical,  as  often  as  this 
Elymas  would  plealewith  his  Eafcmating  Eye 
to  make  him  fo,  but  never  any  fuch  way  arretted 
before  or  after,  or  upon  any  other  Occafion. 
'tis  well  known,  that  this  Villain  pretending  to 
thow  a  Miracle,  did  but  look  upon  a  very 
Mad  Bull,  one  perhaps  as  Mad  as  himfelf,  and 
one  that  would  approach  no  Man,  except  it 
were  to  Mifchief  him,  and  this  Bull  would 
come  tamely,  gently,  ftrangely  to  him,  and 
lick  his  Hands  like  a  Spaniel.  Neverthelefs, 
when  this  Coxcomb  once  attempted  the  Mira- 
cle of  a  Refurreftion  upon  a  Dead  Friend,  the 
Friend,  it  feems,  was  not  in  a  Difpofition  to 
Rife  upon  his  calling  of  him. 

I  will  give  my  Reader  the  Entertainment  of 
Two  of  Three  very  well  attefted  Stories,  and 
then  ask  his  leave  to  have  done  with  a  Genera- 
tion which  it  can  be  no  great  Satisfaftion  to 
aoeddle  with, 


About  the  beginning  of  November,  i6ii.  a 
Man  whole  Name  was  Denham,  with  Two 
Women,  all  belonging  to  Cafes  Crew,  went 
unto  Southold  upon  Long- If  and,  where  they  met 
with  one  Samuel  Banks  of  Eairfield,  the  molt: 
Blafphemous  Wretch  in  the  World.  Thefe 
joining  together  with  fome  others  of  their  Bran 
at  Southold,  Went  inco  the  Company  of  one  Tho- 
mas Harris,  a  Young  Merchant  of  Bofto/i. 
who  had  before  this  been  a  little  inclining  to 
the  Quakers;  and  they  fell  to  Dancing  and 
Singing  after  their  Dcvililh  manner  about  htm. 
After  lbme  time,  Thomas  Harris  fell  to  Dancing 
and  Singing  like  them,  and  ipcaking  of  Extra- 
ordinary Raptures,  and  calling  thole  Devils  that 
were  not  of  this  Religion,  and  a  perfect  Imi- 
tation of  all  their  Devi/if  at.  When  he  had 
Ihown  thele  Tokens  of  Converfwn,  as  they  ac~ 
counted  it,  they  iblemnly  admitted  him  into 
their  Society,  and  one  of  them  thereupon  pro- 
mifed  him.  Henceforward  thy  Tongue  /ball  he 
as  the  Pen  of  a  ready  Writer,  to  declare  the 
Pra/Jes  of  our  Lord.  The  Young  Man,  who 
before  this  was  of  a  compos'd  Behaviour,  now 
ran  about  with  an  odd  Note  of  Joy  !  Jop  \ 
Joy  !  And  called  them"  Devils  that  any  way 
oppofed  him,  and  faid,  (more  than  fie  intended) 
That  his  own  Father  way  a  Devil!  Quickly  af» 
ter  this,  going  to  Lodge  ana  Farm  not  far  of^ 
where  dwelt  a  Quaker  of  the  Same  Spirit^  he 
would  go  to  Bed  before  the  reft  of  the  Family  -% 
but  upon  another  Young  Man's  coming  to  hin% 
he  faid,  he  muft  get  up  and  return  that  Night 
unto  Southold,  where  he  had  left  his  Company} 
and  though  the  Young  Man  would  have  per= 
fwaded  him  to  lye  ftill  until  Day,  he  would 
not  be  pcrlwaded,  up  he  got,  and  went  hi$ 
way.  Within  fome  while  he  was  miffing,  and 
upon  enquiry  he  could  not  be  heard  of,  only  his 
Hat,  and  Gloves,  and  Neckcloth  were  found  in 
the  Road  from  the  Farm  to  the  Town  :  Twd 
Days  after  which,  Banks  looking  into  a  Bibie^ 
fuddenly  (hut  it  again,  crying  our,  his  Friend 
Harris  was  dead.  On  the  Day  following 
Harris  was  found  by  the  Sea-fide,  about  a 
quartet  of  a  Mile  from  the  place  where  his  Ap-i 
purtenances  had  been  found  before,  having 
Three  Holes  like  Stabs  in  his  Throat,  arid 
JRO  CatlJJtte  in  his  Head,  net  the  leaft  fign 
thereof  but  all  clear  to  his  Neck-bone  within2 
his  Mouth  clofe  ihut,  and  one  of  his  Eyes 
hanging  down  upon  his  Cheek  out  of  his  Head, 
the  other  funk  lb  deep  in  his  Head,  that  al- 
though it  was  whole  there,  it  was  hardly  to  be 
come  at.  This  was  the  end  of  a  CCWgUC 
that  was  to  be  as  the  Pen  of  a  ready  Writer! 
The  Night  after  he  was  Buried,  Colonel  Toung^ 
the  High  Sheriff,  as  himlelf  afTured  me,  was 
in  the  Dead  of  the  Night  awaked  by  the  Voice 
of  this  Harris,  calling  very  loudly  at  his  Win- 
dow, with  a  demand  of  him  to  fee  Juftice  done 
him  ;  the  Voice  came  Three  times  that  Night 
with  the  like  demand  ;  and  the  Night  after  it 
came  into  the  Colonef  s  Houfe,  clofe  to  his  Bed- 
fide,  very  loudly  repeating  of  it.  But  the  Author 
of  the  Murder  could  neVer  be  difcovered  t 

D  d  d  d  d  d  d  About 


i6 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana :  Book  VII. 


About  a  Year  or  Two  before  this  Tragical 
Accident,  there  was  another  not  quite  fo  Tragical. 
Some  of  Cafe's  Crew  howled  a  Young  Woman 
into  their  Company,  who  immediately  fell  to 
Railing  on  all  the  World,    and  then  to  Raving 
at  fuch  a  rate,  that  feveral  Perfons  watched  her, 
though  (he  was  now  grown  fo  preternaturally 
ftrong,  as  to  break  away  from  them,  let  'em  do 
what  they  could.     In  the  Dead  of  the  Night, 
thofe  that  watched  her  heard  a  doleful  Noife, 
like  the  Crying  of  a  Young  Child,  in  the  Yard 
or  Field  near  the  Houfe,  which  filled  the  Audi- 
tors with  fearful  Apprehenlions ;  but  the  Young 
Woman  then  violently  broke  from  them,  faying. 
The  Lord  calls  me,  and  I  mujl  go  !  It  was  a 
confiderable  while  before  they  could  find  her, 
and  when  they  did  find  her,  fhe  was  bereaved 
of  her  Underflanding,  full  of  horrid  and  un- 
couth AQions ;  and  lo  (he  continued  until  Ju 
ftice  Wood,  by  the  ufe  of  means,  recovered  her, 
which  none  of  her  Quaking  Friends  were  able 
to  do :  But  this  convinced  the  Neighbours  that 
the  Devil  was  among  them ! 

I'll  give  but  one  Inftance  more  of  their  Ex- 
orbitancies.  It  was  much  about  this  time  that 
one  Jonathan  Dunen,  of  Cafe\  Crew,  drew  a- 
way  the  Wife  of  a  Man  to  Marfhfield  in  Ply- 
mouth-Colony, to  follow  him,  and  one  Mary  Rofs 
falling  into  their  Company,  prefently  was  pof- 
fefled  with  as  Frantick  a  Dxmon  as  ever  was 
heard  of-  fhe  burnt  her  Cloaths  ;  fhe  faid  that 
fhe  was  Chrift  ;  fhe  gave  Names  to  the  Gang 
with  her,  as  Apojlles,  calling  one  Peter,  ano- 
ther Thomas ;  fhe  declared,  that  fhe  would  be 
Dead  for  Three  Days,  and  then  Rife  again ; 
and  accordingly  fhe  feemed  then  to  die.  Du- 
nen then  gave  out,  that  they  fhould  fee  Glori- 
ous things  when  fhe  Rofe  again  ;  but  what  fhe 
then  did,  was  thus  :  That  upon  her  Order  Du- 
nen  Sacrificed  a  Dog.  The  Men  and  the  Two 
Women  then  Danced  Naked  altogether  ;  for 
which,  when  the  Conftable  carried  'em  to  the 
Magiflrates,  Rofs  uttered  Stupendous  Blafphe- 
mies,  but  Dunen  lay  for  Dead  an  Hour  on  the 
Floor,  faying,  when  he  came  to  himfelf, 
that  Rofs  bid  him,  and  he  could  not  re- 
fill. 

0  Capita  Anticyris  vix  Expurganda  duabus  I 

More  PalTiges,  akin  to  thefe,  may  be  read  in 
Dr.  Mor^s  Addition  to  Mr.  GlanviTsSaducifmus 
Triumphal  us. 

Reader,  I  can  fbretel  what  Ufage  I  fhall 
find  among  the  Quakers  for  this  Chapter  of 
our  Church- hi '(lay  •,  for  a  Worthy  Man  that 
Writes  of  them  has  obferved,  For  Pride,  and 
HypocriJie,  and  Ucllijh  Reviling  againji  the 
painful  Alinijlers  of  Chrift,  I  know  no  People 
can  match  them.  Yea,  prepare,  Friend  Mather, 
to  be  affaulted  with  fuch  Language  as  Eijher 
the  Quaker,  in  his  Pamphlets,  does  bellow  upon 
fuch  Men  as  Dr.  Owen  •  Thou  Fiery  Fighter  and 
Green-headed  Trumpeter ;  thou  Hedghog  and 
Grinning  Dog  ;  thou  Bajlard  that  tumbled  out 
sf  the  Mouth  of  the   Babilonilh  Bawd;    thou 


Mole;  thou  Tinker;  thou  Lizzard ;  thou  Bell 
of  no  Metal,  but  the  Tone  of  a  Kettle  •  thou 
Wheelbarrow  -,  thou  Whirlpool  •  thou  Whirlegig. 
0  thou  Firebrand;  thou  Adder  and  Scorpion-^ 
thou  Loufe.-,  thou  Cow-Dung  ;  thou  Moon-  Calf; 
thou  Ragged  Latterdemallion  ;  thou  Judas  ;  thou 
Liveji  in  Philofophy  and  Logick,  which  are  of 
the  Devil.  And  then  let  Penn  the  Quaker  add, 
Thou  Gormandizing  Prieji,  one  of  the  Abomi- 
nable Tribe-,  thou  Bane  of  Reafon,  and  Be  a Ji  of 
the  Earth  ;  thou  Beft  to  be  f pared  oj  Mankind ; 
thou  Mountebank  Prieji.  Thefe  are  the  very 
Words,  (I  wrong  them  not!)  which  they  Vo- 
mit out  againft  the  belt  Men  in  the  Englijh 
Nation,  that  have  been  fo  hardy  as  to  touch 
their  Light  within  :  But  let  the  Quills  of  thefe 
Porcupines  fly  as  faft  as  they  will,  I  fhall  not 
feel  them  !  Yea,  every  Stone  that  thefe 
Kildebrands  throw  at  me,  I  will  wear  as  a 
Pearl;  and  as  Dr.  Holland,  when  he  took  his 
leave  of  his  Friends,  would  fay,  Commenda  vos 
omnes  DileUioni  Dei,  &  Odio  Papains,  thus  I 
will  here  take  my  leave,  with  fay  big,  J  com- 
mend thee  to  the  Love  of  God,  and  the  Dtflike 
of  Quakerifm. 

In  ali is  Manfuetus  era  ;  at  in  Blafphemiis 
contra  Chrijium,  non  ita. 

§.  4.  Now  having  done  with  the  Quakers, 
let  it  not  be  mifinterpreted,  if  into  the  fame 
Chapter  we  put  the  Inconveniencies  which  the 
Churches  of  New-England  have  alfo  fullered 
from  the  Anabaptijis  •,  albeit  they  have  infinite- 
ly more  of  Chriftianity  amoDg  them  than  the 
Quakers,  and  have  indeed  been  ufeful  Defen- 
ders of  Chriftianity  againft  the  Affaults  of  the 
Quakers  -,  yea,  we  are  willing  to  acknowledge 
for  our  Brethren  as  many  of  them  as  are  wil- 
ling to  be  fo  acknowledged. 

It  hath  been  a  fore  Difadvantage  unto  the 
Reputation  of  the  Anabaptiji  way,  that  whete- 
ever  any  Reformation  has  been  carried  on,  a 
fort  of  People  under  that  Name  have  been  molt 
unhappy  Impediments  unto  the  Progrefs  of  it  ; 
and  thrown  it  into  thofe  Confufions  that  have 
extreamly  Scandalized  it,  if  not  utterly  Extin- 
guished it.  The  Hiflories  of  the  Prodigious 
Jierejies  that  have  been  held,  and  Atfions 
that  have  been  done,  by  a  fet  of  Men  wearing 
the  Anabaptiji  Name,  not  only  in  the  Low- 
Countries  in  Germany,  Switzerland,  Swedeland 
and  Poland,  which  MelanQhon,  Luther,  Cal- 
vin, Bui  linger,  Zuinglius,  Guaher,  S  lei  dan, 
Zanchy,  who  lived  in  the  very  time  of  thofe 
Extravagances,  have  related,  but  in  England 
and  Ireland  alfo,  long  fince  that  time,  have  been 
improved,  In  pcrpetuam  Err  oris  Infamiam.  All 
the  World  knows,  that  the  moft  Eminent  Re- 
Jormers,  writing  againft  the  Anobaptifts,  have 
not  been  able  to  forbear  making  their  Treati- 
fes,  like  what  Jerom  fays  of  Tertullian's  Pole- 
mical Treatifes,  §uot  Verba,  tot  Fulmina  •  and 
the  Noble  Martyr  Philpot  exprefled  the  Mind 
of  them  aU,  when  he  laid,  The  Anibaptijis 
are  an  Inordinate  kind  of  Men,  Jiirred  up  by 

the 


Book  VII.      Or,  The  Hifiory  of  New-Ehglahd. 


27 


the  Devil  to  the  Veftruftion  of  the  Go/pel,  ha- 
ving neither  Scripture,  nor  Antiquity,  nor  any 
thing  elje  for  them,    but  Lies  and  New  Imagina- 
tions, jeigning  the  Baptifm  of  Children   to  be 
the  Pope's  Commandment.      Nevetthelefs  it  is 
well  known,  that  of  later  time  there  have  been 
a  great  many   Antipcdobaptifis   who  have  ne- 
ver deferved   fo  hard  a  Character  among  the 
Churches  of  God ;    Infant-Baptifm  hath  been 
icrupled  by  Multitudes  in  our  Days,  who  have 
been  in  other  Points  molt  Worthy  Chrijiians,  and 
as  Holy,  Watchful,  Fruitful,  and  Heavenly  Peo- 
ple, as  perhaps  any  in  the  World.    Some  few  of 
thefe  People  have  been  among  the  Planters  of  New- 
tnglandixom  the  beginning,  and  have  been  wel- 
come to  the  Communion  of  ourChurches,  which 
they  have  enjoy  d,  referving  their  particular  Opi- 
nion unto  themlelves.     But  at  length  it  came  to 
pals,  that  while  fome  of  our  Churches  uled,  it  may 
be,  a  little  too  much  of  Cogency  towards  the  Bre- 
thren, which  would   weakly  turn  their  Backs 
when  Infants  were  brought  forth  to  be  Baptized 
in  the  Congregation,   there  were  fome  of  thefe 
Brethren,  who  in  a  Day  of  Temptation  broke 
forth  into  Schifmatical  ¥  rati  ices  that  welejuft- 
ly  Offenfive  unto  all  the  Churches  in  this  Wil- 
demeis  *  which  were  on  that  Occafion  willing 
to  Juftifie  what  the  Renowned  Parker  faid  on 
the  behalf  of  the  Old  Non-Conformifis,  when 
the  Prelates  charged  them  with  being  Favourers 
of  Anabaptifm,    Difciplina  Ecclefiafiica  tanto- 
pere  dijlat  ab  Anabaptiflica  Confufione,  quanto- 
pere  Chriftus  ab  Antichrijio,  we  have  as  much 
Favour  for  Anabaptifm,    as  Chrifl  for    Ariti- 
chrift.     And  it  may  be  there  was  herein  too 
much  Occafion   to  think  on  the  Obfervation 
which    I    find    made    by      Mr.  Flavel,    The 
Non-Improvement  of  our    Baptifmal  Covenant 
unto  the  great  and  folemn  Ends  thereof,     in 
our   Mortification,    Vivijication,    and  Regular 
Communion    with  the    Qmrch  of  Chrift,    into 
which   Society  we  were  Matriculated  by  it,    is 
punifhed  in   thofe  fiery  Heats,     and  fierce  Op- 
positions,   [about  Infant-Baptifm]   unto   which 
God  fcems  to  have  penally  delivered  us.    Our 
Anabapnfts,     when    fomewhat    of  Exonera- 
tion was  begun,  formed  a  Church  at  Bofton  on 
May  28.    1665.  befides  one  which  they  had  be- 
fore at  Swanzey,  not  only  with  a  manifelt  Vio- 
lation of  the  Laws  in  the  Commonwealth,  rela- 
ting to  the  orderly  manner  of  gathering  a  Church, 
but  alfo  with  a  manifold  Provocation  unto  the 
reft  of  our  Churches,  by  admitting  into  their 
own  Society  fuch  as  our  Churches  had  excom- 
municated for  Moral  Scandals,   yea,   and  em- 
ploying fuch  Perfons  to  be  Adminiftrators  of  the 
Two  Sacraments    among  them.      Unto  thefe 
DifTatisfactions  of  good  Men  at  their  Proceed- 
ings, there  was  added  the  Confideration  of  their 
uncharitable   Difpofition   to   Unchurch  all  the 
Faithful  upon  Earth  befides  themfelves:   'Tis 
a  Principle  in  the  Confeflion  of  their  Faith,  Be- 
lievers being  Baptized  are  vifible  Saints,  and  the 
true  Matter  of  a  vifible  Church ;   now  they  de- 
clared our  Infant  Baptifm  to  be  a  meer  Nullity, 
and  they  Arrogate  unto  themfelves  the  Title  of 


Baptifts,  as  if  none  were  Baptized  but  them- 
felves :  With  them  therefore  our  Churches  were 
no  Churches  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  nor  are 
there  any  vifible  Saints  among  us.  According- 
ly, when  a  Publick  Difputation  was  had  with 
them,  it  was  earneftly  and  charmingly  put  un- 
to them  in  a  great  AfTembly,  whether  they  did 
own  the  Churches  of  New-England  for  True 
Churches  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  ;  but  they 
would  not  own  it :  And  when  I  my  felf  have 
told  Ibmeofthem,  that  without  putting  them- 
felves to  fo  much  of  Travel  and  Expence,  as 
their  Separation  coft  them,  they  might  enjoy 
all  Ordinances  in  the  Fellow/hip  of' our  Churches, 
without  being  treated  as  Offenders  for  it,  if 
their  Confcience  tied  them  up  to  withdraw 
when  an  Infant  was  Baptized  ,  they  have  Repli- 
ed unto  me,  That  in  an  much  as  I  was  in  their 
Judgment  an  XJnbaptizcd  Man,  they  could  not 
Communicate  with  me  at  the  Table  of  the  Lord. 
Nor  did  it  at  all  tike  off  the  Prejudice  of  ma- 
ny wife  Men  againlt  them,  that  they  did  leem 
to  do  what  Jereboam  was  Taxed  for,  in  making 
Prielh  of  the  loweft  of  the  People ;  or  as  the 
Belgic,  and  others  do  Read  it,  Of  both  Ends  of 
the  People  :  And  as  the  Learned  Zepperits  la- 
mented the  wrong  done  to  Religion  in  it,  that 
they  made  Miniftros  de  Extremitatibm  Populi, 
Sartonbus^  Sutoribus,  Idiotis,  Taylors,  and  Cob- 
lers,  and  other  Mechanicks,  to  be  Minifters$ 
thus  thefe  People  chofe  an  Honeft  Shooemaker 
to  be  their  Paftor,  and  ufed  other  Mechanicks  in 
the  Conftant  Preaching  of  the  Gofpel:  Which 
caufed  fome  other  People  of  a  more  Liberal 
Education  to  reflect,  that  if  Goodman  fuch  an 
One,  and  Gaffer  fuch  an  One,  were  fit  for  Mi- 
niflers,  we  had  befool'd  our  felves  in  Building 
of  Collcdges  • 

E range  Leves  C alamos,  &  fcinde  Thalia  Libellos 
Si  dare  Sutori,  Calceus  ifla  potefi. 

Yea,  fome  obferved,  and  in  Print  afTerted,  that 
this  thing  was  the  real  Bottom  of  their  Com- 
bining into  a  diftinU  Society  by  themfelves 
from  divers  Parts  of  the  Colony  ;  thefe  Men 
having  privately  exercijed  their  Gifts  in  Meet- 
ings with  Applaufe,  began  to  think  themfelves 
wronged,  that  their  Light  was  put  under  a 
Bitfhel ;  and  finding  no  Remedy  in  our  Churches, 
they  threw  on  a  Cloak  of  Anabaptifm,  and  fo 
gained  the  thing  that  they  aimed  at  in  a  Dif- 
guife.  However  it  were,  the  general  Court 
were  fo  afraid,  left  matters  might  at  laft  from 
fmall  beginnings  grow  into  a  New  Munfter 
Tragedy,  that  they  Enacted  lbme  Laws  for  the 
Reftraint  of  Anabaptiftical  Exorbitances  ;  which 
Laws,  though  never  Executed  unto  the  Extremi- 
ty of  them,  yet  were  foon  laid  by,  as  to  any 
Execution  of  them  at  all.  There  were  in  this 
unhappy  Schifm  feveral  truly  godly  Men,  whom 
it  was  thought  a  very  uncomfortable  thing  to 
Profecute  with  fevere  Imprifonments  on  thefe 
Controverfies ;  and  there  came  alfo  a  Letter 
from  London  to  the  Governour  of  the  Maffa- 
Dddd  ddd  2  cbufet-> 


28 


Magnalia  Chrifli  Americana  :  Book  VII. 


chufe  t-Colony,  (like  that  which  our  BleflTed 
Martyrologift,  John  Fox,  once  wrote  unto 
Queen  Elizabeth,  to  prevent  the  Perfecution 
with  which  the  Anabaptifts  were  then  threat- 
nedj  fubfertbed  by  no  lefs  Perfons  than  Dr. 
Goodwyn,  *Dx.Owen,  Mr.  Nye,  Mr.  Caryl,  and 
Nine  other  very  Reverend  Minifters,  wherein 
were  thefe  among  other  Paffages. 

c  We  fhall  not  here  undertake  (in  the  leaft) 
c  to  make  any  Apology  for  the  Perfons,  Opini- 
'  ons  and  Practices  ol  tliofe  who  are  cenfured  a- 
4  mong  you. — You  know    our    Judgment  and 

*  Practice  to  be  contrary  unto  theirs,  even  as 
'  yours ;  wherein  (God  aflifting)  we  (hall  con- 
tinue to  the  End.  Neither  Ihall  we  return  any 
'  Anfwer  to  the  Reafon  of  the  Reverend  Elders, 

*  for  the  Juftification  of  your  Proceedings,  as 
'not  being  willing  to  engage  in  the  Manage- 
ment of  any  the  leaft  Difference  with  Per- 
cfbns  whom  we  fo  much  Love  and  Honour  in 
4  the  Lord.— But  the  Sum  of  al!  which  at  pre 
'  fent  we  fhall  offer  to  you,  is,  that  though  the 
4  Court  might  apprehend,  that  they  had 
4  Grounds  in  General  warranting  their  Procedure 

*  (in  fuch  Cafes)  in  the  way  wherein  they  have 
'proceeded;  yet  that  they  have  any  Rule  or 
'  Command  rendring  their  fo  proceeding  indi- 
1  fpenfibly  NecelTary,  under  all  Cicumftances 
'  of  Fines  or  Places,  we  are  altogether  unfatisfied^ 
1  and  we  need  not  Reprefent  unto  you  how  the 
'  Cafe  ftands  with  our  felves,  and  all  your  Bre- 
thren and  Companions  in  the  Services  of  thefe 
'latter  Days  in  thefe  Nations. — We  are  fure 
c  you  would  be  unwilling  to  put  an  Advantage 

*  into  the  Hands  of  fome  who  feek  Pretences 
'  and  Occafions  againft  our  Liberty,  and  to  Re- 
'  inforce  the  former  Rigour.  Now  we  cannot 
4  deny  but  this  hath  already  in  fome  meafure 
'  been  done,  in  that  it  hath  been  Vogued,  that 
'  Perfons  of  our  Way,  Principles  and  Spirit,  can- 
cnot  bear  with  Diffenters  from  them. — And  as 
'  this  greatly  Reflects  on  us,  fo  fome  of  us  have 
'  obferved  how  already  it  has  Turned  unto  your 
'own  Difadvantage.— We  leave  it  to  your 
'  Wifdom  to  Determine,  whether  under  all 
4  thefe  Circumftances,  and  fundry  others  of  the 
4  like  Nature  that  might  be  added,  it  be  not 
'  Advifeable  at  prefent  to  put  an  End  unto  the 
'Sufferings  and  Confinements  of  the  Perfons  cen- 
sured, and  to  Reftore  them  to  their  former 
'  Liberty.  You  have  the  Advantage  of  Truth 
'and  Order  •,  you  have  the  Gifts  and  Learning 
'of an  able  Miniltry  to  Manage  and  Defend 
'  them ;  you  have  the  Care  and  Vigilancy  of  a 
'  very  Worthy  Magiftracy  to  Countenance  and 
'  Protect  them,  and  to  preferve  the  Peace;  and 
'  (above  all)  you  have  a  Blelled  Lord  and  Mafter, 
4  who  hath  the  Keys  of  David,  who  openeth 
4  and  no  Man  fhutteth,  living  for  ever  to  take 
4  Care  of  his  own  Concernments  among  his 
4 Saints;  and  afluredly  you  need  not  be  dif- 
4  quieted,  though  fome  few  Perfons,  (through 
4  their  own  Infirmity  and  Weaknefs,  or  through 
4  their  Ignorance,  Darknefs  and  Prejudices^) 
4  ftiould  to  their  Difadvantage  turn  out  of  the 
4  Way,  in  ibme  leffer  Matters,  into  By-Paths  of 


'  their  own. — We  only  make  it  our  hearty  Re 
4  quell  to  you,  that  you  would  Truft  God  with 
4  His  Truths  and  Ways  lo  far,  as  to  fufpend  all 
'  Rigorous  Proceedings  in  Corporal  Reftraints  or 
c  Punifhments,  on  Perfons  that  DilTent  from 
'you,  and  Pracfifethe  Principle  of  their  Diffent 
'  without  Danger,  or  Difturbance  to  the  Civil 

'  Peace  of  the  Place Dated    March    27 

'  1669. 

I  cannot  fay  that  this  Excellent  Letter  had 
Immediately  all  the  Effect  which  it  fhould  have 
had  ;  however,  at  length  it  has  had  its  Effect  ; 
And  as  Or/gen  Pleads  againft  Celfus,  that  there' 
ever  were  Differences  among  ProfefTors  of'Chri- 
ftianity  from  the  Beginning,  and  it  was  impoffi- 
ble  but  that  there  lhould  be  fo  ;  neverthelefi 
thefe  Differences  hindered  not  their  Faith,  and 
Love,  and  Obedience:  As  juftin  Martyr  plea- 
ded for  Forbearance,  even  in  the  Churches,  to- 
wards Chriftians  that  yet  thought  rhemftlves 
under  Obligation  to  oblerve  the  Mofaic  Cere- 
monies -,  as  Ignatius,  before  either  of  them,  in 
his  Epiltletothe  Philadelphians,  profefles,  "To 
P erf e  cute  Men  on  the  account  of  Religion,  k 
to  make  our  felves  Conformable  to  the  Heathen 
who  /enow  not  God:  The  Chriftians  of  New- 
England  feem  generally  to  be  of  fuch  a  Tolera- 
ting Difpofition  towards  the  Anabaptifts:  With 
the  Synod  of  Alexandria,  Condemning  all  Ex- 
ternal Force  in  Religion,  of  which  the  Ari- 
ans  were  the  Firft  among  pretended  Chriftians, 
that  were  the  Inventors  and  Promoters  :  Nor 
hath  Anabaptifm  had  one  Jot  the  more  of 
Growth,  I  fuppofe,  for  it.  But  the  Alienation 
continued  fo  long,  that  a  Synod  of  our  Churches 
in  the  Year  1679.  having  mentioned  the  Mif- 
carriages  of  thefe  People,  among  the  Sins  to  be 
Reformed  in  the  Land,  there  was  Publifhed  the 
Year  following,  A  Narrative  of  fome  Confide- 
rable  Paffages,  relating  to  their  Church  by  their 
Paftor,  with  confent  of  the  whole:  Which  Nar- 
rative had  ib  many  grofs  Miftakes  in  it,  ma- 
king 

Candida  de  Nigris  fc?  de  Candentibus  Atra, 

That  fuch  an  Anfwer  unto  it,  as  is  directed  for 
Cretians,  was  Publifhed  under  the  Title  of, 
Ne  Sutor  ultra  Crept  datn.  And  that  Anfwer 
endeavours  to  Demonftrate,  that  if  Perfons  of 
any  Perfwafion  whatfoever,  even  the  very  fame 
with  what  is  held  by  the  Churches  of  New- 
England,  fhould  have  Acted  with  as  much  Irre- 
gularity as  our  Anabaptifts,  they  would  have 
deferved  greater  Punifhment  than  any  that  had 
been  inflicFed  upon  Thefe. 

§.  5.  Sed  jam  Tempus  Equum  Spumantia  Sol- 
vere Colla  ■,  'tis  time  to  have  done  with  thefe 
Contentious  Matters ;  and  thanks  be  to  God  we 
have  done  with  them ;  and  all  the  Foam  where- 
into  we  were  chafed  by  them,  is  now  comfor- 
tably wiped  off 

The  great  Noife  that  hath  been  made  in 
the  World  about  the  Perfecution  made  in  New- 
England,  I  will  now  flop  with  only  Tranfcri-1 
bing  the  Words  uttered  in  the  Sermon  to  the 

firft 


Book  VII.  Or,  TbeHiftoryof  New-England. 


29 


firft  Great  and  General  Ajjembly  of  the  Province 
of  the  Maffachufet-Bay,  arter  the  Two  Colonies 
of  Maftacbufet  and  Plymouth  were  by  a  Royal 
Charter  united. 

4  Things  will  go  well,  when  Magiftrates  are 
great  Promoters  of  the  /foVsg  /W  Good  is,  and  ot 
zoiW  the  Lord  Requiretb  of  them.  1  do  not 
mean,  that  it  would  be  well  for  the  Civil  Ma- 
giftrate,  with  a  Civil  Penalty  to  compel  Men 
to  this  or  that  way  of  Worjhip, which  they  are 
Confciencioufly  indifpofed  unto.  He  is  moft  pro- 
perly the  Officer  of  Humane  Society,  and  a 
Chriftian  by  Non-Conformity  to  this  or  that 
impofed  way  of  Worflnp,  does  not  break  the 
Terms  on  which  he  is  to  enjoy  the  Benefits 
of  Humane  Society. 

'  A  Man  has  a  Right  unto  his  Life,  his  Ettate, 
his  Liberty,  and  his  Family,  although  he 
fhould  not  come  up  unto  thefe  and  thofe 
Blefled  Inftitutions  of  our  Lord.  When  a  Man 
Sins  in  his  Political  Capacity,  let  Political  So- 
cieties Animadvert  upon  him;  but  when  he 
Sins  only  in  a  Religious  Capacity,  Societies 
more  purely  Religious  are  the  fitteft  then  to 
deal  with  him.  Indeed  in  the  Old  Teftament 
the  Magiftrate  was  an  Fee  left  aft  ical  Officer  , 
and  Compliance  with  the  Mofaick  Rites  was 
that  which  Entitled  Men  unto  the  Benefits  of 
Canaan,  the  Typical  and  Renowned  Land  : 
But  now  thefe  Figurative  Things  have  more 
Spiritual  Things  to  Anfwer  them.  It  may  be 
feared,  that  Things  will  not  go  well,  when 
Hereftes  are  not  exterminated  ;  but  I  Pray, 
when  Cexcept  once  perhaps  or  fo  in  the  Cafe 
oiDonatijm)  did  Fines  or  Gaols  ever  fignifie 
any  thing  tor  the  Cure  of  Hereticks  ?  The 
Primitive  Church  for  the  Firft  Three  Hundred 
Years  of  Chriftianity,  cut  off  a  Thoufand  new 
Hydra's  Heads,  without  borrowing  fuch  Penal 
Laws  as  have  fince  been  ufed  ;  it  was  by  found 
Preaching,  by  Dijcipline,  by  Catechifmg,  and 
by  Deputation,  that  they  turned  to  flight  the 
Armies  of  the  Aliens.  Then  'twas  that  Chri- 
ftians  did  ufe  to  lay,  Non  Gladik,  out  faculis, 
aut  Militari  manu,  veritar  prxdicatur,  Jed 
Suadendo  &  Confulendo.  Afterwards  indeed  the 
Orthodox  engaged  the  Emperors  unto  Severities 
upon  the  Hereticks  of  thofe  Days,  but  what  got 
they  by  it  \  When  a  wicked  Manichee,  a  ibrt 
oi'^uaker,  was  put  to  Death,  an  Excellent  Hi- 
ftorian  fays,  'Tivas  a  moft  wretched  Example, 
and  it  made  the  Herefie  fpread  the  more.  Such 
Profecutions  do  but  give  a  Principle  which 
would  be  moft  Fatal  to  the  Church  of  God : 
yea,  they  do  but  afford  a  Root  for  Cain's  Club 
ro  grow  upon.  Thefe  Violences  may  bring  the 
Erroneous  to  be  Hypocrites,  but  they  will  never 
make  them  to  be  Believers ;  no,  they  naturally 
prejudice  Mens  Minds  againft  the  Caufe., 
which  is  therein  pretended  for,  as  being  a 
5  Weak,  a  Wrong,  an  Evil  Caufe.    Wherefore 


that  things  may  go  well,  I  would  willingly  put 
in  a  Barr  againft  the  Perfecution  of  any  that 
may  Confciencioufly  Diffcnt  from  our  Way. 
PofTibly  the  Zeal  in  fbme  famous  and  worthy 
Difciples  of  our  Lord  among  our  felves  has 
been  Reported  and  Reckoned,  as  having  once 
had  a  little  too  much  Fire  on  this  Account:, 
but  the  Churches  of  God  abroad  counted  that 
things  did  not  go  well  among  us,  until  they 
judged  us  more  fully  come  up  unto  the  Apofto- 
lical  Rule,  To  leave  the  otherwife  minded  un- 
to God.  Nor  would  I  defire  my  felf  to  fufter 
Perfecution  upon  a  clearer  Caufe  than  that  of 
tefttfying  againft  our  Perfecution  of  other 
Chriftians  that  are  not  of  my  own  Opinion. 
I  am  lure  that  things  will  not  go  :\rl!  as  long 
as  we  incur  the  fulfilment  of  that  aweful 
Word.  Ij  ye  Bite  and  Devour  one  another, 
take  herd  that  ye  be  not  confumed  one  of  ano- 
ther. Neverthelefs,  when  things  go  well, 
there  are  Magiflratcs  that  will  let  themlelves 
to  advance  all  the  Truths  and  Ways  of  God  a^ 
mong  their  People  :  Magiftrates  are  not  only 
themlelves  to  Profefs  the  Truths,  and  Frarfije 
the  W:iys  of  God,  but  alfo  to  Protccl  and  Fa- 
vour all  diem  that  (hall  do  the  like.  There 
is  an  AfpecT:  of  Singular  Kindnefs,  Defence 
and  Support,  which  Magiftrates  are  to  bear 
unto  them  that  Embrace,  and  much  more  to 
them  that  Declare  the  Truths  and  Ways  of 
God.  Things  went  well  when  it  could  be 
faid,  as  in  2  Cbron.  30.  22.  Hezekiah  [pake 
comfortably  unto  all  that  taught  the  good  Know* 
ledge  of  the  Lord.  Moreover  it  belongs  unto 
Magiftrates  to  Punifh  all  the  Vices  which 
difturb  the  good  Order  and  Repofeof  Humane 
Society  ;  and  hence  alfo  Liberty  of  Confcience 
is  not  to  be  admitted  as  a  Cloak  for  Liber- 
ty of  Prophanenefs.  To  Live  without  any 
Worjhip  of  God,  or  to  Blafpheme  and  Revile 
his  Bleffed  Name,  is  to  be  Chaftifed  as  abo- 
minably Criminal  ;  for  there  can  be  no  Pre- 
tence of  Confcience  thereunto.  Things  will 
go  well  when  we  go  thus,  and  when  thefe  is 
an  Accomplilhment  of  that  Word  in  Rom. 
13.  3.  Rulers  are  not  a  Terror  to  Good  Works, 
but  unto  the  Evil. 

Thefe  things  (which  were  then  utter'd  with 
many  others,  from  2  Chr.  12.  12.  In  Judah 
things  went  well :)  having  the  Thanks  of  them 
that  reprefented  the  Province  then  returned  for 
them,  I  chofe  in  thefe  Terms  here  to  reprefent  the 
Temper  in  this  Matter,  which  I  fuppofe  the 
Confiderate  part  of  the  Province  are  now  come 
unto :  And  fo  long  as  they  continue  of  it,  I 
durft  almoft  Prophefie,  that  SeSaries  will  never 
be  able  to  make  any  great  Impreflions  upon 
them. 

^  Well,  the  Enemy  of  the  New~Fnglifh 
Churches  is  hitherto  difappointed,  Httc  non 
Succefftt,  alia  Aggrediatur  via. 


CHAR 


3° 


Magnalia  Chrifli  Americana :  Book  VII. 


chap.   v. 


Wolves  in  Sheeps  Cloathing  :  Or,  An  Hijiory  of  fever  al  Impoftors  pretending  to  be  Mi- 
nifters remarkably  deteUed  in  the  Churches  of  New-England.  With  a  faithful  Advice 
to  all  the  Churches  Emitted  by  fome  of  the  Paftors  on  that  Occafion. 

Mendacia  ad  modicum  placent,  fed  din  non  durant.     Hieron. 


SINCE  deTriJiibus  may  be  a  proper  Title 
for  the  Book  I  am  now  Writing,  it  will  not 
be  an  improper  Chapter  in  the  Book,  if  fome 
things  calling  for  the  Sorrow  of  all  that  count 
Sin  a  Sorrowful  Thing,  be  now  Related.  But 
can  any  things  more  do  it,  than  horrible  and 
villainous  Impojiures  detected  among  the 
Churches  in  pretended  Preachers  of  the  Glori- 


ous Gofpel  of  God  ?  Reader,  confider  the  Advice 
here  fetch'd  from  and  to  the  Minifters  of  Neva- 
England;  and  then  confider  our  Account  of  the 
Criminals  that  occafiond  it.  In  confidering 
thefe  things,  thou  wilt  not  only  obferve  fome  of 
our  Temptations,  but  thou  wilt  alio  obferve 
many  Notable  and  Wonderful  Difplays  of  the 
Divine  Providence. 


A  Faithful  Advice  from  feveral  MINISTE  R  S  of  the  Go- 
fpel  in  and  near  Bofton,  unto  the  Churches  oflScw-Enz- 
land,    relating  to  the  Dangers  that  may  arife  from  Impoftors 
pretending  to  be  Minifters. 


[  T  is  not  without  fome  concern  upon  our 

X  {  Minds,  that  in  the  late  Writings  of  our 

4  Presbyterian  Brethren  in  England,  we  findawe- 

1  ful  Complaints  about  Bold  Intruders  into  the 

4  Work  of  the  Miniftry,  and  the  fwarming  of 

*  that  Vermine,  with  an  hideous  Noife,  not  in 

*  Corners  and  Chambers,  but  in  the  very  Pul 
'pits,  likely  to  prove  an  Egyptian  Plague ;  up 
'on  which  they  add,  l  If  thefe  Illiterate  Ufur- 
'persare  not  fpeedily  and  effe&ually  difcoun- 
'  tenanced  by  Minifters  and  People  too,  they 
1  who  are  already  the  Blemifh  oi'  Nonconformity , 
c  will  quickly  prove  the  total  Ruin  of  it.  But 
itfatisfied  us  more  than  a  little  to  hear  of  their 
care,  that  the  Confufions  thus  complained  may 
be  prevented,  by  a  Vote  of  this  Importance, 
that  they  would  Employ  none  to  Preach  in  any 
of  their  Pulpits,  but  fuch  as  either  arrived  unto 
them  with  credible  Teftimonials,  or  fubmitted 
themfelves  unto  a  folemn  Trial  of  their  Qualifi- 
cations for  the  Evangelical  Miniftry.  Our  Con- 
gregational Brethren  in  England  being  Ala- 
rumed  with  a  clamour  of  the  Dangers  hence  ari- 
fing  to  the  Interefts  of  our  Holy  Religion,  we 
do  with  a  like  fatisfa&ion  find  they  have  lately 
publifhed   a  Declaration,    wherein  fignifying, 

*  That  inafmuch  as  they  count  none  meet  to 

*  difpence  the  Oracles  of  God  unto  others,  who 
c  are  not  themfelves  Qualified  for  Communion 

*  in  all  Ordinances,  their  joining  themfelves  to  a 

*  particular  Church  of  Chrift  would  be  a  good 
'  Expedient  to  prevent  Ignorant  and  Rajh  lntru- 
c  ders  into  the  Miniftry ;  feeing  then  it  would 
5  be  the  Duty  of  Particular  Churches  and  their 


c  Officers  to  take  fpecial  care,  that  none  of  their 
'  Communion,  who  are  not  Qualified,  may  enter 
l  on  that  Work ;  they  thereupon  add,  We  ex- 
'prefsourDiflike,  andwitnefsagainft  all  Igno- 
'  rant  and  Scandalous  Perfons  entring  on  the 
1  Miniftry ;  and  we  do  in  the  Bowels  of  our 
'•Lord  Jefus  Chrift  pray  and  befeech  all  fuch 
c  as  fear  God,  that  they  give  not  the  leaft  Encou- 
'  ragement  unto  the  Preaching  of  Men,  either 
'  Ignorant  or  Erroneous,  in  the  Great  Articles  of 
'Faith,  or  Scandalous  in  their  Lives  and  Conver- 
'  fations,  or  othervvife  Unmeet  for  this  Holy 
'  Employment,  left  they  bring  the  Guilt  of  thefe 
'  Mens  Sins  on  their  own  Souls. 

In  Conformity  to  this  Watchfuinefs  of  our  U~ 
nited Brethren,  we  cannot  but  in  the  moft  Pub- 
lick  manner  call  upon  our  Churches,  that  they 
beware  of  all  undue  Precipitancy,  in  their  ad- 
mitting Unqualified  Pcrjons  to  be  received  and 
employed  in  the  Character  of  Preachers  unto 
them. 

We  have  indeed  often  wiihed,  that  the 
Young  Men  brought  up  in  our  own  Univerfity, 
might  appear  with  Tejiimomals  under  the 
Hands  of  the  Prefident  and  Fcl/civs,  that  upon 
Trial  they  are  found  Able  and  Pious,  and  like- 
ly to  be  Bleffings  unto  the  Churches,  before  the 
Churches  venture  too  far  in  fetting  of  them  up 
for  Preachers. 

But  inafmuch  as  there  have  fometimes  arri- 
ved among  us  Deceitful  Strangers,  who  have 
fet  up  themfelves  for  Preachers,  and  many  un* 
wary  People  have  difcovered  much  finful  Fol- 
ly, in  fuffering  themfelves  to  be  fir angely  de- 
ceived 


—  I 

Book  VII.  0r3  The  Hiftory  of  'New-England.  31 


ceived  by  thofe  Impoftors,  it  obliges  us  unto  a 
further   point  of  Pafioral  Vigilance   over  the 
Churches,    whereof  we  are  made  the   Over- 
Jeers. 

Tis  well  known,  that  Worthy  Minifiers  of 
the  Gofpel,  retiring  to  New-England  from  other 
Countries,  have  all  along    met   with  Refpe&s 
from  our  Churches,  Equal  ('to  fay  no  more)  un- 
to what  they  have  Ihown  unto  any  of  the  Pa- 
fiors  bred  among  themfelves :  Heaven  is  Wit- 
nefs  to  the  Injuftice  of  the  Slander  by  fome  ut- 
tered againft  us,  That  we   have  been  ever  un- 
civil to  Strangers  ;   and  the  Strangers  them- 
felves  have  been  Witneifes,  that  no  where  un- 
der Heaven  could  they  expe£l   more   Civility 
than    that    wherewith  we  have  ever   treated 
them. 

Neverthelefs  we  have,  upon  fufficient  Occafi- 
ons,  relblved,  '  That  for  the  future,  no  Stranger 
'  coming,  as  a  Preacher  among  us,  without  fuf- 
4  ficient  AfTurances  of  his  being  what  he  pretends 
1  to  be,  ihall  be  employ 'd  in  our  Pulpits  with- 
'  out  a  iblemn  Examination  of  his  Capacities, 
1  for  the  Tremendous  Work  of  Preaching  the 
*  Gloriow  Gofpel  of  God.  And  we  earneftly 
requeft  the  Reverend  Minifiers  of  the  Gofpel, 
in  thefeveral  AfTociat ions  and  Vicinities  through- 
out the  Country,  to  join  with  us  in  fuch  a  necef- 
fary  Refolution. 

We  do  alfo  folemnly  Advife  all  our  People  to 


cipal  part  of  the  Worfhip  of  God  among  the 
People  of  God  :  They  are  to  glorifie  God  and 
our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  with  agreeable  Confclf- 
ons  of  the  Truths  he  has  revealed  unto  us  ;  and 
as  in  the  Peace-Offering  of  Old,  God  hath  his 
part  in  them,  as  well  as  the  People  .theirs. 
Hence,  whether  the  People  that  are  the  Hear- 
ers  be  many  or  few,  learned  or  weak,  fro- 
ward  or  meek,  the  Preacher  muft  prepare  an 
Offering,  as  far  as  he  can,  fuitable  for  that  God, 
who  is  a  Great  King,  and  whofe  Name  is  dread- 
ful. But  if  every  piece  of  Ignorance  and  Ar- 
rogance be  fet  up  for  a  Preacher,  the  Name  of 
the  Holy  God  will  be  prophaned  with  an  Offer- 
ing that  is  made  a  Ridicule  in  the  Repeti- 
tion. 

We  are  not  uhfenGble,  that  one  thing  which 
has  much  expoied  lbmo  hiudicjous  People  a- 
mong  us,  is  an  Opinion  that  Illiterate  Men 
may  be  Serviceable  and  Admirable  Preachers. 
Now  inafmuch  as  the  Jejuites  have  given  this 
among  their  Inltrucfions  to  their  HmUiaries,  To 
teach  that  Teaming  is  nee  difjs  in  a  Mlnifier, 
and  if  they  under  (land  the  Gofpel  it  is  J  effici- 
ent, we  are  forry  that  any  of  our  People  Ihould 
be  fo  Befotted,  not  to  lay,  Bejejuited.  When 
the  Knowledge  of  the  Tongues  and  Arts  revi- 
ved, Religion  had  a  revival  with  it  :  And 
though  fome  Unlearned  Men  have  been  ufeiul 
to  the  Interetts  of  Religion,  yet  no  Man  ever 


beware  of  running  after  New  Preachers,  of  decried  Learning,  but  what  was  an  Enemy  to 
whofe  Endowments  and  Principles  they  have  [Religion,  whether  he  knew  it  or  no.  When 
not  had  a  reafonable  Atteftation,  left  they  una- 
wares run  themfelves  into  fhameful  and  woful 
Reflections.  The  Apoftolical  Injunctions,  To 
prove  all  things,  does  not  invite  Unliable  Peo- 
ple to  Run  after  all  Preachers,  (as  they  too 
often  pervert  the  Senfe  of  it,)  but  it  only  di- 
rects People  to  Examine  by  the  Word  of  God, 
the  Docuine  which  they  hear  from  thole  that 

in  an  orderly  way  are  to  be  heard  as  their 

Teachers. 

The  Preaching  of  the    Gofpel,   being   that 

grand  Inftitution  whereon  depends   the  Ever- 

lafting  Salvation  of  Men,  Satan  feeks  it  as  a 

mighty  Triumph,    to  pervert  it  unto  their  E- 

verlafting   DeftrucYion.     And   a    People   that 

having  Itching  Ears,  do  after  their  own  Luffs 

heap  up  Teachers  to  themfelves,  do  miferably 

render  themfelves  obnoxious  unto  the  Impreffi- 

ons  of  thofe  New  Preachers  that  will  feduce 

them   unto    Damnable  Herefies.      Or  fuppofe 

the  New  Preachers  do  Broach  no  New  Errors, 

yet  if  they  ihall  prove  cheats,  that  have  made 

the  Preaching  of  the   Gofpel  only  a  Cloak  for 

their  Covetous,  or  Lafcivious^  or  other  Pro- 

phane   Defigns,   they  that  (hall  have  too  fud- 

denly  improved  thofe  Men,  will  be  Partakers 

of  their  Sins.     And  the  Glorious  Ordinances  of 

God    will  be  likely  to  fall  into  a  loathfome 

Contempt  among  the  People,  if  Contemptible  Fel- 
lows can  eafily  proftitute  them  unto  their  per- 
nicious Purpofes. 

The  Sermons  wherein  the  Everlajiing  Gofpel 

is  Preached,  as  well  as  the  Prayers  made  in  our 

Congregations,  are  to  be  confidered  as  a  Prin- 


out   Lord  chofe  FifJiermen  to   be   Minifiers, 
(which   often    is    impettinently    pleaded)    he 
would  not  fend  them  forth  until  they  had  been 
a  confiderable  while  under  his  Tuition,  (a  bet- 
ter than  the  beft  in  any  Colledge  under  Heaven  ! ) 
and  then  alfo  he  miraculoufly  furnilhed  'em 
with  more  Learning  than  any  of  us  by  Seven 
Tears   hard  Study  can  attain  unto.      If    God 
fhould  be  provoked  by  the  Unthankfulnefs  of 
Men,  to  fend  the  Plague  of  an  Unlearned  Mini- 
firy   upon    poor    New-England,'  foon  will  the 
Wild  Beaffs  of  the  Dtfart  lye  there,  the  Houfes 
will  be  full  of  doleful  Creatures,  and  Owls  will 
dwell  there.     Ordinarily,   that  Man   who  un- 
dertakes the  Miniftry   of  the  Gofpel  without 
fome  Education  for  it,  is,  we  doubt,  in  as  pre- 
fumptuous  an  Error   as    the  unhappy  Uzzah 
that  perilhed  in  his  Error  ■,  though  we  alfo  al- 
low different  Meafures  and  Places  for  that  E- 
ducation.     And  that  Man  was  never  worthy  to 
Preach  one   Sermon,   who    did  not  feel,    and 
would  not  own,  that  all  the  Learning  that  can 
be  had,  is  little  enough  to  accomplilh  an  Able 
Minifler  of  the  New  Teftament. 

Upon  the  whole,  as  Luther  obferved,  that 
God  punifhed  the  Primitive  Churches  with 
Falfb  Teachers,  for  their  ftarving  and  flight- 
ing of  their  faithful  Minifiers  ;  thus  .we  fear  the 
Churches  of  New-England  may  fufter  Mifchiefs 
in  time  to  come  from  Ealfe  Teachers  ;  and 
we  fee  caufe  to  admire  the  Compaffion  of 
Heaven  unto  this  Land,  that  fuch  dangerous 
things  have  all  his  time  done  fb  little  Damage 
Unto  any  of  out  Churches.    But  as  the  Church 

of 


3 


Magnalia  Chrifli  Americana  :  Book  VII. 


ofEphefus,  having  been  warned  by  the  Apo- 
ftle,  That  grievous  Wolves  would  enter  in  a- 
tttottg  them,  was  afterwards  commended  by  our 
Saviour  for  fo  taking  the  warning,  that  they 
Tried  them  who  /aid  they  were  Apoft/es  when 
they  were  not  fo,  and  found  them  Liars  .•  Even 
fo  we  would  hope,  that  after  this  Day  no  Untri- 
ed Perfons  will  be  Entertained  for  Preachers  in 
any  of  our  Colonies. 

We  lay   this  Advice  before  our  Churches, 
purpofing  to  do  our  part  in  attending  to  ir. 


Increafe  Mather. 
James  Allen. 
Samuel  Willard. 
Mofes  Fiske. 
Nehemiah  H chart. 
John  Dan  forth. 
Cotton  Mather. 
Nehemiah  Walter. 
Jonathan  Pierpont. 
Jofeph  Belcher. 


Eofton,  Dccemb  28.  1699, 


An  Hiftory  of  fome  lmpofiors  Remarkably  and  Seafonably 
Dete&ed  in  the  Churches  of  New-England  •  Written  to 
maintain  the  Advice  Publijhed  by  fome  of  the  Paflors  in 
thofe  Churches  relating  to  Impoftors,  and  prevent  all  fu- 
ture Mifchiefs  from  them. 


IT  was  a  notable  Difcipline  by  which  the 
Reformed  Churches  in  France  prefer ved 
themfelves  from  the  Intolerable  Mifchiefs  arifing 
by  the  allowance  of  Unworthy  Preachers :  Their 
National  Synods  every  time  they  far,  would 
Publifh  a  Roll  of  thofe  U  moor  thy  Preachers 
that  could  be  found  creeping  in  among  them, 
and  with  a  Defcription  of  their  Feature  and  Sta- 
ture, and  other  Circumffances  like  what  ufes  ro 
be  given  in  an  Hue  in  Cry,  this  Roll  would 
notifie  the  Crimes  laid  unro  their  Charge,  and 
admonilh  all  People  to  beware  of  Entertaining 
them. 

The  Churches  of  New-England  have  hereto- 
fore been   in  fuch  Good  Order,    that  no  Man 
could  be  Ordained  and  Received  as  a  P  aft  or  in 
them,  without  the  Concurrence  of  the  Churches 
in  the  Vicinity,  and  a  very  Solemn  and  Publick 
Aftion.     But  a  Good  Order  has  never  yet  been 
provided  among  us,  that  no  Untried  and  Un 
fit  Perfon  fhall  fet  up  for  a  Preacher,  and  run 
about  from  Town  to  Town,  getting  into  the  too 
much  unguarded  Pulpits,    and  threatning  our 
Holy    Religion   with   no   little   Inconvenience. 
Now  to  prevent  and  redrefs  this  Inconvenience. 
it  has  been  by  fome  Conliderate  Perfons  defi- 
red,  that  fomething  like  the  French  Roll  may 
be  Exhibited  unto  the  Churches  of  New-Eng 
/and,  which  may  exemplifie  fome  few   of  the 
many  Cheats  that  have  gone  to  impofe  upon 
them.     It  is  unrealbnable  to  complain  that  the 
Crimes   of  thofe  Cheats  are  thus  openly  expo- 
fed  ;  for  I  befeech  you,  Sirs,  are  they  not  as 
openly  Committed  ?  Men  are  roo    infenfible  of 
the  horrible  Villany  and  Blafphemy  in  the  Crimes 
of  thofe  Fellows,  who  fet  up  for  Teachers   to 
the  People  of  God,   when  God  knows  they  are 
wicked  Vagrants  and  Varlets,   defigning  to  a- 
bufe  the  Honeft  People  ;   if  they  imagine  it  a 
Severe  thing  to  Stigmatize  them  in  the  View 


of  all  the  affronted  Churches.  The  Faults  of 
the  Penitent,  indeed,  Ihould  be  Concealed ;  but 
rhefe  pretended  Preachers  of  Repentance  are 
'not  known  to  Pratt  ice  the  Repentance  which 
they  Preach.  A  Pillory  were  a  very  gentle 
Punifhment  for  the  Wretches,  who,  wholly  un- 
qualified. Steal  into  a  Pulpit,  and  Forge  a 
Commijjion  from  the  King  of  Heaven  unto  his 
Churches.  Our  Laws  not  providing  fuch  a 
Punifhment  tor  them,  they  that  would  be 
faithful  to  the  Churches,  will  do  well  (fordid 
ncr  the  Apotfle  as  much  to  Hymenals  and  A- 
>exander?\  to  let  them  up  in  an  Hiftory  in- 
ftead  of  a  Pillory,  with  a  Writing  as  it  were 
in  Capitals,  ro  fignifie,  THESL  WERE  IM- 
POSTORS THAT  WOULD  HAVE  BEFN 
ESTEEMED  MINISTERS. 

The  Confequence  and  Advantage  of  this 
Aftion  'tis  hoped  will  be,  that  both  Pallors 
and  People  will  be  more  weary  of  being  too 
iudden  in  asking  to  Preach  for  them  thofe  to 
whom  they  are  utter  Strangers  :  That  needy 
and  prophane  Strangers  will  ro  more  venture 
ro  Preach  in  a  Country,  where  their  detected 
Wickednefs  will  be  Proclaimed  for  the  Terror 
of  all  that  fhall  come  after  them  :  That  all 
Pious  Minds  will  give  Glory  to  the  Lord  Je- 
(us  Chriff,  who  Walks  in  the  midft  oj  his 
Churches,  when  they  fee  what  Quick  Work,  he 
has  ordinarily  made  in  theie  Churches,  to 
difcover  thofe  Atheijiical  Preachers,  that  have 
fo  horribly  mocked  him-,  and  admire  his  Gra- 
cious and  Watchful  Providence,  in  ftill  deli- 
vering his  Churches  from  thofe  Little  Foxes 
that  would  have  ipoiled  them.  And  now  we 
will  Addrefs  our  felves  ro  do  that,  which 
when  'tis  done,  what  will  they  merit  hue 
the  Cardinal's  Bleffing  who  will  take  no 
warning  ? 

§   1-  The 


Book  VII.  Or,  The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  33 


§.  1.  The  very  firft  Minifter  (one  Lyford) 
that  ever  came  into  l\ew-England.,  (which  was 
in  the  Year  1624. )  at  his  firft  eoming  did  Ca- 
refs  die  good  People  at  Plymouth  with  fuch 
extreavn  thovys  of  AffecYion  and  Humility,  that 
the  People  were  mightily  taken  with  him  ;  ne- 
verthelefs,  within  a  little  while  he  ufed  molt 
malignant  Endeavours  to  make  P  alliens  among 
them,  and  confound  all  their  Civil  and  Sacred 
<  Irder.  At  lall  there  fell  into  the  Hands  of  the 
Governour  his  Letters  home  to  Erg/ami,  fill'd 
with  wicked  and  lying  Accusations  againft  the 
People,  of  which  tilings  being  {fiamerully  Con- 
vidled,  he  did  publickly  in  the  Church  confers 
with  Tears,  That  he  had  flandercujty  abufed 
the  good  People^  an  I  that  God  might  jufily  lay 
innocent  Blood  unto  his  Charge,  for  he  knew 
not  what  hurt  might  have  come  through  his 
Writings,  and  that  Pride,  Vain-glory  and  Self- 
love  had  been  the  Caufcs  of  his  Mi/carriages. 
Thefe  things  he  uttered  io  Pathetically,  that 
they  again  permitted  him  to  "Preach  among 
them  :  And  yet  in  Two  or  Three  Months  he  lb 
rotorioufiv  renewed  his  Mifcarriages,  which  he 
had  thus  bewailed,  that  his  own  Wife,  thro1 
the  Affliction  of  her  Mind  at  his  Hypocrifie, 
could  not  forbear  declaring  her  Fears,  that  God 
would  bring  feme  heavy  Judgment  upon  their 
Family,  not  only  lor  thefe,  but  fome  former 
Impieties  by  hini  committed,  efpccially  in  fear- 
ful Breaches  of  the  Seventh  Commandment, 
which  he  had  with  an  Oath  denied,  though 
they  were  afterwards  Evinced.  Being  there- 
upon Banilhed,  he  went  unto  Virginia^  where 
he  ibon  ended  his  Days. 

The  Di  filler  thus  befalling  of  this  Country 
in  the  Firft  Minifter  that  ever  came  into  it, 
feems  to  have  been  an  Intimation  from  Heaven 
unto  the  Country,  to  beware  in  all  After-times 
how  they  fufiered  Cheats  in  the  Evangelical 
Miniftry  to  be  impofed  upon  them.  Never- 
iheiefs,  there  have  crept  in  feveral  Cheats  a- 
inong  the  Churches  which  have  been  fpeedily 
and  notably  detected,  h  will  be  neither  Need- 
ful nor  Itieful,  that  they  fhould  be  all  Enume- 
rated :  Some  of  them  fhall. 

^.  2.  Many  among  us  do  ftill  remember  a 
Fellow  that  made  him  fell  memorable  by  Preach- 
ing Zealoufly  on  that  Text,  Let  him  that  Stole 
Steal  no  more  ;  when  he  had  at  that  very  time  a 
parcel  otStolen  Money  in  his  Pocket.  The  Sum, 
as  I  remember,  was  live  Pounds  ,  but  in  the 
dozed  Confcience  of  the  Thief  it  hardly  made 
the  weight  of  a  Scruple. 

§.  3.  I  have  been  informed^  that  a  certain 
Gentleman  in  the  Southern  Parts  of  this  Land, 
having  with  much  Pains  taught  an  lrijh  Ser- 
vant in  his  Family  to  be  almojx  able  to  read 
Englifh  ;  this  Fellow,  after  his  time  was  out, 
let  up  lor  a  Preacher  in  a  Neighbouring  Plan- 
tation :  But  the  Gentleman  his  Mailer  hap- 
pening fome  time  after  to  meet  our  Preaching 
Teagut,  feverely  Chid  him  lor  his  Prefumptu- 
ous  Atrogance  5  and  among  other  Exprefiions, 
bellowed  this  pretty  Satyncal  Scourge  upon 
him-,  If  fuch  fallows  as  thou  art  may  fet  up 


for  Preachers,  there  zoill  be  one  Text  impojji- 
ble  ever  to  be  F reached  upon,  or  to  be  fulfilled 
or  underftood:  The  Almighty  in  one  Text  threa- 
tens of  a  Judgment,  a  Famine  of  hearing  the 
Word  of  the  Lord  ■  but. if  fuch  Varlets  at  thou 
art  may  be  Preachers,  ''tis  impofjible  that  fuch  a 
Judgment  fhould  ever  be  Executed  ! 

^.  4.  Many  of  thole  Perfons  who  have  gone 
to  infinuate  themfclves  into  our  Churches,  with 
Spirits  in  them  that  were,  for  their  Covetous, 
or  Contentious,  or  Ambitious,  or  otherwife  Evil 
inclinations,  difpleafing  to  the  God  of  the  Spi- 
rits of  all  Flejh,  have  been  immediately  and 
remarkably  confounded  by  their  being  left  un- 
to the  Criminal  Foily  of  Preaching  Stolen  Ser- 
mons. The  detecled  Plagiaries  have  gone  ofE, 
as  a  Thief  is  aflmmed  when  he  is  found.. 
One  happy  hindrance  to  the  Defigns  of  the 
fiery  Serpent  have  been  this  way  afforded  among 
us. 

Others  Remember  Inftances  ;  I  ihall  not  men- 
tion them. 

§•  5.  A  Young  Fellow,  (one  Dick  Swayn) 
that  had  been  Servant  unto  a  Captain  of  a  Ship 
in  Bofton,  after  a  Thoufand  Rogueries,  had  his 
Time  given  him  by  the  Widow  of  the  Cap- 
tain, when  fhe  became  fo,  becaufe  that  (he 
would  not  be  troubled  with  fo  Thievifh,  Ly- 
ing and  Wicked  a  Villain.  This  Fellow  was 
afterwards  detecled  in  Villanies  enough  to  fill  a 
Volume,  which  procured  his  going  in  miferable 
Circumllances  to  Virginia ;  from  whence  he  got 
through  feveral  Stages  at  length  unto  the  Ifland 
of  Providence  !  There  the  Monfter  fet  up  for  a 
Preacher  of  the  Gofpel,  and  putting  on  a  mighty 
(how  of  Religion,  he  was  mightily  followed 
and  admired  5  and  the  People  treated  him  with 
a  more  than  ordinary  Liberality.  Perceiving 
that  it  was  time  to  be  gone  from  thence,  he 
Forged  Letters  of  his  Father's  Death  in  Eng- 
land, by  which  a  vail  Eltate  was  fallen  to  him ; 
under  the  Umbrage  of  that  Forgery,  he  gets  off 
immediately  by  a  Veffel,  that  mull  firft  carry 
him  to  New-England.  Having  Preached  feveral 
Sermons  in  the  Southern  Parts  of  New-Eng- 
land, he  comes  to  Bofton  in  the  Year  16 9!?. 
where  in  private  Houfes  he  would  be  ridicu- 
loufly  forward  in  thrulling  himfelf  upon 
Prayer,  which  he  would  manage  with  a  Noife 
that  might  reach  all  the  Neighbourhood.  He 
began  to  Court  Opportunities  of  Preaching  a- 
mong  the  Neighbours  ;  but  forgetting  to  change 
his  Name,  the  Gentlewoman  to  whofe  De- 
ceafed  Husband  he  had  been  a  Servant,  acci- 
dentally coming  into  the  Houfe  where  he  Lodged, 
and  hearing  one  of  that  Name  exceedingly 
cried  up,  as  a  Worthy,  Able,  Eminent  Man, 
asked  for  a  fight  of  him.  When  to  her  Afto- 
nifhment  fhe  found  it  was  Dick,  even  that  very 
Scandalous  Dick  that  had  play'd  fo  many  abo- 
minable Pranks  in  her  own  Family  Ibrae  Years 
ago,  the  Gentlewoman  could  fcarce  believe 
her  Eyes;  and  finding  the  Vagrant  not  give  her 
any  Intelligent  Account  how  he  became  a  Cbri- 
fiian,  it  was  yet  more  Unintelligible  to  her 
!how  he  became  a  Minifter,  He  begg'd  he* 
E  e  e  e  e  e  e  Pardors 


34 


Magnalia  Cbrifti  Americana 


Book  VII. 


Pardon  for  all  his  old  Knaveries,  but  fhe  be- 
ing advifed  that  he  was  now  pra&ifing  of  New 
ones,  took  a  Courfe  that  the  People  fhould  be 
deprived  of  fo  Charming  a  Preacher,  as  no 
doubt  fome  of  the  giddy  Populace  would  have 
counted  him.  So  without  any  more  Diftur- 
bance,butonly  the  cheating  fome  Credulous  Folks 
of  confiderable  Sums  of  Money,  he  marched  off. 
§.  6.  A  Fellow  in  this  prefent  Year  1699. 
appeared  in  Bofton,  pretending  to  be  a  Mini- 
fter ;  concerning  whom  an  Honeft  and  a  Difcreet 
Man  in  the  Country  having  a  juft  fear,  left 
our  Charity  fhould  unjuftly  and  unawares  take 
too  kind  notice  of  him,  wrote  me  the  following 
Account. 

'  This  Day  a  Man,  whofe  Name  is  E/eazer 

Kingsberry, in  Difcourfe  with  him,  told 

me  he  hud  Preached  the  Gofpel  Four  Months ; 
he  (hewed  me  a  Certificate  to  prove  it,  with 
about  Twelve  Names  to  it,  all  Written  by  his 
own  Hand,  (the  Inttrument  was  drawn  by  a- 
notherj  he  alfo  told  me  he  Preached  the  laft 
Sabbath  between  Tcinton  and  Freetown,  be- 
fore a  confiderable  Affembly  •,  which  was  con- 
firmed by  a  Man  of  Tanton  then  prefent.  Con- 
fidering  how  God  is  likely  to  be  dil  honoured, 
and  the  Gofpel  fcandalized  by  him,  I  thought 
it  my  Duty  to  undeceive  you,  by  giving  you 
the  following  Relation.  He  was  Born  and 
brought  up  in  Wrentham,  and  Bound  Prentice 
to  a  'Taylor,  but  fb  Vicious  a  Servant,  that  his 
Mafter  could  do  no  good  with  him.  He  gat 
free,  and  Married  a  Wife  ;  but  not  long  after 
Stole,  and  left  her ;  and  adding  to  his  Felony 
feveral  other  Vicious  Tricks,  he  went  to  the 
Weflward.  From  thence  he  wrote  a  Letter  to 
Wrentham,  which  confifted  chiefly  of  Lies  and 
Qerfes.  When  1  now  fpake  with  him,  I  ad- 
vifed him  to  follow  his  Calling,  and  provide 
for  his  Wife,  and  not  feck  to  Dilhonour  God 
and  deceive  his  People.  He  replied,  As  for 
his  Wife  fhe  was  a  Devilifh  Jade,  and  he 
would  never  take  her  more  ■,  but  when  he 
was  fettled,  and  had  an  Houfe,  he  would  take 
her  as  a  Servant ;  and  if  fhe  would  not  obey 
him,  he  would  kick  her  into  the  Fire  ;    but 

he  would  go  on    in  Preaching, and  he 

would  wage  Twenty  Pieces  of  Fight,  he  would 

get  Money  and  Credit  in  a  Jhort  time. 

I  could  fill  a  Sheet  of  Paper,  but  I  hope  I 
have  faid  enough  to  prevent  his  having  any 
Encouragement  from  you ;  and  what  further 
ought  to  be  done  concerning  him  I  leave  to 
your  Consideration. 

One  of  the  Minifters  in  Bojion  immediately 
lent  after  him  a  Letter  under  a  flying  Seal,  fo- 
lemnly  charging  him  to  leave  off  the  Prefump- 
tuous  and  Blafphemous  Courfe  that  he  had  thus 
taken  up,  and  return  unto  his  Family  and  Em 
ployment  ;  and  giving  him  to  underftand,  that 
the  Jufiices  everywhere  fhould  be  informed 
of  him,  as  being  a  Vagabond.  Hereupon  the 
Vagabond,  as  I  am  told,  changed  his  Name  in- 
to Berry,  and  ran  away  to  a  place  called  Cape 
May,  where  I  am  alio  told  the  People  were  fo 
Bewitched  with  him,    that  they  were  almoft) 


ready  to  tear  in  pieces  any  Man  that  fhould 
fpeak  diminutively  of  him. 

§.  7.  But  tho1  this  Bird  flew  away  to  the 
Southward,  unto  Cape  May,  another,  whole 
pretended  Name  was  May,  came  upon  thisCoaft 
about  the  fame  time.  And  on  that  Occafion  an 
Excellent  and  Ingenious  Perfon  wrote  unto  me 
fuch  Patfages  as  thefe. 

1  May  uies  to  prove  Pleafant  and  Healthy  ; 
'  but  the  Mob  are  wont  to  Dance  at  the  En- 
'  trance  of  it,  let  it  prove  how  it  will.  Mr. 
k  Parker  ufed  to  fay,  The  People  love  to  Tap  a. 
c  new  Barrel.  I  think  I  once  told  you  of  E.  F. 
'  and  M.J.  but  left  I  have  not,  I'll  give  you  a 
'  Word  of  each. 

'  E.  F.  fometimes  of  Salem,  coming  to  New- 
c  Haven  on  Saturday  Even,  being  cloathed 
'  in  Black,  was  taken  tor  a  Minifter,  and  was 
(  '  able  to  Ape  one,  and  humoured  the  miftake 
'  like  him  that  laid.  Si  vult  populus  decipi,  de- 
'■■cipiatur.  Word  being  carried  ro  Mr.  J.  T. 
'  that  a  Minijier  was  come  to  Town,  he  im- 
c 'mediately  procured  him  to  Preach  both  parts 
'  of  the  Day.  The  firft  was  to  Acceptation  ; 
'but  in  the  lift  Exercife  he  plentifully  fhewed 
'  himfelf  to  be  a  Whimfical  Opinionift,  and 
c  befides,  railed  like  Rabjhakeb,  and  Reviled  the 
'  Magiftrates,  Minifters  and  Churches  at  fuch 
'  a  rate,  that  the  People  were  ready  to  pull  him 
'  out  of  the  Pulpit. 

§.  8.  'The  fame  Worthy  Perfon  goes  on. 
'  M.  J.  A  Welch  Tanner  by  Trade,  fome  time 
'  Servant  unto  Captain  P.  at  Salem,  left  Salem, 
'  went  to  Say-Brook,  work'd  at  his  Trade,  and 
c  ftole  Mr.  W\  Leather  Breeches.  Thence  he 
'  went  to  Staten-IJland  by  New-York,  and  fet 
'  up  for  a  Preacher,  being  a  ready  Prater.  At 
'  the  Information  of  a  Pedling  Trader,  he 
'  had  an  Invitation  by  fome  few  of  Killwgfworth 
'  to  Vifit  them,  and  Preach  in  Order  to  Settle- 
'  menr.  He  came,  but  happening  to  fpeak  ir- 
'  reverently  of  fomething  in  the  Scripture  be- 
'  fore  fome  of  the  People,  it  occafioned  fuch 
'  Divifion  and  Tumult,  that  he  was  not  fuffer- 
'  ed  to  Preach  before  Mr.  Buckingham's  Advice 
'  and  Confent  was  obtained  •  which  when 
'fought,  he  advifed  them  to  encjiure  firft  whe- 
'  ther  this  were  not  the  Fellow  am  Stole  the 
'  Leather  Breeches.  This  proving  even  fo,  pre- 
'  vented    him   at  Killing] worth.      Thence    he 


'  went  to  Brainjord,  the  Night  before  a  Faft, 
'  and  making  known  his  pretended  Function,  it 
'  was  counted  a  good  Providence  ;  for  they 
'  had  no  Minifter,  and  he  was  earneftly  defired 
4  to  Preach,  and  as  readily  accepted  it.  But 
'  one  Peter  Stent,  a.  Brother  that  ufed  to  Pray 
4  and  Read  a  good  Setmon  among  the  People, 
'  when  they  had  no  Minifter,  knew  nothing  of 
'  this  (for  he  lived  at  a  FarmJ  but  in  the 
'  Morning  came  provided  to  read  one  of  Mr. 
'  A.  Gray's  Sermons.  But  he  found  Morgan  at 
'  it  when  he  came  ;  and  when  he  named  his 
'  Text,  it  was  the  fame  his  intended  Sermon 
'  was  on ;  and  out  of  Curiofity  to  fee  how  Mens 
'  Wits  jumpt  in  Profecuting  the  fame  Text,  he 
'  turned  to  his  Book,    and  found  Morgan  the 

'  fame 


Book  VII.  0r3  The  Hijlory  <?/ New-England.  95 


•  fame  with  Mr.  Gray  Word  for  Word.  He 
;  followed  him  while  he  was  weary,  and  at 
v  length  run  before  to  a  place  in  the  Sermon 
'  that  Ipoke  of  Ghfgow  Sinners,  and  there  lay 

•  wait  for  Morgan ;   but  when  he  came  there, 

•  he  turned  it,  New-England  Sinners  ;  and  that 

•  was  all  the  Variation  in  the  whole  Sermon. 

•  The  People  were  mightily  Affected  with  the 
;  Sermon,  and  were  hot  upon  calling  Morgan 
;  to  the  Miniftry.  But  Stent  difcovered  the 
s  Cheat.  So  they  diimilTed  him,  and  the  Tan- 
'  ner  departed  with  Liberty  to  go  as  far  as  a  New 
'  Pair  oiSbooes  would  carry  him. 

§.  9.  Fafcination  is  a  thing  whereof  Mankind 
has  more  Experience  than  Comprehenfion.     And 
fafcination   is  never  more  notorioufly  fenfible, 
than  in  Mens  running  after    Faffs   Teachers  ot 
Religion.     When   Falfe   Teachers   impofed   on 
the  Ga/atians,  the  Apolfle  laid,  0  Foolijh  Ga 
iatians,  who  hath  Bewitched  you  !   One  cannot 
eafily  aicribe  unco  a  truer  Guile,  than  a  Sata- 
nick  Energy,  the  ft range  Biafs  upon  the  Minds 
of  a  Multitude,  foreeably  and  furioufty  fome- 
times  carrying  them  into  Follies,   from  whence 
the  plalneft  Realon  in  the  World  will  not  Re- 
claim them.     What   hut  facfa  an  Energy  could 
be  upon  the  Minds  of  many  People  in  Bojhn., 
after  the  Arrival  of  one  that  went  by  the  Name 
of"  Samuel  May,   about  the  beginning  of  July, 
1699.     The  wonderful  Succefs  of  Mahomet  up- 
on a  World,  where  Chriftianity  was  to  another 
Degree  loft  than  it  is  yet  in  Bofton,    was  no 
longer  a  Wonder  unto  us,  when  we   faw  the 
Succefs  of  May  in  a  place  of  fo  Ghriftian  a 
Character  as  Bcfton.    It  was  all  over  pure  En- 
chantment '  He  lhow'd  unto  oneMinilterat  his 
firlf  Arrival  a  Teflimonial  of  little, but  lome  hopes 
of   his   being  a  Man  of  a  Jweet    Gojpel  Spi- 
rit, figned  with  Two  Names,   whereof  one  was 
of  a   Man    that  once   had  been  a  Scandalous 
Fire-Ship  among  the  Churches  in  this  Country  : 
Which  when  this  Blade  underftood,   he  would 
never  after  fhow  his  T e ft  i  mom  alio  any  more  of 
our  Minifters,  tho'  they  earneltly  and  frequently 
ask'd  him  for  it.     So  Silly  and  Shallow  a  Per- 
fon  he  was,  that  it  was  impoliible  for  any  but 
fuch  to  be  many  Minutes  in  his  Company  with- 
out  being  fenfible  of  it.     The  firft  thing  that 
made  fbme  to  fufpetl  him,  was  his  ufing  to  lift 
up  his  Eyes  and  Hands,  with  Ifrains  of  Devoti- 
on ufed  by  none  others  in  the  AlTembly.,  after 
he  had  firft  look'd  about  to  fee  who  look'd  up- 
on him.     Numberlefs  Marks  of  a  Cheat  were 
daily  more  and  more  difcovered  in  him  -,  never- 
thelefs,  he  was  able  to  imitate  a  plaufible  Ut- 
terance and  Atlwn,  and  feem'd  fo  Zealoufly  fet 
upon  Inviting  Men  to  Chrijl,  that  after  Sermon 
was  over   he  would   make    another  Speech  to 
put  'em  in  Mind  on't.     Abundance  of  the  Peo- 
ple became  fo  fiercely  fet  for  him,   that  they 
poured  out  a  Thoufand  ExprelTions  of  Rage  up- 
on the  Faithful  Paltors  -of  the  Town,    that 
thought  not  fuch  an  Illiterate  Creature  (who 
by  his  own  Confeilion  had    never  been   one 
Year  under  any   Education,)  worthy  to  be  fet 
ap  in  the  Publiek  Pulpits.    Though  the  bigger 


and  wifer  part  of  the  Town  were  not  fei&ed 
with  this  Bigotry,  yet  a  Multitude  became  fo 
Furious,  that  making  it  their  Bufineis  to  Soli- 
cite  all  forts  of  Perfons  ro  go  a  Maying  with 
them,  if  any  refufed,  they  cotild  hardly  efcape 
fome  Reproach  for  it.  The  Jews  were  hardly 
more  engaged  for  their  Sabatai  Sevi.  the 
Difciples  of  this  Money-catcher  became  fo  Ex- 
ceeding tierce,  many  of  them,  that  fome  fober 
Men  became  afraid  of  Palfing  by  that-  way 
where  one  muft  Encounter  them.  Though  he 
were  detected  in  feveral  Crimes,  as  pretending 
to  Languages  which  he  knew  nothing  of,  and 
this  in  the  fpecial  Service  and  Prefence  of  the 
Lord;  and  Preaching  Stolen  Sermons,  wherein 
he  could  not  produce  one,  material  Sentence  of 
his  own  ;  and  horrid  Lying  in  very  repeated 
Inftances:  Yet  his  Followers  would  go  on,making 
Ridiculous  Apologies  for  him,  and  Malicious  In- 
vettivcs  againft  any  that  would  not  yet  believe, 
him  an  Eminent  Saint.  Yea,  they  began  to 
throw  Libels  into  the  Houfes  of  the  Mini- 
fters, the  moft  infolent  that  ever  I  faw.  The 
Anabaptijls  employed  him  at  their  Meeting- 
Houfe,  which  was  now  filled  with  great  Con- 
gregations ;  and  it  was  an  undeferved,  an  afto- 
niihing,  a  very  memorable  Mercy  of  God  un- 
to the  Town,  that  this  Man  was  now  kept 
from  venting  any  Herejies  among  a  People,  that 
made  themfelves  to  become  fuch  Tinder  foil 
any  Sparks  that  he  might  flrike  into  them* 
And  yet  it  was  another  Mercy  as  great  as  this, 
that  the  Young  Women  in  the  Town  were  not 
betray'd  and  debauch'd  into  fearful  Whore- 
doms: For  at  length  Witnefles,  Good,  Virtu- 
ous, Credible  Witnefles  appeafd,  that  ftiew'd 
him  to  have  been  as  dangerous  a  Devil  as  the 
poor  Young  Women  could  have  met  withal, 
when  by  a  certain  Reverence  for  him  as  a  Mi- 
nifter  they  were  prepared  for  his  vile  Solicita- 
tions. He  perceived  thefe  things  beginning  to 
break  out,  and  away  he  flew  ;  none  of  the  En- 
deavours ufed  by  his  Admirers  to  make  hirri 
ftay  could  flop  him.  The  Pafiors  of  the 
Churches  had  before  made  this  Reflection, 
That  after  Men  of  the  moft  unfpotted  Piety  ,  1 
have  fpent  whole  Prenticefhips  of  Years  in  the 
Faithful,  Watchful,  Painful  Service  of  the 
Churches,  and  have  ferved  them  Day  and 
Night  with  Prayers,  with  Tears,  with  Fafl> 
ings,  with  their  moft  Studied  Sermons  and 
Writings,  and  have  never  fuch  a  Reputation 
with  the  Churches  in  Countries  afar  off;  yet  [ 
if  any  Wolf  in  Shceps  Cloathing  do  come  witn.  \^S 
a  few  good  Words  among  them,  the  fimple 
Souls  of  many  will  not  only  follow  the  Wolf, 
but  on  his  Account  Bark  at  the  Shepherds. 
This  is  a  Vanity  that  I  have  feen  under  the 
Sun.  But  the  People  had  now  this  Reflection 
to  make,  that  fince  they  had  finfully  flighted 
their  molf  Serviceable  Pafiors,  who  never 
craved  after  the  Riches  of  this  World,  they 
(hould  by  the  juft  Judgment  of  God  be  left  un- 
to fuch  an  infatuation,  as  to  enrich  a  Craving 
Beggar  with  many  pounds  of  their  Subftance: 
which  Beggarly  Stranger  immediately  apply1!* 
Eeeesee  ?  hirifc<> 


3* 


Magnalia  Chrifii  Americana  :  Book  VII. 


himfelf,  (not  to  inftil  the  Fear  of  God,  and  Love 
of  Chrift,  into  your  Children,  O  Injured  Peo- 
ple, as  your  Pajiors  do,  with  a  moft  indefati- 
gable Application !  but)  to  teach  them,  that 
Fornication  and  Adultery  is  no  Sin,  and  to 
watch  Opportunities  of  making  them  like  him- 
felf, the  Children  of  the  Devil.    Repent,  O  In- 


fatuated People  ■,  Repent  of  what  you  have 
done;  and  let  the  enfuing  Letter  help  you 
more  throughly  to  confider  the  Occafions  for 
your  doing  fo. 

Religio  Contaminata  ad  omnium   Pertinet 
wjuriam. 


Bofton,   25  d.  low.   1699. 


A  Letter 3  containing  a  Remarkable  Hiflory  of  an  Impofior. 


SIR, 

I  Am  going  to  Entertain  you  with  a  very  fur 
prifing  Story,  by  the  Communication  where- 
of, the  Wiidom,  and  Goodnefs,  and  Juftice  of 
Heaven,  will  become  Obiervable  to  many  Chri- 
ftian  Minds,  and  the  Devices  of  Hell,  againtt 
the  Intei  efts  of  Heaven,  be  a  little  more  fully 
underftood,  and  by  being  underitood,  for  the  fu- 
ture prevented. 

The  laft  Summer,    in  the  very  Ship  that 
brought  us  Letters  from  our  Friends  in  England, 
advifing  us  of  much  Inconvenience  arifing  to  the 
Non  conformifts,    from  ill  Fellows  that  preten 
ded  unto  the  Preaching  of  the  Glorious  Go/pel, 
there  arrived  unto  us  a  Man   that  pretended 
the  Name  of  Samuel  May,   and  the  Character 
of   a  Preacher,   having  with  him   a  Woman 
whom  he  call'd  his  Wife,  but  ufed  her  with  an 
Unwifely  Crabbednefs,  that  gave  Scandal  to  the 
People  aboard.    Albeit  this  Man  gave  mc  much 
caufe  to  be  fufpicious,   left  he  might  be  one  oi 
thofe  whom  our  Letters  complained  of,  yet  my 
Compaflion  towards  a  Needy  Stranger,  whom' 
I  faw  in  Ragged,    Wretched,  Forlorn  Circip- 
fiances,  caufed  me,  among  other  ways,  of  being 
Helpful  unto  him,   to  feek  that  he  might  be 
twice  Employd  in,    and  Requited  for  Preach- 
ing at  our  Private  Meetings  ;  hoping  thereby  to 
have  a  little  Trial  of  him.     His  Plaufible  De- 
fy    livery    pretently  Enchanted  abundance  of  ho- 
neft  People,  who  thought  allwa*  Gold  that  gli- 
flered,    but  many   Days   palled   not    before   I 
found  feveral  things  which  made  me  fay,  /  doubt 
he  was  a  Wolf  in  Sheeps  Cloathing.    They  that 
now  fay",  They  followed  this  Man  becaufe  I 
commended  him,   wrong  me  very  muchj    for 
though  'tis  not  my  manner  tofpeak  ill  of  Men, 
till  I  know  what  I  /peak,  and  that  it  is  my  Du- 
ty to  fpeak  ;  yet  1  let  fall  words  from  the  very 
firft,   that  any  Intelligent  Hearer  might  fee  I 
had  fome  Fear  about  him.    The  caufe  of  that 
Fear  was  this ;  I  found,  that  altho'  'tis  no  time 
of  any  Perfecution  that  fhould  force  any  but 
ill  Men  to  conceal  them/elves,   yet  he  came  A- 
board  the  VelTel   under  fome  concealment,  not 
profeffing,   nor  fuppoied  for  to  be  a  Mi/tijler, 
but  rather  a  Mendicant,  until  they  had  failed 


many  Leagues.     I  found  that  he  could  mention 
the  Name  of  no  one  Mimjler  in  London  with 
whom  he  durft  fay  that  he  had    any  Acquain- 
tance ;  left,  as  it  Ihould  feem,  he  ihould  hap- 
pen to  mention  one  with  whom  we  Ihould  be 
better  Acquainted.     I  found  that  he  was  unac- 
countably Shy  of  giving  us  any  fatisfactory  Ac- 
count or'  his  Original,    his  Education,  his  for- 
mer Circumftances  -,  by  no  means  could  <  get 
him  to  tell  me  in  what  Employment  he  had 
fpent  the  Firft  Six  or  Seven  and  Twenty  Years 
or  his  Lite.     What  appear'd  moft  probable  (and 
iince  more  probable)  was,  That  he  was  a  OBflr- 
tZt*     A  blind  Charity  would  ftill  have  per- 
lwaded  me  to  keep  alive  fome  hope,  that  Folly, 
rather  than  Defign,  might  lye  at  the  bottom  of 
his  odd  Conduct;  but  1  foon  obkrxtdfomething 
chat  made    me  fay    to  fome  of   my   Intimate 
friends,  That   I  feai'd  he   would  prove  at  lajt 
1  Jmutiy,   filthy,    wanton  Fellow.      However, 
hings  not  being  yet  come  to  that  maturity,  I 
;ontented  my   I'elf  with  calling  to  mind     the 
Kule  which  the  old  Britain  gave  his  Country- 
men, to  difcover  whether  Auftin  the  Monk  were 
x  Man  of  God  or  no.      Thought  I,    l  If  this  be 
■  an  honejl  Man,  he  is  an  humble  Man :  If  he  be 

•  a  Faithful  Servant  of  Chrift,  hell  plainly  let 

•  his  Fellow  Servants  know  what  he  is,  what  he 

•  intends,  what  he  can  do,    and  humbly  refer 

•  himfelf  to  Them  for  Direflton  and  AJJifiance. 
We  found  nothing  of  this  ;  but  thoughhe  were 
wholly  Illiterate,  and  not  able  even  to  write 
a  little  Common  Englilh,  (for  inltance,  there 
were  Eighteen  horrid  falfe  Spells,  and  not  one 
Point,  in  one  very  Ihort  Note  that  i  received 
from  him)  yet  this  proud  Thraj'o  would  in  his 
Preaching  Oftentate  Skill  in  Latin,  and  in 
Greek,  yea,  and  in  Hebrew ;  but  God  left  him 
to  fuch  Folly  in  his  Pride,  that  he  frequently 
pronounced  the  Exotic  Words  in  a  manner  fo 
ridiculous,  as  to  render  it  plain  that  he  knew 
nothing  of  them  :  And  in  one  of  thofe  two  or 
three  private  Preachments,  by  which  'twas 
hop'd  we  might  have  fome  Tafteofhis  Facul- 
ties, he  was  under  fuch  an  Infatuation,  that  he 
would  needs  give  fome  Hebrew  to  us  ■,  but  what 
he  gave  us  might  be  Welch  or  Irifh,  or  the  Va- 
gabonds 


Book  VII.  Or,  TbeHifioryof  New-England. 


37 


gabonds  Cant,  for  ought  I  knew  ;   one  Minifter 
prefent  knew  ic   was  not  in  fix  or  feven  Lan- 
guages, in  all  which  himfelf  had  in  various  Wri- 
tings Addrek'd  the  World,    and  others  of  his 
Hearers,  belides  I,  knew  that  there  was  no  fuch 
Hebrew  in  vhe  Lexicon.      Who  but  one  Hypo- 
critically difpofed   would  have  done  fo?    if  he 
were  a  Shaver,    'twas  plain  however  he  was 
not  the  molt  Cunning  in   the  World  :    In  the 
mean  time,   'twas  a  ftrange  Enchantment  upon 
the  People^  that  they  ihould  after  thefe  things 
put  themfelves  into  his  Hands.     But  that  his 
Humility  might  be  the  more  Notorious,  I  was 
prelently  inf>rmed,  that  the  Blade,  with  an  Ar- 
rogance equal  to  his  Ignorance*    began  to  com- 
plain.   That   the  Minifters  of  the  Town  did 
not  immediately  Invite  him  into  their  Pulpits ; 
and   upon    his  Complaints,  many  finful  People 
(who  have  great  Caufe  to  take  no  little  fhame 
unto  themfelves   for  their  cauflefs  and  fhame- 
lels  Iniquity)  began  to   Defame  the  Minifters 
with  Slanderous  Outcries,    That  they  were  al- 
leys uncivil  to  Strangers ;  and  lbme  could  be- 
ftow  this  Companion  upon  them,  That  here  was 
come  a  better  Workman  than  themfelves,    whom 
therefore  tiuy  zonula1  not  fuffer   to  jiay  in  the 
Town  if  they  could  help  it.     The  Pallors  of 
the  Churches  being  delirous  to  anfwer  the  Ex- 
pectations of  the  People,   as  far  as  they  could 
in  Confcience  unto  the  People  themfelves,  and 
with  Credit  unto  the  Evangelical  Miniftry,  they 
lent  unto  this  Man  in  as  Loving  and  as  Tender 
Terms  as  they  could  a  Me(Tage  to  thtsporpofe, 
That  they  being  fincerely  defirous  toEncourage  him 
in  doing  all  the  good  he  fhould  be  found  Able  to  do, 
and  he  not  having  brought  fatisfatlory  Teftimo- 
nials  into  the  Country  with  him,  they  pray'd  a 
vifit  from  him,  in  which  they  would  inform  them- 
felves of  his   Abilities  for  the  Evangelical  Mi- 
ni If  ry\   and  with  all  pojjible  Eafinefs  proceed  in 
their  Examining  and  Advifing  of  him.     To  this 
Mcfljge  there  was  brought  us  from  him  an  An- 
fwer of  this  purport,  that  he  knew  no  Authority 
the  Minifters  had  to  Enquire  after  him,  and  he 
was  not  bound  to  give  them  an  account  oj  him- 
felf, and  more  to  that  Eftecf .     The  Minifters 
had  now  done  but  the  Duty  of  Watchmen  that 
would  be  found  faithful  to  the  Churches  and 
Neighbours  ;  but  none   of  their  Watchjulnefs 
could  hinder    many  of  the  People    from  the 
great  fault  of  running  themfelves  into  Tempta- 
tion, by  giddily  running  after  the  Inftrucfions 
of  a  Fellow    that  had  Shunnd  the  Light,   be- 
caufe hts  Deeds  were  Evil.    The  People,  (whofe 
Charity  has  been  for  the  moft  part  fo  Exempla- 
ry, that  methinks  'tis  pity  it  fhould  ever  be 
tnifplaced  and  perverted)  fome  of  them  not  on- 
ly made  a  large  Collection  to  pay  the  Paffage 
of  this  milchievous  Beggar,  and  put  Money  into 
his  Pocket ;    but  alfo  fill'd  the  Town  with  fo 
much  Lying  and  Outrage  againft  their  faithful 
Minifters,  for  not  counting  fuch  an  Unlettered 
Tiring  a  fit  Inftruftor  for  their  Flocks,   thjt  I 
could  not  but  think  an  hundred  times  of  the 
People  bewitched  by  Simon  the  Sorcerer,  and 
fay,  That  the  greatefi  Blemifh  that  ever  befel 


the  Town,  was  in  the  madnefs  which  they  now 
difcovered.  Who  would  have  believed  it,  that 
in  a  Town  lb  Illuminated  as  Bofton,  there 
Ihould  be  any  People  of  fuch  a  Principle,  That 
if  the  greateft  Villain  in  the  World  fhould  ar- 
rive a  total  Stranger  among  us.  and  for  his 
True  Name  give  us  perhaps  only  the  firfi  Sylla- 
ble of  hit  Name,  and  of  a  Barber  turn  a  Preach' 
er,  the  Paftors  here  mult  immediately  Set  him 
up  in  the  publick  Pulpits,  or  elfe  the  People 
unjuftly  load  them  with  all  the  Calumnious  Indig- 
nities that  can  be  thought  oj  ?  However,  the  Mi- 
nifters bore  with  Patience  all  the  Contempt 
which  their  Great  Lord  law  the  People  foo- 
lilhly  call  upon  them;  and  no  two  of  them  that 
ever  I  heard  of,  ever  let  tall  one  word  publick- 
ly  to  Rebuke  their  Folly  5  Bur,  Sir.  you  fhall 
fee  anon  whether  the  Lord  himfelf  will  not 
Rebuke  it,  and  make  the  People  wilh,  They  had 
hearkned  unto  the  Voice  oj  their  Teachers. 

We  have  in  our  Vicinity  a  Small  Congrega- 
tion of  Ana'uptifis,  with  whom  I  had  always 
lived  in  a  Good  Correfpondence.      Forgive  me 
the  vanity  if  I  lay,  without  judging  proper  iri 
this  place,  to  prove  what  I  lay,  That  never  any 
Minifter,  fo  diftant  from  1  heir   Per fwaf ion,  car- 
ried it  with    more  Civility   and   Affection   to- 
wards Perlbns  of  their  Perfwaiion,  than  I  made 
it  my   Endeavour  to  do.      Becaufe   i    believed 
there  were  godly  Perfons  among  them,  I  offered 
them,  that  if  they  Ihould  come  (as  they  were 
likely)  to  have  the  Divine  Injlitutions  fail  a- 
mong  themtelVes,  I  would  freely  accept  them 
to  Communion  with  my  own  Flock;  and  though 
they  Ihould  be  fo  fcrupulousastoturn  their  Backs 
as  often  as  an  Infant  was  Baptifed,    it  fhould 
not  be  made  an  Offence.     This  offer  I  made 
them,    1   hope  not  out   of  a   finful  Affectati- 
on to  Enlarge  my  Flock  ;   the  moft  undeferved 
Favour  of  Heaven  has  employ'd  my  poor  Ser- 
vices in  fuch  Affemblies,  that   1  have  caufe  to 
Study  how  I  may  Jerve  them  Better,  before  I 
go  to  get  them  Larger  ;  but  it  was  purely  from 
a  Spirit  of  Charity.     Indeed  31  had  no  Anfwer 
but  this,  We  look  upon  you  as  an  Unbaptized 
Man,  and  therefore  we  cannot  hold  Communion 
with  you  :     But  tho'  this  New  Comer  were  in 
their  Opinion,    An  Unbaptifed  Man,   yet  they 
now  took  this  opportunity  to  Invite  ftjut  unto 
publick   and  conftant  Preaching  every    Lord's 
Day,   and  a  Lelture  belides  in  their  Meeting- 
Houfe.     Indeed  I  mutt  fo  far  Vindicate  thefe 
Brethren,  as  to  tell  you,  That  they  do  not  feem 
to  me  fo  much  in  fault,  as  divers  other  People 
of  my  own  Profeffion  who  Solicited  them,  and 
Inftigated  them,  to  let  up  a  Preacher  for  them, 
which  their  own  Pajhrs  had   Refufed  ;.  and  it 
was  on  fome  Accounts  a   time  of  Temptation 
with  them.      Neverthelefs  I  cannot  wholly  Jiit. 
ftifie  this  Fauliy  Attion  :    And  their  fetting   up 
fuch  a  Fellow,  under  all  thefe  ill  Circumftances, 
to  be  their  Publick  Teacher,   look'd  the  woffe, 
becaufe  they  could  not  but  fee  that  it  nourifh- 
ed  in  his  Numerous  Profelytes,   not   only  the 
Height  of  a  Learned  Mmijfry,  but  alfo  a  Di£ 
petition  which  ordinarily  Infpired  thofe  that 

#er<? 


.8 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana :  Book   VIL 


were  profelyted  by  him  so  become  Enemies  and 
Revi/ers  of  the  Minifters  of  the  Town.     One  of 
thofe  Minifters  beholding   the    Spirit    which 
this  thing  was  done  withal,  freely  told  the  Ana- 
baptifts,  That  the  Lord  fefus  Chrift,  who  faw 
what  Principles  they  aUedupon,  would  certainly 
make  this  very  Man  the  Occafion  of  the  great  - 
efl  Confufion  that  ever  befel  them :  And   at  the 
fame  time  faw  caufe  to  foretel  unto  many  o- 
thers,  That  the  Devices  of  Satan  in  this  Matter 
were  for  this  Man  to  engage  many  oj  our  weak- 
er People  to  be  his  Hearers,  by  his  not  profejjing 
himfelf  an  Anabaptift,    but  when  he  had  them 
faft,  then  about  three  or  four  Months  hence  to 
profefs  himfelf  an   Anabaptift,   and  lead  them, 
who  could  fay  whither,   with   him.     Unto    the 
Man  himfelf  alfo,  that  Perlbn  having  fignified 
his  Diflike  of  what  he  had  feen   in  him,  Con- 
cluded,   '  The  Minifters  of  this  Town,    who 
'  have  by  your  means  been  greatly  and  ungrate- 
'  fully   Reviled,  will,  I  fuppole,  trouble  them 
s  felves  no  farther  about  you,    except  ibme  re- 
'  markable  Occafion  oblige  them  to  it  :  but  they 
'  will  carry  their  Flocks  to  the  Lord  Jefits  Chrift, 
'  and  they  will  carry  their  Names  to  the  Lord  Je- 
ifus  Chrift,  and  they  will  carry  Tom  alfo  unto  the 
'  Lord  jefits  Chrift  ;    but   I  believe  the  Conic- 
'  quence  of  this  will  very   fpeedily  be  unto  Tou 
'  very  uncomfortable.      He  and   his  Creatures 
went  on  filling  the  Town  with  Slander,  in  Ir,- 
ftances  which  I  defire  to  Forgive  and  Forget : 
Only  one  of  them  I  will  mention,  becaufe  they 
made  more  than  ordinary  Noife  about  it.     Ha- 
ving too  juft  Caufe  to  fear,  that  this  Infolent 
Fellow  would  Steal  an  Admiffion  to  the  Lord's 
Table    in  my    own  Church,    1  went  unto  his 
Houle  on   purpofe  to  Forbid  him  from  it  ,    but 
they  fpread  a  Story  over  the  Town  that  I  came 
to  Invite  him  to  it.     Many  Days  did  not  now 
pafs  before  I  did,  by  a  lingular  Accident,  meet 
with    a  Book  of  Dr.  Samuel  Bolton 's,  wherein 
there  is  a  Difcourfe  about  The  Royalties  of  Faith  . 
and  this  Difcourfe,  to  my  Surprize,  I  found  fo 
very  much  the  fame  with  what  I  had  my  fell 
heard  this  Man  deliver,  that  I  thought  the  two' 
Boys  in  Plautus  were  not  more  alike,  —  Dixit- 
que  ftbi  fua  Concio,  Fur  es.      I  fent  for  many 
other  of  the  Hearers,  who  had  better  Memories 
than  my  felf  and  offered  them  to  give  them  a 
confiderable  Price  for  every  Sentence  they  could 
call  to  Mind  in  their  Dr.  Samuel  Mays  Dif- 
courfe, that  I  could  not  Ihow  them  in  my  Dr. 
Samuel  Bolton's  ;  which  offer  they  fome  of  them 
took,  but  could  not  hnd  one  Sentence  for  their 
Advantage  :  The  exaft  Agreement  between  Sa- 
muel theDoffor,  and  Sam.  the  Dunce,  was  a  di- 
verting Surprize  to  all  that  faw  it.     Hereupon 
a  Minifter  of  the  Town  vifited  the  Man  him- 
felf, and  profered  him  a  Piece  of   Eight    tor 
every  material  Sentence  that  he  could  produce 
of  his  own  Difcourfe   about   The  Royalties  of 
Faith,  which  could  not  be  produced  from  the 
Author,  and  in  the  Order,    and  with  his  Flou- 
rifhes  and  Exprefjions,  that  were  moft  Peculiar  ; 
and  he  fet  before  him  the  Cheat  and  the  Crime 
that  there  is  in  Preaching  Stolen  Sermons.    In-  j 


deed,  becaufe  the  Man  had  no  Academical  Edu- 
cation (except  one  ihould  fuppofe  at  S  amour gan* 
,  a  certain  famous  Academy    in  Lithuania,)    it 
j  was  to  no  purpole  to  quote  unto  him  the  Saying 
1  of  Synejius,    Magk  impium  effe  mortuorum  Lu- 
cubrat  tones,  quam  vefies  furafi ;  But  I  did  in 
plain   Englijb   tell  him   the  Diihonefty  of  the 
Matter.     He  not  only  Denied   that  ever  he  had 
us'a  or  feen  any  of  Dr.  Bolton's  Works,  (though 
he  was  alio  detected  of  Stealing  Three  or  Four 
more  Sermons  out  of  this  very  Book  ! )  but  he 
alio  called    the  Great    and  Dreadful    Gcd  to 
Witnels,  That  the  Difcourfe  he  delivered  wa* 
the  pure  effett  of  bisuwon  Indujlry  dnd  Inventi- 
on ;  adding,  That  he  had  no  other  way  to  give 
Satisfaction,  but  by  Preaching  on  any  Text  that 
Minifter  ihould  give  him.      The  Minifter  told 
him,  that  he  was  aitoniihed  at  his  horrid  Wick- 
edncjs  and  Aiheijm,  and  that  it  he  were  to  be 
believed  in  this  thing,   all  humane  Proof  of  any- 
thing muff,  come  to  an  End.  He  proceeded,  That 
he  had  outgone  ail  the  Cheats  that  ever  had  ap- 
pear^ among  us,  tor  being  lo  hardned  in  Impie- 
ty and  Stupidity,  as  to  deny  a  Fad  wherein  he 
was  as  plainly  Detected  as  ever  any  Tkufxhat 
was  taken   with  the  Stolen  Goods  about  him. 
And  he  concluded,    '  Miferab/e  Man,    do  you 
k  ask  me  tor  a  Text  to  Preach  upon  l  I  have  a 
'Text  more  than  One  for  you  to  think  upon. 
'  Go  Preach,  it  you  dare  to  do  it,  upon  that  Text, 
HPial.   101.   7.  lie  that  telleth  Lies,  fhall  not 
c  tarry  in  my  fight.     Preach,  if  you  dare  to  do  it, 
'  upon  that  Text,   Pfal.  50.  16.   Unto  the  wick- 
•  cd  God  faith.  What  haft  thou  to  do  to  declare 
'  my  Statutes  ?  Preach,  if  you  dare  to  do  it,  upon 
'  that  Text,  Rev.  21.  8.  All  Liars fhall 'have  their 
'  Part  in  the  Lake.     And  if  you  dare  carry  on 
-  your  Impiety  fo  far,   Preach   upon  that  Text, 
c  Rev.  2.  23.  All  the  Churches fhall  know,   that 
I  fearch  the  Reins  and  the  Hearts.      But  let 
1  me  Faithfully  and  Solemnly,   and  as  a  Mini- 
'  ftcr  of  God,    and    as  one   fpeaking    to  you 
'  in   the  Name  of  God,    and    in  the  Fear  of 
'  God,    Admonith    you    to   Repent     of  your 
'  Wickedneis.      I  doubt  you  will  not  Repent, 
'  and  therefore  I  tell  you,  /  am  verily  perfwa- 
1  ded  the  Lord  jefits   Chrift,    who  knows  your 
'  Secret  Wickednefs,  will  bring  it  out.     I  verily 
'  Believe.  That  in  your  Dcteltion,  tlie  Glorious 

'Lord  jefus   c&tft   toi'll  make  all  the 
'  Churches  to  knoto,  that  Ipe  fcarc&cg  tfje 

'  KCillS.  atlD  the  JpeartS  oj  the  Children  oj  Men. 
'■Remember  I  told  you  fo,  and  that  many  Months 
'  tti/7/  not  pajs  bejore  this  come  to  pajs  :  It  may 
'  be  I  may  Live  to  fee  it.  He  Trembled  and 
Quivered  when  the  Minifter  fpoke  theie  things 
unto  him ;  yet  he  Repented  not,  but  in  a  few 
Hours  he  fet  the  People  a  Railing  at  that  MU 
nifter  in  many  Corners  of  the  Town,  for  Abu- 
Jing  a  Precious,  Godly,  Worthy  Alan.  Some 
advifed  the  Arreftmg  of  that  Minifter  in  Great 
At!  ions  for  Defaming  of  this  Excellent  Per  Jon; 
And  others  had  the  Fear  of  God  fo  little  in  ex- 
ercife  with  them,  as  to  cry  out,  Tim  if  this  Man 
had  been  guilty  of  all  that  was  charged  on  him, 
yet  for  that  Minifter  to  fpeakfuch  things  to  him, 
wat  as  great  an  Offence  as  his,  I 


Book  VII.       0r}  The  Hiftory  ^New-England. 


39 


I  had  Reafon  to  defire  that  the  Truth  might 
now  appear  a  little  more  irrefragably,  and 
therefore  1  went  unto  the  Officers  of  the  Ana- 
baptifi  Church,  declaring,  That  I. -apprehended 
my  f  elf  able  to  convlit  the  Man  whom  they  em- 
ploy'd  ai  a  Publick  Teacher  among  them  of  being  a 
Cheat,  and  of  having  horribly  Ly'd  againji  his 
Confcience  in  feveral  Repeated  and  Notorious 
Infances  .  and  that  I  de fired  on  my  own  behalf, 
and  on  the  behalf  of  the  other  Minifters  In  the 
Town,  that  they  would  appoint  a  Place  the  next 
Week,  where  I  might  prove  my  Charge  to  his 
Faeey  and  they  fhould  be  Judges  of  It.  I  could 
not  have  Imagined  it,  but  the  Church  being 
informed  of  my  Demand,  immediately  Renew- 
ed as  i  am  told  their  Call  unto  him,  to  con 
tin  c  Ins  Preaching  among  them;  and  by  their 
Minifier  and  Another  there  was  an  Anfwerof 
this  Importance  brought  unto  me,  That  inas- 
much as  this  Man  was  not  a  Member  of  their 
C  wrch,  they  did  not  apprehend  themf elves  con- 
cei  i  to  Jake  any  notice  of  what  I  had  offered. 
i  my  Reply  was,  Well,  I  have  done  my 
/ 1  hope  yru  have  confidered,  Whether 
rChrifi's  Honour,  or  for  your  own. 
to  .  Man  'as  a  Publick  Preacher,  again  ft 

zohom  rge  ii  urgd.  and  may  be  provd, 

if  you  u  ■  ir  it.     And   thought  I,    how 

much  wilt  Chriftians  aft  befides  themfelves 
when  Led  into  Temptation.  From  this  time, 
even  from  September  (I  think  to  December,  I 
concern'd  my  fcli  no  further ;  being  fatisfied 
that  it  would  not  be  long  before  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrilt ,  who  law  how  impioufiy  this  Man  mock- 
ed him,  would  Search  him  out,  and  Cloath 
with  perpetual  Confufion  thofe  that  would  per- 
fift  in  Aiiiiting  fuch  a  Mocker  of  Heaven  One 
would  have  thought  that  confiderate  People  after 
this  warning  would  have  been  as  much  afraid 
of  feeing  iuch  a  Spctfre  in  a  Pulpit,  as  if  he 
had  been  the  Holder-forth,  which  they  fay 
fometimes  appears  in  th&Copper Mines  ofSueden. 
But  many  People,  inftead  of  taking  the  warn- 
ing, went  on  ftill,  under  the  Influences  of  this 
Ignis  tatuus,  to  treat  me  (and  much  better  Men) 
with  Numberlefs  and  Furious  Abufes  for  giv- 
ing it;    and  with  a  pratllcal  Commentary  upon 


Fault  in  me,  if  not  Prayerfully:  And  if  I  did 
not  fet  my  felf  to  confider,  What  Holy  heffons 
were  to  be  learnt  out  of  fuch  Temptations :  In 
which  heffons  I  Ihould  have  been  fufficiently 
Requited  Good,  for  the  Curfing  of  all  the  Shi- 
mefs  in  the  Town.  But  thought  I.  what  Spi- 
rit pofleftes  thei'e  Touchy  Folks  that  they  can't 
let  me  be  quiet  ?  1  do  nothing  to  Difquiet  them  ; 
Or  does  that  Spirit  fee  that  his  time  is  but 
Short,  e'er  the  Difpleafure  of  Heaven  put  this 
Boutefeu  and  his  Diiciples  to  the  Blufh  which 
had  been  foretold  unto  them  ?  Truly,  Sir,  I  had 
no  Remedy,  but  humbly  to  carry  my  Com- 
plaints unto  the  Lord,  who  knew  my  Faithful- 
nefs. 

This  Evil  Worker  now  apply'd   himfelf  unto 
the  Anabaptijh  with  private  intimations,   that 
for  Four  or  Five  Years  he  had  been  convinced 
in  his  Confcience  rh  it  their  way  was  the  Right 
way,  and  that  he  was  now  in  ibme  Trouble  of 
Confcience  for  his  having   delay'd   fo  long  to 
Declare  himfelf  but  it  t'hould  not  now  be  long 
before  he  did.     When  things  were  now  become 
jut!  Ripe  for  the  Devices  of  Satan  to  take  eftecF, 
behold  how  the  Wonderful  Providence  of  Hea- 
ven defeated  them !  The  Lord  fent  an  Evil  Spi- 
rit between  this  Man  and  the  Anabapttjls  that 
had  adhered  unto   him.     Even  they  began   to 
find  their  Eminent   Worthy  Stranger  guilty  of 
fuch  Lying,  and  iuch  kewdnefs,  and  fuch  Dam- 
nable  Covctoufnefs.     (efpecially    when    upon 
their  not  carrying  Money  to  him  on  a  Lord's 
Day  wherein  be  Preached  not,    he  flew  out, 
as  I  am  told,  like  a  Dragon,  (pitting  this  among 
other  Fire  at  them,  I  fee,  no  longer  JpipC,  no 
longer  Dance  !)  that  they  came  to  fear  he  was 
a  Cheat,  and  wifhed  they  had  never  feen  him. 
While  things  were  thus  operating,   the  guilty 
Fellow  having  bubbled  the  filly  Neighbours  of 
incredible  Scores  of  Pounds,  and  thinking  that 
the  Anfwers  of  my  Letters  to  Europe  about  him 
were  not  far  off,  all  on  the  fudden  he  will  be 
gone  ;    and  none  of  the  charming  offers  that 
were  made  him  if  he  would  continue,   could 
procure  his  continuance  any  longer  in  the  Couri- 
tty.    He  that  had  often  told  us,  his  coming  from 
•T.ngland  was  with  a  purpofe  to  fee  his  Uncle  in 


rhe  Diltempers  mentioned  in  the  Beginning  of  Wirginia,  whom  it   may  be  no  Man   elfe  ever 
the  firft  Epiftle  to  the  Corinthians.     Ipraifethe  faw,  now  without  one  look^  towards  Virginia 


Lord  for  his  making  me  unwilling  to  Remem- 
ber them,  and  I  pray  him  to  caft  them  out  of 
his  Remembrance.  At  laft  the  Malice  went  fo 
far,  that  they  began  to  throw  into  my  Houie  in- 
iblent,   bitter,  bloody  Libels,   wherein,   albeit 


Ships  himfelf  to  Return  for  England.     But  God 
will  no  longer  be  mocked  ! 

A  Virtuous  and  Laudable  Young  Gentleman 
in  the  Neighbourhood  lets  fall  a  Word  unto 
one  of  his  Friends,  That  he  was  informed  this 


the  namelefs  Writers  confefs  a  great  Efteem  for   Man  had  ufed  fome  uncivil  Carriage  towards  a 
me  for  my  moderate  Spirit  towards  them  that  >  Woman  that  belonged  unto  one  of  the  Churches 


differ  from  me,  yet  they  now  in  moll  venemous 
Terms  of  Kage  flew  upon  me  for  my  Reviling 
an  Eminent  Worthy  Stranger,  fas  they  exprels 
it;  and  Perfecuting  one  who  had  the  Root  of 
the  matter  in  him,  and  one  who  had  now  the 
Liberty  of  a  more  Unfialned  Pulpit  than  any 
of  thole  which  had  been  deny'd  him.  All  rhefe, 
and  many  more  fuch  things,  wherein  I  heard 
the  Defaming  of  many,  I  bore,  I  hope  I  may 
fay,  Silently,  and  Patiently,  and  it  was  3  great 


in  the  Town.  Some  of  the  Hearers  go  and 
complain  that  this  Gentleman  faid,  The  Man 
had  got  fuch  a  Woman  with  Child,  whereupon 
fome  of  the  Man's  Friends  began  to  be  obftre- 
perous.  The  Ingenuous  Young  Gentleman  was 
too  well  beloved  by  all  that  knew  his  conftant 
Piety,  to  be  fufpecfed  of  fpeaking  a  Ealfhood; 
and  the  trouble  on  the  Minds  of  his  Friends  for 
him  immediately  made  feveral  Difcreet  and 
Honeft  Women  to  fpeak  out  more  plainly,  how 


4° 


Magnalia  Cbrifii  Americana  :  Book  VII. 


able  they  were  to  affert  the  Truth  of  what  he    fet 
had  really  fpoken.    Horrid  things  began  to  be 
muttered  about  this  Wretch  for  divers  Weeks 
before  ^  and  no  doubt  the  apprehenfion  of  their 
taking  Air  haRened  his  Flight ;    but  a  modeft 


Woman,    efpecially   if  fhe  don't  know  of  any   jSipci*  into  the  Cave  of  Hamelen. 


one  elfe  to  fuftain  with  her  the  weight  of  the 
Teftimony,  appears  with  no  fmall  Reluclar.cy 
to  Teftifie  an  Affront  offeted  unto  her.  It  had 
been  remark'd  by  fome,  that  this  Villain,  though 
in  Publick  Prayer  he  were  extraordinarily  De- 
vout, yet  he  had  a  ftrange  Indifpofition  to  Pri- 
vate Prayer.  And  there  was  enough  to  render 
Prayer  uneafie  to  his  guilty  Soul  •,  for  while  he 


up  a  Congregation  of  Nicolaitans  in  the 
Town,  and  that  the  Young  People  have  not 
been  debauched  -into  fearful  Whoredoms,  and  led 
away  to  the  Vnclcan  Spirit ;  like  the  Tranfdva- 
nian  Children,  which  Danced  after  the  JiHfiJ 


But  I  have  obferved,  That  whereas  grievous 
Times  of  Temptation  are  ever  now  and  then  lent 
upon  our  Churches,  if  the  Servants  of  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  can,  for  a  while,  bear  to  be  buffeted 
by  the  foolifh  Rage  of  thofe  Times,  and  apply 
themfelves  to  humble  Prayer  and  Faith  before 
the  great  Lord,  who  holds  the  Tempter  in  a 
Chain  ;  and  if  inftead  of  anfwering  to  Reviling 


was  Feafting   with  the  abufed  Neighbours,   /.><?   with   Reviling,  they  are   only   quickned   unto 
had  Eyes  full  of  Adultery  that  could  not  ccqfe   ' 
from  Sin.    The  burning  Jealoufie  of  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  will  now  bring    out  the  Villany 
of  this  Man,    and  make  all  tljC  €f)tll'C!JC0 

to  ftnoti)  t&at  \)t  fearcfjess  tljc  Erms  ana 

tl)t  hearts.  The  Hypocrite  had  made  fuch  a 
ihow  of  Zeal  in  his  Performances  on  the 
Stage,  that  every  one  laid,  This  Alan  rnufi  be 
either  a  great  Saint,  or  a  great  Rogue  ;  and  as 
to  one  of  thefe,  I  queftion  whether  a  greater 
ever  came  into  this  Land. 

Sir,  I  durft  not  blot  my  Paper  with  all  the 
abominable  things  that  are  teftified  upon  Oath 
againft  this  Eminent  Worthy  Stranger.  But  the 
Sum  of  the  Teltimonies  depofed  upon  Oath 
before  the  Magiftrate,  Deeemb.  7.  1699.  by  fe- 
veral  Women  of  unblemiftTd  Reputation,  is, 
£  That  he  would  often  watch  Opportunities  of 
4  getting  them  alone,  and  then  would  often  af- 
4  front  them  with  Lewd,  Vile  and  Lafcivious 
4  Carriages,  which  rendered  it  a  dangerous  thing 
*  to  be  alone  with  him,  and  abundantly  allured 
4  them,  that  he  was  a  great  Rogue,  and  that 
4  if  they  had  been  for  his  Turn,  he  would  have 
4  ftuck  at  no  Villany  towards  them.  That  he 
4  would  alfo  talk  at  a  vile  rate,  and  among  0- 
4  ther  things  he  would  plead.  That  there  was 
'  no  Sin  in  Adultery. 

The  Tefl imonies  after  this  increafed  on  our 
Hands,  which  allured  us,  That  on  a  Saturday, 
with  his  Bible  in  his  Hands,  he  could  Solicite 
Young  Women  to  Wantonnefs ;  Yea,  and  Fn- 
deavour  to  Intoxicate  them,  that  he  might  pur- 
fue  his  vile  Purpofes  upon  them.  Yea,  that 
when  he  heard  of  a  Young  Woman  affecled 
with  his  Miniftry,  he  would  find  her  out,  and 
fpend  feveral  Hours  together  in  rude  A£lions 
and  Speeches  to  her.  and  urging  her  to  Lye 
with  him,  which  he  fcud  was  no  Sin,  for  Da- 
vid and  Solomon  did  as  much  •,  and  adding, 
They  need  not  fear  being  with  Child  by  him, 
for  none  ever  were  fot  More  of  this  ptodigi- 
ous  Devilifm  was  teftified  againft  this  Eminent 
Worthy  Stranger ;  and  other  horrid  fluff  begins 
to  come  to  Light,  and  I  fuppofe  would  foon  be 
found,  if  fought  jor ;  but  I  abhor  to  rake  any 
further  in  fuch  a  Dunghil. 

They  that  fill'd  the  Town  with  other  Impie- 
ty, by  fetting  up  this  Filthy  Dreamer,  have  now 
a  time  to  admire  the  Favour  of  Heaven,  (more 
than  their  own  Prudence)  that  there  was  not 


more  of  Hclinefs  and  Vfefulnejs  ■  the  Times 
do  not  prove  <DaP0  of  Temptation,  but  meer 
IpOLttSo/  Tempt  at  tun  ;  and,  Nubecula  cito  tran- 
ftturte,  prefently  at  an  end.  And  fo  it  was  in  the 
Storm  of  Temptation^  which  by  Satan  was  now 
raifed  in  our  Neighbourhood. 

It  has  in  fome  former  Years  commonly  hap- 
pened unto  me,  that  when  I  vificed  in  the  way 
of  my  Paftoral  Duty  Perfons  Poffejfcd  with  E- 
vil  Spirits,  the  Perlons,  though  they  knew  eve- 
ry one  elfe  in  the  Room,  yet  through  the  un- 
accountable Operation  of  the  Evil  Spirits  upon 
their  Eyes,  I  muft  appear  fo  Dirty,    fo  Ugly, 
fo  Dtfguis'd  unto  them,   that  they  could  have 
no  Knowledge  of  me.     I  have  a  Thoufand  times 
thought  that  the  Lord  ordered  this  for  fome  In- 
timation  unto  me,  that  when  Times  of  Temp- 
tation come,  wherein  Evil  Spirits  have  as  much 
Operation  on  the  Minds  of  many  People,  as 
they  have  upon   the    Eyes  of  Energumcns,  a 
Minifter  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  that  will  be 
faithful  unto  his  Interefts,  muft  look  to  be  all  over 
Difguis'd  by  Mifreprefentations  unto  the  Minis 
of  them  that  are  under  the  Power  of  Tempta^ 
tion.     A  Minifter  (hall  ftriclly  impofe  that  Law 
of  Kindncfs  upon  his  Lips,    to  fpeak  not   one 
Intemperate  or  Injurious  Word  on  the  greateft 
Provocation,  and  yet  be  reprefented  as  a  Man 
full  o^Bitierncfs.     He  [hall  be  always  Deviftng 
things  to  relieve  the  miferable,  and  fpend  more 
than  many  others  do  imagine  poflible  to  be 
fpent  in  Pious  Vfes,   and  lcorn  to  take  many 
little  Gains,    that  might   lawfully    be  taken, 
and  yet  they   fhall  cry  out  of  him  for  Uncha* 
ritablencfs  and  Incivility.     He  (hall  never  once 
in  his  Life  ask  a  Salary  from  his  Flock,   nor 
agree  with  them  about  a  Salary,  nor  have  his 
dependance  on  the  Lord^s-Day  Colleliions  for  a 
Salary,  nor  be  in  any  likelihood  of  feeing   the 
Lord^s-Vay  ColleUions  to  fail,  and  yet  they  fhall 
flout  at  him,  as  one  afraid  of  lofing  his  Contri- 
bution. A  Minifter  fhall  be  of  iuch  a  Temper, 
that  perceiving  a  confiderable  and  valuable  part 
of  his  Flock  to  put  themfclves  unto  a  deal  of 
Trouble  to  attend  upon  his  Miniftry  (by  paf- 
fing  a  large  Ferry  every  Lcrcfs-Day,)  he  ihall 
one  Year  after  another  call  upon  thole  beloved 
Chriftians  to  leave  his  Miniftry,  and   fet  up  a 
New  Church  by  chemfelves,  and  fet  a  Worthy 
Paftor  over  them,  to  fupport  whom  he  fhall  of- 
fer to  contribute  not  a  little,  and  part  wjth  fome 

of 


Book  VII.  Or,  The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  41 


of  his  own  Salary ;  and  yet  this  Minifter  fhall 
be  reprefented  as  Afraid  of  nothing  more  than 
lofwg  his  Hearers.  He  (hall  —  but  I  don't  love 
to  mention  thefe  things  ;  the  Lord  of  Heaven 
teach  us  by  thefe  things  to  Long  for  Heaven,  and 
even  while  we  are  on  Earth  to  Live  in  Hea- 
ven. 

You  will  doubtlefs  make  fome  Advantage  to 
your  Holy  Thoughts  from  this  Remarkable 
Story ;  and  my  other  Neighbours  will  make,  I 
hope,  at  leaft  this  Advantage  from  it,  that  if 
another  Barber,  inftead  of  the  other  Courfes  that 
bring  fo  many  to  Tyburn,  come  over  from  Lon- 
don hither,  to  recruit  his  Broken  Fortunes  by 
the  Blafphemics  of  Stolen  Sermons,  plaufibly 
and  fervently  delivered ;   the  People  have  now 


learnt  a  little  more  Wit,  than  to  Pamper  fuch 
a  Fellow  with  their  plentiful  Cookery,  and  E- 
quip  him  with  Score  of  Pounds  in  his  Pocket, 
and  fend  him  to  London  again  to  Laugh  at  the 
Folly  of  them  that  will  permit  themfelves  to  be 
fo  Abufed. 

Tis  time  for  me  now  to  Subfcribe  my 
felf,  finafmuch  as  I  am  not  Writing  a 
Libel) 

S  1  R, 

Tour  Sincere  Servant, 

Cotton  ^9atfjer* 


POSTSCRIPT. 


TH  E  Country  has  been  fo  nlfd  with  Lies,  \ 
on  the  Occafion  of  the  things  which  have' 
been  truly  reprefenred  in  this  my  Letter,  that  I 
fuppofe  I  ihall  Publifh  the  Letter   unto   the 
Country.     And  if  any  blame  the  Publication,  I 
think  they  will  fbrget  What  is  required  in   the 
Ninth  Commandment ;   and  I  fear  they  will  but 
expoie   themfelves  unto  the  Cenfures  of  Wife 
and  Good  Men,  as  the  Friends  of  this  Impoftor, 
not  out  of  Charity,  (as  divers  Worthy  Chriftians 
before  they  knew  him  were)  but  from  a  Princi- 
ple of  Impiety  and  Malignity.    Among  the  an- 


cient Ifraelites,  when  a  Falfe  Prophet,  or  an 
Unclean  Pricft  was  found,  every  Man  had  a 
Commijfion,  in  the  Prefence  of  Ten  Men,  to  exe- 
cute the  Law  upon  him,  (as  Grot i us  tells  us) 
Non  ExpeUato  Judice.  But  when  one  of  thole 
Wretches  received  his  Punifhment,  it  was  the 
Cuftom,  That  a  Letter  concerning  it  fhould 
be  difpatch'd  unto  all  the  Cities  c/'Ilrael.  As 
for  this  Unclean  Prophet,  the  Letter  it  felf  thai 
is  now  dij patched  unto  all  the  Churches,  is  the 
chief 'Punifhment  hithetto  inflicted  on  him. 


CHAP.     VI. 

Arma  Virofq:,  Cano  :  Or,  The  Troubles  which  the  Churches  of  NEW-ENG- 
LAND have  undergone  in  the  WAR  S,  which  the  People  of  that  Country  have 
had  with  the  Indian  Salvages. 


§.  1. I~TS  W  O    Colonies   of  Churches  being 

J.  brought  forth,  and  a  Third  conceived 
within  the  Bounds  of  New-England,  by  the 
Year  1 6^6.  it  was  time  for  the  Devil  to  take 
the  Alarum,  and  make  fome  attempt  in  Oppo- 
fition  to  the  Poffejfwn  which  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrilt  was  going  to  have  of  thefe  utmojl  Parts 
of  the  Earth.  Thefe  Parts  were  then  covered 
with  Nations  of  Batbarous  Indians  and  Infidels, 
in  whom  the  Prince  of  the  Power  of  the  Air 
did  Work  as  a  Spirit ;  nor  could  it  be  expected 
that  Nations  of"  Wretches,  whofe  whole  Religi- 
on was  the  moft  Explicit  fort  of  Devil-Wor- 
fhip,  fhould  not  be  acted  by  the  Devil  to  en- 
gage in  fome  early  and  bloody  Action,  for  the 
Extinction  of  a  Plantation  fo  contrary  to  his  In- 
terefts,  as  that  of  New-England  was.  Of  thefe 
Nations  there   was  none   more  Fierce,    more 


Warlike,  more  Potent,  or  of  a  greater  Terror 
unto  their  Neighbours,  than  that  of  the  P  E  - 
Q.U  O  T  S  ;  but  their  being  fo  much  a  Terror 
to  their  Neighbours,  and  efpecially  to  the  Nar- 
raganfets  on  the  Eaft-fide  of  them,  and  the 
Monhegins  on  the  Weft,  upon  whom  they  had 
committed  many  Barbarous  Outrages,  produced 
fuch  a  DiviJIon  in  the  Kingdom  of  Satan  a-, 
gainft  it  felf,  as  was  very  ferviceable  to  that  of 
our  Lord.  In  the  Year  1634.  thefe  terrible 
Salvages  killed  one  Captain  Stone,  and  Captain 
Norton,  with  Six  Men  mote,  in  a  Bark  fail- 
ing up  Connecticut  River,  and  then  funk  her. 
In  the  Year  1635.  a  Bark  failing  from  the 
MafJachufet-'Bay  to  Virginia,  being  by  a  Tem- 
pelt  caft  away  at  Long-ljland,  the  fame  terri- 
ble Salvages  killed  feveral  of  the  Shipwrack'd 
Englifhmen.  In  the  Year  1636.  3t  Block- Ijlarii 
Fffffff  confiiot 


42 


Magnolia  Chrifti  Americana  :  Book  VII. 


coming  Aboard  a  Velfel  to  Trade,  they  Murder- 
ed the  Mafter.    And  another  coming  that  way, 
found  that  they  had  made  themfelves  Matters 
of  a  Bark,  which  occafioned  the  lending  of  an 
Hundred  and  Twenty  Soldiers  thither,  under  the 
Command  of  Captain  Endicot,  Captain  Under- 
bill and  Captain  Turner,  by  the  Governour  and 
Council  at  Bofton,  upon  whom,  at  their  Land- 
ing, the  Indians  violently  {hot,  and  fo  ran  a- 
way  where  no  Englifh  could  come  at  them. 
Travelling  further  up  to  the  Pequot  Country,  the 
Pequots  refufed,  upon  a  Conference,  to  Surren- 
der the   Murderers  Harboured   among  them. 
which  were  then  demanded;  whereupon  a  Skir- 
mifh  enfued,  in  which,  after  the  Death  of  one 
Of  their  Men,  the  Indians  fled,  but  the  Englifh 
deftroyed  their  Corn  and  their  Hutts,  and  ib  re- 
turned. 

Moreover,  a  Fort,  with  a  Garrifon  of  Twen- 
ty Men,  being  by  ibme  Agents  that  were  fent  o- 
ver  by  the  Lord  Say  and  the  Lord  Brook,  form- 
ed at  the  River's  Mouth,    fa  place  called   Say- 
Brook)  the  Piquots  after  this  lay  fculking  about 
that  Fort  almoft  continually  ;  by  which  means 
divers  of  the  Englifh  loft  their  Lives,  and  fomc 
that  were  feized  by  the  Indians  going  up  the 
River,  were  moft  horribly  Tortured  by  them, 
and  Roafted  alive  ;    and  afterwards  the  Taw- 
mes  would  with  Derifion  in  the  Englifh  hear- 
ing,  imitate  the  doleful  Emulations  and  Invo- 
cations of  the  poor  Creatures  that  had  perilhed 
under  their  cruel  Tortures,   and  add  infinite 
Blafphemies  thereunto.    Unto  all  which  there 
was  annexed  the  Slaughter  of  Nine  Men,  with 
the  taking  of  Ivoo  Maids,  by  this  horrid   Ene- 
my lying  in  Ambufh  for  them  as  they  went 
into  the  Fields  at  Weatherfield.    So  that  the 
Infant  Colonies  of  New-England  finding  them- 
felves necefiitated   unto  the  Crufhing  of  Ser 
pents,  while  they  were  but  yet  in  the  Cradle, 
Unanimoufly  relblved,  that  with  the  Afliftance 
of  Heaven   they  would  root  this  Neft  of  Ser- 
pents out  of  the  World. 

Reader,  it  is  remark'd  concerning  one  An  ah, 
ill  very  early  Times,  [_Gen.  36.  24.3  That  he 
found  Mules  in  the  Wilder nefs.  But  thefe  Mules 
were,  if  I  been't  miftaken,  as  very  Men  as  the 
Pequots,  whom  the  Firft  Planters  of  New-Eng- 
land found  in  the  Wildernefs.  We  are  con- 
vinced by  fuch  Incomparable  Writers  as  Bochart, 
that  the  Mountainous  Parts  of  Seir,  where  our 
Anah  dwelt,  was  a  Country  no  ways  Famous 
for  Mules  ■,  but  we  may  then  incline  rather  to 
the  Opinion  of  Sanbert,  who  maintains,  that 
the  D'D*  here  by  us  Tranflated  Mules,  are 
the  fame  that  elfewhere  are  called,  ED'nN 
of  which  Variety  in  Writing  the  fame  Name 
the  Scriptures  have  many  Inftances.  Now  thefe 
Emim,  were  the  well-known  Giants,  which 
Inhabiting  the  Horraan  Regions  in  the  Neigh- 
bourhood, ftruck  Terror  (as  their  Name  fig- 
nifiesj  unto  all  the  Neighbours,  till  the  Po- 
fterity  of  Effau  vanquilhed  them  ;  a  Matter 
which  many  Paffages  in  the  Bible  intimate. 
Our  Anah  is  here  diftinguifhed  from  another 


formed  for  the  Service  of  his  Country.  He 
Found,  that  is,  he  Surprized  and  Affaulred  the 
Emim,  thofe  terrible  Giants  with  which  the 
Neighbourhood  was  infefted.  By  this  Heroick 
A£l  he  fignalized  himfelf,  while  the  Prince  his 
Father,  employed  him  in  managing  and  order- 
ing his  Eftate  in  the  Wildernefs,  which  accord- 
ing to  the  ufe  of  thole  Times  lay  more  in 
Cattel  than  in  any  other  Subftance.  But  this 
Digreflion  ferves  only  to  excite  my  Reader's 
Expectation  of  Pequot  Giants  to  be  found  in  our 
Wildernefs. 

§.  2.  When  thefe  Ammonites  perceived  that 
they  had  made  themfelves  to  flink  before  the 
New-Englifh  Ifrael,    they  tried  by  all  the  En- 
chanting Infinuations  that  they  could  think  up- 
on, to  reconcile  themfelves  unto  the  other  Na- 
tions of  Indians,    with   whom  they   had  been 
heretofore  at  Variance :  Demonftrating  to  them 
how  eafie  'twould  be  for  them,  if  they  were  U- 
nited,  quickly  to  extirpate  the  Engl'ifl^  who  if 
they  were   Divided,    would  from  thence  take 
their  Advantage  to  Devour  them  one  after  ano- 
ther.    But  although  no  Machiavel  or  Achitophel 
could  have  infinuated  this  Matter  with  more  of 
Plaufibiiity,  yet  the  profpe£f,  of  a  Sweet  Revenge, 
which  the  other   Nations   of  the  Indians  did 
now  hope  to  have  by  the  help  of  the  Engliffj 
upon  thefe  their  Old  Enemies,   prevailed   with 
them  to  renounce  all  Propolals  of  Accommoda- 
tion; which  thing  was  of  the  Lord!   Where- 
fore, in  the  beginning  of  May,    1657.  Connefti- 
cut-Co\ony  let  out  againft  thefe  Pequots  Ninety 
Men,  under  the  Command  of  that  Worthy  Gen- 
tleman, Mr.  John  Mafon,  whofe  Worth  advan- 
ced him  afterwards  to  be  the  'Deputy  Governour 
of  the  Colony^   and  thefe  were  accompanied 
with  one  Unco*  an   Indian  Sachem^  newly   re- 
volted  from    the  Pequots.      Captain  Vnderhil 
alfo  being  with  the  Garrifon  at  Say-brook,  ob- 
tained leave  to  affift  the  Service  now  in  Hand 
with  Nineteen  Men  and  himfelf,  who  was  not 
the  Twentieth,    but  as  good  as  Twenty  more. 
Maffachufet-Colony   were  willing   to  do   their 
part  in  this  Expedition,  with  an  Army  (Reader, 
confidering  the  fmall    Number  of  Inhabitants 
then  in  thefe  Territories,    let  it  pafs  for  an 
ARMY!)  confifting  of  an  Hundred  and  Six- 
ty Men,   under  the  Chief  Command  of  Ifrael 
Stoughton,  Efq^  a  Gentleman  of  great  Metits  ; 
but  the  Matter  calling  for  a  real   Expedition, 
one  Captain  Patrick,  with  Forty  Men,  was  dif- 
patched  away  before.    Plymouth-Colony  chear- 
fully  offer'd  Fifty  Men,  as  their  Quota,  to  the 
Service  now  Undertaken ;  but  it  being   Accom- 
plifhed,  as  well  as  Undertaken,  before  their  Com- 
plement of  Men  could  arrive,    the  Will  was 
taken  for  the  Deed.     The  ConneUicut  Forces 
being  Shipp'd  in  Connefficut-River,  they  chofe 
Narraganfet-RivQX  to  Land  at,  rather  than  Pe- 
quot-River,  where  the  Enemy  kept  a  continual 
Guard  ;  and  from  thence  they  marched  with  a 
Defign  to  Surprize  them,  while  the  Narragan- 
fet-Indians,  whereof  about  Five  Hundred  now 
joined  them,  as  they   approached    near  to  the 
ib  called,  by  a  |notable  Exploit  which  he  per- 1  Enemies  Head  Quarters,   difcovered  fo  much 

1  Fear, 


Book  VII.      Or,  The  Hi/lory  of  New-England. 


43 


Fear,  that  they  either  quite  ran  away,  or  fell 
into  the  Rear.     Captain  Mafon  was  by   this 
time   informed,  that  the   Pequots   had   retired 
themfelves  into  Two  Impregnable  Forts,  where- 
of one  was  the  Rendezvouz  ofSajfacz/s  the  Chief 
Tyrant,  and  that  fierce  Tyger,  at  the  very  men- 
tion of  whole    Name  the    Narraganfets  trem- 
bled, faving,  He   iou  all  one  a  God,  no   Body 
could  kill  htm.     The  Council  of  War  determi- 
ned it  neceffiry  to  fall  firjl   upon   the    Fort 
which  they  could  find  firli -,  and  on  their  filent 
March  in  the  Moonlhiny  Night,  an  Indian-Spy 
that  had  been  lent  upon  Difcovery,  brought  them 
Word  that  the   Vequots  wete    in  a    Profound 
Sleep  :    For  having  (een  the  Englifb  Vejjels  not 
come  to  any  fort  in  the  next  River,  they  pre- 
fumed  the  Englijh  People  to  be  afraid  of  them, 
and  had  newly  tired  themt'elves  with  Dancing 
and  Singing  until  Midnight  upon  that  Preemp- 
tion.   Our  Guide  was  one  Wequafh,  an  Indian 
revolted  from  the  Pequots^  among  whom  he  had 
been  a  Capt:iin  ;  and  now  Captain  Mafon,  with 
Captain  Underhil,  coming  up  to  the   next  Fort 
about  break  of  Day,  the  Indian  Auxiliaries  were 
id  dif-fpirited,  as  to  retire  where  they  might 
lye  Poft   Principle    hardly   fo   much   as  the 
Spectators  of  the  enfuing  Aft  ion.     The  Two 
Captains,  with  their  Two  Companies,took,  Ma- 
fon the  Eaft-fide,  and  Underhil  the  Weft-fide  of 
the  Fort,  ibr  them  to  make  their  AlTaults  up- 
on ;  and  as  they  approached  within  a  Rod  of 
the  Fort,  a  Dog  Barking  awaked   another  Cer- 
berw,  an  Indian  that  flood  Centinel,  who  im- 
mediately cried   out,  Wannux,   Wannux,  i.  e. 
Englifh,   Enghfl)  !  However,    the  Courageous 
Captains  prefently  found  a  way  to  enter  the 
Fort,  and  thereupon  followed  a  Bloody  Encoun- 
ter, wherein  feveral  of  the  Engliff?  were  woun- 
ded, and  many  of  the  Indians  killed :  But  the 
Wigwams  or  Houfes  which  filled  the  Fort   con 
fifting  chiefly  of  Combuftible  Mats,  We  fetFire 
to  them,  and  prefently  retiring  out  of  the  Fort, 
on  every  fide  furrounded   it.     The  Fire  by  the 
Advantage  of  the  Wind   carried  all  before  it ; 
and  fuch  horrible  Confufion  overwhelmed  the 
Salvages,  that  many  of  them  were  Broiled  un- 
to Death  in  the  revenging  Flames  ;  many  of  them 
climbing  to  the  Tops  of  the  Palizados,  were  a 
fair  Mark  for  the  Mortiferous   Bullets  there  -\ 
and   many  of  them  that  had    the    Refolution 
to  iflue  forth,  were  Slain   by  the  Englijh  that 
flood   ready  to  bid  'em  Welcome  5    nor  were 
there  more  than  Two  Engl  if!)  Men  that  loft  their 
Lives  in  the  Heat  of  this  Acf  ion.    It  was  on 
Friday,    May  20.  1 637.    that   this   memorable 
Ad  ion  was  performed  ;  and  it  was  rendred  the 
more  memorable  by  this,  that  the  very  Night 
before  what  was  now  done,    an   Hundred  and 
Fifty  Indians  were  come  from  the  other  Fort 
unto  this,   with  a  purpofe  to  go  out  with  all 
fpeed   unto   the    DefiruUion    of  fome   Englijh 
Town  ■,  whereas  they   were   now   fuddenly  de- 
itroy'd  themfelves  5  and  in  a  little  more  than  One 
Hour,  Five  or  Six  Hundred  of  thefe  Barbarians 
were  difmiflcd  from  a   World  that  was  Bur- 
dened with  them  ;    not  more  than  Seven  or 


Eight  Perfons  efcaping  of  all  that  Multitude. 
But  e'er  we  pafs  any  further,  we  will  take  this 
place  to  Commemorate  Famous  Wequafh,   the 
Indian  whom  we  newly  mentioned  as  the  Guide 
of  the  Englijh  to  this  Indian  Fort.    Know,  Rea- 
der, that  after  this   Battel  Wequafh  had   his 
Mind  wonderfully  ftruck  with  great  Apprehen- 
fions  about  the  Glory  of  the  Englijhman's  God  -, 
and  he  went  about  the  Colony  of  Connecticut 
with  bitter  Lamentations,  That  he  did  not  know 
Jefus  Chrifi,  until  the  good  People  there  in- 
ftrucfed   him.    When  he  had  underftood  and 
embraced   the  Chriflian   Religion,  he  made  a 
moil  Exemplaty  Profeffion  of  it ;  he  reformed 
all  his  former  Ways  of  Sin  and  Luft,  and  with 
prodigious  Patience  bore  a  Thoufand  Injuries 
from  the  other  Indians  for  his  Holy  Profeffion, 
while  he  went  up  and  down  Preaching  of  Chrifi 
among  them.    At  laft  the  Indians    Murdered 
him,  and  Poifoned  him  for  his  Religion  ;  and  I 
find  no  lefs  a  Perfon  than  Mr.  Thomas  Shep- 
herd'of 'Cambridge  in  Print  reporting  his  Death 
with  fuch  Terms  as  thefe.     Wequafh,  the  Fa- 
mous Indian  at  the  Rivers  Mouth,  is  dead,  and 
certainly  in  Heaven  :   Glorioujly  did  the  Grace 
of  Chvi&fjine  forth  in  his  Converfation  a  Tear 
and  a  half  before  his  Death  ;    he  knew  Chrift  ; 
he  loved  Chrift;    he  preached  Chrift  up  and 
down ;  and  then  Juffered  Martyrdom  for  Chrift  •, 
and  when  he  died,    he  gave  his  Soul  to  Chrift, 
and  his  only  Child  to  the  Englifh,  in  this  hope,  ■ 
that  the  Child  fhould  know  more  of  Chrift  than 
its  poor  Father  did. 

§.  3.  Samp/on  was  not  in  much  greater  Di- 
ftrefs  by  Thirft,  after  his  Exploit  upon  the  Phi'- 
lijiines,  than  our  Friends  the  Day  after  this 
Exploit  upon  the  Pequots  -,  being  diftreffed  with 
the  wants  of  a  Thoufand  NecefTaries,  in  the 
Country  of  an  enraged  and  a  numerous  Enemy 
in  the  other  Fort,  from  whence  they  expected 
that  the  mighty  Saffacus^  with  all  his  Might, 
would  pour  forth  upon  them.  Neverthelefs,  by 
the  good  Ptovidence  of  God,  their  Pinaces,  with 
all  other  necefTary  Provifion  for  'em,  arrived  in 
the  Pequot  Harbour  at  the  very  nick  of  time, 
when  they  were  moft  wifhing  for  them  ;  whi- 
ther while  our  Forces  were  Marching,  the  E- 
nemy  came  up,  Three  Hundred  of  them,  from 
the  other  Fort,  like  Bears  bereaved  of  their 
Whelps.  They  now  continued  a  Bloody  Fight 
for  Six  Miles  together ;  in  which  the  Indians. 
meeting  with  much  lots,  notwithftanding  their 
making  a  fort  of  every  Swamp  in  the  way, 
were  fo  difcouraged,  that  for  the  preient  they 
gave  over ;  but  when  they  came  to  fee  the 
Afhes  of  their  Friends  mingled  with  the  Afhes 
of  the  Fort,  and  the  Bodies  of  fo  many  of  their 
Countrymen  terribly  Barbikewd,  where  the 
Englijh  had  been  doing  a  good  Mornings  Work, 
they  Howl'd,  they  Roar'd,  they  Stamp'd,  they 
Tore  their  Hair ;  and  though  they  did  not  Swear  y 
(for  they  knew  not  how ! )  yet  they  Cursed,  and 
were  the  Picf  ures  of  fo  many  Devils  in  Delpa- 
ration.  Captain  Patrick,  and  quickly  after 
him  Captain  Stoughton,  were  now  come  into 
thofe  Parts  of  the  Country,  to  Profecute  the 
Fffffff2  Work 


44 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana  :  Book  VIL 


Work  which  had  been  lb  notably  begun  by  the 
ConneUicotians  :  And  there  was  yet  Work  for 
them  to  do  •,  we  have  fometimes  read  of  A 
Gleaning  as  good  as  a  Vintage.    For  the  whole 
Body  of  the  Surviving  Pequots  repairing  to  the 
Fort  where  Saffacus  refided,  upbraided  him  as 
the  Author  of  all  their  Difafters,  and  were  as 
full  of  Mutiny  againft  him,   as  the  Ninevites 
were  againft  Sennacherib  after  his  Difalterous 
Expedition   againft   Jerusalem  ;    upon  which 
they  prefently  difperfed  themfelves  into  feveral 
Dangerous,  Rambling  and  Raging  Parcels,  and 
became  like  lb  many  Unkennell  d  Wolves  about 
the  Country.    However,  Heaven  fo  fmil'd  upon 
the  Englifh  Hunting  after  them,  that  here  and 
there  whole  Companies  of  them  were,  by  the 
Informations  of  other  Indians,  Trepanned   into 
the  Hunters  Hands  ;   particularly  at  one  time 
fome  Hundreds  of  them  were  feized  by  Captain 
Stougbton  with  little  Oppofition,  who  fending 
away  the  Females  and  Children  as  Captives,  put 
the  Men  on  Board  a  VelTel  of  one  Skipper  Gallop, 
which  proved  a  Charon's  Ferry-Boat  unto  them, 
for  it  was  found  the  quickelt  Way  to  feed  the 
Fijhes  with  'em.     Our  Forces  purfued  the  reft  of 
the  Pequots  which  way  foever  they  could  hear 
of  them,  and  frequently  had  the -Satisfaction  of 
cutting  them  off  by  Companies:   But  among  o- 
thers,  they  met  with  one  Crew  which  afforded 
them  Two  Sachims,  both  of  which  they  Behead- 
ed,   and  unto  a  Third  they  gave  his  Life,  on 
Condition   that  he  would  effectually    enquire 
after  Saffacus,  the  Grand  one  of  them  all.    This 
Wretch  overlooking  all  National   or  Natural 
Obligations,  proved  faithful  to  his  Employers  •, 
and  in  a  few  Days  returning  with  Advice  of  the 
Place   where    Saffacus  was  Lodg'd,    Sajfacus 
from  his  withdraw,  fufpetted  the  Matter,  and 
lb  fled  away  with  Twenty  or  Thirty  of  his 
Men  to  that  People  which  are  known  by  the 
Name  of  Maqua\  a  fierce  Generation  of  Man- 
Eaters,  for  whom  the  Name  of  Cannibal  or 
Hannibal,  (of  a  Signification  Originally  much 
more  Gracious  '.)  has  been  carried  with  them  out 
of  Africa  into  America  •,  but  thefe  Maqua^s  be- 
ing by  the  Narraganfets,  as  was  thought,  hired 
thereunto,  with  a  moft  Indian  Hofpitality  cut 
sem  all  to  Pieces.     By  fuch  Methods  as  thefe 
there  was  a  quick  period  givento  the  PequotWav ; 
and  the  few  Pequots  that  furvived,  finding  them- 
felves a  Prey  to  all  the  other  Indians,  who  now 
prided  themfelves   in  prefenting    the   Englifh 
with  as  many  Pequot  Heads  as  they  could-,  whe- 
ther by  Violence,  or  by  Stratagem,  feize  upon, 
fubmitted  themfelves  unto  the  Englifh  Mercy. 
But  the  reft  of  the  Indians,   who  faw  a  little 
handful  of  Englifhmen  Maffacre  and  Captivate 
feven  Hundred  of  their  Adverfaries,  and  kill  no 
lefs  than  Thirteen   of  their  Sachims   or  little 
Kings  in  one  Ihort  Expedition,  fuch  a  Terror 
from  God  fell  upon  them,   that  after  this  the 
Land  rejled  from  War  for  near  Forty  Tears  to- 
gether,  even  until  the  time  when  the  Sins  of 
the  Land  called  for  a  new  Scourge  ;    and  the  In- 
dians by  being  taught  the  Ufe  of  Guns,  which 
hitherto  they  had  not  learnt,  were  more  capa- 


ble to  be  made  the  Inftruments  of  infli£tin<*  it. 
The  Englilh  Intereft  in  America  muft  aflaft 
with  Bleeding  Lamentaions  cry  out, 

Heu!  PatiorTelis,  VulnerafaSamcis. 

For  after  this,  the  Auri  facra  Fames,  that  curfed 
Hunger  of  Lucre,  in  the  diverfe  Nations  of 
Europeans  here,  in  diverfe  Colonies  bordering 
upon  one  another,  loon  furnilh'd  the  Salvages 
with  Tools  to  deftroy  thofe  that  furnilh'd 
them  ; 

Tools,  pregnant  with  Infernal  Flame, 

Which  into  Hollow  Engines,  long  and  round 
Thick  Ramm'd  at  th"  other  Bore,  with  Touch 

of  Fire 
Dilated  and  Infuriate  >  doth  fend  forth 
From  far  with  Thundering  Noife  among  their 

Foes 
Such  Implements  of  Mifchief,  as  to  dafh 
To  Pieces  and  orewhelm  whatever  ft  ands 
Adverje. — 

§.  4.  Indeed,  there  were  fome  Approaches 
towards  a  War  between  the  Englifh  and  feverai 
Nations  of  the  Indians  divers  times  after  this; 
but  they  were  happily  prevented  with  an  Objia 
Principiis.  In  the  Year  1538.  fundry  Vaga- 
bond Englifh  murdered  an  Indian  in  the  Woods, 
upon  which  the  Narraganfets,  whereof  he  was 
one,_  were  going  to  rife :  But  when  they  faw  the 
Juftice  of  the  Country  in  Executing  Three  Eng- 
lifl)  for  the  Murder  of  one  Indian,  it  fo  Afto- 
nilhed  them  that  they  laidafide  their  Inclination 
to  Infurre£tion.  In  the  Year  1643.  Miantoni- 
mo  the  King  of  the  Narraganfets,  having  foully 
hired  an  Indian  to  AlTailinate  Uncas  the  King 
of  the  Mohecgs,  (but  fail'd  in  the  Attempt)  a 
Difturbance  was  thereby  Occafion'd  -,  which  pro- 
ceeded fofar,  that  Miantonimo  went  forth  to  a 
Battel  againft  Uncas,  whetein  Uncas,  though 
he  had  but  half  the  Number  of  Men,  took  AU- 
antanimo  Prifoner,  and  very  fairly  cut  off  his 
Head.  In  the  next  Year,  an  Indian  murdering 
an  Englifhman  in  the  Woods  near  Conneflicuty 
and  the  Sagamore  whereto  he  belonged  ref  ufing 
to  Sutrender  the  Murderer,  things  went  on  fb 
far  that  the  Heady  Indians  began  to  da  Hoftile 
Attions^  until  upon  Second  and  Wiier  Thoughts 
the  Salvages  did  make  a  Surrender  of  the 
Murderer,  and  then  thofe  Clouds  blew  over 
alfo. 

About  the  fame  Year,  the  Narraganfets  were 
fo  fet  upon  Deltroying  the  Mohegms,  that  the 
New-Englanders  reckon'd  themlclves  bound  in 
Juftice  and  Honour  to  defend  Uncas,  who  had 
ever  been  true  to  the  Englilh  Interefts;  ar;d 
upon  this  Account  there  was  an  Army  raifed 
from  all  the  Colonies,  which  being  on  their 
March  towards  the  Enemies  Country,  the  Prin- 
cipal Sachims  of  the  Narraganfets,  by  an  early 
Application  to  Bofton  for  Peace;,  put  an  happy 
flop  to  their  Marching  any  further. 

The  Narraganjets  obliged  themfelves  to  pay 
the  Charges  which  in  this  Matter  thty  had  put 

the 


Book  VII.  Or,  The  Hiftory  of  New-En*hiid.  45 


the  Englifh  unto,    and  fend  the  Sons  of  their 
Sachims  for  Hoftages    until  the  faid  Payment 
ihouid  be  made  ;  but  the  Indians  obfetving  but 
a  Greek  Faith  in  the  ilow  Fulfilments  of  their 
Promifes,  one  Captain  Atherton  had  the  Cou- 
rage, with  a  very  few  Englijh,  to  vifit  and  en- 
ter the  very  Wigwam  of  the  old  Sachim  Nini- 
gret,  and  catching  the  Sachim  there  by  his  Hair, 
with  a  Piltol  at  his  Brealt,  in  plain  Englijh  pro- 
tefted,  That  if  be  did  not  immediately  take  ef- 
fectual Order  to  Anfwer  the  Englijh   Demands^ 
he  was  a  dead  Man.      An  horrid  Confirmation 
feized  all  the  Indians  upon  the  fight  of  fo  Ex- 
travagant an  Action  ;  and  though  Multitudes  of 
them  flood  ready  to  let  rly  upon  Captain  Ather- 
ton, yet  their  Hearts  failed  them:  They  Jubmit- 
ted.,  and  there  was  an  End.      A  Plot  of  one  Se- 
qua/Jon,   an  Indian  Prince  near  New-Haven,   to 
Alfailinate  the  chief  Magiftrates  oft  he  Neigh- 
bour Colony,    and  fome   other  Villainous  and 
Injurious  Attions  of  the  Indians  towards  divers 
other  Englifh  People,  caufed  more  Difturbance 
in  the  Year  1646.  but  at  laft  this  alfo  came  to 
nothing.     In  the  Year  1647.     not  only  the  Nar- 
raganjets  but  the  Aloheags  alfo,  by  new  Info- 
lencies,  obliged   the  Englifh  to  demand  Satif- 
fa&ion  from  them,  which  being  obtained,  they 
proceeded  unto  no  further  Acf  ion  ;  and  in  the 
Year  following  the    Narraganfets    hiring   the 
Miquas  to  Allilt    them  in  the  Profecution  of 
their  old  Pique  againlt  Uncas,  were  again  upon 
the  very  point  of  Committing  Outrages  upon  the 
Englifh  too  ;  but  a  merciful  Providence  of  Hea- 
ven over-ruled  it,   as  it  in  like  manner  did  the 
Eftecls  of  a  General  Uproar  likely  to  enfue  up- 
on certain  Murders  perpetrated  by  Outrageous 
Indians   upon   certain  Perfons  of  New-Haven, 
and  of  Long-IJland,  in  the  Year  enfuing.     About 
the  Year   1653.  th*re  was  a  great  Commotion 
and  Agony  raifed  in  the  Spirits  of  People  through- 
out the  Country,  upon  the  Apprehenfion  of  an 
horrid  Confpiracy  among  the  Indians  through- 
out the  Country    to  cut  off  all  the   Englifh  ; 
and  there  appeared  ftrong  Evidences  to  Confirm 
that  Apprehenfion ;   but  thefe  Troubles  likewife 
vanilhed.     In  the  Year  1662.  Alexander,  the 
Son  and  Heir  of  old  Majfafoit,  not  being  fuch 
a  Friend  to  the  Engliih  as  his  Father  had  been 
before  him,  follicited  the  Narraganfets  to  join 
with  him  in  a  Rebellion ;  upon  the  good  proof 
whereof,  the  Government  of  Plymouth  fent  that 
Valiant  and  Excellent  Commander,  Major  Gene- 
ral Winflow,  to  fetch  him  down  before  them. 
The  Major  General  ufed  fuch  Expedition  and 
Refolution  in  this  Affair,  that,  affifted  with  no 
more  than  Ten  Men,  he  feized  upon  Alexander 
at  an  Hunting-Houfe,  notwithftanding  his  Nu- 
merous  Attendants  about  him,    and  when  the 
Raging  Sachim  faw  a  Pijiol  at  his  Breaft,  with 
a  Threatning  of  Death   to  him  if  he  did  not 
quietly  yeild  himfelf  up  to  go  down  unto  Ply- 
mouth with  him,   he  yeilded,  though,  it  may 
be,  not  very  quietly  thereunto.     Alexander  was 
thereupon  treated  with  no  other  than  that  Hu- 
manity and  Civility  which  was  always  EJfenti- 
d  to  the  Major  General;   neverthelefs  the  in- 


ward Fury  of  his  own  guilty  and  haughty 
Mind  threw  him  into  fuch  a  Fever  as  coft  him 
his  Life.  His  Brother  Philip  fucceeded  him  in 
the  Sagamore-fhip,  who  after  he  had  folemnly 
Renewed  his  Covenant  of  Peace  with  the  Eng- 
lifh, moft  perfidioufly  broke  it  by  making  an 
attempt  of  War  upon  them  in  the  Year  1671, 
wherein  being  feafonably  and  effectually  Ded- 
icated, he  humbly  Confeffed  his  Breach  of  Co- 
venant,  and  fublcribed  Articles  of  SubmiJJon, 
whereof  one  was,  That  in  cafe  any  future 
Difference  did  arife  between  him  and  the  Eng- 
UJ1),  he  would  repair  to  the  Government  there  to 
Retfifie  Alatters,  before  he  Engaged  in  any  Ho- 
flile  Attempts.  Indeed,  when  the  Duke  of  Ar- 
cbette,  at  his  being  made  Governour  ofAntwerpe 
Caftle,  took  an  Oath  to  keep  it  faithfully  for 
King  Philip  of  Spain,  the  Officer  that  gave  him 
his  Oath  ufed  thefe  odd  Words,  If  you  perform 
what  you  promife,  God  help  you  ;  if  you  do  it 
not,  the  Devil  take  you  Body  and  Soul'  And  all 
the  Standers-by  cried,  Amen.  But  when  the 
Indian  King  Philip  took  an  Oath  to  be  faithful 
unto  the  Government  of  New-England  no  Body 
ufed  thefe  Words  unto  him ;  neverthelefs  you 
ihallanon  fee  whether  theje  Words  were  not 
Expreffive  enough  of  What  became  of  him! 

§.  5.  In  the  Year  1674.  one  John  Saujaman^ 
an  Indian,  that  had  been  fent  forth  from  the  Eng- 
lijh to  Preach  the  Gofpel  unto  his  Country -Men^ 
addrelTed  the  Governour  of  Plymouth  with  In- 
formations, thac  Philip,  with  feveral  Nations'  of 
the  Indians  belides  his  own,  were  plotting  the 
Deftrucfion  of  the  Englifh  throughout  the  Coun- 
try. This  John  Saujaman  was  the  Son  of 
Chrijiian  Indians  ;  but  he  Apoftatifing  from  the 
Profeflion  of  Chriftianity,  lived  like  an  Hea- 
then in  the  Quality  of  a  Secretary  to  King  Phi- 
lip ;  for  he  could  Write,  though  the  King  his 
Matter  could  not  fo  much  as  Read.  But  after 
this,  the  Gtace  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  Re- 
covered him  from  his  Apoflafie,  and  he  gave 
fuch  notable  Evidences  and  Expreffions  of  his 
Repentance,  that  he  was  not  only  admitted  un- 
to the  Communion  of  the  Lord's  Table  in  one  of 
the  Indian  Churches,  but  he  was  alfo  employed 
every  Lord's  Day  as  an  Infiru&er  among  them. 
Neverthelefs,  becaufe  there  was  but  this  one 
Teftimony  of  an  Indian,  and  therefore  of  a 
fufpetled  Original,  there  was  little  notice  taken 
of  it,  until  the  Artificial  Arguments  of  fome  too 
probable  and  unhappy  Circumfiances  confirmed 
it.  But  before  the  truth  of  the  Matter  could  be 
enquired  into,  poor  John  was  Barbaroufty  Mur- 
dered by  certain  Indians,  who,  that  the  Murder 
j  might  not  be  Difcovered,  cut  an  Hole  through 
the  Ice  of  the  Pond,  where  they  met  with  him, 
and  put  in  the  Dead  Body,  leaving  his  Hat  and 
his  Gun  upon  the  Ice,  that  fb  others  might  fup- 
pofe  him  to  have  there  drowned  himfelf  If 
being  rumoured  that  Saujaman  was  miffing,  the 
Neighbours  did  feek,  and  find,  and  bury  his 
Dead  Body ;  but  upon  the  Jealoufies  on  the 
Spirits  of  Men  that  he  might  have  met  with 
fome  foul  Play  for  his  Difcovering  of  the  In- 
dian Plot,  a  Jury  was  empanndl'd,  unto  whom 

h 


■ 


4^ 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana :  Book  VII. 


Infolence.  The  Indians  proceeded  in  the  Month 
of  June  unto  the  Rifling  of  feveral  Houfes  in 
the  Plantations  near  Mount-Hope,  which  was 
the  Seat  where  Philip  was  Kennelfd  with  the 
Reft  of  thefe  horrid  Salvages  •  and  hereupon 
the  Governour  of  Plymouth  fent  forth  a  fmall 
Army  for  the  Defence  of  the  Expofed  Planta- 
tions. On  June  24.  a  Day  of  Solemn  Humili- 
ation was  kept  through  the  Colony  for  the 
fuccefs  of  the  Expedition  ;  and,  Reader,  behold 
what  a  Solemn  Humiliation  the  difpleafureof 
Heaven  then  difpenced  unto  them  ;  for  at  the 
Conclufion  of  the  Day,  as  the  Inhabitants  of 
Swanzy  were  coming  from  their  Prayers,  the 
Lurking  Indians  difcharged  a  Volley  of  Shot 
this  Tobias,  with  certain  other  Indians,  killing!  upon  them,  whereby  one  Man  was  Killed,  and 
of  John  Saufaman  ;  and  it  was  furthet  teftified,  |  another  Wounded  •,  and  the  Two  Men  that  were 
that  John  Saufaman  before  he  died  had  ex-   lent  for  a   Chirurgeon  to  relieve  the  Wounded 


it  appeared  that  his  Neck  was  broken,  which 
is  one  Indian  way  of  Murdering,  and  that  his 
Head  was  extreamly  Swoln,  and  that  he  had 
feveral  other  Wounds  upon  him,  and  that  when 
he  was  taken  out  of  the  Pond,  no  Water  Iifued 
out  of  him.  It  was  remarkable,  that  one  To- 
bias, a  Counfellor  of  King  Philip's,  whom  they 
fufpe&ed  as  the  Author  of  this  Murder,  ap- 
proaching to  the  Dead  Body,  it  would  ftill  fall 
a  Bleeding  afrejh,  as  if  it  had  newly  been 
Slain  •,  yea,  that  upon  the  Repetition  of  the 
Experiment  it  ftill  happened  fo,  albeit  he  had 
b  een  deceafed  and  interred  for  a  Confiderable 
while  before.  Afterwards  an  Indian,  called  Pa 
tuck/on.  gave  in  his  Teftimony,  that  he  faw 


preiTed  his  Fears,  that  thofe  very  Indians  would 
be  his  Death.     Hereupon  Tobias,  with  Two  o 
ther  Indians,  being  apprehended,  they  were,  after 
a  fair  Trial  for  their  Lives,  by  a  Jury  confid- 
ing half  of  Englifh,  and  half  of  Indians,  Con- 
victed, and  lb  Condemned ;   and  though  they 
were  all  fucceffively  turned  off  the  Ladder  at 
the  Gallows,  utterly  denying  the  Fact  •,    yet  the 
laft  of  them  happening  to  break  or  flip  the  Rope, 
did,  before  his  going  off  the  Ladder  again,  con- 
feis,  That  the  other  Indians  did  really  Murder 
John  Saufaman.,  and  that  he  was  himfeif,  though 
no  AUor  in  it,  yet  a  hooker  on.     Things  began 
by  this  time  to  have  an  Ominous  Afpect.    Yea, 
and  now  we  fpeak  of  things  Ominous,  we  may 
add, Some  time  before  this,in  a  Clear,Still,  Sun- 
fhiny  Morning,    there  were  divers  Perfons  in 
Maldon  who  heard  in  the  Air,  on  the  South- 
Eaft  of  them,   a  Great  Gun  go  off,  and  pre- 
fently  thereupon  the  Report  of  Small  Guns  like 
Musket  Shot,  very  thick  difcharging,  as  if  there 
had  been  a  Battel.    This  was  at  a  time  when 
there  was  nothing  vifibly  done  in  any  part  of 
the  Colony  to  occafion  fuch  Noifes ;    but  that 
which  moftofall  Aftonifhed  them  was  the  Fly- 
ing of  Bullets,  which  came  Singing  over  their 
Heads,   and  feemed  very  near  to  them,   after 
which  the  found  of  Drums  paffing  along  Weft- 
ward  was  very  Audible ;  and  on  the  fame  Day, 
in  Plymouth  Colony  in  feveral  Places,    invifible 
Troops  of  Horfes  were  heard  Riding  to  and  fro. 
Now,  Reader,  prepare  for  the  Event  of  thefe 
Prodigies,  but  count  me  not  ftrutk  with  a  Li- 
vian  Superftition  in  Reporting  Prodigies,   for 
which  I  have  fuch  InconteftableAffurance. 

§.  6.  Philip,  confcious  to  his  own  Guilt,  puflit 
on  the  Execution  of  his  Plot  as  faft  as  he 
could;  he  Armed  his  Men,  and  fent  away  their 


were  alio  Killed  :  Which  Slaughter  was  accom- 
panied with  the   Murder  of  Six  Men  more  in 
another  part  of  the  Town.      So  that  now  the 
War  was  begun  by  a  Fierce  Nation  of  Indians, 
upon  an  Honeft,Harmlels,  Chriftian  Generation 
of  Englifh,    who  might  very   truly  have  faid 
unto  the  AggrelTors,    as  it  was  of  old  faid  unto 
the  Ammonites,  I  have  not  finned  again/}  thee, 
but  thou  doll  me  wrong  to  War  again fl  me ',  The 
Lord  the  Judge  be  Judge  this  Day  between  us  ! 
Plymouth -Colony  being  thus  involved  in  a  War, 
immediately  fent  unto  the  other  United  Colonies 
for  their  Aid,  who  according  to  the  Articles  of 
the  Union  whereinto  they  were  Confederated, 
immediately  approved  themfelves  true  Brethren 
to  the  Colony  in  Adverfity.      On   June  26.  a 
Company  of  Troopers  under  the  Command  of 
Captain  Thomas  Prentice,    and  Footmen  under 
the  Command  of   Captain    Daniel  Henchman, 
marched  out  of  Boflon  towards  Mount-Hope  -, 
and  though  fome  of  a  Melancholy  Complexion 
had  their  Dark  Thoughts,    that  a   Total  and 
Central    fclipfe  of  the  Moon    in   Capricorn, 
which  gave  them  fome  Dark  Hours    the  firft 
Night  of  their  March,  might  be  Ominous  of 
enfuing  Difafters  ;   yet  the  Soldiers  were  gene- 
nerally  of  the  Mind  with  Marcus  CraJJus,   the 
Great  Roman  General,    That  there  was  more 
Caufetobe  afraid  of  Sagittarius  than  cj  Capri- 
cornus.     A  Company  of  Brisk  Volunteers,  under 
the  Command  of  Captain  Samuel  Mofcly,  quick- 
ly overtook  them,  and  fo  joined  with  Plymouth 
Forces,   under  the  Command  of  Captain  Cud- 
worth  at  Swanfey,   June  28.    Twelve  of  our 
Men,  unwilling  to  lofe  a  Minute  of  time,  went 
that  very  Evening  to  difcover  the  Enemy,  who 
from   the    Bufhes   fired   upon  them,     Killed 
One,  and  Wounded  another,  but  were  foon  by 


Women,  and  entertained  many  ftrange  Indians;  our  handful  of  Men  putunioajhameful  Flight, 
that  flock'd  in  unto  him  from  feveral  Parts  of!  Our  Army  the  next  Morning  made  a  Refolute 


the  Country,  and  began  to  be  Tumultuous. 
The  Engifl),  whole  Innocency  and  Integrity  had 
i:  7de  mem  too  fecure,  nevertheleis,  on  thefe 
Alarums  maue  feveral  friendly  Applications  un- 
to PiAlip,  with  their  Advice,  that  he  would  no 


Charge  upon  the  Enemy,  who  prefently  fed 
from  their  Quarters,  and  left  their  whole  Terri- 
tory open  to  us;  entring  whereof  we  found  the 
mangled  Bodies  of  fome  of  our  Country  Men, 
whofe  Heads  they  had  alfo  ftuck  upon  Poles ; 


nior-  allow  of  any  thing  that  ihould  look  like]  and  we  found  Bibles  torn  to  Pieces  in  Defiance 
lurnult  among  his  People;  but  they  were  en-  of  our  Holy  Religion;  but  we  found  in  the 
tertaine  d  witha  Surly,  Haughty,  and  Provoking  I  Wigwams  of  the   Enemy   all  the  Marks  of  an 

ha  fly 


Book  VII.  Or,  the  Hilary  of  New-England. 


47 


hafty  departure ,  nor  was  Philip  any  more  feen 
in  his  Country,  till  he  returned  thither  the 
next  Year  to  receive  the  Kecompence  of  his 
Perfidy. 

§.  7.  The  Englifh  little  Army  icowred  the 
Woods,  and  with  ibme  lofs  to  our  felves,  we 
now  and  then  had  Opportunity    to    inflict  a 
greater  lofs  upon  the  Enemy.    But  we   took 
this  Opportunity  to  March  over  into  the  Nar- 
raganfet -Country ,    that  with  a  Sword  in  our 
Hands  we  might  renew  and  confirm   our  Peace 
with  a   moft  confiderable   Nation  of  Indians 
there,  of  whole  Conjunction  with  Philip  and 
his  Wompanoags  (tor  16  were  Philip's  Nation 
called)  we  had  more  than  ordinary  caufe  to  be 
afraid.      The  Fired  of  which  was,   that  the 
Sachims  or'  the  Narraganfrts  did,  on  July  15. 
Sign  and  Seal  Articles  or  Peace  with  us,  where- 
in they  engaged  that  they  would  not  only  for- 
bear all  Ads  of  Hoftility  againft  the  Englifh, 
but  alfo  ufe  their  urmolt  Ability,  by  all  Acts  of 
Hoftility,  to  deftroy  Philip  and  his  Adherents, 
calling  the   God   of  Heaven    to    Witnefs  for 
the  true   Performance    of  thefe  Articles.      In 
the  mean  time,    Captain  Cudworth,  with  his 
Plymouth- Forces,  went   upon  the  like  Account 
unto  another  fmall  Nation  of  the  Indians,  at  a 
place  called  Poc'affir,    with  a  Defign  to  haften 
further  afield    tor  the  help  of  the  Two  little 
Viilages  of  Middlebury  and  Dartmouth,    now 
futfering  under  the  Depredations  of  a  Sculking 
Adverfary.    Captain  Fuller  and  Captain  Church, 
with  Two  fmall  Detachments,  had  fpent  fome 
time  in  the  Woods  of  Pocaflct,  before  a  great 
Company  of  Indians  compelled  Captain  Fuller, 
with   his  Men,  to  feek  fome  lhelter  from  a 
Shower  of  Ballets,  in  an  Houfe  near  the  Water- 
fide,  where  they  defended   themfelves    till   a 
Sloop  from  Rbode+ljland  fetch'd  them  oft' ^  but 
Captain   Church   was  got  into  a  Peafe-Field, 
where  he,  with  his  Fijtcen  Men,  found  himfelf 
fuddenly  furrounded  with  an  Hundred  and  al- 
moft  Five  times  fifteen  terrible  Indians :  Ne- 
verthelefs.  this  Gentleman,  like  another  Shamgar, 
had  Courage  enough  in   himfelf  alone  to  have 
ferved  an  Army  ;  he  allured  his  Men  with  a 
(trange  Confidence,   that  not  a  Bullet  fhould 
hurt  them ;  which  one,  that  was  more  Faint- 
hearted than  the  reft,  not  believing,  this  Vali- 
ant Commander  fet  him  ro  gather  a  few  Rocks 
together  for  a  little  Barricado  to  them;   in  the 
doing  whereof,  as  he  was  carrying  a  Stone  in 
his  Arms  to  the  Bank  intended,  a  Bullet,  which 
elfe  would  have  killed  him,  ftruck  upon  that 
very  Stone,  and  mifs'd  him,  which  Experiment 
prelently  reftored  Manhood  unto  him  :  So  they 
fought  it  out  bravely  that  whole  Afternoon, 
without  the  leaft  Hurt  unto  any  One  of  their 
Number,  but  with  Death  given  to  as  many  as 
their  Number  of  their  Enemies.     And  at  laft, 
when  their  Guns  by  often  Firing  were  become 
unferviceable,  a  Sloop  of  Rhode-Ijland  fetch'd 
them  off  alfo.    This  Action  was  but  a  Whet  un- 
to the  Courage  of  Captain  Church,  who  haft- 
ning  over  to  the  Main,  borrowed  Three  Files 
of  Men  ftom  the  MaJfacbufet-FoicQS,   and  re- 


turned unto  Pocaffet,  where  he  had  another 
Skirmifh,  in  which  he  flew  Fourteen  or  Fifteen 
of  the  Enemies,  and  ltruck  fuch  a  Terror  into 
the  reft,  that  if  they  could  have  got  away, 
thofe  Quarterers  would  for  a  while  have  heard 
no  more  of  them. 

§.  8.  The  little  Forces  of  the  Two  Colonies 
coming  together  again  after  the  Treaty  of  Nar- 
raganfet,  they  march'd  from  Taunton,  July  1 8. 
Eighteen  Miles,  to  a  mighty  Swamp  where  the 
Indians  were  lodged  5  and  the  Indians  covering 
themfelves  with  Green  Boughs,  a  Subtilty  of  the 
fame  Nature,  though  not   of  the  fame  Colour, 
that  they  affirm  to  be  ufed  by  the  Cuttle-fijh, 
took  the  Advantage  from    the  Thick  Under  - 
Woods  to  kill  feveral  of  the  Englifh.     But  the 
EngliJJ)  purfuing  of  them,  they  prelently  defer- 
ted  an  Hundred  of  their  Wigwams  which  they 
had  there  Erected,  and  retired  further  into  the 
Prodigious  Thicket,    where  we  prefumed  that 
we  had  'em  in  a  Pound ;  and  fo  fcarce  Two  Hun- 
dred Men  being  left  there  to  keep  an  Eye  upon 
them,  the  reft  (except  fuch  as  returned  unto 
Bofton)    were  difpatched    unto   the  relief  of 
Mendham,  where,  about  July  14.  the  Nipmuck* 
Indians,     another      Nation     of    them     that 
were  Well-willers  to  Philip's  Defign,  began  to 
Philippine  in  Barbarous  Murders.    Our  Forces 
kept  a  ftrict:  Eye  upon  the  Motions  of  the  En- 
fwamped   Enemy ;    but    finding    if  once  we 
fqueezed    our    felves   into    thofe    Inacceffible 
Woods,  we  meerly   Sacrificed  one  another  to 
our  own  Miftakes,   by  firing  into  every  Bufh 
that  we  faw  to  Itir,  as  expecting  a  Thief  in  e- 
very  Bufh  ■,  we  were  willing  rather  to  Starve  the 
Beaft  in  his  Den,  than  go  in  to  Eight  him  there. 
Heaven  faw  more  Blood  xxvA\  be  drawn  from  the 
Colonies,    before  Health  could  be  reftored  to 
them  :  Philip  would  have  furrendred  himfelf, 
if  we  had  gone  in  to  take  him-,   whereas  now 
becoming  defperate,  he  with  his  bed  Fighting 
Men  taking  the  Advantage  of  a  Low  Tide  in  the 
middle  of  the  Night,    wafted  themfelves  over 
on  fmall  Rafts  of  Timber,  into  the  Woods  that 
led   unto   the   Nipmuc ^-Country,     while    our 
Forces  that  lay  Encamped  on  the  other  Side  per- 
ceived it  not.    An  Hundred  of  the  miferable 
Salvages  that  were  left  behind,   made  a  Sur- 
render of  themfelves  to  our  Mercy  ;  but  Philip's 
efcape  now  foon  after  Day-light  being  difcovered, 
the  Englifh,  afTifted  with  a  Party  oi'Monbegin- 
Indians,  purfued  them  as  faft  as  they  could,  and 
in  the  purfuit  flew  about  Thirty  of  them  e'er 
the  Night  obliged  'em  to  give  over.    However, 
Philip  now  efcaping  to  the  Weftward,  he  en- 
flamed  the  feveral  Nations  of  the  Indians  in  the 
Weft  where-ever  he  came,  to  take  part  with, 
him,  until  the  Flame  of  War  was  raging  all 
over  the  whole  Majjachufet-Colony.    The  Firft 
Scene  of  the  Bloody  Tragedy  was  in  the  Nip' 
muck-Country,     whither    Captain  Hutchinfon^ 
accompanied  with  Captain  Wheeler ,  went,  Aug.  2. 
upon  a  Treaty  of  Peace  with  the  Indians  there, 
who  had  agreed  with  him  a  place  of  Meeting 
for  the  Confummation  of  the  Treaty,  and  the 
Renovation  of  the  Covenant.,  wherein  they  had 

the 


48 


Magnalia  Chrifli  Americana :  Book  VII. 


the  Month  before  promifed  under  their  Hands, !  ers  on  Aug.  25.  to  Demand  from  their  Indians 
that  they  would  not  affift  Philip  in  his  Hoftili- ;  a  Proof  of  that  Faithfulnefs  which  they  h3d 


ties,  the  Indians  not  coming  to  the  place 
alftgned,  Captain  Hutchinfon  rode  a  little  fur- 
ther, and  fo  far,  that  the  Perfidious  Vil- 
lains, from  an  Ambufcado,  mortally  wounded 
him,  and  ihot  Eight  more  dead  upon  the  Spot ; 
but  the  reft  tied  back  by  a  By-Path  to  ^itaboag, 
a  fmall  Village,  where  all  the  inhabitants  were 
juft  got  into  one  Houfe,  refolving  there  to  Live 
and  Die  together.  The  Indians,  with  Philip's 
Army  newly  arrived  unto  them,  rufh'd  in  like 
a  Storm  of  Lightning  upon  this  diftrefled  Vil- 
lage •,  and  having  burnt  all  the  reft,  they  furi- 
oufly  befet  that  one  Houfe,  where  a  little 
Handful  of  Men  bravely  defended  the  little  Cot- 
tage, which  was  all  their  Caftle  againlt  an  huge 
Army  of  cruel  Tawnies,  who  kept  perpetually 
pouring  in  their  Shot  upon  them  for  Two  Days 
together,  and  thrufting  Poles  with  Brands  and 
Rags  dipp'd  in  burning  Brimftone,  and  many 
other  Tricks,  to  fet  the  Cottage  on  Fire.  At 
laft,  after  Six  Ineffectual  Attempts  to  Burn  this 
poor  Hovel,  (To  in  Six  Troubles  they  were  de 


hitherto  profeffed,    but  Philip   had  Bewitched 
them;  they  were  tied  from  their  Forts,  having 
fir  ft  killed  an  Old   Sachim  of  their  own  that 
was  not  willing  to  go  with  them   ;    they  fired 
upon  our  Men  from  a  Swamp    when  we  were 
looking  after  them  ;  and  a   Difpute  continued 
for  (bme   Hours,    wherein  we  loft  Nine  Men 
belonging    to    Nine    Towns.     Thus    the  De- 
foliations^ of  War  were  carried  into  thefe  Parts 
of  the  Country,    while  fmall  Crews  of  Salva- 
ges here  and  there,  in  other  Parts  of  the  Coun- 
try, were  diftreLling  People  wonderfully.     On 
Sept.  1.  the   Indians  laid  moft  of  the  Houfes 
belonging  to  the  hopeful  Plantation  of  Deer- 
Held  in   Alhes,    while  the  Garrifon    was   not 
Itrong  enough  to  Salley  forth  upon  'em  ;    and 
on  the  Day  following  they  flew  Eight  Men  a- 
broad    in    the  Woods   at   Squakbeag,    without 
miking  any  Attempts  upon  the  Garrifon.  Cap- 
tain Beers,  with  about  Thirty-fix  Men,  were 
fent  up  to  fetch  off  the  People  in  thefe  little 
Garrifon?,  but  they  found  a  Serpent  by  the  Way, 


hvered,  yea,  in  Seven  the  Evil  touched  'em  not!)   and  Adder  in  the  Path  :  Hundreds  of  Indians 


they  fill'd  a  Cart  with  Flax,  Hemp,  and  other 
Combultible  Matter,  and  kindling  of  it,   they 
pufh'd  it  on  with  very  long  Poles  that  were 
Spliced  one  unto  another ;    by  which  means 
this  Petite  Flock  muft  have  unavoidably  become 
a  Prey  to  thefe  horrid  Wolves,    if  a  mighty 
Storm  of  Rain  had   not  fuddenly  extinguilhed 
it.     But,  Bleffed  be  the  Lord,  ('might  the  Se- 
venty Men,  Women  and  Children  in  that  Houfe 
anon  Sing  ! )  who  hath  not  given  us  a  Prey  to 
their  Teeth  ;   our  Soul  is  efcaped  a*  a   Bird 
out  of  the  Snare  of  the  Fowlers  !   Our  memo- 
rable Major  Willard,  on  Aug.  4.  in  the  Morn- 
ing, fetting  forth  with  a  Party  of  Men  to  vilit 
and  fecure  a  Nation  of  Sufpelied  Indians,  in  the 
Neighbourhood  received,  by  a  ftrange  Accident, 
fome  feafonable  Advice  of  the  doleful  Conditi- 
on wherein  our   Brethren  at  ^iiaboag,  Thirty 
Miles  diftant  from  him,  were  Enfnarcd ,    and 
thereupon  turning  his  Courfe  thither,  it  came 
to  pals,  that  although  the  Indians  had  placed 
fufficient  Ambufhments  to  cut  off  any  Succours 
that  fhould  come  that  way,   yet  there  was  an 
Unaccountable  Befotment  fo  fallen  upon  them, 
that  this  Valiant  Commander,  with  Forty-eight 
Men,  arrived  at  Night  unto  the  help  of  thefe 
Befieged  People,  and  bravely  raifed  the  Siege, 
by  driving  the  Beafls  of  Prey  back  to  their  Dens, 
after   he  had  Firft  Sacrificed  many  Scores  of 
them  unto  the  Divine   Vengeance.     Thus  re- 
markably was  this  poor  People  delivered  •,   but 
the  Enemy  Steering  further  Weftward,  Captain 
hathrop^  Captain  Beers,  and  others,  were  fent 
with  more  Forces  to  Track  'em  ;  and  if  it  were 
poffible,  to  prevent  their  Poifoning  and  Seducing 
of  the  Indians  upon  ConneUicut-River,   whofe 
Fidelity  was  now  extreamly  doubred  of. 

§.  9.  The  Towns  belonging  unto  the  Maffa- 
chufet -Colony  upon  ConneUicut-River,  aflifted 
now  by  Forces  alfo  from  Connecticut,  under  the 


from  a  thick  Swamp  Fired  upon  them,  where- 
upon followed  a  defperate  Fight,  wherein  the 
Captain  and  a  Score  of  his  Men  fold  their  Lives 
at  as  good  a  Price  as  they  could,  but  the  reft 
fled  into  HaMey,  leaving  Major  Treat  a  few 
Days  after  to  finilh  what  they  had  under- 
taken. 

The  Towns  thereabout  now  being  rollerabljr 
Garrifon'd,  Captain  Lothrop,  with  about  Eighty- 
Men,  carried  Carts  to  fetch  off  the  Corn  that 
lay  Tbrefb'd  in  Deerfield\  but  they   fell  them- 
felves  into  a  terrible  Tribulation  \  for  on  Sept. 
18.  a  vaft  Body  of  Seven   or  Eight  Hundred 
Indians  on  the  Road  entertained  them  with  an 
Affault,  wherein  the  Courageous  Captain  having 
taken  up  a  wrong  Notion,  that  the  beft  Courfe 
was  to  Fight  with  Indians  in  their  own  way 
of  Sculking  behind  the  Trees,   and  thence  aim- 
ing at  fingle  Perfons,  thereby  expofed  himfelf 
to  Ruin.    If  they  had  fought  more  in  a  Body, 
they  might  have  carried  all  before  them  ;  for 
it  has  been  obferved,  that  Indians  never  durft 
look  Englifhmen  in  the  Face-,  whereas  now  above 
Threefcore  of  our  Men,  and  moft  of  them  hope- 
ful Toung  Men,  were  killed.     Captain   Moj'ely 
hearing  the  Reports  which  the  Guns  gave  of 
this  Battel,  came  up  with  an  Handful  of  Men, 
though  too  late  for  the  Refcue  of  Captain  Lo- 
throp ;  and  feveral  times  he  Marched  through 
and  through  that  prodigious  Clan  of  Dragons, 
and  raked  them  for  Five  or  Six  Hours  together, 
with  the  lofs  of  no  more  than  Two  Men  of  his 
own  ;  albeit   the   Indians  afterwards  cenfeffed 
that  they  loft  Ninety-fix  of  themfelves,  and  had 
mote  than  Forty  wounded.    A rew- England  had 
never  yet  feen  fo  black  a  Day!  The  Inhabitants 
of  Springfield,  notwithstanding  the  firmeft  At 
furances  which  the  Nations  of  Indians  near  to 
them  had  given  them  of  their  Friendfhip  and 
Faithfulnefs,  were  awakned  by  thefe  things  to 


Command  of  Major  Robert  Treat,  fent  Soldi- '  enquire  how  far  they  might  reft  allured  thereof, 

wheri 


Book  VII.      Or,  The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


49 


when  all  oW  fudden  the  Hoflages  which  thefe 
Indians  had  given  were  fled  ;  and  fome  Englifh 
going  to  Viiic  them  at  their  Fort,  were  Trea- 
cheroufly  laluted  with  a  Volley  of  Shot,  which 
miferably  wounded  them  ;  whereupon  the 
Town  was  in  all  the  Ungarrifbn'd  Parts  of  it 
Fired  by  thefe  Perfidious  Caitifs.  Thirty  two 
Houfes,  and  amongft  the  reft,  the  Minifter's 
with  his  well-lurnilhed  Library,  were  confu 
med  before  the  Arrival  oi  Major  Treat,  Major 
Pinchon.  and  Captain  Appleton,  put  a  flop  to 
the  Fury  and  Progrefs  of  an  Intuiting  Enemy  : 
Nor  had  the  Inhabitant  themfelves  efcaped  a 
Majfacre,  if  an  Indian,  privy  to  the  Plot,  had 
not  iuft  in  the  Nick  of  time  difcovered  it  unto 
them.  After  this,  the  tnglijh  Forces  were  or- 
dered, by  a  merciful  Providence  of  Heaven,  to 
Rendezvouz  about  Northampton,  Hadley,  Hat- 
field, until  it  might  be  confider'd  what  there 
was  further  to  be  done  ^  and  now  behold,  Rea- 
der, a  Comfortable  Matter  in  the  midft  of  fo 
many  Tragedies !  The  General  Court  then  Sit- 
ting at  Bofton,  appointed  a  Committee,  who 
with  the  affiftance  of  the  Mtnifters  in  the 
Neighbourhood,  might  fuggelt  what  were  the 
Provoking  Evils  that  had  thus  brought  the 
Judgments  of  God  in  a  Bloody  War  upon  the 
Land,  and  what  Laws  might  be  Enacfed  for 
the  Reformation  of  thofe  Provoking  Evils  '. 
The  return  of  which  Committee  to  the  Gene- 
ral Coutt  was  kindly  received  on  03.  10.  and 
Care  taken  further  to  Prolecute  the  Intentions  of 
it.  Now  as  our  Martyrologift,  Mr.  Pox,  ob- 
ferves,  that  at  the  very  Day  and  Hour  when 
the  Acf  of  Reformation,  in  the  Reign  of  King 
Edward  VI.  was  put  in  Execution  at  London, 
God  gave  the  Nation  a  Signal  Victory  at  Muf- 
cleborough  :  Thus  it  was  remark  d  by  fome  De- 
vout Men,  that  on  the  very  Day  when  the  Vote 
was  pafled  at  Bofton  for  the  Reformation  of 
Mifcarriages  in  the  Land,  our  Forces  had  a  no- 
table Succefs  an  Hundred  Miles  oft"  againft  the 
Common  Enemy.  Seven  or  Eight  Hundred 
Indians  broke  in  upon  Hatfield  at  all  Quarters, 
but  our  Forces  being  beyond  their  Expectation 
lodged  in  the  Neighbourhood,  the  Indians  were 
fo  terribly  Defeated,  that  after  the  killing  of 
but  One  Englilhman  in  the  Fight,  they  confef- 
fed  the  Town  too  hot  for  them,  and  fled  fo  faft, 
that  many  of  them  loft  their  Lives  in  the  River. 
This  refolute  Repulfe  gave  fuch  a  Check  to 
the  Enemy,  that  the  VVetlern  Plantations  for  a 
long  while  heard  little  or  nothing  further  from 
them  ;  fome  {haggling  Parties,  indeed,  were 
here  and  there  MifchievouS}  but  as  Winter 
drew  on,  they  generally  retired  unto  the  Narra- 
ganfet-Country,  whete  the  Reader  muft  now 
expe&  a  coniiderable  Action  !  Tis  true,  the  Eu- 
ropean Campaigns  for  the  Numbers  of  Men  ap- 
pearing in  them,  compared  with  the  little  Num- 
bers that  appear  in  thefe  American  Aft  ions, 
may  tempt  the  Reader  to  make  a  very  Dimi- 
nutive Buiinefs  of  our  whole  Indian-War  -,  but 
we  who  felt  our  felves  Aftaulted  by  unknown 
Numbers  of  Devils  in  Flefh  on  every  fide  of 
us,  and  knew  that  out  Minute  Numbers  em- 


ploy'd  in  the  Service  againft  them,  were  pro- 
portionably  more  to  i*s  than  mighty  Legions  are 
to  Nations,  that  have  exifted  as  many  Centu- 
ries as  our  Colonies  have  Tears  in  the  World, 
can  fcarce  forbear  taking  the  Colours  in  the 
Sixth  Book  of  Milton  to  delcribe  our  Story  : 
And  fpeaking  of  our  Indians  in  as  high  Terms 
as  Virgil  of  his  BiJ "mires  :  It  nigrum  cam  pis 
Agmen  !  At  leaft  we  think  our  Story  as  confide- 
b!e  as  that  filly  Bufinefs  of  the  Invading  and 
Conquering  Florida  by  the  Spaniards,  under 
Fernando  de  Soto ;  and  yet  that  Story  the  World 
has  thought  worthy  to  be  read  in  diners  Lan- 
guages. 

§.  10.  The  CommiiTioners  of  the  United 
Colonies  having  manifeft  and  manifold  Proofs 
that  the  Great  Nation  of  Narraganfet-Indians, 
with  whom  the  rett  were  now  Harbour'd,  had 
not  only  broken  their  Articles  oi  Peace  with  the 
Englifh  in  divers  Initances,  but  were  alio  Plot- 
ting to  begin  a  War  againft  us  in  the  Spring, 
when  they  Ihould  have  the  Leaves  oithcTrees 
to  Befriend  them,  took  up  a  general  Refoluti- 
on,  in  the  depth  of  Winter,  to  make  a  Vigorous 
Expedition  againft  them.  Accordingly  an  Ar- 
my confifting  of  a  Thoufand  at  Firlt,  and  after- 
wards Fifteen  Hundred  Men,  under  the  Con- 
duel  of  the  truly  Honourable  JofiahWi  nflow,\So^ 
marched  into  the  NarraganfctCountty ,  where 
i hey  no  fooner  arrived  on  Dec.  12.  but  about 
Forty  Indians  fell  into  their  Hands  -,  among 
whom,  one  was  a  Fellow  named  Peter,  who 
having  received  fome  Ditguft  from  his  Country- 
men, proved  lb  Faithful  and  Llfeful  a  Guide 
unto  our  Forces,  that  they  afierwards  found  thai 
they  could  not  well  have  liv'd  without  him. 
Several  Mifchiefs  were  done  by  the  Indians 
whilft  our  Army  were  here  waiting  for  their 
Brethren  from  Connetlimi ;  efpecially  their  Sur- 
prifal  of  a  remote  Girrilon  belonging  to  one 
Bull,  where  about  Fourteen  Perlbns  were  Baited 
to  Death  by  the  terrible  Dogs.  But  the  Can- 
netlicut-Foiczs  being  alfo  arrived  on  Dec.  18. 
they  prefently  marched  away  by  break  of  Day, 
the  next  Morning,  through  Cold  and  Snow,  and 
very  amazing  Difficulties,  enough  to  have 
Damnd  any  ordinary  Fortitude,  for  Eighteen 
Miles  together.  The  Indians  had  a  Fort  railed 
upon  an  lfland  of  about  Five  or  Six  Acres,  in 
the  midft  of  an  horrid  Swamp,  which  Fort, 
befides  its  Palifadoes,  had  a  kind  of  Wall  or 
Hedge  about  a  Rod  thick  encompafling  of  it. 
The  Entrance  of  this  Fort  was  upon  a  long  Tree 
over  the  Water,  where  but  one  Man  could  pals 
at  a  time,  and  this  was  way-laid  after  fuch  a 
manner,  that  if  our  Men  had  attempted  that 
PalTage,  they  muft  have  perilhed.  Only  by 
the  help  of  Peter  tiiey  diicovered  a  Vulnerable 
Heel,  as  1  may  call  it,  yet  left  in  the  Fort  at 
one  Corner,  where  there  was  a  Gap  fupplied 
only  with  long  Trees  about  Four  or  Five  Foot 
from  the  Ground,  over  which  Men  might  force 
their  way  ;  though  againft  this  they  had  Built 
a  Block-Houfe,  from  whence  a  Bloody  Storm 
of  Bullets,  fand  enough  to  make  every  Man 
like  the  poor  Man  in  the  Twelve  Signs  of  the 
G  g  g  g  g  g  g  Almanack) 


5° 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana :  Book  VII. 


Almanack)  was  to  be  expe&ed  by  them  that 
fhould  make  their  Approaches  there.  Our  Men 
came  up  to  the  Swamp  about  One  a  Clock,  and 
Immediately  and  Courageoufly  preffing  through 
the  Swamp-,  from  whence  the  Indians  began  to 
Fire  upon  'em,  they  advanced  unto  that  part 
of  the  Fort  which  was  moft  accelfible  :  Now 
having  of  nothing,  but,  Mors  certa,  aut  Villo- 
ria  Lata,  in  their  Eye.  Brave  Captain  Mofely 
and  Captain  Davenport  led  the  Van ;  Captain 
Gardner  and  Captain  John/on  were  in  the  Cen- 
ter, Major  Appleton  and  Captain  Oliver  brought 
up  the  Rear  of  the  Majfachufet -Forces  :  Gene- 
ral Win/low  with  P/y«w»/fc-Forces,  under  Major 
Bradford  and  Captain  Coram,  marched  in  the 
Center  ;  and  Conneflicut-Forces,  under  Major 
Treat  and  Captain  Siely,  Captain  Gallop,  Cap- 
tain yM<?/tftf, Captain  Wats,  and  Captain  Marfhal, 
made  the  Rccr  of  the  whole  Body.  Nothing 
in  the  World  could  be  more  Magnanimous  than 
the  Spirit  which  now  carried  on  both  Leaders 
and  Soldiers  in  the  Enterprife  now  before  them  : 
They  leaped  over  the  Trees  of  Death,  into  the 
Spot  of  Ground  where  Death  in  all  its  Terrors 
was  to  be  Encountered  ^  the  Fall  of  the  Vali- 
ant Leaders,  no  lefs  than  Six  of  them,  name- 
ly, Davenport,  Gardiner,  John/on,  Gallop, 
Siely  and  Marfhal,  (tho1  it  rend  red  the  Place 
worthy  of  the  Name  which  the  Romans  put 
upon  the  abhorr'd  Place  where  their  Beloved 
Commander  Drufus  died,  namely,  Scelerata 
Cajira)  did  but  add  fire  to  the  Rage  of  the 
Soldiers  ;  they  beat  the  Enemy  from  one  Shel- 
ter to  another,  till  they  had  utterly  driven  them 
out  of  all  their  Sconces  ;  and  at  laft  they  fet 
Fire  to  the  Fort,  from  whence  the  Surviving 
Indians  fled  into  a  vaft  Cedar-Swamp  at  fbme 
diftance  oft".  I  wifli  I  could  particularly  give 
an  Immortal  Memory  to  all  the  Brave  Men  that 
fignalized  themfelves  in  this  A£tion.  But  a- 
mong  them  all,  0  quam  te  memorem,  Thou 
Excellent  SAMUEL  NO  IV EL,  never  to 
be  forgotten !  This  now  Reverend,  and  after- 
wards Worfhipful  Perfon,  a  Chaplain  to  the 
Army,  was  Author  to  a  good  Sermon  preached 
unto  the  Artillery  Company  of  the  Majfachufet s, 
which  he  Entituled,  Abraham  in  Arms ;  and 
at  this  Fight  there  was  no  Perfon  more  like  a 
true  Son  of  Abraham  in  Arms,  or  that  with 
more  Courage  and  Hazardy  fought  in  the  midit 
of  a  Shower  of  Bullets  from  the  furrounding 
Salvages.     But, 

Tonga  referre  mora  eft,  qiu  confilioq-,  manuq; 
Utiliter  fecit  Spaciofi  Tempore  Belli. 

No  left  than  Seven  Hundred  fighting  Indians 
were  deftroyed,  as  it  was  afterwards  confefled 
in  this  defperate  Aclion  ;  befides  Three  Hun-  j 
dred  which  afterwards  died  of  their  Wounds,  | 
and  Old  Men,  Women,  Children,  Sans  num-  • 
ber  -,  but  of  the  Englijh  about  Eighty  Five ! 
were  flain,  and  an  Hundred  and  Fifty  wounded. ' 
And  now,  Sic  Magnis  componere  Parva  !  j 
Reader,  I 


And  now   their  Migbtieft  quelfd,   the  Battel 

fwerv'd, 
With  many  an  Inrode  gofd ;  deformed  Rout 
Entered,  and  foul  Dif order  ;  all  the  Ground 
With  fhiver  d  Armour  firown,    and  on  a  heap, 
Salvage  and  Sagamore  lay  overturned, 
And  Eiery,  Foaming  Blacks  ;  what  flood  recoiVd 
Oreweaned,  and  with  Pamck  Ecarjurpris'd. 

Had  the  AlTault  been  deferred  one  Day  longer 
there  fell  iuch  a  Storm  of  Snow,  that  for  di- 
vers Weeks  it  muft  have  been  Impr alii  cable  ■ 
and  at  the  end  of  thofe  Weeks  there  came  fo 
violent  and  uuufual  a  Thaw,  that  by  making 
the  way  to  the  Fort  Unpayable,  it  would 
have  render'd  it  ftill  more  imprafticable.  fuji 
now  was  the  Time  for  this  Work  •  and  the 
Work  being  fo  far  accomplished,  our  Forces 
retreating  after  Day-light  was  almoft  fpent, 
found  ir  necefiary  to  go  back  with  many 
Wounded,  and  more  Weary  Men,  unto  their 
Head  Quarters,  near  Eighteen  Miles  off,  in  a 
difmal  Night,  through  Hard(hips,that  an  whole 
Age  would  hardly  parallel  •,  which  if  the  Re- 
maining Enemies  had  known,  they  might  eafi- 
ly  have  cut  off  all  our  Enfeebled  and  Bewil- 
drcd  Army.  However  fuch  a  Blow  was  now 
given  to  the  Enemy  as  never  could  be  re- 
covered !  And  our  Forces  having  in  fome  fol- 
lowing Weeks  made  now  and  then  fome  hap- 
py Gleanings  of  their  late  Victory,  until  the 
Enemy  was  gone,  they  knew  not  whither, 
they  returned  unto  their  feveral  Homes  until  the 
next  Occafion. 

(j.  ii.    Deferted   Mendam  was  this   Winter 
laid  in  Afhes.     And  the  French   from  Canada. 
fending  Recruits  unto  the  Indians  for  that  pur- 
'  pofe,  the   Indians  thus   Recruited  on  Efb.   ic. 
fell  upon  the  Town  of  Lancaflcr}  where  they 
Burned  many  Houfes,   and  Murdered  and  Cap- 
tived  more  than  Forty  Perfons.     The  Worthy 
Minifter  of  the  Town,  Mr.  Roland/on,  had  been 
at  Bojion  to  Intercede  for  fome  fpeedy  Succours  ■, 
and  though  by  this  Journey  from  Home  he  was 
himfelf  preferved,  yet  at  his  return  he  found 
his  Houfe   on  Fire,    his  Goods  and  Books  all 
burned,  and  which  was  worie,  his  Wife,  and 
j  Children,  and  Neighbours,  in  the  Hands  of  the 
worft   Barbarians    in  the  World.     This  good 
Man,   like  David  at  Ziklag,  yet  believed,  for 
the  Recovery  of  his  Relations  out  of  thofe  hor- 
rible Hands,  which  about  Four  or  Five  Months 
after  was  accomplifhed   with  wonderful  Dif- 
penfations  of  Divine  Providence,    whereof  the 
Gentlewoman   her  felf  has  given  us  a  Printed 
Narrative.      Captain  Wadjzoorih.    with  Forty 
refolute  Men,  compelled   the  Indians  to   quit 
the  Place  ;  but  they  focn  did  further  Mifchiefs 
at  Malborough,  Sudbury,  Cbclmsfvrd;  and  Feb. 
71.  Two   or  Three  Hundred  of  them   came 
Wheeling  down  to  Medjield,  where  they  burnt 
near  half  the  Town,    and  killed  near  a  Score 
of  the  Inhabitants  -,  and  Feb.  2j.  Weymouth  al- 
fo  fuffered  from  theie   Burners   no  little  Da- 
mage.   An  Army  under  the  Command  of  that 

Expert 


Book.  Vll.         Or,  1  'be  Hifiory  of  New-England. 


51 


> 


Expert  Leader,  Major  Thomas  Savage  about 
this  time  did  make  after  the  Indians  as  far  as 
Northampton;  and  there  was  again  a  lingular 
Providence  of  God  in  ordering  this  Matter  : 
For  bad  it  not  been  for  thefe  Recruits,  thole 
Weftern  Plantations  hid  probably  been  cut  oft 
by  3  vaft  Body  ot  Indians,  which  on  March  14. 
in  Three  places  broke  in  upon  the  thin  Palafa- 
does,  wherewith  Northampton  was  fortified,  and 
killed  Five  Perfons,  and  burned  Five  Houles, 
but  met  with  a  brave  Kepulfe.  On  March  10. 
they  did  Mifchievpus  things  at  Groton  and  Sud- 
bury :  And  on  March  1;.  they  burnt  almolt  all 
Groton  to  the  Ground,  and  then  called  unto  the 
Englifn  in  the  Garrifbn,  What  will  you  do  for 
an  Houfc  to  Pray  in,  now  we  have  burnt  your 
Meeting-lioufe  !  But  the  Enemy  finding  thefe 
Parts  ot  the  Country  too  many  for  them,  they 
again  tranflated  the  Scene  of  their  Tragedies 
into  Plymouth-  Colony  ;  whereafter  they  had  on 
March  12.  barbaroufly  cut  off  Two  Families 
under  one  Roof  in  Plymouth,  and  on  March  17. 
laid  all  Warwick,  but  one  Houfe,  in  Afhes : 
Captain  Pierce  being  fitted  with  Fifty  Englifh- 
men,  and  with  Twenty  Ci)nftian-Indians,  did 
Courageoully  purine  them.  This  meritorious 
Captain  was  unhappily  Trepanned  into  an  Am- 
bufhment  of  the  Enemy,  who,  on  March  26. 
1676.  by  meer  Multitude  overpowered  him-, 
fo  that  after  he  had  firft  made  a  {laughter  of 
an  Hundred  and  Forty  of  them,  he  with  Forty- 
nine  Engliihmen,  (an  hard  Battel  truly !)  and 
Eight  Chrilfian-Indians,  expired  on  the  Bed 
of  Honour.  This  was  a  very  Difaftrous  Day  ! 
For  on  this  Day  alfo  the  Town  of  Ma/borough 
was  all  in  Flan.es  by  another  Alfault  from  this 
Treacherous  Adverfary  •,  and  on  this  Day  feve- 
ral  People  at  Springfield  became  a  Sacrifice  un- 
to their  Fury  ;  wherefore  methinks,  Reader, 
we  want  fome  Diverting  Story  to  enter- 
tain us  in  the  midft  of  fo  many  horrible  Ac- 
cidents. I  will  therefore  mention  a  pleafant 
Stratagem  ufed  by  one  of  our  Chrijiian-Indians 
in  the  Fight  when  Captain  Pierce  loft  his 
Life.  This  Indian,  who,  I  durft  fay,  never 
had  read  Polyenus ,  being  purfued  by  an 
Enemy,  betook  himlelf  unto  a  great  Rock, 
where  fheltering  himfclf,  he  perceived  that  his 
Enemy  lay  on  the  other  fide  ready  with  his  Gun 
to  difcharge  upon  him  whenever  he  fhould 
ftir  one  ftep  from  the  Place  where  he  flood. 
He  therefore  took  a  Stick  which  he  had  at 
Hand,  and  hanging  h'isHat  upon  it,  he  gently 
and  flowly  lifted  it  up,  until  he  thought  his 
watchful  Friend  on  the  other  fide  might  bs  fen- 
fible  of  it:  And  accordingly  the  other  taking 
this  Hat  for  the  Head  of  his  Adverfary,  let  fiy 
immediately,  and  Shot  through  the  Hat  : 
Whereupon  he  briskly  lift  up  his  Head,  and  pre- 
fently  letting  fly,  not  upon  the  Hat,  but  upon  the 
Headoi  the  Adverfary,  laid  him  Dead  upon  the 
Spot.  In  this  Fight  another  Indian  luckily 
faved  not  only  himielf,  but  an  Englifhman  too, 
by  pretending  to  run  after  the  Englifiman  with 
his  Hatchet,  as  if  intending  to  Kill  him  there- 
withal.    And  another  Indian  as  luckily   faved 


himlelf  by  befmearing  his  Tawny  Face  with 
wet  Gunpowder,  which  made  him  look  fb  like 
fome  of  the  adverle  Party,  who  had  Black'd 
their  Faces,  that  they  diftinguiihed  him  not. 
Many  i'uch  PafTagesand  Policies  ate  told  of  our 
Chrifiian-lndians,  who  in  Truth  fhow'd  their 
Cbrijiianity  by  their  being  wonderfully  Service- 
able unto  us  in  the  War  which  now  perplexed 
us.  But,  Reader,  be  content  that  this  Para- 
graph relate  a  few  more  of  the  pernicious  things 
done  by  the  Barbarians,  about  this  time,  in  feve- 
ral  Parts  of  the  Country  5  and  for  thy  Comfort 
we  will  give  in  the  Next  a  Relation  of  an  Un- 
expected Alteration  and  Revolution.  Know 
then,  that  in  March  28.  the  Indians  burnt  about 
Forty  Houfes  at  Rchoboth ;  and  on  March  29. 
about  Thirty  Houfes  at  Providence  :  For  the 
Englilh  retiring  into  Garrifons,  could  not  but 
leave  their  Houfes  open  to  the  Imprefflons  of 
the  Adverfary.  In  the  beginning  of  April  they 
were  Mifchievous  at  Chelmsford  and  Andover  • 
and  that  they  might  by  their  Cruelty  difcover 
whofe  Children  they  were,  they  would  cut  out 
the  Tongues  of  the  Dumb  Creatures,  leaving 
them  alive  in  Mifery;  and  putting  others  of 
thofe  poor  Creatures  alive  into  Hovels,  they 
would  fet  them  on  Fire.  And  although  on 
March  27.  about  Forty  Inhabitants  of  Sudbury 
made  a  Salley  forth  in  the  Night  upon  a  Bo- 
dy of  Three  Hundred  Indians,  Killing  Thirty 
of  them,  without  lofing  one  of  their  own ; 
yet  on  April  18.  the  Indians  made  a  fierce  Af- 
fault  upon  Sudbury,  wherein  they  burnt  feve- 
ral  Houfes,  and  Killed  a  Dozen  Perfons  that 
were  coming  from  Concord  for  the  Afliftance 
of  their  Neighbours.  But  the  worft  part  of 
the  Story  is,  that  Captain  Wad/worth,  one  wor- 
thy to  Live  in  out  Hiftory,  under  the  Name  of 
A  Good  Man,  coming  up  after  a  Long,  Hard, 
Unwearied  March,  with  Seventy  Men  unto  the 
Relief  of  DiftrefTed  Sudbury,  found  himfelf 
in  the  Woods  on  the  Hidden  furrounded  with 
about  Five  Hundred  of  the  Enemy  ;  whereupon 
our  Men  fought  like  Men,  and  more  than  fb  ; 
but  were  fo  Overwhelmed,  that  he,  with  ano- 
ther Good  Man,  one  Captain  Brattlebank,  and 
more  than  Fifty  more,  fold  their  Lives  for  the 
Deaths  of  about  an  Hundred  and  Twenty  Indi- 
ans. The  Indians  took  Five  or  Six  of  the  Eng- 
lilh Prifoners ;  and  that  the  Reader  may  under- 
ftand,  Crimine  ab  una,  what  it  is  to  be  taken  by 
fuch  Devils  Incarnate,  I  fhall  here  inform  him : 
They  Stripped  thefe  unhappy  Prifoners,  and 
caufed  them  to  Run  the  Gantlet,  and  Whipped 
them  after  a  Cruel  and  Bloody  Manner  5  they 
then  threw  Hot  Afhes  upon  them,  and  cutting 
off  Collops  of  their  Flefn,  they  put  Fire  into 
their  Wounds,  and  fo  with  Exquifite,  Leifurely, 
Horrible  Torments,  Roafted  them  out  of  the 
World. 

§.  1 2.  But  a  Polybius  will  tell  me,  Non  decet 
Hifloris  Scriptorcm,  duntaxat  Res  Crudeles  Le- 
ge ntibus  Exponere :  And,  I  promifed  my  Rea- 
der a  Turn  of  our  Affairs.  The  Prayers  of 
many  Thoufands  of  Pious  People,  poured  out 
with  the  greateft  Solemnity,  did  all  this  while, 
G  g  g  g  g  g  g  2  Caelum 


5 


Magnalia  Cbrifli  Americana :  Book  VII. 


Caelum  Tundere,  and  now  they  mult,  Miferi- 
cordiam  extorquere.  The  Maxim  uttered  by  the 
Renowned  King  of  Sweden-,  The  Greater  the 
Army  of  Prayers  is,  the  more  certain  and  glori- 
ous will  be  the  Vittory !  Muft  now  be  fulfilled  ; 
and  the  Supplications  for  our  diftrelTed  Cafe, 
made  by  not  only  the  Churches  of  New-Eng- 
land, which  were  in  the  Dittrefs,  but  alfo  by  the 
Churches  of  London,  of  Suffolk,  of  Dorfet,  of 
Devon,  of  Somerjet,  of  Lancafhire,  of  Dublin, 
(for  which  we  now  publickly  return  our  Thanks) 
muft  now  be  Anfwered.  The  time  limited  by 
Heaven  for  the  Succe'ls  of  the  Indian  Treache 
ries was  now  almoft  expired:  The  Blafphemy, 
and  Infolence,  and  prodigious  Barbarity  of  rhe 
Salvages,  was  come  to  a  fufficient  Heighth, 
for  the  Lord  God  of  Zabaotb  to  Jnterpofe  his 
own  Revenges;  and  the  Impoffibility  which 
there  appeared  for  our  People  to  attend  their 
Uusbrandry  in  the  Fields,  or  to  find  out  their 
Enemy  in  the  Woods,  did,  as  the  Spring  advan- 
ced, throw  us  into  an  Extremity  ot  Defpair,  to 
wade  through  another  Summer  like  the  Lalf. 
But  NOW  was  the  time  for  Deliverance  '  There 
was  an  Evil  Spirit  of  Diffention  ftrangely  lent 
among  the  Indians,  which  difpofed  them  to  ie- 
parate  from  one  another:  The  Damons,  whovi- 
fibly  exhibited  rhemfelves  among  them  at  their 
Powawing,or  Conjuring,  iignified  ftill  unto  them 
that  they  could  now  do  no  more  for  them  -,  the 
Maquas, a  Powerful  Nation  in  the  Weft,  made 
a  Defcent  upon  them,  ranging  and  raging 
through  the  D^fart  with  irrefiftible  Fury ;  fe- 
vers and  Fluxes  became  Epidemical  among 
them  •,  and  their  being  driven  from  their  Plant- 
ing and  Fifhing  Places,  drove  them  into  fo 
much  of  a  Famine,  as  brought  Mortal  Sicknefs 
upon  them  :  Finally,  a  Vifible  Smile  of  Heaven 
was  upon  almoft  all  the  Enterprizes  of  the  Eng- 
lifh  againft  them  :  And  an  unaccountable  Ter- 
ror at  the  fame  time  fo  Dif-fpirited  them,  that 
they  were  like  Men  under  a  Fafcination.  It  was 
the  Promife  of  God  unto  his  Antient  People, 
The  Lord  thy  God  will  fend  the  Hornet  among 
thine  Enemies,  until  they  that  are  left,  and  hide 
the mf elves  from  thee,  be  dejiroyed  :  And  I  never 
law  a  more  fenfible  Confirmation  of  that  Pro- 
mife, or  Explication  of  that  Hornet,  than  in 
what  now  befel  the  Enemies  of  New-England. 
They  were  juft  like  Beajls  that  are  ftung  with 
a  Garabee,  or  Hornet ;  they  ran  they  knew  not 
whither,  they  knew  not  vohert fore ;  they  were 
under  iuch  a  Confter nation,  that  the  Englifh 
did  even  what  they  would  upon  them.  I  (hall 
never  forget  the  Expreflions  which  a  defperate 
Fighting  ibrt  of  Fellow,  one  of  their  Generals, 
ufed  unto  the  English  after  they  had  Captivated 
him  •,  you  could  never  have  fubdued  us,  but 
(faid  he,  ftriking  on  his  Breaft)  the  Englishman  s 
God  makes  us  afraid  here  !  Firft,  from  Con- 
netficut-Colony,  which  the  kind  Providence  of 
our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  kept  almoft  untouched  in 
this  bloody  War,  there  went  forth  in  the  Month 
of  April,  under  the  Command  of  Captain  Deni- 
j'on,  Sixty -fix  Volunteers,  with  above  an  Hun- 
dred Friend-Indians^  who  took  and  flew  Seven- 


ty-fix of  the  Enemy,  among  whom  were  fome  of 
their  chiefeft  Princes,  and  made  great  Havock 
on  their  Stores,  without  lofing  any  of  their  own  : 
And  a  little  before  this,  a  Party  of  Connecticut 
Soldiers,  with  the  like  Indian  Afliftance,  took 
and  ilew  Forty-four  of  the  Enemy,  without  any 
lofs  on  our  fide,  but  among  the  Prifoners  was 
gjeanonchet,  the  mighty  Sachem  ofNarraganfer 
whom  the  Englilh  wifely  delivered  unto  their 
Tawny  Auxiliaries  for  them  to  cut  off  his 
Head,  that  fo  the  Alienation  between  them  and 
the  Wretches  in  Hoftility  againft  us  might  be- 
come Incurable.  There  were  ftiil  here  and 
there  little  Mifchief,  done  by  the  Enemy  ^  ply- 
mouth,  Taunton,  Chelmsford,  Concord.  Haver- 
hil,  Bradford,  Woburn,  and  other  Pla  es,  did 
fuftain  fundry  Damages:  Bat  the  main  Cha- 
racter of  the  Occurrents  now  happening  on  our 
Part,  wzsVitfory  over  them  %'otT-arkuble  was 
the  Fate  ot  Bridgwater,  a  mofl  Praying,  and 
molt  Pious  Town,  ieated  in  tht  i  ery  midfi  of 
the  Dangers  of  the  War-,  that  although  they 
were  often  Affaiilted  by  formidable  Numbers 
of  the  Enemies,  yet  in  all  their  (harp  Affaults 
they  never  lofl  one  of  their  Inhabitants,  Young 
or  Old.  They  were  follicited  ftro.^gly  to  De- 
fert  their  Dwellings,  but  they  Reibi'ved  that 
they  would  keep  their  Stations  •  and  now  on 
May  8.  the  Indians  began  to  Fire  the  Town,  but 
the  Inhabitants  with  notable  Courage  iflued 
forth  from  rheir  Garrifons  to  Fight  the  Enemy 
and  God  from  Heaven  at  the  lame  time  fought 
for  rhem,  with  a  Storm  of  Lightning,  Thunder 
and  Ram,  whereby  a  Confiderable  part  of  their 
Houfes  were  preferved.  Thou,  Church  of 
Bridg  water, 

0  nimium  DileUa  Deo,  cui  militat  JEther 
Et  Conjurati  veniunt  ad  ClaJJica  Venti  ! 

One  that  was  no  Chrifiian  fo  Sang  the  Favours 
of  Heaven  to  the  Emperor  Theodoftus ;  and  Po 
might  the  Pagan  Foe  now  Sing  of  thy  Salvati- 
ons !  On  May  6.  our  Forces,  alMed  with  fome 
Chrifiian  Indians,  did  good  Execution  upon 
the  Enemy  near  Medfield,  and  on  May  \  \ .  did 
the  like  at  Plymouth.  And  on  May  1 8.  Two 
Captive  Lads  efcaping  from  the  Hands  of  the 
Enemy,  informed  rhe  Towns  about  Northamp- 
ton, that  a  confiderable  Body  of  the  Indians 
were  fecurely  Clanning  rogether  a  few  Miles 
further  up  the  River;  whereupon  about  an 
Hundred  and  Fourfcore  AQive  Men  went  out 
immediately,  end  fo  furprized  them,  that  they 
Killed,  as  was  judged,  about  an  Hundred  on  the 
Spot,  and  they  drove  as  many  more  into  that 
Antient  River  that  fwept  'em  away.  But  the 
i-nglifh  in  the  Retreat  were  unhappi'y  circum- 
vented by  a  Parcel  of  the  Enemy,  who  flew 
Captain  Turner,  and  upwards  of  Thirty  more, 
although  not  without  the  lofs  of  Three  Hundred 
of  their  own,  as  was  afterwards  by  fome  of 
rhemfelves  acknowledged.  And  on  May  30. 
the  Enemy  loft  Five  and  Twenty  in  one  Onfec 
which  they  made  upon  Hatfield,  Five  being 
Slain  on  our  Part  in  the  A£tion ;  as  the  Week 

before 


Book  VII.      Or,  The  Hifiory  qf  New-England. 


5? 


before  this  Twelve  of  them  were  Slain  about 
Rebobotb,  with  the  lofs  of  but  One  of  ours. 
New  Forces,  both  in  MaJfachuJ ^/-Colony,  and 
in  Conneilicut-Colony,  were  now  lent  forth  to 
Diftrefs  the  Enemy  in  their  Places  of  Planting 
and  Filhing.  The  M.ijfacbujet  Forces  quickly 
took  and  kilFd  near  Forty  Indians,  and  the  Con- 
necticut Forces  took  and  kill'd  an  Hundred  ; 
which  Exploits  were  performed  without  lofing 
a  Man  of  our  own.  On  June  1 2.  Seven  Hun- 
dred Indians  made  an  Alfault  upon  Had  ley ; 
but  they  were  driven  oft'  with  much  lofs  to 
them,  and  very  I  mall  to  our  felves ;  and  at  the 
very  time  when  the  Indims  were  thus  Diftref 
ling  of  Had/ey,  the  Maqua's  fell  upon  their 
Head-Quarters,  and  ilaughtered  their  Women 
and  Children  and  carried  away  much  Plunder 
with  them.  Thus  the  Conqueft  of  the  Indians 
went  on  at  fuch  a  rare,  that  whereas,  June.  29. 
1575.  was  xlacfirjl  Faji  publickly  oblerved  in 
this  Coiony  on  the  Occaiion  of  the  Indian 
Troubles,  now,  June  29.  1676.  was  appointed 
a  Day  of  Tbankfgiving  through  the  Colony 
for  the  Comfortable  Steps  and  Hopes  that  we 
faw  towards  the  End  of  thole  Troubles. 

§.  it,.  Reader,  after  rhis  Day  cf  Tbankfgiv- 
ing I  Ihall  have  little  to  Report  unto  thee  but 
what  is  zCaufe  of  Thankfulnefs!  The  Maqua's 
now  tall  upon  Philips  and  Kill  him  Fifty  Men 
at  a  time;  upon  as  odd  an  Occaiion  too  as  has 
been  ordinarily  heard  of.  He,as  it  is  affirmed,  be- 
ing entertained  among  the  Maqua's  the  laft  Win- 
ter, uied  many  means  to  feduce  'em,  and  per- 
fwade  'em  unto  a  War  againft  the  Englifh  ;  and 
one  of  thofe  means  it  feems  was  This :  He  kill'd 
fome  (battering  Maqua's  in  the  Woods,  and 
then  told  the  Reft  that  the  Englifh  did  it ;  but 
One  of  them  whom  he  thought  Killed,  was  on- 
ly Wounded,  who,  getting  home  unto  his  Coun- 
ttymen.  gave  'em  to  underltand  who  was  the 
true  Murderer  !  And  fo  the  Maqua's,  whom  he 
would  have  brought  upon  the  Englifh,  he  only 
brought  upon  himfelf :  Nee  enim  Lex  Jujiior 
ulla !  Philip  now  returns  to  Mount-Hope,  and 
finds  it  mount-Mifery,  Mount-Confufion  !  A 
Prince  in  Germany  long  lince  hearing  that  a 
Neighbour  Prince  intended  War  upon  him,  im- 
mediately fethimfelt  upon  the  Reforming  of  the 
People  under  his  Government ;  but  his  Adver- 
fary  within  a  while  after  enquired  what  Pre- 
paration his  Neighbour  was  making  to  Oppofe 
him  ?  And  being  intotmed  that  his  chief  Prepa- 
ration was  Reformation,  he  replied,  Nay  then, 
let  the  Devil  Figbt  him  for  all  me;  if  he  be 
at  that,  he'll  be  too  hard  for  me  to  ?neddlexaiih 
him.  The  Churches  of  Nets-England  now  more 
than  ever  began  to  be  at  that;  and  now  fee 
the  Effects  of  it.  The  Churches  in  Plymouth- 
Colony  agreed  upon  a  Day  folemnly  to  Re- 
new their  COVENANT  with  God,  and  one 
another ,  on  the  very  next  Day,  Major  Brad- 
ford, with  his  Plymouth  Forces,  was  not  only  by 
a  ftrange  Providence  delivered  from  the  Strata- 
gems of  the  Ambulhing  Adverfary,  but  alfo 
took  and  flew  many  of  them,  without  the  lofs 
of  one  Englifhman  s  And  the  SquawSachim  of 


Saconet,  with  Ninety  of  her  Subjects,  hearing  of 
his  approach,  fubmitted  themfelves  unto  his 
Mercy  :  Major  Bradford  was  the  Oedipus,  by 
whom  that  Sphinx  was  conquered  !  On  July  2. 
our  Brethren  of  Connecticut  in  the  Narraganfet- 
Country  took  and  kill'd  an  Hundred  and  Four- 
fcore  of  the  Indians,  without  lofing  a  Man  of 
their  own  ;  and  in  their  March  home  they  de- 
ftroyed  Threefcore  more.  Quickly  after  this, 
Two  Hundred  Indians  in  Plymouth-Colony  were 
compelled  by  the  Neceffuies  upon  them  to 
furrender  themfelves  •,  and  upon  Advice  from 
them  of  another  Party  abroad,  Eight  Englifh- 
men,  accompanied  with  Fourteen  of  them,  feized 
upon  Twenty  more,  without  any  hurt  unto  them- 
felves. In  the  Woods  near  Dedbam  there  was 
more  Execution  done  upon  them  :  And  a  Negro 
that  had  been  taken  Captive  by  them,  informed, 
us,  that  near  Two  Hundred  of  them  had  for- 
med a  Defign  of  an  Attacque  upon  Taunton, 
which  Information  proved  the  Prcfervation  of 
the  Town  :  For  Auxiliaries  being  feafonably 
fent  thither,  the  Enemy  met  with  a  vigorous 
Repulfe,  without  the  lofs  of  one  Englifhman  in 
the  Engagement.  The  Maffacbufet  Forces  re- 
turned unto  Bofton,  July  22.  having  taken  and 
killed  an  Hundred  and  Fifty  Indians,  with  the 
lofs  of  but  One  Englifhman  ;  But  the  principal 
Actions,  whereof  Plymouth  was  now  the  Stage, 
mult  be  done  by  the  Hand  of  that  worthy  Mans 
Captain  Church ;  whole  very  Name,  now,  might 
fuggelt  unto  the  miferable  Salvages,  what, 
they  mult  be  undone,  by  Fighting  againft  -,  and 
whofe  Lot  it  was  to  be  employ 'd  by  the  Provi- 
dence of  Heaven  at  the  time  and  place  of  the 
Cataftropbe,  now  waiting  for  a  Generation  Ripe 
for  Dcfolation.  This  Gentlemen  made  Havock 
among  the  Salvages,  like  another  Scanderbeg ; 
he  went  out  with  a  fmall  Party  of  about  Eigh« 
teen  Englifh,  and  Twenty-two  Friend  Indians, 
and  in  one  Week  he  had  Four  feveral  Engage- 
ments with  the  Enemy,  wherein  he  took  and 
flew  Seventy-nine  of  them,  without  lofing  One 
of  his  own  ;  and  by  a  particular  Policy  he  ftill 
made  his  Captives  to  find  out  their  Fellows  for 
him,  and  Jet'  a  Thief  to  catch  a  Thief,  which 
facilitated  his  Enterprizes  wonderfully.  Never- 
thelefs  this  hindred  not  Others  from  doing' 
their  part  in  Exterminating  the  Rabid  Animals, 
which  by  a  molt  unaccountable  Syderation  from 
Heaven,  had  now  neither  Strength  nor  Senfe 
left  'em  to  do  any  thing  for  their  own  Defence. 
On  July  25.  Thirty-fix  Englifhmen  from  Ded- 
bam, and  Medfeld,  with  Ninety  Chriftian  Indi- 
ans, purfued,  overtook,  and  captivated  Fifty  of 
the  Enemy,  without  lofing  of  a  Man  ;  and  among 
thefe  was  Pombam,  a  gceazSacbim  of  the  Nar- 
raganjets,  who,  after  he  was  wounded  fo  that 
he  could  not  ftand,  but  was  left  a  confiderable 
while  for  Dead,  yet  when  an  Englifhman  came 
near  him,  the  Vying  Beafl,  with  a  Belluine 
Rage,  got  fuch  hold  on  his  Head,  that  he  had 
killed  him  if  there  had  not  come  in  help  to 
Refcue  him.  On  July  27.  Sagamore  John  fub- 
mitted himfelf  to  the  Englifh  Mercy,  with  an 
Hundred  and  Fourfcore  Nipmuck  Indians ;  and 

that 


54 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana  :  Book  VII. 


Peace  with  the 
to   Rhode-Ifland, 


Englifh,  ran  away  from  him 
where  Captain   Church  was 


that    he  might   Ingratiate  himfelf  with   the 
Englifh,  he  brought  in  Matoonas  with  his  Son, 
who  had  begun   the  War  in  the  Majfachufet- 
Colony  a  little  above  a  Year  ago  ■,  whereupon 
we  ordered  this  very  Sagamore  to  Shoot  him  to 
Death.     On  July  31.  an  Handful  of  Soldiers 
ifluing  out  of  Bridgwater,  unexpectedly  Humbled 
upon  a  Company  of  the  Enemy,    who  being 
well  armed,  lhapp'd  their  Guns  at  the  Englijh  ; 
but,  which  was  a  Marvellous  Accident,  not  one 
of  them  took  Fire  ;   whereat  a  Panick-Terror 
fell  upon  them,  fo  that   we  took  Fifteen,  we 
flew  Ten,  the  reft  fled  ;   of  whom  Philip  him- 
felf was  one,  who  left  the  Chief  of  his  Trea- 
fure  behind  him.     Not  one  of  the  Englifl)  was 
hurt  at  this  time !   This  was  the  Succefs  of  a 
People  that  had  iuft  before  folemnly  renewed 
the  confent  of  their  Souls  to  the   Covenant  of 
Grace,  and  applied  it  unto  the  Holy  Purpofes 
of  Reformation  among  them.     On  Auguft  1. 
Captain  Church  again,  with  about  Thirty  Englifh 
and  Twenty  friend-Indians,  took  Twenty-three 
of  the  Enemy  ;  and  the  next  Morning  he  came 
upon  Philip's  Head-Quarters,  where  they  took 
and  flew  about  an  Hundred  and  Thirty  of  the 
Enemy,  with  the  lofs  of  but  One  of  their  own  : 
'Philip   himfelf  now  alfo  hardly  efcaping,   but 
leaving  his  Peag,  and  Wife,  and  Son  hehind 
him,     which    was  no    imall    Torment   unto 
him.     On  Aug.  6.  an  Indian-Deferter  inform- 
ing the  Inhabitants   of  Taunton   where   they 
might  furprife  more  of  the  Enemy,  Twenty  Men 
of  ours  immediately  brought  in  Thirty-fix  of 
them.     The   Squaw-Sachim   of   Pocaffet   flying 
from  this  Broil  upon  the  Coaft,  now  in  that  very 
place    where  Ihe  had   furnifhed    Philip  with 
Canoos  for  his  Men  a  Year  ago,    fhe  her  felf 
could  not  find  a  Canoo,  but  venturing  over  the 

River  upon  a  Raft,  which  broke  under  her,  ihe 

was  drowned  ;  and  fome   of  the  Englifl)  not 

knowing  who  fhe  was  when  they  found  her, 

ftuck  her  Head  upon  a  Pole  in  Taunton,  which 

when  the  Indians  that  knew  her,  faw,  they  fell 

into  fuch  hideous  and  howling  Lamentations  as 

can  fcarce  be  imitated. 

But  now,  Reader,  prepare  to  make  a  juft  Re- 
flexion upon  that  Antient  and  Famous  Paflage 

of  Sacred  Scripture,    Wo  to  thee  that  fpoilejl, 

and  thou  waft  not  /polled ;  and  dealejl  treache- 

roufly,    and  they  dealt  not  treacheroufiy  with 

thee  \  when  thou  /halt  ceafe  to  fpoil,  thou  fhalt 

be  fpoiled;  and  when  thou  fhalt  make  an  end  to 

deal  treacheroufiy,  they   (hall  deal  treacheroufiy 

with  thee  !  One  thing  which  emboldned   King 

Philip  in  all  his  Outrages,   was  an  Affurance 

which  his  Magicians  consulting  their  Oracles' 

gave  him,  that  no  Engliflman  fhould  ever  Kill 

him  ;   and  indeed  if  any  Fnglifhman  might  have 

had  the  Honour  of  Killing  him,  he  mull  have 

had  :•  good  rr.eafure  of  Grace  to  have  reprefled 

the  Vanity  of  Mind   whereto  he   would  have 

had  fome  Temptations.    But  this  will  not  ex- 
tend the  Life  of  that  Bloody  and  Crafty  Wretch 

above  half  bis  Days  !  A  Man  belonging  to  Philip 

himfelf,  being  difgufted  at  him  for  killing  an 

Indian  who   had  propounded  an  Expedient  of\Renowned  unto  all  Pofterity^fo 


then  Recruiting  of  his  weary  Forces ;  and  upon 
the  Intelligence  hereof,  Captain  Church,  with  a 
few  Hands  of  both  Englifh  and  Indians,  imme- 
diately fet  forth  upon  a  New  Expedition   That 
very  Night  Philip  (like  the  Man  in  the  Army 
of  Midian)  had   been   dreaming  that  he  was 
fain  into  the  Hands  of  the  Englifh  •  and  now 
juft   as   he  was  telling  his    Dream,  with  Ad- 
vice unto  his  Friends  to  fly  for  their  Lives 
left   the  Knave  who   had    newly    gone  from 
them  fbould  Ihew  the  Englifl)  how  to  come  at 
them,  Captain  Church,  with  his  Company,  fell 
in    upon  them  ;  Philip  attempted  a  Flight  out 
of  the  Swamp,  at  which  inftant  both  an  Englifl)- 
man  and  an  Indian  endeavouring  to  Fire  at  him 
the  Engliflmans  Piece  would  not  go  off,    but 
the  Indians  prefently  Shot  him  through  his  Ve- 
nemous  and  Murderous  Heart  5  and  in  that  ve- 
ry place  where  he  firft  contrived  and  commen- 
ced his  Mifchief,  this  Agag  was  now  cut  into 
Quarters,  which  were  then  hanged  up,  while 
his  Head  was  carried  in  Triumph  to  Plymouth 
where  it  arrived  on   the  very   Day  that  the' 
Church  there  was  keeping  a   Solemn  Thankf- 
giving  to  God.    God  lent  :em  in  the  Head  of  a 
Leviathan  for  a  Thanfgiving-Feaf}. 

*tco{  Tetf    dirohotTO,  or/f  TotuvrcLyz   fiEot. 

Sic  pereat  quifquis  ctptarit  talia  pofthac. 

At  the  time  when  King  Philip,  the  Beginner 
of  the  War,  was  thus  come  to  the  Conclufwn  of 
his  Life,  feveralofhis  Men  accompanied  him 
into  the  other  World  ;  and  among  the  reft,  that 
very  Indian  who  Fired  the  Firft  Gun    at  the 
Englifh  in  this  horrible  War.    But  our  Lebbaus, 
Captain   Church,   irrefiftably  ftill   purfued    his 
Vidories  at  fuch  a  rate,  that  in  a  few  Weeks 
there  were,  by  his  Means,  at  leaft  Seven  Hun- 
dred of  the  Enemy  Subjugated  ;  and  fome  of 
his  Atchievements  were  truly  fo  Magnanimous 
and  Extraordinary,  that  my  Reader  will  fufpecF 
me  to  be  Tranfcribing  the  filly  Old  Romances, 
where  _  the  Knights  do  Conquer  fo  many  Gi- 
ants, if  I   fhould  proceed  unto  the  particular 
Commemoration  of  them.     Albeit  I  mult  al- 
fo fay,    there  were   many  other  Commanders, 
whom  if  we  fhould  meaiure  by  Conduct  rather 
than  by  Succefs,  the  Fame  of  Caprain  Church 
ought  by  no  means   to  bring  an  Eclipfe  upon 
theirs  ;  and    though   it  be  an  Enviom  Phrafe 
at  Sea,  that  the  VelTel  which  by  any  Advantage 
Outfails  another,     does  Wrong  her  ;  I  pray  let 
not  that  Phrafe  get  afl.wre,    to  make  it  Inter- 
preted as  a   Wrong  to   any  other  Valiant  and 
Prudent  Commander,  that  any  One  has  had  par- 
ticular Succeffes    attending   of  him.      In  our 
Wars  there  were  Captains  engaged,  upon  whofe 
Graves  there  may  be  Engraved  the  Character 
given  by  Sir  Samuel  Morland  of  Captain  Jahir, 
who  loft  his  Life  in  the   Wars  of  the  poor 
Waldenjes  :  They  were   Perfons  worthy  to  be 

their  Zeal  jor 
the 


Book  VII.  0r3  The  Hifiory  of  New-England.  55 

ihe  Service  of  God,    and  the  Prejervation  of  or  me  to  Write  thus  much,   that  one  of  the 


bti  poor  ajfiiUed  Church  -,  Perfons  whom  all  the 
terrors  oj  Death  could  never  affright,  bold  ax 
Lions  m  all  their  Enterprifes,  but  meek  at 
Lambs  in  the  midfi  of  all  their  Victories  : 
Always  lifting  up  their  Hands  towards  Hea 
ven  jrom  whence  Deliverance  came  ;  and  re- 
citing jwcet  Paffages  of  Scripture,  wherein 
they  were  verfed  unto  Admiration,  to  the  great 
Encouragment  of  all  their  followers. 

§.  14.  While  thofe  Parts  of  New-England, 
which  had  the  Glory  of  Evangelical  Churches 
in  them,  for  a  Defence  to  be  created  upon, 
were  thus  Tempetfuated  by  a  terrible  War  • 
there  were  other  Parts  lying  in  the  North-Eaft 
of  New-England  of  a  leis  Evangelical  Temper, 
which  felt  a  furious  Euroclydon  alio  beating  upon 
them.  The  Defigns  of  Lumber  and  lifting,  but 
efpecially  of  the  Bever-Trade  with  the  Indians, 
which  laft  was  very  fcandaloully  managed,  had 
produced  many  fine  Settlements  in  the  Province 
of  Main,  and  the  County  of  Comwal,  and  the 
brave  Regions  lying  beyond  P ij cat aqua  ;  but  a 
great  part  of  the  Englifh  there  grew  too  like 
the  Indians,  among  whom  they  lived  in  their 
Unchrijiian  way  of  Living  ;  and  inlkad  of  E- 
recling  Churches  among  themfelves,  they  net 


Firft    notable   Outrages  done  by    the  Indians 
was  at  the  Houfe  of  one  Wakely  at  Cafco,  whom 
with  his  Wile,  and  Son,  and  Daughter-in-Law 
(with  Child)  and  a  Couple  of  Grand-Children, 
they  Barbaroully  Butchered,  and  carried  away 
Three  Children  into  Captivity.     Now  this  ho- 
ned Old  Man  was  one  who  would   often  fay 
with  Tears,    That   he  believed  God  was  dif- 
plcafed  at    him,    inafmuch  at  albeit  he   came 
into  New-England  for  the  fake  of  the  Go/pel^ 
yet  he   had  left  another  place  in  the  Country, 
where  he  bad  enjoyed  the  Go/pel  in  the  Commu- 
nion of  a  gathered  Church,    and  now  bad  lived 
many  leai  s  in  a   Plantation  where  there  wa* 
no   Church  at  all,    nor  the  Ordinances  and  ln- 
jlitutions  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Cbiift.     The  Maf- 
facbufet-Colony  lent  our  Forces  under  the  Com- 
mand of  Captain  Hawthorn,  and  Captain  Sylly 
and  others,  lor  the  fubduing  of  thefe  Indians, 
and  the  fuccels  of  Attempts  againft  them  was 
very  various.     But  the   Stunningcft  Wound  of 
all  given  to  them,    was,    when  by  a  Contri- 
vance  of  the  Englifh,    near  Four  Hundred  of 
them   were,  on  Septem.  6.   1676.  furprifed  at 
the  Houfe    of   Major   Waldern  in  Qitechecbo  j 
whereof  one  half  which  were  found  Accejfories 


ther  Cbriliianized  the  Pagans,  nor  by  avoiding |  to  the  late  Rebellion  were  fold  for  Slaves;,  the 
of  the  Vices  which  they  rather  taught  the  Pa- I  reft  were  diimilled  unto  their  own  places  •,  and 
gans,  did  they  take  a  due  Courfe  to  preferve  at  laft,  when  both  fides  were  weary,  about  the 
themfelves  from  lofing  of  Chriftianity  in  Paga- !  latter  end  of  that  Year,  a  fort  of  Peace  wa3 
nifm.  Within  Twenty  Days  after  that  Philip  'clapp'd  up  for  the  whole  ;  fo  the  Land  had  reft 
fiad  begun  the  War  at  Mount  Hope,  in  the  Year  from  War. 

1675.  the   Indians,  Two  Hundred   and  Fifty;      §.   15.    I  make  no  queftion  that  the  Story  of 
Miles  diftant  from  him  to  the   Northward,  be-  Og,  the  King  of  the  Woody  Bafhan,   Encoun- 


gan  the  fame  Game  upon  the  Remotelt  of  thefe 
Plantations.     Mifunderftandings    happened   be- 
tween the  Englifh  and  the  Indians  upon  very  odd 
Occafions ;  and  many  Rude,  Wild,  Ungoverna- 
ble Englilh,  did,  unto  the  extream  Diffatisfacf  i- 
on  of  the  wifer  fort,  rafhly  add  unto  the  Oc- 
calions which  the   Indians  alfo  took  to  grow 
Ungovernable.    Their  little  Swaggering  at  one 
another,  advanced  into  Scuffling,   and  Scuffling 
into  Fighting,  fo  that  at  length  there  was  Open 
War  etween  them  5    and  there  were  many  lit- 
tle Encountets  in  the  Firft  Three  or  Four  Months, 
wherein  the  Englifh  loft  Fifty,    and  the  Indians 
about  Ninety  of  their  People  ;   but  at  laft  it 
came  to  very  Cruel  Depredations.     I  am  not 
willing  to  tire  my  Reader  with  another  long 
Walk   into   the   Woods   after  thefe  Ravening 
Salvages,  of  to  Enumerate  the  many  Succeffive 
Defttucf  ions  with  which  the  Indians  at  length 
broke   up    all   the  Englifh  Settlements  to  the 
Northward  of  Wells  ;    and  if  I  fhould  particu- 
larly relate   how    Barbaroully  they   Murdered 
my  Dear  Friend,   that  Exemplarily  Good  Man, 
Captain   Thomas    Lake,   with   many  more   at 
Arowfick-Ifland  in  Kennebeck-River,  on  Auguft 
14.  1676.  1   Ihould  but  unto  my  felf,  Infandum 
Renovare  Dolcrem.    Inafmuch  as  I  am  Writing 
a  Church-Hiftory.  I  may  be  excufed,  though  I  do 
not  concern  my  '  felf  any   further  with  Provin- 
ces, where  they  made  it  fo  little  of  their  own 
Concern  to  gather  any  Churches  \  it  fhall  fuffice 


tied  and  Conquered  by  Joftua,  the  Lord  Gene- 
ral of  Ijracl,    with   his   Armies    palling    into 
Canaan,    was  the  very   thing  which  the   Gen- 
tiles, in  Alter  Ages,    did  Celebrate  under  the 
Notion  of  the  Serpent  Python    (which   is  the 
lame   with  Typhon)    deftroy'd   by   Apollo.    Og 
iignifies  a  Burner,  as  well  as  the  Name  of 
Typhon,  whom  the  Poets  make  a  Theomachous 
Giant  ■,    and   the  Hebrews,    lor  good   Caufes, 
affording  the  Name  of  Pet  hen  or  a  Serpent  un- 
to fuch  an  Enemy,    we  need  not  wonder  that 
he  is  alfo  Named   Python.     The  Land  where 
the  Gods  give  Battel  to  Typhon,  was  accord- 
ing to   Homer,  *?  'A?iuo<r     And  as  we  know 
Syria  was  the  Land   of  Aram,  fo  Strabo  will 
tell  us,   that  the  Arimi  ate  the  Syrians  -,  which, 
with  the  River  Orontes,  called  Ophites,  as  well 
as  Typhon,    in  Ca'lo-Syna,  defignates  the  very 
Country  of  Og  unto   us.     The   Seat  of  the 
Tranfaclion  related    by  Homer  to    have  been 
in  3<fl»,  which  Learned  Men  have  fo  long  fought  in 
Vain,  that  at  laft  they  laid  it  was  in  Cimmeria, 
that  is   to  fay,    No  Man  knows  where ;  it   is 
doubtlels,  by  a  long  miftake  of  the  Scribes,  put 
for  i«^*,  or  the  Land  of  Judxa  ;  but  when  he 
adds  that    it   W3S  x^i"  iyl   fyvbiv]^   m    a  Re- 
gion abounding   with    Oaks,    the   Region    of 
Bafhan  is  unqueftionably  pointed  at. 

What  H»ner  Sings  about  the  Tupaiof  iw«t, 
Typbonis  Cubilia  was  not  underftood  by  Virgil^ 
when   he   made  a  Sepulchre  thereof,    in  his 

Tranflating 


5* 


Magnalia  Chrifli  Americana:  Book  VII. 


Transiting   the  Matter  into  his  Ninth  JEneid, 
becaufe  he  hid  not  read  the  Account  which  the 
Scripture  gives  about  Qg's  Bedjiead  oj  Iron.     'Tis 
as  clear  that  Apollo,  who  was  Antiently  called 
Ptan,   or  an  Healer,    is  the  fame  with  Jofluta, 
whofe  Name  is  of  a  like  Signification  :    And 
Apollo  was  called  Anac-eus  likewife  •,  but  in 
Commemoration  of  Jofhuas  Exploits  againft  the 
Anakim ;    the  Ph,tnic^i,    being  alfo  but  Bene- 
Anak,  or  the  Sons  of  Anak  in  the  firft  Origi- 
nal.   They  by   whom  Typbon  was  Combated, 
came  out  of  Egypt,  and   (6  did   the  Armies  or 
Jofhua  ■,  an  Hero,  of  whofe  Mother  becaufe  we 
read  nothing,  lhe  muft  be  called,  &*1*3  or  La- 
tona,  a  LatenJo.     Cadmus  the  Gibeonite  carry- 
ing a  Colony  into  Grxcia,  did  ufe  there  to  re- 
member the  Victories  of  Jofhua  in  fuch  Hymns 
as  they  had  learned  from  their  New  Matters  in 
Canaan  i  and  of  thole  Hymns,  it  is  probable, 
the    Hundred   and   Thirty-fifth  Pfalm  in   our 
Pfalter  might  be  one  ■,  yea,  the  Grecian,  wieww 
Ik',  U,   ufed  in  their  Pxanifms,   might  be  but 
rude  remembrances  of  the  Hallelujahs  anciently 
ufed  in  thefe  Hymns  of  Ifrael. 

Reader,  'Twas  not  unto  a  Delpbos,  but  unto 
a  Sbiloh,  that  the  Planters  of  New-England have 
been  making  their  Progrefs,  and  King  Philip  is 
not  the  only  Python  that  has  been  giving  them 
Obftru&ion  in  their  Paflage  and  Progrefs  there- 
unto. But  if,  lnfcelix  Exitus  Perfecutorum  is 
any  Note  of  the  True  Churchy  I  am  fure  New- 
England  has  a  True  Church  to  People  it  ■,  for 
all  the  Serpents,  yea,  or  Giants,  that  former- 1 
ly  molefted  that  Religious  Plantation,  found 
themfelves  engaged  in  a  fatal  Enterprize.  We 
have  by  a  True  and  Plain  Hiftory  fecured  the 
Story  of  our  SuccelTes  againft  all  the  Ogs  in  this 
Woody  Country  from  falling  under  theDifguifesof 
Mythology  ■,  but  it  Adminifters  to  us  the  Reflecti- 
on which  has  been  often  made,    that  as  of  old ! 


the  Name  of  the  God  our  Saviour,  as  an  Hea- 
then Country  fometimes  would,  Ne  ab  Hoftibm 

Evocatus  alio  Commigraret :  No,  'tis  our  Lord 
JESUS  CHRIST  worfhipped  according 
to  the  Rules  of  his  BlefTed^iofpel,  who  is  the 
great  PHOEBUS,  thWS  U  N  of  Right e- 
oujnefs,  who  hath  fo  faved  his  Churches  from 
the  Defigns  oi  the  Generations  of  the  Dragon. 
Tis  to  our  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST  that  we 
offer  up  our  Hallelujahs  ! 

But  it  muft  after  all  be  confefled,  that  we 
have  had  one  Enemy  more  pernicious  to  us  than 
all  the  reft,  and  that  is  our  own  Backfliding 
Heart,  which  has  plunged  the  whole  Country 
into  16  wonderful  a  Degeneracy,  that  I  have 
fometimes  been  Difcouraged  from  Writing  the 
Church-Hijiory  of  the  Country,  left 


Mulier  Formofa,  Juperne, 


Definat  in  Pifcem. 

And  fince  this  Degeneracy  has  obtained  fo 
much  among  us,  the  Wrath  of  Heaven  has  raifed 
up  againft  us  a  Succeflion  of  other  Adverjaries 
and  Calamities,  which  have  caft  the  Land  into 
great  Confufwns  to  Refcue  us,  from  which  the 
Jealous  Kindnefs  of  Heaven  has  not  made  fuch 
Quick  Defcents  as  in  former  Times.  Alas, 
that  my  Reader  muft  now  tell  me, 

Ca'pifii  melius  quam  definis,  ultima  Primis 
Dijiant. 


For  which  Caule  I  now  conclude  our  Church- 
Hiftory,  leaving  to  the  Churches  of  New-Eng- 
land,  for    their    Admonition,  an   Obfervation 
which  the  Renowned  Commenius  has  made  up- 
on the  Famous  Churches  of  Bohemia,  That  they 
were  nearer  to  the  SanQuary  than  other  Churches, 
1  by  reafon  of  a  more  pure  Difcipline  profeffed  and 
the  Ruins  that  ftill  overtook  the  Perfecutors  of,  embraced  among  them  ;  and  therefore  when  they 
the  poor  Piccar dines  cauled  Men  to  fay,   If  a  came  to  be  depraved  with  Apofiafies,  the  Lord 
Man  be  weary  of  bis  Life,   let  him  become  an  poured  out  his  Righteous  Difpleafure  upon  them, 
Enemy  to  the  piccardines  !  The  like  Ruins  have  and  quickly  made  them  fad  Examples  to  the  ch 
overwhelmed  them  that  have  Perfecuted  thz\  tber  Churches  of  the  Reformation. 
poor  New-Englanders.    And  we  will  not  conceal  j     God  knows  what  will  be  the  END. 


A  P  P  E  N- 


Book  VII.  0r3  The  Hifiory  of  New-England.  57 

APPENDIX. 


Decenmum  'Luttuofam. 


A  N 


HISTORY 


O  F 


Remarkable  Occurrences 


In  the  Long 


Which  NEW- ENGL  AND  hath  had  with  the  Indian 
Salvages }  from  th~  Year  1688.  to  the  Year  1698.  Faith- 
fully Compofed  and  Improved. 


C'jc  %ztmto  coition* 


The  Dedication^  Prefaced  unto  the  Firft  Edition. 


To  the  People  of  NEW-ENGLAND. 


SI  R  S, 

'  O  U  are  Welcome  unto  the  Hiflory  of 
a  Tedious  War,  and  unto  a  Period  of 
that  War  fo  far  in  profpecl:,  as  to  ren- 
der its  Hifiory  Seilbnable. 
Every  Reafonable  Man  will  readily  allow  that 
it  is  a  Duty  to  God,  and  a  Service  to  the  World, 
fortopreferve  the  Memory  of  fuch  Matters,  as 
have  been  the  more  Memorable  Occurrences  in 
the  War  that  has  for  Ten  Tears  together  been 


multiplying  Changes  and  Sorrows  upon  us.  And 
the  Author,  in  whofe  Hiftorical  Writings  the 
moft  Inquifuive  Envy  has  never  to  this  Hour 
detected  fo  much  as  one  Voluntary  and  Mate- 
rial Miftake,  or  One  Farthing  paid  unto  the 
Readers  in  the  Coin  of  Candia,  has  now  chofen 
to  preferve  the  Memory  of  thefe  Matters  while 
they  are  Frejb  and  j\>?»,  and  one  hath  not 
Fifty  Tears,  which  is  the  Channel  of  the  River 
of  Oblivion ',  to  pafs  over  unto  them.  This  Ex* 
H  h  h  h  h  h  h  {edition 


5§ 


Magnolia  Chrifii  Americana :  Book  Vll. 


petition  is  ufed  in  the  publication  of  our  IV 
cennium  LuUuofum,  in  hope  that  if  any  miftake 
worth  noting  do  appear  in  ibeje  Writings,  it 
may  like,  and  perhaps  with,  a  Second  Edition, 
be  Corrected  and  Amended. 

He  expefts  no  Thanks  for  his  Eflays  to  do 
Good,  in  this  way  or  any  other,  unto  any  part  of 
his  Country,  to  whom  he  would  gladly  devote 
all  his  Talents,  if  he  were  a  Thoufand  Times 
better  Talented  than  he  is-,  and  though  the  molt 
Ungrateful  Treats  Imaginable  (which  are  too 
well  known  by  the  Name  of  Country-pay) 
fhould  be  given  him,  he  would  (till  be  of  that 
Opinion,  ReUe  feciffe  Merces  eft,  If  a  Man 
may  do  Good,  it  is  enough. 

All  the  Favour  he  defires  of  you  is,  that  you 
would  not  Enquire  after  hint;  or  ask,  who  be 
it  ?  But  that  as  he  is  at  belt  but  an  Ob/cure 
Perfon,  he  may  continue  in  yet  more  Obfcurity : 
Which  will  be  a  greater  Pleafure  to  him  than 
to  be  placed  among  the  great  Men  o/Achaia. 

Forindeed,  he  hath  often  thought  on  a  paf- 
fage  written  by  Holy  Mr.  Row  to  his  Excellent 
Son,  1  pray,  That  God  would  make  ufe  of  my J "elf 
and  you,  in  fuch  a  way  as  that  God  only  may  be 
Jeen,  and  we  not  be  taken  Notice  oj  at  all ; 
that  he  may  have  the  Glory,  and  we  may  not  be 
Jeen. 

Could  he  have  invited  His  EXCELLENCY 
unto  fuch  a  Glorious  Table  as  that  in  a  certain 
Cabinet  at  Florence,  which  is  furnilhed   with 
Birds  and  Fbw'rs,  all  confifting  of  Neatly  Po- 
lifhed  Jewels  inlaid  into  it ;    a  Work  Fifteen 
Yeats  in  Making,  and  worth  an  Hundred  Thou- 
land  Crowns :  Or  could  he  have  written  a  Book 
worthy  to  belaid  up  in  the  Cabinet  of  Darius  : 
The  Author  might  have  been  under  a  Tempta- 
tion to  have  had  his  Name  Engraved  upon  his 
Work.    But  a  little  boifd  Indian  Corn  in  a  Tray, 
is  as  much  as  our  Belt  Hiftory  of  an  Indian  War, 
composed   perhaps  in  fewer   Days   than  there 
were  Tears  jn  the  War,   may  prefume  to  be 
compar'd  unto.    And  fince  our  Hiltory  will  not 
afford  fuch  a  Diverfion  unto  Hi s  Excellency,  un- 
der the  Indifpofitions  of  His  Health,  as  thofe  of 
Livy  and  Curtius  did  unto  the  Princes  that  Re- 
covered their  loft  Health  by  Reading  them ; 
nor  can  any  paffage  here  be  fo  happy,  as  that 
which  cured  Laurentius  Medices  of  a  Malady 
by  having  it  Read  unto  him  :  It  will  require  no 
more  than  a  Namelefs  Writer  to  allure  that 
Great  Perlbn  on  this  Occafion,  that  all  the  good 
People  of  New-England  make   their    Fervent 
Vows  unto  the  Almighty,  For  his  Excellencies 
Vrcfperity,  and  the  Welfare  of  his  Excellent  La- 
dy, and  of  his  Noble  and  Hopeful  Offspring. 


And  the  Naming  of  the  Author,  is  as  little 
Neceffary  to  Qualifie  him,  that  he  may  pay 
publick  Acknowledgments  unto  the  Honourable 
the  Lieutenant  Goverr.our-,  not  only  for  his 
Cares  about  the  Publick,  while  it  was  Tern- 
peftuated  with  the  Indian  War,  which  now 
makes  an  Hiftory  •  but  chiefly  for  his  more 
than  ordinary  Teniernefs  of  that  Society,  which 
has  been  the  very  Decus  ac  Tutamen  of  New- 


England.  The  Namelefs  Writer  of  this  Hiftory 
may  Report,  that  with  a  greater  Expence  than 
that  of  the  Firjt  Founder,  this  Honourable  Per- 
fon proves  that  he  Loves  our  Nation,  by  Build- 
ing us  another  Edifice  for  the  Supply  of  all  our 
Synagogues,  and  STOUGHTON-HALL  out- 
lines HARVARD-COLLEDGE :  And  he 
fpeaks  kinder  Language,  as  well  as  better  Latin 
than  that  Eminent  Statefman  in  Flanders' 
whofe  Anfwer  to  a  Petition  for  the  Priviledges 
of  an  Univerfity  there  to  be  reftored,  was,  Non 
curamus  voftros  Privilegios.  This  Report  may 
he  give,  without  being  obliged  for  to  Confefs 
any  other  Name  than  this,  which  he  readily 
Confeffes  ;  One  that  was  once  a  Member  of 
Harvard-Colledge. 

I  Pray,  Sirs,  ask  no  further ;  let  this  Wri- 
ting be  like  that  on  the  Wall  to  Belfrazzar, 
where  the  Hand  only  was  to  be  feen,  and  not 
whofe  it  was.  The  Hiftory  is  compiled  with 
Inconteftable  Veracity  •  and  iince  there  is  no  In- 
genuity in  it,  but  lefs  than  what  many  Pens  in 
the  Land  might  Command,  he  knows  not  why 
his  Writing  Anonimoujly  may  not  Shelter  him 
from  the  Inconveniencies  of  having  any  Notice 
one  way  or  other  taken  of  him.  Though  a- 
mong  his  other  fmall  Furniture,  he  hath  not 
left  himfelf  unfurniihed  with  Skill  in  the  Spa- 
nip)  Language,  yet  he  never  could  bring  him- 
felf to  the  belief  of  the  Spaniff)  Proverb,  Quien 
no  parece,  perece ;  i.  e.  He  that  appears  nor 
ngriihesj  he  that  (hows  not  himfelf  to  the 
World,  is  undone.  At  Milain  there  is  an  Aca- 
demy of  Senfible  Perfons,  called.  The  Nafcofti  -, 
or,  Hidden  Men-,  at  Venice  there  is  one  of 
fuch  Perfons  called,  The  Incogniti;  and  at  Par- 
ma there  is  one  of  them,  called,  The  Innomina- 
ti.  If  there  were  nothing  elfe  Difagreeable  in 
them,  the  Author  of  this  Hiftory  would  be  glad 
of  an  Admiiiion  into  fuch  an  Academy. 

The  Hiftory  is  indeed  of  no  verv  FineThread; 
and  the  Readers,  who  everywhere  Fifh 
for  nothing  but  Carps,  and  who  Love,  like  Au- 
guftus,  to  Tax  all  the  World,  may  find  Fault 
enough  with  it.  Neverthelefs,  while  the  Fault 
of  an  Untruth  can't  be  found  in  it,  the  Author 
pretends  that  the  famous  Hiftory  of  the  Trojan 
War  it  felf  comes  behind  our  little  Hiftory  of 
the  Indian  War ,  for  the  beft  Antiquaries  have 
now  confuted  Homer  .  the  Walls  of  Troy  were, 
it  feems,  all  made  of  Poets  Paper ;  and  the  i ' 
Siege  of  the  Town,  with  the  Tragedies  of  the 
Wooden  Horfe,  were  all  but  a  piece  of  Poetry. 


And  if  a  War  between  Us  and  an  Handful  of 
Indians  do  appear  no  more  than  a  Batracho- 
myomachie  to  the  World  abroad,  yet  unto  us  at 
home  it  hath  been  confiderable  enough  to  make 
an  Hiftory.  Nor  is  the  Author  airaid  of  pro- 
mifing,  that  of  all  the  Thirty  Articles  which 
makeup  this  Hiftory,  there  fhail  not  be  One 
without  fomething  in  it  that  may  by  our  felves 
be  juftly  thought  Confiderable. 

Should 


Book  VII.  Or,  The  Hiftory  of  Ncw~TLhglmd,  59 


Should  any  Petit  Monjieur  complain,  fas  the 
Captain  that  found  not  himlclt  in  the  Tapeflry 
Hangings-,  which  Exhibited  the  Stoty  ot  the 
Spanifh  Invaiion  in  (588.)  that  he  don't  find 
himfelt  mentioned  in  this  Hiftory,  the  Author 
has  his  Apologv  ;  he  has  done  as  well  and  as 
much  as  he  could,  that  whatever  was  worthy  of 
a  Mention  might  have  it ;  and  if*  this  Collecti- 
on of  Matters  he  not  complear.  yet  he  fuppofes 
it  may  be  more  complear  than  any  one  die 
hath  made  ;  and  now  he  hath  done,  he  hath 
not  puil'd  up  the  Ladder  after  him  ;  others 
may  go  on  as  they  pleafe  with  a  compleater 
Compofure. 

If  the  Author  hath  taken  Delight  in  this  Hi- 
ftory, and  at  all  times,  to  Celebrare  the  Merits 
of  luch  as  have  deferved  well  of  his  Country, 
Cwhich  he  has  here  done,  it  may  be,  for  fome 
that  never  could  afford  him  a  good  Word  !"] 
Efpecially,  if  he  doerecf  Statues  for  Dead  Wor- 
thies, when  there  is  no  Room  left  for  Flatte- 
ry, [for  who  will  beftow  Paint  upon  a  Dead 
Face  /J  And  if  he  do  all  this  wirh  all  poffible 
Concern,  to  avoid  calling  Afperfwns  upon  0- 
tiers:  Why  fhould  any  betray  fuch  ill  Nature 
as  to  be  angty  at  it  \  My  good  Country  forgive 
him  this  Injury  ! 

Huic  Vni  f erf  an  poteram  Succumbere  culpa. 

But  whatever  this  Hiftory  be,  it  Aims  at  the 
doing  of  Good,  as  well  as  the  telling  of  Truth; 


and  if  its  Aim  lhall  be  attained,  that  will  be  a 
fufficient  Reward  for  all  the  Trouble  of  Writing 
it.  When  he  defires  any  more,  he'll  give  you 
h'xsName;  in  the  mean  time,  as  a  far  greater 
Man  once  was  called,  Ludovicus  Nihili,  which 
you  may  make  Lewis  of  Nothingham ♦  lb  the 
Author  will  count  himfelf  not  a  little  favoured, 
if  he  may  pafs  for  one  of  no  more  Account  than 
a  No-body ■,  which  would  certainly  make  a 
very  blamelefs  Perfon  of  him. 

However,  that  the  Hiftory  may  not  altogether 
want  a  Subscription,  the  Author  finding  it  a 
Cuftom  among  the  Chriftian  Writets  of  the 
Orient,  when  they  have  written  a  Treatife,  to 
Subfcribe  it  after  this  manner ;  Scriptum  per  Ser- 
vum  vilempauperem,  omnibus Juftitiis  privatum^ 
peccatorem  magis  quam  omnis  Caro :  Or,  Scripft 
hoc  pauper  N.  N.  Or,  Eft  Scriptura  fervi  paupe- 
ris, &  qui  Benevolentia  Dei  indiget,  &  mife- 
rationibus  ;  he  will  accordingly  Subfcribe  him- 
felf, The  Chief  of  Sinners.  Nevertheleis,  he 
will  humbly  lay  claim  to  the  Words  ufed  by 
the  Natnelefs  Author  of  a  Treatife,  Entituled, 
The  Faithful  Steward :  l  Tho'  I  am  worfe  than 
'  they  fpeak  of  me,  who  caft  difgrace  upon  me, 
'  and  I  can  efpy  Ten  Faults  in  my  felf,  where 
'they can  difcern  One  ;  yet  I  can,  thro'  Grace, 
'  appeal  to  thee,  O  Lord,  with  feme  Comfort, 
'  that  I  am  Vifpleafed  with  my  felffox  my  Sins, 
'  and  would  iain  pleafe  thee  in  all  Things,  at 
c  all  Times,  in  all  Places,  and  in  every  Con- 
c  dition. 


Hhhhhhh  2 


Deeamhun 


6o 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana :  Book  VII. 


Decenmum  Tuu&uofum : 


OR,    THE 


REMARKABLES 

Of  a  Long 


w 


A   R 


WITH 


INDIAN-SALVAGES. 


Nobis  in  areto,  &  inglorius  Labor.     Tacit. 


INTRO    D  V   C  T  I  0  N. 


TVTenty-three  Years  have  Rouled  away 
fince  the  Nations  of  Indians  within 
the  Confines  of  New-England,  ge- 
nerally began  a  Fierce  War  upon 
the  Englijh  Inhabitants  of  that  Country.    The 
Flame  of  War  then  Raged  thro'  a  great  Part  of 
the  Country,  whereby  many  whole  Towns  were 
laid  in  Afhes,  and  many  Lives  were  Sacrificed. 
But  in  little  more  than  One  Year's  time,  the 
United  Colonies  of  Plymouth,  Majfachufet,  and 
ConneSicut,  with  their  united  Endeavours,  brave- 
ly Conquered  the  Salvages.    The  Evident  Hand 
of  Heaven  appearing  on  the  fide  of  a  People, 
whofe  Hope  and  Help  was  alone  in  the  Almigh- 
ty LordofHofts,  extinguifhed  whole  Nations  of 
the  Salvages  at  fuch  a  Rate,  that  there  can  hard- 
ly any  of  them   now  be  found  under  any  Di- 
ftinftion  upon  the  Face  of  the  Earth.     Only 
the  Fate  of  our  Northern  and  Eaftem.  Regions 
in  that  War  was  very  different  from  that  of  the 
left.    The  Deflations  of  the  War  had  over- 
whelmed alt  the  Settlements  to  the  North-Eaft 
of  Wells.    And  when  the  time  arrived,  that  all 
Hands  were  weary  of  the  War,  a  fort  of  a  Peace 
was  patched  up,  which  left  a  Body  of  Indians, 
not  only  with  horrible  Murders  Unrevenged, 
but  alfo  in  the  pofTeffion  of  no  little  Part  of 
the  Country,    with  Circumftances  which  the 
Engli(h  might  think  not  very  Honourable.    Up- 
on this  Peace  the  Englifh  returned  unto  their 
Plantations ;  their  Number  increafed ;   they 


Stock'd  their  Farms,  and  Sow'd  their  Fields  -y 
they  found  the  Air  as  Healthful,  as  the  Earth 
was  Fruitful ;  their  Lumber  and  their  Fifhery  be- 
came a  confiderable  Merchandife;  continual  Ac- 
ceffions  were  made  unto  them,  until  Ten  or  a 
Dozen  Towns  in  the  Province  of  Main,  and 
the  County  of  Cornwall,  were  fuddenly  Started 
up  into  fomething  of  Obfervation. 

But  in   the  Year  1688.    the  Indians  which 
dwelt  after  the  Indian  manner   among  them, 
commenced  another  War  upon  thefe  Plantati- 
ons which  hath  broke  them  up,    and  ftrangely 
held  us  in  Play  for  Ten  Tears  together.   In  thefe 
Ten  Tears  there  hath  been  a  variety  of  Remarka- 
ble Occurrences,   and  becaufe  I  have  fuppoled 
that  a  Relation  of  thofe  Occurrences  may  be  Ac- 
ceptable and  Profitable  to  fome  of  my  Country- 
men, I  lhall  now  with  all  Faitkfulnefs  Endea- 
vour it.     With  all  Faithfalnefs,  I  fuy^  becaufe 
tho'  there  fhould  happen  any  Qrcumftantial  Mi- 
flake  in  our  Story,  (for  'tis  a  rare  thing  for  any 
Two  Men  concern'd  in  the  fame  Aclion,    to 
give  the  Story  of  it  without  fome  Circumftantial 
Difference)  yet  even  this  alfo  I  ihall  be  willing 
to  RetraU  and  Corretf,  if  there  be  found  any 
juft  Occafion  :  But  for  any  one  Material  Error 
in  the  whole  Compofure,  I  challenge  the  moft 
Sagacious  Malice  upon  Earth  todeteft  it,  while 
matters  are  yet  fo  frefh  as  to  allow  the  Detecti- 
on of  it.     I  difdain  to  make  the  Apologv  once 
made  by  the  Roman  Hiftorian ;  Nemo  Hifloricus 

non 


Book  VII.  Or,  The  Hiftory  o/New-Ettgland.  61 


non  aliquid  mentitus,  &  habitants  fum  ?nenda- 
ciorum  Comites,  quos  Hifiori£  tff  eloquentiee  mi- 
r.vnur  Authores.  No,  I  will  write  with  an  Ir- 
reproachable and  Inconteftable  Veracity;  and  I 
will  write  not  one  thing  but  what  I  am 
iurnifhed  with  fo  good  Authority  for,  that  any 
Reafonable  Man,  who  will  pleafe  to  Examine 
it,  fhall  fay  5  1  do  well  to  injeri  it  as  I  do :  And 
1  will  hope  that  my  Reader  hath  not  been  Stu- 
dying of  Godefridi/s  de  Voiles  Book,  De  Arte 
nihil  Creicndi  •,  About  The  Art  of  Believing 
nothing.  Wherefore  having  at  the  very  Begin- 
ning thus  given  fuch  a  Knock  upon  thy  Heady  0 
Malice,  that  thou  canft  never  with  Reafon  Hifs 
at  our  Hiftory,  we  will  proceed  unto  the  feveral 
Articles  of  it. 

ARTICLE    I. 

The  Occafion  and  Beginning  of  the  W  A  R* 

IF  Diedorus  Si  cuius  had  never  given  it  as  a  great 
Rule  of  Hiftory,  Hijloria  primum  Stadium, 
primariaq,  confideraiio  ejfe  videtur,  infoliti 
gravifq-,  Cafus  principio  caufas  inveftigare, 
yet  my  Reader  would  have  expe&ed  that  I 
ihould  Begin  the  Hiftory  of  our  War,  with 
an  Hittory  of  the  Occurrences  'and  Occafions 
which  did  Begin  the  War.  Now,  Reader,  I 
am  at  the  very  rirft  fallen  upon  a  Difficult 
Faint  ;  and  I  am  in  danger  ol  pulling  a  War 
upon  my  felf,  by  endeavouring  of  thy  Satif- 
faQion.  In  truth  I  had  rather  be  Galled  a 
Coward,  than  undertake  my  felf  to  Determine 
the  Truth  in  this  Matter ;  but  having  Armed 
my  felf  with  fome  good  Authority  for  it,  1 
will  Tranfcribe  Two  or  Three  Reports  of  the 
Matter  now  in  my  Hands,  and  leave  it  unto  thy 
own  Determination. 

One  Account  I  have  now  lying  by  me, 
Written  by  a  Gentleman  of  Dover  in  thefe 
Terms. 

'  The  Eaffern  Indians,  and  efpecially  thofe  of 

*  Saco  and  Ammonofcoggin,  pretend  many  Rea- 
c  Ions  for  the  late  Quarrel  againlt  the  Englifh, 
'  which  began  this  long  and  bloody  War. 

i.  '  Becaufe  the  Englifh  refufed  to  pay  that 
'-  Yearly  Tribute  of  Corn,  agreed  upon  in  the 
'  Articles  of  Peace,  formerly  concluded  with 
'-  them  by  the  EnglifJ)  Commiiftoners. 

2.  '  Becaufe   they    were    Invaded    in  their 

*  fifhery,  at  &?«>-River,'  by  certain  Gentlemen, 
'  who  ftopp'd  the  Fill)  from  coming  up  the  Ri- 
c  ver  with  their  Nets  and  Sains.  This  they 
'  were  greatly  affronted  at,  faying,  They  thought 
'  (though  the  Englifh  had  got  aw,?y  their  Lands 
4  as  they  had,  yet)  the  Fjfhcry  of  the  Rivers  had 
1  been  a  Priviledge  referved  Entire  unto  them- 
cy elves. 

3.  '  Becaufe  they  were  Abufed  by  the  Englijl), 
6  in  Suffering,  if  not  Turning  their  Cattel  over 
c  to  a  certain  Ifland  to  deftroy  their  Corn. 

4.  '  But  the  Fourth  and  Main  Provocation 
'  was,  the  Granting  or  Patenting  of  their  Lands 
'  to  fome  Englifh  ■  at  which  they  were  greatly 
c  Enraged,  threatning  the  Surveyor  to  knock  him 


'  bules  in   Trading,  viz 
'  ing,  &e.   which  fuch 


'  on  the  Head  if  he  came  to  lay  out  any  Lands 
'  there. 

'  To  thefe  may  be  added  the  Common  A* 
Drunkennefs,  Cheat- 
as  Trade  much  with 
'  them  are  feldom  innocent  of. 

Doubtlefs  thefe  Indian  Allegations  may  be  an- 
fwered  with  many  Englifh  Vindications.     But 
I  fhall  at  prefent  Intermeddle  no  further  than  to 
offer  another  Account,  which  alfo  I  have  in  my 
Hands,  written  by  a  Gentleman  of  Cafco. 
It  runs  in  fuch  Terms  as  thefe. 
c  Many  were  the  Outrages  and  Infultings  of 
'  the  Indians  up  the  Englifh^  while  Sir  E.  A. 
'  was  Governour.     At  North-Tarmouth,  and  0- 
'  ther  places  at  the  Eaftward,   the  Indians  killed 
'  fundry  Cattel,  came  into  Houfes,  andthreatned 
c  to  knock  the  People  on  the  Head  ;    and  at  fe» 
'  veral  times  gave  out  Reports  that  they  would 
'  make  a  War  upon  the  Englifh,  and  that  they 
'  were  animated  to  do  fo  by  the  French.    The 
'•Indians   behaving   themfelves  fo   lnfultingly, 
'  gave  juft  Occafion    of  great   Sufpicion.    In 
'  Order   for  the  finding  out  the  Truth,  and  to 
'  Endeavour  the  preventing  of  a  War,  Captain 
'  Blackman,  a  Juft  ice  of  Peace,  with  fome  of 
'  the  Neighbourhood  of  Saco  River,  feized  fe- 
c  veral  Indians  that  had  been  Bloody  Murderous 
'  Rogues  in  the  Firlt  Indian  War^    being   the 
'  Chief  Ring-leaders,  and  molt  capable  to  do 
'  Mifchief.    The  faid  Captain  Blackman  feiz- 
c  ed  to  the  Number  of  between  Sixteen  and 
'  Twenty,  in  Order  for  their  Examination,   and 
:  to  bring  in  the  reft  to  a  Treaty.    The  faid 
c  Blackman  loon  fent  the  faid  Indians  with  a 
'  good   Guard  to  ialmouth  in  Cafco-Bay,  there 
'  to  be  fecured,  until  Orders  could  come  from 
c  Bofton  concerning  them.    And  in  the  mean 
c  time    the   faid   Indians  were  well  provided 
1  with  Provifions  and  fuitable  NecelTaries.  The 
'  reft  of  the  Indians  robb'd  the  Englifh,  and  took 
'  fome  Englifh  Prifoners  :  Whereupon  Poll  was 
'  fent  to  Bofton.     Sir  Edmond  Androfs  being  at 
'  New-York,    the  Gentlemen  of  Bofton  fent  to 
'  Falmouth  fome  Soldiers  for  the  Defence  of  the 
'  Country,    and  alfo  the  Worfhipful  Mr.  Stougb- 
c  ton,  with  others,  to  Treat  with  the  Indians  in 
c  Order  for  the  fettling  of  a  Peace,  and  getting 
'  in  of  our  Englifl)  Captives.     As  foon  as  the 
'  faid  Gentlemen  arrived  at  the  Eaftward,  they 
'  fent  away  one  of  the  Indian  Prifoners  to  the  reft 
'  of  the  Indians,  to  Summon  them  to  bring  in 
'  the  Englifh  they  had  taken  ;  alfo  that  their 
i  Sachims  ihould  come  in  to  Treat  with  the 
c  Englifl),  in  Order  that  a  Juft  Satisfaction  fhould 
'  be  made  on  both  Sides.    The  Gentlemen  wai- 
4  ted  the  return  of  the  Indian  MelTenger  •  and 
'  when  he  returned   he  brought  Anfwer,  That 
'  they  would  meet  our  Englifh  at  a  Place  called 
'  Macquoit,    and  there   they  would   bring    in 
'  the    Englifh   Captives,    and  Treat   with   the 
'  Englifl).    And  although  the  Place  appointed 
'  by  the  Indians    for  the  Meeting,   was  ibme 
'  Leagues    diftant    from    Falmouth,     yet   out 
'  Englifh  Gentlemen  did  Condefcend  to  it,  in 
'hope  of  getting  in  our  Captives,  and  putting 

'a  flop 


62 


Magnalia  Chrifii  Americana  :  Book  VII. 


c  a  flop  to  further  Trouble.  They  difpatch'd 
c  away  to  the  Place,  and  carried  the  Indian 
c  Prilbners  with  them,  and  ftaid  at  the  Place 
c  appointed,  expecting  the  coming  of  the  In 
'  dians  that  had  promifed  a  Meeting.  But 
c  they,  like  Falfe,  Perfidious  Rogues,  did  not  ap- 
1  pear.  W  ithout  doubt  they  had  been  Counfel- 
1  led  what  to  do  by  the  French  and  their  Abet- 
1  tors,  as  the  Indians  did  declare  afterwards ; 
1  and  that  they  were  near  the  Place,  and  faw 

*  our  Englijh  that  were  to  Treat  with  them, 

*  but  would  not  (hew  themfelves ;  but  did  en- 
'  deavour  to  take  an  Opportunity  to  deftroy  our 
'  Englifli  that  were  to  Treat  them.  Such  was 
'  their  Treachery  !  Our  Gentlemen  ftaid  Days 
c  to  wait  their  coming-,  but  feeing  they  did 
'  not  appear  at  the  Place  appointed,  they  re- 
'  turned  to  Falmouth,  and  brought  the  Indian 
'  Prilbners,  expecfing  that  the  other  Indians 
1  would  have  fent  down  fome  Reafon  why  they 
4  did  not  appear  at  the  place  appointed,  and 
'  to  make  fome  Excufe  for  themfelves.  But  in- 
1  ftead  of  any  Compliance,  they  fell  upon  North 
1  Yarmouth,  and  there  kilfd  feveral  of  our 
'  Englijh.  Whereupon  the  Eaftetn  Parts  were 
<  ordered  to  get  into  Garrifons,  and  to  be  up- 
'  on  their  Guard  until  further  Orders  from  Sir 
c  Edmond  Andros  •,  and  that  the  Indian  Prifo 

c  ners  fhould  be  fent  to  Boflon,  which  was  done 
f  with  gteat  Care,  and  not  one  of  them  hurt ; 

*  and  Care  taken  daily  for  Provifion.  But  Sir 
i  E.  A.  returning  from  New-Tork,  fet  them  all 

*  at  Liberty  ;  not  fb  much  as  taking  Care  to  Re- 

*  deem  thofe  of  our  Engli/b  fot  them  that  were  in 
'  their  Hands.  I  had  kept  one  at  Fa/mouth  a 
'  Prifbner,  to  be  a  Guide  into  the  Woods  for 
1  our  Englifh,  to  find  out  the  Haunts  of  our 
4  Heathen  Enemies  \    but  Sir  E.  A.  fent  an  Ex- 

*  prefs  to  me,    that  upon  my  utmoft   Peril  I 

*  fhould  let  the  faid  Indian  at  Liberty,  and  take 

*  Care  that  all  the  Arms  that  were  taken  from 
1  him,  and  all  the  reft  of  thole  Captain  Black- 
iman  had  feized,  fhould  be  delivered  up  to  them, 
4  without  any  Orders  to  receive  the  like  of  ours 

*  from  them. 

It  will  be  readily  acknowledged,  that  here 
was  eno-Jgh  done  to  render  the  Indians  Inexcu- 
fa'  !e  for  not  coming  in  upon  the  Proclamation.. 
whir1:  Sir  Edmond  Andros,  then  Governour  of 
New-England,  immediately  Emitted  thereupon, 
requiring  them  to  Surrender  the  Murderers  now 
arrcrsg  them.  A  Spaniard,  that  was  a  Soldier, 
would  fay,  That  if  we  have  a  good  Caufe,  the 
fr.ell  oj  Gunpowder  in  the  Field  is  asfweet  as 
the  lncenfe  at  the  Altar.  Let  the  Reader  judge 
after  thefe  things,  what  fcent  there  was  in  the 
Gunpowder  fpent  for  Nine  or  Ten  Years  together 
in  our  War  with  the  Indian-Salvages. 

Now  that  while  we  are  upon  this  Head,  we 
may  at  once  difpatch  it  •,  I  will  unto  thefe  Two 
Accounts  add  certain  PalTages  of  one  more, 
which  was  Publifhed  in  September.  1689. 

1  Such  were  the  Ob/cure  Meafures  taken  at 

*  that  time  of  Day,  that  the  Rye  of  this  War 

*  hath  been  as  dark  as  that  of  the  River  Nilm ; 
« only  the  generality  of  Thinking  People  through 


the  Country  can  remember  When  and  Why  eve- 
ry one  did    foretel  a   War.      If  any  Wild 
EngliJI)  (Tor  there  are  fuch    as   well  as  of 
another  Nation)   did  then  Begin  to  Provoke 
and  Affront  the  Indians,  yet  thofe  Indians  had 
a  fairer  way  to  come  by  Right  than  that  of 
Bloodflied,    nothing  worthy  of,  or  calling  for, 
any  fuch  Revenge  was  done  unto  them.  The 
moft  Injured  of  them  all,  (if  there  were  any 
fuch)  were  afterwards  difmifTed  by  the  Englijh 
with  Favours,  that  were  then  admirable  eveii 
to  Our  f elves  ;  and  thefe  too,  inftead  of  Sur- 
rendring  the  Perfons,  did  increafe  the  Num- 
bers of  the  Murderers.    But  upon  the  REVO- 
LUTION  of  the  Government,  [April,  1689.1 
the  State  of  the  War  became  wholly  New : 
And  we  are  more  arrived  umo  Righteoufnefs 
as  the  Light,  and  Jufttce  as  the  Noon  Day. 
A  great  Sachim  of  the  Eaft  we  then  immediate- 
ly applied  our  felves  unto,   and  with  no  fmall 
Expences  to  our  felves,  we  engaged  him  to  em- 
ploy his  Intereft  for  a  good   Underftanding 
between  us,  and  the  Party  of  Indians  then  in 
Hoftility  againft  us.     This  was  the  Likely,  the 
Only  way  of  coming   at  thofe  Wandring  Sal- 
vages: But  that  very  Sachim  now  treacherouily 
of  an  Embajfador  became  a  Traitor,   and  an- 
nexed himfelf  with  his  People  to  the  Heard  of 
our  Enemies,  which  havefince  been  Ravaging, 
Pillaging  and  Murdering,  at  a  rate  which  we 
ought    to  count   Intolerable.     The    Penacook 
Indians,  of  whom  we  were  Jealous,  we  like- 
wife  Treated  with  ;  and  while  we  were  by 
our  Kindnejfes  and  Courtefies  Endeavouring  to 
render  them  utterly  Inexcufable,  if  ever  they 
fought  our   Harm;    even  then  did  thefe  alfo 
by    fome  Evil   Infligatton,  (the   Devils,   no 
doubt  ! )  quickly  iiirprize  a  Plantation  where 
they  had  been  Civilly  Treated  a  Day  or  two 
before,    and   Commit  at   once  more    Plun- 
der and  Murder  than  can  be  heard  with  any 
Patience. 

Reader,  having  fo  placed  thefe  Three  Ac- 
counts as  to  defend  my  Teeth,  I  think  I  may 
fafely  proceed  with  our  Story.  But  becaufe 
Tacitus  teaches  us  to  diftinguifh  between  the 
meer  Occafions  and  the  real  Caufes  of  a  War,  it 
may  be  fome  will  go  a  little  higher  up  in  their 
Enquiries :  They  will  Enquire  whether  no  Bo- 
dy feized  a  parcel  of  Wines  that  were  Landed 
at  a  French  Plantation  to  the  Eaftward  1  Whe- 
ther an  Order  were  not  obtained  from  the  King 
of  England,  at  the  Inftance  of  the  French  Em- 
baflador,  ro  reftore  thefe  Wines  ?  Whether  up- 
on the  Vexation  of  this  Order,  we  none  of  us 
ran  a  New-Line  for  the  Bounds  of  the  Pro- 
vince i  Whether  we  did  not  contrive  our  Neu> 
Line  fb  as  to  take  in  the  Country  of  Monfieur 
St  Cafieen  ?  Whether  Monfieur  St.  Cajieen  fly- 
ing from  our  Encroachments,  we  did  not  feize 
upon  his  Arms  and  Goods,  and  bring  them  a- 
way  to  Pemmaquid  ?  And  Who  were  the  We 
which  did  thefe  things  \  And  whether  the  Indi- 
ans, who  were  extreamly  under  the  Influence 
of  St.  Cafieen,  that  had  Married  a  Sagamore's 
Daughter  among  them,  did  not  from  this  ve- 
ry 


Book  VII.       Or,  The  Hifiory  ^New-England. 


«j 


iy  Moment  begin  to  be  obfireperous  >.  And  whe- 
ther all  the  Sober  Fnglifh  in  the  Country  did 
not  from  this  very  Moment  fbretel  a  War  ? 
But  for  any  Anfwer  to  all  theie  Enquiries  I  will 
be  my  ielf  a  Tacitus. 

ARTICLE    II. 

The  Firji  Atfs  of  Hnfiility  between  the  Indians 
and  the  Englilh. 

WHEN  one  Captain  Sargcant  had  feized 
fome  of  the  Principal  Indians  about  Saco 
by  Order  of  Juftice  Blackman,  prefently  the  In- 
dians fell  to  i'cizing  as  many  of  the  EngliJJ)  as 
they  could  catch.     Captain  Rowden,  with  many 
more  in  one  Place,  and  Captain  Gendal,  with 
fundry  more  in  another  Place,  particularly  fell 
into  the  Hands  or.  theft  defperate  Man-Catchers. 
Rowden, -w'uh  miny  of  his  Folks,  never  got  out 
of  their  Cruel  Han  is  ;  but  Gendal,  with  his,  got  a 
Keleafe,  one  can  icarce  tell  how,  upon  the  re- 
turn of  thole  which  had  been  detained  in  Bo- 
fion.     Hitherto  there  was  no  fpilling  of  Blood  ! 
But  fome   time  in    September  following,    this 
Captain  Gendal  went  up,  with  Soldiers  and  o- 
thers,  to  a  Place  above  Cajco,  called  North  Tar- 
mouth,  having  Orders  to  Build  Stockadd's  on  both 
fides  the  River,  lor  I  defence  of  the  Place,  in  Cafe 
of  any  fudden  Invafion.    While   they  were  at 
Work,  an  Englifb  Captive  came  to  'em  with  In- 
formation, that  Seventy  or  Eighty  of  the  Ene- 
my were  jult  coming  upon  'em  ;  and  he  advifed 
'em,  To  yield  quietly,  that  they  might  fave  their 
Lives.     The  Soldiers  that  went  thither  from 
the  Southward    being  terrified  at  this  Report, 
ran  with  an  hafty  Terror  to  get  over  the  Ri- 
ver ;  but  with  more  liafe  than  Good  Speed ; 
for  they   ran   direftly   into  the   Hands  of  the 
Indians.     The  Indians  dragging  thefe  their  Pri- 
foners  with  'em.  came  up  towards  the  Cafconi- 
ans  ;     who    having  but   a  very     little     time 
to  confult,   yet  in    this  time  refolved,    Firft, 
That  they    would  not    be  feized  by  the  Sal- 
vages :     Next,    That   they    would    free   their 
Friends   out    of   the  Hands    of  the    Salvages 
if  it  were  pcjjible  :  Thirdly,  That  if  it   were 
poffibie   they   would    ufe   all  other    Force   up- 
on   the    Salvages,     without   coming    to   down- 
right fight.     Accordingly  they   laid    hold   on 
their   Neighbours,    whom    the  Salvages   had 
feized,    and   this   with    lb    much    Dexterity, 
that  they   cleared    them  all,     except  One   or 
Two  ;    whereof  the  whole    Number  was  a- 
bout  a  Dozen.    But  in  the   Scuffle   one  Stur- 
dy and   Surly   Indian   held   his   Prey   lb  fall, 
that  one  Bene  dill  Pule  if er  gave  the  Mafliff  a 
Blow  with    the  Edge  of  his  Broad  Ax  upon 
the  Shoulder,   upon  which  they  fell  to't  with 
a  Vengeance,    and  Fired   their  Guns  on  both 
Sides,    till    feme   on   both   Sides    were  Slain. 
Thefe  were,  as  one  may  call  them,  The  Scower-pit 
of  a  long  War  to  follow.    At  laft  the  Eng/ijl} 
Vicforioufly  dialed  away  the  Salvage j,  and  re- 
turned lafely  unto  the  other  fide  of  the  River. 


And  thus  was  the  Vein  of  New-England  firft  o- 
pened,  that  afterwards  Bled  for  Ten  Years  toge- 
ther! The  Skirmilh  being  over,  Captain  Gendal 
in  the  Evening  palfed  over  the  River  in  a  Ca- 
noo,  with   none  but  a  Servant;,   but  Landing 
where  the  Enemy  lay  hid  in  the  Bufb.es,  they 
were  both  Slain  immediately.     And  the  fame 
Evening,  one  Ryal,  with  another  Man,  fell  un- 
awares into  the  Hands  of  the  Enemy  ;  Ryal  was 
afterwards  Ranfomed  by  Monfieur  St.  Cafteen^ 
but  the  other  Man  was  barbaroully  Butchered. 
Soon  after  this  the  Enemy  went  Eaftward,  unto 
a  Place  calfd,  Merry-Meeting,  (from  the  Con- 
courfe  of  divers   Rivers  there)  where  feveral 
Englilh  had  a  Sad-Meeting  with  them;  for  they 
were  killed  feveral  of  them  even  in  cold  Blood, 
after  the  Indians  had  feized  upon  their  Houfes  and 
their  Perfons.     And  about  this  time  the  Town 
calfd,  Shcepjcote,  was  entred  by  thefe  Rapacious 
Wolves,  who  burnt  all  the  Houfes  of  the  Town, 
fave  Two  or  Three.     The  People  faved  them- 
felves  by  getting  into  the  Fort,  all  but  one  Man| 
who  going  out  of  the  Fort  for  to  Treat  with  'em, 
was  Treacherouily  A;yalfinated.   Thus  the  Place 
which  was  counted,  The  Garden  of  the  Eafi,  was 
infefted  by  Serpents ;  and  a  Sword  Expell'd  the 
poor  Inhabitants.     Liule  more  Spoil  was  done 
by  the  Salvages  before  Winter,  except  only,  that 
at  a  place  called  Kennebunk,  near  Winter-Har- 
bour, they   cut  off  Two  Families,  to  wit,  Bar- 
row%  and  Buffie's  ;  but  Winter  coming  on,  the 
Serpents  retired  into  their  Holes.     When  Sum- 
mer comes,  Reader,  look  for  Tornadoes  enough 
to  overfet    a   greater  VefTel    than  little  New- 
England. 

ARTICLE    III. 

The  Firft  Expedition  of  the  Englilh  againfi 
the  Indians. 

WHEN  the  Keeper  of  the  Wild  Bsafts  at 
Florence  has  entertain'd  the  Spectators 
with  their  Encounrerson  the  Stage,  he  has  this 
Device  to  make  'em  Retire  into  the  feveral  Dens 
of  their  Seraglio.  He  has  a  fearful  Machin  of 
Wood  made  like  a  great  Green  Dragon,  which  a 
Man  within  it  rouls  upon  Wheels,  and  holding 
out  a  Couple  of  Lighted  Torches  at  the  Eyes  of 
it,  frights  thefierceft  Beaft  of  them  all  into  the 
Cell  that  belongs  unto  him.  Sir  Edmond  Andros, 
the  Governour  of  New- England,  that  he  might 
Exprefs  his  Refolutions  to  force  the  Wild 
Beafts  of  the  Eaft  into  Otder,  in  the  Winter 
now  coming  on,  turned  upon  them  as  Effectual 
a  Machin  as  the  Green  Dragon  of  Florence  j 
that  is  to  fay,  an  Army  of  near  a  Thoufand  Men. 
With  this  Army  he  marched  himfelfin  Perfon 
into  the  Caucafaan  Regions,  where  he  built  a 
Fort  at  Pcmmaquid,  and  another  Fort  at  Pe- 
chypfcot  Falls,  befides  the  Fort  at  Sheepfcote. 
He  and  his  Army  underwent  no  little  Hardfhip, 
thus  in  the  depth  of  Winter  to  Expofe  them- 
felves  unto  the  Circumftances  of  a  Campaign,  in 
all  the  Bleak  Winds  and  Thick  Snows  of  that 
|  Northern    Country.     But  it  was  hop'd,  that 

Good 


64 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana :  Book  VII. 


Good  Forts  being  thus  Garrifon'd  with  Stout 
Hearts  infeveral  Convenient  Places,  the  Indians 
might  be  kept  from  their  ufual  Retreats,  both 
for  Planting,  and  for  Pifhing,  and  lye  open  alio 
to  perpetual  Incurfions  from  the  Englilh  in  the 
fitteft  Seafons  thereof:  And  it  was  thought 
by  the  moft  fenfible,  this  Method  would  in  a 
little  while  compel  the  Enemy  to  fubmit  unto 
any  Terms :  Albeit  others  considering  the  Vaft 
Woods  of  the  Wildernefs,  and  the  French 
on  the  back  of  thefe  Woods,  fancied  that 
this  was  but  a  projecf  to  Hedge  in  the 
Cuckow.  However,  partly  the  Army,  and  part- 
ly the  Winter,  frighted  the  Salvages  into  their 
Inacceffible  Dens  :  And  yet  not  One  of  the  In- 
dians was  killed ;  but  Sicknefs  and  Service  kilfd, 
it  may  be,  more  of  our  Englifh,  than  there  were 
Indians  then  in  Hottility  againft  them.  The 
News  of  Matters  approaching  towards  a  RF  VO- 
LUTION in  England,  cauied  the  Governor  to 
return  unto  Bolion  in  the  Spring  ;  and  upon  his 
return  there  fell  out  feveral  odd  Events,  with  Ru- 
mours^ whereof  I  have  now  nothing  to  fay,  but 
that  J  love  my  Eyes  too  well  to  mention  them. 
Some  of  the  Soldiers  took  Advantage  from  the 
Abfence  of  the  Governor  to  defert  iheir  Stations 
in  the  Army ;  and  tho'  this  Acf  ion  was  by  good 
Men  generally  Condemned  as  an  evil  All  ion, 
yet  their  Friends  began  to  gather  together  here 
and  there  in  little  Bodies,  to  protect  them  from 
the  Governor,  concerning  whom  abundance  of 
odd  Stories  then  buzz'd  about  the  Country, made 
'em  to  Imagine,  that  he  had  carried  'em  out  only 
to  Sacrifice  'em.  Some  of  the  principal  Gentle- 
men in  Boflon  confulting  what  was  to  be  done 
in  this  Extraordinary  Jun&ure,  they  Agreed, 
that  altho'  New-England  had  as  much  to  Jufti- 
fie  a  Revolution  as  Old,  yet  they  would,  if  it 
were  polfible,  extinguifh  all  EiTays  in  the  Peo- 
ple towards  an  InfurreUion,  in  daily  hopes  of 
Orders  from  England  for  our  Safety  :  But  that  if 
the  Country  People,  by  any  unreftrainable  Vio- 
lences puflied  the  Bufinefs  on  fo  far,  as  to  make 
a  Revolution  unavoidable,  then  to  prevent  the 
Shedding  of  Blood  by  an  ungoverned  Mobile, 
fome  of  the  Gentlemen  prefent  lhould  appear 
at  the  Head  of  it,  with  a  Declaration  according- 
ly prepared.  He  that  Reads  the  Narrative  oj 
Grievances  under  the  Male-Adminiftrations  of 
the  Government  then  Tyrannizing,  Written  and 
Signed  by  the  Chief  Gentlemen  of  the  Gover- 
nor's Council^  will  not  wonder  at  it,  that  a  Revo- 
lution was  now  rendred  indeed  unavoidable.  It 
was  a  Government,  whereof  Ned  Randolph,  a 
Bird  of  cheir  own  Feather,  confefs'd  as  we  find 
in  one  of  his  publifhed  Letters,  That  they  were 
as  Arbitrary  as  the  Great  Turk.  And  for  fuch 
a  Government  a  better  Similitude  cannot  per- 
haps be  thou  ;ht  on  than  that  of  Monfieur  Sou- 
ligne ,  'Tis  like  the  Condition  of  Perfons  pojfefjed 
lo'uh  evil  Spirits,  which  .ill  go  an  Hunared 
Leagues  in  lefs  time  than  others  can  Ten  •,  but  at 
the  Joiirnys  End  find  themf elves  to  be  Jo  Bru.ifed 
that  they  never  can  Recover  it.  The  Revoluti- 
on (and,  ye  Tories,  a  Juft  one)  was  according- 
ly made  on  the  Eighteenth  of  April,   which 


Their  Majefties,  then  happily  Seated  on  the  Bri- 
ti(h  Throne,  kindly  Accepted  and  Approved. 
The  Governor  arid  Magijirates  of  the  Mafjachu- 
Jets-  Colony,  which  were  in  power  Three  Tears 
and  Half 'before,  [a  Period  often  obfervedlj  did 
fome  time  after  this  refume  their  Places,  and 
apply  themielves  to  fuch  AUs  of  Government, 
as  Emergencies  made  neceiTary  for  them,  forti- 
fied with  a  Letter  from  the  King  to  Authorize 
and  Empower  them  in  their  Adminiftrations. 
Thus  they  waited  for  further  Directions  from 
the  Authority  of  England,  and  fuch  a  Settle- 
ment as  would  moft  Conduce  (which  were  the 
words  of  the  King's  Letter,  bearing  Date  Aug. 
12.  16 89 ■)  to  the  Security  and  SatisfaUion  of 
the  Subjetis  in  that  Colony. 

ARTICLE    IV. 

A  Flame  Spreading ///wz  the  'be ft  Endeavours  to 
£>iiench  it. 

IT  was  hop'd  the  War  would  now  come  to  an 
immediate  End  ;  but  the  Great  God  who 
Creates  that  Evil,  had  further  Intentions  to 
Chaftife  a  finjul  People  by  thofe  who  are  not  a 
People.  The  Government  fent  Captain  Green- 
leaf  to  Treat  with  the  Indians  at  Penacook,  who 
anfwered  him  with  fair  Pretences  and  Promifes 
of  Amity.  They  procured  an  Interview  with 
fome  of  the  more  Eaftern  Sagamores,  who  not 
only  promiled  Priendftip  themfelves,  but  alio 
undertook  to  make  our  Enemies  become  our 
Friends.  They  fent  unto  the  Soldiers  yet  re- 
maining at  Pammaauid  for  to  keep  their  Pofi, 
Engaging  to  them  that  they  fhould  not  want 
theit  Pay.  But  all  this  Care  was  defeated  by 
Methods  of  Mi/chiefs  too  deep  for  our  prefent 
Penetration.  The  Salvages  began  to  renew  their 
Hoftilities  at  Saco  Falls,  in  the  Beginning  of 
April,  on  a  Lord's  Day  Morning,  fome  while 
before  the  Revolution.  The  Penacook  Indians 
were  all  this  while  peaceably  Converfant  at 
£>uochecho ;  and  fo  long  as  that  Converfation 
ccntinutd,  the  Inhabitants  were  very  fecure  of 
any  Danger,  not  only  from  thofe  Cut-Throats^ 
but  alio  from  their  Brethren.  Happy  had  it  been 
for  thofe  honeft  People,  if  their  Pear  had  made 
fo  much  Hafte  as  my  Pen  has  done,  to  call  'em 
Cut-Throats  !  For  the  Penacookian  joining  with 
the  Saconian  Indians,  hovered  about  ^jiochecho, 
where  one  Mefandowit,  a  Sagamore,  being  that 
Night  kindly  Entertained  by  Major  Richard 
Waideinfioxnhly  betray'd  his  kind  Hoft,  with  the 
Neighbours,  into  the  Hands  of  Murderers.  A- 
bove  an  Hundred,  fome  fay  Five  Hundred  of 
the  Indians,  about  break  of  Day  having  Sur- 
prized the  Secure  and  Silent  Englifh,  they  par- 
ticularly rufhed  into  the  Garrifon  of  the  Gene- 
rous Major,  which  was  by  Sinon  Mefandowit 
(for  beftowing  a  Heathen  Name  upon  him,  we'll 
now  call  him  fo)  opened  for  them,  and  having 
firft  Barbaroufly  Murthered  the  Old  Gentleman, 
who  was  Equivalent  unto  Two  and 'Twenty,  they 
then  Murdered  Two  and  Twenty  mere,  and 
Captived  Nine  and  Twenty  of  the  People ;  Burnt 

Four 


Book   Vll.  Or,  The  Riftory  of  New-England. 


65 


Four  or  Five  of  the  beft   Houfes,    took   much 
Plunder,  and  fo drew  off;  but  kilfd  Mr,  John 
Broughton  in  their  drawing  off:  While  Mr.  John 
Emmirfon,  a  worthy  Preacher  at  Berwick    by 
declining  to  Lodge  at  the  Hoipitable  Major's  that 
Night,    when  ftrongly  Invited,    received   a  re- 
markable Deliverance.      Hereupon  Forces  were 
difpjrch'd   tor  the  Relief  of  what  remained  in 
Quochecho  ;  Captain  Noyes  alfowith  more  For- 
ces vifired  Penacook,    where  though  the  Men 
efcaped  him,  he  deftroy'd  the  Corn  of  our  New 
Enemies:  But  the  fculking  Enemies  at  the  fame 
time  Hew  feveral  Perlons  at  an  Out-Farm  on 
the  North-lide  of  Merrimack-Kvist.     A  Party 
of  Men  were  foon  after  lent  out  of  Pijcataqua, 
under  the  Command  of  Captain  Wincal,    who 
went  up   to  WinnopiJJeag  Ponds,   (upon  Advice 
of  one  John  Churchy  who  ran  from  them,  that 
the  Indians  were  there)   where  they  kill'd  One 
or  Two  of  the  Monflers  they  Hunted  for,  and 
cut  down  their  Corn.     Four  young  Men  of  Saco, 
defirous  to  join  with  them,  went  into  the  Woods 
to  JeeA  their  Horfes,    and  found  their  Deaths 
by  an  Ambtilh  or  Indians.    Twenty-four  Armed 
Men    going  forth  from  Saco-Yalls  to  bury   the 
Slain    h  id  a  brisk  Encounter  with  the  Indians. 
whom  they  pnrliied  into  a  Vaft  Swamp,  until  a 
greater    Number  of  Indians   pouring  in  upon 
them,  obliged  'em.  with  the  lols  of  about  Five  or 
Six  more,   to  retire  from  any  further  Action. 
But  before  the  Dog-Day  r  were  out,   there  was 
more  Bleeding  ftill  that  prov'd  fatal  to  us.     On 
Aug.  2.  one  Starky  going  early  in  the  Morning 
from  the  Fort  at  Pemmaqitid unto  New  Harbour, 
fell  into  the  Hands  of  the  Indians,  who  to  obtain 
his  own   Libetty  informed  them,   that  the  Fott 
had  at  in  it  Itittant  but  few  Men  in  it :    And  that 
one  Mr,  Giles,  with  Fourteen  Men,  was  gone  up 
to  his  Farm,  and  the  reft  Scattered  abroad  about 
their  Occafions.     The  Indians  hereupon  divided 
their  Army  ;  Part  going  up  to  the  Falls,  kill'd 
Mr.  Giles  and  others  ;  P<i>/,  upon  the  Advantage 
of  the  Tide     Inapt  the  -reft   before  they  could 
recover  the  Fort.    From  a  Rock  near  the  Fort, 
which   inconveniently  overlook 'd  it,    the  Affai- 
lanrs  now  overlooked  it,    as  over  Lincoln,    and 
gricvouily  gauled  the  Defendants.    Capt.  Weems 
had  but  few  with  him  that  were  able  to  Fight; 
and  his  own  Face  was   in  the  Fight  by  an  Acci- 
dent   horribly     Scorched    with     Gunpowder. 
Wherefore  the  Day  following  they  furrendreu  the 
Fort  upon  Capitulations  for  Life  and  Liberty  ; 
which    yet  the  Indians   broke,  by    Butchering 
and  Captiving  many  of  them.     Capt.  Skynncr, 
and  Capt.  Pa/v?/;^  ;,repairing  to  the  Fort,  from  an 
Ifland  about  haP.  a  Mile  diftant  from  it,  were 
both  flain  as  tfj.ey  Landed  on  the  Rocks  ■,  and 
Mr.  Pdtijhal.zs  'ne  lay  with  his  Sloop  in  the  Bar- 
bican, was  all?  j  taken  and  flain.    This,  together 
with  more  Spoil  done  by  the  Indians  on  the  Eng- 
lilh  at    Sbeef'fcote,  and   Kennebeck,  and  othet 
Places  Ealtward.  caufed  the  Inhabitants  to  draw 
off  unto'  fa  hnouth  as  fall  as  they  could  :    And 
•well  if  they  could  have  made  good  their  Stand- 
ing there  J. 


M  A  N  T  I  S  S  A. 

1 

THE  foregoing  Article  of  our  Tragedies 
hath  related  the  taking  of  §>itochecbo  '  The 
Condition  of  Two  Perfons  under  and  after  the 
Fate  of  Quochecbo,  may  have  in  it  an  Entertain- 
ment acceptable  for  fbme  fort  of  Readers.  It 
(haHbe  in  this  place  reported,  from  the  Com- 
munications of  Mr.  John  Pi/ce.thz  worthy  Mini- 
fter  of  Dover,  to  whom  I  have  been  beholden, 
for  Communicating  to  me  many  other  Paffages 
alfb  which  occurr  in  this  our  Hiftory. 

I.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Heard,  a  Widow  of  a  good 
Eftate,    a  Mother  of  many   Children,    and  a 
Daughter  of  Mr.  Hull,  a  Reverend  Minifter  for- 
merly Living  at  Pijcataqua,  now  lived  at  Quocbe- 
/'' ;     happening  to  be  at  Port/mouth  on  the  Day 
before  Quochecbo  was  cut  off,  (he  returned  thi- 
ther in  the  Night  with  One  Daughter  and  Three 
Sons,  all  Mailers  of  Families.     When  they  came 
near  ^jiocbecho  they  werealtonilhed  with  a  pro- 
digious Noife  of  Indians,    Howling,  Shooting, 
Shouting,  and  Roaring,  according  to  their  man- 
ner in  making  an  AlTault.    Their  Diftrefs  for 
their  Families  carried  them  ftill  further  up  the 
River,    till  they  fecretly  and  filently  pafTed  by 
fome  Numbers  of  the  Raging  Salvages.     They 
Landed   about  an  Hundred  Rods  from   Major 
Waldem's  Garrilbn ;   and  running  up  the  Hill, 
they  faw  many  Lights  in  the  Windows  of  the 
Garrifon,   which  they    concluded    the    Englijh 
within  had  let  up  for  the  Direction  of  thole 
who  might  leek  a  Refuge  there.     Coming  to 
the  Gate,  they  defired  Entrance  •,  which  not  be- 
ing readily  granted,    they  called  eatneftly,  and 
bounced,  and  knocked,   and  cried  out  of  their 
unkindnefs  within,  that  they  would  not  open  to 
them  in  this  Extremity.     No  Anfwer  being  yet 
made,    they  began  to  doubt  whether  all  was 
well ;  and  one  of  the  young  Men  then  climbing 
up  the  Wall,  faw  a  horrible  Tawny  in  the  En- 
try, with  a  Gun  in  his  Hand.     A  grievous  Con- 
firmation feiz'd  now   upon  them;    and  Mrs. 
Heard,  fitting  down  without  the  Gate  through 
Defpair  and  Faintnefs,    unable   to  ftir  any  fur- 
ther, charged  her  Children  to  fhift  for  themlelves^ 
for  fhe  muft  unavoidably  there  End  her  Days. 
They  finding  it  impolfible  to  carry  her  with 
them,  with  heavy  Hearts  forfbok  her  ;  but  then 
coming  better  to  her  illf,   fhe  lied  and  hid  a- 
mong  the  Barberry-Bufbes  in  the  Garden:  And 
then  haftning  from  thence,   becaufe   the  Day- 
light advanced,  fhe  fheltered  her  felf  (though 
feen  by  Two  of  the  Indians)  in  a  Thicket    of 
other    Bulhes,    about    Thirty   Rods  from   the 
Houfe.    Here  fhe  had  not  been  long  before  an 
Indian  came  towards  her,   with  a  Piftol  in  his 
Hand  :  The  Fellow  came  up  to  her,  and  flared 
her  in  the  Face,  but  fa  id  nothing  to  her,  nor  fhe 
to  him.     He  went  a  little  way  back,   and  came 
again,  and  flared  upon  her  as  before   but  laid 
nothing ;   whereupon  fhe  asked  him,  UHiat  be 
would  have  ?   He  ftill  laid  nothing,   but  went 
Iiiiiii  away 


66 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana :  Book  VII0 


away  to  the  Houfe  Co-hooping,  and  returned 
unto  her  no  more.    Being  thus  unaccountably 
preferved,  (he  made  feveral  Effays  to  pafs  the 
River;  but  found  her  felf  unable  to  do  it;  and 
finding  all  Places  on  that  fide  the  River  filfd 
with  Blood,  and  Fire,   and  Hideous  Outcries, 
thereupon  the  returned  to  her  old  Bujh,    and 
there  poured  out  her  ardent  Prayers  to  God  for 
help  in  this  Diftrefs.    She  continued  in  the  Bujh 
until  the  Garrifon  was  Burnt,  and  the  Enemy 
was  gone-,  and  then  (he  ftole  along  by  the  Ri- 
ver fide,  until  (he  came  to  a  Boom,  where  (he 
palfed  over.     Many  fad  Effecfs  of  Cruelty  (he 
faw  left  by  the  Indians  in  her  way  ;  until  ar- 
riving at  Captain  Gerrifh\  Garrifon,  (he  there 
found  a  Refuge  from  the  Storm  ;  and  here  (he 
foon  had  the  Satisfa&ion  to  underftand,   that 
her  own  Garrifon,  though  one  of  the  firft  that 
was  alfaulted,  had  been  bravely  Defended  and 
Maintained  againft  the  Adverfary.     This  Gen- 
tlewoman's Garrifon  was  the   moft  Extream 
Frontier  of  the  Province,  and  more  Obnoxious 
than  any  other,  and  more  uncapable  of  Relief; 
neverthelefs,  by  her  Prefence  and  Courage  it  held 
out  all  the  War,  even  for  Ten  Tears  together ; 
and  the  Perfons  in  it  have  enjoy'd  very  Eminent 
Prefervations.    The  Garrifon  had  been  deferted, 
VEjhe  had  accepted  Offers  that  were  made  her 
by   her  Friends,   of  Living  in  more  fafety  at 
Fort/mouth  ■,  wnich  would  have  been  a  Damage 
to  the  Town  and  Land  :  But  by  her  Encourage- 
ment this  Pod  was  thus  kept ;  and  (he  is  yet 
Living  in  much  Efteem  among  her  Neighbours. 


II.   Mrs.  Sarah  Gerifh,  Daughter  to  Captain 
John  Gerifboi §luochecho£.  very  Beautiful  and  In- 
genious Damfel,  about  Seven  Yerrs  of  Age,  lodg'd 
at  the  Garrifon  of  her  affectionate  Grandfather, 
Major   Waldern.  when  the  Indians  brought  an 
horrible  Deftruclion  upon  it.    She  was  always 
very  fearful  of  the  Indians  -,  but  what  Fear  may 
we  think  now  Surprifed  her,  when  they  fiercely 
bid  her  go  into  fuch  a  Chamber  and  call  the 
People  out  ?  Finding  only  a  little  Child  in  the 
Chamber,  (he  got  into  the  Bed  unto  the  Child, 
and  hid  her  felf  in  the  Cloaths  as  well  as  (he 
could.  The  Fell-Salvages  quickly  pulfd  her  out, 
and  made  her  Drefs  for  a  March,  but  led  her  a- 
way  with  no  more  than  one  Stockin  upon  her, 
a  terrible  March  through  the  thick  Woods,  and 
a  Thoufand  other  Miferies,  till  they  came  to  the 
Norway-Plains.    From  thence  they  made  her  go 
to  the  end  oi'WinnopijTeag  Lake,  and  from  thence 
to  the  Eaftward,  through  horrid  Swamps,  where 
ibmetimes  they  muft  Scramble  over  huge  Trees 
(fallen  by  Storm  or  Age  for  a  vail  way  together, 
and  fometimes  they  muft  Climb  up  Long,  Steep. 
Tirelbme,  and  almoft  Inacceffible  Mountains. 
Her  Firft  Mafter  was  one  Sebundowit,   a  dull 
fbrt  of  Fellow,  and  not  fuch  a  Devil  as  many  of 
'em  were  ■,  but  he  fold  her  to  a  Fellow  that  was 
a  more  harfh  and  mad  fort  of  a  Dragon,  and  he 
carried  her  away  toCanada. 
A  long  and  a  fad  Journey  (he  had  of  it,  thro' 


a  dreadful  Winter  :  And  who  can  enumerate  the 
Frights  that  (he  endured  before  the  end  of  her 
Journey  i  Once  her  Mafter  commanded  her  to 
loofen  feme  of  her  upper-garments,   and  ftand 
againft  a  Tree   while  he  charged    his  Gun  -, 
whereas  the  poor  Child  (hrieked  out,  He^s  going 
to  kill  me  !  God  knows  what  he  was  going  to 
do  ;  but  the  Villain  having  charged  his  Gun,  he 
call'd  her  from  the  Tree,  and  forbore  doing  her 
any  Damage.    Another  time  her  Mafter  order- 
ed her  to  run  along  the  Shore  with  fome  Indian 
Girls,    while  he  paddled  up  the  River  in  his; 
Canoo.     As  they  were  upon  a  Precipice,    a 
Tawny  Wench  violently  pufh'd  her  Headlong 
into  the  River:    But  it  fo  fell  out,'  that  in  that 
very  Place  the  Buflies  hung  over  the  Water  -,  fa 
that  getting  hold  of  them  the   recovered  her 
felf.     The  Indians  ask'd  her  how  fhe  became  fo 
wet  ?   But    (he  durlt  not  fay    how,    through 
dread  of  the  young  Indians,   who  were  always, 
very  Abufive  to  her  when  they  had  her  alone. 
Moreover,  once  being  (pent  with   Travelling 
all  Day,   and  lying  down  Spent  and  Wet  at 
Night,   fhe  fell  into  fo  profound  a  Sleep  that 
in  the  Morning  fhe  waked  not.    The  Barbarous 
Indians  left  her  AJleep,  and  covered  with  Snow-. 
but  at  length  waking,  what  Agonies  may  you 
imagine  (he  was  in,  to  find  her  felf  left  a  prey 
for  Bears  and  Wolves,  and  without  any  Sufte- 
nance,  in  an  howling  Wild ernefs  many  Scores  of 
Leagues  from  any  Plantation  ?   She  ran  crying 
after  them  ;   and  Prov  idence  having  ordered  a 
Snow  to  fall,  by  means  whereof  (he  Track'd 
them  until  (he  overtook  thero.     Now  the  young 
Indians  began  toTerrifne  her  with  daily  Intima- 
tions, That  fhe  tvas  qu  ickly  to  be  Roafted  unto 
Death;  and  one  Evenii  lg  much  Fuel  was  prepa- 
red between  Two  Lo§  r,s,  which  they  told  her 
was  for  her.    A  mighi  y  Fire  being  made,  her 
Mafter  call'd  her  to  hin  1,  and  told  her,  that  fhe 
fhould  prefently  be  Bu  rnt  Alive.     At  firft  (he 
flood  Amazed  ;  afterwa  rds  (he  burft  into  Tears ; 
and  then  (he  hung  abot  it  the  Tygre,  and  begg'd 
of  him  with  an  inexprt  ifible  Anguifh,  that  he 
would  fave  her  from  tl  ie  Fire.    Hereupon  the 
Monfter  fo  relented  as  i  "o  tell  her,   That  ifjhe 
would  be  a  good  Girl  fie  ft  'wuldnot  be  Burnt. 


At  laft  they  arrived  at  <  Canada,  and  (he  was 
carried  unto  the  Lord  Inten  dant\  Houfe,  where 
many  Perlbns  of  Quality  took  "  much  notice  of  her. 
It  was  a  Week  after  this  that  (he  remained  in  the 
Indian  Hands  before  the  Pric  £  of  her  Ranfom 
could  be  agreed  on.     But  thei  i  the  Lady  Inten- 
dant  fent  her  ro  the  Nunnery,  wh  efe  fhe  was  com- 
fortably provided  for ;  and  it  w;  is  the  Defign,  as 
was  laid,  for  to  have  brought  hei  '  up  in  the  Ro- 
mifh  Religion,  and  then  have  Mai  "tied  her  unto 
the  Son  of  the  Lord  Intendant.     SI  W  was  kindly 
ufed  there,  until  Sir  William  Fhips    lying  before 
§>uebeck,  did,  upon  exchange  of  Prifi  '"crs,  obtain 
her  Liberty.    After  Sixteen  Months     Captivity 
(he  was  reftored  unto  her  Friends  ,     who  had 
the  Confblation  of  having  this  their     Defirea- 
themidft  of  an  hideous  Dejart,   in  the  midft  of  j  ble  Daughter  again  with  them,    returt  !ed  from 

ths 


Book  VII.  Or,  The  Hiftory  0/ New-England.  67 


the  Dead  ;  but  coming  to  be  Sixteen  Years  Old, 
in  the  Month  of  July  1697.  Death  by  a  malig- 
nant Feavor,  more  Irrecoverably  took  her  from 
them. 

ARTICLE     V. 

New  Forces  raised,  and  A  ew  AUions  done. 

ON  Aug.  2S  1 689.  Major  Swayn^whh  Seven 
or  Eight  Companies  railed  by  the  Mcffachu- 
/<?/-Colony,  marched  Eaftward  :,  3nd  foon  after 
Major  Churchy  with  a  Party  cf  Englifh  and  Chri- 
(iian-lndians,    railed  in  F/ymouth-Co\or\y,   fol- 
"low'd  them.     While  thefe  were  on  their  March, 
the  Indians  that  lay  fculking  after  the  Indian- 
faihion  in  the  thick  Woods,    took  notice  how 
many  Menbdong'd  unto  Lieut.  Huckin's,  Garri- 
lbn :   And  feeing  'em  all  go  out  unto  their  daily 
Work,  nimbly  lan  fo  between  them  and  the  Gar- 
rifon,  as  to  Kill  'em  all   ;about  Eighteen  J  but 
One.who  being  accidentally  gone  ovet  the  River, 
efcaped  them     They  then  Attacqued  theGarri- 
fon,  in  which  there  now  were  only  Two  Boys*, 
(and  one  of  them  LameJ  with  lbme  Women 
and  Children ;  but  theft:  Two  Boys  very  Man- 
fully held 'em  in  play- a  Confiderable  while,  and 
Wounded  lcverai  of"  them,  and  kept  'em  off,  till 
the  Affailants  had  found  a  way  to  fet  the  Houfe 
on  a  light  Fire  over  their  Heads.     They  then 
urging  ;em    to  Surrender  for  the  fake  of  the 
Goods,  the  Boys  \_brave  Boys,  truly  !]    would 
not,  until  they  had  Solemnly  promifed  'em  their 
Lives  :  But  the  perfidious  Wretches  broke  their  j 
Promife,  for  they  prefently  kilFd  Three  or  Four 
of  the  Children:  However,  oneofthefe  Minu- 
tius\  the  Day  after    very  happily  got  out  of 
their  Clutches.     It  was  by  a  particular  Accident 
that  thefe  Indians  were  delivered  from  falling 
into  the  Hands  of  Captain  Garner,  whopurfued 
'em  Vigorously.    Bur  while  the  Forces  now  gone 
into  the  Ealt  were  fettling  of  Garrifons  in  con- 
venient   Places,    a  huge  Body  of  Indians  fell 
upon  Cafco,  where  one   of  their  tuft  Exploits 
was  their  killing  of  Captain  Bracket.     Never- 
thelefs,  Captain  Hall,  (a  Valiant  Soldier  in  the 
former  War,  and  a  Valiant  Commander  in  this  ) 
with  his  Vigorous  Lieutenant  Dawes,  juft  then 
Arriving  with  his  Company,  the  Englifh  hotly 
Engaged  them  for  feverjl  Hours ;    and  after  a 
deal  of  true  Englifh  Valour  dilcovered   in  this 
Engagement,  and  the  lofs  of  Ten  or  a  Dozen 
Men,  the  Indians  ran  for  it,  with  What  lofs  on 
their  Part  we  do  not  know :  That  with  Some  we 
Do.    Prefently  after  this.    Major  Sibayh  pafling 
through  hxtteam  Difficulties  to  get  at  it,  gave 
fbme  Relief  to  a"  Garrilbn  at  Blue  Pointy  which 
was  bsfet  by  the  Indians ■,    wrho  ft  ill  Fled  into 
their    Inaccelfible    Sicawps    when  our    Bullets 
began  to  be  hail'd  upon  them.      It  was  judg'd, 
That  here  One  or  Two  Opportunities  of  bringing 
the  War  unto  an  End  were  ftrangely  milt  and 
loft :  But  where  the  Mi/management  lay  J  cannot 
Remember;  nor  what  were  the  Faux  Pas  of  the 
Aetors.     Our  Hone  ft  Major  will  clear  himfelf, 
who  returning  then  to  his  Head  Quarters  at 


Berwick,  fent  abroad  Scouts  to  learn  if  it  were 
polfible  where  they  might  have  the  beji  Game 
at  the  Chaff e  a  La  Bete  noire,  then  to  be  follow- 
ed. Captain  Wijwel  having  with  him  a  Party  of 
Indian  Auxiliaries,  they  were  fent  out  under  the 
Conduct,  of  Lieutenant  Flag :  But  coming  to 
Winnopiffeag,  thefe  Indians  had  a  Confult  in 
their  own  Language,  and  fending  back  their 
Lieutenant  with  Two  Indians,  Nineteen  of  them 
ffaid  in  that  Country  Eleven  Days,  not  having 
any  Englilh  with  them  :  At  which  the  Major  was 
jufty  and  greatly  Offended.  It  was  then  Suf- 
peUed,  and  afterwards  (by  efcap'd  Captives,) 
Affertcd,  that  thefe  Wretches  .found  the  Enemy, 
and  Lodgd  with  'em  Two  Nights,  and  told 
'em  what  they  knew  of  the  Englifh  Numbers 
and  Motions.  The  Enemy  then  retired  into  the 
howling  Delarts  where  there  was  no  coming  at 
them :  And  no  Endeavours  being  able  to  reach 
them,  the  Army  in  the  Month  of  November 
following  was  Di  (miffed  :  Only  fome  Soldiers 
were  left  in  Garrilbn  at  Wells,  at  York,  at  Ber- 
wick, and  at  Uj>uechecho,  for  the  Affiftence  of 
the  poor  Inhabitants  againft  any  more  Invafions. 
There  has  been  little  Doubt  that  our  Northern 
Indians  are  Originally  Scythians-,  and  it  is  be- 
come lefs  a  Doubt,  fince  it  appears  from  later 
Difcoveries,  that  the  pretended  S  raits  of  Anian 
are  a  Sham  •  for  Afia  and  America  it  feems  are 
there  Contiguous.  Now  of  thefe  our  Scythians 
in  America  we  have  ftill  found  what  Julius 
£.efar  does  report  concerning  them  of  Ajia  • 

Difficilins  Xnvenire  quam  Intcrficerc : 

It  is  harder  to  find  them,  than  to  Foil  them, 

3  Disprison, 

Relating  fome  Wonderful  Judgments  of  God: 

j 

BEfote  we  pafs  to  another  Year,  ftand  Still, 
Reader,  and  Behold  fome  Wonderful  In- 
vents proper  her*  to  be.  Introduced.  The 
Relarion  thereof  (hall  be  given  as  I  have  Re: 
ccived  it. 

Portfmohih,  Feb.  27.  169-. 

Onlieur  Vincelcrte  ofSliiebeck  arrived  here 
'  rhe  25  th  of  the  laft  Month,  and  fince 
E  Embarked  for  France  by  way  of  Bi'boa,  as  A- 
'  gent  to  Reprefent  the  Affairs  of  Canada. 

'  He  fays,  That  about  Nine  or  Ten  Years  fince, 
'the  Earl  ofFrontenac,  Governor  of  that  Place> 
'who  died  laft  November)  did  perfbnally  At- 
'  tempt  to  fubdue  the  MaquaX  &c.  having  no 
1  lefs  than  Fifteen  Hundred  Soldiers  in  his  Army. 

'  After  a  few  Days  March  they  ( being 
'  much  Wearied  and  very  Thirfty)  came  unto  a 
'  certain  fmall  Well,  of  which  they  drank  very 
'  plentifully.  Bur  in  a  few  Hours  after  fundry 
'  complained  of  much  lilncfs,  and  according  to 
5  theit  various  Conftitutions  fell  Sick  (as  it  feem'd) 
'of  different  Diftempcrs;  which  occafioned  fo 
'  great  DHbrder  and  Confuiion  in  the  Army, 
I  i  i  i  i  i  i  i  iktt. 


68 


Magnalia  Cbrifii  Americana  :  Book  VII. 


I 

* 


'  thar  no  lefs  than  Four  well  Men,  for  a  while, 
'were  engaged  in  taking  Care  of  every  one  that 
'  was  Sick.  About  Three  Days  after,  the  Maqua 
'Scout  narrowly  obferving  the  Motions  of  the 
'  French,  rallied  together  as  many  as  poffible, 
'to  give  a  Check  unto  their  Undertaking  ; 
c  which  they  foon  accomplilhed  with  very  con- 
'  fiderable  Advantage.  But  the  French  appearing 
'fo  Numerous,  forced  them  to  Retreat,  and  in 
c  purfuit  of  them,  took  and  ranfackt  a  Small 
'  Town. 

'  The  Skknefs  by  this  time  increafed  unto  fo 
c  great  an  Height,  as  to  occafion  a  Council  of 
'  War.  which  ordered  their  fpeedy  Return ;  and 
1  in  a  thort  time  no  lefs  than  Eight  Hundred Per- 
'  fons  Died  out  of  the  Army. 

'Now  about  Three  Tears  ago  a  certain  Sol- 
'dier,   who  belong'd  at  that  time  to  rhe  Army, 

*  went  into  France.  In  a  fhort  time  after  his 
'  Arrival,  he  Robbed  one  of  the  Churches  of  a 
'  confiderable  value  oi  Plate ;  but  being  foon 
'  difcovered,  he  was  Sentenced  to  be  Burnt :  He 
'  then  fent  unto  fundry  Father  Confejfors,  unto 
'  whom  he  acknowledged  his  many Sins.  \  parti- 
'  Ciilarly  the  Fait  for  which  he  was  Condemn- 
ed. But  he  therewithal  faid,  That  he  had  fome- 
£  thing  elfe  of"  more  confiderable  moment  to 
£  'mprrt,  which  did  much  afflict  his  Continence^ 

*  namely,  an  Aftion  of  his  about  Seven  Years 
'  before  committed,  when  Lifted  under  the 
'  Conduft  of  the  Earl  oi  Frontenac,  in  an  Enter- 
£  prize  againft  the  Scnnakersand  Maqua 's  ;  (for 
'  laid  he)  I  was  the  only  Per/on  at  that  time  In- 
'  ftrumental  to  the  Death  of  near  Eight  Hundred 

*  Souls.  Having  Received  Jome  Affront  from 
l/ome  of  the  Officers,  I  too*  prompted  to  Jeek 
lfome  fpeedy  Revenge,  which  my  own  corrupt 
'  Nature,  with  the  Inftigation  of  Satan,  did  in- 
'  (iantlv  accompli fh ;  for  being  plentifully  Jiored 
'  with  Jome  Rank  Poifon  upon  another  Account, 
'  I  threw  it  all  into  a  Well,  of  which  the  Thirjiy 
c  Army  drank  freely^  and  in  the  Event  it  proved 
<•  fo  fatal  unto  them. 

'For  the  further  Confirmation  of  this  Report, 
c  Monfieur  Vincelotte  at  the  lame  time  told  me. 
'  That  he  was  himfelf  Wounded  in  the  Engage- 
c  ment,  and  fhould  continue  Lame  to  his  Dy- 
'  ing  Day. 

Reverend  Sir,  Tour  moft  Humble  Servant ', 

S.  Penhallow. 


ARTICLE    VI. 

•  New  Affaults  from  the  Indians,  with  fame  Re- 
maikables  of  Captives jaken  in  thofe  Af- 
faulis. 

TH  E  Sun  and  the  War  be  again  Returning  ! 
The  Year  1690.  mult  begin  very  !nau- 
ipicioully.  In  Febuary,  the  French  with  Indi- 
ans made  a  Defcent  from  Canada,  upon  a  Dutch 
Town  called  Schenetfada,  Twenty  Miles  above 
Albany >,  under  the  Government  of  New-Tor  k  ■,  and 


in  that  furprifing  Incurfion,  they  killed  about 
Sixty  Perfons,  whereof  one  was  their  Minifter, 
and  carried  about  Half  as  many  into  Captivity  •, 
but  the  People  there,  affifted  by  the  Maqua  s, 
purfued  them,  and  recovered  fome  of'their 
Captives  from  them.  Upon  the  Advice  of  this 
Milchief  in  the  Weft,  order  was  difpatch'd  unto 
Major  Froft  in  the  Eaft,  that  the  Towns  there 
fhould  ftand  upon  their  Guard.  The  Major  did 
bis  Duty ;  but  they  did  not  theirs :  They 
Dreamt  that  while  the  Deep  Snow  of  the  Win- 
ter continued,  they  were  fate  enough  ;  but  this 
prov'd  as  Vain  as  a  Dream  of  a  Dry  Summer. 
On  March  18.  the  French  with  Indians,  being 
half  one,  half  t  other,  half  Indianized  French, 
and  half  Frenchified  Indians,  Commanded  by 
Monfieur  Arte/and  Hoop-Hood fd\  fuddenly  upon 
Salmon  Falls,  deftroying  the  belt  part  of  the 
Town  with  Fire  and  Sword.  Near  Thirty  Per- 
fons were  Sliin,  and  more  than  Fifty  were  led 
into  what  the  Reader  will  by  and  by  call  The 
worfi  Captivity  in  t  he  World.  It  would  be  a  Long 
Story  to  tell,  what  a  particular  fhare  in  this  Ca- 
lamity fell  to  the  Family  of  One  Clement  Short : 
This  HoneftMan,  with  his  Pious  Wife,  and 
Three  Children,  were  kill'd;  and  Six  or  Seven 
of  their  Children  were  made  Prifoners:  The 
mod  of  which  arrived  fafe  to  Canada,  through 
a  Thoufand  Hardfhips;  and  the  moft  of  thefe 
were  with  more  than  a  Thoufand  Mercies  after- 
wards Redeemed  from  Canada,  unto  their  Eng- 
lifh  Friends  again.  But  my  Readers  will  befo 
Reafbnable  as  to  .  xcufe  me,  if  I  do  not  menti- 
on the  Fate  of  every  Family  that  hath  fufiered 
a  fhare  in  the  Calamity  of  this  grievous  War  ; 
for  'tis  impoffible  that  I  fhould  Know  All  that 
hath  happened;  and  it  would  be  improper  for 
me  to  Write  All  that  I  know  :  And  very  little 
is  the  Advantage  of  having  a  Name  ftanding 
upon  Record  only  among  unhappy  Sufferers. 
About  Sevenlcore  Engltfh  went  out  after  'em, 
and  came  up  with  'em  :  Neverthelefs,  through 
the  Difadvantages  of  their  Feet  by  the  Snowdhcy 
could  make  no  Hand  on  it.  Four  or  Five  of 
ours  were  kill'd,  and  as  many  of  the  Enemy  ; 
but  the  Night  put  an  End  unto  the  A&ion.  Ours 
took  One  Prifoner,  a  Frenchman,  who  Confefied, 
that  they  came  from  Canada,'  where  both  French 
and  Indians  were  in  Pay  at  Ten  Livers  per 
Month,  and  he  particularly  Declared  the  State 
oi  Canada.  This  Prifoner  met  with  fuch  kind 
ufage  from  us,  that  he  became  a  Freeman  of 
Chrift,  and  Embraced  and  Profefled  the  Frote- 
ftant  Religion.  But  of  the  Prifoners  which  the 
Enemy  took  from  us,  there  were  Two  which 
immediately  met  with  a  very  Different  Fate. 
Three  Indians  hotly  purfued  ona  Thomas  Toogood, 
and  One  of "them  overtaking  him.  while  the  reft 
perceiving  it,  ftaid  behind  the  Hill,  he  yielded 
himfelf  a  Prifoner.  W  hile  the  Salvage  was  get- 
ting Strings  to  bind  him,  he  held  his  Gun  under 
his  Arm ;  which  Toogood  obferving,  fuddenly 
pluckt  it  from  his  Friend  Stark  Naughty 
Threatning  and  Protefting  that  he  would  Shoot 
him  down  if  he  made  any  Noiic  •  and  1o  a- 
way  he  ran  with  it  unto  §>uechecbo.  'if  my  Rea- 
der 


Book  VII.  Or,  The  Hiflory  of  New-England.  6q 


der  be  inclined  now  to  fmile,  when  he  thinks 
how  fimpLy  poor  Ifgrim  look'd,  returning  to  his 
Mates  behind  the  Hill,  without  either  Gun  or 
Prey,  or  any  thing  but  Strings,  to  remember 
him  of  his  own  Dcjcrts,  the  Smiles  will  all 
be  prcfently  turn'd  into  Tears.  The  Indians  had 
now  made  a  Prifoner  of  one  Robert  Rogers,  and 
being  on  their  Journey  they  came  to  an  Hill, 
where  this  Man,  being  through  his  Corpulency, 
(for  which  he  was  ufually  Nicknamed,  Robin 
Tork)  and  an  Infupportable  and  Intolerable  Bur- 
den laid  upon  his  Back,  not  fo  able  to  Travel 
as  the  reft,  he  Abfconded.  The  Wretches  mif- 
fing him,  immediately  went  in  purfuit  of 
him  ;  and  it  was  not  long  before  they  found 
his  Burden  caft  in  the  way,  and  the  Track  of  his 
going  out  of  the  way,  which  they  followed, 
until  they  found  him  hidden  in  a  Hallow  Tree. 
They  took  him  out,  they  ftript  him,  they  beat 
him,  and  prick'd  him,  and  pufh'd  him  forward 
with  their  Swords,  until  they  were  got  back  to 
the  Hill  ;  and  it  being  almoft  Night,  they  faft- 
ned  him  to  a  Tree  with  his  Hands  behind 
him,  and  rmde  therfllelves  a  Supper,  Singing, 
Dancing,  Roaring  and  Uttering  many  Signs  of 
Joy,  but  with  Joy  little  enough  to  the  poor 
Creature  who  forefaw  what  all  this  tended 
unto.  They  then  cut  a  parcel  of  Wood,  and 
bringing  it  into  a  plain  place,  they  cut  off 
the  Top  of  a  imall  Red  Oak  Tree,  leaving  the 
Trunk  for  a  Stake,  whereto  they  bound  their  Sa- 
crifice. They  firft  made  a  great  Fire  near  this 
Tree  of  Death,  and  bringing  him  unto  it,  they 
bid  him  take  his  leave  of  his  Friends,  which 
he  did  in  a  doleful  manner ;  no  Pen,  though 
made  of  an  Harpy's  Qu\l\,  were  able  to  defcribe 
the  Dolour  of  it !  They  then  allow 'd  him  a  lit- 
tle time  to  make  his  Prayers  unto  Heaven 
which  he  did  with  an  extream  Fervency  and 
Agony  :  Whereupon  they  bound  him  to  the 
Stake,  and  brought  the  reft  of  the  Prifoners  with 
their  Arms  tied  each  to  other,  fo  fetting  them 
round  the  Fire.  This  being  done,  they  went  be- 
hind the  tire,  and  thruft  it  forwards  upon  the 
Man,  with  much  Laughter  and  Shouting  -,  and 
when  the  Fire  had  burnt  fbme  while  upon  him, 
even  till  he  was  near,  ftified,  they  pull'd  it  again 
from  him.  They  Danced  about  him,  and  at  e- 
very  Turn  they  did  with  their  Knives  cut  Col- 
lops  of  his  Flefb  from  his  naked  Limbs,  and 
throw  them  with  his  Blood  into  his  Face.  When 
he  was  dead,  they  fet  his  Body  down  upon  the 
Glowing  Coals,  and  left  him  tied  with  his  Back 
to  the  Stake ;  where  the  Englifh  Army  foon  af- 
ter found  him.  He  was  left  for  Us  to  put  out 
the  Fire  with  our  Tears! 

Reader,  who  fhould  be  the  Father  of  thefe 
Myrmidons  ? 

ARTICLE    VII. 

The  Condition  of  the  Captives  that  from  time 
to  time  fell  into  the  Hands  of  the  Indians  • 
with  fome  very  Remarkable  Accidents. 

WE  have  had  Some  Occafion,  and  fhall 
have  More,  to  mention  Captives  tai- 


ling into  the  Hands  of  the  Indians.  We  will 
here,  without  any  thing  worthy  to  be  call'd 
A  Digrejfion,  a  little  Stand  Still,  and  with 
mournful  Hearts  look  upon  the  Condition  of 
the  Captives  in  thofe  crueK-Iands.  Their  Con- 
dition truly  might  be  expreiVd  in  the  Terms 
of  the  Ancient  Lamentations,  (thus  by  fbme 
Tranfiatedj  Lam.  4.  :>.  The  Daughter  of  my 
People  is  in  the  Hands  of  the  Cruel,  that  are 
like  the  Oftrich  in  the  Wildernefs.  Truly  the 
Dark  places  of  New-England,  where  the  Indi- 
ans had  their  Unapproachable  Kennels,  were 
Habitations  of  Cruelty  ;  and  no  Words  can  fuffi- 
ently  defcribe  the  Cruelty  undergone  by  our 
Captives  in  thofe  Habitations.  The  Cold,  and 
Heat,  and  Hunger,  and  Wcannefs,  and  Mock- 
ings,  and  Scourgings,  and  Injolencies  endured 
by  the  Captives,  would  enough  deferve  the 
Name  of  Cruelty  •  but  there  was  this  alio  ad- 
ded unto  the  reft,  that  they  muft  ever  now 
and  then  have  their  Friends  made  a  Sacrifice  of 
Devils  before  their  Eyes,  but  be  afraid  ofdrop- 
ing  a  Tear  from  thofe  Eyes,  left  it  fhould  up- 
on that  Provocation  be  next  their  own  turn  to  be 
fo  Barbaroufly  Sacrificed.  Indeed,  fbme  few  of 
the  Captives  did  very  happily  efcape  from  their 
Barbarous  OpprefTorsj  by  a  Flight  wifely  ma- 
naged ;  and  many  more  of  them  were  bought 
by  the  French,  who  Treated  them  with  a  Ci- 
vility ever  to  be  acknowledged,  until  Care  was 
taken  to  fetch  'em  home.  Neverthelefs  many 
Scores  of  them  died  among  the  Indians  •  and 
what  ufage  they  had  may  be  gathered  from  the 
following  Relations,  which  I  have  obtained  from 
Credible  Witneifes. 

RELATION    I. 

J  Ames  Key,  Son  to  John  Key  of  guochechc, 
was  a  Child  of  about  Five  Years  of  Age, 
taken  Captive  by  the  Indians  at  Salmon  Falls  5 
and  that  Hellifh  Fellow,  Hope-Hood,  once  a 
Servant  of  a  Chriftian  Mafler  in  Bofton,  was 
become  the  Mafter  of  this  Little  Chriftian. 
This  Child  lamenting  with  Tears  the  want  of 
Parents,  his  Mafter  Threatned  him  with  Death 
if  he  did  not  refrain  his  Tears ;  but  thefe 
Threatnings  could  not  extinguifh  the  Natural 
Afrecf  ions  of  a  Child.  Wherefore  upon  his 
next  Lamentations,  this  Monfter  ftript  him  ftark 
Naked,  and  lafrfd  both  his  Hands  round  a 
Tree,jand  Scourg'd  him  fo,  that  from  the  Crown 
of  his  Head  unto  the  Sole  of  his  Foot  he  was 
all  over  Bloody  and  Swollen  ;  and  when  he  was 
tired  with  laying  on  his  Blows  on  the  Forlorn 
Infant,  he  would  lay  him  on  the  Ground,  wirhr 
Taunts  remembring  him  of  his  Parents.  In 
this  Mifery  the  poor  Creature  lay  horribly-roar- 
ing for  divers  Days  together,  while  his  Mafter, 
gratified  with  the  Mufick,  lay  contriving  of 
new  Torments  wherewith  to  Martyr  him.  Ic 
was  not  long  before  the  Child  had  a  Sore  Eye, 
which  his  Mafter  faid  proceeded  from  his 
Weeping  on  the  forbidden  Accounts :  Whereupon, 
laying  hold  on  the  Head  of  the  Child  with  his 
Left  Hand,  with  the  Thumb  of  his  Right  he 

forced 


7° 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana :  Book  VII. 


I 


Creature  got  on  her  Knees,  and  with  Weep- 
ing, and  Wailing,  and  all  Expreffions  of  Ago- 
ny and  Entreaty,  prevaifd  on  him  to  fpare  her 
Life  a  little,  and  She  did  not  queftion  but  God 
would  enable  her  to  Walk  a  little  fafler.  The 
mercilefs  Tyrant  was  prevailed  withal  to  fpare 
ther  ;  and  when  they  had  gone  about  Six  Miles I  her  this  time;  nevertheless  her  former  Weak- 
of  the  Thirty,  the  Child  being  Tifd  and  F.iinr. '  nefs  quickly  returning  upon' her,  he  was  juft  go- 
fat  him  down  to  reft,  at  which  this  Horrid !  ing  to  Murder  her ;  but  a  Couple  of,  Indians 
Fellow  being  provoked,  he  Buried  the  Blade  of!  jutt  at  that  Ioftant  coming  in,  fuddenly  call'd 


forced  the  Ball  of  his  Eye  quite  out,  there- 
withal telling  him,  That  when  he  heard  him  Cry 
again  he  would  ferve  t 'other  fo  too,  and  leave 
him  never  an  Eye  t^wttep  withal.  About  Nine 
or  Ten  Days  after  rnis  Wretch  had  Occafion  to 
remove  with  his  Family  about  Thirty  Miles  fur 


his  Hatchet  in  the  Brains  of  the  Child,  and  then 
chopp'd  the  Breathlefs  Body  to  pieces  beiore 
the  reft  of  the  Company,  and  threw  it  into  the 
River.  But  for  the  fake  of  thele  and  other 
iuch  Truculent  Things  done  by  Hope-Hood,  1 
am  refolved,  that  in  the  Courfe  of  our  S:ory  1 
will  watch  to  fee  what  becomes  of  that  Hide- 


upon  him  to  Hold  his  Hand;  whereat  iuch  an 
Horror  fur  prized  his  Guilty  Soul,  that  he  ran  a- 
way.  But  hearing  them  call  his  Name,  he  re- 
turned, and  then  permitted  thefe  his  Friends  to 
Ranfom  his  Prifbner  from  him.  After  this, 
being  Seated  by  a  River  fide,  they  heard  feve 
ral  Guns  go  off  on  the  other  tide,  which  they 


ous  Loup-garou,  if  he  come  to  his  End,  as  1  am   concluded  was  from  a  Party  of  Albany  Indians, 


apt  to  think  he  will,  before  the  Story. 
RELATION    II. 

MEhetabel Goodwin,  being  a  Captive  among 
the  Indians,  had  with  her  a  Child  about 
Five  Months  Old  •  which  thro'  Hunger  and 
Hardfhip,  the  being  unable  to  nouriih  ir,  often 
made  mod  grievous  Ejaculations  Her  Indian 
Matter  told  her,  that  if  the  Child  were  not 
quiet  he  would  foon  dilpofe  of  it ;  which  caufed 
her  to  ufe  all  poffible  Means  that  his  Netop-jhip 
might  not  be  offended  ;  and  fometimes  carry  it 
from  the  Fire  out  of  his  hearing,  where  (he  fat 
up  to  the  Wafte  in  Snow  and  Froft  for  feveral 
Hours  until  it  was  lull'd  afleep.  She  thus  for 
feveral  Days  preferved  the  Life  of  her  Babe, 
until  he  faw  Caufe  fo  Travel  with  his  own 
Cubs  farther  afield  ;  and  then  left,  he  fhould  be 


who  were  Enemies  unto  thefe  ;  whereupon  this 
bold  Blade  would  needs  go  in  a  Canoo  to  dif- 
cover  vvhat  they  were.  They  Fired  upon  him, 
and  Shot  through  him  and  feveral  of  his 
Friends  before  the  Difcovery  could  be  made 
unto  Satisfaction.  But  feme  Days  after  this 
divers  of  his  Friends  gathered  a  Party  to  Kel 
venge  his  Death  on  their  Suppofed  Enemies  ■ 
with  whom  they  joyned  Bute!,  and  Fought  fel 
veral  Hours,  until  their  Suppofed  Enemies  did 
Really  put  'em  to  the  Rour.  Among  the  Cap- 
tives which  they  left  in  their  Fight,  one  was 
this  poor  Goodwin,  who  was  Overjoyed  in  fee- 
ing her  felf  thus  at  Liberty  ;  but  the  Joy  did 
not  la  If  long,  for  thefe  Indians  were  of  the 
Same  Sort  with  the  other,  and  had  been  by 
their  own  Friends  rhus  through  a  ftrange  Mi- 
'hike  fet  upon.  However,  this  Crew  proved 
more  favourable  to  her  thin  the  former,   and 


Retarded  in  his  Travel,  he  violently  fiutchM  the  .  went  away  filently  with  their  Booty,  being  lorfi 


Babe  out  of  its  Mother's  Atms,  and  before  her 
Face  knock  d  out  its  Brains,  and  ftript  it  of 
the  few  Rags  it  had  hithetto  enjoy 'd,  and  or- 
dered her  the  Task  to  go  Wafh  the  Bloody 
Cloaths.     Returning  from  this  Melancholy  Tu 


'■> 


fhe  found  the  Infant  hanging  by  the  Neck  in 
a  Forked  Bough  of  a  Tree.  She  defired  leave 
to  lay  it  in  the  Earth  ;  but  he  laid,  It  wat 
better  at  it  via*,  for  now  the  Wild  Beafs  would 
not  come  at  it.  Clam  fure  they  had  been  at 
it !  2  and  Jhe  might  have  the  Comfort  of  feeing 
it  again  if  ever  they  came  that  way.  The 
Journey  now  before  them  was  like  to  be  very 
long,  even  as  far  as  Canada,  where  his  Pur 
pole  was  to  make  Merchandife  of  his  Captive, 
and  glad  was  the  Captive  of  fixh  hippy 
Tidings.  But  the  defperate  length  of  the  Way, 
and  want  of  Food,  and  grief  of  Mind,  where- 
with fhe  now  Encouutred,  caufed  her  within  a 
few  Days  to  faint  under  her  Difficulties.  When 
at  length  fhe  fat  down  for  fome  Repofe,  with 
many  Prayers  and  Tears  unto  God  for  the  Sal 


to  rife,     until  ihe  efpied  her  Furious  Execu 
tioner   coming  towards  her   with   Eire   in  his 
Eyes,  the  Devil  in  his  Heart,  and  his  Hatchet 
in  his  Hand,  ready  to   beftow   a  Mercy-fir  oak 
of  Death  upon  her.    But  then  this   miferable 


o  have  any  Noife  made  of  their  foul  Mijh 
-And  yet  a  few  D^vs  after  fuch  another  Mi- 
flake  happened;  for  meeting  with  another  Par- 
ty of  Indians,  which  they  imagined  in  the 
Englijh  Intcrefts,  they  fiiricuily  engaged  each 
other,  and  many  were  killed  and  wounded  on 
either  Side;  but  they  proved  a  Party  of  the 
French  Indians,  who  took  this  poor  Goodwin, 
and  prefented  her  to  the  French  Captain,  by 
whom  fhe  was  carried  unto  Canada,  where  fhe 
continued  Five  Years,  and  then  was  brought 
fafe  back  into  New-England. 

RE  L  AT  10  N    III. 

ART  Waifled,  the  Wife  of  Mr  James 
Plaifted,  was  made  a  Captive  by  the  In- 
dians about  Three  Weeks  after  her  Delivery  of 
a  Male  Child.  They  then  took  her,  with  her 
Infanr,  oft"  her  Bed,  and  forced  her  to  Tra 
this  her  Weaknefs  the  belt  part  of  a  Day, 
without  any  Refpcft  of  Pity:  At  Night  the 
vation  of  her  Soul,  ihe  found  _her  felf  unable  I  Cold  Ground   in  the  Open  Air  was  her  Lodg- 

ing ;  and  for  many  a  Day  ihe  had  no  Nou- 
rifhment,  but  a  little  Water  with  a  WuXeBears- 
flefh -,  which  rendred her fyfeeble  that  the  with 
her  infant  were  not  far  from  totally  Starved. 
Upon   her  Cries  to  God  there  was  at  length 


Book  VII.      Or,  The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


7* 


fome  Supply  fent  in  by  her  Matter's  taking  a 
Moofe,  the  Broth  whereof  Recovered  her.  But 
Ihe  mutt  now  Travel  many  Days  thro'  Woods, 
and  Swamps,  and  Rocks,  and  over  Mountains, 
and  Froit  and  Snow,  until  ihe  could  ftir  no  far- 
ther. Sitting  down  to  reft,  ihe  was  not  able  to 
rile,  until  her  Diabolical  Matter  help'd  her  up; 
which  when  he  did,  he  took  her  Chiid  from 
her,  and  carried  it  unto  a  River,  where  {grip- 
ping it  of  the  few  Rags  it  had,  he  took  it  by 
the  Heels,  and  againft  a  Tree  dafh'd  out  its 
Brains,  and  then  hung  it  into  the  River.  So  he 
returned  unto  the  miferable  Mother,  telling 
her,  She  waif  novo  eaj'ed  of  her  Burden,  andmuft 
■walk  j after  than  fie  did  before  ! 

RELATION     IV. 

MA  R  T  Fergufon,  taken  Captive  by  the 
Indians  at  balmon  Falls,  declares,  thata- 
nother  Maid  of  about  Fifteen  or  Sixteen  Years 
of  Age,  taken  at  the  fame  time,  had  a  Great 
Burden  Impofed  on  her.  Being  over-born  with 
her  Burden,  ihe  burtt  out  into  Tears,  telling 
her  Indian  Matter,  That  fie  could  go  no  fur- 
ther. Whereupon  he  immediately  took  off 
her  Burden,  and  leading  her  alide  into  the 
Bufhes,  he  cut  off  her  head,  and  Scalping  it, 
he  ran  about  Laughing  and  Bragging  what  an 
Ad  he  had  now  done;  and  fhowing  the  Scalp 
unto  the  reft,  he  told  them,  They  fhould  all  be 
ferved  fo  if  they  were  not  patient. 

In  fine,  when  the  Children  of  the  EngUfi 
Captives  cried  at  any  time,  fo  that  they  were 
not  prefently  quieted,  the  manner  of  the  In- 
dians was  to  dalh  out  their  Brains  againft  a 
Tree. 

And  very  often,  when  the  Indians  were  on  or 
near  the  Water,  they  took  the  fmall  Children, 
and  held  'em  under  Water  till  they  had  near 
Drowned  them,  and  then  gave  'em  unto  their 
Diftreffcd  Mothers  to  quiet  'em. 

And  the  Indians  in  their  Frolicks  would  Whip 
and  Beat  the  fmall  Children,  until  they  fet  'em 
into  grievous  Outcries,  and  then  throw  'em  to 
their  amazed  Mothers  for  them  to  quiet  'em 
again  as  well  as  they  could. 

This  was  Indian  Captivity  '. 

Reader,  A  Modern  Traveller  alTures  us,  that 
at  the  Villa  Ludovifia,  not  far  from  Rome,  there 
is  to  be  feen  the  Body  of  a  Petrified  Man ;  and 
that  he  himfelf  faw  by  a  piece  of  the  Man's 
Leg,  broken  for  Satisfaction,  both  the  Bone  and 
the  Stone  Crufted  over  it.  All  that  I  will  fay, 
is,  That  if  thou  canft  read  thefe  Paflages  with- 
out Relenting  Bowels,  thou  thy  felf  art  as  really 
Petrified  as  the  Man  at  Villa  Ludovifia. 

Nefcio  tu  quibus  es,  Leclor,  LeBurus  Ocellis  ; 
hoc  Scio  quod  Sicca  Scribere  non  potui. 


ARTICLE    VIII. 

A  little  Account  of  the  great  eft  dtfion  that  ever 
New-England  Attempted. 

I  Have  read  or  heard,  that  when  the  infuf- 
ferable  Abufes  which  the  Englifh  Nation 
buffered  from  the  Abbeys  were  in  the  Parliament 
complained  of,  the  Total  Diflblution  of  thofe 
Abbeys  was  much  forwarded  by  a  Speech  of  a 
Gentleman  in  the  houfe  of  Commons    to    this 
purpofe  ;  That  his  own  Houfe  had  been  much 
annoy'd  by  Rooks  building  in  a  Tree  near  unto 
it,    and  that   he  had    ufed  many    Ineffectual 
ways  to  difturb  and  difrooft  thefe  Milchievous 
Rooks,  until  at  laft  he  found  out  an  Infallible 
way  to  be  delivered  from  the  Rooks,  and  that  was 
to  cut  down  the  Tree  that  Lodged  'em.    The 
Diftreffes  into  which   New-England  was  now 
fallen,  made  this  very  Comparifon  to  be  thought 
of.     The  Indian  Rooks  grievoufly  intefted   the 
Country  ;  and  while  the  Country  was  only  on 
the  Defenfive  Part,  their  Men  were  Thinned, 
their  Towns  were  Broken,  and  their  Treajures 
Confumed,  without  any  hope  of  feeing  an  End 
of  thefe  Troublefbme  Tragedies.    The  French 
Colonies  to  the  Northward  were  the  Tree  in 
which  thofe  Rooks  had  their  Nefts  ■,    and  the 
French  having  in  Perfbn   firft  fallen  upon  the 
Englifh  of  New-England,  it  was  thought  that 
the  New-Englanders  might  very  juftly  take  this 
Occafion  to  reduce  thofe  French  Colonies  under 
the  Englifh  Government,  and  fo  at  once  take  a- 
way  from  all  the  Rooks  for  ever  all  that  gave 
'em  any  Advantage  to  Infeft  us.    Accordingly, 
a  Naval  Force,  with  about  Seven  Hundred  Men, 
under  the  Condufl:  of  Sir  William  Phips,wzs  dif- 
patched   away  to  Vaccady  and  Nova  ,  Scotia. 
This  Fleet  fetting  Sail  from  New-England,  April 
28.  1600.  in  a  Fortnight  arrived  at  Port-Royal, 
and  Sir  William  having    the  Fort   Surrendred 
unto  him,  took  Poffeffion  of  that  Province  for 
the  Crown  of  England.     But  this  was  only  a 
ftep  towards  a  far  greater  A£tion  !  There  was 
no  Speech  about  the  Methods  of  Safety  made, 
which  did  not  conclude  with  a  Delenda  eft  Car- 
thago.   It  was  become  the  Concurring  Refolu- 
tion  of  all  New-England,  with  New-Tork,  that 
a  Vigorous  Attack  fhould  be  made  upon  Cana- 
da at  once,  both  by  Sea  and  Land     A  Fleet  of 
Thirty-two  Sail,  under  the  Command  of  Sit  Wil- 
liam Phips,  was  Equipp'd  at  Bo/ton,  and  b.gan 
I  their  Voyage,   Aug.  9.   and  the  whole  Matter 
was  put  into  Form,  with  fo  much  Contrivance, 
and  Caution,    and  Courage,  that  nothing  but 
an  Evident  Hand  of  heaven  was  likely  to  have 
given  fuch  a  Defeat  unto  it,  as  has  been  indeed 
generally   and  remarkably  given  unto  all  the 
Colonies  of  America,  when  they  have  Invaded 
one  another.     If  this  Expedition  did  mifcarry, 
and  if  Canada  proved  unto  New-England  what 
it  prov'd  unto  the  Spaniards,    when   at  their 
Deferring   it  they  calfd   it,   E  Capo  de  Nada  -, 
or,    The  Cape  of  nothings   (whence  the  Name 
Canada)    there  is  no  New-Englander  but  what 

will 


J1 


Magnalia  Cbrijii  Americana  :  Book  VIL 


will  maintain,  that  it  was  with  a  Ids  Difgrace- 
fui  Mifcarriage,  than  what  baffled  every  one 
of  thole  that  were  made  in  this  War  againft  the 
Wrench  IJlands,  by  more  powerful  Fleets  ol  thofe 
who  were  forward  enough  to  reproach  New- 
England.  I  am  fure  he  that  reads  the  Account 
of  what  was  done  at  Martineco,   in  the  Relati 


file  Fercee,  they  Sailed  up  the  Rivet  as  far 
as  Tadoujac,  where  they  found  a  Bark,  in  which 
they  fet  aihore  fome  Soldiers  to  leize  on  Cape 
Tourment.  And  here  a  Couple  of  Salvages  dis- 
covering them,  ran  away  to  advife  the  People  of 
§>uebeck  that  the  Engltjb  were  approaching. 
When  the  Fleet  arrived,  the  Admiral  Summon- 


on  oj  the  Voyage  of  M.  de  Gennes,  lately  pub-    ed  the  Town  to  Surrender,  by  a  Letter  to  Mon- 
lifhed    mutt  be  very  eafie  in  his  Reflections  np-^  fieur  Champelin  the  Governour  :  But  the  Go- 

vernour,  notwithftanding  his  being  fo  furprized 

with  the    Invafion,   made  fuch  a  refolute  An- 

fwer,  that  the  Englifh  (though  as  the  Hiftorian 

Hundred   Men   behind   them  to  the  Mercy  of  I, lays,  They  are  a  People  that  will fooner  die  than 


on  what  was  done  at  Canada.  And  I  will  add 
that  if  the  Nevc-England-Men  returned  re  in 
fetfa  from  Canada,  yet  they  did  not  leave  Two 


the  French,  as  they  who  moft  reproached  New 
England  foon  after  did  at  Guadalupa. 

The  fuller  Narrative  of  thefe  memorable 
things  the  Reader  mav  find  Written  in  The  Life 
oj  Sir  COillinm  Pjipg,  lately  publifhed,  of 
which  J  mult  here  give  this  Atteftation,  That  as 


quit  what  they  once  undertake)  did  conclude  the 
Fort  Quebeck  was  in  a  much  better  Condition  for 
Defence  than  it  really  was,  and  therefore  defift- 
ing  from  any  further  Attempt  at  this  time,  they 
retutned  into  England  with  Relblution  further 
to  purfue  their  Deiign  at  a  more  favourable  Op- 


my  Acquaintance  with  the  Author  gives  me  Af- }  portunity. 

furance  of  his  being  as  willing  to  RetraS  aj      Accordingly  on  July  19.   1629.  in  the  Morn- 

Miftake,  as  unwilling  to  Commit  one,  and  of  his   ing,  the  Englifh  Fleet  appeared  again  over-againlt 


Care  in  whatever  he  Writes,  to  be  able  to  make 
the  Profelfion  of  Oecolampadius,  Nolui  aliquid 
Sen  here,  qu^d  improbaturttm  put  em  cbriflum : 
So  I  have  compared  this  Narrative  with  the 
Journals  of  the  Expedilim-,  and  1  find  the  moft 
Contefted  PalTages  of  the  Story,  (nor  did  1  ever 
hear  of  anv  more  than  one  ot  two  little  Cir- 


the  Great  Bay  of  '  Quebet  ,(•,  at  the  Point  of  the 
lite  of  Orleans  •,  which  Fleet  conlifted  of  Three 
Men  of  War  and  Six  other  Veflels.  Admiral 
Kirk  fending  a  Summons  formM  in  very  Civil 
Expreffions  for  the  Surrender  of  the  Place,  the 
mif;rable  Stare  of  the  Country,  which  had  been 
by  the  Englifi  Interceptions  hindred  of  Supplies 


cumftanti)l  Pafiages  Cuntefted.  as  carrying  a  |  from  France  fur  Two  Years  together,  obliged  the 
found  a  little  too  Rhetorical;  but  I  fay,  I  find  Sieur  Champelin  ro  make  a  iofter  Anfwer  than 
them;  to  be  the  very  Exprefs  Words  thereof  1  he  did  before.  He  fent  Father  Jofeph  Le  Caron 
contained  in  thofe  Journals  -,  and  more  than  ib,  aboatd  the  Admiral  to  Treat  about  the  Surrender 

and  none  of  his  Demands  for  Fifteen  Day,    and 


that  very  Credible  Perfons  concerned  therein 
have  readilv  ottered  their  Depofitions  upon  Oath 
to  the  Truth  of  what  is  Written.  So  I  take 
my  leave  of  that  Hiftcty,  and  of  Sir  William 
Vbips,  the  Memorable  Subject  of  that  Hiftory, 
whom  I  leave  under  this 

EPITAPH. 

Bonus  non  eft,  qui  non  ad  Invidiam  tifque 
Bonus  eft. 

r_3  3Di0rclfiono 

REader,  lince  we  can  give  no  better  an  Ac- 
count of  the  laft  Englifh  Expedition  to 
Canada,  why  may  we  not  for  a  Minute  or  two 
retteih  our  felves  with  a  Story  of  an  Old 
one  ? 

In  the  very  Year  when  the  Majjachufet-Colo- 
ny  began,  the  Englifh  Attempted  the  Conqueft 
of  Canada;  and  though  the  Firfl  Attempt  Mif- 
carried,  the  Second  Profpered.  The  Story  of 
it  makes  a  Chapter  in  Father  Hennepin's  Ac- 
count ot  the  vaft  Country  lately  dilcoveted 
betwixt  Canada  and  Mexico  ;  and  this  is  the  Sum 

of  it. 

While  a  Colony  was  forming  it  felf  at  Canada, 
an  Englifl)  Fleet  wasEquipp'd  in  the  Year  1628. 
under  the  Command  of  Admiral  Kirk,  with  a 
Deiign  to  take  Poffcffion  of  that  Country.  In 
their  Voyage  having  taken  a  French  Ship  at  the 


then  for  Five  Days  rime  to  confider  on'r,  could 
obtain  any  longer  time  than  till  the  Evening 
to  prepare  rheir  Articles.  Upon  the  Delivery 
of  this  MeiTage  a  Council  was  held,  wherein 
fome  urged,  that  the  Engli/h  had  no  more  than 
Two  Hundred  Men  ot  reg  ilar  Troops  aboard, 
and  fome  others  which  had  not  much  of  the 
Air  of  Soldiers  •,  and  that  the  Courage  of  the 
Inhabitants  was  much  to  be  relied  upon,  and 
therefore  it  was  belt  for  to  run  the  Risk  of  a 
Siege  :  But  Monfieur  Champelin  apprehending 
the  Bravery  of  the  Englifh,  remonftrated  unto 
the  Council,  that  it  was  better  to  make  a  Surren- 
der on  good  Terms,  than  be  all  cut  in  pieces  by 
an  unreafonable  Endeavour  to  defend  themfelves. 
Upon  this  the  Articles,  regulating  all  Matters' 
were  got  ready,  and  Father  Jojeph  had  hisCom- 
milfion  to  carry  them  aboard  the  Englifh  Admi- 
ral, where  the  Signing  of  them  was  defetted 
until  to  Mortow.  On  July  20  the  Articles  of 
Capitulation  were  Signed  on  both  Sides,  and  the 
Englifh  being  Landed,  were  put  in  Pofllffion 
of  Canada  by  the  Governour  of  ir.  The  trench 
Inhabitants,  who  were' then  in  the  Country,  had 
Twenty  Crowns  apiece  given  them,  the  reft  of 
their  Effects  remained  unto  the  Conquerors  ; 
but  thofe  who  were  willing  to  ftay,  were  fa- 
voured by  the  Englifh  with  great  Advantages. 
The  Fleet  fet  Sail  again  fot  England,  Sept.  14. 
and  arrived  at  Plymouth,  03.  18.  in  that  Year. 

ARTI- 


Book  VII.  Or,  The  Hijlory  of  New-England.  73 


ART!  C  L  E    IX. 
Caleb  Lfu 

WH  E  N    the  Indians  at  Lift  perceived  that 
hnder s  were  upon  a  likely 
Defign  r  '   up  the  French  Territories,  the 

Profpetl  of  it  beg  have  the  lame  Operati- 

on upon  them,  th.it  the  Succefs  ol  the  Defign 
would  bavemade  Perpetual;  that  is,  to  Di(:fpirit 
them  for  giving  the  jSevc-Englanders  any  further 


Ammunition  lalisd ;  hut  that  being  fpent  with- 
out a  Profpett  of  a  Recruit,  they  quitted  all  the 
Four  Garrij'ons,  and  by  the  Advantage  of  the 
Night  got  into  the  Fort.  Upon  this  the  Enemy- 
letting  the  Town  on  Fire  benr  their  whole  Force 
againft  the  Fort,  which  had  hard  by  it  a  deep 
Guliy,  that  contributed  not  a  little  unto  the  Ruin 
of  it:  For  the  Beuegers getting  into  that  Gully, 
lay  btlow  the  danger  oi  ot:r  Guns.  Here  the 
Enemy  began  their  Mine,  which  was  carried  lb 
near  the  Walls,  that  the  Englijh,  w-ho  by  Fighting 
Five  Days  ana  Four  Nigiits,    had   the  greateft 


Moleftations      Ntverthelefs,  Before  and  Until  part  of  their  Men  killed  and  wounded,  ('Captain 
they   were-  thoroughly  advifed  of  what  was  a' 

d^inp,  and  likely  to  be  done,  they  did  molelt  the 


Country  with  fame  Tragical  Efforts  of  their 
Furv.  Captain  lames  Convers  was  Marching 
through  the  vaft  V\  id  rnefsto  Albany  with  feme 
Foices,  which  the  MaJJachufets  Colony  were 
willing  to  fend  by  Land    befideswhat  they  did 


Lawrence  mortally  among  the  reft  j  began  a 
Parky  with  them.  Articles  were  agreed,  that 
they  ihould  have  liberty  r«  March  unto  the  next 
Englifh  Town,  and  hive  a  Guard  for  their  Safety 
in  their  March;  and  the  French  C  mmander  lilt- 
ing up  his  Hand,  Swore  by  the  Evcrlaifing  God 
for  the  Performance  ofthe'fe  Articles.  But  the 
lend  by  Sea  unto  .,(;)  f  r  the  afliftance  of!  Agreement  was  kept  as  thoie  that  are  made  with 

the  Army  in  the  fl ';//.  that  was  to  go  from  thence  |  Hugonots  ufe  to  be  :  The  Eaghjh  being  firft  Ad- 
over  tbe  J  ike,  i  1  there  fall  upon  Mount  Real  ;imonilhed  by  the  French,  that  they  were  all  Re- 
but u  nt  of  the  Eaji  required  the  \beis  lor  Proclaiming  the  Prince  ot  Oiange  their 
Diverlion   i  ;s  thither.     About  the  King,  were  Captived.  and  many  of  them  cruelly 

Murdered  by  the  Indians  :  Only  fome  of  them 
and  particularly    Major  Davis)  were  carried 


beginning  of  May  the  French  and  Indians,  be- 
rween  Four  and  Five  Hundred,  were  feen  at 
Cafcpy  ina  great  Fleet  of  Canoos  palling  over  the 
Bty  ,  but  not  feeing  or  hearing  any  more  of 
them  for  Two  or  Three  Weeks  together,  the 
C  tans  Battered  themlelves  with  hopes  that 
they  were  gone  anorher  way.  But  about  May 
1 6.  thole  hopes  were  over ;  for  one  Creffon,  a 
Scotchman,  then  going  out  early,  fell  into  the 
Mouths  of  thefe  hungry  Salvages.  It  proved  no 
kindnei's  to  Qafco.  tho'  it  proved  a  great  one  to 
himfelf.  that  a  Commander  lb  qualified  as  Captain 
Witiai'd  was  ca'led  eft'  Two  or  Three  Days  be- 
fore. But  the  Officers  of  the  Place  now  con- 
cluding that  the  whole  Army  of  the  Enemy  were 
watching  for  an  Advantage  to  futprize  the  Town 
reiolved  that  they  would  keep  a  ftricft  Watch 
for  Two  or  Three  Days,  to  make  fome  furthe; 
Difcovery  before  they  Salley'd  forth.  Notwith- 
ftandingthis,  one  Lieutenant  Clark,  with  near 
Thirty  of  their  S.outeft  Young  Men,  would 
venture  out  as  far  as  the  Top  of  an  Hill  in  the 
Entranceof  the  Wood,  half  a  Mile  diftant  from  the 
Town.  The  out-let  from  the  Town  to  the  Wood 
was  thro'  a  Lane  that  had  a  Fence  on  each  fide, 
which  had  a  certain  Biock-Houfe  at  one  end  of  it ; 
and  the  Englifh  were  fufpicious,  when  they  came 
to  enter  the  Lane,  that  the  Indians  were  lying  be- 
hind the  fence,  becaufe  the  Caitel  flood  flaring 
that  way,  and  would  not  pafs  into  the  Wood  as 
they  ufe  to  do.  This  Mcttlefome  Company  then 


unto    Canada,    where  the  Gentry   very  civilly 
Treated  them.     The  Garrilons  at   Papoodack, 
Spunvink,  Black  Point,  and  Blue  Point,  were  lb 
difanimated  at  thele  Difalters,  that  without  0/- 
ders  they  drew  oft' immediately  to  Saco,  Twen- 
ty Miles  within  Cafco    and  from  Saco  in  a  lew 
Days  alfo  they  drew  oft' to  Weils,  Twenty  Miles 
within  the  fald  Saco  ;  and  about  half  Weils  drew 
ofTas  far  as  Lieutenant  Stored.    But  the  Arrival 
of  Orders  and  Soldiers  from  the  Government, 
ftopt  them  from  retiring  any  further  -,  and  Hope- 
Hood,whh  a  Party  that  ftaid  for  further  Mifchicf, 
meeting  with  fome  refillance  here,  turn'd  about, 
and  having  firft  had  a  Skirmilh  with  Captain 
•therborn,  they  appear'd  the  nexr  LordVDay  at 
Xewicbawannick  or  Berwick,  where  they  Burnt 
fome  Houfes,  and  Slew  a  Man.  Three  Days  after 
they  came  upon  a  fmall  Hamlet  on  the  South 
iide  of  Pifcataqua  River,  called  Fox  Point,  and 
befides  the  Burning  of  feveral  Houfes  they  took 
half  a  Dozen,  and  kilfd  more  rhan  a  Doz.-n  of 
the  too  Securely  Ungarrifoned  People  ;    which 
it  was  as  eafie  to  do,  as  to  have  fpoiled  an  ordi- 
nary Hen-Roofi.     But  Captain  Floyd  and  Captain 
Greenleaj  coming  upon  thole  Indians,  made  fome 
flaughter  among  them,  recovered  lbme  Captives 
with  much  Plunder,  and  beftow^  a  good  Wound 
upon  Hope- Hood,   who  loft 
his  Gun  (which  was  next 
his  Life)  in  this  AcYion. 
All    that   (hall    further 


[Villain  !  Tim  finlt 
not  ejeape  fa  :  There 
muji  q-iciily  be  an- 
ther ftrokf  upon  theef\ 


the  Indians   were 


ran  up  to  the  Fence  with  an  huzza  I  thinking 

thereby  to  difcourage  the  Enemy,  if  they  fhould 

be  lurking  there  ■,  but  the  Enemy  were  lb  well  |  belong    to    this   Paragraph 

prepared  for  them,  that  they  anfwered  them  with  j  of  our  Story,  is,  that  when 

an  horrible  Vengeance,  which  kilfd  the  Lieure-  I  got  into  the  Woods,  they  made  one  Goody  Stock- 

nant  with  Thirteen  more  upon  the  Spot,  and  the  ford  their  Mcffenger  to  her  Neighbours,  whole 

reft  efcaped  with  much  ado  unto  one  of  the  Garri-    Charity  fhe  lb  well  Sollicited,  that  Ihe  got  a 

Ions.     The  Enemy  then  coming  into  Town,  be-    Shalop  full  of  it  unto  Cafco,   where  the  Indians 

fet  all  the  Garrifons  at  once,  except  the  Port  j    permitted  us  to  Redeem  feveral  of  the  Prif oners. 

which  were  Manfully  Defended  lb  long  as  their  ' 

Kk'kkkkk  ARTI- 


74 


Magnalia  Chrifii  Americana  :  Book  VII. 


article    x. 

Harm  Watch 'd  and  Catch"d  by  the  Indians,  and 
feveral  rare  Inflances  of  Mortal  Wounds  up- 
on the  Englilh,  not  proving  Mortal. 

THAT  memorable  Tygre,  Hope-Hood,  (cal- 
led alfo  IVohawa,)  finding  the  Coaft  here- 
abouts too   Hot  for  him-  went  away  with  his 
Ctcw  a  great  way  to  the   Weflward    with  a 
Delign  to  Bewitch  another  Crew  at  Aquadoffa 
into  his  Affiltance.    Here  a  Party  or  French 
Indians,  by  a  ftrange  Miltake,   fuppoling  Hope- 
Hood  and  his  Wretches  ro  have  been  the  Indi- 
ans who  had  lately  done  fome  Spoil  upon  them 
at  Canada,  furioufly  fell  upon  them,  and  in  their 
Blind  Vury  flew  him  and  a  conliderable  part 
of  his  Company.     So  we  have  now  done  with 
him:   In    the  mean   time,  fome  other  Indians 
came  upon  an  helplefs  Place,  called  Spruce  Creek, 
and  kilfd  an  Old  Man,  and  carried  a   Woman 
into  Captivity  ;  but  tho'  Captain  Corners  pur- 
sued ""em  Three  Days,  they  were  too   nimble 
for  him.    On  July  4.    Eight  or   Nine  Perions 
working  in    a   Field    at  a  Place  call'd  Lam- 
pereel  River,    the   Scythe  of  Death  unhappi- 
ly Mow'd  them  down  in  that  Field  of  Blocd  : 
The   Indians  by  Surprize  kilfd   'em  all,   and 
carried  a  Lad   Captive.     About  this  time   a 
Council  of  War  was  called  at  Port/mouth,    by 
which   'twas   thought   advifeable    to  (end  out 
Captain  WifweL  with  a  conliderable  Scout,  for 
to  Scour  the  Woods  as  far  as  Cafco ;    and  it 
being  refolved,  that  one  of  the  other  Captains, 
with  about  Fourfcore  Stout  Men,  ihould  accom- 
pany Captain  Wifwl  in  this  Action  ;    they  Ali 
with  fuch  a  generous  Emulation  offered  it,  that 
it  was  neceffary  to  determine  it  by  a  Lot,  which 
fell   upon  Captain  Floyd.    On  July  4.   afiiffed 
with  Lieutenant  Andrews,  and  a  Detachment  of 
of  Twenty-two  Men  from  Wells   they  took  their 
March  from  ^uochecho  into  the  Woods.     But 
the  Day  following  the  Enemy  fet  upon  Captain 
Hilton's  Garrifon  in  Exeter,  which  Lieutenant 
Bancroft  then  Pofted  at  Exeter,  with  the  lols 
of  a  few  of  his  Men  relieved.     At  this  time 
there  happened  a  Remarkable  thing.    1  know 
not  whether  tne  Story  told  by  Flato  be  true, 
that  one  Herus  Armenius  (whom  Clemens  will 
have  to  be  Zoroafter)  being  Slain  in  War.  lay 
Ten  Days  among  the  Dead,    and  then  being 
brought  away,  and  on  the  Twelfth  Dry  laid 
on  a  Funeral  Pile,  he  came  to  Life  again.  But 
it    is  true,    that   one   Simon  Stone  being  here 
Wounded  with  Shot  in  Nine  feveral  places,  lay 
for  Dead,  (as  it  was  time ! )  among  the  Dead. 
The  Indians  coming  to  Strip  him,  attempted 
with  Twj  feveral  Blows  of  an  Hatchet  at  his 
Neck  to  cut  off  his  Head,   which  Blows  added 
you  may  be  fure,  more  Enormous  Wounds  unto 
thofe   Port-holes  of  Death,    at  which  the  Lift 
oi  the  poor  Man  .vas  already  running  out  as  tail 
asitcjdld.     Being   charged  hard  by  Lieutenan* 
Bancroft,  they   left  the  Man  without  Scaping 
him  ;  and  the  Engltfi)  now  coming  to  Bury  che 


Dead,  one  of  the  Soldiers  perceived  this  poor  Man 
to  ietch  a  Gafp ;  whereupon  an  Infb  Fellow  then 
prefenr,  adviled  'em  to  give  him  another  Dab 
with  an  Hatchet,  and  foBury  him  with  the  reft. 
The  -EngliP)  detelting  this  Barbarous  Advice, 
lifted  up  the  Wounded  Man,  and  poured  a  little 
Fair  Water  into  his  Mouth  at  which  he  Coughed ; 
rhen  they  poured  a  little  Strong  Wain  a frer  it,  at 
which  he  opened  his  byes.  The  Irijh  Fellow 
was  ordered  now  to  hale  a  Canoo  alhore  to  car- 
ry the  Wounded  Men  up  the  River  unto  a 
Chirurgeon  ;  and  as  Teague  was  foolifhly  pul- 
ling the  Caroo  afhore  with  the  Cock  of  his  Gun, 
while  he  held  the  Muzzle  in  his  Hand,  his  Gun 
went  off  and  broke  his  Arm,  whereot  he  remains 
a  Cripple  to  this  Day  :  But  Simon  Stone  was  tho- 
roughly Cured,  and  is  at  this  Day  a  very  Lufty 
Man;  and  as  he  was  Born  with  Two  Thumbs  on 
one  Hand,  his  Neighbours  have  thought  him  to 
have  at  leaft  as  many  Hearts  as  Thumbs'. 

Reader,  Let  us  leave  it  now  unto  the  Sons 
of  Mfculapius  to  diipute  out  the  Problem, 
What  Wounds  are  to  be  judged  Mortal  ?  The  So- 
vereign Arbiter  of  Life  and  Death  teems  to  have 
determined  ir,  That  no  Wounds  arc  Mortal,  but 
Juch  cu_  he  (ball  in  his  Holy  Providence  altually 
make  jo  On  the  one  fide  let  it  be  remem- 
bred,  That  a  Scratch  of  a  Comb  has  proved  Mor- 
tal;  that  the  Incomparable  Anatomiit  Spige- 
lius,  at  the  Wedding  of  his  Daughter,  gathering 
up  the  Reliquesofa  broken  Glais,  a  Fragment 
ot  it  fcrarched  one  of  his  Fingers;  and  all  his 
Exquifite  Skill  in  Anatomy  could  nor  prevent  its 
producing  an  Empyema  that  killed  him:  That 
Colonel  Rojfitcr,  cracking  a  Plumbftone  with 
his  Teeth,  broke  his  Tooth,  and  loft  his  Life  : 
That  the  Lord  Fairfax  cutting  a  Corn  in  his 
Foot,  cut  afunder  the  Thread  oi  his  Life:  That 
Mr.  Fowler,  a  Vintner,  playing  with  his  Child, 
received  a  little  Scratch  of  a  Pin,  which  turn'd 
unto  a  Gangrene  that  coft  him  his  Life.  And, 
Reader,  let  the  Remembrance  of  fuch  things 
caufe  thee  to  Live,  preparing  for  Death  continu- 
ally. But  then  on  the  other  fide,  that  nothing 
may  be  defpaired  of  remember  Simon  Stone. 
And,  beiides  him,  1  call  to  Remembrance,  that 
the  Indians  making  an  AiTacltupon  Deerfield'm 
this  Prefent  War,  they  ftruck  an  Hatchet  fome 
Inches  into  the  Skull  of  a  Boy  there,  even  fo 
deep,  that  the  Boy  felt  the  force  of  a  Wrench 
ufed  by  'cm  to  get  it  out.  There  he  lay  a  long 
while  Weltring  in  his  Blood ;  rhey  found  him, 
they  Drcfs'd  him,  con  fid  era  ble  Quantities  of  his 
Bram  came  cut  from  time  to  time  when  they 
opened  the  Wound  •,  yet  the  Lad  recovered, 
and  is  now  a  Living  Monument  of  the  Power 
and  Gcodnels  of  God.  And  in  our  Former 
War  there  was  one  Jabez  Mufgrcve,  who  tho1 
he  were  Shot  by  the  Indians  with  a  Bullet  that 
went  in  at  his  Ear,  and  went  out  at  his  Eye  on 
the  other  fide  ot  his  Head  ■,  and  a  Brace  of  Bul- 
lets that  went  into  his  Right  Side,  a  little  above 
his  Hip,  and  palling  thro'  his  Bjdy  within  the 
Back-bone,  went  out  at  his  Left  Side  -,  yet  he 
tecovcied  and  lived  many  Years  after  it. 

Cer- 


Book  VII.      Or,  The  Htjiory  of  New-England. 


75 


Certainly  this  Fellow  was  worthy  to  have 
been  at  leatfc  a  Lackey  to  the  Hungarian  Noble- 
man, whole  Pourrraiture  Dr.  Patin  faw  in  a 
Gallery  at  injpruck  rcprefenting  a  Wound  made 
in  his  Eye  with  a  Lance,  which  penetrated  into 
the  Subftance  of  the  Brain  even  to  the  hinder 
part  of  the  Head,  and  yet  proved  not  a  Mortal 
Wound. 

ARTICLE    XL 
A  Worthy  Captain  dying  in  the  Bed  of  Honour. 


Enemy 


ON  "July  6.  LordVDay,  Captain  Floyd  and 
Captain  Wijwel  lent  out  their  Scouts  be- 
fore their  Breakfaji,  who  immediately  returned 
with    Tidings  of   Breakfajl   enough   provided 
for  thofe  who  had  their  Stomach  iharp  fet  for 
Fighting :  Tidings  of  a  confiderable  Track  of  the 
Enemy    going   to  the  Weftward.     Our  Forces 
vigoroufly  followed  the  Track,  till    they  came 
up  with  the  Enemy  at  a  Place  call'd  Wheelrigbt's 
Pond,   where  they  engaged   'em    in  a  Bloody 
Acfion  for  feveral  Hours.     The  manner. of  the 
Fight  here  was  as  it  is  at  all  times  with  In- 
dians .  namely,  what  your  Aitills  at  Fighting  do 
call   A  la  disbandad:  And  here  the  Worthy  Cap-   fide. 
tain  Wijwcl,   a  M  in  worthy  to  have  been  Shot       The 
(if  he  muft  have  been  Shot,)  with  no  Gun  in-  and  Vexatious, 
terior  to  that  at  Florence    the  Barrel  whereof  is  ces  to  break  up 
all  pure  Gold  behaving  himfelf  with  much  Bta- 
very.  fold  his  Lite  as  dear  as  he  could;    and 
his  Lieutenant  Flag    and  Sergeant  Walker,  who 
were  Valiant  in  their  Lives,  in  their  Death  were 
not  divided.    Fifteen  ot  ours  were  Slain,  and 
more  Wounded  .  but  how  many  of  the  Enemy 
'twas  not  exaitly  known,  becaufe  of  a  lingular 
Care  uled  by  them  in  all  their  Battels  to  carry 
off  their  Dead,    tho'  they  were  forced  now  to 
leave  a  good  Number  of  them  on  the  Spor.   Cap- 
tain tl yd  maintained  the  Fight  after  the  Death 
of  Captain  Wifwel  feveral  Hours,  until  fo  many  ] 
of  his  Tired  and  Wounded  Men  drew  off  that 
it   was   time  tor   him    to   draw  off  alfo  •,   for 
which  he  was  blamed  perhaps,   by  fome  that 

would   not  have  continued  it  fo  long   as  he. 
Hereupon  Captain  Convers  repaired  with  about 

a  Score  Hands  to  look  alter  the  Wounded  Men, 

and  finding  Seven  yet  Alive,  he  brought  'em  to 

the  Hofpital  by  Sun-rife  the  next  Morning.     He 

then  returned  with  more  Hands  to  Bury   the 

Dead,  which  was  done  immediately  \  and  Plun- 
der left  by  the  Enemy  at  their  going  off  was 

then  alfo  taken  by  them.     But  the  fame  Week 

thefe  Rovers  made  their  Defcent  as  far  as  Amef- 

bury,  where  Captain  Foot  being  Enfnared  by 

them,  they  Tortured  him  to   Death  ;    which 

Difalter  of  the  Captain  was  an  Alarum   to  the 

Town,  and  an  Erfettual  Word,  of  Command,  cau- 


In  fine,  from  the  Fir  ft  Mi  (chief  done  at 
Lamperecl  River,  to  the  Laft  at  Amesbury,  all 
belong'd  unto  one  Indian  Expedition,  in  which, 
though  no  Englijh  Places  were  taken,  yet  Forty 
Englijh  People  were  cut  off! 

ARTICLE    XII. 

An  Indian  Fort  or  Two  taken,  and  fome  other 

Actions. 

REader.  I  remember  the  Prolixity  ofGuicci- 
ardine  the  Hiltorian  gave  fuch  Offence, 


that  Boccaitni  brings  in  an  Offender  at  Verbofity, 
ordered  for  his  Punilhmentby  the  Judges  at  Par* 
naftus,  to  read  that  punctual  Hiltorian ;  but  the 
poor  Fellow  begg'd  rather  to  be  Fley'd  Alive, 
than  to  be  Tortured  with  reading  an  Hiltorian, 
who  in  relating  the  War  between  the  Florentines 
and  Pij'ms,  made  longer  Narrations  about  the 
Taking  of  a  Pigcon-Houfe,  than  there  needed 
of  the  molt  Fortiiied  Caftle  in  the  World.  For 
this  Caufe  let  me  be  exculed.  Reader,  if  I  make 
Jhort  Work  in  our  Story,  and  leave  the  Honeffc 
A£fors  themlelves  to  run  over  Circumftances 
more  at  large,  with  their  Friends  by  the  Fire- 


appearing  a  little   Numerous 
the  Government  fent  more  For- 
the  Enemies  Quarters  ;    and 
Auxiliaries  both  of  Englijl?  and  Indians,  under 
the  Command   of  Major  Church,    affitted    the 
Entcrprize.     About  Tnree  Hundred  Men  were 
difpatched  away  upon   this   Defign  in  the  be- 
ginning of  September,  who  Landed  by  Night 
in  Cajco  Bay,  at  a  Place  called  Macauoit   and 
by   Night    Marched    up   to    Pechyp fat-Fort ; 
where,  trom  the  Information  of  lbme  efcaped, 
Captives,  they  had  an  Expectation  to  meet  with 
the  Enemy,    but  found  that  the  Wretches  were 
gone  father  afield.     They  then  Marched  away 
tor  Amonojcoggin  Fort,  which  was  about  Forty 
Miles  up   the    River  ;    and    Wading  through 
many  Difficulties,  whereof  one  was  a  Branch 
of  the  River  it  feit ;  they  met   with  Four  or 
Five  Salvages  going  to  their  Fort   with  Two 
Englijh  Ptifoners.     They  lav'd  the  Prifonersi 
but  could  not  catch  the  Salvages  ;  however,  on 
the  Lord's  Day  they  got  up  to  the  Fott  undif- 
covered,  where,  to  their  forrowful  Difappoint- 
ment,  they  found  no  more  than  One  and  Twen- 
ty of  the  Enemy,  whereof  they  took  and  flew 
Twenty.    They  found  fome  confiderable  ftore 
of  Plunder,  and  relcued  Five  Englijh  Captives, 
and  laid  the  Fort  in  Allies ;   but  one  Difafter 
they  much  complained  ot,  that  the  Captain  of 
the   Fort,    whole  Name   was  Agamcus,  alias, 
GreatTom,  lliptaway  from  the  Hands  of  his  too 
Carelejs  Keepers.  But  ifthis  piece  of  Carelefnefs 


fing  'em  to  fly  out  of  their  Beds  into  their  Gar-  j  did  any  Harm,  there  was  another  which  did  fome 


rijons  ■,  otherwiie  they  had  all  undoubtedly  be- 
fore next  Morning  flept  their  lalt ;  their  Beds 
would  have  been  their  Graves.  However,  the 
Enemy  Kill'd  1  hrec  Yerfons,  Burnt  Three  Houfes, 
Butchered  many  cattel ;  and  fo  that  Scene  of  the 
Tragedy  being  over,  away  they  went. 


Good :  For  Great  Tom  having  terribly  feared  a 
Part  of  his  Countrymen  with  the  Tidings  of 
what  had  happened  ;  and  an  Englijh  Lad  in  their 
Hands  alio  telling  lbme  Truth  unto  them;  they 
betook  themfelves  to  fuch  a  Flight  in  their 
Fright,  as  gave  one  Mr.  Anthony  Bracket,  then  a 
Kkkkkkk2  Prilbner 


76 


Magnolia  Chrifti  Americana :  Book  VIL 


Prifoner  with  !cm,  an  Opportunity  to  fly  Four 
fcore  Miles  another  way.  Our  Forces  returning 
to  Macquoit.  one  of  our  Veffels  was  there  Care- 
iejly  ran  aground,  and  compelled  thereby  to  ftay 
for  the  next  Tide  ;  and  Mr.  Bracket  had  been 
miferably  aground,  if  it  had  not  fo  tell  out;  for 
he  thereby  got  thither  before  Ihe  was  afloat,  o- 
therwife  he  might  have  perilhed,  who  was  after- 
wards much  Improved  in  Service  againft  the 
Murderers  of  his  Father.  Arriving  at  Winter 
Harbour,  a  Party  of  Men  were  fent  up  the  Ri- 
ver, who  coming  upon  a  parcel  of  the  Mankeen 
Wolves  then  hunted  for,  killed  fome  of  them 
and  feized  mod  of  their  Arms,  and  Stores,  and 
Recovered  from  them  an  Englifhman,  who  told 
them  that  the  Enemy  were  intending  to  Ren- 
dezvouz  on  Pechypfcot  Plain,  in  Order  to  an  At- 
tempt upon  the  Town  of  Wells.  Upon  this  they 
Reimbark'd  lor  Macquoity  and  repaired  as  fait 
as  they  could  unto  Pechypfcot  Plain,  and  being 
divided  into  Three  Parties,  they  there  waited  for 
the  Approach  of  the  Enemy.  But  being  tired 
with  one  of  the  Three  Italian  Miferies,  Wait- 
ing for  tbje  who  did  not  come,  they  only  pof- 
felled  therhfelves  of  more  Plunder  there  hid  by 
the  Enemy,  and  returned  unto  Ca/^-Harboor. 
The  Enemy  it  feems  doggd  their  Motions  ;  and 
in  the'Night  they  made  a  Miichievous  Alfatilt 
upon  fuch  of  the  Englifh  Army  as  were  too  re- 
mifs  in  providing  tor  their  own  Safety  in  their 
goine  alhore  ;  killing  Five  of  our  Plymouth 
Friends,  who  had  Lodg'd  themfelves  in  an 
Houfe,  without  Commanders  or  Cent i nets.  The 
Englifh,  as  loon  js  the  Light  of  the  Day  (which 
was  the  Lord\-'\y.  Sept.  21.)  gave  'em  leave 
quickly  ran  upon  the  Enemy,  and  eafed  the 
World  of  fome  of  them,  and  made  the  reft 
Scamper  from  rhat  part  of  the  World,  and  got 
many  of  their  Canoo%  and  not  a  little  of  their 
Ammunition,  and  their  beft  Furniture  for  the 
Winter.  The  Army  was  after  this  DilmiiVd. 
only  an  Hundred  Men  were  left  with  Captain 
Convers  and  Lieutenant  Puufted.  who  fpent 
their  tnne  as  profitably  as  they  could,  in  Scout- 
ing abo  it  the  Frontiers,  to  prevent  Surprizals 
from  on  Enemy  which  rarely  did  Annoy  but 
when  they  could  Surprize. 

ARTICLE    XIII. 

A  Flag  of  Truce. 

NEw- England  was  now  quite  out  of  Breath  ! 
A  Tedious,  Lingring,  Expenfive  Dejence. 
againft  an  Ever-approaching  and  Unapproah- 
able  Adveriary,  had  made  it  10.  But  nothing 
had  made  it  more  fo,  than  the  Expedition,  to 
Canada,  which  had  Exhaufted  its  beft  Spirits, 
and  feem'd  its  Ultimt/s  Conatus.  While  the 
Country  was  now  in  too  great  Amazements  to 
proceed  any  farther  in  the  War,  the  Indians 
themf  Ives  Entreat  them  to  proceed  no  jarther. 
The  Indians  came  in  to  Wells  with  a  Flag  of 
Truce,  and  there  Entued  fome  Overtures  with 
the  Engiifb  Commillioners,  Major  Hutchinfon 
and  Captain  Town/end,  fent  from  Boflon  to  join 


with  fome  others  at  Wells,  At  length  a 
meeting  was  appointed  and  obtained  at  Sagade- 
hock,  Nov.  25.  where  the  Redemption  of  Ten 
Frglifh  Captives  was  accompliihed  •,  cne  of 
whom  was  Mrs.  Hull,  whom  the  Indians  were 
very  loth  to  part  withal,  becaufe  being  able  to 
Write  well,  they  made  her  ferve  them  in  the 
Quality  of  a  Secretary :  Another  was  named  Aa- 
thanael  White,  whom  the  Barbarous  Caniba/s  hsd 
already  tied  unto  a  Stake,  and  cut  off  one  of  his 
Ears,  and  made  him  Eat  it  Raw,  and  intended 
for  to  have  Roafled  the  reft  of  him  alive  :  The 
poor  Man  being  aftonifhed  at  his  own  De- 
liverance! At  laft  they  Signed  Articles,  dated 
AW  29.  1691.  wherein  they  engaged,  that  no 
Indians  in  thofe  Parts  of  the  World  Pnould  do 
any  Injury  to  the  Perfohs  or  Lftates  of  the 
Eng/iih  in  any  of  the  Engli/h  Colonies,  until  the 
Fuji  of  May  next  enfuing  :  And  that  on  the  faid 
Fuji  of  May  they  would  biing  into  Storeys 
Garrifon  at  l\  'ells  all  the  Englijh  Captives  in  their 
Hands,  and  there  Make,  and  Sign,  and  Seal  Ar- 
ticles of  Peace  with  the  Engiifb^  and  in  the 
mean  time  give  ieafon able  Advice  of  any  Plots 
which  they  might  know  the  French  to  have  a- 
gainft  them.  To  this  Inftrument  were  fet  the 
Paws  of  Elgeremet,  and  Five  more  of  their  Sa- 
gamores and  Noblemen. 

But  as  it  was  not  upon  the  Firm  Land  but  in 
their  Canoos  upon  the  Water,  that  they  Signed 
and  Sealed  this  Inftrument;  fo,  Reader.' we  will 
be  Jealous  that  it  will  prove  but  a  Flulluating 
and  Unftable  fort  of  a  Buiinel>;  and  that  the 
Indians  will  Do  a  Lie  as  they  ufe  to  do.  How- 
ever, we  will  difmifs  all  our  Soljiers  to  their  fe- 
veral  Homes,  leaving  only  Captain  Convers  to 
k  jcp  Wells  in  fome  Order,  until  the  Firfl  of 
May  do  ihow  whether  anv  more  than  a  meer 
Flag  of  Truce  be  yet  lhown  unto  us. 

ARTICLE    XIV. 

Remarkable  Encounters. 

AT  the  Day  appointed  there  came  to  the 
place  Mr.  Danfo/th,  Mr.  Moodey,  Mr. 
Vaugl-an,  Mi.  Brattle,  and  feveral  other  Gen- 
ilemen,  guarded  with  a  Troop,  to  fee  how 
'he  Frenchified  Indians  would  keep  their  Faith 
with  the  Tiereiicks  of  New-England.  The  In- 
dians being  poor  Muficians  for  keeping  of  time, 
came  nor  according  to  their  Articles,  and  when 
Captain  Convers  had  the  Courage  to  go  fetch: 
in  fome  of  them,  they  would  have  made  a  Lying 
Excufe.  That  they  did  not  know  the  time. 
They  brought  in  Two  Captives,  and  pro- 
miied,  that  In  Twenty  Days  more  they  would 
bring  into  Captain  Convers  all  the  reft ;  but 
finding  that  in  Two  and  Twenty  Days  they 
came  not,  with  much  Concern  upon  his  Mind 
he  got  himlelf  fupplied  as  faft  as  he  could 
with  Five  and  Thirty  Men  from  the  County 
of  Effex.  His  Men  were  not  come  half  an 
Hour  to  Storeys  Houfe,  on  June  9.  1691.  nor 
had  they  got  their  Indian  Weed  fairly  lighted  into 

their 


Book  VII.  Or,  1 he  Hijlory  of '  N'ewiJEiigLihd.  J  J 


their  Mouths,    before  fierce  Moxus,  with  Two 
Hundred  Indians,  made  an  Attacque  upon  the 
Garrifon.    This  Recruit  of  Men,  thusatthe  very 
Nick  of  time,  laved  the  Place  ;  for  Moxus  meet- 
ing with  a  brave  Repulfe,  drew  off;   and  gave 
Modockawando  Cdtufe  to  &y,  (as  a  Captive  after- 
wards related  it)  My  Brother  Moxus  has  mij's'd 
it  now,  but  I  will  go  my  f elf  the  next  Tear,  and 
have  the  Dog  Convers  out  of  his  Hole.    About 
this  time  the  Enemy   Hew  Two  Men  at  Ber- 
wick, Two  more  at  Exeter,  and  the  biggeft  Part 
of  Nine,  loading  a   VelTel  at   Cape    Nidduck. 
But  about  the  latter  end  of  July  we  lent  out  a 
finall   Army  under  the  Command  of  Captain 
March,  Captain  King,  Captain  She rb urn,  and 
Captain  Walt  en, {Convers  lying  Sick  all  Summer, 
had  this  to  make  him  yettrioreS/Vvfc  that  he  could 
have  no  part  in  thele  Actions)  who  landing  at 
Mat-quoit,  matched  up  to  Pechypfcot,    but  not 
finding  any  figns  of  the  Enemy,  inarched  down 
again.     While  the  Commanders   were  waiting 
Ajhore  till  the  Soldiers  were  got  aboard,  fuch 
great  N  umbers  of  Indians  pourtd  in  upon  them, 
that  tho1  the  C.mmandcrs  wanted  not  for  Cou- 
rage or  Conduct,  yet  they  found  themfelves  ob- 
liged,  with    much  ado.    ("and  not  without  the 
Death  of  worthy   Captain  Sherburn)  to  retire 
into  the  Veffels  which  then  lay  aground.    Here 
they  kept  pelting  at  one  another  all  Night; 
but  unto  little  other  purpofe  than  this,  which 
was  indeed  Remarkable,    That  the  E nemy  was 
at  this  tuns  going  to  take  the  llle  of  Shoales,  and 
no  doubt  had  they  gone  they  would  hive  taken 
it,  but  having  exhaufted  all  their  Ammunition 
on  this  Occalion,  they  defifted  from  whar  they 
defigr.ed.    For  the  reft  or  the  Year,  the  Com- 
panion of  Heaven  towards  diftrefled  New-Eng- 
land kept  the  Indians  under  a  ftrange  InaUivi- 
ty ;    only    on  Sept.    28.  Seven    Perions  were 
Murthered  and  Captived  at  Berwick ;  and  the 
Day  following  Thrice  Seven    of  Sandy-Beach: 
On    Ollob.   23.   one  Goodridge  and    his    Wife 
were  Murdered  at  Rowly,    and    his  Children 
Captived :    And   the  Day  following   the    like 
Fate  betel  a  Family  at  Haverhil.     And  this  Year 
a  very  good  ltrongFortat  Cape  Niiduck,  owned 
by  a  Widow,  was  unhappily    Deferted  ;    after 
which  the  Enemy  came  and  burnt  the  Houfes 
in  it. 

ARTICLE    XV. 

The  Martyrdom  of  Mr.  Shubael  Dummer,  with 
the  fate  0/York. 

§>uoties  vi ri  boni  violent  a  morte  perierunt  toties 
apud  Pios  Crevit  Fides  RefurreUionis. 
Grot.  inZech.  13.  7. 

BU  T  the  Winter  rauft  not  pafs  over  without 
a  Storm  of  Blood  !  The  Popifh  Indians,  af- 
ter long  Silence  and  Repofe  in  their  Inaccefjible 
Kennels,  which  made  our  Frontier  Towns  a 
little  Remit  their  tired  Vigilance,  did,  Jan.  25. 
1691.  let  upon  the  Town  of  Tork,  where  the 
Inhabitants  were  in  their  unguarded  Houfes  here 


and  there  fcattered,  Quiet  and  Secure.     Upon 
the  Firing  of  a  Gun  by  the  Indians,  which  was 
their Sig nal.  the  Inhabitants  locked  out  but  un- 
to their  Amazement,  found  their  Houfl-s  to  be 
Inverted  with  horrid  Salvages,  who  immediate- 
ly kilfd  many  of  thole  unprovided  Inhabitants, 
and  more   they  took  Prifcners.     This  Body  of 
Indians  confuting  of  'divers  Hundreds,  then  fent 
in  their  Summer;  to  lome  of  the    Gamfond 
Houfes;  and  thole  Garrifbns,  whereof  Tome  hud 
no  more  than  Two  or  Three  Men  in  them,  yet 
being  fo  well  Mann'd,  as  to  Reply,  That  they 
would fpend  their  Blood  unto  the- lull  Drop,  e'er 
they    would  furrender-,    thele  cowardly    Mif- 
creants  had  not  Mettle  enough  to  meddle  with 
"em.    So  they  retired  into  their  howling  Thick- 
ets,  having   firlt   Murdered  about  Fifty,    and 
Captived  near  an  Hundred  of  that  unhappy  Peo- 
ple.    In  this   Calamity    great   was  the  Share 
that  fell  to  the  Family  of  Mr.  SHUBAEL 
DUMMER,  the  Pallor  of  the  little  Hock 
thus  piey'd  upon-,  thofe  Blood-Hounds,  being  f.t 
on  by  lome  Romifh  Mijfionarie's,  had  long  been 
wilhing,  that  they  might  Embrue  their  Hands 
in  the  Blood  of  fome  Nezo-Englifh  MINIS  TERi 
and  in  this  Action  they  had  their  Diabolical  Sa- 
tisfaction.    Our  Dimmer;,    the    Mnifter    of 
Tork,  was  One  ot  whom  tor  his  Exemplary  Ho- 
linefs,  Humblenefs,  Modefty,    Induftry  aid  Fi- 
delity, The  W'ond  was  not  Worthy.     He  was  a 
Gentleman     ftWADefcended       Well  Tempered, 
^//-Educated  5  and  now  lhort  of  Sixty  Years  of 
Age.     Hemight  have  taken  tot  hisCoat  of  Arms 
he  fame  that  the  Holy  Martyr  Hooper  Prophe- 
tically did,  A  Lamb  in   a    flaming   Bujh,    with 
Rays  from  Heaven  fhining  on  it.     He  had  been 
Sollicited  with  many  Temptations  to  leave  hk 
Place,  when  the  Clouds  grew  Thick  and  Black 
in  the  Indian  Hojhlittcs,  and  were  like  to  break 
upon  ir ;    but  he  chofe  rather  with  a  paternal 
Affection  to  flay  amonglt  thofe  who  had  been" 
fo  many  of  them  Converted  and  Edified  by  his 
Miniftry  ;  and  he  fp'ent  very  much  of  his  owa 
Patrimony  to  fubiift  among  them,    when  their 
Diftrefles  made  them  unable  tofupport  him',  as 
otherwife  rhty  would  have  done.     In   a  word, 
he  was  one  that  mighr  by  way  of  Fmir.ency  be 
called,  AGood Man     This  Good  Man  was  juft 
going   to  take  Horfe  at  his  own  Door    upon  £ 
Journey  in  the  Service  of  God,  when  the  Tygres 
that  were  making  their  Depredations  upon  the 
Sheep  otTork  feiz'd  upon  this  theii  Shepherd;  and 
they  fhot  him  fo,   that  they  left  him  Dead  a- 
mong  the  Tribe  of  Abel  on  the  Ground.     Thus 
was  he  as  Ambrofe  in  his  Elegant  Oration,  De 
obitu  Fratris,  Expreffes  ir,  Non  nobis  ereptuf^ 
fed  pcric ulk.     His  Wife  they  carried  into  Cap- 
tivity, where  through  Sorrows  and  Harilhtps 
among  rhofe  Dragons  of  the  Dejart,    the  alio 
quickly  Died  ;  and  his  Church,  as  many  of  them 
as  were  in  thar  Captivity,  endured  rhis,  among' 
other  Anguilhes,  thar  on  the  next  hordes  Day; 
one  of  the  Tawnies  chofe  to  fxhibit  himfelf 
unto  them,  C  A  Devil  tu  an  Angel  of  Light  !  ] 
in  the  Cloatbs  whereof  they  had  ftript  the  Dead 
Body  of  this  their  Father.    Many  were  the  I  ears 

shat 


78 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana:  Book  VII. 


that  were  dropt  throughout  New-England  on  Iwando  is  now  come,  according  to  his  Promife 


this  Occafion;  and  reaming  the  reft:  For 
tho  we  do  not,  as  Tradition  tells  us,  the  An- 
tediluvians did  ufe  to  do  by  the  Blood  of  $btl, 
yet  we  anrrnt  bat  mournfully  Sing  of  the  Blood 
offuch  an  %])tL 

EPITAPH. 

DCUmmcr  the  Shepherd  Sacrificd 
By  Wolves,  beca/fe  thcSheepbe  priz'd. 
The  Orphans  bather.  Churches  Light, 
The  Love  of  Heav'n,  0/Hell  the  Spight. 
The  Countries  Gapman,  and  the  Face 
That  Snone,  but  knew  it  not,  with  Grace. 
Hunt eJ  by  Devils,  but  Relievd 
By  Angels,  and  on  high  Received. 
The    \\artyr\l  Pelican,  who  Bled 
Rather  than  leave  his  Charge  L'nfed. 
A  proper  Bird  of'Puradile, 
Shot,  and  Flown  thither  in  a  Trice. 

Lord    hear  the  Oy  of  Righteous  Outlimer'-f 

Wounds. 
Afcending  ffill  againji  the  Salvage  Hounds, 
That  Worry  thy  dear  Flocks ;  and  let  the  Cry 
Add  Force  to  Theirs  that  at  thine  Altar  lye. 

To  Compleat  the  Epitaph  of  this  Good  Man- 
there  now  needs  no  more  than  the  famous  old 
Chaucer's  Motto, 

Mors  mihi  zrumnarum  Requies. 


ARTICLE    XVI. 

The  Memorable  AS  ion  at  Wells. 

AVefTel,  the  Name  whereof  I  know  not, 
[Reader,  let  it  be  the  Charity']  being  im- 
medirtcly  difpatched  unto  Sagadehock.    by  the 
Charitable  Compajfions  of  the  more  Southward 
Neighbours   with  Efte&s  to  accompli  ''  it,  hap 
pily  EfFc£t  d  tne  Redemption  of  many  that  were 
taken  Captives  at  Tork.    But  the  reft  of  the  Peo- 
ple in  that  broken    Town    talking  of  Drawing 
off  the  Government,  fent  Captain  Convers  and 
Captain  Greenleaf    with  fuch  Encouragements 
unto  them  to  keep  their  Station,   as  prevailed 
with  'em  ftill  to  Stand  their  Ground.  In  February 
Major  Uutchinjon  was  made  Commander  in 
Chief  and  Forces  under  the  Command  of  Cap- 
tain  Convers-    Captain    Floyd,    and    Captain 
Thaxter.  were  by  him  fo  prudently  Polled  on 


la  Twelve-month  ago.      Captain  Convers  was 
lodg'd  in  Storer's  Garrifon  at  Wells  with  but 
Fifteen  Men ;  and  there  came  into  Wells  Two 
Sloops,  with  a  Shallop,  which  had  aboard  fup- 
pliesof  Ammunition  for  the  Soldiers,  and  Con- 
tribution for  the  Needy.    The  Cattel  this  Day 
came  frighted,  and  Bleeding  out  of  the  Woods, 
which  was  a  more  certain  Omen  of  Indians  a 
coming,  than  all  the  Prodigies  that  Livy  Reports 
of  the  jacrijiced  Oxen.     Convers  immediately 
iflued  out  his  Commands  unto  all  Quarters,  but 
efpecially  to  the  Sloops  juft  then  arrived.     The 
Sloops  were  Commanded  by  Samuel  Storer,  and 
James  Gouge,  and  Gouge  %  being  Two  Miles  up 
the  River,  he  wifely  brought  her  down  undifco- 
vered  unto  Storer\  by  the  advantage  of  a  Mill 
then  prevailing.      A  careful   Aight    they  had 
on't  !  The  next  Morning  betbre  Day-Light,  one 
John  Diamond,  aScranger  that  came  in  the  Shal- 
lop on  a  Vifit,  came  to  Captain  Convers  Garri- 
fon, where  the  Watch  invited  him  in  ;  but  he 
chofe  rather   to  go  aboard  the  Sloops,  which 
were  little  more  than  a  Gun-lhot  off:,  and.  alas 
the  Enemy  iffuing  out  from  their  Lurking-places' 
immediately  feiz'd   him.  and  haled   him  away 
by  the  Hair  of  the  Head,(in  I  pight  of  all  Attemprs 
ufed  by  the  Garrilon   to  Recover  him;  for  an 
horrible  Story  to  be  told  by  and  by  concerning 
him.     The  General  of  the  Enemies  Army  was 
Monfieur  Burniff;  and  one  Monfieur  Labrocree 
J  was  a  principal  Commander;  fthe  Enemy  laid, 
he  was  Lieutenant  General :)  there  were  alio 
divers  other  Frenchmen  of  Quality,  accompani- 
ed with  Modockawando,  and  Moxus,  and  Ege- 
remet,  and  Warumbo,  and  feveral  more  Indian 
Sagamores  •,    the  Army   made  up  in  all  about 
Five  Hundred  Men,   or  Fierce  things  in  the 
(hape  of  Men,   all  to  Encounter  Fifteen  Men  in 
one  little  Garrt/on     and    about  Fifteen  more 
Men  [worthily  called  Such!']  in   a  Couple  of 
open  Sloops.    Diamond    having    informed    'em 
how  'twas  in  all  Points,  (only   that  for  Fifteen, 
by  a  miftake  he  faid   Thirty.)  they  fell  to  Di- 
viding the  Perlbns  and  Plunder,    and  agreeing 
that  fuch  an  Eng/i/h  Captain  fhould  be  Slave  to 
fuch  a  one,  and  iuch  a  Gentleman  in  the  Town 
fhould  ferve  fuch  a  one,    and  his  Wije  be  a 
Maid  of  Honour  ro  fuch  or  fuch  a  Squaw  pro- 
pofed,  and  Mr.  WbeeJright  >  inftead  of  being  a 
Worthy  Counfellor  ot  the  Province,  which  he 
now  is  \)  was  to  be  the  Servant  of  fuch  a  hetop  ^  . 
and  the  Sloops,  with  their  Stores,  to  be  fo  and 
fo  parted  among  them.    There  wanted  but  One 
Thing  to  Confummate  the  whole  Matter,  even 


the  Frontiers,  that  by  maintaining  a  continual  I  the  Chief  Thing  of  all,  which  I  fuppofe  they  had 


Communication,  it  became  a  Difficult  thing  for 
the  Enemy  10  make  any  more  Approaches.  Lieu- 
tenant Wilfon  particularly  hearing  of  a  Man 
fbot  at  in  Quochccho-VJ oods,  went  out  with  a 
Scout  of  about  Eighteen  Men,  who  came  upon 
the  Indians  that  had  ihot  at  the  Man,  and  kill- 
ed and  wounded  all  but  one  of  the  whole  Com- 
?any.  But  now,  Reader,  the  longeft  Day  in  the 
'ear  is  to  come  on,  and  if  I  miftake  not,  the  bra- 
veji  A3  in  the  War  fell  out  upon  it.    Modocka- 


not  thought  of-,  that  was,  for  Heaven  to  deliver 
all  this  Prize  into  their  Hands:  But,  Aliter  Sta- 
tut  urn  ef\  in  Cosh !  A  Man  habited  like  a  Gen- 
tleman made  a  Speech  to  them  in  Englilh,  Ex- 
horting 'em  to  Courage,  and  Alluring  'em,  that 
if  they  would  Courageoufly  fall  upon  the  Eng- 
lifh,  all  was  their  own.  The  Speech  being  End- 
ed, they  fell  to  the  Work,  and  with  on  horrid 
Shout  and  Shot,  made  their  AlTault  upon  the 
Feeble  Garrifon :  But  the  Englilh  anfwered  with 


Book   VLL  Ory  The  Hifiory  of  New-England. 


79 


a  brisk  Volley,  and  fent  fuch  a  Leaden  Shower 
among  them,  that  they  retired  frum  the  Garri- 
fon  to  fpend  the  Storm  of  their  Fury  upon  the 
Sloops.     You  muff  know,  that  Wells  Harbour  is 
rather  a  Creek  than  a  River,  for  'tis  very  Nar 
row,  and  at  low  Water  in  many  Places  Dry, 
peverthelefs,  where  the  VelTels  ride  it  is  Deep 
enough,  and  fo  far  off  the   Bank,  that  there  is 
from  thence  no  leaping  Aboard.     But  our  Sloops 
were   forely    incommoded  by  a  Turn  of  the 
Creek,  where  the  Enemy  could  lye  out  of  dan- 
ger \o  near   em.  as  to  throw  Mud  Aboard  with 
rheir  Hands.     The  Enemy  was  alio  priviledged 
with  a  great  Heap  of  flank  lying  on  the  Bank. 
and  w'rth  an  Hay  Stock,  which  they  ftrengthen- 
ed  with  Pofts  and  Rails;   and  from  all  thefe 
Places,  they  poured  in  their  Vengeance  upon  the 
poor  Sloops,  while  they  fo  placed  fmaller  Parties 
of  their  Salvages,    as  to  make  it  impoiiible  tor 
any  of  the  Garrifons  to  afford  'em  any  relief. 
Lying  thus  within  a  Dozen  Yards  of  the  Sloops, 
ihev  did  with  their  Fire  Arrowsy  divers  times 
defperarely  let  the  ^W/v  on  Fire:  But  the  brave 
Defendants,   with  a  Swab  at  the  end  of  a  Rope 
tied  unto  a  Pole,  and  fo  dipt  into  the  Water. 
happily  put  the  Fire  our.     In  brief,  the  Sloops 
gave  the  Enemy  fo  brave  a  Repulfe,   that  at 
Night  they   Retreated  :    When  they  renewed 
their  AlTault.  rinding  that  their  Fortitude  would 
not  allure  the  Succels  of  the  AlTault  unto  them, 
they  had  recourfs  unto  their  Policy.     Firft,  an 
Indian  comes  on  with  a  Slab  fox  a.  Shield  before 
him  ;  when  a  Shot  from  one  of  the  Sloops  pier- 
ced the  Slab,  which  fell  down  inftead  of  a  Tomb- 
jione  with  the  dead  Indian  undsr  it:  On  waich, 
as  little  a  Fellow  as  he  was,   I  know  not  whe- 
ther fome  will  not  reckon  it  proper  to  inferibe 
the  Epitaph  which  the  Italians  ufe  to  beftow 
upon  their  Dead  Popes-,  When  the  Dog  is  Dead, 
all  his  Malice  is  Dead  with  him.     Their  next 
Stratagem  was  this  :    They  brought  out  of  the 
Wood's  a  kind  of  a  Cart,  which  they  Trimm'd 
and  Rigg'd.   and  Fitted   up  into  a   thing  that 
might  be  called,  A  Chariot :  Whereon  they  built 
a  Platform,  (hot- proof  in  the  Front,  and  placed 
many  Men  upon  the  Platform.    Such  an  Engine 
they  under Itood  how  to  Shape,  without  having 
Read  (I  fuppofe)  the  Defcription  of  the  Pluteus 
xnVegetiusl   This  Chariot  they  pufh'd  en  to- 
wards the  Sloops,  till  they  were  got,  it  may  be, 
within  Fifteen  Tards  of  them  ;   whenlo  one  of 
the  Wheels,  to  their  Admiration^  iunk  into  the 
Ground.     A  Frenchman  ftepping  to  heave   the 
Wheel  with  an  helpful  Shoulder,  Storer  (hot 
him  down ;  another  ftepping  to  the  Wheel,  Storer 
with  a   well-placed   Shot,     fent  him  after  his 
Mate :  So  the  Reft  thought  it  was  beft  let  it 
ftand  as  it  was.    The  Enemy  kept  Gauling  the 
Sloop  from  their  ieveral  Batteries,    and  calling 
'em  to  Surrender,    with  many  fine  Promifes  to 
make  them  happy-,  which  ours  anfwered  with  a 
juft  Laughter,  that  had  now  and  then  a  morti- 
ferous  Bullet  at  the Fnd  ot  it.    The  Tide  Riling, 
the  Chariot  overfet,  fo  that  the  Men  behind  ir 
lay  open  to  the  Sloops,  which  immediately  Dif- 
penced  an  horrible  Slaughter  among  them  ;  and 
they  that  could  get  away,  got  as  faft,   and  as 


far  off  as  they  could.     In  the  Night  the  Ene- 
my had  much  Diicourle  with  the  Sloops-,  they 
enquired.     Who  were  their  Commanders  ?   And 
the  Euglilh  gave  an  Anfwer,  which  in  fome  other 
Cafes  and  Places  would  have   been  too  true, 
That  they  had  a  great  many  Commanders:  But 
the  Indians  replied,  Jou Lie,  you  have  none  but 
Convers,  and  we  w.tl  have  him  too  before  Morn- 
ing !    They  alio  knowing   that  the  Magazine 
was  in  the  Garrtfon,   lay  under  an    Hill-fide, 
Peking  at  that  by  times-    but  Captain  Convert 
once  in  the  Night,    lent  out  Three  or  Four  of 
his  Men  into  a  Field  of  Wheat   lor  a  Shot,    if 
they  could  get  one.     There  feeing  a  Black  Heap 
lying  together,  Ours  all  at  once  let  Fly  upon 
them  a  Shot,  that  Hew  Ieveral  of  them  that 
were  thus   Caught  in    the   Corn,     and    made 
the    reft   glad     that    they    found    themfelves 
able  to  run  lor  it.     Captain  Convert  was  this 
while   in  much  Diitrds   about  a  Scout  of  Six 
Men  which  he  had  fent  forth  to  Nevoichavoan-. 
ruck  the  Morning  before  the  Arrival  of  the  Ene- 
my, ordering  them  to  Return  the  Dsy  follow- 
ing.    The  Scout  return  d  into  the  very  Mouth 
of  the  Enemy  that  lay  before  the  Garrifon  ;  but 
the  Corporal  having  his  Wits  about  him,  calEd 
out  aloud,  (as   if  he  had  feen  Captain  Convert 
making  a  Silley  forth  upon  'em)  Ciptain  Wheel 
about  your  Men  round  the  Hill  and  we /hall  Catch 
V//z ;  there  are  but  a  few  Rogues  of 'em  !    Upon 
winch  the  Indians  imagining  that  Captain  Con- 
vers  had  been  at  their  Heels,  betook  themfelves 
to  their  Heels-,  and  our  Folks  got  fafe  into  ano- 
ther Garrifon.      On  the    Lord's-Day   Morning 
there  was  for  a  while  a  deep  Silence  among  the 
AffailmcntS;  but  at  length  getting  into  a  Body, 
they  mirched  with  great  Formality  towards  the 
Garrifon,  where  the  Captain  ordered  his  hand- 
ful of  Men  to  lye  Snug-  and  not  to  make  a  Shot, 
until  every  Shot  might  be  likely  to  do  fome  Exe- 
cution.     While  they  thus  beheld  a  formidable 
Crew  of  Dragons,    coming  with  open    Mouth 
upon  them   to  Swallow  them  up  at  a  Mouth- 
ful, one  of  the  Soldiers  began  to  fpeak  of  Sur- 
rendring  ;  upon  which  the  Captain  vehement- 
ly protefted,   That  he  would  lay  the  Man    Dead 
who   (hould  fo  much  as  mutter  that  bafe  Word 
any  more  !    And  lb  they   heard  no   more   on 
it  :    But    the  Valiant  Storer  was    put    upon 
the   like  Proreftation,    to   keep  'em  in  good 
Fighting  Trim  aboard  the  Sloops  alfo.    The  E- 
ncmy  now  approaching  very  near,    gave  Three 
Shouts  that  made  the  Earth  ring  again  ;    and 
Crying  out  in  Englifh,    Fire,  and  fall  on  brave 
Boys  !  The  whole  Body  drawn  into  Three  Ranks, 
Fired  at  once.     Captain  Convcrs  immediately 
ran  into  the  feveral  Flankers,  and  made  their 
belt  Guns  Fire  at  fuch  a  rate,  that  feveral  of  the 
Enemy  fell,  and  the  reft  of  'em  difappeared  al- 
moft  as  nimbly  as  if  there  had  been  fb  many 
SpeUres:  Particularly  a  Parcel  of  therrr  got  into 
a  fmall  delerted  Houfe  •,    which  having  but  a 
Board-Wall  to  it,  the  Captain  lent  in  after  them 
thole  Bullets  of  Twelve  to  the  Pound   that  made 
the  Houfe  too  hot  for  them  that  could  get  out  of 
it.     The  Women  in  the  Garrifon  on  this  occafion 
took  up  the  Amazonian  Stroke,   and  not  only 

brought 


8o 


Alagnalia  Chrijii  Americana :  Book  \IL 


brought  Ammunition  to  the  Men,  but  alio  with  a  \feel  That  the  bejl  Soldier  !  Then  they  fell  to 
Manly  Reiqlution  fired  feverak  times  upon  the'' 
Enemy.  TheEnemv  finding  that  things  would 
not  vet  go  to  their  Minds  ar  the  Garrijon,  drew 
off  to  try  their  Skill  upon  the  Sloops,  which  lay 
ftill  abreaft  in  the  Creek,  laih'd  raft  one  to  ano- 
ther. They  built  a  great  Fire-Work  about 
Eighteen  or  Twenty  Foot  Square,    and  fill'd   it 

up  with  combuftible  Matter,  which  they  fired 

and  then  they  let  it  in  the  way  for  the  Tide 

now  to  Float  it  up  unto  the  Sloops,  which  had 

now  nothing  but  an  horrible  Death  before  them. 

Nevertheless  their  demands  of  both  the  Gam 
Jon  and  the  Shops  to  yield  rhemielves,  were 

anfwered  no  oiherwile  than  with  Death  upon  ma- 
ny of them,  fpir  from  the  Guns  of  rhebetieged 

Having  tow'd    their  Fire-Work  as  far  as  they 

durft,  they  committed  it  unto  the  Tide,  but  the 

diltrtffed  Chriftians  that  had  this  deadly   Fire 

fwiming  along  upon   the  Water  towards  them, 

committed  it  unto  God:    And  God  looked  from 

Heaven  upon  them  in  this  prodigious  Article  of 

their  Diftrels.     Theje  poor  Men  cried,  and  the 

Lord  heard  them,  and  faved  them  out  of  their 

Troubles:  The  Wind,  unto  their  Aftonithmenr, 

immediately  turn'd  about,  and   with  a    freih 

Gale  drove  the    Machin  Alhore  on   the  other 

fide,  and  1  "pi i r  it  fo,  that  the  Water  being  let  in 

upon  it,  the  tire  went  out.     So  the  godly  Men 

that  faw  God  from  Heaven  thus  Fighting  for 

them,  cried  out  with  an  Aftoniihing  Joy,  If  it 

had  not  been  the  Lord,  who  was  on  our  Jide,  they 

had Jwal/owed  us  up  quick  \  blrjfed  be  the  Lord 

who  hath  net  given  us  a  prey  to  their  Teeth  ;  out 

Soul  is  Ef coped  as    a   bud    out  t>j  the    Snare 

of  the  bowlers!   The  Enemy  were  now  in  a 

pitiful     Pickle     with     Toiling   and     Moiling 

in  the  Mud,  and  black 'ned  with  it.  if  Mud  could 

add  Blacknefs  to  luch  Mifcreants  ;    and    their 

Ammumrion      was    pretty     well    Exbaufted  : 

So  that  now  they  began  to  draw  off  in  all  Parts, 

and  with  Kafts  get  over  the  River;  lbme  where 

of  breaking  there  did  not  a  tew  Cool  their  late 

Heat  by  falling  into  it.     But  firlt,    they  made 

all  the  fpoil  they  could  upon  the  Caitel  about 

the  Town ;   and   giving  one  Shot  more  at  the 

Sloops,  they  kill'd  the  only  Man  of  ours  that 

Was  kill'd   aboard  'em.     Then  after  about  half 

an  Hours  Confutation,    they   lent   a   Flag  of 

T,ucexo  the  Garriibn,  advifing  'em  with  much 

Flatrtry   to    Surrender ;    but    the  Captain  fent 

'eti  vVord,    ihat  he  wanted  for  nothing  but  for 

Men  to  come  and  Fight  him.     The  Indian  repli- 
ed unto  Captain  Convers,  Being  you  are  fo  Stout. 

zehy  don  t  you  tome  and  Fight  in  the  open  Field 

lik"  a  Man,  and  not  Fight  in  a  Garrijon  like  a 

Squaw  ?   The  Captain  rejoined,  What  a  Fool  are 

you  f  Do  you  think  Thirty  Men  a  match  for  t  ive 

Hundred*  J\o.   (fays  the  Captain,  counting,  as 

well  he  might,  each  of  his  Fifteen  Men  to  be 

as  good  as  Two  !)  Come  with  your  Thirty  Men 

upon  the  Plain,  and  I  will  meet  you  with  my  I  htr- 


Coakfing  the  Captain  with  as  many  fine  Words 
as  the  Fox  in  the  Fable  had  for  the  Allurement 
of  his  Prey  unto  him;  and  urged  mightily,  that 
Enfign  Hill,  who  ftood  with  the  Flag  of  Truce^ 
might  Hand  a  little  nearer  their  Army.  The 
Captain  for  a  good  Keaion  to  be  prel'ently  de- 
cerned, would  not  allow  that:  Where:; pom 
they  tell  toThreatning  and  Raging,  like  lo  ma- 
ny defeated  Devils,  uhngtbeic  \\  ords,  Damn  ye, 
we'll  cut  you  at  J mall  as  Tobacco  be] ore  to  mo*" 
row  Morning.  The  Captain  bid  'em  to  make 
Hade,  for  he  wanted  U  ork  ■,  lo  the  Indian  [blow- 
ing his  Flag  on  the  Ground,  ran  away,  and  En- 
fign Hill  nimbly  Srripping  his  Flag  ran  into 
the  Valley'  but  the  Salvages  prclently  Fired 
from  an  Arhbufhment  behind  an  hill,  near  the 
Place  where  they  had  uiged  lor  a  Farley. 

A\A  now  for  poor  John  Diamond  I  The  Ene- 
my Retreating  (which  opportunity  the  Sloops 
took  to  Burn  down  the  Dangerous  Hay- Stock) 
into  the  Plain,  out  of  Gun-lhot  they  fcilro  Tor- 
turing thtir  Captive  John  Diamond  after  a  man- 
ner very  Diabolical-  They  Stripped  him,  they 
Scalped  him  Alive,  and  after  a  <!af ration,  tniv 
finiihed  that  Article  in  the  Ptinilhment  ot  Trai- 
tors upon  him;  they  ilit  him  with  Knives  be- 
tween hisFingers  and  h\s  Toes;  they  made  cruel 
Cojhes  in  the  molt  fiefhy  Parts  ot  his  Body,  arwl 
Ituck  the  GafhcS  with  Firebrands  which  were 
afterwards  found  flicking  in  the  Wounds.  Thus 
they  Butchered  One  poor  Englilhman  with  all 
the  Fury  that  they  would  have  fpent  upon  them 
ill,  and  performed  an  Exploit  for  Five  Hun- 
dred Furies  to  brag  of  at  their  coming  home. 
Ghaftly  to  Exprejs  !  What  was  it  then  to  Suffer? 
They  returned  rhen  unro  the  Garrijon,  and  kept 
Firing  at  it  now  and  then  till  near  Ten  a  Clock 
at  Night;  when  they  all  marched  off,  leaving 
behind  'em  .iome  ot  their  Dead  ;  whereof  one 
was  Monfieur  Labocree,  who  had  about  his 
Neck  a  Pouch  with  about  a  Dozen  Keliques  in- 
geniously made  up,  and  a  Printed  Paper  ot'In- 
du'gcncies,  and  fevcral  other  Implements-  and 
no  doubt,  thought  himfelt  in  as  good  Safety  as 
it  he  had  all  the  Spells  of  Lapland  about  him : 
But  it  feems  none  or  the  Amulets  about  his 
Keck  would  fkve  him  from  a  Mortal  Shot  in 
the  Head.  Thus  in  Forty-eighr  Hours  was 
tinifhed  an  Aft  ion  as  Worthy  to  be  Related,  as 
perhaps  any  that  occurrs  in  our  Storv  And  k 
was  not  long  before  the  Valiant  Gouge,  who 
bore  his  part  in  this  Action  did  another  that 
was  not  much  interiour  ro  it.  when  he  fud- 
denly  recovered  from  the  rrench  a  valuable 
Prey,  which  they  had  newly  taken  upon  our 
Coaft. 

1  doubt,  Reader,  we  have  made  this  Article 
of  our  Hiltory  a  little  too  long.  We  will  rini  h 
it  when  we  have  Remark'd,  that  alheir  there 
were  too  much  Yeeblenejs  discovered  by  my 
Countrymen   in  fome  of  their  Actions   during 


ty  as  foon  as  you  will.  Upon  this  the  Indian  this  War  at  Sea,  as  well  as  on  Shore,  yet  feve- 
anfwered.  Nay,  me  oven  Englifh  Fafhion  is  ali  ral  of  their '  AcFions,  efpecially  at  Sea,  defer ve 
one  tool ,  you  kill  me.  me  kill  you  I  No,  bet-  j  to  be  Rcmtmbred.  And  1  cannot  but  particu- 
tenye  Jomewhere  and  Shoot  a  Man,    and  he  no   larly  belpeak   a  Remembrance  tor  the  Exploit 

per- 


Book  VII.       0ry  The  Hijiory  of  New-England.  8i 


performed  by  fome  of  my  Neighbours  in  a  Vef- 
fel  going  into  Barbadoes.  They  were  in  fight  of 
Barbadoes  afTatiltedby  a  FrencbVeJfel,  which  had 
a  good  number  of  Guns,  and  between  Sixty  and 
Seventy  Hands.  Our  Veffel  had  Four  Guns, 
and  Eight  Fighting  Men.  [Truly  fucb  t\  with 
Two  Tawny  Servants.  The  Names  of  thefe 
Men  were  Barret,  Sunderland,  Knoles,  Nafh, 
Morgan,  Fofdyke,  and  Two  more  that  I  now 
forget.  A  defperate  Engagement  enfued,  where- 
in our  Eight  Marriners  managed  the  matter 
With  fucb.  Bravery,  that  by  the  help  of  Heaven 
they  killed  between  Thirty  and  Forty  of  the 
French  AJfailants,  without  lofing  one  of  their 
own  little  Number :  And  they  lank  the  French 
Veffel  which  lay  by  their  fide,  out  of  which 
they  took Twenty-feven  Prifbners,  whereof  fome 
were  wounded,  and  all  crying  for  Quarter. 
In  the  Fight  the  French  Pennant,  being  by  the 
Windfaftned  about  the  Top-Malt  of  the  Eng- 
l:,h  VeiTel,  if  was  turn  ort  by  the  finking  of 
the  French  VeiTel,  and  left  pleafantiy  flying 
there.  So  they  Saifd  into  Barbadoes,  where 
the  Affembly  voted  them  on;  Publick  Acknow- 
nent  of  their  Courage  and  Conduct  in 
this  brave  Action,  and  our  Hijiory  now  gives 
them  another. 


ARTICLE 


IL 


The  Fort  at  Pemmaquid. 

HIS  Excellency    Sir  William  fhips   being 
arrived  now  the  Govetnour  of  New-Eng- 
land, applied  himfelf  with  all  poffible  Vigour 
to  carry  on  the  War  :  And  the  Advice  of  a  New 
Slaughter  fome  time  in  July  made  by  the  Indi- 
ans, on  certain  poor  Husbandmen  in  their  Mea- 
dows,   at  the  Northlide  of  Merrimack-K\\Qi, 
put  an  Accent  upon  the  Zeal  of  theDefigns, 
which  he  was  now  vigorouily  profecuting.     Pie 
raifed    about  Four   Hundred  and   Fifty   Men, 
and  in  purfuance  of  his  inftruclions  from  White- 
bail,  he  laid  the  Foundations  of  a  Fort  at  Pem- 
■maquid^    which  was   the  finelf  thing  that  had 
been  feen  in   thefe  Parts  of  America.    Captain 
ti  'ing,  aiiifted  with  Captain  Bancroft,  went  thro' 
the  former  Part  of  the  Work;  and  the  latter  Part 
of  it  was  finifhed  by  Captain  March.    His  Ex- 
cellency  attended  in  this  Matter,   with  thefe 
worthy   Captains,    did  in  a  few  Months  dif- 
patch  a  Service  for  the  King,  with  a  Prudence, 
and   Indujhy,    and   Tbnfunejs,    greater  than 
any  Reward  they  ever  had  for   it.     The  Fort 
called,  The  William  Henry,  was  built  of  Stone 
in  a  ^iiadrangular  Figure.being  about  Seven  Hun- 
dred and  Thirty  SevenVoot  in  Compels,  without 
the  Outer  Walls,   and  an   Hundred  and  Eight 
Foot  Square,    within  the  Inner  ones  -,   Twenty- 
eight  Ports  it  had,    and  Fourteen   (if  not  Eigh- 
teen) Guns  mounted,  whereof  Six  were  Eigb- 
tecn-Pounders.     The  Wall  on  the  South-Line, 
fronting  to  the  Sea,  was  Ticentytwo  Foot  High, 
and  more  than  Six  Foot  Thick  at  the  Ports, 
which  were  Eight  Foot  from  the  Ground.    The 


greater  Flanker  or  Round  Tower  at  the  Weftern- 
End  of  this  Line,  was  Twenty-nine  Foot  High. 
The  Wall  on  the  Eaft  Line  was  Twelve.  Foot 
High,  on  the  North  it  was  Ten,  on  the  Weft  it 
was  Eighteen.  It  was  computed  that  in  the 
whole  there  were  laid  above  Two  Tboufani 
Cart-Loads  of  Stone.  It  flood  about  a  Score  of 
Rods  from  High-Water  Mark ;  and  it  had  gene- 
rally at  leaft  Sixty  Men  polled  in  it  for  its  De- 
fence, which  if  they  were  Men,  might  eafily 
have  maintained  it  againft  more  than  Twice  Six 
Hundred  AlTailants.  Yea,  we  were  almoft  rea- 
dy to  flatter  our  felves,  that  we  might  have 
writ  on  the  Gates  of  this  Fort,  as  the  French, 
did  over  that  ofNamur^  (yet  afterwards  taken 
by  K.  William)  Reddi,  non  Vinci  pot  eft.  Now 
as  the  Architect  that  built  the  ftrong  Fortrels  at 
Name  in  Poland,  had,  for  his  Recompence,  his 
Eyes  put  out,  left  he  fhould  build  luch  another  * 
Sir  William  Pbips  was  almoft  as  hardly  Recom- 
penced  for  the  building  of  this  at  Pammaquid. 
Although  this  Fort  thus  Ere£t ed  in  the  Heart  of 
the  Enemies  Country,  did  fo  break  the  Heart 
of  the  Enemy,  that  indeed  they  might  have 
calfd  it,  as  the  French  did  theirs,  upon  the  Ri- 
ver of  the  Illinois,  the  Fort  of  Creveceeur  ;  and 
the  Tranquillity  After  Enjoy'd  by  the  Country 
(which  was  very  much  more  than  Before)  was' 
under  God,  much  owing  thereunto  :  Yet  the  Ex- 
pence  of  maintaining  it,  when  we  were  ib  much 
impoverifhed  otherwise,  made  it  continually 
complained  of  as  one  of  the  Countries  Grievances. 
The  Murmurings  about  this  Fort  were  fo  Epi- 
demical, that  if  we  may  fpeak  in  the  Fouliih 
Cant  of  Aftrolcgy,  and  Prognosticate  from  the 
Afpett  of  Saturn  upon  Mars  at  its  Nativity, 
Fort  William-Henry,  Thou  baft  not  long  to  Live  ! 
Before  the  Tear  Ninety-fix  Expire,  thou /halt 
be  demolifhed.  In  the  mean  time  let  us  accom- 
pany Major  Church  going  with  a  Company  to 
Penobfcot,  where  he  took  Five  Indians ;  and  af- 
terwards to  Taconet,  where  the  Indians  difco- 
vering  his  Approach,  fet  their  own  Fort  on  Fire 
themfelves,  and  flying  from  it,  left  only  their 
Corn  to  be  deftroy'd  by  him.  And  ib  we  come 
to  the  End  of  1692.  only  we  are  ftopt  a  little 
with  a  very  ftrange  Parenthefis. 

ARTICLE    XVIII. 

A  Surprising  Thing  laid  before  the  Reader  fop, 
him  to  judge,  (if  be  can^)  what  to  make  of  it. 


R 


Eader,  I  muft  now  addrefs  thee  with  the 
Words  of  a  Poet : 

Dicam  lnjigne  Recens,  adbuc 
IndiUum  ore  alio.     Horat. 


But  with  Truths  more  confirmed,  than  what 
ufes  to  come  from  the  Pen  of  a  Poet.  The  Story 
of  the  Prodigious  War,  made  by  the  Spirits  of 
the  Invifible  World  upon  the  People  ofNew-Eng° 
land,  in  the  Year  1692.  hath  Entertain'd  a  great 
Part  of  theEnglifh  World  with  ajuft  Aftonilh- 
ment:  And  I  have  met  with  fome  ftrange 
L  1 1 11 1 I  fcings, 


J 


82 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana :  Book  VIL 


things,  not  here  to  be  mentioned,  which  have 
made  me  often  think,  that  this  inexplicable  War 
might  have  fome  of  its  Otiginal  among  the  In- 
dians^ whole  chief  Sagamores  are  well  known 
unto  fome  of  our  Captives  to  have  been  horrid 
Sorcerers,  and  hellilh  Conjurers,  and  fuch  as 
Converted  with  Damons.  The  Sum  of  that  S:o- 
ry  is  Written  in  The  Life  of  Sir  William 
Phips;  with  fuch  Irreproachable  Truth,  as  to 
defie  the  utmoft  Malice  and  Cunning  of  all  our 
Sadduces  to  confute  it  in  fo  much  as  one  Ma- 
terial Article  :  And  that  the  Balant  and  Latum 
Noifes  of  that  fort  of  People  may  be  for  ever 
Silenced,  the  Story  will  be  abundantly  Juftifi- 
ed,  when  the  further  Account  written  of  it 
by  Mr.  John  Hale  (hall  be  publifhed:  For  none 
can  fufpecf  a  Gentleman  fo  full  of  Diffatif- 
facfion  at  the  proceedings  then  ufed  againft 
the  fuppofed  Witchcrafts,  as  now  that  Reve- 
rend  Perfon  is,  to  be  a  Superjlitious  Writer  up- 
on that  Subjecf. 

Now  in  the  time  of  thatmatchlefsFlV,  there 
fell  out  a  thing  at  Glocefier  which  falls  inhere 
moft  properly  to  be  related  :  A  Town  fo  Sci- 
tuated,  Surrounded,  and  Neighboured,  in  the 
County  otEjfcx,  that  no  Man  in  his  Wits  will 
imagine,  that  a  Dozen  Frenchmen  and  Indians 
would  come  and  alarm  the  Inhabitants  for 
Three  Weeks  together,  and  Engage  'em  in  fe- 
veral  Skirmilhes,  while  there  were  Two  Regi- 
ments Raifed,  and  a  Detachment  of  Threefcore 
Men  fent  unto  their  Succour,  and  not  One  Man 
hurt  in  all  the  A&ions,  and  all  End  unaccoun- 
tably. And  becaufe  the  Relation  will  be  Ex- 
traordinary, I  will  not  be  my  felfthe  Author 
of  anyone  Claufe  in  it;  but  I  will  Tranfcribe 
the  Words  of  a  Minifter  of  the  Gofpel,  who 
did  me  the  Favour,  with  much  Critical  Caution, 
to  Examine  Wttneffes,  not  long  after  the  thing 
happened,  and  then  fent  me  the  following  Ac- 
count. 


A  faithful  Account  of  many  Wonderful  and  Sur- 
prifing  Things  which  happened  in  the  Town 
ofGlocefter  in  the  Tear  1692. 

4T7  Benezer  Bap/on,  about  Midfummer,  in  the 
SJj  'Year    1692.   with  the   reft  of  his  Fa- 

*  mily,  almoft  every  Night  heard  a  Noife 
1  as  if  Perfbns  were  going  and  running  about  his 
'  Houle.    But  one  Night  being  abroad  late,  at 

*  his  return  Home  he  faw  Two  Men  come  out 
'  of  his  Door,  and  run  from  the  end  of  the 
cHoufe  into  the  Corn.  But  thofe  of  the  Fa- 
'  mily  told  him,  there  had  been  no  Perfon  at 
1  all  there ;   whereupon  he  got  his  Gun,  and 

*  went  out  in  purfuit  after  them,  and  coming 
'  a  little  Diftance  from  the  Houle,  he  faw  the 
4  Two  Men  ftart  up  from  behind  a  Log,  and 
crun  into  a  little  Swamp,  faying  to  each  other, 

*  The  Man  of  the  Houfe  is  come  now,  clfe  ice 
c  might  have  taken  the  Houje.  So  he  heard 
'  nor  faw  no  more  of  them. 

'Upon  this  the  whole  Family  got  up,  and 

*  Went  with  all  fpeed  to  a  Garrifon  near  by ; 


and  being  juft  got  into  the  Gamfon,  they 
heard  Men  ftamping  round  the  Garrifon. 
Whereupon  Bapjon  took  his  Gun  and  ran  out, 
and  faw  Two  Men  again  running  down  an 
Hill  into  a  Swamp.  The  next  Night  but  one, 
the  faid  Bapfon  going  toward  a  frelh  Meadow, 
fawTivoMen,  which  looked  like  frenchmen, 
one  of  them  having  a  bright  Gun  upon  his 
Back,  and  both  running  a  great  Pace  towards 
him,  which  caufed  him  to  make  the  beft  of 
his  way  to  the  Garrifon,  where  being  come, 
ieveral  heard  a  Noife  as  if  Men  were  ftamping 
and  running  not  far  from  the  Garrifon.  With- 
in a  Night  or  Two  after  this,  the  Perfbns  in 
the  Garrifon  heard  a  Noife,  as  if  Men  were 
throwing  Stones  againft  the  Barn.  Not  long 
after  this,Bapfon,  with  John  Brown,  law  Three 
Men  about  a  Gunfhot  off  the  Garrifon,  which 
they  endeavoured  to  Shcot  at,  but  weredifap- 
pointed  by  their  running  to  and  fro  from  the 
Corn  into  the  Bulhes.  They  were  feen  Two 
or  Three  Nights  together ;  but  thi  ■  the  a- 
bovefaid  ftrove  to  Ihoot  at  them,  they  could 
never  attain  it.  On  July  14.  Bapfon  and 
Brown,  with  the  reft  of  the  Men  in  the  Gar- 
rifon, faw,  within  Gurr-ihot,  half  a  Dozen  Men  ; 
whereupon  all  the  Men  but  One  made  halle 
out  of  the  Garrifon,  marching  towards  them, 
Bapjon  prefenrly  overtook  Two  of  them  which 
run  out  of  the  Bulhes,  and  coming  clofe  to 
them,  he  prefented  his  Gun  at  them,  and  his 
Gun  milling  Fire,  the  Two  Men  returned  into 
the  Bulhes.  Bapfon  then  called  unto  the  other 
Perfons,  which  were  on  the  other  fide  of  rhe 
Swamp,  and  upon  his  call  they  made  Anfwer, 
Here  they  are !  Here  they  are !  Bapfon  then  run- 
ning to  meet  them,  faw  Three  Men  walk  fbftly 
out  of  the  Swamp  by  each  other's  Side;  the 
middlemcft  having  on  a  white  Waftecoat.  So 
being  within  Two  or  Three  Rod  of  them,  he 
Ihot,  and  as  foon  as  his  Gun  was  oft",  they  all 
fell  down.  Bapfon  then  running  to  his  fuppo- 
fed Prey,  cried  out  unto  his  Companions,whom 
he  heard  on  the  other  fide  of  the  Swamp,  and 
faid,  He  had  kill"  dThr  eel  He  had  kilt  d  Three! 
But  coming  almoft  unto  them,  they  all  rofe  up, 
and  One  of  them  fhot  at  him,  and  hearing  the 
Bullet  whifs  by  him,  he  ran  behind  a  Tree, 
and  loaded  his  Gun ;  and  feeing  them  lye  be- 
hind a  Log,  he  crept  toward  them  again,  tel- 
ling his  Companions,  'They  were  here !  So  his 
Companions  came  up  to  him.  and  they  all  ran 
direcfly  to  the  Log  with  all  fpeed;  but  before 
they  got  thither,  they  faw  chtm  ftart  up,  and 
run  every  Man  his  way;  One  of  them  run 
into  the  Corn,  whom  they  purfued,and  hemm'd 
in  ;  and  Bapfon  feeing  him  coming  toward 
himfelf,  fhot  at  him  as  he  was  getrng  over 
the  Fence,  and  faw  him  fall  oft  the  Fence  on 
the  Ground,  but  when  he  came  to  the  Spot, 
he  could  not  find  him.  So  they  all  fearch- 
ed  the  Corn  ;  and  as  they  were  fearching, 
they  heard  a  great  DifcourSing  in  the  Swamp, 
but  could  nor  underftand  what  they  faid  ;  for 
they  fpoke  in  an  unknown  Tongue.  Afterwards 
looking  out  from  the  Garrifon,  they  faw  feve- 

8  raS 


Book  VII.  Or,  the  Hiftory  of  New-England.  83 


1  ral  Men  ieulking  among  the  Corn  and  Bitjhes, 
c  bui  could  not  have  a  Shot  at  them. 

'  The  next  Morning,  juit  at  Day-break,  they 
'  faw  One  Man  come  out  of  the  Swamp  not  far 
'  from  the  Garrifbn,  and  ftand  clofe  up  againft 
'  the  Fence,  within  Gun-fhot.  Whereupon  \faac 
'  Prince,  with  a  long  Gun,  fhot -at  him  with 
' Siaan-Jhot ',  and  in  a  moment  he  was  gone  out  ot 
'fight,  they  faw  him  no  more.  Upon  this 
'  Bapjon  went  to  carrv  News  ro  the  Harbour  ; 
'  and  being  about  half  a  Mile  in  his  way  thi 
'  ther,  he  heard  a  Gun  go  oft",  and  heard  a  Bul- 
'  let  whifs  clofe  by  his  Ear,  which  cut  off  a 
'  Pine-bu(h  juftby  him,  and  the  Bullet  lodg'd  in 

*  an  Hemlock-Tree.  Then  looking  about  he  faw 
'Four  Men  running  towards  him,    one  with  a 

*  Gun  in  his  Hand,  and  the  other  with  Guns  on 
' their  Shoulders.     So  he  ran  into  the  Bulhes. 

*  and  turning  about,  ihot  at  them,  and  then  ran 
'  away,  and  faw  them  no  more.  About  Six 
'Men  returned  from  the  Harbour  with  him, 
4  fearching  the  Woods  as  they  went;  and  they 
'  law  where  the  Bullet  had  cut  offthe  Pine-bulh, 
'and  where  it  was  lodged  in  the  Hemluck-Tree, 
'  and  they  took  the  Bullet  out,  which  is  Itill  to 
1  be  feen.  When  they  were  come  to  the  Garri- 
clon,  they  went  to  look  for  the  Tracks  of  the 
'  ftrange  Men  that  had  been  feen,  and  fiw  feve- 
'  ral  Tracks;  and  whilft  they  were  looking  on 
'  them,  they  faw  one  which  look'd  like  an  \ndi- 
c  an,  having  on  a  blue  Coat,  and  his  Hair  ty'd 

*  up  behind,  (landing  by  a  Tree,  and  looking 
'on  them.  But  asfbonasthey  fpaketoeach  o- 
'  ther,  he  ran  into  a  Swamp,  and  they  after 
'  him,  and  one  of  them  (hot  at  him,  but  to  no 
'  purpofe.  One  of  them  alfo  faw  another,  which 
'  look'd  like  a  Frenchman,  but  they  quickly  loft 
'the  fight  of  him. 

'  July  1 5.  Ezekiel  Day  being  in  Company 
'  with  feveral  others,  who  were  ordered  to 
'  Scout  the  Woods,  when  they  came  to  a  cer- 
'  tain  Frefh  Meadow,  Two  Miles  from  any 
'  Houfe,  at  feme  diftance  from  the  faid  Mca- 
'  dow,  he  faw  a  Man  which  he  apprehended  to 
'  be  an  Indian,  cloathed  in  Blue  •,  and  as  fbon 
'  as  he  faw  him  ftart  up  and  run  away,  he  ihot 
'  at  him  :,  whereupon  he  faw  another  rife  up  a 
'  little  way  off,  who  alfo  run  with  fpeed  ;  which, 
'  together  with  the  former,  were  quickly  out  of 
1  fight ;  and  though  himfelf,  together  with  his 
'Companions,  'diligently  fought  after  them, 
'  they  could  not  find  them.  The  fame  Day 
'  John  Hammond,  with  feveral  other  Perfons, 
'  fcouting  in  the  Woods,  faw  another  of  thefe 
<■  ft  range  Men,  having  on  a  blue  Shirt  and  white 
'  Breeches,  and  fomething  about  his  Head  ■ 
'  but  could  not  overtake  him. 

'  July  17.  Three  or  Four  of  thefe  Unaccounta- 
'  ble  Troublers  came  near  the  Garrifon ;  but  they 
'  could  not  get  a  tViot  at  them.  Richard  Dolli- 
'  ver  alfo,  and  Benjamin  Ellary,  creeping  down 
'  an  Hill  upon  Diicovery,  law  feveral  Men  come 
'  out  of  an  Orchard,  walking  backward  and  for- 
c  ward,  and  ftriking  with  a  Stick  upon  John 
'  Rows  deferted  Houfe,  (the  Noife  of  which 
-was  heard  by  others  at  a  confiderable    Di- 


ftance ;)  Ellary  counting  them  to  be  Eleven  in 
all  ■,  Dolliver  fhot  at  the  midft  of  them, 
where  they  flood  thickeft,  and  immediately 
they  difperfed  themfelves,  and  were  quickly 
gone  out  of  fight. 

'  July  18.  Which  was  the  time  that  Major 
Applcton  fent  about  Sixty  Men  from  Ipjwich, 
for  the  Towns  Atliftance  under  thefe  inexplica- 
ble Alarms,  which  they  had  fuffcred  Night  and 
Day  for  about  a  Fortnight  together ;  John  Day 
teftifies,that  he  went  in  Company  with  Ipfwicb 
and  Glocelhr  Forces,  to  a  Garrifbn  about  Two 
Miles  and  an  half  from  the  Town  ;  and  News 
being  brought  in,  that  Guns  went  off  in  a 
Swamp  not  tar  from  the  Garrifon,  fbme  of  the 
Men,  with  himfelf,  ran  to  difcover  what  they 
could  ;  and  when  he  came  to  the  Head  of  the 
Swamp,  he  law  a  Man  with  a  blue  Shirr,  and 
bulhy  black  Hair,  runout  of  the  Swamp,  and 
into  the  Woods-,  he  ran  after  him  with  all 
fpeed,  and  came  feveral  times  within  fhot  of 
him;  but  the  Woods  being  thick,  hecould  not 
obtain  his  defign  of  Shooting  him;  at  length 
he  was  at  once  gone  out  of  fight  ■,  and  when 
afterwards  he  went  to  look  for  his  Track,  he 
could  find  none,  though  it  were  a  low  miry 
Place  that  he  ran  over. 
'  About  July  2';.  Bap  fan  went  into  the  Woods 
after  his  Cattcl,  and  law  Three  Men  ftand  up- 
on a  Point  of  Rocks  which  look'd  toward  the 
Sea.  So  he  crept  among  the  Bulhes  till  he 
came  within  Forty  Yards  of  them  ;  and  then 
prefented  his  Gun  at  them,  and  Snapt,  but  his 
Gun  mife'd  Fire,  and  fo  it  did  above  a  Dozen 
Times,  till  they  all  Three  came  up  towards 
him,  walking  a  flow  Pace,  one  of  them  having 
a  Gun  upon  his  Back.  Nor  did  they  take  any- 
more Notice  of  him,  than  juft  to  give  him  a 
Look ;  though  he  fnapt  his  Gun  at  them  all 
the  while  they  walked  toward  him,  and  by 
him;  neither  did  they  quicken  their  Pace  at 
all,  but  went  into  a  parcel  of  Bulhes,  and  he 
faw  them  no  more.  When  he  came  home  he 
fnapt  his  Gun  feveral  times,  fometimes  with 
but  a  few  Corns  of  Powder,  and  yet  it  did  nor 
once  mifsFire.  After  this  there  occurred  feveral 
ftrange  things-,  but  now  concluding  they  were 
but  Speif  res,  they  took  little  further  Notice  of 
them. 
[Several  other  Teftimonies,  all  to  the  fame 
EftecT:  with  the  foregoing,  my  Friend  has  add- 
ed, which  for  brevity  1  omit;  and  only  add, 
the  moft  confiderable  of  thefe  Paffages  were 
afterward  Sworn  before  one  of  Their  Majefties 
Council.] 

'Reverend and  truly  Honoured  Sir,  According 
'  ro  your  Requelt  I  have  Collected  a  brief  Ac- 
'  count  of  the  Occurrences  remark'd  in  our 
c  Town  the  laft  Year.  Some  of  them  are  very 
c  Admirable  things,  and  yet  no  lefs  True  than 
'  Strange,  if  we  may  believe  the  Affertions  of 
'  Credible.  Perfons.  Tho'  becaufe  of  great  Hafte 
'  it  is  a  rough  Draught,  yet  there  is  nothing 
'  written  but  what  the  Peribns  mentioned  would, 
'if  duly  called,  confirm  the  Truth  of  by  Oath. 


Lllllll  2 


\ 


84 


Magnalia  Chrijli  Americana :  Book  VII. 


'  I  might  have  given  you  a  larger  Account ; 

*  only  feveral  who  Saw  and  Heard  fome  of  the 
'  moft  Remarkable  things  are  now  beyond  Sea. 
4  However,  I  hope  the  Subftance  of  what  is 
c  Written  will  be  enough  to  fatisfie  all  Rational 
c  Perfons,  that  Glocejler  was  not  Alarumed  la£l 
'Summer  for  above  a  Fortnight   together   by 

*  real  French  and  Indians,  but  that  the  Devil  and 
e  his  Agents  were  thecaufe  of  all  the  Moleita- 
'  tion  which  at  this  time  befel  the  Town  ;  in 
c  the  Name  of  whofe  Inhabitants  I  would 
c  take  upon  me  to  Entreat  your  Earned  Pray- 

*  ers  to  the  Father  of  Mercies,  that  thofe  Ap- 
'  paritions  may  not  prove  the  fad  Omens  of 
£  Ibme  future  and  more  horrible  Moleftations 
'  to  them. 


May  19. 


S  I  R, 

Tour  very  humble  Servant, 
J.  E. 


NO  W,  Reader,  albeit  that  paffage  of  the 
Sacred  Story,   2  Chron.   20.  22.    [he  Lord 
Jet  Ambuihments  againji  the  children  of  Am- 
nion, Moab,  an!  Mount  Seir,  and  they  were  [mit- 
ten,  is  by  the  beft  Expositors  thus  underftood  ; 
that  there  was  the  Miniftry  of  the  Holy  Angels 
wondroufly  Employ'd  in  this  Matter  •,  the  Angels 
in  the  fhape  of"  Moabites  and   Ammonites  tell 
upon  them  of  Mount  Seir,  and  upon  this  appre- 
hended Provocation  they  then  all  tell  upon  one 
another,  until  the  whole  Army  was  deftroyed  : 
Neverthelefs  I  entirely  refer  it  unto  thy  Judg- 
ment, (without  the  leaft  offer  of  my  own)  whe- 
ther Satan  did  not  now  Jet  Ambufhments  againft 
the  good  People  of  Glocelter,  with  Demons  in 
the  lhape  of  Armed  Indians  and  Frenchmen  ap- 
pearing to  confiderable  Numbers  of  the  Inhabi 
tants,  and  mutually  Firing  upon  them  lor  the 
belt  part  of  a  Month  together.      I  know  the 
molt  Confiderate  Gentlemen  in  the  Neighbour- 
hood unto  this  Day  believe  this  whole  matter 
to  have  been  a  Prodigious  Piece  ol  the  Strange 
defcent  from  the  Invijible  World,  then  made  up- 
on other  Parts  of  the  Country.     And  the  publi- 
cation of  this  Prodigy,  among  other  Wonders  of 
the  Invijible  World  among  us,   has  been  delay'd 
until  novo,  that  fo  the  Opinion  of  our  moft  con 
fiderate  Gentlemen  about   it  might  have  time 
for  a  thorough  Coacothon :  And  that  the  Gen- 
tlemen of  the  Order  of  St.  Thomas  may  have  no 
Objetfion  to  make  againft  it.    But  be  it  what  it 
will,  they  are  not  a  few  profane  Squibs  from 
the  Sons  of  the  Extravagant  Bekkar,  that  will 
be  a  fit  Explication  for  things  thus  Attefted,  and 
ib  very  Marvellous. 


ARTICLE    XIX. 
PACEM,  Te  Pofcimus  Omnes. 

JN  the  Year  1693.  His  Excellency  fent  away 
Captain  Convers  to  draw  off  the  fittett  of 
the  Officers  and  Soldiers  quartered  in  the  Eaft 


for  a  March  ;  and  caufing  about  Three  Hundred 
and  Fifty  more  to  be  Levied,  gave  him  what 
he   had  merited  above  a  Year  ago;    even    a 
Commiffionof/JL7/0/-,and  Commander  in  Chief 
over  thefe  Forces.     While  Major  Convers  was 
at  Wells,  hearing  of  fome  Indians  that  were  ■ 
feen  in  the  Woods,  he  furprifed  them  all,  and 
finding  rhat  they  had  cut  off  a  poor  Family  at 
Oyjier  Rivir,  he  gave  the  chief  of  them  fome- 
thing  of  what  they  alfo  had  merited.     Giing  to 
Pemmttquii after  (ome  Service  there,  they  Suled 
up  Sheep/cote  River,  arid  then  mirched  through  • 
the  Woods  to  Taconet,  which  bjing  deferred  by 
the  Indians,  they   ranged   through  many  other 
Woods ;  but  could  meet  with  none  of  their  Ene- 
mies.    Repairing  then  to  Sia>,  they  began  ano- 
ther Fort,  which  was  carried  on  by  that  worthy 
Gentleman   Major  tioak,  and  the  truly    com- 
mendable Captain/////,  and  proved  a  matter  of 
good  Coniequence  unto  the  Province.     While 
thefe  things  were  doing  fometime  in  July,  the 
Straggling  Indians  did  fome  Spoil  upon  Qua- 
boag,  a  remote  Village  in  the  Road  unto  Conne- 
cticut ■,   but  Advice  being  difpatchM  unto  the 
Towns  upon  ConneSicu  *River     a  Party  imme- 
diately   Salley'd  oat   after    the  Spoilers,    and 
leaving  their  Horfes  at  the  Entrance  of  a  Swamp, 
whither    by  their   Track   th^v    had    followed' 
them,   they  came  upon  the   tecure  Adverfary, 
and  kilfd  the  moft  of  them,  and  recovered  the 
Captives,  With  their  Plunder;    and    returning 
Home,  had  fome  Reward  tor  fo  brisk  an  Acti- 
on. 

But  now  the  Indians  in  the^Eaft,    probably 
difheartened  by  the  Forts  Erecting  that  were 
like  to  prove  a  fore  Annoyance  ro  them  in  their 
Enterprizes  ;   and  by  the  fear  of  wanting  Am- 
munition,   with  other    Provisions,    which  the" 
French  were  not  fo  able  juft  now  to  difpence 
unto  them;  and  by  aprefumption  that  an  Army 
of  Maqua%  [part  of  thofe  terrible  Cmnibals  to 
the  Weftward,    whereof  'tis  affirm'd  by  thofe 
who    have    publiihed    the    Stories    of   their 
Travels  among  them,  that  they  have  deftroy'd/ 
no  lefs  than  Two  Million  Salvages   of  oth^r 
Nations  about  them,  through  their  being  Ap- 
plied with  fire-Arms,  before  Hundreds  of  other 
Nations  Dying  between   them   and  the  River 
Mefchajippi]  was  come  into  their  Country,  be- 
caufe  they  found    fome  of  their  Squa\  killed 
upon  a  Whortle-berry  Plain  ,    all  the  Charms 
of  the  French  Friar,  then  Refident  among  them, 
could  not  hinder  them  from  fuing  to  the  Eng- 
lifh  for  Peace.     And  the  hnghfh  being  fb  invol- 
ved in  Debts,  that  they  lcaice  knew  how  to  pro- 
fecute  the  War  any  further,    took  fome  Notice 
of  their  Suit.     Accordingly  a  Peace  was  made 
upon  the  Entiling  Articles. 


Province 


Book  VII.       0r3  The  Hiftory  of  New-Endand. 


85 


"Province  of  the  MalTachufets  Bay  in  New- 
England. 

The  SubmiJJion  and  Agreement  of  the  Eafiern 
Indians  at  Fort  William  Henry  in  Pemma- 
quid,  the  wth  Day  oj  Auguft,  in  the  Fifth 
Tear  of  the  Reign  oj  our  Sovereign  Lord  ana 
Lady,  William  and  Mary,  by  the  Grace  oj 
God,  of  England,  Scotland-  France  and  Ire- 
land, King  and  Qtcen,  Defenders  of  the 
faith,  &c.  1693. 

'  T"T"7"Hereas  a  Bloody  Wrar  has  for  fome 
VV  '  Years  now  pad  been  made  and  car- 
ried on  by  the  Indians  within  the  Eaftern  Pans 
of  the  faid  Province,  againlt  Their  Majefties 
Subjects  the  EngJifb.  through  the  Initiation 
and" Influences  of  the  French;  and  being  ienli- 
ble  of  the  Mifcries  which  we  and  our  People 
are  reduced  unto,  by  adhering  to  their  ill 
Council :  We  whofe  Names  are  hereunto  Sub- 
fcribed,  being  Sagamores  and  Chief  Captains 
or  all  the  Indians  belonging  to  the  ieveral 
Rivers  of  Penobfccte  and  Kenncbeck,  Ama- 
rajcogin  and  Sacc^  Parts  of  the  faid  Province 
of  the  Majfachujets  Bay  within  Their  faid 
Majefties  Soveraignty,  having  made  Appli- 
cation unto  his  Excellency  Sir  William  Phi  ft, 
Caprain  General  and  Governour  in  Chief  in 
and  over  the  faid  Province,  that  the  War  may 
be  put  to  an  end,  do  lay  down  our  Arms,  and 
caft  our  felves  upon  Their  faid  Majefties 
Grace  and  Favour.  Ai.d  each  of  us  refpecVive- 
ly  for  our  felves,  and  in  the  Name  and  with 
the  free  Confent  of  all  the  Indians  belong- 
ing unto  the  feveral  Rivers  aforefaid,  and  of 
all  other  Indians  .within  the  faid  Irovince  of 
and  from  Merrimack  River,  unto  the  mc-ft 
Ealferly  Bounds  of  the  faid  Province  ,  hereby 
acknowledging  our  hearty  Subjection  and 
Obedience  unto  the  Crcwn  of  England  ;  and 
do  folemnly  Covenant,  Promife  and  Agree,  to 
and  with  the  faid  Sir  William  Phips,  and  his 
Succefibrs,  in  the  Place  of  Captain  General 
and  Governour  in  Chief  of  the  aforefaid  Pro- 
vince or  Territory,  on  Their  faid  Majefties 
behalf  in  manner  following,  vie. 
'  That  at  all  time  and  times  for  ever,  from 
and  after  the  date  of  thefe  Preients,  we  will 
ceafe  and  forbear  all  A£ts  of  Hoftility  towards 
the  Subjects  of  the  Crown  of  England,  and 
not  offer  the  leaft  Hurt  or  Violence  to  them, 
or  any  of  them,  in  their  Perfons  or  Eftate  : 
But  will  henceforward  hold  and  maintain  a  firm 
and  conftant  Amity  and  Friendlhip  with  all  the 
Englifh. 

'  Item.  We  abandon  and  forfake  the  French 
Intereft,  and  will  not  in  any  wife  adhere  to 
Join  with,  Aid  or  Affift  them  in  their  Wars 
or  Defigns  againft  the  Englifh,  nor  Counte- 
nance, Succour  or  Conceal  any  of  the  Enemy 
Indians  of  Canada,  or  other  Places,  that  (ball 
happen  to  come  to  any  of  our  Plantations  with- 
in the  Englifh  Territory,  but  fecure  them,  if 
in  our  Power,  and  deliver  them  up  unto  the 
Englijh. 


'  Thar  all  Englifh  Captives  in  the  Hands  or 

:  Power  of  any  of  the  Indians  within  the  Li 

1  mits  alcreiaid.  ihall  with  all  poflible  fpeed  be 

fet  at  Liberty,  and  returned  Home  without  any 

Ranfom  or  Payment  to  be  made  or  given  for 

:  them,  or  any  of  them. 

1  Thar  Their  Majefties  Subjects  rhe  Engliflj, 
f  hall  arid  may  peaceably  and  quietly  enter  upon, 
improve,  ami  for  ever  enjoy  all  and  lingular 

•  their  Rights  of  Lands,  and  former  Settlements 

■  and  PoffeLiions  within  the  Eaftern  Parts  of  the 
laid  Province  of  the  Majfachufets  Bay,  with- 
out any  Pretentions  or  Claims  by  us,  or  any  0- 
ther  Indians  and  be  in  no  wile  molefted,  inter- 
rupted, or  difturbed  therein. 

'  That  all  Trade  and  Commerce,  which  here- 
after may  be  allowed  between  the  Engli/h  and 
Indians,  (hall  be  under  fuch  Management  and 
Regulation,  as  may  be  Stated  by  an  Aft  of  the 
•General  Atf-mbly,  or  as  the  Governor  of  the 

■  faid  Province  for  the  time  being,  with  the  Ad- 
;  vice  and  Confent  of  the  Councildhall  fee  Caufe 

•  to  Direct  and  Limit. 

'If  any  Controverfie  or  Difference  at  any  time 

■  hereafter  happen  to  arife  between  any  of  the 

■  Englifh  and  Indians,  for  any  real  or  fuppofed 

•  Wrong  or  Injury  done  on  one  fide  or  the  0- 

■  ther,  no  private  Revenge  fhall  be  taken  by  the 
'  Indians  lor  rhe  fame,  but  proper  Application 
•be  made  to  Their  Majefties  Government  upon 

the   Place,    for   Remeuy    thereof,    in  a    due 

•  Courfe  of  Jultice;  we  herebv  fubmitting  our 

•  felves  to  be  Ruled  and  Governed  by  Their  Ma- 

■  jellies  Laws,  and  defire  to  have  the  Benefit  of 

•  the  fame. 

'  For  the  more  full  Manifeftation  of  our  Sin- 
cerity and  Integrity  in  all  that  which  we  have 

•  herein  before  Covenanted  and  Promiled,  we  do 

•  deliver  unto  Sir  William  Phips^  Their  Maje- 
:fties  Governor    as   aforefaid,   Ahajjombamett^ 

■  Brother  to  Edgeremett ;  Wenongabcwitt,  Couiin 

■  to  IWadockaxxando,  and  Edgeremett,  and  Baga- 

•  tazvawongon ;    alio  Sheepjcoat  John,  to  abide 

■  and  remain   in   the  Cuftody  of  the  Englifh, 

•  where  the  Governour  fhall  direct,  as  Holtages 
'  or  Pledges  for  our  Fidelity,  and  true  Perfur- 
'  mance  of  all  and  every  the  foregoing  Articles, 
'  referving  Liberty  to  exchange  them  in  fome 

reafonable  time  for  a  like  number,  to  the  ac- 
ceptance of  the  Governor  and  Council  ol 
faid  province,  \o  they  be  Perfons  of  as  good 
Account  and  Eiteem  amongft  the  Indians  as 
thole  which  are  to  be  exchanged.  In  Ttfti- 
mony  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  fet  our  fe- 
veral Marks  and  Seals,  the  Day  and  Year  fiift 
above-written. 

'  The  above-written  Inftrument   was    delibe- 
rately read  over,  and  the  feveral  Articles  and 
Claufes  thereof  Inrerprered  unto  the  Indians 
who  faid  they   well  underftood  and  ccnfeie 
thereunto,  and  was  then  Signed,  Sealed,''11 
Delivered  in  the  Prefence  ot  us,  the 

'hat 

John  Wing.       up 

Aichola*  Manned- 

Benjamin  Jackjih. 

Edgeremet 


86 


Magnalia  Chrifii  Americana  :  Book  VII. 


Edgeremett. 

Madockawando. 

Wafjambomet  of  Navidgwock. 

WenokJon  of  Teconnct  in  behalf  of  Moxit. 

KetterramopM  of  Narridgivock. 

Ahanquit  of"  Penobfcot. 

Bomaj'een. 

Nitamemet. 

Webenes. 

Awanfomeck. 

Robin  Doney. 

Madaumbis. 

Vaquaharet,  alias,  Nathaniel. 

John  Hornybrook,  ~\ 

John  Bagatawawongo,  alias,  Mnterpre- 
Shecpfcoat  John.  Q  ters. 

Thill.  OunJakis,  Squaw.      ) 

ARTICLE    XX. 

Bloody  Eifhing  at  Oyfter  River-,  and  Sad  Work 
at  Grocon. 

A  Tears  Breathing  time  was  a  great  Favour 
of  Heaven  to  a  Country  quite  out  oft 
Breath  with  numberleis  Calamities.  But  the  Fa- 
vour was  not  fo  thankfully  enjoyed  as  it  fhould 
have  been.  And  now  The  Clouds  return  after 
the  Rain.  The  Speltrc  that  with  Burning  Tongs 
drove  Xerxes  to  his  War  upon  the  Grecians. 
had  not  loft  his  Influence  upon  our  Indians.  The 
Perfidy  of  the  Indians  appeared  firft  in  their  not 
reftoring  the  Englijh  Captives  according  to  their 
Covenant •  but  the  perfidious  Wretches  excufed 
this  with'  many  Proteftations.  That  which 
added  unto  our  Jealoufies  about  them,  was  their 


in  it  befides  himfelf    He  dexteroufly  put  his 
Wife,  and  Mother,    and  Children   aboard   a 
Canoo,  and  fending  them  down  the  River,  he 
Alone   betook   himfelf  to  the  Defence  of  his 
Houfe,  againft  many  Indians  that  made  an  Af- 
fault  upon  him.     They  firft  would  have  perfwa- 
ded  him  with  many  fair   Promifes,  and    then 
terrified  him  with  as  many  fierce  Threat/tings 
to  yield  himfelf;  but  he  Flouted  and  Fired  at 
them,  daring 'em  to  come   if  they  durft.     I  lis 
main  Stratagem  was  to  change  his  Livery  as 
frequently  as  he  could  ;  appearing  fometimes  in 
one  Coat,  fometimes  in  another,  fometimes  in 
an  Hat,  and  fometimes  in  a  Cap  ;  which  caufed 
his  Befiegers  to  miftake  this  One  for  Many  De- 
fendants.   In  fine,  the  pitiful  Wretches  defpair- 
ing  to  Beat  him  out  of  his  Houfe,   e'en   left 
him  in  it ;    whereas  many   that  opened    unto 
them,  upon  their  Solemn  Engagements  of  giv- 
ing them  Life   and  good   Quarter,    were  bar- 
baroufly  Butchered  by  themj  and  the  Wife  of 
one  Adams,  then  with  Child,  was  with  horrible 
Barbarity  ripped  up.     And  thus  there  was  an 
end  of   the  Peace  made  at  Pemmaquid !  Upon 
this,  the  Friends  of  Mrs.  Urfula  Cutt,  ( Widow  of 
Mr.  John  Cutt,   formerly    Prefident  of  Ncw- 
HampJhireJ  defired  her  to   leave  her   Farm, 
which  was  about  a  Mile  above  the  Bank  ex- 
pofed  to  the  Enemy,  on  the  South  fide  of  Pif- 
cataqua  River.  She  thank'd  them  for  their  Care-, 
but  added,   that  fhe  believed  the  Enemy  had 
now  done  their  Do  for  this  time^  and  howe- 
ver, by  the  End  of  the  Week  her   Bufinefs  at 
the  Farm  would  be  all  difpatcbed,  and  on  Sa- 
turday fhe  would  repair  to  her  Friends  at  the 
Bank.    But  alas !  before  the  End  of  the  Week, 
fhe  faw  the  End  of  her  Life :   On  Saturday,  a- 


Infolent  Carriage  towards  a  Sloop,  Commanded  i  bout  One  or  Two  a  Clock  in   the  Afternoon, 
by  Captain  Wing  -,  and  the  Information  of  a  Felr  j  the  Bufinefs  at  the  Farm  was  Diffatched  fure 


low  called  heller,  that  the  Indians  intended 
moft  certainly  to  break  the  Peace,  and  had  pro- 
mifed  the  Trench  Priefls,  taking  the  Sacrament 
thereupon,  to  deftroy  the  firft  Englijh  Town 
they  could  Surprize.  Rumours  of  Indians  Lurking 
about  fome  of  the  Frontier-Plantations,  now  be- 


enough  !  The  Indians  then  kill'd  this  Gentle- 
woman and  Three  other  People,  a  little  before 
they  had  finifhed  a  point  of  Husbandry  then  in 
their  Hands.  Nor  did  the  Storm  go  over  lb  : 
Some  Drops  of  it  fell  upon  the  Town  of  Gro- 
ton,  a  Town  that  lay,  one  would  think,  far  e- 


gan  to  put  the  poor  People  into  Confternat'wn  ; '  nough  off  the  Place  where  was  the  lalt  Scene 
but  upon  an  Imagination  that  they  were  only 
certain  Bever-Huntcrs,  the  Confirmation  of  the 
People  went  off  into  Security.  Tis  affirmed  by 
Englijh  Captives,  which  were  then  at  Canada, 
that  the  Defolation  of  Oyfter  River  was  com- 
monly talk'd  in  the  Streets  of  Quebeck  Two 
Months  before  it  was  Eftecf  ed  ;  for  the  Spies 
had  found  no  Town  fo  fecure  as  That.  And 
now  what  was  Talked  at  ^uebeck  in  the  Month 
of  May,  muft  be  Done  at  Oyfter  River  in  the 
Month  of  July  ;  tor  on  Wednefday,  July  18. 
165*4.  the  Treacherous  Enemy,  with  a  great 
Army  fell  upon  that  Place,  about  break  of  Day , 

d  and  Captiv'd  Ninety  Four,  (or  an 

)  Perfons  ;    about   a  Score  of  whom 

Men  belonging  to  the  Trained  Band  of  the 

%    Several    Perfons   Remarkably   efcaped 

rvBloody  Deluge,  but  none  with  more  Bravery 
one  Thomas  Bukford,   who  had  an  Houfe,  a 
tfoi ,  Pallifado'd,  by  "the  River  fide,  but  no  Man 


of  the  Tragedy.  On  July  27.  about  bteak  of 
Day  Grot  on  felt  fome  furprizing  Blows  from 
the  Indian  Hatchets.  They  began  their  At- 
tacks at  the  Houfe  of  one  Lieutenant  Lakin, 
in  the  Out-skirts  of  the  Town  ■,  but  met  with 
a  Repulfe  there,  and  loft  one  of  their  Crew. 
Neverthelefs,  in  other  Parts  of  that  Plantation, 
(when  the  good  People  had  been  fb  tired  out 
as  to  lay  down  their  Military  Watch)  there 
were  more  than  Twenty  Perlbns  killed,  and 
more  than  a  Dozen  carried  away.  Mr.  Cerfhom 
Hobart,  the  Minifter  of  the  Place,  with  part 
of  his  Family,  was  Remarkably  preferved 
from  falling  into  their  Hands,  when  rhey 
made  themfelves  the  Mailers  of  his  Houfe  -, 
though  they  Took  Two  of  his  Children, 
whereof  the  one  was  Killed,  and  ihe  other 
fome  time  after  happily  Refcued  out  of  his 
Captivity. 


— -  —  l-_ 

Book  VII.  0r3  The  Hifiory  ^New-England.  87 

I  remember,  the  Jews  in  their  Book  Taanitb,  •      But  being  thus  fallen  upon  the  mention  of  that 
tell. us,  The  Eiders  Proclaimed  a  laft  in  tbeirVVengeance,  wherewith  Heaven  purfued  the  chief 

or  the  Salvage  Murderers,  it  may  give  fome  Di 


Cities  on  this  Occafion,  becaufe  the  Wolves  bad 
devoured  Two  little  Children  beyond  Jordan. 
Truly,  the  Elders  of  New-England  were  not  a  lit- 
tle concerned  at  it,  when  they  law  the  Wolves 
thus  devouring  their  Children,  even  on  this  fide  of 
Merrimack  ! 

ARTICLE    XXI. 

More  Englifh   Blood  Swallowed,    but  Re- 


venged. 

BEader,  We  mull:  after  this,  ever  now  and 
L_  then,  expecF  the  happening  of  fome  un- 
happy  Accident.     The   Blood-thirfty  Salvages, 
not  content  with   Quaffing   the    Blood  of  Two 
or  Thtee  Pet  Tons,  found  at  Work  in  a  Field 
at  Spruce-Creek,    on  Aug.  20.  and  of  another 
Perlcn  at  Tcrk,  the  fame  Day,  (Captivating  al- 
io a  Lad  which  they  found  with  him  ; )  they 
did  on    Aug.   24.  Kill  and  Take  Eight  Petfons 
at  Kittery.    Here    a   little  Girl   about   Seven 
Years  Old,  the  Daughter  of  one  Mr.  Downing, 
fell  into  their  Barbarous  Hands  ;  they  Knock 'd 
her  ofrC  Head,   and  barbaroufly  Scalped  her, 
leaving  her  on  the  Cold  Ground,   (and  it  was 
then  very  Cold,  beyond  what  ufe  to  be,)  where 
Ihe  lay  all   the  Night  enfuing :    Yet  fhe  was 
found  Alive  the  next  Morning,  and  recovering, 
fhe  is  to  this  Day   Alive  and  Well ;  only  the 
place  broke  in   her  Skull    will   not  endure  to 
be    clofed    up.     He   had  another    Daughter, 
which  at  the  fame  time  almoft  miraculoufly  e 
fcaped   their  Hands.  But  fo  could  not  at  another 
time   Jofepb    Pike  of    Newbury,    the  Deputy 
Sheriff  of  EJfeX,  who  on  Sept.  4.  Travelling  be- 
tween Amesbury  and   Haverhil,   in  the  Execu- 
tion of  his  Office,  with  one  Long,  they  both 
had  an  An  eft   of  Death   ferved    upon    them 
from   an    Indian    Ambufcado.     Bommafeen,    a 
Commander  of  Prime  Quality  among  the  In- 
dians, who  had  fet  his  Hand  unto  the  late  Ar- 
ticles of  SubmiJJion,  came,  Nov.  19.  with  Two 
other  Indians,  to  Pemmaquid,  at  loving  at  Bears, 
and  cut  barmlefs  as  Tygres,  pretending   to  be 
juft  Arrived  from  Canada,  and  much  AffliSed 
for  the  late  Mifchiefs,  (whereof  there  was  Wit- 
nefs  that  he  was  a  Principal  Aftor,-)  but  Cap- 
tain March  with  a    fufficient   Activity  feized 
them ;  as  Robin  Doney,  another  Famous    Vil- 
lain among  them,   with  Three  more,  had  been 
feized  at  Saco  Fort  a  little  before.    Bommafeen 
was  convey'd  unto  Bofton,  that  he  might,  in  a 
clofe  Imprifonment  there,  have  time  to  confi- 
der  of  his  Treacheries  and  his  Cruelties,   for 
which  the  Juftice  of  Heaven  had  thus  deliver- 
ed him  up.    When  he  was  going  to  Pemma- 
quid,   he    left  his  Company    with   a    fttange 
ReluQancy  and  Formality,   as  if  he  had    pre- 
faged  the  Event ;  and  when  at  Pemmaquid  he 
found  the  Event  of  his  coming,  he  dilcovered 
a  more  than  ordinary  Difturbance  of  Mind ;  his 
Pajfions  Foam'd  and  Boii'd  like  the  very  Waters 
at  the  Fall  of  Niagara, 


verfion  unto  the  Reader,  in  the  midft  of  a  long 
and  a  fad  Story,  to  infert  a  Relation  of  an  Acci- 
dent that  fell  out  a  little  after  this  time. 

The  Indians,  (as  the  Captives  inform  us)  be- 
ing Hungry,  and  hardly  beftead,  paffed  through 
delerted  Gafco,   where  they  fpied  feveral  Horfes 
in  Captain  Bracket's  Orchard.     Their  famifhed 
Squads   begg'd  them  to  Shoot  the  Horfes,  that 
they  might  he   revived  with  a  little  Roaft-mcat ; 
but  the  Young  Men  were  fvr  having  a  little 
Sport  before  their  Supper.     Driving  the  Horfes 
into  a  Pond, they  took  oneofthem,  and  furnifhed. 
him  with  an  Halter,  fuddenly  made  of  the  Main 
and  the  Tail  of  the  Animal,  which  they  Cut  off. 
A  Son  of  the  Famous  Hegon  was  ambitious  to 
mount  this  Pegafedn  Steed;    but  being  a  pi- 
tiful Horfeman,  he  ordered  them,   for  fear  of 
of  his  falling,  to  tie   his   Legs  fall   under  the 
Horjc\  Belly.     No  fooner  was  this  Beggar  fet 
on  Horfe-back,  and  the  Spark,  in  his  own  Opi= 
nion,  throughly  Equipt,  but  the  Mettlefome  Horfe 
furioufiy  and  preiently  ran  with  him  out  of  fight. 
Neither  Horfe  nor  Man  were  ever  feen  any  more; 
the  aftoniilfd  Tawnies  howl'd  after  one  of  rheir 
Nobility,  difappearing  by  fuch  an  unexpected 
Accident.     A  few  Days  aftet  they  found  one  of 
his  Legs, (and  that  was  all,)  which  they  buried 
j  in  Captain  Bracket^  Cellar,  with  abundance  of 
Lamentation. 

ARTICLE    XXII. 

A  Conference  with  an  Indian-Sagamore. 


U  T  now  Bommafeen  is  fallen  into  our 
Hands,  let  us  have  a  little  Difcourfe  with 
him. 

Behold,  Reader,  the  Troubles  and  the  Trou- 
bles of  New-England !  That  thou  may'lt  a  little 
more  exaclly  behold  the  Spirit  of  the  Matter, 
I'll  recite  certain  Paffages  occurring  in  a  Dif 
courie  that  pafs'd  between  this  Bommajeen 
(who  was  one  of  the  Indian  Princes,  or  Chief- 
tains,) and  a  Minifter  of  the  Gofpel,  in  the 
Year  1696. 

Bommafeen  was  with  fome  other  Indians 
now  a  Prifoner  in  Boftcn.  He  delired  a  Confe- 
rence with  a  Minifter  of  Bofion,  which  was 
granted  him.  Bommafeen,  with  the  other  In- 
dians, affenting  and  aiferting  to  it,  then  told  the 
Minifter,  that  he  pray'd  his  Inftru£tion  in  the 
Cbrijiian  Religion  ;  inaimuch  as  he  was  afraid,' 
that  the  French  in  the  Cbrijiian  Religion,  which 
they  taught  the  Indians,  had  abufed  them.  The 
Miniftet  enquired  of  him,  what  of  the  things 
taught  'cm  by  the  French  appear'd  moft  fuf- 
picious  to  'em  \  He  faid,  the  trench  taught  'em, 
that  the  Lotd  JESUS  CHRIST  was  of  the 
trench  Nation^  that  his  Mother,  the  Virgin 
Mary,  was  a  French  Lady ;  that  they  were  the 
Englifh  who  had  Murdered  him  •  and  that 
whereas  he  rofe  from  the  Dead,  and  went  up 
to  the   Heavens,   all  that  would  Recommend 

ifieir** 


Magnalia  Cbrifti  Americana :     *       Book  VII. 


themfelves  unto  his  Favour,  mud  Revenge  his 

Quarrel  upon  the  Englifh  as  far  as  they  can. 

He  ask'd  the  Miniiler  whether  thefe   things 

were  lb ;    and  pray'd  the  Minifter  to  inftruQ 

him  in  the  true  Chriftian  Religion.     The  Mini- 
fter confidering,  that  the  Humour  and  Manner 

of  the  Indians    was  to  have  their  Difcourfes 

managed  with  much  ofSi;«///>»^inthem,look'd 

about  for  fome  agreeable  Object,  from  whence 

he  might   with  apt  Refemblances  convey   the 

ld<eas  of  Truth   unto  the  Minds  of  Salvages ; 

and  he  thought  none  would  be  more  agreeable 

to  them  than  a  Tankard  of  Drink,  which   hap- 
pened then  to  be  (landing  on  the  Table.    So  he 

proceeded  in  this  Method  with  'em. 

He  told  them,    Lftill  with  proper  Actions 

Painting  and  Pointing  out  the  Signs  unto  them,] 

That  our  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST  had  given  us 

a  Good  Religion,   which  might   be  refembled 

unto   the  Good  Drink  in  the  Cup  upon   the 

Table. 

That  if  we  take  this  Good  Religion,  (even  that 
Good  Drink,)  into  our  Hearts,  it  will  do  us 
Good,  and  preferve  us  from  Death. 

That  God's  Book,  the  Bible,  is  the  Cup 
wherein  that  Good  Drink  of  Religion  is  offered 
unto  us. 

That  the  French  having  the  Cup  of  Good  Drink 
in  their  Hands,  had  put  Poifon  into  it,  and  then 
made  the  Indians  to  Drink  that  Poifoned  Liquor, 
whereupon  they  run  Mad,  and  fell  to  killing  of 
the  Englifh,  though  they  could  not  but  know 
it  muft  unavoidably  iffue  in  their  own  Deftrucli- 
on  at  the  lalt. 

That  it  was  plain  the  Engli/h  had  put  no  Poi- 
fon into  the  Good  Drink  -,  tor  they  fet  the  Cup 
wide  open,  and  invited  all  Men  to  Come  and  See 
before  they  Tafte,  even  the  very  Indians  them- 1  Him  let  us  leave  it 
felves ;  for  we  Tranflated  the  Bible  into  Indian. 
That  they  might  gather  from  hence,  that  the 
Vrench  had  put  Poifon  into  the  Good  Drink,    in- 
afmuch  as  the  French  kept  the  Cup  faft  (hut,  (the 
Bible  in  an  Unknown  Tongue,)  and  kept  their 
Hands  upon  the  Eyes  of  the  Indians,  when  they 
put  it  unto  their  Mouths. 

The  Indians  expreffing  themfelves  to  be  well 
latisfied  with  what  the  Minifter  had  hitherto 
faid,  pray'd  him  to  go  on,  with  fhowing  'em 
what  was  the  Good  Drink,  and  what  was  the 
Poifon  which  the  French  had  put  into  it. 

He  then  fet  before  them  diftin&ly  the  chief 
Articles  of  the  Chriftian  Religion,  with  all  the 
Simplicity  and  Sincerity  of  a  Proteftant :  Adding 
upon  each,  This  is  the  Good  Drink  in  the  Lord's 
Cup  of  Life  :  And  they  ftill  profefTed,  That  they 
liked  it  all. 

Whereupon  he  Demonftrated  unto  them,  how 
the  Papifts  had  in  their  Idolatrous  Popery,  fome 
way  or  other  depraved  and  alter'd  every  one  of 
thefe  Articles,  with  Scandalous  Ingredients  of 
their  own  Invention ;  adding  upon  each,  This 
is  the  Poifon  which  the  Yrench  Jiave  put  into 
the  Cup, 

At  laft  he  mentioned  this  Article. 

To  obtain  the  Pardon  of  your  Sins,  you  muft 
(onfefs  your  Si/?s  to  God,  and  pray  to  God, 


that  he  would  Pardon  your  Sins  for  the  Sake  of 
Jefus  Cbrijl,  who  died  for  the  Sins  of  his  Peo- 
ple :  God  loves  Jefus  Chnft  infinitely-^  and  if  you 
place  your  Eye  on  Jeft/s  Chrift  only,  when  you 
beg  the  Pardon  of  your  Sins,  God  will  Pardon 
them.  Tou  need  confefs  your  Sins  to  none  but 
God,  except  in  Cafes  where  Men  have  known 
your  Sins,  or  have  been  hurt  by  your  Sins  -,  and 
then  thqfe  Men  fljjuld  know  that  you  confefs  your 
Sins  ;  but  after  all,  none  but  God  can  Pardon 
them. 

He  then  added.  The  French  have  put  Poifon 
into  this  Good  Drink  ;  they  tell  you,  that  you 
muft  confefs  your  Sins  to  a  Prieft,  and  carry 
Skins  to  a  Prieft,  and  fubmit  unto  a  Penance 
■enjoined  by  a  Prieft  ;  and  this  Prieft  is  to  give 
you  a  Pardon.  1 here  is  no  need  of  all  this  : 
°£is  nothing  but  French  Poifon,  all  of  it. 

The  Wretches  appearing  aflonilffd  to  meet. 
with  one  who  would  fo  fairly  put  them  into  a  " 
glorious  way  to  obtain  the  Pardon  of  their  Sins^ 
and  yet  take  no  Bever-skins  for  it,  in  a  Rap- 
ture of  Aflonifhment  they  fell  down  on  their 
Knees,  and  got  his  Hand  into  theirs,  and  fell  to 
kiffing  of  it  with  an  extream  ffiow  of  Affe&ion. 

He  fhaking  them  off  with,  diflike  of  their 
PoRure^Bommafen,  with  the  reft  of  them,  ftood 
up  ;  and  firft  lifting  up  his  Eyes  and  Hands 
to  Heaven,  declaring,  that  God  fhould  be 
fudge  of  his  Heart  in  what  he  faid,  he  then 
faid,  Sir,  /  thank  you  for  thefe  things  ■,  I  re- 
folve  to  Spit  up  all  the  French  Poifon  ;  youfball 
be  my  Father-,  1  will  be  your  Son-,  Ibefeechyou 
to  continue  to  inftrutl  me  in  that  Religion 
which  may  bring  me  to   the   Salvation  oj  7ny 

Soul! Now  God  knows  what    Heart   this 

Indian  had    when  he  fo  exprelTed  himfelf :   To 


But  fo  much  for  this  BigrefFion. 


ARTICLE    XXIII. 
More  Mifchiefs  in  Spite  ^/Treaties.- 

EXcept  it  were  the  falling  of  Two  Soldiers 
belonging  to  Saco  Garrifon  into  the  Hands 
of  the  Enemy,  who  took  the  one,  and  kill'd 
the  other,  fome  time  in  March,  169 j.  many 
Months  pafs'd  away  without  any  Action  between 
Them  and  Us ;  and  it  is  reported  by  return- 
ed Captives,  that  the  Hand  of  God  reach'd 
them,  when  the  Hand  of  Man  could  not  find 
them,  and  a  Mortal  Sicknefs  did  at  a  ftrange 
rate  carry  off  Multitudes  of  them.  At  length, 
upon  the  Mediation  of  Old  Sbeepfcoat  John,ox\ct 
a  Praying  Indian  of  the  Reverend  ELIOT's  Ca- 
techumens, but  afterwards  a  Pagan,  and  now 
a  Popifh  Apoltate,  a  great  Fleet  of  Canoos  came 
into  an  jjland,  about  a  League  from  the  Fort 
at  Pemmaquid,  May  20.  1603.  and  after  they 
had  laid  ftill  there  all  the  Lord's-Day,  on  Monday 
Morning  they  fent  unto  the  Englifh  for  another 
Treaty.  They  declared,  their  Defign  was  to 
Exchange  Captives,  and  renew  the  Prace.uV,d  con- 
demned themfelves  for  thsir  Violating  the  Peace 

*  made 


Book  VII.  Or,  The  Hiftory  0/ New-England.  89 


made  near  Two  Years  ago.  Eight  Captives  they 
immediately  delivered  up  ;  and  upon  a  Grant 
of  a  Truce  for  Thirty  Days,  Colonel  John 
Philips.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hawthorn,  and  Major 
Convers,  were  lent  Commiilioners  unto  Femma- 
quid  lor  the  Management  of  that  Affair.  Our 
Commiilioners,  with  good  Realbn,  demanding 
a  Surrender  of  all  the  Englifh  Captives,  accord- 
ing to  former  Agreement,  before  they  would  allow 
any  new  Propolitions  of  Peace  to  he  cffcied,  the 
Indians,  dilgulkd  that  their  idol  Bommafeen 
was  lett  at  Bnflon,  broke  off  the  Conference, 
and  went  off  in  Difcontenr.  Advice  was  im- 
mediately difpateffd  into  all  Parts  of  the 
Eajier/i  Country  to  (land  well  upon  their 
Guard;  notwith [landing  which, on  July  6.  Ma- 
jor Hammond  of  Kittery  fell  into  the  Hands  oi 
the  Lurking  Indians  ;  and  the  next  Week  Two 
Men  at  Exeter  were  kiifd  by  fome  of  the  fame 
Dangerous  Lurkers,  Major  Hammond  was 
now  aboard  a  Canoo,  intending  to  put  alhoreat 
Saco  ;  but  fome  of  the  Garrifon-Soldiers  there, 
not  knowing  that  they  had  fuch  a  good  Friend 
aboard,  inadvertently  Fired  upon  the  Canoo  \ 
and  (b  the  Indians  carried  him  clear  away. 
They  Tranfporred  him  at  length  to  Canada, 
where  he  met  with  Extraordinary  Civilities  ; 
Count  Fronten  u\  the  Governor  himfelf,  Nobly 
purchafed  him  of  his  Tawny  Matter,  and  fent 
him  home  to  Nevo-England  by  a  Veffel  which 
alio  fetch'd  from  thence  a  Confiderable  number 
(perhaps  near  Thirty)  of  Englifh  Prifoners.  In 
Auguji  the  Houfe  of  one  Rogers  at  Billerica 
was  Plundered,  and  about  Fifteen  People  Kilfd 
and  Taken  by  Indians,  which,  by  appearing 
and  approaching,  'tis  faid  on  Horfe-back,  were 
not  fufptded  for  Indians,  [for,  Who  Jet  them 
on  HorJ'e  back  ?  ]  till  they  furprized  the  Houfe 
they  came  to.  And  about  the  fame  time,  Sergeant 
Haley  venturing  out  of  his  Fort  at  Saco,  itept 
into  the  Snares  of  Death.  On  Sept.  9.  Sergeant 
March,  with  Three  more,  were  Killed  by  the 
Indians,  and  Six  more  at  the  fame  time  Wounded 
at  Pemmaquid.  Rowing  a  Gondula  round  an 
high  Rocky  Point  above  the  Barbican.  On 
Off.  7.  the  Indians  entred  the  Houfe  of  one 
John  Brown  at  Newbury,  carrying  away  Nine 
Perlons  with  them  ;  whereupon  Captain  Green- 
lief  nimbly  purfuing  the  Murderers,  did  unhap- 
ly  fo  Humble  on  them  in  the  Night,  that  they 
Wounded  the  good  Man,  and  made  their  Efcape 
over  the  River.  The  Captain  Retook  all  the 
Captives ;  but  the  Indians  in  their  going  off 
ftrook  them  all  fo  violently  on  the  Head  with 
the  Clubs,  which  I  remember  a  French  Hiftorian 
fomewhere  calls  by  the  frightful  Name  of  Head- 
breakers,  that  they  afterwards  all  of  them  Died, 
except  a  Lad  that  was  only  hurt  in  the  Shoulder. 
Some  of  them  lingred  out  for  half  a  Year,  and 
fome  of  them  for  more  than  a  whole  Year ;  but 
if  the  Dodors  clofed  up  the  Wounds  of  their 
Heads,  they  would  grow  Light-headed,  and  Faint, 
and  Sick,  and  could  not  hear  it ;  fo  at  laft  they 
died  with  their  very  Brains  working  out  at  theii 
Wounds. 
But  having  thus  run  over  a  Journal  of  Deaths 


for  the  Year  169?.  let  us  before  the  Year  be 
quite  gone  fee  lbme  Vengeance  taken  upon  the 
Heads  in  the  Houfe  of  the  Wicked.-  Know 
then,  Reader,  that  Captain  March  Petitioning 
to  be  difmifVd  from  his  Command  of  the  Fort 
at  Pemmaquid,  one  Chub  fucceeded  him.  And 
this  Club  found  an  Opportunity,  in  a  pretty  Chub- 
bed  manner,  to  Kill  the  Famous  Edgeremett  and 
Ahcnquid,  a  Couple  of  Principal  Sagamores, 
with  One  or  Two  other  Indians,  on  a  Lord's- 
Day,  the  Sixteenth  of  February.  Some  that 
well  enough  liked  the  Thing  which  was  now 
done,  did  not  altogether  like  the  Manner  of 
doing  it,  becaufe  there  was  a  pretence  of  Treaty 
between  Chub  and  the  Sagamores,  whereof  he 
took  his  Advantage  to  lay  violent  Hands,  ori 
them.  If  there  were  any  unfair  Dealing 
which  I  know  not)  in  this  Ad  ion  of  Chub, 
there  will  be  another  February  not  far  off,  where- 
in the  Avengers  of  Blood  will  take  their  Sa~ 
tisfaliion. 

ARTICLE    XXIV. 

Still  Mi/chief  u'pb/i  Mi/chief 

THE  next  whole  Year,  namely  1696.  had 
it  not  been  fur  the  Degree  of  a  Famine, 
which  the  Alteration  of  the  Courfe  of  Nature 
in  theft;,  as  well  as  other  Parts  of  the  World, 
threatned  us  withal,    would  have  been  a  Year 
of  Lefs  Trouble  than  fome  of  the  reft  in  our 
Troublefome  Decad.     The  moft  uneafte  Accident 
of  this  Year  (hall  be  told  when  we  arrive  un* 
to  the  Month  of  Auguji ;  but  in  the  mean  time 
it  was  a  Matter  of  fome  Uneafinefs,   that  on 
May  7.    one  John  Church  of  ^uochecho,  who 
had  been  a  Captive,  efcaped  from  the  Hands  of 
the  Indians,   almoft  Seven  Years   before,  was 
now  Slain  and  Stript  by  their  Barbarous  Hands: 
And  on  June  24.   one   Thomas  Cole  of  Wells 
and  his  Wife  were  Slain  by  the  Indians,  re- 
turning Home  with  Two  of  his    Neighbours 
and  their  Wives,  all  Three  Si ffers,  from  a  Vifit 
of  their  Friends  at  Tork:   And  on  June  26.  at 
feveral  Places  within  the  Confines  of  Port/mouthy 
feveral  Perfons,  Twelve  or  Fourteen,  were  MaP 
facred,  (with  fome  Houfes  Burnt,)  arid  Four 
Taken,  which  yet  were  foon  Retaken  ;  among 
whom  there  was  an  Ancient  Woman  Scalpt  for 
Dead,  and  no  doubt  the  Salvages   upon  produ- 
cing her  Scalp,  received  the  Price  elf  her  Death 
from  thole  that  hired  them,    and  yet  Ihe  fo' 
recovered  as  to  be  flill  Alive.    Moreover,  on 
July  26.  the  Lordl's-Day,  the  People  at  Igjtoche-, 
cho  returning  from  the  Publick  Worfhip  of  God, 
Three  of  them  were  killed,  Three  of  them  were 
wounded,  and  Three  of  them  were  carried  away 
Prifoners  to  Penobfcot ;   which  lalt  Three  were 
neverthelefs  in  lels  than  Three  Weeks  returned. 
But  now  we  are  got  into  fatal  Auguji ;   ori  the 
Fifth  or  Sixth  Day  of  which  Month,  the  French 
having  taken  one  of  the  Englifl)  Men  of  War, 
called,  The  Newport,  and  Landed  a  few  Men, 
who  joined  with  the  Indians  to   purfue  their 
Bufirjefs,.  Chub  with  ari  unaccountable  bafeitefs 
M  m  rri  m  fn  rfl  ra 


9° 


Magnolia  Cbrifii  Americana :  Book  VIL 


did  Surrender  the  Brave  Fort  at  Vemmaquii  in- 
to their  Hands.    There  were  Ninety-five  Men 
double-armed  in  the  Fort,   which  might  have 
defended  it  againft  Nine  times  as  many  Afiai- 
lants ;  that  a  Fort  now  fhould  be  fo  balely  given 
up !  Imitating  the  Stile  of  Homer  and  Virgil, 
I  cannot  forbear  crying  out,  0  mene  KovangLc, 
neque  enim  Novangli !  And  yet  if  you  read  the 
Story  Written  by  the  Sieur  Froger,  how  poorly 
St.  James's  Fort  in  Africa  was  given  up  to   the 
French  in  the  Year   1695.  you'll  fay  the  things 
done  in    America  are  not  fo  bad  as  what  have 
been  done  in  either  Parts  of  the  World.     The 
Enemy  having  Demolilhed  fo  fair  a   Citadel, 
now  grown  mighty  Uppijh,  Triumph'd,  as  well 
they  might,  exceedingly ;    and   t'^eatned   that 
they  would  carry  all  before  them.    The  Ho- 
nourable Lieutenant-Governor  St  ought  en,    who 
was  now  Commander   in  Chief  over   the  Pro- 
vince, immediately  did  all  that  could  be  done 
to  put  a  ftop  unto  the  Fury  of  the   Adverfa- 
ry.     By   Sea  he  fent  out  Three  Men  of  War 
who,  difadvanraged  by  the  Winds,    came  not 
foon  enough  to  engage  the  French.     By  Land 
the  Indians  being  fo  Polled  in  all  Quarters,  that 
the  People  could  hardly  ftir  out,  but  about  half 
a  Score  of  the  poor  People  in  their  Fields  here 
and    there  were  pick'd  off;    he  fent  Colonel 
Gidney  with   Five    Hundred  Men,    who  per- 
ceiving the    Salvages   to  be  drawn  off,  only 
ftrengthened  the  Garrifons,  and  returned.    The 
Lieutenant-Governor,  that  he  might  not  in  a- 
ny  other  Point  be  wanting  to  the  Publick  Safe- 
ty,   hereupon    difpatched    Colonel  Hawthorn, 
with  a  fuitable  number  of  Soldiers  and  Frigats, 
unto  St.  John's,    with  Orders  to  fetch  away 
Ibme  great  Guns  that  were  lying  there,   and 
join  with  Major  Church,  who  was  gone  with 
Forces  that  way  to  Attack  the  Fort  at  St.  Johns, 
which  was  the  Neft  of  all  the  Waffs  that  ftimg 
us ;   but  the  Difficulty  of  the  Cold  Sea/on  fodif- 
couraged  our  Men,  that  after  the  making  of 
fome  few  Shot,  the  Epterprize  found  it  fell  un- 
der too  much  Congelation  to  proceed  any  further. 
So  we  will  afflict  our  felves  no  further  for  this 
Year  ;   except  only  with  mentioning  the  Slaugh- 
ter of  about  Five  poor  Soldiers,   belonging  to 
Saco-Yott,  03.  13.  who  had  a  Difcovery  of  the 
Enemy  tealbnable  enough  to  have  made  their 
Efcape;    yet  not  agreeing  about  the  way  of 
making  it,  as  if  led  by  ibme  Fatality  to  their 
Deftrutfion,  or  as  if  they  had  been  like  the  Squir- 
rels, that  rauft  run  down  the  Tree  Squeaking  and 
Crying  into  the   Mouths  of  the  Rattle-Snakes 
that  fix  their  Eyes  upon  them,  they  went  back  in- 
to the  very  Path  where  the  Indian  Ambuf  h  was 
lying  for  them. 

ARTICLE    XXV. 

A  Notable  Exploit ;   wherein.  Dux  Faemina 
Faai. 

ON  March  1$.  1697.  the  Salvages   made  a 
Defcent  upon  the  Skirts  of  Haverhil,  Mur- 
dering and  Captiving   about  Thirty-nine  Per- 


fons,  and  Burning  about  half  a  Dozen  Houfes. 
In  this  Broil,  one  Hannah  Duflan  having  lain-' 
in  about  a  Week,  attended  with  her  Nurfe^ 
Mary  Neff,  a  Widow,  a  Body  of  terrible  Indi- 
dians  drew  near  unto  the  Houfe  where  fhe  lay, 
with  Defigns  to  carry  on  their  Bloody  Devalua- 
tions. Her  Husband  halfened  from  his  Em- 
ployments abroad  unto  the  relief  of  his  Di- 
ftrefied  Family  ;  and  firft  bidding  Seven  of  his 
Eight  Children  (which  were  from  Two  to  Se- 
venteen  Years  of  Age)  to  get  away  as  faft  as 
they  could  unto  fome  Garrifbn  in  the  Town, 
he  went  in  to  inform  his  Wife  of  the- horri- 
ble Diftrefs  come  upon  them.  E'er  lhe  could 
get  up,  the  fierce  Indians  were  got  lb  near, 
that  utterly  defpairing  ro  do  her  any  Service, 
he  ran  out  alter  his  Children  ;  relblving  that 
on  the  Horfe  which  he  had  with  him,  he  would 
Ride  away  with  That  which  he  (hould  in  this 
Extremity  find  his  Afreclior.s  to  pitch  moft  up- 
on, and  leave  the  rett  unto  the  Care  of  the  Di- 
vine Providence.  He  overtook  his  Children  a- 
bout  Forty  Rod  from  his  Door;  hut  then  fuch 
was  the  Agony  of  his  Parental  Affections, 
that  he  found  it  impofiibb  for  him  todiftinguifh 
any  one  of  them  from  the  reft  ;  wherefore 
he  took  up  a  Courageous  Re.folurion  to  Live 
1  and  Die  with  them  all.  A  Party  of  Indians 
came  up  with  him^  and  now  though  they  Fired 
at  him,  and  he  Fired  ar  them,  yet  he  Manfully- 
kept  at  the  Reer  of  his  Little  Army  of  Unarn  ed 
Children,  while  they  Marched  off  with  the 
Pace  of  a  Child  of  Five  Years  Old  ;  until,  by  the 
Singular  Providence  of'G.  d,  he  arrived  iafewirh 
them  all  unto  a  Place  of  Safety  3bout  a  Mile 
or  two  from  his  Houfe.  But  his  He-ale  mult 
in  the  mean  time  have  more  difma!  Tragedies 
acted  at  it.  The  Kitrfe  trying  to  efcape  with 
the  New-born  Infant,  fell  into  the  Hands  of  the 
Formidable  Salvages  ;  and  thole  furious  Taw- 
nies  coming  into  the  Houfe,  bid  poor  Duflan 
to  rife  immediately.  Full  ot  Aftcnilhment  (he 
did  fo  ■,  and  fitting  down  in  the  Chimney 
with  an  Heart  full  of  moft  fearful  Expcflation, 
fhe  faw  the  raging  Dragons  rifle  all  that 
they  could  carry  away,  and  fet  the  Houfe  on 
Fire.  About  Nineteen  or  Twenty  Indians  now 
led  thefe  away,  with  about  half  a  Score  o- 
ther  Englifb  Captives  -,  but  e'er  they  had  gene 
many  Steps,  they  dalh'd  out  the  Brains  of 
the  Infant  againft  a  Tree ;  and  ieveral  of 
the  other  Captives,  as  they  began  to  Tire  in 
their  fad  Journey,  were  foon  fent  unto  their 
Long  Home  ;  the  Salvages  would  prefently 
Bury  their  Hatchets  in  their  Brains,  and  leave 
their  Carcafes  on  rhe  Ground  for  Birds  and 
Beafts  to  Feed  upon.  However,  Duflan  ("with 
her  Nurfe)  notwithftanding  her  prelent  Con- 
dition, Travelled  that  Night  about  a  Dozen 
Miles,  arid  then  kept  up  with  their  New 
Matters  in  a  long  Travel  of  an  Hundred  and 
Fifty  Miles,  more  or  lefs,  within  a  few  Days 
Enfuing,  without  any  fenfible  Damage  in  their 
Health,  from  the  Hardihips  of  their  Travei\ 
their  Lodging,  their  Diet,  and  their  many  other 
Difficulties,    Thefe  Two  poor   Women   were 

now 


Book  VII.       0ry  The  Hifiory  flf  New-England. 


91 


now  in  the  Hands  of  thofe  whofe  Tender  Mer- 
cies are  Cruelties  •  but  the  good  God,  who  hath 
all  Hearts  in  his  own  Hands,  heard  the  Sighs 
ol  thefe  Prif oners,  and  gave  them  to  find    un 
ex  petted  Favour  from   the    Mafier   who  laid 
claim  unto  them.     That  Indian  Family  con  lifted 
of  Twelve  Perlbns  •,    Two  Stout  Men,    Three 
Women,  and  Seven  Children;  and  fortheShamc 
of  many  an  F^glifh  Family,   that  has  the  Cha 
ratter  of  Prayerlcfs  upon  it,  I  muft  now  Pub- 
lilh  what  thele  poor  Women  allure  me:  5Tis 
this,  in  Obedience  to  the  Inltruttions  which  the 
French  have  given  them,  they  would  have  Pray- 
ers in  their   Family  no  le(s  than  Thrice  every 
Day  ;  in  the  Morning,   at  Noon,  and  in  the  E- 
vening ;    nor   would   they  ordinarily  let  their 
Children  Eat  or  Sleep  without  firft  laying  their 
Prayers.     Indeed  thefe  Idolaters  were  like  the 
reft  of  their  whiter  Brethren  Perfecutors,   and 
would  not  endure  that  thele  poor  Women  Ihould 
retire  to  their  Englifl)  Prayers,    if  they  could 
hinder  them.     Neverthelefs,  the  poor  Women 
had  nothing  but  Fervent  Prayers  to  make  their 
Lives  Comfortable  or  Tolerable;  and  by  being 
daily  lent  out  upon  Bufinels,  they  had  Oppor- ! 
tunities  together  and  afunder  to  do  like  ano- 
ther   Han/hih,    in     Pouring    out     their     Souls 
before  the  Lord  :  Nor  did  their  praying  Friends  j 
among  our  felves  forbear  to  Pour  out  Suppli- 1 
cations  for  them.     Now  they  could  not  ohferve  ! 
it   without   fome  Wonder,    that   their  Indian  \ 
Mafter   ibmetimes    when    he    faw    them   de- 
jetted  would  fay  unto   them,  What  need  you 
Trouble  your  felf  ?  If  your  God  mil  have  you 
delivered,  you  fhall  be  Jo  !    And  ic  feems  our 
God  would  have  it  fo  to  be.     This  Indian  Fa- 
mily was    now  Travelling    with   thefe   Two 
Captive  Women,  fand  an  Englifh  Youth  taken 
from  Worcefter  a  Year  and  half  before,)   unto  a 
Rcndezvouz  of  Salvages,    which   they   call   a 
Town  fomewhere  beyond  Penacook ;    and  they 
ftill  told  thefe  poor  Women,    that  when  they 
came  to  this  Town   they  mult  be  Stript,  and 
Scourg'd,    and    Run    the  Gantlet  through  the 
whole  Army  of  Indians.      They  faid   this  was 
the  Fajhion   when  the  Captives  firft  came  to 
a  Town  ;  and  they  derided  fome  of  the  Faint- 
hearted Englifh,  which  they   laid,  fainted  and 
lwoon'd   away    Bnder   the    Torments    of  this 
Difcipline.     But  on  April  30.  while  they  were 
yet,  it  may  be,    about  an  Hundred  and  Fifty 
Miles  from  the   Indian  Town,   a  little  belbre 
break  of  Day,  when  the  whole  Crew  was  in  a 
Dead  Sleep,   (Reader,  fee  if  it  prove  not  fb  !  ) 
one  of  thefe  Women  took  up  a  Refolution  to 
intimate  the  Attion  of  Jael  upon  Sjfera  ;    and 
being  where  fhe  had  not  her  own  Life  fecured 
by  any  Law  unto  her,  Ihe  thought  (he  was  not 
forbidden  by  any  Law  to   take  away  the  Lije 
of  the  Murderers,  by  whom  her  Child  had  been 
Butchered.    She  heartened  the  Nur/e  and  the 
Youth  to  affift  her  in  this  Enterprize ;    and  all 
furnilhing  themfelves  with  Hatchets  for  the  pur- 
pofe,  they   ftruck  fuch  home  Blows  upon   the 
Heads  of  their  Sleeping  Oppreffors,  that  e'er  they 
could  any  of  them  ftruggle  into  any  eftettual 


refiftance,  at  the  Feet  of  thofe  poor  Prifbners, 
they  bowd,  they  fell,  they  lay  down  ;■  at  their  Feet 
they  bowed;,  they  jell;  where  they  bowed  there 
they  jell  down  head..  Only  one  Squaw  efczpei 
(brely  Wounded  from  them  in  the  Dark;  and 
one  Boy,  whom  they  referved  alleep,  intending 
to  bring  him  away  with  them,  fuddenly  wak'd 
and  Scuttled  away  from,  this  Deflation.  But 
cutting  off  the  Scalps  of  the  Ten  Wretches^  they 
came  oft,  and  received  Fifty  Pounds  from  the 
General  Afiembly  of  the  Province,  as  a  Recom- 
pence  of  rheir  Attion  ;  befides  which,  they  re- 
ceived many  Prefents  of  Congratulation  from 
their  more  private  Friends-,  but  none  gave  'em 
a  greater  Tafte  of  Bounty  than  Colonel  Nichol-. 
foil,  the  Governour  ol  Maryland,  who  hearing 
ol  their  Attion,  lent  'em  a  very  generous  Token 
of  his  Favour. 

ARTICLE    XXVI. 

Remarkable  Salvations  ;  and  fome  Remarkable 
Difafte'rs. 

Elides  a  Man  taken  at  Tork  in  May,  and  a- 
nother  Man  kilfd  at  Hatfield  in  June,  and 
a  Third  kilfd  at  Groton,,  and  a  Fourth  with 
Two  Children  carried  Captives,  there  fell  out 
more  Mif chief,  with  no  fmall  Mercy,  on  June 
10.  at  Exeter.  The  Day  before,  fome  Women 
and  Children  would  needs  ramble  without  any 
Guard  into  the  Woods  to  gather  Strawberries  ; 
but  lome  that  were  willing  to  Chaftife  them 
with  a  Fright  for  their  Prefumption,  made  an 
Alarum 'in  the  Town,  whereupon  many  came 
together  in  their  Arms.  The  Indians,  it  feems, 
were  at  this  vety  time  unknown  to  the  Englifh^ 
lying  on  the  other  fide  of  the  Town  ready  to 
make  a  Deftruttive  Afiault  upon  it ;  but  fup- 
pofing  this  Alarum  to  be  made  on  their  Account, 
they  therefore  fuppofed  themfelves  to  be  dis- 
covered. Wherefore  they  laid  afide  their  Pur- 
pofe  of  attempting  the  Deftruction  of  the  Town, 
and  contented  themfelves  with  Killing  one 
Man,  Taking  another,  and  Wounding  a  Third. 
But  on  July  4.  Lord's-Day,  Major  Charles 
Froft,  who  had  been  a  Perfon  of  no  little 
Conlequence  to  our  Frontiers,  returning  from 
the  Publick  Worlhip  of  God  in  Berwick,  (to 
repair  unto  which,  about  Five  Miles  from 
his  own  Houfe,  he  had  that  Morning  ex- 
prefs'd  fuch  an  Earnefinefs,  that  much  notice 
was  taken  of  itj  pafs'd  feveral  more  Dange- 
rous Places  without  any  Damage  •,  but  in  a; 
Place,  on  a  little  Plain  by  the  Turn  oiiPathy 
where  no  Danger  was  expected,  the  Adder  in 
the  Path  furprized  him  ;  the  Indians  having 
Ituck  up  certain  Boughs  upon  a  Log,  there  Mor- 
tally Shot  him,  with  Two  more,  while  his  Two 
Sons  that  were  in  the  Front  of  the  Company  hap- 
pily efcaped  :  And  the  Two  Young  Men  that  Rode 
Polt  unto  Wells  with  thefe  Tidings,  in  their  going 
back  had  rheir  own  Death  added  for  another 
Article  of  fuch  unhappy  Tidings.  About  the 
latter  end  of  this  Month  alfo,  Three  Men  Mut- 
ing the  Meidows  at  Nevoichavsanmc,  were 
Mmmmmmra  2  them- 


02 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana  ;  Book  VII. 


themfelves  Cutdown  by  the  Indians  ■,  tho'  one  of 
the  Mowers  bravely  flew  one  of  the  Murtherers. 
But  the  raoft  Important  Aftion  of  this  Year 
was  a  little  further  off.  About  the  beginning 
of  July,  Major  March  was  employ 'd  with  a- 
bout  Five  Hundred  Soldiers,  not  only  to  De- 
fend the  Frontiers,  but  alfo  to  feek  out,  and 
beat  up  the  Enemies  Quarters.  In  the  mean 
time,  the  Lieutenant  Governor  apprehending 
an  Invafwn  from  a  formidable  trench  Fleet 
on  the  Coaft  of  New-England,  with  his  accu- 
ftomed  Prudence  and  Vigour  applied  himfelf 
to  put  the  whole  Province  into  a  Pofture  of 
Defence  :  And  the  Militia,  with  the  feveral 
Forts,  efpecially  that  of  Bofton,  (very  much 
through  the  Contrivance  and  Indultry  of  Cap- 
tain Fairweathcr,)  were  brought  into  fo  good 
a  Pofture,  that  fome  could  hardly  forbear 
too  much  Dependance  on  our  Preparations. 
But  it  being  more  particularly  Apprehended, 
that  in  the  intended  Invafwn,  the  Indians,  af- 
fifted  by  the  French,  would  make  a  Defcent 
upon  our  Frontiers  by  Land,  Major  March  was 
advifed  therefore  to  employ  fome  of  his  For- 
ces in  Scouting  about  the  Woods.  Before 
the  Major  arrived  at  "fork,  a  Party  of  the  E- 
nemy  kilfd  a  Man  that  ftood  Centinel  for  fome 
of  his  Neighbours  atWork  in  the  Marih  at  Wells ■, 
and  catching  another  Alive,  they  carried  him  a 
Mile  and  half  off,  and  Roafted  him  to  Death : 
But  Captain  Bracket,  that  followed  them  quite 
as  far  as  Kennebunk,  did  but  almoft  overtake 
them :  For  truly,  Reader,  our  Soldiers  cannot, 
as  Antiquity  reports  the  Old  Grecian  and  Ro- 
man Soldiers  could,  March  at  a  running  Pace 
or  Trot  heavily  Loaded,  Five  and  Twenty 
Miles  in  Four  Hours  ;  but  rather  fufpe£l  whe- 
ther thofe  Reports  of  Antiquity  be  not  Roman- 
tick.  Three  Soldiers  of  Saco  Fort,  after  this 
cutting  fome  Fire-wood  on  Cow-Ifland,  for  the 
ufe  of  the  Fort,  were  by  the  Indians  cut  off ; 
while  that  Lieutenant  Fletcher  with  his  Two 
Sons,  that  fhould  have  Guarded  them,  went 
a  Fowling  ■,  and  by  doing  fo,  they  likewife 
fell  into  the  Snare.  The  Indians  carrying  thefe 
Three  Captives  down  the  River  in  one  of  their 
Canoos,  Lieutenant  Larabe,  that  was  abroad 
with  a  Scout,  way-laid  them;  and  Firing  on 
the  foremoft  of  the  Canoos  that  had  Three 
Men  in  it,  they  all  Three  fell  and  fank  in  the 
River  of  Death.  Several  were  killed  aboard 
the  other  Canoos  ;  and  the  reft  ran  their 
Canoos  alhore,  and  eicaped  on  the  other  fide  of 
the  River ;  and  one  of  the  Fletchers,  when  all 
the  Indians  with  him  were  killed,  was  de- 
liveitd  out  of  the  Hands  which  had  made  a 
Prilbner  of  him  •,  tho'  his  poor  Father  after- 
wards died  arr.  ng  them.  Hereupon  Major 
March,  with  his  Army,  took  a  Voyage  far- 
ther Eaftward,  having  feveral  Tranfport  Vef- 
fels  to  accommodate  them.  Arriving  at  Cafco- 
Bay,  they  did,  upon  the  Ninth  of  September, 
come  as  Occult  as  they  could,  further  Eaft  a- 
mong  the  Iflands,  near  a  Place  called  Corbin's 
Sounds;  and  Landed  before  Day  at  a  Place 
called  Damafcotta  River ;   where,  before  half 


of  them  were  well  got  afhoar,  and  drawn  up, 
the  fcarce  yet  expected  Enemy  entertained  them 
with  a  Volley  and  an  Huzza !  None  of  ours  were, 
hurt-  but  Major  March  repaid  'em  in  their  own 
Leaden  Coin  ;  and  it  was  no  fboner  Light  but 
a  Confiderable  Battel  enfued.     The  Commanders 
of  the  Tranfport  VeJJels  were  Perfons  of  fuch 
a  Mettle,  that  they  could  not  with  any  pati- 
ence forbear  going   afhore  to  take  a  part  of 
their  Neighbours  Fare  ;   but  the  Enemy  feeing 
things  operate  this  way,  fled  into  their  Fleet 
of  Canoos,  ^  which   hitherto  lay  out  of  fight 
and  got  off  as  faft  and  as  well  as  they  could^ 
leaving  fome  of  their  Dead  behind  them,  which 
they  never  do,  but  when  under  extream  Dif- 
advantages.    Our  Army  thus  beat  'em  off,  with 
the  lofs  of  about  a  Dozen  Men,  whereof  one 
was  the  Worthy  Captain  Dymmock  of  Barnfla- 
ble;  and  about  as  many  Wounded,  whereof  one 
was  Captain  Philips  of  Charlejiown :  and  in  this 
A&ion  Captain  Whiting,  a  Young  Gentleman  of 
much  Worth  and   Hope,   Courageoufly  afting 
his  Part  as  Commander  of  the   Forces ;    the 
Helpers  of  the  War,  which  the  Colony  of  Con- 
neilicut  had   Charitably  lent  unto  this  Expedi- 
tion, had  his  Life  remarkably  refcued  from  a 
Bullet  grazing  the  top  of  his  Head.    But  there 
was  a  Singular  Providence  of  our  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift  in  the  whole   of  this  Matter.    For  by 
the  feafonable  Arrival  and  Encounter  of  our 
Army,  an  horrible  Defcent  of  Indians,  which 
probably  might  have  laid  whole  Plantations  De- 
folate,  was  moft  happily  Defeated.    And  at  the 
fame  time,  the  Signal  Hand  of  Heaven  gave  a 
Defeat  unto  the  Purpofes  of  the  French  Squa- 
drons at  Sea,  fd  thac  they  had  fomething  elle 
to  do,  than  to    Vifit  the  Coaft  of  New-Eng- 
land. 

ARTICLE    XXVII. 

The  End  of  the  Year ;  and,  we  hope,  of  the 
War. 

OThou  Sword  of  the  Wildernefs,  when  wilt 
thou  be  quiet  ?  On  Sept.  1 1.  A  Party  of  the 
Enemy  came  upon  the  Town  of  Lancafier,  then 
prepared  for  Alt/chief  by  a  wonderful  Security, 
and  they  did  no  little  Mifchief  unto  it.  Near 
Twenty  were  killed,  and  among  the  reft  Mr. 
John  Whiting,  the  Paftor  of  the  Church  there  : 
Five  were  carried  Captive  •,  Two  or  Three 
Houfes  were  burnt,  and  feveral  Old  People  in  them, 
Captain  Brown  with  Fifty  Men  purfued  them, 
till  the  Night  itopp'd  their  purfuit  \  but  it  feems 
a  ftrange  Dog  or  two,  unknown  to  the  Company, 
did  by  their  Barking  alarum  the  Enemy  to  rile 
in  the  Night,  and  Strip  and  Scalp  an  Englifh 
Captive  Woman,  ^and  fly  fo  far  into  the  Woods, 
that  after  Two  Days  Bootlefs  Labour  our  Men 
returned.  November  arrived  before  any  farther 
Blood/Jjed ;  and  then  'twas  only  of  one  Man  in 
the  Woods  dX  Oyjier-River.  December  arrived  with 
the  welcome  Tidings  of  a  Peace  concluded  be- 
tween England  and  France  ■,  which  made  us  hope 

that 


Book  VII.  Or,  The  Hiflory  <^  New-England,  yj 


that  there  would  be  little  more  of  any  Bloodflxd 
ac  all.  The  Winter  was  the  fevereft  that  ever 
was  in  the  Memory  of  Man.  And  y&cFebruary 
miift  not  pals  without  a  Stroke  upon  Pemmaquid 
Chub,  whom  the  Government  had  mercifully 
permitted,  after  his  Examination,  to  retire  unto 
Ii  is  Habitation  in  Andover.  As  much  out  of  the 
way  as  to  Andover,  there  came  above  Thirty- 
Indians,  about  the  middle  of  February,  as  if 
rheir  Errand  had  been  tor  a  Venge ancje.upon Chub, 
whom  (with  his  Wife  J  they  now  MatTacred 
there.  They  took  Two  or  Three  Houfes,  and 
Slew  Three  or  Four  Perfbns;  and  Mr.  Thomas 
Barnard,  the  worthy  Minifter  of  the  Place,  very 
narrowly  efcaped  their  Fury.  But  in  the  midft 
of  their  Fury  there  was  one  piece  o£  Mercy,  the 
like  whereof  had  never  been  feen  before:  For 
they  had  got  Colonel  Dudley  Bradftreet,  with  his 
Family,  into  their  Hands  ;  but  perceiving  the 
Town  Muttering  to  follow  them,  their  Hearts 
were  ib  changed,  that  they  di  (miffed  their  Cap- 
tives without  any  further  Damage  unto  their 
Pel  Ions.  Returning  back  by  Haverhil,  they 
kilfda  Couple,  and  a  Couple  they  took,  with 
tome  remarkable  Circumftances  worthy  to  be 
made  a  diftinft  Hiflory.  But,  Reader,  we  are 
now  in  Hade  for  to  have  our  prefent  Hiflory 
come  unto  an  End  :  And  though  the  end  of  this 
Year  did  not  altogether  prove  the  end  of  the 
War-,  for  on  May  9.  1698.  the  Indians  Murder- 
ed an  old  Man  at  Spruce-Creek,  and  carried  a- 
way  Three  Sons  of  that  old  Man,  and  wounded 
a  Man  at  To'rk  :  Yet  we  were  not  without  pro- 
ipe£t  of  our  Troi^les  growing  towards  a  Period  : 
And  even  in  that  very  Murder  at  Spruce-Creek 
there  fell  out  one  thing  that  might  a  little  en- 
courage our  Hopes  concerning  it.  The  Mur- 
derer was  a  famous  kind  of  a  Giant  among  the 
Indians ;  a  Fellow  Reputed  Seven  Foot  High  : 
This  Fellow  kill'd  the  poor  old  Man  in  cold 
Blood,  after  he  had  Surrendred  himfelf  a  Pri 
foner  :  But  behold,  before  many  Hours  were 
out,  this  famous  and  bloody  Fellow  accidentally 
ihot  himfelf  to  Death  by  his  Gun  going  off', 
when  he  was  foolilhly  pulling  a  Canoo  to  the 
Shore  with  it. 

The  la  ft  bloody  Aclion  that  can  have  a  Room 
in  our  Story  is  this. 

The  Indians,  (though  fometimes  it  hath  been 
much  doubted,  What  Indians !)  have  in  this 
War  made  feveral  Defcents  upon  fome  of  the 
upper  Towns  that  were  our  moft  Northerly  Set- 
tlements upon  Conneflicut-R'wer.  But  the  Pious 
and  Honeft  People  in  thofe  Towns,  have  always 
given  them  a  brave  Repulfe,  and  had  a  nota- 
ble Experience  of  the  Divine  Favour  to  them 
in  their  Prefervations.  Deerfield  has  been  an 
Extraordinary  Inftance  of  Courage  in  keeping 
their  Station,  though  they  have  lived  all  this 
while  in  a  very  Pibabiroth  ;  and  their  worthy 
Pallor  Mr.  John  Williams,  deferves  the  Thanks 
of  all  this  Province,  for  his  Encouraging  them 
all  the  ways  Imaginable  to  Stand  their  Ground. 
Once  the  Enemy  was  like  to  have  iurpriied 
them  into  a  grievous  Defolation-,  but  he,  with 
his  Praying,  and  Valiant  Little  Flock,  moft  hap- 


pily repelled  them.  And  now  about  the  mid- 
dle of  July,  169S.  a  little  before  Sun-fet,  Four 
InJi am  killed  a  Man  and  a  Boy  in  Hatfield 
Meadows,  and  carried  away  Two  Boys  into 
Captivity.  The  Advice  coming  ro  Deerfield  in. 
ihe  Night,  they  preieiuly  Dilpatched  away 
Twelve  Men  to  way-lay  the  Enemy  coming  up 
the  River;  having  firit  look'd  up  unto  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  that  they  might  find  the  Ene- 
my, and  harm  none  but  the  Enemy,  and  Refcue 
the  Children  which  the  Enemy  had  fcized  upon, 
After  a  Travel  of  near  Twenty  Miles,  they  per- 
ceived the  Indians  in  their  Canoos  coming  up 
the  River,  but  on  the  other  fide  of  ir,  within  a 
Rod  or  Two  of  the  oppofite  Shore:  Whereupon 
1  hey  lb  Shot  as  to  Hit  one  of  the  Indians,  and  then 
they  all  Jumptout  of  the  Canoos,  and  one  of 
the  Boys  with  them.  The  wounded  Salvage 
crawled  unto  the  Shoar;  where  his  Back  being 
broken,  he  lay  in  great  Anguiih,  often  Endea- 
vouring with  his  Hatchet  for  to  knock  out  his 
own  Brains  and  tear  open  his  own  Breaji,  but 
could  not .  And  another  Indian  feeing  the  Two 
j  Boys  getting  one  to  another,  defign'd  'em  a 
Shot,  but  his  Gun  would  not  go  oft":  Where- 
upon he  followed  'em  with  his  Hatchet  for  to 
have  knock'd  'em  on  the  Head  ;  but  juft  as  he 
came  at  'em,  one  of  our  Men  fent  a  Shot  into 
him  that  fpoil'd  his  Enterprize ;  and  fo  the  Boys 
getting  together  into  one  Canoo,  brought  it  0- 
ver  to  the  Friends  thus  concerned  for  them. 
Thefe  good  Men  feeing  their  Exploit  perform- 
ed thus  far ;  Two  Indians  deftroy'd,  and  Two 
Children  delivered,  they  fell  to  P raffing  of  God; 
and  One  young  Man  particularly  kept  thus  Ex™ 
preffing  himfelf;  Surely,  '/ is  God,  and  not  we, 
that  have  wrought  this  Deliverance  '  But  as  we 
have  fometimes  been  told,  that  even  in  the  Beat- 
ing of  a  Pulfe,  the  dilating  of  the  Heart,  by  a 
'Diajiole  of  Delight,  may  be  turned  into  a  con- 
tracting of  ir,  with  a  Syflole  of  Sorrow  :  In  the 
beating  of  a  few  Pulfe,  after  this,  they  fent  Five 
or  Six  Men  with  the  Canoo,  to  fetch  the  other 
which  was  lodged  at  an  Ifland  not  far  ofF,  that 
they  might  purfue  the  other  Indians  :  When 
thole  Two  Indians  having  hid  themfelves  in  the 
High-grafs,  unhappily  Shot  a  quick  Death  in- 
to the  young  Man,  whofe  Expreffions  were 
but  now  recited.  This  hopeful  young  Man's 
Brother-in  Law  was  intending  to  have  gone 
out  upon  this  Aclion  j  but  the  young  Man  him- 
ielf  importuned  his  Mother  to  let  him  go : 
Which,  becaufe  he  was  an  only  Son,  fhe  deni- 
ed ;  but  then  fearing  fhe  did  not  well  to  with- 
hold her  Son  from  the  Service  of  the  Publick, 
fhe  gave  him  leave:  Saying,  See  that  you  do 
now,  and  as  you  go  along,  refign,  and  give 
give  up  your  felf  unto  the  Lord ;  and  I  defire 
to  rejign  you  to  him  !  So  he  goes,  and  fo  he 
dies ;  and  may  he  be  the  laji  that  falls  in  a 
long  and  fad  War  with  Indian  Salvages  ! 


A  R  T  L 


94 


Magnalia  Chrifii  Americana :  Book  VIL 


ARTICLE    XXVIII. 

The  Epilogue  of  a  long  Tragedy. 

FOR  the  prefent  then  the  Indians  have 
done  Murdering  ;  they'll  dofo  no  more  till 
next  Time.  Let  us  then  have  done  Writing, 
when  we  have  a  little  informed  our  felves  what 
is  become  of  the  chief  Murderers  among  thofe 
Wretches,  for  whom,  if  we  would  find  a  Name 
of  a  length  like  one  of  their  own  Indian  Long- 
winded  words,  it  might  be, 

Bombardo-gladio-fun-hafii-flammi-loquentes. 

Major  Convers,  and  Captain  Alden,  in  pur- 
fuance  of  InftruQions  received  from  the  Lieut. 
Governour  and  Council,  arriving  at  Fenobfcot  on 
Otto.  14.  1698.  were  there  informed,  that  Ma- 
dockawando,  the  noted  Sagamore,  with  feveral  0- 
ther  Sachims  of  the  Ealt,  were  lately  Dead. 
And  Six  Days  after  this,  the  chief  Sachims  now 
living,  with  a  great  Body  of  Indians,  entertain- 
ed them  with  a  Friendly  Difcourfe  ■,  wherein 
they  faid,  That  the  Earl  of  Frontenac  had  fent 
them  word,  there  was  a  Peace  concluded  be- 
tween the  Kings  of  France  and  England,  and 
that  one  of  the  Articles  in  the  Peace  was,  for 
Prifoners  on  both  fides  to  be  Returned,  and  they 
were  refblved  to  Obey  the  Earl  of  Frontenac  as 
their  Father  ■,  and  accordingly  fuch  Prifoners  of 
ours  as  they  had  now  at  Hand  might  immedi- 
ately Return,  if  we  could  Perfwade  them,  for 
they  would  not  Compel  them.  When  our  Eng- 
lifh MelTengers  argued  with  them  upon  the 
Perfidioufnefs  of  their  making  a  New  War  after 
their  Submiffion,  the  Indians  replied,  That  they 
were  Inftigated  by  the  French  to  do  what  they 
did,  againft  their  own  Inclinations  ;  adding, 
That  there  were  Two  Jefuits,  one  toward  Amo- 
nojcoggin,  the  other  at  Narridgaway,  both  of 
which  they  defired  the  Earl  of  Bellomont,  and 
lbs  EaA  of  Frontenac,  to  procure  to  be  Remo- 
ved ;  otherwife  it  could  not  be  expefted  that  a- 
ny  Peace  would  continue  long.  The  Indians  al- 
fo,  and  the  Englifh  Prifoners,  gave  them  to  un- 
derstand, that  thelaft  Winter  >  many,  botblndi- 
ans  and  Englifh  Prifoners,  were  ftarved  to  Death  5 
and  particularly,  Nine  Indians  in  one  Company 
went  a  Hunting,  but  met  with  fuch  hard  Cir- 
cumftances,  that  after  they  had  Eat  up  theh* 
Dogs,  and  their  Cats,  they  died  horribly  Fa- 
miihed  :  And  fince  the  laft  Winter,  a  grievous 
and  unknown  Difeaje  is  got  among  them,  which 
confumed  them  wonderfully.  The  Sagamore 
Saquadock  further  told  them,  That  the  Kennc- 
beck  Indians  would  fain  have  gone  to  War  again 
this  laft  Summer,  but  the  other  Refujed,  where- 
upon they  likewife  Dejifted :  And  they  Refolved 
now  to  Fight  no  more  ;  but  if  any  111  Accident 
or  A&ion  (hould  happen  on  either  fide,  he 
did  in  the  Name  of  the  Indians  Defire,  that 
we  would  not  prefently  make  a  War  upon  it, 
bat  in  a  more  amicable  way  compofethe  Diffe- 
rences. 

% 


That  the  Indian  Affairs  might  come  to  be 
yet  more  exattly  underftood,  the  General  Af- 
fembly  of  the  Province  employed  Colonel  John 
Phillips,  and  Major  Convers,  to  fettle  them. 
Thefe  Gentlemen  took  a  Difficult  and  a  Dange- 
rous Voyage,  in  the  Depth  of  Winter,  unto  the 
Ealtern  Parts  in  the  Province-Galley,  then  under 
the  Command  of  Captain  Cyprian  Southack  • 
and  the  Principal  Sagamores  ot  the  Indians  there 
coming  to  them,  did  again  Renew  and  Subfcribe 
the  Submijjion  which  they  had  formerly  made 
in  the  Year  1693.  with  this  Addition  unto 
it. 

c  And  whereas,  notwithstanding  theaforefaid 
c  Submiffion  and  Agreement,  the  faid  Indians 
'  belonging  to  the  Rivers  aforefaid,  or  iome  of 
'  them,  thro'  the  ill  Counfel  and  Inftigation  of 
'  the  French,  have  perpetrated  fimdry  Hoftilities 
'  againft  His  Majefties  Subjects  the  Englifh,  and 
'  have  not  delivered  and  returned  home  feveral 
c  Englifh  Captives  in  their  Hands,  as  in  the  faid 
'Submiffion  they  Covenanted. 

'  Wherefore  we  whofe  Names  are  hereunto 
c  Subfcribedj  Sagamores,  Captains,  and  Principal 
c  Men  of  the  Indians  belonging  unto  the  Rivers 
'  of  Kcnncbeck,  Ammonojcoggin,  and  Saco,  and 
'  Parts  adjacent,  being  ienhble  of  our  great  Of- 
c  fence  and  Folly,  in  not  complying  with  the 
'  aforefaid  Submiffion  and  Agreement,  and  alio 
'  of  the  Sufferings  and  Mifchiefs  that  we  have 
'  hereby  expofed  our  felves  unto,  do  in  all  Hum- 
'  ble  and  molt  SubmifTive  manner  call  our 
c  felves  upon  His  Majefties  Mercy,  for  the  Par- 
'  don  of  all  our  Rebellions,  Hoftilities,  and  Vio- 
lations of  our  PromifcS,  praying  to  be  Recei- 
« ved  into  His  Majefties  Grace  and  Protefti- 
c  on ;  and  for,  and  on  behalf  of  our  felves,  and  of 
«  all  other  the  Indians,  belonging  to  the  feveral 
'  Rivers  and  Places  aforefaid,  within  theSove- 
1  raignty  of  His  Majefty  of  Great  Britain,  do  a- 
c  gain  acknowledge  and  profefs  our  Hearty  and 
'Sincere  Obedience  unto  the  Crown  of  Eng- 
<•  land,  and  do  folemnly  Renew,  Ratifie,  and 
'  Confirm  all  and  every  of  the  Articles  and  A- 
'  greements  contained  in  the  aforefaid  Recited 
4  Commiffion.  And  in  Teftimony  thereof,  we 
4  the  faid  Sagamores,  Captains,  and  Principal 
'  Men,  have  hereunto  fet  our  feveral  Marks  and 
c  Seals  at  Cafco-Bay,  near  Mares-Point,  the  Se- 
c  venth  Day  of  January,  in  the  Tenth  Year  of 
'the  Reign  of  His  Majefty  King  WILLIAM 
c  the  Third,    Annoque  Domini ■>  169-^. 


Subfcribed  by 
Moxus,  — and  a 
Great  Number  more. 


In  the  Prefence  of 
James  Convers. 
Cyprian  Southack. 
John  Gills,  Interpreter, 
And  Scodook, 
alias  Sampfon. 


At  this  timealfo,  the  Indians  Reftored  asma~" 
ny  of  the  Englifh  Captives  in  their  Hands  as 
were  able  to  Travel  above  an  Hundred  Miles 
in  this  terrible  Seafon  of  the  Year,  from  their 
Head-quarters  down  to  the  Sea-fide  -,  giving  all 

pofliblc 


Book  VI],  Or,  The  Hiftory  0/ New-England. 


95 


poffible  Sjtisfaclion  for  the  Reftoration  of  the 
Reft  as  Early  in  the  Spring  as  there  could  bea- 
ny Travelling. 

The  Condition  of  thefe  Captives  has  afford- 
ed many very  Remarkable  Things,  whereof 'tis  a 
Thou  (and  Pities  thjt  fo  many  are  loll.  But  be- 
caufe  One  of  the  Two  Gentlemen  Employ'd  as 
Co  na  1  ■!  ners  for  the  Treaty  with  the  Indians. 
took  certain  Minutes  of  Remarkable  Things  from 
fome  ot  the  Captives,  I  am  willing  to  give  the 
Reader  a  Tafte  ofthatrri. 


At  Mares-Point  in    Cafco-Bay, 
Jan.  14.  1 6  of 

'HpHE  Captives  informed  me,  that  the  Inii- 
JL  '  a/is  have  Three  Forts  at  Narridgawog, 
'  and  Narrackomagog,  and  Amajfacanty.  And  at 
'  each  or  thefe  Forts  they  have  a  Chappel,  and 
'  have  Images  in  them. 

w  They  informed  me.  that  Three  Captives  in 

*  one  Wigwam  were  fiarved  to  Death  laft  Win- 
'  ter. 

•  Mary  Fairbanks,  and  Samuel  Hutching,  and 
'  fome  other  Captives,  told  me,  that  Jonathan 
'  Hut  chin  belonging  to  Spruce-Creek,  a  Lad 
'  Fourteen  Yeats  old,  they  met  him  crying  tor 
'want  ot  Victuals,  tot  in  Two  or  Three  Days 
'  he  had  nothing  to  Eat.  Afterward  as  he  was 
'  going  to  tetch  fome  Wood,  he  felt  fomething 
'  hard  in  his  Bofom.     He  put  in  his  Hand,  and 

*  unto  his  Aftonilhment  he  found  there  Two 
'Great  Large  Ears  of  Indian  Corn,  which  were 
1  very  well  Roalled.  He  Eat  them,  and  knew 
'  not  how  they  came  unto  him. 

'Some  other  ot  the  Captives  told  me,  that 
'  one  Mary  Catter,  ( which  Perfon  we  now 
'brought  home  with  us,  belonging  to  Kittery) 

*  her  Mafter,  and  many  other  Indians,  came 
'  down  to  Cafco-Bay.  There  feeing  fome  Sloops, 
c  or  Shallops,  they  thought  they  were  the  Englilh 
'coming  upon  them,  and  ran  away  into  the 
'  Woods,  and  lett  the  faid  Mary  Cutter  very 
'  Sick  in  the  Wigwam,  without  any  thing  at 
'  all  to  Eat.  They  ttaid  away  many  Days  • 
c  but  left  a  Fire  in  the  Wigwam.  She  lay  willv 
'  ing  for  fomething  to  Eat,  and  at  length  in  came 
'  a  Turtle.  She  got  that,  and  Eat  it  •,  but  after- 
'  wards  began  to  Defpair  of  out-living  theF^- 
'  mine,  which  was  returned  upon  her.  At  length, 
cwhen  the  was  very  Hungry,  in  came  a  Par- 
'  thdge  ;  ihe  took  a  Stick  and  Struck  it,  and 
'  Dreft  it,  and  Eat  it.  And  by  that  time  fhe 
e  was  Hungry  again,  her  Mafter  came  to  look 
'  after  her. 

'  They  tell  of  feveral  of  the  Indians  that 
'  have  kilfd  themfelves  with  their  own'  Guns, 
4  in  taking  them  out  of  their  Canoos. 

'  Ajfacombuit  lent  Thomafin  Roufe,  a  Child  of 
'  about  Ten  Years  old,  unto  the  Water-fide  to 
'  carry  fomething.  The  Child  cried  :  He  took 
t  a  Stick  and  ftruck  her  down :  She  lay  for 
>•  Dead  :  He  took  her  up  and  threw  her  into 
« the  Water :  Some  Indians  not  far  off  ran  in 


c  and  fetch'd  het .out.    This  Child  we  have  novr 
'  brought  Home  with  u§i 

'This  Ajfacombuit  hath  killed  and  taken  this 
'War,  (te"hy  tell  me)  an  Hundred  and  Fifty 
'  Men,  Women,  and  Children.  A  Bloody  De- 
'  vil. 

Thus  the  Paper  of  Minutes. 

The  Reader  now  has  nothing  but  Peace  be- 
fore him.  Doubtlefs  he  comforts  hirhfelf  with 
Hopes  of  Times  better  to  Live  in,  than  to- 
Write  of! 

BUT  that  which  yet  more  allures  a  Break  of 
Day  after  a  long  and  fad  AVgfo  unto  us,  is, 
That  the  Beft  King  at  this  Day  upon  Eatth,  arid 
the  Greatcji  AVnarch  that  ever  SwayM   the 
Scepter  of  Great  Britain,  hath  Commiiiioh'd  a 
Noble  Perfon,  who  hath  in  him  an  llluftrious 
[mage  of  his  own  Royal  Virtues,  to  take  the  Go- 
vernment of  theie  Provinces ;  and  he  is  accord™ 
ingly   Arrived  now  near  our  Horizon.     When 
the  Schools  of  the  Jews  delivered,   that  there 
were  Three-Great  Gifts  ot'  the  Good  God  unto 
the  World,  the  Law.  the  Rain,  and  the  Light  ■, 
R.  Zeira  added,  1  pray  let  us  take  in  Peace  for 
a  Fourth.    All  theie  lour  Gifts  of  God  are  now 
enjoy'd  by  New  England :  But  I  mull  now  sisk, 
that  our  Hope  of  a  bijtb  may  be  added  unto  the 
Number:  which  is,  A  GOVERNOUR  of  Sig- 
nalized Virtues.     To  the  truly  Noble  Earl  of 
BELLOMONT  the  whole  EngHfh  Nation  va\A 
own  ir  felf  Endebted  while  it  is  a  Nation,  for 
the  moft  Generous  and  Succefsful  Zeal   with 
which  he  Laboured  tor  thofe  A&s  of  Parliament ; 
by  Aflentingwhereunto,  the  Mighty  WILLIAM 
hath  Irradiated  England  with  BleJJings   that  it 
never  faw  before  His  Happy  Reign  :    BleJJings 
richly  worth  all  the  Expences  of  a  Revolution, 
England  owes  no  lefs  Immortal  Statues  unto  the 
Earl  of  Bellomont,  than  Ireland  unto  his  llluftri- 
ous Anceftors.     But  the  Continent  of  America 
mult  now  Share  in  the  Influence  of  that  No- 
ble Perfon,  whofe  Merits  have  been  Signalized 
on  the  moft  famous  Iflands  of  Europe  -,  and  the 
gteateft  Perfon  that  ever  fet  Foot  on  the  Eng- 
lifh  Continent  of  America  is  now  Arrived  unto 
it.     We  arenowfatisfying  out  felves  in  the  ex- 
pectations of  the  Great  and  Good  Influences  to 
be  derived  from  the  Conducf  of  a  Governour,: 
in  whom  there  will  meet, 

— Virtus  iff  Sum  ma  poteftas. 

And  now,  Reader,  I  will  conclude  ourHifto- 
ry  of  the  Indian  War,  in  Terms  like  thole  ufed 
by  the  Syrian  Writer  at  the  Conclufion  of  his 
Book ; 

Finis,  per  Auxilitim  Domini  Nofiri  Jefti^ 
Chrifli,  menje  Duodecimo,  per  manus  pecedtorfi 

oaufieri  r  5S   Errant  is. 


pauperis  &>  Errantis. 


f 


A&TV- 


96 


Magnalia  Chrifli  Americana  :  Book  VII. 


ARTICLE    XXIX. 

Quakers  Encountrei. 

■pOR  the  prefent  then  we  have  done  with 
J/  the  Indians  :  But  while  the  Indians  have 
been  thus  molefting  us,  we  have  fuffered  Mo- 
leftations  of  another  fort,  from  another  fort  of 
Enemies,  which  may  with  very  good  Reafbn  be 
caft  into  the  fame  Hijhry  with  them.  If  the 
Indians  have  chofen  to  prey  upon  the  Frontiers 
and  Out-Skirts  of  the  Province,  the  Quakers 
have  chofen  the  very  fame  Frontiers,  and  Out- 
Skirts  for  their  more  Spiritual  AJfau/ts  ■,  and 
finding  little  Succefs  elfewhere,  they  have  been 
Labouring  incrjfantly,  and  fometimes  not  unjuc- 
eefsfully,xo  Enchant  and  Poilon  the  Souls  of  poor 
People,  in  the  very  Places  where  the  Bodies  and 
Efiates  of  the  People  have  prefently  after  been 
devoured  by  the  Salvages.  But  that  which 
makes  it  the  more  agreeable,  to  allow  the  Qua- 
kers an  Article  in  out  Hijlory  of  the  Indians,  is, 
that  a  certain  filly  Scribler,  the  very  Firlt-bom 
of  Nonfexfisality,  (and  a  Firft  born  too.  that 
one  might  Salute  as  the  Martyr  Polycarp 
once  did  the  wicked  Minion,  (One  Tom  Maule, 
at  this  time  living  in  Salem,  hath  expofed  unto 
the  Publick  a  Volume  of  Nonfenfical  Blalphe 
mies  and  Herefies,  wherein  he  fets  himfelf  to 
Defend  the  Indians  in  their  Bloody  Villanies, 
and  Revile  the  Country  for  Defending  it  felf  a- 
gainft  them.  And  that  -the  Venom  of  this 
Pamphlet  might  be  improved  unto  the  Heigbth 
of  Slanderous  Wickednejs,  there  hath  been  fince 
added  unto  it  in  another  Pamphlet,  a  parcel 
of  Ingredients  compounded  forMifchief,  as  it 
by  the  Art  of  the  Apothecary.  None  but  he 
whom  the  Jews  in  their  Talmuds  call,  Ben- 
tamalion,  could  have  infpired  fuch  a  Slanderer  ! 
Have  the  Quakers  ever  yet  Cenfured  this  their 
Author  tor  Holding-forth  in  his  Alcoran,  [pig. 
221  r\  That  the  Devil,  Sin,  Death,  and  Hell, 
are  but  Nothing,  they  are  but  a  Non-Entity  : 
And,  [pag.  18?.]  That  all  Men  who  have  a 
Body  of  Sin  remaining  in  them,  are  Witches  ? 
I  have  caufe  to  believe  that  they  never  did  ! 
Nor  that  they  ever  advifed  him  to  pull  in  his 
Horns,  from  goring  the  fides  of  New-England 
with  fuch  Pafiages  as  thofe  in  Cpjg-  19 50 
the  fame  horrible  Pamphlet :  God  hath  well  re- 
warded the  Inhabitants  of  New-England  for 
their  Unrighteous  Dealings  towards  the  Natiw 
Indians,  whom  now  the  Lord  hath  fuffered  to  re- 
ward the  Irdnibitants  with  a  double  meafure  of 
Blood,  by  Fire  and  Sword,  l-jc.  And  thofc  LV 
righteous  Dealings  he  Explains  to  be  the  kil- 
ling of  the  Indians,  (or  Murdering  of  them) 
by  the  Old  Planters  of  thefe  Colonies  in  their 
Firft  Settlement.  Thus  are  the  Alhes  of  our 
Fathers  vilely  fialed  upon  by  one,  who  perhaps 
would  not  ftick  at  the  Villany  of  doing  as  much 
upon  their  Baptijm  it  felf.  I  muft  tell  you, 
Friends,  that  if  you  don't  publickly  give  forth 
a  Teftimony  to  defie  Tom  Maule,  and  his 
Works^  it  will  be  thought  by  fome,  who  it  may 


be  don't  with  you  fo  well  as  I  do,  that  you 
own  this  Bloody  Stuff:  Which  doubtlefs  you'll 
not  be  lb  ill  advifed  as  to  do.  But  certainly  if 
the  good  People  of  Neve-England  now  make  it 
not  a  Proverb  tor  a  Liar  of  the  Firft  Magnitude, 

l)t  is  as  Derp  a  liar  as  TOM  maule, 

they  will  deprive  their  Language  of  one  Sig- 
nificant Exprefiion  which  now  offers  it  felf  un- 
to them. 

Let  us  now  leave  our  Friend  Mottle's  Works 
as  a  fit  Volume  to  b;  an  Appendix  unto  the  Fa- 
mous Tartaretus,  and  worthy  of  a  Room  in 
Pantagruei\  Library.  The  fitted:  way  to 
anfwer  him,  would  be  to  fend  him  to  Bofion 
Woods! 

In  the  mean  time  I  owe  unto  the  Publick 
a  piece  of  Hijhry,  which  it  may  be  for  the  Safe- 
ty of  our  Northern  Towns  to  b;  acquainted 
withal.  Know,  Sirs,  that  once  the  Famous 
George  Keith  undertook  to  be  the  Champion 
of  our  New-Eng/tJh  Quakers,  and  bid  fair  to 
be  the  very  Dalae,  cr  Prefter  John,  of  all  the 
English  Tartars;  but  a  Minifter  of  Bofion,  up- 
on that  occafion,  publifhing  a  Book,  Entituled, 
Little  Flocks  guarded  again fi  grievous  Wolves, 
could  not  but  complain  or  it  as  a  Very  Scanda- 
lous Thing  in  George  Keith,  to  maintain  the 
Points  of  the Foxian  Quakerifm,  while  he  real- 
ly differed  from  them.  All  this  while  George 
Keith  was  admired  by  our  Quakers  as  an  Apo- 
jiie,  or  an  Oracle:  But  he  finding  it  impoili- 
b!e  to  maintain  the  grofs  Tenets  of  the  common 
Qiiakers,  preach'd  unto  them  the  Necefiity  of 
believing  on  a  thrift  without,  as  well  as  a 
Chriji  within.  Hereupon  there  grsw  fuch  alie- 
nations between  him  and  the  other  Quakers^ 
(who  had  been  taught  by  George  Fox  to  fay, 
The  Devil  is  in  them  who  Jay,  they  arefaved by 
Chriji  without  them  )  that  he  not  only  has 
written  divers  Learned  Books  to  confute  thofe 
very  DoOrines  of  the  Common  Qitakers,  which 
the  Pallors  of  New-England  had  upon  his  Pro- 
vocation written  agtinft,  but  alio  bus  therefore 
undergone  a  Storm  of  Pcrfccuticn  from  the 
Friends  in  Penfilvania  :  Yea,  'tis  verily  thought 
that  poot  George  would  have  been  made  a  Sacri- 
fice to  Squire  Samuel  Jennings,  and  the  reft  of 
the  Penfilvanian  Dragons ;  and  that  (incea  Crime 
which  their  Laws  had  made  Capital,  was  men- 
tion'd  in  the  Mittimus  whereby  Keith  was  com- 
mitted, they  would  have  Hmg'd  him,  if  a  Re- 
volution upon  their  Government  had  not  let  him 
at  liberty.  Being  by  the  Fines,  and  Goals,  and 
Fierce  Ufages  of  the  Qiiakers  in  Penfilvmia, 
driven  over  to  England,  the  wonderful  Hand 
of  God  haih  made  this  very  Man,  I  think  Imay 
fay,  incomparably  the  greateft  Plague  that  ever 
came  upon  that  SecT:  of  tncrgumens.  Although 
he  do  himfelt  ftill  retain  the  Name  of  a  Quaker, 
yet  he  hath  in  one  Trearife  after  another  Ear- 
nellly  called  upon  the  Divines  throughout  the 
Nation  more  Vigoroufly  to  Employ  their  Ta- 
lents againft  the  Quakers,  as  a  more  Dangerous 
Generation  of People  than  they  are  well  aware  •. 
and  he  did  in  the  Year  1696.  with  the  leave  of 
the  Lord  Mayort  Challenge  the  Quakers  to  make 

their 


Book  VII.      Or,  The  Hijlory  <?/ New-England. 


97 


their  Appearance  at  Turners-Hall,  in  the  chief  had  with  a  very  Bufie  and  Noifie  Teacher  a- 
City  of  Europe  ;  where  he  proved  unto  the  Satif- \  mong  the  Quakers,  (and  another  of  the  Friends) 


faction  of  a  vaft  Aflembly,  that  the  chief  Writers 
of  the  Qitakers  affert  Chrift  neither  to  be  God, 
nor  Man;  and  that  they  deny  Chrift  to  be  pray 'd 
unto  5  and  that  they  had  affirm'd,  chriji's 
outward  Blood  [bed  on  t  he  Ground,  to  be  no  more 
than  the  Blood  of  another  Saint ;  and  that  they 
had  charged  him  with  New  Dofrine,  for  direct- 
ing to  Faith  in  Chrift  without  us,  as  wellasro/7/> 
in  its-,  and  that  at  their  Meetings  they  had  cen- 
fured  him,  for  faying,  That  Chriji's  Body  come 
out  of  the  Grave,  which  they  lay,  It  never  did  : 
And  many  more  fiich  horrid  Matters.  To  con- 
firm thete  things,  befides  the  gtievous  Bites 
which  Francis  Bugg,  one  of  their  late  Friends, 
hath  given  them,  one  Daniel^  Leeds,  without 
wholly  calling  off  the  Profeffion  of  a  Quaker, 
hath  lately  Printed  a  Book,  wherein  he  produ- 
ces above  Three/core  Inftances  of  the  Flat  Con- 
tradictions which  he  hath  obferved  in  the  Books 
of  theFriends\,  that  have  mod  pretended  unto 
Infallibility  ■,  and  he  demonftrates  from  evident 
Matter  or  Fail,  that  though  they  declared  unto 
the  World,  That  their  Sufferings had been  great- 
er^ and  more  unjuft,  than  the  Sufferings  oj  je- 
fus  and  his  Apoftles  ;  yet  they  themfelves  were 
no  looner  mounted  into  the  Seat  of  Government, 
than  they  fell  to  Perfecuting  as  bad  as  any  in  the 
World.  Albeit  Fox  writes.  They  that  caufc  Peo- 
ple to  be  put  in  Pri/on,  and  have  their  Goods  ta- 
ken away,  are  DiJ orderly  Treacher s,  and  flmll  be 
rooted  out :  Neverthelels,  Leeds  proves  by  many 


in  his  return  from  his  Vifitation  unto  fame  of 
our  Northern  Towns,  where  the  giddy  people 
had  cry'd  him  up  for  a  None-Such. 

Quaker.  We  are  come  to  give  theeafriendlj 
Viftt. 

Minifter.  I  am  glad  to  fee  you  at  my  Houle; 
you  fhall  be  welcome  to  the  beft  Entertain- 
ment my  Houfc  can  afford  you. 

But  will  you  do  me  the  Favour  to  let  me  un- 
derftand  the  Defigns  upon  which youvifit  thefe 
Parts  of  the  Country  ? 

Quaker.  I  come  to  Preach  J  ejus  Chrifi. . 

Minifter.  Excufe  me —  What  Cbrift,  \  pray  ? 

Quaker.  The  fame  Cbrift  that  appeared  unto 
Abraham,  and  liaic,  and  Jacob;  and  that  ap- 
peared unto  Moles  in  the  Bufh,  and  that  voas 
with  Ifrael  in  the  Wilder nefs — 

Minifter.  \  would  interrupt  you.  I  per- 
ceive that  we  (hall  be  drawn  into  fome  Dif- 
courle.  Matter  of  Argument  will  occurr,  I 
forefee,  in  our  Difcourfe.  Argument  fometimes 
does  draw  forth  Words  that  may  have,  too 
much  Warmth  in  them,  I  purpofe  none  fuch. 
But  if  you  are  feniible  that  I  do  let  fall  any  one 
fuch  Word  in  our  Difputation,  do  me  the  fa- 
vour to  take  notice  of  it  unto  me,  and  III  in> 
mediately  correct;  it.    Now  if  you  pleafe—- 

Quaker.  Thou  fpeakc\\  very  well.  This  is 
but  according  to  the  good  Report  we  have  heard  of 
thee.  -  .  . 


Examples,  that  the  Penftlvanians   did  it  even  J      Minifter.  Friend,  I  am  fenfible  that  you  are 


upon  their  own  Friends,  for  meer  Scruples  of 
their  Confciences.  'Tis  reported,  the  Quakers 
are  fo  confounded  at  this  Book  oi'Leeds,  that 
they  have  been  at  the  charge  to  buy  up  the 
whole  bnprejfion  of  it,  and  fo  to  Stifle  and  Smo- 
ther it :  If  it  be  lb,  I  hope 'twill  but  produce  a 
Acw  bnprejfion  of  fo  rare  a  Book.  The  Marvel- 
lous Providence  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  having 
thus  employ 'd  the  Pens  of  the  Quakers  them- 
selves to  warn  you,  that  you  beware  of  Quake- 
riftnfn  will  be  a  marvellous  Infatuation  in  any  of 
you,  after  this  to  be  led  away  with  that  Error  oj 
the  Wicked.  Reader,  make  a  Paufe,  and  here 
Admire  the  Marvellous  Providence  of  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift!  The  firft  and  great  Apoltle  of  the 
Qjpakers,even  George  F<?.v,the  Shooe-maker.in  his 


come  among  us  to  Preach  a  Religion,  different 
from  that  which  is  commonly  Preached,  ProfelT- 
ed,  and  Practiled  in  the  Country.  If  you  approve 
the  Religion  of  the  Country,  I  can't  fee  where's 
the  Senfe  of  it,  for  you  to  take  fuch  tedious 
Journeys  for  our  Illumination.  I  pray  be  lb  kind 
as  to  let  me  know  what  point  in  our  holy  Reli-^ 
gion  you  do  not  Approve  i 

Quaker.  'Tis  not  my  Bufmefs  here  to  Enquire 
into  tl>y  Religion.  I  am  come  to  Preach  the  Re~ 
I  i gion  of  jefus  Chrift •  the  fame  that  the  Holy 
Prophets  and  Apoftlcs  believed;  even  the  inward 
Manifestation  oj  Chrift  in  our  Hearts — 

Minifter.  To  make  Ihort  Work  on  it ;  I  per- 
ceive you  both  to  be  that  ibrt  of  People  we 
call  Quakers.     Mow   there  is  among  the  Qua- 


Great  Myftery,pag.  94.  excludes  from  the  Church   kers  char  extream  Uncertainty,   Variety,  and 


of  Chrift  thofe  who  arc  not  Infallible  in  Dif con- 
ing the  Hearts  of  other  Men.  Whereas  now  in 
Spite  of  all  their  Infallibility,  fuch  Friends  as 
Keith  (and  Leeds)  whom  they  once  admired, 
profels  that  they  never  in  their  Hearts  believed, 
as  the  Common  Foxian  Quakers  do  ,  and  Qua- 
kerijm  fuffers  from  none  in  the  World  more  than 
thefe.  But  that  I  may  a  little  Suggeft  unto  you 
certain  Methods  of  Encountring  thofe  Adverfaries 
of  your  Faith,  which  go  about Jeeking^  whom  they 
may  deceive,  and  whom  1  do  here  offer  to  prove 
as  horrid  Idolaters,  as  even  thofe  that  worfhipp'd 
the  Rats  of  Egypt,  if  it  be  fairly  demanded  of 
me,  I  will  firft  Recite  unto  you  certain  Paffa- 
ges  of  a  Difcourfe,  which  a  Minifter  of  Bcjhn 


Contradiction,  that  no  Man  can  fay  what  you 
hold,  any  further  than  each  Individual  Perfort 
will  contefs  his  own  Tenets.  I  muft  therefore 
pray  the  favour  of  you  to  tell  me  ;  do  you  own 
George  Fox's  Book,  Entituled,  The  Great  My- 
ftery  ? 

Quaker.  'Tis  none  of  our  Bufmefs  to  tell  what 
Books  we  own,  and  what  we  do  not  own  :  And  it  i& 
none  oj  thy  Bufmefs  to  Ask  its.  I  Jay,  we  own 
Jefus  Cbrift  and  his  Inward  Mantjeftation  in 
our  Hearts.     And  that's  enough  ! 

Minifter.  You'll  excufe  me  :    I  do  again  ask, 

whether  you  do  own  George  Fox's   Book  01 

The  Great  Myftery  i  Becaufe  doubtlefs  you  have 

Read  it,    And  if  you'll  ask  me  as.  much  con- 

Nnnnnnn  Carping 


98 


Magnalia  Chrifii  Americana  :  Book  VII. 


cerning  any  Book  under  Heaven,  (that  I  have 
Read)  Whether  I  own  it,  or,  How  much  I  own 
of  it,  I'll  Anfwer  you  with  all  the  Freedom  in 
the  World. 

Quaker.  J  Jay,  what  haft  thou  to  do  with 
George  Fox  ?  Or  to  Examine  me  ? 

Minifter.  Yes,  Friend,  I  do,  and  muff,  and 
wilt*ExamineX<w.  For  you  are  come  to  Hold- 
forth  unto  as  many  of  my  flock  as  you  can  ■■, 
and  the  Word  of  God  bids  me  to  Try  you. 
And  I  have  to  do  with  George  Fox  too ;  becauie 
George  Fox  in  his  Writings  has  to  do  with  me. 
And  if  you  will  fincerely  tell  me,  whether  you 
own  G"orge  Fox,  or  no,  I  (hall  more  probably 
tell  who  you  are.  In  lhort,  if  you'll  fay,  you 
Deny  and  Renounce  George  Fox,  then  1  mult 
go  another  way  to  Work  with  you.  If  you'll 
lay,  you  own  him,  then  I  mult  endeavour  to 
faveyou  from  fome  of  his  Damnable  Herefics. 

Quaker.  What  Her e fie s  ? 

Minifter.  Numberleis.  But  I  do  at  this  time 
call  tomlndThree  of  them. 

Firff,  That  the  Soul  of  Man  is  without  Begin- 
ning, and  Infinite.  This  is,  if  I  forget  not,  in 
the  90th  Page  of  that  Book. 

Secondly,  That  it  is  not  contrary  to  the  Scrip- 
ture, that  God  the  Father  took  upon  him  Humane 
\~\'.  And,  That  the  Scripture  dors  not  tell 

• of  a   Vrinity,  nor  Three  Perjjn*  uiGod; 
<  •  it  thefe  Three  Perfons  were  brought  in  ty 
tb  .  ope. 

This  is  in  p        \6> 

Tr  ly,  Thai  they  that  are  not  compleat  in 
San'  7,  are  not  compleat  in  Jujufication. 

,  in  pag.  264.  Now, 

hat  fay  ye,  Sirs  ? 

Quaker.  Wh  it  h  ft  thou  to  do  to  Rake  into  the 
AJhescJ  the  Dead?  Let  George  Fox  alone.  Haft 
thou  -'ny  thing  to  charge  upon  me  ? 

Minifter.  I  (hall  know  if  you'll  tell  me,  whe- 
ther you  own  George  Fox,  or  no.  And  you  can 
tell  me  if  you  will.  1  would  be  more  Civil  to 
you,  Sirs. 

Quaker.  7  never  Jaw  that  Book  of  George 
Fox. 

CAnd  fo  faid  the  other  Quaker  that  was 
with  him.] 

Minifter.  Sirs,  you  aftonifh  me  ?  What !  Ne- 
ver fee  George  Fox's  Book  of  The  Great  My- 
ftery  !  'Tis  impoilibie ! .  This  thing  is  to  me  a 
Myftery  \  Sirs,  that  Book  is  the  very  Bible  of 
§>uakerifm.  'Tis  Eflential  unto  a  Qiiakcr,  at 
leaft  unto  a  Teaching  Quaker  as  you  are,  to  be 
Indollrinated  from  that  Book.  Never  fee  ir, 
Man  t — However,  if  you  fay  fo,  I  muft  believe  it. 

Quaker.  [Fell  into  an  Harangue,  Repeating 
what  he  had  Preached  abroad  about  the  Coun- 
try •,  which,  becauie  1  would  mif-recite  no- 
thing, 1  dare  not  undertake  exactly  to  Recite  in 
this  Place.] 

Minifter.  I  perceive  our  Conversion  will  be 
to  little  Advantage,  except  we  get  a  little  clofer 
to  fome  certain  Point,  which  I  have  hitherto  en- 
deavoured, but  ineffe&ually. 

Sirs,  There  are  feveral  Points  which  I  would 
willingly  bring  you  to.     And   there  happening 


to  be  feveral  of  my  honeft  Neighbours  at  Hand, 
1  have  pray'd  them  (with  your  leave)  to  walk 
in,  that  they  may  be  Witneffes  of  what  pafies 
between  us. 

Firft,  I'll  begin,  if  you  pleafe,  with  this. 

I  told  you  at  the  beginning,  I  would  not  wil- 
lingly Treat  you  with  one  hard  Word.  There 
is  an  hard  Word  which  will  prelently  occurr 
by  the  unavoidable  Courfe  of  Difputation.  I 
would  Pray  you  to  eafe  me  of  the  Trouble  of 
fpeaking  it.  You  fhall  your  felf  have  the  fpeak- 
ing  of  it. 

Quaker.  What's  that  ? 

Minifter.  I  pray,  Friend,  what  doth  the  Scrip- 
ture fay  of  them  that  fay,  They  know  Jefus 
Chrift,  and  yet  keep  not  His  Commandments  ?. 

Quaker.  Nay,  what  doft  thou  fay  the  Scrip- 
It ure fays  in  that  cafe? 

Minifter.  You  will  compel  me  I  fee — I  fay 
then,  the  Scripture  fays,  He  that  Jays  I  know 
Him,  and  keeps  not  His  Commandments  js  a  Liar, 
and  the  Truth  is  not  in  him.    'Tis  in  i  Job.  2.  4. 

Quaker.  And  what  then  j 

Minifter.  Why  this  then.  He  that  fays  I 
know  Jefus  Cbrift,zx\d  yet  keeps  not  the  Command- 
ments of  Jefus  Chrift,  is  a  Liar,  and  the  Truth 
k  not  in  him. 

You  fay,  Tou  know  Jefus  Chrift.1  But  you 
muft  give  me  leave  to  fay,  that  you  keep  not 
the  Commandments  of  Jefus  Chrift. 

Therefore — pray  Sirs,  do  you  help  out  the  Con- 
clusion. I  am  loth  to  fpeak  it.  You  know  what 
it  is 

Quaker.  Yes,  yes,  We  know  well  enough  what 
Conclufwn  thou  wouldeft  be  at :  Thou  w'ouldeft 
fay,  that  we  are  Liars,  and  that  the  Truth  is 
not  in  us. 

Minifter.  Right !  Since  it  muft  be  fo. 

Quaker.  But  what  Commandment  of  Jefus 
Oirift  is  there  that  we  don't  keep  r 

Minifter.  The  Commandment  of  Jefus  Chrift 
is,  for  his  Difciples  to  be  Baptijed  with  Water ; 
but  you  Quakers  do  not  keep  that  Command- 
ment of  Jefus  Chrift. 

Quaker.  How  doft  thou  prove  that  Jefus  Chrift 
commanded  Baptijm  with  Water  ? 

Minifter.  I  know  you  muft  have  the  word 
Water,  or  nothing  will  content  you ;  elfe  I  would 
have  urged  for  a  fufficient  Proof,  our  Lords 
Commanding  His  Minifters  to  Baptife  Men, 
[Mattb.  28.  19.]  this  Command  expreffes  our 
Duty.  'Tis  not  our  Duty  to  Baptife  Men  with 
the  Holy  Spirit.  This  belongs  not  unto  Us,  but 
unto  Him,  whofe  that  Holy  Spirit  is.  You  will 
not  fay  we  Sin,  if  we  don't  Baptife  the  Difciples 
in  all  Nations  with  the  Holy  Spirit.  So  then  it 
muft  be  a  Baptijm  with  Water  which  is  there 
Commanded  by  our  Lord.  But  as  I  faid,  you 
muft  have  the  word  Water,  and  you  fhall  have  it. 

The  Apoftle  Peter  faid— 

Quaker.  The  Apofile  Peter !  The  Apoftle  Peter! 
Thou  waft  to  prove  that  Jefus  Chrift  Commanded 
Baptijm  with  Water,    and  now  thou  art  come 
1  to  the  Apoftle  Peter  ! 

I     Minifter.  Stay,  Friend,   not  fo  faft !  Will  you 
j  fay  then,  that  the  Commandments  brought  by 

the 


Book  VIJ.  Ors  The  Hifiory  of  New-England.  99 


the  Apoftle  Yeter,  as  the  Commandments  of  Je- 
fus Chrift,  ate  not  the  Commandments  of  Jefus 
Chrift  \  But  however,  TIL  mend  the  Expreffion— 
The  Spirit  of  Jefus  Chrift  in  the  Apoftle  P<?- 
ter,  (now  1  hope  it  fits  you  I) — 

Quaker.  LJ.S.  ]  Thou  art  a  Monfter,  all 
Mouth.,  and  no  Ears — 

Minifter.  — Prethee  talk  Civilly  ^  don't  make 
me  believe  that  I  wxtZtEphefas.  If  I  were  in 
one  of  your  Houfes,  I  would  not  give  you  fuch 
Language  ;  you  had  but  now  a  greater  Liberty 
to  ufe  your  Mouth  than  1  have  hitherto  taken  ; 
and  my  Ears  were  Patient.  But  you  iorefee  my 
Argument  is  going  ro  Pinch  you.  Tis  but 
Civitny  to  let  me  finilh  it. 

Quaker.  Thou  waft  to  prove  that  Jefus  Chrift 
Commanded  Rapt  if m  with  Water.  Arid  thou  haft 
not  proved  it.  And  therefore  thou  fpeakeft 
ta/fty. 

Minifter.  What  do  you  mean  ?  Thefe  little 
Shuftes  won't  help  you. 

1  fay.  The  Spirit  of  Jefus  Chtift  in  the  A- 
poUl'e  Peter,  after  our  Lord's  Afcenfion,  when  it 
was  impoifible  fox  John  $  Baptifrn  (which  was 
into  the  Mejfiab  fuddenly  to  come,  not  already 
come;  to  have  Place,  did  (ay,  in  dtf.  io.  47. 
Can  any  M  in  forbid  Water,  that  thefe  Ikould  not 
be  B  fpliftd    which  have  received  the  Holy  Ghoft. 

Quaker.  How  does  this  prove  that  Jefus  Chrift 
C  ■"  '•  'n  led  thefe  to  be  Rapt  fed  with  Water  f 

Minifter.  Thus— 

li  Jetjis  Chrilt  had  not  Commanded  Raptif/n 
Kith  Water,  any  Man  might  have  then  for  bid  it. 

But  no  Man  touldjorbid  it. 

Therefore  Jel'us  Chrilt  Commanded  it. 

Quaker.  Therefore  '  Therefore !  ArgolArgo! 
Why  doft  thou  think  Religion  is  to  be  proved  by 
thy  Therefore's,  by  thy  A 'go's  > 

Minifter.  Friend,  I  perceive  the  Word  there- 
fore is  a  very  dead-doing  fort  of  a  Word  to 
ye.  Til  difmifs  this  terrible  Word.  I'll  only 
fay,  the  Reaibn  why  none  could  forbid  Believers 
to  be  Raptifed  with  Water,  was  meerly  becaufe 
Jefus  Chrift  Commanded  ir, 

Quaker.  BECAUSE,  Why  the  Word  be- 
caufe is  a-f  bad  as  the  Word  therefore. 

Minifter.  [.Smiling.]  It  may  be  fo.  But  in 
the  mean  time  you  ate  wonderfully  unreafona- 
ble  !  I  fay,  why  could  none  forbid  Water  for  the 
faithful  to  be  Raptifed  ? 

Quaker.  Who  fays  none  could  forbid  Water  ? 
'T/j  only  f aid,  Can  any  Man  forbid  Water  f 

Minifter.  I  ptay  Sirs,  and  is  not  this,  none 
can  ? 

But  I'll  bring  the  Matter  to  bear  upon  you 
without  thole  Two  dangerous  Words,  THERE- 
FORE and  BECAUSE,  at  which  you  are  fo 
tetrified. 

I  will  put  the  Matter  into  the  Form  of  a 
Queftion :  And  your  Anfwer  to  this  Queftion, 
lhall  put  an  End  to  our  prefent  Velitations. 

Quaker.  What  have  we  to  do  to  Anfwer  thy 
Queftions  ? 

Minifter.  My  Queftion  is, 

Whether  a  Man  might  not  forbid  in  the  Wor- 


fhip  of  Jefus  Chrift,   what  Jefus  Chrift  himfelf 
bath  no  way  Commanded  ?  ' 

.  You  can  Anfwer  this  Queftion  if  you  will  ; 
and  1  defire;  I  demand  your  Anfwer., 

Quaker.  What  ?  For  us  to  anfwer  thy  Quefti- 
ons  !  That  would  be  to  Enfnare  our  f elves. .' 

Minifter.  I  am  very  ienlible  of  that.  .There- 
fore take  Notice  you  are  enfnared  in  the  Toils 
of  your  own  miferahle  Delufions.  But  ftill  I 
fay,  Anfwer  my  Queftion.  . 

Quaker.  Do  you  fee  Neighbours  ?  Friend  M. 
was  to  prove  that  Jefus  Chrift  commanded  Bap- 
tifrn, and  now  he's  come  to  a  Queftion  f 

Minifter.  So  I  am  truly.  .  And  I  fee  'tis  a 
Queftion  that  puts  you  into  a  Sweat.  I  befeech 
you  to  Anfwer  it.  I  require  you  to  Anfwer  it. 
What  lhall  I  lay  M  dejie  you  to  Anfwer  it. 
Pardon  my  Cogency  ;  you  Force  me  to't ! 

Quaker.  /  fay,  how  does  a  Queftion  prove 
that  Jefus  Chrift  commanded  Baptifrn, with  Wa- 
ter ?  And  why  doft  thou  Baptife  infants  ? 

Minifter.  Nay,  I'll  keep  you  to  the  Queftion. 
Your  Anfwer  to  the  Queftion  will  prove  it ;  I  am 
defigning  to  maktyou  your  f elves  prove  ir.  And, 
Sirs,  I  do  here  offer  to  you,  that  I  will  give  the 
belt  Anfwer  I  can  to  any  Queftion  in  the  World 
that  you  ihall  put  unto  me  : .  Why  are  you  id 
loth  to  Anfwer  onelhort^W/fowofmine  ? 
Quaker.  /  be  not  obliged  to  Anfwer  thy  Qiefiion  ? 
Minifter.  I  muft  contrive  fome  fair  way  to 
Compel  fome  Anfwer  unto  this  one  Queftion. 
Give  me  leave  therefore  ro  tell  you,  that  if  you 
do  not  Anfwer  this  Queftion,  you  go  away  con- 
quered and  confounded.  Yea,  Sirs,  I  muft  in 
faithfulnefs  tell  you  that  you  carry  away  the 
dreadful  Mark  oYHereticks  upon  you,  even,  to- 
be  Condemned  in  your  own  Confcience.  You  go 
away  Self -Condemned,  that  you  don't  keep  the 
Commandments  of  Jefus  Chrift  -,  and  therefore 
that  you  are —  what  you  Remember  the  Apoftle 
John  faid  concerning  you. 

Quaker.  J  don't  Condemn  thee  for  ufing  Rap~ 
tifm  with  Water. 

Minifter.  This  is  no  Anfwer  to  the  Queftion 
ftill :  For  you  don't  obierve  it  your  felf;  neither 
you,  nor  any  Qudkirs  under  Heaven.  Where- 
fore I  ftill  urge  for  an  Anfwer. 

Quaker.  Thou  art  not  Civil  to  us.  Is  this  thy 
Civility  to  Strangers?  We  have  heard  a  great 
Fame  of  thee,  for  thy  Civil  and  Obliging  Carriage 
towards  others  that  are  not  of  thy  Yerfwafion. 
Rut  now  thou  are  uncivil  to  us.  That  which  I 
have  to  fay,  is,  1  will  keep  to  that  Book,  the  &'- 
ble,  and  I  will  Y reach  what  is  in  that  Rook. 

Minifter.  [Taking  up  the  Bible]  Friend, 
you  pretend  then  to  undetftand  this  Rook.  I  do 
here  make  you  this  offer,  that  I  will  immedi- 
ately turn  you  to  Ten  feveral  Places  in  one  Book 
of  this  Holy  Bible,  [the  Chronicles'}  and  if  you 
can  give  me  a  Tolerable  Solution  of  any  one  of 
them,  I'll  acknowledge  that  you  are  worthy  to 
Preach  out  of  it. 

Quaker.  Canft  thou  do  it  thy  felf  ? 
■Minifter.  I  humbly  hope  I  can. 
Quaker.  How  doft  thou  know  that  I  can't  ? 

Nnnnnnn  2  Minifter . 


IOO 


Magnalia  Chrifli  Americana :  Book  VII. 


Minijier.  I  fay  you  Cant.  Now  do  you 
Accept  my  offer :  If  you  can  Til  own,  that  I 
have  wrong'd  you. 

Quaker.  What's  that  to  thee  what  lean  do? 

Minijier.  Look  you  Neighbours;  l  think 
'tis  to  no  purpofe  to  proceed  unto  any  other 
Points,  with  fuch  unreafonaHe  Folks  as  thefe. 
You  fee  how  'tis,  if  you  defire  it,  I'll  pro- 
ceed. 

Neighbours.  No,  Sir,  'tis  to  no  purpofe,  they 
are  a  People  of  no  Realbn. 

Quaker.  Nay,  Friend  M —  I  would  not  have 
thee  to  be  Jo  Hard  upon  us  ;  I  mean  thee  no  Harm, 
I  hear  thou  takeft  a  great  deal  of  pains  for  the 
good oj  thy  People ;  and  they  will  do  well,  to  Hear- 
ken to  thee.  I  have  rebuked  fome  of  them  jor 
/peaking  Evil  of  thee.  Tea,  it  it  my  Judgment, 
that  thou,  and  other  fuch  Minijier  s  as  thou  art, 
ought  Honourably  to  be  maintained  by  the  Peo- 
ple. 

Minijier.  You  differ  from  all  your  Friends, 
methinks.  What  1  Would  you  have  us  to  be 
Hirelings  ?  'Tis  very  ftrange  to  hear  a  Quaker 
plead  for  the  Mai ntai nance  of  our  Minijiry. 
But  for  your  fatisfacf ion  I'll  tell  you,  the  Peo- 
ple whom  I  ferve  I  never  once  in  all  my  Life 
esk'd  for  any  Maintenance  or  Salary-,  and  I 
never  made  any  Agreement  with  them  about  a- 
any  Salary  in  all  my  Life. 

Quaker.  I  fay,  I  would  not  have  thee  too  Hard 
upon  us.  New-England  has  Perfecuted  our 
Friends  at  a  grievous  Rate. — 

Minijier.  Nay,  Friends,  be  not  you  too  Hard 


Naked,  tojhow  the  People  the  Nakednejjr'of  their 
Sins  ?  ■   v_: 

Minifler.  For  ihame,  Sirs,  let  us  have  no 
more  of  this  Talk. 

Quaker.  Why  didji  thou  treat  George  Keith 
Jo  hardly  ? 

Minijier.  He  deferved  it  when  I  fo  Treated 
him.  And  you  Quakers  have  fince Treated  him 
Ten  Times  worfe  than  ever  I  did.  You  write 
whole  Books  of  Railing  againft  him.  I  never 
got  him  into  Goals,  and  under  Fines.  I  (hould 
have  been  Troubled  at  any  that  would  have 
done  fo.  Bat  you  have  done  it.  Therefore  I 
believe  'tis  belt  for  you  to  leave  that  SubjecL. 

And  fo  after  a  few  other  imail  Pulls,  the  Saw 
flood  ftill :  The  Conference  ended. 

There  are  Five  or  Six  Wkneffes  which  I 
have  to  atteft  unto  the  Truth  of  this  Relation 
which  I  have  here  given,  of  a  Conference  with 
a  Quaker,  which  had  all  the  Friends  far  and 
near  wondering  (as  well  a^  wandnng)  after  him. 
And  yet  thefe  Cretians  boalted  among  their 
Friends,  how  much  they  had  confounded  the 
Minifler  in  this  Conference. 

All  that  I  would  prefume  now  to  Commend 
unto  thole  Towns,  which  have  fuch  Quakers  an-" 
noyingofthem,  is.this,  Brethren,  carry  it  nv//, 
even  with  all  convenient  Civility  and  Humanity, 
towards  this  Poot  Deluded  People  ;  while  you 
Charge  your  Children  and  Servants  that  they 
do  not  go  unto  their  Meetings :  And  call  not 
your  (elves  alfo  into  Temptation  by  need Idly 
being  there.     But  after  all,    yea,  before   all, 


upon  me  about  that  Matter.    I  approve  Perfc-  [.make  an  Experiment  which  the  good  People  at 


cution  as  Little  as  any  of  you  all.  I  abhor  it, 
I  have  Preached  againft  it,  I  have  Writ  againlt  it, 
I  have  Bewailed  the  Miftakes  that  fome  good 
Men  have  committed  in  it.  1  would  have  you 
Treated  with  all  the  Civility  imaginable.  I 
would  not  have  the  Civil  Magijirate  inflict  up- 
on you  the  damage  of  one  Farthing  for  your 
Confidences. 

Quaker.  But  now  you  may  fee  how  the  Judg: 
ments  of  God  are  come  upon  the  Eaji-Country,  by 
the  Indians  for  your  Persecution. 

Minijier.  I  can't  tell  that  neither.  For  tho' 
I  am  ibrry  at  my  Heart  that  ever  you  were 
Perfecuted:  Yet  I  can't  fay,  That  becaufe  Bo- 
Jion  was  guilty  of  Perlecution,  therefore  Newi- 
chawannic,  and  Cafco-Bay,  (places  in  other  Pro- 
vinces) that  never  had  any  fuch  thing  in  it,  muff 
be  cut  off. 

Quaker.  Yes,  they  Perfecuted  at  the  Eajiward. 
There  were  Two  Women  of  our  iriends  cruelly 
Scourged  there. 

Minijier.  I  fuppofe  you  refer  to  a  Story 
publilhed  by  one  George  Bifhop,  a  Quaker :  He 
Complains  bitterly  of  the  New-England  Per- 
fecution, becaufe  there  came  Two  Quaker  Wo- 
den Stark  Naked  into  our  Publick  Affemblies, 
and  they  were  carried  unto  the  Whipping  poft 
for  it.  This  was  in  the  Northern  Parts  of  the 
Country,  as  I  have  been  told.  Thefe  Baggages, 
I  believe,  were  the  Perfecuted  Women  you  talk 
Of! 

Quaker.  Well,  and  what  if  they  did  appear 


Lyn  made  a  little  while  ago,  with  a  Succefs  tru- 
ly obfervable  and  memorable. 

The  Quakers  made  a  more  than  ordinary  De- 
fcent  upon  the  Town  of  Lyn,  and  Quakerifm 
fuddenly  Ipread  thefe  at  fuch  a  rate  as  to  A- 
larum  the  Neighbourhood.  The  Pallor  of  the 
Church  there  IndicTted  a  Day  for  Prayer  with 
Fajiing,  to  implore  the  help  of  Heaven  againft 
the  unaccountable  Enchantment  •,  and  the  good 
People  prefented  accordingly,  on  July  19. 1694. 
their  fervent  Supplications  unto  the  Lord,  that 
the  Spiritual  Plague  might  proceed  no  further. 
The  Spirit  of  out  Lord  Jefus  Quilt  gave  a  Re- 
markable EftecF  unto  this  holy  Method  of  En- 
countring  the  Charms  of  Quakerifm  :  It  proved 
a  better  Method  than  any  Coercion  of  the  Civil 
Magiftrate  :  Quakerifm  in  Lyn  received  fas  I 
am  informed)  a  Death-Wound  from  that  very 
Day  -,  the  Number  of  Quakers  in  that  Place 
hath  been  fo  far  from  Increajing,  that  I  am  told, 
it  hath  fince  rather  Pecreafed  notably.  Now 
let  other  Endangered  Plantations  go  and  do 
likewife. 

The  Quakers  are  fuch  Enemies  to  the  Holy 
Religion,  which  is  the  Life  oFNe w-England,  that 
you  muft  Excufe  my  Concern  to  have  you  For- 
tiry'd  againft  their  Attempts  alfo,  while  I  am 
giving  you  an  Hijiory  of  your  other  Enemies. 
What  all  of  them  would  be  at,  methinks,  was  a 
little  intimated  by  what  One  of  them  once  De- 
clared. The  Globe-Tavern  was  near  e*r  Pub* 
lick  and  Spacious  Meeting-Houfe  a  t  Salem  ■,  a  nd  a 

No- 


Book  VII.      0r0  The  Hiflory  gf  New-EndancL 


IOI 


Noted  Quaker  there  caufed  a  Paper  to  be  fet  up- 
on the  Door  of  that  Meeting-Houfe,  which  had 
fuch  Stuff  as  this  written  in  it. 

Beware,  Beware,  and  Enter  not  ! 

Bui  rather  to  the  Globe ',  andfpend  a  Pot. 


This  is  but  like  a  Paflage  mentioned  in  the 
Lite  of  that  Excellent  Man,  Mr.  P.  Henry,  lately 
publiihed.     A  Debauched  Gentleman  in  his  Re- 
vels, Drinking  and  Swearing,  ztMalpas,  was  re- 
proved by    a   Quaker  then    in   his  Company. 
Why,  laid  the  Gentleman,  Til  ask  thee  one  Que- 
Itioii,    Whether  it  is  better  lor  me  to  follow  ( (wells  a 
Drinking  and  Swearing,  or  to  go  and  hear  Hen-  jipeedily 
ry  ?  The  Quaker  Anfwered  ;    Nay,  of  the  Two 
rather  follow  thy  Prinking  and  Swearing.    Bt- 
hold  the  Spirit  of  Quakerijm  !  When   i  once 
compelled  a  Quaker  to  confers  that  the  Body  of 
Jelus  of  Nazareth  role  from  the  Grave,    and 
went  up  into  the  Heavens,  h^  begg'd  me  that  I 
would  not  improve  his  Confeflion,  as  if  made 
on  the  behalf  of  all  his  Friends.     And  another 
o!  them,  as  I  hear,  publickly  Held-fortb  in  one 
ol  his  lite  Stercorations,  that  the  Husks  of  the 

ne,  on  which  the  Prodigal  fed  in  rhe  Parable, 
:  Bred  and  Wine  in  that  which  People 
■  all  The  $d<  i  rment. 

it  what  will  become' of  thofe  Forlorn  Villa- 
ges, that  fhail  refign  themtllves  to  the  Con 
du£t  of  that  Light  within,  which  our  Sacred 
Scriptures  indeed  never  exprefly  mention  but 
once  or  twice,  and  then  call  it  Real  Darknefs  ; 
and  which  may  lead  Men  to  all  this  Wicked- 


Land  we  fhould  have  if  it  fhould  ever  be  fill'd 
with  thefe  pretended  Followers  of  the  Light  v 
who  wear  the  Name  of  Tremblers  ?  In  truth 
I  know  not  unto  what  better  one  might  com- 
pare them, ..than  unto  the Macheveliors. growing 
upon  St.  Lucia  -,  Trees  which  bear  Apples  of  fuch 
an  Odour  and  Colour  as  invites  People  to  Eat 
thereof;  but  it  is  horribly  Dangerous  to  do  fo; 
tor  there  is  no  Antidote  that  can  lecure  a  Man 
from  fp'eedy  Death,  who  hath  once  talted  of 
rhem.  The  Leaf  of  the  Trees  makes  an  Ulcer 
on  any  place  touched  with  it;  the  Dew  that  falls 
from  them  fetches  eft  the  Skin  ■;•  the  very  Shadow 

Man,   lb  as  to  Kill  him,  if  he  be  not 

helped. 


ARTICLE    XXX. 
Things  to  Come. 


it 


nefs  ?  There  was  among  the  Mahometans  in  the 
Eaftern  Parts  of  the  Vv  orld  a  Sett  called 
*BfltClUlf0j  from  the  Arabic-  Baten,  (which  fig- 
mfies  within:)  who  were  the  Enthufiafts  that 
followed  The  Light  within,  like  our  Qitakers ; 
and  on  this  Principle  they  did  fuch  numberlefs 
VilLinies.  that  the  World  was  not  able  to  bear 
them.  None  of  all  their  Diabolical  Raveries 
which  I  know  I  am  now  pulling  on  my  felt, 
and  which  I  value  no  more  than  if  they  came 
from  the  Pouliats  of  Malabar,  fhall  frighten  me 
from  Sollicking  your  Chnftian  Cares  and  Pray- 
ers, that  you  be  not  over-run  with  Enghfh 
/BiltCni(!0»  And  I  mull  Sollicitouily  make 
the  Observation,  that  although  fuch  a  Number 
of  Quakers  in  our  Nation  be  a  dreadful  judg- 
ment of  God  upon  Men,  linking  them  with  Spiri- 
tual Plagues  for  their  Unfruitfulnefs  and  Un- 
thankfulnefs  under  the  Gofpel ;  neverthelefs,  'tis 
a  fpecial  Favour  of  God,  that  the  Number  of 
Quakers  is  no  greater ;  for  if  they  fhould 
multiply,  not  only  would  Chriflianity  be  utter- 
ly Extinguifhed,  but  Humanity  it  felf  Extermi- 
nated. It  is  well  known,  that  when  a  Quaker 
had  Stolen  an  Hour-glafs,  the'ir  Mahomet,  George 
Fox,  (of  whom  Sol.  Eccles,  in  a  Sheet,  call'd, 
The  Quakers  Challenge,  page  6.  fays,  He  was 
the  Chrift.)  thus  Vindicated  it,  [Great  My  ft. 
pag.  77.3  As  for  any  being  moved  of  the  Lord, 
to  take  away  your  Hour-glafs  from  you,  by  the 
Eternal  Power  it  is  owned.  Reader,  doft  not 
thou  even    Tremble  to  think   what  a   Dark 


A  R  O  M  Relating  of  Things  pall,  it  would 
no  doubt  be  very  acceptable  to  the  Reader 
we  could  pafs  to  Foretelling  of  Things  to 
come.  Our  Curiofity  in  this  point  may  eafily 
come  to  a  Degree  Culpable' and  Criminal.  We 
muff  be  humbly  content  with  what  the  God  in 
whofe  Hands  are  our  Times  hath  ReveaPd  unto 
us.  ■    -.        ; 

Two  things  we  will  venture  to  Infert.     » 

Fir  ft,  For  our  /elves  at  home,  let  us  remem- 
ber an  awful  faying  of  our  Goodwin,  quoted  by 
my  Reverend  Friend  Mr.  Noyes,  in  his  late  Ex- 
cellent Sermon  at  our  Anniverfary  Eleilion. 

'  As  you  look,  for  Storms  in  Autumn,  and  Erofts 
c  in  Winter^  io  expe£t  Judgments  where  the 
'  Gofpel  hath  been  Preached  ;  for  the  Quarrel 
c  of  the  Covenant  muft  be  Avenged.  |      '■    ■  • 

Secondly,  For  the  Church  abroad,  I  am  far 
from  deferring  what  was  alTerted  in  the  Sermon 
Preached  at  our  Anniverfary  Election,  in  the 
Year  1696.  '  The  Tidings  which  I  bring  unto 
'you  are,  that  there  is  a  RettOlUtiOlt  and  a 
1  Reformation  at  the  very  Door,  which  will 
'  be  vaftly  more  wonderful  than  any  of  the  De- 
•  liverances  yet  feen  by  the  Church  of  God 
E  from  the  beginning  of  the  World.  I  do  not 
'  fay  that  the  next  Tear  wilj,  bring  on  this  Hap- 
'  py  Period-,  but  this  I  do  fay,  the  bigger  part  of 
c  this  Afiembly,  may,  in  the  Courfe  of  Nature, 
1  live  to  fee  it.  Thefe  things  will  come  on 
1  with  horrible  Commotions,  and  Concutlions, 
'and  Confufions:  The  mighty  Angels  of  the 
'  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  will  make  their  Defcent,  and 
'  fet  the  World  a  Trembling  at  the  Approaches 
c  of  their  Almighty  Lord  :  They  will  Shake  Na- 
'  tions,  and  Shake  Churches,  and  Shake  mighty 
'  Kingdoms,  and  Shake  once  more,  not  Earth 
1  only,  but  Heaven  alfo. 

Unto  thefe  Two  Things  my  Reader  will  not 
mil-improve  it,  I  hope,  if  I  add  a  Third  lately 
fallen  into  my  Hands ;  and  never  yet  to  expofed 
unto  the  Publick. 


102 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana :  Book  VII. 


A  Wonderful  Matter  Income ftably  Demonftrated, 
and  much  defired  by  f owe  good  Men  to  be  in 
this  place  Communicated. 

€  "\  /T  R-  John  Sadler,  a  very  Learned  and  a 

1VX  '  very  pious  Man,  and  a  moft  Exempla- 

c  ry  Chriftian,    lay  Sick  in  his  Bed  at  his  Man- 

'  nor  of  Warmwell  in  Dorfetjbire  :   In  the  Year 

*  165?,.  in  the  time  of  his  Illnefs  he  was  vifited 
'  by  Mr.  Cutbbert  Bound,  the  Minifter  of  Warm- 
£  well. 

£  Mr.  Sadler  then  defired  his  Man,  (one  1'bo- 
£  mas  Gray)  to  fee  that  there  fhould  be  no  Bo- 
£  dy  elfe  in  the  Room,  and  lock  the  Door,  and 
c  give  him  the  Key. 

*  He  then  fat  up  in  his  Bed,  and  asked  Mr. 
c  Bound  and  the  Attendant  Gray,  whether  they 
'  Jam  no  Body  ?  And  whether  chey  did  not  bear 
'  what  a  Perfbn  faid  that  flood  at  the  Corner 

*  of  the  Chamber  ?  They  replied,  No.  He 
'  wondred  at  it.  and  faid,  The  Manfpakefo  loud 
£  that  the  whole  Parijh  might  hear  him. 

'  Hereupon  calling  for   a  Pen  and   Ink,  he 

*  wrote  what  was  told  him,  and  made  them  fet 
1  their  Hands  to  it ;  for  he  told  them,  The  Man 
£  would  not  begone  till  he  had/een  that  done. 

1  The  Articles  written  down  were, 

I.  '  That  there  would,  after  fo  many  Months, 
£  be  a  Plague  in  London,  whereol  fo  many  would 
c  die,    [naming,  the  Number.] 

II.  '  That  the  greateft  part  of  the  City  would 

*  be  Burnt,  and  Pauls  he  particularly  fhow'd 
'  him  Tumbled  down  into  Ruins,  as  if  beaten 
c  down  with  great  Guns. 

III.  '  That  there  would  be  Three  Sea-Fights 
£  between  the  Englijh  and  the  Dutch. 

IV.  '  That  there  would  appear  Three  Blazing 
£  Stars ;  the  laft  of  which  would  be  terrible  to 
c  behold.  [He  faid,  the  Man  fhow'd  him  the 
1  Star.^ 

V.  '  That  afterwards  there  would  come  Three 
£  /mall  Ships  to  Land  in  the  Weft  of  Weymouth, 
£  which  would  put  all  England  \n  an  Uproar,  but 
£  it  would  come  to  nothing. 

VI.  'That  in  the  Year  1688.  there  would 
c  come  to  pafs  fuch  a  thing  in  the  Kingdom,  as 
£  all  the  World  would  take  notice  of. 

VII.  '  That  after  this,  and  after  fome  further 
c  Difturbance,  there  would  be  Happy  Times : 
£  And  a  Wonderful  Tlnng  would  come  to  pars, 
£  which  he  was  not  now  to  declare. 

VIII.  'That  he  and  his  Man  {Gray)  fhould 

*  Die  before  the  Accomplifhment  of  thefe 
'  things ;  but  Mr.  Bound  fhould  live  to  fee  it. 

IX.  'For  the  Confirmation  of  the  whole, 
£the  Man  thus  appearing  told  him,  that  he 
'  fhould  be  Well the  next  Day  •_,  and  there  would 
£  come  Tl/ree  Men  to  vifkViin,  one  from  Ire- 

*  land,  one  from   Guernjvy,    and  his  Brother 

*  Bingham. 

'  Accordingly  the  Day  following  Mr.  Sad- 
iler  went  abroad:  And  this  Day  there  acci- 
£  dentally  met  at  his  Houfe,  and  fo  Dined  with 
£  him,  firft  the  Lord  Steel,  who  had  been  Lord 
^Chancellor  of  Ireland,   and  now  returning 


from  thence  in  his  way  to  London,  came  to 
fee  Mr.  Sadler :  Secondly,  Monfieur  de  la 
Marfh,  a  French  Minifter  from  Guernfey  • 
and  Laftly,  his  Brother  Bingham. 
'  Mr.  Bound  and  Gray,  within  Three  Days 
after  this,  made  Affidavit  of  it  before  Colo- 
nel dies  Strangewaycs,  and  Colonel  Cocker, 
who  is  yet  Alive. 

'  Mr.  Daniel  Sadler,  and  Mr.  John  Sadler,  the 
Sons  of  this  Old  Mr.  Sadler,  very  Serious  and 
Worthy  Chriftians,  are  at  this  time  living  in 
Rotterdam  ;  one  of  them  is  His  Majefties  Agent 
for  Tranfportation. 
'  Mr.  Daniel  Sadler,  making  his  Applications 
to  Mr.  Bound  for  his  Teftimony  about  this 
Matter,  the  faid  Old  Mr.  Bound,  in  a  Letter 
dated,  Warmwell,  Aug.  30.  0.  S.  1697.  af- 
ferts  the  Matter  at  large  unto  him  ;  and  Sub- 
'  fcribes,  Tins  I  fhall  Tejiifie  before  the  King 
'  him/elf,  if  occafion  be,  when  he  comes  into 
'  England. 

Yours,  Cuthbcrt  Bound.jr/ 
AUniJlcr  of   Warmwell. 

'Mr.  Daniel  Sadler  has  this  Teflimony 
'  further  fortified  by  a  Letter  from  one  Mr.  Rt~ 
'  bert  Loder-,  telling  him,  that  he  had  met  with 
'  an  Old  Copy  of  the  Depoiitions  afortfaid,  which 
'  accordingly  he  Tranicr'ibes  for  him  ;  and  feve- 
1 '  ral  yet  living  in  Dorchefter  affirmed  unto  him 
5  the  Truth  of  the  Story. 

'  The  Copies  of  thefe  Letters  are  now  in  Bo- 
'■  fion  in  New-England. 

'  Mr.  John  Sadler  adds  his  Teflimony,  That 
'  his  Father  rold  unto  his  Mother  and  himfelf, 
'  that  he  had  been  told  of  Remarkable  rhings 
'  to  come  to  pafs,  particularly  the  Burning  of 
c  London  and  Pauls.  But  that  they  wete  not  ac- 
c  quainted  with  all  the  Matters  he  foretold  un- 
c  to  Mr.  Bound  and  Gray.  Only  he  Remembers 
'well  they  Two  were  with  him  in  his  Chamber 
'  alone ;  and  his  Father  went  abroad  within  a 
'  Day  or  Two;  and  that  (according  to  the  Sign 
£  he  had  given  to  them,,)  the  Three  Perjons  afbre- 
l  faid  viiited  him.  He  adds,  that  his  Father  fpoke 
'  of  leaving  in  Writing  the  things  that  had  been 
'  fhown  to  him  ■,  and  that  a  little  after  he  faw 
'  once  a  thin  Otlavo  Manuicript  in  his  Father's 
'Study,  which  he  believed  had  thofe  things  in 
'  it  •,  but  after  that  he  could  never  find  it.  This 
'  Teftimony  is  dated  in  October  1697. 

A  Worthy  and  a  Godly  Gentleman,  at  this 
time  living  in  Rotterdam,  and  well  acquainted 
with  both  Mr.  Daniel  and  Mr.  John  Sadler,  fends 
this  to  Mr.  Increaje  Mather  in  New-England, 
with  a  Letter  dated  -26.  March.  1598. 

REader,  I  am  not  Ignorant  that  many  cheats 
and  Shams  have  been  impofed  upon  the 
World,  under  the  Notion  of  Communications 
from  the  Invifible  World ;  and  1  hope  I  am  not 
becoming  a  Vifwnary.  But  Fancies  and  Juggles 
have  their  Foundation  laid  in  Realities ;  there 
would  never  have  been  Impoftures  of  Appariti- 
ons, and  of  Communications  from  the  Invifible 
World,  if  there  never  had  been  Really  fome  fuch 

*![  things 


Book  VII.  0ry  The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  103 


things  to  be  Counterfeited  and  Imitated.  Wife 
Men  thetefore  will  count  it  a  folly  in  its  Exal- 
tation and  Extremity,  to  detide  all  Inftances  of 
Strange  things  attiving  to  us  from  the  Invifible 
World,  becaufe  that  Some  Things  have  been  De- 
iufions.  No,  'tis  a  Wifdom  that  is  pleafing  to 
God,  and  ufeful  to  the  World,  fur  a  due  No- 
tice to  be  taken  of  Rare  Things,  wherein  we 
have  Inconteftable  Proofs  of  an  Invifible  World, 
and  of  the  Intereft  it  hath  in  Humane  Affairs. 
The  Narrative  of"  Mr.  Sadler  is  advantaged  with 
fuch  Inconteftable  Proofs,  and  contains  in  it  fuch 
notable  Palfages,  that  I  believe  I  do  well  to 
lay  it  before  Serious  Men ;  and  I  believe  no 
Serious  Men  will  play  the  Buffoon  upon  it.  By 
no  means  pretend  I  to  pafs  any  Judgment  upon 
this  Remarkable  Narrative  ;  by  no  means  do  I 
prefume  to  telL  what  I  think  of  it,  any  more 
than  this,  that  it  is  Remarkable.  Neverthelcfs, 
for  the  Caution  of  unwary  Readers,  I  will  annex 
the  Words  of  an  Excellent  Writer  upon  Divine 
Providence. 

c  Watch  againft  an  Unmortified  Itch  after 
4  Excentrical  or  Extraordinary  Dilbenfations  of 
'  Providence.    Luther  laid,  'The  Martyrs,  with 

*  out  the  Apparition  of  Angels,  being  confirmed] 
'  by  the  Word  of  God  alone,  died  for  the  Name 
1  of  Chriji  ;  and  why  Jhould  not  we  acquiefce  ? 
c  And  he  obferveth  how  the  Devil  hath  greatly 
'deluded  Parties  who  have  been  gaping  after 
c  Vifions. 

Nor  will  it  be  unprofitable  to  recite  the 
Words  of  another  Author,  whom  I  muft  Quote, 
as  R.  David  Kimchi  did  ufe  to  Quote  R.  Jofeph 
Kimchi,  under  the  Title  of  Adoni  Avi. 

'  Evil  Angels  do  now  appear  more  often  than 
6  Good  ones.    Tis  an  unwatrantable  and  a  very 

*  Dangerous  thing  for  Men  to  with  that  they 
c  might  fee  Angels,  and  Converfe  with  them. 
'  Some  have  done  fo,  and  God  hath  been  pro- 
4  voked  with  them  for  their  Curiofity  and  Pre- 
c  fumption,  and  hath  permitted  Devils  to  come 
c  unto  them,  whereby  they  have  been  Deceived 
'  and  Undone. 


More  Particular  Prognoflications  upon  the  future 
State  of  NEW  -ENGL  AND. 

BUT,  Oh,  my  Dear  NEW-ENGLAND, 
give  one  of  thy  Friends  leave  to  utter  the 
Fears  of  thy  beft  Friends  concerning  thee ;  and 
confider  what  fearful  Caufe  there  may  be  for 
thee  to  expett  fad  'Cf)ntQ#  tO  Come  ?  If  every 
Wife  Man  be  a  Prophet,  there  are  fbme  yet  in 
thee  that  can  Prophefie.  PrediQ'tons  may  be 
fortn'd  out  of  thefe. 

^[  Reafonable  ExpeUations. 

I.  Where  Schools  are  not  Vigoroufly  and  Ho- 
nourably Encouraged,  whole  Colonies  will  fink 
apace  into  a  Degenerate  and  Contemptible  Con- 
dition, and  at  lalt  become  horribly  barbarous : 
And  the  firft  Inftance  of  their  Barbarity  will  be, 
that  they  will  be  undone  for  want  of  Men,  but 
not  fee  and  own  what  it  was  that  undid  them. 


II.  Where  Faithful  Minifters  are  Cheated  and 
Grieved  by  the  Sacriledge  of  People  that  Rebel 
againft  the  Exprefs  Word  of  Chrift,  Let  him 
that  is  Taught  in  the  Word,  Communicate  unto 
him  that  Teacheth  in  all  good  things,  the  Righ- 
teous Judgments  of  God  will  Impoverijh  that 
People  \  the  Gofpel  will  be  made  lamentably 
Vnjuccefsful  unto  the  Souls  of  fuch  a  People  -, 
the  Minifters  will  either  be  fetch'd  away  to  Hea- 
ven, or  have  their  Miniftry  made  wofully  Infipid 
by  their  Encumbrances  on  Earth. 

III.  Where  the  Pajhrs  of  Churches  in  a  Vici- 
nity defpife  or  negleft  Formed  Affociations  for 
Mutual  Affiftance  in  their  Evangelical  Services3 
Wo  to  him  that  ii  alone.  'Tis  a  fign  either  that 
fome  of  the  Paflors  want  Love  to  one  another, 
or  that  others  may  be  Confcious  to  fome  Fault 
which  may  difpofe  them  to  avoid  InfpeQion  • 
but  fatal  to  the  Churches  will  be  the  Tendency 
of  either. 

IV.  Where  Churches  have  fome  Hundreds  of 
Souls  under  their  Difcipline  ;  but  the  tingle  Ra- 
ff ors  are  not  ftrengthened  with  Confjftories  of 
Elders,  or  an  agreeable  number  of  Wife,  and 
Good,  and  Grave  Men,  chofen  to  join  with  Ehe 
Paftor,  as  their  Yrefidehi  in  that  part  of  his 
Work,  which  concerns  the  Well-ruling  of  the 
Flock,  their  Difcipline  will  by  Degrees  be  utterly 
lolt ;  the  Groffeft  Offenders  will  by  Degrees, 
and  thro'  Parties,  be  fcarce  to  be  dealt  withal. 

V.  Where  Paflors  do  not  quickep  Orderly 
Private  Meetings  of  both  Elder  and  Younger 
Chriftians,  for  Exercifes  of  Religion  in  their 
Neighbourhood,  the  Power  of  Religion  will 
obfervably  decay  among  thofe  Chriftians ;  the 
Seed  fown  in  the  Public!-:  will  not  lb  much  pu  P 
per,  for  want  of  being  Watred in  private :  And 
when  the  Pafior  lhall  tali  Sick,  there  will  not 
be  fb  much  as  one  Company  of  Chriftians  in  all 
his  Flock  that  can  come  together  to  pray  for  his 
Life. 

VI.  Where  Churches,  ptofefling  a  great  Re- 
formation, ihall  in  their  Conflitution  ceafe  to 
Reprefent  unto  the  World  the  Holinefs  of  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  and  of  his  Heavenly  King- 
dom, they  will  become  loathfome  to  that  Holy 
Lord;  their  Glory  is  gone,  and  their  Defence 
goes  with  it;  the  dreadful  Wrath  of  Heaven  will 
Aftonifh  the'  World  with  the  things  which  it  will 
do  unto  them. 

VII.  Where  Churches  are  loth  to  give  unto 
Councils  regulatly  upon  Complaints  enquiring  in- 
to their  Admi 'nitrations,  an  Account  thereof 
'tis  much  to  be  fufpecled,  that  they  are  Charge- 
able with  Male-Adminijtrations  ;  and  if  the 
Advice  of  regular  Councils  come  once  to  be 
Trod  under  Foot  by  any  Particular  Ojurches,  all 
ferious  Men  will  be  afraid  of  joining  to  fuch 
Unaccountable  Societies. 

VIII.  Where  a  mighty  Body  of  People  in  a 
Country  are  violently'  fet  upon  running  down 
the  Ancient  Church  State  in  that  Country,  and 
are  violent  for  the  Hedge  about  the  Communion 
at  the  Lord's  Table  to  be  broken  down  ;  and  for 
thofe  who  ate  not  admitted  unto  the  Communi- 
on, to  ftand  on  equal  Terms  in  all  Votes  with 

them 


104 


Magnalia  Chrifli  Americana :  Book  VII. 


them  that  are  •,  the  Churches  there  are  not  fir 
from  a  Tremendous  Convulfion,  and  they  had 
need  ufe  a  Marvellous  Temper  of  Refolution 
with  Circumfpe&ion  to  keep  it  off. 

IX.  Where  Churches  are  bent  upon  BackJJiding, 
and  carried  away  with  a  ftrong  Spirit  of  Apo- 
ftafie,  whatever  Minifter  (hall  fet  himfelf  to 
withftand  their  Evil  Bents,  will  pull  upon  him- 
felf an  inexpreffible  Contempt  and  Hatred  ;  be 
his  Merits  never  fo  Great,  a  Thoufand  Arts  will 
be  uled  for  to  make  him  Little ;  he  had  need 
be  a  Man  of  Great  Faith,  and  Great  Prayer  ■, 
but  God  will  at  length  Honour  fuch  a  Man  with 
wonderful  Recompences. 

X.  Where  a  Fountain  (hall  become  Corrupt, 
there  the  Streams  will  no  longer  Make  Glad  the 
City  of  God. 

XI.  The  Go/pel  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  we 
have  with  much  Expence  lately  fent  unto  leveral 
of  out  Southern  Plantations:  If  it  be  rejected, 
there  are  Terrible  things  to  come  upon  them  • 
"'twere  better  to  have  lived  in  Sodom,  than  in  one 
of  thole  Plantations. 

XIL  God  prepare  our  dear  Brethren  in  Con- 
necticut, for  certain  Changes  that  are  Impending 
over  them. 

Finally,  There  was  a  Town  called  AmycU, 
which  was  Ruined  by  Silence.  The  Rulers,  be- 
caufe  there  had  been  fbme  falfe  Alarums,  for- 
bad ail  People  under  Pain  of  Death  to  fpeak  of 
any  Enemies  approaching  them :  So,  when  the 
Enemies  came  indeed,  no  Man  durft  fpeak  of  it, 
and  the  Town  was  loft.  Corruptions  will  grow 
upon  the  Land,  and  they  will  gain  by  Silence : 
'Twill  be  fo  Invidious  to  it,  no  Man  will  dare 


to  fpeak  of  the  Corruptions  ;  and  the  Fate  of 
AmycU  will  come  upon  the  Land. 

Reader,  I  calfd  thefe  things  Prophecy  -,  but 
I  wifh  I  be  not  all  this  while  Writing  Hi- 
fiory. 

Now  if  any  difcerning  Perfons  apprehend 
any  Dangers  to  Impend  over  New-England,  from 
any  of  the  Symptoms  mentioned,  it  is  to  be 
hoped  they  will  employ  their  belt  Thoughts 
how  to  Anticipate  thole  Dangers.  And  where- 
as 'tis  the  Senfe  of  all  Men,  who  dilcern  any 
thing,  that  it  is  in  vain  to  hope  for  any  Good 
until  a  Spirit  of  Grace  be  poured  out  from  Hea- 
ven to  difpofe  Men  unto  it;  I  beg  them  to  con- 
fider,  whether  the  only  way  to  obtain  that  Spi- 
rit of  Grace  be  not  humbly  to  atk  it  by  Prayer 
with  Eafling  before  the  God  of  Heaven. 

It  was  therefore  an  Article  in  an  Advice 
agreed  by  fome  of  the  Principal  Minifters  in 
this  Province  ;  and  with  the  mention  of  that 
Advice,  fwhich  doubtlefs,  all  but  the  Sleeping 
will  follow)  I'll  conclude  ■,  '  Solemn  Days  of 
'  Prayer  with  Fafling,  Celebrated  in  our  Churches, 
c  to  Implore  the  Grace  of  God,  for  the  Rifing' 
'  Generation  would  probably  be  of  Blefled  Con- 
'  fequence,  for  the  turning  of  our  Young  Peo-' 
'  pie  unto  the  God  of  our  Fathers.  The  more 
c  there  is  this  way  afcribed  unto  Grace,  the 
c  more  the  Grace  of  God  is  like  to  be  Commu- 
'  nicated  ■,  and  there  is  in  this  way  a  natural 
'  and  a  plentiful  Tendency  to  awaken  our  Un- 
'  converted  Youth  unto  a  Senfe  of  their  Ever- 
c  lafting  Interefts ;  which,  were  it  generally  ac- 
'  complifhed,  a  Remarkable  Reformation  were 
{  therein  Effected. 


■"•■frv 


Obfervabk 


-         .. —    h  ■  ... 

Book  VII.  Or,  The  Hiftory  <f  New-England.         10  5 


Ohfervahle  T/imgs. 


THE 


T  O  R  Y 


O  F 


T  E  N     YEARS 


Rouled  away  under  the  great  Calamities  of  a 


A 


WITH 


R 


INDIAN -SALVAGES, 

Repeated  and  Improved  in  a  SERMON  at  Befton 
Lecl:ure5  27  d.  j  m.    1698. 


J  u  D  G.   VI.  3,  5,  6. 

The  Children  of  the  EAST  came  up  againjl  them ;,  a  ?:d  they  entred  into  the  Land 
to  Deflroy  it  ;  and  Ifrael  was  greatly  Impoverified. 


PREFACE. 


HEN  the  Ifraeliies  were  engaged 
in  a  WAR,  they  made  choice  of  a 
Prkfl  among  them,  to  ferve  fbmeof 
their  greateft  Occafions  in  it,  and 
after  a  Sacred  Unllion  beftow'd  upon  him,  we 
are  told  by  Maimonides,  he  was  call'd  Mafhuach 
Milchamab,  that  is  to  fay,  V actus  Belli  •,  which 
was  as  much  as  to  fay,  The  Priefi  of  the  War. 

To  bring  unto  a  People  profitable  Advices  and 
Refie&ions  upon  a  WAR,  wherein  they  are  En- 
gaged, and  found  the  Silver  Trumpet  of  the  Gof- 
pel,  with  agreeable  Notes  unto  them  in  it,  is  to 
do  in  fome  fort  the  Office  of  the  Mafhuach  Mil- 
chamab ;  and  this  Office  the  enfuing  Difcourfe 
prefumes  to  do,  with  Endeavours  that  the  Voice 
of  Heaven,  by  the  Trumpet  of  our  late  War^  may 


be  heatd  giving  a  certain  Sound  in  thefe  Eccho's 
of  it. 

The  Hiftory  of  a  longWV  hath  with  all  poffi- 
ble  Care  of  Truth  been  given  you.  The  Author 
earneftly  prays,  that  if  the  leaft  material  Miftake 
have  happened  in  the  Hiftory,  he  may  be  Advi- 
fed,  and  it  may  be  CorreQed.  The  Noife  that 
may  be  made  by  a  few  Sordid  People  here  and 
there  in  a  Room  Tophetized  with  Smoke,  and 
Rhume,and  Spittle,  and  Malice,  and  Lies,  crying 
out  concerning  the  moft  Confciencious  Eflays  to 
preferve  Memorable  Truths,  They  are  a  parcel  of 
Lies '  He  values  not.  But  he  now  tenders  to  the 
Acceptance  of  the  more  Civilized  Readers  an  Im- 
provement of  Memorable  Truths,  which  it  was 
His  Duty  to  make,  and  it  will  bsTheirs  to  mind. 
Ooooooo  THE 


io6 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana:  Book  VII. 


THE 


REMARKABLE' 


Of  a  Long 


W   A 


Colle&ed    and    Improved. 


Bofton  Le&ure^   ijd.    jm.     1698. 


IF  a  Book  of  fome  Confequence  be  laid  o 
pen  before  one  tbar  cannot  Read,  he  may 
Look  and  Gaze  upon  it ;  but  unto  what 
purpofe,  as  long  as  he  cannot  underftand 
it  ?  This  very  Companion  is  bv  the  Great  Au- 
ftin  well  applied  unto  the  Judgments  of  God. 
And  I  will  therefore  fo  far  improve  the  Com- 
panion, as  to  obferve,  that  the  Judgments  of 
God,  under  which  we  have  been  Languifhing 
for  Ten  Tears  together,  are  a  fort  of  a  Book 
put  into  our  Hands  ;  a  Book  indeed  all  Written 
in  Blood  -y  a  Book  yet  full  of  Divine  TejTons  for 
us-  But  can  every  Man  Read  this  Terrible 
Book  ?  No,  methinks  I  fee  the  Bock  managed 
like  the  Book  brought  unto  the  BlefTed  Prophet 
of  Old  in  if  a.  29.  12.  The  Book  is  delivered 
unto  him  that  is  not  Teamed,  faying,  Read 
this,  I  pray  thee  ;  and  he  faith,  I  am  not 
Teamed.  It  will  certainly  be  a  Work  well  be- 
coming a  Mxnifter  of  the  Gofpel,  and  every 
fcrious  Chrifiian  will  be  glad  of  feeing  the 
Work  done  -,  to  take  this  Book,  and  help  you 
as  well  as  we  can  to  Spell  the  Divine  Teffons 
contained  in  it. 

Chriftians,  Let  us  now  do  a  Work,  for  which 
the  great  God  hath  given  us  that  Warrant,  and 
that  Command  in 

P  S  A  L.  CVII.  43. 

CTjo  10  C&tfo  aim  m\  obfetie  t&efe 
Cfringtf  t 

HE  Various  and  Marvellous  Difpenfati- 
ons  of  the   Divine   Providence  towards 


the  Children  of  Men,  are  in  this  Elegant 
PJalm  admirably  fet  before  us.  Among  thofe 
Difpenfations  there  is  a  particular  Mark  fet 
upon  this,  That  the  God  of  Heaven  Turns  a. 
Fruitful  Land  into  Barrennefs,  for  the  Wick- 
ednefs  of  them  which  dwell  therein  ■.  and 
though  Men  have  Sown  Fields  there,  and 
have  multiplied  greatly,  yet  they  are  cgain 
diminijlied,  and  brought  low  through  OfiprcJ* 
fwn,  AfliQion,  and  Sorrow.  Of  fuch  'Dif- 
penfations is  this  PafTage  to  be  underftood, 
as  a  Queftion,  Who  is  Wife,  and  will  obferve 
theje  things  ?  But  if  you  will  rather  take  it 
as  a  Sentence,  it  flill  comes  to  the  fame 
Senfe,  Whcfo  is  Wife  will  obferve  theje 
things.  And  the  French  Verfion  vcrv  Expref 
lively  intimates  the  De/ign,  as  well  as  the 
Event  of  this  Obfervation-,  that  fo  ihey  may 
confider  the  Favours  of  the  Tord.  No  Ids  than 
Ten  Years  have  rouled  away  fince  we  have 
been  plunged  into  the  DiftreflTes  of  a  WAR 
with  a  Barbarous  Enemy.  In  this  WAR 
we  have  feen  the  Fruitful  Tand  of  almoft 
one  whole  Province,  and  another  whole  Coun- 
ty, turned  into  Barrennefs  ;  doubtlefs  not 
without  Provocations  of  Wickednefs  in  them 
who  dwelt  therein  ;  Men  had  Sown  Fields 
there  along  the  Shore  in  Settlements  for  an 
Hundred  Miles  together,  and  had  Multiplied 
Greatly  into  a  Clufter  of  Towns,  (befides  lef- 
fer  Villages,)  that  might  Challenge  the  Name 
of  a  Decapolis  ,  but  in  this  WAR  we  have  feen 
them  diminijhed  again,  and  brought  lorn, 
through  OppreJJion,  Afflittion,  and  Sorrow.  I  am 

to 


Book 


\   TMT 

Vli. 


Or,  The  Hiftory  ^TNew-Engiand.  J  07 


to  lead  you  this  Day  thro'  a  Spacious  Country, 
which  has  been  on  many  Accounts  the  rhoft 
Charming  part  of  New-England ;  and  I  muft 
herewithal  fay.  Come.,  behold  the  Works  of  the 
Lord,  zvb.it  Defblations  he  has  made  in  that  Land. 
Sirs,  'tis  time  for  us  to  Obferve  thefe  things  -, 
and  this,  not  with  a  meer  Athenian,  but  with  a 
more  Profitable  Oblervarion.  I  mult  not  be 
Difcouraged  from  this  Holy  Service,  by  the 
vain  Scoffs  of  thole  that  Blafpheme  all  Attempts. 
to  Confider  the  Wondrous  Works  of  God,  as  if  it 
were  nothing  but  a  Telling  of  News  in  the  Pulpit. 
The  biggclt  part  of  the  Holy  Bible,  which  is 
but  a  Relation  of  fuch  Wondrous  Works,  would 
be  Scoffed  bv  fuch  Prophane  Men,  if  they  might 
not  thereby  become  Obnoxious.  No,  if  Whofo 
is  Wife  will  obferve  thefe  things,  then  let  no 
Man  call  it  Folly  to  make  the  Observation.  A 
long  WAR  is  the  Text  which  I  am  now  to  infill: 
upon:  And  if  we  would  approve  our  felves 
Wife,  alter  all  the  S/npes  that  have  in  this 
WAR  been  given  us,  thefe  things  will  occur  to 
our  Objcrvation  in  ir. 

I.  In  the  WAR  that  hath  been  upon  us, 
Whofo  is  Wife  may  obferve  the  Confequence  of 
Enterraining  the  Gofpel  of  the  Lord  JESUS 
CHRIST,  and  Obtaining  and  Maintaining  the 
Ordinances  of  that  Glorious  Gofpel.  The  Ga- 
darens  of  Old  were  loth  to  have  any  thing 
of  CHRIST  in  their  Coafi :  And  anon  comes  a 
Roman  War  which  diftrefs'd  all  the  Land  :  But 
the  woful  Town  of  Gadara  was  the  very  firft 
Place  Belieged  in  that  War,  and  fad  things  were 
done  unto  it.  Alas,  how  little  of  an  Evangeli- 
cal Church-State  was  there  to  be  feen  among 
all  our  Eafiern  Settlements  !  It  hath  been  for 
the  want  of  this,  that  the  Judgments  of  God 
have  more  than  once  forbidden  them  to  be  cal 
led  Settlements.  The  Towns  were  generally  wi:h- 
out  Preachers  of  CHRIST,  and  much  more 
generally  without  Churches  of  CHRIST,  for  to 
Irradiate  'cm  :  Yea,  not  one  of  the  Towns 
that  are  utterly  broken  up,  had  any  Minifter 
in  it  for  a  long  while  before  their  Final  Dark- 
nels  came  upon  them.  Such  a  Way  of  Living 
did  content  many  of  them,  that  it  were  hor- 
rible to  tell  what  Ignorance  of  CHRIST  they 
were  thereby  funk  into.  I  would  never  have 
rold  you,  that  fome  Young  Men,  Twenty 
Years  Old,  in  this  Land,  never  fo  much  as 
once  heard  the  Name  of  Chrift  in  all  their 
Lives,  if  I  did  not  think  that  the  God  of  Hea- 
ven required  us  all  to  Mourn  before  him  for 
fuch  an  Horrible  thing  in  the  Land.  Indeed, 
the  ftrange  Difafters  which  attended  the  Firft 
Effays  to  fettle  that  good  Country,  made  many 
People  imagine  the  Indian  Sorcerers  had  En- 
chanted the  Ground,  fo  thar  no  Englifh  could 
Thrive  on  fuch  an  Enchanted  Soil.  But  had 
they  carried  the  Gofpel  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift 
with  them,  doubtlels  they  had  Confuted  that 
vain  Imagination  ;  all  the  Spells  of  Hell 
would  have  been  Inlignificant  ;  there  would 
nor  have  prevailed  any  Enchantment  againft  a 
Gods-'Spel  which  we  have  in  our  Gofpel.    The 


Original    De/ign    of   NEW  ENGLAND     wis 
to  fettle  Congregations,   wherein  the  Lord  Je- 
fus Chrift  fhould  be  known  and  ferved  accord- 
ing ro  his  Gofpel •,    and    initruct   Families  that 
fhould  be  the  Nurferies  of  thofe  Congregati- 
ons.    The   Plantations   of  the   Eaft  had   little 
of  this  lllufirious  l^ef/gn  in  their  Eye;  the  En- 
joyments of  Gadarens  did  feem  too  much   to 
fatisfie  too  many  of  them      For  this  Caufe  we 
may   believe   it    is,    that    our    Lord    JESUS" 
CHRIST  looking  down  from  Heaven  upon  thefe 
Unchrijlian  Undertakings^  Thunder-ltruck  thetri 
with  his  Indignation:    tie f aw  the  too/iff?   ta- 
king Root,  but  fuddenly  he  Curfed  their  Habi- 
tation.    When    fome   of  our  Eafern    People 
have  been  Pining  away  under  the  Fatigues  of 
their   Captivity  among   the  Indians,    who  had 
Stript  than  of  all    they   had,  then  they  cried 
out,  Now,  now  the  Lord  is    Puntfliing   of  us 
for  our   leaving    of  Ins  Ordinances,    and  re- 
moving to  a  place  of  no  Gofpel  for  larger  Ac° 
commoddtions  in  the  World,    and  expofing  our 
Children  to  be  Bred  up  like  the  very  Indians,  in- 
to whofe  Hands  zee  are  fallen  !  That  which  In- 
vites one  ro  think  it  may  be  for  this  Caufe,  is 
the  Singular  Dijiindion  and    Protetfion  which. 
the  CHURCHES  of  our  Lord  have  enjoyed 
throughout  the  whole  Progrefs  of  our  Calami- 
ty.   No  Places  that  have  had  CHURCHES  ga- 
thered in  them,  have  all  this  while  been  broken 
up,  however,  fome  of  them  have  had   much 
Bread  of  Adverfiiy.  and  Water  of  Ajflillioh.  The 
Enemy  rhat  have  come  in  upon  Our  Land  like 
a  Flood,  carried  all  before  them  3s  an  Irrefiftible 
Torrent,  until  rhey  came  ro  Places  that  have 
'CHURCHES  as  it  were  toGamfon them. There 
!  the  Almighty   Lord    hath  check'd    rhe    Proud 
Waves.,  and   fa  id,  Hubert  o  ye  fhall  come,  and 
no  further  !    But  here  let  me  add  a  very  ob~ 
fervable  thing :  The  Lord  had  fome  of  his  E- 
lell  among  our  Eafiern   People  ;    bur  he   has 
i  brought  thofe  Elect  Home  unto  himfelf,  by  Burn- 
I  ing  rhem  out  of  their  Homes  and  Habitations^ 
1  The  Indians  have  driven  'em  hither,  and  here 
they  have  met  with  the  Gofpel  of  Chrift,  and 
been  effectually  called  unto  the  Lord,   and  join- 
ed unto  cur  Churches,  and  bleffed  rhe  Name  of 
God    for  bringing  them  unto  thefe  Churches* 
Pcriilfent  nifiFcriiffent !  Now  whofo  is  Wife,  and 
will  obferve  thefe  things,  cannot  but  wiin    that 
the  Folly  of  Ere&ing  Plantations,    without  the 
Worlhip  of  rhe  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST,  may  be 
no  more  committed  among  us.  It  was  wholelome 
Counfel  given,  and  ufually  taken  in  the  begin- 
ning of  Xeio-tlngland :  '  Let  Chriftians  no  where 
•  fit  down  wichout  good  Minifters,  but  let  them 
;  rather  rarry  where  they  are,  as  Ezra  tarried  by 
;  the  R.iver  Ahava,  till  he  had  got  fome  Levitci 
'  to  go  with  rhem.     And  it  was  even  then  ob- 
ferved,  thar  Places  which  made  Beginnings'  anjf 
long  while  without  Minifters,  were  with  mifera- 
ble  'C.'ifeitlemenis  broken  all  to  pieces.  I  fuppofe 
our  Eaftern  Country  will  ihortly  again  be  Peo- 
pled :  But  let  the  People  which  intend  there  to 
fettle  themfelves  in  the  Fear  of  God,  remem- 

O  O  O  O  O  O  O'  5!  h?.t 


io8 


Magnalia  Chrifti  Americana  i  Book  VIL 


ber  this  Admonition  •,   don't  venture  to   form 
Towns  without  the  Go/pel  in  them  any  more. 
If  the  lamentable  Experience  which  you  have 
more  than  once  had,  of  a  Blaft  from  Heaven 
upon  Enterprizes  to  Live  without  the  Gofpel  of 
the  Son  of  God,  will  not  infpire  you  with  more 
ofWifdom  for  the  future,    I  will  fbretel  your 
Fate    in  thofe  awful  Words,    Pfal.  28.  5.  Bo- 
ca ufc  they  regard  not  the  Works  of  the  Lord, 
nor  the  Operation  of  his  Hands,  he  fhall  deftroy 
them,  and  not  build  them  up.      Yea,  but  let  all 
New-England  at  the  fame  time  learn  what  the 
Welfare   or  the  Ruin  of  all  will   turn  upon. 
The  whole  World    was  made  for    our   Lord 
Meffiah,  and  the  Curfe  of  God  will  more  or 
left  plague  the  World,   according  to  the  Re- 
Ipecfs  which  that  Second  Adam,  our  Lord  Mef- 
fiuh  finds    in  it.     But   A 'en-England  is  by    a 
more  Eminent  profeffion  that  ImmanuePs  Land. 
Let  the  Jnterelts  of  the  Chriftian  Religion  in 
Reformed  Churches  be   purfued  and  preferved 
among  us,    then    All  will  go  well !   Our   Ac- 
knowledgment of  our  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST 
in  CHURCHES,  that  ihall  be  fo  ordered,  as 
to  represent   him   and  his   Kingdom  unto  the 
World,    this  will  be  our  Glory-,  and  this  Glo- 
ry will  be  our  Defence  ;    or  as  'tis  promifed 
in  If  a.  4.  <;.  Upon  all  the  Glory  fhall  be  a   De- 
fence.    But  if  once   the  Spirit    of  this  World 
eat  out  the  Spirit  and  Power  of  Religion,  and 
the  Order  of  our  Churches,    and  Mens  Value 
for  a  Room  in  the  Churches  be  loft,  then  write 
lchabod  upon  all  our  Glory  ;  and  let  us  expect 
that  our  Holy  Lord  will  Spew  us  out  of  his 
Mouth. 

II.  In  the  War  that  hath  been  upon  us,  Who- 
Jb  is  Wife,  may  obferve  in  the  very  Inftruments 
of  our  Calamity,  fhrow'd  Intimations  of  the  F  re- 
voking Evils,  for  which  the  Righteous  God  hath 
Chaftifed  us  by  fuch  Inftruments. 

When  the  Miferies  of  the  Sword  ate  infli&ed 
on  a  People,  it  becomes  them  to  confider  what 
Provocations  they  have  given  to  the  Almighty 
God,  who  makes  Peace,  and  creates  Evil ;  for 
'tis  he,  the  Lord,  who  doth  all  thefe  things. 
The  Sword  by  which  we  have  been  fo  grievoufly 
harrafTed,  hath  been  in  the  Hands  of  God  ;  and 
if  our  Father  had  not  been  very  angry,  would 
he  have  taken  a  Sword  into  his  Hands  ?  We 
are  Blind  before  Lightning,  we  are  Deaf  unto 
Thunder,  if  we  do  not  fenfibly  perceive  the 
Anger  of  God  in  the  Tremendous  Rebukes  that 
we  have  fuffered  :  And  we  are  unaccountably 
and  ineAtufably  Stupid,  if  we  do  not  enquire, 
Uhat  means  the  Heat  of  this  Anger  ?  It  was 
once  the  Commination  of  God  in  Ezek.  7.  24, 
27.  /  will  bring  the  worft  of  the  Heathen,  and 
they  fhall  pojfefs  their  Houfes,  and  the  Hands 
of  the  People  of  the  Land  fl)all  be  Troubled  : 
Such  Trouble  hath  come  upon  us  from  the 
worft  of  the  Heathen!  But  what  was  theCaufe 
of  all  ?  It  follows,  /  will  do  unto  them  after 
their  Way,   and  I  will  judge  them  according  to 


their  Deferts,   and  they  ft) all  knew  that  I  am 
the  Lord.     It  is  but  fcafonable   for  us  now  to 
look  back  upon   our  own  Way,    and    fee  how 
much  we  have  Deferred  all  this  Vengeance  by 
going  out  of  the   Way.     Two  Perfons  in  their 
Travels  beholding  the  horrid  Ruins  cf  Germa- 
ny, one  of  them  laid,  Hie  fun  Heft  ill t  as,  be- 
hold  the.  Fruif  of  Hofii/ity!    His  "Friend    an- 
fwered,  Hie  fiat  Iniquitas,  behold  the  Fiuitof 
Iniquity  !   U  you   will  Travel   over   our    Eafl 
Country,  how  frequent,  how  dilma!   Occahons 
will  you  fee  to  S'gh,  See  what  hat  been  done  by 
Hoftility !  But  there  will  be  as  many  Occafions 
for  a  fadder  Sigh  than  that :  Namely,  See  the 
fad  Effetfs  of  Iniquity!  New  in  this  Contem- 
plation I  do  not  go  to  charge  them  that  were 
once  Inhabitants  of  the  now  Ruined  Plantations 
with  any  Sins,  but  what  are  more  or  lefs  to  he 
found  in  all  our  Colonies.     I  a -k  no  more  from 
our  Brethren,  who  yet  Survive  the  Defolations 
that  have  come  upon  their  Eilates  and  Neigh- 
bours in  thole  Plantations,  but  that  they  join 
with  the  reft  of  cs  all  in  Searching  and  Trying 
of  our  Ways,  and  in  fudging  of  o^r  J elves.  For, 
alas,  Every  Mouth  muft  be  ftopp'd,  and  all  the 
Land  ss  become  Guilty  before  God !  Let  us  all 
then  Enquire,  what  may  have  been  thofe  Pro- 
voking Evils,  for  which  the  Holy  and  Bleffed 
God  hath  given   the  Sword  a  Commillion 1   fo 
dreadfully  to  devour  us?    But  then  let  us  be 
i  litre  to  enquire  wifely  concerning  that  matter. 
\  And  here  I  will  not  Enquire,  whether  thole  that 
went  before  us,  might  never  be  too  forward  in 
any  Vnjuftifiable  Encroachments,  to  Poflefs  and 
Command  thofe  Lands  which  have  fince  proved 
ib  Expenfive  unto  us  I  Older  Men  than  I  arebeft 
able  to  manage  that  Enquiry,   though  I   alfo 
have  heard  it  made.     But  that  whereupon  I  ra- 
ther beipeak  your  Thoughts,  is  this :  Will  you 
pleafe  to  Enquire  into  the  Properties  and  Qua- 
lities of  our  Adverfarics  ?  Tis  pofiihle,  that  in 
their  Properties  and  Qualities   we   may  read 
ibmething  of  thofe  Mi  [carriages,  for  which  our 
God  hath  raifed  them  up  to  be  our  Adverfaries. 
It  hath  been  commonly  feen,   that  when    the 
People  of  God  have  finfully  come  to  Imitate  the 
Evil  Manners  of other  Nations,  God  hath  made 
thofe  very   Nations  to  be  a  fore  Scourge  unto 
them.     And  the  Senfe  of  this  was  that  which 
long  ago  caufed  many  lenfr  le  Perfons  to  fore- 
tel,  which  of  the  Neighbour   Nations   would 
bring  our  dear   England  low.     Now  fince  the 
Indians  have  been  made  by  our  God,  The  Rod 
cf  his  Anger,  'tis   proper   for   us  to  Enquire, 
whether  we  have  not  in  fome  Inftances  too  far 
imitated    the  Evil  Manners  of  the   Indians  ? 
The  Indians  are  infamous,  efpeciallv  for  Three 
Scandalous  Vices.     Firit,  Tiiey  are  Liars  of  the 
firft  Magnitude  ;  one   cannot  believe  a  Word 
they  fpeak.    Secondly,  They  are  Sluggards  to  a 
Proverb  ;   they  are  for  any  way  of  Living  rather 
than  Work.      Thirdly,   They  are  abominably 
Indulgent  unto  their  Children  ;  there  is   no  Fa- 
mily Government  among  them.     Will  you  now 
Enquire,  Sirs,  how  far  we  have  Indianized  in  e- 

ver* 


Book  V1L  0r3  The  Hifiory  of  'New-England.         iop 


very  one,  but  efpecially  the  laft  of  thefe  Evil 
Manners  ?  If  we  find  thefe  Indian  Vices  to  grow 
Epidemical  among  us,  Oh !  don't  wonder,  that 
our  God  huh  been  with  Indian  hatchets  cutting 
down  the  Tree  that  brings  forth  Fruits  thus  dif- 
agreeable  to  him  that  Planted  it. 


Now  whofo  is  H  Tife  will  obferve  thefe  things. 
And  yet  the  Obfervation  may  extend  it  felt  a 
little  further.     Sometimes  the  Soveraign  God 
chufes   a     Nation    remarkably    Laudable    for 
fome  good  Thing,  to  punifh  his  own  People  for 
the  want  of  that  Thing.     Thus  when  the  Chri- 
ftian Churches  fell  into  Idolatry,  God  fent  the 
Mahometans  upon  them,  to  Torment  them  with 
one  Woe  after  another  horribly  ;   and  the  Maho- 
metans are  very  Remarkable  tor  this,  that  they 
are  great  Haters  of  Idolatry,  and  where-ever  they 
come  they   deitroy  thole   Idols,    and  Works  of 
Mens  Hands,  which  are  adored  in  the  Antichri- 
ftian  Apoftacy.     Well,  but  can  any  good  Thing 
be  reported  of  our  /W/a/7-Invaders  ;  Yes,  there 
is  one  good  Thing  which  the  trench  have  taught 
them  ■,  there  is  Family-Prayer  among  them,  a 
daily   Family  Worfhip  upheld  among  them.      I 
fear,  1  tear,  this  is  more  than  can  be  faid  of 
many  Engiifh  Sufferers,  that  have  been  annoy 'd 
by     thole   W/«//-Invaders.     It    may  be,    the 
Wretched  Indians   have  cut  oft*  multitudes  of 
Families,  to  whom  they  might  have  faid,  Thefe 
Families    never   Frayed  unto    God  once  in    a 
Month,  and  we  have  done  it  every  Day  !  And 
many  of  our  poor  Folks  never  heard  any  Family- 
Prayer  in  their  Lives,  till  they  were  dragg'd  in- 
to the  forlorn  and  howling  Wigwams  of  thofe 
wretched  Salvages.     I  have  heard  it  faid,  that 
in  a  Town  of  it  may  be  more  than  Seventy  Fa- 
milies, there  have  not  been  Twice  Seven  Fami- 
lies that  have  had  any  conttant  Invocation  of 
God  in  them.     If  it  be  fo,   then  hear  the  Voice 
of  God  in  it,  when  he  fent  thole  Monftrous  and 
Furious  Barbarians  to  bum  down  fuch  Prayer- 
lefs  houjes  :  The  Voice  of  Heaven  in  it,  is,  If 
Indians  will  pray  in   their  Families  more  than 
tnglifl),  then  let   Indians  dtftroy  thofe  Engiifh 
Families.     It  was  once  the  direful  Imprecation, 
in  fer.  10.  2>.  Pour  out  thy  great  Wrath  upon 
the  heathen  that  know  thee  not,  and  upon  the 
Families  that  call  not  on  thy  Name.     Truly, 
God  has  ufed  a  Sort  of  Ufa!  ben,  to  pour  out  his 
great  Wrath  upon  Families.,  which  in  this  one 
Point  were  worfe  than  thofe  heathen,  that  they 
did  not  call  on  his  Name.    For  God's  fake  be 
lb  Wife  as  to  Obferve  thefe  things,  and  let  Fa- 
mily-Prayer be  no  where  neglected  throughout 
the  Land,  left  while  God  ispunifhing  us  by  the 
Pagans,    we  become  worfe  than  Pagans.     Let 
me  faithfully  and  folemnly  Advife  you ;  Sirs, 
A  Prayerlefs  Family  is  a   Pagan   Family.     Do 
not  now  imagine,  that  it  is  only  the  more  Strict 
and  Severe  Doctrine  of  a  Non-Conformift  that 
now  Smites  your  Confciences ;    it  is  the  Do- 
ctrine of  a  Chriftian $  and  it  may  be,  'twill  have 
the  more  Force  upon  fome  of  you,  if  I  tell  you, 
that  the  late  Arch-Bifhop  of  Canterbury,  in  a 


Book  on  that  Subject,  has  this  Paflage  ;  Thai 
conftant  Family  Worfhip  is  fo  Necejfary  to  keep 
alive  a  Senfe  of  God  and  Religion  in  the  Minds  of 
Men,  that  he  fees  not  how  any  Family  that  Neg- 
lells  it  can  in  Reafon  be  Ejiecmcd  a  Family  of 
Chriftians,  or  indeed  to  have  any  Religion  at 
all.  I  will  add  but  this  Word  unto  all  the  reft  : 
If  after  this  there  be  a  Prayerlefs  Family  among 
us,  I  would,  if  I  could,  Writ?  upon  their  Door, 
10?5  "£>a*0e  IHCrcP  Upon  W  i  for  there  is  a 
Plague  in  that  Pagan  Family. 


III.  In  the  WAR  that  hath  been  upon    u.s, 
whofo  is  Wife  may  obferve,  that  the  very  Objeiis 
of  our  Sins  have  been  made  the  very  Engines  of 
our  Plagues.     It  is  a  thing  Extraordinarily  Ob- 
jervable,  though   it  ordinarily  happens  ;    tint, 
In  quo  quis  peccat,    in  eo  pamtur  ;   Men  are 
Plagud by  thofe  very  things    with  which  they 
have  Sinnd.     If  an  Eli  omit  his  Duty  towards 
his  Children,   it  follows,  \n\Sam.2.  33.  thofe, 
very  Children  ihali  confume  thine   Eyes,    and 
grieve  thine  Heart.    I  am   very  much  mifta- 
ken,  if  our  Eyes  have  not  been  confumed,  and 
it  our  hearts  not  grieved,    by  thofe  to  whom 
we  have  omitted  our  Duty  exceedingly.      The 
grand    Crime    of  the   Jews   was  in  Relation 
to  the  Romans,  and  God  made  the  Romans  the 
Deftroyers  of  the  Jews.     You  will  now  demand 
of  me,  whether  I  think  that  we  are  chargeable 
with  any  Crime  relating  to  the  Indians,  which, 
have  been  fo  bloodily  Deltroyingoi  us.     I  mull 
freely  tell  you,  I  think  we  are.     The  old  Bri- 
tains  did  not  what  they  fhould  have  done,  to 
Convert  the  Saxons  unto   Chriftianity  •,     and 
when  the  Britains  were  afterwards  fearfully  De- 
ftroy'd  by  the  Saxons,   their  Famous  Country- 
man Gildas  told  them.  This  is  the  Vengeance  of 
God  upon  you,  becaufe  you  did  no  more  for  the 
Converfion  of  thofe  Miferable  heathen.     And  f 
admire   that  the  Englifb  Proteftants  in  Ireland, 
after  fuch  Maflaeres  from  the  Infh  Papifts,  do 
no  more  Effectually  make  this  Reflection.    But 
that  which  I  am  now  to  Reflect  upon,  is  this: 
Had  we  done  but  half  fo  much  as  the  French 
Papifts  have  done,  to  Profelite  the  Indians  of 
our  Eaft  unto  the  Chriftian  Faith,  inlfead  of 
being  Snares  and  Traps  unto  us,  and  Scourges 
in  our  Sides,    and  Thorn*  in  our  Eyes,  they 
would  have  been  a  Wall  unto  us  both  by  Night 
and  Day.     What  a  Sting    was  there  in  thofe 
Words  which  the  Indians  have  ufed  unto  fome 
of  our  Captives,  Had  the  Engiifh  been  as  care- 
ful to  InftruS  us  as  the  French,  we  had  been  of 
your  Religion!   Indeed,  it  can  fcarce,  without- 
an  harlh  Catcchrefis,  be  called,  The  Chriftian 
Faith,  which  the  French  Papifts  have  made  the 
Salvages  to  fivallow  :  But  if  the  Salvages  had 
been   Enlightened    with   The  Chriftian    Faith 
from  us,  the  French  Papifts  could  never  have 
inftilfd   into  them  thofe  French  Foifons,  that 
have   made    fuch    Raging   Devils    of  them. 
Through  the  Bleffing  of  God,  upon  the  Endea- 
vours of  good  Men  in  this  one  Majfachufet-Yto- 
vince,  the  Indians  have  moftly  Effcbraced  the 

Chriftian 


IT 


no 


Magnalia  Chrifii  Americana  :  Book  VII. 


Cbriftian   Religion. 

[y  Of  that  Matter  fee  a 
Printed  Account,    at  the 
end  of  Mr.  NoyesV  Ele- 
HionSermm  ;   whereto  I 
have  here  this    to  add. 
That  an  hopeful  and  wor- 
thy Tomg  Man,  Mr.  Ex- 
perience Mayhevv,  omit- 
ted in  that  Primed  Jour- 
nal, meerly  becaufe  he  wm 
more  largely  mentioned  in 
the  annexed  Propalals  of 
the  Gentlemen  that  made 
it,  which  are  not  Pi  inted 
rvith  it,    mttfl  now  have 
the   Jiiftke  done  him    of 
this  Chandler,    That  in 
the  Evangelical  Service 
cf  the  Lord   Jefus  Chrift 
among  the  Indians,  there 
is  no  Man  that  Exceeds 
that  Mr.  Mayhew,  ii  there 
be  any  that  Equals  him. 
So  I  am  informed  concern- 
ing him.'] 


*  There  are,   I   fuppofe. 
more  than  Thirty  Congre- 
gations   of  Indians,     and 
many    more    than  Thirry 
Hundred    Indians  in    this 
one    Province,  calling   on 
God  in  Chrift,  and  hearing 
of    his     glorious     Word. 
Wbofo  is  Wife,  will  obferve 
a     Notable      Smile     of 
God  upon  thofe  that  have 
worthily  Encouraged  and 
Profecuted  this  Evangeli- 
cal Work.     But  fhall  we 
not  at  the  fame  time  Ob- 
ferve,   how  fignally  the 
Wrath  of  God  hath  fal- 
len upon  the   Perfbns  or 
Eftates  of  them  that  have 
Debauched   the     Indians, 
by  felling  cf  Drink  unto 
them ;  The  Trading  Hou- 


fes  where  the  Indians  of 
the  Eaft  had  fomuch  of  their  Drink  and  B.me. 
what  is  become  of  them,  evety  one  of  them  : 
The  Sword  has  been  Drunk  with  the  Blood  of 
the  Englifh,  in  the  Hands  of  thofe  very  Indians 


fhould  not  our  Civil  Rulers,  with  more  Zeal 
than  ever  fit  rhemfelves  to  ponder,  How  may  I 
moji  glorijie  God  and  Chrift,  and  jerve  his  dear 
People  with  my  Opportunities ! 

Two  of  our  MINISTERS  have  been  Struck, 
down  into  the  Earth  by  the  Indian  Dragons. 
They  that  have  uied  nothing  but  the  Sword  of 
the  Spirit,  which  is  the  Word  ,_l  God.  for  the  la- 
ving of  all  about  them,  have  had  the  Veflroyers 
coming  upon  them,  and  have  been  waited  for  of 
the  Sword.  I  aflure  my  felf.  that  the  reft  will 
be  fb  wife  as  to  Obferve  thefe  things,  and  Ob- 
ferve how  to  fulfil  our  Miniffrv,  with  a  very1 
Excited  Watchfulnefi.  May  all  our  Settled 
Pa'iors,  upon  fuch  a  thing  befallen  our  Bre- 
thren, refolve  with  themielves,  Am  unworthy  I 
j pared?  I  will  do  more  for  my  Lord,  and  more 
J  or  my  Flock,  and  more  for  all  the  Churches,  than' 
ever  I  did. 

We  will  pais  on,  there  have  been  fome  rich 
Men,  that  were  finely  Sciruated,  and  had  all 
things  richly  to  Enjoy  :  But  this  War  has  redt> 
ced  them  to  fuch  Necefiuy,  that  within  lefs 
than  One  Year  they  have  come  to  beg  their 
Bi  ead :  All  their  Treafures  have  been  Treafures 
oj  Snow;  one  Summer  has  melted  all  away  to 
nothing.       I   Remember,   the  Jewifh  Talmud? 


Pomon 


which  have  been  fo  often  "Drunk  among  them,  j  tell  us  of  a  Gentlewoman,  who  had  a  Thoufand 
And  thefe  Bloody  Merchants  of  the  Souls  of  the  (Thoufand  Pieces  of  Gold  given  with  her  at  her 
Indians,  when  they  have  fummed   up  all  their \  Marriage,    by   her^  Father  Nicodemus   for  her 
Gains,  the  Foot  of  the  Account  has  been  this. ' 
Wo  t&him  that  gives  his  Neighbour  Drink,  that 
puts  the   Bottel  to  him  to  mike  him    Drunk. 
Thofe  Men  are  noiWife,  but  Mad,  who  can  Ob 
ferve  thefe  things,  and  now  dare  to  Repeat  this 
Iniquity,  or  dream  that  anv  Gains  are  to  begot 
by  feeding  the  Indian  Luji  of  Drunkennefs. 


IV.  In  the  WAR  that  hath  been  upon  us 
Whofo  is  wife,  may  obferve  the  Loud  Calls  of 
Heaven  to  all  Ranks  of  Men,  in  the  lharp 
Strokes  of  Heaven  on  all  Ranks  of  Men.  As  it 
was  faid  in  Mic.  6.  9.  The  Lord^s  voice  crieth 
unto  the  City,  and  the  Man  of  Wifdom  fhall  fee 
thy  Name  ;  hear  ye  the  Rod:  So  I  fay,  There 
has  been  a  Voice  of  God  unto  all  the  Country 
in  that  Indian  Rod  which  hath  been  ufed  upon 
us :  And  Men  of  Wifdom,  in  all  Ranks  of  Men, 
will  Obferve,  and  See,  and  Hear,  the  meaning 
of  this  Rod ;  inafmuch  as  all  Ranks  of  Men 
have  fmarted  under  it ;  yea,  it  has  fetch'd  Blood 
from  all  Ranks  of  Men  among  us.  We  will  a 
little  particularize  'em.  And  fitft  of  all,  you 
that  are  our  Honoured  Shepherds  ■,  will  you  Ob- 
ferve how  many  of  our  Shepherds  have  been 
worried  unto  Death  by  the  Scythian  Wolves  or 
our  Wildernefs?  Two  of  our  MAGISTRATES 
have  been  Treacheroufly  and  Barbaroufly  Killed 
by  the  Indian  Murderers :  They  whom  God 
entrufted  with  the  Sword  of  Juftice,  have  had 
their  Lives  taken  away  by  the  Sword  of  the  U  ick- 
ed.  I  perfwade  my  felf,  that  the  relt  will  be  fb 
wife  as  to  Obferve  thefe  things,  and  Obferve 
how  to  anfwer  the  juft  Expe£tation  of  God  in 
Sheir Adrniniftrations.    After  this,   Oh!   Why 


and  yet  fhe  was  reduced  unto  fuch 
Penury,  that  fhe  pick'd  Barley-Corns  out  of 
the  Cattds  Dung  for  her  Food.  Have  not  we 
feen  almoft  fuch  ViciiTitudes  ?  Rich  Men,  if 
you  are  Wife,  (which  the  Rich  atenot  always  .') 
you  will  Obferve  thefe  things,  and  upon  the 
Obfervation  lay.  Well,  what  Man  in  his  Right 
H  its  rail  now  fet  his  Heart  upon  fuch  Tranfi- 
tory,  as  all  Sublunary  Vanities  !  Oh!  My  Soul 
do  thou  make  jure  of  abetter  and  a  Lifting  Sub- 
ftance  in  Heaven  \  for  earthly  Riches  take  them- 
Jelves  Wings,  and  fee  away  towards  Heaven. 

Again,  there  ji-ve  hem  abundance   of  poor 


Men 
ftiil 


who  have  been   by 
into  deeper    Poverty 


this  War   plunged 
They  have    gone 


without  a  Bit  of  Bread  for  many  Days  toge- 
ther. The  Straits,  the  Wants,  the  Cares  of 
Widows,  and  Orphans,  or  of  thole  that  have 
had  many  Mouths  to  Feed,  efpecially  in  our 
Expofed  Frontiers,  none  cm  Excrete  them, 
none  can  Conceive  them,  bur  they,  (nor  they ! ) 
who  did  Endure  them  all.  Poor  Men.  if  you 
are  wife,  (which  the  Poor  may  be! )  You  will 
Obferve  thefe  things,  and  1 1  p  :•,  1  the  Obfervation 
fay,  Well,  I  had  need  make  jure  that  my  Soul 
may  not  be  Starved  by  wanting  the  Bread  of 
Life,  and  that  my  Soul  may  not  be  Naked  with- 
out the  Garments  of  Right coufnefs  •  how  dole- 
fully am  I  Circumftanced,  if  I  go  down  from, 
one  Hell  unto  another  at  the  haft  '. 

Once  more,   how  many   Women  have  been 
made  a  prey  to  thole  BrutijhMen  that  are  Skil- 
ful to  Deftroy?  How  many  a  fearful  Ti-ing  has 
j  been 


Book   Vll.       0r}  The  Hiftory  of  New-England. 


1 1 1 


been  fuftered  by  the  fearful  Sex,  from  thofe 
Men  that  one  would  fear  as  Devils  rather  than 
Men  ;  Let  the  Daughters  of  our  Zion  think  with 
themfelve.s  what  it  would  be  for  fierce  Indians 
ro  break  into  their  Houfes,  and  brain  their  HuJ 
bands  md  their  Children  before  their  Eyes,  and 
lead  them  away  a  long  Journey  into  th&Woods , 
and  if  they  began  to  fail  and  faint  in  the  Jour- 
ney, then  tor  a  tawny  Salvage  to  come  with 
Hell-fire  in  his  f-yes,  and  cut  'em  down  with 
li is  Hatchet;  or,  if  they  could  miraculoufly 
bold  out)  then  for  fome  filthy  and  uggly  Squaws^ 
to  become  their  injolent  Mijfrejfes.  and  inlblendy 
to  abuie  em  at  their  Pleafure  a  Thoufand  inex- 
pretlible  Ways;  and  if  they  had  any  of  their 
Sucking  Infants  with  them,  then  to  fee  thofe 
tender  Infants  handled  'at  fuch  a  rate,  that  they 
ihould  begot  the  Tygres  to  dispatch  "em  out  of 
Hand.  Such  things  as  thefe.  I  tell  you,  have 
often  happered  in  this  lamentable  War.  And 
now,  O  ye  Handmaids  of  the  Lord,  will  you 
not  be  In  voife  as  to  Obferve  thefe  things  ?  But 
upon  the  O'Jervation  fay.  Well,  I  will  blcfs  God 
jcr  my  Enjoyments-,  my  Afflictions, be  they  never 
Jo  many,  are  not  fuch  a*  my  Neighbours  have 
Jeen  :  My  Enjoyments  arc  more  than  my  Afftitii 
ons.  But,  Oh !  Let  me  love  andferve  the  good 
God,  that  h.u  difimguifhcd  me  with  His  Mer- 
cies. 

It  is  to  be  added  :  We  have  had  our  old 
Men,  whole  gray  Hairs  have  not  come  down  10 
the  Grave  in  Peace.  Toung  Indians  have  with 
grievous  Flouts  and  Wounds  butchered  many  of 
our  old  Eng/ifh  Men.  The  gray  Hairs  of  our 
old  Men  have  been  dyed  Red  with  their  own 
Blood,  and  their  Carcales  have  been  thrown  un- 
to the  Swine  to  mangle  them.  Old  Men,  if 
you  are  wife  Men,  you  will  objerve  thefe  things ; 
but  objerving  of  them,  lay,  Oh !  Let  my  hoary 
Head  be  found  in  the  Way  of  Right  eoujnejs! 

But  our  young  Men  are  they  whom  the  Fury 
of  War  haih  been  chiefly  poured  out  upon. 
Alas,  alas,  for  our  young  Men !  They  are  the 
Perions  with  whom  it  leems  to  have  been  the 
very  Errand  of  this  (IV,  to  manage  the  terrible 
Controverfie  of  God.  New-England  fets  a  pe- 
culiar Accent  of  Grief  upon  this,  among 
all  her  Lamentations ;  The  Lord  has  trodden  un- 
der foot  my  mighty  Men  in  the  midft  of  me,  he 
hath  called  an  Ajfembly  againji  me,  to  crujh  my 
young  Men.  Come  then,  my  young  Men,  be  fo 
wife  as  to  objerve  thefe  things  -,  and  upon  the 
Objervation  fay,  Lord,  let  not  me,  and  the  reft 
oj  my  Generntion,  continue  among  the  Generati. 
on  of  thy  Wrath.  Yea,  to  have  done-,  Children 
alfo  have  not  been  excufed  from  a  Share  in  the 
Blows  of  this  hideous  War.  Little  Boys  and 
Girls,  even  thefe  little  Chickens,  have  been 
feized  by  the  Indian  Vultures.  Our  little  Birds 
have  been  fpirited  away  by  the  Indian  Devour- 
ed, and  brought  up  in  a  vile  Slavery,  till  fome 
of  them  have  quite  forgot  their  Englijl)  Tongue, 
and  theif  Chrijiian  Name,  and  their  whole  Re- 
lation. Yea,  thofe  Babylonians  have  daJWd  out 
the  Br  aim  of  our  little  ones  againjl  the  Stones. 
And  our  little  ones  have  been  hideoufly  whipt 


Junto  Death  by  thofe  mercilefs  Tygres,  whofe 
tender  Mercies  are  Cruelty  Children,  God  make 
you  ib  wife  as  to  objerve  thefe  things  ;  and  up- 
on the  Objervation,  Oh !  fee  that  you  become 
ferious,  pious,  orderly  Children  ;  obedient  unto 
your  Parents,  confcicncious  to  keep  the  Lord's 
Day,  and  afraid  of  committing  any  Wickedncfs. 

Upon  the  whole,  when  a  dead  Man  was 
thrown  into  the  Griveof  Elijha,  a. Touch  from 
the  Bones  of  the  Prophet  in  the  Grave  rm'd 
him  from  the  Dead.  I  am  deiiring  that  Reli- 
gion may  be  revived  out  of  the  Death  which  has 
too  much  enfeebled  it  among  us.  Behold.  Sirsr 
I  have  now  calf  you  into  the  Graves  of  our 
dead  Friends -,  it  may  be,  by  wijely  obferving 
of  them,  and  the  things  that  have  befallen  them, 
we  may  be  fomewlm  raifed  out  of  our  deadly 
Security.  Let  our  Obfcrvaticn  of  thefe  things 
give  fome  Life  to  the  l'radice  of  Religion 
among  us. 

V.  In  the  WAR  that  hath  been  upon  us, 
Whofo  is  wife,  may  obferve  thofe  Tragical  Things 
undergone  by  many  in  Captivity,  that  are  full 
of  Admonition  unto  us,  that  have  never  felt  the 
Tragedies  of  fuch  a  Captivity.  Several  Hun- 
dreds of  our  Neighbours,  fitit  and  laft,  have 
been  carried  into  Captivity,  by  the  moft  beaftly 
and  bloody  things  tint  ever  wore  the  Shape  of 
Men  in  the  World.  New-England  makes  that 
Moan  in  Lam.  i.  18.  Hear,  I  pray  you,  all  Ppi- 
pie,  and  behold  my  Sorrow-,  my  Virgins  ami  my 
young  Men  arc  gene  into  Captivity.  But  Oh, 
the  prodigious  and  Itupendious  Things  that 
they  have  undergone  in  this  Captivity !  What 
weary  Days  and  Nights  have  rouled  over  the 
mifcrable  Captives,  while  they  have  not  had  a 
Bit  of  Meat  allow'd  'em,  except  what  a  Dog 
would  hardly  meddle  with.  While  they  have 
fometimes  been  pinched  with  the  bitter  Profit 
without  Rags  to  cover  their  Nakednefs.  and 
fometimes  been  parched  with  the  burning  Heat, 
without  any  Cordial  or  Shelter  to  refrefh  them- 
While  they  have  feen  their  neareft  Relations 
torn  in  pieces  alive  before  their  Eyes,  and  yet 
thofe  Eyes  afraid  of  dropping  a  Tear  at  the 
mournful  Sight :  Yea,  while  they  have  every 
Hour  look'd  when  they  fhould  be  themfelves 
roafted  alive  to  make  a  Feaji  and  a  Sport  for  the 
horrid  Cannibals!  Need  l  tell  you.  That  thofe 
Devils  Incarnate  have  tied  their  Captives  unto 
Trees,  and  full:  cutting  off  their  Ears,  have  made 
them  to  eat  their  own  Ears,  and  then  have  broil- 
ed their  whole  Bodies  with  flow  Fires,  dancing 
the  mean  while  about  them,  and  cutting  out 
Collops  of  their  Fleih,  till  with  lingring  Tor- 
rures  they  have  martyred  them  to  Death  !  Such 
Things  have  been  done  by  the  Inhumane  Sal- 
vages upon  our  Captives,  that  it  is  a  iort  of /#- 
humanity  barely  to  mention  them.  Now,  (hall 
we  be  wife,  to  obferve  thefe  things  ?  The  Obser- 
vation mult  be  made  with  that  Admonition  in 
Luk.  13.  4,  5.  Think  ye,  that  thefe  were  Sinners 
above  all  Men?  I  tell  you,  A'ay-,  but  except  ye 
repent,  ye  fl>a!l  all  likewife  perifk.  Wherefore 
let  us  penitently  confefs,  that  we  have  all  dsfer- 

1F  veS 


II 


Magnalia  Cbrifii  Americana :  Book  VII. 


ved  thole  miferable  things,  wherewiih  forne 
have  been  fo  marked  out  by  the  Soveraignty  oi 
Heaven.  In  the  things  that  have  been  done  to 
our  Captives,  the  Great  Lord  of  Hofts  hath  deah 
with  us  as  Generals  ufe  to  do  upon  the  Sediti- 
on and  Mutiny  of  Military  Legions-  .•  He  makes 
a  fort  of  Decimation  among  the  Offenders,  and 
by  what  he  does  to  fome,  he  declares  what  he 
might  juftly  do  to  all  the  relf.  We  muff  all 
afenbe  it  unto  the  meer  Soveraign  Mercy  of 
God,  that  we  are  not  every  one  of  us  broken  in 
the  Place  of  Dragons,  as  thei'e  defolate  Captives 
were.  That  which  the  Scripture  calls  the  Place 
of  Dragons,  1  remember  one  of  the  Jewiih 
Rabbi's  expounds,  A  Wildcrncfs.  Truly  our 
Wilder nefs  hath  been,  The  Place  of  Dragons. 
But  while  we  obferve  tbefe  things,  we  fhail  not 
be  wife,  if  we  do  not  learn,  Oh !  what  an  evil 
and  a  bitter  thing  is  our  Sin!  And  what  hor- 
rendous Miferies  muft  we  expett  among  the  De- 
vils, if  we  die  with  our  Sin  unpardoned ! 

VI.  In  the  W  A  R  that  hath  been  upon  us 
Whoj'o  is  wife,  may  obferve,  a  Work,  zjirange 
Work  of  Heaven,  as  it  were  Deviftng  of  Ways, 
very  ftrangely  to  diftrefs  all  forts  of  People,  in 
all  ions  of  Jnterefls.     Truly  the  very  Character 
of  our  Calamity  hath  all  along  been  this ;   the 
great  God  has  written  itill  upon  it,    we  may 
read  upon  it  in  a  very  legible  Character    thole 
W;>rds    in   Jer.  18.  n.   Thus  faith  the  Lord, 
behold  I  frame  Evil  againft  you,  /  devife  a  De- 
vice again  ft  you.     It  hath   been  as  if  Ways  had 
been  deliberately  and  exquifitely _/?«<//></,  and  as 
if  with  much  Contrivance  plotted  for  to  bring  us 
all  within  the  Reach  of  the  general  Calamity. 
We  have  now  languifhed  thro1  Ten  Tears,  which 
have  been  the  faddeft.  and  the  darkelt,  and  the 
fformieft  Tears  that  ever  we  law.     If  the  Hi- 
ftory  or  thefe  Ten  Tears  were  to  be  written,   I 
am  thinking  what  Ihould  be  thsTitle-,   truly 
it  might  be  entituled,   as  Ezekiel\  Roll  was, 
Lamentation,    and  Mourning,    and  Wo.     Yea, 
you  lhall  now  have  the  liijfory  of  thefe  Ten 
Tears  written  for  you ;   I'll  give  it  you  in  as  ex- 
preffive  Words  as  can  be;  even  in  tho4e  Words, 
2  Chron.  15.  5,6.  In  thofe  times  there  was  no 
Peace  to  him  that  went  out,  nor  to  him  that  came 
in,  but  great  Vexations  were  upon  all  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Countries,  for  God  did  vex  them 
with  all  Adverfty.    There  is  a  Variety  of  Ad- 
verfity  with  which  the  tedious  War  it  felf  hath 
vexed  us.     The  general  Fate  of  the  War  hath 
involved  number iefs  Families  in  feveral  Circum- 
ftances  of  Adverfty ;   and  the  Expenfive  part  of 
the  War  hath  been  an  heavy  Scourge  of  Adverf- 
ty upon  thofe  that  could  not  be  reach'd  by  the 
deftructive  part  of  it.     You  could  not  but  obferve 
thefe  things :    But  then  have  you  not  obferved 
what  a  further  Variety  of  Adverfty  hath  been 
contemporary  with  this  vexatious  War.     Alas, 
there  hath  been  fuch  a  Complication  of  other 
Diftreffes  added  unto  the  War,  in  the  time  of 
it,  that  No-body;  no,  I  fay,  No-body  hath  been 
left  free  from  thofe  Dolorous  Ejulations,  J  am 
one   that  hath  been  affiiihd  by  the  Rod  of  the 
Wrath  of  God.  1f 


A  great  King  of  Perfia  having  by  Death  loft 
the  neareft  Relation  he  had  in  the  World,  and 
being  too  paffionate  a  Mourner  for  his  Lois,  an 
ingenious  Man  undertook  to  raifethe  dead  Rela- 
tion unto  Life  again,  if  the  King  would  butfur- 
nith  h;m  in  one  Point  that  he  apprehended  necef- 
lary.  It  was  demanded,  What  that  zcai  ?  And 
it  was  replied,  Furnij?)  me  but  with  the  Knives 
of  Three  Perfons  mho  have  never  net  with  any 
Sadnefs  and  Sorrow,  and  by  writing  thofe  Names 
on  the  Monument  of  the  Dead.  VI!  bring  the  Dead 
Per/on  to  Life.  Truly,  the  Ten  Tears  of  our  It  'ar 
have  fir  many  Ten  Hundreds  of  Perfons  a  mourn- 
ing over  their  dead  Friends  ;  we  have  leen  eve- 
rywhere the  Mourners  go  about  the  Streets: 
Now  1  durft  make  you  this  Offer,  that  if  you 
can  find  Three  Perfons  who  have  met  with  no 
Matter  oi' Sadnefs  and  Sorrow  in  thefe  TcnTears 
with  the  Names  of  them,  we'll  fetch  your  dead 
Fr/cmls  to  Life  again,  it  was  faid  in  fob  21. 
17.  Goddtftributeth  Sorroivs  inhis  Anger.  You 
may  obferve  a  marvellous  Distribution  of So/n  ws 
made  among  us  by  the  Anger  of  God. 

_  And  here,  Firft,  I  fay  nothing  of  that  ama- 
zing time,  when  the  evil  Angels  in  a  pi  recct nati<- 
1  ral,  and  in  an  unparallell'd  manner  being  let 
loofe  among  us.  God  csft  upon  us  the  Fiercenefs 
oj  his  Anger,  and  Wrath,  and  Indignation,  and 
Trouble.  It  was  the  threatning  of  God  againft  a 
People  which  he  had  cali'd  his  Children,  in 
Deut.  32.  2?,  24.  /  will  heap  Mif chiefs  upon 
them ;  I  will  fpend  my  Arrows  upon  them  ■.  they 
,lhall  be  devoured  with  a  bitter  Definition. 
What  was  the  bitter  Deftruttion  thus  threat- 
ned  unto  an  Apoftatizing  People  ?  I  remem- 
ber the  Famous  Jew,  Onkelos,  renders  it,  They 
/hall  be  vexed  with  evil  Spirits ;  and  indeed 
that  Senfe  well  agrees  with  what  follows,  / 
will  J  end  upon  them  the  Pcifon  of  the  Serpents 
oj  the  Dull.  Sirs,  for  our  Apcfiafe  (which  is 
the  very  Sin  of  the  evil  Spirits  ! )  the  God 
of  Heaven  a  while  ago  turned  in  the  Armies 
of  Hell  upon  us;  and  in  that  matchiefs  Dif- 
penfation  of  God  we  underwent  a  bitter  De- 
ftruction  from  the  Pcifon  of  the  Serpents  oj  the 
Dull. 

But  there  are  other  Points,  not  a  few,  where- 
in the  great  God  hath  heaped  Mifchiefs  upon 
us,  and  fulfilfd  unto  us  that  Holy  Commina- 
tion,  Ezek.  7.  26.  MiJ chief  Jhall  come  upon  Mif* 
chief  What  fhalllfay?  While  the  Lord  of 
Hofts  hath  been  againff  us.  the  Hofts  of  Lord 
have  been  fo  too;  all  the  Elements  have,  as  ic 
were,  been  up  in  Arms  againft  us. 

Particularly  you  may  obferve,  That  Epide- 
mical Sicknejjes  have,  in  thefe  Years,  been  once 
and  again  upon  us,  wherein  the  Angels  of 
Death  have  ihot  the  Arrows  of  Death  into 
fuch  as  could  not  be  reached  by  the  Bullets  of 
the  Indian  Enemy.  This  one  Town  did  in  one 
Year  lofe,  I  fuppofe,  at  leaft  Six  or  Seven  Hun- 
dred of  its  People  by  one  contagious  Mortality. 
And  tho'  of  about  Three  and  Twenty  Hundred 
Men  that  we  employ'd  in  one  Action,  we  did, 
in  that  A£tion,  lofe  hardly  Thirty  Men,  yet  how- 
many  Hundreds  did  afterwards  miferably  pe- 


rifh? 


Again, 


Book  VII.       Or,  The  Hijiory  of  New-England.  115 


Again,  you  may  obferve,  That  the  Harvejl 
hath  once  and  again  grievoufly  failed  in  thefe 
Years,  and  we  have  been  ftruck  thro1  with  the 
terrible  famine,  almoft  as  much  as  if  the  Indian 
Enemy  had  been  all  the  while  fculking  about 
our  Fields.  The  very  Courfe  of  Nature  hath 
been  altered  among  us ;  a  lamentable  Cry  for 
Breads  Bread,  hath  been  heard  in  our  Streets :  The 
Towns  that  formerly  iupply'd  other  places  with 
Grain,  hid  now  been  familhed,  if  other  Places 
had  not  fent  in  a  Supply  to  them,  and  had  a 
black  Profpecl  of  being  famifhed,  notwithftand- 
ing  that  Supply. 

Once  more  you  may  obferve,  That  the  Sea 
hath  in  thefe  Years  been  fwallowing  up  our 
Neighbours  and  their  Eftates,  far  more  thanthe 
Sword oj  the  Wildernefs.  Alas,  the  devouring 
Difpleafure  of  God  hath  laid  concerning  us, 
Though  they  go  to  hide  tbemf elves  from  my  Sight 
afar  off  upon  the  Sea,  thence  will  I  command  the 
Serpent,  and  he  Jhall  bite  them.  And  here,  hath 
it  been  enough,  that  our  VefTels,  enough  to 
mike  an  huge  Fleet,  have  been  taken  by  the 
French  Enemy  ?  A  certain  Writer  hath  com- 
puted it,  That  in  only  the  firft  Two  or  Three 
Years  of  the  War  the  Englifh  Nation  loft 
unto  the  French  more  rhan  Fifteen  Millions 
ol  Pounds  Sterling.  But  no  part  of  the  Englifh 
Nation  hath  been  more  frequently  or  fenfibly 
prey'd  upon  by  the  French,  than  what  hath  gone 
out  of  New-England,  ever  fince  the  War  began. 
I  f.'iy,  has  this  been  enough  ?  No,  the  Wrath  of 
God  laid,  This  is  not  enough!  I  appeal  to  you 
that  have  been  Owners  of  VefTels,  or  Sailors  in 
them,  whether  horrible  Shipwracks  have  not 
been  multiplied  fince  the  War  began,  very 
much  more  than  ever  they  were  before  i  Ah, 
Lord!  How  many  of  us  have  fhed  Rivers  of 
Tears  over  our  dear  Friends  that  have  been 
Buried  in  the  Ocean. 

Moreover,  you  may  obferve,  That  in  thefe 
Years  thofe  very  things  which  were  intended 
for  our  Defence,  have  oftentimes  been  fb  much 
improved  for  our  Damage,  that  it  was  hard  tor 
us  to  fay  which  was  the  greater,  the  Defence,  or 
the  Damage,  which  we  had  from  them.  It  was 
a  lamentable  time  with  the  jews,  when  that 
Curfe  came  upon  them,  That  which  fhould  have 
been  for  their  Welfare,  let  it  become  a  Trap,  and 
pour  out  thine  Indignation  upon  them.  Truly,  the 
Indignation  of  God  hath  been  poured  out  upon  us 
in  this  Fruit  of  the  Curfe,  no  lefs  frequently 
than  fenfibly,  that  fome  things  which  fhould 
have  been  for  our  Welfare,    have  at  the  fame 


in  a  time  of  Peace  the  Sons  bury  their  Fathers, 
but  in  a  time  of  War  the  Fathers  bury  their 
Sons..  Truly  Sirs,  our  time  of  War  has  in  va- 
rious Ways  of  Mortality  been  embittered  with 
this  Remark,  The  bathers  have  been  burying 
their  Sons  all  the  Country  over!  Many  of  us 
have  had  our  Sons,  even  thofe  very  Sons,  of 
whom  we  faid,  This  fame  Jhall  comfort  us !  We 
have  had  them  violently  •fnatch'd  away  from 
us,  and  cropt  in  the  very  Flower  of  their  Toutb; 
and  they  have  left  i  us  deploring,  Ob,  my  Son, 
with  all  my  Heart  could  I  have  died  for  tbee, 
my  Sou,  p/y  Son  !  .But  in  the  midlt  of  thefe  de- 
plorable things  God  hath  given  up  feveral  of 
our  Sons  into  the  Hands  of  the  fierce  Monfters 
of  Africa.  Mahometan  Turks,  and  Moors,  and- 
Devils,'are  at  this  Day  oppretiing  many. of  out- 
Sons,  with  a  Slavery,  wherein  they  wijh  for 
Death,  and  cannot  find  it ;  a  Slavery,  from 
whence  they  cry  and  write  unto  us,  It  had  been 
good  for  us  that  we  had  never  been  bom. 

■Qrtis  talia  fando 


Tcmpcrct  a  Ldcrymk  ? 


Tims,  as  Job,  femetimes  complained,  Chap. 
10.  17.  Thou  renewejl  thy  Witneffes  again/}  me, 
and  increafefl  thine  Indignation  upon  me ; 
Change  t  and 'War  arc  again ft  me :  Thus  in  our 
long  War  we  have  feen  thofe  Changes  on  all 
Hands,  and  in  all  Kinds,  which  have  witneffed 
againft  us  the  dreadful  Indignation  of  God.. 
God  threatned  his  People,  (To  I  read  it,)  Amos1 
2.  15.  Behold  I  will  prefs  your  Place  as  ajull 
Cart  prejfes  the  Sheaf:  [Tis  an  Allufion  to,  the 
old  way  of  threfhing  the  Corn,  by  drawing  a 
loaden  Cart  with  Wheels  over  the  Corn.  q.  d. 
You  (hall  undergo  Tribulation.'}  Ah,  New- 
England^  thou  haft  been  under  fiich  a  Tribula- 
tion ! 

Sirs,  Have  you  not  obferved  thefe  things  I, 
But  you  mult  wifely  obferve  them.  And  a  wife 
Obfcrvation  of  thefe  things  will  caufe  you  to 
fee,  That  the  War  which  hath  been  upon  us 
hath  been  a  War  of  GO  D.  The  Indians  have 
been  but  a  finall  part  of  thofe  Armies,  which 
the  great  G  0  D  hath  been  bringing  out  againft 
us  for  Ten  Tears  together ;  and  we  may  conclude, 
that  all  the  Land  have  been  more  or  lefs  con- 
cerned in  thofe  Crimes  for  which  the  Almighty 
GOD  hath  been  with  thefe  Armies  mana- 
ging his  Controverfie  with  us :  Our  Confeffion 
muft  be  Pcccavimus  omnes,  We  have  all  gone 
aftray  !    But  fhall  we  not  upon  this  Obfervation 


time  fetved  alfo  to  entrap  the  Perfons  and  IntcA  take'up  fome  Refiolution?  If  we  are  wife,  we 
refts  of  many  People  into  fore  Inconveniencies.  j  finall  thus  refolve ;  'Tis  time,  'tis  time,  'tis 
There  is  no  need  of  explaining  this  Article  •,  they  high  time  for  us  tog  makes  our  Peace  with  God. 
that  have  been  under  this  Indignation  of  God  I  0  let  us  not  go  on  to  harden  our  felves  againfl 
know  the  explaining  of  it.  \God;   we  arc  not  (ironger  than  he:    But  let  us 

Finally,    You  may    obferve    what   untimely]  all  fly  to  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrifi,  who  is  out  Peace, 
Ends,  and  whztfurprizing  Fate  s,  have  come  up-   and  Jo  lay  down  the  Arms  oj  Rebellion,  that  God 


on  our  Sons  in  thefe  Tears  of  the  Wrath  of  the 
Right  Hand  of  the  moft  High.  When  Crxfus  was 
in  War  taken  by  Cyrus,  this  Captive  made  un- 
to the  Conqueror  this  Remark  upon  the  Diffe- 
rence between  Peace  and  War\  0  Siry  1  fee  that 

IT 


may  be  reconciled  unto  us. 

VII.  In  the  WAR  that  hath  been  upon  us, 

vohofo  iswije,  may  obferve  thofe  DifpenfationsoT. 

Heaven  towards  us,  that  have  carry 'd  more  than 

P  p  p  p  p  p  p  or- 


ii4 


Magnolia  Chrifti  Americana ;  Book  VII. 


ord  inary  Humiliations  in  them.  It  was  laid  con- 
cerning Miriam,  (the  Type  of  the  now  Leprous 
and  Ontcail  Church  of  Ifrael,  The  Lord  hafte/i 
that  Seventh  Day  wherein  it  fhall  be  reftored!) 
Numb.  12.  14.  If  her  Father  had  Spit  in  her 
Face,  Jhould  fhe  not  be  afoamed?  Ah,  New  Eng- 
land, thy  Father  hath  been  Spitting  in  thy  face 
with  moil  humbling  Difpenfations  ;  God  hath 
been  bringing  of  thee  down  to  fit  in  the  Duft. 
When  the  War  commenced,  New-England  might 
fay,  My  God  will  humble  me  ! 

For,  Firft ,  Shall  onr  Heavenly  Father  put  a 
Rod  into  the  Hands  of  bafe  Indians,  and  bid  them 
to  Scourge  his  Children!  Oh  !  The  Humiliation 
officii  Rebellious  Children  /Oh  !  The  Provocati- 
on that  certainly  fuch  Sons  and  fuch  Daughters 
have  given  him !  Ic  was  a  very  humbling  tiling 
that  the  Lord  tincatned  unto  hisProvoking  Sons 
and  Daughters  in  Dcut.  32.  21.  /  willmove  them 
to  lealoufie  with  thofe  which  are  not  a  People  •  7 
will  provoke  them  to  Anger  with  a  foolifh  Nation. 
Should  a  Child  of  yours  be  Refractory  ;  and  you, 
Sir,fhould  bid  a  Negro  or  an  Indian  Slave  in  your 
Houfe,  Go,  take  that  Child,  and  Scourge  him  till 
y nu  fetch  Blood  of  him!  Surely  this  would  be 
to  humble  him  unto  the  uttermoft,  Thus  doth  thy 
God  humble  thee,  O  New-Fngland,  by  putting 
thee  over  into  the  vile  Hands  of  thofe  which  are 
not  a  People s  but  a  foolifh  Nation. 

Again,  Who  are  they  by  whofe  means  we  are 
now  crying  out,  we  are  brought  very  low  ?  When 
the  mofl;  high  God  was  determined  Effectually 
to  humble  his  People,  he  faid,  in  Jer.  37. 10. 
Though  ye  had  /mitten  the  whole  Army  of  the 
Gal  deans,  that  fight  againft  you,  and  there  re- 
mained but  wounded  Men  among  them,  yet  Jhould 
they  rije  up  every  Man  in  his  Tenty  and  burn  this 
City  with  Fire.  Truly  we  had  /mitten  the  whole 
Army  of  the  Indians  that  fought  againft  us 
Tnree  and  Twenty  Years  ago,  from  one  end 
of  the  Land  unto  the  other  ;  only  there  were 
left  a  few  wounded  Men  among  them  in  the  Eaft ; 
and  now  they  have  rifen  up  every  Man, 
and  have  fet  the  whole  Country  on  Fire.  Cer- 
tainly a  more  humbling  Matter  cannot  be  re- 
lated ! 

Moreover,  Is  it  not  a  very  humbling  thing, 
that  when  about  an  Hundred  Indians  durft  begin 
a  War  upon  all  thefe  Populous  Colonies,  an 
Army  of  a  Thou/and  Englifh  raifed  muft  not  kill 
one  of  them  ail ;  but  inilead  thereof,  more  of 
our  Soldiers  perifh  by  Sicknefs  and  Hardfhip 
than  we  had  Enemies  then  in  the  World  i  Our 
God  has  humbled  us  ! 

Is  it  not  c,  very  humbling  thing,  that  when  the 
Number  of  our  Enemies  afterwards  Increafed, 
yet  an  handful  of  them  mould,  for  fo  many 
Summers  together,  continue  our  Unconquered 
Spoilers,  and  put  us  to  fuch  vail  Charges,  that  if 
we  could  have  bought  them  for  an  Hundred 
Pound  an  Head,  we  fhould  have  made  a  faving 
Bargain  of  it  ?  Our  God  has  humbled  m  ! 

Is  it  not  a  very  humbling  thing,  that  we 
fhould  have  had  feveral  fair  Opportunities  to 
have  brought  this  War  unto  a  final  Period^  but 
we  fhould  ftill,  by  fame  fatal  Qverfight>  let  flip 


Opportunities?    Qur   God  has  humbled 


thofe 
us  ! 

Is  it  not  a   very  humbling  thing,    that  what- 
ever Expeditions  we  have  undertaken,  for  the 
moft  part  we  have  come  off  hoofers,    and  in- 
deed but  plunged  our  felves  into  deeper  Straits 
by  our  Undertakings  ?  Our  God  has  humbled  us ! 

Is  it  not  a  very  humbling  thing,  that  more 
than  One  or  Two  of  our  Forts  have  Surrendred 
and  one  of  them  that  was  almoft  Impregnable' 
given  away  with  a  moft  Shameful  Surrender 
by  one  that  hath  hath  lince  Received  fomething 
of  what  hedeferved?  Thus  our  God  has  hum- 
bled us ! 

Is  it  not  a  very  humbling  thing,  that  we 
mould  have  Evil  purfuing  of  us  at  fuch  a  rate 
that  in  other  Lands  afar  off,  and  on  the  Ex- 
change in  London  Strangers  have  made  this 
Refkaion  •  Doubt lefs  New-England  is  a  Coun- 
try in  ill  Terms  with  Heaven  ?  But  fo  our 
God  has  bumbled  us  ! 

What  (hall  I  fay  ?  Is  it  not  a  very  humbling 
thing,  that  when  Peace  is  reftored  unto  the 
whole  Englijl)  Nation,  and  when  Peace  is  en- 
joy *d  by  all  America,  poor  New-England  fhcuid 
be  the  only  Land  fritt  Embroii'd  in  War?  But 
thus,  our  God,  thou  haft  humbled  us,  and  fhown 
us  great  and  fore  Troubles,  and  brought  us  down 
into  the  Depths  of  the  Earth ! 

O  my  dear  People,  How  can  1  Obferve  thefe 
tbings,m&  not,  like  Jofhua,  now  fall  to  the  Earth 
on  my  Face  before  the  Lord,  and  fay,  What  fhall 
1  fay  ?  But  if  you  will  wifely  obferve  thefe 
things,  you  will  now  get  up,  and  Jantti fie  your 
felves,  and  put  away  the  accurfed  thing  from 
among  you,  O  New -Englifh  Ifrael ! 

Certainly  the  high  and  lofty  one,  who  dwells 
in  the  high  and  holy  place,  expe&s  that  we 
fhould  be  a  very  humbled  People.  I  befeech  you 
Sirs,  Obforving  thefe  thingsAet  us  in  all  the  Me- 
thods of  Repentance  humble  our  felves  under 
the  mighty  Hand  of  God.     After  fuch  humbling 

that 
They 


things  as   have 


befallen  us,    God   forbid 


it  mould  be  faid  of  us,  as  in  Jer.  44.  10 
are  not  humbled  even  unto  this  Day  ! 


VIII.  In  the  WAR  that  hath  been  upon  us, 
Whofo  is  Wife,  may  Obferve  the  Companions  of 
God,  wounderfully  Exercifed,  and  Manifefted, 
and  Magnified,  in  the  midft  of  our  Confufwns. 
There  was  a  Time  when  a  Bufh  burned  with 
Fire,  and  yet  the  Bufh  was  not  confumed :  Where- 
upon faid  Mofes,  in  Exod.  3.  3.  J  will  now  turn 
afide,  and  fee  this  great  fight  !  Sirs,  I  am  now 
to  call  upon  you,  0  turn  afide,  and  fee  fuch 
a  great  fight  as  that ! 

Indeed,  in  the  midft  of  all  our  Lamen- 
tations, we  muft  own,  with  the  Church,  in 
Lam.  3.  22.  It  is  of  the  Lord's  Mercies  that 
we  are  not  Confumed,  becaufe  his  Compajfiont 
fail  not.  But  there  are  many  particular  and 
aftonifhing  Articles  of  Mercy  which  we  have 
feen  in  this  tedious  War.  Sirs,  Gome  now 
to  obferve  forae  of  thofe  things  with  prepared 
Hallelujahs  ! 


It 


Book  VIL  Or,  The  Hiftory  of  New-England.  115 


It  was  the  Petition  in  Hab.  3.  2.  0  Lord,  in 

Wrath  remember  Mercy.  New  England,  thy 
God  hath  heard  this  Petition  for  thee  in  very 
wonderful  Inftances  ! 

For,  Firft,  After  a  very  Amazing  manner 
has  Mercybcen  remembrcd  in  the  midft  of  [Ow/;, 
when  we  have  been  rdcued  by  the  Mercy  of 
God,  at  thevefy  point  of  our  being  elfe  ruined 
by  his  Wrath.  Lord,  Thou  baft  Jhewed  thy  Peo- 
ple hard  things,  and  made  us  Drink  the  Wine  of 
Aftomfhment.  But  our  Extremity  hath  been 
God's  Opportunity  to  relieve  us.  Several  times 
in  the  lare  Years  of  our  Affliction  we  have 
been  brought  unto  a  difmal  Non-plus  in  our 
Affairs,  and  we  would  fcarce  imagine  it  pofli- 
ble  for  us  to  fubfilt  any  longer.  But  juft  then 
the   Bowels  of  our   Companionate  God  have 


Temple.  And  whereas  the  Roman  Enemy  did 
at  length  ieftre  their  Land,  at  the  time  of  their 
going  up  to  the  Paffover,  this  one  thing  was  e- 
nough  to  prove  that  the  Mejjiah  was  come, 
and  the  Paffover  no  longer  Commanded.  It 
(hows,  that  there  is  ajirange  Operation  oA 
God  upon  the  Minds  of  Men,  to  Cuib,  an? 
Check,  and  Blind  the  Evil-minded.  Well,  we 
have  had  our  Frontier  Towns,  in  many  of  which 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  hath  been  Worlhipped, 
and  Sought,  and  Serv'd  continually.  Had  the 
lurking  Enemy  done  as  they  might  have  done; 
how  eafily  might  one  Dozen  of  them  have  kept 
the  Towns  in  fuch  perpetual  and  perplexing 
Alarms,  as  would  have  caufed  them  even  to 
have  broken  up  !  And  what  unknown  Mi/chiefs 
might  a  few  more  of  'em  have  brought  upon 


been  moved  for  us!  Hj  hath   (aid,  How  Hall  I  j  our  Scattered  Plantations  !  I  do  again  and  again 

fay,  This  is  from  the  ftrange  Operation  of  God, 
upon  the  Minds  of  the  Enemy,  that  they  have 
no  more  difturbed  our  Land.  For  my  own  Pare 
I  will  obferve  it,  and  admire  it  in  fuch  Terms  as 
Auftin  ufed  upon  a  Remarkable  Providence  •, 
Quifguis  non  videt,  Cxcus ;  Quijquh  videt, 
nee  Laudat,  lngratus ;  ^uifquis  Laudanti  re- 
luffatur,  lnfant/s :  They  are  Blind  and  Mad 
that  are  mienfible  of  it ! 

Yet  again,   have  not  our  Englifl)  Prifoners 
been  favoured  with  f\ich.  a.  Remembrance  of  Mer- 
cy in  the  m'dfi'  of  Wrath,  as  ought  never  to  be 
Forgotten  ?    The  Mercy  of  God  inclined   the 
French  to  Buy  'em  out  of  the    Hands  of  the 
Indians,  and  ufe  them  with  an  Exemplary  Hu- 
manity and  Civility.    The  Mercy  of  God  pre- 
ferved  many  of  them  alive,  under  prodigious 
arid  incredible  Hardfhips,  and  at  length  Return- 
ed many  Scores  of  them  Home.    And  may  not 
our  Engli/h  Women,  that  were  Prifoners ,take  no- 
tice of  one  Singular  Mercy  fhown  by  God  unto 
them,  in  preferving  them  from  Violations  by  the 
Outrageous  Lufts  of  the  Salvages?    This  one 
thing  will  be  thought  by  fome  almoft  as  great 
and  ftrange  an  Inftance  of  an  Immediate  Inter- 
pofition  of  the  Angels  of  God,  as  the  muzzling 
of  the  Lions  in   the  Den  of  Daniel!  0  ye  Re- 
deemed of  the  Lord, you,  whom  he  hath  Redeemed 
from  the  Hand  of  the  Enemy,   give  thanks  to 
the  Lord,  for  he  is  good  ?    Charge  your  own 
Souls,  that  you  never  forget  his  Benefits ;  ask 
your  own  Souls,     What  you  /hall render  to  the 
Lord  for  all  his  Benefits :    And  Remember  that 
Admonition  of  the   Lord    Jefus    Chrift   unto 
you,  Sin  no  more,  left  a  worfe  thing  do  come 
unto  thee. 

Furthermore,  who  could  not  fee  Mercy  Re- 
membred  in  the  midft  of  Wrath,  when  God 
hath  put  it  into  the  Hearts  of  his  People  in  the 
Southern  Parts  of  the  Country,  to  make  Liberal 
Contributions  of  Money,  and  Corn,  and  Men,  for 
the  Relief  of  the  Northern  Parts?   More  than 


give  thee  up,    0  New-Hnyiand  ;    How  fl>all  I 
give  thee  up.    0   Maflachufcts  ?    And  fo   he 
would  not  Execute  upon  us  the  Fiercencfs  oj  his 
Anger,    but  with    lome  unexpected    Succours 
from  the  Machin  of  He  men  he  hath  relieved  us. 
We  have  feveral  times  been  like  a  little  VelTel 
ihaS/wva;  the  (welling  Waves  have  Dalhed, 
and  Raged,  and  Roared  ;  the  Rude  Billows  have 
been  going  Over  us,  and  we  have  been  ready   to 
Sink.     But  juft  then    our  Companionate  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  hath  awaked  tor  our  Safety,  and 
rmrvelloufly    calmed    our  Circumftances  !     O 
thou  Land,   [trangcly  Saved  by  the  Lord,  (ay 
now,  as  in  Pfal.  156.  23.  0  give  thanks  unto 
the  Lord,  who  remembrcd  its  in  our  low  Eftate, 
becaufe  his  Mercy  endurethfor  ever  !  When  our 
Debts   have  become    Infupportable,    God   has 
then   Remembred  us  in  our  low  Fftate,  becaufe 
his  Mercy  endurethfor  ever,  and  ftrangely  Ex- 
tricated us.     When  our  Foes  have  been  as  an 
Overflowing  Scourgc.likc  to  carry  all  before  them, 
God  has   then  Remembrcd  us  in  our  low  Eftate, 
becaufe  his  Mercy  endurethfor  ever,  and  ftrange- 
ly lifted  up  a  Standard  againlt  them.      When 
fearful  Diviftons  have  ariilti  among  us,  and  hor- 
rid Convulfions  have  been  ready   to  pull  all  to 
Pieces —  t  don't  care  to  Remember  them  any 
farther  than  to  fay,    God  has  then  Remembred 
us   in  our  low  Efiate,  becaufe  his  Mercy  endu- 
rethfor ever,  and  ftrangely  healed  thofe  Breaches 
that  fet  the  Land  a  Trembling. 

Moreover,  it  hath  been  a  very  ftrange  thing, 
and  a  wondrous  Remembrance  of  Mercy  in  the 
midft  of  Wrath,  that  the  Indians  have  been 
unaccountably  Refrained  horn  giving  us  an  Hun- 
dredth Part  of  the  Trouble,  which  they  might 
have  done,  had  they  but  known,  or  us^d  their 
own  Advantages.  This  one  thing,  whofoever 
does  wifely  Obferve  it,  muff  needs  aicribe  it  un- 
to a  fpecial  Operation  of  that  God,  who  Forms 
the  Spirit  of  Man  within  him.  It  was  the  Pro 
mife  of  God  unto  his  People.      Exod.  34.  24 


No  Man  fhalldc fire  thy  Land,  when  thou  (halt  once  has  the  Noble  Charity  of  our  Btethren  in 
go  up  to  appear  before  the  Lord  thy  God.  The\Plymoutb,  and  in  Conne&icut,  as  well  as  of  this 
Faithful  God  ftrangely  fulfilled  this  Promife  for  Town,  been  Expreffed   in  fuch  Contributions. 


many  Hundreds  of  Years  together ;  no  Enemy 
defiredthe  Land  of  that  People,  at  the  time  of 
their  going  up  to  Worlhi'p  the  Lord    in  his 


Their  Alms  are  gone  up  for  a  Memorial  before  the 

Lord !  The  Blejfng  of  many  that  have  been 

ready  to  Perifh  hath  come  upon  you,  0  yeMer- 

PPPPPPP  2  cifui 


\6 


Magnalia  Chrifli  Americana :  Book  VII. 


eiful  Children  of  God,  and  you  lhall  obtain  Mer- 
cy from  him. 

Once  more,  was  every  Mercy  Remembred  in 
the  midft  of  Wrath,  more  confpicuoufly  than 
when  powerful  Adverfaries  deligning  Inroads 
i^jon  us,  have  been  diverted  wonderfully.  Ad- 
vice hath  been  feafonably  difpatched  unto  us, 
of  the  Intentions  in  our  Enemies  to  fall  upon 
our  Frontiers,  and  this  Advice  hath  proved  our 
Safety.  Yea,  fometimes  when  we  have  had  no 
Advice,  a  ftrange  Direction  from  Heaven  has 
led  us  to  thofe  Actions,  which  have  as  much 
defeated  the  Intentions  of  our  Enemies,  as  if  we 
had  received  the  fullelt  Advice  in  the  World. 
Befides  this,  Bo/ion,  and  Salem,  and  Port f mouth 
efpecially,  will  they  ever  forget  the  I  aft  Tear  ? 
It  was  a  Tear  of  Salvation  ;  yea,  it  was  a  Tear 
of  Miracles !  Never,  never  fuch  a  Tear  paiTed 
over  us.  The  Almighty  fhow,d  that  Favour  to 
his  People  of  old,  Zecb.  9.  8.  \  will  Encamp  a- 
bout  my  Houfe,  becaufe  0}  the  Army%  becaufe  oj 
him  that  paffeth  by,  and  becaufe  of  kirn  that  re- 
turneth.  Alexander  in  an  Expedition  to  the 
Southward  did/w/j  by  the  Land  oilfrael,  and  he 
did  Return  again  to  the  Northward,  without 
hurting  that  Land  that  had  the  Houfe  of  God  m 
it.  Formidable  French  Squadrons  have  more 
than  once  faffed  by  to  the  Southward,  and  have 
returned  again  to  theAV/fo*wrrf,intendingdoubt- 
lefs  a  destroying  Vifit  into  this  Land  by  the  way ; 
but  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  hath  Encamped  about 
his  Houfe  here,  becaufe  of  the  Navy.  Yea, 
once,  O  New-England,  the  Lord  thy  God,  he 
that  would  be  tne  Holy  One  of  New-England, 
gave  Carthagena  for  thy  Ranfom,  he  gave  Men 
for  thee,  and  Spaniards  for  thy  Life.  Another 
time,  when  a  Force  likely  enough  to  have  car- 
ried all  before  them,  were  almoft  arrived  unto 
us,  we  are  advifed  that  God  fent  fuch  a  fudden, 
and  fuch  a  wafting  Sicknefs  among  them,  as  to 
make  them,  for  want  of  Hands,  to  defift  from  their 
Attempt.  Thefe  were  llluttrious  Deliverances ! 
And  yet  give  me  leave  to  lay,  we  did  the  laft 
Year  fee  another  Deliverance,  that  for  ought  I 
know  may  be  equal  to  any  of  the  reft.  There 
was  an  Englifh  Fleet  of  our  good  Friends  with  a 
direful  Plague  aboard  'em,  intending  Hither. 
Had  they  come  as  they  intended,  what  an  horri- 
ble Defolation  had  cut  us  off,  let  the  Defolate 
Places  that  fbme  of  you  have  feen  in  the  Colo- 
nies of  the  South  declare  unto  us ;  and  that 
they  did  not  come,  it  was  the  Signal  Hand  of 
Heaven,  by  which  the  goings  oj  Men  are  or- 
dered. 

Inline,  becaufe  God  being  full  of  Compaffion, 
would  not  (lir  up  all  his  Wrath,  he  hath  Re- 
membred Mercy  to  us  in  the  midft  of  Wrath,  by 
Raiting  us  up  Generous  BenejaUors,  who  have 
been  able  and  willing  to  oblige  us  with  their 
Benefits.  It  muft  be  with  fhame  acknowledged, 
our  Ufage  of  our  Publick  Servants  has  common- 
ly been  fuch,  that  for  any  thinking  Man  to  be 
willing  at  all  to  ferve  the  Publick,  feems  to  be 
a  Matk  and  Fruit  of  no  little  Generofity.  Never- 
thelefs,  we  have  had  Perfons  of  Exemplary  Pa- 
tience, and  Prudence,  and  Self-denial,  fitting  at 


the  Helm  of  our  Government,  all  this  while 
that  the  horrible  Tempeft  hath  been  enough  to 
make  any  Man  living  Sick  of  being  there.  We 
have  had  Perfons  who  have  Disburfed  and  Ex- 
pended of  their  EJiates,  and  confiderably  Dam- 
nified their  Interefis  for  us  in  our  DiftrtiTes, 
when  yet  they  foreknew  what  pay  thty  fhould 
have  after  all.  Yea,  we  have  had,  and  Hill 
have,  CI  can  at  this  moment  fa  ft  en  my  Eye  up- 
on fome  of  them  in  the  AiTembly  where  I  am 
now  ipeaking]  brave  Men,  who  have  bravely 
Jeoparded  their  Lives  in  the  high  Places  of  the 
Field  lor  our  Defence.  O  Treat  em  not  with 
vile  Ingratitude,  after  all  the  Service  they  have 
done:  Prefer  them  on  all  fit  Occafions  while 
they  Live,  Embalm  their  Memories,  and  Requite 
their  Families  when  they  are  Dead.  *  But 
while  we  are  thankful  to  them,  let  us  much 
more  give  Thanks  to  God  for  them,  even  for 
fuch  Gifts  of  Heaven  as  we  have  Enjoyed  in 
them. 

Well,  will  you  wifely  Ob/erve  thefe  things  ? 
Wifely .'  That  is  to  lay,  Thankfully  and  Fruit- 
fully. It  may  be.  if  more  Diltinct  and  Solemn 
THANKSGIVINGS  were  made  unto  God  our 
Saviour  for  thefe  things,  the  Reliques  of  our 
Enemies  would  quickly  ieel  the  Rebukes  of  God 
upon  them  ,  not  unlike  thofe  in  2  Chron.  20.  22. 
When  they  began  to  Sing  and  to  Praife,  the  Lord 
Jet  Ambufhmcnts  againjl  their  Enemies,  and 
they  were/mitten. 

IX.  In  the  WAR  that  hath  been  upon  us, 
whofo  is  Wife,  may  Obferve  thofe  things  that 
may  mightily  Encourage  our  Prayer,  and  our 
Euih,  for  a  Total  Ruin  to  be  haftened  on  the 
Remainders  of  our  Enemies. 

There  yet  Remains  a  Knot  of  our  Enemies 
in  thofe  Inaccejjible  Thickets,  where  we  defpair 
ever  to  Find  'em  out ;    but  I  will  Read   their 
Doom  from  Pfil.  21.  8,  9,  10.  Thine  hand,  O 
Lord,  OmII find  out  all  thine  Enemies,  thy  Right 
Hand  /hall  find  out  thofe  that  hate  thee;   the 
Lord  /hall  f wallow  them  up  in  his  Wrath,  and  the 
Fire  fhall  devour  them-,    their  Fruit  fhalt  thou 
dejiroy  from   the  Earth,    and  their  Seed  from 
among  the  Children   of  Men.     What  Remains 
for  us,  is,  that  we  do  by  Prayer  and  Faith  put 
our  Enemies  over,  into  thefe  Omnipotent  Hands 
that  can  find  them  out,  and  cur  them  off.    Oh! 
Let  us  keep  our  Hands  lifted  up  in  Prayer,  for 
a  Total  Diffipation  of  thofe  Amalekites,  which 
have  thus  long  and  thus  far  prevailed  againft  us! 
We  have  already  had  many  Notable  An/we/s  of 
Prayer  in  this  our  War  :  Every  one  of  our  Deli- 
verances have  been  very   Notably  Such !   We 
cannot  fay,  How  many  particular  Perfons  have 
received  Anfwers  of  Prayer  in   the  particular 
Troubles  which  this  Evil  time  hath   Enfnarcd 
them  withal.    Doubtlefs  many  a  chri/tian  has 
in  this  time  had  opportunity  to  fay,    This  poor 
Man  cried,  and  the  Lord  heard  him,  and  freed 
him  out  of  all  his  Troubles  !  And  feveral  Town?, 
that  have  had  a  Remarkable  Protcclion  of  God 
upon  them  in  this  long  Time  of  Danger,  they 
have  had  a  Praying  People  in  them,  and  thar 
•f  Praying 


Book  VIL  0r3  neHiftoryo/New-Englmd.         117 


fraying  People  have  been  the  Chariots  and  the  I      Only  let  us  rememk 
Horje-men    thereof.     Why    elie  does  Deer  field  \of  our  Lord  JESUS 
Stand?  How    ihould  our'  Prayer  be  Quickened  with  our  Faith  for  the 


plead  the  Sacrifice 
1ST  in  our  Prayer, 
n  oi  our  De- 


by  i'uch  Experiences  !  But  there  is  this  further 
Quickening  for  it,    that  with  the   Cry   of  our 
Prayer,    there  will  go  up  unto  the   Lord   the 
Cry  of  £/^/;  much  Innocent,    ami  Righteous, 
and  Precious  Blood,  Cries  to  Heaven  from  the 
Ground  againft  thoi'e  Bloody  and  Crafty  Men, 
that  have"  Treacheroufly    ihed  it.     Certainly 
they  mult  not  Live  out  all  their  Days  !    And  we 
have  this  prevailing  Plea  againft  them   in  the 
Court  of  Heaven!    That  they  have  moft   falfly 
Broken  their  Covenants  in  their  Outrages.    We 
may  venture   to  prelent  our  Memorials  in  the 
Court  of  Heaven  againft  thefe  Covenant-Break- 
ers^ who  are   Implacable  and  Unmerciful ;  and 
we  may  ufe  the  Words  of  Jephtah  againft  his 
Heathen  Adveriaries,  The  Lord  the  Judge  be 
Judge  between  us  and  them  !  We  may  ufe  the 
Words  of  Jehojhaphat  againft  his  Heathen  Ad- 
verlaries,  0  our  God,  wilt  thou  not  Judge  them  ? 
Uladiflaus,  the  King  of  Hungary,  Scandaloully 
breaking  his  League  with  Amurath  the  Turkijh 
Emperor,  brought  an  Army    into   the  Field  a- 
gainft  him.     The  Turkijh  Army  being  horribly 
Broke  and  Slain,  and  almoft  Vanquifhed  by  the 
Hungarian,  Amurath  in  his  Anguiih  took  out  of 
his  Bolbm  the   written  League  that  Uladiflaus 
had  made  with  him,   and  holding  it  up   in  his 
Hands  with  his  Eyes  to  Heaven,  he  cried  out 


liver ance.     Our  Lord   JESUS  CHRIST  hath 
been  a  Sin-Ojj'ering  for  i  be  Congregation,  and  a 
Sacrifice  pleadable,  not  only  for  Perfons,  but 
alio  for  Peoples  that  belong  unto  him.  We  read 
in  1  Sam.  7.  9,   10.    Samuel  offered  a  Burnt- 
Offering  wholly  unto  the  Lord,  and  Samuel  cried 
unto  the  Lord  <?/lfrael,  and  the  Lord  heard  him  • 
and  the  Lord  Thundered  with  a  great  Thunder 
on  that  Day  upon  the  Phi li (tines,  and  dij "comfit ed 
them.    When  we  cry  to  the  Lord,  let  us  plead 
the  Burnt-Offering  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  and 
plead,  that  God  has  more  glorified  his  juftice 
in  the  Sufferings  of  our  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST, 
than  if  our  Houfes  were   all  fill'd  with  th 
Cries  of  our  People  MaiTacred  by  Indian  Sal- 
vages.   Then  will  our  God  Thunder  with  a  great 
Thunder  of  his  Con  fuming  Wrath  upon  our  In- 
dian Philiftines  !  That  Note  which  the  Great 
Calvin  has  above  an  Hundred  times  over  in  his 
Commentaries  on  the  Pfalms,  Nunquam  Irritat 
fore  prcces,  or,    Prayers  will  never  be  loft  I 
Prayers  will  never  be  loft  I  It  will  much  of  tner 
be  repeated  in  our  Blcfled  Experience,  if  our 
Prayers  do  prefent  before  God  that  Bieffed  Sa- 
crifice, of  which  he  fays,   T/j  a  fweet  Odour 


to  me  : 


X.  In  the  WAR  that  hath  been  upon  us, 


Behold,  0  Crucified  Chrift,  the  League  which  thy  j  Whofo  is  Wife,  may  ohjerve  thole  loud  Calls  to  a 
Chriftians  in  thy  Name  have  made  with  me,  and  Reformation  of  our  Mifcarriages,  which  'tis  a 
now  without  caufe  do  Violate  ;  if  thou  be  a  God,   Dangerous  and  a   Defperate  thing  to  neglect 


revenge  the  wrong  that  is  now  done  unto  thy 
Name,  and  fhew  thy  Power  upon  a  Perjurious 
People,  who  in  their  Deeds  deny  their  God! 
Immediately  the  Courfe  of  the  Battel  turn'd  3 
the  Penurious  King  was  kill'd;  and  the 
Turks  "wan  a  moft  unexpected  Victory. 
Truly  we  may  in  like  manner  now  take  the 
Inftrument  of  the  Sabmijjion  and  Agreement 
of  the  Eaflern  Indians,  which  Thirteen  of 
their  Chief  Commanders  did  Sign  more  than 
Five  Years  ago ;  and  holding  it  up  to  Heaven, 
we  may  cry  out,  Ah,  Lord  God  oj  Truth,  wilt  thou 
not  be  Revenged  upon  the JalfeWr etches  that  have 
broken  this  League !  Doubtlefs  our  God  will 
Execute  a  dreadful  Vengeance  upon  them,  if  we 
humbly  make  our  Suit  unto  him  for  it;  and  he 
has  ways  for  his  Vengeance  to  come  at  them, 
which  we  cannot  Imagine.  'Tis  affirmed,  that 
feveral  times  in  this  War  our  Enemies  have  in 
the  Woods  met  with  Parties  oi'Indians,  which 
were  their  own  Friends,  but  by  a  Miltake  cp- 


any  longer.  It  was  the  Voice  of  the  Blefled 
God  in  Pfal.  81.  15,  14.  0  that  my  People  had 
hearkened  unto  me,  and  Ifrael  had  walked  in  my 
Ways  !  I  fnould  foon  have  fubdued  their  Ene- 
mies, and  turned  my  Hand  againft  their  Adver- 
saries. Ah,  New-England,  thy  God  hath  not 
foon  fubdued  thine  Enemies,  nor  foon  turned  }m 
Hand  againft  thine  Adverfaries ;  but  let  'em 
Vex  thee  for  Ten  Tears  together.'  Surely  thou 
haft  not  Hearkened  unto  him,  nor  Walked  in  hii 
Ways!  In  that  which  was  called,  The  Holy  War 
the  Embaffadors  of  a  Saracen  Prince  demandec 
of  a  Famous  Chriftian  General,  how  he  came 
to  have,  Minus  tarn  Do&Of  ad  Prdiandum, 
Hands  that  were  fo  able  to  Fight  ?  The  Chrifti- 
an General  replied,  Quia  Manus  Semper  habui 
purat,  becaufe  1  never  defiled  my  Hands  with 
any  Notorious  Wickednefs.  Alas,  our  Hands 
have  made  but  poor  Work  at  Fighting.  'Tis 
time  for  us  then  to  Reform  all  the  Notorious 
Wickednefs  in  our  Hands  !  Do  we  Dream  that 


prehending  each  to  be  Enemies  unto  each  other,   the  Almighty  hath  l'pent  all  his  Arrows?  No, 


they  have  hotly  fallen  upon  one  another,  and 
many  have  been  kilPd  on  both  Sides  before  the 
Miftake  was  difcovered.  Yea,  'tis  affirmed, 
that  not  a  few  of  the  Chief  Murderers  among 
our  Enemies  have  accidentally  killed  themfelves ; 
the  moft  Murderous  Indians  have  in  a  little 
while  been  their  own  Executioners.  Who  can 
tell  what  Strange  Ways,  the  God  utito  whom 
Vengeance  belongeth,  hath  ro  inflict  it  en  a  Ge- 
neration of  his  Curfe  ? 


after  all  that  for  Ten  Tears  together  have  been 
fpent  upon  us,  there  are  yet  more  Arrows  and 
judgments  left  in  the  Quiver  of  God:  And  ex- 
cept we  Turn  unto  him,  who  can  fay,  what  Ar- 
rows he  may  next  Ordain  againft  us?  The  Ro- 
man  Emperor  Upbraided  his  General  Terentius 
for  lofing  a  Battel ;  but  the  General  having  too 
much  occalion  to  fay  fo  much,  replied,  Sir,  1 
tnuft  tell  you,  that  it  is  you  that  loft  the  Day  for 
us,  by  your  open  Fighting  againft  the  God  of 

Heaven 


n8 


Mignalia  Cbrifti  Americana.  Book  VII. 


Heaven  as  you  do.  If  it  be  asked,  how  'tis  come 
to  pals  that  we  have  Sped  fo  ill  in   many  a 
Battel  fince  this  War  oegan  ?  Some  will  blame 
one,  and  fome  will  blame  another ;    but  I  will 
take  leave  to  tell  all  them  that  lead  an  Ungodly 
Life,  Sirs,  ''Tit  to  you  that  we  owe  all  our  III  Suc- 
cefsl  I  need  not  Quot^  one  of  the  Ancients, 
namely,   Ambrqfe,  for  that  Observation,  Gravi- 
ores  Inimici  funt  mores  pravi,  quam  Hoftes  In- 
fenfi:  We  have  had  enough  in  our  own  Experi- 
ments to  convince  us,    That  our   worft  Enemies 
are  our  Vices ,  which  provoke  Heaven  to  Chaftife 
its  with  all  our  other  Enemies :  And  indeed,  if 
our    Ways   did  pleafe  the  Lord,   our  Enemies 
would  be  at  peace  with  us.     Ob/erve  wifely,  aud 
you  cannot  but  Obferve  the  Language  of  Hea- 
ven in  the  Circumftances  thro1  which  we  have 
palled  for  a  whole  Decad  of  Years  together,  to 
be  that  in  Lev.  26.  2?,  24.    If  ye  will  not  be 
reformed  by    me    by   thefe     things,     but    will 
walk  contrary   unto  me,   then  will  I  alfo  walk 
contrary  unto  you,   and  I  will  punifh  you  yet 
Seven  times  for  your  Sins.     And  that  the  De- 
mand  of  REFORMATION  may    be  loud  e- 
nongh,   h  arrives  to  us  now  with  a  more  than 
Ordinary  Accent  oi  Authority  upon  it.  We  have 
feen,  and  blefled  be  God.  that  we  have  feen, 
the  greateft  Monarch  that  ever  fat  upon  thefi/v- 
tifh  Throne,  iffuing  out  nis  Royal  proclamation, 
upon  the   Pious  Addrefs  of  the  Commons  of 
England  Afiembled  in  Parliament  ;   a  Proclama- 
tion, wherein  that  Fluff rious  Prince  declares  his 
Royal  Refolution  to    Oifcountenance  all   Vice 
whatlbever,  and  requires  all  Officers  whatlbever 
to   be  Vigilant  in  the  Difcovery,    Prolecution 
and  Puniihment  thereof.    We  have  feen  a  moft 
Excellent  GOVERNOR,  who   is  the  greateft 
Perlbn  that  ever  let  Foot  on  the  Englifh  Conti- 
nent of  America,  beginning  his  Government  with 
Proclaiming  for  the  Suppreflion  of  all  Vice  in 
one  of  his  Provinces :  That  Noble  Perfon  has 
therein  done  like  a  Vicegerent  of  GOD  !  His 
very   Honourable   Lieutenant    hath    worthily 
done  his  part,  with  the  Advice  of  his  Council,  in 
another  of  his  Provinces.    If  thefe  things  prove 
but  meer  formalities  among  a  People,  Hating 
to  be  Reformed  after  all,  what  will  they  be, 
but  more  Terrible  Prognofticks  of  Tremendous 
and  Amazing  Deflations  at  Hand,  than  fo  ma- 


ny Blazing  Stars  on  Fire  in  Heaven  over  us. 
It  is  to  be  hoped,  the  Alimfters  of  the  Gofpel. 
will  do  what  belongs  to  them  for  the  Affiltance 
of  all  Holy  Ejfiys  about  Reformation  ;  and  their 
Churches,  it  calfd  upon,  will  join  with  them  in 
the  Methods    of  Covenant,   and   of  Discipline, 
for   the  promoting   of  it.     Yea,    it   is    to    he 
hoped,  that  we  ihall  all  Zealoufiy,  in  our  fc- 
veral  Stations,  do  all  that  we  can  ior  the  Plea- 
ting ot  God,  and  for  the  Corre&ion,  a::d  Sup- 
preffion,  and  Reformation  of  the  Sin  that  may' 
be  Difpleafing  to  him.     It  is  a  thing  very  No- 
torious unto   us,    that  Idicnels,    Drunkcnnefs, 
Uncleannefs,  Cheating,  Lying,  Prof  bane  Swear- 
ing, and  above  all,   that  which  is  the  Root  of 
all,    the  Fropbanaticn  of  the  Lord^s-Ddy,  gains 
Ground  upon  us.     Let  all  that  have  any  Power 
in  their  Hands,  unto  the  utmoft  of  their  Power 
endeavour  to  keep  under  thofe  Enormities     But 
Lafi  of  all,  nay,  IfhoulJ  rather  fay  tirft  of  all,  O 
let  every  Man  fet  upon  Self-Reformation  with 
all  his  Might !  I  remember  that  palTage  in  Prov. 
18.  17.  He  that  is  Jirft  in  his  own  Caufe  Jeem- 
eth  right,    is  Tranllated  by  the  Vulgar  Latin, 
fo  as  to  carry  a  further  and  an  uleful  Admo- 
nition in  it  ;    Juftus  primus  efl  Accufator  fui, 
A  Jufi  Man,  before  he  meddles  with  the  Re- 
proof of  others,  will  Fir  ft  Accufe  himfelf,  and 
fearch  the  State  of  his  own  Soul  and  Life,  and 
faithfully  Reform  it.    Oh  !  That  very  much  of 
this  might  be  done  among  us  !  How  doth  an  Ar- 
my of  Thrice  Ten  Thoufand   Men   prefently 
Turn  from   Eaft  to  Weft,    becaufe  Every  One 
Turns  One  ?  Sirs,  We  have  Wifely  Obferve d  the 
things  that  have  in  our  afflitted  Years  befallen 
us,  and  we  have  now,  to  good  purpofe,  heard  a 
Sermon  of  Obfervations  upon  thofe  things,  if  we 
will  now  retire,  and  ponder  ferioufly  with  our 
felves,  What  is  there  amifs  in  ivy  own  Heart, 
and  in  my  own  Life,  and  in  my  own  Family  - 
and  by  what  Reformation  of  my  felf  may  I  be  ft 
anfwer   the    Fxpeilation   of  the  God  who   has 
Chaflifed  us  all. 

We  have  been  under  the  Lamentable  Punifh- 
ments  of  our  Sins  for  Two  Luftres  of  Tears 
together ;  'tis  time  for  every  Alan,  and  for  all 
of  us,  as  One  Alan,  to  fay,  as  in  Lam.  3.  40. 
Let  us  Je arch  and  try  our  Ways,  and  turn  again 
unto  the  Lord. 


FINIS. 


ERRATA 

REader,  Cartbagcna  was  of  the  mind,  that  unto  thofe  Three  Things  which  tb^  Ancients  held 
Impoflible,  there  (hould  be  added  this  Fourth,   to  find  a  Book  Printed  without  Errata's. 
It  feemS)  the  Hands  of  Briareus,  and  the  Eyes  of  Argus,  will  not  prevent  them. 


THE  Holy  Bible  it  fe!f,  in  fome  of  its  Editions  hath  been  affronted,  with 
Scandalous  Errors  of  the  Prefs-work  ;  and  in  one  of  them,  they  fo  Printed 
thoie  Words,  Pfai.  119.  161.  Printers  have  perfecuted  me.  The  Author  of  this 
Church  Hislory  ha?s  all  the  Reafon  in  the  World  then  to  be  Patient,  tho'  his 
work,  be  depraved  with  many  Errors  of  the  Prefswork.  The  common  Excufe  in 
iuch  cafei  is,  The  Diftance  of  the  Author  from  the  Prefs  ;  Here  there  was  the 
Diftance  of  a  thoufand  Leagues.  Tho'  the  Errata  are  moftly,  but  Literals  ;  and 
there  are  few,  but  what  an  Intelligent,  and  Charitable  Reader,  would  correct 
without  any  Direction  from  the  Author  ;  yet  it  was  thought  fit  here,  to  offer 
a  collection  of  them  ;  (  omitting  the  Falfe- Pointings,  which  are  more  Numerous, 
and  ieis  Important.  ) 

.    p.  (lands  for  Page.  c.  for  Column.  I.  for  Line,  {f.b.)   is  as  much  as  to  fay, 
count  the  Lines  from  the  bottom. 


IN  Poems  p  5  I.  penult  f,Ste»it,  r  joins,  p.  6  1. i  r.  Lite- 
rarum  p  7!.  1 8  r.  Dumque. 
in  General  IntroducTion,p.  ]  c  2  1.  1  r«  Fare.  Ibid  I.  Iaft 
f decreed  r.  decried,  p.  1  c.l\  6l  blot  out,  NOT.  />■  3,c.  I  I. 
43  '.  implies,  r.  unpl< '  cs.  p.  4  c  1  I.4J  r  Lyncci,  p.  5  e.  I  I. 
32  1  ?H-in/,  p.  6c.  2  I  54  I  Chrift  r.Afiift.  p.  1  c  z\.  41  f ;« 
r.   «.  BOOK     I, 

Pic.  ill  r.  It  was  ax  long  ago,  Ibid  c.%  1  2  r,  c  cw- 
pilfJJ'c.  1  17  r.  iil-bodi  >g,  f  3  t  I  1  4  r  lerrarum.  Ibid 
c.  2:21  fServecI,r  Seined.  1  42  r  One  Captain,  pj  c  I  1  5 
(/  £.  )  The  Sentence  is  to  End  it,  Impugned,  p  6  1  12  r  Ad- 
venturers, p  1 2c  1  1  12  f. and  r.  in.  c  z\  17  rShowes.  p  14 
r  r  1  40  FThe  r.  Though,  p  1  5  c  1  1  2  (/,^. ;  r  Honor,  p  17 
c  1  I  29  fPeace  r  Face,  p  20c  1 1  S(f.b  )  r  lnfanti*.  c  z  I 

3  1  /.  i  )  1  Nov- Angles,  p  21  r.  2  1.  14  r  Z«»c  for  thepoor- 
p  22  <r  2  1  33  place  the  (;  )zt,Alitie\  p  27  c.ZlZ^T  Willard 
p  28  c  2  1  28  r  Lyme.  »  36  c  I  1 39  r.  their. 

B*0  O  K       lU 

Title-page  I  13  r  S«//.  1 14  r  damns.  1  16  r  fiignitate- 
panormitan.  p  I  c  2  I  18  r.  works,  p  7  c  I  1  21  r. 
Fords,  czl  131-  M,-igno.  p<)cz\  39  f. imitate, r. intimate 
p  ioc.  1 1  51  r  maJic.  p  1 1  c  1  1  38  r.  if  it  be,  p  13  c  1  1  8 
r  Humility,  p  17  c  I  I  9  (f.b.  )  r  Eudoxia  1  4  r  Schurmau 
p  2  (  c  2  I  23  r  Succcjfively  And  again  at  1  32.  p  27  c  1  I  46  r 
Loving,  p  32  c  1  1  9  r  Adeptifl:   c  2  1  2  r  Loving,  p  4 1  c  1 1 

4  (fb,)r  1687.  p"  61  c  1  141-  fnvifible.  p6$c  2I3  r  Invi- 
(ijle;  1  9  {/  b.  )  f.  under,  r.  unto,  p  6<)c  I  1  38  r  yfgellius. 
p  70  c  1  1  3  (/.  £'.  j  r.  few  to  would---  c  2  1 45  f,  of  r.  or 
V  iz  c   1  1  44  f.  him  r.  thejii. 

BOOK      III. 

PAge  1  c  1  1  14  \C»l<vinianus,\  34  Lac  r  ab.\  35  f ww. 
1  mens  c  2  1  if.  our  r  one  p  3  c  I  1 27  r  Maverick,  c  2 
1  8  (/.  6.  )  i  Manford  p \c  1 1  6  1 .  Signalize.  p  5  e  I  1  31  r 
Mapalia,  1  3  (/".£. .}  f.  Fatrons  r  Nations  p  13  c  1  1  1 1  r.  It  is 
better.  1  47  f  Faith  r.  Truth.  V  1  5  c  2  1  32  r  no  lefs  than-  p  18 
c  I  I  23  r  Temporibus  P  22  r  I  1  2  r  Sincere,  1  3  (■/",£.  ^  r  the 
Name,  c  2  1  20  r  Varia.  P  23  c  1 1  7  r  Prefbyteros.  1  28  r  a 
Synodo-P  25  c  I  i  20  r.  was  by  the,  1  l6(f,b.)r  Expound. 
P  28  c  I  I41  fi  ofr  off.  p  30  C2I25  r.  more  infrrudted  and- 
p  33  c  1  1  42  f.  two  r.  a—  1 44  r.  unexceptionable  p  43  c  2  1 
40  r  Bifhops.  p  45  r  1 1  14  Blot  out,Hc  p  46  c  2  !.  lad  r.  w//7> 
m  on;  111.  p  49  c  a  /,  7  r  Mtiqukati,  F  55  ell  49  f,  will  r 


might,  p  57  c\  ll(f,  b.)r.  pleafantly  faid.  p  58  c  I  /  2r 
r.  it  is  in  one.  cZ  I  43  f.  for  r.  from  the  Spirit,  p  59  c  2  I  38 
f,  one  r.  our.  p  6$  c  l  I  16  Blot  out,And  his  own.  / 18  f  her 
r.  his.  p  64c  2  /  10  (/.  £.  )r,  it  wasNOTlong,  p  66  c  2  I 
24f.yetr.not  p6-jczl  12  (f.b.)r.  Souls.  F68ci/.io 
r.  that's,  p7i  czliif.b.  )(  alfo  r.  tho'  j*  74  c  j  /.37malce 
a  Comma  (  ,)  at,  New- England,  p  76  c  I  2  14  c.  lor  as  the. 
c .  Z  ll^r.  Paleas.  p  77  c  2  /.  5  r.Enatare-  P  80  f  2  /  5  Blot 
out,  Nor.  p  84 c  I  J.  9  Blot  out,  Nor.  p  8 5  c  2  /38  make  a 
Comma  ( ,  )  at ,  Converfion ,  />  90  c  2  /  6  Blot  out,  Sis.  1 43  >• 
Exeundum  p  <yi  c  I  /  38/. me,  y.Hiui.  ?  93  c  Z I  7  (f.b.) 
r: Circmnfhnce.  ^  94c  1  /3  rTranfaltion.  2  4/  her  r.  His 
P  95  c  I  13  j-.  regitas.  cX  li.tr.  Abrah*.  P  96  c  2  /  36  r 
Vicar-General  p  98  c  2  i  6  r  Nominis.l  33  >  Tetf«x.  2  36  r  /r«rf 
/»  1  o«  c  1  1  29  r,  Miftakes.  I  lafl,B!otout,rf/  p  1 04. 
cx\  <y  (  f  b  )r,  defultrant,  f  1  «5  c  1  1  1  4  (/£  )  t 
Cupiit  p  i«6  c  z  I9  r.  of  his.  I41  I.  mentioned,  r 
maintained.  ;icJcilior  Ptriclttati  1  ij  r  yW« 
1  48  r  dtfideratiflimoi.  f  1  99  c  z  I  2  r  Excitarem.  1  14, 
r  ^ttm,  />  1 1  g  e  1  1  1 7  (  f.b. )  [  and  r,  in.  c  z.\6 
[f.  b  )  r.  make.  />  1 1 4  c  1  1  2  2  r.  wearinefs.  p  i\  6  0 
I  1  24  r  hrefragabilh  c  x\  ijr.  efiet.  p  119c  2I  18 
r.  many  an.  1  10  f.  we  r.  He.  1  3  •  i.  Twice  r.Thrice 
p  iz«  e  1  1  14  r.  move,  p  ixi  c  z  I  28  f  Souls r 
Seals  /unci  1  18  r  Likenefir.  p  1x3  c  1 1  1  5  (/£) 
r  Orbilian,  1  1  7  (/,  i.  )  tmulta  p  \x6  c  1  1  Zi  r.by 
the.  c  z  I  19  (/.  i,  ;  f  if.  r.  of.  p  IZ7  c  1  1  19  r  find 
him.  p  \iz  c  i\  zot.  navarmt.  1  3  6  r.  dtlibuti  1  2  8 
r.  arripiant.  ctliori  did.  1  zi  r.  tearful,  p  1  34  c 
z  I41  r.  P<i«/<j.  1 9  (  /.  bi  )  blot  out,  St.  1  2  (/.£.;  r 
Bebraicas.  P  1 38  c2/  Sj-opSoTo^siv  — ep9o5roJvei.i'.  /  lor.make 
the.  p  141  c  z  1  18  (/.  b.  )t. calling,  f  143  e  1  lzo 
f/.t.  )  r.Fofter,---  Defcenju.pi^c  1  1  24  r.S»'»M-j 
r»orii  p  145  c  1  1  %  blot  out,  Lutbi,  p  1 5  1  c  1  1  X7 
r  4Hi.  p  1  ■;  z  c  z  1  2  3  f.  her  r.  their,-  p  1 5  3  c  z  I 
z  8  r.  Cflf/o/  1  3  z  r  xoi-id.  I  3  6  r,  I»rf«j.  /»  «  5  5  ezlzs 
r  grew,  p  157  ex  1  40!.  of  r.and  p  158  c  1  1  19 
(/.Z>.  )  r.  that  whicb.p  159  c  1  I  17  (/,  t.;r.  $«/«»» 
c  l  1  9  (/  fc.  )  r.  Nttg^,  />  i6»  ci  1  14  (f.  b  )  r« 
TranfadlioB*  /»i6ici  In  (/:t.)  ri«w»(r,  p  i€x 

oil 


[  1 

(fb) 


e  t  !  24 (/ £   )r.wpon  him!  /nf>5  c    a!  1 1 

i   Hfgula.  p  164.  c  1  1  4  (/  b  )\  \\vt\i\f.  c  x  I  7  (by 

!         ,  />  1  6  5  c  2.  i  5  X  ' ■'.  cernit  ovans.  I   35  r.  antcceticns 

1  38  r  Principal.  />  i 66  c  i  1  3  5    Beg'n  a  N  *  Sen- 

tirce,  ii',C.wi^,    />  169    c<  1  ;x  c.Verafatiflimus    i 

48  •'.  Canoro    c  X  1    lor  Bpangelici  !  17  r  Pruaet.tiffl' 

mus.  !  4  (/  &  )r  meruit,  Sortiium.  '  X  (//>.)  r  Mar 

m  reo   p   171  c  I  1  1  i  End  the  Senence,   at,  unfo    /> 

1  86  c  1  126  (./.  i  )  r.  in  one  of.  ^  1 88  c  1  1  11    t 

Succeflbn  r.   S<ctffion   p  i  89  c»l  13  r.  Communi- 

can  s,  p  1 9}  c  x  I  u  (/  £  )  r.  epforter    p  202  c  2 

1  3  t.Chrii'un,  r  Chrittmas.  In  if  b  )  1.  Prayer,  r 

Praife.  p  xi  1  c  2  I  7  1,  may  thu?  p  2 ix  c  1  1  8  (/  £  > 

r,  Prodigij  ;n;  c  !  Ii;    f  i. )  r.  CW»w  p  2  14 

c  2  1  1  8  r.  are  not  p  x  1  5  e  1  1 I  x  (  /  £  )  f.  Thirty  1 

Jbirfiy  p.  217  c  x  I  x8  (  f.  b  )  r  be  a-p  xxi  c  1  1 

19  r  Prxteietmt.  P223  cX  llaftr  Excidio.  p  X27  c. 

1    9  (/ 1. )    r.  rely-   p  X|i  c  XI19  r.  AffliBtons 

p  244  c  x  I  xj  r.  Tbatir 

BOOK  IV. 
T)  ^ge  1x5  1  xx  r  Stnatum,  p  .tx6  c  i  1  X4  r  there 
•■"  were  1  34  r  tradere.  I  10  (/£•  )  add,  were,  c  X  1 
17  >■  162,9  />  127c  1!  40  t  to'inidable  r.  ferviceable 
p  ix8  c  1  1x5  .  Soi/r/ef  I  1  8  v  /  *< )  f» 'he  j  r.  this  ex 
1  3  (.//'  )r  167  t.p  i2«c  1  18  (/./>.)  blot  out 
That  c  2 1  7  r.  JS/ou  ^/i.i  1 4.0  r.  tor  his  1  laft  r  ap 
pr-  henrkd  />i2icxlx2i«^rin.  lair  ProvincLe 
1  4;  f.  »/?,*  r  »>A  p  1 3  2  ci  1  x  r.  they  do  not.  1  ;  3 
r  intelligere  I  49  after,  /m'neam,  add,  afierit.  C  X  I  9 
(f  b  )i  unquamx  Vnguin.  p  1  33  C  I  1  1 1  r.  Potietur 
1  49  atter,  commwato,  pi;t  a,  «/o»  ( :  )  C  Z  lx<  r.Sacras 
p  1  3  4  c  i  1  7  r.  »»/r<*  '  1  5  r  H&refin —  Aliqutm.  c  x 
1  I  r  Academicos  1  -  blot  out,  <*</.  1  9  Crefcentius 
p  126  C  i  i  16  (f.b)lo,  Woodbridge,  add,Mr  Oxanii 
pi4icxlxi  (f  1  )t  Momintanei,l  6  (f.b.  )  r.aad 
ar.  p  1 41  c  x  1 1  c  ( /■  &.  )  blot  out o».  p  1 44  c  1  1  3 
r  it  was  c  x  1  xx  ( f  b  )  r.  afiecutum.p  147  c  1  1 14 
r.  as  ic  is  p  1 56  c  1  1  x  1  r.havebeen.  c  x  1  laft  End 
the  Sentence,  net  at,  Render,  but  at,  You  p  163  c  1  I 
a  t  (/  b  )  r.  f.  ingenuoufly  r.  uoanimoufly.  />  166  c 
1  1  1 9  (  /,  b  )  Begin  a  new  (entente  at,  In.   /1169  c 


x  1  11  r.  Three  Things.  />  170  c  1  1  11  f,  www  r 
/wawff,  />  1  8  8  c  t  1  n  f/  i  J  r.  celebirrimi.  p  1  9  [  c 
t  1  i8  r  Ki/dw  timbram.  p  1961  1  !  3  r.  did  JVjf  fo 
/>  XCO  c  1  1  34  r  Americanam-  coloniam  p  101  c  I 
I  3  t  t.  Tliini;  r.  Tine  c:  X  1  10  r  £;  his  />  XO;  c  i 
i  3  3  r.  you  up  to.  ;>  204  c  x  1  4  r  Even  1  32  f. 
civility  r.  charity  1  3  5  r  himfelt  ^  105  c  1  1  xi  (//>) 
r  Errors.  ^  X07  c  1  1  3  blot  ou',  a-  c  x  1  14  »  Linn 
r  Lives,  p  11 1  c  I  1  1  3  ( f.  b  )  r  Save  w?.  p  xi  7  c  2. 
blot  out,  the  iaft  four  Lines,  bin  four. 

BOOK  V. 
DAge  4  c  x  1  3  (f.  b  )  r.  which  are,  as.  p  17  c  1  I 
3  8  1.  mention  r.maintain.  p  7.7  c  i  1  4  (  /.i  )  f.  or 
r.  oi.  />  3  x  c  x  1 1  x  f.  way  r,  may  /135c!  1  29  r 
Worthy,  p  3jr  c  1  1  27  f.  and  r.  of.  /> 67  ex  1  22  r 
External,  p  68  c  1 1  18  r  Therefore,  p  77  c  1  1  14 
(  f  £  )  Begin  the  fentence  at,  For  the-  p  81  c  x  1  1 5 
r  Mitchel.  1  x  1  r  Pergama 

BOOK  VI. 
DAge  8  c  x  1  9,10  (f,b  )  r  Sea  fart,  p  14  c  x  1  14 
*■  (  f.b  J  r  Lucis  p  1 7  c  1  I  1  5  r  Showers.  1  34  r.they 
are  called,  c  x  1  34,  3  7  r  Baf/j  ^0/.  p  xe  c  1  1  29  f 
Saw  r  0»i;,  />xi  ci  I13  r  Wretches,  p  X3  c  x  I  3 
r  Nemefeos  p  X5  c  z  1  27  C/.  i  )  r.  of  the.  p  26  c  2. 
1  3  j  f  doing  r.  being  p  3  3  c  x  1  28,  j  3  r  Council 
/>  81  c  2  1  xi  C  f.  b  )  blot  out,  S&«p. 

BOOK  VII. 
pAge  7  c  1  1  19  r  Ennumeraiing.  V  8  c  x  1  20 
■*•  (/.  b  )  r  ^«fe  catacritie.  P  to  C  I  \  16  (  f  b)  T  In- 
figne.  piicxlxif/.  i)f  JBow'f  r  Bo»»V.  p  1  x  c  1 
I  X7  f.  the  r.  this.  1  4x  r  Charters,  p  14  c  x  I  24 
I  Grace  r  Works,  piscilsjf  Law,r  Land,  p  xx. 
c  2  1  14  (fb)  f  The  r  They,  p  x$  c  1  1  x9  1  Fines 
r  Times,  p  3  2  c  x  I  10  ad  d,  &c  8cc.  1  3  6  (  /.  b  )  c 
wary,  p  36c  1  1  1  5  (/.  b  )  r.  doubted,  p  49  c  x  I 
x©  ("/.  4  )  f-  dtmrid  r  damp'd.  p  $0  c  1  1 14  f  /.  &  J 
r  Hazard,  p  60  1  8  r  ^rSo.  p  66  c  x  1  3X  blot  ourB 
Having,  p  70  c  i  1  x*  r  Ejulations  P  7  5  c  1  1  X7  r 
inferior!  p  79  c  xl  36  r  Aflailantr.  p  104  c  1  I  lajfi 
r.  to  do  it.  p  105  c  z  1  7  f /.  t. ,)  r.  Rhum. 


BOOKS  Printed  for  Tho.  Parkhurft,  at  the  Bible  and  Three  Crowns  in  Oieapfide. 


DIfcourfes  and  Sermons  on  fevefal  Divine 
Subjefts,  by  the  late  Reverend  and  Learn- 
ed Divine,  David  Clark/on,  B.  D.  fometime 
Fellow  of  Clare-Hail  in  Cambridge.  Folio. 

A  Body  oj  Pratfical  Divinity,  Confifting  of 
above  tyS  Sermons  on  the  LelTer  Catechifm, 
Compofed  by  the  Reverend  Aflembly  of  Di- 
vines, by  Th  .-'<  Watfon,  formerly  Minifter  of 
St.  Stephens  Walbrook,  London.    Folio. 

ExpoJitory  Notes,  wirh  PraSical  Obfcrvati- 
ens  on  the  four  Holy  Evangelijis,  wherein  the 
Sacred  Text  is  at  large  recited,  the  Senfe  Ex- 
plained.  Doubts  Refohed,  Controverfies  Deci- 
ded, Reflections  Avoided,  feeming  Contraditlions 
Reconciled  •  and  the  inftruclivc  Example  of  the 
Holy  JESUS  recommended  to  our  imitation. 
By  Will.  Bur  kit,  Vicar  and  Lecturer  of  Dedbam 
in  Ejjc.x.     Folio. 

The  Whole  Works  of  the  Reverend  Mr,  John 
Flavel,  late  Minifter  at  Dartmouth  in  Devon, 
in  Two  Vol.     Folio. 

A  Difci  .nfr  of  Angels,  their  Nature  and Of- 
fice, or  Aluiijiry^  wherein  is  Jhevced  what  Ex- 
cellent Creatures  thev  are,  and  that  they  are 
Prime Infiruments  of  God's  Providence,  and  are 
employed  about  Kingdoms  and  Churches,  and 
Jingle  Perfons,  and  that  under  Jefus  Chrifl, 
toh  -  is  t  he  Head  of  Angels  as  well  as  Men,  and 
by  wfoofc  Pro  treincm  Angels  are  Mimjiring 
Spirits  fo)  fit  ■     alfo  fomcthing  touching 

Vteviis^  and  Apparitions,  and  ImpulJes,  with  a 
pi-adieu!  tmprovement  oj  the  Particulars  handled, 
and  oj  the  whole  DoUrine  of  Angels,  cfpecially 
for  the  promoting  of  an  Evangelical  Life. 

Tw$  Letters  written  by  the  Right  Reverend 
Dr.  Thomas  Barlow,  late  Lord  Bilhop  of  Lincoln, 
Concerning  Jufiification  by  Eaith.  to  a  Minifter 
of  his  Diocefs,  Publilhed  from  his  Lordfhip's 
Original  Copy  ;  together  with  the  Minifters 
Letters  that  occaiion'd  them. 

Wilful  Impcnitency  the  Gofpcl  Self-murder  ; 
all  they  who  are  guilty  of  it,  Apprehended \  Tri- 
ed and  Condemned.  Preached  at  Rochford  in 
Ejfex  long  before  his  Death,  by  that  late  Able 
and  Faithful  Minifter  of  Jefus  Chrift,  William 
Vcnncr. 

A  Paraphrafe  on  the  New  Tejiament,  with 
Notes  Docfrinal  and  Practical.  By  the  late 
Reverend  Mr.  Richard  Baxter. 

The  Rod,  or  the  Sword,  the  prelent  Dilemma 
of  the  Nations  of  England,  Scotland  and.  Ireland, 
Confidered,  Argued  and  Improved,  in  a  Dif- 
courfe  from  Ezcfucl  21.  13.  by  Robert  Fleming, 
V.  D.  M. 

Divine  Comforts  A  nti doting  Inward  Perplexi- 
ties of  Mind,  in  a  Difcourfeupon  Pfal.  94.  19. 
By  Tho.  Sharp,  late  Minifter  of  the  Goipel  at 
Leeds. 

The  True  Notion  of  Imputed  Right eoujnefs, 
and  our  Jujiification  thereby  •,  being  a  Supply  of 
what  is  wanting  in  the  late  Book  of  that  moft 
Learned  Perfon  Bifhop  Stillingflcet,  which  is  a 
Difcourfe  for  Reconciling  the  Dilfenting  Parties 
in  London ;  but  Dying  before  he  had  finifhed 
the  two  laft  and  moft  defired  Chapters  thereof, 
he  hath  left  this  main  Point  therein  intended, 


without  Determination.  By  the  Reverend  ill  S. 
a  Country  Minifter. 

A  Plain  Method  of  Catechizing,  with  a  Prefa- 
tory Catechi'm,  fhewingthat  Minifters,  Parents 
and  Matters  ought  to  be  faithful  Teachers  of 
rhe  Chrijiian  Doilrinc,  and  that  the  Ignoranr, 
toung  and  Old,  .  ought  to  be  Diligent  Learners 
oftheFirft  Principles  of  the  Chrijiian  Doilrinc, 
By  'I ho.  Doolittlc,  M.  A.  .in  Companion. to  the 
Ignorant,  Ycung  and  Old,  The  Fourth  Edition. 
Duodecimo. 

There  is  in  the.Prefs,  and  .  fpeedily  will  be. 
publilhed,  An  Abridgment  of  the  Life  of  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Richard  Baxter,  in  Octavo. 

An  Account  of  the  Life  and  Death  of  Mr. 
Phillip  Henry,  Minifter  of  the  Gofpel  near 
Whnechurch  in  Shropshire  ;  who  died-.  June  2d.. 
1696.  in  the  Sixty-filth  Year  of  his  Age,  with 
Dr.  Bates^s  Dedication,  the  Second  Edition. 

A  Funeral  Sermon  upon  the  Death  oijofepb 
Banet,  Son  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  John  Barret, 
Minifter  of  the  Goipel  in  Nottingham ;  Preached-. 
by  John  Whitlcck,  Jun.  To  which  is  added.  An 
Account  of  his  Life  and  his  Evidences, 

Experiences,  Holy  Refolves,  Divine  Medita- 
tions, and  his  conftant  Courfe  of  Self-Examina- 
tion, being  part  of  an  Exact  Diary,  Written  by 
his  own  Hand. 

The  Remains  of  Mr.  Jofeph  Barret,  Son  of 
the  Reverend  Mr,  John  Barret,  Minifter  of  the 
Gofpel  in  Nottingham  ;  being  the  Second  Part,. 
taken  out  of  an  Exact.  Diary,  Written  by  his 
own  Hand. 

1.  Catholic k  Theology-,  in  Three  Books,  Of 
Pacifying  Principles,  of  Pacifying  Praxis,  of 
Pacijying  Deputations,  againftfome  real  Errors 
which  hinder  Reconciliation.     Folio. 

2.  Vifputations  of  Original  Sin,  as  from  A= 
dam,  and  as  from  our  nearer  Parents :  Publifh'd 
at  the  Invitation  of  Dr.  Tho.  Tully.  8vo. 

5.  A  Moral  Prognoftication  of  what  muft  be. 
expelled  in  the  Churches  of  Chriftendom,  till 
the  Golden  Age  returns.    Quarto. 

4.  Church  Hijiory  of  the  Government  of  Bi- 
fhops  and  their  Councils,  abridged;  including 
the  chief  Part  of  the  Government  of  Chriftian 
Princes  and  Popes,  and  a  true  Account  of  the 
moft  Troubling  Herelies  rill  the  Reformation, 
4ft?. 

5  A  Search  for  the  Englilh  Schifmaticks>  by 
the  Cafe  of  Charaticr  of  the  Diocefan  Canoneers, 
and  the  Prefcnt  nicer  Nonconformifts.    4/0. 

6.  A  Second  true  Defence  of  th.e  meer  Non- 
conformifts, againfl  the  Untrue  Accufation  of 
Dr.  Edward  Stillingfleet  ■  and  fame  Notes  on 
Mr.  Glanvil'j  Zealous  and  Impartial  Prote- 
ftant.    i\to. 

7.  The  Dangerous  Schifmatick  clearly  Vetetted 
and  fully  Confuted:  Occafioned  by  a  Relblver 
of  Three  Cafes  about  Church  Communion.     j\to. 

8.  Catholick  Communion  defended  in  unnecefla- 
ry  Separation,  dilcovered  in  rhe  Reafons  of  the 
Author's  concurred  Communion  with  the  Parifh 
Churches,    ^to. 

9.  The  Englifh  Nonconformity  as  under  King 
Charles  the  2d.  and  King  James  the  id.  truly 

Stated 


% 


Stated  and  Argued  with  the  Order  of  the  Quar-  J  know  themfelves  ■,  wbereunto  are  added  Sundry 
wr-Seffions  at  Exeter  for  the  County,  Urged  by   Meditations  relating 


vx 

the  Bifhops,  which  calls  for  our  Dcience.     &,to. 

io.  A  Treat  if e  oj Knowledge  and Love :  Com- 
pared in  Two  Parts  ;  Oj  Jaife  pretended  Know- 
ledge, and  of  true  faving  Knowledge  and  Love, 
qto. 

1 1.  ThcGtorious  Kingdom  ofChrift  defcribed, 
and  clearly  Vindicated,  againft  Mi.Tho.  Bever- 
ly      4to. 

f  2.  A  Reply  to  Mr.  Tbo.  Beverley's  Anfwer 
u  ,v,a Pons  againft  his  Doftrine  or  the  Thou- 
find  Yeats,  Middle  Kingdom,  and  of  the  Con- 
vertion  of  the  Jews.    410. 

1  3.  OJ  Actional  Churches,  their  Defcripti- 
on,  Inftitution,  life,  Prefervation,  Maladies  and 
Cure  ±  partly  applied  to  England.    410. 

14.  Again]}  the  Revolt  to  a  Foreign  Jurif 
diftion,  which  would  be  to  England  its  Perjury- 
Church,  Bane  and  Slavery ;  in  Two  Parts -,  Con- 
taining many  Endeavours  to  Introduce  ir ;  and 
Confutation  of  all  Pretences  for  it;  Dedicated 
to  Dr.  Tillotfon,  Arch-Bifhop.  8tv.  All  thefe 
Fourteen  by  Richard  Baxter. 

A  New  Creature:    Or,  A   Short  Difcourfe, 


to  the  Lord 's-S upper. 

A  Prejent  for  fitch  as  have  been  Sick  and  are 
Recovered:  Or,  A  Difcourfe  concerning  the 
Good  which  comes  our  of  the  Evil  of  Affliction. 

The  Spirit  of  Prayer  :  Or,  A  Difcourfe, 
wherein  the  Nature  or  Prayer  is  opened ;  with 
Directions  for  the  Attaining  the  Gift  of  Prayer. 

The  more  Excellent  Way  to  Edifie  the  Church  of 
Chrift :  Or,  A  Difcourfe  of  Love,  the  Delign 
of  which  is  to  Revive  that  Grace  among  all 
Chriftians.     Thefe  Six  by  Nath.  Vincent,  M.  A. 

1.  Of  Thought fulnefs  ior  rhe  Morrow,  with 
an  Appendix  concerning  the  Immediate  Defire 
of  Foreknowing  Things  to  come. 

2.  The  Redeemer's  Tears  wept  over  loft  Souls, 
in  aTreatife  on  Luke  19.41,  42.  With  an  Ap- 
pendix, wherein  fomewhat  is  occafionally  dif- 
courfed  concerning  the  Sin  againft  the  Holy 
Ghoft,  and  how  God  is  faid  to  will  the  Salvati- 
on of  them  that  perilh. 

3.  Of  Charity  in  reference  to  other  Mens  Sins. 

4.  A  Sermon  directing  what  we  are  ro  do 
after  a  ftrift  Enquiry,  whether  or  no  we  truly 
love  God. 


opening  the  Nature,    Properties  and  Neceflity  \     5.  Two  Sermons  preaclfd  upon  thefe  Words, 


of  the  Great  Work  of  the  new  Creation  upon 
the  Souls  of  Men. 

A  Family  Altar  ereRed  to  the  Honour  of  the 
Eternal  God:  Or,  A  Solemn  EiTay  to  promote 
the  Worfhip  of  God  in  private  Houfes. 


Yield  your  f elves  to  God. 

6.  A  Funeral  Sermon   for   Mrs.  Efter  Samp- 
fon,  lare  Wife  of  Henry  Sampfon,  Dr.  of  Phy- 

fick,  who  died  Kovem.  24.  1689. 

7.  The  Carnality  of  Religious  Contention,  in 


Baptifmcl Bonds  renewed:  Being  fome  Medi-  j  Two  Sermons,  preached  at  the  Merchants  Le 


tations  on  Pfal.  50.  ver.  5. 

Clofet  Prayer  a  Chrijiian  Duty  :  Or,  A  Trea- 
tife  on  Mat.  '\.  and  6.  Tending  to  prove,  that 
the  Worlhip  c  God  in  Secret  is  the  indifpenfi 
ble  Duty  of  all  Chriftians,  both  by  fundry  Ex- 
amples and  Arguments;  together  with  a  fecret 
Rebuke  of  Chriftians,  for  their  Negle£t  of,  or 
Negligence  in  the  Duty  of  the  Clofet ;  and  ma- 
ny Directions  for  the  managing  thereof:  Exhor- 
tations to  it,  Obje&ions  anfwered,  Cafes  of  Con- 
fcience  cleared.     Qvo, 


tture  in  Broadftrect. 

8.  A  Calm  and  Sober  Enquiry  concerning  the 
Poffibilky  of  a  Trinity  in  the  Godhead,  in  a 
Letter  to  a  Perfon  of  Worth  ;  occafioned  by  the 
lately  Publifhed  Confiderations  on  the  Explica- 
tions of  the  Do&rine  of  the  Trinity.  By  Dr. 
Wall  is,  Dr.  Sherlock,  Dr.  Cudworth,  &c.  To- 
gether with  certain  Letters  (hitherro  unpublifh- 
ed)  formerly  written  to  the  Reverend  Dr.  Wallis 
on  the  fame  SubjecL 

9.  A  Letter  to  a  Friend  concerning  a  Poft- 


The  Beji  Entail:    Or,  Dying  Parenrs  Living  fcript  to  the  Defence  of  Dr.  Sherlock's  Notion 


Hopes  of  their  Surv..ing  Children,  g.ounded 
on  the  Covenant  of  God's  Grace. 

Sure  Mercies  o/Da/id  :  Or,  A  Second  Part 
of  Heart- Treafure,  wherein  is  contained  rhe 
Sum  and  Subftance  of  Gofpel-Mercies  purchafjd 
by  Chrift,  and  promifed  in  the  Covenant  of 
Grace,  for  the  Saints  Defence  and  Settlement, 
and  Encouragement  in  Shaking  and  Backfliding 
Times;  being  Some  Meditations  on  If  a.  75.  3. 

The  General  Ajjembly :  Or,  A  Difcourfe  of 
the  Gathering  oj  all  Saints  to  Chrift;  where  1" 
it  appears.  That  all  Saints  in  all  Ages  /hall  at 
laft  uhered  together  in  Chrift  their  Head : 

Being  borne  Meditations  on  2  Thef.  11.  and  1. 
Thefe  Seven  by  Mr.  Oliver  Heywood. 

The  Converfion  oj  the  Soul :  Or,  A  Difcourfe, 
Explaining  The  Nature  of  that  Converjion  which 
is  Sincere  and  Dir  effing,    and  P  erf  wading  to 


of  the  Trinity  in  Uniry,  relating  ro  the  Calm 
Enquiry  on  the  fame  Subject . 

10.  A  View  of  that  Part  of  the  late  Confide- 
rations addreft  to  H.  H.  about  the  Trinity,  which 
concerns  the  Sober  Enquiry  on  that  Subject. 

it.  A  Funeral  Sermon  on  the  Death  of  that 
Pous  Gentlewoman  Mrs.  Judeth  Hammond, 
kte  Wife  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  George  Ham- 
mond, Minilter  oftheGofpel  in  London. 

T2.  Mr.  Richard  Adams  Funeral  Sermon. 

1 3.  Mr.  Matthew  Mead's  Funeral  Sermon. 

14.  The  Redeemer's  Dominion  over  the  In- 
vifible  World.  Thofe  Fourteen  publifhed  by 
Mr.  John  How,  Minifter  oftheGofpel. 

A  Saint  indeed,  the  great  Work  of  a  Chrift ian. 

The  Fountain  of  Life  open'd  :  Or,  A  Dif- 
play  ofChrift  in  his  ElTential  Mediarorial  Glo- 
ry,   conraining  Forty-two  Sermons  on  Various 


leave  their  Loving  Sin  and  Death,  and  turn  to  \  Texts.     Wherein  the  Interprerarion  of  our  Re 


God  and  Live, 

A  Heaven  or  Hell  upon  Earth :  Or,  A  Dif- 
courfe concerning  Confcience. 

The  Sure  Touch {tone  of  Grace  and  Nature : 
Or,  A  Difcourfe  concerning  Self-Examination  ; 
by  which  both  Saints  and  Sinners  may  come  to 


\  demption  by  Jefus  Chrift  is  orderly  unfolded, 
as  it  was  begun,  carried  on,  and  finifhed  by  his 
Covenant  Tranfaftion,  Myfterious  Incarnation, 
Solemn  Call  and  Dedication,  BlelTed  Offices, 
Deep  Abafement,  and  Supereminent  Advance- 
ment   Thefe  Two  by  Mr.  John  Havel. 


Cleaned  &  Oiled 


Octobt